It was a huge success and one of the best selling robotic brooms until they stopped selling it.
It’s simple, if something better happens it’s time to move on and that’s the case with the new and improved ILIFE V7S Pro.
These new improvements include an all-new water tank and the ability to schedule the bot to scan.
In terms of functionality, both this version and the original V7S engine have the same exact appearance.
Both of these robots come with a pink face (or rose gold as ILIFE likes to describe it) with a white outer shell with a single “clean” button in the top center portion.
The mop size is exactly the same and you can actually switch them both.
Let’s first take a look at the features of V7S 2.0:
- New and improved water tank – now comes with a pump that regulates the flow of water
- Upgraded software that improves charging rate and now allows you to schedule the bot to scan by itself
- It has the functions of wiping, dry wiping and wet wiping
- Anti-collision system (series of sensors) on the bumper protects the furniture
- 450ml water tank
- 500ml Dirt Container (Double Filtration)
- Also contains HEPA filtration
- Produces less than 60 dB
- Li-ion battery 2600 mAh
- 1 year warranty
Positives
- The improved water tank now comes with a valve that regulates the regular flow of water
- long term time
- Large water tank can clear more area
- big bin
- HEPA filter
- Decent cleaning performance even on carpets/rugs
- less noise
Negatives
- Ineffective cleaning mode
- Navigation via V7S has not improved
- You won’t go over black rugs
What do you expect from the V7S Pro?
Before reading the rest of the review, please watch this video as I open the case, discuss the features (plus a water tank comparison on the V7S and V7S Pro) and do a cleaning test…
One of the biggest problems with the first V7S is the water tank.
Once filled, it begins to drip even before being placed inside the robot itself.
And if you’re not careful, water can seep through the case and get inside the engine – something that has happened before.
Since I don’t use these robotic vacuum cleaners for mopping, this is not an issue for me. But if you use it often for this purpose, it can be a problem for you.
If you’ve seen my video, I mentioned that you need to plug the holes with your fingers to keep it from dripping.
Removing the tank can be a messy process because it drips constantly even when the robot stops. You will have to remove it as soon as possible or risk a large, messy puddle.
Table of Contents
New water tank
If there was a hole in the V7S’s armor – this would be the biggest.
GearBest told me that this new water tank fixed the problem by adding a pump to it for regular water flow.
This mechanism will prevent the water from dripping out when the robot stops. On closer inspection, this pump looks more like a valve.
This is a picture of the water tank…
You will notice a hose running from the side of the structure towards the middle – this is part of the pump mechanism that controls the flow of water.
Here is the comparison between the two water tanks…
See the difference?
The V7S water tank does not have the visible hose while the V7S Pro does. So when you pour water into the V7S tank, it will immediately drip if there is enough water. Not so with the latter.
Next, let’s take a look at some pictures, I’ll start at the top…
Aesthetically, the V7S and Pro versions look like identical twins, and they both have the same dimension, color and design.
This is the bottom view with the squeegee attached…
Without a mop…
Again, both devices are essentially the same, and each has the same “double-V” brush that is similar in design to the Neato Botvac. It is basically a combination of bristle and mop design.
I really like this design because even with the weaker suction (compared to the A4, X5 and V5 Pro) it was still able to pick up a decent amount of dirt.
dirt box
The V7S Pro has a 500ml dirt container which is one of the largest capacity bins on the market right now. It is exactly the same as the first generation V7S with a two-stage filtration system – a primary mesh and then a HEPA filter.
I have to warn you although HEPA filter here is not washable but you can use cleaning brush to clean it and extend its service life. The primary filter is fine but fine dust particles will still seep through.
Remote and scheduling
This also comes with a remote control that allows you to select the cleaning mode or schedule.
The V7S and V7S Pro both have the same remote function and the same functions.
GearBest says you can schedule the V7S Pro to be scanned but that’s something the V7S can do as well.
But since there is no valve in the water tank, you cannot store it inside the robot. With the V7S Pro, this is not a problem because it has this release valve.
charging base
All but one of ILIFE robots (only the V1 does not come with a dock) are equipped with a charging dock where the robot docks and recharges.
Navigation and cleaning performance
downstairs
If you watch the entire video above, you’ll see how this robot performed on a bare floor as I sprinkled 70g of oats, powder, dust bunnies and some strands of human hair on our linoleum floors.
