Customer Ratings & Reviews

Neato Robotics - Botvac 80 Bagless Robotic Vacuum - Purple is a good robot must have in your house.

We bought a Neato Botvac 80 as a replacement for previous Neato XV-21 which had stopped working. When the XV-21 died we didn’t immediately go right out and buy the Botvac 80 because it wasn’t available yet. While we liked our XV-21 and we used it pretty hard it only lasted about 19 months. We felt like it needed improvements. The pricing for the XV-21 hadn’t dropped either. It was still a $450 to $500 purchase. We felt if we waited either Neato would create a new model or another company would. We waited over 4 months and with the Botvac 80 it was worth the wait. Before we talk about the Botvac 80, we describe the major issues with the XV-21 first. We have 2 dogs, one with very long fur. Buying a robot vacuum doesn’t totally replace the need for a regular vacuum but it is a huge help in keeping the dog fur under control. The XV-21 was our first robot vacuum. On the plus side: it really made a difference in picking up the dog fur and we also noticed a significant reduction in dust. Any room where the XV-21 was used regularly required far less dusting. Over time the shortcomings of the robot became apparent. These include: the Ni Cad batteries, path finding, fur tangling up the unit, and charging dock. Batteries: It didn’t take long for the battery capacity to decline. At first one charge would clean an entire 12 x12 room no problem, but it didn’t take long before the robot would need to recharge before it could finish a room. As the batteries declined, many times the robot would not be able to return to the charging station. We would have to pick it up and carry it back. The first set lasted about 6 months. When the first set died Neato said they don’t warranty the batteries and suggested after market batteries with higher capacity. The higher capacity batteries didn’t make much difference. In about 18 months we purchased 2 more sets of batteries at $100 plus for each set. This really adds to the cost of ownership. On average we ran the robot 5 days out of 7 in rooms with carpet. Rooms with wood or tile floors didn’t use near as much battery charge as carpeted rooms. Path Finding: Overall the unit did a good job of navigating rooms and around objects but we were never able to successfully have the robot clean one room and then continue to the next. It would lose it’s way back to the charging station and run the batteries down leaving it stranded. This made the scheduling function pretty much useless. We found it most effective to clean one room at a time, then charge the robot and carry it to the next room. The robot will also get stuck under furniture or in corners. We found it best to mark off some furniture or corners or pick up objects off the floor before running the robot. Charging unit: We never could get the unit stable on carpet so that the robot would reliably dock and charge. On Wood or tile no problem. We pulled the cable out of the docking station and plugged the cable directly into the robot. Over time the connection loosened and sometime would not make good connection to charge. Fur tangling up the unit: Long dog fur would tangle in the drive belt for the beater brush and the unit would stop. Same thing happened to the drive wheels. The dust bin seemed too small. The intake path to the dust bin would also become packed and clogged, meaning that at the end of the run the robot was no longer picking up fur and dirt. So we have to run the robot a second time in the room. After waiting 4 months, it was worth the wait. Neato did a good job of improving on the issues we had with the XV-21. Batteries: The capacity has been increased and the recharge times have dropped. Still not Lithium Ion (which would really be nice) and only time will tell but it appears the batteries have been noticeably improved. Have not seen the drop off in capacity yet. Path finding: Have not tried to schedule and let it work on multiple rooms. Still gets stuck under furniture and some corners but seems better a remembering areas to avoid. We still manually place and retrieve in each room we use it in. We also still move objects before running. Charging dock: Big improvement in the design. Now works well on carpet. Fur tangling: They have covered the drive belt which prevents fur from clogging the drive. The drive wheels remain similar but we haven’t had them clog yet. Other improvements: Width: the unit is wider. This means it takes fewer passes to cover an area. Perhaps this helps with battery life. Even though the unit is wider it doesn’t seem to be an issue with getting stuck any more than the XV-21. The beater brush is longer and dust bin is much larger, it doesn’t clog the intake near as often. Edge Brush: Similar to a Rumba, it now has a spinning brush on one side. This seems to do a better job around the base boards. This was something the XV-21 didn’t have so it couldn’t get the ½” next to the base boards clean. The brush is magnetically attached and it very easy to remove and replace when servicing the beater brush. If you have a larger house it will not clean every room everyday but all things considered, for us, the positives outweigh the negatives. We would recommend a robot vacuum to anyone with dogs. The Neato Botvac 80 is a big improvement over the XV-21. The only unknown for us is still the battery life.

I had read reviews that this model was noisy, yet it is less noisy than my upright. It cleans very well, and gets under the bed and other furniture we forget about because the regular vac won't go there. It was having a bit of a struggle with the bedroom carpet and I thought it was too low for that thicker carpet, but as I have used it -and been more thorough in using the upright - it is no longer struggling. It was simply working hard to get up the hair and dirt. With a dog and a cat, there is a lot of hair shed and this Botvac has really done a great job of cleaning that up, especially under furniture and corners we tend to forget. It also doesn't meander and miss areas like I have seen other brands of robotic vacuums do. Around the edges first, then systematic back and forth across the middle of the room. I love this Botvac and am glad I got it!

