The Shark i Robot Vacuum
The Shark i robot vacuum is a excellent mid-range robot. It does an excellent job of cleaning and has interesting features.
It is capable of cleaning and utilizes row-by-row patterns to clean floors. It also does well on rugs and can be able to maneuver over tassels of rugs.
Features
The Shark i has a number of standout features, including its smart navigation technology, as well as a self-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation uses a matrix grid to clean room-by-room, meaning that no area of your home is overlooked. It also emptys its dustbin into the bagless base after each cleaning, making it completely hands-free.
The i is controlled by both the SharkClean app and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it using your voice without the need for an additional remote. The vacuum also has a button at the top that allows you to control the vacuum.
You can use the app to create a profile for your vacuum and name it, then schedule cleanings and see the history of your cleaning. You can define virtual boundaries to keep the i from entering areas where it might get stuck or fall over things that are fragile. You can also choose different power modes to help save energy when doing tough jobs.
Other notable features include its NeverStuck technology as well as a pair of grippy wheels that allow it to climb over obstacles like stairs or floor transitions. It is able to recognize and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords. This is useful for pet owners with small shed cats or dogs.
The i comes with three power settings. There is an Eco Mode that is energy-efficient, a Normal Mode by default, and a Max Power mode. You can create customized cleaning schedules, which are perfect if you reside in a house that requires frequent cleaning.
It can be programmed to return to its dock on a regular basis and empty its trash bin. However, it is important to keep an eye on its battery life because it tends to overestimate how much time is left. It is also possible to confuse and restart when you tell it to 'Clean the Home' which is why you need to be aware when you start or stop it.
Design
The Shark i robot is sleekly designed and has a premium appearance. Its main wheels are covered in rubber treads which give it great maneuverability. It has a small footprint and can be tucked away under the majority of furniture. Despite its size, it can still climb up high-pile rugs and get under couches.
The robot has numerous sensors that help to map your home, including cliff and boundary sensors. It also has a module to detect and eliminates obstacles. The app lets you alter the settings of the robot, schedule cleaning sessions, and see its cleaning history. The app is simple to use, however it doesn't allow you to create virtual no go zones.
While the Shark i robot is a good option for bare floors but it has a difficult time picking up large amounts of hair from pets and gets stuck on surfaces that are cluttered. The dirt bin can get full which makes it difficult to empty after cleaning. It also doesn't have an auto-emptying dock, which means you'll have to manually empty its trash bin when it is full.
The battery of the vacuum is short and it runs out frequently before it is able to return to the base. It's also quite loud and the app doesn't allow you to choose certain areas to be cleaned or skip. It's best used in conjunction with a different robot vacuum, rather than as an independent machine. The value of delegating your vacuuming tasks to robots is undeniable. The iRobot Roomba has superior mapping and navigation capabilities and an automatic dock that empty itself. It's also a bit cheaper than the Shark i robotic vacuum.
Cleaning Performance
The Shark IQ vacuums well, even though it's difficult to get used to the robotic sound. It isn't confused and doesn't reverse steps like other Shark robots, such as the ION85 or the RV871. The iQ does a fantastic job of mapping your home. It creates maps within the app which lets you identify the rooms so it knows where it is going.
It is a struggle with floors or rug. While it can pick up small pieces of debris, it could be overwhelmed by pet hair and bulkier items such as rice and cereal. In addition the dirt compartment gets filled quickly and it can begin to lose suction power as it gets full which makes it not the best choice for flat flooring or carpets with high pile. It also gets blocked when it comes into contact with furniture that is tangled or tipped furniture.
It's easy to clear these problems by emptying the bin at its base. The bin automatically empty into the bin when it's full. This means you don't have to worry about having to manually empty the bin at the end of each run. The extra-large bin requires to be cleaned every 30 days, lowering ownership costs over the long term.
You can also make use of the SharkClean app to set different cleaning options, view its battery life, make a schedule, see your cleaning history and create virtual boundaries to prevent it from entering rooms where it might be entangled or knock over fragile items. The iQ can also be controlled manually using its remote, which comes with direction arrows to guide it around your home.
Battery Life
This vacuum has great battery life, even when it's on its high-suction click the next document mode, 'Max. It can last for an hour in this mode, which is more than enough for the majority of cleaning sessions. It also comes with an energy-efficient 'Eco' mode that increases its maximum runtime to more than 160 minutes. This feature is beneficial if you frequently switch between rooms or worry about running out of batteries when using the robot.
This vacuum cleaner also has an array of amazing automation features. The companion app lets you see the remaining battery life, send the vacuum to a particular area, pause or resume cleaning, and select different power modes. It can also be controlled via voice commands, if have a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device that is compatible with it. It comes with physical boundary markers to ensure that the robot is kept away from certain areas.
This Shark model is good at maneuvering, but isn't able to handle large amounts of debris, particularly if the dirt compartment is stuffed. It can also get stuck on electrical cords and rug tassels. It also gets stuck between the legs and legs of chairs.
Overall all, the Shark IQ robot vacuum is an excellent choice for those who are seeking a basic robot that's easy to use and offers decent mapping capabilities. However it's not an ideal option than the Roborock S7 for most purposes. The Roborock S7 is more durable and comes with less maintenance requirements. It also incurs lower costs. It recharges faster, has a longer battery life, and is more efficient when used on carpets and bare floors.