Best Robot Vacuum

Also saw this monstrosity at work

5baabd331a5926c3a24403831bc570d8.jpg
 
Tinuva said:
It just spray water from what I can tell. It's not a robot tho, had a pilot downstairs with a remote and another guy helping the hose along.
Click to expand...

Yeah I figured that much. Drone tech is going crazy everywhere, especially in farming.
 
Hi Guys,

So the time has come.
My 5-year-old Xiaomi 1C is still ticking along (replaced the battery a few months ago with a 5600mAh unit, so the things lasts forever now).

The issue is the water tank started leaking and filled the little mopping motor compartment with water, so it's FUBAR.
I'm going to move it to my upstairs living room since I've been needing a robot vacuum there for ages and carrying the thing up and down is annoying.

I was considering another Xiaomi, but I've been doing some research and came across this:

1764573421000.png

It's more than I want to spend and maybe a bit overkill, but the slightly cheaper model (DEEBOT N20e PLUS) doesn't list a battery replacement locally on the Ecovacs.co.za site and I can't find any local battery replacements for it.

It's a small nitpick, but being able to repair a R9K device in future is a big deal.
I see the consumables for this one is also a bit cheaper than the stuff for the cheaper model.

Does anyone have any experience with these or similar?
 
RaptorSA said:
Hi Guys,

So the time has come.
My 5-year-old Xiaomi 1C is still ticking along (replaced the battery a few months ago with a 5600mAh unit, so the things lasts forever now).

The issue is the water tank started leaking and filled the little mopping motor compartment with water, so it's FUBAR.
I'm going to move it to my upstairs living room since I've been needing a robot vacuum there for ages and carrying the thing up and down is annoying.

I was considering another Xiaomi, but I've been doing some research and came across this:

View attachment 1867676

It's more than I want to spend and maybe a bit overkill, but the slightly cheaper model (DEEBOT N20e PLUS) doesn't list a battery replacement locally on the Ecovacs.co.za site and I can't find any local battery replacements for it.

It's a small nitpick, but being able to repair a R9K device in future is a big deal.
I see the consumables for this one is also a bit cheaper than the stuff for the cheaper model.

Does anyone have any experience with these or similar?
Click to expand...

Currently going for R 7499 on ODO

www.onedayonly.co.za

61% off on DEEBOT N30 PRO OMNI Robot Vacuum Cleaner | OneDayOnly

Ecovacs DEEBOT N30 PRO OMNI Robot Vacuum Cleaner available to buy online at onedayonly.co.za, SA's best daily deals site, where EVERY day is Black Friday!
www.onedayonly.co.za www.onedayonly.co.za
 
RaptorSA said:
My 5-year-old Xiaomi 1C is still ticking along (replaced the battery a few months ago with a 5600mAh unit, so the things lasts forever now).
Click to expand...
Where do you get Xiaomi batteries? I am in need of one.
 
garyc said:
Where do you get Xiaomi batteries? I am in need of one.
Click to expand...

So Geewiz seems to actually stock some batteries that no-one else does.
I have to ride that robot halfway across the country to kill it after upgrading to this battery.

www.geewiz.co.za

Lithium-ion Battery for Xiaomi Mijia 1C Vacuum - 5600mAh

Battery: 5600mAh Easy to install Longer cleaning time Fully compatible with original chargers Dimensions: Approx. 137 x 45 x 40 mm Battery Part #: P1904 4S1P MM 230712
www.geewiz.co.za www.geewiz.co.za
 
lexor said:
Currently going for R 7499 on ODO

www.onedayonly.co.za

61% off on DEEBOT N30 PRO OMNI Robot Vacuum Cleaner | OneDayOnly

Ecovacs DEEBOT N30 PRO OMNI Robot Vacuum Cleaner available to buy online at onedayonly.co.za, SA's best daily deals site, where EVERY day is Black Friday!
www.onedayonly.co.za www.onedayonly.co.za
Click to expand...

Crap.
Not exactly how I wanted to spend my year-end money, but hard to say no to that.
This came at the perfect time, almost pulled the trigger on the R9K one this morning.

EDIT:
Nooooooo....

1764667554340.png
 
Last edited:
@garyc
A deal I couldn't resist this morning.
I can live without the self-cleaning mop feature, especially with a replacement part kit and 8 mop pads being so cheap.
Also, less moving parts to break.

1764913369931.png

Will run it for a while and make sure it works lekker.... then spend some extra bucks and make sure I'm sorted with replacement parts for the life of the thing.

(suggestion to anyone buying robo vacs, always buy a replacement battery if they're available, if the thing lasts 5+ years you're likely going to have a hard time getting a replacement battery at that point)

1764913409691.png

1764913433359.png
 
Last edited:
calypso said:
Neato is closing down

Surprised, this has not happened sooner. They have not built a new vacuum in 7 years.

