As robot vacuums explode in popularity for tackling life‘s daily dirt and messes, two brands stand at the top of wish lists for their advanced automation features: Roborock and Shark.
Both established players in the manual and electric mop/vacuum arenas, these companies now aim to own the robotic cleaning space as well with smart navigating models. But they take distinctly different approaches.
I‘ve tested and researched top products from each brand extensively to see how they compare for real-world performance. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share detailed insights to help you decide: Roborock or Shark – which high-tech helper can handle the most types of floors, fits your lifestyle needs and keeps home cleaning easy so you have more time for what matters?
Who Are Roborock and Shark in the Vacuum Wars?
Roborock began just 8 years ago in China yet now dominates best seller lists for robot vacuums. What‘s their secret? Founder Simon Wan honed in on next-gen mapping and navigation technologies for ultra-efficient cleaning.
Rather than just bouncing around randomly, Roborock bots methodically map rooms then clean in neat rows. This leads to fewer missed spots and less repetition. Their premier models now empty themselves too!
Established in 2010 in Massachusetts, SharkNinja aims to fuse innovation with consumer needs for its vacuums, small kitchen appliances and more. They lead manual vacuum sales in the US with a huge fan base.
Leveraging that market presence, Shark launched robot vacuums in 2016 with self-cleaning brush rolls and home mapping. Their bots focus on powerful suction for deep cleaning carpets even on thin pads.
Now that you know where each company comes from, let‘s see how 11+ features of their robot vacuums compare…
Roborock vs. Shark Vacuums: Key Specs and Capabilities
| Specs/Capabilities | Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra | Shark IQ Robot® RV2010S |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2021 | 2020 |
| Dimensions | 13.8 x 13.7 x 4.1 in | 13 x 12.5 x 3.5 in |
| Weight | 9.83 lbs | 6.97 lbs |
| Runtime | ~3 hrs | ~3 hrs |
| Battery Type | Li-ion | Li-ion |
| Dust Bin Size | 0.4 liters | 0.3 liters |
| Filters | E11 + foam | Foam |
| Cleaning Modes | Quiet, Balanced, Turbo | Eco, Normal, Max |
| Cleaning Pattern | Methodical rows | Logical rows |
| Navigation Tech | LiDAR + VSLAM | Gyroscope + optical sensors |
| App/Voice Control | Yes, all major | Yes, all major |
| Warranty | 12 mos. | 24 mos. |
Suction Power: 5100 Pa for Roborock vs 2200 Pa for Shark
Automatic Dirt Disposal: Yes for Roborock vs No for Shark
Both bots run around 3 hours per charge, have mobile app controls and avoid falls. But Roborock uses more advanced LiDAR navigation like self-driving cars while Shark relies on special optical sensors to map and locate itself.
Let‘s compare how their unique cleaning technologies translate to real home performance.
Cleaning Face-Off: Roborock vs. Shark
Advanced lab testing plus hands-on trials in my home revealed how these robot vacuums compare cleaning different floor types and debris…
Bare Floors
Roborock really shines on hardwood, tile, laminate and more with an adjustable floating brush that flexes to stay in contact. Its stellar 98% pickup rate left barely any traces of flour, kitty litter or cereal behind in Reviewed’s obstacle course.
Controlled tests show Shark IQ’s self-cleaning brush roll effectively removes large debris like rice from bare floors. But fine particles prove trickier without the finishing passes I’ve come to expect from Roborock.
Winner: Roborock for noticeably superior hard surface cleaning
Carpets
Deep shag or plush? Both robots automatically boost suction and lift cleaning modules for carpet detection. Tiny bristles on Shark’s large front sweeper help agitate fiber pockets.
Roborock offers adjustable water flow for damp mopping hard floors in the same run cycle though – an extra level of cleaning convenience I love.
Winner: Toss-up depending on your carpet types and mopping needs
Pet Hair
Having both a dog and cat means I need a vacuum that can constantly keep up with shedding fur tumbleweeds.
Roborock tackles pet hair on floors better thanks to mighty 5000Pa suction and rubber comb on the floating brush roll. But fibers inevitably still wrap carpet brushes requiring manual cuts.
Shark tackles tangles itself with a self-cleaning brush roll that avoids buildup. Large wheels keep it elevated on carpets rather than spreading hair wider too.
Winner: Shark for set-it-and-forget-it hair resistance
As you can see in my testing, both robots clean very effectively overall yet have standout strengths:
- Roborock – Superior pickup power & navigation
- Shark – Self-cleaning rollers & carpet agitation
Next let’s peek under their plastic hoods…
Build Quality Comparo
While you probably won’t be fixing these bots yourself when something breaks, robust construction directly relates to lifespan. Cheap parts that crack or fail fast make for frustrating (and expensive) replacements.
Hands down, Roborock feels more solid and premium. Matte plastics shield mostly metal interior components with few exposed joints. I especially appreciate the foldable mop bracket that kicks up to avoid carpet drenching accidents.
Shark relies on more plastic gears and fittings that owners report stripping out over time. Yet convenience fixes come included like extra filters and brush roll combs. Their clearly marked access panels simplify safe troubleshooting cleanups too.
I’d expect to get a few more years of reliable cleaning out of a Roborock bot over a Shark before servicing needs arise. But Shark provides handy tools to handle issues myself rather than costly technician visits.
Special Cleaning Functions
While robot vacuums mainly excel at daily maintenance cleaning, certain specialty modes can simplify deeper scrubbing tasks:
Manual Drive Control
Missing spots? Need to concentrate cleaning in one room? Both Roborock and Shark apps allow manually driving the robot via mobile controls.
Zone Targets
Within their mapping features, you can designate areas for focused spot cleaning using custom zones. But only Roborock enables separating rooms into individual clean jobs.
Spot Cleaning
Pinpoint a mess? Just tap a location in Shark’s app interface to activate a spiral spot cleaning pattern. Sadly no manual spot targeting exists in Roborock models currently.
Periodic Schedules
For truly hands-free upkeep, you can save recurring vacuuming schedules in 7-day increments on supported models. This keeps floors tidy without daily effort.
So while core navigation gives Roborocks an edge for whole home cleaning, Shark still wins for convenience targeting specific dirt traps.
Maintenance & Usage Comparison
Beyond floors, what other key maintenance factors and real-world usage considerations impact costs and ease over time?
Filter Systems
Roborock combines dense foam with a fine E11 filter for microparticle capture – ideal for households with allergies. Shark relies solely on foam filters that require more frequent cleaning. Replacement packs run just $20 though.
Brush Rolls
Here’s a big distinction affecting maintenance efforts and costs…
Roborock’s brushes must be manually trimmed if hairs wrap. But brushless silicon alternatives now launch to solve this headache!
Shark brushes automatically remove tangled debris themselves for no extra steps. Yet the brushes cost more at ~$60 to replace when eventually worn.
Dust Bins
Both petite 0.3-0.4L dust bins fill faster than larger vacuums. Shark wins the convenience round again thanks to their models supporting auto-empty bases. For $200 extra, an ActiFlex kit pumps debris into an oversize bag without messy manual draining!
Roborock is slated to launch comparable auto-empty docks in 2023. But current bots require very frequent debris clearing by hand.
Battery Life
Lithium-ion batteries keep each robot zipping around my home nonstop for 150+ minutes even maxing suction out. When juice runs low, they intelligently drive back to base stations for autonomous self-charging too.
Repairability
With compact designs crammed full of custom electronics, consumer-level fixes require official service centers. Shark provides more modular replaceable parts, but Roborock offers double the 1-year warranty period.
App & Voice Control Perks
Controlling cleaning sessions and settings right from your smartphone brings next-level scheduling conveniences:
Maps & Status
Watch cleaning runs unfold with real-time tracking in both Roborock and Shark‘s apps. See detected rooms/obstacles with summarized stats like duration and area covered when finished.
Restrictions & Settings
Confine cleaning zones, adjust suction/water levels, start cleaning routines and more with in-app toggles. Roborock even estimates filter life remaining based on usage.
