The iLife A30 Pro robot vacuum enters the increasingly competitive budget robot vacuum category with a surprisingly modern feature set for the price. It combines LiDAR navigation, a robot vacuum and mop combo design, and an auto-empty base station while still remaining firmly in the affordable robot vacuum range that has historically made iLife popular.
We bought one and put it through all kinds of tests over the last few weeks to see how these updates performed. This inexpensive robot vacuum had some surprisingly good scores, and in this review we’ll cover the pros and cons, how it performed in our tests, and whether we think it’s a contender to become our favorite budget robot vacuum under $300. In this review, we’ll compare the iLife A30 Pro to our average scores and to our current budget pick, the MOVA S10.
The Quick Verdict:
The iLife A30 Pro is one of the strongest budget robot vacuums we’ve tested for pure vacuuming performance, offering impressive suction, excellent pet hair pickup, efficient LiDAR navigation, and an auto-empty dock at a very affordable price. While its mopping system and app experience lag behind competitors like the MOVA S10 (see our full review), it’s an easy recommendation for shoppers who prioritize vacuuming performance over advanced mopping features.
Model Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong airflow compared to other budget robot vacuums
- Outstanding pet hair pickup (100% in our test)
- Low hair tangling on the main brush
- Above-average carpet deep cleaning performance
- Efficient LiDAR navigation and mapping
- Covers a large area per charge
- Includes an auto-empty dock under $300
- Remote control included
- Strong overall vacuuming performance for budget buyers
- Good value for the feature set
Cons
- Below-average mopping performance
- No dedicated obstacle avoidance system
- Small onboard dustbin and water tank capacity
- iLife Home app has very poor user ratings
- Fewer app features than major competitors
- Sensors will likely struggle on dark carpets and highly reflective floors
- Some user concerns about long-term durability
The Ilife A30 Pro is a robot vacuum/mop combo designed for hands-free cleaning, featuring a 3-in-1 system that can sweep, vacuum, and mop simultaneously using an integrated 200ml dustbin and 200ml water tank. It delivers up to 5,000Pa of suction power with four adjustable levels and a roller brush optimized for hard floors and low- to medium-pile carpets, along with automatic carpet boost. Navigation is handled by LiDAR-based laser mapping with SLAM algorithms for efficient route planning, multi-floor mapping, and support for no-go zones and room-specific cleaning. The included self-emptying station uses large-capacity 2.5L dust bags and can hold debris for up to 60 days or longer depending on usage, enabling extended hands-free operation. It supports app control via the ILIFEClean app with scheduling, suction and water adjustments, virtual walls, and zone cleaning, as well as voice control through Alexa and Google Assistant over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. Additional specs include a HEPA filter, lithium-ion battery with up to 150 minutes of runtime, automatic recharging, anti-collision and anti-drop sensors, and a bagged dock system for low-maintenance operation.See additional info
Price as of June 1, 2026
Auto Empty Station: Self Empties Debris
Mopping: Fixed Pad Mopping
Performance: Carpet Boost Settings
Mapping / Navigation: Multi Level Maps | Virtual Barriers and No Go Zones
Controls: Third-Party Voice Control Options
| Scores | Ilife A30 Pro | Average Robot Vacuum Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum Wars Overall | 2.74 | 2.58 |
| Features | 3.01 | 3.28 |
| Mopping Performance | 1.30 | 2.39 |
| Obstacle Avoidance | 0 | 3.39 |
| Pet | 3.02 | 3.42 |
| Navigation | 3.74 | 3.21 |
| Battery | 2.61 | 2.56 |
| Performance | 0.55 | 3.56 |
| Official Battery Life: 150 Minutes | Navigation Type: Spinning Lidar |
| Official Suction Power: 5000 Pa | Dust Bin Size: 200ml |
| Obstacle Avoidance Type: N/A | Objects Recognized: 0 |
| Multi Level Maps:Y | Virtual Barriers:Y |
| Detergent Capacity: N/A | Disposable Bag: 2.5L |
iLife A30 Pro Features and Specifications
Starting with the basics, the A30 Pro is a robot vacuum and mop combo from iLife, a robot vacuum brand that is now celebrating ten years in business.
