The iLife A4s robot vacuum cleaner review reveals the features of the budget vac with the extremely powerful battery that provides 140 minutes of cleaning on one charge. This model copes with any types of surfaces, comes with sensors, but there is no Wi-Fi connectivity.
The iLife A4s robot vacuum cleaner can remove dirt and spots, reach edges, and get in and out of other difficult places. It works in two modes to choose from in terms of power. The standard mode provides 700 Pa of power and the max one – 1000 Pa. The noise level is low when the standard cleaning mode is on, but it increases significantly at maximum power.
The vac can clean for 2 hours without a break and then it finds its way back to the charging station. Speaking about the speed of cleaning, the unit is able to handle an average studio apartment (approximately 700 square feet) in about an hour.
The iLife A4s navigates between multiple rooms, but it has no virtual walls that require blocking areas manually. It goes over the rugs and back on the hardwood floor without an issue. However, this model sometimes flips the rug and get stuck. It’s possible to put some tape under the carpet to keep the vac from flipping it.
The unit has no alarm to signal in case it is stuck or if its battery is drained. That’s why it might be necessary to look for the vac sometimes if it stopped working somewhere out of sight. The device only beeps to confirm that it received the command in reply to the button that the user presses.
It identifies obstacles since it uses touch sensors in the bumpers rather than laser navigation. However, the vac maps the space as it goes around. For example, after a pass or two, it races up to a wall, stops just short of hitting, then turns and follows the wall. Although the unit might bump into the pets, the force is too light to harm them. Besides, the robot doesn’t leave marks on delicate furniture.
The A4s removes even the longest hair but as with any vacuum, it’s necessary to check the rollers from time to time and clear out any hair that is wrapped around it. It’s rather simple to empty the dust bin carefully in order not to scrap the loose debris. Just unclip the compartment and take it to the garbage bag. Then, open the bin, empty it, clean the filter, and put it back.
The device takes just a couple of minutes to set it up. Note that the iLife A4s manual says to charge the robot overnight before using it first. It has scheduling, but note that it’s necessary to press the button for max suction each time it runs, in order to get max suction. So, this option cannot be programmed. It’s not a big deal since the standard suction is enough to clean the dirt off the floors.
It’s a circular robot with a bumper wall at the head, a switch-on button within that wall, and a single auto button on the top. The vac comes in a good bundling – the A4s guide, docking station, adapter, remote control with LCD screen, extra filter, one cleaning, and two side brushes.
The iLife A4s has a filter system that consists of three layers – a silk and foam filters that keep the large debris off the main pleated paper HEPA filter to extend its lifespan.
This model comes with the improved bearings to enhance the vac’s efficiency on the pile coverings. It also features a very stiff brush to cope with any dust and hair.
TThis iLife A4s review will be useful for users that think about buying an efficient robot vacuum at a low cost. Having a powerful battery, doing its job on both bare floors and low/medium-pile carpets, and being able to handle any hair, it allows overlooking the lack of smart features.