iRobot Roomba 980 vs 880: Let the Games Begin!

Let’s begin by noting that you really can’t go wrong with choosing the Roomba 980 or the Roomba 880. They are both phenomenal robot vacuums and have come leaps and bounds beyond the 600 and 700 series models.

With that being said, most of you are wondering what the major differences are in the iRobot Roomba 980 vs 880 models.

Spoiler alert: The Roomba 980 beats the 880 in just about every conceivable way but price.

There have been several key changes in the latest rendition of the Roomba which we will go into in detail.

The best choice is largely dependent on your particular needs and budget.

Let’s have a look at what at the similarities and differences between these two robot vacuums.

Battle of the Roombas

Similarities

• Both of these vacuums employ similar features beginning with the ability to adjust their settings or manually engage the cleaning process from the top of the unit.
• They are both quite capable of cleaning a myriad of floor surfaces including carpet, rugs, tile, laminate, hardwood, and many others.
• The AeroForce 3-stage cleaning system is used in both of these robot vacuums. This consists of agitating, brushing, and suctioning the floor to provide a thorough cleaning.
• Both the 980 and 880 use the same rubber debris extractors. These rubberized extractors are superior to brushes and are able to clean with significantly less manual interaction for things like freeing tangled hair.
• These units both use a spinning side brush that comes out from beneath the unit. This allows the Roomba to clean areas such as corners which it can’t directly pass over because of its circular shape.
• Acoustic and Optical sensors are employed in both of these robotic vacuums to determine areas with higher dirt concentrations. This allows the Roomba to use its battery life efficiently as it knows to spend more time in the areas that require it.
• Both units have a slim height of 3.6 inches which allow them to get beneath furniture and bedding to clean areas seldom reached by conventional vacuum cleaners.
• These units are able to detect when they near a staircase or ledge to prevent the vacuum from toppling over and damaging itself.
• The 980 and 880 both come with virtual wall lighthouses to contain the unit in a room for a certain amount of time so that it is clean before advancing to the next room. They also act as barriers for rooms that you don’t want the Roomba to venture into.
• These robot vacuums automatically detect when they are running low on battery and will return to their home charging stations to recharge themselves when needed.

Differences

• Where the Roomba 880 uses a remote control to operate the unit from around the house, the 980 is now WiFi capable and can be controlled from anywhere with internet access via iRobot’s HOME mobile application. Not only does this app allow the user to control the Roomba’s settings, it also gives them the ability to alter its schedule, monitor cleaning status, and manually engage a cleaning session all from their mobile devices.
• The 980 now incorporates a new carpet boost function which automatically detects when the unit is on a carpet or rug and increases the suctioning power by up to 10 times. This allows the vacuum to use high powered suction where needed and doesn’t waste battery life by using it on surfaces such as hardwood which are easier to clean.
• iRobot has implemented a new third generation motor for the 980 which is more powerful than its predecessor’s.
• The Roomba 980 uses the brand new iAdapt 2.0 Navigation System which uses optical sensors to efficiently map out a vacuuming plan for your living area. The result is a grid-like vacuuming pattern which ensures superior vacuuming over the 880 model which haphazardly roamed around your living area until all parts of the floor surface were eventually covered.
• The virtual wall lighthouses in the 980 are now significantly slimmer and use double A batteries instead of the C batteries used with the Roomba 880.

Below is a product demonstration for the iRobot Roomba 980:

Here is a demonstrational video for the iRobot Roomba 880:

What People are Saying

The customer satisfaction ratings for both of these robot vacuums are very high. People appreciate not having to manually engage in a task they’ve loathed for as long as they can remember.

Pet owners have noticed a substantial decrease in the amount of pet hair around their homes and are surprised by how much hair both of these vacuums pick up on a daily basis.

Allergy sufferers have also seen a drastic reduction in their symptoms since employing these vacuums around their homes. This is mostly attributable to the continuous cleaning and the Roomba’s ability to get into areas that are hard to reach with conventional vacuums.

One area where customers have noted that the 980 outshines the 880 is with the implementation of the new iRobot HOME mobile application. Users appreciate the ability to control their vacuums with their phones and being able to start a cleaning session from anywhere.

People have also noted that the Roomba 980 completes its vacuuming in about half the time of its predecessor. This is mostly due to the new iAdapt 2.0 system which maps out the most efficient path for vacuuming.

Charging time has been drastically reduced with the Roomba 980. Some users have noted that it takes roughly half as long to charge compared to previous Roomba models.

Bottom Line

As stated before, you really can’t go wrong with either of these robotic vacuum cleaners.

They both do an outstanding job at passively cleaning your home with little intervention on your part.

In addition, these units are constructed of quality materials and look like awesome pieces of high-tech vacuuming equipment.

Both of these units come with a hefty pricetag so if the price is a major concern, you are better off going with the Roomba 880 as it still does a great job at cleaning your home and sells for roughly $100 less than the 980.

If we had to make a decision in the iRobot Roomba 980 vs 880 battle, we would definitely have to choose the Roomba 980.

The 980’s iAdapt 2.0 system is a major step up from the 880 and allows the unit to vacuum in the most efficient path possible, leaving no stone unturned.

We love the new mobile application and appreciate that iRobot has made the 980 WiFi capable.

Overall, these are both amazing robot vacuum cleaners and you will not regret having them in your home for a single second.

Click the following to see their price on Amazon: Roomba 980 or Roomba 880

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