The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE aims to free you from the repetitive task of vacuuming. It’s designed to be a hands-off cleaning solution, boasting a self-emptying base that holds up to 30-45 days’ worth of dirt and debris, a self-cleaning brushroll to minimize hair tangles, and smart mapping capabilities. Priced competitively against other self-emptying robot vacuums, the Shark IQ R1001AE promises convenience and automated cleaning, but how well does it deliver on these promises in real-world use?
While the idea of a truly autonomous cleaning robot is appealing, the Shark IQ R1001AE presents a mixed bag of performance and features. It offers powerful suction and excels at picking up dirt, dust, and pet hair on various floor types. However, its mapping capabilities can be unreliable, and its overall cleaning performance sometimes lags behind competitors. This review delves into the specifics of its design, performance, and features to help you decide if the Shark IQ R1001AE is the right robot vacuum for your needs.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Self-Emptying Convenience: The self-emptying base significantly reduces the frequency of manual dustbin emptying, making it a low-maintenance option for busy households.
- Strong Suction Power: The vacuum demonstrates strong suction, effectively cleaning dust, debris, and pet hair from both hard floors and carpets.
- Smart Navigation with Limitations: While it offers smart features like home mapping and targeted room cleaning, the mapping functionality can be inconsistent and frustrating.
- Effective Hair Management: The self-cleaning brushroll minimizes hair tangles, making it a suitable choice for pet owners.
- Value Proposition: The Shark IQ R1001AE presents a compelling value proposition, offering many features of higher-end models at a more affordable price point, though with some compromises.
Verdict: The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE is a decent robot vacuum that offers a lot of convenience for the price. However, its inconsistent mapping and occasional cleaning shortcomings prevent it from achieving a higher score. It gets a 7.5/10.
Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model Number | RV1001AE (also known as R101AE) |
| Dimensions | 12.9 x 12.6 x 3.5 inches (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 5.87 lbs (Robot), 13.2 lbs (with Clean Base) |
| Dust Cup Capacity | 0.17 quarts (robot), Up to 45 days of debris (Clean Base) |
| Battery Life | Up to 60 minutes |
| Recharge Time | Approximately 4.5 hours |
| Cleaning Technology | Brushroll, strong suction |
| Navigation | Camera-based, gyroscope, floor sensors, SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) |
| Smart Features | App control, voice control (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant), home mapping, room selection, virtual no-go zones, scheduling |
| Floor Types | Hardwood, carpet, tile |
| Brushroll Type | Self-cleaning brushroll |
| Filtration | Foam and felt filters (bagless base) |
| Warranty | Varies by retailer, typically 1 year limited |
Price and Availability
The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE is typically priced around $599, although it can often be found on sale for significantly less. It is available at major retailers such as:
- Amazon
- Walmart
- Best Buy
- Directly from the Shark website
Bundles or packages may include additional accessories such as extra filters or boundary strips. Prices and availability can vary, so it’s recommended to check multiple sources for the best deals.
Design and Build Quality
The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL RV1001AE sports a utilitarian, all-black design. Its circular shape and low profile (3.5 inches tall) allow it to navigate under furniture with ease. The robot features a durable hard plastic body, a rubber front bumper to protect furniture, and robust plastic wheels with rubber treads for traction. The self-emptying base is relatively compact compared to some competitors, which is beneficial for homes with limited space.
The build quality of the Shark IQ R1001AE is generally good, although some users have noted that the dirt compartment feels somewhat fragile. The self-emptying base is constructed from sturdy plastic and features a bagless design, which is convenient and cost-effective. The bagless bin has a window to view its fullness. One button releases the bin, and a second at the base drops the bottom out to release debris.
Compared to the iRobot Roomba i7+, the Shark’s base has a smaller footprint, making it less of a tripping hazard. However, the Roomba i3+ utilizes AllergenLock bags in its self-emptying base, which may be preferable for allergy sufferers, while the Shark IQ R1001AE employs a bagless system.
Performance and Features
Cleaning Performance
The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE delivers strong suction and effective cleaning performance on various floor types. It employs a methodical back-and-forth “snake” pattern to ensure thorough coverage. In testing, it has demonstrated the ability to pick up:
- Hardwood Floors: Excels at picking up debris on hard floors, with slow-rotating side brushes that minimize scattering.
- Low-Pile Carpets: Performs adequately on low-pile carpets, though it may require extra passes to collect fine particles. Some tests have shown it capturing around 74% of debris from low-pile carpets.
- High-Pile Carpets: Shows better performance on high-pile carpets compared to low-pile, capturing a significant amount of debris.
- Pet Hair: The self-cleaning brushroll is effective at removing pet hair from carpets and hard floors.
However, the cleaning process can be slower compared to some competitors. For example, it may take the Shark IQ R1001AE 28 minutes to clean an area that a Roomba i7+ can complete in 10 minutes.
