The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is a high-end robot vacuum with many features. It uses AIVI Smart Recognition technology to map out rooms and avoid obstacles. You can also use its camera to monitor your house in HD video via its companion app. It has a mop attachment to clean sticky messes or spills, although we don't currently test for this. That said, while its performance is otherwise alright on low and high-pile carpet, it's a suitable choice if you're looking to keep bare floors clean.
Our Verdict
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is good for bare floors. It can pick up small debris like rice without a problem and clears most pet hair and large debris such as cereal. It also comes with a mop attachment, although we don't currently test for this. This vacuum even has a great build quality that feels sturdy. However, it has demanding maintenance needs and a few of its parts need to be replaced over time.
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Lots of automation features.
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Easily picks up small debris.
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Very well-built design.
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Sophisticated navigation system.
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Small dirt compartment.
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Demanding maintenance needs.
The Ecovacs T8 AIVI is alright for low-pile carpet. It can pick up a decent amount of pet hair and can clear quite a bit of large debris like sand. However, it struggles with smaller debris like baking soda. It also has several parts that need regular maintenance and replacement over time. That said, it's very well-built and can easily maneuver under tables and couches.
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Lots of automation features.
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Very well-built design.
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Sophisticated navigation system.
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Small dirt compartment.
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Demanding maintenance needs.
The Ecovacs OZMO T8 AIVI is okay for high-pile carpet. While this very well-built vacuum can pick up some pet hair, it struggles to pick up small and large debris. It also has a lot of parts that need regular maintenance and a few parts need to be replaced over time, which can add up. On the upside, it has great maneuverability.
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Lots of automation features.
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Very well-built design.
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Sophisticated navigation system.
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Small dirt compartment.
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Demanding maintenance needs.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is decent for pets. It picks up most pet hair from bare floors and low-pile carpet, but it struggles to pick up this debris a bit more on high-pile carpet. Although it's very well-built and capable of easily maneuvering around the home, it also needs a lot of regular maintenance and also has a few parts that need replacement over time.
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Lots of automation features.
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Very well-built design.
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Small dirt compartment.
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Demanding maintenance needs.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is a robot vacuum and isn't suitable for cleaning stairs.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is a robot vacuum and isn't suitable for cleaning the interior of your carpet.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is a robot vacuum and isn't suitable for workshop cleaning.
- 7.7 Bare Floor
- 7.3 Low-Pile Carpet
- 7.2 High-Pile Carpet
- 5.5 Pets
- 6.0 Stairs
- 4.9 Cars
- 4.6 Workshop
- Updated Jul 22, 2024: We've added a link to the Dreame L10s Ultra in the 'User Maintenance' section of the review to provide an alternative that comes with a multifunction docking station.
- Updated Oct 20, 2023: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 0.5 and Test Bench 0.7.
- Updated Oct 20, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.7.
- Updated Aug 05, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.6.
- Updated Aug 04, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.5.
- Updated Dec 15, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Dec 11, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Nov 24, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Nov 19, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Nov 07, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI comes in one color variant: 'Black'. You can see its label here. You can also purchase this vacuum with an Auto-Empty Station, which is a charging station that also doubles as an external dirt compartment for the vacuum. Since this additional feature increases the dirt compartment capacity and also changes how it performs on all surface types since it can return to the dock when it needs to empty its internal compartment, it may not perform similarly to our test unit.
If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Robot Vacuums
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is a robot vacuum with plenty of features. It has a smart camera system to create room maps and avoid obstacles as well as remotely monitor your home when you're away by recording HD video. It also has a mop attachment so that it can tackle sticky messes or spills, although we don't currently test for this. Unfortunately, its vacuuming performance on carpet falls a bit short when compared to the Roborock S6, which also is a hybrid mop/vacuum.
For more robot vacuums, check out our recommendations for the best robotic vacuums for hardwood floors, the best robot vacuums, and the best robot vacuums for carpet.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI and Roborock S7 each have advantages, so one may suit you better, depending on your needs. The Ecovacs incurs fewer recurring costs, has a longer battery life, and delivers better performance on low-pile carpet. It also clears pet hair more effectively on all surface types and has a hazard-detection system that enables it to identify and react to obstacles like shoes on the floor or pet waste. Meanwhile, the Roborock has fewer parts that need regular cleaning, charges significantly faster, and cleans more debris on bare floors, especially bulky material.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is better than the iRobot Roomba j7. The Ecovacs comes with a mopping attachment, incurs lower recurring costs, does a better job cleaning pet hair on bare floors, and struggles less with fine debris on low-pile carpet. It also has a much longer battery life, though the iRobot does charge a lot faster. The Ecovacs LIDAR sensor also allows for faster room mapping. Conversely, the iRobot is better at maneuvering its way around obstacles and is advertised as being capable of recognizing your schedule and organizing its cleaning schedule around it. While the iRobot j7 is compatible with a self-emptying base station to reduce hands-on maintenance requirements, a similar feature is available for the Ecovacs.
