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In an unspoken sort of way, Roomba has been crowned "the best" on the sole basis that it's the most established brand in the robot vacuum market. But Shark has always had competitive street cred when it comes to vacuums in general, and its newest rounds of robot vacuums make Shark a force to be reckoned with among Roombas and Roborocks.
Having tested the top botvacs from all of the top brands, I can easily narrow down the best three Shark robot vacuums that you should be eyeing heading into 2025.
Are Shark robot vacuums as good as Roomba?
It's not the definitive one-word answer you were hoping for, but making an unequivocal call between the two brands without exploring the gray area just wouldn't make sense. As in the Instant Pot vs. Ninja Foodi debate, both vacuum brands are constantly growing their lineups, expanding their price ranges, and filling blind spots in which the other brand may have previously been the winner.
However, Shark typically does one thing better than Roomba: Making the best robot vacuum features affordable. Now that robot vacuums have firmly moved from the new-fangled The Jetsons vibe they gave off in 2017 to an appliance just as normal to have at home as an upright vacuum, a trifecta of standard cleaning features (outside of the regular vacuuming itself) has arisen that is kind of expected at this point in the robot vacuum game: These are mopping, smart room mapping, and automatic emptying.
iRobot and Shark both have several options that offer all three or some mix-and-match version of two. With Shark's debut of its Matrix robot vacuums in spring 2023 and then the fall 2024 release of its most automated robovac yet (the PowerDetect line with a NeverTouch Base), Shark is your best bet for securing more robot vacuum features at a lower price (compared to the prices on the Roombas with matching capabilities). There's also a high chance that any given Shark robot vacuum is on sale at any given time, especially if you're buying a robot vacuum on Black Friday. Below, we'll note the sale price we see most frequently in "The Good" section — so don't take that full price too seriously.
Shark really shines at spot cleaning
Sometimes, there's an unexpected mess that you want to clean without messing around with a map on the app. In those cases, Shark Matrix robot vacuums make spot cleaning much easier than Roombas do. Setting a zone for a one-time clean in the Shark app is as easy as dragging a square in the designated spot cleaning tab, compared to having to create and name an official cleaning zone on the map in the iRobot app. Most modern Shark robot vacuums also have a physical cleaning button if you want to pick the robot up and place it in the right area — an underrated feature that modern Roombas completely skip.
Though the list of Shark robot vacuums to choose from isn't as big as iRobot's is, comparing the differences between them on paper can still get confusing. That's why I've tested most of the main Shark robot vacuums in my own home to compare them to each other in an IRL setting — as well as compare them to other robot vacs from iRobot, Roborock, Eufy, and more that I put through the same standardized obstacle course. Here are the best three Shark robot vacuums that I've tested, and that I think you should eye on Black Friday 2024:
The most expensive Shark robot vacuum would best appease the crowd that expects the full hands-off robot vacuum experience — not just as in automation of the cleaning itself, but in automation of dustbin and mopping pad maintenance. As the only Shark that can wash and dry its own mopping pad and refill its own water tank, the PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro would be really handy in larger homes that have a significant amount of hard floors that would probably require a fresh mopping pad on a daily basis.
Why we picked this:
A self-washing and drying mopping pad situation is the current gold standard for hybrid robot vacuums, and Shark offering a premium model that hands-off solves my biggest gripe with Shark's previous fanciest hybrid, the Matrix Plus 2-in-1. While I enjoyed the Matrix Plus 2-in-1's thoroughness in taking double passes when vacuuming or scrubbing, the manual intervention the mopping pad and water tank required was so frequent that it made me want to skip mopping altogether. Now, the PowerDetect refills its own water tank from a larger tank in its dock and clicks its pad on and off by itself according to its upcoming task, so it's always on call to do either. I also appreciate how Shark rigged the PowerDetect with large wheels that fully hoist the vac over carpet to keep it dry during mopping mode. It does this by itself, too — no need to designate carpeted areas by hand in the map.
Speaking of those wheels, these hydraulics did not come to play. With their help, the PowerDetect has been one of the only (if not the only) robot vacuums to actually be able to get up and over a fluffy rug or bath mat and vacuum them without leaving them looking like a small tornado went through the room. Shark calls it "NeverStuck" technology, and so far, that's been accurate. Corner cleaning has been just as surprising, considering many premium bots I've tested can't seem to nail that — the PowerDetect reliably scoops up kitty litter lodged against the wall and crumbs lodged under the cabinets. Throw Shark's iconic "no bullshit" spot cleaning in the mix, and this self-cleaning self-care suite is so reliable otherwise that I don't even care that it hasn't mastered the art of dodging phone chargers.
As the budget pick, it's pretty self-explanatory that the Shark Matrix RV2300 is the best contender for folks who want to spend as little as possible on a robot vacuum — one that still has a trusted name attached to it, that is. The sub-$300 price point stems from the lack of a self-empty base, positioning this model as a low-stakes option with a small physical footprint for close quarters like apartments. No automatic emptying won't necessarily be a deal breaker in small spaces that don't create a ton of debris that would fill up a dustbin quickly, such as no-pet or single-person households.
