Breaking: Neato is closing down. Support will continue, but I do not know how long so I can no longer recommend these robot vacuums. You can read more on the story here and check out some great Neato alternatives.
Neato Robotics has become a giant in the robotic vacuum industry and now competes directly with the iRobot Roomba making them a great alternative to a Roomba. If you’re in the market for a new robotic vacuum cleaner, you’ll have noticed the Neato D-connected series and all the amazing features they have to offer. This line of Neato robots has a variety of excellent performing robots, and one is sure to fit your budget.
With very similar features and the same D-shaped design, the five D-connected robots look just the same. In this quick comparison of the Neato botvac models, from the D3 to the D7, we’ve taken them apart feature by feature and compared their similarities and differences to give you a clearer look at each individual gadget.
How can you find out which of the models from Neato Robotics is best?
Unsure of which robot vacuums will be ideal for your needs? Have no fear; this Neato BotVac Connected comparison guide will give you the help you need. A close look at the D3 Connected, D4 Connected, D5 Connected, D6 Connected and D7 Connected, will help you make an informed decision and find the best Neato vacuum for you – so let’s get into it!
- News: The Neato D10, D9 and D8 have been announced
*The product links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you purchase after following one, I make a small commission from the sale at no additional cost to you. Please see our disclosure page for more information.
Quick Neato Botvac Reviews
Neato Botvac D3
Neato Botvac D3 is the first and least sophisticated model in the Neato D connected series. The D3 may be the entry model for the D-series but compared to other robot vacuum cleaners in the market, it’s anything but an entry robot.
The Neato BotVac D3 model has many exciting features, including a Laser Smart technology for mapping your home and moving in straight lines to clean every corner of the floor.
The D-shaped design and a combo brush roll gives the robot good edge cleaning performance. D3 has a 2600mAh lithium-ion battery which gives it a runtime of 60 minutes, after which it returns to the charging base for a quick recharge and automatically resumes cleaning.
This botvac features Wi-Fi and smartphone connectivity, and from the Neato mobile app, you can schedule it to clean every day or every other day. The Neato BotVac D3 is also compatible with Amazon Echo and Google Home.
Is the Neato BotVac D3 worth buying?
Offering good cleaning performance, impressive navigation technology, smart home compatibility and more, it’s plain to see that the Neato BotVac D3 is worthwhile. Plus, it’s also the least expensive in the BotVac Connected series, making it the perfect budget choice.
- Excellent navigation
- Cleans all floor types
- Has mobile app capabilities
- Auto-recharge and resume
- Simple and intuitive scheduling and cleaning modes
- Compatible with Amazon Echo and Google Home
- No side brush for edge cleaning
- Filter is not HEPA certified
Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Neato Botvac D4
Last update on 2023-05-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
No products found.Neato Botvac D5
The Neato D5 trumps both the D3 and D4, it’s essentially the two other robots with some extras. With the D5 comes the cleaning capabilities of the D3 and D4, but it comes with an improved ultra-performance HEPA-grade filter, and an extra side brush for excellent edge cleaning.
The ultra-performance filter captures 99% of tiny dust mites and particles and allergens. The Neato D5 also has a 3000mAh lithium-ion battery which gives it 90 minutes maximum runtime, the robot goes for an automatic recharge and resumes when the battery drops to 15%.
The Neato BotVac D5 Connected also links to an intuitive Neato mobile app for easy and remote control. all you need is the smartphone app and WiFi connectivity and you’re good to go!
With the BotVac D5 Connected comes a boundary maker tape or magnetic strip for creating walls and containing the robot while cleaning. As a smart robot, the Neato BotVac D5 is compatible with Amazon Echo and Google Home.
Does the Neato D5 stand out from its predecessors?
As you can see, there are certainly a lot of things to love about the Neato BotVac D5 Connected model – but how does it distinguish itself from the D3 and D4 robot vacuum cleaners? As a quick summary from the info above; the ultra performance filter and additional cleaning brushes make the Neato D5 better than its predecessors, yet shared features like smart home compatibility and no go lines, all make the Neato BotVac D5 Connected series an excellent buy.
- HEPA-certified filter
- Side brush for excellent edge cleaning
- Multi-floor plans for multistory cleaning
- Simple and intuitive scheduling and cleaning modes
- Compatible with Amazon Echo and Google Home
- Magnetic strip set-up takes time
- Requires pre-cleaning prep
Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Neato Botvac D6
The Neato Botvac D6 is one of the high-end robots in the D-connected series. Save for the zone cleaning feature, the D6 has all the exotic features the premium D-series has to offer. It comes with a larger battery which improved the runtime to a maximum of 120 minutes.
