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 ILIFE 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 really good in their own right.

Each of them equipped with state of the art features, namely the S.L.A.M. algorithm which is the brains behind how these robots navigate.

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

Manufacturers are pushing the envelope in terms of innovation but at an insane cost.

The Dyson 360 Eye for instance costs $1,000 and the Roomba 980 will set you back around $900.

It will be more expensive if you buy retail!

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

The ILIFE robot vacuum is one of the more affordable robotic vacuums available right now in the market with 9 variants that cost between $100 and $200 when you buy it direct from GearBest.com.

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

We compare all 7 variants (and counting) to give you a bird’s eye view on how each performs, the features, pros and cons and so on.

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Spec comparison

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

Navigation

I can say that all of these robots move around the same but I can’t since each one has its own quirk. I’ll not bore you with a long explanation, instead I’ve recorded videos of each of the variants navigate around a same room.

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

Depending on what variant you select, the pre-programmed modes installed will be different (please refer to the table above for the exact modes included on each of the variants. Below are the how each of the modes work.

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

Auto

This is the default cleaning mode of all ILIFE robots.

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

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

According to GearBest their robots use a set of wall sensors and five IR 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 edges of the room. This is where the two side brushes come in handy.

Even in this mode, the robot still goes back to its default random cleaning mode.

Spot

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

This feature is great for cleaning a small and messy area.

Manual

Only variants with a remote included have this feature.

In essence, the robot vacuum will turn into a Remote Controlled cleaner going where you want it to go.

When I tested this out, it isn’t as polished as I hoped it would be because the robot will turn at 15 degree angles and it still goes through it 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 have a lot of human intervention but it does have its uses.

Scheduling

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

Take note that you can only set one fixed time for the whole week and it will clean at the same time every day.

Out of the 7 variants, only the V1 does not have a scheduling feature.

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Cleaning Performance

Over the past few months I’ve recorded several videos testing these robots and see 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 out of all these videos, its that the ILIFE robot performed very well even against the more expensive Xiaomi Robot Vacuum. It didn’t pick up every since piece of debris but it picked up a majority of it.

All of these tests involve big messes, something that a robot vacuum will not encounter everyday but it is nice to see that even with this type of mess these robots will be able to handle it and not buckle to the challenge.

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Side brush-es

Out of the 7 robots here, the A4, X5 and V5 Pro of them have two side brushes – both the V7 and V7S have only one side brush while the rest have two.

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Mopping

With the exception of the V1 and A4, the rest of the robots in the ILIFE product line has mop.

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

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

Here are links to the videos of the mopping in action

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

You will notice from all these videos that the ILIFE does not have the advanced scrubbing action found in the iRobot Braava mops rather 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.

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Height

If you have a lot of furniture at home with low clearances like beds then you will appreciate this feature.

All ILIFE 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 of the bunch measuring just 2.76” tall and both V7 variants are the tallest at 3.15”.

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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 good enough to clean up to 500 square centimeters.

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

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Virtual Wall

This virtual wall is a similar design to the Roomba which means it sends an infrared signal that “blocks” tells the robot not to enter a certain area. In essence this device acts like a wall that blocks the path of the robot.

For a robot vacuum at this price range, it is a nice added feature.

Only the X5 has the virtual wall feature included.

Now let’s look at each variant closely and look at their features one by one.

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ILIFE V1

In terms of features, the V1 is the cheapest of the 7 robots in this list but take note that it also has the least amount of features.

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

Unfortunately the ILIFE V1 has be discontinued and no longer is available.

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

Like all ILIFE robots, this variant does a pretty good job avoiding obstacles and even if it bumps into one, it slows down almost to a stop and it will not damage your furniture.

Low profile design

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

Since this variant does not have any motorized brush, don’t expect too much in terms of cleaning carpet but I’ll have to test it to find out how well or how it does so stand by for that.

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

Shorter run time

This simply means that this will run less – according to the GearBest site it will run between 60 to 90 minutes and will take between 200 to 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 goes back to when it detects that its batteries are below 20%.

What does this mean?

This robot will simply run until it stops then you’ll have to plug in the charger on the side. It is still capable of cleaning multiple rooms but it 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 – this is a key 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 just want a simple robotic vacuum that performs well on bare floor then you’ll get yourself a good deal with the V1. It costs a little more than $100 and one of the best value robots in my book.

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A4

In terms of power, the A4 has the offers the most powerful suction of all the variants available which makes it the most efficient option for bare floor and carpet.

It features a bristle type motorized brush that will work best on low and maybe medium pile carpet along with two side brushes for edge cleaning.

Twin side brushes

These side brushes that work in unison to funnel loose dirt to the main inlet.

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

Update (April 4, 2017): ILIFE has unveiled two new robotic vacuums – the A4S and A6. These two variants have upgraded motors that’s more efficient and new beater bars that improves cleaning performance.

Guess how much the A4 is. In Amazon this would cost around $210. A better deal can be found in Gearbest where it costs less than $170 depending on the type of plug.

