The Shark i Robot Vacuum
The shark i robot vacuum is one of the top mid-range robot vacuums . It does an excellent job of cleaning and has some cool features.
It does a thorough job of cleaning and employs row-by-row patterns to clean floors. It also performs well with rugs and be able to maneuver over tassels of rugs.
Features
Shark i is a robot vacuum cleaner with a number standout features. These include its smart navigation system, as well as its self-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation uses an array of grids to clean each room, which means no part of your home is left unnoticed. It also emptys the dustbin into the baseless bagless after each cleaning.
The I can also be controlled by Amazon Alexa and the SharkClean App, so there's no need for an additional remote. The vacuum also has a button at the top of the unit to control the vacuum.
The app allows you to create a profile on your vacuum, name it, schedule cleanings and see the history of cleaning. You can set virtual boundaries to prevent the i from entering areas where it could become stuck or hit something fragile. You can also select different power modes to help save energy when you are working in a tough environment.
Other notable features include its NeverStuck technology as well as a pair of grippy wheels that allow it to get over obstacles such as stairs or floor transitions. It is able to recognize and avoid obstacles such as electrical cords. This is beneficial for pet owners with small shedding 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 also create custom cleaning schedules to individual floors or rooms, which is ideal if you live in a large house that requires frequent cleaning.
It is possible to program it to return to its dock automatically and empty its dustbin. However, you should be aware of its battery life because it tends to overestimate the amount of time left. It can also be confused and restart if you tell the i to clean the entire home and you must be careful when you start or end it.
Design
The Shark i robot is sleekly designed and has a high-end appearance. Its main wheels are covered with rubber treads that give it great maneuverability. It is small in size and is able to fit under most furniture. Despite its size, it is able to climb up high-pile rugs and even reach under couches.
The robot is fitted with a variety of sensors, including boundary and cliff sensors, that allow it to map your house. It also includes a module that can detect and eliminates obstacles. The app lets you alter the settings of the robot and schedule cleaning times, and see its cleaning history. The app is easy to use, however it does not allow you to create virtual no-go zones.
The Shark i robot can be an excellent choice for those with no floors. However, it is not able to take in large amounts of debris, like pet hair. It also gets stuck on surfaces that are cluttered. The dirt compartment may become full and make it difficult for you to empty after cleaning. The vacuum doesn't also have a self-emptying dock, so you'll have to manually empty the dust bin once it is full.
The vacuum's battery is very small and it will run out frequently before it is able to return to the base. It's also quite noisy and the app doesn't allow you to set particular areas to clean or skip. It's best used in conjunction with another robot vacuum, rather than as an individual machine. However, the benefit of being able to delegate your vacuuming tasks to an automated machine is evident. The iRobot Roomba, on the other hand, has superior navigation and mapping capabilities as well as self-emptying docks. It's also a bit cheaper than the Shark i robotic vacuum.
Cleaning Performance
The Shark IQ vacuums efficiently, even though it's difficult to master to the robotic sound. It doesn't lose its way and then retrace its steps, like older Shark robots (like the ION 85 or the RV871). The iQ does a great job of mapping your home. It makes an app-generated map which lets you identify the rooms so it knows where it is going.
It struggles with bare floors or carpets. It can pick up tiny particles, but pet hair and heavier objects such as rice and cereal can engulf it. Additionally, its dirt compartment fills up quickly and it can 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 tangled furniture or furniture with a tipped edge.
It is easy to solve these issues by emptying its bin at the base. It also automatically empties its contents into the bin when it's full, which will save you the hassle of emptying the dust bin after every run. The extra-large bin requires emptying every 30 days. This will lower the cost of ownership in the long run.
You can also use the SharkClean app to set different cleaning settings, view its battery life, make an agenda, view your history of cleaning and set virtual boundaries to prevent it from entering rooms where it could be stuck or hit fragile items. The iQ can also be controlled by remote control, which features directional arrows for guiding it around your home.
Battery Life
This vacuum has great battery life, even when it's on its high-suction "Max" mode. It can run up to an hour in this mode, which is plenty of time for most cleaning sessions. It also has a more efficient energy-efficient Eco mode that increases its maximum runtime to more than 160 minutes. This feature is beneficial when you often switch between rooms or worry about running out of batteries while using the robot.
This vacuum cleaner also has an array of amazing automation features. Its companion app lets you check its remaining battery life and move it to a certain room, pause or resume cleaning, and choose different power modes. It also works with voice commands if you've got an compatible Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device and is equipped with physical boundary strips to keep it out of certain areas.
While it has good maneuverability however, it isn't the most maneuverable model. Shark model has trouble sucking away bulky debris, especially when its dirt compartment is stuffed. It can also get stuck on electrical cords and rug tassels. It also gets stuck between the legs and the legs of chairs.
Overall, the Shark IQ robot vacuum is a solid option for those who are seeking a basic robot that is easy to use and has decent mapping capabilities. However it's not an ideal option than the Roborock S7 for most purposes. The latter feels sturdier and more robust, and has lower maintenance requirements, incurs lower recurring costs, recharges faster, offers a longer maximum battery life, and performs better on floors that are not bare and carpets, and moves through obstacles with ease.