Neato Robotics announced both the Neato Botvac D4 Connected and the D6 at the IFA 2018. The company aims to plug the gaps in its line up and update its robot vacuums. The Neato Botvac D4 Connected will replace the Botvac D3. Meanwhile, the Botvac D6 Connected sits between the Botvac D5 and the company’s new flagship model: the D7 (my full review here!).
What can you expect from both models?
Neato Botvac D4 Connected
The Neato Botvac D4 Connected is currently priced at $499 (Check out the latest rates here!) and comes with the features and functionalities that you have come to expect from Neato’s robot vacuums. It has the unique D shape that allows the robot vacuum to use a broader brush than those you see on round robots, as well as a flat sides that allow it to get closer to walls and edges.
Laser navigation
The Botvac D4 Connected also features the company’s LaserSmart navigation technology, which scans your floors to create virtual maps. The robot vacuum will then use this map to navigate its way around to ensure that it does not miss any spot. The virtual maps are also very useful in letting the D4 resume cleaning where it left off, just in case it runs out of battery midway through a cleaning session.
Combo brush
The Neato Botvac D4 Connected does not only “see” your floors, but it can clean it very well. The Botvac D4 Connected has a combo brush that takes up almost the entire length of the robot. The combo brush is wider than the ones you see on other robots such as a Roomba. With a powerful suction, the brush can easily clean hardwood floors, as well as tiled or carpeted floors.
The Neato Botvac D4 Connected can cover 10.86 inches of your floors with a single pass. More than that, it comes with a 0.7-liter dustbin and uses the company’s high-performance filter.
Connected
The Neato Botvac D4 Connected connects to your Wi-Fi network. You can then pair it with a mobile app and control things from there. You can start, stop, pause, or resume a cleaning session using the mobile app. You can also utilize the companion app to create virtual no-go lines that would keep the robot vacuum out of areas where you do not want it to clean. To set boundaries with your robot vacuum, you only have to draw lines on the map created by the Botvac D4 Connected.
On top of the smartphone app, you can also control the Botvac D4 Connected using voice commands if you have Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant speakers. Neato also offers a chatbot on Facebook. Moreover, it works with IFTTT recipes.
Other features
The Neato Botvac D4 Connected can clean for up to an hour and fifteen minutes. The long battery life allows the Botvac D4 Connected to finish cleaning your apartment or house without needing a recharge. In the event, however, that it does not finish cleaning, the Botvac D4 Connected will go back to its charging dock and calculate just how much charge it needs to finish the job. The robot vacuum will get just enough battery juice to go back to where it left off and finish cleaning.
The quick boost charging is a nifty feature that allows you to save time. Rather than wait for the robot to get fully charged, you will only need to wait until it has recharged enough to resume cleaning the remainder of the room.
Another feature worth noting is the Gentle Navigation mode. This mode tells the robot to be extra careful so that it does not bump violently into vases, furniture legs, and other obstacles.
What you would like about the Neato Botvac D4 Connected
Because it uses lasers instead of cameras to create maps of your floors, you do not have to worry about the Neato Botvac D4 Connected not being able to clean in the dark. While a camera would need your room to be brightly lit in order to create floor maps, the lasers work even in low light conditions.
The Neato Botvac D4 Connected delivers a thorough clean, which should be the primary consideration in choosing a robot vacuum.
What could be better
The virtual no-go lines only work if you use the smartphone app. Additionally, the dustbin can fill up rather quickly, which means that you would need to empty it out often, especially in the beginning. Lastly, you would need to charge it for up to 100 minutes for a maximum run time of 75 minutes. This might not really be ideal for bigger houses.
Reviews and ratings for the Neato Botvac D4 Connected
Neato Botvac D4 Connected impresses a lot of people. On Amazon, verified buyers give it an average of 4.2 stars out of 5.0. Positive reviews talk about the robot vacuum’s performance in cleaning up pet hair. They also like the quick boost charging feature, and the cleaning and navigation system. However, there are some complaints about how noisy the Neato Botvac D4 Connected is. There are also concerns about the robot often getting stuck under the couch or about its small dustbin. Others lamented that the robot vacuum does not include a cleaning tool.
Final recommendation
The Neato Botvac D4 Connected is a tough act to follow. With a mid-range price, the robot vacuum offers users features and functionalities that are found on more expensive models. It also cleans rather well. How does the Neato Botvac D6 Connected compare?
The Neato Botvac D6 Connected
The Neato Botvac D6 Connected was introduced on the same day as the Botvac D4. It is $200 more expensive than the D4. The Botvac D6 has a brushed metal look that makes it look very elegant.
