Ecovacs DEEBOT T8 AIVI vs Roborock S6 MaxV

We will consider two of the most high-tech robotic vacuums in this comparison – Ecovacs T8 AIVI and Roborock S6 MaxV.

These two variables are Most popular options With a front camera and artificial intelligence to avoid obstacles.

In simplified terms, this technology gives her eyes to see and avoid things. But the question is, how good are these robots in the field?

I’ve tested these bots extensively, and I’ll be sharing the results of their obstacle avoidance capabilities, as well as other aspects like cleaning, navigation, and more.

Ecovacs DEEBOT T8 AIVI

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Introduction to Ecovacs T8 AIVI and Roborock S6 MaxV

Robotic vacuums fall into three main categories. The first is cheap robots that use laser sensors to help them avoid furniture and other objects. These options often use a random algorithm, so they’re just little balls around.

Some newer versions add a gyroscope sensor, which enables it to move around like a smart vacuum cleaner. However, it cannot save maps and lacks advanced features like invisible wall and restricted areas.

The second type of robot uses lasers and SLAM for navigation – the most prominent brands are Neato and Roborock. These robots contain LIDAR (the same robot that is in Google’s self-driving car).

Using lasers gives these robots an accuracy not found in cheaper robots. Functionality can vary depending on the model, but robots with LIDAR get around tight spaces better than a robot running randomly.

Finally, some robots use a camera and SLAM. At the forefront is the iRobot with the Roomba 900 series, I and S. Like LIDAR-based robots, VSLAM robots are efficient at navigating even complex layouts thanks to the camera sensor.

The Ecovacs DEEBOT T8 AIVI And Roborock S6 Max V They fall into the second category that uses a laser sensor.

But it has a wrinkle – a front camera, paired with artificial intelligence, enables it to avoid things.

Since I posted this article: Something new has come out – 3D frontal laser sensors. Check out my review on Dreame Z10 ProAnd Dreame L10 Proand the Ecovacs N8 Pro. It’s a good alternative if you’re worried about privacy issues that might result from using the camera. Also, please check our comparison Roborock S7 and Ecovacs N8 Pro.

Ecovacs T8 AIVI: High airflow makes this cleaner excellent for hard floors

One of the biggest surprises for me was the amount of airflow in the Ecovacs T8 Was with 23 CFM! It is on par with high-end Roomba products Like the S9.

This higher airflow translates well to hard surfaces, picking up more debris after one pass.

Even things that are hard to clean like sand won’t be a problem with the T8.

However, the double side brush will scatter dirt if it has to clean a large amount. But for everyday clutter, this shouldn’t be a problem.

In addition to vacuuming, the T8 can also mop floors. It comes with an electronic water tank similar to Roborock. But the wiping performance is a bit lower and it didn’t clean dry spots either.

Ecovacs sells a coil Upgrade OZMO pro pad With vibrating feature similar to Roborock S7.

However, you do not need to buy another bot to get this feature because it is compatible with the AIVI version.

Another feature that Ecovacs has is the automatic vacuum system, which is also another add-on.

It is a feature similar to Roomba I7+ and S9+, A second vacuum cleaner inside the charging dock empties the contents of the trash for you.

Roborock S6 MaxV: Best Obstacle Avoidance

While the Ecovacs have a single-lens camera, Roborock ups the ante and uses a dual-lens camera, providing a 3D perspective with how it sees things.

Based on my tests, it avoids obstacles at a higher percentage rate, even with things below its height threshold like this weighing scale.

Roborock also frequently updates its algorithm, fine-tuning its obstacle-avoidance software and improving navigation.

Unfortunately, this technique is not perfect and should not be relied upon solely to avoid things like wires.

It’s improved since launch, but it’s not perfect.

Similarities Between Ecovacs T8 AIVI and Roborock S6 MaxV

Next, we’ll look at the similarities between these two high-tech bots.

1. The ability to avoid obstacles

Both robots are equipped with a front camera, which gives them “eyes” to see potential obstacles.

This is coupled with artificial intelligence, so it knows when to avoid potential roadblocks.

The Ecovacs has a single-lens camera, while the Roborock version has two, giving it more visual depth.

2. Navigation

These machines use LIDAR and SLAM as primary tools for mobility.

The cleaning pattern of both robots is the same – starting around the edges before moving towards the center.

Both are adept at navigating through tight spaces without getting lost, thanks to their laser precision.

One difference is that Roborock has a third pass, something that is absent with Ecovacs.

3. Two-in-one function

Not only do these robots vacuum, but both also have electronic water tanks for spot cleaning. The Roborock water tank has a larger volume (297 vs. 240 milliliters), which has a better range.

