There are so many robot vacuum cleaners on the market these days that it can be challenging to find the one that best suits your specific needs. Even as a reviewer, I struggle to keep up, and what makes it even more confusing is that some robot vacuum cleaner manufacturers (including Ecovacs) release multiple models throughout the calendar year at different prices.
Although the temptation is to go cheaper – for example, choose Ecovacs Deebot N20 now costs AU$284 with an additional coupon for Amazon – these budget models may not clean as well as we would like, especially carpets.
However, I did make a note of its RRP but it has now dropped to the lowest Australian price I've seen – available directly from Ecovacs.
I entered mine Deebot X8 Pro Omni review with a very skeptical look as I had just left having been disappointed with a couple of other robot models. Moreover, I have already seen other premium competitors with suction power above 18,000 Pa (take a look at my Dreame Aqua10 Ultra review for one with 30,000 Pa), so I really wasn't sure how well it would work on dirty carpet.
I was very happy to be proven wrong: not only does this robot vacuum clean great thanks to better internal airflow that sucks up all kinds of dirt, but it also takes full advantage of its roller to effectively clean hard floors without any streaks.
What impresses me most is its ability to clean edges: this robot vacuum isn't afraid to get close to walls and furniture to ensure that as much floor area as possible is cleaned, both while vacuuming and mopping.
I had no problems navigating or avoiding obstacles, although I've seen other people complain about it online. The robot never got lost, but once in the four weeks that I tested it, it got tangled in a cable. I even set up an obstacle course for him and he didn't swallow anything in his way – he didn't even push things like other bots do!
The base station is also very powerful, sucks almost everything out of the built-in container and does a great job of cleaning and drying the roller. I found that the X8 doesn't use as much water as other robots I've tested, so the frequency of refilling the clean water tank is less. All you need to do is ensure that the dirty water is cleaned regularly so that it does not grow its own ecosystem inside it.
The Ecovacs Home smartphone app has also been significantly improved and optimized. It's easy to set up customized cleaning routines, and all advanced settings are well explained.
At the discounted price of AU$1,378, it's a really great price as you're getting a pretty smart standalone vacuum cleaner.
