Chuwi ILIFE Robot Vacuum Comparison

Buying a robot vacuum in 2013 would entail spending at least $500 for something that has decent navigation and cleaning features.

Two brands – iRobot and Neato, dominate this niche, but upstarts like I.L.I.F.E. provide consumers with a cheaper alternative.

Dyson also has entered the fray, but it hasn’t been as successful, at least in Amazon.

All the brands I mentioned above are excellent in their own right.

Each is equipped with state-of-the-art features, namely the S.L.A.M. algorithm, the brains behind these robots’ navigation.

This is the same feature used in Google’s driving car.

Manufacturers are pushing the envelope regarding innovation but at an insane cost.

For instance, the Dyson 360 Eye costs $1,000, and the Roomba 980 is around $900.

It will be more expensive if you buy retail!

Let me introduce a new brand that caught my eye as I was looking on Amazon for cheaper options for consumers who cannot afford to spend nerly$1,000 on a robot vacuum.

The I.L.I.F.E. robot vacuum is one of the more affordable vacuums currently available. Nine variants cost between $100 and $200 when bought directly from GearBest.com.

Some variants are available on Amazon but are a bit more expensive.

We compare all seven variants (and counting) to give you a birds-eye view of how each performs, its features, pros and cons, and so on.

Spec comparison

But first, let’s look at the essential features that all of these robot vacuums have in common.

Navigation

I can say that all of these robots move around the same way, but I can’t since each one has its quirk. I’ll not bore you with a lengthy explanation; I’ve recorded videos of each variant navigating around the same room.

• X5 navigation
• X5 Mopping
• V5 Pro Mopping
• A4
• V7 Demo and Navigation (without the mop)
• V7S navigation (vacuum mode)
• V7S mopping demo

The pre-programmed modes installed will be different depending on what variant you select (please refer to the table above for the exact modes included on each variant). Below are the details of how each mode works.

If you look at their website, the terminologies they use are different. To avoid further confusion, I’ve asked a representative if some of the terms they used are, in fact, the same.

Auto

This is the default cleaning mode of all I.L.I.F.E. robots.

When you press the clean button, the robot moves a few feet from the charging station and scans the room.

Based on the eye test, the navigation system used here is very similar to the iRobot, which means it moves in a random direction.

According to GearBest, their robots use a set of wall sensors and five I.R. receivers to detect and avoid obstacles. It also features cliff sensors to prevent it from falling off stairs.

Edge

In this mode, the robot will focus on cleaning along the room’s edges. This is where the two side brushes come in handy.

The robot returns to its default random cleaning mode even in this mode.

Spot

In this mode, the robot will clean a tiny area in a spiral motion.

This feature is excellent for cleaning a tiny and messy area.

Manual

Only variants with a remote included have this feature.

The robot vacuum will become a Remote-Controlled cleaner that goes where you want it to go.

It wasn’t as polished as I had hoped when I tested this because the robot turns at 15-degree angles and still goes through its default cleaning mode.

So you’ll be wrestling with the robot’s computer for control.

I’m not a big fan of this feature because robot cleaners shouldn’t require much human intervention, but it does have its uses.

Scheduling

This is where you set the time for the robot to clean automatically.

Note that you can only set one fixed time for the whole week, and it will clean simultaneously every day.

Out of the seven variants, only the V1 has no scheduling feature.

Cleaning Performance

Over the past few months, I’ve recorded several videos testing these robots and seeing how they perform cleaning bare floor surfaces. I’m not going to go into detail about each of these videos as I’ve already done so in the video description and individual product reviews themselves.

• V1 Unboxing and Cleaning Test
• X5 vs. V5 Pro Cleaning Test
• ILIFE V7S vs MI Robot Vacuum
• A4 vs Xiaomi
• V5 vs V5 Pro
• V7 vs V5 Pro
• V7 vs MI robot vacuum
• A4 vs V7
• Xiaomi vs V5 Pro
• V5 Pro vs. Jisiwei I3
• V7S Pro vs V5 Pro
• V7S Pro Rug Cleaning Test

If there’s one common theme in all these videos, the I.L.I.F.E. robot performed very well, even against the more expensive Xiaomi Robot Vacuum. It didn’t pick up every piece of debris, but it picked up most of it.

