ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 Pro Plus: BAGLESS station, vibration module, high power

This review examines a very interesting robot vacuum cleaner called the ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 Pro Plus. It's interesting because it features an unusual self-cleaning station. Instead of a traditional dust bag, this station uses a cyclonic filtration system. This solution allows you to save on bags, which reduces maintenance costs. In addition to the affordable station, the ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 Pro Plus boasts a high suction power of up to 8000 Pa, a proprietary turbo brush with an anti-tangle system for hair and pet hair, an obstacle avoidance system, and a vibration platform module for scrubbing even the most stubborn dirt. For such a complete package, you'll expect to pay around $380-$430. At first glance, this seems like a lot of functionality for the price. Below, I'll thoroughly test the robot, highlight its pros and cons, and then share my opinion. So, let's get started!

Equipment

The robot vacuum cleaner arrived in a branded box like this:

In addition to the robot and station, the package includes a vibration module for wet cleaning, a spare cloth, and an operating manual.

Appearance

Now let's take a look at the design of the ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 Pro Plus. Let's start with the robot vacuum itself. It's available in black and white. Its body is round.

Wall sensors are mounted on both sides of the bumper. A central sensor system detects and accurately avoids objects on the floor.

The main navigation device is the lidar. It is equipped with a spring-loaded cover to prevent it from getting stuck under furniture. Three mechanical control buttons are located next to the lidar.

The dust collector is located under the top lid and holds 400 ml. The filtration system consists of a foam filter, HEPA filter, and mesh.

The robot comes with a module installed out of the box that serves no purpose and is designed for dry cleaning only. Instead, you can install a vibration module with a cleaning cloth like this one:

A similar one is installed in previously released ones Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T9 AIVI+ And ECOVACS DEEBOT T10 PlusThe tank holds up to 180 ml of water. The platform generates up to 600 vibrations per minute, mimicking the motion of a person's hands when scrubbing away dirt. The cloth is attached to the platform with a groove and Velcro, very conveniently.

The robot has four fall protection sensors mounted on its underside. A carpet detection sensor is located next to the swivel roller. It has a single, three-beam, quick-release side brush.

The central brush unit is floating. The turbo brush itself is updated, like that of the older Ecovacs DEEBOT T30. Behind it are combs for detangling hair and fur. The brush is equipped with soft, resilient bristle inserts. The manufacturer claims that the angle of the bristle inserts reduces tangling.

Now let's look at the self-cleaning station. The lower platform is removable and can be removed and washed if needed. The waste collection compartment also detaches with the press of a button. The flask has a lever for emptying the waste. Press it, and the bottom opens, allowing the waste to fall out. Convenient. It has a four-stage filtration system. There's no HEPA filter. The flask and all components can be washed if needed.

The pros and cons of this design will be discussed during the final review. Let's move on!

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of the ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 Pro Plus, as stated by the manufacturer, are displayed on the screen:

• Li-Ion battery 5200 mAh.
• Suction power up to 8000 Pa.
• Operating time up to 300 min.
• Dust collector capacity is 400 ml.
• The water tank capacity is 180 ml.
• Obstacle clearance up to 20 mm.
• Robot dimensions: 353*101 mm.
• Station dimensions: 356*451*380 mm.

What stands out here is the extremely high suction power, which will be verified in tests.

Functional capabilities

When discussing the ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 Pro Plus's capabilities, it's worth noting that this is the global version of the robot vacuum cleaner. The app interface is in Russian, and connection is simple and convenient. Voice notifications are also translated into Russian.

The main functions of the robot are displayed on the screen:

• Self-cleaning.
• Identifying objects on the floor.
• Saving multiple cleaning maps in memory.
• Automatic zoning of premises into rooms.
• Selecting areas and rooms for cleaning.
• Virtual walls and no-go zones (and for wet cleaning mode).
• Suction power adjustment.
• Cleaning log.
• Setting up cleaning according to a schedule.
• Automatic power increase on carpet.
• Carpet cleaning in wet cleaning mode.
• Yandex.Alice support.

Overall, the features and settings are quite extensive for a self-cleaning robot vacuum. The only thing I personally missed was a custom mode in the settings so I could customize the cleaning parameters for each room.

Testing

A detailed video review with all tests has already been prepared and published on the channel:

Navigation

And finally, let's move on to the tests. First, we'll test the ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 Pro Plus's navigation in a room with obstacles. First, the robot vacuum cleaner navigates the perimeter of the room, then cleans the entire accessible area in a serpentine pattern. The legs of the clothes dryer weren't an obstacle; it moved over them without issue. It also swept around the chrome legs of a chair and a box. There were no uncleaned areas; the test was passed successfully.

When navigating within the home, a double pass across the entire accessible area was chosen. The robot vacuum cleans each room first along the perimeter, then in a double crisscross pattern. Every 15 minutes, it returns to the station and automatically empties the dust bin. There were no uncleaned areas, the cleaning speed was high, and the test was successful!

