When it comes to keeping your floors clean, robot vacuums will save you a ton of time and energy, so you can get other important things done. With robot vacuums being more popular than ever these days, there are plenty of options on the market, but choosing a good one can be tricky.
Neato is one of the best brands out there when it comes to robot vacuums, and two of their best models are the Neato Botvac D80 and D85. Both of these models include hi-tech, powerful cleaning features that will keep your floors looking immaculate. However, there are some differences between the two that you should consider before making a decision. Let’s take a look at the two models and break down some of the differences and similarities.
My Neato D80 and D85 Review
Neato D80
The Neato Botvac D80 has a sleek, modern design and innovative, hi-tech features. This robot vacuum is ideal for efficiently vacuuming both large and small areas. It has a unique D shape and CornerClever technology that allows it to thoroughly vacuum even the toughest corners and spaces — including along walls and baseboards.
Unlike some robot vacuums that just roam around aimlessly, this botvac uses a patented LaserSmart Navigation feature to scan the rooms in your home to determine the most efficient path to take. It’s able to sense obstacles instantly to avoid crashes, bumps, and potential damage to your belongings. If the Neato botvac D80 needs to recharge during cleaning, it will go back to its docking station, charge up and then resume right where it left off. This feature is excellent for doing multiple rooms or for multiple cleaning sessions throughout the day.
Along with being smart and stylish, this robot vacuum is also very powerful. The SpinFlow Power Clean technology uses spinning brushes and powerful suction to lift and vacuum dirt and debris. You can use it on both carpets and hard floors. These powerful cleaning capabilities makes the botvac D80 a great option for pet owners. The brushes feature an anti-tangle design that helps to prevent clogs.
The Neato botvac D80 has a high-performance filter to trap in dust and allergens, keeping it from blowing back out into your home. It sports a large-capacity dust bin so it can continue cleaning for longer with fewer pitstops for emptying the tray.
Pros:
- Custom scheduling feature for automatic cleaning
- Sensors prevent falling off stairs
- Brushes are interchangeable
- High capacity dustbin means less emptying and lower maintenance
- Automatically charges and resumes until the job is done
- Covers up to 3000 square feet when charged
Cons:
- Sometimes has trouble returning to the docking port
- Battery life may reduce over time
- Some difficulty rolling over wires and bumps
Neato D85
Being a newer model, the Neato D85 includes the features that come with the Neato Botvac D80 and more. It’s considered to be an updated and enhanced version that addresses some concerns that came with the first one, but they are still very similar nonetheless.
The Neato D85 features 3 different brushes that are perfect for picking up pet hair and very fine debris. They include the SideBrush, ComboBrush and Spiral Blade Brush. When it comes to the Neato Botvac D80 vs D85, these brushes are a slight improvement on the brushes of the D80. They are made to be more thorough on long hair and carpet floors.
If you like a lot of customization features, this model has the option to choose either multi-room cleaning and spot cleaning, as well as new and improved boundary markers. So you can set up a custom clean anytime. These new boundary markers set a marker around the unit itself to help to prevent bumping and wall marks, and rubber bumpers that protect your walls and furniture in case of collisions.
Another great thing about the D85 is that it’s much quieter than the D80. In fact, it’s almost completely silent while still providing an efficient clean. This means you can schedule a cleaning to take place at night while you’re asleep, with napping children, or when you’re on the phone, without being disturbed.
The scheduling is great because you can just set it and forget it. Scheduling combined with the automatic recharge and resume features, make this robot vacuum very low maintenance and convenient.
Pros:
- Includes additional attachment: spare standard brush, spare rotating brush, and 2 filters
- Very powerful and efficient at cleaning pet hair with the Spinflow Power Clean
- A full charge provides over 90 minutes of cleaning
- Seamless transition from different types of flooring
- Cliff detection prevents falling off steps
- 3 air filters
Cons:
- Doesn’t always detect small obstacles
- Some times has trouble navigating to the docking port
- Spinning brushes require frequent cleaning, depending on carpet fiber length
Similarities and Differences
The D80 and D85 are quite similar but do have some key differences. To determine which one will be most ideal for you, it’s important to compare the Neato Botvac D80 vs D85 and note these similarities and differences. You’ll notice that a lot of the main differences between the two have to do with the upgraded features that come along with the botvac D85 being a newer and improved version of the D80.
