Neato Botvac D7  Robot Vacuum Review

Reviewed Jul 09, 2020 at 08:41am
Test bench update Sep 07, 2022 at 04:19pm
Tested using Methodology v0.6 
Neato Botvac D7

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The Neato Botvac D7, like its name implies, is a uniquely D-shaped automated vacuum. It does a very good job of cleaning bare floors and unlike many other robot vacuums, it's able to climb on to and clean high-pile carpet fairly well. It can last up to two hours before it needs to be charged, and it can also automatically mount itself to its charging dock, so you don't have to worry about remembering to recharge it. This robot vacuum can be paired with its companion app for even more features, including creating boundary lines as well as remote control access while it's operating, which can be handy for tackling more difficult areas. It's also designed to be fairly easy to maintain; however, there are quite a few recurring costs involved.

Our Verdict

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Bare Floor 

The Neato Botvac D7 is very good to use on bare floors. It does an outstanding job cleaning bare floors and it can easily pick up pet hair, as well as small and large debris. It has a great build quality, although its dirt compartment isn't visible, so you have to monitor it as it fills up. While it's fairly easy to maintain, it has a lot of recurring costs.

Pros
  • Cleans pet hair on all surface types.
  • Fairly easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Many recurring costs.
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Low-Pile Carpet 

The Neato Botvac D7 is alright for low-pile carpet. It does a decent job on this surface type, and it can easily clean up pet hair and most large debris. It does struggle a bit more with small debris like baking soda, though. This vacuum has a great build quality and it's fairly easy to maintain. Still, it has a lot of recurring costs.

Pros
  • Cleans pet hair on all surface types.
  • Fairly easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Struggles to pick up small debris.
  • Many recurring costs.
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High-Pile Carpet 

The Neato Botvac D7 is okay for high-pile carpet. Unlike many other robot vacuums, it has no problem moving around on this surface type, but it struggles to pick up both small and large debris. It can pick up pet hair pretty successfully, though. While it has a great build quality, you can't see the dirt compartment to know if it needs to be emptied, and it has many recurring costs. Luckily it's fairly easy to maintain.

Pros
  • Cleans pet hair on all surface types.
  • Fairly easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Struggles to pick up small and large debris.
  • Many recurring costs.
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Pets 

The Neato Botvac D7 is excellent for cleaning pet hair. It can tackle pet hair on any surface type, and its automated design makes cleaning easy when your cat or dog constantly sheds. It has a great build quality, and it's also fairly easy to maintain. However, there are quite a few recurring costs with this vacuum.

Pros
  • Cleans pet hair on all surface types.
  • Fairly easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Many recurring costs.
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Stairs 

The Neato Botvac D7 isn't designed to be used on stairs.

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Cars 

The Neato Botvac D7 is a robot vacuum and it's not designed to be used to clean cars.

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Workshop 
  • 0.0
    Bare Floor
  • 0.0
    Low-Pile Carpet
  • 0.0
    High-Pile Carpet
  • 0.0
    Pets
  • 0.0
    Stairs
  • 0.0
    Cars
  • 0.0
    Workshop
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Sep 07, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.6.
    2.  Updated Sep 06, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.5.
    3.  Updated Jul 09, 2020: Review published.

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    Popular Robot Vacuum Comparisons

    The Neato Botvac D7 is a robot vacuum. Although its battery life doesn't last as long as the Roborock S5 or eufy RoboVac 30C, it has a shorter charge time. It's exceptional and bare floors and it also has surprisingly decent performance on high-pile carpet, especially as other robot vacuums like the Roborock S4 can't move at all on these surfaces.

    iRobot Roomba i7

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    The iRobot Roomba i7 and the Neato Botvac D7 are two robot vacuums with different strengths. The iRobot can automatically empty its own dirt compartment into its charging dock, which is handy if you want an even more hands-off cleaning experience, and it can store a lot of debris before its bag needs to be emptied. It has better maneuverability, and its companion app offers a bit more versatility than that of the Neato. However, the Neato is easier to maintain and has fewer recurring costs. It has a better overall battery performance and it can clean bare floors more thoroughly. Its performance on low-pile carpets is a bit better.

    eufy RoboVac 30C

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    The Neato Botvac D7 is a better overall performing robot vacuum than the eufy RoboVac 30C. The Neato does a better job of cleaning all debris and hair across different surface types, it's easier to maintain, and it has a better build quality. It also has a better performing battery. However, the eufy is slightly lighter.