The Roborock S7 MaxV is ultimately better than the Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI. Both are advanced robot vacuums with dual-sensor navigation systems, with LIDAR to map out their coverage area and cameras to identify and react to hazards like pet waste in real-time. However, the Roborock charges much faster, performs better on bare floors, and has an ultrasonic mopping system to scrub away stains. Its top-trim Empty Wash Fill Dock is a pricey accessory that can empty its dustbin, refill its water reservoir, and clean its mopping pads. The Ecovacs does a better job of cleaning carpeted floors.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a better robot vacuum than the Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI. The iRobot is easier to maintain and offers a better cleaning performance on all surface types. However, the Ecovacs has fewer recurring costs and has a mop attachment.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is a slightly better robot vacuum than the iRobot Roomba E5. The Ecovacs is better built and performs better on all surface types. It's more maneuverable and has a lot of automation features available too. It also has a mop attachment, although we don't currently test for this. However, the iRobot is easier to maintain and has a larger dirt compartment.
The Roborock S5 and Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI each have their own advanategs, so one vacuum may suit you better than the other depending on your needs. The Roborock is less demanding in terms of regular maintenance, has a bigger dirt compartment, delivers superior performance on bare floors, and charges much faster, though it does have a shorter max runtime than the Ecovacs. The Ecovacs also clears more debris on low and high-pile carpet, feels better-built, and incurs fewer recurring costs. Both vacuums are equipped with mopping attachments, though we don't currently test those features.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is better for most uses than the iRobot Roomba i3. The Ecovacs feels better-built, incurs lower recurring costs, has a mopping attachment for clearing messes on bare floors, does a better job of cleaning pet hair on most surface types, and has a longer battery life, though the iRobot does charge much faster. The Ecovacs also has a more sophisticated mapping and navigation system, with a combination of LIDAR and optical sensors, allowing it to spot and react to hazards in real time. However, the iRobot has fewer parts that need regular cleaning. This variant of the iRobot i3 also has a self-emptying feature, which allows it to dump debris from its internal dustbin into an external dirt compartment attached to its charging dock, reducing hands-on maintenance requirements.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The Ecovacs feels better-built, incurs lower recurring costs, has a mopping attachment, does a better job of maneuvering itself, and has a more advanced suite of automation features. Its battery life is also more than twice as long, though the iRobot charges in less than a third of a time. The iRobot also has fewer parts requiring regular maintenance.
The iRobot Roomba i7 and the Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI are two robot vacuums with different strengths, and depending on your usage, you may prefer one over the other. The iRobot comes with a docking station that allows the robot to automatically empty its dirt bin into a larger compartment. It's easier to maintain and performs better on low and high-pile carpet. However, the Ecovacs has fewer recurring costs and has an HD camera built-in. It also does a significantly better job on bare floors and has a mop attachment, although we don't currently test this feature. You can buy an external dirt compartment charging station separately.
The Neato Botvac D7 is a better overall robot vacuum than the Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI. While the Neato seems a little more bare-bones in terms of features when compared to the Ecovacs, it's easier to maintain, has a larger dirt compartment, and offers a better battery performance. It also does a better job cleaning all surface types. However, the Ecovacs has a better build quality and maneuverability and fewer recurring costs. It also comes with a few features like a camera that you can also use to monitor your home via its companion app. It also has a mop attachment, although we don't currently test for this.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is better than the eufy RoboVac G30. The Ecovacs is notably better-built, incurs fewer recurring costs, has a much longer maximum battery life, comes with a mopping attachment for bare floors, and clears more debris on all floor types. It has a more advanced LIDAR mapping system too, yielding superior maneuverability and more sophisticated automation capabilities.
The Roborock S6 is a better hybrid robot mop/vacuum than the Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI. The Roborock is easier to maintain, has a larger dirt compartment, and offers a better battery performance. It does a better job on bare floors as well as low-pile carpet, and its maneuverability is better. However, the Ecovacs has a camera that you can use to monitor your home from its companion app, and its recurring costs are lower.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is better than the Wyze Robot Vacuum. The Ecovacs has a more advanced mapping and navigation system, which combines a LIDAR sensor with a camera that allows it to spot and react to hazards in front of it in real-time. It also feels better built than the Wyze, cleans carpets better, has a larger internal dustbin, and has a longer battery life. It's also capable of mopping up stains, though its mopping system is entirely passive and not especially efficient, and is fully compatible with a self-emptying station. That said, the Wyze is far more affordable and delivers superior performance on bare floors.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI and the Roborock S6 MaxV have different strengths, and you may prefer either one depending on your preferences. The Ecovacs delivers better performance on carpets, has a longer maximum battery life, and incurs fewer recurring costs. On the other hand, the Roborock delivers better performance on bare floors. Also, while both models have excellent automation features, it has a unique 'ReactiveAI' feature intended to detect obstacles and allow the vacuum to move around them. Its dirt compartment is also much bigger.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is a better robot vacuum than the Narwal T10. The Ecovacs incurs fewer recurring costs, is easier to store, and delivers superior vacuuming performance on all surface types. Unlike the Narwal, it's capable of vacuuming and mopping simultaneously. While the Ecovacs does have a longer battery life, the Narwal can charge in less than a third of the time. The Narwals mopping system, with its rotating pads and self-cleaning system, is also far more effective in dealing with stains than the Ecovacs' onboard water reservoir and static mop cloths.
