ILIFE A10 Review and Test

When ILIFE was introduced to the market in the mid-2010s, it became a household name, because it was cheap and still cleaned well.

However, most of ILIFE’s first generation products were random navigation robots that did not have intelligent navigation.

Fast forward to 2020, ILIFE is upgrading its product offering with The first robotic vacuum cleaner based on LIDAR – A10.

How good is the A10? How does it compare to the likes of Roborock and Roomba? We’ll find out more in this review.

Positives

• Smart and Efficient Mobility
• The all-rubber brush resists tangles well
• Large Capacity Dust Container (600ml)
• easy to empty
• Excellent for moving around tight spaces

Negatives

• Lacks accuracy (one pass only)
• Edge cleaning is not present in the default cleaning cycle
• Double the performance of deep cleaning

Introduction to ILIFE A10

Like I said, A10 is ILIFE The first robot with a laser navigation system. This model differs from other A series robots such as the A8 and A9 that use a camera mounted on top.

Using LIDAR and SLAM unlocks many features You won’t see it on other ILIFE models (such as A8 and A9), such as invisible wall, restricted areas, selective cleaning of the room.

It’s a step in the right direction for ILIFE as they try to catch up with the popularity of Roborock.

Design

The A10 comes in a classy glossy gray with some black accents around it. It has a large raised hood that houses the LIDAR sensor near the front with a single button.

As with most ILIFE A-series variants, it has a litter box in the back. I believe the A10 has a similar design to models like the A80 and A9 with a cellular trash can (more below).

Underneath, it has dual side brushes that surround the core of the brush. One unique feature is the option to set the brush speed through the app between 0 and 100.

Keep it on the lowest setting to reduce the dispersal of dirt.

These side brushes are color coded and lock in place, so there’s no need for a screwdriver to secure them in place.

Out of the box, you’ll get two main brushes – a combo brush as well as an assortment of rubber.

I’ve tested both extensively, and there isn’t much difference in picking up surface debris. But the all-rubber is better at resisting tangles, while the combo brush is better for cleaning the included dirt.

Litter box size and design

ILIFE describes the A10 as having a “cellular dustbin” with conical cylinders that prevent the filter from getting dirty and clogging prematurely.

This feature works similarly to Dyson. I’ve tested it extensively, and it seems to do an excellent job of keeping debris out of the filter, thus extending its service life.

The filter it uses is HEPA, but unlike Roborock, it’s not washable, and you can see a huge warning in red lettering above the container.

she has Decent capacity 600mlaccording to AliExpress, so the size is above average.

How does ILIFE A10 navigate?

One of the first things I experienced with the A10 was mobility. I was expecting a similar style as the Roborock S5 Max, but that wasn’t the case.

Instead, it instantly cleans the midsections in straight lines. It goes to edges, which compensates for not cleaning up edges in its default cycle.

Why ILIFE doesn’t have an edge cleaning cycle is a mystery to me. But you will get a remote control to access this feature.

However, I hope ILIFE will tweak their algorithm and add this to future updates as other brands like Neato, Roomba and Roborock have it.

Another aspect I noticed is the one-pass running, plus it doesn’t have the option to increase passes, which is another area of ​​improvement for ILIFE.

Coverage test

I tested coverage by scattering Quaker oats all over the room, and the A10 was decent, but left little shards.

Aside from not having a second and third pass, the A10 makes wide turns, so it misses points.

It shouldn’t be a problem if it has a wider brush, but the beater bar of less than 6 inches hampers its potential.

Picking is not an issue here because the brush has got any debris in its way. So tightening the turns and adding more passes should make the A10 a better performing robot.

Application Features

ILIFE A10 is compatible with the ILIFE Home app. You can download this by scanning the QR codes (for IOS or Android) under the bot.

This app is responsive and feature-rich. The router is a must to pair the app and the robot.

Follow the steps in the app when adding a new bot. The process is simple, and if you follow the steps, it will take less than 10 minutes.

Containment Features

One of my favorite features is the accessibility to restricted areas and the invisible wall. These two components are essential to any intelligent robot vacuum and prevent the robot from entering restricted areas. Most homes will have these areas, and users will benefit from that.

carpet increase

ILIFE’s carpet booster feature is different from Roomba and Roborock, in that it automatically increases suction when it detects carpet.

You will have to allocate “carpet areas” on the map to let the bot know when to increase the suction.

Yes, it’s an extra step, but it’s a great feature because users have a level of control.

Save maps

Another feature I like is the option to save multiple maps. ILIFE doesn’t specify how many they can save on their website, but it’s at least four because I’ve saved three, and the Add New Map button is still enabled.

Within these maps, users can set as many invisible walls and restricted areas as needed, so this bot can be used inside multi-level homes.

Side brush speed adjustment

One feature I didn’t see in the other brands I tested was the option to adjust the side brush speed. ILIFE provides this option between 0 and 100.

For me, the best setting would be zero or slower speed to reduce debris dispersal because it automatically increases suction when it detects an edge or an obstacle.

go area

Like the in-place cleaning function, the navigation area directs the robot to clean a specific area through the app.

