The iRobot Roomba 694 is an entry-level model within iRobot's lineup of robot vacuums. Compared to higher-end models like the iRobot Roomba i3, it has a far more basic navigational system that relies on random pathing to move around a room, with no room mapping capability and therefore no support for added features like scheduling cleaning sessions for individual rooms. That said, it's a good option if you're looking for a no-frills robot vacuum that you can use without an internet connection.
While there are multiple variants of this vacuum, they only really differ in color and included accessories. Further details on the differences between models are outlined in the Differences Between Variants section of the review.
The iRobot 694 is a decent option for bare floors. It clears away solid debris without much difficulty, though it struggles with pet hair. Thankfully, it's well-built and compact, meaning it can clean under most furniture. While its automation features are somewhat limited, aside from its surface detection function, it still has good area coverage, and you can use it without an internet connection.
The iRobot 694 is middling for low-pile carpet. It delivers poor overall debris pickup performance on this surface type, even with the rare-for-its-price automatic surface detection system. It also incurs high recurring costs, with many parts needing replacing periodically.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is a sub-par option for vacuuming high-pile carpet. Its surface detection feature lets it automatically change its suction power on carpet, but it still struggles with sucking up pet hair and may require a couple of extra passes to fully clear away solid debris.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is a poor fit for pet owners. It struggles to pick up pet hair on all surface types and has a very tangle-prone bristled brushroll. It also does a terrible job of sealing in allergens, so it isn't the best choice for those who suffer from allergies. Like many robot vacuums, it has many parts that need regular cleaning and incurs high recurring costs.
The iRobot Roomba 694 isn't designed for use on stairs.
The iRobot Roomba 694 isn't designed for use in cars.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is a robot vacuum and isn't designed for workshop cleaning.
There are three variants of this vacuum, but mechanically, they're almost identical and differ only slightly in terms of included accessories and appearance. We tested the 694 variant, and you can see its label here.
Model Number | Included Accessories | Color | Notes |
Roomba 690 | 2x AeroVac Filters, Virtual Barrier device | Silver | Mechanically identical to 692 and 694 variant, but uses an older-design top plate with an integrated carrying handle. |
Roomba 692 | 1x AeroVac Filter | Black | Amazon exclusive variant |
Roomba 694 | 2x AeroVac Filters | Black |
If you encounter another variant of this vacuum, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is a basic robot vacuum. Even compared to entry-level smart-pathing models like the iRobot Roomba i1, its mapping system is pretty rudimentary, as you can't set up virtual boundary markers or schedule cleaning sessions for individual rooms. However, that isn't to say it's without merit. Its simple design makes it a solid option if you don't want to deal with the hassle of pairing your smartphone to the vacuum, and don't require much in terms of automation features. While it struggles with pet hair and finer debris, it has a surface detection feature that enables it to adjust its brushroll height automatically depending on the floor type it's on.
If you're looking for an alternative, see our recommendations for the best robot vacuums, the best robot vacuums for pet hair, and the best robot vacuums for hardwood floors.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is slightly better than the Shark ION Robot AV753 Series. The iRobot has fewer parts that need regular cleaning, incurs lower recurring costs, charges substantially faster, has an automatic surface-type adjustment function, and offers superior maneuverability. However, the Shark has a slightly larger dustbin.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is slightly better than the eufy RoboVac 11S. The iRobot is better-built, easier to maintain, incurs fewer recurring costs, and takes less time to recharge while offering a longer maximum battery life, though this can vary in the real world. It can also climb over low-lying obstructions, like electrical cords, with less difficulty and also delivers better overall performance on bare floors. However, the eufy does a better job sucking up pet hair from all surface types. While it lacks a companion app, unlike the iRobot, you can use it without an internet connection with its included remote control.
The Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum is better than the iRobot Roomba 694 for most uses. The Xiaomi has fewer parts needing regular cleaning, is fitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, has more advanced automation capabilities, does a better job maneuvering itself, and sucks up more debris on bare floors and low-pile carpet. However, unlike the iRobot, the Xiaomi can't be used on high-pile carpet. The iRobot also feels better built and charges faster.
The iRobot Roomba j7 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The j7 has a pet waste detection feature and is advertised as capable of independently recognizing your schedule and organizing cleaning sessions around it. It also feels better built, does a better job of maneuvering itself, and clears more debris on carpeted floors. The pricier j7+ variant comes with a self-emptying base station that reduces hands-on maintenance requirements, too. However, the 694 performs better on bare floors.
