Is the Roomba 694 still worth buying?

Only if budget is your absolute top priority and you have a small space (under 800 sq ft). For $50-150 more, you can get a robot with mapping, better suction, and longer battery. The 694 is functional but feels outdated.

Does it work for pet hair?

Barely. The single brush tangles with long pet hair, and the suction is too weak for heavy shedding. Light pet hair on hard floors is manageable, but pet owners are strongly recommended to spend more on a dual-rubber-brush model.

The Eufy L60 is better in nearly every way — better navigation (camera with mapping), AI obstacle avoidance, stronger suction, and quieter operation. It costs about $40-70 more. Reddit overwhelmingly recommends the L60 over the 694.

How long does it last?

iRobot builds durable robots. Many Redditors report 3-5+ years of reliable use. Battery degrades over time but replacements are available. The 694's simplicity (no cameras, LiDAR, or complex mechanisms) means fewer things can break.

Robot Vacuum

~$180

iRobot

iRobot Roomba 694

Name: iRobot Roomba 694
Brand: iRobot
Price: 180 USD
Availability: InStock

The Roomba 694 is many people's first robot vacuum, and for under $200 it's still a reasonable way to find out whether you want one. It does a surprisingly decent job on hard floors, setup is as simple as robots get, the app and Alexa/Google voice control work well, and tens of thousands of reviews back its long-term reliability. The big caveat is navigation: it bounces randomly rather than mapping, so it re-cleans some spots while missing others — workable in a small apartment, frustrating anywhere over 800-1000 sq ft, especially with only 90 minutes of battery. The single brush also struggles with pet hair on carpet and tangles with long hair, and there's no self-emptying. Owners increasingly steer new budget buyers toward mapped robots that cost slightly more, but if you want the simplest possible setup at the lowest price from a brand you know, the 694 still delivers the basics.

Approx. price

~$180

Runtime

90 min

Navigation

Gyroscope

Best For

First-time robot vacuum buyers on a budget

Discontinued — no longer sold new

The manufacturer has retired this model; remaining listings are typically refurbished or leftover stock at odd prices. We keep the page for owners — see the related vacuums below for its current replacements.

Specifications

Gyroscope

Not disclosed

90 min

Auto Mop Washing

Obstacle Avoidance

Carpet Detection

Yes

Auto Mop Lifting

Multi-Floor Mapping

Type

Robot Vacuum

Noise Level

65 dB

Dustbin Capacity

300 ml

App Control

Yes

Dimensions

13.3 x 13.3 x 3.5 in

Weight

6.8 lbs

Warranty

1 year

Model

Roomba 694

Highlights

Budget PriceAlexa/Google CompatibleProven Brand

Pros

✓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

Cons

✗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

Owner Insights(5,000 discussions)

The Roomba 694 is the most-discussed budget robot vacuum on Reddit, largely because it's many people's first robot vacuum experience. It consistently appears in "is a $200 robot vacuum worth it?" threads, with the consensus being a qualified yes — it's good for daily hard floor maintenance in small spaces, but its limitations are significant.

The random bounce navigation is the most criticized aspect. Unlike LiDAR or even camera-based robots that clean in organized rows, the 694 bounces randomly and often cleans the same spots multiple times while missing others. For a small apartment, this eventually works out. For anything over 800-1000 sq ft, it's frustrating. Battery life at 90 minutes compounds this issue.

Redditors increasingly point newer budget buyers toward the Eufy L60 or Dreame D10s Plus, which offer mapping, longer battery, and better suction for slightly more money. The 694 is still recommended for people who want the simplest possible setup at the lowest price, or those who trust the iRobot brand specifically. Its time as the default budget recommendation has passed as Chinese brands have raised the bar for what $200-350 can buy.