The Shark i Robot Vacuum
The Shark I robot vacuum is fantastic mid-range robotic. It is a very good vacuum cleaner, with some unique features.
It cleans floors thoroughly and employs a row-by-row. It also works 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 the grid system to clean each room, which means that no area of your home is left unnoticed. It also empties the dustbin into the bagless base after each cleaning.
The i is controlled by both the SharkClean app and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it with your voice without the need for an additional remote. The vacuum also has a button at the top of the unit to operate the vacuum.
The app allows you to create a vacuum profile and name it, schedule cleanings, and view cleaning history. You can also set virtual boundaries to stop the i from getting into places it could get stuck in or knock over objects that are fragile. You can also select different power modes to help save energy when working on tough tasks.
Other notable features include its NeverStuck technology as well as two grippy wheels that help it get over obstacles such as stairs or floor transitions. It is also able to detect and maneuver around obstructions like electrical cords, which can be helpful for pet owners with small shedding dogs or cats.
The i comes with three power settings including an energy-saving Eco Mode and an initial Normal mode, and a high-power maximum mode. You can also design custom cleaning schedules for individual rooms or floors. This is great if you have an extensive home that requires frequent cleanings.
It is possible to program it to return to its dock on a regular basis and empty its trash bin. However, you must keep an eye on its battery life because it can overestimate the amount of time left. It can also get confused and start a new cycle when you tell it to 'Clean Entire House', so you need to be careful about when you start or stop it.
Design
The Shark i robot has a elegant design and a classy appearance. Its main drive wheels are covered in rubber treads, giving it exceptional maneuverability. It is small and can fit under most pieces of furniture. Despite its size, it's able to climb up high-pile rugs and get under couches.
The robot is equipped with a variety of sensors, including boundary and cliff sensors, that permit it to map out your home. It also has a vision module that can detect and avoid obstacles. The app lets you control the robot's settings and schedule cleaning sessions and view its history of cleaning. The app is easy to use, but it's not able to create virtual no-go zones.
The Shark i robot can be an ideal choice for unfinished floors. However, it is not able to take in large amounts of debris, like hair from pets. top rated robot vacuum can also get stuck on cluttered surfaces. The dirt bin can become full and make it difficult for you to empty it after cleaning. The vacuum doesn't have an automatic emptying dock. You will have empty the bin manually when it gets full.
The battery of the vacuum is small and it will run out frequently before it can return to its base. It's also noisy, and the app doesn't allow users to set specific areas to clean or skip. It's therefore best used together with a robot vacuum, rather than as an independent machine. However, the value of being able to delegate your vacuuming to a robot is undeniable. The iRobot Roomba has superior mapping and navigation capabilities and an automatic dock that empty itself. It's also less expensive than the Shark i robotic vacuum.
Cleaning Performance
While it can be tricky to adjust to the rumbling noise that comes with any robot vacuum The Shark IQ seems to perform pretty well in the vacuuming department. It doesn't get confused and reverse steps like other Shark robots, such as the ION85 or the RV871. The iQ also does a great job at mapping your home with a map in the app which allows you to label rooms so it knows where to go, making it more efficient than the ION 85 in terms of not having to go over the same areas repeatedly.
It is a struggle with floors or rugs. It can take in tiny particles, but pet hair and heavier objects such as rice and cereal can be overwhelming for it. Its dirt compartment can also get full quickly and its suction capacity will begin to reduce as it fills. This model is not suitable for floors with no carpet or carpets with high piles. It is also prone to block easily when it encounters furniture that is tangled or tipped as well as hanging items such as electrical cords and rug tassels.
It's easy to get rid of these issues by emptying the bin from its base. It also automatically empty its contents into the bin when it's full, which eliminates the hassle of manually emptying the trash bin after each run. The large dust bin only requires emptying every 30 days. This will lower the cost of ownership in the long term.
You can also make use of the SharkClean app to set different cleaning settings, view its battery life, make schedules, look at your cleaning history, and even create virtual boundaries to prevent it from entering rooms where it could be stuck or hit fragile items. The iQ can be controlled by hand using its remote, which comes with direction arrows to guide it around your home.
Battery Life
This robot vacuum has excellent battery performance even in its high-suction mode, 'Max. It can run for more than an hour on that setting, and it's more than enough for most cleaning sessions in the majority of rooms. It also has an energy-efficient "Eco" mode that extends the maximum running time of the robot up to 160 minutes. This feature is useful when you often switch between rooms or are worried about running out of batteries when using the robot.
This vacuum cleaner also has numerous impressive automation features. The companion app lets you see the remaining battery life, direct the vacuum to a specific area, pause or restart cleaning, and switch between power modes. It can also be controlled with voice commands, if own a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device compatible with it. It comes with physical boundary markers to keep the robot out of certain areas.
This Shark model is great in maneuvering, but it isn't able to handle massive debris, especially when the dirt compartment is stuffed. It's also susceptible to get caught on rug tassels and electrical cords. It 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. However it's not a superior option than the Roborock S7 for most purposes. The Roborock S7 is more durable and has less maintenance requirements. It also incurs lower costs. It recharges faster and has an extended battery life and performs better when on floors with carpets and unfinished.