Eufy RoboVac 11s vs. 11s Max vs. 15c Max
Today, I will be reviewing the Eufy 11s vs. 11s Max models and compare them with one more popular RoboVac 15c Max cleaner. If you are on the lookout for affordable robot vacuums, choosing one from Eufy’s arsenal is a great place to start.
I don’t always recommend cheap robot vacuums, but there are some models from Eufy’s catalog that I am eager to give a shot.
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Main Differences
While the 15c Max costs a tad more than Eufy 11s and 11s Max, it is still in the budget category. So, what are the differences between the Eufy RoboVac 11s vs. 11s Max vs. 15c Max?
- Wi-Fi Compatibility
The RoboVac 15c Max is Wi-Fi capable, so I was able to make use of the EufyHome app. After downloading the app, I could schedule cleanings on the go. The 11s and 11s Max, on the other hand, do not have this feature at all. - Voice Assistance
Aside from being able to access the EufyHome app, the RoboVac 15c Max is also compatible with home ecosystems, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. - Suction Power
Another difference I noticed right off the bat is the suction power. Eufy 15c Max and 11s Max comparison shows they both have 2, 000 Pa suction, while the 11s only has 1, 300 Pa. - Scheduling Options
The scheduling options are limited for the 11s and 11s Max because unlike the 15c Max, you can’t choose which days to clean.
Comparison Table
Which one to choose EUFY 11S or EUFY 11S MAX or EUFY 15C MAX?
4 reasons to choose EUFY 11S MAX
- Large dustbin: 0.6 L dustbin keeps more dust to decrease the number of bin emptying times.
- Boost technology: In 1.5 seconds, RoboVac automatically increases suction power for deep carpet cleaning and dirty spots.
- Slim design: 2.85 inches tall design of EUFY 11S MAX allows cleaning under low-clearance furniture.
- Climbing ability: Treaded wheels ensure climbing on up to 0.5-inch carpets and other types of floor.
Should You Get the RoboVac 11s?
The RoboVac 11s is one of the best-selling robot vacuums in the market. Selling like pancakes, it is evident that homeowners love this machine despite the lack of smart navigation and room mapping that high-end models boast so much about.
In my case, I fancy its affordability and user-friendliness. Plus, its low profile has stealthily got into places I never thought it would clean. Since I work at home, I also appreciate that I can hold a Zoom meeting while the robot is running in the background.
But because I have prolific shedder at home, I don’t think the 11s is a perfect fit for me. The brushroll for the 11s is quite the hair magnet, and I hate spending so much time trying to untangle them out!
The RoboVac 11s is not the best choice for pet hair, but it should do well if you are looking for a quiet and no-frills robot vacuum that is easy on the pocket.
- 1, 300 Pa
- BoostIQ Technology: Increases suction power within 1.5 seconds when it hits carpets
- Quiet Clean: Vacuums for up to 100 minutes at 55 dB
- Has ledge-detection for upstairs cleaning
- 0.63 climbing ability
- No laser or camera room mapping
- Doesn’t support virtual boundaries
- Brushes get tangled easily
- No app or virtual assistance
Is the RoboVac 11s Max Right For You?
The RoboVac 11s Max, as the name suggests, is merely an upgraded version of the 11s. You can tell by the appearance alone that there doesn’t seem to be anything radical between Eufy 11s vs 11s Max.
Among the many features that the 11s Max retained include the stiff-bristled brushroll and a pair of side brushes.
This model also boasts of a short height of 2.8 inches for superior under-furniture reach. Eufy has likewise integrated its BoostIQ Tech into the 11s Max. Only this time, it kicks up the suction to 2, 000 Pa.
- Beats the 11s by having 700 Pa more suction power
- BoostIQ Technology: Increases suction power within 1.5 seconds when it hits carpets
- Quiet Clean: Vacuums for up to 100 minutes at 55 dB
- Has ledge-detection for upstairs cleaning
- 0.63 climbing ability
- No laser or camera room mapping
- Doesn’t support virtual boundaries
- Brushes get tangled easily
- No app or virtual assistance
Who Should Get the RoboVac 15c Max?
Eufy has recently released the RoboVac 15c Max, but it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. In fact, the 15c Max remains identical to the 11s Max in many ways.
For one, its motor is rated at 2, 000 Pa during its highest setting. Also, this model uses the same brushroll and corner brushes for cleaning the edges of furniture and walls. The manufacturer, however, claimed that the 15c Max has a sturdier UniBody filter and a wider wind tunnel to further enhance the robot’s pick-up.
Regardless, the performance of the 11s Max and 15c Max are the same based on my tests. The only difference I see from its previous iteration is that the 15c Max now has Wi-Fi integration. This newer model is likewise compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.
Know that you get these new features for just $10 more!
