Neato Botvac D4 vs. Botvac D6 vs. Botvac D7: The Complete Comparison

We live in an age of tech. Bluetooth. AI, smart everything. In a world where cars can literally drive themselves, doesn’t vacuuming by hand feel, a little bit….outdated?

The robotic vacuum has been available for decades, but never to the same extent that we see now. Enter the Neoto Botvoc series. Incredibly high-end robotic vacuums that make the most of modern technology to give your home the clean it deserves.

Today we will take an in-depth look at the Neato Botvoc D4, D6 and D7 to see which one is right for your needs. Read on to find out more about vacuums that have the potential to change your life.

Product review – Neato Botvac D4

What is in the box?

• Botvac D4 robot vacuum
• Charging base
• Power chord
• Combo brush
• High performance filter

Now that you have been given the highlight real on all these vacuums, let’s now shift focus a little bit and give a more in-depth review of the D4.

As mentioned at the start of this review, you get most of the same basic core features in this unit that you get with the other, more advanced models.

The differences are in how much of them you get.

The best aspect of this device might well be the floor planning capabilities. Without laser-guided technology, robotic vacuums are really just operating on algorithms. That isn’t the case here. The approach taken with every cleaning job is personalized and perfected to your home.

The nice thing is that mapping software is constantly being improved. Since these devices use Bluetooth technology and Wi-Fi connectivity, they can be regularly updated by the manufacturer. That means that even the more affordable D4 is always getting a little bit better at cleaning your home.

You are also able to customize your clean with this device via the Neato App, though to a lesser extent than the D6 and D7. Using the app on your phone you will be able to establish “No-Clean Zones” in your house that will ensure it doesn’t disturb certain areas of your home.

As far as battery life is concerned, it isn’t perfect, but it also isn’t too bad either. You get 75 minutes – a whopping 25% upgrade to the life of the previous models. With 75 minutes, you are definitely going to be able to clean your average 2,000 square foot home without much trouble. When you get into the territory of bigger houses, you may need to break out the charger or contemplate an upgrade.

As far as the cons were concerned, there was not much to speak of. Relative to the other units, buyers may be disappointed by the lack of control they have over the device’s operations.

It is also quite noisy, though this is a feature that you are going to encounter with pretty much any vacuum.

Lastly, we found that it gets stuck occasionally, particularly on fringe areas of your rugs. It’s a minor con, but also one that can halt the cleaning process if it is left unnoticed.

And that is pretty much that. It’s a good vacuum at a very enticing price.

Pros

• Very affordable compared to the other vacuums on our list today
• Scans your house with a laser to map out your home
• Establish No go Zones on your phone

Cons

• So short battery life compared to other options on our list
• Gets stuck somewhat easily
• Very loud

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Product review – Neato Botvac D6

What is in the box?

• Botvac D6 robot vacuum
• Charge base
• Power cord
• Spiral combo brush
• Ultra performance filter
• Brush and filter cleaning tool
• Boundary marker (2M)

Now, let’s take a look at the slightly upgraded D6 to see if it is a more suitable option for your needs. The D6, for the most part, looks like the D4, but it is better. Of course, these upgrades also result in a big hike in price that some buyers might shy away from.

First, though, let’s consider what you get for paying a little bit more money.

One of the main differences that most buyers will zero in on ins the ability to have multi-floor plans for your home. The idea here is that each floor of a house has its own unique cleaning needs. For example, your basement probably doesn’t have the same vacuuming needs as your bedroom. If you are living in a multi-floor home you are probably going to appreciate this feature. However, if you have a smaller house, this really won’t do you very much good.

The other big difference comes in the form of battery life. You get 2 hours’ worth of run time here – 45 minutes more than you find in the D4. The extra 45 minutes could be the difference between a continuous clean, and a recharge break, and therefore the D6 could cover the space of nearly 4,500 square feet, twice as much as the D4. Whether yes or not, find a longer battery worth a hike in price will, of course ultimately be up to you.

