ECOVACSRobot vacuums have existed in varying forms for many years now. In recent years, robot vacuum technology has progressed to the point of creating a compelling mix of performance and value for money.
Robot vacuums also happen to be one of the most sought-after appliances, and it’s easy to see why. We spend endless hours cleaning our homes, time many of us would prefer relaxing or doing more meaningful activities. That robot vacuums do the dirty work for us and give time back in our days makes them highly desirable.
When it comes to choosing a robot vacuum, there are many options to choose from. What makes one model better than any other depends on your individual needs. Price is an important factor, as some affordable devices cost several hundred dollars, while other, more powerful models, attract a premium price tag. Other considerations include suction power, battery, whether mopping is included, smart features, and extra hardware like auto-empty stations that save on manual handling.
We’ll explain the importance of each factor and what to look for when buying a robot vacuum. That way, you can be confident that you get the best device for you. Along the way, we’ll highlight several models from ECOVACS, one of Australia’s most popular smart robotics brands and a company with 25 years of experience in the industry.
Price
An important thing to consider before making any tech purchase is your budget. ECOVACS has a wide range of robot vacuum cleaners to suit all kinds of households. Generally speaking, the more you can afford, the more features and add-ons you receive in return.
At the affordable end of the scale is the ECOVACS DEEBOT U2, a budget bargain for less than $400 at local retailers. It’s a great little device that vacuums and mops floors, saving you time and effort throughout the week and is most ideal for smaller homes and apartments, given it doesn’t have the super smarts of its more expensive siblings. The super smart DEEBOT NEO is known to make an occasional appearance through ALDI’s Special Buys program also for just $399.
More recently, ECOVACS launched the DEEBOT N10 PLUS, which has a major point of difference among the sub-$1,000 range. For $999, you get a device capable of vacuuming and mopping in addition to an auto-empty station. In between cleans, the robot automatically returns to the station and empties its contents into a disposable dust bag. With this, you can go up to 60 days before needing to change the bag, which is highly convenient for busy households that struggle to find time for regular cleaning.
From here, premium ECOVACS devices like the DEEBOT X1 PLUS include additional features like smarter navigation, a voice assistant and a camera to monitor the robot’s cleaning routine while you’re out and about. It can also add a touch of fragrance to your home with its air freshener functionality.
As the top-of-the-range model, the DEEBOT X1 OMNI handles absolutely everything. Its docking station does far more than empty the robot’s dustbin: it also fills up and empties the water reservoir, plus cleans and dries the mopping pads to reduce bacteria and ensure you get the best clean possible.
No matter what you’re able to spend, you ultimately get a good-quality robot vacuum in return.
Suction power
Commonly measured in pascals (Pa), suction power is another important factor to think about when choosing a robot vacuum. The higher the Pa value is, the greater a vacuum’s ability to draw out dust and debris from different surfaces. If you have carpeted flooring, or a mix of carpet and hard floors, suction power is even more important in order to get hair, pet fur and more out of tricky-to-clean surfaces.
For example, the ECOVACS DEEBOT NEO has a 2600Pa suction power, which does a good job on most surfaces. Via the ECOVACS app, you can set it to run on maximum power to deeply clean carpets and rugs, which will get plenty of hidden debris out from fibrous surfaces. Meanwhile, the DEEBOT N10 PLUS has fantastic suction power for its price at 4300Pa, and the DEEBOT X1 OMNI goes up to 5000Pa, which will really get stuck into your carpeted floors.
More affordable devices with lower suction power are well-suited to homes with tiled or hardwood floors. Dust and debris have fewer places to get stuck, so you don’t need as much power to dislodge them. If you want a robot vacuum that will get as much out of your carpets as possible, it’s worth spending a bit extra.
Mopping functionality
Some robot vacuums on the market do just that: vacuum. All ECOVACS robot vacuums mop as well, meaning you have one less chore to worry about. If you’re going to spend your hard-earned money on a cleaning device, you should look for something capable of doing everything. Otherwise, that’s just one more thing for you to worry about.
Even in its most affordable options, ECOVACS’ DEEBOTS treats your floors with water, mopping up light messes. It does this using OZMO technology to use precisely as much water as needed, while only mopping hard floors thanks to automatic carpet detection.
As you go up the ECOVACS range, there are more powerful mopping features capable of performing a deeper clean of your floors. Step up to the DEEBOT T9+ or DEEBOT X1 PLUS to enjoy OZMO Pro mopping which vibrates the mop plate as it cleans. The DEEBOT X1 OMNI is the top-of-the-line option, using a technology called the OZMO Turbo 2.0 Rotating Mopping System. Here, the mop attachments rotate up to 180 times per minute, while applying downward pressure that really helps get those pesky messes off the floor.
Smart features
All of these features wouldn’t amount to much if there weren’t matching smarts to accompany them. When choosing a robot vacuum, you want to ensure that it actually is “smart”. This means navigation, the ability to set schedules, object avoidance and other features like voice activation.
Fortunately, all of the ECOVACS robot vacuums let you save on brainpower thanks to the ECOVACS app. When connected, each device begins by automatically mapping your home and saving the result on your phone. With a completed map, you can set ongoing routines so that the robot vacuum regularly cleans at the most convenient times for you. Additionally, you can alternate schedules on a per-room basis.
Have a room that gets more foot traffic than others? Simply set the device to clean it daily while doing other rooms every other day. You can also designate different vacuum power or mopping water levels for different areas if you need to give some extra attention to specific rooms.
One of the most helpful “smarts” included in robotic vacuums is obstacle detection technology which is also achieved in a few different ways. At the basic level, you’re relying on mapping technology, or its front bumper bars to help it not get stuck on objects left around your home. At the most advanced renditions (such as ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 Series) you can see a combination of Artificial Intelligence, a front-facing camera, and a 3D scanning algorithm which combine to help it not get tripped up on cables, socks, toys or anything else accidentally left on your floors. Plus you can also use that front camera to check in if something unexpected comes up while you’re not at home.
The benefits of integrated AI don’t stop there, the flagship series from ECOVACS also has its own inbuilt AI voice assistant called YIKO. Thanks to its advanced obstacle detection, and a little of your own input via the app, you can ask YIKO commands as specific as “Okay YIKO, clean near the fridge” or “Okay YIKO, follow my voice”, which has far-reaching benefits when you’ve got your hands full in the kitchen as an example!
Being able to manage a significant part of your household cleaning from your phone or via your voice is a massive help. If you have a busy lifestyle and aren’t always home, it’s relieving to know you can still get the cleaning done anywhere, anytime!
Deciding on what technology to buy can be a stressful ordeal, but it’s a lot easier when you’re armed with information. There’s a robot vacuum for every home, it’s simply a matter of knowing what you need.
Visit the ECOVACS website for more information about robot vacuums and finding the best device for your home.
