The Shark i Robot Vacuum

The shark I robot vacuum is considered to be one of the Top Robot vacuum mid-priced robot vacuums. It does an excellent job of cleaning and has some cool features.

It cleans floors thoroughly and utilizes a row-by -row pattern. It also does well with rugs and maneuver over rug tassels.

Features

The Shark i has a number of outstanding features, such as its smart navigation technology and self-empty dock. Its IQ navigation system uses an array of grids for cleaning room-by-room. This ensures that no part of your house is missed. It also emptys its dustbin into the bagless base following each cleaning, making it totally hands-free.

The i can also be controlled using Amazon Alexa and the SharkClean App, so there's no need for a separate remote. The vacuum also has a button at the top rated robot vacuum of the unit to operate the vacuum.

The app lets you create the profile of your vacuum and label it, schedule cleans and check the history of cleaning. You can set virtual boundaries to prevent the i from getting into areas where it could get stuck or fall over something fragile. You can also choose different power modes so you can reduce energy consumption on tasks that are difficult.

It also comes with a pair of grippy wheels to assist it in navigating obstacles like stairs or floor transitions. It is also able to detect and maneuver 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 is an Eco Mode that is energy-efficient and a Normal Mode by default, and a Max Power mode. You can also make customized cleaning schedules for specific floors or rooms, which is great if you have a large home that requires frequent cleanings.

The i is able to be programmed to return to its dock and empty its dustbin, but you have to keep an eye on the battery life since it frequently underestimates how much runtime is left. It could also get confused and start a new cycle when you instruct it to 'Clean Your House', so you should be vigilant 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 it excellent maneuverability. It's compact and will be placed under most pieces of furniture. It is able to climb over high-pile carpets and reach under couches despite its size.

The robot is equipped with several sensors that help map out your home, including cliff and boundary sensors. It also has a vision module that can detect and avoid obstacles. The app allows you to control the robot's settings and schedule cleaning times, and see its cleaning history. The app is simple to use, however it doesn't allow you to create virtual no-go zones.

While the Shark i robot is a good option for bare floors however, it is unable to pick up large debris like pet hair, and it can get stuck on cluttered surfaces. Its dirt bin can get stuffed, making it difficult to clear out after a cleaning session. The vacuum does not have an automatic emptying dock. You will have empty the bin manually when it becomes full.

The battery in the vacuum is short and runs out frequently before it is able to return to the base. It's also loud, and the app doesn't allow you to set particular areas to be cleaned or skip. As such, it's best utilized in conjunction with a different robot vacuum, and not as a standalone machine. The benefit of delegating your vacuuming duties to robots is evident. The iRobot Roomba, on the other hand, is a superior navigation and mapping capabilities as well as a self-emptying dock. It's also less expensive than the Shark i robot.

Cleaning Performance

The Shark IQ vacuums efficiently however it isn't easy to make use of the robotic noise. It doesn't get confused and repeat steps as do older Shark robots, such as the ION85 or RV871. The iQ does a fantastic job of mapping your home. It makes maps within the app, which allows you to label the rooms so that it can determine where it is going.

However, it struggles with bare floors and rugs. It can pick up small particles, but pet hair and larger objects like rice and cereals can engulf it. Its dirt compartment can also grow quickly and suction power will start to reduce as it fills. This type of robot isn't suitable for floors that are not bare or carpets with a lot of pile. It can also clog up when it comes in contact with furniture that is tangled, or top robot vacuum furniture that is tipped.

Fortunately, it's easy to get rid of these issues by emptying the bin from its base. It also automatically emptys itself into the bin once it is full, which saves you the effort of emptying the dust bin after each run. The large dust bin only requires emptying every 30 days. This will lower the cost of ownership in the long run.

The SharkClean App lets you set up different cleaning modes and check the battery life, make schedules, look up your cleaning history, and create virtual boundaries which stop it from entering areas where it could be entangled or knock fragile objects over. The iQ can be controlled manually with its remote, which has direction arrows to guide it around your home.

Battery Life

Even in its high-suction "Max" mode, this robot vacuum still has a great battery life. It can run up to an hour in this mode which is plenty of time for most cleaning sessions. It also has an energy-efficient "Eco" mode that increases the maximum runtime of the robot to more than 160 minutes. This is an excellent feature to have if your routine is to change rooms or are worried about running out of battery power while using the robot.

As with many of its competitors this vacuum cleaner comes with an impressive suite of automation features. The companion app lets you check its remaining battery, assign it to a particular room, pause or restart cleaning, and set different power modes. It can also be controlled via voice commands, if you own a Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device compatible with it. It is equipped with physical boundary markers to keep the robot from certain areas.

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

Overall all, the Shark IQ robotic vacuum is an excellent option for those who want a basic robot with decent mapping capabilities and easy-to-use features. It's not as good as the Roborock S7 in most cases. It's more sturdy and more robust, and has lower maintenance requirements, is able to bear lower recurring costs, recharges faster, offers an extended battery life, and performs better on floors that are not bare and carpets, and is able to move around obstacles more easily.