Similarities with Neato Botvac D4 Connected
A long list of features are present on both the Botvac D4 and Botvac D4ahrom-20″]D6 Connected[/easyazon_link]. Firstly, these robot vacuums both have the iconic D shape that Neato is known for. These models use the LaserSmart mapping technology that allows the robot to scan your floors and create maps that it will use to find its way around your room. Both models are also able to connect to your Wi-Fi network, on the 2.4 GHz band.
They also have the same connected features, allowing you to use the smartphone app to control the robots or use voice commands if you have Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant at home. These robot vacuums both work with IFTTT recipes, and you can use the Neato Chatbot on Facebook to start cleaning.
As for app features, both the D6 and the D4 show you where it has cleaned via the coverage maps and cleaning reports. You can also get cleaning histories and statistics. Furthermore, you can use the mobile app to set up no-go lines.
When it comes to cleaning, the D4 and the D6 both have eco and turbo modes, extra care navigation, and spot cleaning.
The difference between the Neato Botvac D4 and the Botvac D6 Connected
There are also several details where the Botvac D6 Connected differs from the D4
Filter
The Neato Botvac D4 uses a high-performance filter that is great at trapping fine dust and dirt particles so that these do not recirculate in the air that you breathe. The Botvac D6 uses the Ultra Performance filter that can trap smaller particles that are 0.3 microns or larger. This filter also comes with a screen that makes it easier to clean.
Combo brush vs. spiral combo brush
The combo brush you see on the Botvac D4 Connected is great for pet hair pickup and can be used to efficiently clean all floor types. This all-around brush is easily removed so that you can clean it as often as you want. Meanwhile, the Neato Botvac D6 uses a spiral comb brush that delivers a more thorough sweeping of your floors. This is ideal for homeowners with pets and those who suffer from allergies. The spiral combo brush picks up more dirt and pet hair than the combo brush.
Side brush
The Botvac D4 does not have a side brush, while the Neato Botvac D6 Connected uses one. Having a side brush helps the Botvac D6 clean a wider area in a single pass.
Multiple floor plans
The Botvac D4 and D6 both have LaserSmart technology, but the D4 cannot handle multiple floor plans. The Neato Botvac D6 allows you to store up to three floor plans on the Neato app.
Find Me feature
The Find Me feature is a useful addition to the Neato Botvac D6. In the event that your robot vacuum gets lost under a piece of furniture, you can activate this feature. The Neato Botvac D6 will beep for five seconds to tell you where it is.
A side-by-side comparison of the Neato Botvac D6 Connected and the Botvac D4 Connected
To make it easier for you to choose between these two models, here is a comparison chart to help you see the difference between the Botvac D4 and the Botvac D6.
| Model | Botvac D4 Connected | Botvac D6 Connected |
| Price | $499.00 (Check out the latest rates here!) | $699.00 (Check out the latest rates here!) |
LaserSmart mapping & navigation |
Yes | Yes |
| D-Shape design | Yes | Yes |
| Filter type | High Performance | Ultra Performance |
| Brush type | Combo Brush | Spiral Combo Brush |
| Side brush | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Connectivity | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| Smartphone app | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch, | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Echo, | Yes | Yes |
| Google Home, | Yes | Yes |
| Neato Chatbot for Facebook, | Yes | Yes |
| IFTTT | Yes | Yes |
| Cleaning summary with coverage maps | Yes | Yes |
| Cleaning history & statistics | Yes | Yes |
| No-Go Lines | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple floor plans | No | Yes |
| Zone cleaning | No | No |
| Eco/Turbo cleaning modes | Yes | Yes |
| Spot clean | Yes | Yes |
| Extra care navigation | Yes | Yes |
| Manual drive remote control | No | No |
| Find me | No | Yes |
| Coverage and Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Auto recharge | Yes | Yes |
| Auto resume after charging | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum runtime (minutes) | 75 | 120 |
| (Robot can auto-recharge up to 2x per cleaning cycle) | Yes | Yes |
| Quick boost charging | Yes | Yes |
Ratings and reviews for the Neato Botvac D6 Connected
This robot vacuum gets an average rating of 4.2 stars out of 5.0 on Amazon. Verified buyers can attest that the Neato Botvac D6 Connected (my full review here!) delivers on its promised features and has an excellent cleaning performance. There are also reviewers who say that when the D6 finishes its job, their regular upright vacuum cleaners had no more dust to pick up. Others also praise the customer service that Neato gives their customers. There were others who like the fact that this robot charges very quickly and works quietly.
However, some reviewers warn potential buyers about a couple of things. There are complaints about the D6 Connected’s seemingly random cleaning patterns. They also complain about the “fin” that is found on top of the robot vacuum, which makes it easier for the robot to get stuck under furniture. They also say that this robot vacuum might not deliver a thorough cleaning on tiled floors.
Further read,
- Ultimate Botvac Battle! Neato Botvac D3 vs. D6
- Neato Botvac D4 Connected vs. Roomba 960: Which is Best?
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