Robot vacuums have become essential for maintaining clean homes with minimal effort. The Shark IQ R100 and the Roomba 670 are popular entry-level models designed to automate floor cleaning. These vacuums target busy individuals, pet owners, and anyone looking to simplify their cleaning routine. Both offer convenience and ease of use, but they differ significantly in features, performance, and overall value.
The Shark IQ R100 is known for its smart navigation and self-emptying capabilities, which are typically found in higher-end models. It appeals to users who want a hands-free cleaning experience with minimal maintenance. The Roomba 670, on the other hand, is a more basic model that focuses on reliable cleaning performance and ease of use. It’s an excellent option for those new to robot vacuums or who prefer a straightforward, no-frills approach to automated cleaning. This comparison will provide a detailed analysis to help you determine which robot vacuum best fits your needs and budget.
Table of Contents
- Quick Verdict
- Short Review of Shark IQ R100
- Short Review of Roomba 670
- Key Differences at a Glance
- Specifications Comparison
- Price Comparison
- Design and Build Quality
- Performance Face-Off
- Special Features Comparison
- Usability and User Experience
- Maintenance and Longevity
- Who Should Buy the Shark IQ R100?
- Who Should Buy the Roomba 670?
- Final Recommendation
Quick Verdict
- For Smart Navigation and Self-Emptying: The Shark IQ R100 is the better choice. Its intelligent navigation system and self-emptying base offer a more automated and hands-free cleaning experience, making it ideal for larger homes and busy users.
- For Reliable Basic Cleaning: The Roomba 670 is a solid pick. Its straightforward operation, decent cleaning performance, and affordability make it a good entry-level option for smaller homes or those new to robot vacuums.
- For Value: The Shark IQ R100 often provides more features for the price, especially if you value smart mapping and self-emptying. However, the Roomba 670 is a budget-friendly option that still offers dependable cleaning.
Short Review of Shark IQ R100
The Shark IQ R100 is a mid-range robot vacuum known for its smart features and convenient design. One of its standout features is its IQ Navigation, which allows it to map your home and clean in methodical rows, ensuring thorough coverage. This is a significant advantage over robot vacuums that use random navigation patterns.
The R100 also boasts a self-cleaning brush roll that helps prevent hair tangles, making it suitable for homes with pets. Its Wi-Fi connectivity enables you to control the vacuum via a smartphone app, schedule cleanings, and monitor its progress remotely. The self-emptying base is another key selling point, allowing the vacuum to automatically empty its dustbin into a larger container, reducing the frequency of manual emptying. While it may not have the most powerful suction on the market, the Shark IQ R100 offers a compelling combination of smart features and convenience for everyday cleaning.
Short Review of Roomba 670
The Roomba 670 is an entry-level robot vacuum designed for simple and reliable cleaning. It features iRobot’s patented 3-Stage Cleaning System, which uses dual multi-surface brushes, an edge-sweeping brush, and vacuum suction to effectively clean both carpets and hard floors. Its Dirt Detect sensors allow the Roomba to focus on areas with higher concentrations of dirt, ensuring a more thorough clean.
The Roomba 670 is also known for its ease of use. It can be controlled via the iRobot Home app, allowing you to schedule cleanings and monitor its activity remotely. While it lacks advanced features like smart mapping and self-emptying, the Roomba 670 provides a straightforward and dependable cleaning experience. Its low profile design allows it to easily navigate under furniture, and its long battery life ensures it can cover a significant area on a single charge. For those seeking a basic, no-frills robot vacuum, the Roomba 670 is a solid choice.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Navigation: The Shark IQ R100 uses smart, methodical row-by-row navigation, while the Roomba 670 uses a random navigation pattern.
- Self-Emptying: The Shark IQ R100 has a self-emptying base, whereas the Roomba 670 requires manual emptying of the dustbin.
- Mapping: The Shark IQ R100 maps your home for more efficient cleaning, whereas the Roomba 670 does not have mapping capabilities.
- Brush Roll: The Shark IQ R100 features a self-cleaning brush roll to minimize hair tangles, a feature not found on the Roomba 670.
- Price: The Roomba 670 is generally more affordable than the Shark IQ R100.
- Smart Features: The Shark IQ R100 has more advanced smart features like room selection and targeted cleaning zones, which are absent in the Roomba 670.
Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Shark IQ R100 | Roomba 670 |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | IQ Navigation (Smart, Row-by-Row) | iAdapt Navigation (Random) |
| Self-Emptying | Yes | No |
| Mapping | Yes | No |
| Brush Roll | Self-Cleaning Brush Roll | Standard Brush Roll |
| App Control | Yes (Wi-Fi Connected) | Yes (Wi-Fi Connected) |
| Voice Control | Yes (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant) | Yes (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant) |
| Battery Life | Up to 90 minutes | Up to 90 minutes |
| Dirt Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Edge Cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Low Profile Design | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | Approximately 12.9″ diameter, 3.5″ height | Approximately 13.4″ diameter, 3.6″ height |
| Dustbin Capacity | Smaller onboard, empties into larger base container | 0.6 liters |
| Filter Type | Standard | Standard |
| Recharge and Resume | Yes | Yes |
Price Comparison
The Roomba 670 is typically priced lower, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers. Its affordability provides a good entry point into the world of robot vacuums without sacrificing essential cleaning capabilities. The Shark IQ R100, while more expensive, offers additional features like smart navigation and a self-emptying base.
