New Roomba vacuum cleaners from iRobot have WiFi

Vacuum cleaner manufacturer iRobot has announced the Roomba 690 and 890. Both robot vacuum cleaners get WiFi and can be operated and set up with an app. There will also be integration with Amazon Alexa, but that only works for American customers.

Roomba vacuum cleaners with Wi-Fi were already available, but these were models in the most expensive 900 series. The functionality is now also coming to the lower-positioned series with the Roomba 690 and 890. Via WiFi and an app for Android and iOS, the suction robots can be operated and it is possible to set schedules.

According to the manufacturer, the Roomba 890 is suitable for people with furry pets. The model features two tangle-free extractors that rotate in opposite directions, just like the 900 series models. The Roomba 690 is the successor to the current 650 model.

Both robots are able to dodge obstacles and when they are done sucking, they return to their charging station. The Roomba 690 is available for immediate purchase in the US for $375, but will be available in other countries at the end of the second quarter. Then the Roomba 890 will also be available, but a price for that model has not yet been announced.

US customers who have a Roomba with Wi-Fi can immediately use an Alexa skill to activate the robots with a voice command. According to iRobot, it only works in the US and with the English language.