Roomba e5 vs Botvac D7: Which Should You Choose?

Roomba and Neato are two of the leading manufacturers of robot vacuums. They compete directly in terms of functionality, features, design, price, and durability. They make high-quality robot vacuums that offer the latest features and the best performance.

The Roomba e5 and the Botvac D7 are just two in a long line of proven machines that will get the job done. However, they offer very different features at different price points, so you’ll have to determine how they compare and which is best for you.

Main Differences Between Roomba e5 vs Botvac D7

The Main Differences Between Roomba e5 vs Botvac D7 are:

• Roomba e5 features the latest in powerful suction, whereas Botvac D7 comes with digital memory mapping.
• Roomba e5 doesn’t come with memory technology, whereas Botvac D7 has the ability to charge in the middle of a cleaning cycle.
• Roomba e5 comes with a Virtual Wall, whereas Botvac D7 comes with “No Go” lines.
• Roomba e5 is a more budget-friendly option, whereas Botvac D7 can be used with voice commands like Google Home or Alexa.

Roomba e5

The Roomba e5 (my full review here!) is a strong performer. It’s an affordable robot vacuum that provides the suction you need to do the job. It may not come with some of the advanced technology features that other, higher priced models do, but it has exactly what you need for a reasonable price.

Design

The e5 looks like every other Roomba on the market. It sports the iRobot signature circle shape with the same black and gray color pattern. The top of the unit contains a big Clean button in the middle, a Spot clean button, and a Home button.

To start or stop cleaning, simply press the Clean button on the top. The Home button will send your unit to its charging station, where it will stay until you’re ready for the next cleaning cycle. Spot Clean begins a thorough and focused cleaning cycle to shine up a small area.

On the bottom of the e5, you will find three wheels, two brush rolls, a spinning brush, a dustbin, and a battery. It’s the same general size as all other Roomba robot vacuums at 13.3 inches in diameter, 3.6 inches tall, and 7.2 pounds.

Parts and Accessories

The Roomba e5 comes with a charging station and a virtual wall. The charging station looks like all other Roomba charging bases and works in the same way. When your e5 battery is low, it automatically returns home to charge until it is full.

With the virtual wall, you can restrict your e5 to certain areas and make sure it doesn’t clean where you don’t want it. You can extend the linear line to ten feet and the radial line makes a four-foot circle.

Features

When it comes to technology, cleaning schedules and controlling your vacuum from the smartphone app is what people request the most. The e5 doesn’t have a lot of the technology features as other robot vacuums, but it does come with these two valuable features.

You can schedule cleans daily or weekly. Set a schedule to clean every morning when you leave for work or every day after lunch, and your trusty companion will set out at the preselected time and get to it.

You may also set up single cleaning cycles in advance of a part you plan to have on Saturday night or before your family comes over for a holiday dinner. The Roomba e5 will remember to tidy up so you don’t have to.

The smartphone app makes it easy to control the e5 with your phone from anywhere. If you install the app and connect your vacuum, you have the ability to start cleaning cycles from wherever you are. You can do it from work, or you can send your vacuum back to the charging station if you decide to go home early and don’t want it to pester you.

Usability

The Roomba e5 is simple to setup and use. There are no complex instructions after you take it out of the box. It will come with some charge, but the first thing you need to do is let it charge fully before using. Once that’s done, you can press the Clean button on top or on your smartphone app, and you’re ready to go.

Download the app while your e5 is charging, and once you connect it, there’s no more to do. You can clean at the tap of a finger. The e5 comes with everything you need to set it up and there’s no assembly out of the box. Just let it charge before you use it and there won’t be any problems.

After pressing the Clean button for the first time, your Roomba e5 will explore on its own, picking up dirt, debris, and hair along the way. This gives you superior, hands-free cleaning so you can do other chores or rest your feet.

Roomba e5 Pros:

• Control vacuum through the smartphone application

• Wi-Fi connectivity

• Easy to use and set up

• Powerful cleaning performance

• Create daily or weekly schedules

Roomba e5 Cons:

• No onboard camera to create a map of your home

• Cannot recharge and resume current clean

Roomba e5 Verdict

The Roomba e5 contains the latest in powerful suction and performance from iRobot. Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to control from anywhere, which is one of the most valuable features in a robot vacuum. The price tag is easy on your wallet, unlike some other models on the market.

The connectivity, performance, and durability make the Roomba e5 well worth the cost and it’s perfect for people who want to control it from their phone but don’t want to splurge on a more expensive model. It’s great for small homes and apartments without stairs. The Roomba e5 is a robust and reliable robot vacuum from a quality manufacturer.

Botvac D7

The Botvac D7 (read my full review here!) is from a completely different manufacturer. However, Neato also offers top of the line robot vacuums with the latest features. The Botvac D7 offers powerful performance with advanced technology that has never been available on a Neato robot vacuum yet.

Design and Features

Just like other Neato vacuums, the Botvac D7 comes in the signature D shape. It is the smartest, most advanced robot that Neato has to offer and comes with digital memory mapping, advanced navigation, scheduled cleanings, Wi-Fi connectivity, a two-hour runtime, and the ability to charge in the middle of a cleaning cycle and pick up the clean again where it stopped.

The D7 also comes with a “No Go” lines feature contained in the mobile app. You can use your smartphone to draw digital lines on your floor plan where you don’t want the D7 to go. With these lines, you can easily section off areas of your home where you don’t want your D7 to go and it will avoid them.

You can start cleaning with the Botvac D7 from the button on the top of the unit, the remote control that comes in the box, your smart home assistant, or your smartphone app. It’s always easy to control your robot vacuum using any of these methods.