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    The Neato Botvac D7 is a better overall performing robot vacuum than the Samsung POWERbot R7040. The Neato does a better job with all debris across different surface types, it's slightly easier to maintain, and it holds more debris inside of its dirt compartment. Its battery performance is also much better. However, the Samsung has virtually no recurring costs, and it has slightly better maneuverability. 

    iRobot Roomba 675

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    The Neato Botvac D7 is a better overall performing robot vacuum than the iRobot Roomba 675. The Neato does a better job of picking up all kinds of debris on all surface types, including pet hair. It's also easier to maintain, it has a larger dirt compartment, its battery has a slightly shorter charge time, and you can also control it using the companion app as a remote control. However, the iRobot has slightly fewer recurring costs, and it's lighter.

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    Design
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    Build Quality
    Vacuum Type
    LockedRobot

    The Neato Botvac D7 has a great build quality. It's made from hard plastic with silver accents and a matte black finish. It also has rubber wheels that feel durable. It has a removable battery, which is nice if you ever need to replace it. On top, there's a laser distance sensor, as well as controls and access to the dirt compartment. While the dirt compartment could crack if dropped on the floor, it's easily removable and there's even audio feedback for it when it's removed from the vacuum. It also chimes when the vacuum is lifted off the ground.

    0.0
    User Maintenance
    SAMPLE
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    Neato Botvac D7 Brushroll Cleaning Video Sample

    The Neato Botvac D7 is fairly easy to maintain. Its maintenance info is only found on the manufacturer's website and it's not included in its user manual. That being said, the vacuum is well designed to be maintainable.

    • Dirt compartment: You take it out by lifting its cover, and empty it by removing its filter. On the downside, you can't see when it's full since the compartment is hidden away however, the app can remind you when you need to empty the bin.
    • Brushroll: The brushroll is removable but you need to remove the brush guard and side brush first. To clean the brush, you must pull or cut away hair or other debris gathered around the brush. It needs to be maintained every three to four weeks, depending on your usage.
    • Filter: The filter is located inside the dirt compartment and it can easily be unclipped. The manufacturer recommends cleaning it regularly but not to clean it using soap and water. Instead, you can empty debris stuck to it by tapping it against the side of your garbage bin or by using another vacuum to clean it.
    • Side brush: The side brush can easily be pulled off. Just like the main brushroll, you need to pull or cut away hair and debris to clean it. This part needs regular maintenance, depending on your usage.

    If you wash any part with water, it must be air-dried before using it again.

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    Recurring Cost
    Bag Part NumberLockedLocked
    Filter Part NumberLockedLocked
    HEPA Filter Part NumberLockedLocked

    There are a lot of recurring costs with the Neato Botvac D7. Underneath the dirt compartment, there's a sticker instructing the replacement time of the filter, brushroll, and battery. Depending on your usage, both the brushroll and side brush need to be replaced every six to eight months, while the filter needs to be changed every one to two months. The battery eventually needs to be replaced too, but each battery is advertised to last 1-2 years. Luckily, you can purchase all these pieces directly from Neato's website. If you want something with fewer recurring costs, look into the iRobot Roomba 675.

    0.0
    Storing
    Height
    LockedLock" (Lock cm)
    Width
    LockedLock" (Lock cm)
    Depth
    LockedLock" (Lock cm)
    Cord Storing
    LockedLocked
    On-Board Tool Storage
    LockedLocked
    Vacuum Rack/Station
    LockedLocked

    The Neato Botvac D7 has outstanding storage capabilities. The charging dock lays on the ground and the vacuum can automatically mount onto it by itself. You can also store the cord if it's too long, thanks to the dock's cable management.

