Do you want your floors to be spotlessly clean without lifting a finger? Let the Neato Botvac do the dirty work for you. Neato robotic vacuums are among the best-selling vacuums, second to Roomba’s iRobot. In this Neato Botvac review, we will examine all Neato Botvac models in the market like the Neato Botvac connected D3, D4, D5, D6, and the D7. We will be looking at their features, performances and their controls. And, to help you make an informed purchasing decision, we included a buying guide. Read on for a comprehensive Neato Botvac comparison review.

Features to look out for in Neato Botvac Models

You’ve decided to purchase a Neato Robotic Vacuum; next, you have to decide which Neato Botvac model suits your needs. Since there are 5 Neato Botvac connected models, choosing the right model for Cleaning your floors can be a hassle. That’s why we’ve done our research and came up with some features to look out for in a Neato Botvac model and see if they suit your specific needs. We opted for the Neato Botvac connected series because they come with the latest technology and features, and also they are budget-friendly.

Controls

For you to own a robot, you must control it. Some Neato Botvac models come with remote controls, but the connected series relies on wireless connectivity and Android mobile apps. These apps give you total control on how the robot cleans, you get status updates, you can also schedule the robot to clean at a certain time plus you can use the voice command feature like Alexa or even Google home if you are into smart automation technologies.

Cleaning

We will be looking at the filters if a family member is susceptible to dust allergies, choose a Neato model with HEPA filters. Some models name their filters as Premium and High-efficiency filters. The name of the filter doesn’t matter, what matters the most is the size of the particles the filter can capture while cleaning. Most filters capture particle 3-5 microns in size. Another issue is the type of floor to be cleaned. Most of the Neato Botvac models will clean hard floor surfaces like tile, vinyl, and marble. Some models have varying abilities when cleaning carpets, as some of the fibers of the carpet are too long causing the combo brushes to tangle.

Batteries

The battery life of your robot can make or break a purchase. Look at the battery size and type, they tell you a lot about the battery run time. Also, keep in mind that all the robotic vacuums feature like suction power, motor speed, and wireless connectivity to name a few all rely on battery power. Be considerate when criticizing the battery run time. Another good piece of advice, check the square footage the robot can clean in a single charge. It’s good to know before trying it out.

Neato Botvac Models Review

Now that you know the best features to look out for in a Neato Botvac, we will compare the Neato Botvac connected models and their features for you to single out which model suits your needs.

#1. Neato Botvac D3 Connected

The D3 is among Neato’s first models with wireless connectivity feature, that’s why this model is included in the connected series.

Controls

For those who love automation, this model can be controlled via an app, and also voice commands like Alexa or Google assistant. These mobile apps give you cleaning statistics and schedule.

Cleaning

The D3 comes with brush roll technology which makes it effective in cleaning all hard floors and low to medium carpets. These brush rolls don’t extend to its edges, and also it lacks the side brush, that’s why the D3 is not good for cleaning corners. The D3 relies heavily on its suction power to pull dust and debris particles outside the vacuum’s body. Another issue, it lacks the HEPA filters. If you are allergic to pet dander, pollen or dust, it may get worse as the filters in the D3 are standard filters which trap particles less than 10 microns in size. This filter can only capture 70% of known allergens in your home. For containment when restricting cleaning, the D3 comes with a magnetic tape strip for that purpose. However, the tape is not included in the packaging and you have to source them elsewhere.

Battery

The Lithium-ion battery in the D3 model is small and has a capacity of 2600mAh. It will offer you a maximum of 60 minutes cleaning time, after which it will dock in its charging station automatically. The battery recharges in approximately 3 hours. One major feature in the D3 is the entire level cleaning feature which makes the robot recharge and resumes cleaning in the exact spot.

Things we liked

• You can control the cleaning remotely via a mobile app
• The brush rolls can clean all hard floor plus low to medium pile carpets
• The automatic charge and resume feature is great
• The filters capture 70% of the allergens on your floor
• The battery run-time is one hour

Things we didn’t like

• No magnetic tapes in the package for restricting cleaning
• It lacks the side brush for cleaning corners and edges

#2. Neato Botvac D4 Connected

The D4 comes with a few upgrades in terms of the features when compared to the D3.

Controls

The D4 comes with an updated app which can contain the robot while cleaning. Open the app, and click the map page option, then add the lines “Do not cross” and the D4 robot obeys. We found this feature convenient when cleaning large floors or if you want to cordon off some corners in your room. Plus you can control the robot remotely using apps like Alexa and Google Assistant.

Cleaning

The filter in the D4 is better than the D3 standard filter, and it will collect most allergens bigger than 10 microns. If you are allergic to dust or pollen, don’t go for the D4 as it lacks the HEPA filter. The brush rolls in the D4 are effective when cleaning large floors; the only setback is that it lacks the side brushes. Neato Robotics ignored the customer complains about the D3 lacking side brushes for cleaning edges and corners, and still took the same gamble when they introduced the D4.

