Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Review

Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Usability

Beyond the cosmetic, albeit attractive, change in appearance, the new D series sticks to the previous iteration when it comes to its touch sensitive controls. The LCD panel may appear a little on the small side but the intuitive menu and interface makes changing settings or cleaning schedule a breeze. Disappointingly, however, Neato did not deem it fit to pack a remote control with its new models. The dust collector, at 0.7 liters (~ 24 oz), has not witnessed any increase in its capacity.

One of the main criticism of the previous Botvac models was the noise they generated during cleaning operations. It was distinctly loud, compared to the competition, with noise levels recorded as high as 66 dB. Thankfully, the new iteration promises a significant noise reduction owing to its brand new brush system. This should come as a relief to users as they probably wouldn’t have to leave the room while the robot is at work. Servicing and cleaning the vacuum is fairly easy, even for a novice. The multiple brushes and bristles come off with ease and are easy to put back together again.

Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance

Neato’s QNX Neutrino operating system along with its patented laser guiding system had already made its mark in previous iterations when it came to precise movements around a room. Although there is no perceptible change or noticeable improvement in the new D series, it is fair to say the performance of these machines is fairly impeccable. The vacuum cleaner is responsive to the environment in real time, efficiently maps the room, and impresses with its proficiency in avoiding obstacles. I’m pretty sure the Botvac offers one of the best implementations of SLAM I’ve ever seen in a robot.

The robot comes with a boundary marker ensuring that you get to control its movements. All you have to do is to drop the marker at the place beyond which you do not want the robot to go. One of the more impressive navigational feature of this robot is its ability to find its way back to the base charger once it is done with its tasks.

Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Suction Power and Filtration

The new D series comes fitted with a host of improvements over the previous iterations. To begin with, it incorporates a new SpinFlow power clean system, allowing it to suck up dirt, crumbs and hair more efficiently. The brushes are now 50% bigger, enabling better cleaning near walls. The D series also features a new side spinning brush to ensure better cleaning near the edges.

Given that the 2014 Botvac 85 was noted for its ability to suck up dirt on a variety of surfaces, the new improvements should only make the D series pull further ahead of the competition.

Similarly, the new D series features larger filters compared to previous models, thereby enabling you to capture more dirt and debris. Ideally, these filters should be changed once or twice every couple of years, depending on your usage. For people who are sensitive to allergens, or homes with pets shedding hair, Neato Botvac D series comes with a high performance filter, capable of capturing extra fine dust particles.

Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Power Usage, Dimensions, and Warranty

The D series robots come with nickle metal hydride batteries in two different voltages, 110V and 220V. These robots are fairly efficient when it comes to power consumption, rated at 2W during charging and 1W on standby.

While its distinctive D shape has been widely praised for its ability to clean near edges and corners, the new model is also noticeable for its overall compactness. They measure 12.7 inches by 13.2 inches by 3.9 inches in terms of dimension and weigh a solid 9 lbs.

As one may expect from such units, the machine comes with a limited 1 year warranty while the battery has a 6 month limited warranty.

Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Accessories and Special Features

The new D series provides users with extra options if they want to augment the capabilities of this already impressive machine. In particular, the following are well worth a look.

• Boundary Markers: If you are fussy about spaces where you do not want the robot vacuums to enter, then you’d love the magnetic boundary markers. Measuring almost 13 feet in length, you can easily cut this strip and place them near doorways or around your pet’s bowl to keep the robot away from the forbidden area.
• Specialized Brushes: The combo brush for D series model is especially useful for people who own pets or live in a home with multiple types of flooring. The combo brush offers a superior suction of pet hair, effective noise suppression, and works on several distinct floors including carpets. The Botvac D Series side brush offers you the ability to clean corners and edges in a more effective manner while the spiral blade brush is a versatile option that suppresses noise on hardwood floors.

By: Jason Roberts / vacuumsguide.com

Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Pros And Cons

Pros of the Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

• Improved brush system us quieter and more efficient
• Fixed the “non-sealed” ball bearing problem that caused hair build-up in the older Botvac series
• Larger filters need to be replaced less frequently
• Laser-guided navigation system effectively maps out and cleans a room while avoiding obstacles
• Intuitive touch interface makes setting up a cleaning schedule easy, even for a novice user
• “D” shape is designed to clean near edges and in corners better than the competition
• Extremely good at cleaning up pet hair, dust, and dander

Cons of the Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

• No remote control
• No WiFi control options
• Although significantly quieter than previous models, the new D80 is still rather loud compared to some of the competition
• Slightly more expensive than the better performing BotVac
• Still uses a NiCad battery
• Will not go over dark floors or rugs because the cliff sensors think these are “cliffs”

Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Features

Features a combo brush that is uniquely designed to pick up pet hair—and is quieter, too, especially on hard floors like wood and tile. Patented laser-guided technology scans and maps the room, plans, and methodically cleans, automatically moving from room to room. 50% larger brush, bigger-is-better dirt bin, extra large filter, and precise edge cleaning brush pick up more dirt and debris. Schedule daily cleanings or push a button for instant multi-room or spot cleaning. Automatically goes back to charge base, then returns to where it left off.

Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Specifications

Product Dimensions

• Length 32.1 cm (12.7 in)
• Width 33.5 cm (13.2 in)
• Height 10 cm (3.9 in)
• Weight 4.1 kg (9 lbs)

Technical

• Battery NiMH (nickel metal hydride)
• Charger Voltage 110V, 220V

Warranty Terms

• Robot 1 Year Limited
• Battery 6 Month Limited
• Available for Purchase
• Accessories Available for Purchase

from Home Improvementer //
Neato Botvac D85 Robot Vacuum Cleaner Review