The Shark i Robot Vacuum

The Shark I robot vacuum is great mid-range robot. It is a very good vacuum cleaner that comes with some interesting features.

It does a great job of cleaning and utilizes rows-by-row patterns to clean floors. It also does well on rugs and maneuver over rug tassels.

Features

Shark i is a robot vacuum cleaner that has a variety of standout features. These include its smart navigation system and self-empty dock. Its IQ navigation utilizes an array of grids to clean each room, which means that no area of your home gets overlooked. It also empties the dustbin into the baseless bagless after each cleaning.

The i can be controlled by both the SharkClean app and Amazon Alexa, so you can control it with your voice without the need for an extra remote. The vacuum also has a button at the top of the unit to operate the vacuum.

The app allows you to create a profile on your vacuum to name it, plan cleaning times and view the history of cleaning. You can create virtual boundaries to stop the i from getting into areas where it could get stuck or fall over something fragile. You can also choose different power modes to save energy when you are working in a tough environment.

Other noteworthy features include its NeverStuck technology and the grippy wheels that allow it to climb over obstacles like stairs or floor transitions. It is also able to detect and navigate around obstacles like electrical cords, which is beneficial for pet owners who have small sheds of cats or dogs.

The i has three power settings: robot vacuum & Mop an energy-saving Eco mode and an initial Normal mode, and a high-power maximum mode. You can make custom cleaning schedules that are perfect when you reside in a house that requires frequent cleaning.

It can be programmed to return to its dock automatically and empty its dustbin. However, you must be vigilant about its battery life since it can overestimate the amount of time left. It may also be confused and start a new cycle when you say 'Clean the Whole House,' so you need to be careful about when you begin or stop it.

Design

The Shark i robot is sleekly constructed and has a classy appearance. The main wheels are covered in rubber treads that give it excellent maneuverability. It's compact and will fit under most pieces of furniture. Despite its size, it is able to climb over high-pile rugs and get under couches.

The robot has multiple sensors that help it identify 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 and schedule cleaning sessions and track its cleaning history. The app is easy to use, however it isn't able to create virtual no-go zones.

While the Shark i robot is a ideal choice for floors with no floor however, it is unable to pick up large amounts of hair from pets and gets stuck on surfaces that are cluttered. Its dirt compartment can also overflow, making it difficult to clear out after a cleaning session. The vacuum also doesn't have a self-emptying dock, so you'll need to empty its dust bin when it's full.

The battery in the vacuum is small and it will run out frequently before it is able to return to the base. It's also noisy and the app doesn't allow you to choose particular areas to clean or skip. It's therefore best robot vacuum under 200 used in conjunction with a different robot vacuum, and not as an independent machine. However, the benefits of being able to delegate your vacuuming tasks to a Robot Vacuum & Mop is undeniable. The iRobot Roomba, on the other hand, comes with superior navigation and mapping capabilities, as well as an auto-emptying dock. It's also less expensive than the Shark i robotic vacuum.

Cleaning Performance

While it isn't easy to get used to the robotic sound 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 reverse steps like other Shark robots, like the ION85 or the RV871. The iQ does a fantastic job of mapping your home's layout by creating a map in the app that allows you to name rooms so that it can determine which direction to go, making it more efficient than ION 85 in terms of not having to go over the same areas repeatedly.

However, it struggles with bare floors and rugs. It can pick up tiny particles, but pet hair and larger objects like cereal and rice can engulf it. Its dirt compartment can also fill up quickly and its suction capacity will begin to diminish 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 tipped furniture.

Fortunately, it's easy to eliminate these issues by emptying the bin at its base. The dust bin automatically empty into the bin once it is full. This eliminates the need for having to empty the bin at the end of each run. The large dust bin only requires emptying every 30 days. This reduces ownership costs in the long term.

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

Battery Life

Even when 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 more than enough to complete most cleaning tasks. It also has an energy-efficient "Eco" mode that extends the maximum running time of the robot to 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.

Like many of its rivals this vacuum cleaner comes with an impressive array of automation features. The companion app lets you see the remaining battery life and then move it to a certain room, pause or resume cleaning, and set different power modes. It can also be controlled via voice commands, if you have an Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa device that is compatible with it. It is equipped with physical boundary markers to keep the robot from certain areas.

Although it is able to maneuver well but this Shark model isn't able to soak up large pieces of debris, particularly when its dirt compartment is full. It also gets stuck on electrical cords and rug tassels. It can also get stuck between the legs and legs of chairs.

Overall all, the Shark IQ robot vacuum is a solid option for those who are looking for a basic robotic that is simple to use and has decent mapping capabilities. It's not superior to the Roborock S7 in most cases. The latter feels sturdier and more robust, and has lower maintenance requirements, incurs lower recurring costs, charges quicker, offers longer battery life, and performs better on floors that are not bare and carpets, and is able to move around obstacles more easily.