Battery

The D4 comes with a higher capacity battery (3000 mAh) which gives you a battery run time of 75 minutes, it is a remarkable improvement. This battery run-time is good news for large homeowners, as the robot will clean large floors on a single charge. Plus the charge and resume feature makes this robot convenient to use when cleaning.

Things we liked

• A higher capacity battery gives you a run-time of 75 minutes
• Best for cleaning large floor spaces in a single charge
• It comes with an updated app which restricts the robot to certain areas of your floor
• The charge and resume feature is convenient for you
• The D4 High-efficiency filter is better than the standard filter found in the D3

Things we didn’t like

• No side brush again, therefore not good for cleaning corners and edges
• No HEPA filter for allergic customers

 #3. Neato Botvac D5 Connected

There are a few improvements on the D5 model compared to both the D3 and D4.

Controls

You can control the robot remotely via an app and also use voice commands like Alexa or Google Assistant like other models.

Cleaning

Allergic people can now sigh with relief as the D5 connected comes with a HEPA filter which traps allergens smaller than 3 microns. It is a big improvement and these HEPA filters reduce allergens on your floor by 99%. Another remarkable improvement on the D5 is the side brushes for cleaning corners and edges, we couldn’t ask for more. The D5 also comes with magnetic strips for containing the robot, the only setback is that the strips come in a roll which you have to cut in size and place them strategically. You have to do all these before the robot’s cleaning cycle begins, if the tape wears out, you have to buy a new one. The brush roll is still similar to the D3 and D4, where it limits cleaning to hard floors and low to medium carpets. High piles on the carpet will tangle the robot’s combo brush rolls.

Battery

The battery run-time is 90 minutes, an improvement from the normal one hour. Plus it docks automatically when the battery level is below 15 percent and resumes cleaning after recharging.

Things we liked

• It comes with HEPA filter to filter allergens
• The side brush is a good addition for cleaning corners
• The battery run-time is 90 minutes which is an improvement compared to the D3 and D4
• You can control the robot remotely using voice and app control which makes them intuitive

Things we didn’t like

• The magnetic tape containment process is a hassle, we feel the D5 should come with an app containment feature like the D4

#4. Neato Botvac Connected

The naming of the Neato Botvac models can be confusing; The Neato Botvac Connected is a model on its own. It was the first in line when Neato Robotics started naming their robots with wireless connectivity. It was during this time that the D3 and D5 started offering wireless control capabilities.

Control

The Neato Botvac connected was a pioneer when Neato was launching robots with wireless connectivity. You can control this robot via an app and even use voice controls like Alexa, similar to what other models offer, so let’s not dwell on that.

Cleaning

The combo brush roll on the Neato Botvac connected is great for cleaning most floor types as well as carpeted floors. The inclusion of a new blade, the spiral blade extractor, which works extremely well on hard floorings and also carpets is one of the highlights of the Botvac connected. This blade cleans high pile carpet floors unlike the D3,4 and 5 models. Plus the inclusion of the HEPA filter is good news for those allergic to pollen or pet dander.

Battery

The Neato Botvac connected has a higher battery capacity, 3300 mAh which gives you an impressive run-time of 120 minutes. Plus it docks, recharges and resumes cleaning automatically, which makes it convenient to use. The upgraded battery can clean 2200 square feet of floor space on a single charge.

Things we liked

• The battery run-time is 2 hours and can clean 2200 square feet of space on a single charge
• The spiral blade extractor can clean high pile carpet floors
• HEPA filtration is good for allergic persons
• You can clean more floor types with the combo brush rolls
• Same wireless control modes

Cons

• To accommodate the longer cleaning time, the dustbin could have been larger incapacity

#5. Neato Botvac D6 Connected

When comparing the D6 and D7, we noticed there were a few differences but only three matters the most as you’ll soon find out.

Controls

You can control it remotely or via voice commands like Alexa, which makes it intuitive and user-friendly.

Cleaning

One improvement on the D6 is that it comes with the spot cleaning feature, which allows you to direct the robot via a laser on the remote to clean areas of concern. The only problem is that this feature is not mobile-assisted like in the D7 model. For restrictive cleaning, the D6 comes with a single roll of magnetic marker tape which you have to measure and size them before placing them strategically to cordon off some areas. Another improvement is the extra side brush in the packaging which reduces your replacement costs. A good side brush wears out in about 9-15 months, which makes the D6 a good bargain here. The HEPA filter is a good option for allergic people.

Battery

The battery run-time is 120 minutes, and this run-time can clean large floor spaces on a single charge. The D6 charges and resumes duty automatically making it convenient to use when cleaning floors.

