If you are comparing “Roomba 698 vs i3“, this article will provide you with the conclusion. Both vacuums have their strengths, but I’ve reached a verdict after rigorous testing and comparing every detail.
The Roomba i3 is the clear winner in this comparison. Its superior cleaning algorithms and more powerful suction ensure that your floors are spotless after each run. Whether it’s the high-efficiency filter or its enhanced ability to tackle stubborn dirt, the i3 rightfully claims the top spot in this showdown.
The Roomba 698 is a great runner-up option if you’re looking for a reliable robot vacuum cleaner. It offers excellent cleaning performance and has some unique features of its own. If you’re on a tight budget but still want a decent performance, the 698 is a great option.
Roomba 698 vs i3: Comparison Chart
Roomba 698 vs i3: Differences
Cleaning Performance
Compatible floor types
Both the Roomba i3 and Roomba 698 are versatile when it comes to cleaning various surfaces, especially bare floors and medium-pile carpets. However, when dealing with crevices or shaggy carpets, they might not be as efficient and may leave remnants of dirt after their cleaning cycles.
My cleaning tests show that both models are pretty good at handling large debris, such as food crumbs or larger dust particles. However, they encounter some difficulties with fine, heavy particles like sand or cat litter. This may be a concern for households with pets or those located in sandy areas because the level of cleaning might be compromised.
After testing, I found that the Roomba i3 has better performance. It completes its cleaning cycles faster and does a more thorough job, leaving behind fewer missed spots and residues than the Roomba 698.
Pet hair performance
When faced with a moderate amount of pet hair scattered across the floor, both robots showcased commendable proficiency. At a glance, after their cleaning cycles, the floor appeared free from all pet hair, a result that would surely please many pet owners, including me.
However, when I checked the bottom of the robots, I got an issue. Although the floor appeared to be clean, a considerable amount of pet hair was entangled in the side brushes of both machines, even more than the amount collected in the dustbin. This may indicate a limitation in the design or functionality of the robots in handling and processing longer fibers, such as pet hair.
Without routine cleaning, side brushes can become less efficient or even damaged. Therefore, you should regularly check and clean these brushes.
Brush-roll system
Discussing the brush roll design of both the Roomba i3 and Roomba 698, distinct features emerge that set each model apart.
The Roomba i3 is equipped with iRobot’s patented multi-surface rubber brushes. These brushes have a unique design, including dual brush rolls that work together to maintain constant contact with the floor. One of the great things about rubber brushes is their adaptability; they can flex and adjust according to the type of floor being cleaned, whether carpet or hard floors, ensuring optimal debris pickup. Moreover, the rubber material reduces the likelihood of pet hair getting tangled, and it’s easy to detangle as well.
In contrast, the Roomba 698 incorporates a more traditional bristle brush design. Although a bristle brush is effective at lifting dirt, particularly from carpets, it lacks the adaptive flexibility of the rubber brushes found in the i3. One issue with the bristle brush is that it may get tangled more easily, especially with long pet or human hair. As a result, you may need to clean the brush roll more often to ensure optimal performance.
Design & Usability
Build quality
The Roomba i3 has a solid and durable design. The materials used have a high-quality feel, providing a sense of durability. The rubberized brushes are well-designed, adapting flexibly to different floor types while resisting wear and tear. Its buttons and interface are seamlessly integrated, enhancing functionality and aesthetic appeal.
On the other hand, while the Roomba 698 demonstrates good build quality, it feels more basic than the i3. This does not affect its performance, but it is clear that the 698 is intended as a more functional design than a stylish one.
Dimensions and weight
The Roomba i3 has compact dimensions, measuring 13.26 inches in width and 3.63 inches in height. This allows it to easily navigate narrow spaces or fit under low-clearance furniture. The robot weighs 7.44 lbs, which is both lightweight and sturdy, giving it a high-quality build and stability during operation.
The Roomba 698 has a larger width, but a lower height than its competitor. It measures 13.78 inches in width and 3.58 inches in height. Although the difference in width may seem small, it can affect its ability to navigate tight spaces or certain furniture setups. However, the slightly shorter height of the Roomba 698 may be advantageous when dealing with ultra-low furniture.
About the weight, the Roomba 698 is heavier than the Roomba i3, weighing in at 8.59 lbs. The additional weight may make it a bit harder to move, but it also adds stability during cleaning cycles.
Battery and charging
Both machines come with Li-ion batteries. They have the same recharge time, but the battery life is a bit different.
The Roomba i3 offers up to 75 minutes of battery life. This number is not really good, but not bad, though. For larger homes or areas with many obstacles, the i3 may need to recharge before completing its task, but for average-sized homes, this duration is sufficient for a thorough cleaning cycle.
This robot has the “recharge and resume” function, so when it’s time to recharge, it will automatically come back to the charging dock with a recharge time of about 2 hours. Then, it will resume cleaning where it left off once the battery is sufficiently charged.
The Roomba 698 has a slight advantage when it comes to battery life, lasting up to 90 minutes. It also requires about 2 hours for a full recharge and will return to the charging dọc itself when the battery is low.
The Roomba 698 has a longer battery life compared to the Roomba i3. However, it takes more time to clean the same area and amount of dirt than the i3. Nevertheless, the Roomba i3 has a “recharge and resume” feature, making battery life less of a concern. In addition, the actual runtime can vary based on several factors, such as the amount of dirt, the type of flooring, the room layout, etc.
