The Roomba 960 vs Neato D5 comparison matchup pits two of the most advanced vacuums on the market. Each is equipped with technology that allows the robot to clean efficiently, deeply, and without incurring damage. We’ve broken down the similarities and differences between these two vacuums so you can choose the right one for you.
In the Neato vs Roomba matchup, which one will come out the winner? Let’s dive in.
Quick Comparison: Roomba 960 vs Neato Botvac D5
| Product | Mapping Sensor Type | Noise Level | Voice Prompts |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1. Roomba 960 Our Best Pick  Check Price | Camera sensor | 65 decibels | Yes |
#2. Neato Botvac D5 Check Price | LDS sensor | 64 decibels | No |
#1. Roomba 960
The Roomba 960 is a high-end WiFi connected vacuum. It uses many of the patented technologies that Roomba vacuums are known for, and then adds more features not seen in the lower-end Roomba range.
When compared with the vacuum system of the Roomba 600 and 700 series, the Roomba 960 comes with 5 times the air power during the power-lifting suction. The three-stage cleaning system loosens, lifts, and suctions dirt away from carpeting and floors.
The robot can engage in visual mapping, allowing it to clean the entire home with efficiency. Thanks to the map, it can clean a whole level of the home, maneuver under furniture, and move around objects.
The dual multi-surface brushes go through an automatic adjustment and flexing process so that they can constantly stay in contact with your hard floors and carpets. They move based on the type of floor surface and height of the carpet piling.
The vacuum uses a high-efficiency filter that can trap 99 percent of all pollen, allergens, and particles down to 10 microns. This makes it a great choice for homes that have pets.
The box comes with the Roomba itself, the charging station, a line cord, a two-mode virtual wall barrier, an extra filter, an extra side brush, and two AA batteries. The robot itself weighs just 8.5 pounds, much lighter than many other options on the market.
#2. Neato Botvac D5
The Neato Botvac D5 is a robot vacuum that’s in the same price range as the Roomba 960. Rather than being a perfectly round robot, the Neato D5 uses a D-shaped design and side brush to more efficiently clean corners and walls.
When compared to other round robots, the core brush is nearly seventy percent larger.
The vacuum’s filter captures allergens, dander, and dirt that’s too small to see. The robot has the advantage of using LaserSmart technology, which allows the vacuum to scan and map your home.
The extra size of the main brush makes the robot great for picking up dog and cat hair. You can also use no-go lines to keep the vacuum from getting stuck underneath furniture or in tight corners. It’s possible to create customized cleaning plans for each floor of a multi-story house.
In addition, the ninety minutes of battery life make the robot perfect for large and medium homes. Robot vacuums with shorter battery lives may struggle to clean everything they need to in the time allotted.
You don’t have to be home to use the vacuum. It connects to WiFi, which means that you can use the Neato app to schedule cleaning from wherever you are. You can set the vacuum to clean while you’re out, allowing you to return to a clean home.
Similarities
Both of the vacuums are WiFi connected and can be remotely programmed. They have path planning and mapping features to allow more efficient cleaning of the house. Other similarities include:
- Returning to the charging station when the battery gets low
- Resuming as soon as fully charged
- Similar noise levels
- One side brush
- Ninety minutes of battery time on one full charge
- Able to clean medium to large homes
- HEPA filtration
- Most effective on low to medium-pile carpeting
- Effective on all types of hard flooring
- Able to be pre-scheduled and remotely controlled
- Support for Google Assistant and Alexa commands
- Anti-cliff drop sensors
- 12-month manufacturer’s warranty
Differences
There are a few key differences that can help you choose which of the vacuums is better for you:
- The Botvac uses LDS mapping sensors, while the Roomba uses camera sensors
- The Roomba can respond to voice prompts, a feature the Botvac lacks
- The Botvac has 2000 Pa of suction power, making it significantly more powerful than the Roomba’s 900 Pa
- The Botvac has a cleaning area of 1,184 feet at a time, while the Roomba can clean 1,615 feet
- The Botvac uses eco and turbo cleaning modes, while the Roomba uses automatic and spot cleaning methods
- The Botvac’s dustbin holds 700 milliliters, while the Roomba’s holds 600 milliliters
- The Botvac takes 2.5 hours to charge, while the Roomba takes just 2 hours
- The Botvac is capable of multi-floor mapping, while the Roomba holds just one map at a time
- The Roomba has dirt detection sensors to clean more aggressively on high-traffic areas, which the Botvac lacks
Roomba 960 vs Neato D5 Final Thoughts
Neato vs Roomba, which is better? Both of these robot vacuums are high-end models that will efficiently clean your home. If I had to choose one, the Roomba 960 has the edge.
For multi-level homes, the Neato Botvac D5 has an advantage in its multi-floor mapping capabilities. But the Roomba 960 may work better in areas that have lots of obstacles since it has sensors that allow it to maneuver more easily.
For more comparisons and reviews on these two vacuums, check out the posts here:
