The Shark i Robot Vacuum
The Shark I robot vacuum is a great mid-range robot. It’s a fantastic vacuum cleaner, with some unique features.
It is able to clean floors in a thorough way and utilizes a row-by -row pattern. It also does well on rugs and can move over rug tassels.
Features
The Shark i has a number of notable features, including its intelligent navigation technology, as well as a self-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation system uses a matrix grid for cleaning room-by-room. This makes sure that no area of your home is overlooked. It also emptys its dustbin into the bagless base following each cleaning, making it totally hands-free.
The vacuum can also be controlled with Amazon Alexa and the SharkClean App, so there is no need for an additional remote. The vacuum also has a button at the top to manually control the vacuum.
You can use the app to create a profile on your vacuum, name it, plan cleaning times and view cleaning history. You can also set virtual boundaries to prevent the i from getting into areas it could get stuck in or even knock over objects that are fragile. You can also select various power modes to help save energy when you are working in a tough environment.
It also has a pair of grippy wheels to help it over obstacles like floors or stairs. It is able to recognize and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords. This is beneficial for pet owners with small shedding cats or dogs.
The i comes with three power settings: an energy-saving Eco mode and an initial Normal mode, and a high-power max setting. You can also design customized cleaning schedules for specific floors or rooms, which is great if you have an enormous home that requires frequent cleaning.
It is possible to program it to return to its dock automatically and empty its trash bin. However, you should keep an eye on its battery life since it tends to overestimate how much time is left. It can also be confused and restart when you tell it to ‘Clean Entire Home’ and you must be aware when you start or stop it.
Design
The Shark i robot is sleekly constructed and has a classy appearance. The main wheels are covered in rubber treads which give it great maneuverability. Its footprint is tiny and is able to fit under most furniture. It is able to climb over carpets with high piles and get under couches despite its size.
The best robot vacuum and mop self cleaning has multiple sensors that help it map out your home including boundary and cliff sensors. It also has a module that detects and eliminates obstacles. The app lets you manage the robot’s settings, schedule cleaning sessions, and look at its cleaning history. The app is easy to use, but it does not permit you to create virtual no go zones.
While the Shark i robot is a ideal choice for floors with no floor however, it is unable to pick up large pieces of debris such as pet hair and can get stuck on surfaces with a lot of clutter. The dirt compartment can fill up and make it difficult to clear out after a clean-up. The vacuum doesn’t come with an automatic emptying dock. You will have empty the dust bin manually once it is full.
The battery in the vacuum is short and it runs out often before it can return to its base. It’s also a little loud and the app doesn’t allow you to set specific areas to clean or skip. It’s best vacuum Cleaner and mop robot used in combination with another robot vac, rather than as a stand-alone machine. The value of delegating your vacuuming tasks to robots is undeniable. The iRobot Roomba has superior mapping and navigation abilities and also an automatic dock that empty itself. It’s also a little cheaper than the Shark i robotic vacuum.
Cleaning Performance
While it isn’t easy to get used to the robotic sound that comes with every robot vacuum, the Shark IQ seems to perform pretty well in the area of vacuuming. It doesn’t wander off and have to retrace its steps as older Shark robots (like the ION 85 or the RV871). The iQ does a fantastic job of mapping your home. It creates a map within the app, which allows you to identify the rooms so it can determine where it is going.
However, it struggles with bare floors and rugs. It can pick up tiny particles, but pet hair and larger objects like rice and cereals can overwhelm it. The dirt compartment may fill up quickly, and its suction power will begin to decrease as it fills. This robot is not suitable for bare floors or carpets with high piles. It is also prone to block easily when it comes into contact with furniture that is tangled or tipped as well as remaining items such as electrical cords and rug tassels.
It’s easy to clear these problems by emptying the bin from its base. It also automatically empties its contents into the bin when it is full, which will save you the hassle of manually emptying the bin after each run. The large dust bin only requires emptying every 30 days. This can lower costs for ownership in the long run.
You can also use the SharkClean app to set different cleaning settings, view its battery life, create a schedule, see your cleaning history and create virtual boundaries that prevent it from entering rooms where it might get stuck or knock over fragile objects. The iQ can also be controlled manually using its remote, which comes with directional arrows to guide it around your home.
Battery Life
Even in its high-suction “Max” mode, this robot vacuum still has excellent battery life. It can run for up to an hour on that setting, which is sufficient for the majority of cleaning sessions in most rooms. It also comes with an energy-efficient “Eco” mode that increases the maximum running time of the robot to over 160 minutes. This is an excellent feature to have if you often move between rooms or worry about running out of battery power when using the robot.
Like many of its competitors, best vacuum cleaner and mop robot this robotic vacuum comes with an impressive set of features that automate. The companion app allows you to see the remaining battery life, send the vacuum to a particular area, stop or restart cleaning, and select different power modes. It can also be controlled via voice commands if you have a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device that works with it. It comes with physical boundary markers to ensure that the robot is kept from certain areas.
Although it is able to maneuver well, this Shark model isn’t able to soak up bulky debris, especially when its dirt compartment is stuffed. It’s also prone to get caught on rug tassels and electrical cords, and can become stuck between the legs of chairs.
Overall all, the Shark IQ robot vacuum is a solid option for those looking for a basic robot that is simple to use and has decent mapping capabilities. It’s not better than the Roborock S7 in most cases. The Roborock S7 is more durable and has lower maintenance requirements. It also comes with lower costs. It recharges faster, has an extended battery life and is more effective on floors with carpets and unfinished.