Best Neato Botvac D4 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

Presented during the last IFA, the Neato Botvac D4 Connected aroused a lot of interest. With this new robot vacuum cleaner, the American manufacturer offers a Wi-Fi connected device that maps and navigates systematically. The application to which it is linked offers many functions which we will evaluate in depth. 

Presentation

After testing and crowning the Neato Botvac D7 Connected – the flagship of the Californian manufacturer – with 5 stars , here is the D4 Connected, a less expensive model, sold at a price of € 529. This Botvac D4 Connected maps, navigates systematically and is programmed from the application to which it is attached. Range logic requires, some features that we appreciated on the D7 are not embedded on this version. However, the D4 is not outdone and allows virtual boundaries; these ” no go lines ” prevent the robot from entering certain rooms. The D4 is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, so it can be operated with a simple voice command. 

Best Neato Botvac D4 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

1. Neato Robotics D4 Laser Guided Smart Robot Vacuum – Wi-Fi Connected. Ideal for Carpets, Hard Floors and Pet Hair, Works with Alexa

2. Neato Botvac D80 Robot Vacuum for Pets and Allergies

3. Neato Botvac Connected Wi-Fi Enabled Robot Vacuum, Compatible with Alexa

4. Neato Botvac D3 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, Smartwatches

5. Neato Botvac D5 Connected Laser Guided Robot Vacuum, Pet & Allergy, Works with Smartphones, Alexa, Smartwatches

Convenience of use

All Neato vacuum cleaners feature this D-shape which makes the brand identity. This has been studied so that vacuum cleaners can infiltrate every corner. Only the finishes change depending on the positioning of the robot vacuum cleaner within the range. This is how this D4 skips over a metallic shell and is adorned with a plastic covering with honeycomb patterns. We therefore assess it to be more resistant and of better quality than that of the  D3 Connected .

With their prominent rangefinder, the Neatos have the particularity of being quite high and this D4 is no exception to the rule: its height is 10 cm. There is no doubt that it will be difficult to pass under the lowest furniture. 

As is now the case for the entire range, this Neato Botvac D4 skips a small screen and removes almost all the commands on the smartphone. Admittedly, launching a cleaning cycle is childishly simple (the D4 only sports a single button), but in the event of a problem, an indicator light “i” (for “info”) lights up various colors (blue, white, red, green). This system is not very eloquent for the user who will therefore have to systematically refer to his smartphone to find out what is the manipulation to be performed: emptying of the collector, blocked device, tangling in the brushes, etc.

The only physical button that is installed on the device allows you to start a classic cleaning cycle (a simple press), to start a localized cleaning (long press for 5 seconds) and authorizes a return to base (double press). 

Connectivity and application

Setting up the robot for the Wi-Fi network is a breeze. From start to finish, the application guides the user through his process. You must first connect the robot to the smartphone via the Wi-Fi settings of the smartphone and then configure the device to the home Wi-Fi network. Nothing’s easier. 

As we said during the test of the D7, the Neato application offers certain interesting features, such as weekly programming, remote launch of the device, or even access to the maps produced by the robot. After each cleaning cycle, the D4 notifies the user that it has completed its task by means of a smartphone notification while inviting them to consult the cleaning summary. By accessing it, the user very quickly visualizes the passage of the robot, the surface of the cleaned area as well as the duration of the cycle.

We find the two cleaning modes of the entire range (Eco and Turbo). They are only accessible from the application. Note, however, that the Neato Botvac D4 does not adapt its suction power to the surface to be cleaned. In fact, it does not switch from Eco mode to Turbo mode by itself when it goes from a hard floor to a carpet.

But the feature very noticed on this version is the “No Go Zones”; a function previously reserved for the manufacturer’s flagship. This function allows you to virtually install beacons from the application to limit the robot’s access to certain areas. These virtual beacons take the form of horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines (you cannot draw circular zones) and the user can install up to 30 points in his home to limit access. 

Interview

The collector (0.7 l) is once again in the form of a cassette – therefore in length – closed by an anti-allergen filter. This filter must be unclipped to empty the collector. In everyday life, emptying can be a bit tedious because of the large opening on the wall opposite the filter through which waste can escape if you tilt the collector by emptying it.

In addition, removing the elongated filter means that the user puts their hands in direct contact with the dust. We would have appreciated a slightly more hygienic system.

