Household chores can become hectic, cumbersome, and tiresome over time. It’s essentially impossible to keep your home clean, especially if you have children or pets. Of course, you want to keep your house clean, but it’s a challenging job.
One way to alleviate some of the stress that comes with keeping your home clean is through the use of a robot vacuum. There are plenty of devices on the market from which you can choose, and they’ll ensure that your floors are free of dirt and debris.
Two options in the robot vacuum industry are iLife and Eufy. Let’s take a closer look at what these manufacturers have to offer, what features are available, and how they differ from one another.
Main Differences Between iLife and Eufy Robovac:
The main differences between iLife and Eufy Robovac are:
- iLife has HEPA filters, whereas Eufy Robovac offers a better Wi-Fi and devices support system.
- iLife has more useful low profile robots, whereas Eufy Robovac has a wide range of models that are compatible with Alexa and Google Home.
- iLife remove almost all the allergens in the surfaces, whereas Eufy Robovac comes with have BoostIQ technology.
- iLife has some models that come with an extra brush for maintenance, whereas Eufy Robovac comes with several different cleaning modes.
iLife
iLife is a company that has been around for the past decade. Based in China, iLife robot vacuums are manufactured by iLife Technology. iLife offers quality robot vacuums at reasonable prices, so if the cost is a factor, you might take a look at the devices they have to offer.
Design
For the most part, iLife robot vacuums are designed with a low profile. They measure less than three inches tall. The tallest iLife model, which is currently the V7, is shorter than the vast majority of robot vacuums on the market. Their circular design is similar to other devices you’ll see, but iLife units are typically slimmer.
One place where iLife sets itself apart is that the company offers various colors for its units. You can find them from black, to gold, to blue depending on the model type. iLife robots are also lighter than most of their competitors, with the heaviest model checking in at six and a half pounds.
Technology
iLife offers plenty of features and technology on many of their units. Here’s a deeper dive into what you can expect if you decide to go with an iLife robot vacuum.
WiFi Support
Unfortunately, there aren’t many iLife robot vacuums that support wifi. Currently, only two models, the A7 and the A9S, have wifi capabilities. This is a significant drawback for iLife as most other units available on the market offer wifi connectivity.
Smart Home Compatibility
Another strike against iLife is its smartphone application. In many cases, users have bad experiences with the app connecting to the robot vacuum. While there is an app available for download through Android or iOS, it leaves a lot to be desired considering how well other manufacturer apps work.
Unfortunately, iLife robot vacuum models are not compatible with Google Home or Amazon Alexa.
Vacuuming Technology
When it comes to vacuuming, your iLife robot vacuum offers a three-stage cleaning process. Side brushes gather dirt and debris along the edges and from the corners, while a central brush and strong suction system suck up everything else. Additionally, iLife units have sensors that help it to avoid obstacles and walls.
Navigation
Even though it offers sensors that avoid collisions, the iLife units seem to run into things more often than other robot vacuums. The vast majority of iLife robot vacuums do not have any type of mapping functionality, which means your device will rely solely on its on-board sensors.
For the most part, the robot will follow a pre-set path, starting at the exterior of each room, then slowly making its way toward the center. If you choose to put your iLife robot vacuum in spot cleaning mode, it will clean by moving in a spiral outward from the spot itself.
Filtration
If you have pets or have severe allergies, then the iLife is the perfect robot vacuum for you. Nearly all iLife units employ a HEPA filter, so you know it’ll pick up and filter out all those things that bother you on a regular basis.
Brushes
In addition to a brush under the unit itself, iLife robot vacuums come with a minimum of two side brushers or sweepers. Some units also include a bristle brush or an additional side brush for maintenance purposes. No matter what, you know you’ll have plenty of coverage when using your iLife robot vacuum to get your floors clean.
Recharge and Resume
While your iLife robot vacuum will auto-charge, it does not have the ability to pick up where it left off. When the battery is low on your unit, it will head back to its dock to recharge. However, when it’s charged up, you’ll need to press the start button to set it on its way again.
Floor Types
Every iLife robot vacuum is designed to thoroughly clean all floor types. However, there are a few models that handle transitioning from one floor type to another better than others. If you have predominately wood or carpet in your home, you should no trouble with your iLife robot vacuum getting your floors clean.
