When it comes to robot vacuums, two names come up more than others — ECOVACS and Roborock. Both companies have been around for quite some time and offer many models of robot vacuums, but today we’re finding out which is better – the ECOVACS DEEBOT OZMO T8 or the Roborock S6 MaxV.
Design
There isn’t too much of a difference in the overall design of the robot vacuums — both are round and have a lid that opens so you can clean out the dust box. There’s also a tool blade to help brush out the dust or cut off hairs that are tangled around the brush. Speaking of brushes, both vacuums have a main brush underneath them, but the OZMO T8 has two side brushes while the S6 MaxV only has one.
When it comes to the exterior, the OZMO T8 is easier to maintain in the long run because it doesn’t attract dust and fingerprints as easily as the S6 MaxV — the latter gets dusty easily so it needs more frequent cleaning. However, it has extra buttons so it can be asked to clean or return to its charging dock without using the app. The S6 MaxV also has dual-cameras that allows remote viewing and object recognition with images.
Mapping & Obstacle Detection
Mapping is one of most important features that a robot vacuum should have, solely because it makes automated cleaning much easier. The OZMO T8 uses TrueMapping technology while the S6 MaxV is equipped with Roborock’s PreciSense LiDAR navigation system. I expected both to be good at mapping, but surprisingly the OZMO T8 is more efficient and accurate. It could map out my place and label the different areas accurately in one session whereas the S6 MaxV required an extra session and still failed to differentiate my rooms.
Both devices also support multi-floor mapping so those with double-storey houses can also use them to map out different levels of their homes.
But it’s not just mapping; the ability to detect obstacles is also needed because you simply won’t want the vacuum to roll over or get stuck trying to suck your slipper and what not. Fortunately, the T8 has TrueDetect 3D technology and the S6 MaxV has ReactiveAI. The S6 MaxV is a true winner at avoiding obstacles like shoes and weighing scales, but terrible when it comes to cables. It often gets tangled up to a point where it requires human assistance to untangle it. That’s a huge letdown since the main purpose of a robot vacuum is to clean independently without any assistance.
On the other hand, the OZMO T8 usually nudges the object gently before it realises that it’s an obstacle and turns away. What really impressed me is its anti-tangle system — despite rolling over messy cable, the vacuum could always untangle itself from the mess and continue cleaning. This is most likely thanks to the millimeter-level accuracy that allows it to detect objects as tiny as 1mm, allowing it to recognise the cables and avoid being tangled up. Also, the TrueDetect 3D technology allows it to recognise obstacles from a distance of up to 30cm including things like carpets, so even when the OZMO T8 starts mopping, it avoids the carpets.
Vacuuming
Despite having three brushes, the OZMO T8 isn’t as efficient as the S6 MaxV with only two brushes. Both aren’t perfect when it comes to picking up dirt — I had to make them clean the same spot twice when I tested their abilities with cat litter. That being said, both are great at cleaning the common dirt — furs, hairs and dust.
It took me a week before I had to clean out the dust box for both vacuums and that’s with daily cleaning. Cleaning works the same way for both, but because I also have the Auto-Empty Station from ECOVACS, I didn’t need to clean the OZMO T8 myself. It’s a charging station that also empties the vacuum’s dust box when it returns, so the dirt gets sucked up into a dust bag that can be taken out and thrown without dirtying your hands. The dust bag can supposedly store up to 30 days of dirt and debris, so cleaning it out once a month is good enough.
Mopping
Now, both can vacuum and mop simultaneously and while they did a good job at mopping my floor clean, I also swapped the OZMO T8’s usual mopping module with ECOVAC’s OZMO Pro Oscillating Mopping System. It comes with high-frequency vibration and disposable pads so not only is it better at cleaning stubborn stains, but I also won’t have to wash the cloth every time I’m done cleaning.
Still, both brands recommend using only water to mop and I wish they could do something about that. As a person who’s used to using floor detergent to mop my floors, I still believe that it’s necessary if I want my house to be squeaky clean. Also, if you have lots of carpets at home, you may want to keep them beforehand if you want the S6 MaxV to mop your place. It doesn’t have carpet detection when mopping so it’ll either mop over your carpets or just push them around the house.
App
- App Pairing
Both the OZMO T8 and Roborock S6 MaxV come with their own apps that should be downloaded to enjoy the full features. App pairing is relatively easy and can be done within minutes, but do note that they only support 2.4GHz wireless networks.
- App features
Both apps have similar features too; I can choose to clean the entire house, by rooms or select a specific area to clean, and I can also adjust the suction intensity and water flow level. I can also schedule cleanings, turn on the Do Not Disturb mode, view the cleaning history, the battery status and manage my maps.
However, here’s where the S6 MaxV stands out; its dual cameras lets me remotely control the vacuum so it also acts as a monitor when I’m not home. I can also send audio messages that get broadcasted on the vacuum, so I can speak to my pet, scare off strangers and just communicate with my housemates when I’m not home. Some may be worried that there’s a risk of privacy invasion, but Roborock claims that everything is captured and deleted instantly so nothing will be stored or sent to the cloud. However, it would’ve been great if there’s camera cover included just for reassurance.
- Maintenance
You should know that robot vacuums still need maintenance every now and then; each part needs to be cleaned or removed every now and then, but you won’t have to remember the dates to do so. Both ECOVACS HOME and Roborock keep track of the condition of the vacuum parts so you just have to check the app to know when it’s time to change them.
Should you get the OZMO T8 or the S6 MaxV?
At the time of writing, the OZMO T8 is priced at RM1,799 while the S6 MaxV is priced at RM2,199. However, during the 12.12 sale, the OZMO T8’s price will be RM1,599 and the S6 MaxV will be RM1,989.
I’d go for the OZMO T8 because even if I purchase it with the OZMO Pro priced at RM359, it’s still slightly cheaper than the S6 MaxV. Plus, it performs better at mapping, mopping and detangling itself from wires via its obstacle detection technology. You can purchase the OZMO T8 here, and you can also get the Auto-Empty Station at RM799.
However, the S6 MaxV has better pick up ability and also comes with a dual camera system for remote monitoring. That being said, you can also consider the OZMO T8 AIVI that is priced similarly with the S6 MaxV.
This article is sponsored by ECOVACS.
