Ecovacs DEEBOT T30S Review

Ecovacs launches its latest product, the T30S. In this review, we’ll examine the T30S Combo, which includes a handheld unit with a storage holster.

It’s the first robot vacuum I’ve seen with a handheld unit for cleaning areas the robot can’t reach.

Another model with a stick vacuum (or the Combo Complete) is available for those who don’t want to purchase a separate cordless vacuum.

Introduction to the Ecovacs DEEBOT T30S

One issue with robot vacuums is their limitation regarding what they can clean. These machines are built for cleaning flat surfaces.

Cleaning stairs, upholstery, or any above-the-floor areas is impossible. So, consumers need to purchase an extra handheld or stick vacuum for these tasks.

This is where the Eufy X8 Pro comes in – to solve this issue by including a handheld or stick vacuum in the package.

There are 3 T30S sub-models. The first is the basic T30S, with only the do-it-all base station.

The next option is the T30S Combo (which I’m reviewing in this article), which includes a handheld unit and a larger base station for storing, charging, and emptying the robot and handheld vacuum unit.

Lastly, the T30S Combo Complete comes with a full-sized stick vacuum. It has the same base station style as the T30S Combo but with a slot for storing (on the side) the extension tube and nozzle.

Base Station Design

The Ecovacs DEEBOT T30S has the same base station design as the X2 Omni but with an additional slot for storing the handheld vacuum and storage for the attachments.

What I like about the base station is that it does everything. It charges and empties the robot and handheld vacuum.

Another plus is storage for the handheld attachments – there’s no risk of misplacing anything.

It has a clean and dirty water tank on top. The bag is in the middle, and the detachable pad washing tray is at the base.

Again, it has a design similar to the X2 Omni base station.

Pad Washing [w/ Hot Water]

The T30S also has a pad-washing feature that uses hot water to dissolve dirt and disinfect the pads, so removing them is unnecessary.

Ecovacs says that it goes up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit.

Robot Vacuum Design

Unlike the X2 Omni with a squarish shape, the T30S uses a round frame. The latter is better at moving around tight spaces.

It has a top-mounted dustbin, which is on the small side.

Underneath, it has the same twin-disc design as the X2 Omni but with a new brush roll called ZeroTangle.

It’s a V-shape patterned brush with soft and semi-stiff bristles. Another feature is the combs above, which are designed for untangling hair.

Mopping System

The DEEBOT T30S mopping system is similar to the X2 Omni but with an added feature – TruEdge Adaptive Edge mopping, where one pad extends to reach the edge.

It’s not a feature exclusive to Ecovacs; other brands, such as Roborock, have added it.

This robot has two spinning discs that agitate and remove stains.

There’s a pad lift feature to help it avoid carpets or rugs during the mopping run.

Obstacle Avoidance

The Ecovacs DEEBOT T30S uses an all-laser obstacle avoidance system labeled TrueDetect 3D 3.0.

I tested it on various obstacles, such as pet feces, footwear, and wires, and the results were mixed.

It was particularly good at avoiding pet feces, not touching it, but it got close.

However, the results on other obstacles were mixed. It can avoid stretched (and coiled) wires, but there were instances where it couldn’t.

It’s the same with toys and footwear—as long as they are within the laser’s field of vision, it will avoid them.

Ecovac’s algorithm isn’t as refined as iRobot’s with obstacle avoidance, but it’s decent.

I wouldn’t recommend leaving stray wires or relying on it completely to evade pet excrement.

Handheld Vacuum Included

This robot vacuum is the first I’ve reviewed with a handheld vacuum. And I like that it’s seamlessly integrated into the base station, not just thrown in without thought.

The handheld unit is stored beside the robot vacuum in its dedicated slot. The tools are stored in a drawer underneath, so nothing is misplaced.

Unfortunately, this storage takes up space, and the base station weighs like a boulder.

App Features

The T30S is compatible with the Ecovacs app, and I’ll share the most helpful feature.

1. Live Map

The Ecovacs app has a live map showing the robot’s location in real-time. Consumers can check the robot’s status, specifically where it is and areas it has cleaned.

