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Do you know what we love about technology? Robotic vacuum cleaners. As amazing as they are, their price can be a bit intimidating. This makes hitting the buy button a bit hard, but it doesn’t have to be!
Neato Robotics’ vacuums are growing more popular each day. Two of their most in-demand vacuums are the D5 and D7, so which one should you opt for?
D5 vs. D7 connected is what we’ll be discussing in this article. In this comparison, we’ve taken into account some of the latest updates of the two models. Everything you need to know is right here.
Before we delve into the details, here are the two Neato vacuums at a glance.
[amazon box=”B01LX21ISP, B078MPFN55″ template=”table” numbering=”true”]Neato Botvac D5 Connected Advantages
Neato Botvac D5 Connected Disadvantages
Neato Botvac D7 Connected Advantages
Neato Botvac D7 Connected Disadvantages
We Have a Winner!
Don’t want to read the full article? The editor’s choice is the Neato D7! The differences between the two aren’t life-changing, but the Neato Botvac D7 connected is definitely an improvement to the older products and comes with an ultra-performance filter.
Now, allow us to explain ourselves and tell you based on what we chose, the D7 connected over the Neato Botvac D5 Connected. First, let us tell you it was actually a close call. You can use this comparison to reach your own decision too!
Having multiple floor plans option means that your Neato will have the ability to store the plans of more than one floor.
Neato robots work by generating a map of your house so that they can navigate more smoothly and quickly. Before the multiple floor plans technology was developed, Neato robot vacuums were only able to store one map for one-floor level.
With multiple-floor plans, your Neato will be able to save more than one map for each floor level. You can save up to 3 different levels. Needless to say, this technology is a must-have if you live in a multi-story house. You can clean your whole home with just one Neato.
Neato Botvac D5 Connected
This technology wasn’t available when the Neato Botvac D5 Connected was manufactured. This means that if you opt for it, it’s likely not going to be there at first. Yes, we said at first. Thanks to Neato’s generosity, just because you have an older model doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy the latest technology anymore!
With the latest software updates, your Neato D5 Connected Botvac could have multi-floor plans as well. Make sure your Neato application is up to date. This feature is downloaded with software version 2.7.0. Also, make sure that your robot itself is up to date. It should have the 4.3.0 version or later.
Neato Botvac D7 Connected
With the D7, no software update is needed for you to enjoy the multi-floor plans technology. Just plug it in, set it up, and voilà!
The Verdict
There really isn’t a verdict here. We can say that it’s a tie!
The tie-breaker is you, actually. Are you willing to get the Neato Botvac D5 Connected and update it to enjoy this technology, or do you just want to hit the buy button and have your Neato ready to use right away? If you don’t want the hassle, D7 connected is the winner here.
No-go lines is another amazing feature of the latest Neato vacuums. Users rave about its practicality and usefulness. If there’s someplace you don’t want the Neato to clean; you can simply tell it so. This could come in handy if there’s somewhere extra messy or hard to move objects there.
You don’t have to get up and remove them to clean the rest of your place. The way it works is that you open your trust Neato app and simply draw lines where you don’t want your Neato to go. These lines will act as a wall of sorts. This way, you can customize your cleaning without having to sacrifice it altogether.
D5
Once again, this technology was created after the D5 was released. It doesn’t come programmed with no-go lines. However, upon updating the software, you would be able to enjoy this technology as well.
D7
The D7, however, is the second model that has been released with no-go lines. It comes with this technology ready for you to use.
The Verdict
We’re going to say the Neato Botvac D7 connected wins just because it spares you the trouble of having to update the software and having to check whether or not the technology is there.
Eco mode is another great feature that’s quite practical. If you want to preserve the charge of your Neato and maximize the cleaning done per charge, this is an option that you’ll love!
This does just that and more! It’ll clean for longer than it does in the standard mode. Add to that the fact that it’ll do so quietly, and you have a considerate robot on your hand! Yes, eco cleaning mode means Neato Botvac Connected won’t make as much noise as it normally does. You can have peace of mind!
This mode works for anyone who enjoys his/her quiet, but it’s especially perfect for new parents! Getting a little one down is no easy task; who would want to risk that? With this mode, you most certainly won’t have to.
D5
Eco mode is another one of the features that can be added to the D5 by updating the software.
D7
D7, however, comes with this amazing mode programmed already.
The Verdict
Once again, Neato Botvac D7 connected barely trumps the D5 just for the practicality of it coming with all the tech.
