iRobot launches the Roomba 960, cheaper version of Roomba 980

iRobot has launched the Roomba 960 robotic vacuum, the cheaper version of the Roomba 980.

Though cheaper than its predecessor which retails at $900, the Roomba 960's $700 price tag is still rather heavy, say gadget commentators. In India, the Roomba 866 carries a hefty Rs45,900 price tag.

The Roomba 960 retains several of the mapping advancements introduced in its older sibling, along with the mobile app connectivity that finally brings the line into the cloud-connected era. The lower price is due to the robot's utilisation of an older-generation cleaning system along with a smaller battery which lasts 75 minutes against the Roomba's 120.

The new model incorporates room mapping, and adaptive navigation that allows users to vacuum multiple rooms and sensors that find particularly dirty areas to focus on. It can run for up to 75 minutes, as against two hours for the Roomba 980 and three for the BotVac Connected, according to the manufacturers.

Cleaning-wise, it features brushes and dust  extractors pick up hard-to-reach dust and has up to five times the air performance of the low-end models, according to iRobot.

The WiFi and Bluetooth connected iRobot app allows users to schedule and customise cleaning, start and stop the vacuum and install updates.

In the connected robot vacuum arena, it competes with the more powerful, but much more expensive $1,000 Dyson 360 Eye. The Roomba 960 now available in the US and Canada for $700, would be on offer in Japan and Europe in the third quarter of 2016.

The new Roomba can now be ordered in the US and Canada through iRobot's site.