Users can also access a 3D version of the map to see a three-dimensional perspective, but the design is plain and doesn’t show grid lines on the 2D map, so it’s underwhelming.

2. Mapping Run

Another helpful feature is the mapping run, where the robot goes into exploratory mode to create the map.

This is where LIDAR, or a robot using a laser sensor, has an advantage over camera-based robots. The laser fires signals in a 360-degree pattern, so the robot doesn’t have to go through every corner.

One downside for the L10S is that the motor isn’t turned off, but manually switching to the lowest setting is an easy fix.

3. Map Saving

Users can save up to three map levels in the Ecovacs app, which is more than enough since the massive base station cannot be moved to different areas if you get the combo model.

It’s possible to move the robot for vacuum-only tasks, but for hybrid or mopping functions, the robot needs the base station for the presoak and mop cleaning cycle.

4. Containment

Consumers can assign off-limit areas within these maps where the robot can’t venture; most homes will have these areas.

The Ecovacs app provides two options: a linear or rectangular virtual boundary.

1. Linear virtual boundary: these are virtual lines or “walls” that block the robot from going past it.
2. Rectangular virtual boundary blocks the robot from going into a rectangular zone.

5. Vacuum and Mop Settings

The Ecovacs app gives consumers plenty of options for using this robot. They could select the mopping or vacuum-only function, the hybrid function (or mop and vacuum simultaneously), or vacuum then mop.

Users can select between four power, water flow, number of passes, and thoroughness (or cleaning speed) options.

The cleaning speed refers to how tight the turning radius is, and I’d keep it at the “deep cleaning” option since it offers more overlap thus, better efficiency with mopping and vacuuming.

6. Selective Room Cleaning

Once users create maps, several options, including the “room cleaning” function, help them clean specific areas.

Consumers can select specific rooms on the app. Alexa compatibility ties it all together. Once you’ve named all the rooms, you can command the robot through Alexa to clean the kitchen or living room.

7. Zone Cleaning

Another option for users to clean a specific area is the zone-cleaning feature, where users can draw the area they want the robot to clean.

Unfortunately, these aren’t savable, so consumers must draw these zones repeatedly.

8. Base Station Options

With all the functionality of the base station, Ecovacs provides plenty of options for usage.

Users can empty the robot or handheld dustbin, wash the mop, or dry the pad on demand.

How Much Power Does the Ecovacs DEEBOT T30S Have?

Ecovacs says that the T30S line has up to 11,000 Pascals of suction, one of the highest claimed numbers I’ve seen.

However, one metric I use, which I think is more accurate, is airflow using an anemometer.

Here are the results.

• Quiet: 7.27 CFM
• Standard: 17.74 CFM
• Strong: 17.91 CFM
• Max: 22.29 CFM

The DEEBOT T30S has over 22 CFM, which is premium-level, but it’s underwhelming compared to the 11,000 Pascal rating.

Also, this high airflow doesn’t translate to better cleaning performance than other brands with similar or lower airflow.

How Does The Ecovacs DEEBOT T30S Navigate?

Next, we’ll examine the T30S navigation. It uses a LIDAR sensor to determine and track location, which brings efficiency since it relies on a laser.

Its 360-degree scanning is a huge reason why. This robot navigates like most laser-equipped robots, starting the run by cleaning the edges before moving in a back-and-forth pattern in the middle areas.

It wasn’t the fastest in the coverage test, but it was decent, finishing the run in around 21 minutes inside a small room.

Debris pick-up was decent, but it left crumbs of dirt on the edges and different areas.

It’s not a pick up issue, but the fast-spinning side brush scattering debris.

Cleaning Performance

To see how much they pick up, I test all robot vacuums on debris types such as quaker oats, quinoa, pet litter, sand, hair, etc..

Here are the results.

• Overall: 88.65%
• Hard floor: 95.75%
• Sand on Hard Floor: 96.21%
• Carpet: 95.11%
• Deep Cleaning: 67.53%

Hard Floor Results

• Quaker Oats: 89.66%
• Coffee Grounds: 98.86%
• Quinoa: 98.22%
• Pet Litter: 96.28%

The DEEBOT T30S struggled most with Quaker Oats. Based on the eye test, there are two reasons for this.

