Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI – Review and Test

The Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI has a mission: It wants to be the best vacuum robot on the market. Can the vacuum-mopping robot meet the expectations. See yourself in our test and review in detail.
The T8 AIVI has a whole range of innovations such as the AIVI technology. With this technology, even smaller objects (e.g. mobile phones, charging cables, or slippers) can be recognized as obstacles and avoided autonomously. The AIVI technology can also be used as a surveillance camera for your home.
Some other functions of the OZMO T8 AIVI are the OZMO Pro (a powerful oscillating scrubbing mop) and the Auto-empty station (both can be purchased separately).
The Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI promises a lot. Is it therefore one of the best vacuum robots on the market? We will answer these and many other questions for you in our review in detail.

Suction test

The maximum suction power of the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI is 1500 Pa and it looks confusing compared to other products with high suction power with this price range. According to the manufacturer, increased suction power does not necessarily mean better cleaning performance, and can also mean an increased noise level. In our test, the Deebot T8 AIVI did a great job in suction.

Suction test on the hard floor

We tested the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI with different types of dirt (sand, cereal, and rice) on the hard floor. The test result looked very good. The specks of dirt were not a major challenge for the Ecovacs robot vacuum cleaner. Cereal can be found in the corners that the robotic vacuum cleaner could not reach due to its round shape. 

Suction test on the carpet 

Due to its heavyweight, the sand sinks quickly into the carpet and it is difficult for the robot vacuum cleaner to clear out. But the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI did an excellent job in our tests on the carpet.

The Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI is equipped with very reliable carpet detection technology. That means: as soon as a carpet is driven on, the robot increases suction power on carpets when vacuuming and avoid carpets when mopping. This little household helper is also suitable for living rooms with carpets.

Sand on a carpet is always a challenge for a vacuum cleaner but the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI achieved a good result in our test on the low pile and high pile carpets. But the vacuum robot always showed its class even with the other two types of dirt.

The suction result along the baseboards and in corners

The Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI initially moves along the walls of the room. The precise navigation technology enables the vacuum cleaner to drive close to the edges. In this way, the side brushes can reliably fish out the dirt and convey it towards the suction opening. 

Due to the round shape, the vacuum cleaner can not 100% get into every corner, purely physically so little dirt might stay in a very corner. Since the little helper vacuums your apartment much more often, significantly less dirt collects in the corners.

However, this is not a specific problem of the T8 AIVI. Without exception, all rounded vacuum robots are currently struggling with this challenge. D-shaped vacuum robots can score better when cleaning corners, but they usually have many other disadvantages. Since you now have an autonomously working vacuum robot, it will also clean your apartment significantly more often. Therefore, hardly any dirt will stay in the corners.

Our robot is also in use almost every day. We have to help out briefly in the corners with a hand-held vacuum cleaner no more than once a month. 

Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI in the mopping test

The Deebot T8 AIVI is a vacuum robot with a mopping function.

The big advantage of such a device is obvious: The Deebot T8 AIVI can vacuum and mop in one go.

But before you try out the mopping function, we have 3 tips for you:

• We always recommend using the washable mopping cloth. The quality and thus the cleaning result are significantly better compared to the disposable mopping cloths.
• We recommend always slightly moistening the cloth before cleaning. The fluffy mop absorbs the water very quickly. This ensures a better result when mopping from the beginning.
• Wash the recyclable mop regularly at 40 degrees in the washing machine.

The vacuum-mopping robot from Ecovacs offers you two different mopping options to choose from:

• OZMO Mopping System
• OZMO Pro Mopping System (sold separately): Improved mopping technology with a powerful oscillating scrubbing mop.

OZMO Mopping System

With the “normal mopping system”, a wet mop is pulled behind during the vacuuming. This type of mopping is now known by most robotic vacuum cleaners with a mopping function.

The mopping performance of the OZMO T8 AIVI is already quite good with the OZMO Mopping System. The mopping pad is very fluffy and thick. Due to the high build quality, the mop can soak up much more water. In this way, dust and light dirt can be picked up from the floor more effectively.

OZMO Pro Mopping System – Oscillating scrubbing mop

The “OZMO Pro” technology is a special water tank with an oscillation function. Electronic mop vibrates up to 480 times/minute to provide a deep clean and scrub away stubborn stains like dried liquids and pet prints. It is an add-on accessory and is sold separately.

How good is the OZMO Pro Mopping System performance?

In our experience, the OZMO T8 AIVI currently delivers the best mopping performance of a vacuum-mopping robot! The “scrubbing movement” of the mopping plate simulates mopping by hand.

As a result, a remarkable improvement in mopping performance can be seen.

Does this mean that there is no need to wet mop the floors by hand?

Unfortunately no. Even the OZMO Pro Mopping System does not yet replace real wet cleaning of the floors by hand. The weight of the small household helper is still far too low. There cannot be enough pressure on the mop to remove stubborn stains.

