Roomba E5 vs 675

Roomba E5 and Roomba 675 robot vacuums have long been in the robotics market. Since that time, Robotbox.net and its rivals released lots of new reviews, but these devices stay in demand. At the moment, their price dropped to $300, which finally reversed them

to the budget class robots available to every customer.

Today, we’d like to find out the secret of their success and perform a detailed Roomba E5 vs 675 comparison.

Are they really relevant and efficient? Do they meet modern requirements and provide comprehensive floor cleaning? What is the best choice? Stay with us to get the answers to these and many other questions!

Main Differences Between the Models

Inexperienced customers may find it difficult to choose between Roomba E5 and Roomba 675 since they share a lot of similar characteristics. So, differences are those things that will help us distinguish robots.

Before the brief description and the main comparison, we’d like to list the crucial differences features of Roomba E5 and Roomba 675:

Roomba E5

Roomba E5 is the brightest example of a middle-class robot vacuum that offers both medium price and characteristics.

The vacuum is now equipped with a more powerful motor and suction compared to its predecessors. Users get 5X greater air power than Roombas of the 600 series. Besides, you can be sure that the dirtiest spots won’t be missed thanks to iRobot patented Dirt Detect technology.

It operates on hard floors and carpets up to the medium-piled, supported by one side brush and dual multi-surface rubber rollers. Brushes are efficient on any surface and can also be cleaned four times faster than bristled units. That’s why the vacuum is perfect for pet hair.

Despite a more powerful motor and suction, the battery is capacious enough to guarantee 90 minutes of operation.

Filtration is performed through a high-efficiency filter. Please mind that it doesn’t meet HEPA standards but deals with particles and allergens up to 10 microns in size and collects 99% of the dust.

Speaking about smart functions, we should also note WiFi support. Despite its low price, the robot provides fast and convenient app control as well as voice recognition through Alexa and Google Assistant.

However, unlike more expensive robots, Roomba E5 lacks smart navigation, visual and mapping technologies. Everything it has is several anti-drop and anti-collision sensors that protect the case from damage, never contributing to cleaning.

In a short word, Roomba E5 doesn’t support the latest innovative technologies, but it also doesn’t use outdated elements. Here, you won’t see Recharge & Resume functions, virtual walls, and mapping. But brush system, filtration, battery, WiFi connection we get cost every dollar from its $280-$300 price.

Pros:

Cons:

Roomba 675

Roomba 675 is one of few iRobot 600 series vacuum cleaners that are still in great demand. Indeed, when staying at the same price category, the Roomba 675 model slightly yields to the newer Roomba E5 vac. But if we take a closer look at its performance, we’ll see many reasons for purchasing this budget option.

The 600 series models also feature dual multi-surface brushes with self-adjustable height. However, it’s important to note that the 675 has only one silicone roller when the second brush is bigger and covered with bristles. Together with basic 600 Pa suction, these characteristics make it a nice vacuum for hard floors and low-piled carpets.

If you’re looking for a pet hair cleaner, this device is not for you. And it’s not all about the power and brushes. The 675 vacuum uses Aerovac filter that traps most dirt and misses allergens.

You’ll be glad to know that sensor navigation and Dirt Detect function didn’t disappear. Thus, the robot will avoid obstacles and chase extra-polluted spots.

Other great things that have been pleasing users during all these years after release are 90 minutes of run time and smart connection and control through the iRobot Home app, Alexa, and Google Assistant.

As usual, it can’t go without drawbacks. Apart from low suction and navigation, customers should be ready for an extremely small 350 ml dustbin. Also, though the 675 can work with Dual Mode Barrier, it’s not included in the kit.

On the one hand, Roomba 675 belongs to the oldest iRobot vacuums. And the fact that it still keeps up with the time and other Roomba rivals does it great credit. It’s a nice budget option for unassuming customers. But weaker performance for the same $300 like for Roomba E5 makes the question of purchase expediency quite a controversial one.

Pros:

Cons:

Well, the main strong and weak points, as well as differences between the vacuums are now uncovered. It’s time to take a deeper look at the robots` characteristics.

Design and Dimensions

Dimensions of the vacuums are so similar that one will never feel the difference. The E5 and the 675 robots measure:

As you can see, both models are compact enough to run between and under the furniture, pass between the legs. Though Roomba E5 is slightly heavier, it is barely perceptible and doesn’t prevent the vacuums from crossing 0.6″ obstacles or climbing carpets.

The appearance of the vacuums shows the same picture. Actually, we have one case concept with minor design variations.

Both devices feature black round plastic cases with glossy and easy-scratching coverings. Apart from the identical carry handles, top panels have control buttons.

Roomba E5 has three separate buttons located in the center. They are Spot, Home, and united Clean/On/Off buttons.

Roomba 675 comes with one round button divided into Spot and Dock sections and one big Clean/On/Off part.