Do you want to turn your Neato up a little bit? Put it in turbo mode! This mode cleans more thoroughly and with more power. It boosts the suction of the robot vacuum cleaner so that it can pick things up and leave nothing behind. Even the brushing is upped.
The brushes rotate more quickly to ensure that no spot is left uncleaned. Have you got some furry friends living at home with you? This mode is to the rescue! Neato robots are known for their ultra-performance when it comes to households with pets, and that was before the turbo mode!
Turning it on every once in a while would keep your home as clean as can be, pets or no pets.
D5
You know the drill, software update.
D7
Being one of the latest models, D7 connected was released with turbo mode preprogrammed.
The Verdict
You guessed it, Neato Botvac D7 Connected wins for its convenience.
If a Neato vacuum runs out of charge while cleaning, it goes back to recharge so that it can resume its job. While this is quite intuitive, it has its downsides, or rather it had its downsides before now. Before quick boost charging, Neato vacuums had to charge until the battery was full before resuming its cleaning.
Even if there were only a little spot left uncleaned, you would’ve had to wait until the battery was full before it resumed the task. Quick boost charging means that your Neato would only get a little snack rather than a full meal.
It would use the map to calculate how much cleaning is left until the job is done, and then it heads back to recharge accordingly. With just enough juice to finish the remaining areas, it leaves the base even if the battery isn’t fully charged. This is quite efficient and time-saving. You don’t have to wait forever to start all over again.
D5
Yes, this too is included in the software update.
D7
D7 has quick boost charging.
The Verdict
You know the answer by now. D7 wins yet again.
At the end of the day, a robot vacuum is as good as its brush. Otherwise, you’d have to do your own cleaning when it’s done, which defeats the purpose of having your own robotic cleaner.
Both Neatos come with a side brush. This, combined with the D-shape of the robot vacuum cleaner, makes cleaning corners seem easy! The brushes thoroughly clean the corners of the room with ease.
The main brushes of each model, however, are different.
D5
The D5 and the older Neato models use the combo brush. Overall, the combo brush cleans well and picks up debris. It’s also great for picking up pet hair.
One of the problems with the combo brush is that it’s not the easiest to clean. You could have a hard time untangling it to clean it well, which is a common problem that people face.
While you can’t fix this with a software update, you can fix it with an upgrade! The brushes of Neato vacuums are actually interchangeable. If you don’t like this brush, you could order another one and replace it.
D7
The D7 comes with a spiral combo brush. While the combo brush was great, to begin with, this one is even better!
The spiral combo brush’s strongest point is carpet cleaning.
Users claim that it’s meticulous when it comes to cleaning carpets. Whether it’s debris or pet hair, the spiral combo brush can get it. Neato did a great job getting rid of the shortcomings of their older brush with this one. It’s quite easy to clean, thanks to the straight design.
Nothing gets tangled, nothing gets left behind. This means that nothing will hinder the next cleaning job. The cleaner the brush is, the better cleaning the D7 would do.
The Verdict
D7 is the winner here, just because you’d have to pay extra to get the spiral combo brush for the D5.
Battery life is one of the determining factors when it comes to our decision. It’s safe to say that you’re going to want the robot that cleans the fastest, which means fewer pit stops for charging. This means finding out how long the Neato vacuums can run for and, by extension, how much distance they can cover in one charge.
D5
Neato D5 can clean for up to 90 minutes before it has to recharge. If it runs out, it will automatically go back to recharge before it resumes the cleaning job. If you don’t live somewhere spacious, this shouldn’t be an issue.
D7
The D7 has longer battery life and thus more run time. It can run for up to 120 minutes on a single charge before it has to recharge. If your home is roomy, the D7 should better suit your needs.
The Verdict
The winner here is hands-down the D7. However, it’s worth mentioning that the difference between them isn’t that significant.
Zone cleaning is another feature that enables you to customize Neato’s cleaning job. You can select exactly where it should clean.
The first step is that you open the app. Using the map of your home, you can label each zone in your house. For instance, you can name your bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, dining room, and so on.
Now, all you’ve got to do is choose which zones your Neato should clean. It doesn’t have to clean the entire home, you can just select one zone to be cleaned, and that’s it.
Picture this, the Neato has finished its cleaning job earlier that day when someone spills something on the ground. Simply select that zone so that your Neato cleans up the mess. It’s that simple!
D5
The D5 doesn’t feature zone cleaning. It wasn’t included in their software update, but there might be a way to make up for it.
You could use the no-go lines to implement zone cleaning. Using the app, you can create virtual barriers to guide the vacuum to where you want it to clean. Create a path for it straight to the room or zone you want to have cleaned.
