The Shark i robot vacuum is a excellent mid-range robot. It is a very good vacuum cleaner with some cool features.
It is capable of cleaning and utilizes row-by-row patterns to clean floors. It also does well on rugs and can move over rug tassels.
Features
The Shark i has a number of notable features, including its smart navigation technology and self-empty dock. Its IQ navigation system uses the grid system to clean rooms-by-room. This makes sure that no area of your home is left unclean. It also emptys the trash bin into the bagless base after each cleaning.
The i is controlled by both the SharkClean app and Amazon Alexa, https://www.robotvacuummops.com 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 operate 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 define virtual boundaries to keep the i from getting into areas where it might get stuck or fall over something fragile. You can also set different power modes, to help you reduce energy consumption on tasks that are difficult.It also comes with a pair of grippy wheels to help it over obstacles like the stairs or floor transitions. It is able to recognize and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords. This is beneficial for pet owners with small shed dogs or cats.
The i comes with three power settings. There's an Eco Mode which is energy efficient as well as a Normal mode by default, and a Max Power mode. You can also design custom cleaning schedules for individual rooms or floors, which is great if you have an extensive house that requires frequent cleaning.
The i is able to be programmed to return to its dock and empty its dustbin However, you need to keep an eye on the battery life since it often overestimates how much runtime is left. It may also be confused and start a new cycle when you instruct it to 'Clean Your House,' so you should be vigilant about when you begin or stop it.
Design
The Shark i robot is sleekly designed and has a high-end appearance. Its main wheels are covered in rubber treads which give it great maneuverability. It's small and can be placed under most pieces of furniture. It can climb high-pile carpets and reach under couches despite its size.
The robot is equipped with multiple sensors such as boundary and cliff sensors, that allow it to map out your home. It also has a module that detects and avoids 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, but it does not allow you to create virtual no go zones.
The Shark i robot can be an ideal choice for unfinished floors. However, it's not able to pick up large amounts of debris, like hair of pets. It can also get stuck on surfaces that are cluttered. The dirt compartment can fill up making it difficult to clear out after a cleaning session. The vacuum also doesn't have an auto-emptying dock, which means you'll need to empty its trash bin when it is full.
The battery in the vacuum is short and it runs out frequently before it can return to the base. It is also a bit noisy and the app does not allow you to select certain areas to clean. It's best used together with a robot vacuum, rather than as a stand-alone 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 mapping and navigation capabilities, as well as self-emptying docks. It's also a little cheaper than the Shark i robotic vacuum.
Cleaning Performance
The Shark IQ vacuums well however it isn't easy to master the robotic noise. It isn't confused and doesn't reverse steps like other Shark robots, like the ION85 or the RV871. The iQ does a fantastic job of mapping your home. It creates a map within the app that lets you label the rooms so that it knows where it is heading.
However, it has to contend with carpets and floors that are not clean. It can take in 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 is also prone to clog easily when it comes into contact with tangled or tipped furniture, as well as hanging items such as electrical cords and rug tassels.
It is easy to solve these problems by emptying the bin at the base. The bin automatically empty into the bin after it is full. This saves you from having to manually empty the dust bin at the end of each run. The extra-large bin requires emptying it every 30 days. This will lower the cost of ownership in the long run.
The SharkClean App allows you to set up different cleaning modes, check the battery life, set up schedules, look up your cleaning history, and even create virtual boundaries that keep it out of areas where it could be entangled or knock fragile items over. The iQ can also be controlled by remote control, which features the ability to direct it around your home.
Battery Life
This vacuum has great battery performance, even when it's on its high-suction "Max" mode. It can run for up to an hour at that setting, which is more than enough for most cleaning sessions in most rooms. It also comes with an energy-efficient "Eco" mode that extends the maximum running time of the robot 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 energy while using the robot.
This vacuum cleaner also has a number of impressive automation features. The companion app lets you view the remaining battery life and move it to a certain room, pause or restart cleaning, and choose different power modes. It also supports voice commands if you own an compatible Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device and comes with physical boundary marker strips to keep it out of certain areas.
While it has good maneuverability but this Shark model isn't able to soak away bulky debris, especially when its dirt compartment is full. It's also prone to getting stuck on tassels of the rug and electrical cords, and it can become stuck between the legs of chairs.
Overall overall, the Shark IQ robot vacuum is a solid option for those who are looking for a basic robot that is simple to use and has decent mapping capabilities. However, it's not a better option than the Roborock S7 for most purposes. The Roborock S7 is more durable and comes with less maintenance requirements. It also has lower costs. It recharges faster and has a longer battery life and performs better when on carpets and bare floors.