Test Results
The Ecovacs DEEBOT T8 AIVI has an outstanding build quality. It's mostly made of hard plastic with a brushed matte gray finish on top. It has a thin bumper, two drive wheels, and its swivel wheel which are all rubber. On its top is a 'TrueMapping distance sensor' while its front side has an 'AIVI' visual detection sensor. The AIVI sensor can also be used as an HD camera so that you can monitor your home from its companion app. However, you can't use this feature while the robot is vacuuming. It has a mop attachment with cleaning pads and a water reservoir, although we don't currently test for this. However, the dirt compartment and reservoir could crack if dropped.
It's very easy to assemble. You just need to click the color-coded side brushes into place and plug in the charging dock.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT T8 AIVI requires a lot of regular maintenance. Luckily, its parts are easy to access.
- Brushroll: This part can be accessed by removing the brushroll guard and lifting the brush out. It should be cleaned once a week using the multi-function cleaning tool.
- Side brush: There's one green and one red side brush that you can pull off the vacuum. These parts should be cleaned once every two weeks with the multi-function cleaning tool.
- Dirt compartment: The dirt compartment is easy to remove. It needs to be emptied frequently due to its small size.
- Filter system: The sponge filter and high-efficiency filter are both easily accessible once you remove the dirt compartment and can be lifted off that compartment's door. Both filters should be cleaned once a week. You can tap the high-efficiency filter against a garbage can to clean it. The sponge filter can be rinsed under water and left to air dry.
- Wheel: You can swivel the wheel to have better access to it. It should be cleaned once a week with the multi-function cleaning tool.
- Sensors: The sensors are located on the exterior of the robot and on the dock. They can be wiped with a clean cloth once a week.
- Mop attachment: We don't currently test for this, but the mopping cloth should be washed after every use and let air dry.
- Disposable mop cloth: We don't currently test for this either, but the disposable mopping cloth should be discarded after every use.
- Water tank filter: This part should be drained and rinsed with water after each use of the mop attachment.
If you wash any part with water, they must be completely air-dried before using them again. Take a look at the Roborock S6 MaxV if you're looking for a robot vacuum with less demanding maintenance needs. Alternatively, if you want a robot vacuum that offers a more automated maintenance experience, you could consider the Dreame L10s Ultra, which comes with a multifunction dock that not only empties its dustbin but also refills its internal water tank for mopping and washes and dries its mopping pads.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT T8 has a few recurring costs, but each part can be purchased from the manufacturer's website.
- Side brush: The side brush should be replaced every three to six months.
- Main brush: The main brush needs to be replaced after six to 12 months.
- Filter system: The sponge filter and high-efficiency filter should both be replaced every three to six months.
- Reusable microfiber cleaning cloth: You should replace this cloth after every 50 washes. The manufacturer sells these parts in packs of three.
- Disposable cleaning cloth: You need to replace this cloth after every use. The manufacturer sells these in packs of 25.
The ECOVACS HOME companion app allows you to see the estimated replacement time for several parts. The manufacturer also sells a 'Buddy Kit' that includes one main brush, four side brushes, and three sets of filters (sponge and high-efficiency) to make it easier to replace parts.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT T8 AIVI is outstandingly easy to store. It automatically mounts itself to its charging station, and you can store any excess cord in the back of the charger.
The Ecovacs T8 has a disappointing dirt compartment. It's advertised to have a 0.42L dirt compartment, but we measured significantly less at 0.25L. While it doesn't have an indicator to let you know then its dirt compartment is full, you can purchase an auto-empty station separately so that the vacuum can automatically empty itself into its charging dock. If you're looking for a robot vacuum with a bit more room in its dirt compartment, check out the Shark IQ Robot AV992 Series.
- Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI vacuum
- Charging dock
- Charging cable
- Camera lens cover
- 2x High efficiency filters
- 2x Sponge filters
- Main brushroll
- 4x Side brushes
- Dirt compartment
- Brushroll guard
- Brush cleaning tool
- Water reservoir
- Reusable microfiber cleaning cloth
- Cleaning cloth plate
- 5x disposable mop cloths
- User guide
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI has an unlimited range, so long as it still has battery life left and room in its dirt compartment. Unfortunately, it can't go up or down stairs.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT T8 AIVI has good portability. It's a fairly lightweight vacuum to move from one room to another. However, it doesn't have a carrying handle.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI has an outstanding battery performance. It can last just over two hours on its most powerful 'Max+' mode. If you want the battery to last even longer, you can use it on 'Quiet' mode, which extends its battery life to under five hours. That said, its recharge time is significantly longer than alternatives like the Narwal T10. Its power button also doubles as a battery indicator. It flashes white while charging, starting, or relocating and turns off when fully charged. It's solid white when it's cleaning or paused while cleaning. The light turns solid red when its battery is low, and it flashes red when there's an error.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI has a few extra features. In the companion app, it has four different power suction modes: 'Quiet', 'Standard', 'Max', and 'Max+'. The app also allows you to access different cleaning modes: 'Smart Cleaning / AUTO', which is its default cleaning mode, and 'Advanced,' which enables 'Area Cleaning', 'Custom Cleaning - Virtual Boundary', and 'Multi-Floor Map' modes. It can also mop and vacuum simultaneously, although we don't currently test for this, and it can automatically activate max power when it detects carpet.
Its AIVI visual detection sensor allows you to record HD video, and it has a patrol mode so that you can monitor your house. However, it doesn't vacuum in this mode.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 has a main brushroll as well as two color-coded side brushes to help pick up debris in the robot's blind spots. There's also a multifunction cleaning tool with a small hook blade so that you can cut away any hair wraps. Since it's also equipped with a mop attachment, it has a washable and reusable microfiber cloth, five disposable cleaning cloths, and a cleaning cloth plate. However, we don't currently test the mop attachment feature.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT T8 doesn't have an alternative configuration.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI has a great performance on bare floors. It can pick up small debris like rice without a problem. It can also pick up most large debris, such as cereal and pet hair.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI is okay on low-pile carpet. It picks up quite a bit of pet hair and large debris like sand, but it struggles more to pick up smaller debris like baking soda.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI has an alright performance on high-pile carpet. It can pick up a decent amount of pet hair, but both small and large debris is more of a challenge for this vacuum.
This vacuum does a fantastic job of handling pet hair on bare floors and carpeting.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI has poor suction compared to almost any manually operated vacuum; its suction inlet sits too high above the ground to form a tight seal. That said, it still performs better in this regard than many of its peers.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI's airflow is quite good for a robot vacuum. It easily outperforms less premium models like the iRobot Roomba i7 and will have a slightly easier time dealing with heavier material.
This vacuum is exceptionally quiet. You won't have much trouble conversing, even with the vacuum running nearby in the same room.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT T8 AIVI has great maneuverability. Thanks to its AIVI Smart Recognition camera system, it can map a room and adapt to different obstacles like electrical cords so it doesn't get stuck. Its low height also allows it to clean under tables and couches well. Unfortunately, it can get caught on rug tassels. It also has some trouble climbing up onto carpet.
This vacuum does a good job of sealing in fine particles despite lacking a HEPA-rated exhaust filter. In this regard, it's much better than some other premium alternatives, like the Roborock S8+/S8.
This vacuum does a poor job of handling debris in cracks and crevices. It simply lacks the requisite power and sealing capability to lift away debris embedded deeply within cracks. On the upside, its dual side brushes don't fling debris outward and produce an even larger mess.
Despite having an onboard mopping feature, this vacuum's stain-clearing performance is disappointing. Even with the 'High' water flow rate setting to its mopping pads, it's very slow and will take several cycles to deal with dried-on stains. You can see the result of a five-cycle clean here.
Its AIVI real-time hazard identification system is also a bit of a nuisance in this regard, as it can perceive darker-colored stains as objects to avoid. To run this test, the system was disabled in its companion app. You can see the error issued to its companion app here, and a video of this phenomenon here.
This vacuum isn't designed for dealing with liquid spills. It can clear away small spills by soaking them away with its mopping pads, but having the vacuum suck up liquid will likely result in damage.
The Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 has excellent automation features. While you don't need an internet connection to use it, it offers limited features without the ECOVACS HOME app. Hitting the power button once has it run an automatic cleaning cycle, while holding it down sends it back to its dock. You can purchase an Auto-Empty Station separately so the robot vacuum can automatically empty its dust bin into the larger, external dirt compartment.
The ECOVACS HOME app is pretty full-featured. It allows you to switch cleaning modes and power settings. You can also schedule cleaning times, create virtual boundary markers, and see the estimated replacement time for several parts. This app allows you to use the AIVI visual detection sensor as a camera to record HD video and send it to the app. You can set the vacuum to patrol your house, but it won't vacuum if you're in this mode. There are also settings for water flow levels for its mop attachment.