Review of the iRobot Roomba 616 Robot Vacuum Cleaner: a reasonable balance of price and quality

The American company iRobot is a pioneer in the development of smart robotic technology. In its assortment there are many high-tech solutions for automated house cleaning.

The affordable iRobot Roomba 616 robot vacuum cleaner is considered to be one of the most popular models of the brand. There is nothing superfluous in it: the basic set of necessary functions and good technical characteristics make it possible to perfectly cope with your tasks.

Thinking about buying such a device, but still in doubt about the choice? We offer you to understand in detail the intricacies of the device and the functionality of the Roomba 616 robot. Comparison with the closest competitors and feedback from real users will help you make an informed decision about buying equipment.

Features and specifications of Roomba 616

To make up your mind about the Roomba 616 robotic cleaner and decide whether it is suitable for your home, you will have to familiarize yourself with the characteristics and features of this model.

Vacuum Cleaner Kit

The 2016 model is sold in specialized stores at an average price of about 20,000 rubles.

For this amount, the buyer receives:

• the device itself;
• charging unit with integrated Home Base adapter;
• XLife battery;
• AeroVac bin bin
• additional antibacterial filter;
• instruction manual.

The manufacturer provides a two-year warranty on the equipment, so the kit should include a warranty card, which must be filled in before purchase.

Other robot accessories are purchased separately. It can be a remote control, a virtual wall fixture that divides rooms into zones, spare side or main brushes.

A detailed review of the robot and recommendations to which you should pay attention before the first inclusion are presented in the video:

Vacuum cleaner design features

The model looks presentable and stylish. It can be recognized by its rounded shapes, convenient control panel, beautiful color combination of white or black with silver. The body of the product is made of durable matte plastic.

The American robot vacuum cleaner comes in a compact package made of cardboard. The box contains all the important information about the device.

The unit has the standard dimensions for such products. The height does not exceed 9 cm and the diameter is 34 cm. Weight without box is 3.6 kg. The compact size and adaptive shape allow the robot to wade under low furniture.

The design has an in-depth recess in which an ergonomic handle is hidden, designed to easily move the robot from room to room.

In the lower part under the bottom of the equipment there are three roller wheels. Two of them are assigned leading functions, the third is necessary for more coordinated management. In the center is a pair of efficient turbo brushes made of pile and rubber.

It should be noted that this modification takes into account previous shortcomings with bearings and the base. Parts are covered with caps that prevent unwanted winding of wool and hair.

A small auxiliary brush is attached to the side, designed for cleaning in areas with difficult access.

Brushes can be quickly removed to remove lint, hair, wool and small debris, which reduces the performance of the vacuum cleaner. To do this, simultaneously clamp the clamps that are on the edges of the block. Designers highlighted them in bright yellow

Other important elements are equally conveniently located. The antibacterial filter and dust collector are removed through the side panel using a special button.

The principle of the model

Before testing the device in business, you should decide on a suitable place and fix the charging base for Roomba 616. From this section, the robot will start working and also return to it if it is necessary to recharge the battery.

The start occurs after double-clicking the button with the inscription Clean, located in the middle of the upper part of the case, or through the optional remote control.

Then the robot moves on the floor and starts cleaning. The process is carried out according to iRobot's patented three-stage cleaning technology.

The system includes three stages that are repeated sequentially during each cycle:

1. Side blade brush sweeps specks from corners, along baseboards, around furniture, and then feeds them to the main unit.
2. Two center brushes rotate in opposite directions and rake in all the large debris that gets in the way.
3. Bottom nozzle sucks in remaining dust and particles already collected in the container.

Bulk contamination remains in the dust box. Fine particles trying to get back into the room are held up by the antibacterial filter at the exit.

To better filter the air from fluff, pollen and sand, you can put another filter element.

Before turning on the device, it is advisable to remove electrical wires, unstable and fragile interior items, clothing from the floor, tuck long curtains

Unlike expensive premium models, Rumba 616 does not have a built-in operational navigation and map building system.

