If you don’t clean your floors for a week, you will immediately notice them coated in dirt and grime. Cleaning your home is hard and takes time. If you don’t have a cleaner and don’t intend to hire one soon, you should consider getting a Roomba or Shark robot vacuum to do the work for you!
Our Roomba vs Shark comparison is broken down into different characteristics. You will see which vacuums are better at cleaning pet hair vs carpets. You will also see the devices being compared in terms of setup, maintenance, and connectivity.
Round 1 Head to Head
Roomba 891 Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum
This Wi-Fi vacuum cleaner will sweep corners, clean carpets, as well as hard floors. You don’t need to remove heavy furniture. Because of its compact size, it can easily clean under your bed, sofa, and tables. It comes with powerlifting suction. With 5x air power, it can also reach every corner in your home.
Shark IQ Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum
Model(s): RV1001
The Shark IQ Wi-Fi robot vacuum comes with outstanding suction power to collect both small and large debris. You don’t have to worry about cleaning it because it has a self-cleaning brush roll that can clean sticky objects from its surface, as well as remove tangled hair.This model comes in two variations. You can either get it with the self-empty base or without it. Both models come with Wi-Fi and home mapping features.
Pros
- Comes with patented Dirt Detect sensor.
- Works with the iRobot Home app.
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Cons
- Suitable for small households with fewer obstructions.
- Sometimes bumps into the wall!
Pros
- Self-cleaning brush roll.
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
- The bag needs to be cleaned once a month.
Cons
- Some users have complained about issues with cliff sensors.
Navigation & Software – Smart Features
The Roomba 891 Wi-Fi robot vacuum comes equipped with the premium 3-stage cleaning system. This technology enables it to loosen, lift, and suck in dirt, dust, and pet hair. Along with different automation features, this vacuum automatically docks itself for charging after 90 minutes of continuous use.
On the flip side, the Shark IQ Wi-Fi robot vacuum comes with unbeatable suction power to pick up pet hair, food crumbles, dust, and other dirt particles. Furthermore, this powerful suction power also enables it to remove stuck-on dust from your carpets.
Cleaning Modes & Floor Types
Setting up either one of these robot vacuums is easy. With the 1 Roomba 891 Wi-Fi connected robot vacuum package, you get 1 home base charging station, 1 North American line cord, owner’s guide, plus the documentation package. Once you set it up, the Roomba 891 Wi-Fi robot vacuum activates its patented Dirt Detect sensors. These sensors pick up important data and tell the vacuum which areas have a higher concentration of dirt.
On the other hand, the Shark IQ Wi-Fi robot vacuum will clean your home methodically. First, it divides your room into multiple rows. After, it follows these rows to ensure it is minimizing its time. Along with a timer, this technology also enables it to save battery power.
Suction, Household (Pets & Kids) & Maintenance
The Roomba 891 Wi-Fi robot vacuum has the power-lifting suction function. With 5X airpower, it can easily beat any traditional vacuum. Furthermore, its auto-adjust cleaning head feature enables it to adjust its height so that the multi-surface brushes are in close contact with the different floor surfaces.
When it comes to brush rolls, they are very tricky to clean. Luckily, the Shark IQ Wi-Fi robot vacuum comes with a self-cleaning brush roll. With this, you can say goodbye to hair wraps.
Design, Battery & Sound
Using the iRobot Home app, you can assign your Roomba 891 Wi-Fi robot vacuum rooms to clean and check up on its progress. This Wi-Fi vacuum cleaner also supports voice-activated control.
Similarly, the Shark IQ Wi-Fi robot vacuum also comes with an app. Using this app, you can pick the room that you want to be cleaned ASAP or schedule a later time for a whole-home clean routine.
Technical Comparison
| Roomba 891 Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum | Shark IQ Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum | |
| Specific Uses For Product | Hard floor, Carpet, Dual action | Hard floor, Carpet, Dual action |
| Self-emptying Base | No | No |
| Self-Cleaning Brushroll | No | Yes |
| App & Voice Control | Yes | Yes |
| Home Mapping | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 12.52 pounds | 6.92 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 13.9 x 13.9 x 3.59 inches | 12.9 x 12.6 x 3.5 inches |
| 3-Stage Cleaning System | 5X Suction power | N/A |
The Verdict
Both the Roomba 891 Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum and Shark IQ Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum come with many identical features. They are a close match in terms of setup, app, and voice commands and how efficiently they clean your house.
When it comes to maintenance, the Shark IQ Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum defeats its Roomba counterpart with its self-cleaning base to untangle hair!
Roomba 891 Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum
This Wi-Fi vacuum cleaner will sweep corners, clean carpets, as well as hard floors. You don’t need to remove heavy furniture. Because of its compact size, it can easily clean under your bed, sofa, and tables. It comes with powerlifting suction. With 5x air power, it can also reach every corner in your home.
Shark IQ Wi-Fi Robot Vacuum
Model(s): RV1001
The Shark IQ Wi-Fi robot vacuum comes with outstanding suction power to collect both small and large debris. You don’t have to worry about cleaning it because it has a self-cleaning brush roll that can clean sticky objects from its surface, as well as remove tangled hair.This model comes in two variations. You can either get it with the self-empty base or without it. Both models come with Wi-Fi and home mapping features.
