Roomba 675 Review: Pros & Cons and Verdict

Welcome to the world of robot vacuums! You’ve probably heard a lot about the ultra-famous Roomba but got a shock when you looked at their price tags. These popular little robots can sell for about $1,000 and more. Since you’re probably looking for a starter robot, you’re probably not willing to shell out that much cash. 

That’s where the Roomba 675 comes in. iRobot is one of the most recognized brand names on the market, and the company has garnered the public’s respect over the years. The Roomba 675 is the company's most affordable model and boasts Wi-Fi connectivity. 

This little vacuum proves why iRobot has dominated the market over the years. It adjusts to various types of floors automatically, does its job quickly, and almost never gets stuck. It also supports app and voice control, and you can set cleaning schedules. Unfortunately, it does lack some of the features offered by pricier models. 

As far as entry-level models go, the Roomba 675 is well worth your attention. 

Advantages and Disadvantages

These are the advantages and disadvantages of the Roomba 675. While the robotic vacuum has a lot of pros, it also has its shortcomings.

Design and Setup

The Roomba 675 is 13 inches in diameter and 3.7 inches high. As far as robot vacuums go, it’s quite tall but can still pass under most furniture with ease. It isn’t the sleekest model on the market, but it’s practical.  

What does it look like? The Roomba 675 is round with matte grey plastic around the sides and a glossy black top. At the lid’s center you’ll find three buttons arranged in a circle- Clean, Spot, and Dock.

It also has a grey carrying handle which makes it easier to carry it up and down the stairs. This is a relief since the robot is sturdy, which becomes a bit of a problem when it starts bumping into furniture. One thing’s for certain, your pets probably won’t be fans. 

The Roomba has two multi-surface brushes on the bottom. The first one loosens dirt and debris, and the second one shifts it all into the suction channel. There’s also one side brush for tricky corners. The smaller brush is made of rubber fins, and the bigger one has bristles interspersed with plastic fins.

Technically, the dual brushes are supposed to mirror the dual brush rolls found on higher-end vacuums, but those brushes are larger than the ones featured on the Roomba 675. The brushes are easy to remove but removing debris like hair from the brush can prove to be a challenge. There are cliff sensors located on the bottom to prevent it from falling down edges or stairs and damaging itself.

You’ll find the dustbin at the back of the Roomba. It’s sturdier than most models and might require a little force to fully release it from the vacuum despite the push button. The dustbin is open on one side and has a half-height gate that holds back most of the contents.

You have to open the gate to completely empty the Roomba. The gate doesn’t stay shut on its own, which means you have to hold it open to prevent it from flying open while you’re cleaning it. 

The Roomba’s dock is small and doesn’t include a wrap for cord storage which means that the Roomba can get tangled in its own cord.

The setup process is easy, all you need to do is plug the home base into an outlet, pull off the battery pull tab and place it on the charger. iRobot suggests placing the base at least 1.5 feet away from objects on both sides and 4 feet across from anything.

The Room does come partially charged, but it would be a good idea to let it charge for about 3 hours to complete the charge. If you want to see how far the battery is, press the Clean button on the top and the battery icon will come on. Solid green indicates a full charge, but amber means that it’s still busy. 

As mentioned, the setup is simple but there is one minor problem. Sometimes it can be tricky to get the Roomba to show the battery icon while it’s charging, so you might not know if it’s finished charging or not. Thankfully, that’s where the app saves the day. 

You can connect the Roomba 675 to the iRobot app (iOS or Apple) by following the onscreen prompts. It shouldn’t take longer than two or three minutes. And, just like that, your Roomba 675 is ready to go! 

Features

The Roomba 675 is compatible with Alexa, IFTTT, and Google Assistant. It also includes Wi-Fi connectivity and can be controlled remotely via the iRobot app on your smartphone.

This feature comes in handy because the Roomba 675 doesn’t come with a remote, but it can be controlled via the buttons on the top. You can also use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to control the robot. 

