The EcoVacs DEEBOT N79s provides you with an affordable option if you need a robotic vacuum compatible with Alexa and has WiFi.
Normally, you’d have to pay a premium ($400++) to avail of this feature if you buy other brands.
Let’s dig deeper in this review and look at the features and performance of this entry-level robotic vacuum.
WiFi robot vacuums have been sprouting left and right.
That’s because a majority of consumers right now have smartphones.
What was a luxury is now a need. More people are now looking for products with WiFi connectivity and manufacturers are trying to fill in that demand.
Brands like iRobot were the first to add this feature
In their 800 series they’ve added the 890 and in the 600 series they’ve added the 690.
These variants will be a little bit more expensive to the standard robots without wireless connectivity. But these are also compatible with Alexa so that’s where the premium goes.
However buying any of these two will cost between $320 and $500 depending on where you buy.
For folks who don’t want to spend that amount of money for a vacuum or don’t need the Alexa compatibility then they’d benefit from this product that’ll I’ll show them.
Let me introduce the EcoVacs DEEBOT N79
This perhaps is the cheapest robot vacuum with WiFi connectivity right now.
It’s a big reason why it’s been a hot seller in Amazon with over 750 reviews!
We’ll take a close look at this product and see how it performs and how it stacks up against the competition.
Features at a glance…
- Has WiFi connectivity with a Smartphone App that allows remote access to the robot
- Twin side brush system
- Double-V brush provides good agitation
- Great for bare floor and low pile carpet
- 2,600 mAh Lithium ion battery will run for about 100 minutes
- 1 year warranty
Pros
- One of the cheapest robot vacuums with WiFi connectivity
- Long run time with minimal power fade thanks to the lithium ion battery
- Great pick up especially on bare floor
- The two side brushes work great at picking up dirt on corners and edges
- App allows you to schedule and control the robot without having to be at home
Cons
- Will not work on high pile carpet or rugs
- Does not deep clean carpet
- Random navigation is not efficient
What to expect from the EcoVacs DEEBOT N79?
The EcoVacs DEEBOT N79 may not have the complexity or sophistication of a Neato BotVac Connected or Roomba 980. But what it lacks in those areas it makes up for it in no-nonsense performance at a price point that’s hard to beat.
Watch this video to see the features…
When you consider the price at just below $200 and the features you’ll get, you’d have to do a double take if it’s a misprint.
WiFi Connectivity
This robot vacuum is one of the cheapest options available with WiFi Connectivity.
Compared to the 650 this is $100 cheaper. It’s no surprise this is such a popular product.
Even with the simple app, it’s more than enough for everyday tasks.
If you look at the screenshot above, it gives you access to all of the features found in the remote. That includes all the cleaning modes:
Auto
The robot will automatically clean an area (or room) then go back to the dock when the battery is low. Take note that this robot will not automatically go back out after recharging unless you schedule it.
Edge
In this mode the robot will first clean the edges the first few minutes then toggle back to auto cleaning.
Spot
Cleans a small area in a circular motion. This is great if you want to clean a mess on a specific area.
Room
Robot will clean just one room. I’m not sure how different this is from the auto mode. But they added so it won’t run as long as it would on auto since it’ll clean only a single room.
Charge
Tells the robot to go back to the charging dock.
Scheduling feature
The app also gives you the option to schedule the robot to autonomously clean while you’re away. You can set this once a day for the whole week.
It’ a similar feature as you’d find in a Roomba 650, 880, 960 and 980. The difference is you’ll pay less.
Top View
You’ve heard the saying “Less is More” and this applicable to this EcoVacs robot.
On top you’ll only see a single button that activates the auto cleaning mode. It has a black/satin finish with some gray accents that isn’t as prone to staining as a lighter colored robot like the Xiaomi.
This robot is very similar to the ILIFE A4S in terms of size and design. I’m not sure if these two come from the same factory but both have a very similar layout and design. If you’d remove the branding you’d think these products are the same.
Bottom View
Flip the robot over and you’ll see two side brushes and a combo brush similar to the Neato. The two side brush system works clean edges well.
Again if you compare the DEEBOT N79 and ILIFE A4S you’ll see marked similarities. The only difference would be the main beater bar.
Brushless Motor
Under the hood, this robot has a brushless motor that means less moving parts. This translates to a longer lasting motor that will have a longer lifespan compared to a brushed motor.
Suction around 1,000 Pa which is the same as the Eufy RoboVac 11 and ILIFE A4S.
It isn’t as powerful as the Roomba 980 but it will do its job.
Double-V Brush
If you’re not familiar, a double-V brush refers to a beater bar that combines squeegee and bristle in a V-format. Hence the name double-V. This is the same configuration found in the Neato BotVac robots and has been proven to be an effective tool against pet hair and dust.
