There are many robot vacuum cleaners on the market, but how do you know which one is best for your home? The fact you have landed on this post means that you have already done some pretty good research and are narrowing them down.
You want to get a robot vacuum cleaner that will be able to clean all of the floors in your home. You may also want something that can handle pet hair and dander easily. Finally, you’d like something that has great battery life so it doesn’t need its charger constantly. This is why we have decided to compare two of the most popular models available right now – the Neato D8 vs Roomba i7!
We have compared these two devices in depth below so make sure you read through our review before making a decision! We will cover things such as their features, benefits and downsides, price comparison and more.
Let’s dive into this battle between these two robotic vacuums!
*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.
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At a glance
Last update on 2022-08-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The quick answer: Roomba i7 vs Neato D8
In a nutshell, Neato D8 and Roomba i7 are almost evenly matched robots. They have many amazing features that are almost comparable; smart mapping, great navigation, HEPA filters, good battery life, decent bin size, amazing mobile apps and voice control features.
Roomba i7 is an incredible robot and packs a lot of power, but when it boils down to the actual cleaning performance, Neato D8 takes the lead. The D8 has more cleaning power and picks up dirt and debris better than the i7, it excels on both a low-pile carpet and hard floor surface. It also sweeps up pet hair and tiny particles much better than the i7, and performs better at corners, thanks to the D-shape.
While either of these two robots will greatly impact your cleaning, I recommend Neato D8 as the better robot. However, the robot you eventually go with will depend on the size of your pocket, and probably sentimental reasons as well.
Product Overviews
iRobot Roomba i7 Review
The Roomba i7 is built to clean large homes with both carpets, rugs and hard floor surfaces, thanks to its carpet boost, good climbing ability, and strong suction force. It effectively sweeps up pet hairs and dirt particles using dual rubber brushes and a high suction power of up to 1700 Pa, into a 500ml dust bin.
For intelligent navigation, this robot is equipped with vSLAM technology and built-in camera sensor, which scans its surroundings and creates a smart map of an entire building from room to room and floor to floor, to improve cleaning efficiency.
It’s powered by a rechargeable 1800 mAh lithium-ion battery that lasts for about 90 minutes, and with the ‘Recharge and Resume Feature’ it never runs out of juice. iRobot Roomba i7 is also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls and a user-friendly mobile app for extra-easy control.
For more information on the i7, you may also want to read: Roomba i7 Review
- Self-emptying clean base.
- Multistory mapping
- Superb camera-based navigation
- Automatic room recognition
- Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
- High price tag
- Loud motor
- Can get stuck on loose cables
- Doesn’t climb stairs
Last update on 2022-08-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Neato D8 Review
The Neato D8 is a high-end, D-shaped robotic vacuum cleaner with an excellent build quality and delivers thorough cleaning on both bare floors and carpet. It features laser-guided LIDAR technology and intelligently maps the home, cleaning in neat lines and efficiently avoiding obstacles.
Fitted with a high-performance filter, it can capture particles and debris down to 10 microns, making it great for pet owners. Neato D8 also has an impressive battery life of about 100 minutes and can clean up to 750 sq. ft. on a single charge. This Neato model also comes with an intuitive mobile app packed with many useful features, plus it’s compatible with Alexa and Google Home voice controls.
You may also want to read: Neato D8 vs D9 vs D10
- Great cleaning performance
- Cleans corners and edges beautifully well
- Intelligent navigation
- Supports virtual no-go zones
- Works with Amazon Alexa
- Expensive
- Occasionally gets stuck
- No automatic bin emptying
Last update on 2023-01-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Side by side comparison
Build quality
Anyone who sees the Neato D8 or the iRobot Roomba i7 will instantly notice the impressive build quality. These robots are very sturdy plastic and have an exquisite finish, this is no surprise since Neato Robotics and iRobot are both known for their outstanding products.
Cleaning patterns
Both robots have exceptional maneuverability and are clean in neat N or Z patterns, while efficiently avoiding obstacles around the home, thanks to top-notch navigation technologies.
Filtration system
Both Neato D8 and Roomba i7 come with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters designed to trap 99% of cat and dog dander allergens.
Brush rolls
Although the brushes aren’t exactly the same, they are comparable in performance. Neato D8 cleans with a spiral combo brush and a side brush that are both effective on any surface—hardwood, carpet or tile. Roomba i7 uses two multi-surface rubber rollers and a side brush to remove debris from corners.
Voice control
Neato D8 and Roomba i7 both have Alexa and Google Home integrated for extra convenient cleaning. With either of these robots, you don’t have to get up to clean. Simply tell it what and where you want to clean, and watch it clean.
Automatic dirt disposal
Neither of these robots come with a base for automatic dirt disposal, however, iRobot Roomba i7 is one of the previous Roomba vacuums with the option of automatic dirt disposal because you can easily upgrade it to Roomba i7+ by purchasing the Clean Base.
