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. Its product range includes many high-tech solutions for automated home cleaning.

One of the most popular models of the brand is the affordable robot vacuum cleaner iRobot Roomba 616. There is nothing superfluous in it: a basic set of necessary functions and good technical characteristics allow it to cope with its tasks perfectly.

Are you thinking about buying such a device, but still have doubts about your choice? We invite you to understand in detail the intricacies of the device and the functionality of the Roomba 616 robot. Comparison with its closest competitors and reviews from real users will help you make an informed decision about purchasing equipment.

Roomba 616 Features and Specifications

To form an opinion about the Roomba 616 robotic cleaner and decide whether it is suitable for your home, you will need to take a closer look at the characteristics and features of this model.

Complete set of robot vacuum cleaner

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 block with integrated Home Base adapter;
• XLife battery;
• AeroVac Bin;
• additional antibacterial filter;
• operating instructions.

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

Other accessories for the robot are purchased separately. This could be a remote control, a “virtual wall” device that divides rooms into zones, spare side or main brushes.

A detailed overview of the robot and recommendations that you should pay attention to before turning it on for the first time are presented in the video:

Design features of the vacuum cleaner

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

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

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

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

At the bottom, 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 there is a pair of effective turbo brushes made of bristles and rubber.

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

Attached to the side is a small auxiliary brush designed for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.

The brushes can be quickly removed to remove lint, hair, wool and small debris that reduce the performance of the vacuum cleaner. To do this, you need to simultaneously tighten the clamps that are located at the edges of the block. The designers highlighted them in bright yellow

Other important elements are no less conveniently located. The antibacterial filter and dust collector are removed through the side panel using a special button.

How the model works

Before testing the device in action, you should decide on a suitable location and fix the charging base for Roomba 616. The robot will start working from this area and also return to it if it is necessary to replenish the battery charge.

The start occurs after double pressing the button with the inscription Clean, located in the middle of the upper part of the case, or through an additionally purchased remote control.

Next, the robot moves along the floor covering and begins cleaning. The process is carried out using iRobot's patented three-stage cleaning technology.

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

1. Side paddle brush sweeps away specks from corners, along baseboards, around furniture, and then feeds them to the main unit.
2. Two center brushes rotate in opposite directions and scoop up all large debris that gets in their way.
3. Nozzle on the bottom panel sucks remaining dust and already collected particles into the container.

Bulk contaminants remain in the dust collector. Fine particles trying to penetrate back into the room are retained by the antibacterial filter at the outlet.

For better air filtration from fluff, pollen and sand, you can install another filter element.

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

Unlike expensive premium models, Rumba 616 does not have a built-in operational navigation and mapping 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 it receives from infrared sensors.

Incoming signals help him avoid obstacles, avoid falling from stairs, detect height differences, and establish the perimeter of the room. Excellent maneuverability does not limit use in rooms with complex layouts.

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

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

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

Owners note that the device often moves in a random, chaotic manner. Manufacturers claim that this particular scheme is the most effective.

In one pass, an automated cleaner covers 60 m² space, which, as experience shows, is quite enough for a small house or an average apartment.

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

iRobot Roomba 616 is equipped with a work area limitation option. To be able to install “virtual walls”, you should purchase a special device

If the unit gets tangled in laces, fringes, wires or cables, then the sensors responsible for idling the wheels turn on. The brushes rotate in the opposite direction, the device releases itself and continues to operate as usual.

When the robot runs out of charge, which usually happens two hours after launch, it independently finds a platform and parks to recharge the battery.

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

How the vacuum cleaner behaves in operation:

Features and Specifications

Rumba 616 is intended 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 container, the user does not have to empty it too often.This is facilitated by the AeroVac system, which evenly distributes and compacts waste inside the container with powerful air currents

The device is not equipped with complex options, but it has enough capabilities for regular, full cleaning of the house.

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

• type of cleaning – dry;
• power supply – Ni-MH battery with a capacity of 2200 mAh;
• trash container capacity – 0.5 l;
• duration of autonomous operation – 60-120 minutes;
• the time required to fully restore the charge is 180 minutes;
• noise – 60 dB;
• the power with which retraction is carried out is 33 W;
• boundary area coverage – up to 60 m².

