ECOVACS Deebot 711 Review
The Deebot 711 might not be the latest or the best ECOVACS vacuum, but it is undoubtedly a step ahead of the predecessors; Deebot 600 and 500 series.
Definitely, with the extras it tags along, the price is higher, and that takes us to the question of the day; is the ECOVACS 711 a worthy purchase.
Which homes is it best suited for, and can it clean pet messes?
We are about to find all that in this detailed Deebot review. Also, in this article, we will share our exclusive cleaning test results to give readers a glimpse of the 711’s performance in a real household setting.
To start, here is an overview of the brand and the particular model.
ECOVACS
Founded in 1998 by Qian Dongqi Ecovacs is a Chinese robot vacuum brand headquartered in Suzhou, China.
While it has been overshadowed by the likes of Roborock, Roomba, and Neato, it was among the best-selling brands in 2017.
But two years later, the company is finding it hard to keep up the pace, though some models like the OZMO 900 series are doing really well.
About Deebot 711
Released early in 2019, the Deebot 711 is available in two colors. There is a black model and a black/white variant. You will also realize that the 711 series has a new model which was released in August.
Well, what’s the difference between the Deebot 711 vs. 711s?
The two ECOVACS vacuums are very similar, especially when it comes to aesthetics and design.
But the newer 711s is a little bit more advanced courtesy of improved runtime and an enhanced brush system.
It also costs more, so the dilemma here will be to save the few bucks and forfeit the extras or fork out a few more dollars for the longer runtime.
Well, that’s a discussion for another day.
Below are some of the things we liked about Deebot 711 alongside areas that need improvement.
- Intelligent VSLAM navigation
- Extended runtime
- Replacement accessories included
- Affordable price
- Smart home ready
- Average suction power, even in Max mode
- No HEPA filtration
- No digital boundaries
Now that we know several things about ECOVACS and Deebot 711 let’s get to the finer details.
Design and Aesthetics
When buying a robot vacuum, don’t just go for the aesthetics; also consider a low profile design.
The Deebot 711 is quite appealing to the eye courtesy of the glossy black finish.
Remember, there is the all-black variant and another one in black with white accents.
The top interface has a single button and a lens for the optical navigation system.
When it comes to dimensions, we like the thin 3.2-inch design, which allows it to creep under the household fittings with low clearance. These include kickstands, sofas, beds, among others.
Regarding the width and width, it isn’t bad at 7lbs and 13-inches diameter.
Cleaning Performance
There are several aspects within the ranks of cleaning performance that all buyers should consider. These include the cleaning orientation, specialization, vacuum power, brush, filtration system, among others.
We took a closer look at each of these aspects differently to know whether the Deebot 711 will pass the ultimate test.
- Cleaning orientation – Typical robot vacuums offer sweep and vacuum functions only, but some, including several Deebot models, will sweep, vacuum, and mop simultaneously. The ECOVACS 711 will only sweep and vacuum.
The robot has been designed to clean all bare floors and low pile carpets. It also does a great job of picking up pet hair and other pet-related messes like kitty litter.
- Vacuum power – This is the fundamental consideration when choosing a robot vacuum, especially for carpets. The motor is the part responsible for generating suction power, which is calibrated in Pascals. While a vacuum with the highest Pascals is the best, also consider the power modes.
The Deebot 711 doesn’t offer anything out of the ordinary with the 700 series. While it may be an advanced model, it still has quite an old motor that delivers around 600Pa in normal mode and just 1000Pa when Max mode is activated. From that, you can tell that it has two power modes; normal mode for general cleaning and Max mode for carpets.
Talking of power modes, one thing comes to mind; operation noise. The Deebot 711 produced around 64dB when in normal mode, but when max mode is activated, it is louder at 68dB.
- Brush system – While suction power is fundamental, it can’t finish the job without the brushes, which are for agitating and picking up dirt. There are two types of brushes; the primary brush and secondary brush.
There is a rotating brush bar and a side sweeping brush system. The two do a good job on bare floors though the brush bar struggles on the high pile carpets, shags, area rugs, and Flokati. On such heavy surfaces, it doesn’t rotate swiftly and can get tangled when dealing with long pet hair.
- Filtration – If you have allergies, I’m afraid the Deebot 711 isn’t the best for the job. It comes with HEPA style filters, and even though they are 99% efficient, they filter down to only about 10 microns. That means it will miss the small allergen particles that are as small as 3 microns.
Regarding the bin, we are glad the vacuum tags along with a large 0.52L bin.
