Roomba 694 Review

The Roomba 694 is a budget-friendly robot vacuum designed to provide efficient cleaning for everyday households. While it may not boast the advanced features of premium models, the Roomba 694 still offers a solid performance with smart features and reliable cleaning capabilities. This review will explore its features, performance, pros, cons, and overall value to help you decide if the Roomba 694 is the right choice for your cleaning needs.

Introduction to the Roomba 694

The Roomba 694 is designed to make vacuuming easier and more convenient for homeowners looking for a straightforward and cost-effective solution. Equipped with basic yet effective navigation, a three-stage cleaning system, and app compatibility, it’s ideal for smaller homes or those new to robot vacuums. It may not have some of the high-end features like self-emptying bins or advanced mapping, but it still delivers a reliable cleaning experience.

Whether you’re looking to clean hard floors or low-pile carpets, the Roomba 694 provides a solid option for everyday maintenance without breaking the bank. Let’s dive into the key features and performance of this robot vacuum.

Key Features of the Roomba 694

1. Three-Stage Cleaning System The Roomba 694 uses a three-stage cleaning system to effectively lift dirt, dust, and debris from your floors. It employs dual multi-surface brushes, a suction system, and a side brush to clean edges and corners. This system ensures thorough cleaning on both carpets and hard floors.

2. iRobot HOME App Compatibility With the iRobot HOME app, the Roomba 694 can be controlled and scheduled remotely. You can set cleaning schedules, monitor the vacuum’s progress, and customize your cleaning preferences. The app gives you greater control over your cleaning routine, even when you’re not at home.

3. Works with Alexa and Google Assistant The Roomba 694 is compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control the vacuum with voice commands. Whether you want to start a cleaning session or check its status, voice commands add extra convenience.

4. Simple Navigation The Roomba 694 features basic navigation technology that allows it to navigate around furniture and obstacles. While it doesn’t have advanced mapping or room-specific cleaning, it uses a methodical cleaning pattern that ensures most of your floors are covered.

5. Automatic Recharge When the battery runs low, the Roomba 694 will automatically return to its charging dock to recharge. Once fully charged, it resumes cleaning from where it left off, ensuring a continuous cleaning experience without your intervention.

6. Compact Design The Roomba 694’s compact design makes it ideal for smaller spaces, such as apartments or homes with narrow hallways and tight corners. Its low profile allows it to clean under furniture like sofas and beds, which is often a difficult task for larger vacuums.

7. Affordable Price Point One of the key selling points of the Roomba 694 is its budget-friendly price. It offers a good balance of basic functionality and performance without the high cost of premium models, making it an excellent choice for those on a budget.

Performance and Efficiency

The Roomba 694 delivers solid performance across both hard floors and low-pile carpets. The three-stage cleaning system ensures that dirt, dust, and pet hair are effectively removed, leaving your floors looking cleaner. Its suction power is suitable for everyday cleaning needs, but it may struggle with deeper carpet cleaning or larger debris.

While the Roomba 694 lacks advanced features like smart mapping, it is still quite efficient in cleaning open areas and navigating around obstacles. It may need to make several passes in more cluttered spaces, but it generally covers the entire area.

The vacuum is best suited for homes that don’t have a lot of clutter or complex floor plans. It performs well in smaller homes, apartments, or single rooms but may take longer to clean larger or more complex spaces.

Battery Life and Charging

The Roomba 694 is equipped with a lithium-ion battery that provides up to 90 minutes of cleaning time on a single charge. This runtime is sufficient for smaller homes or apartments, but it may be a bit limiting for larger spaces. When the battery gets low, the vacuum automatically returns to its charging dock and recharges. It will resume cleaning once it has sufficient power.

Pros of the Roomba 694

• Affordable price: The Roomba 694 offers great value for its price, making it a budget-friendly option for those new to robot vacuums.

• Three-stage cleaning system: Provides an efficient cleaning process for hard floors and low-pile carpets.

• iRobot HOME app compatibility: Allows you to control and schedule cleaning from your smartphone, even when you’re away.

• Voice control with Alexa and Google Assistant: Offers hands-free control using voice commands.

• Compact design: Ideal for smaller spaces and easily navigates under furniture.

• Automatic recharge: Returns to its charging station when the battery is low, resuming cleaning after recharging.

Cons of the Roomba 694

• Basic navigation: Lacks advanced mapping or smart navigation, which can lead to less efficient cleaning in larger or more complex spaces.

• Limited runtime: The 90-minute battery life may not be enough for larger homes or more demanding cleaning tasks.

• No pet waste avoidance: Unlike higher-end models, the Roomba 694 doesn’t feature pet waste detection or avoidance technology.

• No self-emptying bin: Requires manual emptying of the dustbin, which can be inconvenient in the long run.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Roomba 694

To maximize the performance of your Roomba 694, here are a few tips:

1. Set regular cleaning schedules: Use the iRobot HOME app to set daily or weekly cleaning schedules to maintain cleanliness in your home.

2. Maintain the brushes: Clean the side brushes and multi-surface brushes regularly to prevent hair tangles and ensure optimal suction.

3. Clear obstacles from the floor: Although the Roomba 694 can navigate around obstacles, clearing the floor of clutter will help it clean more efficiently.

4. Empty the dustbin regularly: While it’s not a self-emptying model, emptying the dustbin regularly will ensure the vacuum runs at its best.

Conclusion

The Roomba 694 is an excellent entry-level robot vacuum that offers a great balance of affordability, ease of use, and solid cleaning performance. While it lacks some of the high-end features found in more expensive models, such as advanced navigation, pet waste avoidance, or self-emptying bins, it still provides reliable cleaning for everyday needs.

Its three-stage cleaning system, app control, and compatibility with voice assistants make it a convenient option for smaller homes or apartments. If you’re looking for an affordable and reliable robot vacuum that covers the basics, the Roomba 694 is a great choice that delivers value without the premium price tag.