Chuwi ILIFE Robot Vacuum Comparison

Buying a robotic vacuum cleaner in 2013 requires spending at least $500 on something that has proper navigation and cleaning features.

Two brands – iRobot and Neato dominate this niche, but startups like ILIFE are providing consumers with a cheaper alternative.

Dyson also entered the fray but was not successful in the least at Amazon.

All the brands I mentioned above are really good in their own right.

Each of them is equipped with the latest features, and it is the SLAM algorithm that is the mastermind of how these bots navigate.

This is the same feature used in Google Driving Car.

Manufacturers are pushing the envelope in terms of innovation but at an insane cost.

For example, the Dyson 360 Eye costs $1,000, while the Roomba 980 will cost you about $900.

It will be more expensive if you buy retail!

Let me introduce you to a new brand that caught my eye when I was searching for it on Amazon Cheaper options For consumers who can’t spend nearly $1,000 on a robotic vacuum.

The ILIFE robot vacuum is one of the most affordable robotic vacuums available right now on the market with 9 different types that cost between $100 and $200 when purchased directly from GearBest.com.

Some variants are available on Amazon but are a bit more expensive.

We compare all seven variables (and counting) to give you a comprehensive view of how each performs, features, pros, cons, etc.

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Specifications comparison

But first let’s take a look at the basic features that all these robot vacuums have in common.

Mobility

I can tell that all of these robots are moving at the same time but I can’t because each one has its own weirdness. I wouldn’t take a long explanation, instead I’ve recorded videos of both variants moving around the same room.

• X5 Navigation System
• x5 cleansing
• Mop V5 Pro
• A4
• Demo and Navigation V7 (without wiper)
• V7S Navigation (Vacuum Mode)
• V7S demo survey

Depending on the variant you select, the pre-programmed modes installed will be different (Please refer to the table above for the exact modes included in each of the variants. Here is how each of the modes works.

If you look at their website, the terms they used are different to avoid further confusion, I asked a rep if some of the terms they used were actually the same.

to me

This is the default cleaning mode for all ILIFE robots.

When you press the clean button, the robot moves a few feet from the charging station and scans the entire room.

Based on eye testing, the navigation system used here is very similar to iRobot’s which means it goes in a random direction.

According to GearBest, its robots use a combination of wall sensors and five infrared receivers to detect and avoid obstacles. It also has shelf sensors to prevent it from falling off the stairs.

edge

In this mode, the robot will focus on cleaning along the edges of the room. This is where the side brush comes in handy.

Even in this mode, the bot still reverts to the default random cleaning mode.

spot

In this mode, the robot cleans a very small area with a spiral motion.

This feature is great for cleaning a small and messy area.

booklet

Only variants with the included remote control have this feature.

In essence, a robot vacuum will turn into a remote-controlled cleaner where you want to go.

When I tested it, it wasn’t as polished as I would have liked it to be because the robot will rotate 15 degrees and still go through the default cleaning mode.

So you will battle with a bot computer for control.

I’m not a big fan of this feature because robot cleaners shouldn’t have a lot of human intervention but it does have its uses.

scheduling

This is where you specify when you want the bot to clean automatically.

Note that you can only set one fixed time for the entire week and it will clean up at the same time every day.

Of the seven variants, only V1 does not have a scheduling feature.

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cleaning performance

Over the past few months, I’ve recorded several videos testing these robots and seeing how they clean bare floor surfaces. I won’t go into detail about each of these videos as I already did in the video description and reviews of the individual products themselves.

• V1 Unboxing and Cleaning Test
• X5 vs V5 Pro Cleaning Test
• ILIFE V7S vs MI Robot Vacuum
• A4 vs Xiaomi
• V5 vs V5 Pro
• V7 vs V5 Pro
• V7 vs MI Android Broom
• A4 vs V7
• Xiaomi vs V5 Pro
• V5 Pro vs Jisiwei I3
• V7S Pro vs V5 Pro
• V7S Pro rug cleaning test

If there was one theme in common among all of these videos, it was that the ILIFE robot performed well even against the more expensive Xiaomi Robot Vacuum. She hasn’t picked up every bit of the wreck since then but she’s picked most of them.