4. Multiple map save

The Ecovacs T8 and Roborock S6 MaxV can both save multiple maps – two and four, respectively. Within each map, users can manually subdivide areas and name rooms.

That’s the cool part – they both have a map detection feature, so there’s no need to manually choose the right level.

5. Containment features

Another useful aspect of these robotic vacuums is the containment features – invisible wall, no-go areas, no-no areas.

You can use any of these to prevent the bot from going into restricted areas, and they will be available in most homes.

6. Carpet reinforcement

Both robots have a reinforced carpet. So you can leave it at a lower power setting to conserve and increase battery only when carpet is detected.

For Roborock and Ecovacs, this is a useful feature because both are excellent at picking up debris, even at low power settings.

7. Smartphone app

All the functions of the bots are found in the application – from saving maps to scheduling, placing invisible walls, accessing the front camera of the bot to what is happening, and more.

Differences between Ecovacs T8 AIVI and Roborock S6 MaxV

1. Basic brush

If you look closely at both brushes, the Roborock has thicker, stiffer bristles than the T8. The higher density gives it an edge on excitement and why the Roborock performed better in deep cleaning tests despite the lower airflow.

2. Side brush

The Ecovacs come with two side brushes, while the Roborock only has one.

The T8’s dual side brush design gives edge cleaning advantage.

However, the S6 MaxV’s single-sided brush design throws away less debris, and the all-rubber chassis offers better durability.

3. Garbage bin

While both robots have a top-mounted dust container, the Roborock has a larger volume of 0.46 liters – slightly larger than the T8’s 0.42 liters.

However, Ecovac’s automatic vacuum system would negate any capacity advantage for the Roborock. But it’s a special addition that brings the T8 close to it Roomba S9 province.

The Ecovac trash can has a mesh and foam layer that protects the HEPA filter from direct exposure to dust, so it shouldn’t get dirty easily.

Roborock does not have this layer, so the HEPA filter will get dirty faster, but it is washable, which makes it easier to keep clean.

The T8 filter is not washable, so replacement periods are shorter.

Application Features of Ecovacs T8 AIVI and Roborock S6 MaxV

We’ll go over some of the app’s features for both bots, and there’s a lot more.

1. Live Map

Users will have access to a live map, where they can see the exact location of the bot in real time, the time of operation, and its exact location in case it malfunctions.

2. Live cam view

You can access the camera through the app, so you can see what the bot is seeing when you’re not home and want to see what’s going on.

It’s similar to a CCTV camera but from a robot’s point of view.

However, the Roborock version is accessible through the main map view, while the Ecovac version is not.

So the S6 MaxV can vacuum and patrol simultaneously, while the T8 only patrols with the vacuum motor turned off.

3. Containment features

Both robots have containment features, giving users the option to block restricted areas, and each home has areas that are not safe for robot vacuums.

These areas include invisible wall, off-limits, and no mop areas.

An invisible wall is a line that you can draw on the app vertically, horizontally, and diagonally to prevent the bot from going over it.

The ability to adjust in different angles enables you to block out any area. It’s better than using an object to physically block the bot.

Restricted areas and forbidden areas have similar functions – prevent the robot from a square and rectangular area.

4. Savings Map

One of the benefits of LIDAR-based bots is the option to save maps.

With these two, users can save multiple levels of maps, two for Ecovacs, and three for Roborock levels. Although with Ecovacs you can use three maps. However, the third was not “saved”.

5. Label the room

After the bot creates the map, the app automatically creates sections and names the rooms with those sections.

If you are not satisfied with the partitions, combine them and then manually divide them to your liking.

Roborock allows custom names, which means you can give it any name you choose.

For Ecovacs this is not possible but just choose from the list.

6. Selective room cleaning

Once you have finished separating the rooms within the map, selective room cleaning is possible.

It is now possible to select a specific area that the bot will clean. You can choose multiple regions as well if that’s a preference.

Roborock offers more customization as it allows users to adjust energy levels for each room.

For example, you can choose a higher power level for carpeted rooms and a lower power for areas with hard surfaces only.

7. Four power settings and water level preferences

Users have the option to choose between four energy levels and water levels.

The lowest scanning power setting is reserved to keep noise level low and runtime maximized.

Since both robots use an electronic water tank, there is an option to select the flow level. For Ecovacs, I’d leave it at the second or third medium settings for best results.

With Roborock, I would choose the second lowest setting because it is excellent for removing dry stains.

8. Automatic discharging

This feature is only available with the Ecovacs T8 AIVI.

However, the automatic empty dock is an additional accessory that you need to purchase separately. It’s a premium over a robot that rounds out the cost Roomba S9+ levels.