These tests involve big messes, something a robot vacuum will not encounter daily. However, it is nice to see that even with this mess, these robots can handle it and not buckle to the challenge.

Side brush-es

Out of the seven robots here, the A4, X5, and V5 Pro have two side brushes—the V7 and V7S have only one side brush, while the rest have two.

Mopping

Except for the V1 and A4, the rest of the robots in the I.L.I.F.E. product line have mops.

The V5 and V7 do not come with a water tank, so these two variants can only dry mopping (or damp mopping if you soak and wring the microfiber pad).

7, the V7S Pro has the largest and most advanced water tank out of the seven.

Here are links to the videos of the mopping in action

• V7S Pro Mopping Demo
• V5 Pro Mopping
• X5 Mopping

These videos show that the I.L.I.F.E. does not have the advanced scrubbing action found in the iRobot Braava mops. Instead, it uses the same random navigation pattern, but only with the vacuum motor turned off.

It works well for maintenance clean-ups on sealed surfaces such as tile.

However, it will not scrub off dried-up stains, which is a downside.

Height

This feature will be appreciated if you have a lot of furniture at home with low clearance, like beds.

All I.L.I.F.E. robots stand less than 3.15 inches tall – around .45 inches shorter than the Roomba and .75 inches shorter than the Neato BotVac.

The V5 Pro is the shortest, measuring just 2.76″ tall, and both V7 variants are the tallest at 3.15″.

Battery

All variants use a 2,600 mAh lithium-ion battery that will last between 90 and 180 minutes, depending on the variant. Using a lithium-ion battery means less fade as the charge level goes down.

The run time will be enough to clean up to 500 square centimeters.

Charging time will be around 300 minutes, regardless of variant.

Virtual Wall

This virtual wall is similar to the Roomba, which sends an infrared signal that “blocks” the robot from entering a particular area. This device acts like a wall that blocks the robot’s path.

It is a nice added feature for a robot vacuum at this price range.

Only the X5 has the virtual wall feature included.

Now, let’s look at each variant closely and their features individually.

I.L.I.F.E. V1

Regarding features, the V1 is the cheapest of the seven robots on this list, but note that it also has the fewest features.

The only reason I could give you to buy this robot is the price.

Unfortunately, the I.L.I.F.E. V1 has been discontinued and is no longer available.

But don’t worry—entry-level isn’t bad because this robot retains all the navigation and cleaning performance of its more expensive siblings, such as the X5, V5, and V5 Pro.

Like all I.L.I.F.E. robots, this variant does an excellent job of avoiding obstacles. Even if it bumps into one, it slows down almost to a stop and will not damage your furniture.

Low profile design

Measuring just 2.95 inches tall, this robot will fit under most furniture.

Since this variant does not have a motorized brush, don’t expect too much when cleaning the carpet. I’ll have to test it to determine how well it does, so stand by.

Unlike the other variants in this list, which have a 2,600 mAh lithium battery, this robot has a slightly smaller lithium battery, at just 2,200 mAh.

Shorter run time

This means that it will run less—according to the GearBest site, it will run between 60 and 90 minutes and will take between 200 and 250 minutes to charge.

Speaking of charging, the biggest downside to this robot is the lack of a charging dock—a device that the robot returns to when it detects that its batteries are below 20%.

What does this mean?

This robot will run until it stops, and you’ll have to plug in the charger on the side. It can still clean multiple rooms but won’t be as efficient.

Another feature lacking is the remote, which isn’t a big deal for me, but this means that you won’t be able to schedule the robot to clean on its own at a specified time—a critical feature that makes robot vacuums very useful, in my book.

