Roomba has been one of the best robot vacuum producers with so many versions released. They are technically advanced and have great features. Among them are the iRobot Roomba 877 and the iRobot Roomba 890. These two are considered as one of the best from their product line up. Both of them have a lot of similarities between them and well as some significant differences. To find out which robot vacuum is best suited for your house, let us compare iRobot Roomba 877 and 890.
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Our Verdict
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Between the Roomba 877 and the Roomba 890, we do think that version 890 is better than the 877. It is mainly due to the Wi-Fi connectivity it has to offer. However, the iRobot Roomba 877 is a cheaper buy and easier to control with the button and the remote.
The iRobot Roomba 890 has the advantage of voice control since it uses Wi-Fi. Because of the Wi-Fi technology used, it works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. With few commands to your Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, you can get your Robot to start cleaning. Unfortunately, the iRobot Roomba 877 does not have any feature of voice control.
2. Wall Barriers
Though most of the differences favor Roomba 890, when it comes to wall barriers, we do think Roomba 877 has got a win. Roomba’s best feature is the ability of the vacuum cleaner to prevent itself from going to a room that is restricted. It is done by mapping the entire house and decides the rooms to clean. But if you wish to block the vacuum from a particular place, the concept of wall barriers come in the picture. Wall barriers are present in two different forms in the two models.
The iRobot Roomba 877 uses a technology called the Virtual Wall Lighthouse. These can be placed in front of near the entrance of the room you want the Robot to prevent. But, after the cleaning is complete, it is capable of entering the next room. This feature of the Roomba 877 is handy if you want to make sure that the area is thoroughly cleaned before it moves to the next place.
On the other hand, the iRobot Roomba 890 has the simple Virtual Wall Barriers. These help in preventing the vacuum from entering a specific room. The only difference is, it cannot let the Roomba inside once the cleaning is complete. So, we can say that 877 has more options than 890. Although the Virtual Wall Barriers are easier to understand, we are not sure why they removed the feature in the updated version.
3. Remote Control
The first difference is the use of remote control in the Roomba 877. Since the Roomba 877 does not support Wi-Fi, there should be another way to control it, that is through Remote Control. With the help of the remote, you can start the vacuum and schedule a cleaning program as well. If you want any area or spot to be cleaned a little more extra, you also have the option of selecting the spot clean.
But one downside with the remote control is, you need to be in the range of 15 feet of your vacuums for your commands to work. But, the Roomba 890 works on Wi-Fi technology and takes full advantage of it. You can connect the vacuum to the Wi-Fi with a single tap on your iHome App.
The App is supported in both leading platforms like Android and iOS. The advantage of Wi-Fi over remote control is that you do not to be in a precisely defined range for your vacuum to function. It can work even if you are miles away only if you are connected to your Wi-Fi. So, with this feature, also, when you are on vacation or elsewhere on work, you can make sure your home is dust-free.
You can schedule a cleaning before you go to work, and once you reach home, your house will be neat and tidy. So, in the case of connectivity and flexibility, we do think the Roomba 890 has all the advantages with the Wi-Fi. However, if you feel you don’t need the Robot to clean when you are away, then you can select the Roomba 877.
4. Battery Life
When we talk about batteries, the Roomba 890 is better than the iRobot Roomba 877. In the 890, you have a longer runtime on a single charge. This is due to the different type of battery technology that is used in these robots. The 877 uses a Nickel Metal Hydride battery that can run up to 65 minutes. This runtime is better for medium-sized houses. But if you have a larger home, you will notice the Roomba moving to its station to charge even before the cleaning is complete.
On the other hand, Roomba 890, has a Li-ion battery. Hence it has a total runtime of 120 minutes on a single charge. It makes sure the cleaning is complete before it goes to the charging station. The Lithium-ion battery is also capable of charging quickly. So, in the case of battery life and run time, the Roomba 890 is better than the 877.
The vacuum is smart enough to do the job by itself. But can you leave the Robot to do the work without being watched? Most of the rooms are filled with many obstacles like toys, clothes, cords, and what on. The vacuum can clash with it and might not complete its job. But with the iRobot Roomba 890 and iRobot Roomba 877, it has the anti-tangle technology. It makes sure that the vacuum does not get stuck on cords and carpet. But even with this technology, do make sure you have an open path for your vacuum to travel. However, if you have missed any area, the Anti-tangle technology is there to save you.
2. AeroForce High-Efficiency Filters
Vacuuming removes all the dirt from the floor. But all the dust collected can knock off into the air. The vacuums have AeroForce High-Efficiency filters. The filters do an excellent job of catching the dust and dirt. But we do hope that they try to implement the HEPA filters that are capable of capturing dust as small as 0.3 microns. Although these filters are suitable for dust and dirt, it is not capable of capturing small particles like pollen. So, we do think that using a HEPA filter in these vacuums will make it better.
