The popularity of robotic vacuum cleaners is growing every day. Agile assistants save owners from unnecessary worries and the need to remember when the house was last cleaned. Therefore, it is expected that this market niche is actively developing and the model range is constantly increasing. Among such a variety of cleaning equipment, the iLife V5s robot vacuum cleaner stood out.
Expert rating:
95
/ 100
Advantages
- Long operating time without recharging
- Collects trash and cat hair well
- Spare consumables included
- Climbs onto low-pile carpet
Flaws
- Works a bit noisy
- Doesn't catch debris in corners
- Can't see black furniture
Let's figure out why it attracted buyers so much - in this publication we'll look at its technical characteristics, talk about its capabilities and configuration. We also compare it with competitors - models of robotic vacuum cleaners from other brands.
Appearance and dimensions
The first thing I would like to note is the design of the case. It is made of white plastic. The material is matte, so it does not get dirty and does not attract fingerprints.
An interesting solution was to add a mirrored glossy rim and paint the top cover golden. Thanks to this, iLife V5s looks more sophisticated and modern.
The light color of the body helps you find the vacuum cleaner faster in the dark. Therefore, if for some reason he does not return to the base to recharge, then it will not take much time to search for him in the dark corners of the apartment.
Engineers made the body perfectly round. The diameter of the vacuum cleaner is only 30.5 cm. The bottom edges are strongly beveled, due to which it is not afraid of small obstacles
The drive wheels are located on the same diameter of the body circumference. Accordingly, the robot can turn around in one place, which will be useful when cleaning under furniture and in heavily cluttered rooms.
The height of iLife V5s is only 7.7 cm. Moreover, there are no protruding parts on its upper surface. It will not cling to interior items and will sneak into even the darkest corner of the room.
Hard plastic was used to make the wheels. And thanks to the lugs, the robot can easily move on any surface. Particular attention should be paid to the presence of spring hinges, which help overcome obstacles 2.5 or even 3 cm high.
To protect the furniture and furnishings in the room, the front of the cabinet is lined with a strip of soft plastic.
Infrared sensors are used to prevent collisions with obstacles. With their help, the vacuum cleaner also determines where the charging base is located. You can control its operation using the remote control.
The iLife V5s display is incredibly simple. On the top cover there is only one Clean touch button and two rows of blue LEDs. They are quite bright and allow the owner to determine the charge level and operating mode
The robot informs the owner using several short sound signals. They are not too loud and cannot be turned off. This creates certain inconveniences during operation.
To remove the dust container, you just need to press the Push button, which can be found on the top cover. The waste container is equipped with a convenient yellow handle.
A smart decision on the part of the manufacturer was to add a curtain to the design to prevent dust from spilling out through the hole through which air enters.
Video review of the iLife V5s home assistant:
Appearance
Externally, iLife V5s Pro looks very attractive and modern. The upper part of the body has a golden hue, which gives the robot vacuum cleaner special sophistication and elegance. And the small dimensions of the device allow it to penetrate under furniture and clean out accumulated dirt and dust. An overview of the front side of the case shows us a touch button for turning on the robot, the iLife branding, as well as a button for opening the dust collector compartment. The dust collector is removed from the top.
View from above
On the side there is a soft bumper, a button to turn the robot vacuum cleaner on/off, and a connector for connecting the power supply.
Side view
When reviewing the iLife V5s Pro from below, we see two side wheels, a front swivel roller, side brushes, a small hole for suctioning debris, a pair of contact pads for installing the device on a docking station and charging, two holes for supplying water to a napkin, space for installing a holder napkins, which are attached with Velcro.
Bottom view
Packaging and accessories of the robot vacuum cleaner
The device is packaged in a pair of strong cardboard boxes. One of them is made of thick corrugated cardboard and reliably protects all internal contents from the external environment and mechanical damage.
The second box has a smooth surface and is equipped with a handle for easy transportation. All information about the robotic device is printed on its surface.
The package includes an impressive number of accessories, consumables and spare parts.
The manufacturer put in the box:
- robotic vacuum cleaner;
- remote control and batteries for it;
- charging base;
- power unit;
- one pleated filter;
- microfiber cloth;
- a pair of main brushes and a set of spare side brushes;
- warranty card and operating instructions.
There are two user manuals: one is written in Chinese, and the second is in understandable English. The printing is quite high quality. The ink does not rub off when you run your finger across the sheet.