All of these tests involve a lot of mess, which is something a broom robot won’t face every day, but it’s good to see that even with that kind of mess, these robots will be able to handle it and not engage in the challenge.

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side brush

Of the seven robots here, the A4, X5, and V5 Pro have two side brushes—the V7 and V7S each have one side brush while the rest have two.

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Cleansing

Except for the V1 and A4, the rest of the robots in the ILIFE product line have squeegees.

The V5 and V7 don’t come with a water tank, so these two variants are only capable of dry wiping (or wet wiping if you soak and wring the microfiber pad).

Among the 7, the V7S Pro has the largest and most advanced water tank.

Here are links to videos of the disinfection process

• V7S Pro Mopping Trial
• Mop V5 Pro
• x5 cleansing

You will notice from all of these videos that ILIFE does not have the advanced cleaning procedure found in iRobot Braava wipers instead it uses the same shuffle pattern but only with the vacuum motor turned off.

It works well for cleaning operations on closed surfaces such as tiles.

However, it will not peel off dry patches which is a downside.

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Height

If you have a lot of furniture in the house with low spaces like beds, you will appreciate this feature.

All ILIFE bots are less than 3.15 inches tall – about 0.45 inches shorter than the Roomba and 0.75 inches shorter than the Neato BotVac.

The V5 Pro is the shortest of the bunch at just 2.76 inches in height, and both V7 versions are the tallest at 3.15 inches.

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battery

All variants use a 2,600mAh Li-ion battery which will last between 90 and 180 minutes depending on the variant. Using a lithium-ion battery means less wear and tear as the charge level drops.

The runtime will be good enough to clean up to 500 square centimeters.

Charging time will be about 300 minutes, regardless of the alternative.

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virtual wall

This virtual wall is a design similar to Roomba which means it sends out an infrared signal that “blocks” telling the robot not to enter a certain area. In essence, this device acts as a wall blocking the path of the robot.

For a robot vacuum in this price range, it’s a nice added feature.

Only the X5 has the built-in virtual wall feature.

Now let’s look at each variant closely and take a look at its features one by one.

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ILIFE V1.0

In terms of features, the V1 is the cheapest of the seven bots on this list, but note that it also has the least amount of features.

The only reason I can give you to buy this robot is the price.

Unfortunately, ILIFE V1 has been discontinued and is no longer available.

But don’t worry the entry level isn’t bad at all because this bot retains all the navigation and cleaning performance of its more expensive siblings like the X5, V5 and V5 Pro.

Like all ILIFE robots, this variant does a very good job of avoiding obstacles and even if it hits one of them, it slows almost to a stop and won’t damage your furniture.

low profile design

This robot is only 2.95 inches long, and will fit most furniture.

Since this variant does not have any motorized brush so don’t expect much in terms of carpet cleaning but I will have to test it to see how well it works or how it goes with that.

Unlike the other variants on this list that have 2,600mAh, this robot has a slightly smaller lithium battery at just 2,200mAh.

Shorter run time

It simply means that this will work for less – according to GearBest, it will work between 60 to 90 minutes and will take 200 to 250 minutes to charge.

Speaking of charging, the biggest drawback of this robot is the lack of a charging base – the one that the robot returns to when it detects that its batteries are less than 20%.

What does this mean?

This robot will simply work until it stops, then you will have to connect the charger on the side. It can still clean multiple rooms but it won’t be as efficient.

Another feature it lacks is the remote control which isn’t much of an issue for me, but does mean you won’t be able to schedule the robot to clean on its own at a specific time—a major feature that makes the robot vacuum so useful in my book.

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If you don’t mind the lack of a charging base and scheduling feature and just want a simple robotic vacuum that works well on your bare floor, you’ll get a good deal with the V1. It costs just over $100 and one of the best value robots in my book.

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A4

In terms of power, the A4 has the strongest suction power of all the variants available making it the most efficient choice for bare floors and carpets.

