Shark vs. Roomba: Evaluating prime robotic vacuums hands-on

The dialog surrounding the perfect robotic vacuums is a loud one, with an ever-changing handful of manufacturers on the forefront relying on who launched a brand new mannequin most lately. However regardless of the stiff competitors that the Eufy and Roborock vacuums of the world pose, the Shark vs. Roomba debate is especially heated — exemplified when even a generic search of “robotic vacuum” on Google triggers the “Individuals additionally ask” field to populate with “Is Shark or iRobot higher?”

It is tough to cement both as the perfect robotic vacuum model interval, when “higher” is fairly subjective, swayed by what a consumer wants their robotic vacuum to excel at. Some could think about the higher robotic vacuum to have extra superior navigation that results in much less babysitting, whereas others could classify the one which squeezes out enough efficiency for much less cash as the higher worth.

The brand new 2025 Roombas shifted the tides

This comparability information would have been a really totally different article to learn had you clicked on it any time earlier than March 2025. Earlier than that, iRobot and Shark had been each type of plateauing by way of the number of their respective lineups. It was like a contest to see who may very well be essentially the most mid.

However the lukewarm rivalry bought fascinating when iRobot went rogue and overhauled the entire Roomba fleet exterior of its typical late summer time schedule. The most recent batch consists of eight new Roombas falling beneath 4 totally different umbrellas: the Roomba 105 or 205, or Roomba Plus 405 or 505, ranging in value from $299 to $999. The transfer could or could not have been a last-ditch effort to avoid wasting the corporate from a reportedly bleak monetary state of affairs.

iRobot appears to have patched up lots of its weak spots and prioritized price range friendliness with out skimping on options that buyers actually care about, like together with sensible mapping in even the most affordable fashions.

The place Roomba wins: Small impediment avoidance and extra fashions to suit extra wants

iRobot merely has extra robotic vacuums than Shark, and that selection alone will make it a extra palatable model to extra folks. Extra fashions to select from means extra alternatives to customise the options and price range to a consumer’s fundamental targets for automated cleansing.

As an example you are prepared to pay a little bit further for a premium robotic vacuum that achieves essentially the most hands-off expertise potential. Between Shark and iRobot, iRobot has extra choices with options that make a robotic vacuum self-sufficient, together with mopping pads that robotically raise when going over carpet, self-empty docks that additionally wash and dry the mopping pads, and small impediment avoidance cameras.

The best half in regards to the Roomba lineup is that you would be able to combine and match a number of of those options to remain inside a sure price range. You’ll be able to skip all the different fancy options whereas nonetheless bringing house small impediment avoidance with the standalone Roomba j7 for as little as $299 on sale, or check out the space-saving DustCompactor design with or with out mopping for beneath $500. Even the most affordable 2025 Roombas assure LiDAR-powered sensible mapping and 70 occasions (learn that once more) the suction energy of the 600 collection Roombas, which had been the tremendous standard low cost Roombas a couple of years in the past.

Probably the most important enlargement to the Roomba household has been to the self-sufficient mopping Roombas — nice information for folk who’ve been avoiding robotic vacuums with mops as a result of they do not wish to manually deal with the soggy pads. Whereas Shark solely has one robotic vacuum that maintains its personal mopping pad, a number of Roombas achieve this at various value factors:

If your house’s exhausting flooring are perpetually lined in a layer of hair from varied pets, self-rinsing mopping pads are a trademark function of the perfect robotic vacuums and mops for pet hair. In any other case, all of that fur can be clinging to the moist mopping pad till the subsequent time you wash it by hand.

iRobot additionally diverted from the normal flat mopping pad with its 2025 overhaul. Now, the Roomba Plus 405 and 505 Combo use twin spinning mopping pads — a design that almost all of iRobot clients desire, iRobot instructed me in a press briefing. The Roomba Max 705 Combo upgrades even additional to a curler mop, making it shut competitors to different new high-end releases just like the Dreame Aqua10 Extremely Curler.

However here is the factor with robotic vacuum and mop combos: Not everyone seems to be pro-combo. Lots of people merely do not wish to cope with tanks or something soggy in any respect, however discovering a vac-only robotic vacuum sometimes means settling for a brilliant primary mannequin — all the most superior robotic vacuums are robotically hybrids these days. iRobot heard the cries of the anti-mop crowd on Reddit and launched a vacuum-only model of one of the highly effective Roombas, the Max 705 Vac.

iRobot’s mastery of small impediment avoidance offers it severe leverage over Shark — it is really the perfect small impediment avoidance I’ve skilled from any model I’ve examined at house. All j-series Roombas, the Roomba Combo 10 Max, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, and each 705s have the particular small impediment detection digicam system, which helps to keep away from small obstacles that less-advanced robotic vacuums would sometimes eat, like a cellphone charger, extension wire, rogue sock, or pet waste. Briefly, it solves the primary gripe that many robotic vacuum non-believers have: robotic vacuums get caught so usually that they are extra hassle than they’re value.