It’s more accurate, as you can set a rectangular or square area anywhere on the map.

custom room label

After saving the map, users can split it up and assign custom names. I prefer using custom names as they provide more control.

You can use this in conjunction with scheduling room cleaning at the best times based on your schedule. So users will have many options on how to maximize it to meet their needs.

However, I’m not sure if this feature is usable with Alexa.

Selective room cleaning

LIDAR A10 enables selective room cleaning or selection of areas to clean with just a few clicks on the map.

Another advantage is the ability to specify the order in which these rooms are cleaned.

However, users will have to map these areas on the map before unlocking this feature.

Unlimited scheduling

The A10 has unlimited scheduling, so you can set as many runs as needed.

This feature compensates for the lack of clearances in the default cleaning cycle.

parts maintenance

This tab provides users with heads up when replacing components such as filter, side brush, and base brush. It’s a time based system, so you’ll have to do a visual check sometimes to check how each part stops.

suction mode

Unlike other brands that have fixed settings, ILIFE provides a range between 0 and 100 for suction adjustment.

I tested how usable the suction was on the lowest setting, and it was decent, at least for hard surfaces, but not enough on carpet.

How much power does ILIFE A10 have?

One of the tools I use to measure force is the anemometer, which measures air flow. Since the A10 doesn’t have any fixed power settings, I measured it at three levels – 1%, 50% and 100%, and here are the results.

• Lowest (0%): 9 cubic feet per minute
• Middle (50%): 11.68 cubic feet per minute
• Max (100%): 14.20 CFM

Not a world-beating airflow, but decent nonetheless. However, in comparison with other vacuum cleaners of a similar price range (iRobot, Roomba, Neato), it is somewhat lacking.

cleaning performance

ILIFE A10 has undergone a series of tests on debris such as sand, quinoa, pet litter, hair, Quaker oats and more to see how well it picks up.

• Total: 82.42%
• Solid ground: 98.45%
• Carpet (surface): 91.27
• deep cleaning: 45.17%
• Sand on the hard floor: 94.8%

The overall score for the A10 was withdrawn due to low scores on the Deep Clean test. This tells me it’s a bit lacking with the agitation on a heavily piled rug.

It performed best on hard surfaces at 98.45%, which would have been higher if the navigation had been more compact.

hard floor results

• Quaker Oats: 98.8%
• coffee: 100%
• Quinoa: 97.4%
• pet litter: 97.6%

This robot achieved its best performance on hard floors at 98.45%. Although there were two side brushes, they didn’t scatter as much dirt as I had feared, which is a good sign.

Unfortunately, wide turns and a lack of passes compromise cleanup potential.

Sand test on hard floor

The sunflower test for any robot vacuum on hard surfaces is sand. For the test, I’m using 50 grams to see how much the A10 picks up and how clean the lanes are.

It picked up an average of 94.8%, which is on the lower end of the Roborock and Roomba which devoured nearly 100%.

The issue isn’t the lack of excitement, but the very wide turns, leaving behind missed points.

Another problem is the side brush scattering parts of it. When I did this test, I left the side brush speed at 10%, which may be a factor.

Also, the all-elastic brush was better than the combo brush, getting an average of 97.6% versus the combo brush’s 92% average.

hair wrap test

Next, we’ll look at how tangle-resistant the A10 is as I used one gram of strands of human hair about five and seven inches long.

I did the testing on both the rubber brush and the combo.

Full rubber brush results

• 5 inch braids: 0.8g (80%) inside the box and 0.2g (20%) on the brush
• 7 inch threads: 0.72g (72%) inside the box, 0.28g (28%) on the brush

Combo brush results

• 5 inch braids: 0.2g (20%) inside the box, 0.8g (80%) on the brush
• 7 inch threads: 0.5g (50%) inside the box, 0.5g (50%) on the brush

It’s a no-brainer, the all-rubber brush was better at resisting tangles and had the same hair-fighting properties as Roomba’s rubber extractors.

Most of the hair strands are wrapped on the hubs, which makes it easier to clean and remove the hair coiled on the bristles.

Fortunately, ILIFE makes it easy to clean the hubs thanks to the removable cover.

Edge cleaning

Another strength of the A10 is how well it cleans the edges. I wasn’t expecting this because it has a narrow brush, and the airflow isn’t that high, but nonetheless, it did the job.

This is a before and after picture.

The A10 picked up the most ground coffee in this corner of the room. Even debris is under a quarter inch slit, so it’s a decent edge cleaning robot.

Carpet results

The A10 had lower overall scores on the carpet. Part of it is the lack of airflow and excitement. Another reason is the lack of passes and wide turns.

Low stack results

• Quaker Oats: 98.4%
• coffee: 95.2%
• Quinoa: 95%
• pet litter: 98.2%

The A10 grade on the low-pile carpet was good – in the high 90s. Agitation wasn’t an issue on this surface as it resulted in clean passes.

