Of all the devices I've reviewed over the years, apart from the actual EVs, robot vacuums are probably the most complicated.

In fact, maybe they're even more complicated than cars; after all, cars just have to have wheels that go around. Robot vacuums do that - and clean at the same time.

So it's no wonder I've yet to meet the perfect robot vacuum; there's just so much to it. Although the latest effort from ECOVACS gets a lot closer.

The first thing working in the DEEBOT X8's favour is its appearance - it got the thumbs-up from the Domestic Manager. Well, to be specific, she said no robot vacuum looks good stationed in the middle of the living room but if we absolutely had to have one, she supposed black was better than white or silver.

The OMNI auto-cleaning station is more compact than other OMNI stations I've used in the past. This is also a pleasing consideration for all Domestic Managers out there. The opaque clean and dirty water tanks are just see-through enough to be able to tell when they need filling or emptying - a very fuss-free process ECOVACS got right with its earlier OMNI models.

Despite touting the ZeroTangle 2.0 main brush, complete with "3V Anti-Tangle Technology," its V-shaped spiral brush and comb system is still unable to battle the dog and several long-haired humans in my house. Sadly, every few vacuums I have to "de-tangle" the ZeroTangle with a pocket knife.

Unfortunately, it also seems there's still some debate on the best way to empty a DEEBOT's dust container. Some models have had a single exhaust outlet while others have had a dual version, which I definitely found more effective. For some reason, on the X8 PRO they've gone back to single exhaust vent and in my testing, this just doesn't do the business. Thanks to the aforementioned dog and hairy humans, the dust container seems to clog up before the vacuum can return to empty itself. So in effect, the X8 PRO is a victim of its own success; it's phenomenal 18000Pa suction power is so good, it fills itself too full, too fast. Luckily, there's a solution.

The ECOVACS app gives you the option to change many settings - both on the robot and the cleaning station. Hidden amongst the station's advanced settings is one labelled, "Dust Collection Power." There are two options - Standard or Quiet Mode and it seems Quiet Mode is selected by default. Now I've figured this out my auto-emptying might be noisier but at least it'll be emptier.

The ECOVACS app was already comprehensive but with this device, things have moved up several notches, especially when it comes to mapping your home. In the past, I've complained how fiddly it is to customise the map once the robot makes its initial, automated pass through all your rooms. I have quite a few floor-level windows, glass sliders and french doors - all of which robot vacuums tend to see through and assume whatever's on the other side is another room waiting to be vacuumed. Not very helpful if it's a deck or a balcony.

Now the combination of the latest app and the X8 PRO's AI abilities makes all this stuff a doddle to sort out. Rooms that aren't actual rooms can be sliced off and deleted in seconds while the app itself suggests no-go areas (like stairs) for a more efficient clean. Carpets and mats of all kinds are also auto-detected and if you prefer, you can tell the robot to clean those first before it starts mopping.

Oh... I may have buried the lead here somewhat; This is the first DEEBOT I've used that can vacuum and mop hard floors, then move onto carpet without having to manually swap out a dedicated mopping attachment.

It's all due to the new OZMO ROLLER, a self-cleaning mopping system that might just be the most ingenious piece of tech I've ever come across. Previous DEEBOTs have used either vibrating mopping pads or spinning, circular ones but now the OZMO ROLLER is soaked with an array of 16 water nozzles for mopping, then any wastewater is scraped off to be expelled into the dirty water tank back at the OMNI station.

Although it looks a bit like a paint roller, it spins at 200RPM, applying its high-pressure, always-clean surface to all hard floors - detecting any major or more stubborn spills and going back for an extra pass when required.

What's even more clever is the X8 PRO knows when its cleaning up against a wall and actually extends the roller out to mop as close to the edge as possible. ECOVACS calls this technology TruEdge 2.0. I knew it did this but when I actually saw it in action, I was spellbound.

By the same token, the TruEdge 3D Sensor also controls the side brush, which is now on an extendable arm. The result? No dust or debris left behind, even in the tightest corners.

The ECOVACS tech boffins obviously love to give every part of the DEEBOT cleaning process a nifty name and the obstacle detection is no exception - or rather, AIVI 3D Omni-Approach. All I know is this is the best incarnation yet. The robot avoids people and pets as they go about their business and as you'll see in the video below, the X8 PRO also knows to avoid any pesky power cables.

It's still not perfect; I have had to rescue the odd fluffy dog toy and a throw rug with tasseled edges but this is easily the smartest robot vacuum I've used to date - it rarely gets trapped or snagged and more often than not I come home to find it back in its station after another gleaming, scheduled clean.

The OMNI station is also where the roller mop is cleaned and dried of course - which happens between 40-75° depending on the room type and how dirty it's got. The roller is then rotated under hot air and is completely dry and odour-free after just two hours.

Although the mopping results are excellent (especially on bathroom tiles) I did notice some streaks on the floor here and there where the robot had to manoeuvre in tight spaces. However, I then splashed out (excuse the pun) on a bottle of ECOVACS cleaning solution. This is poured into its own tank in the OMNI station, next to the dust bag compartment. It's then added to the clean water at a 200:1 ratio to improve the cleaning result and reduce streaking. I was instantly impressed with the results and at that ratio, I reckon it'll be fair while before I need another bottle.

Speaking of maintenance, there is now a removable mop washing tray in the bottom of the OMNI station which makes the six-monthly cleaning process a lot easier - you just pull it out, rinse it off and shove it back in. No more poking around with damp cloths and little brushes.

The ECOVACS app is more advanced than before and even YIKO, the ECOVACS voice-assistant, has evolved into YIKO-GPT, now capable of responding to more natural commands - either spoken or typed.

It's this kind of hands-off, user-friendly design that makes the DEEBOT X8 PRO OMNI the best robot vacuum I've used yet. It finally delivers on the promise of what a device like this should be; a home appliance that does its job automatically, with as little input from you as possible. By mopping the hard floors in the same session as vacuuming the carpet, everything is more efficient and the extendable roller and side brush mean you no longer have to go around cleaning up after your cleaner.