Most of us don’t enjoy doing house chores, and when it comes to such tasks, vacuuming is certainly among the most tedious ones. Luckily, the popularization of robot vacuums in the previous decade allows you to “outsource” this task to a robovac that will mosey around and clean your floors without thinking about it.
Eufy and Roomba stand out as the two biggest names in the current vacuum robot market, offering some of the best robotic vacuums. While Roomba is a part of iRobot, and a veteran in the business offering premium robot vacuums, Eufy is a fairly new company manufacturing mostly affordable robot vacuums.
So, depending on your needs and budget, you’ll have to carefully pick the brand and specific model that’s best for you. In this Eufy vs Roomba article, we’ll go over the key similarities and differences between the two, consider a few models, and help you decide which robovac manufacturer is the better choice for you.
Eufy vs Roomba – Product Intro
| Features | RoboVac 11S | Roomba 960 |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 2.85 in | 3.5 in |
| Dust/Dirt Capacity | 600ml | 600ml |
| Max Suction Power | 1300 Pa | 900 Pa |
| Noise Level | 55 dB | 65 dB |
| Climbing Threshold | 0.63 in | 0.79 in |
| Barriers | No | Yes |
| Battery Capacity | 2600 mAh | 2600 mAh |
| Battery Time | 100 Minutes | 75 Minutes |
| Charge Time | 5-6 Hours | 120 Minutes |
| Alexa / Google Assistant | No/No | Yes/Yes |
| Current Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Roomba vs Eufy Key Features
Before we take a closer look at the top robot vacuums we recommend from each brand, we will compare the two brands holistically across a handful of key features. Keep in mind the features can vary from model to model, so not everything we list applies to every model from one of these two brands.
Throughout the comparison, we’ll highlight models that excel at each particular aspect we’re discussing to help you decide on the best possible option based on your needs.
Navigation
Eufy robot cleaners use Smart Dynamic Navigation, supported by the Gyroscope and Accelerometer smart sensors. This navigation technology enables Eufy robots to know the precise direction and distance they move and determine a zig-zag cleaning method. They clean large surfaces first, then the edges and corners, following their mapping navigation. Newer Eufy models also feature iPath Laser Navigation, which intelligently memorizes your home’s environment.
Some less advanced Eufty robot vacuums have a standard bump and continue feature, meaning that they keep cleaning in one direction until they hit a wall or other obstacle, after which they change their path.
In comparison, Roomba robot vacuums use the proprietary iAdapt Navigation Technology. This responsive algorithm maps locations as it cleans to ensure the best coverage with maximum cleaning efficiency.
To expand on this, not all Roomba robot vacuums use the same version of this navigation technology. More specifically, here’s what navigation technology you can expect from your Roomba cleaner depending on the model:
- iAdapt 1.0 Navigation Technology – Roomba 500, 600, 700, 800 and e Series
- iAdapt 2.0 Navigation Technology With Visual Localization – Roomba 900 Series
- iAdapt 3.0 Navigation Technology With Visual Localization – s Series and i Series
Suction
Power
Eufy robot vacuums generally provide standard suction within the 1500-2000 Pa range. Most Eufy vacuums fall closer to the lower number, although you can find some premium models closer to 2000Pa. Most notably, the 11S Max boasts a suction power of up to 2000Pa. Some Eufy robot vacuums also have BoostIQ technology, which automatically increases suction within 1.5 seconds if it detects a need for extra vacuuming power.
As is the case with Eufy models, different Roomba robot vacuums have different suction power characteristics. For example, most Roomba vacuums deliver standard suction power in the 1500-2000 Pa range. That said, you can find Roomba vacuums with significantly greater suction power, like the Roomba s9, which is up to forty times more powerful in this regard than a standard Roomba 600 Series model.
Carpet
Both Eufy and Roomba vacuum cleaners are among the best in the business for getting stuff out of your carpet. We give Roomba robot vacuums a slight edge in this category. This is because Roomba’s high-end models like the s9+ and the j7+ are arguably two of the best robot vacuums in this sense.
Still, they may struggle with pet hair, as excessive pet hair can get stuck in the brush. Again, this depends on the overall suction power of the robot vacuum you get, and you should expect fewer such issues the more expensive model you get.
