In this comprehensive comparison, we delve into the Roomba E6 vs 694, aiming to provide you with a detailed assessment of their differences in features, performance, and suitability for various cleaning needs.
The Roomba E6 offers a relatively better cleaning performance and filtration system. With a brush system comprised of two rubber brush rolls, it boasts high efficiency in hair-tangling resistance. Its high-efficiency filter is outstanding in capturing microdusts and allergens.
On the other hand, the Roomba 694 comes at a more budget-friendly price point while still offering solid cleaning performance. Its dual-brush system with a traditional bristle brush does a commendable job on different floor types. However, the bristle brush encounters difficulty moving on the fluffy, high-pile carpet and has a hair-tangling problem. Besides, its filter is the standard one, inferior to that of the Roomba E6 in terms of filtering microdust.
Roomba E6 Vs 694: Comparison Chart
Roomba E6 Vs 694: Differences
In Roomba E6 vs 694 comparison, the E6 is the better model for me, winning 2-0 against its rival. The Roomba 694 is not a bad choice, but the Roomba E6 has more upgraded features. For daily home cleaning, the Roomba E6 outperforms the Roomba 694 in efficiency tests.
Cleaning performance
Winner: Roomba E6
Suction & Brush system
| Roomba E6 | Roomba 694 | |
|---|---|---|
| Airflow (cfm) | ~8.2 | ~7 |
The suction power of the Roomba E6 is slightly higher than that of the Roomba 694, but in general, their suction is light compared to the higher-priced models of the same brand. However, their performance on the carpet is impressive, mostly attributed to their dual brush rolls.
The Roomba E6 and 694 all feature dual brush rolls for the main brush system; however, the Roomba 694 includes one bristle brush and one rubber brush, while the Roomba E6 comes with two rubber brushes. The rubber brushes prove their advantages over the bristle brush in terms of hair resistance and assisting the robot’s movement on high carpets.
Hard floors
Both the Roomba 694 and E6 demonstrate good performance when cleaning hard floors, particularly in picking up small and lightweight debris such as cat litter, cereal, and rice. However, when confronted with denser and finer debris like sand, their relatively lower suction power can lead to some remnants being left behind after the initial pass. Consequently, additional cleaning cycles are often necessary to achieve a thorough clean.
They perform well in edge cleaning tests as their 3-prong side brushes feature an adequate length to get the dust from edges out to the cleaning path of the bots. However, their strong spinning side brushes often scatter debris piles on hard floors. This problem does not affect their pick-up efficiency but extends the overall cleaning time.
Carpets
| Roomba E6 | Roomba 694 | |
|---|---|---|
| Medium carpet | ~ 88.7% | ~ 86% |
| Low carpet | ~ 91% | ~ 90% |
The Roomba 694 often struggles with the transition from bare floor to carpet. It noticed that it often made contact with the carpet’s edges and then turned around, moving in another direction. In contrast, the Roomba E6 can climb on my carpets easily.
However, these Roomba bots show the same issue, which is that they refuse to clean my black rugs and carpets. They definitely work on light-colored carpets, but when there is a black one, they do not go on and turn cleaning around it. Maybe they think the black carpet is hollow and avoid it.
In terms of carpet cleaning efficiency, the Roomba E6 outperforms its counterpart in various tests. It achieves an impressive pickup efficiency of approximately 89% on medium carpets and around 91% on low-pile carpets. The Roomba 694 performance is also good, with an efficiency above 85% in all carpet cleaning experiments.
Hairs
These two Roomba bots can help you collect pet hairs and human hairs very well. After a running test, the amount of pet hair collected in their dustbins shames me! So they are my good friends to keep my house clean when it is shedding season.
However, the Roomba E6 distinguishes itself with its better resistance to hair tangling, thanks to its adoption of rubber brushes. I tested their hair resistance efficiency with hair strands of 10 inches and 7 inches; the Roomba E6 impressively reduces hair entanglement on the roller by up to 87-90%. In contrast, the Roomba 694’s hair entanglement efficiency is about 70-75%.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Roomba E6
When it comes to handling tangled hair, the Roomba E6 surpasses the Roomba 694 thanks to its rubber brush rolls. With the rubber brush rolls, I don’t need to cut the wrapped hair, just detach the roller and pull out the hair effortlessly. Meanwhile, with the bristle brush like on the Roomba 694, I need to cut the tangled hair, and it often takes more time to clean the roller.
It is recommended to perform regular maintenance for both robot vacuums, checking and cleaning the side brushes and castor wheels regularly to ensure the best performance for your robotic vacuums.
One notable improvement in the Roomba E6 is the high-efficiency filter (HEPA filter). In contrast, the Roomba 694 utilizes a standard filter. The introduction of a HEPA filter in the Roomba E6 brings distinct advantages, especially for pet owners. It excels in capturing microdusts and allergens, making it a more ideal choice for individuals with allergies or asthma.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that the filters of the Roomba E6 and 694 are not washable, necessitating replacement every 3 to 6 months for optimal performance.
Roomba E6 Vs 694: Similarities
Design & Usability
Navigation & Mapping
The two Roomba bots, E6 and 694 models, employ a random reactive navigation system, relying on sensors to detect dirt during their cleaning journey throughout your home. They do not have vSLAM or LiDAR technology to map the house and create and save floor plans. In my tests, they move and cover the floor more effectively in small and bare rooms than in large and cluttered rooms.
Notably, both of them come equipped with dirt sensors and cliff sensors. The dirt sensors serve a valuable function by identifying dirtier areas, enabling the robots to concentrate their cleaning efforts on these spots for a more thorough cleaning. Furthermore, the cliff sensors effectively prevent them from tumbling down stairs, enhancing their safety during operation.