Intelligent and safe cleaning is provided by iAdapt artificial intelligence technology.An automated vacuum cleaner monitors the space and draws up a work plan based on the indicators that it receives from infrared sensors.

The incoming signals help him to avoid obstacles, not to fall from the stairs, detecting differences in height, to establish the perimeter of the room. Excellent maneuverability does not limit operation in rooms with a complex layout.

From damage to the vacuum cleaner itself, wall decoration or furniture edges in case of accidental collisions, the bumper saves.

During operation, the device alternately uses several movement algorithms, choosing the best option depending on the trajectory and type of cleaning. The robot can ride around the perimeter, zigzag or spiral

Using adaptive motion technology implemented by iRobot developers, he learns during each working cycle, remembers the features of space and improves the quality of cleaning.

The owners note: often the device moves in an arbitrary chaotic order. Manufacturers claim that this is the most effective scheme.

An automated cleaner takes over 60 m in one go² space, which, as experience shows, is quite enough for a small house or an average apartment.

After cleaning the rooms there is no unpleasant odor of burnt plastic, which is typical of many ordinary vacuum cleaners. It takes about half an hour to clean one room.

iRobot Roomba 616 is equipped with an option to limit the working area. To be able to install "virtual walls", you should buy a special fixture

If the unit becomes entangled in shoelaces, fringe, wires or cable, then the sensors responsible for idle wheel scrolling are turned on. The brushes rotate in the opposite direction, the device is independently released and continues to work in normal mode.

When the robot runs out of charge, which usually happens two hours after the start, it finds the platform without outside participation and parks to recharge the battery.

It takes approximately three hours to fully charge the battery. On one charge, the model cleans up several rooms, but it needs to be transferred to different rooms along with the station.

How the vacuum cleaner behaves in work:

Features and Specifications

Rumba 616 is designed exclusively for dry cleaning. The list of supported surfaces is quite extensive. It includes all common floor coverings such as laminate, tile and parquet. The device also works without problems on short-pile carpets.

Despite the small volume of the dust bag, the user does not have to empty it too often. This is facilitated by the AeroVac system, which evenly distributes and compacts debris inside the container with powerful air currents

The device is not endowed with complex options, but for the regular full-fledged cleaning of the house its capabilities are enough.

According to the official information of the iRobot concern, the 616th Rumba vacuum cleaner has the following main characteristics:

• type of cleaning - dry;
• food - Ni-MH battery with a capacity of 2200 mA / h;
• capacity of the garbage container - 0.5 l;
• battery life - 60-120 minutes;
• the time required to fully restore the charge is 180 minutes;
• noise - 60 dB;
• the power with which the retraction is carried out is 33 W;
• boundary area coverage - up to 60 m².

The dirt container is designed for 0.5 liters of volume. It is recommended to carefully monitor the level of its filling: due to the lack of a special indicator, the device continues to clean with a full dust collector.

This nuance subsequently negatively affects the performance and suction power, can harm the basic mechanisms. If almost daily cleaning is carried out in the room, the cassette and brushes must be cleaned once every few days.

A noise level of 60 dB can not be called low, but this figure is within the average norm. Sounds from the vacuum cleaner during cleaning do not irritate your hearing and do not block the volume of the TV, computer or mp3 player.

Pros and cons of iRobot Roomba 616

This model, like many other representatives of robotic assistants, has its advantages and disadvantages that consumers are talking about. Let's see what users liked the most.

In-depth monitoring of user reviews left since the appearance of the 616th modification of iRobot Roomba in the Russian market shows that in general the robot is characterized on a positive side.

If the robot vacuum cleaner will not be used for a long time, fully charge it and then remove the battery. During this period, the battery must be stored in a separate place, protected from cold and excess moisture.

At a fairly low cost, it has a good functional set and is characterized by high-quality assembly.

