The robot vacuum world is becoming more advanced and you are not surprised by a self-emptying base. However, when the base also washes the mopping pads basically doing all your job is something new. Right now, there are only two machines on the market that are able to do that, the ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI and Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra. Let's talk a bit about those two.
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra vs. ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI specs
| Features |  Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra |
 Deebot X1 OMNI |
|---|---|---|
| Suction power (Pa) | 5,100 | 5,000 |
| Battery life (min) | 180 | 180 |
| Mapping | yes | yes |
| Map saving | full multimap support (up to 4 maps) | full multimap support (up to 3 maps) |
| Navigation System | LDS + camera | LDS + camera |
| Front camera & objects recognition | yes | yes |
| Self-emptying base support | yes | yes |
| Auto water tank refilling | yes | yes |
| Auto mop washing | yes | yes |
| Battery capacity (mAh) | 5,200 | 5,200 |
| Dustbin capacity (ml) | 400 | 500 |
| Water tank capacity (ml) | 200 | 80 |
| Electronic water tank | yes | yes |
| Water output control | app | app |
| Height of the robot (in / cm) | 3.8 / 9.65 | 10.3 / 4.05 |
| Climbing ability (in / mm) | 0.79 / 20 | 0.79 / 20 |
| Noise level (dB) | 67 | 67 |
| Rated power (W) | 74 | 74 |
| Virtual boundaries / Blocked areas | yes | yes |
| No-mop zones | yes | yes |
| Zone cleaning | yes | yes |
| Room recognizing / Scheduling by room | yes | yes |
| Mopping scheduling | yes | yes |
| Mopping | yes | yes |
| Vibrating mopping pad | yes | no |
| Rising mopping pad | yes | no |
| Carpet identification | yes | yes |
| Filter type | washable HEPA E11 | HEPA |
| App | Mi Home / Roborock | ECOVACS Home |
| Scheduling | yes | yes |
| Cliff / obstacle sensors | yes | yes |
| Recharge & Resume cleaning | yes | yes |
| Different suction and mopping modes for each room | yes | yes |
| Amazon Alexa / Google Home support | yes | yes |
| Voice packs (English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese) |
yes | yes |
| Release date | Jan, 2022 | Jun, 2021 |
| Price | $1399.99 Amazon $1399.99 Roborock.com |
$1399.99Amazon $1313.89 Aliexpress |
| Video Review | Watch | Watch |
The two are the best robot vacuums as well as the most-featured on the market. The self-emptying bases are made to reduce time spent on maintenance so the user does not have to clean the dustbin, wash the pads as often, fill the water tank as often, etc. Along with that, both have the most advanced navigation.
The 4-in-1 self-cleaning base
The new self-cleaning bases do both, wash the mopping plate (or pads), and suck out debris. Each contains two large water tanks, one for clean and one for wasted water. It also has a disposable bag for debris that can be used for up to 2 months depending on usage.
The water containers supply water into the water tank as well as are used to wash the mopping pads. Both bases have a feature that dries the pads so they are ready to be used for the next mopping cycle.
After cleaning, the robot returns to the base where the debris gets sucked up into the disposable bag.
In total, the self-cleaning base has 4 options, auto-fill, washing the pads, drying the pads, and sucking up debris.
Navigation technology with obstacle avoidance
Most premium robot vacuums use Lidar to navigate. In addition to Lidar, there is a 3D sensor or an optic camera that recognizes small objects so the robot could avoid them. The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra and ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI are equipped with Lidar on top and a dual camera in the front bumper. The technology scans the surroundings to check for objects making navigation more precise.
This system calculates the size and distance to an object letting the robot avoid it.
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra vs. DEEBOT X1 OMNI: the difference
- The mopping pad. A standard mopping pad of the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra vs. two rotating pads in the X1 OMNI
- Built-in water tank. The Roborock has a 200 ml water tan; the OMNI comes equipped with an 80 ml one
- A vibrating mopping pad provides pressure to the floor (Roborock). The two pads scrub the floor by rotating in the opposite direction (ECOVACS)
- With the lifting technology the Roborock vacuums carpets. When mopping, the OMNI avoids carpets altogether.
- The brushroll. A bristles brushroll of the Roborock is a better choice for those who have to deal with pet and human hair. It also is amazing at picking up debris on carpets and hard floors. The Ecovacs comes with a standard brushroll.
The mopping system of the two is slightly different. The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra has a mopping plate which we have seen in the previous S7 model. It vibrates and lifts up when the robot detects the carpet so it continues vacuuming without damping the carpet. The robot also has a feature of avoiding carpets or go over the carpet with the pad not lifted up.
The ECOVACS system is two rotating pads. The downside of this, the robot can not keep vacuuming carpets when it's on mopping mode. A built-in water tank is also smaller in the X1 OMNI so the robot has to get back to the station more often.
Ecovacs Deebot X1 OMNI
Ecovacs Deebot X1 OMNI
Is able to recognize small objects
The DEEBOT X1 OMNI is guided by Lidar and a 3D camera to avoid objects making navigation the most advanced on the market. Comes with two rotating mopping pads which the self-cleaning base washes and dries with hot air. Along with that, it sucks out debris off the dustbin. Fill the clean water container with water so it supplies water into the 80 ml water tank and washes the mopping pads after.
The robot has sensors that identify carpet. In mopping mode, the OMNI avoids carpets so you have to run the robot once again to vacuum carpets.
There are two more modifications of the X1 model, the X1 Plus and X1 Turbo.
ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI vs. DEEBOT X1 TURBO. The difference:
The DEEBOT X1 Plus comes with a standard mopping pad and only has a self-emptying feature.
The DEEBOT X1 Turbo has two rotating pads. Its self-cleaning base washes the pad and dries them out with cold air. The base lacks a self-emptying feature tho.
The DEEBOT X1 OMNI has it all and additionally uses hot air to dry the mopping pads.
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
The Robroock S7 MaxV Ultra has a standard mopping pad that vibrates. Along with that, it lifts up when the robot steps on carpet which makes cleaning more efficient, the user doesn't have to run the robot one more time. There is also an option of avoiding the carpet altogether or going over it with the mopping pad on. The self-cleaning base also fills a 200 ml water tank and washes the mopping pad. When the pad is clean, the base dries it out.
The robot is guided by Lidar and a dual camera that recognizes objects. Another pro of the Roborock is the bristles brushroll that is ideal for pet hair as it resists tangles and also does a good job at agitating debris off any surface.
There is another modification, the Roborock S7 MaxV Plus.
Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra vs. S7 MaxV PLUS
The S7 MaxV Ultra version comes with an advanced self-cleaning base that also refills the water tank and dries out the mopping pad.
The S7 MaxV PLUS is the same robot vacuum but it comes with a self-emptying base that only collects dust.
To sum up
The two basically too similar but there are some differences too.
My opinion is that the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is a better value altogether because of its lifting feature which makes vacuuming a mixed surface much more efficient. On top of that, it has a bristles brushroll that is ideal for pet owners.
But for those who don't mind vacuuming carpets one more time before or after mopping, the Ecovacs Deebot X1 OMNI seems like a good choice.