Cleaning Method and Performance

The Botvac D7 has a full-width brush roll that it uses for cleaning. Located at the end of the vacuum, this brush roll helps the unit clean a wider path in front. On the side of the D7, a small brush gives the unit the ability to collect debris and dirt and gather it into the robot’s path so it gets sucked up.

The D7 uses its built-in camera on the top for navigation and digital memory mapping purposes. This advanced technology enables the D7 to clean in straight lines for more efficient use of the battery, instead of the random bouncing you might see with other models.

With digital mapping, the D7 can create a map of your floor plan, which you can view on your tablet or smartphone. You can see where the unit cleaned and pick up on spots it might have trouble with during the cleaning cycle.

Once the D7 creates your floor plan, you can use the No Go lines to restrict areas by dragging your finger across the map to make the lines. This is by far easier and uses less extra equipment than other robot vacuums that come with virtual walls.

Size and Dimensions

In terms of size, the Botvac D7 is about what you would expect. It is 13.2 inches in diameter, 3.9 inches wide, and 12.5 inches deep. The extended brush roll is 10.9 inches long, and the entire unit weighs 8 pounds.

Parts and Accessories

There is no shortage of extra parts and accessories in the Botvac D7 box. With the purchase of your device, you get a spiral combo brush roll, a spinning brush, a filter, a boundary strip, and a cleaning brush.

The spinning brush catches dirt and debris from corners and edges and gathers them in the path of the D7 so it can suck them up. The spiral brush roll gathers dirt on the floor and sucks it up into the dustbin.

If you don’t want to use the smartphone app to control your D7 or restrict access to certain areas, you can use the boundary strip on the floor. It will not cross this line. The filter is a high-performance filter and is not included in other Botvac models.

Usability and Setup

The D7 is very easy to use once it’s set up. You only have a few moving parts you have to worry about, meaning it requires less attention and maintenance than other models. This also means it is easier to understand and use.

Controls

Controlling the Botvac D7 is easy because there are so many different ways you can do it. You can use the buttons located on top of the unit if you are nearby, and these work as a great backup method if everything else fails. You can also control it with your voice using Amazon Alexa or Google Home. The mobile app for your tablet or smartphone is probably the most convenient while you’re away.

Mobile Application

Setting up the mobile application is super easy, and using it is a breeze. Download the Neato app for Android or iOS, launch it, and create an account. The app will guide you on-screen with prompts to connect your D7 to a wireless network. Once it’s connected, you can use your device to control it or use voice commands to tell it what to do.

Cleaning Cycles

You can use the mobile application to use the No Go lines or create cleaning schedules. If you don’t want to connect to the mobile app, you can use the boundary strips contained in your packaging. The strips stick to the floor and the D7 reads them as restricted and will change direction.

Botvac D7 Pros:

• Advanced mapping features

• No Go lines give you the ability to tell the unit where not to go

• Two-hour runtime

• Works with Google Home and Amazon Alexa

• Boundary marker included to physically mark where you don’t want the D7 to clean

• Mobile application works with both iOS and Android

• Variety of control methods including physical buttons, voice control, and mobile app

Botvac D7 Cons:

• D-shape does not accommodate tight turns

• High price tag

Botvac D7 Verdict

The Botvac D7 is a hard-working, connected robot vacuum with features that are tough to beat. When it comes to smart mapping and navigation, connectivity, and runtime, it reigns supreme over all other Neato vacuums and most other brands.

The D7 runs on its own, is easy to control, and doesn’t require a lot of maintenance. The only vacuum that could be considered superior is the Roomba i7+ with a self-emptying dustbin. The D7 provides a powerful clean with minimal effort but does have a hefty price tag.

Comparison Chart

These two robot vacuums offer lots of features and capabilities. Let’s see how they stand up to one another in a side-by-side comparison chart.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Will Roomba e5 fall downstairs?

You won’t have to worry about your stairs with the Roomba E5. This unit comes with a Cliff Detect Sensor system, so the robot will be notified when it is near a stair, preventing it from falling or tumbling over drop-offs.

Does Roomba e5 work on carpet?

Thanks to its Dirt Detect Sensors, the E5 is capable of finding the dirtiest spots in your floor, cleaning them for a longer period of time. The Auto-adjust cleaning head will change the height of the robot so it can cope with floors and carpets.

Conclusion

The Roomba e5 and the Botvac D7 both have powerful suction, ways to restrict areas of your home, Wi-Fi connectivity, scheduling, and a mobile application. However, the D7 has much more, and it comes at a price.

The Roomba e5 is the perfect choice for people with apartments or small homes who want a connected vacuum with a mobile app and an efficient clean. It won’t navigate stairs or map your home, but you can still schedule cleanings and control your vacuum while you’re away.

If you have a large home, want to create multiple maps, need ledge detection, and plenty of other high-tech features, the Botvac D7 is for you. It has top-of-the-line functionality and delivers a powerful clean. You can control the D7 from the unit, your smart home assistant, or the mobile app.

Both vacuums provide a superior clean but the D7 is much more expensive. However, if these advanced features are what you’re looking for, it’s the best choice. The e5 is a great robot vacuum and comes at a reasonable price for the connectivity it includes. Both come from reliable manufacturers and are durable robot vacuums you can trust.

Further read:

• Roomba e5 vs i7 vs i7+
• Roomba e5 vs Roomba 690
• Roomba i7+ vs Botvac D7
• Neato Botvac D7 Connected vs Neato Botvac D4 Connected