iRobot Roomba 960 vs 980: Pros & Cons and Verdict

There are dozens of robotic vacuums available on the market, and a lot of companies claim that they manufacture the industry-leading smart floor cleaners.

Unfortunately, not all of those companies can be trusted, as often it transpires that the smart floor cleaners don’t live up to the hype of the advertisements.  There are thousands of disappointed purchasers who bought products from such sellers and received nonfunctional floor cleaners.

So we need to be careful when choosing a company that manufactures robotic vacuums so we can avoid the non-functional end of the spectrum.

Fortunately, there are several notable names in this industry that can be trusted and we can be sure that when buying from them, we’ll receive outstanding smart gadgets that work as described.

One of those trusted companies is iRobot. iRobot manufactures some of the best robotic vacuums, and the company’s latest releases are the Roomba 960 and 980.

These two smart floor cleaners are cutting-edge gadgets on the market that currently have amongst the top ratings on Amazon with thousands of positive reviews and satisfied users.

Suggested Read: Roomba 620 Review: Pros & Cons and Verdict

If you want to buy yourself a functional, quality-made and powerful robotic vacuum, you should choose between these two.

Since we’re writing a comparison article, we’ll help you determine which of these robotic vacuums is better and, more reliable.

We’ll compare some of the most critical aspects of these smart floor cleaners, talk about their features, design and capabilities. Lastly, we’ll come up with a reasonable verdict and crown one of these floor cleaners as an industry-leading product.

iRobot Roomba 960 vs 980: Pros & Cons and Verdict

Roomba 960 and 980 are two of the most popular robotic vacuums on the market. iRobot has been creating smart floor cleaners for a long time and has already released several successful models such as Scooba 450, Roomba 770 and 880.

But the Roomba 980 and 960 are far more advanced robotic vacuums that have enhanced features, capabilities and sensing abilities. These robotic vacuums are on a different level and can automate the home cleaning process without the need to “babysit” the device or follow up with manual cleaning of missed spots.

1. Set Up Process

The first topic we need to write about is the setup process of Roomba 960 and 980. People want to know if the gadgets they’re about to purchase are easy to install since no one wants to spend their precious time reading manuals and watching guides on YouTube.

Setting Up Roomba 960 and 980

Roomba 960 and 980 are DIY devices that take a few minutes to set up without the need for any professional expertise.

The setup process of Roomba 960 and 980 is intuitive and straightforward. It just requires you to press a button or two and download the robotic vacuum’s mobile application.

If you somehow find it hard to set up these smart floor cleaners, you can check out the user’s manual for further guidance. Plus, you can reach out to the support team at iRobot’s website. They’ll gladly assist you with anything you think is relevant.

2. Design

Smart home shoppers seek products that are not only functional but also attractive. The aesthetics become even more critical if the smart gadget will be on display and roaming around the house. Smart products attract a lot of attention, especially from visitors, and it’s pleasing when they look shiny and modern.

Roomba 960

Roomba 960 is a gorgeous robotic vacuum that looks attractive and shiny. The dimensions of Roomba 960 are 13.8 x 13.8 x 3.6 inches, and it weighs 8.6 pounds.

iRobot has used a distinctive minimalistic design for their series of smart floor cleaners, and, as you can see from the photo, they have followed suit with the Roomba 960. 

Roomba 960 has neat dimensions and can fit into the harder-to-reach places that need cleaning such as under beds and chests of drawers. As well as testing it myself, I’ve read many reviews, and 99% of the buyers mentioned that Roomba 960 had zero problems cleaning dirt under their beds and tv stands, etc. Unlike models like the Neato Botvac, Roomba 960 won’t get stuck under furniture.

Roomba 960 has several buttons on its surface. Since Roomba 960 has a mobile application, iRobot wants you to navigate your Roomba directly from your phone.

Roomba 980

If we compare the designs of Roomba 960 and 980, there isn’t a big difference. Both of these robotic vacuums have minimalistic designs, both are available in black and have similar dimensions.

Roomba 980 is 13.8 inches in diameter and 3.6 inches high; it weighs 8.7 pounds. These dimensions are quite similar to 960’s.

