Review of the iLife v7s robot vacuum cleaner: a budget and fairly functional assistant

The development of technology and automation of familiar household appliances make it possible to get rid of tedious household chores. Previously, smart devices cost exorbitant money and were almost inaccessible to ordinary consumers, but now the situation has changed.

The ideal budget option for autonomous house cleaning is the iLife v7s robotic vacuum cleaner of the Chinese brand Chuwi.

Next, we will talk in detail about this model and compare it with similar devices from other manufacturers.

Packaging and equipment of the robot

Artificial intelligence equipment has been learned by many manufacturers. A worthy representative of this kind of technology is iLife v7s.

To prevent any damage during transport, Chuwi packs the smart vacuum cleaner in two cardboard boxes.

The outer box is made of a denser material that protects the device from possible mechanical influences. The inner packaging is equipped with a special tray, in the compartments of which all parts are securely fixed

The average cost of a model on the market is about 12,500-13,000 rubles. At such a low price, the equipment is quite impressive.

It includes:

• robot vacuum cleaner;
• station for recharging the battery;
• remote control and network adapter;
• containers for water and dust collection;
• spare mop head and side brush;
• two additional HEPA filters;
• brush for cleaning work items;
• two wipes made of microfiber;
• instructions translated into several languages.

The device limiting the space for the vacuum cleaner is not included. If necessary, buy it separately.It is worth noting that ordinary chairs can also play the role of an artificial barrier.

The product stands out with a pleasant stylish design. The glossy surface of the front part is decorated in a cream shade of the color of powder, the side elements and the edging are painted in white and black tones

Design features of the robot cleaner

The body of the device is made of high-quality durable plastic. Compact size, rounded shape resembling a puck, and beveled lower edges allow the robot to successfully overcome various obstacles.

The robotic cleaner comes with two plastic containers: blue is for water used in wet cleaning, dark is for dust. Both boxes are equipped with handles for easy removal

In the center of the upper block is a touch button. It is equipped with a light indication informing about different working nuances:

• blinking orange - the battery is actively charging;
• flashing green - the device is in the selected mode;
• solid red - emergency;
• solid orange - critically low charge;
• solid green - the room is being cleaned.

In order to access the containers, just open the lid with the key. The water tank is made of blue plastic, the dust collector is made of transparent material with a dark shade. Both containers can be easily removed for subsequent cleaning using special handles.

On the sides of the vacuum cleaner there is a plastic bumper, a sensor system, a power connector. In the lower plane there are floor-mounted infrared sensors, a toggle switch that turns the device on and off, and a side brush.

The movement is provided by a swivel roller and two drive wheels with rubberized treads, thanks to which the device can cope with obstacles up to 2 cm high.

The central quick-detachable turbo brush differs in an original design. In it, rows of silicone and pile inserts alternate in a V-shape, which significantly increases the efficiency of collecting small specks

Next to the roller there is a napkin holder needed for wet cleaning. A 2600 mAh Li-ion battery is located in a separate compartment near the contact group. The battery is easily removed by unscrewing just one self-tapping screw.

The easiest way to control the device is through the remote control, powered by two AAA batteries. Using one of the ten buttons of the remote control device, you can start the device, adjust the direction of movement, pause the process, schedule cleaning by the clock, enable the desired mode.

The display shows the clock, as well as the time at which the start of cleaning is scheduled. The maximum distance of receiving signals from the remote control is 4 m

V7s robotic vacuum cleaner at work

The robot performs well on even and smooth surfaces. He briskly collects garbage on tiles, parquet floors and linoleum. Judging by the reviews, it is not difficult for him to cope with short-pile carpets. However, for the period of wet cleaning, they must be removed.

Device functionality

When the battery level is sufficient, the device starts up via the Clean button or by receiving the appropriate commands from the remote control. When the vacuum cleaner approaches the object, sensors on the bumper instantly trigger, signaling an obstacle to it.