In addition, the side brush and spiral combo brush equipped on D6 will have a better cleaning power than the normal brush of D4.

As far as cons are concerned, there again, wasn’t much to speak of. The biggest obstacle most buyers are going to encounter is the price wall. As mentioned earlier, this unit is significantly more expensive than the already pricey D4.

And of course, like the D4, it is also pretty noisy, but then that is an issue you are going to find with almost any vacuum. Otherwise, it is a great vacuum that takes what the D4 does well and improves upon it.

Pros

• The unit features multi-floor planning for homes with more than one story.
• Two-hour long battery time
• Laser profiling to establish a dedicated plan for your home

Cons

• Pricier than the already expensive D4
• Noisy

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Product review – Neato Botvac D7

What is in the box?

• Botvac D7 robot vacuum
• Charge base
• Power cord
• Spiral combo brush
• Ultra performance filter
• Brush and filter cleaning tool
• Boundary marker (2M)

Last, we will be looking at the high-end features of the D7.

You get the same laser graphing technology that we appreciated in the last two units. You also get the multi-floor planning feature that we so liked in D6, allowing homeowners with multiple stories in their house to take a more customized approach to their cleaning.

And of course, you also get the 2-hour battery time that will serve as a big benefit to people who have larger homes.

However, the price difference between D6 and D7 is not as much as that between D6 and D4, so you aren’t paying more for the upgrades that you get here.

And what exactly is that upgrade? One of the significant exclusive to the D7 is Zone Planning. This feature is called “Manual Drive Remote Control”, which gives the homeowner more control than ever before on their customization.

With this feature, you are basically going to be able to tell your robotic vacuum exactly how you would like your home to be cleaned. Using the Neato App, you are going to be able to establish specific zones of your house for the device to handle and treat.

With this feature, you are going to be able to really make the most of the device’s efforts. For example, if you are having people over and know that they will primarily be in the family room, you can choose that area of your house for the robot to clean. The vacuum will focus all of its time on that zone, and not waste battery life and ever treating other areas of your house.

And once again, we are in the position of looking at a vacuum that doesn’t have much to discuss in way of cons. The main hurdle is going to be the price. Like the last vacuum that we saw, this unit is significantly more expensive than the D4.

In fact, the D7 is more expensive than many high-end regular vacuums as well. However, if you have the money, the features may well justify the purchase.

We also found the Zone Cleaning features to be a little bit complicated to control. It wasn’t a huge deal, but there is a learning curve you are going to need to figure out before you can take full advantage of the vacuum.

These things aside, it really is an impressive vacuum that features industry-leading technology.

Pros

• Includes multi-floor cleaning
• The only option on the list that features zone cleaning capabilities
• 120-minute long battery runtime
• Laser sensors For Mapping Out Your Home

Cons

• Very pricey relative to other options on the market
• Some of the features are complicated to use

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Side to side comparison of Neato Botvac D4, D6 and D7

Below chart outlines the comparison of four models from functions to features:

Design and appearance

All three of these vacuums have the D-Shape design and allow them to captures dirt in corners and along walls. The D4 and the D6 are both are black in color, featuring a rounded, elegant design that most users will find appealing.

On the undercarriage of the device you will find wheels on either side, as well as bristles on the broad end, that lift dirt, and suck bacteria into the unit for efficient cleaning.

The only design departure that you get comes in the form of the D7. With this unit, you also get a small radius of silver on the top of the machine, surrounded by the same black base that you get with the other two units.

Cleaning Performance

Naturally, the most important aspect of either vacuum is their ability to clean up your home. All three machines use laser technology to take a comprehensive look at the layout of your home and respond accordingly.

Robotic vacuums of the past have used preprogrammed formulas to clean a room. Basically, they do the same thing in the same pattern, regardless of the home they are in.