Lining up a cleaning or poking around in the app's map layout is also extremely straightforward in the Shark app. The quick dragging and dropping of a zone in the map to sweep a particular spot, like around the kitchen counter, sometimes had me reaching for it over the more premium robot vacuums I was testing at the same time. Sometimes basic is better, especially for anyone who'd prefer a less techy experience (that is, without completely settling for a robot vacuum that doesn't even have an app).
Why we picked this:
For a solid cheap Shark option, I can definitively say that the smartest move would be to skip the outdated ION line and opt for a standalone Matrix model instead. This is because any Shark with Matrix capabilities uses LiDAR navigation and the ION line doesn't, and when the price difference is less than $100, securing smart mapping is a no-brainer. Smart mapping not only unlocks the ability for a robot vacuum to clean a specific room on command, but to clean specific zones on command — and reliable spot cleaning is a crucial robot vacuum feature regardless of how many or few rooms a bot has to keep track of.
Past the navigational advantage, even the cheapest Shark Matrix robot vacuums clean better than the older ION models. Shark's signature Matrix spot cleaning mode tackles debris from multiple angles to grab anything that was missed on the original pass. This "one for good measure" approach had the RV2300 cleaning circles around the similarly-priced Roomba 692 that I also tested, which doesn't have smart mapping, either.
The Matrix Plus 2-in-1 is one of two main Shark contenders for anyone who wants a robot vacuum that can mop. Price is the obvious factor that might make you opt for this one over my favorite Shark hybrid, the new PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro — the self-emptying version of the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 can almost always be found on sale for under $400 while the PowerDetect won't drop below $899.99 (if you can find it on sale at all).
Your expected level of automation of your Shark's mopping pad will also play a huge role in choosing between these Sharks. If your home is mostly carpeted with only a few rooms that would need to be mopped, like a bathroom and kitchen-only type of situation, you may not mind having to physically be home to attach the mopping pad or fill the water tank to enable mopping mode. The price difference may also be stark enough to convince yourself that having to manually wash the mopping pad after each run isn't that bad. Alternatively, the pricey PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro washes and dries its own mopping pad and refills its own water tank.
Circling back to floor type, the Matrix Plus probably wouldn't be the best choice for homes with a heavy rug situation, as the bot requires you to manually highlight rugs or carpets in the app and can't vacuum while the water tank is attached.
Why we picked this:
Shark became relevant in the robot vacuum game again when it introduced its Matrix cleaning mode in 2022. I first experienced it when testing the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 and was pumped by the simplicity and reliability of its spot cleaning in particular. Though the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 has since been surpassed as the fanciest Shark hybrid, its combination of affordability, straightforward mapping, and meticulous cleaning keep it as a top pick.
Shark's Matrix mode cleans better in selected rooms or zones in the app by going over the target area from multiple angles to suck up or scrub anything that may have been missed on the first pass. During regular vacuuming, Matrix mode cleans carpet 30% more thoroughly than the older RV Shark models, and during mopping, the mopping pad vibrates 1,000 times per second to put in a little more work on larger spills that need an extra wipe, or light dried-on stains.
In my testing, I watched the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 successfully clear crumbs near the kitchen counter, kitty litter in my bathroom, and minor drops on hardwood or tile several times — messes that similarly-priced Roombas I tested couldn't conquer in one pass.
The Good
On sale for $349.99 for Black Friday
Affordable for a LiDAR-equipped hybrid with advanced mopping
Sonic scrubbing vibrates 1,000 times per minute
Matrix Cleaning goes over extra soiled spots from multiple angles
Includes a bottle of Shark's cleaning solution
The Bad
Requires manual rug verification run to avoid mopping rugs
As a senior shopping reporter, I have been testing popular robot vacuums for Mashable in the various apartments I've lived in since 2019. My hands-on analyses span from budget models under $200 that just cover the basics to $1,500 (or more) premium models that are the market’s most advanced in the way they clean, navigate my home, and take care of their own recurring maintenance.
So far in 2024, I’ve had hands-on experience with the Roborock Qrevo Master, Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Eufy X10 Pro Omni, Shark Matrix RV2300, Shark Detect Pro, Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1, Roomba Combo j9+, Roomba Combo j5+, Narwal Freo X Ultra, Dyson 360 Vis Nav and Yeedi M12 Pro+. I am also currently working with the Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock and Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 with neverTouch Pro Base.
My own personal three-bedroom apartment — not a lab — makes up the testing grounds for every robot vacuum, where a combination of hardwood floors, tile floors, and rugs of various piles are tackled. Over the course of at least four weeks, each robot vacuum is put through a series of standardized tests that flow into a scoring rubric that I’ve created to exemplify all factors of owning a robot vacuum and trusting it on a daily basis. That rubric is made up of four pillars:
Cleaning thoroughness: I’m pickier than average about what it takes for a floor to feel “clean,” and I’m trusting these robot vacuums in my own home — and pitting them against my trusty Dyson. To encapsulate the full spectrum of debris a robot vacuum might encounter, each robot vacuum and its suction power settings complete an obstacle course of standardized tests for multiple types of debris on both hard floors and rugs, an efficiency score being given to each. The robot vacuum and mop combos also complete three additional scrubbing tests on hardwood and tile. As for the actual “dirty” status of those floors being tackled, each robot vac is sent over both fresh messes (like crumbs, drinks, and sauces I spill purposefully) and more lived-in messes that build up over time (like dried or sticky splatters, shoe prints near the door, dust bunnies in corners, and matted-down cat hair on the rug).
