The Shark i Robot Vacuum
The Shark I robot vacuum is excellent mid-range robot. It does a great job of cleaning and comes with neat features.
It cleans floors in a thorough way and uses a row-by-row pattern. It also works well for rugs and will be used to move over rug tassels.
Features
Shark i is a robot vacuum cleaner with several standout features. This includes its smart navigation system, as well as its self-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation system uses the grid system to clean room-by-room, meaning every area of your home gets overlooked. It also emptys its dustbin into the bagless base after every cleaning, which makes it completely hands-free.
The I can also be controlled by Amazon Alexa and the SharkClean App, which means there's no need for a separate remote. The vacuum also has a button on the top that allows you to control the vacuum.
The app lets you create the profile of your vacuum and name it, schedule cleans and check the history of cleaning. You can create virtual boundaries to stop the i from entering areas where it might get stuck or knock over something fragile. You can also choose different power modes so you can save energy on tough jobs.
It also has a pair wheels that are grippy to help it over obstacles such as the stairs or floor transitions. It is also able to detect and maneuver around obstacles like electrical cords, which are useful for pet owners with small sheds of cats or dogs.
The i has three power settings: an energy-saving Eco mode, a default Normal mode, and a high-power maximum mode. You can design custom cleaning schedules that are ideal when you live in a large house that requires frequent cleaning.
The i is able to be programmed to return to its dock and empty its trash bin however, you must keep an eye on the battery's life as it often overestimates how long it has left. It could also get confused and restart when you tell it to clean the entire home which is why you need to be careful when you start or end it.
Design
The Shark i robot is sleekly designed and has a premium appearance. The main drive wheels are covered with rubber treads, allowing it excellent maneuverability. It has a small footprint and is able to fit under most furniture. Despite its size, it's able to climb up high-pile rugs and even reach under couches.
The robot has numerous sensors that help identify your home, including cliff and boundary sensors. It also has a module to detect and eliminates obstacles. The app allows you to manage the robot's settings and schedule cleaning times, and view its history of cleaning. The app is easy to use, though it's not able to create virtual no-go zones.
The Shark i robot can be an excellent choice for those with no floors. However, it's not able to pick up large debris such as pet hair. It also gets stuck on cluttered surfaces. The dirt compartment can also become full and make it difficult for you to empty it after cleaning. The vacuum doesn't come with an automatic emptying dock. You'll need to empty the dust bin manually when it gets full.
The vacuum's battery life is short and often runs out before it can return to its home base. It's also noisy and the app does not allow you to choose particular areas to clean. It's best to use it in conjunction with a different robot vacuum, rather than as a stand-alone machine. However, the benefit of being able to delegate your vacuuming to the robot is unquestionable. The iRobot Roomba, on the other hand, is a superior mapping and navigation capabilities as well as self-emptying docks. It's also less expensive than the Shark i robotic vacuum.
Cleaning Performance
The Shark IQ vacuums well even though it's hard to get used the robotic sound. It doesn't get lost and 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 maps within the app that lets you identify the rooms so it knows where it is moving.
It struggles with bare floors or rugs. While it is able to pick up small debris, it can be overwhelmed by pet hair and bulkier items such as rice and cereal. The dirt compartment may get full quickly, and its suction power will start to diminish as it fills. This robot is not suitable for floors with no carpet or carpets with piles that are high. It is also prone to clog easily when it comes into contact with furniture that is tangled or tipping, as well as lingering items like rug tassels, electrical cords, and rug tassels.
It is easy to solve these problems by emptying the bin at the base. The dust bin automatically empty into the bin once it is full. This eliminates the need for having to empty the bin at the end of each run. The extra-large dust bin only requires emptying every 30 days. This will lower the cost of ownership in the long run.
The SharkClean App allows you to create different cleaning modes, check the battery life, make schedules, look up your cleaning history, and create virtual boundaries that keep it out of areas where it may get stuck or knock fragile items over. The iQ can also be controlled manually using its remote control, which has the ability to direct it around your home.
Battery Life
This vacuum cleaner has exceptional battery life, even when it's on its high-suction mode, 'Max. It can run for more than an hour at that setting, which is sufficient for most cleaning sessions in most rooms. It also comes with an efficient 'Eco' mode, which extends its maximum runtime to more than 160 minutes. This is a good feature to have if your routine is to move between rooms or are concerned about running out of battery power while using the robot.
Like many of its rivals, this robotic vacuum comes with an impressive array of features that automate. The companion app allows you to check the remaining battery life, direct the vacuum to a certain area, pause or restart cleaning, and switch between power modes. It also works with voice commands if you've got an appropriate Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device. It also has physical boundary marking strips to keep it out of certain areas.
This Shark model is good in maneuvering, but it struggles to pick up massive debris, especially when its dirt compartment gets stuffed. It's also prone to get stuck on rug tassels and electrical cords, and it could get stuck between the legs of chairs.
Overall all, the Shark IQ robotic vacuum is an excellent option for those looking for an affordable robot that has decent mapping capabilities and simple-to-use features. It's not as good as the Roborock S7 in most cases. The former is more robust and more robust, and has lower maintenance requirements, incurs lower recurring costs, recharges faster, has longer battery life, performs better on carpets and floors with no carpets, and is able to move through obstacles with ease.