Things we liked

• The HEPA filter is great for allergic people because it captures and retains 99% of the allergens
• You can clean larger floor space with this battery run-time
• You can cordon off some areas of your room with magnetic tapes
• It comes with an extra side brush, saving you on replacement costs

Things we didn’t like

• The combo brushes require maintenance often as it gets tangled with carpet hairs.

#6. Neato Botvac D7 Connected

The D7 is the best model Neato introduced, and it comes at a price for its state of the art features.

Controls

It comes with a Neato app that allows you to control every aspect of the robot like scheduling cleaning, and mode selection to name a few. Plus the app notifies you of the cleaning statistics and status of your robot.

Cleaning

The dual suction mode on the D7 is great for cleaning most, if not all floor types and also carpeted floors. It comes with a spiral blade extractor which cleans high pile carpet floors and also softwood floorings. The best feature here is the zone cleaning, which allows you to map out heavily used areas in your home as cleaning zones. The robot will clean these areas and dock automatically when through. This feature is convenient for those who want a quick cleaning cycle to solve quick problems. The D7 incorporates the app containment feature which allows you to map your floors and cordon some areas. It makes them reliable, though there were some complains that the robot ignored some of the no-go lines in the app. Neato released an upgrade to mitigate the problem which was a great improvement and customer relations on their part.

Battery

The battery capacity is a whopping 3600mAh, which powers all the navigation, suction and also the sensors. The run-time is 120 minutes because of the increased features and performances.

Things we liked

• The zone cleaning feature is the best when solving quick cleaning problems
• The mobile app containment is better than magnetic strips
• The spiral blade extractor can clean most floor types
• HEPA filters for removing allergens smaller than 3 microns

Things we didn’t like

• The robot ignores the no-go line when cordoning it, only if you haven’t updated your app

Neato Botvac Complete Buying Guide

In this section, we came up with some important considerations to guide you when purchasing the right Neato Botvac model.

Know your home layout, spaces, and obstacles

Don’t be frustrated when the robot stops cleaning midway to recharge, as the robot could be rated for cleaning smaller floor spaces of maybe 1000 square feet on a single charge. Plus knowing what obstacles the robot might face is an added advantage, for example, know the approximate height beneath your furniture and compare this knowledge when selecting the height and width of the Botvac. Choose a robot that fits the dimensions under your couch so that it doesn’t get stuck when cleaning underneath.  Knowing your floor layout also helps during spot and zone cleaning, as you will mark those areas as zone cleaning and the robot cleans them without going through the whole cleaning cycle.

What is the battery capacity and run-time?

One look at the battery size and you’ll know whether the battery lasts or not. Because the larger the battery, the more run-time it will have during the cleaning cycles. The battery powers most features like suction, app connectivity and the sensors to name a few. Most people prefer purchasing a Botvac with a longer battery runtime for more efficiency while cleaning. The largest battery capacity can be found in the Neato Botvac D7 which gives you a cleaning time of 2 hours.

Are you allergic to pollen or dust particles?

Allergic people can opt for the HEPA filters as they remove 99% of allergens like dust particles, pollen, pet dander and even harmful gases like Carbon monoxide. They filter and retain particle sizes less than 3 microns. About three Neato models come with this filter which gives you the confidence to breathe when the Botvac is cleaning your floor.

The type of flooring

Most robotic vacuums can clean hard flooring like vinyl, tile, laminate, and granite to name a few. Most of them don’t come with the right brush rolls to clean carpets, softwood, and natural stone floors as they will scratch them resulting in losses. Some robots will be rated to clean low to medium pile carpets while some like the D6 and 7 have spiral blade extractors for cleaning high pile carpets without any malfunction. Shag carpeting a different problem entirely and most robots can’t handle this cleaning process. Knowing your floor type helps choose the right Botvac for cleaning the floor without fail.

Is your home Wi-Fi connected?

The mobile app connects to the robotic cleaner’s sensors via Wi-Fi, if you don’t have that Wi-Fi coverage in your home, go for robots with remote controls. If you have Wi-Fi, you can enjoy full automation like scheduling cleaning, viewing cleaning statistics and even controlling the robot remotely via Alexa or Google Assistant. The apps are intuitive and it makes the cleaning easier to supervise. Plus some models have the app containment feature where you can cordon off the robot from falling in a staircase or from hitting your Christmas tree in the corner. Also, you can map your floors for the robot to clean certain areas only; such areas can be frequently used areas like the kitchen floor, motorways in your home or the front entrance, etc. This feature is known as zone cleaning and it’s very convenient when solving quick cleaning problems.