A well-thought-out navigation system gives the robot the ability to circumvent the interior items encountered on the way, legs of chairs, tables and other furniture without problems, and prevents a fall from a height

In the working process, moments are not ruled out at which the robot accidentally finds itself in a position that impedes its further progress. In such cases, he turns off the brushes and steps back, passing back, and then tries to pass the obstacle again.

If it is not possible to get out of the trap, the device gives the owner sound and light signals. Waiting for help, he remains motionless.

After depletion of energy, the V7S returns to base.Since the robot finds it in the infrared beam, the device should be located in the line of sight. Otherwise, the device will not have time to get to it.

After reaching a critically low level, the vacuum cleaner has about 20 minutes to find the dock. A full charge recovery takes 4 hours

Robot Specifications

The key advantage of the model is the combination of dry and wet cleaning functions in one device.

According to information provided by the manufacturer, the battery life from one full charge is 2-2.5 hours with dry cleaning and up to 2 hours 40 minutes with wet floor cleaning. This is enough to twice fully remove several rooms in an average apartment of about 75 square meters. m

The vacuum cleaner is equipped with a modern HEPA filter. Unlike ordinary ones, it retains the smallest particles of dust that settle on appliances, furniture and floor coverings. This is especially important for apartments with windows that look directly onto the roadway.

The technical characteristics and built-in functions of the iLife v7s device are enough to organize a full-fledged autonomous cleaning of dust and debris accumulated in the apartment

Detailed overview of technical parameters and design features:

The model is characterized by an average noise level not exceeding 55 dB. In the wet wipe mode, in which there is no air intake, this level is markedly reduced.

A power of 22 watts allows the vacuum cleaner to collect both relatively large debris and small specks.

Basic cleaning modes

It is possible to select certain programs and set the necessary settings for the robot only from the control panel.

In total, the model has five different modes:

1. Auto. The robot independently analyzes the situation and selects the optimal mode. After that, he randomly moves between the noise and changes the settings depending on the circumstances.
2. According to the schedule. The vacuum cleaner leaves the docking station and begins to clean even in the absence of the owner, focusing on the time set by him. Settings on the timer are carried out with an accuracy of 15 minutes.
3. Surface. Cleaning is done with emphasis on areas in the corners and along the walls.
4. Local. The device cleans the room pointwise, focusing on particularly contaminated areas. In spot-cleaning mode, Spot iLife v7s travels in a spiral.
5. Manual. All movements are corrected by remote control. At the same time, it is possible to send the robot to a charging base.

The robot does the dry cleaning itself, using the central turbo-roller and side brush for this, which collect litter, wool and hair well. A dark container with a volume increased to 500 ml is installed in the compartment, then the mode is selected.

About once a week, or before wet cleaning, you will have to spend 5-10 minutes caring for the parts: empty and dust the dust bin, clean the brushes, drum and body

To wipe the floor, you need to replace the dust collector with a tank filled with water, and install a mop on the bottom of the turbo brush, inserting it into special grooves. A cloth napkin with Velcro fastens to the surface of the plate.

After turning on the vacuum cleaner, the liquid from the tank will flow to the rag in a drip pattern, constantly keeping it slightly wet. A large volume area of ​​450 ml may not be enough. In this case, you will have to turn off the equipment, remove the container and add the missing amount of liquid.

This type of cleaning requires constant monitoring by the user. It cannot be carried out offline.

The device carries out a rather high-quality wet cleaning, but you should not count on washing dried pieces of dirt and stubborn stains. For such procedures, much more pressure is needed on the floor than what a robot weighs just over 2 kg

Immediately after completion of the process, it is recommended to remove the reservoir to prevent leaks. You should also rinse the plastic tray, remove adhering dirt and moisture from the body, and stretch the napkin.

If you liked this model of a robot vacuum cleaner, we suggest also familiarizing yourself with other models from this series. More details - go to the link.

Pros and cons of the model

Those who use the iLife v7s smart assistant at home leave mostly positive reviews about the device on the network.