Here are some pictures of the mess…
Here are some shots after the cleaning session.
I also added a chair in the middle of the room to replicate how this robot performs around furniture.
In terms of cleaning performance, it had the same mobility as the first generation V7S q8ut` it took nearly 30 minutes to clean 65 out of the 70 grams of dirt I sprinkled around the room.
It didn’t clean everything because I paused the bot to avoid recording a very long video.
After a cleaning test, I let the robot clean the room and here’s what it picked up…
Not much oats were left but there was plenty of dust. If you live in a dusty environment like where I live, this is what you would expect from this robot.
The biggest strength of this robot is accuracy and uptime
After that initial run which took about 30 minutes, I let the robot run again and it did so for just over 2 hours which is impressive.
They won’t be as effective as Neato BotVac, Roomba 980 or Xiaomi, but you can spread this out to clean one room at a time, and the price difference between these four bots is huge if I can add – about $400++.
One of my favorite things about the V7S is the low decibel level it produces.
You won’t notice it on the first video recording, but it’s not as noisy as on the ILIFE A4 or X5, but a brush roll made the power difference.
rug
I combined these two because our house doesn’t have any carpet at all.
As you saw in my video with Xiaomi, I used the same carpet that I borrowed from a friend, and spread a lot of dirt on it to test how it works…
And after nearly 20 minutes of cleaning this was the result…
It’s not perfect but it shows you how well this robot does the job at least on this type of carpet which is a relatively low pile but completely avoids the black parts of the carpet as if it’s on a cliff – these are where the cliff is. Sensors in action.
She even got a dead cockroach…
Avoiding the black areas on this rug also led to at least some other issues in this test.
First were the cliff sensors. The robot was not allowed to pass over the black parts of the carpet.
This basically trapped the robot in a corner.
Second, any dirt left on the black areas, the robot will not clean.
If you have black carpet or a really dark carpet, this bot may not be usable of these types.
Cleansing
This is where the biggest optimization comes in.
First, I would like you to watch this video…
You’ll notice that compared to the V7S, it moves the same way you pull a mop on the floor.
It takes a few minutes before the mop gets wet, but as time goes on and more water goes into the mop, it gets damp.
A big improvement would be the addition of a mechanical valve
This mechanism acts as a release valve that allows air to flow in and water to drip.
A YouTube viewer (don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel) mentioned that it’s a magnetic valve that opens or closes the air passing through it depending on whether the robot is running or not.
It’s completely mechanical which is a good thing because electronics and water are not a good combination and bodes well for longevity.
The mechanism is not perfect
I noticed some drips during the initial filling so you’ll have to check the posts underneath for drips before attaching the water tank, but it’s a better design than the first version.
The large microfiber mop really increases coverage. I would suggest you start with a damp mop and sprinkle some cleaning solution on for better results. It is best to use the mop on a tiled surface or any closed surface for cleaning and maintenance.
But don’t expect the same performance as the Braava with better action and real scanning action.
What’s in the box?
Not included in the picture is the English/Chinese manual.
Out of the box you will get:
- V7S Pro Robot Vacuum Cleaner
- Extra side brush
- brush cleaning tool
- Remote control (with 2-AAA batteries included)
- Manual (Yes, it has an English version)
- charging base
- Additional HEPA filters
- power cord.
Where can I buy this?
The V7S Pro is no longer available at GearBest but is still available on Amazon at a higher price. It will be eligible for free 2-day shipping if you join Prime. You also have the option to purchase an extended warranty of up to 3 years if you want peace of mind.
wrapping
In terms of cleaning performance, the new V7S Pro keeps the same dirt box, navigation, motor and brush as the old V7S so expect the same kind of results.
Because it uses a weaker motor than A4, it won’t be noisy and you won’t scare or wake your child with this robot in action.
The biggest improvement will be the water tank
It has a valve that controls the flow of water.
Remember that the value is purely mechanical and that you are adding water for the first time. It may fall off due to air entering from the top.
So be careful when installing it on the robot so it doesn’t drip into the engine.
The water tank is a huge improvement over the previous V7S but still uses the same navigation as it pulls the mop above the floor.
It won’t have as good a thrill as the Braava but on the plus side it is cheaper.
For maintenance cleaning, the wipe feature should work well in addition to having a very good cleaning bot.