Smartphone app
Almost every mid-range/budget smart robot vacuum has a mobile app, and these are no different. They both have apps that enable remote control with a bunch of exciting features including zoning, timer, statistics, floor mapping and scheduling feature. But, Neato D8 also has multiple floors function and remote control, while the Roomba i7 doesn’t.
Key Differences: Roomba i7 vs Neato d8
Design
When placed side-by-side, the very thing you’d notice about these robots is the shape. Neato D8 has the signature D-shaped design of Neato vacuums, while iRobot Roomba i7 is round like most other robot vacuums on the market. However, they are both compact and portable. Also, you’d notice that the i7 has a carry handle for easily picking it up and moving it around, while the D8 doesn’t have any.
Navigation system
Neato D8 is equipped with LaserSmart SLAM technology with LIDAR to efficiently map, navigate and clean your home even in the dark. This is the same technology used in self-driving cars. On the other hand, Roomba i7 used vSLAM navigation to intelligently map & clean in neat, efficient rows. The built-in camera sensor allows it to scan the surroundings and create a map of the room, so it knows where exactly to clean.
Battery life
Another subtle but notable difference between these two robots is the battery. Here Neato D8 takes the lead with a bigger 2100mAh battery and 1.8 hours of battery life. While Roomba i7 tags along with a smaller 1800mAh battery and 1.3 hours of battery life. But they both have charging stations and will recharge automatically and resume cleaning.
Bin capacity
As they sweep and filter the air, both robots deposit the dirt they collect into an integrated dust bin. The Neato D8 comes with a bigger dust bin with a capacity of 700ml, while the Roomba has a slightly smaller bin with a capacity of 500ml.
Cleaning performance
Both robots are designed to sweep bare floors, low-pile carpet and high-pile carpets. But when compared side-by-side, Neato D8 performed better than Roomba i7 on both hardwood floors and high-pile carpet. They both performed well, but the former was able to pick up small, large debris and strands of pet hair better than the latter. Both robots are great at picking up pet hair and debris from high-pile carpet, but Roomba i7 struggled a bit with sweeping up small debris on a high-pile carpet. D8 is one of the pricey Neato models and it does a great job.
Alternatives robot vacuum cleaners to consider
Finding the perfect robot vacuum cleaner that will meet all your needs is always a challenge, especially with the amount of products available. While Neato D8 and Roomba i7 are two great robots that I personally recommend, you may be impressed by them. If that is the case, then I have two excellent alternatives for you.
The first is the high-end and pricey iRobot Roomba j7+. It’s one of the newer Roomba models and has all the exciting features you’d want in a vacuum cleaner, including the ability to intelligently suggest keep-out zones, a self-emptying base, integrated camera and machine learning technology to detect and avoid common obstacles around the home like cables and pet poop, and other unique features. It’s the second most expensive of the Roomba models, but it’s certainly worth it.
If, on the other hand, you want a robot that is still very efficient but less expensive, check out the Eufy RoboVac X8. This is a wonderful mid-range that features a powerful 2000 Pa suction and BoostIQ to automatically detect floor types and adjust suction force as it moves from hard floors to carpets. It also has a superb companion app with an impressive suite of useful features and an amazing battery life, up to 3 hours on a single charge.
FAQs
How often should I replace the brush rolls and filter?
For Neato D8, the brush rolls should be replaced every 6 to 8 months and the filter should be replaced every 1 to 2 months. For Roomba i7, the brush rolls should be replaced every 8 to 12 months and the HEPA filter has to be replaced every 2 months.
Will long hair strands mess up the rollers?
Both robots have rollers that are designed to handle pet hair, so they don’t get all tangled up. But you’ll still have to occasionally detangle the brush rolls, especially the side brushes. How frequently you will do this will depend on how many pets you have and how badly they shed.
How loud are these robot vacuums?
These two robots are relatively quiet, you can only hear them if you’re in the same room with them as they clean. And even then, the noise is manageable. Also, the amount of noise they make depends on the floor type they’re vacuuming, they are usually louder on hardwood floors than carpets.
How often should the bin be emptied?
This will depend on how dirty your house gets. But ideally, you should empty each vacuum cleaner after every cleaning cycle.
Can you edit no-go lines after saving your floor plan?
Yes, that’s possible for both robots. The no-go-zones and maps of multiple floors can be edited in the app.
Final thoughts
Compared to many other vacuum cleaners, Neato D8 and Roomba i7 are certainly robot cleaners that stand out. They are both excellent for house cleaning and come with all the convenient features you’d want in a smart home gadget. Choosing one would be tough, but I’d say go for the Neato D8 for higher suction force, virtual walls, and better cleaning.
Emma Marie is a valued writer at the Little Robot Shop. She studied robotics and deeply understands technology, which shows in her writing. She consistently produces high-quality content, making her a perfect fit for the Little Robot Shop team.
While not writing, Emma works in a popular electronics retail chain. Emma also enjoys running and has two dogs with whom she loves spending time.