Scheduling
The vast majority of iLife robot vacuum models are designed to handle scheduling. This gives you the ability to select when your vacuum performs a cleaning cycle during the week.
Boundaries
There are some models of iLife robot vacuums that come with electro wall barriers. This allows you to create a border that prevents your unit from entering certain areas. Simply use your electro wall barrier and your robot vacuum will act as though that area doesn’t exist.
Control
As we mentioned previously, most iLife robot vacuums don’t support wifi, which means they don’t have access to the smartphone app. If you want to control your robot vacuum, an infrared remote comes with the unit. With it, you can move your device around like you would an RC race car.
Dustbin
iLife robot vacuums don’t have a full dustbin notification or alert. The manufacturer recommends that you empty out the bin every time your unit completes a cleaning cycle.
Battery
Most iLife robot vacuums boast a 2,600 mAh lithium-ion battery. This gives them a runtime of around two and a half hours, which is plenty of time for the device to get your floors cleaned. If there’s one area where iLife sets itself apart from other robot vacuums, the battery is it.
Current iLife Models
Let’s take a look at some of the current iLife robot vacuums available today, along with their pros and cons.
iLife A4
If you need a robot vacuum that cleans your carpets quickly, then take a look at the iLife A4. It has excellent suction power, removing hair and dirt that gets stuck in thicker carpet. Its sensors help it easily clean under tables, chairs, and beds without a problem.
Pros
- Picks up all the dust, dirt, and pet hair on your floors
- Cleans hardwood, tile, marble, and carpet floors. Moving from one type of flooring to another with no problems
- Easy to set up. Just press the “Start” button to kick off a cleaning cycle
- Attractive and aesthetically pleasing design
Cons
- HEPA filters have to be replaced every three to six months, adding cost to your robot vacuum
- Will return to dock if the battery is low, but will not resume cleaning where it left off
iLife A6
One of the newer robot vacuums in the iLife A series is the A6. This device offers a powerful lithium-ion battery, so it will run longer than the A4. With a strong suction feature, all the dirt, dust, and debris will be picked up off your floor in no time.
Pros
- Will suck up all the pet hair, dust, and debris throughout your home
- Generation 2 motor offers more suction power when cleaning deep pile carpets
- Long-lasting battery means it will clean larger spaces before returning to its dock to charge
- Comes in multiple colors, so you can pick one that fits the decorations within your home
Cons
- Uses random navigation to clean, which means it may clean the same areas twice
- The dustbin isn’t very large, so you spend a lot of time emptying it
- Lack of dustbin indicator means you have to empty the bing every time your robot vacuum cleans your floors
iLife V3s
The V3s offers improved navigation features, upgraded suction power, and reduced noise. This robot vacuum is an excellent purchase if you need some decent features but don’t have a lot to spend on a unit.
Pros
- Efficient and easy to use.
- Reduced noise levels mean you can work while your robot vacuum cleans
- Fits easily under low sitting furniture
Cons
-
No alarm to notify you if your device gets stuck while cleaning
iLife V5s
The iLife V5s is an updated model that offers new sensors and navigates throughout your home with ease. It will clean wood, tile, carpet, and marble, so you don’t have to worry about having a certain type of flooring in your home.
Pros
- The powerful battery offers plenty of cleaning time so your entire home gets clean
- Comes with an infrared remote so you can manually control the movement of your robot vacuum
- Does a good job of avoiding obstacles in your home as it cleans
Cons
- Not ideal for cleaning thick or high-pile carpets
- Does not offer wifi capabilities
iLife V8s
If a long-lasting battery is important to you, then take a moment to consider the iLife V8s. Its battery lasts long enough to get your floors thoroughly clean before needing to recharge. With a medium brush attached to the device, even the toughest dirt and debris won’t stand a chance.
Pros
- When its battery runs low the V8s will return to its dock to recharge
- The V8s has a larger dustbin than other iLife robot vacuums. That means you don’t need to empty it every time it vacuums your home.
Cons
-
The V8s is noisy when compared to other options in the iLife lineup.
Eufy Robovac
Eufy is actually a subdivision of a Chinese company called Anker. Based in Shenzen, the company is well-known for making quality smart robot vacuums, smart home appliances, and mobile peripherals.