Bottom line

If you don’t mind not having the charging dock and scheduling feature and want a simple robotic vacuum that performs well on bare floors, then you’ll get a good deal with the V1. It costs a little more than $100 and is one of the best-value robots in my book.

A4

The A4 offers the most powerful suction of all available variants, making it the most efficient option for bare floors and carpets.

It features a bristle-motorized brush that will work best on low—and maybe medium-pile carpets and two side brushes for edge cleaning.

Twin side brushes

These side brushes combine to funnel loose dirt into the main inlet.

The only other robot vacuums I know with more suction are the Roomba 980 and Neato vacuums, but those are at least a few hundred dollars more expensive!

Update (April 4, 2017): I.L.I.F.E. has unveiled two new robotic vacuums, the A4S and A6. These two variants have upgraded more efficient motors and new beater bars that improve cleaning performance.

Guess how much the A4 costs. For Amazon, it would be around $210. A better deal can be found at Gearbest, which costs less than $170, depending on the plug type.

A cheaper option to the Roomba 650

If you’re familiar with the Roomba 650, this one looks almost like it, except for the extra side brush.

Other elements are similar, including the placement of the dirt bin.

But I’m not complaining because Roomba has long been a benchmark because of its success, and copying its design wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

This variant has no mop attachment, so it will only vacuum.

You will get two side brushes and an extra H.E.P.A. filter out of the box.

Check out how the motorized brush of the A4 compares to the V7S Pro.

The V7S Pro brush is much bigger and performs better, particularly on carpets.

A4S

A4S is similar in design to the A4 but with a few upgrades.

These include the brushless motor, larger batteries, and a more significant bearing for the motorized brush. The improvements have translated into a much longer run time.

I recorded a video sharing the differences between the A4S and A4…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ96X_nclpk

Surprisingly, the older A4 did a better job regarding the amount of dirt picked up, but it took 10 minutes longer to achieve a similar result.

Another minor improvement would be the addition of the mini-room cleaning cycle. This cycle will run shorter than a traditional cycle until the robot’s battery runs low.

Bottom line

The A4S is the most powerful of the 9 I.L.I.F.E. products here. It is best suited for bare floor surfaces like tile, hardwood, linoleum, and low—to medium-pile carpet.

A6

The I.L.I.F.E. A6 is the latest, and with a few upgrades, the I.L.I.F.E. robot is in the lineup right now. It has the Gen 2 brushless motor that’s far more efficient than the A4 and A4S.

According to I.L.I.F.E, this translates to a longer run time of around 160 minutes.

New beater bar

It has numerous other improvements, including a different motorized brush with no bristles.

This is a radical change from the previous variants. Not having bristles makes this easier to clean. I.L.I.F.E. was pretty generous in including an extra brush out of the box.

Like the A4S, this also comes with a mini-room cleaning mode that allows it to clean smaller rooms without draining the battery.

This feature will lengthen battery life to a certain extent because it runs shorter than the default cleaning mode, which runs until the battery is low.

Other improvements include a “virtual wall” that blocks off areas you don’t want this robot to enter without moving a piece of furniture.

In terms of size, this robot is a bit narrower but slightly taller…

Both have the exact bin placement, which is at the back. However, the release lever is at a different location in the A6, at the top. So be careful when picking up this robot from the back that you don’t touch the lever, or the robot will take a tumble.

Bin capacity is slightly smaller for the A6 –  – just 0.3 liters (versus 0.45 liters).

Bottom line

The A6 is the latest, and the I.L.I.F.E. robot is now available with a few upgrades. Does the price justify its performance? The new Gen-2 “CyclonePower” brushless motor means better efficiency and longer run time. It also comes with an extra rubber brush and a virtual wall. So that’s a lot of value for the money you’ll be spending, and dare I say, I’d recommend this over the iRobot Roomba 650.

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A8

Does the I.L.I.F.E. A8 change the direction of I.L.I.F.E. robot vacuums?