First is the fast-spinning side brush scattering it around. Second, is the sheer quantity of quaker oats that regurgitated from the dustbin since it’s small.

This is an issue with the other debris types but to a lesser degree. Hence, the score is lower than that of other premium models.

Hair Wrap Result

One of the most intriguing aspects I wanted to test is how well this robot cleans hair with the anti-tangle system.

The results are mixed. It was excellent at cleaning short five-inch strands, getting 100%, but struggled with longer seven-inch hair, with everything wrapping on the brush.

Carpet Results

Next, we’ll examine how the Ecovacs T30S performed at vacuuming low and mid-pile carpets.

Low Pile

• Quaker Oats: 96.31%
• Coffee Grounds: 90.7%
• Quinoa: 95.44%
• Pet Litter: 96.02%

Despite the high airflow, the result on low-pile carpets is a notch below other premium brands. It struggled most with coffee grounds, only getting a 90% score.

The scattering issue wasn’t a factor, but the lack of agitation from the brush was a bigger one.

It got most of the debris, but the passes weren’t as clean.

Mid Pile Results

• Quaker Oats: 96.32%
• Coffee Grounds: 90.58%
• Quinoa: 96.96%
• Pet Litter: 94.96%

Again, the results on this surface are similar to the low pile results. It struggled again with coffee grounds and scored in the mid-90s with other debris.

Mopping Results

The mopping results for this robot were somewhat disappointing. It was excellent at removing the red wine stains and getting almost everything out.

However, it wasn’t as efficient as the Ecovacs X2 Omni at cleaning juice stains.

It didn’t clean much after the first pass, but it got most of the stains after the second pass.

The best feature of the T30S is its pad-cleaning feature after several mopping and pad-washing cycles.

How Noisy is the Ecovacs DEEBOT T30S?

I used a sound meter to check the noise levels of the DEEBOT T30S, and the results are below.

• Quiet: 59.9 dB
• Standard: 60.2dB
• Strong: 62.0 dB
• Max: 67.1 dB

The results aren’t bad for a high-airflow robot, maxing out at around 67 decibels. It’s noisy but still bearable compared to something over 75 decibels.

Product Specifications

Where Can I Purchase the Ecovacs DEEBOT T30?

You can purchase this robot from online stores like Amazon. Check the links below for the latest pricing information.

• Ecovacs T30S Combo on Amazon

Disclosure: If you purchase this robot vacuum through any of my links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost—a win-win that keeps us both smiling.

Is the Ecovacs DEEBOT T30 Worth the Premium?

The Ecovacs T30S is a massive and expensive robot vacuum, so is it worth the added cost?

It depends on several factors and answers to these questions.

Are you willing to spend this much on a robot? Do you have space for the massive base station? Do you need a do-it-all product that can cover your whole home? Do you have pets?

Reasons to Get the Ecovacs DEEBOT T30S

1. Versatile option: The robot vacuum unit can vacuum and mop with self-emptying and pad-washing features, so it’s mostly a hands-free user experience.
2. Efficient navigation: Thanks to the laser sensor, this robot can traverse large homes efficiently.
3. Extra cordless vacuum: Some sub-models, like the T30S combo, add a handheld unit for cleaning areas the robot can’t reach.
4. Hot water cycle: The hot water cycle helps clean and disinfect the pads, so removing them is unnecessary.
5. Voice control: Consumers can use voice to control the robot through the YIKO feature.

The Verdict: Pricey But Versatile Robot Vacuum With a Twist

The Ecovacs DEEBOT T30S is a versatile robot vacuum with a twist – two of its sub-models include a cordless vacuum to help cover areas the robot won’t reach.

Note that this isn’t a token, haphazard throw-in, but it’s carefully planned since there’s storage for the cordless vacuum and its attachments.

The best part is the added practical functionality. The base station stores the handheld unit and charges and empties the dustbin.

Of course, the most significant downside of this added feature is the massive size.

I won’t be able to carry the box alone. I need someone to help me bring it inside my home.