This is a very inexpensive robot vacuum considering what it comes with, including an auto-empty base station, a mopping function, and LiDAR navigation. Those are features that until recently were generally reserved for much more expensive robot vacuums.
There is also a variant we have not tested called the iLife A30s, which is a vacuum-only robot vacuum that lists a higher suction rating than the A30 Pro. The A30s is rated at 10,000Pa of suction, while the A30 Pro is rated at 5,000Pa, and it comes without the auto-empty base station.
Vacuuming Performance Test Results
Suction Power and Airflow Performance
The official max suction on this model is only 5,000 Pascals, but in our suction bench test, it measured 1.92 kPa, which was nearly twice the average score of .99 kPa and significantly higher than the MOVA S10’s .87 kPa.
The airflow was also impressive. In our airflow bench test, the iLife A30 Pro measured 22 CFM, beating both the average of 17 CFM and the MOVA S10’s 20 CFM. Those are unusually strong airflow numbers for a budget robot vacuum with auto-empty dock features.
It also did a good job at its primary function as a vacuum, sweeping debris of different sizes from the surface of both hard floors and carpets.
Carpet Deep Cleaning Performance
The vacuum has four suction levels, and it has an automatic carpet boost feature that triggers max suction over rugs and carpets. In our carpet deep clean test, where we embed sand into medium pile carpets and measure how much the robot vacuum is able to remove, the iLife A30 Pro picked up 85% of the sand. That was higher than the average score of 78%, though slightly behind the MOVA S10’s 90%.
Pet Hair Pickup and Hair Tangle Testing
The main brush is a single bristle brush in a floating housing, and it did a fantastic job in our flattened pet hair pickup test. For this test, we press 2.5-inch hairs onto carpet and weigh how much the robot is able to remove.
The A30 Pro managed a perfect score here, removing 100% of the pet hair in the test. That beat both the average score of 82% and the MOVA S10’s score of 89%. If you are looking for one of the best budget robot vacuums for pet hair, this was one of the strongest areas for the iLife.
We were also happy with its hair tangle test, where we use 7-inch hair to see how prone the main brush is to wrapping. Only 11% of the hairs became tangled on the main brush, which was much lower than both the average of 26% and the MOVA S10’s 28%.
That is a pretty good result for an affordable robot vacuum, especially considering many budget models struggle badly with hair tangling.
Crevice Cleaning Results
It also outperformed the MOVA in our crevice test. The iLife A30 Pro scored a 3 in the crevice pickup test, matching the category average and outperforming the MOVA S10’s score of 1.
As far as vacuuming performance goes, we felt pretty confident that the A30 Pro is a really strong choice, especially for buyers prioritizing suction, airflow, pet hair pickup, and carpet cleaning in a robot vacuum under $300.
How Vacuum Wars Tests Robot Vacuums: Step into the world of Vacuum Wars, where real-world tests, straight-forward reviews, and no sponsored products redefine robot vacuum evaluations.
Mopping Performance Review
This model includes a mopping feature, which is another advantage. The mop uses a basic flat pad design, which is what we would expect at this price tier. It has an electric water tank with three flow levels, and the tank itself is a single module that has one section for dry debris and another for water. The pads do not lift over carpets, so you will need to do vacuuming and mopping in separate runs if you have a lot of rugs or carpets. Mopping mode is activated when you attach the mop pad.
While the robot is able to sense carpets for increasing its suction, it will not automatically avoid them in mopping mode, so iLife recommends setting up no-mop zones in the app.
Stain Removal Test Results
Unfortunately, the biggest con with the A30 Pro was the mopping performance itself. While this is far from the worst robot vacuum mop we have ever seen, it wasn’t especially good either.