Combining the new spiral combo brush and a side brush, this botvac is able to excellently sweep up dirt particles from every corner of a room, including dirt particles hiding along the edges and baseboards. A powerful suction perfects its performance on all floor types, including carpets.
The D6 comes with multi-story cleaning which allows you to save up to 3 floor plans in the mobile app, this is especially useful for large multi story houses. It also features the ultra-performance HEPA-certified filters, boundary marker tape, an extra side brush, multistory cleaning, Wi-Fi and smartphone connectivity and compatibility with Echo and Google Home. From the Neato mobile app you can schedule the robot to clean every day or as often as you want.
Is the Neato BotVac D6 the best pick?
Featuring a spiral combo brush, high-performance HEPA filters, the ability to save more than one floor plan and even more compatibility with smart devices, there’s no doubt that there’s a lot to love about the Neato BotVac D6. With everything that’s on offer, it’s simply an excellent robot vacuum and for many individuals, it’s the best option on this list.
- HEPA-certified filter
- Excellent performance on both hard floors and carpet
- Great option for pet owners
- Intuitive mobile app and scheduling
- Long-lasting battery — 120 minutes runtime
- Ships with an extra side brush
- No zone cleaning
- Magnetic strip set-up can be tiresome
Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Neato Botvac D7
Despite its close resemblance to the D6, the Neato BotVac D7 is considered the most advanced robot and the best Neato model in the D-connected series.
The D7 robotic vacuum cleaner comes with the same features as the D6; laser smart mapping technology, spiral combo brush roll, side brush, strong suction, magnetic strips, ultra-performance filters, all these contribute to an excellent cleaning performance on different floor types. To put it simply, everything you loved about the D6 can also be found on the Neato D7.
This isn’t to say that these two devices from Neato robotics are the same, though. In fact, there are a few improvements to the Neato D7 robot vacuum that make it worth the higher price.
With an integrated 3600mAh lithium-ion battery, the Neato BotVac D7 cleans for up to 120 minutes before it needs a recharge. Just like the D5 and D6, the Neato D7 robot vacuum also features a multi-story cleaning for cleaning multiple floors of a multi-story building and you can add up to 3 floor plans in the mobile app.
The only feature unique to the Neato BotVac D7 is the zone cleaning which enables the robot to pay extra attention to specific areas.
Why choose the Neato BotVac D7 over the rest?
From our quick look into the Neato D7 robot vacuum above, it’s quite clear that this is most advanced model yet from Neato robotics. With the spiral combo brush, longer battery life, multi-level cleaning, WiFi connectivity and more, the Neato BotVac D7 is simply an excellent robot vacuum.
That being said, if you’re looking for something less expensive, it might be worth considering the Neato D6 or D5 Connected instead.
- HEPA style filtration for allergens
- Improved mobile app
- Cleans different floor types
- Excellent navigation and cleaning patterns
- Ships with 2 rolls of boundary marker tape
- Most expensive option
- Maintenance can be tiresome
- Can get stuck in certain areas
Last update on 2023-09-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Neato Botvac Comparison: D3 vs. D4 vs. D5 vs. D6 vs. D7
Every one of the Neato Botvac has laser sensors and the S.L.A.M. algorithm which enables the robots to smartly move around in various rooms without colliding with the objects around. The laser sensors emit signals around its environment and creates a map of the room, and uses this map to smoothly find its way around. All the Neato robots (from the D3 to the D7) do not depend on lights to move, they move as smartly in dark rooms too, and this makes for excellent cleaning.
Bin size
All the Neato vacuum models have the same capability for dirt at 700 ml or 0.7 liters. This may sound pretty small, but it’s one of the biggest bin sizes you’ll find among robot vacuum cleaners. With this dirt bin, the robot can clean more areas and cover more ground without you having to frequently empty the bin.
Auto-recharge and resume
The five robots on this list all have the recharge and resume feature. This feature enables the robot to automatically find its way back to the charging station if the battery drops to a certain level, and after getting some charge it will diligently go back to work and continue from where it stopped. With this feature, you can set the robot to clean and leave for work without any worries, no need to babysit the gadget.
Quick boost charging
This is almost similar to the auto-recharge and resume feature. If the robot runs low on battery while it’s cleaning, it throttles back to the charging station to get a power boost. But instead of getting a full battery charge, the quick boost charging enables the robot to efficiently calculate the exact amount of charge it will need to complete the work and only charges that amount then goes back to complete the job, before finally heading back to the charging station for a full battery charge. This feature apparently improves cleaning efficiency, which can be excellent for hair and debris pickup on more difficult surfaces (like a pile carpet, for example).