Similarities in Neato Botvac D80 and D85
- The same D-shape design on both Neato models help with cleaning corners
- LaserSmart navigation and mapping allows both models to efficiently plan a path
- Automatic recharge and resume feature is present in both
- Ideal for both carpet and hard floors
- Both the botvac D80 and D85 are great for cleaning pet hair
- Edge cleaning system thoroughly cleans along edges and crevices
- High capacity dustbins in both models
- The same powerful suction technology and dual-action brushes are present in both model
Differences in Neato Botvac D80 and D85
- Neato D85’s brushes have been improved to better perform on carpet and when cleaning up pet hair
- The scheduling function on the Neato Botvac D85 is much more precise than that of the D80
- The battery life of the neato botvac D80 vs D85 is shorter
- The Neato Botvac D80 houses only 1 high-efficiency air filter, while the D85 houses 3. Meaning that the neato botvac D85 will be much better when it comes to purifying the air in your home
- The D80 model does not have boundary markers, while the D85 does
Features to look for in a Robot Vacuum
While the market of robotic vacuums has continued to grow over the past decade, picking one is now harder than ever as each brand has its own special features. There are some standard features you can find in every model and brand of robot vacuums--and yes, which are also included in the Neato Botvac D80 as well as the botvac D85 models.
Operation Noise
Vacuum cleaners have always been loud traditionally, but now with noise-reduction technology and quieter motors altogether, the noise of a running vacuum cleaner is much easier on the ears. While more compact, the Neato Botvac D series is now more noise conscious as well, making it great for apartments and homes with thin walls.
Battery Life
When buying a robot vacuum one of the most important specs to look at is how long the battery lasts on a single charge. A long-running time will get your floors cleaner, faster, while a short operation time will result in your floors having to be done in shifts, or you may need to step in with the old upright vacuum cleaner to finish the job.
It's true that when we compare the Neato Botvac D80 vs D85, the D85 does have a longer battery life, but if you don't think you'll need it to clean all day, this might not matter to you too much.
Waste bin Capacity
A small waste canister will mean more stops for emptying it out and will affect the running time of your Neato botvac. Sticking to a larger canister bin will keep your little bot vacuum cleaning for longer, and will clean up more of the mess so you don't have to. Some units have smaller waste canisters, but also have a larger waste bin built into the docking station.
When the robot vacuum fills its waste canister, it will return to the home base and deposit the dust, fur, and crumbs into the larger canister built into the base, then resume cleaning. You can later empty the home base waste bin rather than having to keep emptying out the one in your botvac.
User-Friendly Features
Having a cleaning robot that is easy to use and operate is a must-have for any household. Large digital screens, and easy to navigate cleaning options are great to have on any robot vacuum--whether you're using the neato botvac D80 vs D85 or some other vacuum altogether.
Easy to Clean Brushes and Tools
When it's time to do some maintenance on your robot vacuum, easy access to the brushes makes it a breeze to remove any stuck-on dirt or hair from the bristles of the brushes and wheels that could hinder its performance while cleaning. This is something you'll definitely need to do on both botvac options to make sure it has the high performance you've come to expect. Spinflow power doesn't mean much if your vacuum can't pick up the dirt.
Programmable Cleaning Times and Modes
A vacuum with multiple cleaning modes and programmable cleaning times is a feature that should be taken into account. This allows you to set your neato botvac robot vacuum to clean while you're away from home and busy. Selecting a specific cleaning mode can also affect battery life and run time for your vacuum.
Obstacle Detection
There may be some obstacles in your home that could be damaged, or ruin your robot vacuum. Stairs are a hazard for robot vacuums, as a tumbledown them can easily destroy the little machines, as well as possibly cause damages to your walls and floors on its descent. Some robot vacuums come with obstacle and stair detection sensors, which keep it from bumping into appliances and going down the stairs. This feature is a must-have if you have stairs, and plan to keep your vacuum in such areas.
Beyond just detecting hazards though, you'll want a robot vacuum that includes boundary markers. You can set these up to ensure that your vacuum doesn't go into certain areas. With the D80 vs D85, you'll notice the only the D85 has these markers.
Self-Charging
With life keeping you busy, recharging things can be a hassle and impact your ability to clean if you have to recharge the vacuum yourself or swap out batteries. A unit that recharges itself when the battery is low will save you time and frustration from having to keep track of the battery levels yourself. Many robot vacuum units now return to their docking station when the battery signals it is low and recharge themselves.
How to choose the right one for You
While both Neato robot vacuums have amazing features and included accessories, it's important to choose the one that fits your needs and budget. By using this comparison of the Neato botvac D'series models, it can help you identify what features and functions are most important to maintain clean floors in your home. Both the Neato D80 and D85 are great robot vacuums, with similar features and high-performance cleaning capabilities, but when it comes to the Neato Botvac D80 vs D85, which one you choose is up to you.