Bare Floors
When it comes to picking up pet hair and other dirt, Eufy and Roomba are even more capable on bare floors than on carpets. They can remove surface dirt from bare floors, including sensitive surfaces like hardwood, without damaging the floor.
However, after testing and comparing how several models from the two brands perform, we’d say that Roomba robot vacuums outperform Eufy ones. This is primarily because they are more efficient in picking up dirt, as Eufy models sometimes scatter dirt around. This is not to say that Eufy robot vacuums underperform because they still will get the job done on most bare floors.
Boundaries
If you want to set specific cleaning boundaries in your household, you’ll need to pick a robot vacuum that supports such a feature. This is crucial to remember, as certain vacuums from these two brands don’t allow you to set boundaries.
With this in mind, Eufy and Roomba differ in terms of how they implement cleaning boundaries. Eufy models that include this feature enable you to set boundaries simply by using physical strips. For example, you set it across a doorway between two rooms, and your Eufy won’t cross from one room to the other one. This simple system requires no maintenance, no apps, or batteries you would have to replace. On the other hand, it’s quite crude and affects the visual appearance of your home.
In comparison, Roomba offers you models with the option to set the boundaries through the native app or utilize the virtual wall feature. Both methods are great and highly effective, though we prefer Roomba models that support the in-app setup. The virtual wall boundary system is a nice gimmick, but it involves placing a physical marker and demands AA batteries. This makes the virtual wall a bit more inconvenient than the in-app setup.
Run time
Although Roomba robot vacuums generally outperform Eufy models when comparing most features, run time is one major category in which most Eufy robot vacuums have Roomba models beat. On average, most Eufy robot vacuums can support a run time of up to 100 minutes.
Roomba vacuums, including the newer models, support a run time of between 75 and 90 minutes. Some Roomba robot vacuums have a Recharge & Resume feature, which allows them to automatically resume and complete their cleaning cycle after the battery has been charged and later automatically return to the Home Base.
While they offer longer run times on average, Eufy robot vacuums also take a lot of time to charge. To be more precise, most Eufy models need between five and six hours to fully charge. This means you can’t get more than two cleaning sessions per day, which is something to factor in if you have a big house. In comparison, most Roomba models take a little over two hours to fully charge when you’re using the Roomba Home Base.
App Compatibility
Eufy robot vacuums are compatible with the Eufy Home app. This convenient app lets you control and customize your robot vacuum cleaner’s settings directly from your phone or tablet. The Eufy Home app is available for both Android (Google Play) and iOS devices (Apple Store).
The Eufy Home app offers convenient albeit simplistic settings mostly revolving around making preset daily cleaning schedules and selecting one of several cleaning modes available in the “Mode” section. This is mainly because the Eufy Home app features many other smart home options, including home security features.
Looking at app compatibility for Roomba vacuum cleaners, the iRobot app you use to control your Roomba is also available for both Android and iOS devices. The iRobot app is also much more comprehensive than the Eufy Home app. It offers more in-depth mapping settings and lets you adjust certain cleaning preferences more accurately than the Eufy Home app.
Durability
Eufy robot vacuums are rather durable and can withstand demanding daily use. As they are made of sturdy plastics, they shouldn’t experience any physical damage unless you step on them by accident or they fall down the stairs. Admittedly, the chances of these occurrences aren’t very high.
While Eufy vacuums are fairly sturdy, as Roomba has been on the market significantly longer, it gets the edge in this regard. Even though the line was introduced two decades ago, we rarely hear about Roomba vacuums entirely breaking down, even after years of regular use.
Of course, as with any product, it sometimes depends on the particular unit you get, so it does happen in rare occurrences. Moreover, both Eufy and Roomba robot vacuums are easily repairable, offering great durability and superb longevity.
Price
So, considering all of the brand features from above, how much would a Eufy or Roomba robot vacuum cost you? In terms of their overall pricing models, Roomba is clearly the more expensive manufacturer, as you can find bundles priced at well over $1,000. In contrast, the most affordable Roomba robot vacuum available on the manufacturer’s site, the 600 series, is priced at $274.99 (or less on Amazon).
