Robot vacuums have revolutionized home cleaning, offering convenience and automation to busy individuals and families. The Shark IQ Robot and the Roomba e6 are two popular models in the mid-range market, each promising to keep your floors spotless with minimal effort. This comparison delves into the nuances of these two contenders, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you determine which one best suits your needs and lifestyle. Consumers often weigh factors like cleaning performance, navigation, special features, and price when choosing a robot vacuum.
Both the Shark IQ Robot and the Roomba e6 aim to provide a hands-free cleaning experience, but they approach this goal with different technologies and features. The Shark IQ Robot boasts intelligent home mapping and a self-emptying base, while the Roomba e6 focuses on powerful cleaning and pet hair removal. This comparison will explore these differences in detail, providing data-driven insights into their performance on various floor types, their ability to navigate obstacles, and their overall user-friendliness. Whether you’re a busy professional, a pet owner, or simply someone looking to automate your cleaning routine, this analysis will provide the information you need to make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
- Quick Verdict
- Short Review of Shark IQ Robot
- Short Review of Roomba e6
- 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 Robot?
- Who Should Buy the Roomba e6?
- Final Recommendation
Quick Verdict
- Cleaning Performance: Roomba e6 edges out the Shark IQ Robot due to its powerful performance and premium 3-stage cleaning system.
- Smart Features: Shark IQ Robot wins with its intelligent home mapping, room selection, and self-emptying base.
- Pet Owners: Roomba e6 is better suited for pet owners due to its tangle-free brushes and high-efficiency filter.
- Value for Money: Shark IQ Robot offers more features for its price, including smart navigation and self-emptying capabilities.
- Overall Recommendation: For a balance of smart features and value, the Shark IQ Robot is a strong contender. However, if powerful cleaning and pet hair removal are your priorities, the Roomba e6 is the better choice.
Short Review of Shark IQ Robot
The Shark IQ Robot is designed to offer a hands-free cleaning experience with its smart navigation and self-emptying base. It maps your home, allowing you to select specific rooms for cleaning via the SharkClean app or voice control with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Its self-cleaning brushroll is engineered to prevent hair wrap, making it suitable for homes with pets. The robot uses row-by-row cleaning for complete home coverage and can recharge and resume cleaning.
However, some reviews suggest the Shark IQ Robot may struggle with fine debris on low-pile carpets and can sometimes push pet hair further into carpet fibers. It also has a tendency to leave debris along walls and in corners. Despite these drawbacks, the Shark IQ Robot offers a good value with its smart features and self-emptying capabilities, making it a convenient option for those seeking a largely automated cleaning solution.
Short Review of Roomba e6
The Roomba e6 is a budget-friendly robot vacuum that offers great cleaning performance. It features a premium 3-stage cleaning system and 5X the power-lifting suction, making it effective at pulling in stubborn dirt and messes. Ideal for homes with pets, it has unique dual multi-surface rubber brushes that don’t get tangled with pet hair, and a high-efficiency filter that traps 99% of cat and dog allergens.
The Roomba e6 lacks advanced navigation and digital mapping. However, it offers Wi-Fi connectivity for control via the iRobot HOME app or voice assistant. It learns your cleaning habits to offer personalized schedules and can suggest extra cleaning during pollen or pet shedding season. While it doesn’t have Recharge & Resume, it runs for up to 90 minutes before automatically docking and recharging.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Self-Emptying Base: Shark IQ Robot includes a self-emptying base that holds dirt and debris for up to 45 days, while the Roomba e6 does not have this feature.
- Navigation: Shark IQ Robot features intelligent home mapping with room selection, whereas the Roomba e6 uses a more basic “bump-and-continue” navigation system (iAdapt 1.0).
- Brushroll Design: Shark IQ Robot has a self-cleaning brushroll designed to prevent hair wrap, while the Roomba e6 has dual multi-surface rubber brushes that don’t get tangled with pet hair.
