At first glance, this looks like a Nintendo game console from the 80s.
But it’s actually a robot vacuum that works on carpets or bare floors and claims to pick up pet hair pretty well.
It also seems to be working fine. It will cost about half less than the more expensive Roomba, and plenty of tech sites say it works better at removing pet hair.
It uses a motorized nylon/rubber brush as well as a suction for cleaning, and for mobility it uses “RPS” or room positioning system to draw an effective cleaning path and avoid obstructions.
People with allergies will want to take a closer look at this because it uses HEPA filters to prevent the majority of allergens from circulating outwards.
By the way, Neato has a new product called BotVac Connected.
It has a lot of upgrades from the previous XV series like a lithium-ion battery, side brush, WiFi, a new motor and better overall performance.
You can check out all the BotVac bots in this article and see how each variant differs.
Quick look at the features
- Has a 6-foot magnetic limit sign (which is equivalent to the virtual wall found in Roomba)
- HEPA filter is used to block allergens
- The motorized brush picks up dust, dirt and pet hair on carpets and hard floors
- Scheduling feature
- Returns to its charging base when the battery is low
- Cleans floors in a back-and-forth staggered motion
- bagless system
Positives
- good running time
- Excellent dirt picking capabilities
- Has a schedule feature (once a day, seven days a week)
- It automatically returns to its charging station when the battery is low
- Cleans with a back-and-forth staggered motion
- Easy firmware update (through USB port)
- Roller brush is easy to clean and remove
- easy to empty
- If something goes wrong, it will beep and notify you through the LCD screen
Negatives
- annoying
- Can’t reach corners due to no edge brush
- There is no brush to clean the edges
- small dirt box
- RPS sensors need frequent cleaning
- not far
Table of Contents
What do you expect from the Neato XV-21?
One of the main features the XV-21 has is a hybrid nylon/rubber brush that allows it to capture pet hair, plus it uses suction and Neato claims that robotic vacuums have the strongest suction power.
You will also notice that a lot of the reviews are coming from pet owners who simply couldn’t keep up with the amount of hair in their pet sheds which is the main reason they buy this one.
It relies on its RPS sensor to detect potential obstacles around it and plot a path, some reviews have mentioned that vacuuming takes longer compared to the Roomba but it did a perfectly fine job.
Mobility
Before hitting that clean button, make sure you remove all clutter and wires that might get in your way. These obstacles can reduce the efficiency of the robot and it will not work as well.
Neato also recommends at least 3 feet of open space around the charging base so there won’t be issues going back here and some Amazon reviews recommend increasing this to 5 feet just to be sure.
This robot will automatically return to the dock when it is finished cleaning.
If you have several rooms, it is better to clean them one by one. It won’t run for long (1 hour max) and lacks the SLAM algorithm that modern robots have to track their location.
Laser navigation is great in low light conditions, even if it’s black so you don’t need light for this robot to work.
Compared to the Roomba, its sensors are more sensitive which means it won’t bump as much as the Roomba and if there’s a bed skirt it won’t go through it but rather follow its path.
Watch how the XV-21 laser draws room stability in this video…
Will he clean the stairs?
No, it does not have this function.
scheduled cleaning
You can schedule this bot to clean on its own once a day, 7 days a week.
Shipping time
It will take about 2 to 3 hours to fully charge.
Filter cleaning
The dirt box is located in the center of the robot (purple rectangular top with stand).
To remove it just pull it out and empty it. You will need to clean the filter once a week. One of the tricks I use to make my HEPA filters last longer is to use a handheld vacuum cleaner to clean them. Pick one with a soft-bristled brush tool to move it around and pick up the fine dust.
the show length
Consumers got anywhere from 35 minutes to an hour of uptime.
Customer Service and Warranty
While there are complaints of poor customer service, the general consensus is positive.
Neato has a 30-day return policy and a 1-year warranty on all of its products. And if something goes wrong, they will replace the bot.
Executing floor cleaning
It excels at cleaning exposed floors such as tile, wood and linoleum because it has strong suction power complemented by the beater rod.
Neato claims that it also picks up big bits like pills and lint and based on reviews, many people will agree even though it would take hours to finish the whole house with several recharges along the way.
Carpet cleaning
The XV-21 will do a pretty decent job of removing dirt and pet hair on low to medium pile carpets, but on really thin carpets, it will struggle a bit as with all robot vacuums.
