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Comparing Neato Botvac Connected vs. iRobot Roomba 960: What Are The Main Differences?
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You may have heard that iRobot and Neato both offer Wi-Fi supporting vacuuming robots that can be controlled from your smartphone or tablet. iRobot's Roomba 960 and Neato's Botvac Connected are two of their top robots in the category of Wi-Fi supporting vacuuming robots.
Major independent reviewers as well as most Amazon customers who bought and used these robots all agree that these two are the best Wi-Fi supporting vacuuming robots you can get today. Indeed, at the time this article was written, the average rating given by Amazon customers to these robots were 4.5 for the Roomba and 4 stars for the Neato (out of 5 stars). If you were planning to get a Wi-Fi supporting vacuuming robot and you are undecided regarding which of the two to get, this article will provide you with the main differences so you can make the right decision and choose the robot that will respond best to your home's vacuuming needs.
This article will compare the iRobot Roomba 960 and Neato Botvac Connected Robots.
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Comparing iRobot Roomba 960 and Neato Botvac Connected
The following pictures show the two robots selected for comparison:
(Photo Credits: iRobot)
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(Photo Credits: Neato)
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The following table compares the feature of iRobot Roomba 960 and Neato Botvac Connected. Please read the table notes that follow for a better understanding of the feature differences.
Notes 1 - 18 Explained:
Note 1:
Roomba 960 is a little bit thinner (only 3.6" in height as opposed to the 3.9" for the Neato Botvac Connected) which means that it can go better under low lying furniture. The Neato on the other hand, is a little bit narrower (13.2" wide as opposed to 13.8" for the Roomba) and therefore can pass better through narrower passages.
Note 2:
Both robots are equipped with side brushes, but because Neato Botvac Connected has a semi-rectangular D-shape, it is reasonable to think that it can be even more efficient in cleaning better wall edges and corners.
Note 3:
Both robots support Wi-Fi and can be controlled remotely from a smartphone or tablet.
Note also that both robots are compatible with Amazon Alexa. Simply ask Alexa to start, stop, or dock your robot.
Note 4:
Both iRobot and Neato provide Android and IOS apps to control remotely the robots which can also send status and alert text messages to your smartphone or tablet.
Note 5:
Note 6:
Note 7:
Note 8:
Both robots can transition with ease between different types of floors, be it hardwood, laminate, tiled or carpeted.
Note 9:
Both robots allow scheduling up to 7 times a week, one cleaning for every day of the week. But with the Roomba robot, scheduling must be done using the app, while with the Neato robot you can schedule using the app as well the control panel on the robot itself.
Note 10:
When the battery gets low, both robots return to the charging base to recharge, They then resume the vacuuming where it was interrupted.
This allows seamless coverage of very large surfaces and entire floors without human intervention.
Note 11:
Spot cleaning allows the robot to focus on a limited area that can be selected and that requires more intense vacuuming.
Note 12:
Both Robots are equipped witha side brush to clean wall edges. But using the Roomba 960 smartphone app, you can invoke special final edge cleaning action to make sure that stubborn dirt and debris along wall edges are all removed.
Note 13:
Neato Botvac Connected can be run in two distinct modes: Eco and Turbo.
Eco is the power saving economy mode and gives you a quiet, longer cleaning. Turbo is the default mode and provides a super-powered cleaning, maximizing pickup of stuff like dirt, debris, and pet hair.
Note 14:
Most vacuuming robots will remove dirt and debris with just one pass over each area of your home. With Roomba 960, two-pass cleaning can be requested and can be particularly helpful in homes with pets or for periodic deep cleaning. The number of cleaning passes is one by default. This feature can be invoked from the app.
Note 15:
The following pictures show the Roomba 960 and Neato Botvac Connected control panels/buttons and status indicators in more detail:
Note 1:
Roomba 960 is a little bit thinner (only 3.6" in height as opposed to the 3.9" for the Neato Botvac Connected) which means that it can go better under low lying furniture. The Neato on the other hand, is a little bit narrower (13.2" wide as opposed to 13.8" for the Roomba) and therefore can pass better through narrower passages.
Note 2:
Both robots are equipped with side brushes, but because Neato Botvac Connected has a semi-rectangular D-shape, it is reasonable to think that it can be even more efficient in cleaning better wall edges and corners.
Note 3:
Both robots support Wi-Fi and can be controlled remotely from a smartphone or tablet.