9. Unlimited scheduling

For busy people, this feature will come in handy. Unlimited scheduling is available, so users can set as many tours as they like in specific areas of their home.

10. Maintenance

The Maintenance tab provides users with heads up when replacing parts such as the filter, side brush, and base brush.

Please note that this is a time dependent system, so it is still best to visually inspect these components if they need to be cleaned or replaced.

Air Flow Comparison

One of the biggest surprises in this comparison is the higher airflow number of the T8 AIVI.

It has up to 23 CFM at the highest setting versus 15.68 CFM in the S6 MaxV.

Check out the table below for the full results.

These tests are performed with an anemometer directly on the brush head. It is not a perfect test, but it is a good way to measure the speed of air passing through the main brush.

Obstacle avoidance comparison

A big question mark for me before this comparison is which model is better at avoiding obstacles.

I’ve ran these two through several tests to see how well each sidesteps things and if there are potential issues.

The results were mixed. While each robot can avoid obstacles, there will be blind spots.

Ecovacs have more blind spots based on tests and less obstacle avoidance than the S6 MaxV.

A single-lens camera could play a role in artificial intelligence. Roborock avoids more obstacles and has a higher avoidance rate.

Another factor to consider is update frequency, which the S6 MaxV wins over. I noticed more frequent firmware updates.

Cleaning comparison

Next, we will carefully consider these robots that clean various types of debris such as Quaker oats, quinoa, pet droppings, sand, hair, coffee grounds, Cheerios, and more.

Below are the overall results for both.

Despite the significant advantage in airflow, the T8 lags behind the S6 MaxV in almost all cleaning categories.

Two reasons. The first is the brush roll design. I mentioned that the T8 has softer hairs and the S6 MaxV is thicker if you watch the video review.

Dense brushes help with irritation, especially on carpets, as the S6 MaxV performed better on surface and built-in dirt.

After that, the T8 will only spin (maximum) twice against the three lanes of the S6 MaxV. More passes means better accuracy, especially on surfaces like carpet.

Finally, Ecovacs dual side brushes tend to scatter more dirt when grouped together.

Which is better on hard surfaces?

The Roborock S6 MaxV had better results overall despite the lower airflow for the reasons I outlined above.

It did even better in the sand in the hard floor test, Get 99.7% for 99% of T8.

This is despite the latter picking up more initially due to its distinct airflow.

Please note that my tests are rigorous, and the scattering issue shouldn’t matter for the everyday tasks of things like dusting or hair.

The T8’s high airflow will help clean dust and other contaminants on hard surfaces, especially under piled-up furniture.

Edge cleaning comparison

One design feature of the Ecovacs Dual Sided Brush is its ability to pick up debris from the edges.

Look at this before and after photo.

And compare it to the S6 MaxV.

Can you see the difference?

The Ecovacs T8 almost captures every crumb in this area, while the S6 MaxV left a good portion.

Hair wrap comparison

To check how well a robotic vacuum can resist tangles, I spread out five and seven inch strands of hair and do a standard job.

Roborock S6 MaxV More – 71% of 5-inch mounts And 54% of the 7 inch threads.

In contrast, the Ecovacs T8 . was chosen Only 37% for both Five and seven inch tests.

Softer bristles may have reduced pickup for Ecovacs despite having more airflow.

Which is better on carpet?

Once again, Roborock won this comparison with a higher overall score in both the surface and deep cleaning tests.

It scored an average of 77.65% versus 66.65% in our T8 deep cleaning tests.

Even with surface debris, the S6 MaxV fared better, scoring 98.5% (versus 97.72%).

Cleansing comparison

These two also double as robot mops and come with electronic water tanks for the task.

I’ve tested both on dry red wine stains that I left overnight, and here are the results.

First up, the Roborock S5 Max.

Next, let’s take a look at how the Ecovacs T8 works.

The Roborock S5 Max did much better, leaving a cleaner surface with much less residue, while the Ecovacs T8 didn’t wipe either. Leave more residue and visible tire marks.

Like I said earlier in this article, Ecovacs sells an updated water tank, the OZMO Pro, with a vibration pad that should work better, but it’s an excellent add-on.

Runtime comparison

Both robots use a 5200mAh lithium battery and work for up to 180 minutes At the lowest power setting.

Ecovacs are excellent in this area since their standard (minimum) setting is approximately equal to +max, so keep it at that level and rely on carpet reinforcement to automatically increase suction for carpets.

