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Neato Botvac D7 Connected Review

Derek Hales

Written By: Derek Hales

Updated on:

In the market for super smart robot vacuums, the Neato Botvac D7 is one of the newest models to hit the scene.

This model is the most advanced, and most expensive, that Neato currently offers.

High-End Robot Vacuum

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Neato Botvac D7

The Neato BotVac D7 is hard to beat. It can map your home, avoiding areas that you digitally block off with the touch of a finger. Furthermore, it has a long 120-minute run time, but it can clean even longer with the extended Recharge & Resume. For one of the best high-end robot vacuums on the market, that doesn’t require a lot of “babysitting”, the Neato BotVac D7 is solid from top to bottom.Check Price

Pros

  • Extended 120-minute run time with recharge & resume features that allow it to clean until the job is done.
  • “No-Go Lines” allow you to digitally draw lines on an app where you don’t want your Botvac to go.

Cons

  • Higher price tag than most robot vacuums on the market today, may make it a tougher sell.
  • D-style body may not allow for as tight of turns as a circular robot vacuum and could effect overall maneuverability.

It brings quite a few new features to the table that have previously been missing in past Neato robot vacuums as well as new features that are not found in any other robot vacuum, to date.

Let’s dive into our full Neato Botvac D7 review and see if it’s a good choice for you.

Table of Contents

  1. Accessories
  2. Cleaning Performance
  3. Maintenance
  4. Value
  5. Specs
  6. Summary

Neato Botvac D7 Connected Design Features

The Neato Botvac D7 has a D-shaped body with black and silver aesthetics. It is the smartest robot vacuum that Neato currently produces. It includes:

  • advanced navigation
  • digital memory mapping
  • extended 120-minute run time
  • the ability to charge in the middle of a cycle and resume cleaning
  • scheduled cleanings
  • wireless connectivity
Neato BotVac D7 robot vacuum overall

Possibly one of the most advanced features is the inclusion of “No Go” lines.

These are digital lines you can draw on the Neato app on your smartphone after the Botvac has mapped your home. With these lines, you can easily mark off areas that you do not want Neato to clean.

With this technology, there are no physical boundaries, like the Shark BotBoundaries or even infrared boundaries, like Roomba’s virtual walls. You can make as many boundaries as you like, without restriction.

Neato BotVac D7 robot vacuum in use

With the Botvac D7, you can start, stop, or schedule a cleaning cycle using a couple different methods:

  1. Pressing a button on the vacuum (whole home clean or spot clean)
  2. Using a remote control (included)
  3. Using an app on your smartphone
  4. Using voice control, via Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Neato Chatbot, etc.

How Neato Cleans

The Neato Botvac D7 robot vacuum cleans using a full-width brushroll located at one end of the vacuum and a dual-wheel base. The full-width brushroll allows the vacuum to clean a wider area across the front of the vacuum, while a small spinning brush on the side, helps to collect fine debris from edges and corners.

Neato BotVac D7 robot vacuum underside

The on-board camera on the top of the vacuum is used for navigation and digital memory mapping. The navigation lines of this particular model are generally straight and concise, unlike the random zig-zag of other robot vacuum models.

The digital map that the D7 produces allows you to use a tablet or smartphone to see exactly what areas your Botvac D7 is cleaning and if there are any trouble spots.

Neato BotVac D7 robot vacuum navigation

Once this map is established, you can use it to set up “No Go” lines. Simply drag your finger and make a line on your digital map to mark off areas that you don’t want the Neato to go into.

The Neato Botvac D7 is really one of the first robot vacuum models to use digital barrier lines, exclusively. If you prefer physical barriers or frequently move your vacuum around the house, this could be a potential downside. If that’s the case, you may want to check out the Neato Botvac D3 or Roomba 690, both of which use more traditional barriers.

Wonder how the Neato compares to Roomba? Find out in our Neato vs. Roomba robot battle.

