The Best Shark Robot Vacuum

The IQ XL comes with a large dustbin that is empty only once per month. It works quickly and efficiently, rarely gets stuck, and can even map your home to allow for easy scheduling.

It's not equipped with the sophisticated smarts of the iRobot j7+, but it feels more sturdy and has lower costs for recurring use.

1. The IQ XL

The IQ XL is one of the few robots to offer the ultimate "set it and forget it" experience due to its clever features, like visual mapping and self-emptying. Its all-black utilitarian design won't be a winner in fashion awards, but it looks sturdy enough and feels well-built. Its features also make it a great option for pet owners.

During our tests, we found that the IQ XL was able to take away a lot of dirt from floors. It also did well on low-pile rug. It was also able to maneuver furniture and other obstacles with ease and was able to move itself to clean the edges of rooms. It was known to push things like chair legs or bowls of dog food a little too hard. It also had trouble picking large pieces of debris like sand and baking soda, from low-pile flooring.

You can control the IQ XL via the Clean and Dock buttons, or by speaking with a voice command using Alexa or Google Assistant. The SharkClean App is easy to use and visually appealing. Once you've create your account and connect to WiFi you can then name the robot, look at its map (once it's completed several cleaning cycles) make an agenda, and then assign rooms.

The IQ XL has three power modes: energy-saving Eco normal, and Max, which is the most powerful. It comes with two side brushes which help to bring in debris near the edges of the robot's body, and into the direction of its main brushroll. It also has an Evacuate and Resume feature that allows the robot to return to its base to empty its dustbin before finishing a cleaning process, and then continue right where it began.

2. The IQ

Shark's IQ robot vacuum does an excellent job of mapping and creating virtual boundaries to keep away from pet waste, lamp cords, and other obstacles. It can also be controlled using a physical Clean and Dock button on its top, or the SharkClean app. It is equipped with an infrared sensor that allows it to stay off steps. You can also create an interactive map to select rooms to clean. It also comes with a self-emptying bag that can hold up to 30 days of dirt.

The IQ is a robot vacuum that works quickly and efficiently. It is rarely stuck. It has a large bin at its base that only needs to be emptied approximately once per month. Its HEPA certified filter is simple to clean and captures airborne allergies as it vacuums.

The IQ is more expensive than the other robotic vacuums that we have reviewed, but it is more effective of defining virtual boundaries to keep pet waste, lamp cords and other hazards from getting swept into your carpet. It can also be controlled using an app on mobile devices, allowing you to set a schedule and control it using your voice.

Another advantage of this model is that it has a slim 11.8-inch-by-3-inch profile, which means it's able to be placed under furniture that larger models, like the Eufy 11s and iRobot the j7+ could not. It has a WiFi radio that is built-in and connects with your home's router. The app lets you create cleaning routines and set up no-go zones and check the battery level, and much more. The only downside is that you must manually empty the bin. This could be messy as dust can be scattered around.

3. The RV2502AE

The RV2502AE shark vacuum and mop combo's first robot cleaner that uses LiDAR navigation, is a top feature that allows it to navigate your home more efficiently and avoid obstacles. Prior to this, the company's robots all used V-SLAM, a camera-based navigation system that works well but isn’t as precise as LiDAR.

This robot is our most expensive runner-up, but it delivers lots of value for the extra cost. It has a strong cleaning capability, a variety of advanced features and a self-emptying bagless base that is able to store up to 60 days of dirt.

It has a long-lasting battery, and it returns automatically to its charging dock after it has it is fully charged or its internal battery is low. You can control the robot using its intuitive app, using your voice through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, or by pressing the physical Clean and Dock buttons that are on top.

You can select from three power settings: Eco, which is energy-efficient and uses the least amount of suction; Normal which is the default mode and is suitable for all situations and Max, which offers maximum suction, but consumes more battery. It can also establish virtual no-go zones as well as alter its cleaning schedule according to your specific requirements.

The RV2502AE has some drawbacks that keep it from being our top overall pick. It's also taller than the rest of our runner-up picks, which means it can't fit under TV stands. Additionally, the V-SLAM navigation may have difficulty navigating around cables, and the robot can occasionally get stuck in corners or on stairs.

It's still a great choice for those looking for a versatile robotic vacuum that can vacuum and mop.

5. The IQ Lite XL

Robot vacuums can make you feel like you're swapping one task for another, because they all need to be empty or cleaned frequently. However, the $599 Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL RV1001AE reduces that maintenance to once a month, thanks to a base that is bagless that can hold 30 days of debris and dust, and a self-cleaning brushroll that stops hair from circling around it. In our testing, it worked quickly and efficiently, never got stuck, and delivered powerful suction power. It also comes with an Find Robot button that helps you locate the robot in case it goes missing, and it supports scheduling via mobile app.

The IQ Lite is connected to your home Wi-Fi, and you can control it via physical Clean and Dock buttons located on the top of the device, via the free SharkClean application for Android and iOS, or by voice commands with an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device. It makes use of IQ NAV navigation technology to navigate around your home and even detect furniture that is blocking its route. SharkClean uses several cleanings to make a map of your home. You can view an interactive map of your floor plan in real-time through the app, and name rooms, designate "no-go zones" or choose particular areas to be cleaned.

If the IQ Lite runs out of battery, it automatically returns to its base to recharge and resumes where it left off. This feature is not enabled by default, is referred to as Evacuate and Resuming. It's particularly useful for homes with pets. The IQ Lite XL is also the only shark robot vacuum with mop robot we've tested with a sensor for no-go zones. Other robots use the upward-facing camera to identify no-go zones but the IQ Lite's sensor is located between its Clean and Dock buttons.