We’ll have a close look iRobot’s entry-level options, the Roomba 614 and 675. These two are the least expensive Roomba models.
The purpose of this comparison is to enumerate the differences between these two models.
Is the 614 good enough, or should you spend a little bit more on the 675? Let’s answer these questions and more in this review.
First, a quick overview of the Roomba 614 vs. 675
Roomba 614
- Side Brush: Yes
- Navigation: Random
- Battery life: 75 mins.
- Filtration: Standard
- Dirt Capacity: 300 ml
- Recharge and Resume: No
Roomba 675
- Airflow: 9 CFM
- Side Brush: Yes
- Navigation: Random
- Battery life: 75 mins.
- Filtration: Standard
- Dirt Capacity: 300 ml
- Recharge and Resume: No
- Deep Cleaning: 83%
Introduction to the Roomba 614 and 675
iRobot has revamped its product offerings in the last few years. You’ll no longer see the 700 or 800 series on their website.
In their place, you’ll see the Roomba 600 and E series as its entry-level options.
The Roomba 614 and 675 are currently the cheapest options, along with the 690.
You’ll also notice Amazon selling Roomba 692, the most expensive in the 600-series – almost the same price as the newer E5.
Here’s a tip: The Roomba 692 may look nice, but I’d prefer the E5 because it has a bigger dustbin and newer extractors. So it’ll resist tangles better.
Realize that all Roomba variants from the 600 to the top-of-the-line S-Series have the latest Li-ion batteries.
Roomba 614: Least Expensive Roomba
The Roomba 614 is the least expensive Roomba model available to date.
Unfortunately, it also has the most basic features.
This model doesn’t have WIFI, so users can’t access the iRobot Home App. Depending on your preference, this might be a deal-breaker, and it is for me.
Also, it isn’t compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. So you’ll have to go to the robot and push the clean button to run since it doesn’t have a remote.
The Roomba 614 will be the better option if you don’t mind these omissions.
Roomba 675: WIFI, access to iRobot App, Compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant
The Roomba 675 is popular because it’s cheap and provides some convenience features not found with the 614.
Accessibility to the iRobot app is a big deal because I can turn on the robot wherever I am inside the home. I don’t have to be in the same room to access it.
It also provides access to the scheduling feature, another consideration if you want it to clean at a specific time you’re not around.
People who prefer to use voice should consider the Roomba 675 as well because it is compatible with devices like Alexa.
So you’re basically paying a premium for these convenience features – the choice is yours.
Similarities between the Roomba 614 vs. 675
Next, we’ll look at the similarities between the Roomba 614 and 675.
1. Round frame: Both utilize the same round frame. Since these are the same robots, the dimensions mirror one another.
2. Counter-rotating brushes: The 614 and 675 have the same type of counter-rotating brush – a rubber blade and bristle combo great at cleaning debris.
3. Interface: There are three buttons in the middle portion of the fascia – spot, clean, and home. The designs are identical.
4. Brush layout: Flip the robot. You’ll see each robot has the same brush placement – side brush and primary brush roll. Even the location of the screws is in the same area.
5. Dustbin capacity: The dust container slides out from the back and can hold up to 0.3 liters of dirt. Please note that the dustbin of the 614 and 675 aren’t washable.
6. Filter: Both utilize standard, non-washable filters. The only entry-level Roomba with HEPA is the E5.
7. Navigation: These robots use iRobot’s adaptive navigational algorithm.
It’s iRobot’s fancy term for random navigation. Don’t expect anything advanced from either.
Each will pinball around until the battery is low, then recharge. You’ll have to press the clean button on the robot or app to resume cleaning.
Differences between the Roomba 614 and 675
While there are a lot of similarities, there are differences you need to consider.
- WIFI: Of the two, only the Roomba 675 has WIFI. The 614 does not.
- Accessibility to the iRobot app: Since the 675 has WIFI, users will have access to the iRobot Home App. The functionality isn’t very advanced, but it brings a lot of convenience to the table.
- Compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant: The Roomba 675 is compatible with voice-activated devices like Alexa and Google Assistant. If you have any of these, the choice is obvious.
How do the Roomba 614 and 675 navigate?
As I’ve mentioned earlier, the Roomba 614 and 675 will traverse randomly, pinballing around the room.
But it doesn’t just aimlessly navigate. It’s precise enough to cover the whole area.
I tested the Roomba 675 navigation by scattering quaker oats in different regions of the room.
It was able to pick up most of it in around 22 minutes. It isn’t bad considering the Roomba 980 will finish at about 19 minutes.
The downside to this type of navigation is it won’t be as efficient cleaning more than one room.
There’s a higher risk of it not docking the more rooms it needs to clean.
So I like telling my readers to use this one room at a time to maximize its thoroughness and minimize inefficiency.
iRobot makes it easy to move this around with the small handle on top.
App features of the Roomba 614 and 675
Only the Roomba 675 has accessibility to the app since it’s the only one with WIFI. The 614 doesn’t have access to it.
Unfortunately, the 600 series version of the app doesn’t provide many features. It does allow access to the robot even without being in the same room.
You can also set schedules, but only once per day.
Once the time is set, you can’t choose the same day in succeeding attempts since it’s disabled.
How much power do the Roomba 614 and 675 have?
I tested the Roomba 675 with an anemometer, and it recorded 8.37 CFM, not far from the 8.2 CFM of the Roomba 690. So I suspect the 614 won’t be far off these figures.
The good thing about Roomba products is that they don’t rely much on airflow for performance.
Despite the sub-10 CFM figure, it still did well in cleaning tests thanks to the counter-rotating brushes and dirt-detect.
Cleaning performance comparison: Roomba 614 vs. 675
I’ve tested the Roomba 675 extensively with different types of cleaning tests. I believe the 614 will mirror the results of the 675. I say this because the 675 and 690 mirrors one another in this area.
First, let’s look at the results of the Roomba 675
- Overall: 93.58%
- Hard floor: 96.15%
- Carpet (surface): 99%
- Sand on hard floor: 94.1%
- Deep cleaning: 85.1%
The 675 was better than the 690 with carpet surface debris pick up but slightly worst with the hard floor test.
One wildcard for these tests is its random navigation. The randomness prevents uniformity with the tests since there’s no fixed pattern.
Another reason is how the side brush scatters debris, especially on hard surfaces where it goes into a broader zone.
But one result reveals how identical the 600 series vacuums are in the deep cleaning test.
The 675 picked up an average of 85.1%, a tad below the 690 at 85.15%.
Which is better on hard floors?
It’s a toss-up. One issue with all 600-series robot vacuums is the fast-spinning side brush. It scatters large clumps of dirt over a large radius.
Expect the 600-series side brush to fling stuff like pet litter or quinoa. I wouldn’t recommend it for cleaning debris like this.
Fortunately, daily cleaning only involves dust and hair. Any of these robots are capable of picking up such debris.
The question is if random navigation is okay for your needs or not.
Edge cleaning comparison
One downside of the Roomba 675’s round frame is its inability to clean the edges well.
Check the before and after photos and see what I mean.
This robot couldn’t pick up a considerable chunk of the pet litter I scattered.
Hair wrap comparison
I used one gram of five to seven inch human hair to check how well these can resist tangles.
People who have pets or live with something with long hair should purchase these robots. The bristle brush is a hair magnet and will require lots of maintenance.
The Roomba E5 would be the better alternative, especially for pet owners.
Carpet cleaning
One strength of the Roomba 614 and 675 is its excellent pick-up on embedded dirt under carpet fibers.
The Roomba 675 picked up 85.1% on average in three tests – one of the best scores of all robot vacuums regardless of price. Only the Roomba 690 (85.15%), 960, 980 (91.9%), and S9 (94%) picked up more than the 675.
It’s better than the more expensive Roborock S5 Max or S6 MaxV in this category.
This model should be on the shortlist of people looking for a budget robot vacuum for carpet.
Can the Roomba 614 and 675 pick up large debris?
