Roombas might be the best-known name in robot vacuums, but they’re certainly not your only option. The Robotics company Neato’s Botvac line is one you might not have heard of before, but once you check out their products you’ll be glad you did. Their distinctive D-shaped design gives you even better corner-to-corner cleaning than round vacuums like the Roomba, and they offer excellent cleaning power and wireless connectivity.
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The different versions of the Botvac give you different features and options that can be useful for a variety of lifestyles and home layouts. If you’re considering the Neato D3 vs D80, for example, the main difference you’ll find is in the attachments and features. They’re both excellent vacuums that come in at a similar price point. For the exact differences between these two models, check out the full reviews below.
Comparison Table
Individual Reviews
Neato Botvac D3
If the main thing you’re interested in from a robot vacuum is its connectivity and hands-free functionality, the Neato D3 is a great choice to consider. It’s compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant straight out of the box, making it easy to fit it into your voice-controlled smart home.
The vacuum itself is smart in its own right. It uses Neato’s patented LaserSmart technology to navigate around furniture and decide what kind of surface it’s cleaning.
The main brush on the Botvac is across the front of the vacuum, giving you a wide cleaning path and a more efficient clean overall. This also means it can get deep into the corners of your room, an area that a lot of robot vacuums neglect. The rounded rear also gives it the ability to navigate through relatively tight spaces, like around and between chair legs, compared to completely square robot vacuums—in short, the design gives you the best of both worlds.
The suction power on the Neato D3 is impressive. The brush uses a SpinFlow technology that gets a deep, thorough clean on all types of floors. The suction’s powerful enough to pick up larger particles, like food crumbs, and can also suck up dirt and dust with ease. The extra-large dust bin lets it run for longer and pick up more before you need to stop to empty it.
PROS
What we like:
- Wi-Fi app lets you schedule and control cleaning from anywhere
- Lets you use voice control through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
- Automatically returns to base when charge is low
- Efficient clean, up to four times faster than other brands
- Great at cleaning corners
- High suction power for all sizes of dirt
- Large dust bin doesn’t need to be emptied as often
CONS
What we didn't like:
- Fewer included accessories than other models
If you’ve got pets in your home, you know that pet hair can be one of the trickiest things to clean up—and it’s just the first of the messes you’ll need to deal with on a regular basis. The main difference you’ll find comparing the Neato D3 vs D80 is that the D80 comes with a wider array of specialized cleaning tools and accessories that make it ideal for homes with cats and dogs.
The Botvac D80 comes with two interchangeable brushes. The spiral blade brush is for all-purpose cleaning on all types of floors. The combo brush is specially designed for picking up hair without tangling or clogging, and gives you a quieter operation that many dogs will appreciate. The included Boundary Markers let you mark places you don’t want the vacuum to go, which is helpful for keeping it from spilling your pet’s food or water dish.
Along with these pet-friendly features, the D80 gives you the same all-around excellent clean as the D3. The LaserSmart room mapping helps the vacuum determine the most efficient path to give every room the deepest clean as quickly as possible. The powerful suction and D-shaped design make it one of the most thorough robot vacuums on the market. It gets within mere millimeters of your wall for truly edge to edge cleaning.
PROS
What we like:
- High performance filter helps remove more allergens
- Cleaning Tool and Boundary Markers are great for pet owners
- Easily maneuvers around furniture using LaserSmart navigation
- Efficient wall to wall cleaning
- Combo brush gives you quieter operation than many robot vacuums
CONS
What we didn't like:
- Fewer hands-free control options
- No on-board voice control compatibility
The verdict
If you’ve decided on a Botvac and are considering the Neato D3 vs D80, it comes down to the extra features. The basic shape of the vacuum and size of core features like the brush and dust bin are the same for both.
The Botvac D80 is ideal for pet owners, but that doesn’t mean the D3 isn’t an option just because you have a dog. It will still pick up the majority of shed hair and spilled food, and will also give you voice control compatibility. Whichever model you go with, you can count on the Neato Botvac for an easy hands-free clean of every floor in your home.