Robotic vacuums have been widely available for a number of years by now. By now, you can also get robotic vacuums with a built-in mop, so that it can both vacuum and mop your floors, saving you even more time when it comes to cleaning your floors. But is this feature worth the higher price? Does it actually work? Here, we compare the ILIFE V3s and the ILIFE V5s—two robotic vacuums that are very similar, except that the V5s also has a mop. Let’s start with the basics.
Quick Comparison Table
| ILIFE V3s Pro | ILIFE V5s Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 11.8 x 11.8 x 3 inches | 11.8 x 11.8 x 3 inches |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs. | 4.9 lbs. |
| Run time | 100 to 120 min. | 130 to 150 min. |
| Charge time | 300 min. | 280 min. |
| Dust bin capacity | 300 mL | 300 mL |
| Battery | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Virtual wall | No | No |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | No | No |
| Remote control | Yes | Yes |
| HEPA filter | Yes | Yes |
| Mopping capability | No | Yes |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
As you can see, the two appliances are very similar. In addition to the mop and water tank, the only other difference between the V3s and the V5s is the slightly longer run and slightly shorter charge time of the V5s. Considering that the V5s can also mop your floors, it is surprising that it has the same dimensions as the V3s and is only slightly heavier.
ILIFE V3s Pro
The ILIFEV3s Pro is one of the oldest models of the ILIFE family of robotic vacuums. The industry has come a long way since the V3s has been introduced, and so there are certainly more advanced models available. The V3s Pro does not have Wi-Fi connectivity and does not offer the option to control it via an app or a voice control system like Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Unlike other models, you do not have the option to control where the V3s Pro is cleaning, meaning there is no virtual barrier that might stop the vacuum from going into certain areas. You can, however, schedule cleaning runs, so the vacuum can operate while you are not at home, if you are comfortable with that feature. While you cannot control the vacuum via an app, it is very easy to operate it with the included remote control.
Two advantages of the V3s Pro are its side brushes and its low height. The vacuum will have no problem cleaning under your furniture, and the strategically situated brushes will make sure that the vacuum not only cleans the floor directly below it, but also the corners and edges of your rooms. We all know that those are the spots where dirt likes to accumulate. The V3s Pro also comes with a spot-cleaning feature that offers concentrated cleaning of particularly dirty areas of the floor. This ILIFE model is also particularly well suited for homes with pets. Even long dog hair gets sucked up without a problem, and the HEPA filter ensures that allergen particles end up in the dust bin, and not in the air. It also does an above-average job at picking up kitty litter and all the crumbs under the kitchen floor after one of our big family breakfasts.
The one thing that any potential buyer needs to consider is the fact that the V3s Pro does not work well on thicker or shaggy carpets. It does not have the suction power to deep clean those types of carpet, and it has the tendency to get tangled on shaggy carpets. Nothing is more annoying than coming home expecting a clean home and finding your robotic vacuum stuck on the fringes of your carpet and the floors still dirty—especially if the battery has run out while the vacuum was stuck. So with this model, it is especially important to consider the floor type of your home before making a decision. The V3s Pro is a moderately priced robotic vacuum, but it’s not worth spending the money if it can’t clean your home.
Want to know which vacuum works very well on the carpet? Click Here: Neato Botvac D7 vs Roomba 980 Comparison.
What’s in the Box?
- ILIFE V3s
- Charging dock
- Remote control with batteries
- Cleaning tool
- Replacement HEPA filter
- User manual
Pros
- It does very well vacuuming up pet hair of all lengths.
- It is easy to operate via remote control.
- Its side brushes ensure that corners and edges get properly cleaned.
Cons
- It does not work well on thick or shaggy carpets.
- There is no mapping feature and you cannot control it via an app or a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa.
- The vacuum does not come with virtual barriers, meaning you cannot control where it cleans.
ILIFE V5s Pro
What impressed me most when first unpacking the V5s Pro was that despite the added mopping feature, it is just as compact as the V3s Pro. I know I don’t have to worry about it not fitting under my low couch and the kid’s low-sitting bed. It goes right under all the furniture and cleans it as well as any other vacuum I’ve tested. It’s also one of the longest-running robotic vacuums I’ve tested. The almost 2 hours of run time it gets from one battery charge can keep up with top-of-the-line models. With its improved anti-collision sensors, there is little chance of the vacuum running into any furniture and either scuffing it up or even damaging it.
The V5s Pro also features a brushless motor that can provide more suction power than the V3s Pro, according to the manufacturer. While there is less chance of tangles inside the vacuum that might slow it down, it is almost impossible to say whether the V5s Pro cleans better than the V3s Pro. Like the V3s Pro, the V5s Pro does an excellent job picking up pet hair, dirt, crumbs, and even larger pieces of debris from any kind of hard floor. I was impressed by how well the V5s Pro cleaned up around my cat’s litter box.