The Shark IQ R100 provides better value due to its advanced features. The self-emptying base is a significant convenience, reducing the need for frequent maintenance. However, if you’re primarily concerned with basic cleaning and want to save money, the Roomba 670 offers a strong cost-to-feature ratio.
Design and Build Quality
The Shark IQ R100 and Roomba 670 share a similar circular design, allowing them to navigate around furniture and tight spaces. Both are made of durable plastic, designed to withstand everyday bumps and collisions. The Shark IQ R100 is slightly smaller in diameter, which may help it maneuver in particularly cramped areas.
Both models have a low-profile design, enabling them to clean under beds, sofas, and other low-clearance furniture. The self-cleaning brush roll on the Shark IQ R100 is a notable design feature, preventing hair tangles and reducing maintenance. Both vacuums feature edge-sweeping brushes to clean along walls and in corners. The build quality is comparable, but the Shark IQ R100’s additional features give it a slight edge in design innovation.
Performance Face-Off
Cleaning Performance on Hard Floors
Both the Shark IQ R100 and Roomba 670 effectively clean hard floors, picking up dust, crumbs, and debris. The Roomba 670’s dual multi-surface brushes agitate and lift dirt, while its suction power ensures thorough cleaning. The Shark IQ R100 also performs well on hard floors, using its brush roll and strong suction to capture dirt.
Cleaning Performance on Carpets
The Roomba 670’s 3-Stage Cleaning System is effective on carpets, using its brushes to loosen dirt and debris while its suction lifts it away. Its Dirt Detect sensors allow it to focus on high-traffic areas, ensuring a deeper clean. The Shark IQ R100 also performs well on carpets, with its self-cleaning brush roll preventing hair tangles and maintaining consistent cleaning power.
Edge Cleaning
Both robot vacuums have edge-sweeping brushes designed to clean along walls and in corners. However, neither model excels at edge cleaning. Both may require occasional manual touch-ups to fully clean these areas.
Pet Hair
Both are capable of handling pet hair. The self-cleaning brush roll on the Shark IQ R100 is advantageous, reducing the need to manually remove tangled hair from the brush.
Navigation
The Shark IQ R100 has IQ Navigation, which allows it to map your home and clean in methodical rows. This ensures thorough coverage and efficient cleaning. The Roomba 670 uses a random navigation pattern, which can result in missed spots or repeated cleaning of the same areas.
Special Features Comparison
- Shark IQ R100: The standout feature of the Shark IQ R100 is its self-emptying base, which can hold weeks’ worth of dirt and debris. Its IQ Navigation system allows for smart mapping and efficient cleaning. It also has a self-cleaning brush roll to prevent hair tangles.
- Roomba 670: The Roomba 670’s special features include its Dirt Detect sensors, which focus on high-traffic areas. It also has a low-profile design to clean under furniture and is compatible with the iRobot Home app for scheduling and control.
Usability and User Experience
The Roomba 670 is straightforward, making it easy to set up and use. Its simple controls and intuitive app interface are suitable for those new to robot vacuums. The Shark IQ R100, while also user-friendly, offers a more feature-rich experience with its smart mapping and scheduling options.
Both vacuums are easy to maintain, though the Shark IQ R100’s self-emptying base reduces the frequency of manual emptying. The Roomba 670 requires regular emptying of the dustbin and cleaning of the brush rolls.
Maintenance and Longevity
Both the Shark IQ R100 and Roomba 670 require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance. This includes emptying the dustbin, cleaning the brush rolls, and replacing filters. The Shark IQ R100’s self-emptying base reduces the frequency of dustbin emptying but requires periodic disposal of the collected dirt.
Replacement parts, such as filters and brushes, are readily available for both models. The longevity of these vacuums depends on usage and maintenance, but both are generally durable.
Who Should Buy the Shark IQ R100?
The Shark IQ R100 is best for:
- Users who want a hands-free cleaning experience with minimal maintenance.
- Homes with pets, thanks to its self-cleaning brush roll and strong suction.
- Larger homes that benefit from smart mapping and efficient navigation.
- Those who value advanced features like self-emptying and app control.
Who Should Buy the Roomba 670?
The Roomba 670 is best for:
- Budget-conscious consumers seeking a reliable entry-level robot vacuum.
- Smaller homes or apartments where advanced navigation is less critical.
- Users who prefer a straightforward, no-frills approach to automated cleaning.
- Those new to robot vacuums and want an easy-to-use device.
Final Recommendation
Both the Shark IQ R100 and Roomba 670 are decent robot vacuums that offer convenience and automated cleaning. The Shark IQ R100 is the better choice for those who want smart navigation, a self-emptying base, and advanced features. The Roomba 670 is a solid option for those seeking an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use robot vacuum. The Shark IQ R100 represents a better overall value due to its added conveniences and smart capabilities.