Before it came out, all of I.L.I.F.E.’s robots had random cleaning patterns.

Brand new navigation

The I.L.I.F.E. A8 is different in terms of navigation. Instead of relying on a bunch of I.R. sensors to avoid furniture, it has a camera to help it navigate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woNp8clC65g

Gone is the thorough cleaning pattern that many people have come to love because it does clean well for a robot.

The A8 uses a predictable back-and-forth pattern that is a sharp departure from its older sibling, the A6.

Everything in the I.L.I.F.E. A6 and A8 are the same except for the navigation.

Please watch this video to learn more about the A8. Make sure to watch it until the end to see the cleaning test.

Navigation is not as good as the A6.

I’m not impressed with the upgraded navigation. Yes, it was efficient, but it lacked edge cleaning and thoroughness. It left a lot of dirt behind and did not clean the area around the chair well.

I had high hopes when I got the A8, but the new navigation disappointed me. If I.L.I.F.E. can find a way to integrate the SLAM system in the A8 and improve thoroughness, it would improve performance.

Bottom line

The navigation upgrade was a disappointment. It wasn’t thorough, and edge cleaning was absent. If you want to purchase this, please stick with the I.L.I.F.E. A6.

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X5

For homes like mine that only have bare floors, then the I.L.I.F.E. X5 would be an intelligent choice.

This robot is capable of sucking up dirt and wet mopping the floor.

Note that these two functions are separate, and you cannot use these two features simultaneously.

Mop/vacuum combo

But you can use it to dry mop and vacuum – a valuable combo for cleaning statically charged dust.

Suction power is less depending on the mode you use.

When you use the “super mute” mode, suction drops to 500Pa; suction power goes up to 850Pa in the normal mode.

No beater bar

The X5 does not have the motorized brush the A4 has, so do not expect this to clean the carpet. This robotic is designed for bare floors.

It comes with two distinct tools for dry sweeping and wet mopping – the dust bin and water container.

The water tank’s design principle is simple in terms of functionality. Water trickles down through two posts on each side toward the microfiber mop below.

It has no mechanism to regulate flow, so you can’t leave the water tank for an extended period.

Bottom line:

The X5 is a great budget alternative as a robotic sweeper and mop. This is the best bang-for-the-buck autonomous sweeper and mop. I cannot find another brand that offers the range of features that the X5 offers, but remember that this variant will not clean the carpet because it does not have any motorized brush.

V5

Homes with a lot of hardwood flooring will benefit from the dual functionality of the V5.

This variant is similar to the X5 and V5 Pro but minus the wet mopping option.

With a few upgrades (and the coupon code), you’ll get a lot for your dollar. Check the coupon codes in the “Where to buy ” section.

Considering the cleaning performance and navigation, it is one of the best bargains in the robot vacuum industry,

Of all its Chinese-branded robots, I.L.I.F.E. produces one of the best products. I say this not because I got all these for free but because I did well in my cleaning tests.

The V5 is a step up from the bare-bones I.L.I.F.E. V1. These robots have the same layout underneath – two side brushes flanking the vacuum inlet in the middle.

Even if the V5 is less than $10 more expensive, you’ll get many upgrades.

The first upgrade would be the ability to schedule the robot to clean whenever you want, once a day, seven days a week.

The second upgrade would be the addition of a mop, which you can use to dry mop in addition to vacuuming.

You will also get two side brushes, extra H.E.P.A. filters, and a remote with two double-A batteries!

Bottom line

If you don’t need the wet mopping functionality of the X5 or the V5 Pro, this is a good cheaper option. Cleaning performance would be roughly the same for these three robots, so this shouldn’t be an issue.

V5S Pro

The V5 Pro is a step up from the V5 and X5.

It has around 20% more power than the V5 and around the same power as the X5.

All three have the same layout underneath, meaning they have two side brushes, a suction-only vacuum, and a mop attachment.

