The Shark i Robot Vacuum

The Shark I robot vacuum is a great mid-range robot. It does an excellent job of cleaning and comes with neat features.

It does a thorough job of cleaning and employs row-by-row patterns to clean floors. It also performs well with rugs and maneuver over rug tassels.

Features

The Shark i has a number of standout features, including its intelligent navigation technology, best robot Vacuum for thick carpet as well as a self-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation uses the grid system to clean each room, which means every area of your home gets overlooked. It also emptys the trash bin into the bagless base after each 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 extra remote. The vacuum also has a button on the top to manually operate the vacuum.

The app allows you to create a profile for your vacuum to name it, schedule cleanings and check your the history of cleaning. You can also set virtual boundaries to prevent the vacuum from entering areas it could be stuck in or knock over delicate objects. You can also select different power modes to conserve energy when working on tough tasks.

Other noteworthy features include its NeverStuck technology and a pair of gritty wheels that enable it to climb over obstacles like stairs or floor transitions. It is able to recognize and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords. This is beneficial for pet owners who have small shedding cats or dogs.

The i has three power settings that include an energy-saving Eco mode, an initial Normal mode, and a high-power max mode. You can design custom cleaning schedules, which are great if you reside in a house that requires regular cleaning.

It can be programmed to return to its dock on a regular basis and empty its trash bin. However, you must be aware of its battery life as it can overestimate how much time is left. It is also possible to confuse best mopping and vacuuming robot restart if you tell the i to clean the entire home, so you have to be careful when you start or end it.

Design

The Shark i robot is sleekly constructed and has a classy appearance. Its main drive wheels are covered with rubber treads, giving the robot excellent maneuverability. It's compact and will fit under most pieces of furniture. It is able to climb over high-pile carpets and reach under couches despite its size.

The robot is fitted with a variety of sensors such as boundary and cliff sensors, that allow it to map your home. It also comes with a vision module which can detect and avoid obstacles. The app lets you manage the robot's settings, schedule cleaning sessions and review its history of cleaning. The app is easy to use, however it doesn't allow you to create virtual no go zones.

The Shark i robot can be an excellent choice for those with no floors. However, it's not able to take in large debris such as hair from pets. It can also get stuck on messy surfaces. The dirt compartment can also become full and make it difficult for you to empty after cleaning. It also doesn't have an auto-emptying dock, which means you'll need to empty its dust bin when it is full.

The battery in the vacuum is short and runs out often before it can return to the base. It's also a bit noisy and the app doesn't allow you to select specific areas to clean. It's Best Robot vacuum for Thick carpet used together with a robot vacuum, and not as a stand-alone machine. However, best robot vacuum for thick carpet the value of delegating your vacuuming tasks to the robot is unquestionable. The iRobot Roomba, on the other hand, has superior mapping and navigation capabilities as well as an auto-emptying dock. It's also less expensive than the Shark i robotic vacuum.

Cleaning Performance

Although it can be difficult to get used to the robotic sound that comes with any robot vacuum, the Shark IQ seems to perform quite well in the area of vacuuming. It doesn't get confused and reverse steps like other Shark robots, such as the ION85 or RV871. The iQ does a great job of mapping your home. It makes an app-generated map which lets you name 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 pick up small particles but pet hair as well as heavier objects such as cereal and rice can engulf it. In addition, its dirt compartment gets filled quickly and may begin to lose suction power as it fills up and makes this robot less than ideal for bare carpets or floors with high pile. It also has a tendency to clog easily when it comes across furniture that is tangled or tipped, as well as hanging items such as rug tassels and electrical cords.

It is easy to resolve these issues by emptying its bin at the base. The dust bin automatically empty into the bin once it's filled. This means you don't have to worry about having to manually empty the bin at the end of each run. The extra-large bin only needs to be cleaned every 30 days, which reduces the cost of ownership in the long run.

You can also use the SharkClean app to set different cleaning modes, view its battery life, make a schedule, see your cleaning history, and even create virtual boundaries to prevent it from entering rooms where it may get stuck or knock over fragile objects. The iQ can also be controlled manually using its remote, which has directional arrows to guide it through your home.

Battery Life

This robot vacuum has excellent battery performance even in its high-suction 'Max' mode. It can run for up to an hour on that 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 robot to over 160 minutes. This feature is useful if you frequently switch between rooms or worry about running out of batteries while using the robot.

This vacuum cleaner also has an array of amazing automation features. The companion app allows you to view the remaining battery life, direct the vacuum to a specific area, pause or restart cleaning, and switch between power modes. It also works with voice commands if you own an compatible Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device and has physical boundary marking strips to ensure it stays out of certain areas.

This Shark model is great in maneuvering, but it struggles to pick up massive debris, especially when the dirt compartment is stuffed. It also gets stuck on electrical cords and rug tassels. It also gets stuck between the legs and legs of chairs.

Overall all, the Shark IQ robotic vacuum is an excellent option for those who want a basic robot with good mapping capabilities and user-friendly features. However it's not an ideal alternative to the Roborock S7 for most purposes. The Roborock S7 is more durable and comes with fewer maintenance requirements. It also has lower costs. It recharges faster, has an extended battery life and is more efficient when used on floors that are carpeted or bare.