The Shark i Robot Vacuum

The Shark I robot vacuum is excellent mid-range robot. It is a great vacuum cleaner, with some unique features.

It does a thorough job of cleaning and uses rows-by-row patterns to clean floors. It also works well on rugs, and can be used to move over rug tassels.

Features

The Shark i has a number of outstanding features, such as its smart navigation technology and self-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation system makes use of the grid system to clean rooms-by-room. This ensures that no part of your home is left unclean. It also emptys the dustbin into the baseless bagless after every cleaning.

The I can also be controlled by Amazon Alexa and the SharkClean App, so there is no need for an additional remote. The vacuum also has a button on the top that allows you to operate the vacuum.

The app lets you create a vacuum profile, label it, schedule cleans, and view cleaning history. You can also create virtual boundaries to block the vacuum from entering areas it could get stuck in or smack over fragile objects. You can also select different power modes, so you can save energy when working on difficult tasks.

Other important features include its NeverStuck technology and a pair of grippy wheels that help it overcome obstacles such as stairs or floor transitions. It also has the ability to detect and maneuver around obstructions like electrical cords, which are useful for pet owners with small sheds on their cats or dogs.

The i comes with three power settings that include an energy-saving Eco mode as well as an initial Normal mode, and a high-power max setting. You can make custom cleaning schedules that are great for those who have a large home that requires frequent cleaning.

It can be programmed to return to its dock automatically and empty its dustbin. However, you should be aware of its battery life because it tends to overestimate how much time is left. It could also get confused and restart itself if you say 'Clean the Whole House,' so you must be cautious about when you start or stop it.

Design

The Shark i robot is sleekly designed and has a high-end appearance. Its main drive wheels are covered in rubber treads, allowing the robot excellent maneuverability. It is small in size and can be tucked away under the majority of furniture. Despite its size, it can still climb over rugs with high piles and even reach under couches.

The robot is equipped with numerous sensors that help to map your home including cliff and boundary sensors. It also comes with a vision module which can detect and avoid obstacles. The app lets you control the robot’s settings, schedule cleaning sessions, and look at its history of cleaning. The app is simple to use, however it's not able 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 can get stuck on surfaces that are cluttered. The dirt compartment can fill up and make it difficult to clear out after a cleaning session. 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 frequently before it is able to return to its base. It's also loud and the app doesn't allow you to choose certain areas to clean. As such, it's best robot vacuum for thick carpet utilized in conjunction with another robot vac, rather than as a stand-alone device. The benefits of delegating your vacuuming to robots is unquestionable. The iRobot Roomba, on the other hand, is a superior mapping and navigation capabilities, as well as a self-emptying dock. It's also a little cheaper than the Shark i ilife robotic vacuum cleaner vacuum.

Cleaning Performance

The Shark IQ vacuums well even though it's hard to master to the robotic sound. It doesn't lose its way and have to retrace its steps as older Shark robots (like the ION 85 or RV871). The iQ does a fantastic job of mapping your home. It creates a map within the app which lets you label the rooms so that it can determine where it is going.

However, it has to contend with bare floors and rugs. While it can pick up small particles, it can be overwhelmed by pet hair and larger items like cereal and rice. The dirt compartment can grow quickly, and its suction power will reduce as it fills. This robot is not suitable for bare floors or carpets with a lot of pile. It can also clog up when it comes into contact with furniture that is tangled, or furniture with a tipped edge.

It is easy to solve these issues by emptying its bin at the base. It also automatically empty itself into the bin when it's full, which will save you the effort of emptying the bin after every run. The extra-large bin requires emptying every 30 days. This reduces ownership costs in the long run.

The SharkClean App allows you to create different cleaning modes and check the battery life, make schedules, see your cleaning history, and create virtual boundaries to prevent it from entering areas where it might get stuck or knock fragile objects over. The iQ can also be operated manually by its remote control, which features directional arrows for guiding it around your home.

Battery Life

This vacuum has great battery life even in its high-suction "Max" mode. It can run for as long as an hour with this setting, and it's sufficient for most cleaning sessions in most rooms. It also comes with a more efficient energy-efficient Eco mode that allows for a runtime of more than 160 minutes. This feature is helpful if you frequently switch between rooms or worry about running out of batteries while using the robot.

Like many of its competitors, this robotic vacuum comes with an impressive suite of features that automate. The companion app allows you to see the remaining battery life, direct the vacuum to a specific area, pause or resume cleaning, and switch between power modes. It can also be controlled by voice commands, if you have a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device compatible with it. It is equipped with physical boundary markers to ensure that the robot is kept away from certain areas.

While it has good maneuverability but it isn't the most maneuverable model. Shark model isn't able to soak away bulky debris, especially when its dirt compartment is stuffed. It is also susceptible to get caught on rug tassels and electrical cords, and could get stuck between the legs of chairs.

Overall, the Shark IQ robotic vacuum is a good option for those looking for a basic robot with good mapping capabilities and user-friendly features. It's not better than the Roborock S7 in most cases. The Roborock S7 is more durable and has lower maintenance requirements. It also has lower costs. It recharges faster and has a longer battery life, and is more effective on carpets and bare floors.