Passing under low furniture

Considering that the body height is just over 10 cm, the robot vacuum cleaner is able to pass under furniture approximately 102 mm high.

Definition of objects

I also tested the object detection system. The robot bumped into a sneaker, a toy, and a bathroom scale. It chewed a wire and ran over a simulated pet surprise. So, the object detection system needs some improvement. Although, in some cases, the robot does touch objects more gently than conventional lidar models.

Suction power

As for suction power, in Quiet mode it partially cleaned a 2 mm deep crevice, while in Standard mode it did a better job of cleaning a 2 mm deep crevice. On Medium power, it managed to reach 4 mm, and in Maximum mode, the robot partially cleaned an 8 mm deep crevice. So yes, this is a truly powerful robot, and that's a plus!

Dry cleaning

The collection performance of various types of debris on laminate floors is good. Only a small amount of debris remains in corners, where round robotic vacuums can't reach. In reality, the central brush barely picked up any hair or fur. All debris is collected in the dust bin. Test passed!

By the way, I also checked the condition of the brush at home after several uses and it really is clean, with minimal hair remaining, which is great!

Carpet cleaning

The same debris was scattered on a low-pile carpet. I can say that the ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 Pro Plus thoroughly cleaned the carpet. It can also clean medium-pile carpet, but not as well. Overall, the carpet cleaning performance is good for a home environment.

Self-cleaning

Immediately after the "dirty tests," I checked how well the robot vacuum cleaner self-cleans. Before returning to the station, the dust bin was completely full of dirt. After the self-cleaning test, the dust bin was completely empty, so this robot's self-cleaning is excellent! The results are excellent.

Wet cleaning

The cleaning performance is also excellent. The cloth adheres well to the floor and absorbs dirt.

When it comes to removing tough stains, the robot was able to remove even dried-on coffee and sauce stains. Granted, it took a while. Still, many similar robots can't even do that.

The only thing is that since the napkin does not extend to the edge of the body, there remains a small blind area near the baseboard, 6 cm wide.

Wet cleaning and carpets

When it comes to wet cleaning on carpets, the robot has an automatic carpet avoidance feature in wet cleaning mode. This ensures the robot won't wet the carpets during cleaning, and there's no need to even set up separate no-go zones for wet cleaning.

Obstacle clearance

The robot vacuum easily navigates 2 cm high thresholds, even with the vibration module installed. That's a plus!

Driving on black surfaces

Driving over black carpets is no problem. The robot glides over the black carpet as if nothing had happened.

Noise level

As for the noise level, it ranges from 67 to 73 dB, depending on the selected operating mode. The noise level is slightly elevated, but this is quite normal given the high actual power. The station's noise level reaches 77.7 dB, which is quite normal.

Personal opinion

The ECOVACS DEEBOT N20 Pro Plus robot vacuum cleaner has been thoroughly reviewed and tested. our evaluation system he managed to gain 149 points and this is a good result for a robot vacuum cleaner with a self-cleaning station without washing the wipes.

Overall rating of tested robot vacuum cleaners: https://robovac.washerhouse.com/en/rejtingi/robovac-obshhij-rejting-robotov-pylesosov-robo.html.

I'll highlight the device's pros and cons, then share my personal opinion. I liked the following:

1. The self-cleaning station's bagless design is easy to maintain and can be rinsed with water. Plus, you save on bags; you don't have to worry about ordering a spare bag and keeping it on hand. It's also convenient that the transparent plastic allows you to quickly detect if the robot has picked up something unwanted from the floor—something valuable, for example, a chain. While many might argue that a transparent container is a good thing, as it allows you to see the debris, I'm just expressing my personal opinion.
2. High suction power of the robot.
3. High-quality dry and wet cleaning.
4. Turbo brush protection system to prevent hair and fur from getting tangled.
5. A vibration-modulated attachment allows the robot vacuum cleaner to remove even the most stubborn dirt.
6. Convenient application in Russian.
7. Voice notifications have been translated into Russian.
8. Good cross-country ability.
9. Not afraid of black coatings.
10. High quality assembly.
11. Availability of warranty and service.

As for the disadvantages, the main ones include:

1. The platform with the napkin does not rise when driving onto carpets.
2. The system for identifying objects requires improvement.
3. There is no custom mode in the settings.
4. The napkin does not extend to the edge, which creates a blind spot along the baseboard.

Overall, the robot vacuum cleaner left a mostly positive impression. Yes, there are some criticisms, but they're not really critical. The robot cleans well, has all the basic features, and the brand itself is reliable and time-tested. This is precisely why it made the list of the best self-cleaning robot vacuum cleaners of 2024. So, I would recommend this model ideally for cleaning hard floors, or if you're willing to install the vibration module separately for wet cleaning.

On that note, I'd like to end this review. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments. Happy shopping, everyone. Bye!