The Roborock has less airflow in the balanced mode, but the cranking is good enough to pick up things like dust.

noise comparison

The S5 Max is the quieter option of the two, topping out at 65 decibels. By comparison, the T8 with the highest airflow has more than 67 decibels at the highest setting.

maintenance

As with all robot vacuums, these machines need maintenance to function well over the long term. I will list the components that need to be cleaned or replaced.

1. Combo brush: The main brush is one of the most widely used parts of a robotic vacuum cleaner. Check this at least once a week to remove tangled hair around the bristles or hubs to prevent unnecessary friction.
2. Side brush: Another part suffers from a lot of wear and tear. The Roborock Full Rubber Side Brush should last longer than the more traditional Ecovac bristle design. Clean this section once a week and remove any hair wrapped around the base.
3. Dustbin and filter: Empty the trash after each cleaning cycle to prevent dust mite breeding. The Roborock HEPA filter is washable while the Ecovac is not, so please note. You will need to replace the filter once every two or three months, depending on the buildup. Tap it on a hard surface to remove any dirt on the folds.
4. fall sensors: Use a clean, dry microfiber towel to wipe all drip sensors.
5. Side wheel and wheel: Dirt and grime will stick to these wheels, so use a clean microfiber towel to wipe these parts.
6. front camera: Check this part occasionally for any fingerprints or dust. Use a clean towel to wipe.

Availability of spare parts

The growing popularity of Ecovacs and Roborock bodes well for the availability of aftermarket parts.

More and more brands are selling filters and brushes for both the T8 and S6 MaxV. Even bags for automatic unloading station are plentiful and not expensive at all.

However, replacement batteries for both are not available on Amazon. You will have to check sites like AliExpress if they are available.

Product Spec.

Where can I buy these bots?

You can buy the Roborock S6 MaxV and Ecovacs T8 from sites like Amazon. Check the links below for the latest prices.

• Ecovacs T8 AIVI

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON

• Roborock S6 MaxV

BUY NOW FROM Dyson

Disclaimer: I’ll earn a commission if you buy through any of the links above, but at no additional cost to you, so it’s a win for us!

Which is better, Ecovacs T8 AIVI or Roborock S6 MaxV?

I was expecting a lot from Ecovacs when I first got it due to its high price.

The high airflow is nice, but the soft bristles and the lack of a third pass hamper it, especially on carpet, where it lags behind the S6 MaxV.

I like that it has a slightly lower design, and the higher airflow makes it an excellent choice for cleaning hard surfaces.

Ecovac’s AI also lags behind Roborock based on tests. It can avoid obstacles, but it has more blind spots and more mistakes than it avoids.

Roborock has more frequent app updates and is constantly tuning the obstacle avoidance system.

5 reasons to buy Ecovacs T8 AIVI

1. Automatic discharging system: The option to purchase an automatic discharge station is perhaps the biggest reason to go with the T8 AIVI. However, this part only came with the T8 if you bought from Ali Express, so it’s an expensive add-on.
2. high air flow: With around 23 CFM, the T8 has as much airflow as high-end Roombas as the S9. This translates well to cleaning things like sand on hard surfaces.
3. Bottom profile design: The T8 is slightly shorter than the S6 MaxV, which enables it to clean under low furniture.
4. Effective Mobility: The laser sensor and SLAM make this robot efficient at traversing even in confined spaces.
5. Feature rich application: Ecovacs offers a feature-rich application with many of the same features as Roborock, such as selective room cleaning, invisible wall, restricted areas, map saving, automatic room detection, and more.

5 Reasons to Buy Roborock S6 MaxV

1. Better cleaning performance: Despite the lower airflow, the S6 MaxV is the better cleaning robot, as the brush has thicker, stiffer bristles. It performed better in both the surface and deep cleaning tests.
2. Superior obstacle avoidance: It is better to avoid Roborock’s dual-lens front camera and AI obstacle avoidance with higher avoidance rate than T8.
3. Third pass option: This feature gives the S6 MaxV better accuracy, especially on carpets.
4. Better scan: The S6 MaxV performed much better at wiping dry spots, leaving fewer streaks and a cleaner surface.
5. More features of the application: Roborock has more features like saving more maps (4 vs 2), more cards (3 vs 2) and naming custom rooms.

Verdict: Roborock S6 MaxV is the best choice

While the T8 AIVI is an excellent product, the S6 MaxV is better in three critical areas – snag avoidance, cleaning performance, and wiping.

Additionally, I like that Roborock updates its firmware frequently, so I expect it to get better over time with AI and snag avoidance.

If there was one reason to use the T8 – this would be an automatically empty terminal, but it’s an expensive add-on.

You can buy other brands like Roomba I6 or I3 for less than the T8 for less, but these options don’t have the obstacle avoidance or scanning feature that the T8 has.