The app is very user-friendly, and you’ll be able to connect easily. Download the iRobot Home app available on Android or iOS. Create an account or sign in, and the app will show a list of robots you can add. Select your Roomba and follow the prompts to connect it to your Wi-Fi. 

While you’re waiting, you can download the iRobot Home app (available for Android and iOS) and create an account or sign in if you already have one. Once you do that, the app will populate a list of robots you can add; just select the Roomba 675, and follow the instructions to get it connected to your Wi-Fi network.

To control the robot via Alexa or Google Assistant, select the Smart Home option on the iRobot app, choose Google Assistant or Alexa, and follow the easy instructions to get your account linked. 

The app will do most of the work and has a big Clean button in the middle of the screen. There are tabs on the bottom for Schedule, History, Help, and Settings. You can use Schedule to select which days you want the Roomba to clean and what time. This will free up a lot of your time as you won’t have to remember to switch it on. You can carry on with your day while the Roomba cleans in the background. 

The History tab allows you to see a list of the most recent 30 jobs from the past three months. It also features lifetime stats, the total number of cleaning jobs, total amount of time spent cleaning, and many other useful facts. 

The Roomba 675 also has a useful feature called Dirt Detect, which focuses more cleaning effort on very dirty areas and problem areas. The Roomba will detect which areas require the most effort and continue working in that area until the sensors detect less dirt.

You can use this feature to identify problem areas in your home and fix them. The Roomba may even make a few suggestions on how to fix the error so that it can clean more efficiently in the future. 

The little vacuum robot also adapts to your cleaning schedule. It learns from the schedules you set and will even learn to recognize your voice from Alexa or Google Assistant. It will even suggest extra cleaning sessions during pet shedding season or during high pollen counts. Soon, cleaning won’t be a thought on your mind, the Roomba will fit into your life and you’ll wonder what you did before you had a little robot vacuuming up after you. 

Unlike with the Roomba i7+ or S9+, you can’t set up virtual boundaries, but you can buy a physical Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier that works with the Roomba 675. This would allow you to gain more control over where the Roomba cleans. 

The Roomba features an auto-adjust cleaning head which allows the vacuum to automatically adapt its height. This allows it to clean hard-wood floors and carpets more efficiently.

It might take some time to adjust to the Roomba and learn about all its features, but iRobot strongly recommends that you explore all the different features and personalize it as much as possible. You won’t fully experience all the benefits unless you add your own unique touches. The iRobot app is a feature that draws many customers. It’s very useful and you’ll wonder how you managed without it for all these years.

The Wi-Fi connectivity is another benefit that is worth seriously considering. Sure, there are cheaper entry-level models that work well without Wi-Fi, but if you’ve got Wi-Fi, why not use it? If you’ve got a smart home, then this Roomba will fit in nicely. 

Performance

The Roomba 675 is advanced in many areas, but it’s still like an old-fashioned vacuum cleaner when it comes to noise. The robot doesn’t work quietly, and you’ll probably be able to hear it working in the next room even if you close the door. This might be annoying if you work from home and have virtual meetings to attend.

If your pets already hate vacuum cleaners, then they won’t be a fan of this robot. If you have sensitive ears and want a quiet robot vacuum, the Roomba 675 isn’t for you. 

However, as mentioned before, this Roomba does have many features that count in its favor. It works quickly and cleans up messes efficiently. You won’t have to “babysit” the Roomba while it does its work, which makes it practical for hardworking professionals who don’t have time to vacuum after a hard day’s work.

It also moves very well and can make its way over various types of flooring with ease. Although it might get stuck in some areas, it's usually good at finding its way around different obstacles. You won’t have to worry about the Roomba getting stuck on curtains, carpets, or tiles since it was designed to travel over these surfaces. 

When it comes to battery life, the Roomba 675 is supposed to work for about 90-minutes on a full charge although some users have reported that it runs up to 10-minutes longer than expected. It’s not in any way special when compared to other robots in the same price range, but it is decent.