Thus, the OZMO Pro mopping performance can be classified as a significantly improved wet dusting. Light dirt is removed from your floor very reliably. We use the mopping function almost every day and don’t want to do without it anymore. After mopping, the apartment looks cleaner and fresher.

The Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI is particularly recommended for people with severe allergies due to its improved mopping performance. The mopping performance is very good for a vacuum-mopping robot. The quality of the cleaning can even keep up with pure mopping robots.

AIVI technology for Object Recognition

By far the most exciting innovation of the OZMO T8 is certainly the AIVI technology (“Artificial Intelligence and Visual Interpretation”).
The Smart AI Object Recognition technology depends on an HD camera on the front of the vacuum robot. With the help of this camera and the data-controlled artificial intelligence, obstacles can be recognized and avoided autonomously.

The detected obstacles are also shown on the map. After cleaning, you have the option of having the relevant areas vacuumed again separately at the push of a button.

The classification of the obstacles is currently somewhat imprecise. Most of the objects are marked as “shoes” on the map. But that will certainly change over time.

Our experiences with the AIVI technology of the Ozmo T8 AIVI

With the AIVI technology, the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI currently offers the most advanced obstacle detection function on the market with the Roborock S6 MaxV’s Reactive AI technology (Tell me more about Roborock S6 Reactive AI).

During our tests, we distributed various objects on the floor and saw how the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI performs when it comes to obstacle detection.

This is what our test result looks like:

• Mobile phone charging cable (rolled up): Detected
• Mobile phone charging cable (not rolled up): Detected
• Mobile phone charging cable (plugged into the socket): Detected
• Socks: Not recognized
• Pants: Detected
• Shoes: Detected
• Slippers: Detected
• Keychain: Detected
• Handbag: Detected
• Small toy: Not recognized 

Is it a good or a bad result? And why is the rate not higher?

This is simply because the individual objects are not yet known to the vacuum cleaner. There are countless different shapes, colors, and angles of each object. It takes some time for the smart household helper to collect enough data to safely classify the object as an obstacle.

The manufacturer assures that the database is permanently updated and expanded. That means the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI is constantly learning!

We can confirm this from our own experience. So our keychain was not recognized as an obstacle the first two times. On the third attempt, however, it finally worked! Good news for dog owners: dog poop is sure to be recognized as an obstacle!

All in all, it can be said that AIVI technology represents a big step on the way to fully automated cleaning. Not all obstacles are currently recognized, but the rate for “typical everyday objects” is around 75%. That is still 70% more than with vacuum robots without AI technology.

For whom is the AIVI technology suitable?

The AIVI technology is very suitable for larger households with children and pets. With a large household, you cannot avoid things lying around on the floor again and again. You can’t keep up with cleaning up. This is where the new technology can help.

You can safely have the vacuum cleaned even in a not perfectly tidy apartment without it immediately getting stuck on the objects lying around. The AIVI technology is intended as useful support. It does not mean that you should let the vacuum robot vacuum in a completely untidy and chaotic apartment.

The mobile app of the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI

The Ecovacs Home App is available for Android and IOS (Apple App Store) and offers numerous smart functions. The most exciting of these is the “Video Manager”.

Video Manager – OZMO T8 AIVI as a surveillance camera

This feature enables you to use the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI as a kind of security unit or surveillance camera for your home.
Vacuum robot as a surveillance camera? You are right to ask yourself how this should work? The built-in AIVI technology gives you access to the HD camera via the mobile phone app. You can even use the microphone function to communicate via the vacuum robot. It is still possible for the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI to automatically drive around your home and record control images.

Monitoring function

The “monitoring function” gives you completely new possibilities. Imagine the following scenario: You are out of the office. At the same time, you have the following options:
Not sure if you closed the door when you left the apartment? No problem. Open the app quickly, navigate the OZMO T8 to the front door and you are already certain.
We find the possibilities useful. There will certainly be enough people who will like this function in the security environment!

Conclusion on the mobile phone app:

The setup already worked wonderfully and it took us no more than 5 minutes. The Ecovacs app offers you a lot of important functions with simplicity and user-friendliness. It is compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant: Once it’s mapped, it’s easy to divide the room and then use Alexa to clean specific rooms.

AIVI technology and data privacy

The AIVI technology must permanently take pictures of your apartment and compare them with a database. Therefore it is understandable that some will have privacy concerns. Some security settings in the mobile phone app will help.
On the one hand, the “video manager” function is password protected. To get access to the camera via the mobile phone app, you have to assign a four-digit password and enter it every time you access it.

Furthermore, the AIVI function can be completely deactivated in the mobile phone app. If the camera option makes you nervous, it comes with a privacy screen to put over it. If you have major privacy concerns about AIVI technology, then the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI is probably not the right model for you. Because this new technology defines the T8 and also justifies the proud purchase price.  

