Neato vs Roomba 2018
Considered two of the best brands of robotic vacuums on the market, people are torn on whether they should get a Neato or a Roomba. Both of them are packed with attractive features, and both are known for their quality.
The Neato and the Roomba have been in the marketing long enough to both be well established global brands. This article compares three of the latest models of the Neato and three of the most recent models of the Roomba to help you decide which one is the best fit for you.
Which Robotic Vacuum Should You Buy?
While there are specific differences between the Neato and the Roomba, and even between the different versions of each brand, they do share many similarities. If you are looking for laser smart navigation and a three-stage cleaning system that works great to remove allergens and pet hair, you will find that both Neato and Roomba have great options for you.
Why You Will Like Neato’s
Between the three Neato’s we are looking at, the Neato Botvac D5, the Neato Botvac 80, and the Neato Botvac D80, you will find a great mix of technology and efficient design.
The Neato Robotics company is smaller than iRobot but has an advantage because it draws from the Silicon Valley technologists and engineers who are experts in robotic vacuums. Founded in 2010, Neato Robotics has regularly released newer best-selling Neato vacuum models to keep up with the constant advances in technology. Neato Robotics is known for its technical implementation and focus.
Neato Botvac D5
The Neato Botvac D5 is the costliest of all three models, currently costing 550 dollars. It features ultimate technology by giving users control from their smartphone through the app provided by Neato. You can use the app to start the Neato, to schedule start times, to stop it, and also to receive notifications as needed, no matter where you are. One of the best features of the app by Neato is that there is a robot locator if you are wondering where your Neato Botvac is hiding.
The precise laser smart navigation and spin flow power technology makes it easy for the vacuum to scan, map, and methodically clean your floors. The original robotic vacuums worked by going one direction until it bumped into something and then switching directions.
Technology advances have made something amazing and the Neato Botvac D5 can clean an entire room or a whole level of your home, go back to its base as needed to recharge, and then resume cleaning.
The Neato Botvac D5 works floor types of any texture, has a D-shape design, and also uses a CornerClever system to focus its cleaning where dirt hides. More specifically, it can get deeper into corners, and align more closely with walls.
The spin flow power clean, larger dirt bin, brush combo, and filter help give you fresh looking floors. The specific brand is particularly useful for homes who have trouble with allergens, or want a deep clean from pet dander and hair.
Neato Botvac 80
The Neato Botvac 80 is like the Neato Botvac D5 in that it is effective in removing pet hair and dust for allergy sufferers. It has a navigation system that is laser-guided and allows it to scan and map the room, plan and methodically clean. This model is significantly cheaper, with an Amazon-certified refurbished one costing around 240 dollars.
This vacuum is capable of scheduling daily cleanings, or there are buttons you can select for multi-room cleaning or spot cleaning.
The Neato Botvac 80 features a combo brush with a unique design for picking up pet hair. Its precise side brush helps to make edge cleaning easy while leaving no dust specks behind. It has a “D shaped design that allows it to reach corners and clean as close as ten millimeters of the wall.
The brush is 50 percent larger than most brushes. Between the design shape and the bigger brushes, the Botvac 80 allows is able to align itself closer to any wall compared to round robot competition. Also, it is able to clean underneath most beds and in other places that are sometimes difficult to reach.
Like the Neato Botvac D5, you won’t ever need to worry about checking battery life or putting the robot away because when the power gets low, it will automatically return to the charging base until it is charged, and will then return to finish the job.
Neato Botvac D80
Similar to the other Neato Botvacs, the Neato Botvac D80 also has LaserSmart technology, which allows it to scan and map the room, plan, and methodically clean, instead of just bumping around.
This upgraded version of the Neato Botvac features genuine Neato ultra-performance filters which capture twice the small particles over standard filters. It also has a combo brush, spiral brush, side brush, brush cleaning tool, a charging dock, and boundary markers. It has the D-shape design like other Neato robotic vacuums, which allows it to get close to walls and into corners.