Round 2 Head to Head
Roomba i7 Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal
Model(s): 7550
The Roomba i7 Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal can reach and remove every dirt particle from your house. It can keep 60-days’ worth of dust in its bag.Unlike its predecessors, it comes with Power-Lifting Suction that delivers 10x airpower. Moreover, it has a dedicated app. You can also ask this vacuum to start mopping your floors as soon as you come back home and walk to your bedroom wearing your dirty shoes.
Shark IQ Self Empty Robot Wi-Fi Vacuum
Model(s): XL RV101AE
The Shark IQ Self Empty Robot Wi-Fi Vacuum comes with many useful upgrades that its predecessors lack. The most notable one is the self-cleaning base that can hold 30-days’ worth of dirt.Using the Shark Clean app, you can set this vacuum to clean your entire home or individual rooms. Moreover, it is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Pros
- Comes with vSLAM navigation for better home mapping.
- Ideal for homes with pets.
- Comes with dual multi-surface rubber brushes.
Cons
- Some users have complained of buggy sensors.
Pros
- Comes with powerful suction.
- Comes with dual edge & corner brushes.
- Features advanced home mapping.
Cons
- Some users have complained that it can sometimes get stuck on obstacles.
Navigation & Software – Smart Features
The Roomba i7 vacuum with automatic dirt disposal is ideal for hard floors, carpets, not to mention dual-action. Moreover, it comes with an AllergenLock bag. You don’t need to empty this bag after every cleanup session. Emptying it once every 2 months will do. You can forget about cleaning your floors after you get this vacuum!
Similarly, the Shark IQ Self-Empty robot Wi-Fi vacuum is also equipped with tools for cleaning pet hair off carpets and hard floors.
Cleaning Modes & Floor Types
The Roomba i7 vacuum with automatic dirt disposal comes with the clean base automatic dirt disposal feature. Furthermore, it also features a premium 3-stage cleaning system.
The Shark IQ Self-Empty robot Wi-Fi vacuum comes with a self-cleaning brush roll. To make things easier for you, it also features the Shark Clean app and voice control with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
Suction, Household (Pets & Kids) & Maintenance
The Roomba i7 vacuum with automatic dirt disposal stands out from the crowd because of its Power-Lifting Suction technology that provides 10x more air power to pick up the tiniest of dirt particles. If you are worried about dirt getting entangled in your vacuum’s brush, don’t worry. The dual multi-surface rubber brushes ensure your vacuuming device doesn’t get tangled with unwanted dust.
On the other side, the Shark IQ Self-Empty robot Wi-Fi vacuum comes with total home mapping with room selection features. After a few rounds, it will have taught itself the shape of your house and those of individual rooms. Once it completes the learning, you can automate the cleaning process using the app.
Design, Battery & Sound
The Roomba i7 vacuum with automatic dirt disposal is a smart vacuum that can teach itself the interior of your home. Thanks to its Imprint Smart Mapping, patented iAdapt 3.0, and vSLAM navigation, it can do all the cleaning by itself. Moreover, after you rearrange your furniture, it can quickly learn the new information and adjust its route.
With both models, you can tell the vacuum to start cleaning using the app or via Alexa/Google Assistant voice commands. Moreover, these devices come with dual edge & corner brushes that can dig deeper into edges and corners.
Technical Comparison
| Roomba i7 Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal | Shark IQ Self Empty Robot Wi-Fi Vacuum | |
| Specific Uses For Product | Hard floor, Carpet, Dual action | Hard floor, Carpet, Dual action |
| Self-emptying Base | Yes | Yes |
| Self-Cleaning Brushroll | No | Yes |
| App & Voice Control | Yes | Yes |
| Home Mapping | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 7.45 pounds | 6.92 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 13.34 x 13.26 x 3.63 inches | 12.9 x 12.6 x 3.5 inches |
| 3-Stage Cleaning System | Yes | No |
The Verdict
It’s a tie! Both Roomba i7 Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal and Shark IQ Self Empty Robot Wi-Fi Vacuum are great vacuuming models. Both offer powerful suction, advanced mapping and have a self emptying base so you can set it up and forget about it for weeks!
Roomba i7 Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal
Model(s): 7550
The Roomba i7 Vacuum with Automatic Dirt Disposal can reach and remove every dirt particle from your house. It can keep 60-days’ worth of dust in its bag.Unlike its predecessors, it comes with Power-Lifting Suction that delivers 10x airpower. Moreover, it has a dedicated app. You can also ask this vacuum to start mopping your floors as soon as you come back home and walk to your bedroom wearing your dirty shoes.
Shark IQ Self Empty Robot Wi-Fi Vacuum
Model(s): XL RV101AE
The Shark IQ Self Empty Robot Wi-Fi Vacuum comes with many useful upgrades that its predecessors lack. The most notable one is the self-cleaning base that can hold 30-days’ worth of dirt.Using the Shark Clean app, you can set this vacuum to clean your entire home or individual rooms. Moreover, it is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Why buy a Robot Vacuum?
If you have kids, you know how much they love picking up things from the floor and putting them in their mouths. It’s important that your floors are clean, minimising germs and bacteria that can develop and potentially cause harm.
In this article we pitted Roomba vs Shark to see which model defeated the other. Most vacuum cleaners on the market can clean several floor types, including tiles, wood, and carpet. These smart robot vacuum cleaners come with dedicated apps. You can initiate a cleaning session using the apps. The days of pressing buttons are long gone. They also feature Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice commands.