The Shark i Robot Vacuum

The Shark I robot vacuum is great mid-range Homekit Robot Vacuum. It is capable of cleaning and has neat features.

It is able to clean floors thoroughly and uses a row-by-row pattern. It also works well on rugs and can be able to maneuver over tassels of rugs.

Features

The Shark i has a number of notable features, Homekit robot vacuum including its innovative navigation technology, as well as a self-emptying dock. Its IQ navigation uses a matrix grid to keep rooms clean, ensuring every area of your home is overlooked. It also emptys its trash bin into the bagless base following each cleaning, which makes it completely hands-free.

The vacuum can also be controlled using Amazon Alexa and the SharkClean App, so there is no need for a separate remote. It also has a button on the top-side of the vacuum to manually operate it.

The app allows you to create an account for your vacuum and name it, schedule cleans and check the history of cleaning. You can also set virtual boundaries to prevent the i from getting into areas it could be stuck in or even knock over delicate objects. You can also choose different power modes to help save energy when doing tough jobs.

Other notable features include its NeverStuck technology and a pair of grippy wheels that allow it to get over obstacles such as stairs or floor transitions. It can detect and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords. This is useful for pet owners with small shed cats or dogs.

The i comes with three power settings including an energy-saving Eco Mode and the default Normal mode and a high-power max mode. You can design customized cleaning schedules, which are ideal for those who live in a large house that requires regular cleaning.

The i can be programmed to return to its dock and empty its dustbin, but you have to be aware of the battery life since it can overestimate how much runtime is left. It could also get confused and restart if you tell the i to clean the entire home and you must be careful when you start or end it.

Design

The Shark i robot has a sleek design and a premium appearance. The main drive wheels are covered with rubber treads, giving it excellent maneuverability. It's small and can 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 multiple sensors such as the boundary and cliff sensors which allow it to map your house. It also comes with a vision module which can detect and avoid obstacles. The app allows you to control the robot's settings and schedule cleaning sessions and track its cleaning history. The app is easy to use, however it does not allow you to create virtual no go zones.

The Shark i robot can be an ideal choice for unfinished floors. However, it is not able to pick up large debris such as hair from pets. It can also get stuck on cluttered surfaces. The dirt bin can get full, making it difficult to empty it after cleaning. The vacuum doesn't have a self-emptying dock. You'll need empty the dust bin manually once it is full.

The battery in the vacuum is short and it runs out often before it can return to the base. It's also a bit loud, and the app does not allow you to choose specific areas to clean. It's best robot mop and vacuum combo used in combination with another robot vac, rather than as a standalone machine. However, the benefits of being able to delegate your vacuuming tasks to the robot is unquestionable. The irobot roomba vacuum mop Roomba, on the other hand, is a superior mapping and navigation capabilities, as well as self-emptying docks. It's also a little cheaper than the Shark i robotic vacuum.

Cleaning Performance

While it can be tricky to adjust to the robotic sound that is a part of any robot vacuum The Shark IQ seems to perform pretty well in the area of vacuuming. It doesn't get confused and reverse steps like other Shark robots, such as the ION85 or the RV871. The iQ does a fantastic job of mapping your home by creating maps in the app that lets you name rooms so that it knows where to go, thereby making it more efficient than the ION 85 in terms of not having to go over the same areas again.

It is a struggle with floors or rugs. It can pick up tiny particles however pet hair and bulkier objects like cereal and rice can overwhelm it. Additionally the dirt compartment gets filled quickly and it can 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 block easily when it comes into contact with furniture that is tangled or tipped as well as hanging items such as electrical cords and rug tassels.

It's easy to get rid of these issues by emptying the bin in its base. The bin automatically empty into the bin when it's filled. This saves you from having to empty the dust bin at the end of each run. The extra-large bin needs to be empty every 30 days, which lowers ownership costs over the long haul.

The SharkClean App lets you define different cleaning options and check the battery life, set up schedules, look up your cleaning history, and even create virtual boundaries that prevent it from entering areas where it might be entangled or knock fragile items over. The iQ can also be controlled manually by its remote control, which has the ability to direct it around your home.

Battery Life

This robot vacuum has excellent battery life, even when it's on its high-suction 'Max' mode. It can run for up to an hour in this mode and that's plenty of time to complete most cleaning tasks. It also has a more efficient 'Eco' mode, which extends its maximum runtime to over 160 minutes. This is an excellent feature to have if you frequently move between rooms or are worried about running out of battery power while using the robot.

Like many of its rivals, this robot vacuum has an impressive array of features that automate. The companion app lets you check the remaining battery life, to send the vacuum to a specific area, pause or restart cleaning, and choose different power modes. It also works with voice commands if you own a compatible Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device, and is equipped with physical boundary strips to keep it out of certain areas.

This Shark model is good at maneuvering, but struggles to pick up large amounts of debris, particularly if the dirt compartment is stuffed. It's also susceptible to get caught on rug tassels and electrical cords, and could get stuck between the legs of chairs.

Overall overall, the Shark IQ robot vacuum is an excellent choice for those looking for a basic robot that is easy to use and offers decent mapping capabilities. However, it's not a better alternative to the Roborock S7 for most purposes. The Roborock S7 is more durable and comes with lower maintenance requirements. It also comes with lower costs. It recharges faster, has a longer battery life and is more effective on floors that are carpeted or bare.