Something to note is that Anker was the most popular brand of mobile chargers for Amazon in 2015, so they’re no slouch in the technology department.
Design
You’ll recognize a Eufy robot vacuum by its slim design, which is usually short enough to clean under your furniture without getting stuck. For the most part, these devices will easily reach under your coffee table or couch, as they have a height ranging from 2.85 inches to 3.1 inches.
Technology
You’ll enjoy plenty of technology options on Eufy Robovacs. They aren’t the most technologically advanced robot vacuums on the market, but they fall at a great budget price point for those who simply want the ease of cleaning with a robot vaccum.
Wi-Fi Support
Many Eufy Robovac models support Wi-Fi, so you can connect your robot vacuum to Wi-Fi for access to the smartphone app or to set up voice commands using the smart assistant compatibility.
Smart Home Compatibility
With a Wi-Fi connection on select Eufy Robovac models, you’ll enjoy being able to connect your robot vacuum to your Google Home or Alexa so that you can control it with your voice or program it to respond to unique situations using apps like IFTTT.
Vacuuming Technology
Eufy vacuums have BoostIQ technology that automatically detects where a lot of dirt or high pile carpet is so it can increase your suction for a better clean. If there’s a high traffic area with more dirt than other parts of your home, the vacuum will kick suction into high gear to get the job done.
Eufy Robovacs have several different cleaning modes including edge cleaning, spot cleaning, auto cleaning, and single room cleaning.
Edge cleaning mode detects and walls and will glide along these edges to clean only the edges of the room. It will clean at a reduced speed for twenty minutes to make sure the edges and corners where dirt collects are clean.
Spot cleaning ensures that your vacuum will tackle a messy spot by focusing the cleaning in a small circle for two minutes.
Auto cleaning allows your vacuum to automatically choose the best mode for cleaning your home. It may even use a mix of modes depending on the messes it finds in its path.
Single room mode cleans for thirty minutes at high intensity. Just put it in a room with the doors closed and it will automatically clean according to how dirty the room is.
Navigation
Eufy Robovac models don’t have navigation. They simple clean in a random pattern, avoiding objects as they go. They can’t remember where they’ve cleaned or identify where they need to clean next.
It will run until you stop it or it runs out of battery and then automatically return to its base. It has two side brushes that will sweep dirt from corners and under cabinets into the path of the main brush, where it will get sucked into the dustbin.
Filtration
Eufy has what they call high-performance filters. However, they’re not HEPA certified or HEPA quality. They’re simply a three-stage filter that can capture particles down to five microns. If you’re looking for a vacuum that can tackle smaller allergens or pet hair, this probably isn’t the one.
Most allergens will make it through the filter and the exhaust, and settle back on the floor. However, the filter will keep the motor clean and it’s great for tackling messes involving bigger pieces of debris as well as making it easier for you to mop after vacuuming.
Brushes
Eufy Robovacs use a three-point cleaning system. There are two side brushes that work in tandem with a roller brush to sweep debris from edges and corners into the path of the main brush so it can be sucked up into the dustbin.
It can tackle hard to reach areas, especially in edge mode.
Recharge and Resume
If your Eufy Robovac runs out of battery, it will return to the dock to recharge. However, because it doesn’t have navigation or keep track of where it’s been, it won’t resume once it’s charged.
You will have to manually restart your clean after the battery is charged. You can also force your robot vacuum to return to its dock if you want it to stop its cleaning cycle.
Floor Types
The Eufy Robovac will clean on all flooring types. In fact, it works well as it transitions from one flooring type to the next because of the way it automatically detects when it needs stronger suction.
Scheduling
With a Wi-Fi connection and access to the smartphone app, you can schedule your Eufy to clean when you want it to. It will either clean until the battery dies or until you send it back home.
Keep in mind that because it doesn’t keep track of where it’s been, you won’t be able to see a detailed map of what it’s done, but rest assured that when you schedule a clean, the Robovac will set out to do it.
Boundaries
Eufy Robovacs have sensors that help them avoid stairs and furniture. They also have boundary strips you can set up to restrict cleaning in certain areas. Not all models are compatible with these boundary strips, so if setting up boundaries is important to you, you’ll need to get a compatible model or remember to shut doors and set up obstacles in the way.