Simpler layout

The X5 has a four-button interface (Clean, Plan, Home, and Spot), while the V5 Pro has a more straightforward one-button L.E.D. touchscreen layout.

Another difference is that the V5 has the same remote as the V5 Pro but minus the “max” button and does not have a water tank.

Update (May 17, 2017): I.L.I.F.E. has discontinued the production of the V5 Pro and replaced it with a few upgrades. This new version has four lithium batteries, a longer run time, an upgraded water tank, and a brushless motor. The upgrades will result in better mopping and much longer run time.

Run time

On a fully charged battery, the X5 will run for about 90 minutes, while the V5 Pro will run for around 140 minutes (over 2 hours!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiy1BtlSvPY

The price difference between the two will be minimal. It varies depending on which warehouse you buy it from. Make sure to check this section for the latest prices.

Bottom line:

With all the upgrades, I’d pick the V5S Pro over the X5 because it has more polish, a longer run time, a better water tank, and a better scheduling feature with a few upgrades.

V7 and V7S

These two variants are hybrid versions of the A4 and V5 Pro, meaning they combine the A4’s carpet cleaning feature with the V5 Pro’s wet mopping functionality.

Editor’s note: GearBest has discontinued selling the ILIFE V7S on their website.

This variant was replaced by the V7S Pro, which had several key improvements over the V7S, namely, a new water tank regulating the flow of water from the tank to the pad and the ability to schedule it to mop independently.

To see how these two differ, watch this video…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDJCe5RJyg

These models come equipped with a combination brush tool that looks like this.

The brush roll is similar to that of the Neato BotVac Connected, which means it has a bristle plus squeegee design that works very well for cleaning pet hair.

Unfortunately, it does not match the Neato in terms of suction. Out of all the variants, the V7 and V7S have the weakest suction at only 400Ps.

But it makes up for it with a wet mopping feature. Both have the most significant dust bin of the 7 – capable of holding 0.5 liters of dry dirt.

The similarities end there.

What’s the difference between the two?

The I.L.I.F.E. V7 has a more miniature microfiber mop than the V7S, and it does not have a water tank, which means it is only capable of dry dusting.

You could spray a cleaner on the mop but don’t expect it to mop a wet mop in a large area.

The V7S is perhaps the most versatile robot featured here because it can clean rugs, bare floors, and carpets in addition to its wet mopping feature.

Only the V7 has a smartphone app.

One last feature found in the V7 but not in the V7S is the Bluetooth remote control system through a smartphone app (yes, it is available for Android and iOS phones).

To download the app, scan the code on the box using a Q.R. code scanner…

It will open the website where you can download the app.

Here’s a close look at the screenshots of the app…

This means you can control the robot using an app on your phone.

The downside is that it is only compatible with Bluetooth and not WiFi, so you must be within a certain radius.

Currently, the app is only available in Chinese.

But even in its current version, you don’t have to learn Chinese to use it.

Press the big blue button on the status bar when the app fires up to detect the robot.

Make sure the switch underneath the robot is at the on position and on the charging base.

After the app detects the robot, click on it, and it will reveal an interface that looks like a remote. The icons are pretty self-explanatory.

New and Improved: the V7S Pro

I.L.I.F.E. just released an upgraded version of the V7S called the V7S Pro.

So, what are the updates with the “Pro”? Is it worth it with a few upgrades?

The water tank is the most significant upgrade from the first-generation variant.

A GearBest rep told me that the new tank has a regulator that prevents water from dripping when the robot is off.

As I looked closely at the water tank, I noticed that it wasn’t a pump per se because I

It does not have any motor or any electronics in it.

The device looks more like a valve connected to a device inside the robot to prevent air from passing through in mop mode. It’s also the same device that shuts off airflow.

Watch this video to see what I mean…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7UC2wooudk

It is a pretty simple system but an improvement over the previous tank.

The downside is that it retains the same navigation pattern, meaning the robot will drag a mop on the floor.

It does not have the short back-and-forth mopping motion of Braava, so agitation will be less effective.

Regarding cleaning performance, expect the same results because it uses the same motor, brush, and bin.

Bottom line

The V7 and V7S add a mopping feature to their vacuum systems, equipped with a motorized brush. The V7 is only capable of dry mopping because it does not have a water tank, while the V7S, with a few upgrades, can clean bare floors and carpet and mopping (wet and dry).

V8S Pro

The V8S Pro is I.L.I.F.E.’s latest and perhaps their best robot vacuum. It combines the efficient navigation of the A8 and the thoroughness of the A6 in a more extensive package.

As a bonus, this robot is capable of mopping thanks to the mopping attachment.

So, you have a robot with two functions: a robotic vacuum and a mop.

Not a refresh but a new robot

This is not simply a refresh like the V7S Plus is to the V7S Pro but a new product.

It has a more significant bin and water tank capacity because the dust bin and water tank loads come from the back, not the top, as in the V7 and V7S Pro.

Better navigation

Another improvement would be navigation. Instead of using a random cleaning pattern, the V8S Pro has a predictable back-and-forth pattern combining efficiency and thoroughness.

Watch this video to see the different cleaning modes of the V8S Pro…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuyHbE2iw0Y

Unlike the first-generation Xiaomi and Roborock S5, this vacuum does not have the SLAM algorithm, so it won’t be as bright.

It will not know if it has completed cleaning a section or returned to the home base after a predetermined number of cleaning cycles.

This robot will clean in a predictable pattern until the battery runs low or you ask it to return to the charging station.

Cleaning performance is a strong point, and it’s pretty close to that of high-end robots like the S50.

Bottom line

The V8S Pro is one of the best I.L.I.F.E. robots I’ve tested. It combines efficient back-and-forth navigation with the thoroughness of higher-end robots like Xiaomi. However, it does not have the SLAM algorithm so that it won’t be as smart.

Conclusion

I.L.I.F.E. allows consumers to enjoy the benefits of owning a robotic vacuum without spending more than $250.

All these robots perform roughly similarly. Each will vary regarding the surface it can clean, accessories, run time, and motor.

V1 is the cheapest option.

The V1 is the cheapest and most basic of the nine available robots. It does not have a remote or a charging base, so you must manually plug it in after every cleaning cycle.

But this robot costs less than $80, so it’s a bargain. It’s cheaper than some stick vacuums I’ve covered in this blog.

Options for carpet

The A4 is great for bare floors and carpets, thanks to the combination of power and a motorized brush. I.L.I.F.E. has since released two improved versions of the A4 – the A4S and A6.

Both come with the new Gen 2 brushless motor, which is more efficient and will last longer. Brushless motors are more efficient than brushed counterparts, so they’ll run longer. Another improvement is the mini-room cleaning mode, which allows this to clean a smaller area without using the battery.

The A6 is the newest I.L.I.F.E. product and could be the best. Its brand-new brush roll does not have bristles. Instead, it has rubber flaps that resemble a tractor wheel.

This is designed for better agitation and easier maintenance since there are no more bristles where hair can wrap around. Unfortunately, this is also the most expensive variant at nearly $230.

A better option than the V1

The V5 is similar to the V1 but comes with a remote charging station that costs around $112 or around $30 more than the V1.

A better option would be the V5S Pro, just in case you need the mopping function. It has an upgraded water tank, motor, and batter that’ll run much longer. But it’ll cost roughly $50 more than the V5 and double the price of the V1.

The X5 costs almost $20 less than the V5S Pro and has the same functionality but a scheduling quirk.

Lastly, the V7 and V7S Pro have the most enormous dirt bins (0.5 liters) but the weakest motors. However, performance does not suffer because they have a well-designed motorized brush. The latter has a great water tank for a home with tile or even hardwood.

All their products come with a one-year warranty and free shipping to the United States.