A robot vacuum cleaner of a not quite standard design came to my review. This is the recently released iLIFE V9e. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that instead of the usual garbage container, an impressive dust collector with a cyclone filter is installed inside. In addition, the robot vacuum cleaner boasts a suction power of up to 4000 Pa and is controlled not only from the remote control, but also through a proprietary mobile application. For all this, you will have to pay about 200 dollars, which is quite acceptable. Next, I will take a closer look and test the iLIFE V9e, after which I will express my own opinion whether this robot vacuum cleaner is worth buying. So let’s go!
Buy iLIFE V9e Robot Vacuum Cleaner on Aliexpress
Equipment
The robot came in this box:
Box
The delivery set of iLIFE V9e includes:
- Charging base.
- Power adapter.
- Operating instructions in several languages, incl. and in English.
- Control panel with batteries.
- Two spare side brushes.
- And a spare HEPA filter.
Equipment
As you can see, there are no wipes for wet cleaning, so the robot vacuum cleaner is only suitable for dry cleaning. In addition, there is no movement limiter in the package. But at least there are spare consumables for the first time of operation of the robot, this is a plus.
Appearance
Let’s take a look at how iLIFE V9e works. It is round in shape, white with black accents. The height of the case is impressive, 11 cm from the floor. A gyroscope is responsible for navigation in this model.
Top view
Body height
A soft-touch mechanical bumper is installed at the front. Above we see one single mechanical control button – “Start / Pause”.
Control Panel
The waste container is located under the top cover. A brush for cleaning the robot is conveniently located next to it.
Container and filter location
Let’s take a look at what the garbage container itself looks like. It opens from the bottom with a carrying handle on top. By the way, this container holds up to 700 ml of dry waste.
Dust collector with cyclone filter
An interesting point is the placement of the HEPA filter. I did not find it in the container, because there is basically a cyclonic filtration system. But the HEPA filter itself is installed on the side under the cover. Moreover, it is important to note that there is another fabric filter inside the robot (pictured above). In general, this robot has a good filtration system in my opinion.
Location of the HEPA filter
Go ahead. On the side of the case there is a power switch and a connector for connecting a charger directly.
Let’s see how the iLIFE V9e is arranged from below. It has 3 fall protection sensors. There are two side brushes, they are three-beam, quick-detachable. Interestingly, a suction port is installed in the center, there is no turbo brush.
Bottom view
Regarding such a constructive solution, I have a double opinion, and further in the tests I will show why.
In general, the build quality of the iLIFE V9e is budgetary, which is typical of most iLIFE robotic vacuum cleaners .
Specifications
Key features of iLIFE V9e:
- Li-Ion battery (capacity not specified).
- Suction power up to 4000 Pa.
- Working time up to 110 min.
- The volume of the dust collector is 700 ml.
- Passage of obstacles up to 20 mm.
- Dimensions: 310 * 112 mm.
Of the characteristics, it is important to single out only high suction power, which will definitely be checked in tests. Well, the increased capacity of the dust collector also deserves attention, although because of this, the body has become a few centimeters higher.
Functionality
Let’s move on to the overview of functions. As mentioned earlier, iLIFE V9e is controlled not only through the remote control, but also through the proprietary mobile application. First, let’s consider the possibilities when controlling from a smartphone. Connection will not cause problems, follow the manufacturer’s prompts.
App control
On the main operating panel, iLIFE V9e builds a real-time room map, but does not store it in memory. In the settings section, you can set the cleaning according to the schedule by selecting the time and days of the week, view the cleaning log, monitor the status of consumables, smoothly adjust the suction power, select the cleaning mode, turn on the search for the robot vacuum cleaner by a sound signal and update the firmware version if necessary.
Application functions
In addition, you can forcibly return the robot to the base for charging, start and pause the cleaning process, and start manual control. With manual control, you can additionally turn on maximum power, cleaning along the walls and spot cleaning.
This is all the functionality of the application. In principle, the main features have been implemented.
Remote control
As for the remote control, it has duplicated functions such as:
- manual control by arrows;
- start / pause;
- setting the current time on the display;
- setting up cleaning according to the schedule;
- spot cleaning mode;
- maximum power mode;
- forced return to base for charging;
- perimeter cleaning mode.
Again, the main functionality is duplicated, this is a plus.