But Roomba 980 and 960 don’t have completely identical designs. For example, the green “clean” button which appears on the 960 hasn’t been carried over to the Roomba 980.

As for the cleaning process, like Roomba 960, Roomba 980 won’t get stuck under your TV stands, sofa and beds. Roomba 980 is flexible and can fit into those harder-to-reach areas in your house.

3. Performance

We all know that these robotic vacuums are quite pricey and no one wants to pay for a product that’ll underperform. We need to know the performance capabilities of Roomba 960 and 980 to see if they can meet our needs and expectations.

Roomba 960

If you already own a previous generation Roomba or have read some reviews, you should already know that the old Roombas have a random cleaning manner. 

Suggested Read: Neato Botvac vs Roomba 980: Pros & Cons and Verdict

For example, those Roombas mostly hit the same place over and over, leading to drained batteries and the house being left partially cleaned.

Well, gladly, this problem has been solved with Roomba 960. Roomba 960 cleans your home in a more intelligent manner, and it won’t miss a single spot in the room it’s cleaning.

Roomba 960 is known for having 2x better performance rate than the Roomba 600-series, and it’s almost as good as the 980.

We’ve tested Roomba 960 on different surfaces to find out how thoroughly it could clean. Surprisingly, Roomba 960 did an excellent job and left no stains on the floor. We’ve also tested Roomba 960 on rugs and carpets.

Roomba 960 had some problems cleaning rugs and carpets (due to not having the carpet boost feature) and left a little bit of visible dirt, but it’s not something that could be called serious. A bit of manual cleaning would’ve made it a perfect clean.

Unlike the previous models, Roomba 960 needs no babysitting, and you can be sure it’ll clean your home without breaking or crashing into walls, tables and falling down the stairs. Shortly, Roomba 960 is a reliable robotic vacuum that can be trusted.

Roomba 980

Roomba 980 is the most advanced robotic vacuum on the market. It has enhanced features, capabilities and cleaning abilities.

Roomba 980 is a smart floor cleaner that has ditched the random cleaning style and uses a preplanned system that makes sure the robotic vacuum cleans every bit of your home.

Roomba 980 has a built-in camera that helps the smart floor cleaner navigate itself throughout your home.

In addition to this, Roomba 980 uses Virtual Wall Technology that also helps the floor cleaner to avoid any obstacles like walls, chairs, tables, stands and stairs.

If you want to know how Roomba 980 navigates itself, take a look at the picture posted above. It’ll give you an idea how the robotic vacuum moves, and it’s visible that the smart floor cleaner doesn’t miss a single spot.

Roomba 980 will amaze you with its performance rate, and I’m sure it’ll exceed your expectations. On top of this, Roomba 980 has a “carpet boost” that increases the power of the robotic vacuums and makes it more powerful.

We’ve tested Roomba 980 on different surfaces to find out how thoroughly it could clean. Roomba 980 did a fantastic job cleaning dirt, stains and fur. Roomba 980 had zero problems running on rugs and carpets.

What I like about Roomba 980 the most is the “block-off” feature it has. For example, if you want to restrict the robotic vacuum from cleaning certain places, you can mark that place as a “block-off” and Roomba 980 won’t touch or go near it.

One of the most significant advantages of Roomba 980 is the lithium-ion batteries that increase the longevity of the robotic vacuum. By having these new batteries, the lifespan of Roomba 980 has improved, and it can clean your home longer before needing to recharge.

To sum up, Roomba 980 is a reliable, trusted and quality-made smart floor cleaner that’ll flawlessly clean your house.

4. Features

The next thing we should talk about is the features of these robotic vacuums. It’s important to know the main features of Roomba 960 and 980 to determine which of these smart floor cleaners is a better fit for us.

We need to know how these floor cleaners differ and what they have in common. We’ve created a small chart that’ll help you with figuring it out.

