Which robot vacuum cleaner is the best for cleaning carpets or picking up pet hair? Find out in our comparison of the DEEBOT N79 versus iLife A4S …
Contents
Verdicts: Which One is Best for What?
Cleaning power: TIE
The DEEBOT and A4S have similar cleaning power.
For carpets: TIE
Both vacuums can handle carpets up to 12 mm thick.
For pet hair: DEEBOT
The N79 is slightly better for picking up pet hair.
Longest battery life: DEEBOT
Both have 2 hours battery life, but the DEEBOT has less problems returning to the charging dock.
Most coverage: DEEBOT
With a bigger dustbin (520 mL vs 450 mL), the N79 can cover a larger area.
Quietest noise: TIE
Both the A4S and DEEBOT are considered quiet enough for conversation.
Not getting stuck: DEEBOT
This bot gets stuck less often compared to the iLife bot vacuum.
Compatible with Alexa: DEEBOT
The DEEBOT N79S, not the N79, is compatible with Alexa.
Conclusion: At the same price, the DEEBOT N79 is slightly better for picking up pet hair. It has less problems getting stuck and has an easier time returning to the charging dock compared to the iLife A4S.
With a bigger dustbin, it covers a larger area and the N79S version is compatible with Alexa. Hence, when evaluating the Ecovacs DEEBOT N79 vs iLife A4S, we recommend the DEEBOT.
Continue reading below for a detailed explanation on each benefit.
Which One Has Most Power?
The DEEBOT has a v-shaped main brush that allows it to do deep cleaning, similar to iRobots. In some cases, it can collect more dirt than an iRobot vacuum that is much more expensive.
The A4S performs exceptionally well for certain types of surfaces. It can pick up dirt, dog hair, cat litter, sand, and other grit tracked in by your family members.
Both the DEEBOT and A4S have multiple cleaning modes for general cleaning, running along walls, and tackling a particularly dirty spot. The difference is the A4S has a Max Mode that has more power at the cost of shorter run time.
For optimal cleaning using either appliance, make sure to remove any cords, cables, or objects on the floor that can obstruct the cleaning path of the robot vacuums. Both bots will stop if anything gets tangled or eaten accidentally, and you will have to manually untangle them.
Verdict: Tie. The DEEBOT and A4S have similar cleaning power.
Which Vacuum is Best for Carpets?
Both the DEEBOT and A4S are not made for cleaning carpets. They are both best used for handling hardwood and tile floors. That said, each appliance does have some capability to clean carpets.
The DEEBOT can clean carpets with a maximum thickness of 12 mm and light colors. The A4S also has the same limitation. For both bots, dark colored carpets or ones with black borders can disturb the infrared navigation system and make the vacuum avoid carpets entirely.
Both bots can push up or suck up light rugs. You can either put pads that keep your rugs in place or remove them entirely when you want the vacuum to do daily cleaning run.
Verdict: Tie. Both vacuums can handle carpets up to 12 mm thick.
Which One is Best for Pet Hair?
Owners of the DEEBOT say it’s a great vacuum for cleaning pet hair from floors. It’s a magnet for pet hair, sucking it all in. Tthe N79 can work for cleaning small rugs and thin carpets, but not for thick carpets.
Pet owners who use the A4S are surprised at how much pet hair it can pick up, even after they’ve cleaned the floors before with a vacuum. For both bots, the dustbin fills up quickly and you may need to clean it out after every run through the house.
Pet hair can get tangled up in both vacuums. You’ll need to clean them out after each run to make sure the vacuum runs in good condition. However, on the iLife vacuum, heavy pet hair can get clogged in the brush or not pass through the filters.
Verdict: DEEBOT. The N79 is slightly better for cleaning pet hair.
Which One Has Longest Battery Life?
The DEEBOT carries a Lithium ion battery that take 3-4 hours to fully charge, giving it power to run for 110 minutes. Ecovacs offers a one year warranty for battery replacement.
The A4S carries a Lithium ion battery that takes almost 4-6 hours to charge and giving it 120 minutes of cleaning time. The iLife A4S has some problems navigating back to the charging dock once it’s low on power, occassionally getting stuck somewhere and running out of battery.
Verdict: DEEBOT. Both have 2 hours battery life, but the DEEBOT has less problems returning to the charging dock.
Which One Covers the Most Space?
The DEEBOT has a 520 mL dustbin while the A4S has a 450 mL dustbin. With this capacity, the DEEBOT can clean around 1,600 – 2,000 sq ft of space before recharging, while the A4S cleans about 1,100 sq ft of space before running low on power.
Verdict: DEEBOT. With a bigger dustbin, the N79 can cover a larger area.
Which One is the Quietest?
The DEEBOT’s noise level is around 64 dB, similar to the noise of background conversation. The A4S doesn’t provide noise level specification, but it’s also quiet to the point that some owners are able to sleep with the vacuum running. However, the A4S Max Mode makes twice as much noise.
Verdict: Tie. Both the A4S and DEEBOT are considered quiet enough for conversation.
Do They Often Get Stuck?
The DEEBOT has a 57 mm height so it can go beneath furniture with that clearance, while the A4S has a 76 mm height. The N79 sometimes gets stuck under furniture, but the A4S receives far more complaints about this issue. Some people return the A4S since it becomes too much of a hassle.
Verdict: DEEBOT. This bot gets stuck less often compared to the iLife bot vacuum.
Which One is Compatible With Alexa?
The DEEBOT N79S version has compatibility with Alexa, while the iLife A4S has no native compatibility with smart home features.
Verdict: The DEEBOT N79S, not the N79, is compatible with Alexa.