The Shark i Robot Vacuum

The Shark i robot vacuum is a excellent mid-range robot. It does a great job of cleaning and has some neat features.

It does a thorough job of cleaning and employs row-by-row patterns for cleaning floors. It is also good on rugs, and can move over tassels of rugs.

Features

The Shark i has a number of notable features, including its smart navigation technology, as well as a self cleaning robot vacuum-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation uses the grid system to clean room-by-room, meaning every area of your home is left unnoticed. It also emptys its dustbin into the bagless base after each cleaning, making it completely hands-free.

The i can also be controlled using 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.

You can use the app to create a profile on your vacuum, name it, plan cleaning times and view cleaning history. You can set virtual boundaries to prevent the i from getting into areas where it might get stuck or hit something fragile. You can also select different power modes, so you can reduce energy consumption on tasks that are difficult.

It also has a pair grippy wheels to assist it in navigating obstacles like stairs or floor transitions. It is also able to detect and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords, which can be beneficial for pet owners who have small sheds on their cats or dogs.

The i comes with three power settings. There's an Eco Mode that is energy-efficient as well as a Normal mode by default, and a Max Power mode. You can also create custom cleaning schedules for individual rooms or floors. This is great if you have an extensive home that requires frequent cleanings.

The i is able to be programmed to return to its dock and empty its dustbin however, you must be aware of the battery life since it frequently underestimates how long it has left. It is also possible to confuse and restart if you tell the i to 'Clean the Home' and you must be aware when you start or stop it.

Design

The Shark i robot is sleekly designed and has a premium appearance. The main drive wheels are covered in rubber treads, giving it excellent maneuverability. It is small in size and is able to fit under most furniture. Despite its size, it is able to climb over rugs with high piles and even reach under couches.

The robot is equipped with multiple sensors, including boundary and cliff sensors, which allow it to map out your home. It also comes with a vision module which can detect and avoid obstacles. The app lets you alter the robot's settings, plan cleaning sessions, and look at the history of its cleaning. The app is simple to use, but it lacks the ability to create virtual no-go zones.

While the Shark i robot is a ideal choice for floors with no floor, it has trouble picking up large debris like pet hair, and it can get stuck on surfaces with a lot of clutter. Its dirt bin can fill up, making it difficult to clear out after a clean-up. The vacuum also doesn't have an automatic emptying dock, so you'll need to empty its trash bin when it's full.

The vacuum's battery is very 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 choose certain areas to clean or skip. This is why it should be utilized in conjunction with a different robot vacuum, not as a stand-alone machine. The benefits of delegating your vacuuming duties to robots is undeniable. The iRobot Roomba, on the other hand, has superior navigation and mapping capabilities, as well as self-emptying docks. It's also less expensive than the Shark i robotic vacuum.

Cleaning Performance

While it can be tricky to adjust to the robotic noise that comes with every robot vacuum The Shark IQ seems to be pretty good in the vacuuming department. It doesn't wander off and then retrace its steps, like older Shark robots (like the ION 85 or the RV871). The iQ also does a good job at mapping your home's layout by creating maps in the app that allows you to name rooms so that it can determine where to go, thereby making it more efficient than ION 85 in terms of not having to go over the same areas over and over again.

It struggles with bare floors or carpets. It can pick up small particles but pet hair as well as bulkier objects like rice and cereal can be overwhelming for it. The dirt compartment may fill up quickly and its suction capacity will begin to diminish as it fills. This type of robot isn't suitable for floors that are not bare or carpets with a lot of pile. It also gets blocked when it comes in contact with furniture that is tangled, or furniture with a tipped edge.

It is easy to resolve these issues by emptying its bin at the base. It also automatically emptys itself into the bin when it's full. This eliminates the hassle of emptying the trash bin after every run. The extra-large bin requires emptying every 30 days. This can lower costs for ownership in the long run.

The SharkClean App allows you to set up different cleaning modes, check the battery life, create schedules, look up your cleaning history, and set virtual boundaries which keep it out of areas where it could become stuck or knock delicate objects over. The iQ is also controlled by remote control, which features the ability to direct it around your home.

Battery Life

This robot vacuum has excellent battery life even in its high-suction mode, 'Max. It can run for as long as an hour with this setting, which is sufficient for most cleaning sessions in the majority of rooms. It also comes with an energy-efficient "Eco" mode that extends the maximum running time of the vacuums robot to over 160 minutes. This is a good feature to have if you frequently switch between multiple rooms or are worried about running out of battery power while using the mini robot vacuum.

This vacuum cleaner also has a number of impressive automation features. The companion app lets you see the remaining battery life, to send the vacuum to a specific area, stop or restart cleaning, and choose different power modes. It can also be controlled by voice commands, if you own an Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device compatible with it. It comes with physical boundary markers to keep the robot from certain areas.

While it has good maneuverability but this Shark model isn't able to soak up large pieces of debris, particularly when its dirt compartment is stuffed. It also gets stuck on electrical cords and rug tassels. It could also get stuck between the legs and legs of chairs.

Overall overall, the Shark IQ robotic vacuum is an excellent option for those seeking an entry-level robot with good mapping capabilities and user-friendly features. However it's not an ideal choice than the Roborock S7 for most purposes. The Roborock S7 is more durable and mini Robot Vacuum has lower maintenance requirements. It also comes with lower costs. It recharges faster and has a longer battery life and is more effective on floors that are carpeted or bare.