ILIFE has come a long way since they unveiled the first robotic vacuum cleaner in the V1 years ago.
Each variant is a stark improvement over the previous generation. A6 is the latest in the A series product line that includes A4 and A4S.
This elegant piano black colored robot is a thing of beauty.
It is actually a bit longer than A4 and A4S.
Despite the low profile, it can still fit under a lot of furniture—something Dyson could only dream of.
One of the biggest improvements found in the A6 is the motorized brush that no longer has bristles.
ILIFE calls this their “Spiral Blade Away Rubber Brush” which has replaced traditional bristles with rows of rubber blades.
The A6 also has an upgraded “Gen 2” motor that generates up to 10 times more aerodynamic power on carpets and rugs. Oddly enough, ILIFE rated this at 1000 Pa – just like A4.
All of these upgrades come at a cost – this product currently retails for just over $250 at GearBest. Also available on Amazon if you prefer to buy there and get it faster thanks to 2-day shipping if you sign up for Amazon Prime.
Table of Contents
Quick look at the features
- New 3-stage Gen 2 Cyclone Power system with better agitation and suction for better cleaning performance
- The spiral-bladed rubber brush has no bristles which means less maintenance
- New battery boosts runtime up to 160 minutes
- It comes with an advanced dual-mode virtual wall that blocks areas you don’t want the robot to go to
- At only 2.8 inches tall – perhaps the shortest robotic cleaner out there
- RoadRover’s large wheels allow this machine to clear obstacles
- Scheduling is available once a day / seven days a week
- Dirt box is bigger compared to A4
- Maximum cleaning mode available for carpet cleaning
Positives
- Low-profile design allows access to the bottom of a lot of furniture
- The new blade design works well
- long term time
- The piano black color looks really nice
- Cheaper than Roomba
Negatives
- It still uses the same random navigation as A4 and A4S
- small dirt box
What do you expect from the A6?
The video below is a preview of what you’ll get out of the box if you buy this from GearBest.
This product is also available on Amazon at a slightly higher price. You can get a better deal from GearBest, just scroll down to “Where can I buy thisTo view the latest coupon codes.
I got this as a sample for testing so please watch the whole video as I show you the features, contents inside the box, noise level and performance test.
ILIFE has been very generous with what comes in the box.
Not only do you get two extra side brushes, batteries for the remote and default wall, but they also come with an extra Bladeaway helical blade.
You won’t get a lot of extra consumables from Neato or Roomba. This is still cheaper compared to both.
top view
The top view screams sophistication thanks to the piano black finish and gray accents.
The layout is very simple – it has a single button that turns on the default cleaning mode.
It retains the same A4/A4S structure, which means the container is loaded from the back. But the position of the release lever is different.
View from the bottom
Below, you’ll notice a similar layout for A4 and A4S. It has two side brushes on the sides, the beater bar in the middle and the dirt container at the bottom.
How is this different from A4?
Even if this robot looks completely different from the original A4 with its glossy black finish, it still retains a lot of features.
It still has dual side brushes that surround the motorized brush in the middle. And they keep the same size – at least in diameter.
Slightly longer than A4 / A4S
When this robot first came out, ILIFE said that this robot is the shortest on the market at around 2.8 inches in height.
But when I got this, it was different. This is a picture I took…
This is actually a bit longer than A4. GearBest says this is 8cm high which means 3.15in.
The A6 is about half an inch shorter than the Roomba and Neato. Compare it to the Dyson 360 Eye and this device is a dwarf!
New motorized brush
Perhaps the biggest upgrade in my opinion is the whisker bar that is filament-free, which requires less maintenance. ILIFE calls this a Bladeaway spiral blade which uses several rows of rubber “blades” for agitation.
Below is a comparison between A4 and A6 brushes.
In terms of size, A4 has a slightly wider coverage but A4 has the advantage of being easier to maintain when wrapping hair.
