Today we pit two of the most popular, budget-friendly Roomba vacuums up against each other, the Roomba 675 vs e5 (aka 5150). Both of these models don’t have all the smart bells and whistles that the i7+ and s9+ have, but they still have a huge following.
In fact, the 675 is the best selling Roomba currently on Amazon. But does that mean it’s a shoe-in to win this battle of two Roombas? The short answer, No.
The Roomba e5 (5150) wins this round with it’s dual rubber brush rollers and more suction power. Keep reading to get the details on why the e5 wins out.
| Product | Weight | Filter Type | Scheduling | Remote | Voice Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1. ROOMBA 675 Check Price | 6.8 pounds | AeroVac | Yes | No | Yes |
| #2. ROOMBA e5 Our Best Pick 
Check Price | 7.32 pounds | High Efficiency Filter | Yes | No | Yes |
Features
Dimensions
The Roomba e5’s dimensions are 13.45” x 13.39” x 3.65”. It’s rather sleek and boasts a smooth profile with fewer ridges along the exterior.
The Roomba 675 measures 13.4” wide in diameter and 3.54” tall. This is a great size that fits under most sofas and other furniture to allow for a deeper clean of your home.
Weight
At a weight of 7.32lbs, the Roomba e5 is slightly, but still noticeably, heavier than the Roomba 675, which weighs 6.8lbs. Both units feature a handle on the top of the lid which makes transporting the robot vacuum around easier.
Battery and capacity
The e5 uses a 14.4v lithium-ion battery to operate. You can expect a running time of 90 minutes on a full battery. The unit finds its way back to the docking station for a recharge after it senses that the battery level is too low and it takes around 120 min to charge it back up to full.
The 675’s 14.8v lithium ion battery also runs at 90 minutes, similar to the Roomba e5. However – it takes longer to recharge at 180 min as compared to the e5. That’s an hour longer of waiting time, so it’s worth taking note of that.
Both the Roomba 675 and the e5 stop operations completely after being recharged – you will have to manually start it back up again either through the button control on the units or through the smartphone app if you feel there are still some more areas in your house that need to be cleaned. These two don’t have the Recharge and Resume feature like the i7 and s9 do.
High Efficiency Filter
High efficiency filters on the newer Roomba models such as the e5 are said to trap up to 99% of allergens from your pets and the environment. This is especially useful if you or the people you live with are sensitive to the allergens from cats and dogs, or even dust.
On the 675, a HEPA-style filtration system called Aerovac catches up to 95% of harmful allergens from the areas it cleans. A little less than the e5, but it might prove to be a significant difference if allergies bother you.
Brushes, Suction & Cleaning Technology
In comparing the cleaning power between the two units, we discovered that the e5 is actually capable of 5 times the suction power of the 675, thanks to iRobot’s upgrades in vacuum technology for its later models. This significant increase in suction power on the e5 allows it to make quicker work of heavier and bigger particles lying in its path.
Unlike the bristle type brush rollers on the 675, the e5 is equipped with Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brush Roller, an effective upgrade that delivers a more thorough clean.
This improved brush is made of rubber, has less tangling of hair, and maintains close contact to any cleaning surface, making it especially effective on carpeted floors.
Edge-Sweeping Brushes effectively sweep along edges and corners collecting the accumulated dust in those hard to reach places. The Auto-Adjust Cleaning Head uses sensors to detect the type of surface it is traveling on in order to determine the height level of the brush roll.
In the Roomba 675 vs e5 matchup, if you want a better clean on carpets – the e5 is a sure winner. If you live in a home with lots of hardwood floors, picking the 675 would be a good choice.
Both the 675 and e5 use a system called Dirt Detect Technology. Acoustic sensors are used in the units to locate areas of your home that are comparably dirtier and programs the computer to focus on those areas more intensively.
An array of sensors built into the 675 and the e5 allows the units to navigate intelligently around the area it’s placed in. The iAdapt 1.0 navigation system allows the robot vacuums to traverse and maneuver around various obstacles along its path while making sure that it cleans as much surface area as possible. Potential hazards such as stairs and ledges are detected by the system and the units are programmed to stay away from them.
Even with the smart navigation system installed, there are bound to be a few occasions where your robot vacuum gets confused and trips up. Floors should be kept clear of running cables, delicate items and even clothes as this may case you Roomba to get stuck.
The Roomba e5 and 675 do not offer a virtual mapping feature, which means it does not save the floor plan of your home whilst it cleans. This feature is only available in the newer Roomba models.
App / Phone Control
If you have a Wi-Fi connection in your home, both the Roomba e5 and 675 can be controlled using the iRobot HOME App (available for both Android and iOS).
Using the app, you can schedule the cleaning time and days for your robot vacuum from wherever you are – as long as your robot vacuum is connected to the internet. In addition, the app also logs everything your Roomba does, so you can easily see when your last house clean was.
Maintenance
The attached bins in each of the units are removable when your Roomba tells you that your bin is full. When you press the bin release tab located on the back of the robot vacuum, the bin detaches and you can pour out all the junk that the vacuum has collected. After that’s done, simply pop it back inside the unit and it’s ready for another cleaning session.
In this case, the Roomba e5 has a higher bin capacity of 500ml as compared to the 300ml on the 675, plus it also features a washable dust bin design that makes it easier to fully rinse away any dirt left behind.
Additional Features
You can purchase the Roomba e5 with 1-2 dual-mode Virtual Wall devices. This Virtual Wall function allows you to block the robot vacuum’s access to a specific area or a particular room in the house. With a virtual wall set up, you don’t have to close the door to the kids’ rooms (with all the toys on the floor) before the Roomba unit starts cleaning.
The two modes for the devices are virtual wall mode and halo mode.
The Roomba 675 does not come with the Virtual Wall device unit and it is a separate purchase that can be found on Amazon.
Price
The price points for both the Roomba e5 and the Roomba 675 are not that far apart – although it’s worth noting that the e5, with its improved suction technology and upgraded specs, will be expected to cost more than the 675 in general.
Roomba e5 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Increased vacuum suction power (5 times higher)
- Upgraded rubber brushroll
- Washable bin design
Cons
- Higher cost
Roomba 675 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Adequate power for basic cleaning
- Value for money
- Quick and simple operation
Cons
- Old technology and specs compared to e5
Who is Each Roomba for?
Roomba e5: For those with carpeted floors and those with pets who want to keep their homes allergen free
Roomba 675: For those who are budget-conscious, but still want a robot vacuum that is good value for the money
Conclusion
In the battle of the Roomba e5 vs 675, the Roomba e5 comes out on top for this round.
The higher cost of spending on the e5 as compared to the 675 is justified by the improvements in the dual brush rollers technology, the effective increase in removing allergens such as dust mites and pollen from your home, and the 5x stronger suction power.
However, if you are conscious about breaking the bank on your next robot vacuum, the 675 can still get the job done well – just maybe a little less effective than the e5 can.
Feel free to check out these other articles to see how the 675 compares to other robot vacuums:
