Eufy vs Roomba – Is the RoboVac 11+ Too Good to be True?

Last Updated: September 22, 2019

The odds are you are here because you are interested in getting started with robotic vacuums. However, if you are either on a tight budget, or you don’t want to go all out just yet, you may not know which one to choose. Getting started with robotic vacuums, you have probably heard of the budget-friendly iRobot Roomba 675.

What you may not know about though is the Chinese based Eufy RoboVac 11 +. Another budget-friendly vacuum that reviewers are claiming is going to unseat the king of autonomous vacuums. So how does the Eufy stack up against the Roomba 675?

In this article, I will cover all the features and options of each model. We will learn about the pros and cons as well as a side by side comparison of the two robots. I will also detail the features, so you know what they really do, and I will even answer your most common questions.

Let’s find out who’s the better budget robot vacuum below. If you don’t want to read all that, here’s the bottom line:

The Roomba 675 is the better option, albeit by a slim margin. If you can afford it, pick that up over the Eufy RoboVac 11+.

Update: Eufy has a new version of the RoboVac 11+ called the RoboVac 15c. The main difference is that the 15c has WiFi connectivity and slightly stronger suction than the 11+.

Even though it’s definitely a better vacuum than the 11+, I would still pick up the Roomba 675 for its reliability (given that there isn’t a huge price difference).

What’s different between the Eufy and Roomba?

To be a budget robotic vacuum you have to cut features or make changes to current options. Where do these two differ in this regard?

• The Eufy has a HEPA filter; the Roomba uses the AeroVac filter that is not HEPA rated.
• The Roomba is taller and over two pounds heavier than the Eufy.
• The Roomba has the faster battery charging time, but shorter run time compared to the RoboVac 11+.
• The Roomba 675 has control via a mobile app; the Eufy does not.
• The Eufy RoboVac 11+ does not have voice controls; you can control the Roomba with Amazon Alexa.
• The Roomba has WiFi capabilities, where the Eufy relies only on a remote control or push buttons on the robot.
• The Eufy 11+ has power boost for heavily soiled areas; the Roomba does not.

What’s similar between the Eufy and Roomba?

Robots are not so unlike us; they too are individuals that share a lot in common. Here are the similarities these two bots share.

• Both of the robots use lithium-ion batteries.
• Each of the models uses rotating brush bars to remove dirt and debris from the floor.
• The Eufy and the Roomba both have side brushes to get edges and corners.
• Both have acoustic and drop sensors to keep them on the right path.
• Each of the vacuums can be scheduled for cleaning cycles.
• Both use a three-stage cleaning system.
• Both will automatically recharge themselves when the batteries run low.
• You can force each one to dock even if the cleaning isn’t finished.

Wait, What’s with the “+” in 11+?

Eufy upgraded the 11 model to the 11+ and made only two changes: Filtration and suction power. While this might not seem like a huge advantage, let me explain these differences and what they mean to those that wish to purchase a Eufy.

First the filtration. As you will read in the article below, The Eufy 11+ has the ability to use a HEPA certified filter. It comes with two other high efficiency filters that are reusable. The base 11 model did not have the HEPA filter capabilities.

The other change was the Power Boost as discussed below. The 11+ has the power boost to increase suction power when needed. The base 11 model did not offer this power boost technology.

All in all, the 11+ is a much better version and for the same price.

Side By Side Comparison Chart

Let’s have a look at all of the dominant features side by side. In a handy chart. That I made. You’re Welcome.

	Eufy RoboVac 11+	Roomba 675
Battery	Lithium-ion	Lithium-ion
Battery Life	Up to 100 Minutes	Up to 90 Minutes
Recharge Time	300 Minutes	120 Minutes
Filter	HEPA	AeroVac
Remote Control	Yes	No
Mobile App	No	Yes
WiFi Connectivity	No	Yes
Voice Control	No	Yes
Cleaning Stages	3	3
Power Boost	Yes	No
Sensors	Acoustic, Bump and Drop	Acoustic, Bump and Drop
Scheduling	Yes	Yes
Auto Recharge	Yes	Yes
Price	Check on Amazon	Check on Amazon

 

Comparing the Eufy and Roomba by Category

I will explain the features and options in greater detail so you can find out what is going on under the hood.

1. Cleaning Performance

The Roomba 675 uses a patented dual brush design, whereas the Eufy 11+ has a single brushroll.

The Roomba 675’s rollers are a combination of rubber rollers and brushes. This design beats the dirt loose, into the path of the suction and does very well on hardwood floors.

The Eufy has a similar half-roller, half-brush design, but only one brushroll. The Eufy performs slightly better on carpet, picking up slightly more dirt from carpets than the Roomba.

Bottom Line: Get the Roomba 675 if you have mostly hardwood or tile. Get the Eufy 11+ if you have lots of carpet.

2. Control Options: Remotes vs Mobile Apps

Controlling your robot vacuum is essential. Each of the models will have buttons on the robot itself. However, we have robots so we don’t have to work as hard. Remote controls help control the bots.

The Roomba 675 makes use of the iRobot Home mobile app. With this app, you can give your bot a name, create and edit schedules, start, pause and cancel cleanings and you can do all of this from anywhere.

The 675 connects to your home’s WiFi network, so using the mobile app from anywhere is possible. Because of the WiFi connectivity, you can also control the Roomba 675 with your voice using Amazon Alexa.

The Eufy Robovac 11+ does not have WiFi connectivity or a mobile app. However, it does have a robust remote control. There is no need to give your bot a nickname since there are no voice controls. With the remote, you can start, pause and cancel cleanings. You can create schedules as well and set your cleaning times and forget it.

To use the remote, you will need to be within about fifteen feet of the robot.

Bottom Line: The Roomba 675 wins. Having more ways to control your vacuum and from anywhere at any time is the advantage.

3. Filtration

If there is one single factor that can make or break your decision, the filtration may be it. If you or anyone in your home has allergy issues, you know about HEPA filtration. HEPA certification means the filter will catch particles down to 0.3 microns.

The Eufy bot uses a HEPA certified filter. This is good news for allergy sufferers. HEPA filters catch more allergens from pet dander, environmental and others.

iRobot does use HEPA filters; however, the Roomba 675 is not one of the models that have the certification distinction. They instead use their own filters with AeroVac technology. AeroVac is just a brand name word that you don’t need to be concerned with.

The filters are still good but are not certified to HEPA specifications but have reported to capture down to 0.1 microns.

Bottom Line: The Eufy RoboVac 11+ wins. The HEPA certification on your filters is everything.

4. Power Boost

Available only on the Eufy 11+ model, Power Boost is an advancement in the motor that increases suction when the robot detects heavily soiled areas. This can be on hardwoods, or on carpet. When extra dirt, debris or pet hair, the motor will increase speed and suction.

When this happens, the area is cleaned deeper and better. However, this is not optional. It will turn on and off as the sensors tell the robot. Power Boost can drain the batteries a lot faster than normal.

If you notice that the robot is not cleaning on a single charge, it may be due to the Power Boost functionality.

Bottom Line: Eufy wins. Roomba 675 doesn’t have the Power Boost technology.

5. Automatic Recharging

Some homes are larger than others. Some have more furniture or more open square footage. With these and other factors, your robot vacuum may not always be able to complete a cleaning cycle on a single charge.

Both of the vacuums here will sense when their batteries are running low and will ensure they have enough to make it back to their charging ports. They will do this automatically and fully recharge their batteries.

What they won’t do is continue cleaning after charging. You will have to restart the cleaning once the battery is charged manually.

If you want to cut the cleaning short, you can also manually and force the bots to return to their docks.

Bottom Line: This is a tie. Both robot vacuums will automatically recharge when needed, but both are unable to resume vacuum after recharging.

6. Virtual Wall Barrier

A Virtual Wall Barrier (VWB) is an battery operated stand that will send out an infrared beam that prevents Roombas from entering or exiting a particular area. Note that the Roomba 675 does not come with a VWB, as it is a separate (optional) purchase.

You can set these barriers in doorways to keep the Roomba in an area or from entering another room. You can also turn on radius mode to mark a protective circular area around the barrier. This is used to keep the robot from coming near things like floor vases or pet food bowls.

Bottom Line: A Tie. The Roomba would’ve won if it came packaged with a virtual wall, which it does not. The Eufy does not have this option altogether.

7. Maintenance

Both of these robots will need extra maintenance due to the use of double rotating bristle brush bars. These will pick up dirt, debris, hair and pet fur. However, they will easily get tangled with hairs strings and other items.

This will require extra maintenance on the bots to keep the brushes clean and working to their optimal potential. You will regularly need to check, remove and clean the brushes.

