Roomba 790 vs 880 – Bristled brush vs Extractors, Who Wins?

Regarding robot vacuums, very few brands can match the iRobot regarding the performance-to-price ratio.

On paper, the Roomba may have primitive features like using a random cleaning pattern and infrared sensors.

However, in terms of real-world practicality, the Roomba works, though it is not perfect. That’s why it is one of the bestselling robot cleaners we have right now.

Perhaps only the Neato can keep up with it in terms of price and performance.

Even the Dyson 360 eye costs a fortune with its high-tech innovation and cleaning performance, and it won’t clean under your bed. Any robot cleaner should be able to do this.

Today, let’s compare the Roomba 790 and the 880.

The former is the most feature-rich in the Roomba 700 series. At the same time, the 880 represents iRobot’s departure from the bristled brush design and transition to rubber “extractors” that lessened the need for maintenance on the brush roll.

Look at these robots side by side and see how they differ aesthetically.

Top view

Bottom view

The 790 and the 880 have the same user control layout (on top). The biggest difference is the color.

Roomba 790 has a predominantly light blue finish in the middle with a gray other ring (these are the bumpers).

Note that the 790 is the same machine as the 770 and 780. The only difference is the accessories included in the package.

The 880 combines a dark gray and charcoal finish, less prone to getting dirty (at least aesthetically).

These machines have the exact dimensions – diameter and height so these robots can clean underneath beds with a clearance of at least 3.8 inches.

Another similarity is underneath the hood. These autonomous cleaners use the same vacuum motor and have HEPA filtration.

Also, the navigation system of both uses is the same – a random cleaning pattern.

Roomba only upgraded their navigation system in the 980, which uses a pattern similar to the Neato Botvac.

This means a more predictable pattern with better efficiency. I’ve already compared the 880 and the 980 in this article, so check that out.

So, is the $20 difference worth it? We’ll find out in the next section.

Bristled brush vs extractors

When you turn both the robots upside down, you’ll see the most significant difference between these two robots – the motorized brush.

The Roomba 790 uses a brush similar to the one used by other Roomba robots ever since they started manufacturing robot vacuums that combine a bristle and squeegee-type brush.

The combination of these two has been very effective. It is a big reason why the Roomba has been one of the bestselling robot cleaners for over two decades.

The bristles pick up a lot of dust bunnies and hair (both human and pet), while the squeegee brush picks up dust and other fine debris.

But here’s the problem. This requires constant cleaning to remove wrapped-up hair and dust bunnies, which takes time.

Depending on how often you use your robot vacuum, you may have to spend 10 to 15 minutes cleaning the brush roll every week.

Here are detailed instructions on how to empty the bin and clean the brushes.

To save consumers time from constantly cleaning bristled brushes, iRobot has discontinued the bristle brush and developed a newer system that does not use bristles or a squeegee.

They call it the AeroForce Cleaning System, which Roomba says will provide 50% better cleaning performance.

At the heart of this is what they call the tangle-free extractors.

This is made up of two counter-rotating beater bars that supposedly are maintenance-free…

Well, not quite…

If you have someone living with you at home with long hair, you may encounter the same thing and you’ll have to do your due diligence and clean those extractors to maintain performance. But the great thing about these extractors is that you don’t need to clean them as much as the 700 series.

Larger dirt bin (and HEPA filter) for the 880

Another upgrade in the 880 would be the larger dirt bin.

According to Geek.com, the 700 series has a bin that is 60% larger than the 700 series. If you look at the side-by-side photo of the bottom section, you’ll see a substantial difference in bin size.

The larger bin also allowed iRobot to equip the 880 with a larger HEPA filter. This means better filtration and less chance of allergens returning from the exhaust.

It also means fewer interruptions to emptying the bin – which is significant for the consumer.

Is the newer 880 quieter?

Consumers say otherwise despite iRobot’s claims that the 880 has better noise reduction. This robot will roughly produce the same decibels as the older 700 series.

A stronger motor

Another upgrade would be the vacuum motor, which iRobot says has five times more suction power, which also means better overall performance.

Though the exact figures aren’t specified, based on video reviews, the 880 scored better in terms of pickup performance.

Here’s what Erica Griffin says…

You won’t let the Roomba clean a mess like that, but it’ll be an invaluable tool for in-between clean-ups to keep dust and sand from piling up.

If you have pets, this vacuum also does an excellent job of picking up pet hair.

Other Roomba Comparisons

Roomba has several models in its product line. Find out how each contrasts with the others and compares with brands like Neato.

• Roomba 675 vs. E5
• Roomba 675 vs. 690
• Roomba 690 vs. 960
• Roomba E5 vs. 960
• Roomba 960 vs. 980
• Roomba 960 vs. S9
• Roomba I7 vs. I7+ vs. E5
• Roomba I7 vs. 980
• Roomba I7 vs. S9

Comparing Roomba to other brands.

• Neato D7 vs. Roomba S9+
• Shark IQ Robot vs. Roomba S9 vs. I7
• Bobsweep Bobi Pet vs. Roomba 980

Product specifications

Roomba Model	790	880
Brush system	Bristle brush/squeegee combo	Brush-less extractors
Cleaning system	AeroVac Series II	AeroForce
Hepa filtration
Dirt detection	Series II w/Persistent Pass Cleaning	Series II w/Persistent Pass Cleaning
Scheduled cleaning
Full bin indicator
Accessories	3 Virtual Wall Lighthouses Extra Brush Set Extra Filter Set Round Brush Cleaning Tool Flat Brush Cleaning Tool	1 iRobot XLife Battery Charging base A/C adapter IR Remote (AA-batteries included) 2 virtual lighthouses (needs 2 C batteries that are not included) 1 extra hepa filter 1 integrated home base
Remote control	Wireless Command Center	IR Remote
Warranty	1 year on robot 6 months for the battery	1 year on robot 6 months for the battery

Price

Right now, you won’t be able to buy a brand new Roomba 880 because the Roomba 890 has taken its place. The latter is cheaper if you buy it on Amazon at less than $500!

What’s the difference between the Roomba 880 and 890? The latter now has WiFi connectivity and is compatible with Alexa. Hands down, it’s a better value.

Roomba 790 is more expensive than the 890 because a third-party seller is selling it.

To Wrap Up

If you had asked me a year ago, I would not have picked the Roomba 790 over the 880 because of the price difference. But with the 890 available right now for less than $500, it’s a no-brainer option because it’s got WiFi, a smartphone app, and Alexa compatibility.

You will get the same navigation as in the 700 series Roombas, so expect the same random pattern, which will be less efficient than a Neato vacuum. However, the great thing about the Roomba 890 is that it comes with a Virtual Lighthouse capable of cleaning multiple rooms.

The 790 is also a good product, but if you’re buying it, I suggest you get the less expensive 770 or 780. Both will give you the same cleaning performance for at least $70 less.

It does not have the Wireless Command Center, but you don’t need to. The remote included in cheaper variants is enough.

The IR control in the 790 and 780 will be more than enough.

Both the 780 and 790 come with 2 and 3 Virtual Lighthouses, respectively, which means you can clean up to 2 rooms with the 780 and up to 3 rooms with the 790. You can buy additional lighthouses for around $40

Additional virtual lighthouses can be purchased for around $50 on Amazon.

The 770 only has a virtual wall, so multi-room cleaning is impossible unless you buy the virtual lighthouse.