Eufy Versus iRobot [The Robot Vacuum Battle Of The Century]

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If you don’t already own a robot vacuum, you’re seriously missing out. Gone are the days of straining your back with a stick vac or having to bend to use a handheld model. With a robot vacuum, you can literally sit back, put your feet up on the coffee table, watch TV and let the robot do the work for you.

When it comes to cleaning, there’s nothing better. But there’s one main reason why some people don’t already have one: price.

And that’s why so many people are talking about Eufy.

iRobot is the original and the most popular, brand of robot vacuums. But they usually come with a hefty price tag that a lot of people can’t afford.

iRobot has a variety of models that range in price from about $250 to upwards of $1400. Yes, $1,400! But now Eufy is on the scene with models that rival the iRobot Roomba, offering similar features at lower price points.

Now let’s be clear, that $1,400 Roomba s9+ vacuum is AMAZING. It does everything you could ever want it to do, including mop your floors. But that’s not the one we’re talking about today.

Today we’re comparing the Eufy RoboVac 11S model, priced at $219.99 to one of iRobot’s most affordable models, the Roomba 690, priced at $250.

Here’s everything you need to know about how they operate, how they clean and what they can do.

Cleaning Technology

The whole purpose of a vacuum (robot or not) is that it cleans the way you need it to. Here’s how Eufy and iRobot compare when it comes to their cleaning technologies.

The Eufy Robovac 11S uses 1300Pa of suction strength with front and side brushes for ultimate cleaning. The main brush loosens and sweeps dust, while the side brushes allow it to clean a larger surface area. All of the dust gets sucked up into a 0.6L dust box, while a triple filter system prevents dust from returning back to the air.

With the Eufy you can choose auto cleaning, edge cleaning, spot cleaning or single room cleaning. You can tackle your entire home or attack one room or area that needs specific attention.

Here’s how the Roomba 690 compares:

The Roomba 690 uses a 3-stage cleaning system with dual multi-surface brushes, an edge-sweeping brush, and 600Pa of suction power. It also features a 0.6L dust box and an AeroVac filtration system to keep dust and allergens from escaping back into the air.

The suction power is less than Eufy, but the Roomba 690 also has Dirt Detect sensors. Those sensors allow it to focus on high traffic areas and concentrate on spots that have more dust and debris.

Unfortunately for Eufy, this robot doesn’t have the ability to know where it’s been or what areas it’s already cleaned. There is no mapping technology, it will run through your home in a somewhat random pattern and (sometimes) bump into obstacles that stand in its way.

RESULT: Roomba wins for knowing where it’s been and where it’s going.

Related: The 7 Best Vacuum Cleaners for Apartments

Run Time

The size of your home (and your current state of cleanliness) will largely determine how long you need your vacuum to run. Here’s how the Eufy and iRobot compare:

The Eufy Robovac 11S has a run time of 100 minutes. It’s more than sufficient for small to medium-sized homes that need day-to-day upkeep.

The Roomba 690 has a run time of 90 minutes on a full charge. When its battery starts to run low, it will automatically return to its base to charge.

RESULT: Eufy wins by a nose.

Smart Capabilities

Some robot vacs work with the press of a button. Others can be summoned to do their job via Alexa and voice commands. Deciding between the Eufy and the Roomba depends on how you want to command your robot.

The Eufy Robovac 11S comes with a remote control that allows you to start, stop and change the direction of the vacuum. You can schedule cleaning times, but it doesn’t have Wi-Fi capability and it can’t be synced to your smartphone. If you want to power it up, you’ll need to press a button.

The Roomba 690, on the other hand, works with Alexa and Google voice commands. You can also schedule cleaning times for every day of the week with the iRobot HOME app. “Alexa, start my Roomba” is all you need to say to get this sucker going.

RESULT: Roomba wins (if you’re too lazy to press a button on a remote control).

What It’s Good For

The Eufy is great for use on hardwood, laminate, marble, tile and vinyl flooring.

You can also use it on low and medium-pile carpets. It has enough power to get a mild amount of dust, dirt, debris, and pet hair from thin carpets. But it doesn’t have the ability to get super deep into thick carpet fibers. If your carpets are thicker than 16mm, you’ll probably want something with a bit more suction power.

The Roomba 690 is designed for use on all sorts of surfaces, including hardwood, vinyl, laminate, tile and carpet. It also features an auto-adjust cleaning head to adapt to the height differences between floors and carpets from room to room.

RESULT: Eufy has better suction power, so it wins if you have hardwood, tile, vinyl, or laminate flooring. 

What About Price?

If the price is of no concern, by all means, opt for the Roomba S9+. It’ll set you back about $1,400 bucks, but it will sweep, vacuum, suck up dirt deep from within carpets, and mop hardwood and tiled surfaces. But if you’re looking for a robot vac on a budget, the S9+ is not the model for you.

The Eufy Robovac 11S costs about $220. The Roomba 690 retails for about $250. Based on our comparisons above, both are viable options. It all depends on your individual needs.

The Roomba 690 will set you back about $250. As one of the most affordable models in the iRobot collection, this vacuum offers great everyday value. But if you really want to take advantage of all of the features that iRobot has to offer, you’ll want to step up to the S series instead.

RESULT: It’s a tie. 

Which is Better: Eufy or Roomba?

The best iRobots don’t even compare to the best Eufy models, the Roomba is WAY better. But if the price is of concern (as it is for most of us), the Eufy is definitely worth considering.

Before you buy your first (or next) robot vac, do your research.

Check prices on Amazon and Best Buy. Look for online discount codes and deals. And if you don’t want to buy one right now, don’t. As more competitors like Eufy come into the market, robot vacs will most likely continue to come down in price.

If you’re happy (for now) with your stick vac or dust buster, by all means, keep using it. It wouldn’t surprise us at all if, in the next two years, we start seeing robot vacs retailing for under $150.

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