The only thing missing from the package is an adapter for European-type sockets. But this depends on the store where the robot was purchased. Fortunately, most suppliers carefully apply it
Equipment
The package includes a vacuum cleaner, several spare brushes (left and right), replaceable filters, a spare microfiber cloth, and a brush for cleaning the filter.
The robot also comes with a power cord with an adapter, a charging base and a remote control. I will dwell on it in more detail.
Remote Control
The small remote control for the V5s Pro is made of white plastic. Black and blue rubber control buttons. The display is monochrome. The remote control runs on two AAA batteries.
The cover under which the batteries are located is made of thinner plastic and creaks a little when pressed lightly in your hand. It is convenient to launch the cleaning program from the remote control; there is a function for collecting garbage in a circle and cleaning around the perimeter. The Home button sends the vacuum cleaner to the docking station to recharge.
I often use the remote control to set the time for the vacuum cleaner to automatically start. I leave for work, after 15 minutes the vacuum cleaner starts working on its own. I'm returning to a clean house. When I ordered the vacuum cleaner, I didn’t know that I would use it so often.
iLife V5s Specifications
The suction power of the model is 850 Pa. This is a good result for equipment in the mid-price segment.
The battery is lithium-ion and has a capacity of 2,600 mAh. This battery provides operation for two hours. It takes a lot of time to recharge. On average, this takes four and a half hours.
The dust container is equipped with a cyclone filter and does not have a bag. This greatly simplifies the maintenance of the robot vacuum cleaner.
Dry dirt and dust collected by a vacuum cleaner are accumulated in a plastic container located inside, which should be emptied periodically, preferably after each cleaning.
As for the noise level, it is insignificant. To be more precise, during operation iLife V5s emits about 50 dB, which is equal to the volume of a quiet conversation.
A distinctive feature of the model is the ability to perform wet cleaning. For this purpose, it is equipped with a 0.3 liter tank and a microfiber cloth. If necessary, the vacuum cleaner is able to dry clean the room.
There are four operating modes:
- auto;
- manual;
- intensive;
- movement along obstacles.
In the first case, iLife V5s works until the battery is completely discharged. It moves around the room in a chaotic manner, changing its direction depending on the characteristics of the room. To activate this mode, you just need to press the Clean button.
Automatic cleaning is used when setting a schedule. You can create a schedule using the remote control. Even a user who is far from modern technology will be able to understand this. After completing scheduled cleaning, the robot will return to the station to recharge
Manual mode allows you to set the trajectory using the control panel. But keep in mind that you need to use this technique only after turning on automatic operation. Otherwise, iLife V5s will move around the room but not clean.
If some place in the house is excessively dirty, then to clean it it is better to use the third mode - intensive.
To activate it, use the control buttons to direct the unit to the desired area and press the spiral key on the remote control. The robot will begin to spin in place, which allows you to thoroughly clean the surface.
The fourth operating mode makes iLife V5s move along any obstacles. This role can be played by walls, furniture or any other interior items.
To enable this cleaning option, you need to press the key with a rectangle and arrows, which can be found on the control panel.
If you believe customer reviews, the model copes with its task perfectly. It collects dust well in any of the above modes. Moreover, regardless of whether it performs wet or dry cleaning
Specifications
- Provides dry and water-based cleaning.
- Collect waste in a 300 ml container.
- 300 ml liquid container.
- Suction power 22 W.
- Li-lon battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh, operating time 2 hours, charging takes 280 minutes.
- Sound up to 55 dB.
- Automatically connects to the docking station.
- Programming by days of the week.
- Available area 80 sq.m.
- Height 7.6 cm.
- Soft bumper.
- Remote control.
Recommendations and tips for use
Yes, the kit includes a detailed manual on how to use the robot vacuum cleaner. But not all people know English, much less Chinese.
And using Google translator is not always convenient. Therefore, we present a set of basic rules, adhering to which you can significantly extend the life of the iLife V5s robot.
Firstly , the charging base needs to be located in an accessible place - there should be a distance of 1-2 meters on its sides so that the vacuum cleaner can freely approach it.
Secondly , to extend the battery life, the first charge should last all night. In the future, the unit should be installed on a base that is connected to the network.
The base intended for charging the robotic vacuum cleaner should be positioned so that the device can return to it from anywhere in the room
Thirdly , you only need to lift the device with the panel facing up. Otherwise, you may accidentally release dust and collected debris.
Fourthly , it is recommended to regularly clean the cloth, side brushes, and also wipe the sensors and charging contacts. Such simple care will improve the quality of cleaning.