In our legacy dried stain test, which is the same test we used for the MOVA S10, the iLife A30 Pro scored a 65. That was well below the average score of 108 and far behind the MOVA S10’s 116.
In our newer coffee-only stain test, the A30 Pro scored just 24 points, which was dramatically below the average of 94.
It did not leave behind a lot of water, which is a positive because excessive water usage can lead to streaked floors. In our water penalty test, the iLife measured .6 grams of residual water compared to the average of .95 grams. Still, its combined mopping score of 17.7 ended up below the overall average score of 20.31 and significantly below the MOVA S10’s 28.8.
iLife A30 Pro Mopping Comparison
| Metric | iLife A30 Pro | MOVA S10 | Average |
| Dried Stain Test | 65 | 116 | 108 |
| Coffee-Only Stain | 24 | — | 94 |
| Water Penalty (Grams) | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.95 |
| Combined Mopping Score | 17.7 | 28.8 | 20.31 |
iLife A30 Pro vs MOVA S10 Mopping Comparison
Mopping was one area where the MOVA S10 was clearly stronger. The MOVA’s mop also includes several additional premium-style features that the iLife lacks, including mop lifting over carpet, edge cleaning movement, and a vibration scrubbing system for better stain removal. The iLife A30 Pro does not include any of those features.
That means the MOVA came in ahead of the iLife in both mopping performance and mopping features.
See also: How Vacuum Wars Tests Robot Vacuum Mops
LiDAR Navigation and Mapping Performance
Another pro is the A30 Pro’s LiDAR navigation. LiDAR navigation is appearing more often on budget robot vacuums, and it makes a huge difference compared to the random bump-and-turn navigation style that historically dominated the budget category.
Navigation Efficiency Testing
In the iLife A30 Pro, that upgrade gave it genuinely good navigation efficiency.
In our navigation efficiency test, the robot covered 1.25 square meters per minute, which was significantly higher than both the average score of .71 and the MOVA S10’s .74.
Battery Life and Floor Coverage
Its battery efficiency was slightly below average at 1.31 minutes per 1% battery compared to the average of 1.56 and the MOVA’s 2.0.
However, because its navigation efficiency was so strong, the iLife A30 Pro was still able to cover an estimated 1,763 square feet per charge. That beat both the average of 1,170 square feet and the MOVA S10’s 1,593 square feet.
That combination of LiDAR mapping and strong navigation efficiency makes the A30 Pro a surprisingly capable cheap robot vacuum with mapping features.
iLife A30 Pro Navigation Comparison
| Metric | iLife A30 Pro | MOVA S10 | Average |
| Navigation Efficiency (Sq Meters/minute) | 1.25 | 0.74 | 0.71 |
| Battery Efficiency (1% per minute) | 1.31 | 2.00 | 1.56 |
| Estimated Sq Feet Per Charge | 1763 | 1593 | 1170 |
Auto-Empty Dock and Convenience Features
Auto-Empty Base Station Performance
The base station empties debris into a 2.5-liter disposable bag. iLife says the base station is rated for 12,000 Pascals of suction to empty the robot’s onboard dustbin, and the bag is expected to hold up to eight weeks of debris depending on things like pet hair and home size.
We really like seeing auto-empty dustbins appear on very low budget robot vacuums, which has become a little more common lately, and it’s a major value-added feature in this price range.
Remote Control Functionality
Another advantage with the iLife A30 Pro is that it comes with a remote control, making it one of the few robot vacuums that still includes one.
The remote allows you to control the robot in standby mode, increase the suction level, run a whole-floor clean, spot clean, edge clean, or return the robot to the base station.
Users report really liking this feature because they can execute basic commands without needing the app.
iLife Home App Review
Available App Features
It does include many of the basic features we expect in a robot vacuum app, including no-go zones, no-mop zones, map edits, scheduling, room cleaning, zone cleaning, and suction and water level controls.
However, the app had fewer features than apps from larger brands, and the interface wasn’t especially intuitive.