The vacuum is supposed to make its way to the battery dock station when it is finished cleaning, or the battery is low. It doesn’t always make it back in time, but there’s a convenient handle on the top for you to carry it back if it fails. 

The Roomba cleans well and will collect most of the dust and debris in the areas it cleans. It works best on tiles and hardwood floors, although it struggles a little on carpets. The Roomba 675 does have a bit of a problem with pet hair, but as long as the pet hair isn’t excessive, it should be able to clean most of it up after one session.

 Since the Roomba 675 doesn’t have a mapping option or advanced navigation, it won’t clean in a predictable pattern. Its cleaning method might not make sense at first, but soon you’ll notice that it methodically works its way along boundaries like baseboards and around furniture. When it encounters an obstacle (like a wall) directly, it will head off in the opposite direction.

The Roomba 675 works best on an open plan floor and will tend to avoid cleaning heavy carpets. It does have a good pick up score, however, and will pick up debris that other models in the same price range wouldn’t be able to. And while it struggles with things like pet hair, it does well with debris like cereal and kitty litter which is good news for parents and cat-owners. 

In essence, the Roomba 675 works hard and when it's done, your floors will be noticeably cleaner. 

Maintenance

If you want to get more bang for your buck and keep your Roomba working for a long time, there are a few things you need to maintain. iRobot suggests cleaning the bin after each cleaning session. You’ll also need to clean the brushes and filter once a week, but you might do it more often if you have pets.

The front caster wheel will need to be cleaned every two weeks, and once a month you need to clean the cliff sensors, charging contacts, and side brush. You’ll find more detailed instructions in the owner’s manual which comes with the Roomba. 

There’s a button on the top of the machine that ejects the bin, from there you slide it out and open the bin door to empty it. The filter also comes out easily and can be cleaned at the same time as the bin.

The filter should be replaced every two months, while the brushes need to be replaced every six to twelve months. You can find replacement parts on iRobot's site, but you won’t have to buy new filters for about four months since the robot comes with two filters included.  

Who Should Get This?

If you’re a newbie in the world of robot vacuum cleaners, then this entry-level model will work well for your needs. It’s a solid option that will be your gateway into the market. There are cheaper options, but you’ll miss out on features such as scheduling and voice control.

While other brands also offer similar machines in the same brand, the Roomba is the best option when it comes to maneuverability and efficiency. If you’ve got a small home without pets or kids, then this would be your best option. 

The Bottom Line

The Roomba 675 isn’t the cheapest entry-level vacuum robot out there, but it does offer some impressive features that are usually offered by more expensive models. You might not be willing to spring for more advanced robots, but with this Roomba you get a taste of what they can offer.

There’s a lot to like about this little robot, and you probably won’t regret buying it. There aren’t any major problems to report but there are some factors to consider before buying it. 

It’s definitely hard worker, and you’ll be sure to hear it. If you have sensitive ears or neighbors, then this might not be the model for you. Other brands offer similar robots that are quieter and sleeker, but they won’t come with the iRobot app or the Roomba 675’s maneuverability.

That being said, the robot will still get stuck on things. It isn’t perfect, but it does move better than other models and gets the job done most of the time. It’s a good cleaner, and gets a lot done considering the fact that it doesn’t have mapping functions. 

If you’re battling pet hair or have lots of heavy carpeting, then this Roomba isn’t the best choice for you. However, if you want advanced features like automatic dirt detection and Wi-Fi connectivity then this is the machine for you.

Overall, there are cheaper options but the Roomba 675 offers useful features that you won’t find anywhere else. If you love the features but are still baulking at the price, we suggest waiting for the little robot to go on sale.  

Your smart home won’t be complete without a little vacuum robot working in the background. If you already have these features or are considering installing them, then this is the machine for you. It will fit into your routine and clean up while you’re busy

If you want a solid machine with advanced features but don’t want to break the bank, then you won’t go wrong with iRobot’s Roomba 675. Before long, your Roomba will be part of the family. Don’t forget to give it a name!