The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is not quite like other robot vacuum cleaners for one reason-it's square. Ish.

The main reason why robot vacuums are almost exclusively round (save for this and the Dyson 360 Vis Nav) is due to how they navigate and deal with obstacles. Ultimately, the typical robot vacuum brute forces its way out of tight spots, constantly scanning and rotating its chassis where it stands until it can find a path out.

It's hip to be square

In that sense, Ecovacs is undoubtedly doing something risky with a square shape for the Deebot X2 Omni, as the robot vacuum no longer has the luxury to work its way out of trouble. The new sensor and AI system is what the new Ecovacs robot vacuum uses to prevent this-it's apparently way smarter and is able to chart a cleaning path that overcomes this limitation.

The primary benefit of the square design is that the bar brush and the two mops are closer to the edges. Together, the Deebot X2 Omni can clean more efficiently when hugging the wall. Ecovacs claims it can achieve 99.77 per cent edge coverage and 19 per cent improved cleaning efficiency over the X1.

And not only is the Deebot X2 Omni slimmer, but it is also sleeker, with a height of only 95mm, thanks to the fact that the dToF module, which often protrudes out of the body and adds to the height, has been removed. The one benefit is that it is easier for the Deebot X2 Omni to traverse lower-riding sofas and the like.

In its place, you get a pair of semi-solid state LiDAR sensors (like what they use in autonomous cars) that cover an angle of 210 degrees and are supported by front-facing RGBD cameras (with depth sensor) and an array of supplementary sensors.

This system is paired with next-generation software-TrueMapping 3.0 and AIVI 3D 2.0-and machine learning, enabling the Deebot X2 Omni to navigate more efficiently and with responsive, elevated object avoidance capabilities.

Top-of-the-line specs

And that's not all. The Deebot X2 Omni gets the best of class treatment, with top-tier specs in every department. It features wind tunnel tech and 8000Pa of suction power, which is as much as you can get from a robot vacuum.

It also uses ultrasonic tech to auto-lift its mops up to 15mm to clear carpets and prevent staining. In addition, it can cross thresholds as high as 22mm while the inbuilt 6,400mAh lithium battery is enough to cover about 200 square metres-mobility is certainly not a weakness here.

The Deebot also has its own conversation-driven voice assistant, which works offline and adds another level of control for users.

Easy maintenance 

The Omni station, an important part of the ensemble, sports a sleek design, enabling it to fit in cabinets as well (measuring 394mm x 527.5mm x 443.73mm). But more importantly, it functions as a station that makes maintenance easy, much like the Roborock Q Revo that we reviewed recently, firstly by emptying the refuse bag in the robot vacuum, then refilling the water tank for the mop, and washing and drying the dirty mop.

You only need to fill the station water tank, clear the dirty water every couple of days and maintain the robot vacuum occasionally to ensure that it operates in tip-top condition-something that is made easier with easily detachable components.    

The Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni is priced at SGD1,699 and available at official Courts and Ecovacs online stores.

ALSO READ: The Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum packs tech heat to the nines

This article was first published in Potions.sg.