How Big is the Neato Botvac D7?

The Neato Botvac D7 Connected is 15″ x 13.2″ and 3.9″ tall. It weighs about 8 pounds. Neato proudly boasts their extended brushroll length, which is 10.9″ long.

  • Height – 3.9″
  • Width – 13.2″
  • Depth – 12.5″
  • Weight – 8 pounds
Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum size dimensions

What accessories come with the Botvac D7?

The Neato Botvac D7 Connected has most of its features and technology built into the body of the vacuum, resulting in fewer add-on accessories and extra parts.

The Neato Botvac D7 Connected includes the following:

Neato BotVac D7 connected robot vacuum brushroll

SPIRAL COMBO BRUSHROLL | The Neato D7 brushroll is designed to agitate and collect debris from the floor into the dust bin, without tangling debris.

Neato BotVac D7 connected robot vacuum spinning brush

SPINNING BRUSH | This brush helps capture debris from corners and edges; comes installed in the vacuum.

Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum filter

FILTER | The filter that is included with the Botvac D7 Connected is the “Ultra High Performance” filter, not found on the Botvac D3 or Botvac D80 / D85.

Neato Botvac D7 robot vacuum boundary strips

BOUNDARY STRIP | This boundary strip can be used as a physical barrier, in cases where you may not want to use the digital “No Go” lines on the wireless app.

Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum cleaning tool

CLEANING BRUSH | The cleaning brush included is used clean the brushroll and filter. Proper maintenance helps these parts to last longer.

Cleaning Tests

To assess cleaning performance, we looked at a mix of third party reviews and coverage maps to help determine the quality of clean that the Neato Botvac D7 Connected provides, as well as any common complaints or issues that users had.

The cleaning performance testing is made up of a series of third-party reviews and comments from real users. We highlighted notes or comments that were mentioned the most, regarding overall cleaning, in an effort to get a feel of the overall performance.

Some comments by users state the following about the Neato Botvac D7 Connectedrobot vacuum:

“It plans its route and doesn’t bounce around aimlessly, so I feel confident it cleaned everything.” – JG

Anything that it drove over was picked up and the only places left dirty were the very corners of the room, which it got close to but never quite reached.” – Brian R.

The maps below are real cleaning report maps provided by real users. The light blue shows areas that the Neato cleaned during the cycle.

Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum - cleaning performance map
Cleaning Performance Map

From these reports, it looks like Neato is capable of tackling small square layouts, like a studio apartment as well as much larger, complicated layouts—like the layout on the right. Considering space for furnishings, neither layout had large spaces that were not cleaned.

Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum - cleaning performance map
Cleaning Performance Map

RELATED – Bad at cleaning? Learn how to vacuum here and get on a house cleaning schedule

Is the Botvac D7 Easy to Use?

Usability for the Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum is quite good, considering how autonomously it runs, once set up. There are only a few parts to this vacuum and most of them, as listed above. which helps make this model easier to understand.

CONTROLS | One feature about the Botvac D7 which increases usability, is all the ways that you can control the vacuum: via a physical button on the robot, a remote control, your smartphone, tablet, or even voice control with Amazon Alexa or Neato Chatbot.

Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum usability

SETTING UP THE APP | Setting up the app is fairly simple and just requires a few steps. Grab your smartphone or tablet, download the Neato app and create an account.

You’ll need to log into your email to verify your account and the follow the prompts to pair your vacuum to your device. A fast blue blinking light means that the D7 has lost its wifi connection.

If you’re not especially tech-savvy, setting up the wifi connectivity or voice control may be a bit tricky, but it’s not something you have to do for every cleaning cycle.

RELATED – For more easy to use vacuums see our best vacuums guide and our best cheap robot vacuums primer.

CUSTOM CLEANING CYCLES | For custom cleaning cycles, you can use the digital “No Go” lines with the Neato app, you can also use the included Botvac Boundary Strips. These strips can be applied directly to the floor and when the Neato senses the strip, it reverses direction and does not continue past the boundary.