Hopefully, this means we will be seeing more D Shaped (superior) vacuums from the other manufacturers soon.
Click to expand...
Just saw this:
support.neatorobotics.com

Announcement - 6th Oct 2025

Dear Neato Robotics community, Our promise has always been to deliver innovative products while protecting the trust and safety of our users. We want to address openly and clearly changes now taking place as we phase out Neato cloud servi...
support.neatorobotics.com support.neatorobotics.com

At least you will still be able to use it manually :ROFL:

Robots still work: Your Neato robot will continue to function manually. Simply press the button once to launch a full house run.
Click to expand...
 
RaptorSA said:
@garyc
A deal I couldn't resist this morning.
I can live without the self-cleaning mop feature, especially with a replacement part kit and 8 mop pads being so cheap.
Also, less moving parts to break.

View attachment 1868860

Will run it for a while and make sure it works lekker.... then spend some extra bucks and make sure I'm sorted with replacement parts for the life of the thing.

(suggestion to anyone buying robo vacs, always buy a replacement battery if they're available, if the thing lasts 5+ years you're likely going to have a hard time getting a replacement battery at that point)

View attachment 1868861

View attachment 1868862
Click to expand...

Damn that is tempting. The N series is considered their entry level range but there's nothing else that comes close at this price.

I was eyeing their T and X series but might just grab this
 
chickenbeef said:
Damn that is tempting. The N series is considered their entry level range but there's nothing else that comes close at this price.

I was eyeing their T and X series but might just grab this
Click to expand...

Yeah, some of the features on the other one I looked at were tempting, but there's no way to justify spending 2X as much.

This is a great deal, 4K is what I would expect to pay just for the vaccum, the self-cleaning bin in this case is a nice little extra.
I hope it lives up to expectations but I'm sure it will, the Xiaomi 1C iv'e been using for a long time works just fine for me, so I'm not spoiled in that regard.
 
Last edited:
RaptorSA said:
Yeah, some of the features on the other one I looked at were tempting, but there's no way to justify spending 2X as much.

This is a great deal, 4K is what I would expect to pay just for the vaccum, the self-cleaning bin in this case is a nice little extra.
I hope it lives up to expectations but I'm sure it will, the Xiaomi 1C iv'e been using for a long time works just fine for me, so I'm not spoiled in that regard.
Click to expand...

I just placed my order on it too, thanks for sharing!

Been pondering about it the whole day and then asked Gemini to do some research for me and compare it to the X20+. It basically said buy the N20 Pro now because the price is so good :laugh:

I have a Gen 1 Xiaomi Vacuum that's dedicated to my office space because the battery has had its days and it can only do 1 room now (it's over 6 years old and was used 3 times a week). For the rest of the house I have a S10+ that I got 2 years ago and is still going strong.

I think the mopping on the S10+ is better (rotary pads) than the N20 Pro but it doesn't have a dock so emptying it after each use is always a chore.

I'll be retiring the Gen 1 Xiaomi and moving the S10+ to my office. The N20 Pro will take over vacuuming the rest of the house.


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10. Synthesis and Final Recommendations​

The decision matrix for the South African consumer hinges on a single question: Is the primary goal vacuuming or mopping?

10.1 The Verdict on the Ecovacs N20 Pro Plus (R4,000)​

At this promotional price, the N20 Pro Plus is a market-distorting product. It offers specifications (8,000 Pa suction, dToF LiDAR, Auto-Empty Station) that effectively render every other robot under R8,000 obsolete.

  • Pros: Unmatched suction per Rand, zero consumable costs (bagless), excellent battery life, effective anti-tangle brush for pets.
  • Cons: Mopping is not autonomous (requires manual wash), obstacle avoidance is basic, emptying the bin is dusty.
  • Conclusion: If you view it primarily as a self-emptying vacuum that has the bonus ability to mop when you have time to supervise it, it is an incredible bargain. It is the best vacuuming robot available for the price, by a wide margin.

10.2 The Verdict on the Xiaomi X20+ (R9,000+)​

The Xiaomi X20+ is a lifestyle product. It delivers on the promise of "set and forget" floor care. The ability to wash its own mops and lift them over carpets makes it a true hybrid cleaner.

  • Pros: Full automation (wash/dry/refill/empty), superior mopping (rotary), mixed-floor capability (lift), stable app.
  • Cons: Significantly higher price, ongoing cost of bags, requires regular tank maintenance.
  • Conclusion: If budget allows, this is the superior experience. It removes the daily friction of floor care entirely. However, it is not 3x better at vacuuming than the N20 Pro Plus.

10.3 Final Strategic Recommendation​

Buy the Ecovacs N20 Pro Plus immediately. The R4,000 price point is an anomaly that likely represents a stock clearance or aggressive market share acquisition. The value proposition is simply too high to ignore. While the mopping requires manual intervention, the R5,000–R8,000 saving compared to the X20+ allows for the purchase of spare parts, extended warranties, or even a second robot for another floor of the house.

Who should skip the deal? Only users with a high budget who absolutely refuse to touch a dirty mop pad, or those with complex homes mixing tile and carpet in every room who require the mop-lifting feature for a single-pass clean, should bypass the N20 Pro Plus in favor of the Xiaomi X20+. For everyone else, the N20 Pro Plus is the definitive choice for the current market moment.
 
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