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    Dirt Compartment
    Bagless
    LockedYes
    Volume
    LockedLock gal (Lock L)
    Full Indicator
    LockedLocked
    Bag Included
    LockedLocked

    The Neato Botvac D7 has a decent dirt compartment. Unfortunately, you can't see the compartment as it's hidden by opaque plastic, so to see how full it is, you need to take the whole compartment out. Luckily, if you're using the companion app, it notifies you to clean it regularly. If you're looking for a robot vacuum that can automatically empty its dirt compartment into a disposable dirtbag, check out the i7+ variant of the iRobot Roomba i7.

    In The Box

    • Neato Botvac D7 vacuum
    • Charging dock
    • Charging cable
    • 2x HEPA filters
    • Brushroll tool
    • Boundary strip roll
    • Dirt compartment
    • User guide
    0.0
    Range
    Cordless
    LockedYes
    Cord Length
    LockedN/A
    Hose Length
    LockedN/A
    Minimum Wand Length
    LockedN/A
    Maximum Wand Length
    LockedN/A
    Total Range
    LockedN/A

    This vacuum has an unlimited range as long as it still has battery life left. However, it can't go up stairs.

    0.0
    Portability
    Total Weight
    LockedLock lbs (Lock kg)
    Weight In Hand
    LockedLock lbs (Lock kg)
    Carrying handle
    LockedLocked

    The Neato Botvac D7 has good portability. Although it's a little heavy, you can still easily carry it if you need to bring it up another floor.

    0.0
    Battery
    Minimum Battery Life
    LockedLock min
    Maximum Battery Life
    LockedLock min
    Recharge Time
    LockedLock min
    Recharge Dock
    LockedLocked
    Battery Life Indicator
    LockedLocked
    Removable Batteries
    LockedLocked

    The Neato Botvac D7 has an outstanding battery performance. It has a larger battery than the newer Neato D8, which enables it to run longer on a single charge. On its maximum 'Turbo' mode, it lasts about an hour and a half, while its lowest setting, 'Eco' mode, keeps the vacuum running for around two hours. Unfortunately, when the charge is below 27%, the vacuum doesn't accept any clean jobs and it looks for its docking station. Luckily, you can see when it's close to running out of battery life as the battery button is solid green when it's fully charged, and the button lights up yellow when you're at the last 35% of the battery.

    Quality Of Life Features
    Rotating Head
    LockedLocked
    Power Adjustment
    LockedLocked
    Self-Propelled
    LockedLocked
    Headlights
    LockedLocked
    Easy On/Off
    LockedLocked
    Head Surface Type Adjustment
    LockedLocked

    This vacuum has two power settings: 'Eco' mode, which helps the battery last longer and is quieter, and 'Turbo' mode, which increases suction power and speeds up the brushroll. On the app, you can also select 'Gentle Navigation' mode, which is for extra care cleaning.

    Tools And Brushes
    Brushroll
    LockedLocked
    Brushroll On/Off
    LockedLocked
    Removable Brushroll
    LockedLocked
    Turbo Brush
    LockedLocked
    Crevice Tool
    LockedLocked
    Upholstery Tool
    LockedLocked
    Soft Bristle Brush
    LockedLocked
    Hard Bristle Brush
    LockedLocked
    Extension Wand
    LockedLocked
    Ceiling Fan Tool
    LockedLocked
    Pet Grooming Tool
    LockedLocked

    The Neato Botvac D7 only comes with a removable brushroll, a side brush, and a boundary strip, which can stop your vacuum from entering a room or space.

    Alternative Configuration
    Blower Mode
    LockedLocked

    There are no alternative configurations for this vacuum.

    Performance
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    Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
    Setting UsedLockedLocked
    Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)LockedLock%
    Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)LockedLock%
    Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)LockedN/A
    Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)LockedN/A
    Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)LockedN/A
    Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 0 gal (0L)LockedLock%
    Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)LockedLock%
    Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)LockedN/A

    The Neato Botvac D7 has an outstanding performance on bare floors. It easily captures pet hair as well as small debris such as rice. While it manages to get all large debris when its dirt compartment is empty, it has a harder time when it's half full as it pushes around and crushes cereal.