Maneuverability

It is fairly easy for the Neato Botvac D7 Connected to maneuver around. Its D-shaped body does help it reach into corners and along edges and the addition of the small spinning brush helps capture additional small debris as well.

That being said, there were a few consumer comments that mentioned it having trouble reaching the furthest corners. Depending on the layout and style of your home, this may be something to consider.

Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum profile

The navigation on the Neato Botvac D7 Connected is top notch. The on-board camera and advanced sensors help to prevent the D7 from zigzagging around a space, aimlessly bumping into furniture and other obstacles.

  • Weight: 8 pounds
  • Battery: 4,200 mAh
  • Height: 3.9
  • Turning: 360°

Lastly, the ability to recharge mid-cleaning cycle helps to ensure that the Neato can get the job done, even if tricky areas may take it a bit longer. The D7 Connected can recharge and then resume cleaning, remembering the exact areas that it has already cleaned so no time is wasted.

Maintenance Tasks & Costs

The following table indicates the frequency at which you will likely want to replace the various parts and components of the vacuum. However, your individual experiences may vary

Accessory / PartReplacement FrequencyReplacement Cost
Filter1-2 monthsCheck Price
Brushroll6-12 monthsCheck Price
Spinning Brush6-12 monthsCheck Price
Battery12-18 monthsCheck Price
Boundary Marker (13')OptionalCheck Price

Quality cleaning performance and proper maintenance go hand-in-hand for the Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum. Here is a quick list of items you’ll need to maintain in order to keep your Neato running smoothly.

  • Dust Bin: Empty the dust bin regularly and wipe away any stuck-on debris or collected fibers.
  • Filter: Use the cleaning tool to brush off the filter regularly and replace as needed.
  • Underside Sensors: Use a dry cotton swap to clean the drop sensors on the underside of the vacuum.
  • Top Sensors: Use a dry cotton swap to a soft cloth to wipe around the top sensors and laser top.

Annual costs to maintain the Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum can vary depending on use, but should land around $174 per year.

This is the cost of replacing the filter six times a year, one brushroll, two spinning brush and one battery. Considering maintenance costs of other similar robot vacuums on the market, I would consider this cost to be quite high.

Replacement Frequencies – In the table above we’re listed what Neato recommends. However, I find most of these to be on the extreme side, especially compared to what I’ve experienced with other similar robot vacuums.

Replacing the HEPA filters every 3-6 months, brushroll every 2-3 years, spinning brush every 6 months, and battery every 2 years, is a much more reasonable and realistic replacement schedule, in my opinion.

Following this more reasonable replacement frequency the annual replacement costs are around $76 / year. Which still feels high to me, but it’s much better than $174 / year.

If that still sounds like too much money to spend each year, take a look at the Roomba 890Eufy Robovac 11, and iLIfe A4s, all of which are around $30 / year.

How loud is the Botvac D7 Connected?

One feature that is unique to the D7 versus other competitive robot vacuums is the ability to clean at different intensities. There is an Eco mode and a Turbo mode.

Another reviewer made the following statement about the noise intensities of each mode:

“There’s a couple of modes that let you clean quietly, which is like hearing someone use a hairdryer on low, and a louder mode that lets you finish cleaning more quickly.” – Matt C.

Turbo mode offers a more powerful clean, but is also a bit louder and shortens the overall run time (maxes out around 90 minutes). Eco mode, on the other hand, is quieter and provides a longer time (up to 120 minutes).

How long does the Neato battery last?

All robot vacuums on Modern Castle are put through a standard assessment of battery size, run time, life, and replacement cost.

BatteryDetails
Size4,200 mAh
Charging Time2-3 hours
Run Time~120 minutes
Replacement CostCheck Price

The battery that comes with the Neato Botvac D7 Connected is Lithium-ion and has an extended 120-minute run time on regular mode or up to a 90-minute run time on Turbo mode.

