It seems like the Deebot 900 robotic vacuum cleaner offers smart navigation, virtual mapping technology, Wi-Fi connectivity and a smartphone app. The Deebot 900 is also compatible with Alexa and Google Home voice commands.
Deebot 900 And 901
These numbers simply indicate the color scheme of the vacuum robot: the “900” is white, while the “901” is black. That is the only difference between the model numbers. Nevertheless, there might be a little confusion with the Ecovacs app because the “Deebot 901” does not appear on the list of Deebot vacuum cleaners! However, you can probably just choose the Deebot 900 from the list and set up the Wi-Fi connection. After all, it is the same robot vacuum, the color is just different.
Accessories
The robotic vacuum cleaner is shipped with its battery, power adapter and docking station. A direct suction port, a main brush port and four side brushes should also be included. An instruction manual is included, which is considered essential reading. Still, it seems like the documentation does not provide enough guidance when it comes to setting up Wi-Fi connections.
Smartphone App
The Deebot 900 functions with the Ecovacs app for your smartphone. The setup process seems to have one or two glitches that we really do not want to go into right now. The Wi-Fi router needs to be at 2.4 GHz speed for the robot to connect correctly. Nonetheless, once you get it to work, you can do all sorts of stuff with the Ecovacs app.
You can remotely tell the robot to clean automatically, or you can schedule its cleaning routines. View the current status or error alerts of the Deebot. Use the mapping function to prioritize cleaning areas, create a custom cleaning area, or create a virtual boundary. The robot vacuum is able to receive automatic OTA (over-the-air) wireless firmware updates.
Alexa Voice Commands
The Deebot 900 works with Alexa devices and voice commands. You have to load the Ecovacs skill for Alexa. The voice commands are very basic and consists of asking to start, stop or charge the Deebot.
Google Home Compatibility
The Deebot 900 is supposed to be able to work with Google Home and Google Assistant. However, getting it to connect is another story and might take many attempts before getting it right. It seems like you need patience and persistence when it comes to connecting these smart robotic vacuum cleaners to your Wi-Fi at home. Still, future updates might improve this process and make it easier to achieve wireless connections.
Mapping Function
The Deebot 900 is able to scan the walls and furniture of your house to create a virtual map for the Ecovacs app. You can actually see the map being drawn on the smartphone screen.
A virtual boundary can be drawn around a specific area of the map where you do not want the Deebot to clean. In custom mode, you can draw a rectangle on the virtual map so that the vacuum robot will only clean that area. Use the area cleaning mode to designate the sequence in which rooms should be cleaned.
The Ecovacs app does not support multiple maps of more than one floor, so unfortunately you will lose the downstairs map if you take it upstairs and vice versa.
Virtual Boundaries
The Deebot 900 does not recognize or use boundary strips. Instead, you draw a virtual boundary on the map of your house inside the app. Of course, you have to give the robot vacuum enough time to scan and complete a map of the all the rooms and obstacles on the floor.
Interchangeable Main Brush
One feature we really like is the interchangeable main brush. You can insert the brushless direct suction port for vacuuming away pet hair on hard floor surfaces. Then you can insert the main brush to clean low-pile carpets and rugs.
Deebot 900 vs. N79S
These Deebot vacuum cleaners both have Wi-Fi connectivity and therefore works with the Ecovacs app. However, the Deebot N79S does not support virtual mapping technology. These robots are also said to be compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home voice commands.
Deebot 900 vs. Roomba
The best thing about the Deebot 900 might be its list price: it costs a few hundred dollars less than a Roomba 980 (which now also supports Alexa). The Deebot 900 has Wi-Fi, app, mapping and Alexa compatibility, yet you get all these smart features at almost half the price.
Deebot 900: Verdict
We could spend more time on making comments on various features, but let us cut to the chase here and say what we think about this robotic vacuum cleaner.
First, it offers a lot of technology at an affordable price. It has smart navigation and intelligent mapping, which creates a virtual map inside the Ecovacs app. It also has support for Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Obstacle detection and anti-drop protection help it to roam systematically around the room. It can recharge itself and then return to the spot where it was previously cleaning.
Second, it is not intended for a two-storey house because it can only map and remember one whole floor plan. If you take it up to the second floor, it will erase its old map while creating a new map. It might be better to buy a Deebot without mapping technology, such as the N79S, if you want to avoid this problem.
Third, while robotic vacuum cleaners that support smart home devices might seem smart, they can also end up playing dumb due to unforeseen bugs or Wi-Fi connection problems. Some people have experienced frustration with getting the app or smart devices to work seamlessly together with the Deebot 900.
To conclude, if you are a technological tinkerer, then the Deebot 900/901 may be the affordable smart robotic vacuum cleaner you’ve been waiting for (check price on Amazon). If you prefer to keep it simple and straightforward, then choose a different robotic vacuum cleaner without the Wi-Fi and mapping technology.