The Shark i Robot Vacuum
The Shark I robot vacuum is a excellent mid-range robot. It is a very good vacuum cleaner, with some unique features.
It does a thorough job of cleaning and utilizes row-by-row patterns for cleaning floors. It also works well for rugs and will move over rug tassels.
Features
Shark i is a robot vacuum cleaner with a number notable features. These include its intelligent navigation system and self-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation utilizes an array of grids to clean room-by-room, meaning that no area of your home is overlooked. It also empties 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 using your voice without the need for an additional remote. There is also an option on the top of the vacuum to manually operate it.
The app allows you to create a profile on your vacuum and name it, then plan cleaning times and view the history of cleaning. You can also create virtual boundaries to stop the i from getting into places it could be stuck in or smack over fragile objects. You can also select different power modes to save energy when you are working in a tough environment.
Other notable features include its NeverStuck technology as well as a pair of gritty wheels that enable 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: an energy-saving Eco mode as well as a default Normal mode, and a high-power maximum mode. You can also make custom cleaning schedules to individual rooms or floors. This is great for those with a large home that requires frequent cleaning.
The i can be programmed to automatically return to its dock and empty its dustbin, but you have to keep an eye on the battery life because it frequently underestimates how long it has left. It could also get confused and start a new cycle when you say 'Clean the Whole House', so you must be cautious about when you start or stop it.
Design
The Shark i robot has a sleek design and a premium appearance. The main drive wheels are covered in rubber treads, which gives it exceptional maneuverability. It is small and can be placed under most pieces of furniture. Despite its size, it's able to climb up high-pile rugs and even reach under couches.
The robot is equipped with numerous sensors that help identify your home including cliff and boundary sensors. It also includes a module that can detect and avoids obstacles. The app lets you manage the robot's settings, plan cleaning sessions and view its cleaning history. The app is simple to use, but it does not allow you to create virtual no-go zones.
While the Shark i robot is a excellent choice for floors that are not completely clean, it has trouble picking up large amounts of pet hair, and it can get stuck on cluttered surfaces. Its dirt bin can get stuffed, making it difficult to clear out after a clean-up. The vacuum does not have a self emptying dock. You'll have to empty the dust bin manually when it becomes full.
onson robot vacuum is very short and runs out frequently before it can return to its base. It is also a bit loud, and the app doesn't allow you to select particular areas to clean. It's therefore best used together with a robot vacuum, rather than as an independent machine. However, the benefits of being able to delegate your vacuuming duties to the robot is unquestionable. The iRobot Roomba has superior mapping and navigation capabilities and a dock that automatically empties itself. It's also a little cheaper than the Shark i robot.
Cleaning Performance
While it can be tricky to adjust to the robotic noise that is a part of any robot vacuum however, the Shark IQ appears to perform pretty well in the vacuuming department. It isn't confused and doesn't repeat steps as do older Shark robots, such as the ION85 or the RV871. The iQ does a fantastic job of mapping your home. It creates an app-generated map, which allows you to name the rooms so that it knows where it is going.
However, it does struggle with carpets and floors that are not clean. It can pick up tiny particles but pet hair as well as heavier objects such as rice and cereals can overwhelm it. The dirt compartment may fill up quickly and its suction capacity will diminish as it fills. This model is not suitable for bare floors or carpets with high piles. It is also prone to get clogged when it comes across tangled or tipped furniture and hanging items such as rug tassels and electrical cords.
It's easy for you to solve these problems by emptying the bin at the base. It also automatically emptys its contents into the bin when it is full, which eliminates the effort of emptying the trash bin after every run. The extra-large dust bin only 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 options and view the battery life, create schedules, look at your cleaning history and create virtual boundaries to prevent it from entering rooms where it could be stuck or hit fragile objects. The iQ can also be controlled manually using its remote control, which has directional arrows for guiding it around your home.
Battery Life
Even when in its high-suction "Max" mode the vacuum has a great battery life. It can run for up to an hour in this mode which is plenty of time for the majority of cleaning sessions. It also has an energy-efficient "Eco" mode that can extend the maximum runtime of the robot to over 160 minutes. This is an excellent feature to have if you frequently switch between multiple rooms or are worried about running out of battery energy while using the robot.
As with many of its competitors this vacuum cleaner comes with an impressive suite of automation features. Its companion app lets you check the remaining battery life and move it to a certain area, pause or resume cleaning, and set different power modes. It can also be controlled with voice commands, if have an Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device that is compatible with it. It comes with physical boundary markers to ensure that the robot is kept out of certain areas.
Although it's maneuverable, this Shark model has trouble sucking up bulky debris, especially when the dirt compartment is filled. It is also susceptible to getting stuck on tassels for the rug or electrical cords. It can become stuck between the legs of chairs.
Overall overall, the Shark IQ robot vacuum is a solid option for those seeking a basic robot that's easy to use and has decent mapping capabilities. It's not superior to the Roborock S7 in most cases. The latter feels sturdier and more durable, has less demanding maintenance requirements, has lower recurring costs, charges faster, offers longer battery life, performs better on floors that are not bare and carpets, and moves over obstacles more easily.