ECOVACS Deebot N79 vs. Roomba 690

Now more than ever before, there are tons of different options on the market for smart vacuum cleaning. But which brand is best? When comparing the ECOVACS Deebot N79 vs. Roomba 690, the battle is close but we feel the Roomba has the edge. The virtual wall barrier is just too good to pass up, but if you’re not tied to the option you can save some money and get many of the same features with the Deebot N79.

There are a lot that these robot cleaners have in common, and it’s clear that the smart vacuum market has significantly expanded. Both the Deebot and Roomba models offer a thorough clean that makes stressing over vacuuming a thing of the past. Both models are also pretty affordable, which makes them the perfect complement to homeowners on a budget. While they lack some of the convenience features that high-end models offer, they clean autonomously and effectively, and that’s what really counts.

We’ll go into detail on the Deebot N79 vs. Roomba 690 to give you a sense of what each model has to offer. If you’re looking for information on a specific feature, however, you can jump right to that spot using the navigation bar below!

ECOVACS Deebot N79 vs. Roomba 690 — Things in Common

  • App Control – Both the Deebot N79 and Roomba 690 are primarily controlled through a smartphone app.

    The ECOVACS app, available for both iOS and Android, allows you to effortlessly schedule cleaning, cycle between different modes, and even check up on the status of the current vacuuming session. The mobile app allows you to control your vacuum anytime, anywhere, so it’s incredibly simple to start up a clean while you’re running errands and come home to a freshly vacuumed home. Just keep in mind that in order to use the app you’ll need to be connected to 2.4GHz WiFi.

    The Roomba 690 offers many of the same features through the iHome App. It’s an incredibly intuitive experience that allows you to control your Roomba from wherever you happen to be as long as it’s hooked up to WiFi. Start a clean, adjust the schedule, and manage modes from work or on vacation with just your smartphone in hand.

  • Anti-Drop – The last thing you want when adding a new smart vacuum to your home is to have it drive itself off the stairs. You should be able to operate your robot on the second floor with little concern, as both brands offer Anti-Drop technology that can sense ledges and save the vacuum from disaster.

  • Anti-Collision – The navigation systems of the Deebot N79 and Roomba 690 are built with sensors that can detect obstacles and avoid any impact. While neither device has the ability to map out a room like you’d see with more premium Roombas like the 960 or 980, they will be able to expertly guide themselves around furniture and walls to ensure that they spend their time cleaning rather than ramming into various objects.

    On the off chance that your vacuum does run into an object, they shouldn’t cause any significant damage due to the bumper build into both brands.

  • Scheduling – No smart vacuum is worth your time if it doesn’t have scheduling. The main draw of the market as a whole is to make your cleaning more convenient, and both the Deebot N79 and Roomba 690 can clean on a regular schedule to keep your floors clean with no further input required. You’ll have to change the bin from time to time, but otherwise you can sit back, relax, and let your robot keep things tidy all on its own.

  • Self Charging – When your vacuum starts to get low on charge, it will navigate back to the base and start charging on its own. You won’t have to worry about hunting down a dead robot from wherever it ended up in the room, as the N70 and 690 are both built to sense when the battery is depleted and make it back to the base with plenty of time to spare.

  • Dual Surface, Multi-level Brush – Both the Deebot N79 and Roomba 690 are built with a multi-surface brush that allows it to seamlessly transition across different floor types. Whether it’s sweeping the linoleum in the kitchen or moving onto the carpet in the living room, you should see the same thorough clean regardless of flooring material.

    One advantage that the 690 has in this area, however, is the fact that the brushes can easily pick up pet hair without getting tangle. The Deebot is certainly a capable cleaner, but you may find yourself digging out clumps of hair from the brushes from time to time. You’ll have to keep an eye on the vacuum while it cleans to make sure it doesn’t get clogged, which is certainly a little inconvenient.

  • Spot Cleaning – The majority of cleaning with your Deebot or Roomba will be handled through the scheduling, but sometimes there’s a specific area that needs a deeper vacuuming. That’s where spot cleaning comes in.

    Simply take your N79 or 690, stick it in the dirty spot, and activate spot cleaning mode for a targeted deep clean of the specific area. Your vacuum will make circular passes around the spot and circle back around for a thorough clean of dirt and debris.

  • Dimensions – While the Roomba 690 is half an inch taller than the N79, both models are around the same size and equally efficient at navigating under most raised furniture. They both have a diameter of 13 inches, and the 690 is slightly heavier at 7.8 pounds versus the Deebot’s 6.7.