3. iAdapt
Both the Roomba 877 and iRobot Roomba 890 have iAdapt technology in them. The vacuum consists of two sensors that are used to map the whole house before it starts to clean. This technology is present in the newer models of Roomba. Hence, using this advanced technology, we do not have to worry about the robot vacuum moving to restricted rooms.
The robot vacuum will understand the areas which require extra attention. So, do not have to worry about the bread crumbs that have fallen, because the vacuum will make sure that it has got a hold of it. The suction power of the vacuum depends on the floor it is cleaning. When it comes to carpets, the suction power of the vacuum increases to increase the strength of capturing dust.
4. 3- Stage Cleaning
The cleaning process used in Roomba is what made Roomba famous among the others. The Roomba 877 and 890 use the 3-stage cleaning process. In the first process, the rotating brushes will lift all the dirt from your floors. Next, it will brush along the walls to remove any particle that has been hanging. The final step is where the suction comes to the picture. Using the powerful suction, it will remove everything from the brushes and transfer it into the dustbin. With this 3-stage cleaning process, you are sure to have a dust-free home.
5. Set Schedules
Both the iRobot Roomba 877 and the 890 has the feature of scheduling the cleaning. That means with the use of Wi-Fi or remote control, you can set the timing and the date of your cleaning. It can be kept at a regular interval up to seven times a week. With this feature, you do not have to worry about cleaning your home. Because your robot vacuum does the job for you, all you have to do is a schedule and wait for the magic to happen.
6. Avoids Stairs
Since both the vacuum cleaners are a bit expensive, you do have to make sure that you do not damage it. While cleaning, you don’t want your vacuum to fall. Because of this, both the vacuums have a cliff-detect sensor that will detect heights and prevent it from falling off stairs.
Features And Technical Specifications Of iRobot Roomba 877
iRobot Roomba 877 is one of the popular among iRobot products. With the dimensions of 13.9 x 3.6 inches, it makes sure it reaches every spot. It follows a three-step cleaning technology, which makes the house safe and clean. Another thing that makes sure that the vacuum does not clash with the obstacles in the home is the iAdapt technology. With these, it maps out the entire house making sure not to clash with anything.
Also, if you have a room where you want to prevent the Robot from entering, you can use the Virtual Wall Lighthouses. These are used to make the Robot stay away from a room. But after the cleaning is complete, the robot vacuum is allowed to enter the room. Talking about the run time, it runs for 65 minutes. Hence this is useful for houses which are average-sized so it can finish cleaning in one go.
Since it is an older version, it does not support Wi-Fi. So, because of this, you cannot use Amazon Alexa and even Google Assistant. However, the remote control does allow you to schedule your cleaning.
This is an advanced version of the iRobot Roomba 890. It has the same dimension and weight as the Roomba 890. It as well is equipped with a three-step cleaning process using the brushes and suction. The difference between the 877 and 890 is the barrier it uses to prevent the Robot from entering a certain room. It uses the Virtual Wall barrier, which prevents it from going, but after cleaning, it does not enter the room. One of the major differences between the vacuums is the run time—the Roomba 890 runs for 120 minutes, which is double the time the Roomba 877 runs. The run time is more than enough for a complete cleaning of a large house. Also, the Roomba 890 supports Wi-Fi technology. Because of this, it allows you to connect to speakers like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Things We Like
Wi-Fi Connectivity
Can work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Good Battery Life
Things We Don't Like
Expensive
FAQs
1. Can Roomba adjust itself to different floor surfaces?
Yes, it automatically adjusts itself to carpets, tiles, floors, and rugs.
2. What is the run time for iRobot Roomba 890?
The run time for Roomba 890 is 120 minutes.
3. Which among the Roomba 890 and 877 is louder?
The Roomba 877 is a bit louder with a 60 dB noise level
4. Can I schedule my cleaning through remote control in Roomba 877
Yes, you can schedule through the remote control itself.
Bottom Line
After all the comparison, we do think that Roomba 890 is a better choice mainly because it offers Wi-Fi connectivity and longer run time. However, if you don’t want the Wi-Fi control or even the features it offers along with it, the iRobot Roomba 877 does the same job.
It is also cheaper when compared to 890. In short, buy the iRobot Roomba 890 if you want a Wi-Fi vacuum along with Alexa and Google Assistant features. If you do not require Wi-Fi and a cheaper vacuum, go for the Roomba 877. Moreover, you should also check out the comparison between iRobot Roomba 880 and 890
iRobot Roomba 890 - Editor's Choice
4.9
Summary
This is an advanced version of the iRobot Roomba 890. It has the same dimension and weight as the Roomba 890. It as well is equipped with a three-step cleaning process using the brushes and suction. The difference between the 877 and 890 is the barrier it uses to prevent the Robot from entering a certain room. It uses the Virtual Wall barrier, which prevents it from going, but after cleaning,
Andrea is a Senior Content Editor who digs into the very minuscule details to give her readers the best hands-on experience of the products. She brings her years of research and engineering experience to help us consistently create immaculate engaging content and products that hold the highest technical integrity.
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