- 2, 000 Pa suction
- BoostIQ Technology: Increases suction power within 1.5 seconds when it hits carpets
- Quiet Clean: Vacuums for up to 100 minutes at 55 dB
- Wi-Fi enabled and is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Has ledge-detection for upstairs cleaning
- 0.63 climbing ability
- Redesigned UniBody Filter: Provides three layers of protection
- No laser or camera room mapping
- Doesn’t support virtual boundaries
- Brushes get tangled easily
Face to Face Comparison
Design
RoboVac 11s
The RoboVac 11S stands 2.85 inches tall and comes equipped with treaded wheels with a 0.63-inch climbing threshold.
Short and rugged, its low profile allows itself to go stealthily underneath low-clearance furniture, such as TV stands and dressers.
A bumper protects the front of the 11s, and a tempered glass cover keeps the top scratch-free. The only cosmetic issue I didn’t like is that the top showed plenty of fingerprints.
RoboVac 11s Max
The body of the RoboVac 11s Max is built similarly as the 11s.
This model can also fit underneath low-slung furniture since it only measures 2.85 inches in height. The 11S Max is likewise protected by a tempered glass cover and a shock-absorbing bumper.
RoboVac 15c Max
The RoboVac 15c Max also has an impressively slim low profile of 2.85 inches, which means it can easily fit underneath small spaces. Two large, treaded wheels help the 15c Max incline 0.63 inches during floor transitions.
This model also uses the same main brush and spinning side brushes as the 11s and 11s Max.
Navigation
RoboVac 11s
The cleaning pattern for this model is random. When I tested the robot vacuum, I purposely did not clear the floor of obstacles. As a result, it kept on bouncing around like a pinball and wasted so much battery. That is why it is best to clear your floor of obstacles before running the robot.
While this model has an automatic redocking feature, it often struggles with that. After all, the robot has no way to map out your home. If the battery runs out, you may find your robot vacuum stuck in random places.
On the bright side, this model is fitted with infrared and cliff sensors so that it doesn’t tumble over drop-offs. However, the 11s sometimes struggled with dark-colored flooring, which triggered the cliff sensors.
RoboVac 11s Max
The Roborock 11s Max also uses an outdated navigation technology. The robot’s so-called “bounce navigation” sends itself ping-ponging around my house.
On a good note, I am impressed with the edge-cleaning capabilities of the 11s Max. If you set the robot to auto-clean, it adroitly followed edges, such as baseboards and underneath cabinets. But as the walls ended, it returned to its usual bouncy self.
And just like the 11s, the 11s Max rolled right over the welcome mat, area rugs, and thresholds up to 0.5-inch high.
RoboVac 15c Max
The Roborock 15c Max is missing room mapping, which means it also responds to sensory input similar to the 11s and 11s Max.
Moreover, the 15c Max employs a mix of 10 infrared sensors and physical bumpers. This model also has a set cleaning pattern, which repeats for a specific amount of time.
While its cleaning path looks unreliable, it did cover my entryway, living room, and dining area before it ran out of power. Likewise, the 15c Max transitioned smoothly between hardwood and Berber carpet without any hang-ups.
The robot vacuum also avoided furniture adroitly and maneuvered around large obstacles with ease, such as flower vases and floor pillows. But comparing Eufy 15C Max vs 11S Max and standard 11S, I found out I always had to pick up stray cables out of the way because this robot also does not cope up well with small obstructions.
Suction Power and Noise
RoboVac 11s
The RoboVac 11s has a maximum suction power of 1, 300 Pa.
At 55 dB, the 11S has a quiet operation comparable to microwave.
RoboVac 11s Max
One of the key enhancements of the 11s Max is suction power. Maximum suction has increased from 1, 300 Pa to 2, 000 Pa. People who work at home will not be disturbed by the RoboVac 11s Max.
At 55 dB, the 11s Max is no louder than a casual conversation.
RoboVac 15c Max
The RoboVac 15c Max has 2, 000 Pa of suction, which makes it a powerful robot vacuum considering its price. Despite the extra power, it remains impressively quiet, whichever cleaning mode you use.
The robot grumbles at 55 dB in the background during its lowest setting.
Usability
RoboVac 11s
There is no Wi-Fi, app, or voice commands to help the RoboVac 11s. But using the remote control, you can direct the robot to clean with one of the four different modes.
RoboVac 11s Max
The 11s Max is as simple as the 11s. This model also comes with a remote control that operates using a pair of AAA batteries.
You may also schedule cleanings using the remote, but only daily.
RoboVac 15c Max
The RoboVac 15c Max has its own dedicated app where you can set cleaning schedules. Using the EufyHome app, you can clean any day of the week at any time. You may also skip certain days of the week.
This is a significant upgrade from the 11S’ and 11S Max’s scheduling features, both of which don’t allow you to set different cleaning times for each day of the week.
Simply download the app for your iOs or Android device, open it, and long-press the button of the 15c Max to pair your robot with the app. But if you prefer old-school things, you may use the slim remote control.
Likewise, the 15c Max is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. If you don’t have your phone or remote nearby, you can start the robot up and running by issuing voice commands. However, this model does not have its own microphone, so you need to own a smart speaker to act as a medium.
