Neato BotVac D7 Review

One of the biggest criticisms that consumers had for Neato products was the need for a magnetic strip of tape to block it from going into areas it isn’t supposed to go to.

Buying strips of magnetic tape isn’t cost-effective and not a good long term solution, in my opinion.

Is the Neato Botvac D7 the Best Robot Vacuum?

Neato D7 Review

Neato makes one of the most efficient robot vacuums, and the D7 is their flagship option that combines excellent airflow and efficient navigation to a large battery that will run for up to 120 minutes. Not as long as the Roborock S5 or S6, but when you combine it with the smart and efficient navigation, it will cover a lot of ground. It does not have the auto empty system that the Roomba S9 and I7 has, but it’s cheaper than those two options. People who don’t mind not having the auto dirt disposal system that Roomba has can save a lot of $$$ with the Neato D7.

Check Availability

This is why the Roomba 980 or 960 was a better option in most cases because of this.

But that’s no longer the case.

Neato has finally heard these complaints, and now you have the ability to add “No-Go” lines in the smartphone.

These “No-Go” lines are virtual magnetic strips of tapes that block the D7 from going into areas you don’t want it to go to.

Finally, it’s here, the Botvac D7, Neato’s latest and perhaps the best robot vacuum to date.

Not only does it has the “No-Go” lines, but it also has an improved navigation system and app. The robot is now compatible with the app and the Apple Watch, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, and more.

A quick look at the features

Pros

Cons

What to expect from the Neato BotVac D7?

On the outside, the BotVac D7 looks like its predecessors, the – BotVac Connected, D5, and D3 robots. It has the same D-shape exterior, wide 10.5-inch beater bar, and single side brush.

But all the goodies come under the hood, so to speak.

No-Go Zones

First and perhaps the biggest upgrade in this robot would be the “No-Go” zones. This is a long-overdue feature, and the first of its kind, I should say.

While the second-generation Roborock has “zone cleaning” that defines an area (within an area) you want to clean, the “No-Go” zone allows you to virtually set roadblocks so that this robot does not go past those areas.

The downside is you can’t use the “No-Go” lines the first time you use the app, so Neato adds a “discovery mode” where the robot will go around the room with the vacuum motor and brushes off.

This is a much faster way to create the map and use the “No-Go” feature.

Here’s a demo of how it works…

This feature’s beauty is you can set multiple “No-Go” zones, and you don’t have to buy extra magnetic tapes.

This feature will save you some $$$ and the hassle of setting the physical barrier.

It does all this virtually through the app. However, you do not have access to this feature outside the app.

App

Since the release of the BotVac Connected, Neato has slowly improved the responsiveness and usability.

The new app features a more sleek and intuitive design with the main screen showing the robot’s name and status.

At the bottom left, you’ll see the battery status and how much power is left. And at the bottom right, you’ll see a small square grid that’ll show the previous cleaning sessions once you tap it. The app will save data up to 20 cleaning cycles.

Navigation

Watch this video to get a feel for how this robot navigates.

It is very similar to the previous BotVac connected and Xiaomi RoboRock in terms of how it navigates around a room. It’ll start by cleaning the edges then cleaning the center of the room. In the video above, you’ll notice that the robot divided the room into two quadrants to be more efficient.

Cleaning modes

Other features of the app include access to cleaning modes that include House, Spot, and Manual cleaning modes.

The House cleaning mode is the default mode and will clean all rooms that it has access to. You’ll also have two options in this mode – normal and turbo mode.

The former will have less suction but will last longer (up to 120 minutes). And the latter would be a better option on the carpet.

If you have expensive furniture, you’ll appreciate the “Extra Care” navigation that will be gentler on obstacles versus default mode.

In spot cleaning mode, you will have to set the area it’ll spot clean.

My Floor Plan

On the main screen, tap the three-bar icon to access a feature Neato calls “My Floor Plan.”

Once you’ve run the robot around your home, this map will be drawn and saved in the app. You’ll only have access to the “No-Go” lines feature once the map is drawn.

Magnetic tape

Despite having the “No-Go” feature, Neato also threw in a strip of magnetic tape for good measure.

I prefer not to use the app (for security reasons). This would be your other option to block the robot from no robot zones other than using furniture.

Design

The D7 Connected retains the same as older Botvac robots. This means it has the same dimension, shape, and cleaning path.

It measures 12.5 inches wide and 3.9 inches tall – around .3 inches taller than the Roomba 980. That’s because of the Laser navigation on top of it.

One difference would be the absence of the small screen on the upper right side of the robot. Since the robot already has an app, this feature wasn’t a need anymore.

In the place of the screen is a single button at the lower left side. Tap once, and you’ll engage the default cleaning mode. Or tap it twice to spot clean, and the robot will clean a small area 4 x 6 inches.

Dirt Bin

The middle part of the robot is a large dirt bin that can hold up to 0.7 liters of dry dirt. Inside it is a high-performance filter that Neato says can filter out up to 0.3 micros of dirt.

Opposite of the dirt bin is a handle that makes carrying the robot easier. But make sure that your palm is facing the front of the robot, or you’ll dislodge the dirt bin.

Bottom

Flip the robot over, and you’ll see that the design remains the same.