Testing
A detailed video review with all the tests has already been prepared and published on the channel, I recommend watching:
Navigation
And finally, let’s move on to the tests. The first step is to test the iLIFE V9e navigation in an obstacle room. In the S-shaped cleaning mode, the robot vacuum cleaner cleans the entire available area with a snake and returns to the base for charging. Of course, he does not sweep separately around the box and chair legs, but at least the robot is not stuck on the legs of the dryer. So the navigation is standard, like for a gyro robot.
Navigating within a room
When it comes to navigating within the home, sometimes the map can get confused and re-lined up. Nevertheless, the robot is well oriented in space and is able to clean within several rooms. This is what the map looks like after the end of the cleaning cycle:
Navigation within the home
The accuracy of construction is not ideal, but still the geometry of the rooms is the same and the main thing is that there are no uncleaned areas left. The test passed successfully.
Suction power
Let’s check the suction power of the iLIFE V9e. Let me remind you that the manufacturer claims 4000 Pa. So I confirm that the robot vacuum cleaner is really powerful. He managed to suck out debris from slots up to 10 mm deep, while most analogs can only handle a 2 mm slot. Test passed successfully!
Suction power
Dry cleaning quality on laminate
The quality of cleaning on hard surfaces is at a high level. The iLIFE V9e was able to pick up all the debris from the floor, including wool and hair. Moreover, it sweeps out in the corners better than most analogs, which is a plus.
Dry cleaning quality on laminate
As for the state of the robot vacuum cleaner after the test, this is the main advantage of robots without a turbo brush. Hair and wool are not wrapped around the central brush, they are immediately sent to the dust collector and therefore do not need to constantly clean the brush.
Center suction port
All rubbish is collected inside the dust container. This test passed successfully.
Carpet cleaning
But the lack of robots without a central brush is just the low quality of cleaning on carpets, which we observe.
Carpet cleaning
Even though the suction power is high, wool and hair remain on the carpet. Moreover, this is far from the fluffiest carpet. As a result, the quality of cleaning on carpets is not high, which is typical of all robots without a turbo brush .
Passage of obstacles
The iLIFE V9e’s cross-country ability is surprisingly good. This robot vacuum cleaner can move 2 cm of sills!
Passage of obstacles
Passage of dark surfaces
Speaking of working on black surfaces, the iLIFE V9e has a problem with that. He recognizes a black rug as a difference in height and avoids it, this is important to consider.
Passage of dark surfaces
Noise level
And finally, we measure the noise level of the iLIFE V9e at different power levels. At 10%, the noise level is in the range of 69-72 dB, by 30% it reaches 74 dB, by 50% the noise level rises to 76 dB, and at maximum power the sound level meter recorded a peak value of 82 dB.
Noise level
Yes, it is a very noisy robot vacuum cleaner, its noise level is the same as that of powerful upright vacuums. This is important to consider.
Summing up
iLIFE V9e has been reviewed and tested in detail. According to our rating system, he managed to score only 64 out of 100 points . The result is not high, which is due to the lack of a wet cleaning function, for which you can get more than ten more points. In addition, the robot is gyroscopic, and such models, in principle, are currently gaining no more than 90 points.
However, it is much more important to understand the merits and demerits of this robot vacuum cleaner. Let’s start with the pros. The main ones in my opinion:
- High suction power.
- Good cleaning performance on hard surfaces.
- Roomy dust collector.
- Cyclonic filtration system.
- Control via app and remote control.
- Good cross-country ability.
- Affordable price.
As for the shortcomings, there are also quite a few of them, and the main ones are:
- No wet cleaning function.
- No center brush.
- The cleaning quality on carpets is below average.
- High body height.
- Afraid of dark floor coverings.
- High noise level during operation.
- No movement limiter included.
As a result, iLIFE V9e has its own strengths and weaknesses, and it is not clear which is more important. On the one hand, this is by far the most powerful robotic vacuum cleaner without a turbo brush that I have tested. But on the other hand, just a high suction power is needed on carpets, for their deep cleaning. And due to the lack of a central brush when cleaning the carpet, the robot did not perform well.
In addition, navigation is only based on a gyroscope, there is no wet cleaning and the robot is quite tall. So it’s up to you to decide whether to buy this model or not. The iLIFE V9e has its own unique features and perhaps for some they will be decisive when choosing a robot vacuum cleaner. In my opinion, it turned out to be such a Dyson 360 Eye at minimum salaries. The choice is yours and I am interested to hear your opinion in the comments regarding this model.