ROOMBA 960	ROOMBA 980
iAdapt 2.0 Navigation	Visual Navigation
Room-to-Room Cleaning	Automatic Recharging
AeroForce 3-Stage Cleaning System	AeroForce Cleaning System
Dual-Mode Virtual Wall Technology	Carpet Boost
Recharge and Resume	Auto Schedule
Virtual Wall Technology	Multi-Room Navigation
Auto Schedule	Recharge and Resume
iRobot HOME App	iRobot HOME App
5x More Power	10x Stronger Power

That’s pretty much everything about the features of Roomba 960 and 980. If we take a closer look at the chart, it’s kinda obvious that Roomba 980 is the leading robotic vacuum.

The carpet boost feature and 10x more power are enough to determine which of these robotic vacuums is a superior gadget. Roomba 980 provides more strength, freedom and flexibility and that’s enough to charm any buyer.

5. Cleaning Capabilities

It’s essential to know the cleaning capabilities of our robotic vacuums. Since these smart floor cleaners are quite costly, we must know if they have excellent cleaning capabilities and if they can meet our needs.

Roomba 960

When you turn on Roomba 960, it’ll go straight ahead until it crashes into an obstacle. The first thing Roomba 960 will try and do is to map your house. 

Roomba 960 is a powerful robotic vacuum that has 75 minutes of run time, 5x more power and the ‘recharge & resume’ feature. Roomba 960 is pretty good at finding its way and making sure everything is well cleaned. Roomba 960 works great on all surfaces, and you’ll be amazed how much dirt it’ll gather.

When we tested Roomba 960, it had some fantastic results. Every time we opened the dustbin, it was full of dirt. Roomba 960 gently cleans wall edges and corners. Thanks to the deeper cleaning power, Roomba 960 leaves no dirt behind.

With the built-in iAdapt camera, Roomba 960 can keep track of its location, and it can quickly determine the locations of potential obstacles. 

Roomba 960 was designed to clean under sofas, beds and kickboards and the robotic vacuum can self-charge. It knows where the docking station is and whenever the battery gets low, it’ll automatically dock and get a full charge.

Roomba 980

You might have heard some rumours about Roomba 980 underperforming and not being as good as described. Fortunately, that’s not true since the Roomba 980 is the smartest robotic vacuum on the market.

Roomba 980 has the most advanced AI in its industry and can easily navigate itself throughout your house. Roomba 980 can clean your place pretty good, and I must say that it had the best results I’ve seen.

That might be because of the carpet boost which gives the robotic vacuum extra power to become more effective.

It does use a lot of energy, but if you have something serious to clean, it’s better to use it. With carpet mode, you can clean the worst mess without having to intervene. It’s true that the carpet boost is loud and annoying, but it’s tolerable. 

What I can say for sure is that Roomba 980 will leave you amazed. We’ve tested Roomba 980 on mid-pile & low-pile carpet and hardwood floors, and it cleaned everything flawlessly. 

Roomba 980 also has the recharge & resume feature. If you’re using the carpet boost and the battery runs low, Roomba 980 will return to its docking station and will get a full charge.

In the regular mode, Roomba 980 can run up to 120 minutes thanks to its lithium-ion batteries. The only issue Roomba 980 had was cleaning sand (Roomba 960 couldn’t clean it too). But it’s not a big issue since you’ll rarely find sand in a house or an apartment.

6. Advantages and Disadvantages

We’ve discussed important topics but before we conclude our article, let’s write about the advantages and disadvantages of these robotic vacuums.

We need to know the pros and cons of these smart floor cleaners to understand what these gadgets lack. To find out, we’ve created two charts that’ll list the advantages and disadvantages of Roomba 960 and 980.

Roomba 960

PROS	CONS
Multi-Room Navigation	Problems with Navigation
Recharge & Resume	No Carpet Boost
AeroForce 3-Stage Cleaning System
Scheduling
iRobot HOME App
Long Lasting Battery
Dual-Mode Virtual Wall Technology
Smart Schedules
Room-to-Room Cleaning
5x Stronger Power	Purchase Roomba 960

Roomba 980

PROS	CONS
Smart Schedules	Loud
10x Stronger Power	Pricey
Carpet Mode
Built-in Camera
Flexible Mobile App
Long-Lasting Batteries
History Page
Efficiency
Recharge & Resume
Multi-Room Navigation	Purchase Roomba 980

That’s pretty much everything about the advantages and disadvantages of Roomba 960 and 980. These robotic vacuums have great features and can boast being two of the best on the market.