After 9 months of use I would definitely buy it again, especially with a 20% disc. coupon & compared to higher priced Roomba (had 2 before this one). Picks up pet hair (10 month old German Sheppard and 3 mature cats) and other small debris well across carpet, tile and our short pile rugs. It almost always returns home to charge when needed. The magnetic barrier strips are pretty good (dog and cats occasionally think we left them out as chew toys), but generally let it roam the entire downstairs area. The vacuum time (before returning for re-charge) is a little longer than the collection bin capacity, especially with a Sheppard (wow, didn't know they shed that much). It was ok before adding the dog. Of course, that can be better managed by using the mag strips. There are few issues: gets stuck in a few spots: under couch edge (device is a hair too tall) and a couple accent tables with low profile footing). The device will beep when it needs help. It's not quiet...way too loud to effectively hear the TV, read or talk on phone if it's running in the same room. Overall grade: A

Aside from the styling, the side brush is a great upgrade from the original unit and while it's not perfect, it definitely helps get the stuff out from the corners. And the units is about 10db quieter than the original model so it makes a definite difference in being unobtrusive while cleaning. Now just can't wait for the next gen with longer running batteries as running for only 1 hour and then charging for an hour makes for a long day of cleaning.

This isn't going to pick up every ounce of dirt in corners or in tough areas, but it does a good job in maintaining decent looking floors and carpet, it even leaves carpet lines. It travels in a semi strategic path and doesn't slam into things. It's pretty smart and can usually correct itself. It's cleaned up well behind 2 cats and dogs that come to visit often. The only reason I rate it 4 stars instead of 5 is because it's a rather new purchase and I'm just hoping it keeps up the good work for the next couple of years.

I have 2 Neato's that are the previous model. Both eventually had issues. Neato Robotics cheerlully sent replacements multiple times, but after a couple off weeks, the replacements would die. I finally gave up and am awaiting for a refund on one of the units. I really really liked having the robots cleaning my home each day. They really work well keeping the cat hair and litter under control. That is why I keep trying. That is why I decided to purchase the new model. The new model has a new name, Botvac. There are many improvements so it does deserve a new name. It is a little larger than the previous model. It is much quieter than the older model. You don't have to watch a video to figure out how to clean the brush. Hair doesn't get wrapped around the center of the brush. It has a side brush, but mine never would stay on and actually got sucked up into the brush and bin. The boundary markers don't seem to work as well with this model as the previous model. I am not really sure why that is. It pushes the strip around until it can go around it. Not all the time, but more often than not. The new model also has a different battery than the older model. The unit runs a lot longer before needing to return to the charging base. Love these bots over Roomba, it goes back out and resumes where it left off. I could probably use this one unit to clean my whole house, but since I still have the one old one that is working for now, I won't try it until the older unit eventually dies. I would rate it higher, but it is very expensive, the side brush won't stay on, it doesn't work as well as the previous model with the boundary markers. Overall it does clean well. It is amazing how much it picks up. I have not used my regular vac since I got these.

This house cleaning robot has given me freedom from dirt and work. It works very well and is always parked and ready for the next time I need him. I have hardwood floors and a dog and the amount of dust and hair picked up every other day is amazing. There is a little learning curve for both of you but if your house is pretty wide open this little guy rocks. Best thing I've bought in years.

This product has made keeping the floors clean a snap. It is amazing how well it does. I wasn't expecting it to perform this good gathering dust, dander, hair, sand and other small items that you normally would sweep up. You do have to sweep areas the Botvac cannot get to. Give it a few days to train to see what it will clean. As stated in the instructions you do need to have cords and other items located where they are not in the way. If it does get hung up, and it will, it will stay there until it is freed. It can get lost and you have to look for it but after three weeks of use it has only happened a few times. It returns to the charging station when the battery needs charging. Please note Best Buy DOES NOT have the filter for the Botvac 80 unit. I have not checked for the battery. It reports to work promptly as scheduled. I’ve never had anyone work for me that was so dependable.

Occasionally a few glitches, like sometimes getting stuck between the legs of a small, free-standing vanity that I have. The width between the legs is barely enough for the Neato to get in and out of. Also, the first time it cleaned, it got hung up on the heater floor grate (old house), but I now use the magnetic strips that it comes with to keep it off the grate. It always amazes me how much dirt and dog hair it picks up. Neato does a great job! Personally, I don't like to run it when I'm not home, but that's not a problem for me. The one real disaster I had was when naughty doggie pooped on the rug and I was unaware. Neato ran over it and it got smooshed into the beater bar and all over the underside of Neato and into all it's cracks and crevices. I very carefully disassembled Neato (Youtube) and was able to completely clean all. Overall, very happy with the vacuuming capability and love that it gets all the dustbunnies from under the bed and under our tall legged couch, every time. My floors have never been so consistently clean as I run Neato every other day. My floors are all wood with a few area rugs. Not sure how it would perform on very plush or shaggy carpet.