Again, the suction roller and brush work well together to clean this surface.
If you have a black or very black rug or carpet at home, it Maybe not Check it out as some of the reviews have pointed out because the sensors might think it’s a pit or a cliff.
carpets
Moving from hard floor/carpet to carpet is not a problem as long as the rug is not too slippery or thick it shouldn’t be a problem.
If your carpet has long tassels, please tuck it under or clean it separately because the long threads will curl up on the motorized brush.
Pet hair removal
This is the best Roomba pet hair cleaner based on reviews here, here, and here.
Lots of pet owners are happy with how this robot picks up pet hair. Without it, it would be difficult for them to rely solely on a handheld vacuum cleaner to pick up all the hair that their dogs shed. Some had as many as 3 dogs.
Please review this detailed article on my pet hair suction recommendations.
It really helped them clean up the hair that their pets shed, and as a result their homes are clean…
Remember that if you have a litter box or milk crate, I suggest you move this out of the way first before letting it loose otherwise it will mess up what’s inside.
Watch it in action
Ben Blades shares his experience with the XV-21 at his home…
product specification
| Battery Type | lithium ion |
| charger type | charging station |
| Shipping time | 2 hours |
the show length  |
30-60 minutes (based on reviews) |
| net weight (with battery) | 8.6 EGP |
| Purchase Weight | 15 million pounds |
| Dimensions | 12.5 x 13 x 4 inches |
| multi room |
 |
| self docking |
|
| remote control |
 |
| HEPA filtration |
|
| Detecting cliff |
|
| self-control |
|
| side brush |
|
| bin full indicator |
|
| drawer cleaning |
|
| Cleaning sessions per week |
7 |
| Extra filter |
|
| containment |
Uses magnetic stripe instead of a virtual wall. |
| brush cleaning tools | Unavailable |
| Accessories included | charging base
charging cable 6-foot magnetic tape 1 Allergy & Pet Brush 1 standard brush 1 filter Quick Start Guide User’s Manual |
| Voltage | 110/220 volts |
| Made in | China |
| Price | Check Price |
Customer Reviews
Over 600 people have left reviews for the XV-21 and over 400 have given it a full 5 star rating, proof that this vacuum performs well.
Many of the people who used this robot were pet owners. Some of them have as many as 5 dogs who shed a lot of hair. But most of them were happy with how this robot cleaned up all the mess.
Some gave her a name, and it was noted that some named her Rosie after the robotic maid in “The Jetson’s” (if you’re old enough to remember that 80s animated series).
One woman mentioned that she was coming back for surgery and couldn’t really do any cleaning and that was a factor in her choice of this robot. Other consumers who also have lower back problems appreciated how this helped them with their cleaning tasks.
Despite all the positive reviews, it is not without its drawbacks, it does not clean the edges very well because it does not have a brush for cleaning the edges.
Make sure to clean all sensors to maintain performance. Dirty sensors will hinder how this robot navigates and will not be as efficient.
There are also reports of lemonade units with malfunctioning batteries, broken sensors and jammed wheels.
This is why it is important to put the bot through its paces to see if there are any potential problems and to read their warranty information to see what is covered.
Reviews from other sites
Walmart
50 people left a review at Walmart and most were satisfied with how it picks up pet hair and dirt on carpets and bare floors.
Moving between surfaces is not a problem. And what consumers love is how easily it cleans the areas under the bed.
But it takes a short time and the small dirt basket needs frequent cleaning.
Where can I buy this?
You can buy this robot vacuum cleaner on Amazon for about $300 but it won’t be brand new.
BUY NOW FROM AMAZONThe best option is to get the latest BotVac bot because these newer variants have better mobility and will last longer.
to finish
This product is great for people who don’t have time in their busy schedules to clean frequently enough to keep their homes clean.
This would be great if you have a large house with open spaces because it works best in these areas.
If you suffer from a chronic back injury or have chronic back problems that prevent you from lifting a heavy pole or even a roller, this will be a godsend as it does all the work for you.
Note that unlike Roomba which uses virtual walls, this one uses magnetic border markers.
You will need to buy more of them if you have a larger house. And a 13-foot sign will cost about $16 on Amazon.
Despite the drawbacks, people are still happy with the cleaning performance of the XV-21, especially the pet hair. Note that Neato has already discontinued this alternative and has been replaced by the BotVac series.
Please check the link above for details and also check out the comparison between BotVac and Roomba. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.