    Both vacuums also have heavy-duty, treaded wheels that allow them to stay steady and move efficiently across your home — regardless of the surface.


ECOVACS Deebot N79 vs. Roomba 690 — Differences

ECOVACS Deebot N79s pattern

  • Difference #1: Remote Control – While most of us probably have a smartphone, the Deebot N79 is a little bit more flexible in terms of control as it also comes with an infrared remote. This means you can control all of the features without the app if you so choose, which is great for those a little behind on technology or who want a backup option in case they find themselves without their phone. Program scheduling, change modes, dock the robot manually, and more, all from either the remote control or the ECOVACS app.

    With the Roomba 690, you’ll need the iRobot Home App in order to control the vacuum. This isn’t a major hassle for most homeowners, but it’s always nice to have extra options for those rare situations where you can’t pull up the app.

  • Difference #2: Filters – One area in which the Deebot N79 has a significant advantage is in the fact that it has HEPA filters.

    The Roomba 690’s AeroVac filters are built to reduce dust and debris, but many homeowners end up swapping that out for a HEPA filter for more effective reduction of allergens. The fact that the Deebot N79 comes with the filter by default is one of the biggest features that the brand has to its advantage, as it does a much better job at keeping the air clean for those with allergies and asthma. For those who suffer from impaired breathing, this is an important consideration.

    While the Roomba 690 might do a better job at picking up pet hair, the N79 is much better at keeping it contained once it sweeps it up into the bin.

  • Difference #3: Run Time – Another area where the Deebot comes out on top is in its run time. With the ability to clean for 100 minutes on a single charge, you’ll get much more thorough cleaning sessions than with the Roomba 690’s 60 minutes.

    The disparity between the two might not make a huge difference for apartments and smaller homes, but when the vacuum has a bigger area to cover, that extra 40 minutes can make all the difference.

  • Difference #4: Virtual Walls – The Virtual Wall Barriers of the Roomba 690 are one of the biggest edges that the vacuum has over the Deebot. While the appeal of these robot cleaners is the ability to leave them to their own devices to clean your floors, there are often areas that you’d like to keep free of robotic intrusion.

    Whether it’s a specific part of the room with fragile furniture and a mass of power cords, or a room you’d like bypassed entirely, you can set that up easily with virtual wall barriers. By projecting an infrared beam either in a straight line or in a radius, your barrier can keep your Roomba contained within a specific entryway or block it off from problem areas within the room.

    One of the biggest detractors of the Deebot N79 is the fact that you’ll have to rely on physical barriers like walls or doors to keep the robot contained. Having to keep an eye on the robot while it’s cleaning to make sure it doesn’t get into trouble can certainly be more than a little frustrating.

  • Difference #5: Edge Cleaning Mode – The 690 is equipped with side brushes that can get into corners and edges for a thorough clean, but the ECOVACS’ Edge Cleaning Mode is on another level.

    While it does pay attention to edges during regular cleaning, you can further direct your Deebot N79 to clean around walls and corners with a specific mode. Just activate Edge Cleaning through the smartphone app or remote, and sit back and relax as your vacuum sucks up that hard-to-reach dust and debris.

    Unfortunately, the Roomba 690 doesn’t have any analogous feature.

  • Difference #6: Side Brushes – In addition to having the Edge Cleaning Mode, the Deebot N79 will do a better job of cleaning edges during its regular schedule due to the inclusion of 2 side brushes rather than the single brush on the 690. Chances are that you won’t even have to worry about activating the specific mode since the Deebot does such a good job at getting into those areas in the first place. You’ll also see less debris left behind during cleaning due to the brushes’ ability to sweep dust into the patch of suction more efficiently.

  • Difference #7: Voice Control – In addition to control via the smartphone app, the Roomba 690 also offers the option to issue commands via Alexa or Google Assistant. Simply sync the vacuum up to your smart home assistant and start a manual clean, adjust the schedule, or trigger smart cleaning — all without lifting a finger. For those situations where you’re cooking dinner, tidying up the room, or even just kicking back and watching some TV, it’s really convenient to be able to control your Roomba with a simple Alexa or Google Assistant command.

    The Deebot N79 does not feature any sort of voice control. However, if you pay a little bit extra you can buy the N79s which supports Amazon Alexa while offering useful features like Max Mode that increases suction by 50% for those stubborn stains. For a breakdown on the differences between the two different models, check out our comparison of the Deebot N79 vs. N79s.