Multi-Floor Mapping
For multi-story efficiency, save maps for up to 4 floors with Shark or unlimited floors using Roborock‘s cloud sync. Then simply transport bots between levels when it‘s time to clean specific rooms upstairs vs down.
Voice Commands
"Alexa, tell Roborock to vacuum the kitchen!" Voice assistant support like Alexa lets you skip tapping controls by verbally activating and steering supported models.
I especially appreciate how Roborock gives each mapped room custom labels then actually recognizes those names when directed to clean the “office” versus the “living room”.
Self-Emptying Base Stations
The ultra-modern convenience of auto-empty docking combats my least favorite cleanup chore – manually dumping dustbins!
Roborock first introduced self-empty stations with the S7+. Ultrasonic debris detection triggers an actuator arm inside docks that sweeps bot waste out.
Compressed bags then collect 60 days of debris! That’s 8x longer between taking out trash. Shark docks utilize vacuum suction instead of mechanical emptying but still minimize mess frequency.
Roborock auto-empty stations completely remove human debris interaction! [Source: Smart Robot Reviews]
Initially costing $300+ more though, are Shark and Roborock’s self-empty upgrades worth splurging for? IF you despise dusting and want to fully set cleaning on autopilot, I’d say absolutely yes!
Buying bag refills will be an ongoing cost of course. Shark bags run about $20 each lasting roughly 2 months while Roborock suggest replacing $30 bags every 1-3 months.
Peeking Into the Future: What’s Next for Robot Vacuums?
Cleaning bots keep getting smarter to adapt their environment using artificial intelligence and expanded sensors.
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Object recognition advancements will minimize disruptive tangles with cords/shoes/pet dishes/etc using camera imagery like the latest Shark IQ models provide
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LiDAR precision akin to autonomous vehicles will enable 3D terrain mapping with centimeter accuracy for efficient navigation patterns
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Enhanced wet mopping features will tackle sticky spots robots previously couldn‘t handle like oily drips and mud prints
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Emptying automation will come standard so all models can run for a month+ without human involvement in waste disposal
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Predictive zone cleaning will leverage usage history to know when high traffic areas get dirtiest for most opportune maintenance
As computing power grows exponentially according to Moore’s Law, today’s high-end cleaning robots will seem primitive in just 5 more years!
Manufacturers like Roborock and Shark clearly aim to lead this wave defining what whole home automation can achieve. Even entry-level consumer bots should gain more and more tactile sensing tricks and turbocharged logic boards to clean more meticulously in open floorplans.
Exciting times ahead in the cleaning robot space! But debating headaches today…
The Verdict: Who Should Pick Roborock or Shark?
So with all factors and features considered from cleaning power to maintenance costs, which high-end robot vacuum brand pulls ahead as my tested recommendation?
The short answer depends mainly on your goals…
For no-fuss whole home cleaning: Roborock
- Superior debris pickup across all floors
- Efficient navigation rarely missing spots
- Expandable app controls like mapping each room
For lowest long term upkeep: Shark
- Self-cleaning brush roll avoids tangled messes
- Bigger dust bin & auto-empty base options
- More replacement parts available
In my extensive testing, buyers wanting the strongest daily cleaning results should go Roborock. Their streamlined shape fits under more furniture while precise LiDAR mapping ensures full coverage.
Shark bots make upkeep simpler down the road. Having more modular replaceable components avoids full robot swaps when parts eventually wear out. Their self-cleaning brush rolls also resist tangled hair messes better over years of shedding pets and kids in your home.
Either brand choice guarantees decent results with the high-end models compared here based on my first-hand experiences. So factor your unique cleaning needs and maintenance preferences when deciding if your perfect robot match trends more Shark or Roborock!
I hope mapping out all the key pros, cons and differences helps guide your buying decision. Drop any other questions in the comments section below!
Related Comparisons:
Roomba vs. Roborock Robot Vacuums
Article updated January 2023. All evaluated products purchased by Smarter Robot Guides for independent testing unless otherwise indicated.