The iRobot Roomba i3 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The i3 can empty its internal dustbin into an external dirt compartment attached to its charging dock. It also has a smart pathing feature, yielding superior maneuverability and allowing you to check a map of its cleaning coverage or schedule cleaning sessions in advance. The i3 also delivers better performance on all surface types. Meanwhile, the 694 has a longer battery life, though this can vary in the real world.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is better than the eufy RoboVac G30. The iRobot feels more sturdily built, incurs fewer recurring costs, has a larger dustbin, charges much faster, maneuvers over obstructions like electrical cords with less difficulty, and delivers better performance on bare floors and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the eufy has an adjustable suction power setting.
The iRobot Roomba E5 is a better vacuum than the iRobot Roomba 694. The E5 clears pet hair much more easily and has a better cleaning performance overall on low-pile carpet. That said, the 694 has a better performance on bare floors, and its battery lasts longer.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is better than the eufy RoboVac 30C. The iRobot feels better-built, has a longer battery life, recharges much faster, maneuvers itself more effectively, and delivers superior performance on bare and carpeted floors. However, unlike the iRobot, the eufy has physical boundary strips to keep it out of certain areas, though the 690 variant of the iRobot does come with a virtual boundary device.
The iRobot Roomba i4 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The i4 has fewer parts that require regular cleaning and a smart-pathing navigational system, which yields superior maneuverability. The i4 does a better job cleaning debris on low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the 694 clears more debris on bare floors, has a bigger dirt compartment, and lasts longer on a single charge, though this can vary in the real world.
The Roborock S7 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The Roborock feels better built, has fewer parts needing regular cleaning, comes with a mopping attachment, offers a broader range of automation features, does a better job of maneuvering itself, and performs better on all surface types. Meanwhile, the iRobot charges faster and has a larger dustbin.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is a little better than the eufy RoboVac 15C. The iRobot feels better-made, has fewer maintenance requirements, incurs lower recurring costs, charges much faster, maneuvers itself with less difficulty, and performs better on bare floors. Meanwhile, the eufy has a slightly larger dustbin, and you can use it without an internet connection.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694, which isn't surprising given that the S9 is the premium option. The premium-priced S9 feels better-built, has an onboard HEPA filter, uses a larger dustbin, has a far more advanced suit of automation capabilities, does a better job of maneuvering itself, and performs better on all surfaces. However, the 694 incurs lower recurring costs.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is better than the Shark ION Robot RV700 Series. The iRobot feels better-built, has fewer parts needing regular cleaning, and incurs lower recurring costs. It also does a better job of maneuvering itself and charges faster, though the Shark does have a longer battery life. The Shark also has a slightly larger dustbin and comes with a set of physical boundary strips in the box, unlike the iRobot, with which you need to purchase the boundary strips separately, though you can also opt for the older Roomba 690 variant that comes with a virtual barrier device.
The iRobot Roomba i1 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The i1 is easier to maintain, does a better job handling pet hair, and offers a more comprehensive suite of automation features, including smart pathing and full compatibility with self-emptying base stations. The i1 also does a much better job of sealing in fine particles. Conversely, the 694 doesn't struggle as much with bulky debris, thanks to a beater brush that crushes larger debris before it gets sucked up.
The Shark IQ Robot AV992 Series and iRobot Roomba 694 each have advantages, so one might suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Shark has a longer battery life, a broader range of automation features, and superior performance on low and high-pile carpet, especially with pet hair. However, the iRobot feels better built, incurs lower recurring costs, has fewer parts needing periodic cleaning, and recharges much faster.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is better than the Coredy R550 (R500+). The iRobot is better-built, incurs lower recurring costs, maneuvers itself more effectively, performs notably better on bare floors and high-pile carpet, and charges much faster while offering a similar battery life. It also has a companion app and a more advanced suite of automation features. That said, the Coredy doesn't need an internet connection to function and has a HEPA filter.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The Ecovacs feels better-built, incurs lower recurring costs, has a mopping attachment, does a better job of maneuvering itself, and has a more advanced suite of automation features. Its battery life is also more than twice as long, though the iRobot charges in less than a third of a time. The iRobot also has fewer parts requiring regular maintenance.
The Shark EZ Robot Self-Empty is better for more use cases than the iRobot Roomba 694. The Shark has a self-emptying feature that lets it dump any accumulated debris from its internal dustbin into an external dirt compartment mounted on its charging station. The Shark does a better job maneuvering itself and clears more debris on carpeted floors. However, the iRobot feels better-built, has fewer parts that need regular cleaning, and incurs lower recurring costs.
The Shark IQ Robot is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The Shark has a slightly bigger dustbin, lasts a little longer on a single charge, delivers superior performance on bare and carpeted floors, and comes with physical boundary strips to keep it out of certain areas. You can also use its companion app to direct it to a specific room. Conversely, the iRobot feels better-built, incurs lower recurring costs, and has fewer parts that need regular cleaning. The 690 variant of the iRobot also comes with a virtual barrier device to keep the vacuum from entering certain spaces.
