The Shark i Robot Vacuum

The Shark I robot vacuum is great mid-range robot. It does an excellent job of cleaning and has some cool features.

It is capable of cleaning and utilizes row-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 intelligent navigation technology, as well as a self-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation utilizes an array of grids to clean each room, which means no part of your home is left unnoticed. It also emptys the dustbin into the baseless bagless after each cleaning.

The i is controlled by 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 at the top that allows you to control the vacuum.

The app allows you to create a profile on your vacuum to name it, plan cleaning times and view the history of your cleaning. You can also create virtual boundaries to prevent the i from getting into areas where it might get stuck in or smack over objects that are fragile. You can also select different power modes, so you can save energy on tough jobs.

It also has a pair grippy wheels to help it over obstacles such as stairs or floor transitions. It also has the ability to detect and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords, which are beneficial for pet owners who have small sheds on their cats or dogs.

The i comes with three power settings. There is an Eco Mode which is energy efficient and a Normal Mode by default, and a Max Power mode. You can design custom cleaning schedules, which are perfect when you have a large home that requires frequent cleaning.

It is possible to program it to return to its dock automatically and empty its dustbin. However, you should be vigilant about its battery life since it can overestimate how much time is left. It is also possible to confuse and restart when you tell it to clean the entire home which is why you need to be aware when you start or stop it.

Design

The Shark i robot has a sleek design and a premium look. Its main drive wheels are covered with rubber treads, which gives it excellent maneuverability. It's small and can fit under most pieces of furniture. Despite its size, it can still climb over rugs with high piles and reach under couches.

The robot has multiple sensors that help it to map your home including boundary and cliff sensors. It also includes a module that can detect and eliminates obstacles. The app lets you control the robot's settings, schedule cleaning sessions, and look at the history of its cleaning. The app is easy to use, however it does not allow you to create virtual no-go zones.

The Shark i robot can be a good choice for bare floors. However, it is not able to remove large quantities of debris like hair from pets. It also gets stuck on surfaces that are cluttered. The dirt bin can become full and make it difficult to empty after cleaning. The vacuum doesn't also have an automatic vacuum robot emptying dock, so you'll need to empty the dust bin once it is full.

The vacuum's battery life is limited and often is unable to recharge before it can return to its original location. It is also a bit noisy and the app does not allow you to pick certain areas to clean. It's therefore best used in conjunction with a different robot vacuum, and not as a stand-alone machine. The value of delegating your vacuuming duties to robots is undeniable. The iRobot Roomba, on the other hand, comes with superior mapping and navigation 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 is a part of any robot vacuum The Shark IQ seems to be pretty good in the area of vacuuming. It doesn't get lost and repeat steps as do older Shark robots, like the ION85 or the RV871. The iQ does an excellent job of mapping your home. It creates a map within the app which lets you name the rooms so that it can determine where it is heading.

It has a hard time with floors that are bare or carpets. It can pick up tiny particles, but pet hair and larger objects like rice and cereal can overwhelm it. Moreover, its dirt compartment gets filled quickly and can start to lose suction power as it fills up, making this robot less than ideal for bare flooring or carpets with high pile. It could also get blocked when it comes into contact with furniture that is tangled, or furniture with a tipped edge.

It's easy for you to solve these problems by emptying the bin at the base. It also automatically empties itself into the bin once it's full. This eliminates the hassle of manually emptying the trash bin after each run. The extra-large bin needs to be empty every 30 days, lowering costs of ownership over the long term.

You can also use the SharkClean app to set different cleaning modes, view its battery life, create an agenda, view your cleaning history and create virtual boundaries that block it from entering rooms where it might be stuck or hit fragile items. The iQ can also be controlled manually using its remote, which has direction arrows to guide it around your home.

Battery Life

This automatic vacuum cleaner robot cleaner has exceptional battery life, even when it's on its high-suction 'Max' mode. It can run for up to an hour at that setting, and that's more than enough for automatic vacuum robot most cleaning sessions in the majority of rooms. It also comes with an efficient energy-efficient Eco mode that allows for a runtime of more than 160 minutes. This feature is beneficial if you frequently switch between rooms or are worried about running out of batteries while using the robot.

The robot vacuum also comes with an array of amazing automation features. The companion app lets you check the remaining battery life, direct the vacuum to a particular area, pause or restart cleaning, and switch between power modes. It can also be controlled via voice commands, if have a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device that works with it. It is equipped with physical boundary markers to keep the robot away from certain areas.

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

Overall overall, the Shark IQ robot vacuum is a solid option for those seeking a basic robot that is easy to use and offers decent mapping capabilities. It's not superior to the Roborock S7 in most cases. The Roborock S7 is more durable and has lower maintenance requirements. It also comes with lower costs. It recharges faster, has a longer battery life, and performs better when on floors that are carpeted or bare.