Ecovacs Deebot: the handy robotic vacuum that gives you your time back
The future is here, and it’s time to get on board: we tested one of the top-rated robotic vacuums that promise to make housework effortless.
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
The ways in which technology has made our lives easier – and all of us, more effective with our time – are numerous.
From multi-use cookers to smart speakers, there isn’t a corner of our lives or homes that can’t be improved upon with the right electronic good. Most gratifyingly to the busy among us (and who isn’t?), the technological advancements have extended to cleaning.
If you and your household are considering investing in a robotic vacuum, have a read of our recommendations below – including the next generation ECOVACS DEEBOT robotic vacuum I, myself, personally tried.
NOTE TO READER: The ECOVACS DEEBOT U2 Pro 2 is applicable for a $100 coupon on Amazon Australia right now. Read on for our Best Of Editor’s review of the robot vacuum, or jump through here for the discount.
EDITOR’S PICK: BEST ROBOTIC VACUUM
ECOVACS DEEBOT U2 Pro, Amazon Australia, $499 (RRP$599)
The latest from the global leader in smart cleaning robots is targeted at time-challenged households, with the ability to both vacuum and mop – removing up to 99 per cent of bacteria – a revelation for those who would rather end their day relaxing on the couch, than tending to dirty floors.
An extra large 800ml dustbin, strong suction and tangle-free main brush makes this perfect for those with cats or dogs, picking up all stray hairs that even the most ferocious sweeping with a broom won’t pick up. Direct with your phone or smart speaker, and trust this model to not miss a single dust mite, thanks to advanced systematic navigation paths. Most brilliantly, a single charge lasts up to 150 minutes.
There are plenty of five-star ratings to attest to the vacuum’s efficacy online, but I also gave the vacuum a test run – and here’s what I thought.
ECOVACS DEEBOT U2 PRO REVIEW
Mariela Summerhays, Best Of Editor
“My tiles are constantly covered in crumbs. With three young children under eight, there are maybe a whole ten minutes directly after sweeping the floor when its clean, before promptly being made into a mess again. Throw in a shedding cat, and its more than I can stay on top of.
The ECOVACS DEEBOT U2 Pro sounded just the thing I needed. The robotic vacuum has the capacity to both vacuum and mop, thanks to an easily installed and removed cleaning cloth plate – it promises to cover up to 200 square metres with a single charge. A three layer filter enables for even micrometer-sized particles to be picked up, resulting in up to 99 per cent of bacteria being ridded from floors, a compelling consideration for those of us with little ones always rolling around.
To top it all off was the Pet Care Kit, an interchangeable dustbin with an extra large, 800ml dustbin and tangle-free brush, that promised to make maintenance of our home easier, considering our three year old cat who likes to leave his hair absolutely everywhere.
The verdict? If, like myself, you are short on leisure time, with a full-time job and young children to contend with (or even a fur baby), you’ll no doubt love having this new addition to your home.
My husband and I have worked its cleans into our daily schedule – each night, we get the kids to pick up their toys they’ve inevitably strewn all over, then replace our former sweep and mop of the tiles with a television show viewing. We’ve scheduled our robot vacuum to do a clean of our ground floor when we sleep – at just over 100 square metres, the DEEBOT U2 Pro can manage all rooms with the one charge, then return to its charging station upon completion. Though it takes just short of a couple of hours, we are asleep and in no hurry, so this is of no inconvenience to us. The navigation technology is quite remarkable – as pictured above, I have several bar stools lining my kitchen counter, and the robot vacuum expertly weaves through their legs, picking up everything that has fallen between my children’s dinner plates and mouths.
If there is something that I would point out to readers, it’s that if you are looking for a spot cleaner – just something to go over the floors under your kitchen island after cooking, for example – it may not be worth your time, waiting on the robot vacuum to reach a particular area or setting up boundaries with magnetic strips. In that case, you might prefer to just pick up a broom.
But for taking time back from your week nights, and knowing that still, your floors are as hygienic and clean as possible without too much cost and effort, this is the product for you.”
Rating out of five: ★★★★
BEST ECOVACS ROBOT VACUUMS
ECOVACS DEEBOT OZMO T8 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Amazon Australia, $999
Take 40 per cent off
Featuring laser TrueMapping, TrueDetect 3D object avoidance technology, and OZMO mopping, the T8 2-in-1 has a 180-minute run time to make it through large houses on a single charge - and right now, you can take a huge $400 off it.
“I have never seen this kind of powerful and robust robot vacuum,” one reviewer raved.
ECOVACS DEEBOT N79T Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Amazon Australia, $279
With four cleaning modes to meet all requirements, high-powered suction, and anti-drop and anti-collision sensors, the N79T is a great budget robot vacuum with plenty of nifty features.
“The Deebot vacuum is brilliant and great value for money. My house is predominantly floorboards which always had a gritty surface underfoot from coming in and out of a big dirty backyard. The Deebot is set to run every day and it usually runs on single charge for about 90 minutes without any problem,” wrote one of many five-star reviewers.
