The Shark i Robot Vacuum
The shark I robot vacuum is one of the best mid-range robot vacuums. It's a fantastic vacuum cleaner with some cool features.
It is able to clean floors in a thorough way and utilizes a row-by -row pattern. It also works well on rugs and be able to maneuver over tassels of rugs.
Features
The Shark i has a number of outstanding features, such as its intelligent navigation technology and self-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation system uses a matrix grid for cleaning room-by-room. This ensures that no part of your house is missed. It also empties its dustbin into the bagless base after each cleaning, which makes it completely hands-free.
The i is controlled via both the SharkClean app and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it with your voice, without the need for an additional remote. The vacuum also has a button on the top to manually control the vacuum.
The app lets you create the profile of your vacuum to name it, schedule cleans and look at the history of your cleaning. You can create virtual boundaries to stop the vacuum from getting into areas where it might get stuck or knock over something fragile. You can also choose different power modes to help you reduce energy consumption on tasks that are difficult.
It also has a pair grippy wheels to help it over obstacles such as stairs or floor transitions. It can detect and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords. This is useful for pet owners with small shed cats or dogs.
The i has three power settings that include an energy-saving Eco mode, a default Normal mode, and a high-power max mode. You can also create custom cleaning schedules to individual floors or rooms, which is great for those with an extensive home that requires frequent cleanings.
It is possible to program it to return to its dock automatically and empty its dustbin. However, you must be vigilant about its battery life because it can overestimate the amount of time left. cheap robot vacuum cleaner robotvacuummops can also be confused and restart when you tell it to 'Clean the Home' which is why you need to be careful when you start or end it.
Design
The Shark i robot has a elegant design and a classy look. The main wheels are covered with rubber treads that give it an excellent ability to move. Its footprint is tiny and can be tucked away under the majority of furniture. It is able to climb up carpets with high piles and get under couches despite its size.
The robot is equipped with multiple sensors that help it to map your home, including cliff and boundary sensors. It also has a vision module that can detect and avoid obstacles. The app allows you to control the robot's settings and schedule cleaning sessions and view its history of cleaning. The app is easy to use, but it lacks the ability to create virtual no-go zones.
The Shark i robot can be a good choice for bare floors. However, it is not able to take in large debris such as hair of pets. It also gets stuck on cluttered surfaces. The dirt compartment may be overflowing which makes it difficult for you to empty after cleaning. The vacuum doesn't come with a self emptying dock. You'll need empty the dust bin manually when it becomes full.
The battery of the vacuum is small and it will run out frequently before it is able to return to the base. It's also loud, and the app doesn't permit users to set particular areas to be cleaned or skip. It's best to use it together with a robot vacuum rather than as an individual machine. The value of delegating your vacuuming duties to robots is evident. The iRobot Roomba, on the other hand, is a superior mapping and navigation capabilities, as well as a self-emptying dock. It's also a little cheaper than the Shark i robot.
Cleaning Performance
Although it can be difficult to get used to the rumbling noise that comes with every robot vacuum however, the Shark IQ appears to perform quite well in the vacuuming department. It doesn't get confused and retrace steps like older Shark robots, like the ION85 or the RV871. The iQ also does a great job at mapping your home with an app-generated map which allows you to label rooms so that it can determine where to go, thereby making it more efficient than the ION 85 in terms of not wasting time navigating the same areas repeatedly.
It has a hard time with floors that are bare or rug. It can pick up tiny particles however pet hair and bulkier objects like rice and cereal can overwhelm it. Additionally, its dirt compartment gets filled quickly and may begin to lose suction power as it fills up, making this robot less than ideal for bare flooring or carpets with high pile. It can also clog up when it comes in contact with furniture that is tangled, or furniture that is tipped.
It's easy to clear these problems by emptying the bin from its base. It also automatically emptys its contents into the bin when it's full, which saves you the hassle of emptying the bin after every run. The extra-large bin requires to be cleaned every 30 days, which reduces the cost of ownership in the long term.
You can also make use of the SharkClean app to set different cleaning modes, view its battery life, create a schedule, see your cleaning history, and even create virtual boundaries that prevent it from entering rooms where it may be stuck or hit fragile objects. The iQ can be controlled by hand using its remote, which has direction arrows to guide it around your home.
Battery Life
Even in its high-suction "Max" mode, this robot vacuum still has a great battery life. It can run for up to an hour on that setting, which is more than enough for most cleaning tasks in all rooms. It also has a more efficient 'Eco' mode, which increases its maximum runtime to over 160 minutes. This is a good feature to have if your routine is to switch between multiple rooms or are worried about running out of battery power while using the robot.
This robot vacuum also has an array of amazing automation features. The companion app lets you view the remaining battery life, send the vacuum to a particular area, pause or resume cleaning, and switch between power modes. It also works with voice commands if you have an appropriate Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device, and has physical boundary marking strips to ensure it stays out of certain areas.
This Shark model is great in maneuvering, but it struggles to remove large debris, especially if its dirt compartment fills up. It's also susceptible to getting stuck on rug tassels and electrical cords. It could get stuck between the legs of chairs.
Overall overall, the Shark IQ robot vacuum is an excellent choice for those seeking a basic robot that is simple to use and is capable of mapping. However it's not a superior alternative to the Roborock S7 for most purposes. The Roborock S7 is more durable and has fewer maintenance requirements. It also has lower costs. It recharges faster and has a longer battery life and is more efficient when used on floors with carpets and unfinished.