    If your home is controlled with Google Assistant, however, your only option for voice control is the Roomba vacuum, as The N79s only supports Amazon Alexa.

  • Difference #8: Find Me – Last but not least is the “Find Me” feature. Your vacuum will do a pretty good job at guiding itself back to the base when it needs a charge, but there are bound to be situations where your vacuum gets itself trapped in a corner or perhaps under furniture. Through the ECOVACS app, you can activate a Find Me feature to quickly and easily find where the robot cleaner is within your home.

    If your Roomba 690 gets lost, on the other hand, you’re probably going to have to spend a decent amount of time hunting for it as there is no analogous option.

    This isn’t a perk you’ll take advantage of on a daily basis, but it’s an advantage the N79 has over the Roomba nonetheless.

Sale iRobot Roomba 690 Robot Vacuum-Wi-Fi Connectivity, Works with Alexa, Good for Pet Hair, Carpets, Hard Floors, Self-Charging

ECOVACS Deebot N79 vs. Roomba 690 — Comparison Chart

ECOVACS Deebot N79 iRobot Roomba 690
Remote Control ECOVACS app/IR iRobot Home App
Noise 64dB 69dB
Suction 900Pa N/A
Run Time Up to 100 mins. Up to 60 mins.
Filter HEPA AeroVac™
Design 3.1-inches 3.7-inches
Anti-Fall System Yes Yes
Battery (Li-Ion battery) 2600 mAh N/A
Wet mopping No No
Sweeping Yes Yes
Vacuuming Yes Yes
Virtual Walls No Comes w/ 1
Mini Room Mode Yes No
Auto Clean Mode Yes Yes
Spot Clean Mode Yes Yes
Edge Clean Mode Yes No
Scheduling Mode Yes Yes
Dust Bin 0.3-Liter N/A
Dirt Bin Detection No No
Side-Brushes 2 1
Recharge & Resume No No
Voice Control Alexa Alexa, Google Assistant
Find Me Yes No

ECOVACS Deebot N79 vs. Roomba 690 — Accessories

ECOVACS Deebot N79 app

Most of the accessories worth mentioning for the Deebot N79 and Roomba 690 are focused around ongoing maintenance. While both vacuums are pretty durable and shouldn’t need much attention, the parts are going to wear out over time. After all, daily cleanings take their toll!

For the Deebot N79, we recommend buying the for pretty much everything you need to keep the vacuum maintained for the foreseeable future. There’s also a kit with which are some of the components that see the most wear, and it’s a good idea to have some extras on hand. If you’re just in the market for filters, your best bet is probably the Replacement Filter Accessory Kit.

The Roomba 690 has a Sidebrush 3-pack that will allow for multiple replacements of the component. Considering that the 690 only uses one side brush, you should be covered for more than a year with just that purchase. The Roomba 600 and 500 Series filter is great to have on hand for when it’s time to swap out the Aerovac Filter as well, because they certainly aren’t designed to last indefinitely. Last but not least, you could add in a Compact Home Base to give your Roomba more options to dock if it finds itself far away from the included dock.


ECOVACS Deebot N79 vs. Roomba 690 — Our Thoughts

iRobot Roomba 690 - Extra - 01

Simply put, when comparing the Deebot N79 vs. Roomba 690, the latter’s Virtual Wall Barrier is a huge advantage. The Deebot N79 has a lot of advantages in other areas, but one of its biggest drawbacks is the fact that you’ll need to keep track of it as it cleans. And that lack of convenience extends even further when you consider that it doesn’t do as good of a job of dealing with pet hair so you’ll need to pick clogs out of the vacuum relatively frequently if you have a couple dogs or cats. It also doesn’t have any option for voice control, although it makes up for that somewhat with the IR remote support.

With that said, we actually think the Deebot N79 is an extremely viable choice if you aren’t attached to the wall barriers. While it has a little bit of trouble dealing with large amounts of hair, it’s packed with a lot of advantages that actually exceed the Roomba. From HEPA filters and edge cleaning mode, to a longer run time and more side brushes, it’s actually extremely competitive. When you consider that it’s a good deal less expensive too, it becomes a very tempting option.

So while we think the Roomba 690 is a better buy due to the greater ability to “set it and forget it,” we really can’t deny that the N79 has a leg up in a number of different areas. Regardless of your choice, you’ll enjoy an affordable smart robot that makes dealing with vacuuming a thing of the past.


Last update on 2024-03-29 at 00:00 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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