I first skilled this sense of reduction when reviewing the Roomba j7+ and Combo j7+, and it was by no means simple to get again into the behavior of pre-tidying when making an attempt one other robotic vacuum that did not have small impediment avoidance. I might simply sacrifice extra intense cleansing for a robotic vacuum to have the mind cells to try this.

The place Roomba loses: Chopping corners on the ultra-cheap and premium ends of the spectrum

Plummeting earnings one month, a random revamp of the complete Roomba line the subsequent month — if we’re making an attempt to learn between the traces, I might say it grew to become obviously apparent that folks had been getting sick of Roombas costing quite a bit however not doing sufficient.

So whereas I am going to give credit score to Roomba for getting extra sensible with its costs, Shark nonetheless does budget-friendly higher. As an illustration, I believe that the right starter robotic vacuum is one with sensible mapping and self-emptying, with suction energy being much less of a precedence so long as it is enough for gentle each day repairs. In Roomba world, the most affordable possibility for that is the Roomba 105 + AutoEmpty Dock, going for $449.99 at full value or round $299.99 on sale. In Shark world, the identical capabilities may be secured for as little as $199.99 on sale with the Shark IQ RV2302AE. And there are undoubtedly extra highly effective low cost robotic vacuums than each of them, specifically from Roborock.

On the absolute most reasonably priced finish of the spectrum, iRobot’s $150 to $250 assortment is comically Not Price It. In April 2024, iRobot fumbled a low-hanging alternative to repair a budget Roomba state of affairs by releasing much more low cost Roombas with out sensible mapping. I would not suggest the Roomba Important line to anybody — sensible mapping is a function I really feel is ~Important~ in any robotic vacuum.

In my expertise, simply hitting “go” and letting a robotic vacuum clear aimlessly is a recipe for coming house to a robotic vacuum misplaced beneath the mattress. The zigzag sample appears like a hit-or-miss guessing sport made extra annoying by getting caught and lacking spots on the ground that I might slightly simply hit with my Dyson stick vacuum, anyway.

Certain, all of those base-tier Roombas do go on sale usually. You can technically rating absolutely the least expensive Roomba for round $130 or a mopping, self-emptying Roomba for $280. However settling for no particular room cleansing simply is not value it, particularly when the same wad of money might get you approach additional when you had been shopping for a Shark.

There’s additionally some skimping afoot on the flowery finish of the iRobot spectrum — essentially the most highly effective Roomba would not stand an opportunity towards essentially the most highly effective contenders from different manufacturers. On its face, the Roomba Max 705 Combo feels like a beast: It has 175 occasions the suction energy of a 600 Collection Roomba and is coined as essentially the most highly effective 2-in-1 Roomba. However iRobot, who’s quietly revealing Pa suction energy measurements for the primary time, has confirmed that the Roomba Max 705 Combo has 13,000 Pa suction energy. That signifies that even the perfect Roomba for pet hair or carpet is considerably weaker than the opposite flagship robotic vacuums on the market: the Narwal Freo Z Extremely has 18,000 Pa, the Roborock Saros 10 and Z70 have 22,000 Pa, and the Dreame Aqua10 Extremely Curler has 30,000 Pa. That is not a direct comparability to Shark, however undoubtedly nonetheless related.

The curb attraction of the brand new self-emptying Roomba Combo fashions is missing. The plasticky uncovered water tank look would not precisely move in an in any other case cozy, well-decorated house — this feels just like the bodily embodiment of chopping corners to maintain costs down. I am way more eager on the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Professional’s glossy self-emptying dock.

The place Shark wins: Spot cleansing and affordability

Shark has traditionally been in tune with what the common individual is prepared to spend on a robotic vacuum. The model constantly provides core capabilities like sensible mapping and mopping at decrease costs than its Roomba counterparts — a degree of cost-effectiveness that needs to be significantly engaging to strict price range buyers or first-time robotic vacuum house owners.

Shark’s extra approachable value factors do not essentially imply it skimps on cleansing efficiency, although. Shark Matrix vacuums clear in a grid sample, approaching the realm a number of occasions from a number of angles to seize something it might have missed within the first move or two. In response to Shark, Matrix mode dishes out 30 % higher carpet cleansing than the older RV Shark fashions. For Shark 2-in-1 robotic vacuums, a mop in Matrix mode vibrates 100 occasions per minute to clean at stains that possible would not budge from a single move of a less expensive robotic mop or a paper towel. Matrix mopping all the time is available in clutch for maintaining with the fixed layer of shoe prints by my entrance door.