Navigation: I consider a robot vacuum’s ability to maneuver to the right spot in the first place as a litmus test ahead of getting into any nitty gritty cleaning capabilities. In my testing, each vac’s navigational brainpower is analyzed by its smart mapping accuracy and ability to find specific rooms and zones for spot cleaning, as well as its ability to swerve safely around walls or between chair or table legs. Robot vacuums that can successfully detect phone chargers, pet waste, and laundry with small obstacle avoidance technology are given an extra star.
User-friendliness and politeness as a house guest: The ideal robot vacuum will be a relatively seamless addition to your household, and blend in nearly as easily as any other appliance used daily would. If a robot vacuum is loud, clunky, or generally a pain to use, you're not going to want it in your house at all — so things like noise level, battery life, size, aesthetic design, and the intuitiveness of using the app can make or break the experience.
Maintenance: Some robot vacuums are more automated than others when it comes to how they take care of themselves past the actual cleaning. If someone is already considering the robot vacuum route because of the hands-off cleaning experience, they might want that convenience to extend to dustbin emptying or mopping pad cleaning, too, which would get them off the hook from maintenance for days or weeks at a time.
Finally, I can't not consider the overall bang for your buck for each robot vacuum. Are its features on paper and actual cleaning competence worth the price tag, and how practical is that cost for the average household?
Frequently Asked Questions
Shark robot vacuums are classified in a few different ways, which manifest as random jumbles of numbers and letters in each robot vacuum's official name. IQ versus AI and RV versus AV were the main ones for several years, but terminology like Matrix and Ultra entered the Shark glossary in 2023.
The difference between Shark IQ and AI is that Shark AI vacuums use 360-degree LiDAR mapping that allows the robot vacuum to create a map of your home and remember each room for more specified cleaning runs when necessary. Shark IQ vacuums, however, do not have smart mapping capabilities, and clean in a methodical row-by-row pattern created as the robot senses walls and large obstacles in each room.
As of 2023, another main difference between Shark AI and IQ is that the newer AI models — now referred to as Shark Matrix Plus — have improved edge cleaning (called CleanEdge) that Shark says yields 50% better edge cleaning than the IQ models that do not have this technology.
Matrix also refers to Shark's more thorough cleaning system for both wet and dry cleaning. During regular vacuuming, Matrix mode delivers 30% better carpet cleaning (compared to the older RV Shark models) by digging deeper into carpet and taking multiple passes in a crosshatch pattern to loosen and grab debris from multiple angles. During mopping, "Matrix" mode scrubs by vibrating 100 times per minute (rather than lightly dragging a wet cloth across hard floors).
The self-emptying docks that come with Matrix Plus models have a HEPA anti-allergen seal.
The difference between Shark RV and AV actually comes down to little more than color options.
To tell the difference between two aesthetically-similar models, you can look at features like the type of brushroll built into the vacuum to decide which will supply the best debris pickup for your home. For instance, the RV2300S Matrix features a multi-surface brusholl, which would be the better choice for homes with one or no pets and widely varying floor types, while the RV2320S has a self-cleaning brushroll, which features anti-hair wrap technology and would be the better choice for pet hair pickup.
Shark EZ and Shark VacMop are older, less advanced product lines that now see limited distribution.
The newest Shark release doesn't exactly follow any of these classification rules. Its title simply describes what it does, and what it does sets it apart from all of the other models: Shark PowerDetect (technology that works harder on dirtier spots) NeverTouch Pro (a dock that you'll never have to touch, because the base deals with the dustbin and mopping pads on its own) Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo (it does both, and does them better than any Shark robot vacuums before it.)
Leah Stodart
Senior Shopping Reporter
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers essential home tech like vacuums and TVs as well as sustainable swaps and travel. Her ever-growing experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
The robot vacuum beat in particular has cemented itself as Leah's main ~thing~ across the past few years. Since 2019, her expertise has been perpetually bolstered by the meticulous eye she keeps on robot vacuum deals and new releases, but more importantly, her hands-on experience with more than 25 robot vacuums tested in her own home. (This number has probably gone up by the time you're reading this.) That at-home testing is standardized through Mashable's robot testing guide — a granular scoring rubric for assessing all aspects of owning and using a robot vacuum on the daily — that Leah created herself.
Leah graduated from Penn State University in 2016 with dual degrees in Sociology and Media Studies. When she's not writing about shopping (or shopping online for herself), she's almost definitely watching a horror movie, "RuPaul's Drag Race," or "The Office." You can follow her on X at @notleah or email her at [email protected].
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