Verdict: Neither design nor weight and dimensions will help you make a choice. Robots are compact and light enough; on the contrary, jams happen rarely. However, it is recommended to remove all wires and obstacles from the robots` way.

Navigation

As it was mentioned above, our robots use one simple navigation system. Engineers equipped their cases with two types of infrared sensors – anti-drop and anti-collision. The first elements don’t allow robots to come close to drops, and the second elements monitor obstacles around.

No doubt, sensor navigation is a step forward compared to the random movement of the first robot vacuums. Still, this system did little to improve route planning and the speed of cleaning. And bare obstacle avoidance seems to become more and more outdated.

We can accept the fact that Roomba 675 uses sensors only. Many expect iRobot vacuums of the 600 series to have no navigation at all. But when it comes to improved Roomba E5, the need for more precise navigation is obvious.

Verdict: Sensors do their best to protect robots, but cannot scan the room, create a route, or detect dirt. That’s why Roomba E5 and 675 are very close to the cleaning of randomly-moving models. Robots will go over the whole room, passing the same areas again and again to provide cleanliness. But it takes lots of time, and no one can guarantee that no missing spots will occur.

Dirt Detection

Luckily, sensor navigation is partly improved by Dirt Detection. This technology is also based on sensors, but, this time, they search not for obstacles but spots.

During their movements, both Roomba 675 and E5 notice the most polluted areas and increase their effort to eliminate them. It concerns both suction and repetitive passes of the same spot.

Verdict: Dirt Detect function is a truly useful addition to both robots. Though they still may miss some spots, at least, you can be sure your robot won’t leave you half-eliminated dirt.

Filter System

Roomba 675 comes with an Aerovac filter. This type of filtration is standard for all vacuums of the 500 and 600 series. While operating, they provide basic filtration quality, which means the largest dust and dirt in the air will be trapped. But if you need exquisite purity and anti-allergen air treatment, Aerovac filters are not those to deal with it.

The next iRobot series received improved filtration systems. Thus, Roomba E5 uses the next-level high-efficiency filter. Here, we get 99% air purity, elimination of all particles over 10 microns in size, and primary anti-allergen treatment.

Verdict: Roomba E5 filtration still is not the best for allergic people, but it comes very close to the top-level HEPA filters. We do recommend this vacuum to pet owners, families with kids, and people with respiratory problems.

Roomba 675 will suit those who have other air filtration systems or are satisfied with basic dust elimination. If you have no allergies, diseases, and too fluffy pets, this option will be enough for your health.

Connectivity

All robot vacuum cleaners offer at least two controlling ways, which are manual running through the buttons and a remote control. However, more innovative models tend to abandon remote controls in favor of mobile apps.

Luckily, our Roombas support WiFi connection and can work with the iRobot Home app. All you need is to download the application and connect your robot with your phone. After this simple procedure, owners of Roomba E5 and 675 will be able to:

If app control doesn’t seem too remote and easy to you, you have all the chances to try voice running of your vac. The models also support Alexa and Google Assistant devices. Thus, if you have one, you can connect the vac and give it simple voice commands, never using your hands. Voice assistants’ support will be especially useful for the integration of the robots into the Smart Home system.

As we have mentioned, our devices can connect with one more type of accessories. Though neither Roomba E5 nor Roomba 675 comes with virtual walls, they are compatible with Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier. Yeah, you’ll have to spend extra bucks on this beam if you need it, but we highly recommend it for more accurate and worry-free cleaning.

Verdict: Despite their quite budget prices and partly non-smart design, both Roombas provide all connection and control options available in the market. And since nowadays, app and voice assistants support became a must for all customers, the E5 and the 675 perfectly meet this requirement.

Suction Power

It seems to be more logical to start this part with the description of Roomba 675 suction power. The first iRobot vacuum series, i.e., the 500 and the 600 series, were equipped with the same motor that provides a maximum of 600 Pa suction. So, the 675 model didn’t become an exception.

The following iRobot cleaners have significantly evolved in terms of suction abilities. Thus, Roomba E5 vacuum got improved power lifting suction that became 5X greater compared to Roomba 675 and all Roombas 600 series. Though the manufacturer avoids Pa definition, we can suggest it to be over 1300-1500 Pa.

Another great thing that allows you to adjust suction to the surface and pollution type is cleaning modes. As a rule, different modes provide different power, but our participants come to feature only two standard mode settings, which are:

Thanks to increased suction, Roomba E5 made a step forward and can now easily work on the medium pile.

Verdict: Roomba 675 will suit only those who have hard floors and a couple of rugs. Unfortunately, we have to admit that it won’t be able to cope with thicker carpeting. When cleaning large, heavy debris, it also goes through a little complication but vacuums them all. Still, Roomba E5 is a better choice concerning suction. No trouble, clogs, and jams even of medium carpets are expected.