When installing brushes, pay attention to the markings on them. You can see the letters L and R on them. The same symbols are on the underside of the case. If you choose the wrong side, the drone will not operate correctly.
Tips and tricks for use
Instructions for use are included in the initial configuration of the device. But it is written in Chinese and English. It contains information such as:
- Description of the parts that make up the vacuum cleaner;
- Functions;
- Operating modes;
- Algorithm for turning on and selecting a program, etc.
To ensure the battery lasts longer, it is important to take care of the first charge. The vacuum cleaner must be left on the charging station overnight. Afterwards, you need to install the base in an accessible place so that the robot can easily find it.
To get started, you need:
- Install the charging station near a flat wall.
- Plug in the power supply
- Turn on the switch on the side panel
Once the indicators start flashing, you can start starting.
The launch is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- Press the “CLEAN” button on the panel, making sure in advance that the device is connected to the network.
- Select the operating mode on the control panel.
To pause the device, you must press “CLEAN” again. To put the robot into sleep mode, you need to hold “CLEAN” for three seconds.
Advantages and disadvantages
After a slight comparison of price and specifications, iLife V5s is an excellent choice among robot vacuum cleaners in the sub-$120 price segment. Unlike its analogues, the model has a modern appearance and modest body dimensions.
Thanks to its low height, iLife V5s easily cleans even the most difficult to reach corners of the room. At the same time, its high maneuverability allows it to climb even onto high-pile carpets.
The list of advantages of the model also includes a large number of sensors. With their help, the drone will not crash into walls and interior items, and will also select the optimal trajectory of movement around the room.
The strengths of the iLife V5s don't end there. Many buyers liked the following aspects:
- presence of a separate water tank;
- soft bumper that does not damage furniture and wallpaper;
- double filtration system;
- batteries for the remote control, which are included in the kit.
Despite all the advantages, the model also has a number of disadvantages. The first is the absence of a virtual wall in the kit. It must be purchased separately.
There is also no function for automatically supplying water to the microfiber cloth. The last significant drawback is the ability to set a schedule for only one day, and not for the whole week.
You can read about the advantages and disadvantages of robotic cleaners here.
Reviews about the manufacturer and model
The Chinese manufacturing company Chuwi has been operating on the market for more than 14 years. Its main activity is the production of electronics. The company has succeeded in this area.
Many buyers speak positively about the technology, in particular about the iLife V5s robot vacuum cleaner. They highlight good build quality, high performance and rich functionality.
The cleaning robot moves in the direction specified by the program or adjusted by the user until its sensors detect an obstacle. Then he turns around and starts moving in a different direction.
Equipment from a Chinese manufacturer is offered at a more than affordable price. On average, the cost varies between 120 – 140 dollars.
As for the assortment, the Chuwi company offers a wide range of choices of both budget and more expensive, and therefore more powerful, equipment.
Judging by customer reviews, the secret to the popularity of robotic vacuum cleaners from the Chinese manufacturer lies in the adequate price-quality ratio. Moreover, the catalog contains many models, which allows everyone to choose the optimal solution.
Owners of the iLife V5s cleaning robot generally speak positively about this assistant. They believe that this is one of the best representatives of such devices.
Test drive of a robotic vacuum cleaner from the Chinese brand Chuwi:
Buyers highlight the following advantages:
- affordable price for everyone;
- excellent cleaning quality;
- small sizes;
- attractive and cutting-edge design;
- ease of operation and maintenance;
- several suction powers.
Families with small children and cats are especially happy with this purchase. Thanks to iLife V5s, you no longer need to run around the apartment with a rag and a broom to maintain the minimum necessary order.
Some online stores offer to order this model of robot vacuum cleaner at too low a price. Many buyers are perplexed how such a multifunctional and practical home assistant can cost so little
The iLife V5s model has significantly fewer disadvantages than advantages. But they still exist. The list of disadvantages should include the lack of a virtual wall. It is purchased separately.
Some owners complain that the robot vacuum cleaner resets its schedule settings when it is turned off, so they have to do the settings again.
We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the best models of iLife robotic vacuum cleaners, which we reviewed in this material.
Comparison with competitive models
The main competitors of iLife V5s can be considered iBoto Aqua X310, BBK BV3521 and Kitfort KT-516. They are very similar in functionality and are in the same price category as the model in question.
Competitor #1 - iBoto Aqua X310
The iBoto Aqua X310 robot vacuum cleaner is a device designed for dry and wet cleaning of premises. This is a fairly compact model weighing only 1.9 kg, while the dust collector volume is about.3 liters.
