1 min readALDI's middle aisle will be blessed with the Ecovacs Deebot NEO 2.0 PLUS, the first robovac with an auto-empty station to hit that spot. Normally the NEO 2.0 Plus retails for $999, but at ALDI you'll be able to pick one up for just $499 from Wednesday June 19th.
We reviewed the Neo 2.0 Plus, and while it has a few quirks that might make it a harder sell at the $999 price point, at half that it is worth braving the lines for. We found the mopping performance to be underwhelming, but the suction performed well against pet fur, and small to medium debris, and the mapping punched well above its weight. At its recommended retail price we gave it 3.75 stars, but award it an extra half star if you're taking the ALDI discount into account. For comparison, our old under $500 pick - the Xiomi Viomi V3 scored 3.25 stars.
This Ecovacs model has simultaneous mopping and vacuuming functions on hard floor, and vacuum only on carpet. Along with a 5,000pa suction power and a 5L auto-empty station, the robovac makes for a more hands-free cleaning experience than other Special Buy robovacs.
Mapping, customised cleaning schedules, vacuuming power, and water usage can be controlled through the Ecovacs Home app. While the device doesn't have Matter, so won't be able to benefits from Apple's latest iOS improvements, it is compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa.
Ecovacs is no stranger to ALDI Special Buys, with the pair's partnership spanning back seven years. According to Ecovacs ANZ Regional Director Karen Powell, ALDI has been invaluable to Australian robot vacuum cleaner adoption.
"What we find is that they’ve really helped to educate the market around the robotic vacuums and what they can do, making them more accessible to consumers as well. The community that ALDI has as well is a very close one. People love to share and give each other tips and so on, and they’re not afraid to share and speak their minds. So when there’s a recommendation there from one of them then people will gravitate towards that."
Special Buys stock is limited and historically likely to sell out. You can check stock levels online, but if you're keen to get a cheap robot vacuum cleaner we suggest getting in quickly.
