I've owned robot vacuums for as long as I can remember. I used to have 2 very large German Shephard dogs who shed constantly, year round so vacuuming was a daily necessity. My original iRobot did the job just fine but it was getting old, didn't hold a charge anymore and tended to get stuck a lot. I read the reviews about the Shark IQ Robot and bought 2 (upstairs and downstairs). I am stunned at how far the technology has come.
Before the IQ Robot Self-Empty Vacuum I would have hesitated in recommending these tools. You have to empty the very small onboard dust container often and if you forgot then it didn't pick up anymore. Hair would get in the rollers. Wires would jam the wheels. Sometimes it would fall down the stairs. Needed to buy directional driving wheel every six months because they get used up. Same with the brushes which wear down rapidly.
But this Shark IQ is a totally different beast. I just love that it empties itself at the base so it's always ready to go. The navigation of the robot is brilliant... it's not a random pattern until eventually it would cover all the area (like the iRobot), it's a systematic approach to floor sweeping. It likes to go on a long stretch, then moves about 6 inches to the right and then continues it's long stretch in the opposite direction. When facing obstacles, you can see the IQ at work as it methodically goes around the obstacle while remembering where it left off it's long stretch course and then resumes once the obstacle is clear. The logic programming is so good that no inch of my floor goes un-vacuumed. This model comes with two brushes in the front instead of the single brush on my previous model. Also the brushes do not rotate at fast speed, they are rather slow and that is by design. You don't want the brushes to throw debris in every direction, instead it gently and slowly pushes side debris into the path of the robot for pick-up.
The mapping feature is new to me and it does an excellent job. With the Shark app for your smart phone, once mapping is complete, you can tell the robot to only clean certain rooms or areas. You can also designate certain rooms or areas as no-go areas so no need for blocking certain paths with invisible walls (although it does come with a roll of magnetic strip should you wish to block off an area the old fashion way).
The app is terrible, almost an after thought. If you try to create an account using the app, a bug will prevent you from logging in and you will be stuck in this cycle of password resets. Instead, use your PC, create an account on the Shark website THEN use this account name and password into your Shark app on your phone and it will work. If you have multiple IQ Robots they will all appear in this app but it is tedious to move from one vacuum to another. Also wished there was a feature to add users instead of providing my credentials to everyone in my household. Way too many notifications to turn on this or that feature... I said "no" already so stop with the notifications! So... yes, crappy app but incredibly efficient vacuum robot.
Highly recommend this model, especially for hard wood floors. I can also certify that this particular model is "mom-approved"... that's a rare prize indeed for any technology in my household. But like all things, do shop around as prices vary greatly from one location to another and consider all purchasing options carefully (shipping, extras, warranty, etc.).
| Item Weight | 6 kg |
|---|---|
| Specific Instructions for Use | Floor Cleaning |
| Form Factor | Robotic |
| Assembly Required | Yes |
| Type of Guarantee | 1 Year Limited |
| Batteries Required | Yes |
| Included components | (1) Shark IQ Robot®, (1) Self-empty base, (2) Side brushes, (1) Filter, (1) BotBoundary® Strips |
