What is the difference between Shark robot vacuum models?

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 new, 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 main Shark robot vacuum that mops has "2-in-1" in the title. 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 distrubution.

4 best Shark robot vacuums for 2024 — compare top models

Overview

Shark robot vacuum cleaning tile floor with shower curtain and plant in background

Best mopping Shark

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1

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$449.40 Shark

Shark robot vacuum cleaning rug with bed from in corner

Best Shark for carpet

Shark Detect Pro

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$549.99 Amazon

Shark robot vacuum going from hardwood to rug with chair in background

Best budget Shark robot vacuum

Shark Matrix RV2300

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$299 Walmart

White Shark robot vacuum cleaning colorful beads on white carpet

Best budget Shark with self-empty dock

Shark AI Ultra AV2511AE

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$599 Walmart

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 round of robot vacuums is finally a force to be reckoned with among Roombas and Roborocks.

Having tested the top bots from all of these brands, we're ready to name the best Shark robot vacuums for 2024.

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 just doesn'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 accessible. Since robot vacuum's mainstream presence took off around 2015 or 2016, a trifecta of cleaning technology (outside of the vacuuming itself) has arisen that separates the best robot vacuums from the ones that do the bare minimum. 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 the release of its Matrix line in spring 2023, Shark is your best bet for securing more autonomous 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. In our guide 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. Shark Matrix 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.

The Mashable team has tested dozens of robot vacuum cleaners, including some of the best Shark robot vacuums. Now, we're gathering the top cleaning machines from the brand into one place.

Best Roombas 2024 Best Self Emptying Robot Vacuums 2024 Best Robot Vacuums 2024 All Best Products

Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1

Best mopping Shark

$449.40 Shark

Read our full review of the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1.

Why we picked this:

Shark did its robot vacuum lineup a solid when it released the Shark Matrix Plus in winter 2022 (this hybrid is also sold under the name Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 at Amazon). It essentially combined Shark's smartest LiDAR-powered robot vacuum with a water tank and Shark's new Matrix cleaning system.

This new approach specializes in spot cleaning 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, Matrix mode vibrates 1,000 times per minute to eat away at dried-on stains. We've included this hybrid in many other robot vacuum guides, and it's one of the best robot vacuums and mops we've ever tested.

Who it's for:

The Matrix Plus 2-in-1 is the obvious contender from Shark's lineup if you have several non-carpeted rooms that you prefer to be scrubbed with cleaning solution regularly. Compared to other non-Shark hybrid models, the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 is one of the best at actual scrubbing and mopping versus lightly pulling a wet cloth around. Shark's hybrid will also be particularly appealing to budget shoppers, as even the model with a self-emptying dock can be found under $500 on sale.

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.

The Good

The Bad

Details

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$449.40 Shark

Shark Detect Pro

Best Shark for carpet

$549.99 Amazon

Why we picked this:

Of the handful of new robot vacuums Shark released in 2023, there's only one in the Shark Detect Pro line so far. "Detect" doesn't refer to an ability to detect small obstacles like phone chargers (Roombas with obstacle detection can do this easily). Rather, it's talking about Dirt Detect, which automatically sends the robovac over dirtier areas multiple times with increased suction.

In our testing, the Detect Pro is less likely to get stuck than other Shark models we've tried because it navigates with NeverStuck technology, which enhances this Shark's maneuverability between floor types and large obstacles such as table legs. Matrix spot cleaning (taking multiple passes from multiple angles) can also be turned on manually in the app.

Who it's for:

Anyone looking for a top-notch Shark is basically choosing between the Detect Pro and a Shark Matrix Plus model. If you don't have a lot of hard flooring or your main concern is the pet hair, cat litter, or other debris that regularly accumulates on carpet or rugs (and subsequently your bare feet), you might consider skipping the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 and opting for the Detect Pro. The Detect Pro offers the same Matrix cleaning with a little less babysitting involved.

The Good

The Bad

Details

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$549.99 Amazon

Shark Matrix RV2300

Best budget Shark robot vacuum

$299 Walmart

Why we picked this:

For a solid cheap Shark option, the smartest move would be to skip the outdated ION line and opt for a standalone Matrix model instead. This one, the RV2300, is almost always on sale for $199 at Walmart, creating a really affordable path to LiDAR-powered smart home mapping and Matrix technology. Shark's signature Matrix spot cleaning mode tackles debris from multiple angles to grab anything that was missed on the original pass.

Who it's for:

First and foremost, the Shark Matrix RV2300 is obviously the best contender for folks who don't want to spend too much on a robot vacuum. This low price point stems from the RV2300's lack of a self-empty base, and this model will work best in small spaces that won't fill up the dustbin too quickly. Similarly, this model uses a multi-surface brushroll rather than the self-cleaning brushroll that's more thorough on pet hair, so a no-pet (or one pet) household would be ideal here.

The Good

The Bad

Details

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$299 Walmart

Shark AI Ultra AV2511AE

Best budget Shark with self-empty dock

$599 Walmart

Why we picked this:

Don't let the older Shark EZ model's slighty cheaper sale price of $268 fool you into thinking that's the better deal — this AI Ultra model that goes for $298 on sale is definitely the better model to choose. Of the two, the AI Ultra AV2511AE is the only one equipped with LiDAR vision that can map each room of your home. The XL self-empty base that comes with this AI Ultra also holds double the amount of debris (the EZ dustbin has to be dumped after just 30 days).

Who it's for:

If you can live without the more thorough Matrix cleaning present in all of the newer Sharks listed above, you can still enjoy automatic emptying with this model. This Shark's auto-empty dock also has the largest capacity in the Shark lineup, a self-cleaning brushroll that's less likely to wrap up pet hair, and smart room mapping for less than $300 (when on sale, which it usually is).

The Good

The Bad

Details

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$599 Walmart

Topics Robot Vacuums

How we tested

Mashable's shopping reporters and contributors have tested dozens of robot vacuums from Shark, iRobot, Roborock, Yeedi, Ecovacs, and similar brands. Previously, our team has written guides to the best robot vacuums overall, as well as the top models for pet hair, carpet cleaning, and hard floors. For this guide, we wanted to name our favorite Shark robot vacuums, and after careful testing, researching, and comparing specifications and special features, we've settled on four options for your consideration.

When testing robot vacuums, we put these devices through several weeks of cleaning tests at a minimum. We analyze how effectively they clean multiple types of messes on various types of flooring. In particular, we give special attention to their ability to clean carpets and pet hair. For hybrid models, we also see how thoroughly they clean hard floors and how easily they avoid carpeted areas.

Finally, we regularly update our robot vacuum reviews and shopping guides as we test new models.

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 new, 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 main Shark robot vacuum that mops has "2-in-1" in the title.
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 distrubution.

Unfortunately, one of Shark's major blind spots is its lack of small obstacle avoidance. Unlike Roomba j Series robots as well as some more advanced Roborock and Ecovacs models, which can recognize and avoid small items that typically trip up a robot vacuum, the 2023 Shark Matrix robovacs will still run right over phone chargers and other cords, socks, and more.

The one Shark Matrix 2-in-1 model that mops also flops navigationally when it comes to automatically avoiding carpets when mopping. Rather than simply recognizing a soft surface and knowing to cut the water supply, Shark requires you to manually drag and drop carpeted zones in the app, and then send the vacuum out for a separate dry vacuuming run on carpets once you've removed the water tank and mop.

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.

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].