What is the best Shark robot vacuum? Here are my top 3 picks after testing at home.
As Black Friday approaches, shoppers are eagerly anticipating the best deals on robot vacuums, and Shark is once again making a splash in the market. Known for their budget-friendly options, Shark robot vacuums have been spotted at record-low prices at retailers like Best Buy and on the SharkNinja website. This year, Shark vacuums are particularly praised for their spot cleaning capabilities. Users can easily designate a specific area for cleaning through the Shark app, which utilizes the Matrix cleaning system to ensure thorough coverage. This feature is a standout, as many similarly-priced competitors require manual adjustments for multiple cleaning passes, making Shark a reliable choice for quick clean-ups.
However, despite their strengths, Shark robot vacuums do have limitations, particularly when it comes to obstacle avoidance. Unlike some competitors such as iRobot and Roborock, which have models equipped with advanced navigation technology to steer clear of cords and pet waste, Shark vacuums still struggle in this area. This has left some consumers waiting for an anticipated update to Shark’s lineup that could enhance their maneuverability and obstacle avoidance capabilities. When comparing Shark to Roomba, the conversation becomes nuanced. While both brands continuously evolve their product offerings, Shark often provides more cost-effective options without sacrificing essential features. For instance, a $300 Shark vacuum typically outperforms a similarly-priced Roomba, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious consumers.
Shark’s approach to product development may be slower, especially when it comes to integrating new features like self-emptying capabilities. Nevertheless, when they do release new models, they tend to do so at significantly lower price points than their competitors. For example, the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 vacuum launched at about $400 less than the premium Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock, despite offering comparable functionalities. As consumers gear up for Black Friday, Shark’s combination of affordability and reliable performance positions it as a top contender in the robot vacuum market, especially for those looking to maximize value without compromising on quality.
Shark robot vacuum deals are always big for Black Friday
No
Black Friday robot vacuum deals
list would be complete without a few good Shark options thrown in. 2025 is no different — I’ve already caught multiple versions of my number one Shark robot vacuum at new record-low pricing at
Best Buy
, which has become my go-to retailer to find Shark deals as of late (outside of the
SharkNinja website
itself, of course. Black Friday deals are popping off there too.)
Shark vacuums shine at spot cleaning, but have a big blind spot
Sometimes, there’s an unexpected mess that you want to clean
without
messing around with full room cleanings in the app. In my at-home testing, Shark robot vacuums are consistently reliable when it comes to spot cleaning. 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, and Shark’s Matrix cleaning system automatically goes over the spot multiple times from multiple angles. Many other similarly-priced robot vacuums won’t take a second look unless you remember to toggle the number of cleaning passes from one to two. Matrix cleaning automatically covers one of my tips for
making your robot vacuum work better
.
Is accurate smart mapping and black-and-white spot cleaning a Shark-only skill? Of course not. But Shark robot vacuums do it while staying firmly in the
budget-friendly robot vacuum
category, and they’re on sale frequently.
SEE ALSO:
The Roborock Saros 10R aces one thing that most other robot vacuums can’t
On the other hand, Shark’s one big blind spot — literally — is small obstacle avoidance technology, and that’s been the case for a few years now. Shark is forever being upstaged by new releases from the likes of iRobot, Roborock, and Eufy, who all have models at Shark prices that
can
steer clear of obstacles like cords and pet waste. Based on my experience, Shark hasn’t mastered this skill yet. But Shark is due for a major update to its lineup, and I feel like a totally new, highly agile Shark robot vacuum is coming very soon.
Are Shark robot vacuums as good as Roomba?
The short answer?
It’s complicated
. That’s not the definitive one-word answer you were hoping for, but making an unequivocal call between the two brands just wouldn’t make sense. Both vacuum brands are constantly improving their product lineups and introducing new features. Both brands have several options with mopping, smart room mapping, and automatic emptying, including vacs that can do all three or offer some mix-and-match combo of those features.
So, where does Shark outperform the
best Roombas
? While Shark has way fewer options to choose from after iRobot
randomly overhauled its Roomba lineup
in March 2025, Sharks are more likely to be a bang for your buck than Roombas. Shark consistently puts out more budget-friendly robot vacuums, often without skimping on the most crucial features. If you were capping yourself at $300, the $300 Shark vacuum is going to be more competent than the $300 Roomba (unless you’re finding a premium Roomba on sale for that price).
Admittedly, Shark takes a little longer to roll out new features and doesn’t have product drops very often. (For instance, it was late to self-emptying, self-washing, and self-drying compared to iRobot — and everyone else, for that matter.) But when Shark does release a model with new in-demand features, it’s typically at a much more digestible price than the competition. Even Shark’s most premium robot vacuum, the
Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 with NeverTouch Pro Base
, debuted at around $400 less than the most premium Roomba, the Roomba Combo 10 Max + AutoWash Dock, despite them being nearly identical in capabilities.