The type of brushes

The brush roll type shows how efficient the robot is when cleaning your floors. Most robots come with a standard combo brush which cleans hard floors well, while higher-end models like the D6, and 7 feature a more complex spiral blade extractor which can clean high pile carpet without malfunctioning. Also, if your room has many corners, you should opt for Robotic vacuums with the side brush for cleaning edges and corners.

The Dustbin capacity

Most Neato Botvac models come with either medium or large dustbin capacities. The largest capacity is 0.7 liters while the smallest is 0.5 liters in volume. The bin capacity determines the emptying cycle of the robot, which may make the cleaning cycle either short or long. Since these models are made by the same manufacturer, we didn’t think it was important to mention the dustbin capacity in the review section.  In line with that, we think manufacturers should increase the bin capacity for models with longer cleaning cycles. For more detailed dustbin capacities of each model, in case you are interested, you’ll find the details in the Neato Botvac comparison table above.

Your budget

Always plan a budget and stick to it so that you don’t regret it. Most Neato Botvac models are budget-friendly and in the mid-high price range. One point to note is that when a robot has more features, it becomes expensive. Shop with a flexible budget to avoid purchasing a lesser model than what you were expecting.

Top Neato Model Comparison

Neato D3 vs D5

The Neato D3 and the D5 bear most similarities, as you’ll see in the comparison table. The most notable differences are the battery run-time and the brushes. The D5 comes with a side brush for cleaning corners w2hile the D3 lacks these brushes. The battery run-time in the D3 is 60 minutes while the D5 cleans for up to 90 minutes. The other difference is that the D5 comes with ultra-performance filters while the D3 comes with standard filters.

Neato D80 vs D85 

Both the D80 and D85 navigate smoothly using the Botvision cameras and they also map out your floor plans. One difference between the two models is that the D85 comes with more effective filters for eliminating smaller particles than the D80 filters. If you have allergic reactions to dust and pollen or pet dander, go for the D85 even though the filters aren’t HEPA certified.

Neato D5 vs D7

One of the major differences between the Neato D5 and D7 is the type of brush; the D7 comes with more effective spiral blade extractor which cleans better than the combo brush found in the D5. The other difference is the battery run-time; the D7 cleans for 120 minutes before recharging while the D5 cleans for 90 minutes before self-docking. The big difference in the features is the D7’s zone cleaning feature, which uses the mapping technology when creating cleaning zones on your mobile app. The D5 lacks this feature and the clear winner is the Botvac D7.

Neato Botvac Connected vs Roomba 980

Most reviewers argue that the “D” design of the Botvac connected cleans corners effectively than the round-shaped iRobot 980. When it comes to the brushes, the iRobot 980 scores highly with its two rotating brushes, which are tangle free when compared to the Botvac single combo brush. Another difference is that the iRobot 980 comes with HEPA certified filters while the Botvac lacks them. The Botvac connected has a slightly larger dustbin capacity of 0.7 liters when compared to the iRobot’s 0.6 liters.

Neato D3 vs D80

The major differences are the smartphone app connectivity and battery life. The D3 connects to your app via a Wi-Fi network shared with the robot and you can control how the robot operates remotely. You can’t perform any action remotely with the D80. The battery run-time in the D3 is 60 minutes compared to 40 minutes in the D80 which makes the cleaning cycles longer.

FAQ’S

Q: Can you use multiple smartphones to control the robot?

It’s possible to control the robot using different devices if you log in with the same account information on the Neato app found in the other devices. This way you can give some of your family members or roommates access to your Botvac connected robot. This YouTube Video will help shade more light on this question.

Q: How do program the robot to follow the No-Go lines on the app?

First, you need to create a floor plan. Click on “My floor plan” tab on your app and follow the listed instructions which are easy to follow. The robot will then head out to create the floor plan and it will save it automatically. With the map saved on your device, draw the no-go lines and place the robot on its charging dock before scheduling a cleaning for it to follow the saved no-go lines on your Neato app. Always use an updated app to take advantage of the latest app upgrades. Click on this link for more information.

Wrap Up

Robotic vacuums are not perfect, so don’t keep your hopes high. The only way to do this is to know your needs and compare it with what the robot can offer in terms of performance. Plus you need to compare its price with your budget. That’s why having a flexible budget when shopping is the best option.

Which Neato Botvac model is the best?

It was hard to decide between the D6 and D7, which bear lots of similarities as we’ve seen in our Neato Botvac Comparison Table. We settled on the Neato Botvac D7 Connected because of the zone cleaning feature which is more convenient when cleaning frequently used areas like the entrance door or kitchen floor. Plus the D7 comes with more effective Spiral combo brushes which clean all types of floors and high pile carpet when compared to the other D-series connected models. The only setback is that it isn’t effective when shag carpeting. When we compare its features to the price, we think it’s a good bargain as quality doesn’t come cheap.

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