It seems everyone is manufacturing a robot vacuum nowadays. Some of them are from brands you’ve never heard of and others have been around for many years. Should you fork out thousands for a robot vacuum or will an entry-level model do? The answer is of course, it depends on your circumstances. Today we take a look at the Ecovacs DEEBOT Neo 4.0 ahead of it’s availability as an Aldi Special Buy on 5 September.
Aldi are featuring this robot vacuum alongside the Ecovacs WINBOT NEO MINI window cleaner so we thought we would take the vacuum for a spin so you can make an informed decision whether you feel this robot vac is for you.
First lets look at the specs
- 11,000Pa suction power
- Vacuum and Mopping
- 350ml Dustbin
- 300ml Water Tank
- LDS Technology
- Carpet Detection
- Up to 350 min estimated runtime
Who is this for?
If you already have a robot vac this may not be an upgrade but if you’re a first-timer it may just be ideal for you to see if they suit your home.
And at only $279 you can’t really go wrong.
Only a few years ago this would have been cutting-edge, but with the advancements in robot vacuum technology it can’t compete on features but it certainly can on price. My first robot vac was similar to this DEEBOT Neo 4.0 and it was three times the price.
To get a vacuum and mopping combination for $279 is astounding and it is a pretty decent unit. It doesn’t have to compete with the $3,000 appliances. It’s not designed to
Unboxing
No complicated assembly required here. You get the vacuum, base unit and a mopping pad and side brush to attach. That’s it.
Setup
I really like how Ecovacs makes it easy to connect their appliances. You download the app, create an account and point the scanner at the QR code on the unit. Put in your Wi-Fi credentials and you’re away.
Place the base unit in a place in your home that has good clearance but also where you are not going to trip over it. The instructions recommend 0.5m either side and 1.5m in front of it. Every robot vacuum is the same. Ecovacs supply two rubber plugs to place in the upper portion of the base unit as you likely have skirting boards that prevent the unit from sitting flush with the wall
Mapping
When you start you need to initially map your home so future cleaning cycles know where to go.
In the world of robot vacs, if you are a first-timer, which is quite likely with this model then you will soon discover mapping is the most frustrating part of robot ownership.
I’ve done enough of these to anticipate a potential issue with mapping so I am going to save you some heartache. Even though it doesn’t tell you to draw all your curtains and blinds, do it anyway.
Rooms that aren’t rooms because they are in fact your yard outside windows can be dealt with after mapping but the best way to avoid tearing your hair out is to not generate them in the first place
Below is my initial map with the blinds open and to the right is the second attempt with them drawn.
Mapping only takes about 30 minutes for the average home so it is not the end of the world if you have to stop and try again. You can also set up multiple maps if you have separate areas or levels. Once mapped you can tailor the map to better reflect your home. You can divide rooms, combine rooms, rename rooms and create virtual boundaries where you don’t want your robot to go. You cannot delete rooms so that is why you want to avoid creating phantom rooms that you have to subsequently tell it not to go
The App
The app will make available to you the different cleaning options based on the status of the robot. If you have the mopping pad fitted you can vacuum and mop simultaneously. If it is not fitted then only vacuuming will appear as an option.
Options include suction power, water flow rates for mopping and the choice of a single or two passes.
Scheduling
Technically scheduling is possible but as all the debris collected is confined to the onboard bin, if that is already full then the next scheduled pass will be very short-lived.
Daily scheduling on more expensive machines is possible as the onboard bin is emptied into a base unit bag or bin.
Performance
A reminder that robot vacuums, particularly basic ones like this are best designed to maintain the cleanliness of your home, not to thoroughly clean it. So is the DEEBOT Neo 4.0 for you? That will depend entirely on your own circumstances. A standard home with no pets and not much clutter – Yes. If you want superior mopping capabilities that more expensive robots offer then no, this doesn’t have them. The Neo 4.0 also lacks the advanced intelligence features for obstacle avoidance but this is a $279 device. At that price it represents exceptional value
Carpets
Is your goal is to make your carpeted areas look like they’ve just been cleaned, give this robot a big tick. Mine looked brilliant after a single pass. The DEEBOT Neo 4.0 has 11,000Pa of suction power so it’s not lacking in strength to pick up dirt and debris but it may be a victim of it’s own success. I mentioned pets earlier. If you have a dog or cat that sheds then the bin is going to get full very quickly
With no base unit bin you have to manually pull that hair out of the onboard bin quite frequently
This will apply to tiled or other hard surfaces. The good news is that it did confirm that Ecovacs’ claim of a tangle-free brush is accurate.
Mopping
Initially I was stumped. The instructions don’t actually tell you how to fill the water reservoir. I am ashamed that I had to google it. The water container splits from the main unit via a latch at the rear of the robot. Simple after I found out but I will save you the search. Fill the tank and refit. Now for the price don’t expect miracles. After all this robot cleaner doesn’t have sophisticated rolling mops or rotating heads that scrub your floor clean. Instead it has a single mopping pad that drags on the floor as it vacuums. You are only supplied with a single pad that will require cleaning after every cleaning cycle. Having said that I think it did a reasonable job on my dark tiles. As the mop wears I think you will find performance will degrade so it makes sense to invest in spares.
Noise levels
There are 4 levels of suction and each obviously increases the noise generated by the vacuum. None of them are particularly loud so running this at full power still allows you to have a conversation around it
Recharging
I must admit I was a bit disappointed in the recharging speed of the Neo 4.0. I performed all tests and was at 28% battery when I started to recharge, It took a considerable 4.5 hours to get back to full battery so it’s a bit of a slug in that way
The verdict
The good
- Great suction power on both carpets and hard surfaces
- Quiet
- Only takes up a small footprint
- Simple setup
- Tangle-free brush
- Exceptional value for money
The not so good
- A small dustbin
- Poor mopping
- Slow to charge
- Lack of accessories
- Not suitable for pet hair due to the single dustbin
So if you are looking to put your toe in the water and want to try an entry-level robot vacuum to see what all the fuss is about, or you have a small home or unit to clean, the DEEBOT Neo 4.0 is a perfect option. A reputable brand for an exceptional price
The Ecovacs DEEBOT Neo 4.0 will be available from Aldi on 5 September for only $279
The elder statesman of the EFTM team, Rob has been a long time listener, reader and follower – He’s “Producer Rob” for the EFTM podcast and looks after our social media posts. To be fair, he’s probably the most tech-savvy bloke in the crew too!