Run Time

Run time is one of the things that unite Roomba E5 and 675. During several years, iRobot used to equip its first cleaners with an 1800 mAh Li-Ion battery. Thus, the early 675 model and its younger brother E5 vac happened to share one battery and run time.

Both robots are durable enough to run for 90 minutes. Though the vacuums don’t have Max mode, which consumes battery power much faster, such run time is considered to be great enough among modern robot vacuums.

When the charge is low, robots will automatically return to the docks. Thus, users don’t have to control the battery level and carry robots to the dock themselves. Recharging takes about 3 hours.

But if you’re interested in whether they can automatically resume cleaning, the answer is no. iRobot patented Recharge and Resume function is used in later Roomba models. Here, your robot will start it all right from the start.

Verdict: Without a doubt, run time is a positive feature of both devices. It is just enough to allow robots to cover a medium-sized house. When navigation is close to random, and one room cleaning takes quite a lot of time, durable batteries are very welcomed. Even the lack of Recharge and Resume is not a problem at all.

Dustbin Indicator

A big dustbin with an easy emptying system is a very important moment that is often neglected by customers. That’s why we’d like to draw your attention to this characteristic of our participants.

Roomba E5 comes with a medium-sized 500 ml dustbin. We especially like such capacity since the model is designed for carpet and pet hair cleaning.

Roomba 675 cannot boast of the same capacity. Though the bin has very similar materials, design, easy access, and emptying, it contains only 350 ml. Even if the robot cleans hard floors only, you’ll have to stop operation and remove the collected dirt.

Anyway, in both cases, users monitor the fullness of dustbins. None of the vacuums have Full Bin Indicator or other notification options.

Verdict: Full Bin Indicator is available in few Roombas. The E5 and the 675 models do not offer this technology. But if a 500 ml bin of Roomba E5 frees you from worries, Roomba 675 users may have tough times, constantly emptying the bin during hair or large debris cleaning.

Noise

iRobot vacuums have always been something in the middle between quiet and noisy operation. They don’t offer special quiet modes like some robots of other brands do. At the same time, you’ll find few reviews on Roombas` too loud work.

Depending on the cleaning surface and debris, the E5 and the 675 produce from 60 to 65 decibels. The highest noise level is usually achieved when Dirt Detection is activated. But even in such cases, robots feel quite comfortable for ears, and their operation is much quieter than the work of common vacuums.

Verdict: You and the robots can stay in the same room without any discomfort. Robots won’t scare your pets or wake up your kids.

Accessories

Apart from the robot vacuums themselves, customers also get several accessories.
Roomba E5

Roomba 675

As you see, the kits are quite standard and include only the necessary things. Many modern robots come with replaceable side brushes and cleaning tools. Their lack is a pity, but it would be pure imprudence to expect all these accessories from budget robots.

However, we were a bit disappointed to know that Roomba E5 doesn’t have an extra filter. This unit is much more than a pleasant bonus (like extra side brushes).

Verdict: These are not the widest kits you can find among Roomba vacuums, so be ready to spend extra money on replaceable elements.

Tests on Different Types of Floors

After closer acquaintance with the robots, we decided to conduct a series of real debris tests to see how efficient these vacuums are. Categories to prove were fine and large debris cleaning on hard floors and carpets, pet hair cleaning, roller cleaning, and jams.

Each robot was to vacuum a line of sugar and a line of rice. We also prepared two pet rugs as well as low and medium carpets.

Hard Floor Cleaning

Let us tell it all at once that Roomba E5 and Roomba 675 are equal in hard floor cleaning; that’s why it caused no problems. Both 100% of rice and sugar were picked up within several passes. Despite a rather chaotic running, they show quick elimination of spot messes.

Carpet Cleaning

Low carpet cleaning results turned out to be close to the previous test. Short pile didn’t seem to become a complication both for the vacuums’ driving system and suction. Roombas needed a bit more time to pick up all the dirt, but 100% of particles were finally removed.

Roomba E5 continued its series of successful cleanings on the medium-piled carpet. We run the vac until it collected it all, so here, the result is 98%. It took us 5 minutes to eliminate every particle, but some rice was pushed aside during robot running and left unnoticed. If the robot didn’t move randomly, it would surely pick up everything for a shorter time. Sugar lifting also took some time, and the result was approximately 95%-98%. It’s difficult to give more precise data, but the weighting of the full bin showed that several grams stayed in the pile.

The results of the 675 model on the medium-piled carpet are much more controversial. There were no jams on the pile, and the vacuum did its best, but 600 Pa suction managed to lift only about 80% of sugar and 70% of rice. On the one hand, we can’t say it completely failed the cleaning, but it is not the efficiency you’d like to get.

Pet Hair Cleaning

For pet hair cleaning, we chose Spot mode. Roomba E5 dealt with the task, collected most hair, and avoided tangling. Visually, the rug became 90% cleaner, and rollers needed a very little cleaning.

In general, Roomba 675 was also more efficient than we expected and collected about 80% of pet hair. However, when we turned the case to check brushes, the bristled roller looked like a small hairy animal. So, we can recommend this robot for pet hair cleaning on hard floors and rugs, but please mind a bit complicated brush maintenance.

Verdict: Thanks to multi-surface brushes and Spot cleaning, Roomba 675 provides a quite decent efficiency. The only difficulties are too heavy particles and high pile. Hard floors and low carpets are the best surfaces for the model. Pet owners with hard floors can try this vac, too.

Roomba E5 showed better performance. Its silicone rollers and 5X higher power make cleaning faster and easier. We still don’t like random running, but altogether, its cleaning and choice of surfaces are wider. The model is suitable for hard floors, low and medium carpets as well as hair.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner?

If you’d like to automate routine floor cleaning, robot vacuums are the best choice possible. But different customers need different models, and what is great for somebody may not suit you. Here is the list of the most important factors to consider before the purchase.

Dwelling and floor types. A robot vacuum will help eliminate debris in small flats, private houses, multi-story buildings, and even offices. However, you should always mind the footage and peculiarities of the dwelling construction. The floor type like tile, laminate, or carpets also influences your robot’s efficiency. Thus, we recommend determining your needs and conditions and only then choosing suction, brush system, battery, and navigation.

Type of navigation. A smart robot needs no human attention and participation as it can find dirt and avoid obstacles itself. The better navigation, the faster and more thorough cleaning results. It is recommended to choose the models with automatic route planning and mapping. However, simpler devices with sensors may be more beneficial for small houses.

Suction is a fundamental moment to consider. Sometimes, you can understand what suction level you need only after several trials. But there are conditions that always require high suction vacuums. They are carpeted floors, pets, lots of heavy messes, and high traffic areas, five and more people living in one dwelling. Single owners of small flats with no pets, kids, and carpeting may look for less powerful options.

Though we have already mentioned pets in the previous part, let us state it separately that fluffy animals in the house significantly complicate cleaning to any robot vacuum. That’s why we recommend looking for powerful models with anti-tangle brushes, large dustbins, and thorough filtration.

Battery capacity directly influences the cleaning. As recharging may take over 4 hours, it’s better to choose robots with long run time or fast cleaning.

WiFi connection, app and voice control as well as virtual walls are rather additional functions of cleaners, but they make cleaning much easier. If you need supplementary technologies that help you preset schedules, run the robot remotely, or restrict entering to some areas, pay attention to these characteristics beforehand. If not, you can easily save up to $100 on a simpler model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Roomba E5 vs Romba 675: which is better for pet hair?
Roomba 675 vacuum cleaner is designed for all types of hard floors and low-piled carpets. It can perform hair cleaning on these surfaces, but users should be ready for frequent cleaning of the bristled roller from entangled hair.

In this regard, Roomba E5 will be a better option for pet owners. This vacuum has dual silicone rollers that never tangle hair. Besides, 5X improved power allows it to eliminate hair and dirt from more challenging surfaces like medium-piled carpets.

How can I schedule Roomba E5 and 675? Can I do it without using the app?
The only way to schedule these iRobot vacuum models is to download and use the iRobot Home app.

Open the app, add your robot, and select Schedule from the menu. You’ll see the page with all days of the week. Choose the days when you want to run your vac and set the time. You can always change or cancel the schedule in the app.

For more detailed information, please visit the iRobot official website or contact the iRobot User Service.

How often should I change filters on Roomba E5 and 675? How much will it cost?
The manufacturer recommends performing weekly filter cleaning and changing them every 2 months.

Roomba E5 uses high-efficiency filters. A new kit of three filters will cost you about $25-$30.

Roomba 675 uses simpler and cheaper Aerovac filters. At the moment, you can find $15 kits of 12 filters on Amazon.

How much is Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier?
iRobot Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier is compatible with almost all Roomba models. You can find robots with this item in the kit or purchase it separately for $50.

Can I use my Roomba vacuum to clean spilled liquid?
Please prevent your Roomba vacuums from suctioning liquids. These robots cannot perform wet cleaning and remove spills. Moisture can seriously damage your device.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for the best iRobot vacuum under $300, try Roomba E5. The model offers excellent suction, carpet and pet hair cleaning, thorough filtration with primary anti-allergen treatment, 500 ml dustbin, and smart connectivity.

Roomba 675 also shows itself as a decent cleaning device. However, it seems like the balance between performance and price is broken. Its Aerovac filtration, 350 ml bin, and 600 Pa suction don’t seem to cost the same $300. So, if you need a simple vac for hard floors and low carpets, try to wait for discounts or choose other options.