Note also that both robots are compatible with Amazon Alexa. Simply ask Alexa to start, stop, or dock your robot.
Note 4:
Both iRobot and Neato provide Android and IOS apps to control remotely the robots which can also send status and alert text messages to your smartphone or tablet.
Note 5:
- iRobot AeroForce technology used in Roomba 960 delivers the ideal balance of vacuum suction and debris extraction: The robot is equipped with counter-rotating dual multi-surface tangle-free brushes (known also as debris extractors) that grab and break down dirt and debris eliminating hair tangles and jams.
A spinning side brush cleans along wall edges. In addition, an airflow accelerator creates a sealed channel that concentrates the airflow, sucking in all the debris. Thanks to the high efficiency vacuum created, the air power is increased 5 times in this robot compared to previous models of Roomba robots. - Neato SpinFlow technology used in Botvac Connected combines powerful vacuum suction and precision brushes to leave floors immaculately clean. The robot can be equipped with three types of brushes:
- a spiral blade brush which combined with Neato's powerful vacuum suction removes easily debris, dirt and fibers from all floor types.
- a combo brush which combines the cleaning power of blades and bristles and offers superior pickup of pet hair.
- a side brush for thorough edge cleaning which allows the robot to get deep into corners and right up against walls as well as base boards for superior cleaning coverage.
Note 6:
- Roomba 960 iAdapt 2.0 technology uses a high-efficiency cleaning pattern and a full suite of sensors to map and adapt to real world clutter and furniture for thorough coverage. Roomba 960 is equipped with a camera that enables visual localization making possible seamless and efficient navigation of an entire level of your home. This is achieved with the use of Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) technology which creates visual landmarks in its map so it doesn't lose track of where it is or where it has been.
- Neato Botvac Connected is equipped with a laser eye that uses infrared light to scan the surroundings and uses the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology to build an accurate map of the room and any obstacles. Using this map, the robot is able to efficiently clean the floor in a pattern of straight and overlapping lines, avoiding obstacles and never missing a spot.
Note 7:
- To prevent the robot from entering off-limit areas, Roomba robots can be used with Virtual Walls which are tiny devices that emit an infra-red beam that the robot will not cross. Roomba 960 does not use any Virtual Walls, but uses Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barriers which, like Virtual Walls, can be used to block off an open doorway, but they can also be used as Virtual Wall Halos which protect some restricted area within the room. These units require 2 AA batteries. The 960 robot comes with 1 Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier, batteries included.
- The Neato Botvac Connected robot, on the other hand, uses Boundary Markers made of magnetic strips that are laid along the entry to off-limit areas. They are simple to use and best of all, they don't require batteries like Virtual Wall Bariers do.
Note 8:
Both robots can transition with ease between different types of floors, be it hardwood, laminate, tiled or carpeted.
Note 9:
Both robots allow scheduling up to 7 times a week, one cleaning for every day of the week. But with the Roomba robot, scheduling must be done using the app, while with the Neato robot you can schedule using the app as well the control panel on the robot itself.
Note 10:
When the battery gets low, both robots return to the charging base to recharge, They then resume the vacuuming where it was interrupted.
This allows seamless coverage of very large surfaces and entire floors without human intervention.
Note 11:
Spot cleaning allows the robot to focus on a limited area that can be selected and that requires more intense vacuuming.
Note 12:
Both Robots are equipped witha side brush to clean wall edges. But using the Roomba 960 smartphone app, you can invoke special final edge cleaning action to make sure that stubborn dirt and debris along wall edges are all removed.
Note 13:
Neato Botvac Connected can be run in two distinct modes: Eco and Turbo.
Eco is the power saving economy mode and gives you a quiet, longer cleaning. Turbo is the default mode and provides a super-powered cleaning, maximizing pickup of stuff like dirt, debris, and pet hair.
Note 14:
Most vacuuming robots will remove dirt and debris with just one pass over each area of your home. With Roomba 960, two-pass cleaning can be requested and can be particularly helpful in homes with pets or for periodic deep cleaning. The number of cleaning passes is one by default. This feature can be invoked from the app.
Note 15:
- Neato Botvac Connected is equipped with a small LCD screen that displays status information (such as the scheduled time, battery level, cleaning mode, etc.) and has associated touchpad arrows that allow invocation of functions such as scheduling and vacuuming mode (note that you can also use the Neato app for invoking these functions).
