However, unlike iRobot, no automatic emptying option is included.
They also have very wide brushes to clean to the very edges of a carpet or floor, plus a turbo mode for when extra suction is needed. HEPA allergy filters get rid of allergens released when cleaning is in progress. The very latest Neato models, the D8, D9, and D10, focus on their ability to detect and clean dust particles as small as 10 microns and get rid of any pet hair. Using the app the D7, D8, D9 or D10 owner can designate part of a room off-limits simply by drawing a line to block out that section on a map of the room, potentially preventing entanglements with toys, pet food bowls, and artfully placed houseplants. Neato offers automatic feature updates to the Intelligent models.Ī particular selling point of the D7 Botvac Connected model (since adopted for Neato’s subsequent robot vacuum cleaners) is the No Go Zones area-blocking ability. The robot vacuums in iRobot and Neato’s ranges all work with Alexa and Google Home Assistant, and can be controlled via the MyNeato app. In general terms, the cheaper models in Neato’s smart and Intelligent ranges are aimed at customers with less floor acreage to cover – for example, the D8 offers coverage of up to 750sq ft – while the pricier models can clean more than 2,500 sq m before needing to be recharged. LIDAR mapping uses lasers to map your rooms, rather than the cameras found on rival brands and which have caused some consternation about how securely images may be stored online. Neato has fewer models in its robot cleaner line-up, with three Intelligent offerings, the D8, D9, and D10, each of which comes with useful customization options, store multiple floor plans and use LIDAR mapping, while Neato models that don’t bear the Intelligent tag – the D4, D6, and D7 – are termed ‘classic’ smart robots by the company. In the US, iRobot also offers a robot vacuum that can mop your floors as well as vacuum them. The J7 is the smartest of all Roomba models and can identify and navigate around obstacles on the floor, such as a charging cable or dog poop. Some even allow you to create no-go areas the robovac won’t enter.
When it comes to smarts, each design offers a number of features including voice control and the ability to map your home so you can schedule cleans for specific rooms as well as the whole floors.
The robot vacuum will empty the contents of the dust canister into the bag automatically, so all you have to do is remove the disposable bag once a month. These higher-tech versions come with a base station that includes a disposable bag designed to hold up to 30 days worth of debris. All four of these models come in two variations a standard model and a self-emptying model, which feature a + in the name. The S9 is also more methodical when cleaning, taking a logical path around your home, while the 694 employs a random route, which can mean cleaning takes longer.īelow the S9, sits the Roomba J7 - the brand’s newest model, along with the i3 and i7. The iRobot S9 is the top-of-the-range model and is 40x more powerful when it comes to suction than the Roomba 694 – the brand’s entry-level robovac, which is known as the Roomba 698 in the UK. There are seven models in iRobot’s Roomba range that are available worldwide, with the suction power and level of smarts being the clear differentiation between the designs.