The dirt container has a capacity of 0.5 liters. It is recommended to carefully monitor its filling level: due to the absence of a special indicator, the device continues cleaning with a full dust container.

This nuance subsequently negatively affects the performance and suction power, and can harm the main mechanisms. If the room is cleaned almost daily, then the cassette and brushes must be cleaned every few days.

A noise level of 60 dB cannot be called low, but this figure is within the average norm. The sounds from the vacuum cleaner during cleaning do not irritate the ears and do not cover the volume of the TV, computer or mp3 player.

Pros and cons of the iRobot Roomba 616

This model, like many other representatives of robotic assistants, has its advantages and disadvantages, which consumers talk 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 on the Russian market shows that, in general, the robot is characterized on the 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 should 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 distinguished by high-quality assembly.

Based on the results of the analysis of reviews left on the forums, the following important advantages can be identified:

• independent and effective cleaning of various types of floor coverings;
• simple control scheme;
• Russian language module;
• quick recognition of interference and thresholds;
• "anti-entanglement" system;
• thorough collection of dirt, wool, hair on the floor and carpets;
• air filtration from small debris and allergenic particles;
• cleaning hard-to-reach spaces around and under furniture, along baseboards, in corners.

The vacuum cleaner is easy to maintain. To ensure stable, serviceable and longest service life of the product, it is enough to follow the rules specified in the attached instructions.

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

• lack of a timer and indicator indicating that the dust collector is full;
• impossibility of performing local as well as wet cleaning;
• lack of cleaning function according to a set schedule.

From time to time, the robot may not behave entirely correctly. This mainly manifests itself in repeated processing of the same areas of the room.

Sometimes there are minor problems finding a charging station.For example, a vacuum cleaner searches for a block for a long time, but meanwhile it is right in front of it. When such errors appear, you should urgently check the automation system or make sure that the base is in a stable position

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

This manufacturer has several more equally worthy models, which you can read about in detail in this material.

Comparison with competitive models

The main competitors of iRobot Roomba 616 are considered Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner from Xiaomi and X600 from Panda.

They belong to the category of budget robot vacuum cleaners and are in the same price range as the model of the American brand in question.

Competitor #1 - Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner from Xiaomi

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

The Xiaomi robot cleans up to 250 square meters of area, supports the control option via Wi-Fi, and has more advanced navigation. It works 5 dB quieter than the hero of the review.

Nevertheless, the Chinese is significantly inferior to the Roomba 616 in size, weight, dust container volume, and quality of the brush system. A detailed review of Xiaomi's robot cleaner can be found Here.

Competitor #2 - PANDA X600 Pet Series

Panda is a fairly well-known brand in the household appliances market. The company offers a good range of robotic vacuum cleaners.

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

The advantageous features of the Japanese representative X600 are the options for wet floor wiping and antibacterial ultraviolet disinfection treatment.

In addition, it can clean on a schedule and perform local cleaning of very dirty areas. Rumba surpasses it in terms of suction power, battery capacity, and ability to untangle itself from wires.

In terms of service and warranty, the Roomba 616 model leaves its competitors one step behind. The company has centers in almost every region of the country, so in case of breakdowns there will be no problems with repairs.

Competitor #2 – Clever & Clean 004 M-Series

The most affordable model from the line under consideration is equipped with a minimum of functions necessary for cleaning. Designed for dry cleaning. At the buyer's request, it can be supplemented with a panel for wet floor treatment.

Clever & Clean 004 M-Series charges within 4 hours and is manually set to charge. The device with a charged battery operates without interruption for 50 minutes.

Dust collected and passed through a fine filter is collected in a plastic box, which must be emptied at intervals specified by the device manufacturer. To optimize cleaning, the vacuum cleaner is equipped with a side brush, and it has a soft bumper to protect against impacts when colliding with furniture in the room being serviced.

Conclusions and best offers on the market

Rumba 616 does not claim to be the most technologically advanced device and is inferior to later modifications in terms of functionality and configuration.At the same time, Roomba 616 is a leader in its price niche and does an excellent job of cleaning small spaces. With such an assistant, your apartment will always be clean and comfortable.

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