    0.0
    Low-Pile Carpet Performance
    Setting UsedLockedLocked
    Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)LockedLock%
    Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)LockedLock%
    Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)LockedN/A
    Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)LockedN/A
    Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)LockedN/A
    Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 0 gal (0L)LockedLock%
    Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)LockedLock%
    Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)LockedN/A

    This vacuum does a decent job on low-pile carpet. It manages to pick up all pet hair but it struggles a bit more with large debris. It has an even harder time with small debris like baking soda though, so it could take many passes to fully clean up this kind of mess.

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    High-Pile Carpet Performance
    Setting UsedLockedLocked
    Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)LockedLock%
    Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)LockedLock%
    Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)LockedN/A
    Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)LockedN/A
    Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)LockedN/A
    Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 0 gal (0L)LockedLock%
    Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)LockedLock%
    Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)LockedN/A
    Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)LockedN/A

    The Neato Botvac D7 is alright on high-pile carpet. It cleans pet hair exceptionally well, and its performance on small and large debris is impressive for a robot vacuum. It manages to capture just over half of large debris like sand, but it struggles more with small debris. Take a look at the iRobot Roomba S9 if you need a robot vacuum that clears debris more easily on shaggy surfaces.

    0.0
    Pet Hair Floor Performance
    Bare Floor
    LockedLock%
    Low-Pile Carpet
    LockedLock%
    High-Pile Carpet
    LockedLock%
    0.0
    Suction
    SAMPLE
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    Neato Botvac D7 Suction Video Sample
    Maximum Suction
    LockedLock inH₂O (Lock kPa)
    Setting Used For MaximumLockedLocked
    Normal Suction
    LockedLock inH₂O (Lock kPa)
    Setting Used For NormalLockedLocked
    Hose Diameter
    LockedN/A
    0.0
    Noise
    SAMPLE
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    Neato Botvac D7 Noise Video Sample
    Bare Floor
    LockedLock dBA
    Low-Pile Carpet
    LockedLock dBA
    0.0
    Maneuverability
    SAMPLE
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    Neato Botvac D7 Maneuverability Video Sample

    The Neato Botvac D7 has fair maneuverability. Using the 'Eco' mode with the 'Extra Care' setting, it makes an efficient cleaning pattern and it can easily go around furniture feet and legs. Unfortunately, the vacuum seems to get stuck when trying to maneuver around lighter furniture like rugs or electrical cables. It sends you a notification if it needs help so that it can be relocated. If you want a robot vacuum with better maneuverability, check out the Samsung POWERbot R7040 or the Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI.

    0.0
    Pet Hair Furniture Performance
    Sofa Pickup Post Test
    Air Quality
    SAMPLE
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    Neato Botvac D7 Sealing Quality Video Sample
    Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
    LockedYes
    0.0
    Cracks
    SAMPLE
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    Neato Botvac D7 Cracks Video Sample
    Wood Cracks Post Test
    0.0
    Stains
    SAMPLE
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    Neato Botvac D7 Stain Video Sample
    Stain Pickup Post Test
    0.0
    Water
    Wet Compatible
    LockedNo
    Water Pickup Post Test
    Automation
    0.0
    Physical Automation
    Automatic Recharging
    LockedLocked
    Automatic Bag Emptying
    LockedLocked
    Pathing Algorithm
    LockedLocked
    Physical Boundary Markers
    LockedLocked
    Scheduled Start Buttons
    LockedLocked
    Cycle Control Buttons
    LockedLocked
    Navigation Control Buttons
    LockedLocked

    The Neato Botvac D7 has excellent automation features. With the Neato app, you can check your map coverage, see your cleaning history, and create boundary lines, which is handy if the strip isn't long enough. You can also select 'Extra Care' navigation for more gentle navigation, and you can even control it remotely while it's operating.

    0.0
    Companion App Automation
    App Name
    LockedLocked
    iOS Availability
    LockedLocked
    Android Availability
    LockedLocked
    Software Boundary Markers (No Go Zones)
    LockedLocked
    App Scheduled Start
    LockedLocked
    App Cycle Control
    LockedLocked
    Navigation Control within App
    LockedLocked