The central rotating brush of the D4 Connected takes up almost the entire width of the device. It is twisted, alternating rubber blades and bristles; a winning combo if we believe the suction performance (see below). Admittedly, the hair and the hairs get tangled there, but the general maintenance is simplified thanks to the small comb supplied with the device. The D4 does not need a side brush, which is a bit of a shame.

As a reminder, the application has a maintenance assistance tab, offering to program reminders, for emptying the collector (every 30, 60, 90, 120 or 150 minutes), changing the brush ( every month, 2 months or 3 months) and the filter change (every 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 months). Where a model like the iRobot Roomba 980 takes into account the filling of the tank in real time, Neato only offers reminders, to be programmed at a chosen frequency. It is certainly an interesting aid, but a little less relevant. 

Navigation system

All robotic vacuum cleaners use a laser rangefinder to map parts and carry out orderly navigation. Before starting its path, the D4 cuts the part into several zones. He lingers for a very long time on the carpet, then goes to the middle of the room to finally cover the bottom. 

The coverage of surfaces is perfect and precise. Inevitably, the D4 likes a job well done, so it takes the time to do it well, even if it means ironing on the same surface several times. He has no trouble going back to his base to recharge his battery and finish cleaning where he left off.

The obstacles are also very well managed. Most of them bypass them or very close to them. He shaves the plinths but, devoid of a side brush, he cannot recover the dust which is nested there. 

Few obstacles resist him. He climbs on the thick carpets, he approaches the door sills a little high, he climbs over the legs of transverse chairs, all while raising his wheels. He shrewdly shuns the electric cables, but he takes the curtains for the walls and does not pass beneath them. Pity. It can pass under tall furniture more than 10 cm but, because it does not know its height, it takes the risk of confronting it to vacuum below. 

Aspiration

According to our tests, the Neato Botvac D4 Connected displays breathtaking suction performance on thick carpet. In Eco mode, the robot recovered 90% of the waste in 8 min and 85% of the material in 8 min 10 s with the Turbo mode. If the Turbo mode here proves all its ineffectiveness, we salute the performance of this device on this perilous surface. Note also that the robot is busy spending time (a lot of time) cleaning our test space. It does it in 8 min where the Miele Scout RX2 Home Vision does it in about 3 min (to cover the same surface). 

On fine carpet, the D4 has given more time to clean the surface: 8 min 40 s in Eco mode to collect all the waste and 9 min 40 s in Turbo mode to recover 99% of the materials. We once again thank the latter mode for its perfect uselessness. 

Finally, on hard ground, we obtained 98% of the waste in Eco mode in 9:37 and 95% of the dirt in Turbo mode in 9:40. 

We could blame the Neato Botvac D4 for not being fast enough but what good is it? He cleans very carefully and in the end, that’s what we ask him in the first place. And if we note differences in results between D4 and D7 (in favor of D4) on the suction performance, this is most certainly due to the side brush which was not the same when we tested the D7 in March 2018 and which is now similar on the D4, D6 and D7. It will be necessary to put the D7 to the test with this brush now on board throughout the range. 

Noise

The sound level of the D4 Connected oscillates between 58 dB (A) and 61 dB (A) depending on the soil and the suction phases. As you would expect, the choice of Turbo mode has no impact on the noise emitted by the device. Surprisingly, the Neato Botvac D4 is less noisy than the D7 previously tested, whose noise level increased between 63 dB (A) and 65 dB (A).

Autonomy

Neato announces an autonomy of 75 minutes for the D4. In Eco mode, this robotic vacuum cleaner has run out of steam after 65 minutes of activity and after 44 minutes of cleaning in Turbo mode. The D7, puncture-proof, for its part lasted 1h30 in Eco mode and 1h20 in Turbo mode. 

At less than 12% of his load, he refuses to continue cleaning. Even if you force a cycle manually, it still requires a return to its base. In an automatic cycle, the D4 Connected spontaneously returns to its base and resumes cleaning where it left off. Finally, it takes about 2h20 to fully recharge its battery. 

CONCLUSION

The Neato Botvac D4 Connected is a robot vacuum cleaner that multiplies the good points. Accurate thanks to its rangefinder, it provides good coverage of the space it methodically travels. The D4 takes care of its mount and if it spends a lot of time on a surface, it endeavors to clean it carefully. Untreatable on all types of soil, it can run out of steam quickly but it is not disturbing insofar as it optimizes its autonomy and its recharging well. The application, fairly basic in its functions, has the merit of offering a system of virtual beacons (hitherto reserved for high-end models). More affordable than the D7 , but less well endowed with functionalities, this version constitutes a very convincing solution.

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