ECOVACS Robotics - DEEBOT N10 MAX+ Robot Vacuum and Mop - BLACK

This is my experience in using this robotic vacuum/mopping floor cleaner. BestBuy supplied the machine to me for free to try and write my opinion of the device. #TechInsiderNetwork my last robotic vacuum cleaner was a Roomba 530; must be 15, perhaps 20 years old. That it still works, and fulfills it duties, is a tribute to iRobot and their commitment to making such a sturdy and user repairable machine. The Ecovacs in comparison to the vintage iRobot is like a different incarnation. My original Roomba was somewhat of a miracle when I bought it, converting a dog fur laden household that had dust bunnies, no dust badgers, in every corner into a house that was relatively hair free With a daily programmed running of the Roomba at 1:00 PM. When I got home, I would empty the Roomba, after scouting around and finally locating where it had managed to get itself stranded/ tangled/wedged in/ or just depleted its battery because it lost its beacon of infrared to guide it back home for recharge. The daily emptying of the dust bin was just a given; there was so much shed dog hair that letting it go for 2 or 3 days was not an option. My other observation was the damage that the Roomba could inflict. All the fringe on the ends of the oriental rugs had been decimated down to a 3 mm length by the vigorous entanglement of the Roomba rotating brush. And the Roomba knew when to change course because it would crash into the chair leg, cabinet drawer face, or similar at a high speed. And the furniture had the scars to prove the force the Roomba could inflict. Watching the Deebot make its rounds looks more like a ballerina than a contestant in American Ninja. The robot is exceedingly quiet, and moves stealthily across the floor; deliberate, and not at a high speed. As it starts to approach an object in the way, it slows a bit, and then at the last second, makes its turn with barely even touching the obstacle or even without actual contact. So the $25,000 custom kitchen cabinet fronts are not scarred and dented and scratched by the mayhem of a vengeful Roomba. And I do not need to put up battery operated pylons to keep the robot from venturing into forbidden rooms. The Deebot uses Lidar mapping of the room which programs the ability to exclude areas from the random wanderings of the robot. Compared to my experience with a now ancient Roomba, the Deebot is a nimble rather than a rambling bull. The Deebot does not crash into things, but gently touches the furniture/cabinet/wall and politely turns in a new direction. The Lidar mapping seems to be spot on, and the phone app draws out the map for your review. The self emptying tower is a bit of an eyesore, but no robotic vacuum is a decorator’s dream. For optimum function, the recharging station previously needed to be within “eyeshot” so the infrared would not get out of view for finding its way back to the charger. The Lidar mapping and memorized recall, I am assuming, will provide guidance for the robot to return for a needed docking, even if around 2 or 3 corners from a direct view of the tower. The mopping option, triggered by having the reusable terry cloth cover over a plastic plate that attaches underneath, is elegant as well. The robot will come to the edge of carpet or a rug, and will intrude about 2 cm onto the rug surface, and after “sniffing” the difference from the hardwood floor, will turn away from the rug, and return to the mopping chore. So no accidental washing of the carpet! The water reservoir easily attaches and refills. And the mopping terry cloth cover is simple to remove, cleans up with a quick wash with a bit of dish soap and rinse, and dries quickly for the next mopping excursion. The mopping is not a deep cleaning, such as sticky spills or the like, but consider it a damp dusting of areas of water spots and the like. A wonderful touch up after a regular vacuuming. The self emptying function is a major convenience over daily emptying of the dust bin. I have had the vacuum for about 2 weeks: three vacuum runs and one mopping session. So I have not filled the dust bag in the tower yet, and therefore cannot comment on the tidiness or ease of emptying. It seems quite accessible, and the emptying and replacement of the paper bag seems like it will be simple. Choosing which model of Ecovacs to purchase would be a bit of a challenge. This model, more on the entry level than top of the line, seems so elegant and well engineered that I cannot imagine that the upper levels can be that much superior.

Robot vacuums used to be one of those gadgets in a home that many would laugh at. "Do you really need that?" "Seems like a waste of money," or "Isn't it very loud?" That was back in the early 2000s. Flash forward to 2023. I'd know more people with one than without. Since having my first one back in 2008 or so, I've had a lot of different models from many other companies. I've had Roomba, Roborock, Samsung, and now EVOVACS. The price differences I've seen throughout the years of owning them are incredible. Just today, when I looked up newer models of my previous central vacuum, I saw one for $1500. That one had an auto-empty and an automap just like this one does (on sale for $429.99 as of 5/3/23) for only $649.99. That's a considerable price difference. I don't know how the $1500 vac justifies its price, but the EVOVACS DEEBOT N10 Max+ is a great vacuum and has been a major upgrade to my Roborock S6. With my previous vac, I had to empty it manually and set up the mopping feature each time after mapping a custom map to get around my rugs. It made the mopping feature a chore. And emptying it every time made me not use the scheduling feature because I didn't want it to run with a full bin if I forgot to open it. The EVOVACS auto-empties each entire run, which is fantastic! It will be great to set up a schedule for it to run every other day. I'll get a notification when the bin is full. The most exciting feature I wanted to try as soon as I unboxed it and set it up was the mopping feature. It claims to be able to switch from active mopping on the hardwood (or floors) to vacuuming on carpets or rugs. This was true when I tested it. Not only does it do an outstanding job mopping with just plain water, but it also switches to vacuum when going over carpets or rugs without getting those wet. This feature is a game changer at my house. Speaking of setting it up, that was easy too. I say instead because the vacuum wouldn't add to the app after downloading it. It turned out it was having issues with my wifi (maybe because I use WIFI6?). After trying to connect a second time, it did connect, so it wasn't a big deal. After connecting to the app, you can dive deep into the settings and customize your vac. For example, you can change the speed/suction of the vacuum or the amount of water used when mopping - to name a few options. However, I found one oddity: when choosing the timezone in the app set-up, there were options other than USA Pacific Time. It's no big deal, but still strange. It's something that can be added once they realize it. So far, after four days of use, this is our new main vacuum. The old one is going upstairs. With a new puppy bringing in dirt, mud, and hair throughout the family room, this vacuum will have its work cut out. And so far, it's answering the call. The mopping feature is an absolute must-have. Save yourself from spending a large amount of money on a name brand. EVOVACS is excellent and is becoming a real force in this product space. Roomba and Roborock no longer dominate it.