There are many robotic vacuum cleaner models on the market today, so why choose the Ecovacs Deebot N79S?
Deebot N79S: Summary
Robotic vacuum cleaners cannot clean everything, so you will still have to do some infrequent vacuuming yourself. Nevertheless, the Deebot N79S can do the daily vacuuming while you do the weekly cleaning routine.
The Deebot N79S might not be the best choice for carpets, especially thick and dark carpets. It performs at its best on hard floor surfaces such as wood or tile. The vacuum robot can help to pick up some of the hair, dust and dirt that accumulates every day.
To summarize, let us consider its price point. The Deebot N79S is an affordable robot vacuum, yet it has both the Ecovacs app and Alexa connectivity. It also has a remote control if you are unable to use the other two control methods (check price on Amazon).
Deebot N79S And N79 Comparison
The basic housing and features are the same. However, the N79S supports Alexa voice control, while the N79 does not support it. Nevertheless, the N79 still has the smartphone app and remote control accessory.
Another difference between these two Deebot vacuum cleaners is that the N79S has a maximum cleaning mode, which can be activated with either the app or the remote control. This provides extra suction power, but it also makes the robot noisier.
Please consider whether you are going to actually use Alexa voice control. If this not an essential feature on your list, then you might get the N79 robotic vacuum cleaner, which has similar features, but is not compatible with Alexa.
What is included with the N79S?
The robot vacuum is shipped with a docking station, two side brushes, main brush and a remote control. The rechargeable battery is also included.
How does the N79S clean?
You will see two side brushes and a large main rotating brush when you tip the Deebot on its back. The side brushes sweep the debris into the rotating brush and the vacuum suction port. The debris is then trapped inside its dust bin. It has a built-in air filter to reduce the amount of dust in the air while the robot vacuums the floor.
The basic cleaning mode is the AUTO setting, which lets the robot clean automatically. In addition to this, there are also three specific cleaning modes: Single Room, Spot and Edge.
Anti-drop sensors prevent the robot vacuum from falling down the stairs like a character in a cheap paperback thriller. Anti-collision sensors help the robotic vacuum cleaner to navigate in a house filled with furniture. Nonetheless, you should pick up any toys, cables and loose items that are lying on the floor before you start the robot. This will decrease the chances of the robotic vacuum cleaner getting stuck on an obstacle.
You might also want to measure the clearance height underneath the furniture to see if the Deebot N79S, which has a height of 3.1 inches, can fit underneath it. The clearance height underneath the furniture needs to be more than that to prevent the robot vacuum getting stuck under a bed or couch.
The robot vacuum has auto-return charging, which means that it tries to find its docking station before it runs out of battery power. The charging dock should be in the same room as the robot, otherwise it will not find its way home. Plug the docking station into a wall outlet that provides a clear line of sight. Therefore, do not place it in a corner or behind a table. Provide a few feet of clear space around the docking station.
Does the N79S have boundary strips?
Boundary strips are not included with the Deebot N79S because it does not recognize and obey boundary markers. You might select the room cleaning mode or simply close the door to keep it in a specific room. You should pick up pet bowls or create a physical boundary around them to prevent the Deebot from accidentally snacking on pet food.
Can the N79S be controlled with an app?
Yes, but the app needs a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi connection. The Ecovacs app on your phone shows you the current status and battery charge of the Deebot N79S. It gives you remote directional control over the robot vacuum such as forward, left, right and turn around. It also shows buttons for AUTO, Edge, Spot, Room and Charge.
Is the N79S compatible with Alexa?
It seems like the Deebot N79S supports Alexa voice commands. You have to set it up in the Alexa app by first enabling the Ecovacs skill and then signing in with an Ecovacs account. If the connection is accepted, then you may tell Alexa to ask the Deebot to either start cleaning, stop cleaning or to go charge itself. However, not everyone is impressed with the Alexa skills of the N79S. Some people have reported problems with getting the app to work. Other people say it works well.
What if the app does not work?
If you have problems with the Wi-Fi connection, then you can either start the robotic vacuum cleaner by pressing the AUTO cleaning button on its housing or use the included remote control. The remote control does not need a Wi-Fi network to communicate with the robot.
Does it work with Google Home?
We are uncertain about its compatibility with Google Home. The product information promotes it as being able to receive voice commands from both Alexa and Google Home. However, when it comes to answering questions about this issue, it seems like the N79S does not yet support Google Home.
Therefore, do not buy the Deebot N79S if you want to integrate it with Google Home voice control. Of course, this assessment might change in the future if Ecovacs can update the robot to support Google Home.
Will the robot vacuum frighten pets?
The Deebot N79S has a noise level of about 67 dBa during normal vacuuming and 70dBa when in maximum suction mode. It is a little noisy. Do not expect your cat to play with the Deebot or to try and ride around on top of it. Cats will probably avoid the N79S while it is vacuuming because they do not like noisy things. Dogs will probably worry less about it and only get out of the way if the vacuum robot is heading in their direction.
Interestingly enough, it seems that Ecovacs recommends the Deebot N78 for people with pets because it does not have a central rotating brush. Instead, the N78 only has the two side brushes and a brushless suction port. Therefore, hair cannot get trapped in the rotating brush.
Who should buy the Deebot N79S?
The Deebot N79S is not recommended for homes that have many rugs or thick, high-pile carpets. It will not work well on thick carpets. Carpets and rugs with a dark color are also problematic because the robot perceives the dark color as a possible drop-off into darkness. Therefore, it will avoid such dark rugs just as it avoids the first step of a stair.
The Deebot N79S performs the best on hardwood floors and tiled surfaces. It will also clean thin, low-pile carpets if it has a light color. A dark carpet color might trigger its anti-drop sensors.
We recommend that you buy the Deebot N79S on Amazon, especially if you want to use it with Alexa devices. Amazon will show whether the robotic vacuum cleaner is compatible with Alexa voice control. Furthermore, there are hundreds of customer reviews and answered questions where you might find more answers to your specific questions about the Ecovacs Deebot N79S.