The Shark i Robot Vacuum

The Shark I robot vacuum is a fantastic mid-range robotic. It does a great job of cleaning and has some interesting features.

It is able to clean floors in a thorough manner and uses a row-by-row pattern. It also works well on 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 the grid system to clean rooms-by-room. This ensures that no part of your home is overlooked. It also emptys its trash bin into the bagless base after each cleaning, making it totally hands-free.

The i is controlled via both the SharkClean app and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it with your voice without the need for an additional remote. The vacuum also has a button at the top that allows you to control the vacuum.

The app lets you create an account for your vacuum, name it, schedule cleanings and check the history of cleaning. You can also set virtual boundaries to prevent the vacuum from getting into areas where it could become stuck or fall over something fragile. You can also set different power modes, to help you save energy when working on difficult tasks.

It also has a pair grippy wheels to help it get over obstacles such as the stairs or floor transitions. It is also able to detect and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords, which is helpful for pet owners with small shedding dogs or cats.

The i comes with three power settings. There's an energy-saving Eco Mode and a Normal Mode by default, and a Max Power mode. You can also create custom cleaning schedules to individual floors or rooms, which is ideal if you live in an enormous house that requires frequent cleaning.

The i is able to be programmed to automatically return to its dock and empty its trash bin however, you must be aware of the battery life because it can overestimate the amount of runtime left. It can also be confused and restart when you tell it to clean the entire home, so you have to be cautious when you begin or end it.

Design

The Shark i robot is sleekly designed and has a premium appearance. Its main wheels are covered in rubber treads which give it excellent maneuverability. It is small and can fit under most pieces of furniture. It is able to climb over carpets with high piles and get under couches despite its size.

The robot is equipped with a variety of sensors that include the boundary and cliff sensors that permit it to map out your home. 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 the history of its cleaning. The app is easy to use, though it's not able to create virtual no-go zones.

While the Shark i Consumer Reports Robot Vacuum is a excellent choice for floors that are not completely clean however, it is unable to pick up large debris like pet hair, and it can get stuck on cluttered surfaces. The dirt compartment may get full, making it difficult for you to empty after cleaning. The vacuum also doesn't have a self-emptying dock, so you'll need to empty its trash bin when it is full.

The battery in the vacuum is small and it will run out frequently before it is able to return to its base. It's also loud, and the app does not allow you to select specific areas to clean. It's therefore best robot mop and vacuum combo used together with a robot vacuum rather than as an individual machine. However, the value of delegating your vacuuming duties to the robot is unquestionable. The iRobot Roomba has superior mapping and navigation abilities and also an auto-emptying dock that can empty itself. It's also less expensive than the Shark i robot.

Cleaning Performance

The Shark IQ vacuums well even though it's hard to master to the robotic sound. It doesn't get confused and repeat steps as do older Shark robots, Consumer reports robot vacuum such as the ION85 or RV871. The iQ also does a good job of mapping your home's layout by creating an app-generated map that allows you to name rooms so it knows where to go, making it more efficient than the ION 85 in terms of not wasting time navigating the same areas repeatedly.

However, it has to contend with carpets and floors that are not clean. While it can pick up small pieces of debris, it could be overwhelmed by pet hair as well as larger items like cereal and rice. The dirt compartment may grow quickly and suction power will begin to decrease as it fills. This robot is not suitable for bare floors or carpets with high piles. It could also get blocked when it comes in contact with furniture that is tangled, or furniture that is tipped.

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

The SharkClean App lets you define different cleaning options, check the battery life, make schedules, view your cleaning history, and create virtual boundaries to prevent it from entering areas where it may be entangled or knock fragile objects over. The iQ can also be operated manually by its remote control, which has directional arrows for guiding it around your home.

Battery Life

This vacuum cleaner has exceptional battery performance even in its high-suction 'Max' mode. It can run for up to an hour with this setting, and that's sufficient for most cleaning tasks in all rooms. It also comes with an energy-efficient "Eco" mode that extends the maximum runtime of the robot to over 160 minutes. This is a good feature to have if you often switch between multiple rooms or worry about running out of battery power when using the robot.

This vacuum cleaner also has numerous impressive automation features. Its companion app lets you check its remaining battery life and move it to a certain room, pause or resume cleaning, and set various power modes. It can also be controlled by voice commands if you have an 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.

While it has good maneuverability, it isn't the most maneuverable model. Shark model isn't able to soak up large pieces of debris, particularly when the dirt compartment is filled. It can also get stuck on electrical cords and rug tassels. It also gets stuck between the legs and the legs of chairs.

Overall all, the Shark IQ robot vacuum is a solid option for those who are seeking a basic robot that is easy to use and has decent mapping capabilities. However it's not a superior choice than the Roborock S7 for most purposes. The latter feels sturdier and more durable, has less demanding maintenance requirements, incurs lower recurring costs, recharges quicker, offers longer battery life, and performs better on bare floors and carpets, and moves around obstacles more easily.