The Neato D8 is a mid-range robot vacuum. It boasts a LIDAR mapping sensor, and it delivers impressive overall debris-pickup performance on bare floors. It feels impressively well-built, has a broad suite of navigation features, and is decently easy to maintain. Unfortunately, it has somewhat high recurring costs and can struggle with sucking up fine debris on carpeted floors.
Our Verdict
- 6.4 Bare Floor
- 6.6 Low-Pile Carpet
- 5.3 High-Pile Carpet
- 5.4 Pets
- 4.0 Stairs
- 3.2 Cars
- 2.0 Workshop
- Updated Aug 26, 2024: We've updated the scores in the Hard Floor Pick-Up, High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up, Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up, and Pet-Hair Pick-Up tests to align with a broader data set. For more information about the reasoning for this update, you can look at our forum post.
- Updated Apr 02, 2024: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 0.8.
- Updated Mar 28, 2024: Converted to Test Bench 0.7.
- Updated Dec 14, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.7.
- Updated Oct 30, 2023: We've added a link to the Shark IQ 2-in-1 in the 'Stains' section of the review to provide an alternative with a mopping system.
- Updated Aug 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.6.
- Updated Jul 29, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.5.
- Updated May 19, 2021: Review published.
- Updated May 17, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated May 10, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated May 05, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Apr 21, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Neato D8 is only available in one color variant, 'Indigo,' and you can see its label here.
Let us know in the discussions if you come across another variant, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Robot Vacuums
The Neato D8 is a reasonably well-rounded robot vacuum for something in this price range. It performs best on bare floors, where it easily sucks up pet hair and small debris like sand, but it has a hard time with debris in corners or along walls. It feels impressively well-built and isn't particularly demanding in terms of maintenance. However, it has a shorter runtime than the Neato Botvac D7 and doesn't perform especially well on carpet.
If you're looking for alternatives, look at our list of recommendations for the best robot vacuums, the best robot vacuums for pet hair, and the best robotic vacuums for hardwood floors.
The Neato D8 and Neato Botvac D7 each have their advantages, so one may suit you better depending on your needs. Both vacuums are similar in maneuverability, ease of maintenance, recurring costs, and overall dimensions, but there are a few small differences. The D8 delivers better performance on high-pile carpet and takes much less time to recharge, though its maximum battery life is significantly less than that of the D7. The D7 also delivers superior performance on low-pile carpet.
The Neato D8 is better than the Roborock S7. The Neato has fewer parts that require regular maintenance, has a bigger dustbin, and cleans more effectively on all surface types. It also takes much less time to recharge, though the Roborock has a much longer runtime. The Roborock also maneuvers around obstacles more easily, feels more sturdily built, and incurs fewer recurring costs.
The Neato D8 and Roborock S4 Max each have strengths and weaknesses, meaning one might suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Neato has fewer parts that need regular cleaning, charges substantially faster, and delivers superior performance on low and high-pile carpet. The Roborock has a surface detection system that enables it to automatically increase its suction power on carpets. It also has a much longer battery life, incurs lower recurring costs, and gets stuck around obstacles less frequently than the Neato.
The iRobot Roomba S9 and Neato D8 each have their strengths, so one may suit you better depending on your needs. The iRobot feels better built, has a longer maximum runtime, delivers better performance on low-pile carpet, and maneuvers itself more effectively. That said, the Neato clears more debris on bare floors and high-pile carpet, is less demanding in maintenance, and is notably lighter in weight.
The Neato D8 is better than the iRobot Roomba i7. The Neato is less demanding in maintenance, incurs fewer recurring costs, and delivers superior performance on bare floors and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the iRobot maneuvers itself with less difficulty, performs better on low-pile carpet, and has an automatic debris-disposal feature that dumps debris from its internal dustbin to an external dirt compartment attached to its recharging dock.
The Neato D8 is better than the iRobot Roomba i3. The Neato has fewer parts that need regular cleaning, incurs lower recurring costs, and delivers better performance on bare floors and carpets. However, the iRobot does have an automatic surface adjustment feature and does a better job of climbing over rug tassels and power cords. This variant of the 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.
The Roborock S6 is slightly better than the Neato D8. The Roborock is better built, incurs fewer recurring costs, has a longer battery life, maneuvers itself around obstacles like electrical cords with less difficulty, and delivers better performance on bare floors and low-pile carpet. It also has a mopping attachment for dealing with sticky messes on bare floors. Meanwhile, the Neato is significantly more effective on high-pile carpet, has fewer parts that require regular cleaning, comes with a larger dustbin, and charges much faster.