This could be a little inconvenient, especially if you have a large home, but it’s still a valid option.
D7
Good news! The D7 does feature zone cleaning.
The Verdict
D7 wins again!
Did you know that there are different types of wifi connectivity? To be more specific, there are two types of frequency that routers use nowadays.
Have you ever stumbled upon something called “2.4 GHz” in your wifi? That’s the standard frequency emitted by routers. This is the type of wifi connectivity itself.
Newer routers now have another type of frequency. A lot of them are now dual-band; they don’t only have the 2.4GHz band but a 5GHz band as well.
The difference between them is that the 5GHz is quite faster than the 2.4GHz, but that comes at a price. The range covered by 5GHz is less than that of the 2.4GHz. To put it simply, 5GHz is fast but short, and the 2.4GHs is slow but long.
D5
Being an older model, the D5 only supports 2.4GHz frequency. While this might seem like a disadvantage, it’s actually not. This band’s strong suit is its range, so when you think about it, the range is what really matters when it comes to a robotic vacuum.
All you’re going to want is for it to be in range for the commands to work, right? The speed of the wifi isn’t really a factor here. As long as the wifi is working to deliver the command, it’s going to work unless it’s out of range.
D7
D7 supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. This is more of a keeping-up-with-technology update rather than an improvement update. It gives you the variety but, when it comes down to it, the 2.4GHz is the preferred band in this case.
The Verdict
It’s a draw here. Yes, D7 gives you the variety, but we don’t think that it makes it superior.
Price is usually the determining factor for a lot of people. Let’s see who wins in this category!
D5
The original price of the D5 is $599. It’s a lot to pay for an older model, but it’s probably going to be discounted, so you’ll pay less.
D7
Believe it or not, the D7 also costs $599! Again, this is the list price. You could also find a discount.
The Verdict
If we’re looking at the original prices, D7 definitely wins. You’ll be getting the latest technology for the same price, so why get the older model?
Right now, there isn’t really a big difference between their prices on Amazon. Besides, if you intend on getting the spiral combo brush for the D5 to upgrade it, you’ll end up paying extra anyway.
While there are some differences, the D3 and D5 are actually quite similar.
It’s no coincidence that their models start with the letter “D.” The little robots are D-shaped. The purpose of this design is that they could thoroughly clean corners as well.
Unlike round-shaped robots, the D series could easily and thoroughly clean corners and near the walls in general.
The D3 and D5 both look exactly the same except for the silver finish on the D7.
Otherwise, they’re designed to look exactly the same. They have the same buttons, same dimensions, and weight.
Neato uses LaserSmart technology to navigate. It sounds fancy, right? The robots emit lasers to create a map of the house. Once it has successfully scanned all around, it starts cleaning efficiently and meticulously. This means that there shouldn’t be any interruptions, confusion, or even pausing. It goes straight to work!
The Neato Botvac D5 Connected was the first of its family to get a side brush. Even though its design already did a great job when it came to corners, the side brush does an even better one! Now with these side brushes in place, Neato robots are able to pick up even more dust and hair. Hardly anything is left behind when they’re done!
The filter type is another first for the D5! It was the model that introduced the ultra-performance filter that has yet to be topped. This upgrade from the previous high-performance one is the one used with the D7.
This amazing feature is another thing in common between the Neato Botvac D5 Connected and the D7. In fact, this feature makes a limited battery-life less of an issue than it normally would be. Why? Because running out of charge doesn’t mean the end of the cleaning job.
A D5 or a D7 return to their home base once they run out of charge. They recharge before they pick up cleaning from where they left off. No need to start all over, robots are smarter than that.
Speaking of smart, the D5 and D7 are both smart vacuums! You can use your smart devices to start the cleaning job! Whether it’s your phone, Apple Watch, Amazon Echo, or Google Home, they’ll all work! Just kick back and ask Alexa or Siri to give the order. See? Effortless cleaning with smart voice control feature!
Neato D7 is the winner! Although it has to be said, the D5 isn’t that far behind. Multiple floor plans, no-go lines, turbo and eco modes, quick boost cleaning, and zone cleaning are all features of the D7. They give you the ability to customize your cleaning at your own convenience.
The D7 also has a longer battery life, an amazing spiral combo brush, and supports 5GHz wifi.
While the D5 lacks almost all of these features, you could get most of them upon updating the software. Multiple floor plans, no-go lines, turbo and eco modes, and quick boost cleaning are included.
You could even buy the spiral combo brush and use it with your D5. The thing is, the price between the two is almost the same. Save yourself some trouble and buy the one that comes with all the tech!
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