In recent years, the field of robotic vacuums has managed to prove that it’s far from stagnant. Every time I think we’ve seen it all – another sensor, another cleaning mode, another slimmer design – a new model appears, trying to raise the bar just a little higher. It’s not always a dramatic upgrade, but it feels like companies understand that this product has long since become a household standard, and therefore they must keep innovating to maintain its place in our homes.
Ecovacs is one of the companies leading this trend. If in the past it was content to polish what already worked, this time it’s choosing to go further with the Deebot X11 Omnicyclone. No more small cosmetic tweaks, but a real attempt to present something different – a device that tries to take away one of the most annoying chores of robotic vacuums and make the whole experience smoother and more natural. Of course, the big question is whether all of this really works outside of presentations and in everyday life. That’s exactly what we tried to check.
Design and capabilities
The design of the Deebot X11 Omnicyclone takes us back to the classics. While some companies in recent years have tried to play with rectangular or “hybrid” formats, here Ecovacs sticks to the familiar circular shape, probably for a good reason – it simply works. The upper surface comes in a brushed metallic finish that gives a more premium feel than the glossy white plastic we’ve often seen in other models. It’s not just an aesthetic matter; this design also hides small scratches or dust particles that settle after a few days.
Under the lid, the setup is fairly standard for a premium vacuum – a brush-and-silicone roller that prevents tangling, a medium-sized dustbin, and a side brush that doesn’t extend as far as in the X8 Pro Omni model, but does reach slightly further thanks to its new shape. It might sound minor, but in practice, I found that it does help reach certain corners of the house.
The real innovation lies in the mopping mechanism. Most robotic vacuums we know work with two rotating pads or a flat vibrating cloth. That’s fine for light daily dirt, but less effective with stubborn stains or built-up grime. Here, Ecovacs introduced an entirely different idea: A padded cleaning wheel, similar to what we know from manual wet vacuums. The meaning is that the robot doesn’t just “caress” the floor but actually scrubs it – resulting in a deeper clean. In practice, stains come off faster, and the overall feeling is of a truly clean floor, not just a wet one.
Looking at the bottom structure, it’s clear that Ecovacs put thought into it. Sensors are spread along the sides and front, and at the back, you’ll find the water connection and charging points. One improvement I found in practice is its ability to easily climb between room thresholds – up to four centimeters, according to the company. In my home, it passed smoothly from the carpet to the living room without getting stuck, something I’ve seen other models struggle with.
Docking station and maintenance
The part that can’t be ignored is the new docking station – the OmniCyclone. They call it a docking station, but in reality, it’s more like a small cabinet landing in your living room. Gray-metallic, visually striking – the kind you can’t hide under a table or push against a wall without feeling it dominates the room a bit. If until now we were used to relatively modest charging bases, here Ecovacs is telling us outright: “Get used to a large unit – because that’s how it’s going to be.”
The idea behind the station is clear: To make the vacuum almost fully “self-maintaining.” It vacuums the dust out of the robot into a multi-cyclone container – meaning no disposable bags. That sounds greener and also saves repeated bag purchases, but it’s not magic. The dust still accumulates in a large container inside the station, and it still needs to be emptied occasionally – just less often. In other words: It’s not the elimination of maintenance, just its postponement.
Where the station truly innovates is in handling the mopping system. Instead of settling for a quick rinse of pads or cloths, here there’s a real washing wheel, and the station cleans it with hot water under pressure – which removes much more dirt than I expected. Then it also dries it with hot air, which is a pretty good solution for the common problem of bad odors or the “eternally damp” feeling that comes from other stations.
And what about the water? Of course, like any vacuum-mop, there’s still some manual work. You have to fill clean water and empty the dirty water – and in daily use, I found myself doing this about once a week. Not the end of the world, but it’s definitely a reminder that the station doesn’t eliminate user involvement – it just redistributes it differently.
Performance and battery
As always, in the end, what really matters isn’t how many sensors they packed into the vacuum or how elegant the docking station looks, but how it actually performs. Because let’s be honest – if I still need to go over the floor with a squeegee afterward, all the showmanship doesn’t mean much.
Here I was pleasantly surprised. The cleaning performance of the X11 Omnicyclone is among the most thorough I’ve ever seen from a robotic vacuum. Much of that is thanks to the new cleaning wheel, which, unlike pads or cloths that do a shallower job, scrubs much more precisely and effectively. For the first time, it felt as if someone actually went over the floor with a manual device – only it wasn’t me holding it. In addition, carpet cleaning – and especially the fur from my two cats – was excellent.
Even corners and edges, the areas where most robots tend to miss, are handled well here. The mechanism that brings the wheel closer to walls significantly reduces those small uncovered spots that usually remain. It’s still not a substitute for meticulous manual cleaning, but by far – it’s the closest I’ve seen from a robot vacuum. It also climbs obstacles better, making transitions between rooms smoother.
And beyond floors, carpets weren’t neglected either. The X11 managed to vacuum thick carpets well and also handled what usually defeats other robots – fur. As the owner of two cats that shed everywhere, I was impressed that the vacuum simply swallowed fur without tangling. I didn’t encounter stuck brushes, fur-jammed wheels, or the need to take it apart every two days for cleaning.
Then comes the real brilliance – the battery. One of the X11’s most interesting tricks is its support for fast charging using GaN technology. It sounds like a technical detail, but in practice, it changes the entire experience. Every time it stops at the docking station – whether to empty dust or wash the wheel – it takes a short pit stop that adds another 7–10% battery. On paper, that sounds negligible; in reality, it almost completely eliminates the familiar drama of “returning to charge, we’ll be back in two hours.” Even during long cleanings of one to two hours, the robot finished its work continuously, as if it were no issue at all.
And when you do hear it working – it’s not that same piercing noise we’re used to. Ecovacs boasts a BLAST feature that promises high suction power with reduced noise, and indeed, it’s noticeable. You’ll still hear it, and you still won’t want to run it while watching a show, but in another room of the house, you can easily forget it’s even on.
Bottom line
The Deebot X11 Omnicyclone is one of the most impressive robotic vacuums I’ve encountered – and at the same time, one that clearly places itself in the premium category. With a price tag of NIS 5,790, it’s certainly not cheap, but it’s also not the most expensive vacuum you’ll find on the shelf. It’s a range similar to leading models from Dreame or Roborock – in other words, a market aimed at those willing to pay more to get the very best available right now.
In that sense, the X11 doesn’t try to be “just another robotic vacuum,” but one that provides a complete experience: Thorough cleaning thanks to the scrubbing wheel, a docking station that reduces most of the maintenance, and smart charging that allows it to finish even long tasks without stopping midway. It’s not without flaws – the station is large, the drying noise is noticeable, and you still have to fill and empty water – but the result is a device that genuinely lightens the cleaning routine more than most competitors.
So, is it worth the price? If you’re looking for a basic, inexpensive solution, there are plenty of alternatives. But if you want a vacuum that brings a higher level of autonomy and cleanliness without compromising on power or functionality, the X11 Omnicyclone definitely earns its place in the premium range.