The eufy RoboVac X8 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The eufy incurs lower recurring costs, has a longer battery life, allows you to change its suction power mode manually, and performs better on all surfaces. You can also use its companion app to set up virtual boundary markers or schedule cleaning sessions for specific rooms. Conversely, the iRobot feels better built, charges faster, and maneuvers itself more effectively.
The Roborock S4 is superior to the iRobot Roomba 694 for most uses. The Roborock has fewer parts needing regular cleaning, a larger dustbin, a longer battery life, and more advanced automation capabilities. It also performs better on bare floors and low-pile carpet and does a better job maneuvering itself. However, the Roborock isn't suitable for cleaning high-pile carpet, unlike the iRobot.
The Roborock S5 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The Roborock has fewer parts requiring regular cleaning, lasts longer on a single charge, comes with a mopping attachment for bare floors, maneuvers itself more effectively, and performs better on bare floors and low-pile carpet. It also has a broader range of automation features. Conversely, the iRobot charges faster.
The iRobot Roomba 960 is slightly better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The 960 has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, a larger dustbin, better maneuverability, and a broader range of automation features. It does a much better job clearing pet hair on different surfaces. However, the 694 does have a slightly longer battery life.
The Shark AI Robot and iRobot Roomba 694 each have advantages, so one may suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Shark has a longer battery life, maneuvers itself more effectively, has a wider array of automation features, and clears more debris on low-pile carpet. However, the iRobot feels better-built, has fewer parts requiring regular maintenance, charges much faster, and is slightly more effective on high-pile carpet.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is better than the ILIFE A4s. The iRobot is better-built, incurs lower recurring costs, maneuvers itself more effectively, and performs better on bare floors and high-pile carpet. It also charges much faster while offering a similar overall battery life. However, the ILIFE performs better on low-pile carpet.
The Wyze Robot Vacuum is superior to the iRobot Roomba 694. The Wyze has fewer parts that need periodic cleaning, uses an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, maneuvers itself more effectively, and performs better on bare floors as well as low- and high-pile carpets. You can also use the Wyze vacuum's companion app to set up virtual boundary markers or schedule cleaning sessions for individual rooms. Conversely, the iRobot has a larger dustbin and charges much faster.
The Roborock E4 is a better vacuum than the iRobot Roomba 694. The Roborock has a much better cleaning performance on bare floors and low-pile carpet, and it follows a more efficient cleaning path. Its dirt compartment is also larger, and its battery can last longer when used on the lowest power setting. However, the iRobot does a better job of picking up large debris like sand on high-pile carpet, and it has dirt sensors that detect which areas need a more thorough cleaning.
The iRobot Roomba 981 is a better vacuum than the iRobot Roomba 694. The 981 has a better cleaning performance on bare floors and low-pile carpet, though it performs similarly on high-pile carpet. It also follows a more efficient cleaning route than the 694. That said, the 694 has longer battery life.
The yeedi K650 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The yeedi has a larger dustbin, weighs less, has a longer maximum battery life, and performs better on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the iRobot feels better built, charges faster, maneuvers itself more effectively, and has fewer parts requiring regular maintenance.
The Roborock S4 Max is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The Roborock uses an E11 filter to trap some measure of allergens, has a larger dustbin, lasts longer on a single charge, has a more advanced suite of automation features, does a better job of maneuvering itself, and performs better on all surfaces. Conversely, the iRobot charges much faster.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is better than the iRobot Roomba 614, though the vacuums are similar in design. The 694 performs better across all surface types and has a much broader range of automation features than the 614, which doesn't have a companion app or even a remote control.
The iRobot Roomba 694 is slightly better than the iRobot Roomba 675. The 694 has a larger dustbin and delivers superior performance on bare floors as well as high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the 675 has a carrying handle that makes it easier to pick up and carry. The 675 also struggles less with sucking up larger material like sand from low-pile carpet.
The Neato Botvac D7 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The Neato has fewer parts that need periodic cleaning, is fitted with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, has a larger internal dustbin, and delivers better performance on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. It also has substantially more advanced automation features, with a more advanced LIDAR mapping system that allows for smart-pathing capability, allowing you to set up virtual boundary lines to keep it out of certain areas. However, the iRobot does incur lower recurring costs.
The iRobot Roomba i7 is superior to the iRobot Roomba 694. The i7 has a self-emptying feature that enables it to dump any accumulated debris from its internal dustbin into an external dirt compartment mounted on its charging station, reducing hands-on maintenance requirements. It also has a HEPA filter, maneuvers itself more effectively, clears more debris on carpeted floors, and allows you to set up virtual boundary markers or schedule cleaning sessions for specific areas using its companion app. Meanwhile, the 694 has a longer battery life and performs better on bare floors.