Unfortunately the bristles aren’t stiff so this won’t deep clean carpet.
Remote Control
Even if this robot has an app, it also comes with a remote control that gives you the same functionality as the app.
The difference is you need to be in the same room as the robot to use this. You won’t be able to have access to the robot remotely with just the remote.
It’s a nice add on just in case you don’t want to install the app. But if you ask me, I’d prefer using the app over the remote.
Drop Sensors
Underneath the robot are drop sensors that prevent it from falling off cliff points like stairs. The downside to this technology is that it will not go over anything black. So if you have black rugs or carpet you may want to use a stick or upright vacuum to clean those.
Cleaning Performance
This robot will stand out on bare floor surfaces like hardwood and tile thanks to the twin brush system. It has enough suction to pick up fine stuff like powder and even larger stuff like crushed chips.
However, it may not work as well on carpet because of the soft bristled brushes.
But it’ll do a good job at least cleaning surface dirt. Don’t expect this robot to deep clean carpet. EcoVacs says that this will work best on low pile carpet.
I found this video online to demonstrate how this robot navigates…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uk9olbbeow
You’ll notice that while even it goes in a random direction, it does not bump hard into furniture. This is something that the Roomba 650 struggled with.
Expect the same level of performance as the Eufy RoboVac 11, ILIFE A4S and A6 which is pretty good if you ask me. The difference between these robots is that this has WiFi while the other 3 does not have.
Warranty
EcoVacs backs this product up with a 1 year warranty.
Product Specification
| Battery type | Lithium ion |
| Charger type | Charging dock |
| Charge time | 300 mins. |
| Dirt capacity (dry) | 0.3 liters |
Run Time  | 100 mins. |
| Net weight (with battery) | 6.7 pounds |
| Shipping weight | 10 pounds |
| Diameter | 13 inches |
| Height | 3.1 inches |
| Multi Room |  |
| Self docking | |
| Remote control | |
| HEPA filtration | |
| Cliff detection | |
| Self adjusting | |
| Side brush | |
| Full bin indicator |  |
| Stair Cleaning | |
| Cleaning sessions per week | 7 |
| Extra Filter | 1 |
| Containment | None |
| Brush cleaning tools | 1 |
| Accessories included | Charging base A/C adapter Remote (AAA-batteries not included) 1 extra HEPA filter 1 brush cleaning tool 2 extra side brushes |
| Voltage | auto volt |
| Manufactured in | China |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Consumer Reviews
Consumers like three things.
First is the noise or lack thereof, this robot may not be the most powerful. But what it lacks in power it makes up for in relentless thoroughness.
And you’ll be able to have a decent conversation with your family even when this is running.
Good cleaning performance
Second would be the cleaning performance. The two side brushes and motorized job will do the job picking up dirt.
If your home has low pile or hard floor this would be a great option because of the performance.
Whether picking up dust or pet hair this robot is full capable of doing the job.
Cannot deep clean
Don’t worry about this not being able to deep clean carpet because it’ll keep dirt from piling up.
Besides there’s no robot vacuum right now that can truly deep clean, yet not even a Dyson can do that.
Third and the biggest reason why this is such a popular product in Amazon is price.
At just a shade under $200 this is one of the cheapest robot vacuums with WiFi. And I’m not talking about a cheaply made product has so-so quality control.
I’m talking about a company committed to service. Consumers have mentioned about a great after sales service and this is a common theme if you read reviews.
The app also is another strong point
Not only does it allow you to schedule but it will also help you locate the robot if it stalls somewhere and it’ll tell you it needs maintenance tasks – like cleaning the brush.
Cleaning performance is what I expected – great. Look at the photos in the reviews section and you’ll know what I mean. The amount of pet hair it picked up is impressive.
The bin isn’t the largest so you’ll have to empty this after every cycle if you rely on this to an entire home.
Where can I buy this?
You can buy this robot vacuum from Amazon for less than $230. And it’s eligible for a free 2-day shipping if you join Prime. Amazon also sells extended warranties of up to 3 years which adds a little more peace of mind.
To Wrap Up
If you are not willing to spend $600++ for the iRobot Roomba or Neato BotVac this is not a bad fallback. Cleaning performance is great for a robot vacuum at this price range. More importantly this machine is a workhorse.
It will clean your home every day without breaking down as long as you keep the side brushes and main combo brush clean.
And while it isn’t the smartest robot, it will not scuff furniture unlike the Roomba 650.
Don’t forget that it has an app that offers a comparable feature set as a Roomba 690 that will cost around $130 more.
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Yes, it is wifi connected. NO, it won’t interface with Google Home or Alexa. According to Ecovacs customer support, there is no intention of fixing this. Makes it useless for the smart home.