Excellent cleaning performance
Despite the different models and features, each Neato robot in the D-series essentially has the approximately same cleaning power and performance. They all have very similar key features (D-shape for good edge cleaning, active brush rolls and powerful suction) that enable optimal cleaning on different floor types, be it hardwood floor, tiles, and carpets. Neato botvac are excellent for picking up dirt particles, sand, debris and allergens (making them great for any allergy sufferers).
Spot cleaning mode is another great feature that you’ll find on all the Neato models in the Connected series – and it’s a factor that’s well worth keeping in mind when buying.
Performance in homes with pets
While this does tie in with the point above, not everyone has pets – and those that do know that cleaning pet hair isn’t always a simple task. Fortunately, you won’t need to waste any effort on that when using a Neato robot vacuum, since they’re excellent at sucking up those too. Anything in its cleaning path, from pet hair to dirt, will be taken care of, especially if you’re using a newer model from Neato robotics.
Wi-Fi and smartphone connectivity
These smart gadgets all come with Wi-Fi and smartphone connectivity for remote control. Even the entry robot in the series, the D3, has the same smart features. They are all compatible with the Neato app and have access to all the features including the no-go lines for creating virtual walls and resisting the movement of the robot to a small section of the room you want to be cleaned. Overall, the Neato app and Wi-fi connectivity can help to make your life considerably easier, whether it’s setting your Neato robots to clean in specific areas or taking a look at a cleaning summary.
Compatibility with Amazon Echo and Google Home
Each of the robots in the D-series is also compatible with voice devices such as Echo or Google Home. This feature makes for more convenience and remote control, and as a whole makes the Neato robots a great addition to any smart homes.
Virtual no-go lines
All the robots in the D-series lets you set up virtual walls or “No-go lines” from the mobile app. This is very useful for preventing the robot from accessing some parts of your room.
You can create multiple no-go lines from the robot, and keep the robot away from stairs, doors, and some other areas of the room you may want the robot to avoid. Essentially, the no go lines can be essential to keeping your robot vacuum cleaner safe – ensuring that you don’t waste any money on your purchase.
Floor types
These robots can clean virtually all surfaces and floor types including tiles, hardwood, vinyl and carpet. They will efficiently clean low-pile carpets but may struggle with deep-pile carpets and rugs. Despite this, Neato robot vacuum cleaners clean carpets better than most other bot vacs out there, only upright vacuum cleaners clean high-pile carpets better than the devices from Neato robotics. The best part is that all these models offer great cleaning performance on different surfaces, making all the devices a good choice for almost any flooring you have in your home.
Robot size
The five robots, from the D3 to D7 have exactly the same size and dimensions. At 13.2″ wide and 3.9″ tall, these robots are small enough to fit under most furniture and clean, so you don’t have to worry about the robot getting stuck beneath your furniture.
Neato Botvac D3 vs. D4 vs. D5 vs. D6 vs. D7: What are the differences?
Battery life and run-time
This is probably the most significant difference you’ll see in the 5 D-series Neato robot vacuums. The robots all come with the Lithium-ion battery, but some models have larger batteries (and therefore a longer run-time). The 2 most advanced robots, D6 and D7, have the largest and longest lasting battery with a run-time of 80 to 120 minutes. The D5 has a maximum run-time of 90 minutes run-time on low power setting, the D4 will run for at most 75 minutes and the D3 has a maximum run-time of 60 minutes.
Brush roll
As vacuum cleaners, these Neato BotVac Connected robots all come with brush rolls but these brushes differ across the five models. The D3, D4 and D5 models feature the combo brush, while the D6 and D7 have the spiral combo brush which is a newer and apparently better brush design. This difference isn’t very significant because both the combo brush and the spiral brush are interchangeable across all models, and you can buy a spiral brush as an extra if you aren’t pleased with the combo brush.
Side brushes
In addition to the main brush roll, the Neato D5, D6 and D7 robot vacuums all come with an extra side-brush which enables the robot to excellently sweep up dirt and debris along the edges and baseboards in your home. The D-shape of these robots on its own is a good feature for edge cleaning, as the D-shape robots clean edges much better than most other round robot vacuums. However, the side brushes take the edge cleaning up a notch. The D3 and D4 robots do not come with side brushes.
Multiple floor plans
The D5, D6 and D7 Neato BotVac Connected models are ideal for large multi-story homes. These robots have the multiple floor plans feature which lets you save up to 3-floor plans to enable the robot clean all floors. With this feature, you may need to buy an extra charging dock so that the robot will easily remember its location at every given time.