Common App Problems and User Complaints
It also currently has the worst user review scores for a live robot vacuum app in our dataset. The only apps we have reviewed with worse scores belonged to defunct brands like Amarey and Neato. The iLife Home app currently has user ratings of 2.1 stars on the Android store and 1.7 stars on the iOS store. Users most frequently cite connectivity problems, frequent remapping issues, deleted maps, and app glitches after updates.
Since the app experience has become such a central part of the robot vacuum category, poor app functionality can be a significant drawback.
Drawbacks and Limitations
Small Dustbin Capacity
Another downside is the robot’s onboard dustbin size. The dustbin and water tank are both part of the same removable module, and each compartment is only 200 milliliters in volume. That is much smaller than average. For comparison, the MOVA S10 has a 350 mL dustbin, while the average in our dataset is 377 mL. If the dustbin fills before the robot returns to the dock to empty itself, it can reduce suction performance and potentially cause debris to spill back out.
Obstacle Avoidance Limitations
Both the iLife A30 Pro and the MOVA S10 have fairly favorable user review averages overall, although the iLife has a much larger review volume. Most of the negative user reviews for the iLife cite durability and longevity concerns.
Finally, compared to the MOVA S10, the A30 Pro is a lower-tech robot vacuum. The MOVA includes structured light obstacle avoidance, while the iLife has no dedicated obstacle avoidance system for detecting smaller items in its path. That means you will want to tidy the floor of cables, socks, and toys before running it.
That said, the MOVA performed so poorly in our obstacle avoidance testing that it didn’t really create a meaningful advantage in practice. In our obstacle avoidance testing, the MOVA S10 scored only 4 out of 24, while the overall average in our dataset is 16 out of 24. The iLife A30 Pro does not include obstacle avoidance scoring because it lacks a dedicated system entirely.
iLife also warns that the A30 Pro’s sensors do not work well on very shiny floors or on dark carpets and rugs, and they recommend avoiding use on those surfaces.
Final Verdict: Is the iLife A30 Pro Worth Buying?
In our rankings, the iLife A30 Pro did not replace the MOVA S10 as our favorite robot vacuum under $300, but the final scores ended up extremely close.
Who Should Buy the iLife A30 Pro?
However, if vacuuming performance matters more to you than mopping performance, the iLife A30 Pro could actually be the better option. It is lower-tech than the MOVA overall, and the iLife Home app still has a lot of room for improvement. Its mopping system is also below average compared to some of the better robot vacuum and mop combos in this category.
But the A30 Pro consistently impressed us with its core vacuuming abilities. It delivered excellent suction, very strong airflow, outstanding pet hair pickup, low hair tangling, impressive carpet cleaning, efficient LiDAR navigation, and strong overall floor coverage for the price.
For shoppers specifically looking for a budget robot vacuum with strong vacuuming performance, an auto-empty dock, and LiDAR mapping under $300, the iLife A30 Pro makes a compelling case.
Why the MOVA S10 Still Ranks Higher
It ultimately remains just behind the MOVA S10 (see our full review) in our current rankings because the MOVA is the more complete all-around robot vacuum and mop combo, especially when it comes to mopping features and overall refinement.
Still, the margin between them was very small, and depending on your priorities, particularly if you care more about vacuuming than mopping, the iLife A30 Pro may actually be the stronger buy.
Top 20 Robot Vacuums
Explore Vacuum Wars’ always up-to-date rankings of the best robot vacuums, based on independent, hands-on testing. We purchase every unit ourselves and have evaluated more than 150 models, giving us a deep benchmark for cleaning performance, navigation, battery life, and advanced features like obstacle avoidance and mopping.
Note: Our rankings are updated frequently and can change daily based on several factors. These can include fluctuations in updated review scores, adjustments to our ranking algorithm, and whether a product has been discontinued. This ensures that our list remains as accurate and up-to-date as possible. See Changelog
iLife A30 Pro