Battery Life
RoboVac 11s
The RoboVac 11s has an operating period of approximately 100 minutes on a Quiet Clean and takes about five to six hours to charge.
RoboVac 11s Max
The RoboVac 11s Max also vacuums up for about 100 minutes. However, it still depends on the cleaning modes used during its operation.
RoboVac 15c Max
The RoboVac 15c Max is no different from the 11s and 11s Max when it comes to battery life. A fully-charged 15c Max runs for approximately 100 minutes in Quiet Clean on hard floors.
Cleaning Performance
To test the cleaning performance of each robot vacuum, I littered the following debris on four different surfaces:
- 50 grams of ground pepper
- 50 grams of sesame seeds
- 50 grams of cocoa puffs
- 50 grams of shredded cotton balls
RoboVac 11s
One of the best things I love about the RoboVac 11s is that it cleans remarkably on carpets. I have Berber carpet in my living room and Frieze in my office. The robot picked up all the pepper, seeds, cereal, and cotton balls that I scattered in one corner of each room.
The RoboVac 11s runs on BoostIQ by default, which is an auto-adjusting suction feature. The thicker the carpet, the more suction it generates. However, you may turn this feature off and choose a specific cleaning mode if you do not see the results you want. But in my case, the 11s did about the same on low or high power.
Also, the edge-clean feature of the 11s does a great job of capturing dust bunnies that have accumulated at the baseboards. Although the side brushes swept out debris in front of the robot, it did not reach corners as well as some of the D-shaped models, such as the Roomba s9+. Then again, that flaw is typical in circular robot vacuums.
But if you have shedding pets at home, you may not be happy with the hair pick-up of the RoboVac 11s. I used the robot vacuum in my daughter’s room, which she shared with her pooch. Sadly, the 11s missed plenty of pet hair, and those it managed to pick up were caught up in the brushes. The hair pick-up test on hard floors was no different, as well.
RoboVac 11s Max
I tested the RoboVac 11s Max in the same rooms, and I am impressed by how it managed to pick up nearly 100% of the debris on its first pass. Hence, I recommend this unit if you have low- to medium-pile carpets at home.
Similar to the 11s, it starts on BoostIQ by default. When the RoboVac’s brushes rotate slower due to the thick carpet fibers, the fan motor amps up the suction power to a whopping 2, 000 Pa within 1.5 seconds.
After that, I placed the 11s Max on the hallway and made it cruise towards the dining area so that I could evaluate its performance on hard floors. The robot scattered some of the debris, and its exhaust blew away the cotton balls. This phenomenon reminds me of early-generation Roombas, where they make a bigger mess before they clean the mess.
Regardless, the 11s Max picked up the debris with a minimal difference in low and high power. And as for edge cleaning, the 11s Max was above average using its two side brushes.
What I don’t like about the 11s Max is its bristle brush. The brush is highly prone to tangles, which makes it a dealbreaker for pet owners. Also, the 11s Max doesn’t work with boundary strips and the like.
Since the 11s Max and 15c Max have the same suction power, I wanted to tell the difference by making another test. I have a small balcony adjacent to the living room where our dog loves to hang out. Impressively, the 11s Max picked up the grit that has accumulated in the crevices between the wooden tiles.
RoboVac 15c Max
The Standard Mode is usually fine for most applications. During Standard mode, the motor of the 15c Max operates somewhere between 1, 000 Pa and 2, 000 Pa.
Max mode operates consistently at 2, 000 Pa, while BoostIQ switches between Standard and Max modes, depending on which type of surface the robot is dealing with. Impressively, both the Standard and Max modes are quiet.
Know that BoostIQ optimizes the battery life of the robot vacuum because it only increases its suction power when it hits carpets. Doing so will get you closer to the 100-minute runtime.
Performance-wise, all three Eufy RoboVacs seem to be equal in every way.
What was most interesting was that the 15c Max picked up 100% of the grit in the crevices between the wooden tiles of our balcony. The 15c Max has clearly shown me that having stronger suction works for your advantage.
Conclusion
All three robots’ approach to cleaning is less methodical, involving plenty of guesswork and repetition. The 11s, 11s Max, and 15c Max don’t know when it is finished cleaning, so these robots will run until the battery is low and returns to its base to charge.
Also, kindly be advised that none of these models are suitable for picking up larger and heavier debris, such as M&M candies. This is a trade-off for its slim profile.
So, if you can stretch your budget further, you can find many affordable robot vacuums with mapping software, such as the likes of Roborock S5 or S6. Having intelligent mapping alongside basic sensors makes a robot vacuum much more effective, thorough, and battery-efficient.
Nevertheless, the RoboVac 11s, 11s Max, and 15c Max are great choices if you have hard floors and low- to medium-pile carpets. These models are well-rounded robot vacuums that have powerful suction to clean daily detritus.
The 11s Max and 15c Max are about 50% stronger than the 11s. If you prefer the convenience offered by smartphone integration, opt for the 15c Ma, which costs only $10 more than the 11s.