However, the lack of passes and extra cornering hurts it, but the amount of debris it picked up was impressive despite these limitations.

Mid-stack results

• Quaker Oats: 85.8%
• coffee: 85.2%
• Quinoa: 92.8%
• pet litter: 79.6%

This robot did worst on a mid-pile carpet, scoring only over 90% with quinoa. Lack of excitement, average airflow, and few passes hurt it on thick, pile carpets.

deep cleaning

I rub 100g of sand on a medium pile rug to see how much you pick up for this experiment.

Unfortunately, the A10 didn’t perform well in our deep cleaning test, up 45.17%. The performance of the rubber brush was worse (42.4%) than the rubber brush (47.95%).

Again, the average airflow and lack of excitement and fairways hurt it in this area.

I do not recommend this for cleaning dirt on carpets.

How Noisy ILIFE A10 is?

To measure the noise, I used a sound meter and tested it at lowest power settings (1%), medium (50%), and highest (100%).

• Lowest (1%): 59.2 dB
• Middle (50%): 64.2 dB
• Max (100%): 8 dB

At its lowest, the A10 is docile, registers below 60dB, and is quiet enough to use inside an apartment complex in the evening.

However, this won’t be the case at the maximum setting when there are teeth close to 70dB – 68.6 to be exact.

How long does ILIFE A10 run?

ILIFE says the A10 will work for Up to 100 minutes in the lowest place. But it will be Near the 60 minute mark in the highest place.

This bot has recharge and resume, so it relieves the lack of max uptime as it will resume cleaning if it doesn’t finish the job.

What comes in the box?

1. ILIFE A10 robot vacuum cleaner
2. Two sets of side brushes
3. Extra rubber brush roller
4. Remote control (2 AAA batteries included)
5. Charging station plus base plate
6. Manual and quick start guide

Parts Availability

ILIFE is not a newcomer, so buying parts like filters or a side brush will not be a problem. You can get these items from Amazon or AliExpress.

I’ve also seen replacement batteries sold on Amazon for older variants like the A4S, A6, and V7.

However, the ILIFE A10 is only available on AliExpress, but not on Amazon, so only time will tell if ILIFE will add it to Amazon’s shelves.

maintenance

Robotic vacuums will need proper maintenance to function at their best. The A10 is no exception, and I will summarize the list of components that will need to be checked, cleaned or replaced.

1. Basic brush roll: It is easily the most misused part of a robot vacuum. Check it once a week and remove any hair or debris stuck on it. Use a full rubber brush if you handle a lot of pet or human hair on hard surfaces, which are easy to clean.
2. Side brush: Check that the hair is wrapped around the base. Since these components install from the bottom, there is no need for a screwdriver to connect or remove them.
3. Dustbin: Empty the trash after each run to prevent spills and dust mites from breeding.
4. filter: The A10 uses a non-washable HEPA filter. Fortunately, conical cylinders do an excellent job of keeping them from clogging for extended periods even after my rigorous cleaning tests.
5. Side wheels and wheels: Wipe these components with a clean microfiber towel to prevent debris buildup.
6. Shelf Sensors: The A10 has three groups at the bottom. Use a clean towel to wipe to prevent it from giving false signals.
7. laser sensor: Avoid sticking the LIDAR with a blunt object as it may misalign or damage it. I use a handheld vacuum cleaner (Dyson V8 or Roborock H6) with a brush attachment to clean up any debris.

Product Spec.

Where can I buy ILIFE A10?

You can buy this robot from AliExpress. Check the link below for the latest pricing information.

BUY NOW FROM Amazon

Not giving an opinion: I’ll earn a commission if you buy through the link above, but at no additional cost to you, so it’s a win for us!

Does ILIFE A10 offer excellent value?

I expected a lot from ILIFE A10 because I know the manufacturer produces high quality robot vacuums at an affordable cost.

However, the A10 was a bit disappointing due to the lack of many important features. It runs only once and does not have a custom edge cleaning process built into its default cycle.

You can use the remote to toggle the edge cleaning cycle only, but I prefer having it included in operation for convenience.

The turns are quite wide, and with a narrow brush, expect to lose some spots.

The cleaning dynamics are good for surface debris but don’t expect to deep clean the carpet as it lacks agitation and massive airflow.

The app is very good, and I love that it can save multiple levels of the map. But it doesn’t have the option to adjust the number of passes, so it lags in accuracy.

However, the current price is very attractive, if you add the discount. If you don’t mind the inaccuracies, it’s a cheaper option than the Roborock S5 Max or Neato D6.

Verdict: Decent but still behind Neato and Roborock

ILIFE has a decent product in the A10, but it lags behind Neato and Roborock, lacking two key features to challenge the other two brands.

The first is inaccuracy. It only rotates once by default, and the lack of edge-cleaning gets in the way of covering it. Too wide turns combined with a narrow brush will lose some spots.

This is a software related issue which I believe ILIFE will work around it with some computational tweaks.

In order to compete with the more well-known brands, they must improve on these shortcomings.