Controls
Every Eufy Robovac comes with a remote control. Even if you don’t use the app to control your vacuum, you can use the remote control to switch cleaning modes, schedule your vacuum, or start a clean manually.
Battery
Your Eufy has 100 minutes of battery life before it needs to return to the dock. It’s not the best on the market, but it’s definitely not the worst either. When your Eufy dies and returns to the dock, it will take five hours to recharge.
Current Eufy Robovac Models
There are currently five models in the Eufy Robovac lineup. Let’s take a look at them in a little more detail.
Eufy Robovac 35C
This is the newest Eufy Robovac, featuring great performance at a price that won’t break the bank. It features a plastic top instead of glass with four control buttons instead of one. It has Wi-Fi so you can enjoy the smartphone app as well as smart home compatibility.
With this particular model, you’ll experience quieter performance despite the boost in power. It also has two filters instead of one, so you may find that it is more effective at eliminating allergens than other models.
Pros:
- Two filters
- More power
- Quiet operation
- Infrared sensors for object detection
Cons:
-
Plastic top could scratch
Eufy Robovac 15C
This is a good middle of the road vacuum for most people. It has enough features, but not as many as the 35C, while it costs just a little less. The performance is decent and has plenty of technology.
It can handle all flooring types and transition with ease while you will also enjoy several different cleaning modes as well. While it’ll pick up plenty of dirt, it should be cleaned after each use to make sure it continues to run well.
Something unique about this unit is the ability to steer the vacuum using the app. While it doesn’t come equipped with navigation, if you were particularly concerned about the path it took to clean, you could control it so it cleans where you want.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Good performance
- Dustbin is easy to remove and empty
Cons:
-
Requires a lot of cleaning maintenance
Eufy Robovac 11S
No products found.This Eufy Robovac model has an extremely slim profile so it fits better in tight spaces that the other models. You’ll be able to clean tight spots that other robot vacuums can’t. This comes in handy if you have low profile furniture.
However, what you’ll notice about this one is that it’s not the best option for high pile carpet because it’s simply too short to handle it. It still has plenty of the same features as other models so it can clean effectively on almost any other flooring type.
Pros:
- Slim profile
- Powerful performance
Cons:
- No Wi-Fi
- Doesn’t work on high pile carpet
- Dustbin is hard to empty
Eufy Robovac 12
This model eliminates all the frills for a powerful clean on a budget. It has more suction than previous models and if you set it on the highest setting, it will remember that setting the next time instead of returning to a normal setting.
Increased suction affects runtime but the sensors on this model are better than before and it has a lower profile than some of the other Eufy models so it can reach tight spaces. It’s also relatively quiet.
Pros:
- Quiet
- Low profile
- Powerful suction
- Remembers settings
- Requires very little maintenance
Cons:
- No Wi-Fi
- Black icons are hard to see
Eufy Robovac 30C
No products found.This is the best option for a smart cleaning solution because it is equipped with Wi-Fi, smart home assistant compatibility, smartphone app, drop sensor technology, anti-collision infrared sensors, and dual-hall sensors.
It’s quiet because of the brushless motor and it’s a great vacuum to run at night while everyone is sleeping. It’s slim and sleek, so it fits in with your modern home, and it has a powerful clean at a moderate price point.
Pros:
- Plenty of sensors for avoiding obstacles
- Medium profile
- Sleek and modern
Cons:
-
Decreased runtime
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can the iLife Robot clean watermarks in my kitchen and bathroom?
It is highly recommended to not use the iLife robot for wet surfaces. Doing this, it is very probable that the robot will suffer damages when vacuuming liquids.
Does EUFY learn your house?
Even though most Eufy models come with great Wi-Fi support features, this company has not developed yet a mapping system.
Can the iLife Robot harm my pets?
The iLife is created to be almost imperceptible when working. It will not make any noises that will make your pets uncomfortable or nervous. As a plus, some cats love to chase the robot around the house.
Conclusion
There are plenty of differences between iLife and Eufy robot vacuums. If you’re looking for a slim profile or you have pets, iLife is a better choice. However, if you want more technology at a reasonable price, Eufy is the clear winner.
Both are quality robot vacuums at a reasonable price, so take your pick and enjoy features and performance that suits your busy lifestyle.
You Might Also Enjoy: