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These days, with the rapid advancements in technology, utilizing vacuum cleaner robot have become more prevalent.
There have been a variety of brands with different prices. However, iLife and iRobot are the most trustworthy labels in recent days.
Today, we are going to look at differences between these products which customers should take into consideration before choosing the most suitable intelligent cleaning robot.
Contents
1. Brand Reputation
iRobot
With 20 years of experiences in researching together with producing robot, iRobot brought forth iRobot Roomba. It is undeniable that iRobot has been the first-rate robotic floor cleaner brand all over the world with 70 to 80 percentage of market share in United States.
iLife
Originated from China, iLife has been listed in the top sales figures, which have capability of competing with many famous brands from Europe. Robot iLife has always been ranked in top 10 intelligent robot vacuum cleaners in the world and the best seller products on websites such as Amazon and Ebay.
2. Design
Both of them are in circular form.
iRobot Roomba
It has diameters of slightly less than 14 inches, making it easy for them to clean under furniture.
However, the latest models have grown heavier in weight (iRobot Roomba 980-8.7 pounds).
iLife
iLife robot has a lower form, with most models measuring less than three inches in height. Even the tallest model – iLife V7 is lower than iLife Roombas.
iLife robot vacuums are also narrower, with diameters ranging from 11.80 inches to 13.4 inches. However, it is much more colorful than Roomba.
The range of colors for iLife models diversifies from piano black with glass top, gold, rose gold to blue, among other colors.
Besides, an iLife robotic vacuum cleaner is generally lighter than an iRobot Roomba, with weighing average five pounds.
Price
iRobot Roomba
You need approximately $500 or more than this amount of budget to own any current iRobot Roomba products .
For example, their least expensive Roomba – iRobot Roomba 650 have to cost about $300.
In term of price, I highly recommend products of iLife for you.
But if you have more budget, and navigation technology is the most important factor to you , you are suggested to look at one of many models of iRobot.
iLife
iLife robot is known for its affordable price.
The majority of robot vacuums are below $500 and most models lie in the $100 range.
iRobot Roomba
Based on modern technology of navigating, the iAdapt is designed to use for Series 800 in older robotic vacuum cleaner models together with iAdapt 2.0 for current ones.
Thanks to using smart sensors to guide, your room would be cleaned more efficient, and without colliding with walls and furniture will not be collided in each other or it would be hardly to fall from stairs to stairs.
Additionally, the camera is equipped with the Roomba 980 and 960 with intention of giving these vacuum robots a clear identification of how it should clean.
With iAdapt, different cleaning modes can be switched actively so the robotic vacuum cleaners can clean suitable types of floors.
iLife
It is able to accomplish cleaning but requires larger amount of time and cannot avoid furniture in the cleaning process.
The cleaning modes of iLife’s models almost are set in advance.
For the auto mode, the robotic vacuum cleaner clean smaller areas in spiral way when the spot cleaning mode is on, and the walls are scrubbed with the edge cleaning mode.
There is no visual mapping. Instead, the robot vacuums follow a specific path according to the mode you select.
If you own a remote-controlled iLife’s robotic vacuum cleaner, you can let it know where it should go by utilizing the remote’s direction keys.
5. Vacuuming technology
iRobot Roomba
In recent years, most of iRobot’s latest releases have used the AeroForce vacuuming technology being 5x powerful filtration and debris extractors as well.
The filtration of the previous Roombas was AeroVac, followed by AeroVac 2 to remove the hair from floors and carpets efficiently by installing counter-rotating brushes its models.
Whether it uses debris extractors or counter rotating brushes, the Roomba can pick up dirt, dust, hair, dander, and debris from your floor, while side brushes help clean wall edges.
And both techniques go through 3 times with different cleaning levels which is vacuumed by a very strong motor.
iLife
An iLife robotic vacuum cleaner also go through 3 times with different cleaning levels.
Cleaning tasks are done with one or two side brushes, simultaneously getting wall edges done with a central brush and strong suction system.
It also makes use of several sensors to stop walls colliding together or falling from one stair to the another.