Both alternatives can clean large stuff like Cheerios and Fruit loops despite the low airflow, thanks to the excellent design of the counter-rotating brushes.
Dustbin comparison
Both robots use the same dustbin with the same 0.3-liter capacity.
Run time comparison
The Roomba 614 and 675 will run for up to 90 minutes on a full charge. Both use the same 1,800 mAh Li-ion battery.
Maintenance
Like all robot vacuums, these robots need the proper maintenance to run at their best.
I’ll list down the components that you need to check periodically. Check this article for a more detailed explanation of cleaning the Roomba 675 or 614.
- Brushes: Check and clean the dual-brushes and side brush. Debris such as hair will wrap and accumulate in different areas. Make sure to check it at least once a week and remove any accumulation. Pay close attention to the axles and remove dirt in this zone.
- Wheels: Another part that robot owners neglect are the wheels. For the Roomba 675, there are three wheels – one castor and two side wheels. Check this article on how to clean all the wheels of a Roomba thoroughly.
- Sensors: All 600-series robots have four drop sensors underneath. Grab a clean microfiber towel to give each a wipe gently.
- Dustbin and filter: The best practice would be emptying the dustbin after every run. It doesn’t hold a lot (only 0.3-liter), so don’t neglect it, or it’ll spillover. Also, the dust container and filter aren’t washable. Use a handheld vacuum with a brush attachment to speed up the process.
- Battery: Keep the robot on the charging dock always. But in case you’re not using the robot for a few months, turn off the robot by holding the “Clean” button for a few seconds, or removing the battery.
Availability of Parts
One reason I like iRobot products is the sheer availability of different components. Parts like the filter, battery, and wheels are obtainable in online stores like Amazon. Even more obscure components such as the side brush motor or wheel assembly are easy to find.
Other Roomba Comparisons
Check my other Roomba comparisons below. I’ve written a bunch. These articles will help you discern the various alternatives available.
- Roomba Comparison [Guide to the latest Roomba options]
- Roomba 675 vs. 690
- Roomba 675 vs. E5
- Roomba 675 vs. 690
- Roomba 690 vs. 960
- Roomba 960 vs. 980
- Roomba 960 vs. S9
- Roomba I7 vs. I7+ vs. E5
- Roomba I7 vs. 980
- Roomba I7 vs. S9
- Roomba I3 vs. I6 vs. S9
Comparing Roomba to other brands
Product Specifications
| Model | Roomba 614 | Roomba 675 |
|---|---|---|
 | | |
| Width | 13" | 13" |
| Height | 3.7" | 3.7" |
| Filter | Standard | Standard |
| Virtual Wall | No | No |
| Navigation | Random | Random |
| Run time (Turbo mode) | 90 mins. | 90 mins. |
| Power | N/A | 8.37 cfm |
| Warranty | 1-year limited | 1-year limited |
| Price |
Where can I buy these robots?
You can buy the Roomba 614 and 675 through stores like Amazon and Walmart. Please check the links below for more information.
Disclaimer: I’ll earn a commission if you buy through any of the links above, but at no extra cost to you, so it’s a win-win for us!
Which is better, Roomba 614 or 675?
The Roomba 614 and 675 are the same robots except for the convenience features. Expect similar results when it comes to cleaning floors and navigation.
Only the Roomba 675 has WIFI, enabling users to access the iRobot app and compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant.
People who don’t mind not having these extra features can save money and go with the cheaper 614.
Otherwise, if you value convenience and do not mind spending a little more, the no-brainer option would be the Roomba 675.
The Verdict: Get The Roomba 675 If You To Use The iRobot App
Choosing between the Roomba 614 and 675 will boil down to your preference.
Whether you want access to the iRobot Home App or not. If the answer is yes, the better option would be the Roomba 675, otherwise, go with the 614 and save some money.
Alexa or Google Assistant users should opt for the 675 because it’s compatible with these devices.
These robots use the same components, so there’s not much variance with cleaning performance. Both will traverse randomly and works best inside smaller homes.
