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A few years ago, I got an email asking if I wanted to try a robot vacuum. I’d immediately pictured a knee-height, Lego-like contraption. I imagined it with machine-looking arms and legs marching around my apartment sucking things up through its feet. I was keen.

The robot vacuum I tried was nothing like I’d imagined. It was a sleek device, about the size of a medium pizza, with brushes at its base that whirred around my floor. When it got near objects like table legs or something I’d left on the floor, it realised they were there and then either backed away or moved to the right or left of it.

While I thought I’d test it out a few times to be able to write this story, I was surprised to find how much I used and continued to use it. It was so easy to charge it at its portable docking station, fill up its water tank and then let it (I nicknamed it ‘Walter’) loose.

It mopped, sucked up dirt and could be controlled through an app on my phone, meaning I could have it clean a room, even if I wasn’t at home. What used to take me an hour to do — vacuuming and mopping my floors — took the time it took to charge and fill up its water tank. You can read my full (non-techy, I have to add) review of Deebot N8Pro here.

And while I thought it couldn’t get any simpler and more convenient — oh, it has. Ecovacs has since released a handful of newer models with more powerful suction, better AI tech and generally less hassle.

One such newer model is the Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Robotic Vacuum, which you can currently save $702 on at Harvey Norman. The vacuum is now available for $1,797. A personal cleaning butler, the device does everything the Deebot N8 does, but also so much more — including the ability to be voice-controlled using an interactive assistant called YIKO and emptying its bin and refilling its water itself at its Omni station.

“I bought this about six weeks ago and it’s been a game changer,” wrote one Harvey Norman reviewer. “My floors are so clean. I was considering getting a cheaper vacuum but glad I didn’t. I love how it washes and dries the mop pads and empties the dust bin.”

Another reviewer wrote: “I have the hardest tiles to keep clean without smudges. I have two dogs and a cat and the hair is ridiculous. This robot has changed my life. The floors are so clean – no streaks and it just does its thing.”

The Deebot comes with an Omni station that it leaves and returns to after every cleaning round. There, the Deebot will automatically store the wastewater and refill the water tank. The station will also wash the mop and dry it using hot air so it removes any odours.

Also included in the new device is mopping technology that can wipe away coffee and soy sauce stains that have solidified and set, and AIVI 3D Technology which works to advance mapping and obstacle detection technology. It’s all packaged in a white or black design created by the renowned Jacob Jensen Design House, the same designers behind Bang and Olufsen products.

The Deebot X2 Omni is now available at Harvey Norman for $1,797. Though, if that’s out of your price range right now, and you’re more interested in a starter robot vacuum, we’ve got two more affordable options below.

MyGenie ZX1000 Robotic Vacuum, $179, was $599

One of the most affordable robot vacuums on the market, MyGenie makes your dream of saying goodbye to vacuuming come true. It uses a two-in-two function and, after vacuuming, can dry and wet mop your floors. Find a schedule that works for you and program your vacuum to do its daily clean first thing in the morning. It lasts two hours when fully charged.

Roborock Q5 Pro Robot Vacuum, $349, was $529

One charge will give Roborock Q5 Pro Robot Vacuum 240 minutes of cleaning. Its tech that allows it to pick up fine pet hairs make it an ideal choice for families with dogs and cats. It also has a 770ml dustbin so you’re likely to be able to clean your entire house without needing to empty it. Its mapping feature scans your space and creates detailed maps in seconds, finding an optimal route to clean your home.

 

Samsung Jet Bot AI+, $392.96, was $999

Launched in November 2022, Samsung’s Jet Bot features a five-layered filtration system and AI-powered object recognition that helps it clean around items on the floor like dog bowls or loose socks. Conveniently, it also has an automatic dust disposal through a clean station.

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