Cheaper option to the Roomba 650

If you’re familiar with the Roomba 650 this one looks almost like it with the exception of 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 does not have any mop attachment so it will only vacuum.

Out of the box you will get two extra side brushes and an extra HEPA filter.

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 carpet.

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A4S

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

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

Here’s a video I recorded where I shared the differences between the A4S and A4…

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

Surprisingly the older A4 did a better job in terms of 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 compared to a traditional cycle that runs until the robot’s battery runs low.

Bottom line

The A4S is the most powerful out of the 9 ILIFE products here. It is best suited on bare floor surfaces like tile, hardwood or linoleum as well as low to medium pile carpet.

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A6

The ILIFE A6 is the latest and with a few upgrades ILIFE robot in the line up right now. It has the Gen 2 brush-less motor that’s far more efficient than the A4 and A4S.

This translates to a longer run time of around 160 mins. according to ILIFE.

New beater bar

It has other numerous other improvements that includes a different motorized brush that does not have any bristles…

This is a radical change from the previous variants. Not having bristles makes this easier to clean. ILIFE 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 a shorter period of time versus the default cleaning mode that runs until battery is low.

Other improvements include a “virtual wall” that allows you to block off areas you don’t want this robot to go into without having to move a piece of furniture.

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

Both have the same bin placement which is at the back. But the release lever is at a difference location in the A6 which is 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 currently the latest and with a few upgrades ILIFE robot available right now. Does the price justify it’s performance? It has the new Gen-2 “CyclonePower” motor that’s brushless. This 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 ILIFE A8 represent a change in direction of ILIFE robot vacuums?

Before it came out, all of ILIFE’s robots have random cleaning patterns.

Brand new navigation

The ILIFE A8 is totally different in terms of navigation. Instead of relying on a bunch of IR 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 a lot of people have come to love because it does clean well for a robot.

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

Everything in the ILIFE A6 and A8 are the same with the exception of the navigation.

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

Navigation not as good as the A6

To be honest, I’m not really impressed with the upgraded navigation. Yes, it was efficient but it lacks 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 first got the A8 but the new navigation is a disappointment. Maybe if ILIFE can find a way to integrate the SLAM system in the A8 and improve thoroughness, it would definitely improve performance.

Bottom line

Navigation upgrade is a disappiontment to be honest. It wasn’t thorough and edge cleaning was was totally absent. If you’re looking at purchasing this please do stick with the ILIFE A6.

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X5

For homes like mine that only have bare floor then the ILIFE X5 would be a smart choice.

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

Take note that these two functions are separate and you cannot use these two features simultaneously.

Mop/vacuum combo

But you can you it to dry mop and vacuum – a useful 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 down to 500Pa and in the normal mode suction power goes up to 850Pa.

No beater bar

The X5 does not have the motorized brush that the A4 has so do not expect this to clean carpet. This robovac is designed for bare floor.

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

In terms of functionality, the water tank has a simple design principle. Water simply tickles down through two posts on each side toward the microfiber mop below.

It does not have any mechanism that regulates flow so you wouldn’t be able to 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 carpet because it does not have any motorized brush.

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V5

Homes that have 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.

It only with a few upgrades (with the coupon code) and you’ll get a lot for your dollar. Make sure to check the coupon codes in the “where to buy section“.

It is one of the best bargains in the robot vacuum industry considering the cleaning performance and navigation.

Out of all the Chinese branded robots, the ILIFE produces one of the best products, I say this not because I got all these for free but I did pretty well in my cleaning tests.

The V5 is a step up from the bare bones ILIFE V1. Both of these robots have the same layout underneath – two side brushes flanking the vacuum inlet in the middle.

Even if the V5 is just less than $10 more expensive, you’ll get a lot of upgrades.

First upgrade would be the ability to schedule the robot to clean at the time you want once a day, 7 days a week.

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

You will also get two extra side brushes and two extra HEPA filters, a remote with 2 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 option that’s cheaper. Cleaning performance would be roughly the same for this three robots so this shouldn’t be an issue.

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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 it has two side brushes, suction only vacuum and a mop attachment.

Simpler layout

The X5 comes with a 4 button interface (Clean, Plan, Home and Spot) while the V5 Pro has a simpler one button LED touchscreen layout.

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

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

Run time

On a fully charge the X5 will run for about 90 minutes while the V5 Pro will run for longer – around 140 mins (that’s over 2 hours!).

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

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, longer run time, better water tank and a better scheduling feature with a few upgrades.

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V7 and V7S

These two variants are hybrid version of the A4 and V5 Pro meaning it combines the carpet cleaning feature of the A4 to the wet mopping functionality of the V5 Pro.

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

This variant was replaced by the V7S Pro with several key improvements over the V7S namely, a new water tank that regulars the flow of water from the tank to pad and the ability to schedule this to mop on its own.

To see how these two differ, watch this video…

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

Both of these models come equipped with a combination brush tool that looks like this.