More functions

In addition to the video manager, the Ecovacs Home app also has numerous smart functions that make cleaning the apartment easier.

We have summarized the most important functions for you below:

• Several maps can be saved (2 floors)
• You can divide or merge areas, label rooms, set cleaning sequence, choose different cleaning times, vacuum power, water flow level for different areas.
• 4 different suction levels can be set individually for each room (Standard, Max, Max+)
• Intergraded OZMO mopping system supports 4 levels of precise water control for your varying mopping need
• You can set no-go zones and no-mop zones so that certain areas will not be cleaned or mopped
• The automatic carpet detection can be switched on and off
• The AIVI technology can be switched on and off 
• You can freely define the order in which the rooms are cleaned
• You can customize specific suction power, water flow, and cleaning frequency, cleaning sequence for each room, totally clean by your wish.

Optional: Auto-empty station

Optionally, you can get an Auto-empty station for the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI. Next to the AIVI obstacle detection feature, this is certainly the second-best news! Auto-empty station empties your DEEBOT’s dustbin into a disposable bag for weeks of maintenance-free cleaning

The price of the automatic suction station is around $250. This can be conveniently purchased online from Amazon. 

What are the benefits of the Auto-empty station?

We are very much looking forward to the auto-empty station. In addition to the AIVI technology, this is another important step towards fully automated cleaning.

With a capacity of 420 ml, the mobile dust container (depending on how dirty your apartment is) has to be emptied by hand approx. 1 to 2 times a week. This task would be omitted completely. All you have to do is change the dustbin in the auto-empty station every few months. 

The Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI including the automatic suction station is very suitable for allergy sufferers as the hypo-allergenic bag locks particles for easy and dust-free disposal. Notification through the ECOVACS Home app and your DEEBOT’s voice alert lets you know when it’s time for a new bag.

Battery: Runtimes and charging time

The 5200 mAh battery ensures an operating time of approx. 3 hours straight. This makes the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI a real endurance runner and also super suitable for very large apartments.

The “Charge & Resume” function ensures that the robot automatically returns to the charging station and, after recharging the battery, continues the cleaning drive at the same point. It can take 6.5 hours to fully charge the battery capacity.

Ecovacs Deebot OZMO T8 AIVI: Design, dimensions & processing quality

Dimensions and build quality

The OZMO T8 AIVI has the following dimensions: 13.7 x 13.7 x 3.6 inches (9.36 x 35.3 x 35.3 cm). The weight of the is 7.58 pounds (3.44 kg). The T8 AIVI is also equipped with the typical laser navigation tower, with which the robot vacuum reaches a maximum height of 13.7 inches (9.36 cm).
To prevent nasty surprises, we advise you to measure carefully in the apartment whether the vacuum cleaner comes under all the desired pieces of furniture.

Quality product:

We were immediately impressed by the T8 AIVI at first sight. The manufacturer attaches great importance to high-quality build. As with the previous model, we have nothing to complain about in terms of quality. The robot feels very valuable. In other words: great quality product!

The OZMO T8 AIVI is only available in black. We find the black look very appealing. However, it would be desirable if there were another color to choose from (e.g. white). On the one hand, the black look does not fit into every apartment and smaller scratches and dirt are visible much faster.

The scope of delivery of the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI

The scope of delivery of the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI is very generous. The following accessories and spare parts are included:

• DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI Robot
• charging dock
• 2 x bonus replacement side brushes
• 1 x bonus replacement high-efficiency air filter
• 1 x washable mopping pad
• 5 x disposable mopping pads
• 1 x instruction manual

If a spare part should ever break, any accessories can be conveniently ordered online from Amazon.

Price-performance & conclusion

The conclusion to the OZMO T8 AIVI is simple: The vacuum-mopping robot is outstanding. The robotic vacuum cleaner performs excellently in every discipline in our tests. The suction power and the navigation of the robotic vacuum cleaner are great. Also, the OZMO T8 AIVI works very quietly. In particular, the greatly improved OZMO-Pro mopping technology ensures more cleanliness when mopping the floor.

The AIVI technology for obstacle detection is not yet 100% mature, but it already has a great advantage. You can also send the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI off for cleaning in a not perfectly tidy apartment. Thanks to the new technology, the vacuum cleaner can find its way around better. We also find the monitoring function very impressive. This additional feature offers you completely new areas of application for your robotic vacuum cleaner.

The auto-empty station, which can be purchased as an option, is another highlight. This means that the manufacturer is taking a big step towards fully automated cleaning.
This abundance of quality and features comes at a price. At around $750 (plus $300 for the optional auto-empty station), the Ecovacs vacuum cleaner is one of the high-priced models.
But if you have the necessary change, you will be more than happy with the Ecovacs Deebot T8 AIVI. You will be hard-pressed to find a better device on the market.