The 650 has the automatic scheduling feature that would cost around $70 more in Amazon.
The other features are the same so if you don’t mind the lack of a scheduling feature then get the 630 otherwise have a look at this.
Even though this model is old in tech years, it still performed well in terms of sales and one of the best selling robot vacuum in Amazon, several users who owned a newer 700 series model still bought this and was satisfied on how it performed.
Numerous tech sites like Digital Trends and Wired have reviewed this robot and the results were positive…
…both sites liked how it was able to reach hard to clean areas like those under the bed and it had decent suction, price wise it is a bit steep at $400 in retail stores so they did not fully endorse buying it.
The SweetHome however hailed this as their best robot vacuum in their 2012 article because it had a scheduling feature, an improved cleaning head, a larger dirt bin and it doesn't cost as much as the high-end 700-series line.
Pros
Can be scheduled to clean at different times once a day, 7 days a week
It’s around a hundred bucks cheaper than the best setting Roomba 760
Transitions well from one type of surface to another
Larger dirt bin compared to the 500-series
Improved cleaning brushes compared to the 500-series
Decent sized dirt bin
According to reviews side brush works well in cleaning edges
Cons
Not very good cleaning multiple rooms, best used to clean on a per room basis
Brush bar, side brushes and wheels needs to be cleaned often – particularly hair
Dirt bin isn’t fully sealed so it can be a bit messy to clean up
No HEPA filtration
Can get “confused” between the legs of tables or chairs
Constantly bumps into objects so if you have expensive furniture, get it out-of-the-way
Features of the iRobot Roomba 650:
Roomba has phased out the 500-series and this has replaced it. If you’re curious about the difference, well the 650 has the improved cleaning head that has improved airflow and dirt collecting capabilities than the older 500 models and basically that’s it. Other features like the sensors and dimension remain the same.
While some reviews state that it has strong suction, bear in mind that Roomba primarily rely on suction to pick up dirt, suction is then used to dump debris into the bin.
3-stage cleaning system that uses a side brush, AeroVac cleaning head and suction
Uses an AeroVac filter that claims to block out allergens – this isn’t to be confused with a HEPA filter
Can be scheduled once a day, 7 times a week
Included in the package is one virtual wall that block off limit areas
Comes with one brush cleaning tool
The cleaning head automatically adjusts its height to properly reach hard floors, rugs or carpet
Anti-tangle system kicks in gear when something gets caught up between the two brushes
Cliff sensors protects it from fall of stairs
Here’s a quick overview of the features
Carpet Cleaning
Again this is based on reviews, the two counter rotating brushes a.k.a. the Aerovac cleaning head, does its job and pulls out debris from carpet.
Some consumers raved about the “spot” cleaning feature that does a thorough job when you want to clean dirtier areas but don’t expect deep cleaning from this.
Robot Clean up
Push a lever then pull out the dirt bin located underneath then empty it over a bin. Be careful when you pull it out because dirt may fall off if the cover opens on its own.
Better if you pull it out directly over a garbage bag. The filter is located underneath the bin which can be accessed by pulling it out.
Both filters in the package are washable but iRobot recommends replacing them every 2 to 3 months to keep up suction performance.
Conclusion
This mid-level robot vacuum is great for folks with kids or pets who can afford to spend but aren’t willing to fork out top dollar for a high-end robot cleaner.
Reviews for this model are overwhelmingly positive so it’s hard not to have a look at this even though it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of a 760 or even an 880.
It only comes with one virtual wall so it will be best used to clean one room at a time.
As with all robot vacuums, de-clutter the room first before turning this on just to be sure it doesn’t get stuck.
While it can pick up a lot of debris on both carpet and hard floors, if there are large bits and pieces lying around like coins or hair pins it’ll be better to pick those up by hand just to keep the brushes that already takes a lot of beating.