By comparison, you can get a Eufy vacuum cleaner for under $200 if you want a budget option. Moreover, the handful of other Eufy’s Bounce Series models all cost around $250. The mid-range series offers products that are $50 to $100 more expensive than the entry series. Lastly, Eufy’s premium line includes models priced from $400 to $650. This is still considerably less expensive than what Roomba’s premium models go for.
Warranty
When comparing the overall durability and price of the two brands, we should also factor in the product warranty as a vital comparison criterion. In this regard, we can’t differentiate Eufy and Roomba, as both offer a one-year warranty on their products. Still, as both products last substantially longer than the initial warranty, the warranty is useful only when you get a faulty product that would break early in its life cycle.
Recommended Eufy Robot Vacuum
RoboVac 11S
The RoboVac 11S is an Amazon Best Seller for a reason. It’s the cheapest robot vacuum you can get from Eufy. Still, even with its very affordable price tag, the RoboVac 11S comes packed with some great features. It includes the BoostIQ Technology that we’ve mentioned before and can vacuum up to 100 minutes consistently.
That said, this robot vacuum doesn’t come with boundary strips, so it’s not the best pick if you want to set precise cleaning boundaries in your house. It has slightly below average maximum suction power at 1300 Pa but runs on a very low 55dB sound intensity. It also offers a good dust collector capacity of 0.6L.
RoboVac X8 Hybrid
In contrast to the previous model, the RoboVac X8 Hybrid is the most expensive Eufy robot vacuum that you can get. It costs $649.99 and offers plenty of advanced features that justify this price tag. For starters, it supports Wi-Fi connectivity and allows you to connect it with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
It also provides some of the most impressive run times, as it can continually clean up to 180 minutes. The dust box size is a bit smaller, at 400ml, but the X8 Hybrid compensates by offering a water tank with 250ml capacity. The RoboVac X8 Hybrid supports iPath Laser Navigation which builds a virtual map of your home, avoids obstacles in real-time, and can clean even in low-light.
Recommended Roomba Robot Vacuum
Roomba 960
The Roomba 960 vacuum cleaner is very adept at purposefully and logically cleaning your home, thanks to the manufacturer’s patented iAdapt technology with vSLAM navigation. It cleans in neat rows and includes a Recharge & Resume feature to efficiently clean your home without wasting any battery life. This robot cleaner has a sufficient 820ml tank capacity.
It works excellently with the iRobot app, allowing you to create personalized schedules and adjust a long list of settings. The Roomba 960 robot vacuum is also compatible with Google Home and Alexa devices. Featuring unique dual multi-surface rubber brushes, this robot vacuum is great for homeowners with house pets.
Roomba s9+
If you want the best Roomba robot vacuum cleaner money can buy and are prepared to spend substantial money on it, the Roomba s9+ is a perfect choice. It boasts incredible maximum suction power of up to 2200 Pa.
This robot vacuum has a slightly smaller dustbin capacity of 400ml, but this isn’t an issue. With the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal feature, you don’t even have to think about cleaning your s9+ vacuum cleaner for up to 60 days. It stores the dirt in the Home Base, ensuring no dust or dirty air gets released when vacuuming.
It supports a battery life of up to 120 minutes, offers Wi-Fi support, and allows you to set up voice prompts. You can even get a Roomba s9+ and Braava jet m6 bundle if you want the deepest, most detailed, and most powerful cleaning.
Conclusion
To sum up this Eufy vs Roomba comparison, we’ve found both robot vacuums to be good at what they’re meant for, as they certainly help make cleaning your home less arduous. And, looking at their core performance features, neither Eufy nor Roomba robot vacuums have any extraordinary standout features. Roomba vacuums might charge faster, and Eufy vacuums might last a bit longer on average, but these features certainly aren’t deal breakers in either direction.
That said, if you need something that will help you differentiate the products when making your pick, the differences mainly come down to the overall user input these two brands offer you. Roomba robot vacuums allow you to take a very hands-on approach and tailor every aspect of the floor cleaning process.
On the other hand, Eufy models are easier and simple to set up and don’t offer you a lot of input for customizing cleaning settings. Of course, this also means that Roomba robot vacuums are slightly more expensive than Eufy robot vacuums, so you should also factor in your budget when deciding between the two brands.