Why You Will Like Roomba’s
The company that makes Roomba’s, iRobot, has been around since the early 1990’s when it initially started creating robotic solutions for bomb disposals. Since its start, iRobot has expanded to offer many products, which include both defense industry solutions, and domestic products.
The company has been extraordinarily successful and is a common household name. Roomba’s have been a top robotic vacuum since it hit the markets.
iRobot Roomba 650
The Roomba 650 is currently offered for around 300 dollars. It comes with the iAdapt Navigation system that utilizes sensors to make its way around a room and adapt to any changes in that space. It features a cleaning system that brushes, suctions, and agitates floors.
The Roomba 650 easily adjusts to all floor types, whether you have carpet, tile, laminate, hardwood, and more. You can program up to seven cleanings per week, or use it anytime by pressing the “clean” button on the robot.
The Roomba 650 automatically docks when it needs to recharge, and then will finish the job. It also docks when the job is done.
iRobot Roomba 614
Similar to the Roomba 650, the Roomba 614 has a patented 3-stage cleaning system that is activated by pressing the “clean” button on the robot vacuum.
It is different from Roomba 650 because it does not do scheduled cleanings. It has no programming required. Also, it has dual multi-surface brushes that can lift dirt and debris both small and large. It comes with sensors that detect dirt and alert the Roomba 614 to work harder on more concentrated areas of dust. The Roomba 614 is especially useful in high-traffic areas of your home.
The Roomba 614 has an auto-adjust cleaning head that will automatically adapt its height to efficiently clean the different flooring types it needs to clean. This robotic vacuum is currently around 270 dollars.
iRobot Roomba 690
The Roomba 690 is now being offered for approximately 330 dollars and has Wi-Fi capabilities, which sets it apart from the other models. You can clean your floors or schedule cleanings no matter where you are with the iRobot HOME app. The app is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, making it easy for you to operate.
Like the other Roomba models, the Roomba 690 features their 3-stage cleaning system and dual multi-surface brushes that pick up most sizes of debris, from very small to large. It also has dirt detect sensors that alert the Roomba to work harder to clean dirt in areas that need it most.
Its full suite of intelligent sensors guides the robot under and around any furniture to help clean all areas of your flooring. It has a cleaning head that automatically adapts its height to clean the different floors of your home.
Here’s What They are Not So Good At
Brands don’t get recognized as a leader in their industry without having plenty of reasons for why it is so good. The same is true of the Neato and the Roomba. Both robotic vacuums are favorite brands because of the many features that make them proficient and easy to use. There are usually a few areas that need improvement, and here’s what I found.
Neato – High Carpet and Small Spaces
The Neato brand of robotic vacuums is top in the industry because Neato has done a great job of employing the highest levels of technology. The cons that have been listed about the Neato brand include that it sometimes struggles with thicker carpets, and its large footprint makes it smaller gaps an issue sometimes.
Roomba – Corners and Carpet Edges
The iRobot Roomba robotic vacuum line is preferred over most all other brands. iRobot has been a trusted name in the industry since the early 90’s, and it continues to impress.
Some of the complaints of the Roomba are that its round shape makes it hard to clean corners, it doesn’t always clean carpet edges well, and the lightweight dock requires securing for the Roomba to re-dock itself.
Final Verdict
The Neato and the Roomba are both industry leaders in the robotic vacuum world. If you are looking for a robotic vacuum, you will find high quality and innovative design with both devices. However, my pick for the best overall vacuum is the Neato. The most prominent reason for my pick is because the Neato is “D” shaped which allows it to fit into corners easily.
The Roomba is impressive for many reasons, but the circle design makes it hard for it to clean corners and edges as well as the Neato can. Most people who purchase a robotic vacuum are looking for the convenience of not having to do the work themselves. That is the most significant reason why the Neato is the more preferred brand.