That isn’t what you get here. The laser patterns allow for a customized approach to your home. The best part? The cleaning approach is quite sophisticated. All three devices clean in straight lines to maximize efficiency and guarantee your home the best clean possible.

The basic features of either device are ostensibly the same. You just get more of just about everything with the D7.

Brushes

And of course, a vacuum is nothing without its brushes. With either unit, you will get really outstanding brushes.

The combo brushes are 70% larger than they have been in the past and span across the entire length of the device. The result? An experience that is as thorough as possible with either unit.

Filtration

All three units feature what the manufacturer refers to as an ultra-performance filter. Hyperbolic? It’s ad language. Ad language by definition is hyperbolic.

However, there is truth in this particular hyperbole. The performance really is significant, especially when it comes to removing allergens like pet dander. These are standard features of any decent vacuum, but still great to see here. All in all, all three of these filters are going to be highly effective.

Navigation

The navigation features on all three devices are probably one of their biggest selling points. As mentioned earlier, all three of them use lasers to scan your house and identify the best approach to cleaning it.

The laser profiling is available with either vacuum, but the D6 and the D7 do take things to the next level by featuring multi-floor planning. With this feature, users will be able to chart their own specifications for each floor of their house.

In doing this, they receive a much more personalized experience with the vacuum. You are also given the ability to close off certain areas of your home to the vacuum. By establishing “No-Go” zones, you are guaranteed that your home is being cared for in the exact way that you require.

All three vacuums can even chart their way in the dark, providing users with the most comprehensive performance possible any time of day. That way, you can turn the vacuum on before you go to bed, and wake up to a clean house if you would like.

Cleaning Radius

All three units feature a similar cleaning radius. The ultimate path with which they will be able to clean will be determined by the laser profiling, which means that your entire house should be able to be covered.

Some vacuums using this method do struggle a little bit with cathedral ceilings. This conflict can in some cases decrease the radius, or, at the very least, confuse the cleaning profile.

Fortunately, we aren’t seeing reports of that with any of these three vacuums. Most homes are going to be able to use any of these three vacuums, though bigger houses will benefit from some of the additional features of the D6 or the D7.

Battery Life

All three of these vacuums have extremely impressive battery life. The more entry-level unit, the D4 is going to give you a run time of 75 minutes, which will be enough to cover the floor plan of most mid to small-sized homes.

The D6, and the D7, however, are well equipped to handle the needs of larger homes. They both feature a runtime of 120 minutes—more than enough juice to satisfy the needs of most homes.

However, larger homes or multi-floor cleaning may require a recharge or two with that uni. No worry, all these three models are equipped with the Quick Boost charging system. Sometimes the vacuum needs a little extra juice to finish the cleaning, the system will calculate the amount of extra power, charges accordingly, and gets back to cleaning faster. The great thing is it, this is another remarkable selling of the Botvac D series.

Comments and Conclusion

These 3 models are the mainstream products of Neato Botvac D series, A more basic version – the D3 and another mid-range product D5 is also worth purchasing by different customers. The overall products of Neato are more geared to the mid to high-end market, It needs to enrich its product line and compete with iRobot Roomba and Ecovacs Deebot.

Let’s back to the topic – Which of these options is going to be right for you? It really depends on what you need. In any case, you are getting a product that will satisfy your needs to a far greater extent than vacuums of days gone by.

However, there are obvious benefits to upgrading to the D6 and D7. Are they more expensive? Yes. they are much more expensive in fact. But for your money, you get a longer clean time, a higher performance, and more options for control.

Ultimately, it may simply depend on what sort of home you own. If you are in a large house with several floors and lots of people to clean up with, you may wind up favoring the D7. Why? This unit features multi-floor planning and a run time that you will be able to enjoy for up to two hours.

If you have a more modest home, you may get away with paying less while still enjoying a range of features similar to that of the D7. In that case, the D4 is going to be right for you.