The Neato D8 is slightly better for most use cases than the Roborock S6 MaxV. The Neato is less demanding in terms of maintenance, is smaller and lighter, and delivers superior performance on bare floors and low and high-pile carpet. It also takes much less time to recharge, though its battery life is shorter than that of the Roborock. The Roborock also feels better built, incurs fewer recurring costs, and maneuvers itself more effectively. It also has a mopping attachment.
Test Results
The Neato D8 is decently easy to maintain. It's easy to access the parts that require regular maintenance.
- Dirt compartment: You can access the dirt compartment by removing the vacuum's top cover. You can empty it over a trash bin once it gets full, which is indicated through its companion app, but make sure to remove the filter first.
- HEPA filter: The filter is inside the dirt compartment, and you can easily remove it from its mounting position. You can remove stuck-on debris by hand or with another vacuum, but the manufacturer states not to use soap or water to clean it.
- Brushroll: You can access the brushroll by removing the side brush and brush guard beforehand. The manufacturer recommends cleaning the brushroll and its bearings after each use.
- Side brush: You can pull off the side brush without the use of a screwdriver or any other tool. You should regularly clean any accumulated debris by hand.
The Neato D8 has many recurring costs. You can check the estimated replacement interval of each part by checking a sticker under the dirt compartment.
- HEPA filter: The filter has an estimated service life of one to two months.
- Brushroll: You should replace the brushroll every six to eight months.
- Battery: The battery, found under a cover held in place with screws, should be replaced every year.
- Neato D8 robot vacuum
- Dirt compartment
- 3x HEPA filters
- Brushroll
- Brush guard
- Small brushroll tool
- Side brush
- Recharge station
- Charging cable
- Quick Start guide
The Neato D8 delivers excellent battery performance. The 2100mAh battery has roughly half the capacity of the Neato Botvac D7, so it doesn't last as long overall. Using it in its most energy-efficient 'Eco' mode yields just over 70 minutes of runtime, while running it continuously in its 'Turbo' suction mode drops its battery life to about 40 minutes. However, this can vary drastically in the real world. Its battery indicator light turns from solid green to yellow when the charge drops below 35%, and the vacuum refuses to accept new cleaning tasks and begins searching for its recharge dock once the battery charge drops below 27%.
The Neato D8 has a couple of quality-of-life features. There are two power modes. 'Eco' reduces its suction power and makes the vacuum quieter, while turbo increases its suction force and spins the brushroll faster.
Real-world suction performance is poor. Like most robot vacuums, the Neato's floorhead sits too high above the ground to generate much of a tight seal.
The Neato D8's airflow performance is actually quite impressive for a robovac. It outperforms pricier models like the iRobot Roomba i7 in this regard and will have an easier time dealing with heavier material.
This vacuum is remarkably quiet. You'll hear what people nearby say even when it's running in its most powerful suction mode.
This vacuum has decent maneuverability. Its LIDAR navigation system develops fairly efficient cleaning routes, and the vacuum is small enough to easily clean under tables and couches. However, the vacuum can occasionally get stuck, requiring you to press the 'Play' button on its top surface for it to resume cleaning. It can struggle to negotiate obstacles like rugs, tassels, and electrical cords.
This vacuum does a poor job of sealing in allergens. While the manufacturer advertises its standard filter as able to trap 99.5% of particles 0. 3 microns in diameter, fine particles are still blown free of its LIDAR sensor port.
This vacuum struggles with debris wedged within cracks and crevices, even in its 'Turbo' power setting. It doesn't provide enough suction from its cleaning head to even lift away debris in shallow cracks and crevices. Its side brush also tends to fling debris outwards instead of drawing it towards the vacuum's brushroll.
This vacuum has no impact on stains. If you're looking for a LIDAR-mapping robot vacuum that can mop away stains, check out the Shark IQ 2-in-1.
This vacuum doesn't have a mopping feature.
The Neato D8 has a limited set of physical automation features. It isn't compatible with a self-emptying base station, and it features only a single cleaning button to start and pause cleaning sessions.
Note: Some bugs did occur during testing in which the vacuum wouldn't move after pressing the clean button, even if the vacuum could be heard operating.
The MyNeato companion app is good. You can use the app to see a map of the vacuum's coverage area, set up no-go zones, check the cleaning session history, or change the vacuum's power setting. However, be aware that you need a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection to use the app to control the vacuum. Do note that the vacuum can be somewhat sluggish to respond to inputs made using the app.