Both vacuums include a cutting tool for cleaning the rotating brushes.

Bottom Line: This is a tie. Regular maintenance is required for all machines, and you should make a schedule and check on the robots frequently.

8. Batteries

Each of the combatants today run lithium-ion batteries. They have an advantage over the older Nickle Metal Hydride batteries in that they last longer and can handle more charging cycles.

The Eufy will run for up to 100 minutes on a single charge. This should be plenty for most sized cleaning areas. The downside to the Eufy is that when the battery does die it will take the bot five hours to recharge.

The Roomba 675 will run for up to 90 minutes on a single charge. This will also clean most moderate sized areas without issue. When the battery is depleted, the 675 will recharge in just two hours.

Bottom Line: The Eufy wins slightly, lasting 10 minutes longer than the Roomba 675 on a charge.

Answering Your Most Common Questions

I will attempt to answer your more commonly asked questions about these two robot vacuums.

Q: Will these vacuums do well on all floor types?

First I will cover the Roomba 675. This vacuum is rated for all floor types. This will include hardwood, laminate, tile, vinyl, and carpet. It has large wheels that lift it well off the ground to cover any carpet type. Long pile shag can and usually does get tangled in the brush bars though.

The Eufy RoboVac 11+ is also rated for most floor types. All hard floors and carpet. However, because of the height, this vacuum will not perform well on high pile carpet, let alone shag carpet. Low pile carpet is fine and medium pile is okay, but if you have medium to high pile carpet, you may find cleaning issues.

Neither are good for high pile carpet. The Eufy is good for other types of carpet, and the Roomba is good for hard floor surfaces such as hardwood and tile.

Q: Can I reuse the HEPA filter?

The HEPA filter that is included with the Eufy is not a reusable filter. Once it is full, you will need to discard it. There are two other filters included that are washable and reusable. However, these two other filters are not HEPA rated.

The Roomba 675’s filters are not HEPA rated. You do have to replace the filters with new ones bi-annually to annually, depending on how often you vacuum.

Q: Will these robot vacuums go from hardwood floors to carpet?

The short answer is yes. For the 675, it will have no problem converting from hard floors to carpet or rugs. The wheels and ground clearance allow it to maneuver over any floor type or convert to any floor type.

The Eufy RoboVac 11+ has a much lower clearance and will go from hardwood floors to carpet or rugs as long as the height is less than 9 millimeters. Anything 10 millimeters and higher the robot will have some issues get on or off of the carpet or rug.

Q: Will the vacuum clean multiple rooms or just one?

Both vacs will clean multiple rooms on a single floor of your home. However, when the batteries die the robots will return to the dock to recharge and then stay there. You will have to restart the cleaning of the area manually.

Depending on the size of the area, the number of obstacles to navigate around and the distance of the rooms, these bots will usually be able to clean most medium sized areas on one charge.

Q: I have heard the robot vacuums can’t clean dark colored floors, is this true?

The drop sensors on the bottom of the vacuums sense depth to prevent the robots from falling off ledges or down stairs. Because of the way these sensors work, dark colors in carpets on floors can cause the infrared beams to report to the computer that there is a ledge.

The Roomba does a slightly better job of knowing if it is a true ledge, cliff or if it is just a darker color. However, if the contrast is drastic, it may still avoid the area.

What I Like About the Eufy RoboVac 11+

• Budget-friendly entry-level robot vacuum.
• HEPA filtration included.
• Cleans edges and corners with side brushes well.
• Long run time on lithium-ion battery.
• Power Boost technology for tough spots.

What I Like About the Roomba 675

• Better at navigation than the Eufy (even if it’s just by randomly bumping into things)
• Quick recharge time.
• Mobile app and voice controls through Amazon Alexa.
• Scheduling is simple and efficient from anywhere.

In Conclusion

Both of these models are efficient floor cleaners. For those on a tighter budget or looking to see how well robot vacuums work for you, either of these options will be a good introduction.

If you have allergy concerns or suffer from heavily soiled areas, get the Eufy RoboVac 11+. With its Power Boost technology, the Eufy might be a good option for you.

However, if you want the reliable, proven name behind your machine or you like the idea of smart home integration with mobile apps and voice controls, the Roomba 675 is probably the better pick.

For my money, the Roomba 675 is the better choice. It is better at navigation and doesn’t have obstacle height limitations like the Eufy. The mobile and voice controls are simple to use, and the company is excellent at supporting its products.