ILIFE V5 Review: The V5 Pro’s Twin

ILIFE V5 ReviewAround a week ago, I shared with you the ILIFE V5 Pro – a robot vacuum very similar to the X5 only but with a better scheduling feature.

If you feel that you don’t need the wet mopping feature of the V5 Pro, the V5 is a slightly cheaper option but with less power (it does not have the max suction feature found in the V5 Pro).

It has the same exact design as the V5 Pro but it comes in a different color – predominantly silver and white with black accent.

This variant is not equipped with a motorized brush which makes it more suitable for bare floor.

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Like the V5 Pro it has a mop and perhaps one of my favorite features is the capability of this robot to dry mop and vacuum at the same time.

Dry mopping is one way of picking up hard to clean statically charge dust on hard to reach areas like under beds or tables.

A quick look at the features

  • Dual functionality – vacuum and dry mopping
  • Low profile design – only 2.75 inches tall
  • 600Pa suction power
  • Three cliff sensors
  • Low noise – only 55 decibels loud
  • Three cleaning modes – spot, edge and auto cleaning
  • 1 year warranty

Pros

  • One of the cheaper robot vacuums in the market right now costing just a little over $100
  • Very decent cleaning performance on bare floor
  • You can use it to dry mop and vacuum at the same time

Cons

  • Small sized bin
  • Random cleaning pattern isn’t as efficient as a Xiaomi robot cleaner
  • No water tank

What to expect from this robot vacuum and mop?

Before anything else, watch this video to see the features, cleaning performance and what comes in the box…

This robot has the same features as the V5 Pro but only with less power and minus the water tank. If you feel that you do not need the wet mopping functionality of the V5 Pro, opt for this variant that’s around $10 cheaper.

I like the color scheme a lot, the gray and white combo will fit well in most modern homes.

Top View

ilifev5topcloseup

Bottom View

bottom view

When you flip the robot over you will see the same exact layout as the V5 Pro and X5 – two side brushes, suction inlet for the vacuum and slots for the mop bracket.

Underside closeup view

The position of the bracket behind the vacuum allows consumers to use the vacuum and mopping functionality at the same time. You can spray cleaning solution on the mop and use this to damp mop your floors – that’s the flexibility this product gives you.

It also has cliff sensors that prevent this robot from falling off stairs and a wall sensor that allow this to do edge cleaning.

Dirt Bin

Dirt bin

The V5 has the exact dirt bin found in the X5 and V5 Pro – this is something to think about when buying spare parts.

It can hold roughly around 300 milliliters of dry dirt and has two filters – a primary mesh filter and HEPA filter that keeps allergens inside the bin.

Dirt bin opened

The unobtrusive design of the bin and the top door make it one of the easiest ILIFE robots to empty and clean.

No Virtual Wall

This robot does not come with a virtual wall. Out of the 9 ILIFE robot vacuums I’ve tested, only the X5 has the virtual wall.

Remote Control

Remote

It also comes with a remote and 2 double-A batteries.

The V5’s remote looks similar to the V5 Pro with one exception. It does not have the “Max” button that increases suction but as I’ve tested this robot on bare floor it does a very decent job picking up fine and larger debris.

What comes in the box?

What's in the box?

Here’s the two extra HEPA filters…

extra HEPA filters

Out of the box you will get:

  • V5 robot
  • 300 ml dirt bin
  • 2 extra side brushes
  • 2 extra HEPA filters
  • Remote control (2 AA batteries are included)
  • Charging base
  • Power cord
  • English manual

Bare Floor Cleaning

Despite having a lower power rating (600Pa vs 850Pa) than the V5, the V5 held its own cleaning bare floor, in fact it was able to pick up the same amount of oats and baby powder though it took around 4 minutes longer to finish the task.

I also share the similarities and differences of the V5 and V5 Pro in this video…

Based on the hearing test, the V5 does sound a little bit louder compared to the V5 Pro despite having the lower power rating.

I didn’t record how much decibels it produces so I don’t have the numbers to back it up.

Great budget option

But for just a little over $110, this robot is a great budget option and if you don’t really need the wet mopping functionality you can save ten bucks and go with this.

For me, I prefer more options and at least for this test, the V5 Pro seems to be more efficient.

I removed the charging dock because the IR signal from it blocks a certain area and the robot will not go near it and for this test, I removed that because I wanted to test how it will perform cleaning the edges.

The biggest downside for IR-based robots like this compared to more advanced products like the Neato would be this.

But remember this robot costs only a fraction of those robots I mentioned so you will have to weigh your options.

For everyday cleaning, this is what this robot picks up…

Normal cleaning

It will pick up a lot of dust, hair and in this case a crumb of playdough scattered on the floor. Take note that I didn’t clean the room for a day and this is the amount of dirt that it was able to pick up.

Product Specifications

Battery typeLithium ion
Charger typeCharging dock
Charge time280 mins
Water tank capacityNone
Dirt capacity (dry)300ml
Run Time 120 to 150 mins
Net weight (with battery)4.79
Shipping weight9.26 pounds
Diameter11.79 inches
Height2.75 inches
Vacuuming
Yes
Dry Mopping
Yes
Wet Mopping
No
Multi Room
Yes
Self docking
Yes
Remote control
Yes
Hepa filtration
Yes
Cliff detection
Yes
Self adjusting
Yes
Side brush
Yes
Full bin indicator
No
Stair Cleaning
No
Cleaning sessions per week 7
Extra Filter2
Containment None
Brush cleaning tools1
Accessories includedCharging base

300ml dirt bin

mop bracket

2 microfiber mops

A/C adapter

Remote (AAA-batteries included)

2 extra filters

1 brush cleaning tool

2 extra side brushes
Voltageauto volt
Manufactured inChina
Warranty1 year (learn more)

Where to buy

This robot is available in Amazon but it will cost just under $150 but a cheaper option is available in GearBest where it is much cheaper.

To see the latest prices, click on the links below. I’ve also included some coupon codes that you can use for extra savings.

  • HK warehouse

Coupon code will only work for the China warehouse

If you look at this product in Amazon, it says ILIFE V3S but there is no such product in GearBest’s website. And if you look at the photos, it is exactly the same as the photos I posted in this article.

Wrapping up

The ILIFE V5 is a good option for homes that only have bare floors.

Based on cleaning tests, it has enough suction to pick up large debris like rolled oats. It can also handle finer stuff like baby powder.

It does not have the most advanced navigation compared to a Neato but compared to other brands within the price range, it is one of the best.

Even with the small bin, it still was able to pick up a decent amount of dirt without any overflowing issues.

This should not be an issue that will dissuade you from buying this.

The downside though is when you have a lot of pets, it is capable of picking up pet hair but the smallish bin can only hold so much.

Without a motorized brush this robot is pretty much limited on bare floors, if you have carpet then go with the V7 or the V7S.

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