The D7 has a single side brush and a 10.5” cleaning path. It still uses the same combo brush as previous Botvac robots. One reason being is that performance has been outstanding, so why fix something that isn’t broke?

Data Privacy Concerns

There have been stories about robot manufacturers potentially selling private information. Please read Neato’s privacy policy to understand what information they collect and what their policies are. In a nutshell, Neato says that they’ll only have access to daily metadata – that means when you start the robot, how long it runs, and error codes (if they come up).

You can email them to delete your personal data if you wish.

Smart device compatibility

Not only can you control this robot through a smartphone app, but this robot is also compatible with devices such as Alexa, IFTTT, Google Home, and Neato Chatbox for Facebook.

Having all these options makes life much easier in terms of connectivity with the robot. And a good reason to buy Alexa.

Cleaning Performance

Neato does not specify whether this robot has a more powerful motor, so I’m guessing it has the same motor as the BotVac Connected. The performance of these two robots will be the same.

In the reviews I’ve seen, this robot will perform quite well on many surfaces such as low pile carpet, rugs, tile, hardwood, etc. The only thing that this robot will struggle with is thick carpet or rug.

PC Mag says the D7 has about the same power as the Roomba 960.

However, it does not have as much power as the Dyson 360 Eye. But here’s the clincher, this robot will run almost thrice as long or around 130 minutes versus the 360 Eye’s 45 minutes.

Even with the D-shape design and the side brush, this robot will struggle a bit when it comes to edge and corner cleaning. It will clean edges better on straightaways versus corners.

In default mode, this robot is pretty aggressive bumping furniture. If this is a concern, you will need to turn on the “extra care” mode. Remember that features like the “No-Go” and “extra care” mode are only available when you use the app. You won’t have access to it if you use Alexa.

Product Specifications

Battery type	Lithium Ion
Charger type	Charging Station
Charge time	2 hours
Run Time	Up to 130 mins
Doorsill crossing	approx. 5/8"
Net weight (with battery)	9 pounds
Shipping weight	15.5 pounds
Width	13.2 inches
Height	3.9 inches
Multi Room
Self docking
Remote control
Hepa filtration
Cliff detection
Self adjusting
Edge brushes
Full bin indicator
Stair Cleaning
Cleaning sessions per week	7
Extra Filter	N/A
Containment	Magnetic tapes and "No-Go" feature in the smartphone app
Brush cleaning tools
What's in the box	High Performance Robot Vacuum Ultra Performance Filter Spiral Combo Brush Side Brush Integrated Charge Base Power Cord Boundary Markers Brush & Filter Cleaning Tool
Voltage	110v
Manufactured in	China
Warranty	1-year on robot 6-months on battery

What do consumers say?

When it comes to performance, there is no question that the BotVac D7 performs. This robot will clean bare floors and low pile carpet equally well. In many consumers’ eyes, the D7’s laser navigation is crisp and even better than the Roomba 980 that relies on a camera.

Smart navigation

It’s also smart enough to go over a whole area that includes multiple rooms with little risk of getting lost. You won’t use the “No-Go” lines on the initial run because the robot has to have the room layout first before allowing you to set those no robot zones.

But once the map is drawn, you can set multiple “No-Go” areas. Some consumers say there are quirks. If you don’t draw the line properly, the robot will avoid a larger area than it should.

Also, the app can only save one map at a time. There is no feature yet that allows it to save multiple maps.

Resume feature

Let’s say you live in a large 5,000 square foot home. When the battery is low, this robot will dock and recharge. After charging, it will go back to the exact area it left before recharging.

All of this is possible thanks to the internal map, laser distance sensor, and SLAM algorithm inside it.

Some issues

One potential issue with this would be cleaning thick plush rugs and carpet.

Decent power

This robot does not have enough power to clean such. It will be an issue with most (if not all) robot vacuums as these machines don’t have enough agitation and power for this task.

If you need something that’ll deep clean, then I suggest you check out our list of the best upright vacuums for your reference. Robot vacuums are great for in-between maintenance clean up tasks.

The app itself is very stable and responsive. Though some folks have had trouble setting “No-Go” lines, most do not seem to have this issue.

Where can I buy this?

You can buy this robot vacuum from online stores like Amazon and Walmart. Please check the link below for more details.

• Neato D7 on Amazon and Walmart.

Disclaimer: I’ll earn a commission when you buy through the link above, but at no extra cost to you, so it’s a win-win for us!

To wrap up

The Neato D7, with all the improvements, will challenge the Roomba 980 as the best robot vacuum. It now has the “No-Go” feature that virtually blocks the robot from going into off-limit areas.

And you don’t need a virtual wall or magnetic tape to do so. Though, Neato was kind enough to include a magnetic tape in the package. Many of the upgrades are inside the app, where it will save up to the last 20 cleaning cycles.

You can also view the map, schedule, check the robot’s status, and set “No-Go” zones. This robot is also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Watch, and more. Does this justify the $800 price tag? That would depend on how much you are willing to spend.

When you compare it to the Roomba 980, this robot is actually close to $100 cheaper! So between the two, the choice is obvious for me. If you want the latest robot technology, decent cleaning performance, and razor-sharp navigation, then the Neato BotVac D7 is a great choice.