Like the V3s Pro, the V5s Pro has no Wi-Fi connectivity option and cannot be app or voice controlled. You only have the option of pressing the on-board on/off button or using the included remote control, which is easy to operate. On the upside, because this robotic vacuum does not have the latest bells and whistles, it is very competitively priced, especially if you are on a budget.
What truly sets the V5s Pro apart from the V3s Pro is the additional mopping feature. The V5s Pro has a 300 mL water tank and microfiber cloth that allows the appliance to not only clean, but to mop and dry as well. Once you have filled the water tank and started the mopping feature, the unique i-dropping technology ensures that the water slowly and regularly drips out to thoroughly wet and clean the floor. Once the robot stops moving, the water stops dripping, in order to avoid any water puddles that could damage the floor.
The issue I had with the V5s Pro is similar to the V3s Pro: it does not work well on rugs. At times, the V5s Pro had trouble transitioning to the family room rug, and if it made it, it was not able to really vacuum the carpet. The mopping feature worked well in the kitchen (linoleum) and hallway (tile), but the machine struggled with the hardwood floor in my dining room, which is a little uneven. I could tell by the streaks that the floor was not wetted evenly. To be fair, I have tested other robotic mops in that room as well, and they have all had similar problems. But the inconsistent nature of the mopping feature is a bit disappointing. Also, despite the long run time, it is almost impossible to have the machine vacuum and then immediately mop. Unless you live in a particularly small apartment, the robot will likely have to charge its battery, which lengthens the overall time it takes to clean the floors.
What’s in the Box?
- ILIFE V5s
- Charging dock
- Remote control with batteries
- Adapter
- 2 replacement side brushes
- Replacement HEPA filter
- Mop with the water tank
- User manual
Pros
- It efficiently cleans and mops hardwood floors.
- It is very quiet.
- Its side brushes ensure that corners and edges get cleaned.
Cons
- It sweeps rather than vacuums.
- It does not work well on deep or shaggy carpets.
- It can only be controlled via its remote control; there is no app or voice control feature.
Q&A Time
Q: My dog sheds quite a bit, and I’m looking for a robotic vacuum that can clean up the pet hair for me, especially on the family room carpet. Will the ILIFE V3s Pro do the job?
A: The V3s Pro does a really good job cleaning up pet hair, and with the HEPA filter, you can be sure to have an allergen particle-free home as well. But the V3s Pro does not perform that well on carpeted floors, especially if they are thick. I would recommend the ILIFE A4s or the Roomba 675 instead.
Q: My home has mostly hardwood, tile, and laminate flooring, although
I have low-pile area rugs in the bedrooms. It’s a pretty big home, though, and
I’m worried that a robotic vacuum is not up for the job.
A: Both the V3s Pro and the V5s Pro
do very well on the types of flooring your home has. While neither model will
probably be able to clean your entire home with one battery charge, its
comparably long battery life will ensure that it won’t need more than one
recharge to get the job done. If you program the machine to run every day, I
think you’ll be happy with both the V3s and the V5s, if you’re looking for a
mopping feature as well.
Q: My husband gave me an Amazon Alexa for Christmas. Can I sync the V3s Pro with it?
A: No, unfortunately, you cannot. The V3s Pro has no Wi-Fi connectivity and cannot be controlled via Amazon Alexa or Google Home. If this feature is important to you, check out the Roomba 690.
Q: I used to have a robotic vacuum with a mopping feature, but the water kept dripping out of the tank whenever the vacuum turned off. Will I have the same problem with the V5s Pro?
A: The water dripping out of the tank was a pretty serious problem with the ILIFE V5s. However, the company has made some improvements when it designed the V5s Pro. There is now a valve that prevents the water from dripping when the vacuum is turned off. In my tests of the V5s Pro, I have never encountered any problems with leaking water.
Q: Can I schedule the V5s Pro so that it vacuums one day and mops the
next?
A: No, you cannot do that. There is
no option to schedule a mopping run; you can only schedule vacuum runs. Also,
it is highly recommended that you take out and empty the water tank before
charging the batteries. While there are safe guards in place to avoid any
problems with water mixing with electricity, it is better to be safe and not
let any water stay in the tank once the mopping is done.
Conclusion
Both the V3s Pro and the V5s Pro are competitively priced. If you are on a budget, either model is an affordable option. They both perform very well on any hard floor: hardwood, tile, laminate, and linoleum. However, if you have mainly carpeted floors in your home, you should consider that these vacuums do not perform as well as others; you might want to check out any of the iRobot Roomba models instead. The same goes for Wi-Fi connectivity or voice control. These two options are not available for the V3s Pro and the V5s Pro. Additionally, I have yet to find a robotic mop that I like. The performance of the mopping feature, while improved on the V5s Pro model, is still uneven, and I don’t consider it a real time saver. So, if your choice is solely between the V3s Pro and the V5s Pro, I say go with the V3s Pro. It is unlikely that the V5s Pro will save you the trouble of having to mop your floors yourself.
