What testers say about the iRobot Roomba 694
The iRobot Roomba 694 is iRobot's long-running entry model and one of its most successful robots: a vacuum-only Roomba that does not map the home but covers a room in a random pattern, guided by its sensors. It has iRobot's two-brushroll design in a floating cleaning head that follows the floor, one edge brush, Dirt Detect to spend more time on dirty spots, a single power setting and a battery iRobot rates at up to 90 minutes, after which it returns to its charging dock. It can be started from the app or with Alexa and Google Assistant, and RTINGS notes that it also works without an internet connection.
Vacuum Wars tested it against the eufy RoboVac 11S. On hard floors and carpet it picked up everything from fine to extra-large debris, and in the carpet deep-clean test it scored 86 out of 100, well above average and well ahead of the eufy's 70, thanks to its brushrolls rather than its suction. Without a map it covered about 4.3 square feet a minute, where the average mapping robot manages about 6.9 square feet, but it did reach the whole test area. The 694 won the match-up on points, and Vacuum Wars calls it well built and proven over time.
The limits are those of an old design. RTINGS calls it a poor fit for pet owners: it struggles with pet hair on every surface, its bristled brushroll tangles easily, it does a poor job of keeping allergens in, and many parts need regular cleaning and replacing, which adds to the running costs. Without a map it cannot clean by room, Vacuum Wars measured less suction and airflow than the eufy, which showed in a lower crevice score, and it has no self-emptying dock. For a small home with little clutter and no pets it is a simple, proven robot. A larger home or one with pets is better served by a mapping robot such as the Roborock Q5 Pro.