It’s only taken five years for ECOVACS to become a market leader in Australia, and the latest X1 OMNI robot vacuum and mop proves why this is the case.
ECOVACS provided us with a device for testing purposes, however, this hasn’t affected our views on the product.
Our reviews always remain independent of the manufacturer, and the first time they will see the review is at the same time you’re reading it. Keep reading to find out what we think.
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How do I get it and what will it cost?
ECOVACS new flagship Deebot X1 OMNI is available now in both black and white colours.
The DEEBOT X1 OMNI (Black) is available at Bing Lee, Godfreys, JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and ECOVACS official website for $2,499.
The DEEBOT X1 OMNI (White) is available from the ECOVACS web shop.
The DEEBOT X1 TURBO, which shares many of the same features as the OMNI, is also available on Amazon and eBay for $2,099.
Who is it good for?
ECOVACS continues its innovation within the robotic cleaning space with the Deebot X1 OMNI. Featuring a vacuum and mop, the OMNI station collects dust, cleans dirty water and dries its mopping pads.
The Deebot range has always delivered a stylish look and feel, however, the latest model takes things up a notch. With a (large) nicely designed station for the robot vacuum, and the addition of a proper mopping solution – the X1 is very much the all-in-one cleaning solution.
If this has your interest, you’ll need to have somewhere to place the station – which is something that I personally struggled with during my time with the X1. I ended up installing the station against the wall in the middle of the living room, as it was the only place it would fit. But even then it didn’t look out of place due to the fantastic design.
And while the Deebot X1 OMNI will keep your home clean, it can also keep an eye on things with an integrated security camera on the front – as with previous models.
While the price is quite high, the features that the X1 brings to the home may be worth it for those who are time poor running a busy household – not to mention how well the entire package presents itself.
How does it work?
As previously mentioned, the X1 dock is large. This means that you’ll need to find some space in your home for it to comfortably live. The good thing is that it’s not obnoxious in terms of the design, and tends to work with modern decor around the house.
Inside the dock are two water jugs – one for clean water, and the other for used, dirty water when using the mopping function. There is also some space for spare mopping pads and brush – and in the front is the vacuum filter bag (for all the dirt and dust).
The X1 OMNI has 5,000pa of suction, object avoidance technology, and improved mapping of the rooms in your home. When it comes to vacuuming, the X1 does a great job and picks up a surprising amount of dirt.
Then there is the mopping, with two spinning pads that can be attached to the bottom of the X1 to scrub floors clean. It’s one of the best implementations I’ve come across, with the best results. When attaching the mop pads, the robot vac will automatically switch into the correct mode. You’ll just need to remove them when you want to vacuum carpets or rugs.
Automatic detection of a dirty mop pad is also onboard, with the X1 returning to the dock to clean the pads before heading back to complete the rest of the job. It’s very clever. While it won’t replace something like a steam mop for floors that need that extra love and attention, it will make your floors look a lot better than they were before the X1 was unleashed.
There’s also something new in the personal voice assistant, which can control cleaning of your home with voice commands. If you’re more open to connecting it through your existing smart home, you can do that too with integration with Amazon’s Alexa.
And as with the previous Deebot models, there’s the ECOVACS app for both Android and iOS which gives you total control over cleaning modes, schedules, restricted zones and areas to clean. The mapping is great and even allows for a 3D version of your home – which is very cool.
There is also improved obstacle avoidance, which is why there is a large camera on the front of the X1 OMNI. It also allows for house patrol in checking areas of your home when you’re not around. It’s worth noting that there is no camera cover for this model, which may be a turn-off for privacy focused people. However, the camera is password protected and sounds an alert whenever it’s triggered.
Obstacle avoidance isn’t perfect, though. Smaller objects like LEGO pieces and random bits of rubbish and string that the kids have left around the house can be tricky for the X1. I ended up with a LEGO person’s head in the filter at one point.
What we think
ECOVACS Deebot X1 OMNI is an outstanding device… if you have the money to invest. That’s the simple outtake for this robot mopping vacuum.
In terms of automating the cleaning process, the X1 OMNI does a fantastic job with very minimal effort from you. When it comes to the design, ECOVACS has achieved a sleek and sophisticated look that doesn’t feel out of place within the home. Yes, it’s bulky but if you have the space it’s not that noticeable after a while.
I also really like the ECOVACS app that offers everything you need directly from your phone, and can control every aspect from anywhere – even remotely.
It just comes down to price, but the investment might just be worth it so that you can get some time back to yourself. The X1 OMNI really is the one-stop cleaning solution, and it does it so well.