The device is powered by a 2600 mAh lithium-ion battery. It lasts for 2 hours of battery life. The suction power of this compact device is 60 W, and the noise level does not exceed 54 dB.
The operation is controlled using the remote control. There is a function for automatic installation on the charger.
Users note that the device does an excellent job of cleaning and easily overcomes various obstacles in the form of small thresholds. The quiet operation of the iBoto Aqua X310 is especially pleasing - it can be started even at night.
Among the disadvantages, they note that the vacuum cleaner can crash into black furniture and some debris remains in the corners. Although for the price it does a very good job of cleaning.
Competitor #2 - BBK BV3521
Budget model designed for dry and wet cleaning. Powered by a 1500 mAh battery, which lasts for almost 90 minutes.
Controlled using a remote control. A 0.35 liter cyclone filter serves as a dust collector. The weight of the device is 2.8 kg.
Users like the cleaning quality of the BBK BV3521, its maneuverability, compact size, and affordable price.
Much more shortcomings were named. This charging time, which greatly exceeds the operating time of the device, makes the operation too noisy. The device does not cope well with long-pile carpets.
Competitor #3 - Kitfort KT-519
The Kitfort KT-519 model is intended for dry cleaning. Powered by a Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 2600 mAh. The operating time is about 150 minutes, while the charging time is only 300 minutes.
The operation of the device is ensured by sensors, and control is carried out using a remote control. Includes electric brush and fine filter.
The manufacturer equipped the model with a soft bumper, which significantly softens collisions with furniture. When the battery charge is minimal, the Kitfort KT-519 itself goes to the base to replenish it.
Among the positive aspects, it is worth noting the affordable cost, operating time without recharging, ease of operation, and ease of maintenance.
Among the disadvantages, some users note the poor quality of cleaning in the corners and debris spilling when removing the container for cleaning.
Design and equipment
To mount the structural components of the iLife V5 robot, a flattened cylindrical body with rounded chamfers is used. The end part and bottom are made of impact-resistant white plastic. On top there is a hinged lid of the trash container, for the manufacture of which a glossy material of golden or silver color is used (depending on the modification). There is decorative black trim around the perimeter of the dust collector hatch. Along the perimeter of the upper edge of the case there is a belt that protects the product from damage.
The front hemisphere is equipped with a soft bumper, on which there is a smoked glass insert that protects the obstacle detection sensors. To start the product in automatic mode, use a touch button located on the fixed sector of the housing cover. To remove dust, 2 side brushes with long bristles are used, feeding dirt into the air channel, trimmed with yellow plastic. The rear edge of the air intake is equipped with a rubber scraper; the design does not provide for a turbo brush.
The manufacturer completes the kit with the following components:
- a head unit in which brushes, a battery, a container and a filter are installed at the factory;
- floor unit designed for charging the product;
- remote control;
- power adapter used to connect the base station;
- a special brush that allows you to remove residual dirt when cleaning the robot;
- spare side brushes and air purification filter;
- napkin for additional wet cleaning;
- instructions for use.
The product is packaged in a cardboard container with a retractable plastic handle for carrying. There are 2 configuration options on the market - with 2 AAA batteries and without batteries. The robot components are protected from damage by cellophane and corrugated cardboard inserts.
Conclusions and best offers on the market
The iLife V5s model is the robot vacuum cleaner that will interest the vast majority of consumers. It differs from its competitors in its high productivity, allowing it to clean more than 80 squares. During development, the manufacturer tried to make it easy to use and as autonomous as possible. And if you consider how much it costs, then iLife V5s can be called a true leader in its price category.
Are you looking for a robot vacuum cleaner for your apartment? Or do you have experience using the iLife V5s model? Please leave feedback on the operation of the device, write comments, ask questions, and share your experience. The contact form is located below the article.
Appearance and quality of cleaning
The body of the vacuum cleaner is a very beautiful golden color with white trim.
Each part of the robot is practical and performs its own function: the lid opens to access the container, the rotating brushes collect debris and dust, the wheels make the vacuum cleaner move easily in space. There is nothing superfluous in this iLIFE V5s Pro model.
I calmly open and close the plastic cover of the case several times a day. You don't even have to be afraid that it will break.
For wet cleaning, a container-reservoir is designed, into which water is directly poured (it moistens the rag through special holes).
As for the quality of cleaning, I often use dry cleaning, because... When starting it wet, you still need to be at home and periodically rinse the cloth by hand. After wet cleaning, the floor shines like new. The robot cleans any hard surface equally well: tiles, linoleum, laminate.