It features a coarse-type motorized brush that will work best on low and possibly medium carpets with two side brushes for cleaning the edges.

Double side brushes

These side brushes work in unison to direct loose dirt into the main entrance.

The only other robotic vacuums I know of that have more suction are the Roomba 980 and Neato, but this one is at least a few hundred dollars more expensive!

Update (April 4, 2017): ILIFE has revealed a new robotic vacuum cleaner – A4S and A6. These two types have upgraded motors that are more efficient and new beater rods that improve cleaning performance.

Guess how much is A4. On Amazon this will cost about $210. A better deal can be found at Gearbest as it costs less than $170 depending on the type of plug.

A cheaper option than Roomba 650

If you’re familiar with the Roomba 650, it’s almost the same except for the extra side brush.

Other elements are similar including the placement of the dirt basket.

But I’m not complaining because Roomba has long been a standard due to its success and copying its design wouldn’t be a bad idea.

This variant does not have any mop attachment, so it is vacuum only.

Out of the box, you get two extra side brushes and an extra HEPA filter.

Check out how the A4 motorized brush compares to the V7S Pro.

The V7S Pro brush is much larger and works better especially on carpets.

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A4S

The A4S is similar in design to the A4 but with a few upgrades.

These include brushless motors, larger batteries and a larger motorized brush bearing. The improvements translate to a much longer uptime.

This is a video I made where I shared the differences between the A4S and the A4…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ96X_nclpk

Surprisingly, the older A4 did a better job in terms of the amount of dirt captured but it took 10 minutes longer to achieve a similar result.

Another minor improvement was the addition of a small housekeeping cycle. This cycle will run shorter compared to a traditional cycle that runs until the robot’s battery runs out.

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A4S is the 9 most powerful ILIFE product out there. It works best on exposed floor surfaces such as tile, hardwood or linoleum as well as low to medium pile carpets.

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A 6

ILIFE A6 is the latest and with some upgrades ILIFE Droid is in the class now. It has a Gen 2 brushless motor which is much more efficient than A4 and A4S.

This translates to a longer runtime of around 160 minutes. According to ILIFE.

New beater bar

It has many other improvements which include a different motorized brush that doesn’t have any bristles…

This is a drastic change from the previous variants. No bristles, easy to clean. ILIFE was very generous in including an extra brush out of the box.

Like the A4S, this one also comes with a Small Room Clean mode that allows it to clean smaller rooms without draining the battery.

This feature will extend the battery life to a certain extent because it works for a shorter period of time versus the default cleaning mode which works until the battery runs low.

Other improvements include a “virtual wall” that allows you to block areas you don’t want this robot to enter without having to move a piece of furniture.

In terms of size, this robot is a bit narrower but a bit taller…

Both have the same container position as the back. But the release lever is in a different location on the A6 at the top. So be careful when picking up this robot from behind that you don’t touch the lever or else the robot will stumble.

The container capacity is slightly smaller for the A6 – – only 0.3 liters (against 0.45 liters).

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The A6 is currently the newest and with some upgrades available from ILIFE robot at the moment. Does the price justify its performance? It has the new Gen-2 “CyclonePower” brushless motor. This means better efficiency and longer operating time. It also comes with an extra rubber brush and a virtual wall. So this is a great value for the money you’ll be spending and I dare say I would recommend this over the iRobot Roomba 650.

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A 8

Does ILIFE A8 represent a change in trend for ILIFE robot vacuums?

Before its appearance, all ILIFE robots had random cleaning patterns.

Brand New Navigation

ILIFE A8 is completely different in terms of mobility. Instead of relying on an array of infrared sensors to avoid furniture, it has a camera to help it navigate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woNp8clC65g

The thorough cleaning mode that many people have come to love because it cleans so well for robots is gone.

The A8 uses a predictable back-and-forth pattern which is a sharp departure from the A6, its older brother.

Everything on the ILIFE A6 and A8 is the same except for the navigation.

To learn more about the A8, please watch this video. Be sure to watch it to the end to see the cleaning test.

Navigation is not as good as the A6

To be honest, I’m not really a fan of the upgraded navigation. Yes, it was effective but it lacked edge cleaning and precision. It left a lot of dirt behind and didn’t clean the area around the chair very well.

I had high hopes when I first got the A8 but the new navigation was a disappointment. Perhaps if ILIFE could find a way to integrate the SLAM system into the A8 and improve accuracy, it would certainly improve performance.

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To be honest, the navigation system upgrade is a failure to be honest. It was not thorough and edge cleaning was completely absent. If you are looking to buy this, please stick with ILIFE A6.

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X5

For homes like mine that only have a bare floor, the ILIFE X5 would be a smart choice.

This robot is capable of sucking dirt and mopping the floor.

Note that these two functions are separate and you cannot use these two features simultaneously.

Mop/Vacuum Combo

But you can dry the mop and vacuum – a useful set for cleaning statically charged dust.

The suction power is lower depending on the mode you are using.

When using the “Ultra Mute” mode, the suction power drops to 500 Pa and in the normal mode the suction power rises to 850 Pa.

No beater bar

The X5 doesn’t have the motorized brush that the A4 has, so don’t expect that to clean carpets. This RoboVac is designed for the bare floor.

It comes with two distinct tools for dry sweeping and wet mopping – dust bin and water container.

In terms of function, the water tank has a simple design principle. Simply tap water with two posts on each side towards the microfiber mop below.

It doesn’t have any mechanism that regulates the flow so you won’t be able to leave the water tank for long.

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The X5 is a great budget alternative as a robotic sweeper and mop. This is the best self propelled broom and mop. I can’t find another brand that offers the set of features that the X5 does but remember that this alternative will not clean carpet as it does not have any motorized brush.

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V5

Homes with lots of wood floors will benefit from the dual functionality of the V5 engine.

This variant is similar to the X5 and V5 Pro but is minus the wet wipe option.

It’s only with a few promotions (using a coupon code) and you get a lot for your dollar. Be sure to check the coupon codes in the Where to Buy section.

It is one of the best deals in the robot vacuum industry considering its cleaning and navigation performance.

Of all the Chinese brand robots, ILIFE produces one of the best, and I’m saying this not because I got all of these for free but I did well in my cleaning tests.

V5 is a step up from the bare bones ILIFE V1. Both of these robots have the same design at the bottom – two side brushes surround the entrance to the vacuum in the middle.

Even if the V5 is just under $10, you’ll get plenty of upgrades.

The first upgrade will be the ability to schedule the cleaning of the bot at the time you want it once per day, 7 days per week.

The second upgrade would be to add a mop so you can use it to dry the mop in addition to vacuuming.

You also get two extra side brushes, an extra HEPA filter, and a remote control with two double A batteries!

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If you don’t need the wet-wipe functionality of your X5 or V5 Pro, this is a good cheaper option. The cleaning performance will be about the same for these three bots, so this shouldn’t be an issue.

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V5S Pro

The V5 Pro is a step up from the V5 and X5.

It has about 20% more power than the V5 and the same power as the X5.

All three have the same bottom design, which means they have two side brushes, a suction-only vacuum and a mop attachment.

Simpler layout

The X5 comes with a 4-button interface (Clean, Plan, Home and Spot) while the V5 Pro has a simpler one-button touch LED screen layout.

Another difference is the remote control – the V5 has the same remote control as the V5 Pro but without the “max” button and no water tank.

Update (May 17, 2017): ILIFE has discontinued the V5 Pro and replaced it with some upgrades. This new version has four lithium batteries, longer run time, upgraded water tank and brushless motor. The upgrades will result in better scanning and much longer uptime.

the show length

On a full charge, the X5 will run for about 90 minutes while the V5 Pro will run for longer – around 140 minutes (that’s more than two hours!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiy1BtlSvPY

The price difference between the two will be minimal. It varies depending on the warehouse you’re buying it from. Be sure to check this section for the latest prices.

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With all the upgrades, I would choose the V5S Pro over the X5 because it has more refinement, longer runtime, better water tank and better scheduling feature with some upgrades.

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V7 and V7S

These two variants are a hybrid version of the A4 and V5 Pro which means that it combines the carpet cleaning feature of the A4 with the wet wiping functionality of the V5 Pro.

Editor’s note: GearBest has now stopped selling the ILIFE V7S on their website.

This variant has been replaced by the V7S Pro with several major improvements over the V7S namely a new water tank that regulates the flow of water from tank to pad and the ability to schedule this to flush on its own.

To see how these two differ, watch this video…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDJCe5RJyg

Both models come with a combination brush tool similar to this one.

The brush roll is similar to the Neato BotVac Connected which means it has bristles as well as a mop design that works very well at cleaning pet hair.

Unfortunately it does not match the Neato in terms of suction. Of all the variants, the V7 and V7S engines have the weakest suction power at just 400Ps.

But it makes up for it with a wet wipe feature. Both have the largest dust bin of 7 – capable of holding 0.5 liters of dry dirt.

The similarity ends there.

What is the difference between the two?

The ILIFE V7 has a microfiber mop that is smaller than the V7S and has no water tank which means it is only able to dry dust.

You can spray the cleaner on the mop, but don’t expect to wipe a large area with the wet mop.

The V7S is perhaps the most versatile of all the robots featured here because it can clean carpets, bare floors, and rugs as well as a wet wipe feature.

Only V7 has a smartphone app

The last feature that was found in the V7 but not found in the V7S is the Bluetooth remote control system through the smartphone app (yes it is available for both Android phones and iOs).

To download the app, simply use a QR code scanner to scan the code on the box…

It will open the site where you can download the application.

Here’s a closer look at the app’s screenshots…

This means that you can control the robot using an app in your phone.

The downside is that it is only compatible with Bluetooth and not WiFi, so you have to be within a certain radius.

The app is currently only available in Chinese.

But even in its current version, you don’t have to learn Chinese to use it.

When the app is launched, simply press the big blue button above the status bar to discover the bot.

Make sure the switch under the robot is in the ON position and on the charging base.

After the app detects the bot, click on it and it reveals an interface that looks like a remote control. The icons are pretty self-explanatory.

New and improved: V7S Pro

ILIFE has just released an upgraded version of V7S called V7S Pro.

So what are the updates with ‘Pro’? And is it worth some of the upgrades?

The biggest upgrade from the first generation will be the water tank.

A GearBest representative told me that the new tank has a regulator that prevents water from dripping off when the robot is turned off.

When I looked closely at the water tank, I noticed that it was not a pump per se because I

It does not have any motor or any electronics inside.

The device looks more like a valve connected to a device inside the robot to reduce air passage in the mop position. It is also the same device that stops the flow of air.

Watch this video to see what I mean…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7UC2wooudk

It’s a very simple system but definitely an improvement over the previous tank.

The downside is that it still maintains the same navigation pattern which means the robot will drag a mop across the floor.

You don’t have the short back-and-forth sweep of the Braava truck, so cranking won’t be as good.

In terms of cleaning performance, expect the same results because it uses the same motor, brush, and container.

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The V7 and V7S both add a wiping feature to the vacuum system equipped with a motorized brush. The V7 is only capable of dry wiping as it does not have a water tank while with some upgrades it is capable of cleaning floors, bare carpets as well as wiping (wet and dry).

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V8S Pro

The V8S Pro is ILIFE’s newest and probably best vacuum cleaner to date. It combines the efficient mobility of the A8 and the precision of the A6 into a larger package.

As a bonus, this bot is capable of scanning thanks to the scanning facility.

So basically, you have a robot that has two functions like a robotic broom and mop.

Not an update but a new bot

This is not just an update like V7S Plus for V7S Pro but a brand new product.

It has a larger enclosure and water capacity thanks to both the dust enclosure and the water tank loads from the back, not from the top like on the V7 and V7S Pro.

Better Mobility

Another improvement would be the navigation. Instead of using a random cleaning pattern, the V8S Pro is now a predictable back and forth pattern that combines efficiency and accuracy.

Watch this video to see the different cleaning modes of the V8S Pro…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuyHbE2iw0Y

Unlike the first generation Xiaomi and Roborock S5, this vacuum does not have a SLAM algorithm so it will not be smart.

He will not know if he has completed a department cleaning or returned home after a predetermined number of cleaning cycles.

This robot will clean in a predictable pattern until the battery runs low or you ask it to return to the charging station.

Cleaning performance is a strong point and is very close to high-end robots like the S50.

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The V8S Pro is one of the best ILIFE robots I’ve tested. It combines efficient back-and-forth navigation with the precision found in high-end robotics like Xiaomi. But it doesn’t have a SLAM algorithm so it won’t be smart.

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Where can you buy these?

While ILIFE is available at major online stores like Amazon, you can get an even better deal if you buy it directly from the source – at GearBest.com.

For people who live in the US, you can buy ILIFE from their US warehouse. EU consumers can purchase this directly from the EU warehouse.

This means faster charging times, less waiting time and more time using the robot and keeping your home clean.

To get the latest prices on the various ILIFE variants, simply click on any of the links below.

I have included some coupon codes that GearBest sent me.

A4S

• A4SJZ (EU plug) – $139.99

A 6

• Hong Kong warehouse (US plug) – $233.69

A 8

• China warehouse – $349.99
• Amazon warehouse

V5

• Hong Kong warehouse

V5S Pro

• QY2C78N9R1C65 (EU plug champagne gold) – $149.99 * Price with coupon code
• Amazon warehouse

X5

• Hong Kong warehouse

V7

• sapphire blue china plug – USD 203.98

V7S Plus

• V7SPLUSJZ (CZ warehouse) – $159.99
• (China warehouse) – USD 176.99 * Flash Sale (14% off)

V8S Pro

• QY2RJ3622O912 (Platinum) – USD 239.99 * Price with coupon code
• Amazon warehouse

* The above prices may change – please use them as a guide only.

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Conclusion

ILIFE allows consumers to enjoy the benefits of owning a robotic vacuum cleaner without having to spend more than $250.

All of these bots have roughly similar performance. Each will differ in terms of surface to be cleaned, accessories, runtime, and engine.

V1 is the cheapest option

The V1 is the cheapest and simplest 9 robots currently available. It does not have a remote control or charging base, so you will need to connect it manually after each cleaning cycle.

But this bot costs under $80, so it’s really a bargain if you ask me. It’s even cheaper than some of the stick vacuums I’ve covered in this blog.

Carpet options

A4 is great for bare floors and carpets thanks to the combination of force and motorized brushing. ILIFE has since released two improved versions of A4 – A4S and A6.

Both come with a new, second-generation brushless motor that is more efficient and will last longer. Brushless motors are more efficient than their brushed counterparts so they last longer. Another improvement is the small room cleaning mode which allows cleaning a smaller area without using the battery.

A6 is the latest ILIFE product to come out and it could be the best. It has a brand new brush brush without bristles. Instead, it has rubber plates that resemble a tractor wheel.

This is designed to improve irritation and ease of maintenance as there are no more bristles where the hair can wrap. Unfortunately, this is also the most expensive variant at around $230.

The best choice of V1

The V5 is similar to the V1 but comes with a remote control and charging station that costs about $112, or about $30 more than the V1.

The best option is the V5S Pro just in case you need the scanning function. It comes with the improved water tank, motor and mixture that will run longer. But it will cost about $50 more than the V5 and double the price of the V1.

The X5 costs only about $20 less than the V5S Pro and has the same functionality but with a scheduling.

Finally, the V7 and V7S Pro have the largest dirt bins (0.5 liters) of the bunch but have the weakest engines. But the performance is not affected because it has a well-designed motorized brush. The latter has a water tank ideal for a tiled or even hardwood home.

All of their products come with a one year warranty and free shipping to the United States.