iRobot Roomba 694 vs iLife A30s
Quick take: The iLife A30s runs longer per charge (150 vs 90 min).
Which one to buy
Same $180, and only one of them is still being made. The Roomba 694 is discontinued, and the iLife A30s beats it on the things 694 owners complain about most. Those owners say the 694's random bouncing misses spots and doubles back, its 90-minute battery forces multiple sessions past 800 sq ft, its single brush tangles with long hair, and its suction struggles on carpet. The A30s maps with LiDAR, supports no-go zones and per-room cleaning, is rated at 150 minutes, uses a dual anti-tangle brush built for pet hair, and boosts suction on rugs automatically.
The 694's strengths are familiarity and simplicity. Owners describe easy setup, an app and voice control that work well, decent daily hard-floor cleaning, and years of reliable use from a brand with a long track record. iLife has a much thinner US ownership history, its 10,000 Pa rating is a Spot Mode peak rather than everyday suction, and its WiFi is 2.4GHz only.
Buy the A30s. The 694 only makes sense at a clearance price for a very small space, from someone who specifically wants the iRobot name.
iRobot Roomba 694
Choose the iRobot Roomba 694 only if you find discounted leftover stock for a very small space and value iRobot's long track record over mapping, since it's discontinued.
iLife A30s
Best for LiDAR mapping, no-go zones, a 150-minute rating and an anti-tangle brush at the same $180, provided your router has 2.4GHz WiFi.
| Spec | iRobot Roomba 694 | iLife A30s |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$180 | ~$180 |
| Type | Robot Vacuum | Robot Vacuum |
| Suction | Not disclosed | 10000 Pa |
| Battery | 90 min | 150 min |
| Navigation | Gyroscope | LiDAR |
| Filtration | — | — |
| Cordless | Yes | Yes |
| Bagged | — | — |
| Noise | 65 dB | — |
| Dustbin | 300 ml | — |
| Water tank | — | — |
| Self-empty dock | No | No |
| Auto mop washing | No | No |
| Hot water washing | No | No |
| Obstacle avoidance | No | No |
| Carpet detection | Yes | Yes |
| Auto mop lifting | No | No |
| Multi-floor mapping | No | No |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 13.3 x 13.3 x 3.5 in | — |
| Weight | 6.8 lbs | — |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
Pros & cons
iRobot Roomba 694
- ✓Under $200 makes it the most affordable way to start with robot vacuums
- ✓iRobot brand reliability backed by decades of experience
- ✓App and voice control work well despite the low price
- ✓Does a surprisingly good job on hard floors for daily maintenance
- ✓28000+ reviews confirm consistent performance over time
- ✗Random bounce navigation pattern misses spots and is inefficient
- ✗90-minute battery means multiple sessions for larger homes
- ✗No mapping — cleans randomly rather than in organized rows
- ✗Single brush and basic suction struggles with pet hair on carpet
iLife A30s
- ✓Real LDS LiDAR mapping with no-go zones and virtual walls, not bump navigation
- ✓Up to 10,000 Pa suction available in Spot Mode
- ✓Dual anti-tangle brush aimed specifically at pet households
- ✓Automatic carpet-boost suction via the app
- ✓Voice control (Alexa/Google) plus a physical remote
- ✓Street price under $150 for a mapping robot
- ✗The 10,000 Pa figure is a Spot Mode peak, not sustained whole-home suction
- ✗No self-empty dock — manual dustbin emptying
- ✗Vacuum only, no mopping function at all
- ✗2.4GHz WiFi only, no 5GHz support
- ✗iLife has far less established US ownership history than Roborock, Eufy, or Roomba
- ✗No published dustbin capacity, weight, or dimensions
iRobot Roomba 694 vs iLife A30s: common questions
Is the iLife A30s better than the Roomba 694 for pet hair?▾
On paper, yes. 694 owners say its single brush tangles with long hair and its suction is too weak for heavy shedding. The A30s uses a dual anti-tangle brush designed for pet households and boosts suction on carpet automatically.
Should I trust a newer brand like iLife over iRobot?▾
It's a fair worry, since iLife has far less US ownership history. Still, the 694 is discontinued and its owners describe dated navigation, so the A30s's mapping and longer runtime outweigh brand familiarity for most buyers.