Smart Mapping and Navigation
The Shark IQ Robot uses a camera-based system to map your home as it cleans. Once a map is generated, you can name rooms and direct the robot to clean specific areas. You can also set up virtual no-go zones to prevent the robot from entering certain areas. It relies on a top-mounted camera, gyroscope, and floor sensors for navigation. It moves in straight lines in the direction of the base station.
Despite these features, the mapping capabilities of the Shark IQ R1001AE have been a point of contention among users. Some have reported difficulties generating accurate maps, even after multiple cleaning runs. Others have found the map creation process cumbersome and unreliable. However, some users have had success with the mapping feature, suggesting that results may vary depending on the home layout and other factors.
Self-Emptying Base
One of the standout features of the Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE is its self-emptying base. The base holds up to 30-45 days’ worth of dirt and debris, reducing the frequency with which you need to empty the dustbin manually. The bagless design of the base is convenient and eliminates the need to purchase replacement bags.
When the robot’s onboard dustbin is full, it automatically returns to the base, empties the bin, and then resumes cleaning. The self-emptying process is loud, but it is relatively quick.
App and Voice Control
The SharkClean app allows you to control the robot from your smartphone. With the app, you can:
- Start and stop cleaning cycles
- Schedule cleanings
- View and edit the home map
- Select specific rooms to clean
- Create virtual no-go zones
- Monitor cleaning progress
The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE is also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control the robot with voice commands.
Battery Life
The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE has a battery life of up to 60 minutes on a single charge. However, the actual battery life may vary depending on the cleaning mode, floor type, and other factors.
When the battery is low, the robot automatically returns to the base to recharge. The recharge time is approximately 4.5 hours. The robot has a recharge and resume feature, which allows it to continue cleaning after recharging if it has not finished the cleaning cycle.
Software and User Experience
The SharkClean app is generally user-friendly and easy to navigate. The app walks you through the setup process and provides access to all of the robot’s features. However, some users have reported occasional software glitches and connectivity issues.
The ability to schedule cleanings, select specific rooms to clean, and create virtual no-go zones enhances the user experience. However, the unreliable mapping capabilities can be a source of frustration for some users.
Comparison to Competitors
iRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot Roomba i7+ is a direct competitor to the Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE. Both robots offer self-emptying bases, smart mapping, and app control. However, there are some key differences:
- Cleaning Performance: The Roomba i7+ generally offers better cleaning performance, particularly on carpets.
- Mapping: The Roomba i7+ has more reliable mapping capabilities.
- AllergenLock Bags: The Roomba i7+ uses AllergenLock bags in its self-emptying base, which may be preferable for allergy sufferers.
- Price: The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE is typically less expensive than the Roomba i7+.
Roborock S5
The Roborock S5 is another popular robot vacuum that competes with the Shark IQ Robot. The Roborock S5 offers:
- Better Build Quality: The Roborock S5 is known for its durable construction.
- Easier Maintenance: The Roborock S5 is easier to maintain.
- Longer Battery Life: The Roborock S5 has a longer battery life and a shorter charging time.
- Lower Recurring Costs: The Roborock S5 has lower recurring costs.
Shark AI Robot
Compared to the Shark AI Robot, the Shark IQ Robot has superior overall performance on all surface types. However, the AI Robot has fewer recurring costs, better maneuverability, and a longer battery life.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Self-emptying base for hands-free operation
- Strong suction power on various floor types
- Effective pet hair removal with self-cleaning brushroll
- App and voice control
- Relatively affordable
Cons:
- Inconsistent mapping capabilities
- Noisy operation
- Mediocre performance on low-pile carpets
- Can push objects around
- Smaller dustbin compared to competitors
Value for Money
The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE offers good value for money. It provides many of the features found in higher-end robot vacuums, such as a self-emptying base, smart mapping, and app control, at a more affordable price point. While it has some shortcomings, such as inconsistent mapping and mediocre performance on low-pile carpets, its strong suction power, effective pet hair removal, and hands-free operation make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a convenient and automated cleaning solution.
Who should buy this product:
- Busy individuals or families who want to reduce the frequency of manual vacuuming
- Pet owners who need a robot vacuum that can effectively remove pet hair
- Those seeking a self-emptying robot vacuum at a reasonable price
Who should look elsewhere:
- Those who require highly accurate and reliable mapping capabilities
- Those with primarily low-pile carpets who need optimal cleaning performance
- Those sensitive to noise
Verdict
The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL R1001AE is a decent robot vacuum that offers a lot of convenience for the price. Its self-emptying base, strong suction power, and effective pet hair removal make it a worthwhile option for many households. However, its inconsistent mapping and occasional cleaning shortcomings prevent it from achieving a higher score. It gets a 7.5/10.