Among the main advantages are the following:

1. Multifunctionality at a low cost.
2. Efficiency of dry cleaning on different types of hard surfaces.
3. Easy operation and maintenance.
4. A large number of sensors, providing a good cross of the unit.
5. Possibility of self-charging.
6. Availability of wet wipe option.
7. Capacious volume of containers.

As practice shows, it was not without drawbacks. Consumers point out that on smooth surfaces the robot vacuums almost perfectly, but there are some problems with cleaning the dirt collected at the joints of the plates.

The vacuum cleaner does not know how to build maps and create a floor plan, so it cannot remember route schemes, register landmarks and track the trajectory. Also, it does not have the option of remote control through the application on the smartphone

Perhaps the reason for the poor quality cleaning of inaccessible places was the lack of a second side brush for sweeping debris, which is in a similar model from iLife A6.

You can read more about the advantages and disadvantages of robotic vacuum cleaners. here.

Comparison with the main competitors

Many well-known brands compete for the best development with the optimal combination of a price mark with the performance and technical parameters of a smart vacuum cleaner. Particular success in this matter was achieved by Chinese and Japanese companies.

The main competitors of the iLife V7S robot, experts call the Panda X900 Wet Clean, Genio Profi 240 and Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner models.

Competitor # 1 - Panda X900 Wet Clean

The device is designed not only for standard dry cleaning, but also copes well with the functions of the floor polisher. In its basic configuration, a limiting device “virtual wall” and two side brushes are provided, which the hero of the review cannot boast of.

The Japanese Panda vacuum cleaner benefits from a decent suction power of up to 85 watts, a surface disinfection function with an ultraviolet lamp and the ability to recognize highly contaminated areas.

The devices are similar to the v7s robot with compact overall parameters, a high-quality sensor system, several effective cleaning modes, anti-allergenic HEPA filters, and bulk containers.

And customer reviews say that this inexpensive model is great for maintaining cleanliness in the home. Its compact dimensions make it easy to remove dust even under furniture.

Of the minuses, it is worth noting that it does not cope well with pet hair and is completely unsuitable for cleaning carpets with a long pile.

Competitor # 2 - Genio Profi 240

Quiet Chinese Genio has anti-confusing technology and an advanced navigation system that allows him to better navigate in space.

At the same time, it has the worst parameters regarding battery capacity, noise, the maximum possible coverage area coverage - 2000 mA / h, 62 dB and 70 sq. m. respectively.

The iLife leaves Profi 240 one step behind in terms of floor cleaning quality. In addition, v7s stands out for its improved turbo brush design and separate fluid reservoir.

The Genio vacuum cleaner works without a brush on an energy-efficient motor that processes large areas without additional recharging. Of the minuses of the model, there is an insufficient width of the napkin and the absence of a unit for wet cleaning.

Competitor # 3 - Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Xiaomi's Robot Vacuum Cleaner by its functionality is very similar to v7s. It is also designed for dry and wet room cleaning and is designed for autonomous operation for 150 minutes, after which it returns to the base.

12 infrared sensors are responsible for the work, and control is carried out using the remote control.It also provides support for the Mi Home smart home system.

In Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner, the dust collector is located on the top, and not on the side, like on similar models. This design allows you not to be afraid to scatter debris when removing it from the device.

Users note that the device copes well with the task, it is not afraid of even the hair of pets. This is a fairly budget model with an excellent set of useful features.

A detailed review of this model of a robot vacuum cleaner can be found in this stuff.

Conclusions and the best deals on the market

Stylish and functional hard worker iLife v7s tops the tops of numerous world ratings, and therefore is recognized as the undisputed leader in the budget price segment.

The robot perfectly maintains cleanliness, entrusting itself with a routine cleaning procedure, which usually takes a lot of time from the owners. Getting something better at this price is unlikely to succeed.

Do you have something to supplement this material with? Or have questions about choosing a robot vacuum cleaner for your home? Please leave your comments, ask questions, participate in the discussion - the contact form is located under the article.