ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S Combo Robot Vacuum

Design and Build Quality

The DEEBOT T30S Combo feels reassuringly solid, though it won't win any beauty contests. The matte black finish attracts dust (ironic for a vacuum), and the overall aesthetic is functional rather than premium. That said, build quality is genuinely impressive for the price point. The robot itself measures a standard 35cm diameter, so it'll squeeze under most furniture without drama.

The real star here is the OMNI station, which packs auto-emptying, mop washing, drying, and water refilling into one chunky base unit. Yes, it's large – you'll need about 50cm of wall space – but the convenience factor is enormous. The 70°C hot water mop washing is a particularly nice touch that many rivals charge hundreds more for.

Performance

That 11,000Pa suction figure isn't just marketing fluff. The T30S genuinely hoovers up everything from fine dust to cereal with authority, and the ZeroTangle brush lives up to its name remarkably well. After three weeks of testing with two long-haired humans and a golden retriever, I've yet to fish a single hair tangle from the brush – something that would have required weekly maintenance on my previous Roomba.

Navigation via TrueMapping 2.0 LiDAR is spot-on. The robot maps efficiently, creates sensible cleaning routes, and rarely gets confused. The TrueDetect 3D obstacle avoidance works well with larger objects, though it occasionally nudges chair legs and struggles with very dark surfaces.

Mopping performance impresses too. The OZMO Turbo 2.0 system applies consistent pressure and the rotating pads tackle dried-on spills effectively. The 180ml water tank provides enough juice for about 80 square metres of mopping, which covers most flats and many houses in one go.

Key Features Deep-Dive

The OMNI station transforms the ownership experience. After each clean, the robot returns to empty its 350ml dustbin into the station's 2.5L bag, wash its mops with hot water, and refill its tank. The mop drying function prevents that musty smell that plagues cheaper alternatives. You'll realistically go 2-3 months between emptying the base station and replacing water.

YIKO voice control works surprisingly well once you get used to the slightly stilted commands. "OK YIKO, start cleaning the kitchen" reliably triggers a targeted clean, though natural language processing isn't quite Alexa-level.

The ECOVACS Home app deserves praise. Room-specific cleaning, no-go zones, and scheduling all work intuitively. The 3D mapping visualisation is genuinely helpful for setting virtual barriers, and the cleaning reports provide useful detail about coverage and obstacles encountered.

Battery life of 200 minutes easily handles most homes in one session, and the 67dB noise level means you can run it during phone calls without shouting.

Value vs Competitors

Here's where the T30S Combo shines brightest. At £650, it delivers 90% of what the £1,100 Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra offers, but for 60% of the price. Yes, the Roborock has superior app integration and slightly better obstacle avoidance, but those improvements don't justify the £450 premium for most users.

Compared to the £800 iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, the ECOVACS matches suction power and beats it on mopping capabilities. The Roomba's superior pet waste avoidance and brand reputation are its main advantages, but again, the £150 saving makes the DEEBOT compelling.

The Dreame L40 Ultra at £900 offers similar features but costs £250 more, whilst the cheaper Eufy X10 Pro Omni at £550 lacks the hot water mop washing and delivers noticeably weaker suction at 8,000Pa.

Minor Gripes

The T30S isn't perfect. The dustbin, whilst auto-emptying, is relatively small at 350ml, meaning heavy-shedding households might trigger multiple emptying cycles per clean. The mop pads occasionally leave faint streaks on darker floors, though this improves with the hot water washing.

ECOVACS' customer service reputation lags behind iRobot's, and long-term reliability remains a question mark given the brand's shorter UK presence. The robot also struggles more than premium rivals with pet waste detection – something to consider if you have accident-prone pets.

Verdict

The DEEBOT T30S Combo delivers flagship-level features at a distinctly mid-range price. The combination of powerful suction, effective mopping, and that brilliant OMNI station makes it exceptional value. Yes, you sacrifice some polish and premium touches, but the core cleaning performance rivals robots costing hundreds more.

For most UK households, this hits the sweet spot between capability and cost. Unless you specifically need the absolute best obstacle avoidance or have strong brand preferences, the T30S Combo deserves serious consideration. ECOVACS has created a genuinely competitive alternative to the established players, and your wallet will thank you for it.