The ILIFE A6 is an improved version of the A-series robotic vacuum cleaners. It now has a spiral blade rubber brush, a larger dust bin, virtual wall technology and a lithium-ion battery that might last for up to 160 minutes before recharging.
ILIFE A6: Overview
The ILIFE A6 robot vacuum looks great: it has a black tempered glass top. It is only 2.8-inches high, so it can clean underneath low furniture where other robotic vacuum cleaners might get stuck.
The A6 has new features which the other ILIFE A-series robots, such as the A4s, does not have: a new rubber brush and virtual wall support. The spiral blade rubber brush needs less maintenance to remove human and pet hair that usually get stuck in bristles. The included virtual wall uses a signal to create a “virtual wall” which the robot vacuum cannot cross.
Is it recommended for pet owners?
Yes, the A6 is good at vacuuming up pet hair from hardwood floors and low pile carpets. It might vacuum little pieces of cat litter and the odd dry food lying around. However, it will probably choke on a dog biscuit. It will even pick up the hair from the pet owners!
Its rubber agitator brush does not have bristles, so hair is less likely to get tangled up in it. Nevertheless, you should check it regularly for any build up of long hair fibers.
The A6 is a relatively quiet robotic vacuum cleaner, and it might not scare pets so much as a normal vacuum cleaner.
How many side brushes?
The ILIFE A6 has two side brushes in addition to its central agitator. The side brushes sweep the corners and edges of floor and wall. The dirt is swept into the cleaning path of the main rubber agitator brush and suction port.
The dust and hair end up in its dust bin, which has a slightly larger capacity than other ILIFE vacuum robots. However, it is still not as large as the dust bin of the Botvac Connected, which has a whopping 1-liter dust bin.
Does it have a highly efficient filter?
The A6 seems to have an ultra performance filter. This is probably similar to a HEPA filter. The filter should be replaced after a month or two, depending on how much the robotic vacuum cleaner is used.
What type of battery?
The ILIFE A6 uses a long-lasting lithium-ion battery. It might power the robot for up to 160 minutes, but individual results will vary according to circumstances. It will probably clean for more than two hours before heading back to its charging station to automatically recharge. The only problem is that the dust bin might get full before the battery runs out, so clean out the dust bin and filter after every cleaning cycle.
What is included?
- ILIFE A6 vacuum robot
- virtual wall barrier
- two extra side brushes
- extra ultra performance filter
- remote control
- adapter
- cleaning tool
- charging base
- owner’s manual
ILIFE A6 vs. A4s
The A6 robotic vacuum has a rubber agitator brush instead of the bristle brush found on the A4s model. The rubber brush is less likely to collect hair tangles and might need less frequent maintenance.
They both have lithium-ion batteries that last for at least 120 minutes of brushing and vacuuming. They both have remote control units. However, the A6 now supports a virtual wall barrier. It is the only ILIFE robot that can work with a virtual wall barrier.
The dust bin and filter of the A6 is probably a little larger and more efficient than the A4s. The difference in height is very small: the A6 is 2.8 inches tall, while the A4s is 3 inches tall.
The ILIFE A4s is a few dollars cheaper. Nevertheless, we would probably buy the A6 because it has the new spiral blade rubber brush, a bigger dust bin and a virtual wall barrier.
ILIFE A6 vs. Roomba 650
The best thing about the ILIFE A6 might be its list price of under $400. It now includes a virtual wall and is in the same price range as the Roomba 650.
The Roomba 650 is taller with a 3.6-inch height, and it does not have a remote control. It also has two agitator brushes, but only one side brush. It is louder and noisier because it is more powerful and better at brushing up pet hair from carpets.
Conclusion
The ILIFE A6 is an affordable robotic vacuum cleaner that is also fairly quiet. It has a low profile, a long battery life, a remote control and virtual wall. Even so, its cleaning pattern is more random than smart, and it does not support Wi-Fi connections and apps. Therefore, it cannot compete with the Roomba 960 or the Neato Botvac Connected when it comes to Wi-Fi connectivity.
To conclude, its affordable price and ultra-slim features make the ILIFE A6 an attractive robotic vacuum cleaner (see more details at Amazon).