6. Battery
iRobot Roomba
Most of the iRobot Roombas currently available have lithium ion batteries of more life expectancy, but there are some models that still use the older nickel metal hydride batteries- Ni-MH batteries, such as the iRobot Roomba 880, 870, 770, and 650.
Run time for the iRobot Roomba 980 is estimated to be at 120 minutes while the Roomba 960 delivers 75 minutes of cleaning.
All other iRobot Roombas clock in an average of 60 minutes of cleaning for per charge time.
iRobot Roombas from Series 600 to later models are programmed to recharge automatically themselves when the battery runs out.
They can also be manually instructed to recharge by pressing the ‘Home’ button on the unit to tell it to go back to the charging dock.
iLife
They use lithium ion batteries, with the higher-end iLife robot vacuums using a 2,600 mAH lithium ion battery. Estimated run time for the iLife A4 and V7 can reach 150 minutes.
The run time of the majority of iRobot Roombas are shorter than any iLifes.
The bottom line: If you consider the run time as an crucial criteria for buying a robotic vacuum cleaner, iLife product is more appropriate for your house because of its kind of battery.
It is important to note that the iLife V1 does not have any dock to charge and needs to be plugged in manually to charge.
7. HEPA filters
iRobot Roomba
AeroVac filter is equipped in the earlier Roomba, but HEPA filters in the current Roomba models was more effective than this kind of filter .
With the HEPA filters, you don’t need to worry about small dirt not being removed from floors or carpets.
iLife
Like Roomba models, the older ILife used dual-layer filters. And this kind of filter has been replaced by HEPA filters in the current iLife.
8. Wet mopping mode
iRobot Roomba: No Roomba offers wet mopping feature.
So while Roomba seems to be a brand that’s difficult to beat, ILife is not far behind. The company is looking at novel ways to overcome Roomba by bringing out models with features Roomba doesn’t have, like wet mopping.
iLife: Some ILife models like V5 and X5 offer a damp mopping mode for hardwood floors. All you need do is attach the cleaning cloth after replacing its dustbin with its water tank.
9. Warranty
1 year warranty is guaranteed by every manufactures for both Roomba and iLife vacuum cleaners.
iRobot Roomba: They just limit one-year warranty
ILife: You can get your money back in one year according to manufacture’s guarantee.
10. Usability
iRobot Roomba: Setting up the Roomba was also virtually pain free. Similar to iLife, unbox, install the spinning brushes, charge it up, and you’re ready to clean. Starting a new cycle is as easy as pressing the large “CLEAN” button or you can schedule cleaning cycles. Setting up the app took only two minutes and I was ready to clean.
iLife: Setting up the iLife robot vacuum was incredibly easy. Just unbox the vacuum, snap on the spinning brushes, remove the foam pads from the bumper wall, charge it, and let it go. If you decide to use the remote, simply add the AA batteries and you’re set. Run on auto for the easiest usability.
It’s not easy to decide which to purchase between iRobot and Roomba because every models has their own advantages and disadvantages.
From my point of view, iLife and Roomba models are top-qualified, light and easy to move. It’s definitely for them to clean hard-to-reach corners.
But, Wi-Fi support and Smartphone Home app as well are one of the most outstanding features of iRobot Roomba that should be taken into consideration.
The latest model – Roomba 980 has carpet boost technology that you can’t find at any products in the market these days.
If you’re worried about that dust can’t completely removed from carpets and edges, it will be no longer concern for you with Roomba.
For iLife, the advancement has been made in suction power with 10x stronger power. However, in comparison, iRobot Roomba has more generic features than iLife.
Considered together, we can see both benefits and drawbacks of these vacuum cleaner robots in terms of brand reputation, design, price, navigation technology, vacuuming system and battery.
If you are looking for the product with affordable price and so-so cleaning performance, iLife would be for you.
But in case, you long for better quality, you had better spend your budget on fancy product like iRobot Roomba with intention of living up your expectation.
I hope that by reading this review carefully, you can choose the most appropriate product that can meet your requirement.