ECOVACS DEEBOT OZMO T8+ Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Amazon Australia, $1,599
The OZMO T8+ model features the same object avoidance technology, laser mapping, and powerful mop and vacuum functions – as well as a clever auto-empty station which will save you from having to frequently clean out the dustbin yourself.
One reviewer wrote “Love the convenience of daily vacuuming of area of kitty litter. House has never been so clean for so long with personal hassle”.
ECOVACS DEEBOT N8 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Amazon Australia, $799
An all-in-one that mops and vacuums, the DEEBOT N8 has strong suction power to remove all traces of dirt and dust. Advanced laser navigation allows it to accurately map your home and create efficient cleaning paths without missing any spots.
A reviewer who left five stars wrote “We’ve got a big dog and a cat that shed hair like crazy. This robot leaves the floor FREE from pet hair. Much more powerful than any vacuum cleaner we owned before”.
ECOVACS DEEBOT N8+ Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Amazon Australia, $1199
Not only does the DEEBOT N8+ mop and vacuum – it also empties itself into its very own Auto-Empty Station. Like the N8, it has precision laser mapping for spotless cleaning, and you can control and customise it via the ECOVACS Home App.
“This is by far the best robot vac I’ve had yet. I have a mixture of floorboards, tiles as well as rugs in the house. No pets, but the kids sure does keep this machine busy,” wrote a five-star reviewer.
ECOVACS DEEBOT OZMO 920 Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Amazon Australia, $799
The ultra-slim DEEBOT OZMO 920 is capable of cleaning all those hard-to-reach spots that a regular vacuum couldn’t manage. It features mopping and laser navigation technology, as well as carpet detection to automatically avoid carpet when mopping or increase suction while vacuuming.
RUNNERS UP: BEST ROBOT VACUUM
eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S, Amazon, $258.95
With just shy of 18,500 five-star reviews, there is little to no risk investing your money in this robotic vacuum. Super slim so that it will clean even under your television console, it packs a punch with 1300Pa of suction power and up to 100 minutes of cleaning per charge. One reviewer addressed a concern some might have with a robotic vacuum – whether it’ll eat something that isn’t dust – saying, “It’s picked up loads of dust that I’d never known was there. It leaves the room with that nice newly vacuumed smell and lines in the carpet.”
They ended their five-star review with, “It’s good at knowing when to stop trying to eat things – cables, bag straps and so forth. It’s good at freeing itself when it gets stuck, and at not getting stuck in the first place.” Coupled with a triple-filter system and drop-sensing technology, this is the smart assistant we could all use.
Coredy R580-W Robot Vacuum Cleaner, $299.99
Industry-leading 2000Pa suction power, but extremely quiet, this robotic vacuum is ideal for those wanting to dip their toes into smart cleaning at minimal cost. Schedule and control the model with your phone, or through voice commands with a compatible smart speaker; and know that you’re getting a deep clean every time, thanks to its washable HEPA filter.
No two floors are the same, so opt for the most appropriate of five different cleaning modes in each room – spot cleaning, edge cleaning, max vacuum cleaning, single room cleaning and manual cleaning.
If you’d like your robotic vacuum to mop your floors too, you can buy a compatible water tank and cleaning mop cloth here.
ARE ROBOTIC VACUUMS WORTH IT?
For those who want to keep things tidy at home but never have the time for daily spot cleaning, a robotic vacuum is absolutely worth the investment. They allow you to stress less about using your precious leisure time for cleaning – instead, you can simply schedule your robot to run while you sleep or when you’re out and about during the day.
IS ECOVACS A GOOD BRAND?
Having tried and tested an Ecovacs model myself, I can confirm that the brand lives up to all its hefty promises of thorough cleaning and high-quality products.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VACUUMS?
The type of vacuum you opt for will depend on the area you’re intending to clean, and your storage capacity. Robot vacuums are traditionally best used on hardwood floors, though recent models have improved their suction on carpets. They’re excellent for time-poor households, as they can be programmed to clean by themselves. Barrel and upright vacuums, with their strong suction and large dustbins, are ideal for covering large areas and all types of floor coverings. Both stick and handheld vacuums are excellent for spot cleaning; the former in the home, the latter in cars or on furniture.
Not quite set on the robot option? We rounded up the best stick vacuums to clean your house in a jiffy. Plus, keep your air as clean as your floors with the best air purifiers for every home and budget.
Ensure you always get the best deals by signing up to the Best Of shopping newsletter, and checking out news.com.au Coupons for discounts on all your favourite brands from Harvey Norman to The Good Guys.
$200 off robot vac with ‘rare godsend’ feature
Spend more time relaxing with these two-in-one robot vacuum and mop combos shoppers recommend.
‘Genius’ new robo vac delivers ‘in spades’
We tested the luxe Dreame X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop and found it overdelivers with a ‘really thorough and customised clean’.
‘Game-changer’ Dreame vacs for the ultimate clean
There’s a reason Dreame’s best-selling vacuums come with a premium price tag. Here we’ve rounded up the best ones for every type of lifestyle and space.
Tried and Tested: Dreame’s new L20 Ultra robot vacuum
Dreame’s new robot vacuum and mop comes with a fully automatic base station and impressive new tech. But is it worth the premium price tag?