The Shark i Robot Vacuum
The Shark I robot vacuum is a great mid-range robot. It does an excellent job of cleaning and has interesting features.
It is able to clean floors thoroughly and uses a row-by-row pattern. It also does well with rugs and move over rug tassels.
Features
Shark i is a robot vacuum cleaner with a number notable features. Its smart navigation system and self-empty dock. Its IQ navigation system uses the grid system to clean room-by-room. This makes sure that no area of your home is left unclean. It also emptys the dustbin into the baseless bagless after every cleaning.
The i can be controlled via both the SharkClean app and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it with your voice, without the need for an additional remote. It also has an option on the top of the vacuum that allows you to operate it manually. it.
You can use the app to create a profile for your vacuum, name it, schedule cleanings and check your cleaning history. You can also set virtual boundaries to prevent the i from getting into areas where it might get stuck or knock over things that are fragile. You can also choose different power modes to conserve energy when you are working in a tough environment.
Other noteworthy features include its NeverStuck technology and a pair of grippy wheels that allow it to overcome obstacles such as stairs or floor transitions. It is able to detect and maneuver around obstacles like electrical cords. This is beneficial for pet owners with small shedding cats or dogs.
The i has three power settings including an energy-saving Eco Mode and a default Normal mode, and a high-power maximum mode. You can also create custom cleaning schedules to individual rooms or floors, which is great if you have an extensive home 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 since it tends to overestimate how much time is left. It could also get confused and restart if you tell the i to clean the entire home which is why you need to be aware when you start or stop it.
Design
The Shark i robot has a elegant design and a stylish appearance. Its main wheels are covered with rubber treads which give it great maneuverability. It has a small footprint and is able to fit under most furniture. It is able to climb up high-pile carpets and fit under couches despite its size.
The robot is equipped with a variety of sensors that include the boundary and cliff sensors which allow it to map out your home. It also comes with a vision module which can detect and avoid obstacles. The app lets you alter the settings of the robot, schedule cleaning sessions, and view its history of cleaning. The app is simple to use, but it isn't able 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 cluttered surfaces. The dirt compartment may become full which makes it difficult for you to empty it after cleaning. The vacuum doesn't have a self-emptying dock. You'll have empty the dust bin manually when it becomes full.
The vacuum's battery life is limited, and it often will run out before it is able to return to its original location. It's also loud and the app does not allow you to select certain areas to clean. It's therefore best robot vacuum plus mop used in conjunction with another robot vacuum, rather than as a stand-alone machine. The value of delegating your vacuuming to robots is unquestionable. The iRobot Roomba has superior mapping and navigation capabilities as well as an automatic dock that empty itself. It's also a bit cheaper than the Shark i robot.
Cleaning Performance
Although it can be difficult to get used to the robotic noise that comes with every robot vacuum The Shark IQ seems to perform pretty well in the vacuuming department. It isn't confused and doesn't retrace steps like older Shark robots, such as the ION85 or the RV871. The iQ does an excellent job of mapping your home. It creates maps within the app which lets you identify the rooms so it can determine where it is going.
It is a struggle with floors or rugs. While it can pick up small pieces of debris, it could be overwhelmed by pet hair and larger items like cereal and rice. Additionally, its dirt compartment fills up quickly and may begin to lose suction power as it gets full, making this robot not ideal for use on bare floors or high-pile carpets. It could also get blocked when it comes into contact with furniture that is tangled, or furniture with a tipped edge.
It's a breeze to eliminate these issues by emptying the bin in its base. The dust bin automatically empties into the bin after it's filled. This means you don't have to worry about having to manually empty the bin at the end of each run. The large dust bin only requires emptying it every 30 days. This can lower costs for ownership in the long term.
The SharkClean App allows you to create different cleaning modes as well as check the battery's life, make schedules, view your cleaning history, and even create virtual boundaries to keep it out of areas where it may get stuck or knock fragile objects over. The iQ can also be controlled manually using its remote, which has directions arrows that guide it around your home.
Battery Life
This robot vacuum has excellent battery life even in its high-suction 'Max' mode. It can last for an hour in this mode and that's more than enough time for most cleaning sessions. It also comes with an efficient energy-efficient Eco mode that extends its maximum runtime to more than 160 minutes. This feature is helpful when you often switch between rooms or are worried about running out of batteries when using the robot.
This robot vacuum also has a number of impressive automation features. The companion app lets you see the remaining battery life, to send the vacuum to a particular area, pause or restart cleaning, and choose different power modes. It can also be controlled with voice commands if you have an Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device that works with it. It comes with physical boundary markers to ensure that the robot is kept away from certain areas.
This Shark model is good in maneuvering, but it isn't able to handle massive debris, especially when its dirt compartment gets stuffed. It is also susceptible to getting stuck on rug tassels and electrical cords. It can become stuck between the legs of chairs.
Overall all, the Shark IQ robotic vacuum is a good option for those looking for an affordable robot that has good mapping capabilities and user-friendly features. It's not superior to the Roborock S7 in most cases. The Roborock S7 is more durable and has fewer maintenance requirements. It also has lower costs. It recharges faster, has a longer battery life, and is more efficient when used on floors that are carpeted or bare.