- Cleaning modes – A good robot vacuum should come with several cleaning modes for a more customized cleaning.
The ECOVACS designed the 711 with four cleaning modes. There is the Auto mode for general cleaning and Edge mode for the wall edges. Homeowners can also choose Spot clean for clearing dirt on specific spots or Schedule cleaning, which allows you to program the robot for future cleaning. You can set cleaning times for up to seven days straight.
3. Cleaning Tests
As usual, we make sure that all the robot vacuums we review go through stringent tests in the real household setting.
We were privileged to test the Deebot 711 is a one-story with a tile ground floor and a hardwood upper floor.
To simulate the real household settings, we patched the floor surfaces with everyday dirt e.g., sugar, flour, rice, kitty litter, pet hair, Cheerios, and sand pebbles.
Below are the results of our tests.
Bare floors
On bare floors, Deebot did an exceptional job picking up all the dirt except for a few patches of flour while left the X mark we smeared at first. Then we manually switched to Max mode, all the patches vanished, leaving a clean floor. This is both on the tile and hardwood floor.
Low pile carpets
On low carpets, Deebot 711 was utterly overwhelmed with the flour, sugar, and kitty litter which stuck on the fabric. Upon switching to Max mode, there was a little improvement though flour particles were left hiding under the carpet pile.
High pile carpets
On the shag we had, we never bothered to test the 711 in normal mode. But still, in Max mode, there is a lot to be desired.
Only the large particles like Cheerios and a few pet hair were picked. Otherwise, flour, sugar, and rice remained behind.
This is the reason we don’t recommend it for carpet owners. To get the best carpet cleaning, you need a robot vacuum with at least 1500Pa.
4. Battery and runtime
The Deebot 711 packs a rechargeable 2600mAh lithium-ion battery. It offers an impressive 110 minutes runtime in normal mode. But when Max mode is activated, we noted a decrease of around 25% now that the motor is using more power, to generate more power.
There’s also the aspect of power management, and here, it’s all about how the Deebot 711 manages its battery. While the Deebot 711 will recharge automatically, it doesn’t resume cleaning after that. You will have to prompt it to complete the job.
In case you have a large apartment, exceeding the 1100 square-feet the Deebot 711 can handle, consider the Deebot 711s, which has a 130 minutes runtime.
5. Navigation and Mapping
The Deebot 711 is an excellent deal for homes with high-traffic and large floor areas. It comes with the revolutionary Smart Navi 2.0 navigation that is out to rival Roomba’s iAdapt 2.0. As you may be aware, Roombas use VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithm.
Smart Navi 2.0 uses both sensors and a real-time camera for localization. The sensors include anti-cliff sensors and obstacle detection sensors. On the other hand, a small camera is on top of the robot vacuum.
There is also the aspect of floor mapping and scanning, and, here again, the Deebot 700 series excels. While other older Deebots moved in a random pattern, this one takes methodical and uniform S-patterns in cleaning. It ensures that all the floor is covered, so at no time will you find some spots skipped.
Unfortunately, the 711 doesn’t come with digital boundaries. So, if there are areas you don’t want the robot to reach, you have no other option apart from the bulky physical magnetic boundary strips.
Last is regarding maneuverability, and here, there is something the Chinese brand ought to have improved on. The wheels are large, yes, but for some reason, the robot finds it hard to go over thresholds like thick area rugs. All the same, its performance is above the bar.
6. Smart Connectivity
The Deebot 711, just like all new robot vacuums, comes with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, meaning it can sync with the ECOVACS Home App, and voice control platforms like Alexa and Google Assistant. But the most crucial consideration is the features offered by the mobile App.
The App comes with a clean interface that allows you to select your preferred cleaning mode. You can also program the robot from the Smartphone. There are also clean map reports as well as a display for the turnaround times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What`s the difference between Ecovacs Deebot 711 aand 711S models?
Does Deebot 711 climb carpets?
Is Deebot 711 suitable for carpet and pet hair cleaning?
Can I set virtual walls on my Deebot 711?
Summary: Should you buy the Deebot 711?
As mentioned earlier, the Deebot 711 may not be the best ECOVACS robot vacuum, but it’s a force to reckon.
It does an excellent job on bare floors and low pile carpets.
But for homes with the high pile carpets and shag, including Flokati rugs, you might want to think twice.
verdictBut considering the affordability and the mix of both convenience and smart features, it offers excellent value for money. Buy it if you want a mid-range vacuum with the latest features and one that can navigate around in high-traffic rooms.