Zone cleaning (exclusive to the D7)
Zone cleaning is a feature which gives you the luxury of instructing the robot to clean a particular spot in your home, this feature is available only in the most advanced D7 BotVac Connected robot vacuum. The zone cleaning feature is most useful in very large homes with lots of space, where the robot may miss a few spots so you can redirect it to clean particular spots. Zone cleaning also comes in handy when you spill something that needs to be swept up. Advancements in technology like this really make the D7 a more appealing purchase.
Filter
This is one of the remarkable differences between these robots, the D5, D6, and D7 have ultra-performance filters which are HEPA-graded filters and are great for filtering off allergens and pollen from the air. While the D4 comes with a high-performance filter and the D3 comes with a standard filter. The D3 is just perfect for picking up dirt and debris, but if you want something close to the HEPA filter standard, then you’ll have to go with any of the 3 most advanced robots.
Boundary markers
Beside the no-go zones you’ll find in the app, the robots also support the use of physical barriers. The D4, D5, D6 and D7 BotVac Connected models come with a magnetic strip or boundary marker tape for creating boundaries and no-go lines that restrict the robot to certain parts of the room. The magnetic strip is usually cut out to fit the length of the area you want to cordon off and you use one cut piece multiple times. The D3 doesn’t include the magnetic tape, but it’s also compatible with the boundary markers feature and you can buy one as an extra purchase.
FAQs on Neato Botvac Comparison
How does the Neato compare to the Roomba?
Roomba and Neato are smart robot vacuum cleaners, and both are excellent at sweeping up dirt and cleaning houses. Comparing both robots solely in terms of cleaning performance, they are both evenly matched. However, the Roomba is an extra convenient gadget and requires very little maintenance. The Roomba has a Dirt detection Technology for spotting extra messy spots and cleaning them with more power, plus a Clean Base which enables the robot to empty its bin by itself, this alone makes the Roomba (especially the class rank-math-link https://littlerobotshop.com/irobot-i7-plus-vs-s9-plus/Roomba i7+) a luxurious robot vacuum. The Clean Base will come at an extra cost, but the Neato doesn’t have any.
Does it do a good job with pet hair?
Yes, these gadgets are great at picking up pet hair. Both the combo bristled brushes in the D3 and D4, and the spiral brush rolls in the D5, D6, and D7, are excellent at picking up all strands of hair, even from carpets. And coupled with a strong suction, the hair strands are sucked into the dustbin.
How often will you have to change the filters?
If you use your Neato robot every day, then you’ll need to clean out the filters at least once every week. And how often you’ll need to change the filter will depend on the size of your home and how often you use the robot. As a rule of thumb, the standard and high-performance filters found in the D3 and D4 will need to be replaced at least once a month while the ultra-filters in the D5, D6 and D7 will need to be replaced every 3 months.
Is this model great for very large homes with tile floors?
The Neato D5, D6 and D7 are robot vacuum cleaners designed for large multi-story homes and can be used for houses with up to 3 stories. These robots also work pretty well on all hardwood, tiles, vinyl and even carpeted floors. They have the auto-recharge and resume features and cleans pretty well.
Can you edit no-go lines after saving your floor plan?
Yes, you can always edit the no-go lines and easily add and save new floor plans. The app also allows you to delete no-go lines on floor plans and add new ones.
Does it clean out its own dustbin when done cleaning the floor?
No, none of the Neato robots is able to empty its own dustbin. The robots all come with a 0.7 litres waste bin which you will have to empty yourself every 20 minutes or thereabout. If you want a robot which can empty its own trash can then check out the Roomba i7+.
D3 vs. D4 vs. D5 vs. D6 vs. D7: Final thoughts
Apparently, the Neato botvac D-connected series have very similar cleaning capabilities on all floor types, and they all have the same smart features. However, the D6 and D7 and undeniably the most advanced gadgets.
Why we’d suggest buying the Neato BotVac D7?
Among these robots, the BotVac D7 is our favorite and the reason is very obvious. First, the D7 has all the features that make for an excellent and extra-convenient sweeping robot, and despite its close similarity to the others, it definitely trumps them all in both cleaning performance and ease of use. The only major drawback to the Neato D7 is the price tag, and this won’t be a problem if it fits into your budget.
Hopefully, you’ve got a better idea of which robot vacuum will be best for you after reading this comparison of the Neato BotVac D3 vs. D4 vs. D5 vs. D6 vs. D7!
Matt is the founder of the Little Robot Shop, who has spent much of the last decade hacking home cleaning with various robots and devices to make keeping his home clean as easy as possible. Not an easy task with two young children.
When not working on the Little Robot Shop website or YouTube channel, he works as technical support and product specialist for a fast-growing digital company. He does his best to get his younglings to code, which will be an essential skill in the future.