Obstacle avoidance
The notable disadvantage of these two entry-level Roomba bots is the lack of obstacle-avoidance capabilities. This deficiency results in frequent collisions with furniture, as well as inadvertently pushing items like shoes and plastic cans scattered on the floor. Additionally, they tend to entangle their brush rolls with cords and wires or even socks. So, it is necessary to clean items from the floor before initiating cleaning with either the Roomba E6 or 694.
However, it’s worth noting that both models are compatible with the Virtual Wall barrier, which can be employed to create boundaries and deter the robots from venturing into areas used for storing cords and wires. Nonetheless, achieving effective boundary setting often requires the use of two virtual wall barriers. Thus, if your home includes multiple no-go zones or intricate layouts, I think you should consider upgrading to a more advanced model like the Roomba i7 or J7.
Battery & Noise
| Roomba 960 | Roomba 694 | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (Max) | ~ 90 minutes | ~ 90 minutes |
| Charging time | ~ 2 hours | ~ 2 hours |
| Noise level | ~ 66-73 dB | ~ 65-71 dB |
Both of them boast similar runtime and charging time. However, they lack the smart charge & resume feature like on the higher-tier models, making cleaning in large rooms less efficient.
The noise levels of the Roomba 694 and E6 lie in the range of 65 to 73 dB, depending on the surface types they are on. Some people may find this noise too loud, but for me, such levels are okay, not too noisy.
Control
Physical control
The Roomba E6 keeps buttons for Dock, Power & Clean, and Spot Cleaning functions, as seen in the Roomba 694. However, the arrangement of these buttons is changed on the E6 model. Rather than being aligned vertically, they have been repositioned horizontally, with the Dock button now situated on the left side and the Spot button on the right side of the Clean & Power button.
The Dock button serves the purpose of immediately halting cleaning operations and directing the robots back to their charging docks. Meanwhile, the Spot button provides control for the robots to perform concentrated cleaning in a targeted area where they are placed. The Clean & Power button offers versatile control options, enabling you to initiate cleaning, pause and resume cleaning cycles, or stop the robots altogether.
Additionally, above these control buttons, you will find three indicators. These indicators offer essential information regarding the robot’s status, encompassing Wi-Fi connectivity, battery life, and full-bin status.
App control
Both the Roomba E6 and 694 have WiFi connectivity, meaning you can control them with the iRobot app. The app is easy to install and use with basic settings. I can get the Roomba 694 and E6 to start cleaning just by touching the CLEAN button on my phone’s screen. Moreover, they can connect with voice assistants like Alexa or Google, so I can easily speak to them and ask them to clean the house without lifting a finger.
In the app, I can track their history of cleaning and set a weekly cleaning schedule. The app also notifies me of the problems happening with my Roomba, such as where they get stuck, low battery life, and what I need to clean.
Quick Rundown of iRobot Roomba E6
- iRobot Roomba e6 Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum - Wi-Fi Connected, Works with Alexa, Ideal for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard, Self-Charging Robotic Vacuum
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE AND POWERFUL PICK-UP - Pulls in stubborn dirt and messes with a Premium 3-Stage Cleaning System and 5X the Power-Lifting Suction.* Control how you clean with the iRobot HOME app or your voice assistant.
- IDEAL FOR HOMES WITH PETS - Unique Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes don't get tangled with pet hair. Brushes adjust and flex to stay in constant contact with carpets and hard floors. High-Efficiency Filter traps 99% of cat and dog allergens.
- LEARNS YOUR LIFE LISTENS TO YOUR VOICE - Learns your cleaning habits to offer up personalized schedules, while Google Assistant and Alexa allow you to start cleaning with just the sound of your voice. The e6 will even suggest an extra clean when your area’s pollen count is high or during pet shedding season.
- AUTOMATICALLY RECHARGES - Runs for up to 90 minutes before automatically docking and recharging. Compatible with:
Quick Rundown of iRobot Roomba 694
- Design: Sleek, premium design complements your home decor; The Roomba 694 is a great way to begin cleaning your home smarter. Just schedule it to clean up daily dirt, dust, and debris with the iRobot Home app or your voice assistant. - for effortlessly clean floors
- Auto-Adjust Cleaning Head: Auto-Adjust Cleaning Head automatically adapts its height to effectively clean carpets and hard floors
- Adaptive Navigation: A full suite of advanced sensors allows Roomba to navigate under and around furniture, and along edges. Cliff Detect keeps it from falling downstairs
- Clean Floors Every Day: The Roomba 694 provides a system of cleaning features and smart sensors that allow the robot to adjust to your unique home and deliver a daily clean
- Automatically Recharges: The Robot Vacuum runs for up to 90 minutes before automatically docking and recharging
Product Videos
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References:
- iRobot Roomba E6: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/wi-fi–connected-roomba-e6-robot-vacuum/E619820.html
- iRobot Roomba 694: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-vacuuming-robot-vacuum-irobot-roomba-69-4020/R694020.html
Richard B. Schmidt is a prominent figure in the vacuum cleaner industry, boasting over 15 years of expertise. Armed with a Robotics Engineering degree from Northeastern University and a Master’s in Consumer Science from Harvard, his unique blend of technical knowledge and consumer insights positions him as a sought-after authority in vacuum cleaner evaluation. Richard’s career began at Dyson, where he contributed to the development of innovative vacuum models. Transitioning to advocacy and reviews, he co-founded the first Vacuum-focused blog in 2008, offering comprehensive analysis and user guides for various vacuum cleaners. In 2020, he founded RoboMop.net, providing ongoing insights through columns and buyer’s guides.