Shark's robot vacuum checks all the boxes you'd expect from a machine of this price range. It has dependable cleaning capability and an easy to use mobile app. It also provides precise home maps.
It also comes with Matrix Clean Navigation, a system which performs two passes back and forth, before moving to the side for full coverage. Its base is bagless unlike many other robot vacuums.
1. Roborock S4
This is an excellent robot vacuum designed for floors with no floor that collects debris and has a large dirt storage. The app lets you control cleaning and docking. Its smart pathing is very effective. The app gives you an overview of the cleaning process, with a map showing where the S4 was cleaned, as well as cleaning time and battery life.
The S4's maximum suction is 2,000Pa which is similar to larger vacuums. The S4's side brush and combo brush are located closer to the front of the machine than the other Roborock models. This could be to prevent the chance of clogging.
The S4's advanced mapping system can map a house up to four levels deep. It can also keep track of the areas it has already cleaned. This makes it simple to create a cleaning schedule without the need to manually move robots around rooms. You can designate certain areas as "no-go zones" to prevent the S4 from cleaning these areas.
It was able clean all floors of our house with ease and was extremely efficient on floors with no carpets. It had a hard cleaning up dog hair. This is a typical problem with robotic vacuums. It only 8.5 percent of the dog hair it picked up was actually captured in the dustbin, and the majority was clumped up around the suction intake and brushes.
In comparison to other Shark vacuums, in comparison to other Shark vacuums, the S4 is significantly smaller and lighter, which increases maneuverability. It is able to make more precise turns and avoid obstacles that bog down other robots, and its low-profile design makes it easier to fit under furniture. It has improved climbability for navigating flooring transitions as well as different flooring levels. It can reach down to the lowest point of the stairs and is a great choice for homes with multiple levels. The application lets you set a schedule and also has an automatic control for vacuuming. It also has the ability to automatically return to its charging base to charge between cleaning cycles. It has a large 5200 mAh battery that is expected to last for 150 minutes or 2691 square feet between charges in standard mode.
2. Shark Easy Robot Self-Emptying
This Shark robot vacuum is a great choice for pet owners looking for a machine that is easy to use and smart. The self-emptying bagless base of this model is a fantastic feature, especially when compared to other vacuums that have disposable dirtbags in their bases. You simply detach the bin and empty it over the trash can. This could be messy, but it saves you money on new bags.
The bin is large, meaning that the EZ Robot can handle a lot of garbage. It's also a great performer on clean floors, but it does struggle somewhat with dirt embedded in carpets with a low pile. It has good navigational capabilities and a tiny footprint.
Although the EZ Robot isn't as good as the Roborock S4, it's still an excellent option for those who want a high-quality affordable robot. It's well-built and comes with a variety of automation features. It also boasts outstanding cleaning capabilities for floors with no carpet as well as carpets with a lot of pile. However its maintenance requirements are high, and it has high costs that are recurring.
Another great feature of this Shark robot is its capability to recharge and then resume where it began when it returns to its docking station following the full cleaning. This is a great option, especially if your home is large.
The IQ XL also comes with many other useful features. eufy robot vacuum includes the ability to schedule your entire home cleaning remotely and review cleaning reports through the SharkClean App. You can also initiate, stop and resumptuate cleaning sessions using voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The row-by-row feature is an advantage. It cleans your home in neat rows, rather than the back and forth snake pattern, as other robots do.
The biggest drawback of the IQ XL is its inability to climb over obstacles like power cords, which it might detect as solid barriers and avoid climbing over. It's not as fast or efficient at maneuvering a room when it's filled with pet hair, which could cause brushes to get caught and slow it down.
3. Shark AI Robot
This is a solid robotic vacuum from Shark that offers a solid combination of features. It comes with a base that can store up to 30 days worth of debris, and it combines the cleaning power both of a robot mop and a vacuum cleaner. It has a grid cleaning mode, and is equipped with advanced smart home integration that works with Alexa and Google Assistant. You can set it up to clean on a schedule or on demand or set virtual boundaries to prevent it from entering rooms that contain rugs or fragile items.
The Shark AI Robot does a great job cleaning floors with no carpet. It picks up debris easily, such as rice. It has a hard time getting rid of bulky, large particles from carpets with low pile and isn't able to maneuver around furniture that is large. It comes with a do not disturb mode which allows you to use it at home without it disrupting your daily routine.
It also makes use of LiDAR to map your home. This lets it detect and navigate obstructions more precisely than units which depend solely on gyroscopes or an infrared sensor. This helps it avoid hitting delicate objects, and optimize dirt collection on various surfaces. The LiDAR system is also faster than gyroscopes, which could cause robots to slow down or lose control when they encounter uneven surfaces.
It's got a lot of other features, including an automatic mopping feature, a remote and a variety of vacuum modes. It can charge and recharge itself while working. The biggest drawback is that it will only draw out one floor of your house therefore if you have two stories it will be necessary to manually transport it to those areas on the first run and then program it to repeat.
It can also be a bit loud, particularly when in mopping mode. It also has a lot of parts that have to be cleaned or replaced frequently which increases its recurring costs. The self-empty feature is a basic function that helps to reduce the cost of these items. It's also compatible with a bagless filter that reduces the annual cost.
4. Shark ION Robot RV700 Series
The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is a complete package that meets all the criteria you would expect from a mid-range robot vacuum, with solid cleaning capabilities and a fantastic mobile app that produces precise home maps. The bagless base removes the need for replacement dust bags every year. In our cleaning test it was able to remove 97.8 percent of dust from carpeting with low pile and hardwood floors however it was not as effective on high-pile carpeting. Its maneuverability is sturdy, and it can easily move through furniture, climb onto carpets with high pile and climb over objects like electrical cords and rug tassels without getting stuck.
Its high-tensile bristles in a helix pattern are sturdy enough to manage and untangle long hair, string and other fibers and the brushroll comes with a retractable edge that can be deployed when it encounters obstacles. Its slender design allows it to slide under furniture, and proximity sensors allow it to adapt and analyze the obstacles. It can be activated to begin cleaning with a press of a button or scheduled for a daily schedule using the app. The noise levels are moderate, but it is possible to reduce the noise by using a do-not-disturb mode or custom scheduling.
The RV700 is more manual than the Roborock S4 or iRobot Roomba j7+. This is to be anticipated from the fact that it does not self-empty. It's still more durable and easier to maintain. It is faster in charging and gets rid of more debris from high-pile and bare floors. Its navigation system is able to create virtual boundaries, detect and avoid obstacles, and also create virtual borders. This makes it the ideal choice for robotic cleaners you can "set and forget".
The RV700 Series does not have a cliff-sensor to prevent it from falling down the stairs. This could be a problem for people who live in homes that are taller. It also can't mop and vacuum simultaneously and requires users to switch between two modes available in the application. The RV700 Series offers a cheaper alternative to more sophisticated Roborock and iRobot robots with self-emptying capabilities and cliff detection. Its main selling point is the fact that it can be recharged and emptied when docked at its base. This makes it an excellent choice for those who do not wish to empty the onboard dustbin every time they use it.
