The Deebot Neo 2.0 Plus robot vac is exclusive to Aldi and the Ecovacs website
Our experts have meticulously tested other Ecovacs Deebots in our labs, plus models from popular brands including Roborock, iRobot, Dreame, Kmart and more
Join CHOICE to access our full reviews of robot, stick and barrel vacuums
But is it a big deal, or best left on the shelf? To find out, we asked CHOICE vacuum expert Adrian Lini.
It’s being sold on Ecovacs’ official website for $999, so scoring it for less than half price sounds like a steal
Full disclosure: we can provide expert insights that can help you make up your mind, but we haven’t tested this exact model.
Aldi products pop up at short notice and usually sell out quickly, so we haven’t been able to get our hands on this one to test it. (We do get the latest Aldi models in for testing whenever we can, though.)
However, we have tested other Ecovacs in our labs and their performance has been hit and miss.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering buying a bot from Aldi.
CHOICE expert Adrian knows robot vacs inside and out.
Ecovacs Deebot Neo 2.0 Plus
Before we dive into the Aldi automaton’s cleaning chops, let’s take a look at the features it comes with.
Info on Aldi’s Special Buys page is surprisingly sparse, but the Ecovacs website does offer a fuller picture of what you get with the Neo 2.0 Plus.
Key features include:
vacuuming and mopping function
automatic carpet and step recognition
claimed 180-minute battery life
5L dust bag in dock plus a 200mL on-board dust bin and 320mL water tank
app functionality with room mapping, clean scheduling and ability to add virtual boundaries (so you can block off a room, for example).
Over the years, Adrian and his team have reviewed plenty of Ecovacs models in comprehensive lab tests that include sprinkling a set amount of sand on various surfaces and measuring how much gets picked up. (We’re very meticulous – learn how we test robot vacuums.)
The Ecovacs Deebot Neo 2.0 Plus has a self-emptying station. Image: Ecovacs.
That’s because we focus on the most popular models sold in Australia, and this one is a rarer Aldi exclusive sold via their Special Buys sales and the Ecovacs website.
That said, our experts have taken multiple Ecovacs Deebot units for dust-busting test drives in the past, so Adrian can definitely share insightful intel on the brand’s cleaning credentials.
“Ecovacs have been selling robot vacs in Australia for well over a decade now, so they’re a fairly common and popular brand here,” says Adrian.
“At CHOICE, we’ve tested multiple Ecovacs models in our lab that have ranged in price from $399 to $2499. Unfortunately, their track record has been quite hit and miss, with overall performance on hard floors and carpet ranging from good to very poor across the models. Consistency is a big issue, particularly with their cheaper, entry-level bots.”
He points out the brand’s newer, more expensive-tier units (costing over $1500) have definitely improved their game, but in general, budget robots just don’t have the build or software smarts to do a dependable job.
Ecovacs’ track record has been quite hit-and-miss, with overall performance ranging from good to very poor
CHOICE expert Adrian Lini
“A cheap robot vacuum that cleans well is the dream, but often price does play a big role in performance,” he explains.
“The best performing robots are often expensive because they’re incredibly sophisticated pieces of hardware with precision sensors, lasers and software. By comparison, cheaper bots are far more basic and can really underperform.”
Robot vacs can struggle to clean carpets and pet hair compared to other vacuum types.
Rating the mop function
The Neo 2.0 Plus’s mop is more like a wet cloth. Image: Ecovacs.
Most current robot vacuums can now mop as well as vacuum, making them a helpful one-two cleaning combo.
Adrian says the best mopping models use hot water with added detergent, and employ spring-loaded pads that spin and apply pressure to the floor for a better clean.
Their docks then clean and dry the dirty pads before the bot’s next patrol.
Sadly, the Deebot Neo 2.0 Plus features a far more basic, older-style mop design, which is not unexpected for the cheaper price point.
“While we haven’t looked it over in the lab, you can see from the product’s photos and user manual that it doesn’t use detergent with the water and cleans using a thin, velcro-clipped mopping pad.”
“In our experience, this style of mop acts more like a wet cloth and is usually far less effective. You also have to take it off and wash it yourself once it gets dirty,” says Adrian.
At the bargain basement price of $399, Aldi’s discount droid certainly sounds tempting.
While we haven’t reviewed this model specifically, the brand’s track record across the models we’ve tested to date has been middling and inconsistent, depending on the specific model.
“We’d all love more help with housework and $399 might seem like a great price for a robot reinforcement, especially one that empties itself,” says Adrian.
From our previous tests, we’ve found Ecovacs’ cheaper models have generally under-performed as floor cleaners
CHOICE expert tester Adrian Lini
“However, from our previous tests, we’ve found Ecovacs’ cheaper models have generally under-performed as floor cleaners. They are better on hard floors, but seriously struggle on carpet and rugs, and picking up pet hair.
“If you don’t want to be cleaning up after it, when it should be the other way around, you might be best to save the money and put it toward a competent stick or barrel vacuum you can count on.”
Despite robots’ futuristic promise, our lab tests have continually found they don’t clean as well as more hands-on stick, barrel or upright vacs you use yourself.
It’s not surprising given they have smaller motors that can’t generate as much suction, smaller bin receptacles and their brushes don’t agitate surfaces like a manual cleaning head might.
“A good robot vacuum can definitely help around the house – especially if you have pets – but they’re still not a complete substitute for a stick or barrel vacuum just yet,” says Adrian.
If your home has a lot of carpet or rugs, our expert reckons a robot vac might not be for you. They do much better if you have mostly hard floors, with relatively open and clear spaces.
“If you’re happy for your bot to do a quick clean every day that you then follow up with a thorough clean yourself once a week or so, you might be happy with it,” he says.
Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid.
Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.
Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.
Alice Richard is a Content creator and marketer. Alice writes on a range of topics, from health insurance to heaters and BBQs to bargain-hunting, always with the aim to help consumers find the best products to buy, and which to avoid.
Alice can take vast amounts of data from CHOICE product tests and turn it into content that is easily digestible and fun for readers.
Alice has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland.
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