Those of you concerned about artificially intelligent robots taking over the world really need to keep an eye on robot vacuum cleaners. I swear these things reproduce. This week, two of the big brand names in the robot floor cleaning space announced the latest, less expensive versions of their flagship robot vacuums: Ecovacs’ $1,099 Deebot T20 Omni and Roborock’s $1,299 S7 Max Ultra.
Roborock also adds the $899.99 Q Revo to its midrange line, which basically does all the things its flagship model does for $400 less. All three models will go on sale later this month. Earlier this year, Ecovacs added the budget Deebot N10 Plus, T9 Plus and T10 Omni to its line. In January, Roborock launched its S8 series with the S8, S8 Plus and S8 Pro Ultra.
Confused? You should be. The hugely popular – and obviously hugely profitable – robot vacuum sector is a real minefield for anyone looking to buy an extra pair of robot hands to help keep their home tidy. With so many options to choose from and dozens of specs to dig through, it’s daunting. So check out my robot vacuum cleaner buying guide for the overview.
But I’ve yet to test all of these new models, so if you’re interested in cutting-edge bot-vac technology, here are some of the new features. And while I stand by my advice never to buy a robot vacuum cleaner unless it’s on sale, some of these new releases come with preorders.
Roborock’s new S7 model comes with hot air
Roborock’s new S7 Max Ultra ($1,299) is a mopping and vacuuming robot with a charging base that also empties the vacuum’s bin, refills the water tank, and washes and dries the mop with warm air. That last feature was only on the premium S8 Pro Ultra model until now and helps keep the mop from getting smelly.
The S7 Max Ultra has lidar navigation and 5,400 Pa suction power, plus the signature feature of Roborock’s high-end models: the mop can raise 5mm when it detects carpet. This means that the S7 Max Ultra can vacuum and mop your entire house in one go.
While the mop can’t lift as high as the new Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni (which reaches a height of 9mm) or as ingeniously as the Roomba J7 Combo (which lifts its mop up and over the robot), it’s fine if you a low pile of carpets. Roborock’s mopping technology is also very good. That’s why the original S7 model is the best choice for a robot vacuum cleaner that can mop The Verges buying guide (and that’s a great value for $400, without the dock).
If you want a hands-free cleaning experience, get it with the S7 Max Ultra for less than the S8 Pro Ultra or the S7 MaxV Ultra
If you want a hands-free cleaning experience, the new S7 Max Ultra is worth checking out. It costs less than the S8 Pro Ultra ($1,600) and S7 MaxV Ultra ($1,400) and comes with the same hands-free charging dock (that’s what the Ultra name implies), but lacks the AI vision.
It can be difficult to distinguish the differences between these three Ultra models. Here’s a cheat sheet, but in short, the S8 Pro Ultra is the top model with the most suction, a redesigned brush system and a cleaner look. There are a few minor spec tweaks between the S7 Max Ultra and the S7 MaxV Ultra, but the main difference outside of the hot air is that the S7 MaxV uses ReactiveAI 2.0 technology to prevent clutter in your home, while the new S7 Max uses Roborock’s Reactive uses Technology.
Roborock doesn’t make it crystal clear what the difference is here, but for the most part, AI-powered object avoidance generally means the robot can learn specific objects to avoid, such as pet waste and socks, while reactive technology simply avoids any object in its path.
The Q Revo is a mid-range robot with high-end features
Perhaps the most intriguing new model is the $899.99 Roborock Q Revo. This is the top model for Roborock’s mid-range Q series. It does everything the S7 Max Ultra does and adds a dual spinning mopping system – the S7 has a single flat pad that doesn’t spin. Oscillating mopping pads tend to remove stains better.
The Q Revo can also lift its mop when it sees carpet, wash and dry the mop and automatically empty the vacuum’s bin. It uses the same reactive technical obstacle avoidance (no AI) as the S7 Max. From my experience with the Q Line, it seems that it cuts costs by using cheaper materials and a more utilitarian form factor.
Both new Roborocks will be released on June 11, but Roborock has an early bird offer that gets you up to $200 off by purchasing a coupon from its site.
Ecovacs adds mop lifting to its Omni line
Right after the launch of three new models this spring, Ecovacs is adding another model to its range with the Deebot T20 Omni. A variant on its flagship all-in-one robovac, the Deebot X1 Omni, the T20 costs $1,099 and adds the ability to raise its spinning mop heads up to 9mm. This means it’s the first Deebot that can vacuum and mop your home in one go. This was the biggest “mistake” with the X1 ($1,549) and T10 Omni ($1,199); both require you to remove the mopping pads if you also want to vacuum carpets.
Unlike those models, the T20 doesn’t have AI obstacle recognition or a built-in camera that you can use to keep an eye on your home, hence the lower price. However, the T20 does add the hot water mop wash to the hot air drying of the Omni range. All three Omnis also have the unique feature of a built-in voice assistant Yiko. The T20 will be available June 13 and will launch through June 30 with a $100 discount on Amazon and Ecovacs.com.