If you have a lot of pets at home, it makes sense to get A6 over A4 because of this brush design.
From the reviews I’ve read, this new design is promising and works well even on carpet.
Uptime Optimization
The original A4 will run for 120 minutes before needing to dock and recharge. But thanks to a software upgrade and a more efficient engine, ILIFE was able to extend its runtime by a maximum of 40 minutes.
So this robot will be able to run for more than two and a half hours before it needs to be recharged.
virtual wall
The default wall for those not in the know is a device that sends out a signal to prevent the robot’s path from going into areas you don’t want.
In essence, the signal acts as a “virtual wall”. You won’t find this in A4 or A4S.
This is definitely better than getting a crate or something big to actually prevent the robot from going into the pet’s area inside the kitchen.
It reaches about 10 feet in length.
In my opinion, this is a better solution than what Neato and Xiaomi offer which is a magnetic strip.
What comes in the box?
Out of the box, you’ll get…
- Robot ILIFE A6
- Charging base and plug
- English manual
- 2 extra side brushes
- Extra rubber brush
- virtual wall
- Extra HEPA filter
- far
The virtual wall and remote control also come with batteries. This product is automatic voltage which means it will operate in 110 or 240 volt outlets.
bare floor performance
The A4 was able to hold it even against a more powerful robot like Xiaomi.
And with all the improvements in the A6, I think it will perform even better.
Rugs / Carpets
First I have to get this out of the way. If your home has carpeting, make sure you have a vacuum cleaner on hand. You can’t rely on a robot vacuum to deep clean carpets because it can’t.
It will not match upright in terms of strength and emotions. An expectation like this would be unfair and you will be prepared for disappointment.
Using these machines every day will reduce the need to break the status quo because it does the job for you.
You will still need to deep clean the carpet occasionally, but the need will be reduced.
I must warn you that this robot will not pass over anything black. So if you have rugs with black patterns or the like, don’t expect to scrub those parts.
Product specification
| Battery Type | lithium ion |
| charger type | charging base |
| Shipping time | Unavailable |
| Dirt Capacity (Dry) | 0.3 liters |
the show length  |
160 minutes |
| net weight (with battery) | 5.62 EGP |
| Purchase Weight | 10.99 EGP |
| Diameter | 12.01 inches |
| Height | 3.15 inches |
| multi room |
 |
| self docking |
|
| remote control |
|
| HEPA filter |
|
| Detecting cliff |
|
| self-control |
|
| side brush |
|
| bin full indicator |
 |
| drawer cleaning |
|
| Cleaning sessions per week |
7 |
| Extra filter | 1 |
| containment |
Nobody |
| brush cleaning tools | 1 |
| Accessories included | charging base
AC adapter Remote control (AAA batteries included) 1 extra HEPA filter 1 brush cleaning tool 2 extra side brushes |
| Voltage | auto volt |
| Made in | China |
| Price | Check Price |
Where can I buy this?
The A6 is available on Amazon for $220. And you’ll be eligible for free 2-day shipping if you join Prime. Amazon also offers extended warranties of up to 3 years if you want peace of mind.
To finish
ILIFE has done it again by creating a relatively inexpensive robot that works. When you compare this to even more Roomba 650, you get more value.
It comes with a remote control, two extra side brushes, an extra HEPA filter, a virtual wall, and even an extra whisk rod! All of these are under $240 which is a great value!
The Roomba 650 that costs more doesn’t even have a remote control and is about an inch high.
Being taller means that it will not fit into the areas of the A6 case. When comparing the cleaning performance, the difference is really insignificant.
It will not be reflected in the price difference.
The A6 does not have the advanced SLAM-based navigation system for the BotVac Connected or the Roomba 960 but costs only a fraction of these two bots.
You can buy 3 or 4 of them for the price of one of those bots and still have more cash to spare.
This robot is essential for people who are looking for a hands-free tool to keep their homes clean without breaking the budget.