Is Neato a Good Value?

To determine value, we look at all of the categories above and see how they compare across the board to the vacuum’s overall price.

Concerning design, how it cleans, accessories, cleaning performance, usability, maneuverability, and maintenance, I would say that this vacuum is generally a good value.

The D7 Connected is one of the first robot vacuums to use digital “No Go” lines to help with navigation, in addition to (or in lieu of) physical barriers. The navigation runs in a logical and methodical cleaning pattern, unlike older models which tended to meander more randomly until they ran into dirt, dust, or furniture.

The advanced features of this vacuum, makes it more autonomous and a model that doesn’t require much babysitting, especially with the extended 120-minute run time, and the ability to recharge and resume, mid-cycle.

That being said, the initial high price of this vacuum, combined with the high annual maintenance costs are certainly negative factors that prevent this vacuum from being a great value.

Neato Botvac D7 Specifications

Below is a complete list of important specifications and features included on the Neato Botvac D7 Connected robot vacuum:

Specifications
TypeRobot
ManufacturerNeato
ModelD7 Connected
Length13.2"
Width12.5"
Height3.9"
Weight8 lbs.
Floor TypeAll (indoor)
Battery4,200 mAh
Dust Bin CapacityUnknown
CordlessYes
BaglessYes
ReturnsVaries by retailer
Warranty1-Year limited
BuyBuy

Who Should Buy the Neato Botvac D7 Connected?

The Neato Botvac D7 Connected is a robot vacuum that is packed with bells-and-whistles. While the price tag is no easy pill to swallow, for the features that it provides, it may definitely be worth it to you.

I would recommend the Neato Botvac D7 Connected if you’re looking for the following features in a robot vacuum:

  • Extended run time – If you are looking for a vacuum that can tackle the mess of a larger home with an extended 120-minute run time, the D7 Connected may be a great option. Not only is the general run time quite lengthy, but it also has the ability to charge up in the middle of a cleaning cycle, if needed. Once juiced up, the Botvac D7 will return to the spot it left off and finish its cleaning cycle.
  • Memory mapping – If you want to know exactly where your Botvac has been, the D7’s digital map reports provides a great summary and map of your home, via connection to a smartphone or tablet. This feature allows you to identify trouble spots that it may be missing during its cycle.
  • Digital boundaries – With Neato’s digital “No Go” lines, you can block off sensitive areas of your home with a swipe of your finger, using your smartphone or tablet and it doesn’t require a physical boundary for each area. Of course, if you prefer the physical boundaries, the Botvac D7 does includes 13′ of boundary strips.

For more information on the Neato Botvac D7 Connected visit here.

Please note that this review is based on our assessment of the features, accessories, software, specifications, and 3rd party reviewer experiences. We have not yet tested the Neato Botvac D7. As such, some of the above review scores deviate from our typical scoring methodology. These will be updated when we have completed our full test.

Update Log

  • August 6, 2018 – Updated the review score as part of our site-wide 1.0 scoring overhaul. Score increased from 91% to 94%.
High-End Neato Robot
  • Design - 95%
    95%
  • Performance - 94%
    94%
  • Quality - 93%
    93%
  • Usability - 93%
    93%
  • Value - 93%
    93%
94%

Summary

The Neato Botvac D7 is the most advanced robot vacuum that Neato builds. It has an impressive 2 hour battery life and uses laser based navigation. The virtual “no go” lines allow you to block off areas of your home where you don’t want Neato to go. In addition, you can set specific zones to clean, providing greater control to the user.

About Derek Hales

Derek HalesDerek Hales is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ModernCastle.com. He has been featured in Fast Company, Reader's Digest, Business Insider, Realtor.com, She Knows, and other major publications. Derek has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University. Hales has been testing and reviewing products for the home since 2014.