Whereas the manufacturers themselves make it troublesome to instantly examine suction energy on paper, in my expertise, I discovered the low and mid-range Shark fashions to be much less prone to go away a rogue crumb or pile of hair behind than a majority of price range Roombas.

Shark even extends the Matrix cleansing mechanism to most of its super-affordable fashions, making any of the RV2310 or RV2300 fashions a stable alternative for a price range robotic vacuum. I skilled no noteworthy navigational points when sending both of these fashions to comb particular spots in my condominium. Although the suction energy is expectedly simply OK, it was sufficient for surface-level each day repairs of the large, seen particles. These two Sharks are additionally among the most compact self-emptying robotic vacuums I’ve seen — big information for small areas that do not have room for an enormous dock.

Shark robotic vacuums significantly shine with regards to messes that should be taken care of proper now. Shark’s spot cleansing has been such an easy, dependable function in each Shark robotic vacuum I attempted. My final spot cleansing take a look at is the realm exterior both of my cats’ litter containers — even a budget Shark robotic vacuums all the time bought to the suitable spot and cleared the kitty litter earlier than I walked in there with naked ft.

In September 2024, Shark lastly caught on to the entire “self-sustaining mopping pads” factor with the discharge of the Shark PowerDetect line. Even these premium Sharks debuted at $1,199.99 and $999.99 — far lower than the asking value for flagship hybrids from different manufacturers.

That is the primary mopping Shark that is aware of to cease mopping on carpeted areas with out you having to particularly designate so. For good measure, the PowerDetect can also be outfitted with giant wheels that hoist the vac over carpet to maintain it dry throughout mopping mode. These hydraulics additionally helped the PowerDetect to be one of many solely robotic vacs I’ve examined that is by no means gotten caught on a rug nook or scrambled up my bathtub mats.

The place Shark loses: Small impediment avoidance and selection

Shark’s largest shortcoming is that it takes ceaselessly to launch new robotic vacuums, and that staggered schedule usually leaves it taking part in catch-up with different manufacturers. Manufacturers like Roborock and Dreame appear to drop new crops of robotic vacuums twice within the time interval that Shark introduces a single new mannequin. The prevailing mid-tier Shark fashions are additionally a little bit extra primary than the Roombas in the identical value vary.

Shark will even be at an enormous drawback till its robotic vacs can keep away from cords and pet waste — it is the lone main robotic vacuum model that hasn’t actually invested in small impediment avoidance. That is such a staple function in my life, as I am certain it’s for anybody whose flooring is perhaps cluttered lived in every now and then.

Although I used to be happy with the ground protection, thoroughness, and mapping accuracy when testing the Shark Detect Professional, it appears overpriced for the negligible variations between it and an everyday outdated self-emptying Shark. “Detect” sounds prefer it ought to check with the aptitude to detect cellphone chargers or socks, however alas, it is really speaking a couple of function that will increase suction when an edge, nook, or further soiled spot is detected.

Equally, just one mopping Shark robotically stops mopping when carpet is sensed. This implies vacuum and mop mode aren’t potential on the identical time within the different 2-in-1 Shark Matrix fashions, and an individual must manually connect the water tank to change to mopping mode. With Matrix Mopping being such a stable function, it is a bummer that its utilization is so depending on human intervention.

Even the perfect Shark robotic vacuum nonetheless solely has a flat D-shaped mopping pad. It does press downward and vibrate for extra tenacious scrubbing motion than the lazy mopping finished by low cost mopping robots, however the robotic vacuum is type of previous that singular design now. Most individuals, myself included, appear to desire twin spinning mopping pads, and now curler mops paying homage to a paint curler are popping up — each mopping designs that iRobot provides. The PowerDetect NeverTouch Professional did a stable job of wiping up small spills and shoe stains on my condominium’s hardwood, however it wasn’t capable of scrub in corners and alongside edges like iRobot’s versatile spinning mops can.

Shark would not do itself any favors by refusing to record its vacuums’ suction energy in Pascals (Pa). Virtually each different main robotic vacuum model measures suction energy in Pa (even iRobot now), which makes evaluating choices simple. Shark nonetheless insists on retaining an air of secrecy by solely evaluating suction energy to different vacuums in its circle of relatives tree. Shark has additionally been recognized to make claims like “50% higher suction than the best-selling iRobot.” No matter which means.

The place iRobot and Shark each lose: Their apps suck

Paradoxically, two of essentially the most longstanding names within the robotic vacuum sport have the 2 most outdated-feeling apps. The naked bones house maps in each the Roomba Dwelling and Shark Clear apps are far much less intricate than the color-coded maps that Roborock or Eufy supply. Pausing a clear or including an additional room to the queue is equally clunky on each.