Brush roll is similar to what the Neato BotVac Connected has which means it has a bristle plus squeegee design that works very well 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 of these have the largest 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 ILIFE V7 has a smaller 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 a large area.

The V7S maybe the most versatile of all the robots featured here because it can clean rugs, bare floor and carpet in addition to its wet mopping feature.

Only the V7 has the smartphone app

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

To download the app, just use a QR code scanner to scan the code on the box…

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

Here’s a close look at the screen shots of the app…

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

The downside is it is only compatible with Bluetooth and not WiFi so you need to 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.

When the app fires up just press the big blue button on top of the status bar to detect the robot.

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

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

New and Improved: the V7S Pro

ILIFE just released an upgraded version of the V7S called the V7S Pro.

So what are the updates with the “Pro”? And is it worth with a few upgrades?

The biggest upgrade from the first generation variant would be the water tank.

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

As I looked closely at the water tank, I noticed that it really isn’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 less air pass through in mop mode. It’s also the same device that shuts off air flow.

Watch this video to see what I mean…

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

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

The downside is it still retains the same navigation pattern which means the robot will just drag a mop on the floor.

It does not have the short back and forth mopping motion of a Braava so agitation won’t be as good.

In terms of cleaning performance expect the same results because it uses the same motor, brush and bin.

Bottom line

Both the V7 and V7S adds a mopping feature to their vacuum system equipped with a motorized brush. The V7 is only capable of dry mopping because it does not have a water tank while the with a few upgrades capable of cleaning bare floor and carpet as well as mopping (wet and dry).

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V8S Pro

The V8S Pro is ILIFE’s latest and perhaps their best robot vacuum to date. It combines the efficient navigation in the A8 and the thoroughness of the A6 in a bigger package.

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

So in essence, you have a robot that has two functions as a robotic vacuum and 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 totally new product.

It has a bigger bin and water thank capacity because of both the dust bin and water tank loads from the back, not from 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 now as a predictable back and forth pattern that combines 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 smart.

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

This robot will just 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 high-end robots like the S50.

Bottom line

The V8S Pro is one of the best ILIFE robots I’ve tested. It combines efficient back and forth navigation and thoroughness found in higher-end robots like the Xiaomi. But it does not have the SLAM algorithm so it won’t be as smart.

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Where can you buy these?

While the ILIFE is available in large online stores like Amazon, you can get a better deal if you buy it direct from the source – at GearBest.com.

For you folks who live in the United States you can purchase the ILIFE from their US warehouse. EU consumers can purchase this direct from the EU warehouse.

This means faster shipping times, less time waiting and more time using the robot and keeping your home clean.

For the latest prices on different ILIFE variants, just click on any of the links below.

I’ve included some coupon codes that GearBest has sent me.

A4S

• A4SJZ (EU Plug) – $139.99

A6

• HK warehouse (US Plug) – $233.69

A8

• China warehouse – $349.99
• Amazon warehouse

V5

• HK warehouse

V5S Pro

• QY2C78N9R1C65 (Champagne Gold EU Plug) – $149.99 *Price with coupon code
• Amazon warehouse

X5

• HK warehouse

V7

• Sapphire Blue China Plug – $203.98

V7S Plus

• V7SPLUSJZ (CZ warehouse) – $159.99
• (China warehouse) – $176.99 *Flash Sale (14% OFF)

V8S Pro

• QY2RJ3622O912 (Platinum) – $239.99 *Price with coupon code
• Amazon warehouse

*  Prices listed above may change – please only use it as a guide.

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Conclusion

ILIFE allows consumers to enjoy the benefits of owning a robotic vacuum without having to spend more than $250.

All these robots have roughly similar performance. Each will vary in terms of 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 9 robots available right now. It does not have a remote or a charging base so you will need to manually plug this in after every cleaning cycle.

But this robot costs less than $80 so it’s really a bargain if you ask me. It’s even cheaper than some of the stick vacuums I’ve covered in this blog.

Options for carpet

The A4 is great for bare floor and carpet thanks to the combination of power and a motorized brush. ILIFE has since released two improved versions of the A4 – the A4S and A6.

Both come with the new Gen 2 brushless motor that’s more efficient and will last longer. Brushless motors are efficient compared to their brushed counterparts so it’ll run longer. Another improvement would be the mini-room cleaning mode that allows this to clean a smaller area without using up the battery.

The A6 is the newest ILIFE product to come out and could be the best. It has a brand new brush roll that 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 close to $230.

Better option than the V1

The V5 is similar to the V1 but it comes with a remote and 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 comes with the 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 is a cost only almost $20 less than the V5S Pro and has the same functionality but with a scheduling quirk.

Lastly, the V7 and V7S Pro have the largest dirt bins (0.5 liters) of the bunch but have the weakest motors. But performance does not suffer because it has a well-designed motorized brush. The latter has a water tank that is great for home with tile or even hardwood.

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