But Roomba 980 outperforms the 960 and can be called the industry-leading product. The carpet mode feature is a game-changer, and that’s what gives the 980 model a considerable advantage.

7. Support

iRobot’s support team is superb. I’ve reached out to them a couple of times to find out how responsive and helpful they were and whether they could help me solve specific issues.

I was amazed how professional they were, and the person I talked to did everything to help me out. iRobot’s live chat is lovely, and as for sending emails, they typically respond within 1 business day. Phone calls are useful too. They never hang up, and you get answered in seconds.

So if you have any concerns about these robotic vacuums, try reaching out; they’ll help with anything you think is relevant.

Comparison Chart: Roomba 960 vs 980

The last thing we need to do before concluding our comparison article is to create a chart that’ll directly compare these two smart floor cleaners.

We’ve reviewed some of the crucial aspects of Roomba 960 and 980, rated their designs, talked about the setup process and written about their features. To make it easier for the buyers to determine which of these floor cleaners takes the top spot, let’s look at the chart below.

NAME OF THE ROBOTIC VACUUM	ROOMBA 960	ROOMBA 980
Robotic Vacuum Name	Roomba 960	Roomba 980
iOS & Android Compatibility	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi Support	Yes	Yes
Smart Cleaning	Yes	Yes
Energy Usage Reports	No	Yes
Cleaning Style	Organised	Organised
Modes	None	Carpet Mode
Sensing Qualities	High	Very High
Mobile App	Yes	Yes
Noisy	Average	High
Battery Life	Average	High
Power	5x Stronger Power	10x Stronger Power
Dimensions Of The Product	13.8 x 13.8 x 3.6 in	13.9 x 13.9 x 3.6 inches
Problems	Sometimes Cleans Randomly	Noisy
Unique Feature	None	Carpet Mode
Warranty	6 Months	6 Months
Check Price

Roomba 960 and 980 have some great features, dozens of positive reviews and thousands of satisfied customers. 

These two smart floor cleaners are the best robotic vacuums on the market. If you want to buy yourself a top-notch product, you must choose between these two.

Since this is a comparison article, we can’t conclude the article by saying that it’s a tie. We need to choose a winner so that the buyer can know which of these two smart floor cleaners is the best one.

It’s a no-brainer that the Roomba 980 is a superior robotic vacuum that has better features, enhanced capabilities and outstanding sensing abilities. Roomba 980 is an industry-leading smart floor cleaner and a most intelligent robotic vacuum.

With its unique features and the freedom and flexibility it gives to the buyer, it’s no surprise that people love praising this product.

The Bottom Line

Roomba 960 and 980 are two of the best robotic vacuums. These smart floor cleaners have outstanding features and excellent cleaning capabilities. They are top-rated and best-selling robotic vacuums on Amazon.

The manufacturer of Roomba 960 and 980 is a trusted company called iRobot. Without a doubt, these floor cleaners will not disappoint or underperform.

If you want to buy yourself a top-notch robotic vacuum that is the industry-leading product, you should go for the Roomba 980. It has better features, enhanced capabilities and is visually more compelling.

But don’t think low of Roomba 960. It’s a wonderful robotic vacuum that has great features and is a quality smart floor cleaner. If you’re not ready to spend extra bucks for the Roomba 980, the 960 model will surely meet or even exceed your expectations.

[wp-review id=”277″]

To sum up, the main differences between Roomba 960 and 980 are that Roomba 980 gives you 60% more vacuuming time, better battery life and you get more cleaning power. 

The Roomba 960 lacks the carpet boost mode and its navigation problems make it less desirable. As for the Roomba 980, the carpet boost mode makes the smart floor cleaner practical at cleaning carpets and rugs due to the increased suction power.

Robotic Vacuum Name	Roomba 960	Roomba 980
Amazon Link