Ever since the original robot vacuums appeared on the market, many companies have been innovating their own versions. With so many brands of robotic vacuums on sale, how can you tell which one is the best? We’ll review these two popular brands to see which one is perfect for your home cleaning needs.
Eufy RoboVac 11, High Suction, Self-Charging Robotic Vacuum Cleaner with Drop-Sensing Technology and HEPA Style Filter for Pet Fur and Allergens, Designed for Hard Floor and Thin Carpet
The Eufy RoboVac 11 is a recent arrival on the scene. At the time of writing, it wasn’t possible to purchase a replacement battery for it, but there are refills to replace brushes and filters. The built-in lithium-ion battery is made to work up to 1 hour 30 minutes before needing a recharge.
The low profile design is only 3.1 inches tall, slim enough to sweep up dust bunnies from under furniture with its side-mounted and underside brushes. In fact, Eufy says the 1000Pa suction is strong enough to suck up small screws as well as dust and crumbs. But while this robot does well on hard floors and low pile carpet, it will struggle on thick rugs. The company also warns that the vacuum isn’t designed to run on very dark-colored floors, but they don’t explain why.
You can set the RoboVac down and let it start cleaning on its own. It has an infrared sensor to help it avoid obstacles like walls, plus a drop sensor so it won’t take a tumble down the stairs. When it runs out of juice, it heads back to base to refill the battery.
If you want to control the robot to spot clean a spill, simply use the remote control that comes with it. Drive the robot to the area you want to sweep, then hit the Spot function. The remote also lets you control the Edge and Max cleaning functions to focus on hard to clean areas.
Finally, the RoboVac 11 comes with a HEPA-style filter that removes dust mites, pet dander, and mold from the air it expels behind it. This is very convenient for allergy sufferers that might suffer when using an ordinary vacuum.
More features of the Eufy Robovac:
- Covered by a 12-month warranty
- Batteries for the remote are not included in the box
- Comes with base and AC adapter, cleaning tool for brushes, HEPA-style filter, 4 side brushes, plus owner’s manual
ILIFE A6 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, Piano Black
iLife has been in the robot vacuum business a little longer. The iLife A6 contains their second generation CyclonePower system for enhanced cleaning over older models. This three stage system keeps the filter cleaner for longer so you have to clean it less. But the 1000Pa suction power on this vacuum is about the same as the Eufy RoboVac 11.
Still, while most robot vacuums can’t match the power of an upright vacuum cleaner, these little helpers keep floors clear of crumbs, dust, and hairs. The iLife A6 is made to run as often as you need, even daily, to maintain your home. While you’ll need to spend a little time emptying its dust bin and cleaning the brushes and filters, it’s less time that you’d spend vacuuming. And the main brush on the A6 is made to resist tangling, which makes cleanup that much easier.
Plus, the battery on the iLifeA6 lasts much longer, up to 160 minutes or almost 3 hours of cleaning time. Even better, the remote lets you set a schedule, not just drive the robot around. You may be able to clean your whole home on one charge.
Or if you use the Electrowall barrier, you can confine the vacuum to one room in your home. But just like the Eufy RoboVac, the iLife A6 prefers to work on hard floors and low pile carpet. And it has a slimmer profile at only 2.8 inches tall.
More features of the iLife A6 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner:
- May be covered by warranty—confirm at the time of purchase
Recommendation
Both the Eufy Robovac 11 and the iLife A6 are somewhat similar in suction power. But the A6 has almost double the battery life on a single change. Plus, its remote allows you to set up a cleaning schedule. While it doesn’t come with a HEPA-style filter like the Robovac 11, you can purchase one separately. All things compared, it may be worth your while to get the A6.
Click here to purchase Eufy RoboVac 11 on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase ILIFE A6 on Amazon.com!