This little device is simply awesome, and if it could get from the living room to the kitchen, i would give it 5 stars. It's a straight shot, and he goes from the living room, to the entry way, thru a dining room, thru a hallway, into the kitchen. He can literally see a clear path from the living room, but when he decides to go to the kitchen, he makes the bee-line thru the entry way, dining room, hallway, etc. It's hilarious. Then entire family gets a kick out of watching him work. He's become an extra pet for us. Cleanup is a breeze. Did I say how much fun he is? We have 3 dogs, and he sucks up more hair than I even thought was on the floor. Does a great job on both normal carpet and hardwood. Gets stuck on deep shaggy rugs (like fake fur, super fuzzy rugs). Tries to climb into the entertainment center, but it has a black glass bottom shelf, and apparently that confuses his sensors. He gives up pretty quickly. He's never fallen down the stairs. We dont normally have him upstairs though. It's awesome to wake up in the morning, and have the entire downstairs vacuumed every day. Whoo Whoo!!!

I have two golden retrievers, for those who don't know they shed a lot. This vacuum has greatly decreased the amount of dog hair in my home. I run it daily as I'm getting ready for work and it navigates the house very well. Just make sure you place the charging station in a centralized location so it can find it when it's done cleaning. This unit is slim enough to go under the beds and does a great job going into different rooms and still managing to find it's way back to the charger with no issues. I had a roomba a few years ago and was not happy with it's ability to pick up dog hair, this Neato is much much better if you have pets.

I purchased a Neato about six weeks ago and use it once or twice weekly. It is easy to operate and goes back to the station when done. I got the robot because I was tired of vacuuming up pet hair all the time. This works for me and picks up more than I expected. I found it necessary to get an extra boundary marker to keep away from areas where it got stuck ie under a cabinet and my counter stools. Rug fringe also causes it to get stuck so I am getting a rug without fringe. Would definitely recommend this to make life easier. I still need to use a regular vacuum to clean baseboards and sliding door tracks but spend less time cleaning using the robot.

very smart, picks up a lot of dust and dirt. Fits under bed and couches. Returns to home and recharges by itself.

I went to best buy to buy a roomba vacuum. As I was standing there looking over the product. A best buy sales guy stopped over and suggested that I give the Neato a look. I normally don't listen to them because my mind is already made up. But I'm glad I did this time. He told me why it's better and what not. I look At the reviews on it people seemed very happy with it. Get it. U won't regret it. My carpets look better than ever

This product is well used at our house. We recently converted from carpet to hardwood and run the vacuum daily with the exception of Sunday. It is amazing how much dirt and pet hair it collects daily. The only two negatives would be it is a little noisy if we are home and the house is a little to big and the vacume has to go back to its station to recharge before completing the job. We named him Doug.

I've always been a Roomba owner but after my last one kicked the bucket I went with the Neato. It's been the best robotic vacuum by far. I have two hairy white dogs that shed excessively on dark wood floors. Neato picks up the hair better than Roomba ever did. Also, it's way more quiet than any other vacuum. I schedule it to run at night and it never wakes me from my sleep. Best Buy yet!

I purchased this vac bot for my wife as a mothers day gift. I thought she would enjoy a helping hand around the house. I was right! My wife use to come home in the evening and either sweep or vacuum our living area every day. I set the bot to do its thing everyday about an hour before we arrive home. Now she actually comes home and can tell that the bot has done its job. Additionally, the bot now cleans under beds, coaches, tables, and just about everywhere it can fit. The proof is in the bin. Our house is very clean, but when was the last time you vacuumed under your bed? Now we vacuum under our bed everyday. I have a small dog, and they seem to get along fine. The dog just watches as it moves around the house. It does get caught up on some stuff. It got caught on the bathroom rug once, and it loves to get caught on the dog's toys that it finds about the house. I went to the store and compared all the models. This model has a larger bin, which I recommend. This bin is emptied once a week. Anything smaller would be totally inconvenient. It also has the best features of all the Neato or Roomba bots available. All in all, happy wife, happy life and the bot makes her happy. If you are looking for a vac bot, this one is the best.

I have 2 kids so the biggest drawback has been that I have to pre-clean the floor-meaning I have to pick up a million toys & make sure there isnt anything loose on the floor or the neato will attempt to clean it up...and then it gets stuck in the brush & waits for you to help it out. That means if you arent home, and 5 mins after you leave a toy gets stuck, then it will just sit there till you can come help it out. Other than that-it is fantastic. I love this thing. It works harder than I do so that means I get to play with my kids more. I also dont think its that loud, but my husband would disagree so it will depend on what you consider a vacuum to be loud.

Love it. Got my house cleaner than I thought possible. Only problem was vacuum getting stuck in areas I didn't think it would try. You do need to watch if you have areas it may get stuck. Other than that it wasn't a big deal to pull out and continue its course.