Best Neato Robotics Botvac D6 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020:

The Neato Botvac D6 Connected is one of the last models to have joined the catalog of the American manufacturer. This version puts on a “high-performance” filtration capacity by inaugurating an “ultra-efficient” filter supposed to capture allergens.

Presentation

The Botvac D6 Connected is located at the very top of the range at Neato, just below the D7 Connected.  Sold at € 549.99, this version is intended for allergy sufferers and has for the occasion an ” ultra-efficient filter ” (but not HEPA) supposed to ” capture the dust and allergens that animals bring inside “. For the rest, this version uses the same options as the D7: a laser rangefinder used to map the parts, a longer brush to better recover waste, as well as two cleaning modes: “Eco” and “Turbo”. 

Best Neato Robotics Botvac D6 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals & Sales 2020

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Convenience of use

All Neato vacuum cleaners are made in the same mold. They all sport this eternal D-shape designed to slip them into every corner … at least in theory. Indeed, the height of the Neato robots is such (10 cm in total, 8 cm excluding range finder), that they cannot pass under the lowest furniture. Like the D7 before it, this Neato Robotics Botvac D6 is adorned with a metallic coating.

On its hull, we find a single physical key which allows to launch the robot or send it back to its base. The rest of the functionality is accessible from the application (programming, localized cleaning, choice of suction mode, etc.). This is not fundamentally a bad thing, because the application is a model of ergonomics, but we will come back to this below.

Instead of the physical keys, there are leds which inform the user about the different cleaning modes of the robot (methodical or targeted), as well as about the state of the battery (which turns orange when it must be recharged) . Finally, when connected via Wi-Fi, a LED lights up in green.

Connectivity and application

The robot’s connection to the Wi-Fi network goes smoothly, even for those who are more resistant to new technologies. The application guides the user step by step through the process. You must first connect the robot to the smartphone through the Wi-Fi settings of the phone and then connect the device to the home Wi-Fi network. Nothing’s easier. 

We find all the basic functions: weekly programming, remote launch of the device, as well as access to the cards produced by the robot. At the end of each cleaning cycle, the D6 sends a notification to notify that it has completed its task and invites the user 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 D6 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.

The D6 also authorizes the creation of “No Go Zones”; a function long reserved for the flagship of the manufacturer. This function allows you to virtually install beacons from the application to limit the robot’s access to certain areas. These virtual beacons (30 max.) Take the form of horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines (you cannot draw circular zones). 

Compared to the D4 previously tested, the Neato Robotics Botvac D6 gains the multi-plane management function (the robot keeps in memory up to three floors of the same habitat instead of just one).

Interview

Because all Neato robots have a similar structure, this D6 in turn has a collector (0.7 l) in the form of a cassette. It is sealed by the anti-allergen filter which must be removed to perform the drain. The big problem is that the hood is not completely airtight: the large opening on the wall opposite the filter can let the waste escape. We really knew more practical … and more hygienic!

One of the big strengths of the Neato robots is their wide brush which occupies the entire width of the device. Twisted, it alternates rubber blades and nylon bristles; a paying choice in view of the suction performance obtained. Attention, this does not prevent the hair or the long hairs of animals from getting tangled in it and it will necessarily be necessary to use the small brush to punctually maintain the main brush.

Finally, remember that the application is fairly well done and provides a maintenance assistance tab offering to program reminders for emptying the collector (every 30, 60, 90, 120 or 150 minutes), to brush change (every month, 2 months or 3 months) and for filter change (every 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 months). Where a model like  iRobot’s 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.

Noise

The sound level of the Neato Robotics Botvac D6 Connected varies between 61 dB (A) and 65 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. It is therefore a fairly noisy robot vacuum cleaner, but we generally recommend operating this type of device when no one is at home. To date, one of the quietest devices in our comparison is none other than the Samsung Navibot Corner Clean. 

Autonomy

Neato announces an autonomy of 120 minutes for the D6. Surprisingly, our measurements confirm this duration in Turbo mode; we noted precisely 1 h 50 min of autonomy before the robot returned to its base to reinflate its batteries. Eco mode, on the other hand, proved to be more energy-consuming since it breathed out the D6 after 1 h 40 min of cleaning.

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. Finally, it takes about 2 h 20 min to fully recharge its battery.

CONCLUSION

The Neato D6 Connected completes the range in a relevant way. Simple to configure and use, efficient on all surfaces, methodical and autonomous, this robot lacks nothing except a Turbo mode worthy of the name. Despite its good performance, it could be that the D6 has trouble convincing against an equally powerful D4 and sold a little cheaper.

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