This vacuum feels very well-built. It has a high-grade hard plastic body and drive wheels with a rubber tread. The body feels sturdy, and its removable dustbin is made of thicker plastic than the dustbins found in other robot vacuums in the same price range, like the eufy RoboVac 11S. Out-of-the-box setup is very simple, only requiring you to plug in its docking station.
This vacuum has many parts that need regular maintenance.
This vacuum incurs high recurring costs.
You can buy all these parts together as a single 'Replenishment Kit', as seen here.
This vacuum is remarkably easy to store. It has a compact design that takes up very little room, and its charging station has a low-profile design that can fit in small nooks between furniture and walls.
The iRobot 694 has a mediocre dirt compartment. It's smaller than alternatives like the Roborock E4 and doesn't have a max fill sensor to indicate when it's full.
This vacuum's range is limited only by the remaining battery life and the room left in its dirt compartment. However, it can't go up or down stairs.
This vacuum is very portable. While the 692 and 694 models don't have a carrying handle, they're fairly light, so you can easily bring it between rooms. The 690 model, which has iRobot's older top plate design, features an integrated carrying handle, similar to the iRobot Roomba i7.
This vacuum offers outstanding battery performance. This vacuum has a surface detection feature that automatically adjusts its suction power depending on the floor type that it's on. As such, its battery life can vary significantly depending on the mix of carpets and bare floors in your home. If you have a home with minimal carpeting, it can provide over two hours of runtime on a single charge. There's a battery indicator light on top of the vacuum, and you can also see the battery level through its companion app.
This vacuum has a few quality-of-life features. It has a surface detection feature that allows it to change its suction power automatically depending on whether the vacuum is cleaning bare floors or high-pile carpet, or when it passes over an especially dirty area. Its head also changes height on carpeted floors.
This vacuum has a few accessories included. It has a two-part brushroll that uses a beater brush to crush debris and a bristle brush to pick up these smaller pieces. It also has a side brush that pushes debris around the vacuum toward its cleaning path.
Like many robot vacuums, especially entry-level models, the iRobot 694 exerts very little suction force at its floorhead. Its suction inlet is positioned too high above the contact surface to create a tight seal, so real-world suction measurements are low.
Airflow performance is poor, though the iRobot 694's performance in this regard is far from unusual when compared to most other budget-friendly robot vacuums. It'll have a hard time lifting up large amounts of debris.
This vacuum is very quiet, and you won't have to speak very loudly to be heard over the sound of its motor, even if it's cleaning within the same room. However, its wheels are somewhat squeaky, even in the absence of any significant obstructions.
This vacuum does a decent job of maneuvering itself. Despite the lack of room mapping capability, it's impressively thorough when it comes to coverage; while it might clean some areas more than once, it seldom misses other areas entirely. Still, you might want to consider something like the iRobot Roomba i1 if you're looking for an entry-level robot vacuum with smart pathing. The iRobot 694's small size lets it fit under furniture like couches and low tables. While it can move freely from bare floors to rugs, it can sometimes get caught on rug tassels. Thankfully, it can climb over low-lying obstacles like electrical cords, but it might push them around a bit.
Unlike the iRobot Roomba i1, which is equipped with a high-efficiency filter, this vacuum does a terrible job of sealing in fine allergens like pet dander.
The iRobot 694 has okay physical automation features. There are a trio of buttons on its top cover. The 'Clean' button has it start a cleaning session, the 'Dock' button has it return to its docking station, and the 'Spot Clean' button has it vacuum a small area. You can also set up voice commands with Alexa or Google Home devices. It's also compatible with magnetic boundary strips, which you can lay down to stop the vacuum from going to certain areas, but none are included, and they'll have to be purchased separately at an additional cost. That said, the older 690 model comes with a Virtual Barrier device that you can use to keep the robot from entering certain rooms. Unlike the iRobot Roomba i1, it isn't compatible with self-emptying docking stations, which would reduce hands-on maintenance requirements. Due to the lack of any sort of advanced mapping capability, there's no recharge and resume capability either, which would allow it to pick up a cleaning session from where it left off if it needed to return to its base station.
The iRobot HOME app is pretty comprehensive. You can use it to start and stop the vacuum, check the battery, schedule cleaning times, and get the vacuum to return to its charging dock. However, unlike the Wyze Robot Vacuum, this vacuum doesn't map out its coverage area, which would allow you to set up virtual boundary markers or schedule cleaning sessions for individual areas.