Besides the LCD screen, there are two buttons on the robot: the Power/Clean button and the Spot Clean button. - There is no LCD screen on Roomba 960. You simply have 3 buttons: Clean, Home and Spot Mode. The Clean button is used to turn on the robot, to initiate a cleaning session, to pause and to stop the session. The Home button is used to send the robot to home base for docking and the Spot button is used to execute cleaning in a limited area (about 3 ft circle). All other functions, such as scheduling, selecting the carpet boost and edge cleaning modes, etc. are executed only via the iRobot Home app. The robot is also equipped with a number of status indicators (such as battery indicator, full bin indicator, etc.).
The following pictures show the Roomba 960 and Neato Botvac Connected control panels/buttons and status indicators in more detail:
(Photo Credits: iRobot)
(Photo Credits: Neato)
Note 16:
Roomba 960 is equipped with an AeroForce High Efficiency filter that can capture 99% of allergens, pollen, and particles as small as 10 microns.
The Ultra Performance filter found on the Neato Botvac Connected robot can capture particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Both type of filters keep the air free of dust, pollen and other particles that can cause allergies.
Both types of filters are easy to remove and clean.
Note 17:
Lithium-Ion batteries run longer vacuuming sessions than Ni-Cad (Nickel Cadmium) or NiMH (Nickel–Metal Hydride) batteries and last longer before battery replacement is needed.
Note 18:
When you purchase the iRobot Roomba 960, you get the following in the box:
- iRobot Roomba 960
- Rechargeable Battery
- Home Base Charging Station
- Line Cord
- One Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier (batteries included)
- Extra Filter
- Extra Side Brush
When you purchase the Neato Botvac Connected, you get the following in the box:
- Neato Botvac Connected (with Battery)
- Spiral Blade Brush
- Side Brush
- Charging Base
- Extra Ultra Performance Filter
- Power Cord
- Boundary Markers
- Brush & Filter Cleaning Tool
*** For exact price information on the two robots, please refer to the Amazon products section below. ***
So which robot is best for your home: Neato Botvac Connected or iRobot Roomba 960?
Here we have two of the best Wi-Fi supporting vacuuming robots available today, and chances are you will be quite happy with either one.
The two robots share a number of key features, in particular:
Here are some additional reasons why you might want to choose a Neato Botvac Connected:
The two robots share a number of key features, in particular:
- Ability to auto recharge when the battery gets low and resume the job where it was interrupted.
- VSLAM/SLAM technology that allows intelligent navigation as well as efficient and seamless vacuuming of an entire floor.
- Long lasting lithium-ion batteries
- Powerful filters (AeroForce High Efficiency and Ultra Performance) that clear the air from allergens.
- 7-day scheduling.
- Wi-Fi support and an easy to use smartphone/tablet app.
Here are some additional reasons why you might want to choose a Neato Botvac Connected:
- It is equipped with an LCD screen, and you can execute operations such as scheduling either from robot's control panel or using the Neato app. With Roomba 960 operations such as scheduling have to be invoked using the iRobot app.
- Both robots are equipped with side brushes, but because Neato Botvac Connected has a semi-rectangular D-shape, it is reasonable to think that it can be even more efficient in cleaning better wall edges and corners.
- Dual Mode Virtual Barriers used with Roomba 960 to block access to off-limit areas require batteries, while the Boundary Markers used with Neato Botvac Connected do not require any.
- It features the Economy and Turbo vacuuming modes.
- It is equipped with dual counter-rotating multi-surface tangle-free brushes that grab and break down dirt and debris eliminating hair tangles and jams.
- It has a final edge cleaning mode that focuses more intensely on cleaning edges.
- The Dual Mode Virtual Barriers it uses to block off entry to a room can also be used to restrict entry to some off-limit area within the room, for instance to where you keep your pet's food and water.
- It allows to select two-pass vacuuming for a more thourough clean.
Roomba 960 and Neato Botvac Connected on Amazon
Please click the robot of your choice below for exact price information or to purchase.
Note: Amazon often provides a good discount on the List Price of sold products. If a discount is available, the List Price and the actual Amazon price will be shown when you click the images below:
Note: Amazon often provides a good discount on the List Price of sold products. If a discount is available, the List Price and the actual Amazon price will be shown when you click the images below:
Neato Botvac Connected |
iRobot Roomba 960 |
Neato
Boundary Markers
Roomba 960 Filter and Brush
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Roomba 960
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