Navigation and obstacle avoidance
The Roomba i3 comes equipped with a floor tracking sensor, which allows the robot to move in neat, straight rows while cleaning. This feature ensures a more systematic cleaning process and makes it visually satisfying for you. The floor tracking sensor enables the i3 to cover ground efficiently and reduces the chances of missing spots or repeatedly going over the same areas.
In contrast to the i3, the Roomba 698 navigates in a more random manner, lacking a structured row-by-row cleaning pattern. Consequently, it moves unpredictably around rooms.
Their same point is that both use cliff sensors to avoid falling down stairs and front bumpers to prevent collisions.
However, the common downside is that these models have a limitation: they cannot detect and avoid obstacles. For example, your robots don’t recognize things like pet feces and just pass through them.
Noise level
During my tests, I observed that the Roomba 698 was noisier in comparison to the Roomba i3. On hard floors, it produced a noise level of 70–71 decibels (dB), while on low-pile carpets, it was slightly reduced to 68–69 dB.
Meanwhile, the Roomba i3 fared better in terms of acoustics. It generated between 60 and 64 decibels, contingent upon the floor type and the amount of dirt being tackled. This range is significantly quieter than its counterpart, the 698. For context, the difference of 6–10 dB might not sound like much, but in the world of sound, even a few decibels can translate into a perceivable difference to the human ear.
Control
These two machines provide users with two options to control them.
The two devices provide physical controls that allow users to perform straightforward operations such as starting, pausing, cleaning up spots, or docking.
Additionally, you can control and monitor these iRobot vacuums through its mobile app. The app allows you to schedule cleaning sessions, check cleaning history, and get real-time updates on the robot’s status. However, these robots lack advanced features such as no-go zones, room cleaning, and zoned cleaning since they cannot save a created map. They will create a new one every time it starts cleaning.
Cleaning & Maintenance
The Roomba i3 comes equipped with a high-efficiency filter that is specifically designed to capture 99% of pollen, mold, and allergens. This advanced filtration system is a major benefit for households prioritizing air quality and allergen control, especially those with pets or allergies.
On the other hand, the Roomba 698 comes equipped with a standard AeroVac filter, which does a decent job of capturing most household dust and debris. However, it may not be as effective at trapping finer allergens as the high-efficiency filter found in the i3.
Regarding their dustbin capacity, the Roomba 698 has a larger bin, which can hold 600 ml of dirt, while the Roomba i3 comes with a 500 ml dustbin. The same point is that these bins are easy to detach and clean. Both robots are equipped with a full-bin indicator, which is a beneficial feature that alerts you when the bin needs to be emptied.
Besides, the Roomba i3 has a dirt disposal port at the bottom. This port is compatible with the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal system, which allows the Roomba i3 to automatically empty itself for up to 60 days. The Clean Base contains a dirtbag that has a capacity of more than 2 liters, so you won’t need to change it too frequently. However, the Clean Base is sold separately for the i3, so you’ll need to pay an additional fee if you want to purchase it.
Quick Rundown Of Roomba i3
- From 2019 to 2023, Lefant Robot Vacuums iterates from model M201, M210 to the third generation M210 pro with more suction power, longer lasting batteries, softer sound, and higher recharge rates!
- IDEAL FOR FAMILIES WITH PETS - Powerful suction allows the Lefant M210 Pro to completely pick up debris, pet hair and trash, even in corners! All you have to do is press the button or click on the Lefant APP to turn it on, the powerful suction and unique inlet design won't clog (even with pet hair), perfect for families with pets.
- COMPACT BODY - Compared to other robot vacuum, it's very compact with a height of 2.99 inches so the Lefant robot vacuums can fit under furniture, which other vacuum robots can't do due to their height. Lefant M210 Pro is so quiet that you can watch TV while it is running. It will not affect pets that are afraid of robot vacuum cleaners.
- CONNECT TO APP FASTER - M210 Pro expands the Bluetooth + WiFi distribution network and the efficiency is increased by 2 times. The robotic vacuum can be controlled via App/Alexa/Google Assistant. Use the Lefant App to monitor the cleaning path, schedule cleaning plan, adjust suction level, change cleaning mode, etc. Note：It only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi.
- SIX CLEANING MODES - The smart robot vacuum cleaner supports multiple cleaning modes, including ➋ Arranged cleaning (zigzag route) ➋ Random cleaning ➌ Fixed-point cleaning ➍ Wall cleaning ➎ Timed cleaning ➏ Manually controlling the direction.
Quick Rundown Of Roomba 698
- This Lefant M210 robotic vacuum cleaner is good for families with pets.
- Why the Lefant M210 can't connect to the APP: Please make sure you are using the new App-Lefant, waiting for you to unlock more features that were not available in the old App-Lefant Life.
- 【Small Body Design】: Are you still worried that the vacuum can't go under the furniture to clean? This Lefant M210 with an 11'' diameter and 2.99" Height works easily under or around beds, sofas and other furniture for a thorough cleaning and high coverage.
- 【Unique Brushless Suction Port】: Robot vacuum powered by a strong digital motor provides strong suction power. The unique Brushless Suction structure ensures that pet hair and dirt go into the dustbin easily, unlike roller brushes, suction does not entangle hair.
- 【6 Clean Modes Your Needs】: Vacuum Cleaner Robot offers 6 clean modes, including zigzag, random, spot, edge, schedule timed, and manual control. Freely switch among different modes and power levels as you want via the Lefant App. Note: Do not use Zigzag mode on carpet.
Product Videos
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References:
- Roomba i3: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-i3-evo-robot-vacuum/I315020.html
- Roomba 689: https://www.irobot.co.uk/en_GB/irobot-roomba-698/R698040.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.