ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop Cleaner

Like many, I obsess over researching products I am interested in, especially big-ticket items. Most of the reviews and recommendations on numerous sites gave the Ecovac DEEBOT x2 glowing recommendations. I was looking for a dependable, easy-maintenance cleaning machine that had the intelligence to know the difference between tile floors and carpet. I wanted a machine that would clean and dry its mopping heads to prevent odors and bacteria growth between uses. Voice control would be nice but not essential.I saw rave reviews about how well this machine worked for them. I am happy to see that it works for them, but my review will be flowing upstream against the many glowing reviews. Regrettably, nearly everything I wanted, what I demanded, was missing from this product. For the price that was paid for the DEEBOT x2, this was unacceptable! Your mileage my very.First of all, I read the instructions. I like instructions. I want to know how to best use my equipment. The instructions that come with the cleaner are horrible! Practically non-existent. There are quick start instructions but any other information requires internet research. It is more like discover a problem, go get information on the web. Discover another problem, go back, and try to find a solution. It would be much better if there was a comprehensive set of instructions in hand to show you how to set up the machine, use the App, and then troubleshoot common problems. The internet and Customer service would then fill in the blanks in knowledge. The App is archaic, one of the worst I have tried to learn and use. Truly disliked the APP, a key part of the whole system control.Speaking of Customer service, it was painful trying to get a resolution to any problem. For example, the machine frequently and repeatedly would go offline. I have pretty good wifi coverage in my house. No problems running all of my internet-connected things. I did not have any problem resetting the connection to the wifi when it went offline. The problem would be that the machine would, at some time after being reset, go offline in its station and fail to run any program to clean. We would notice that we had not seen the machine in some time only to discover that it was offline. I called Customer Service and they tried to tell me it was my mesh internet's fault. I needed to change my wifi. Ridiculous! My wifi had no problems identifying the machine and linking on the 2.4 GHz frequency. I could see this on my router info page. With so many homes using mesh network routers, if this is a real cause of failure, then this product is not ready for market. It should not be working in a huge number of homes.Initially, the machine log shows that it was running 150-190 minutes to clean the house. By the end of my frustration period, the log showed it running 15-20 minutes and cleaning only 225 sq ft per run. It would then announce it was returning to the station to clean the mops or recharge. Once it entered the station, it failed to come out and finish the clean as it should have done. Often, a check of the machine would show that it went offline again.On the subject of self-cleaning and drying mops, repeatedly, I found that the mops were soaking wet in the station. I mentioned this to Customer Service I was told that I should go into the App and tell the machine to initiate the cleaning and dry cycle manually. I thought the purpose of having an automated machine was that it would do what it was supposed to do, automatically! Cleaning and drying the mops was one of my requirements for the machine choice. I lost faith that it would be doing the cleaning and drying function as I expected. When I retrieved the machine from the Station to return it, the mops were dripping with water. The machine had been in the Station for two days, it should have been already cleaned and dry.The next glaring problem is battery life and charging. I can't tell you the number of times the cleaner would return to the station after 15-20 minutes of operation, announcing it had to recharge. Or the machine was in the Station, sitting there doing nothing, it would announce that it was shutting down due to low battery. I was checking the App and could see the battery was depleted. Often, when the machine had not automatically run its scheduled cleaning program, I would manually tell it to run the cleaning. The machine, most of the time would come out of the Station with 84% or less battery charge. This was after being in the Station for a long time.I wanted to like this machine. I tried using the internet to find solutions to my problems. I called Customer Service twice. The first time it was the wifi's fault, not the machine's. The second time, I called them to try to anything that would help to prevent me from sending the machine back for a refund. They were going to send me an email containing information on possible solutions I was willing to try. We verified my email address a couple of times, but, I did not receive this email. That was the final straw. The machine was going back for a refund.

Over the years I have wanted a robot vacuum, but waited until my research findings allowed me to decide on a unit that was worth the money. I finally chose this unit because it vacuums, mops, self cleans (and uses hot water to self clean), air dries it’s mops after the self clean, empties out its dust bin into the base station and holds enough water to clean my entire house (1800 sq ft). This unit did not disappoint. Another thing to mention is my husband cannot take the noise of a loud noisy vacuum as he has severe tinnitus and that noise will cause it to get extreme. I was worried about just how noisy this unit would be - couldn’t find much in the reviews about noise level. Well, I am happy to report that as the vacuum is going, it is very tolerable. It is a low hum that you barely hear in the next room. The unit arrived in a rather large box, was packed well inside the box, and was easy to take out and set up. One thing to mention is you will need to download the app on your phone and connect it to your network that your phone is connected to. (I made the mistake of downloading an app that asked for a lifetime one time fee of $24.95). Turns out you don’t need that app- make sure to scan the machine’s QR code to get the free app that comes with the machine. This QR code is on the inside of the base station lid.Once I set up the machine, (note I filled the tank with plain water), I set it off to go explore the house. It mapped out my house and returned to its base. I then went on the app and labeled the rooms it mapped out and then set it off to clean the living room floor. The machine at first appeared to wander around the perimeter, but then started a methodical cleaning once it completed a perimeter run. When it found rugs or carpet, it turned off its mop feature, raised the mops and increased the suction of the vacuum. When it rolled off of the carpet it lowered the suction, lowered the mops and started the vacuum/mop feature. When it reached the end of the cleaning, it announced it was complete in its cleaning and that it would return to home.I have real wood floors, linoleum, rugs, and carpet throughout my home. The machine adapted to every surface. Only once did it get stuck under a dining room chair where it could not get out of the position. It turned itself off and announced that it was stuck and to please remove it from the jammed area.I would like to see some improvement on the app, (it would not allow me to divide a large room (that is really 2 rooms) as it says “error” tap to divide room again.The machine also has a camera, so you can record or watch what it cleans. Pretty fancy for a robot vacuum.I give this unit 5 stars as it has done everything to my expectations and I have floors that are gleaming clean.Now, if they could design one that dusts furniture (hover to tabletops lol), my cleaning experience would be perfect.I did not use any tech support so I am not rating that.One last thing to add, I bought the unit on good Friday at a great deal of 30% off. So instead of $1,500.00 I paid $1,000.00.Update: It has been a few months. I named my robot Rosie- Rosie does a great job of maintaining my floors. I start her once a week and she keeps everything gleaming. One time I accidentally left my phone charger cord hanging on the floor. I was not home while Rosie was cleaning and she sucked up the cord. She stopped and sent me a message to clear her rollers. When I got home, I found her sitting where she stopped and opened her up, pulled out my cord and cleaned some wrapped hair that was wrapped as well. I am amazed she still worked great with the end of the roller wrapped with hair. Once clean, I sent her home and restarted her. She started right up and worked perfectly. I am still thrilled with my machine.