Based on the analysis of reviews left on the forums, one can distinguish such important advantages:

• independent and efficient cleaning of various types of floor coverings;
• simple control scheme;
• Russian language module;
• fast recognition of noise and thresholds;
• "Anti-confusing" system;
• thorough collection of dirt, wool, hair on the floor and carpets;
• air filtration from small debris and allergenic particles;
• cleaning inaccessible space around furniture and under it, along baseboards, in corners.

The vacuum cleaner is unpretentious in leaving. To ensure a stable, serviceable and maximum long service life of the product, it is enough to follow the rules stipulated in the attached instructions.

Among all the shortcomings of the 616th modification of the Roomba series, most of the users discuss several points:

• lack of a timer and an indicator indicating the filling of the dust bag;
• the inability to perform local as well as wet cleaning;
• lack of cleaning function according to the established schedule.

Periodically, the robot may not behave correctly. This is mainly manifested in the repeated processing of the same sections of the room.

Sometimes there are small problems with finding a charging station. For example, a vacuum cleaner has been looking for a block for a long time, while in the meantime it is right in front of it. When such errors appear, you should urgently check the automation system or make sure the base is stable

As for the negative reviews, users complain that the device does not support integration with the proprietary application. It cannot be controlled remotely by launching it while you are outside the home.

This manufacturer has several more equally worthy models, details of which can be found in this stuff.

Comparison with competitive models

The main competitors of the iRobot Roomba 616 are Xiaomi Robot Vacuum Cleaner from Xiaomi and Panda's X600.

They belong to the category of low-cost robotic vacuum cleaners and are in the same price range as the model of the American brand under consideration.

Competitor # 1 - Xiaomi's Robot Vacuum Cleaner by Xiaomi

The cost of the first competitor is up to 19,000 rubles. For an affordable price, the consumer receives decent functionality that significantly exceeds the potential of the Roomba 616 robot with its quality indicators.

Xiaomi robot removes up to 250 squares of area, supports the option of control via wi-fi, has more advanced navigation. It works 5 dB quieter than the hero of the review.

Nevertheless, the Chinese man is much inferior to Roomba 616 in terms of size, weight, volume of the dust collector, and the quality of the brush system. A detailed review of Xiaomi's cleaning robot can be found. here.

Competitor # 2 - PANDA X600 Pet Series

Panda is a fairly well-known brand in the home appliance market. The company offers a good lineup of robotic vacuum cleaners.

But now let's compare one of the representatives of the 6th generation with Roomba 616, which is in the same price range with it. The Panda X600 brand model also belongs to the budget segment, and its price tag is about 16 thousand rubles.

The main features of the Japanese representative of the X600 are the options for wet mopping and antibacterial disinfectant UV treatment.

In addition, it can clean as scheduled and perform local cleaning of very contaminated areas.Rumba bypasses it in terms of suction power, battery capacity, the ability to get out of the wires.

For service and warranty, the Roomba 616 leaves the competition one step behind. There are company centers in almost every region of the country, so there will be no problems with repairs in cases of breakdowns.

Competitor # 2 - Clever & Clean 004 M-Series

The most affordable model from the line in question is equipped with a minimum of functions necessary for cleaning. Designed to perform dry cleaning. At the request of the buyer can be supplemented with a panel for the production of wet floor treatment.

Clever & Clean 004 M-Series is charged for 4 hours, manually set for charging. A device with a charged battery works without interruption for 50 minutes.

The dust collected and passed through a thin filter is collected in a plastic box, which must be emptied at the intervals specified by the device manufacturer. To optimize cleaning, the vacuum cleaner is equipped with a side brush, it has a soft bumper to protect it from impacts in the event of a collision with objects in the served room.

Conclusions and the best deals on the market

Rumba 616 does not claim to be the most technologically advanced device and loses to later modifications in functionality and configuration. At the same time, Roomba 616 is a leader in its price niche and copes with cleaning small rooms. With such an assistant, the apartment will always be clean and comfortable.

Are you going to purchase this model of a vacuum cleaner, but still have doubts? Ask our experts or other site visitors for advice - the owners of the equipment will be happy to help you make the choice. Leave your comments, share experiences, ask questions - the communication block is located under the article.