- Virtual Walls: The Roomba e6 comes with two virtual walls to contain the robot to specific areas, but the Shark IQ Robot uses boundary strips.
- Mopping Function: Some versions of the Shark IQ Robot have a 2-in-1 vacuum and mop feature, while the Roomba e6 is solely a vacuum.
- Allergen Filtration: The Roomba e6 features a high-efficiency filter that captures 99% of cat and dog allergens, while the Shark IQ Robot lacks an allergen-trapping HEPA filter.
- App Interface: The Roomba boasts a user-friendly app, while some sources suggest the SharkClean app can be buggy.
Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Shark IQ Robot | Roomba e6 |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | IQ Navigationâ„¢ with Home Mapping | iAdapt 1.0 |
| Self-Emptying Base | Yes, holds up to 45 days of dirt and debris | No |
| Brushroll | Self-Cleaning Brushroll | Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes |
| App Control | Yes, SharkClean app | Yes, iRobot HOME app |
| Voice Control | Yes, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant | Yes, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant |
| Battery Life | Varies | Up to 90 minutes |
| Filter | Non-washable filter | High-Efficiency Filter (captures 99% of cat and dog allergens) |
| Virtual Walls/Zone | BotBoundary Strips | 2 Virtual Walls |
| Dimensions | 12.9″ L x 12.6″ W x 3.5″ H | 13.3″ diameter, 3.6″ tall |
| Weight | 5.87 lbs | 7.2 lbs |
| Dust Cup Capacity | 0.17 qts. (robot), Up to 30 days of dust and debris (self-emptying base) | Unknown |
| Cordless | Yes | Yes |
| Special Feature | Self-emptying, Home Mapping, Row-by-Row Cleaning | Learns Cleaning Habits, Suggests Personalized Schedules |
| Surface Recommendation | Floor, Carpet, Hardwood | Floor, Carpet, Hardwood |
Price Comparison
The Shark IQ Robot typically retails around $300-$600 depending on the model and any included features such as the self-emptying base. The Roomba e6 generally costs between $300-$400.
- Value Proposition: The Shark IQ Robot often provides a higher value due to its inclusion of features like smart mapping and a self-emptying base at a competitive price point. The Roomba e6 offers excellent cleaning performance and is known for its reliability, but lacks the advanced features of the Shark IQ Robot.
- Cost-to-Feature Ratio: The Shark IQ Robot wins in this category as it offers more features for a similar or slightly higher price than the Roomba e6.
Design and Build Quality
- Aesthetics: The Shark IQ Robot has a utilitarian, all-black design, while the Roomba e6 features a two-tone aesthetic with tan and black accents.
- Materials: Both robots are made primarily from hard plastic.
- Durability: Both models are generally well-built and sturdy.
- Ergonomics: The Shark IQ Robot has a slightly oblong shape to accommodate its water tank (in 2-in-1 models) and a tall LIDAR mapping sensor. The Roomba e6 has a round shape that is common among Roomba models.
- Construction Quality: Both robots have a solid construction and can withstand regular use.
Performance Face-Off
Bare Floors
- Shark IQ Robot: Performs well on bare floors, picking up most pet hair and small debris. However, it may struggle with bulky debris as the dirt compartment fills up and can leave debris along walls and in corners.
- Roomba e6: Delivers powerful performance on bare floors, effectively pulling in dirt and messes. Its edge-sweeping brush takes care of corners and edges.
- Verdict: The Roomba e6 edges out the Shark IQ Robot due to its premium 3-stage cleaning system, which ensures effective cleaning on bare floors.
Low-Pile Carpet
- Shark IQ Robot: Struggles with fine debris and pet hair embedded in low-pile carpet but does okay with larger material. Some tests show it captures only 74% of debris from low-pile carpet.
- Roomba e6: Provides a powerful cleaning performance on low-pile carpet, capturing a high percentage of debris.
- Verdict: The Roomba e6 is better suited for low-pile carpet due to its stronger suction and specialized brush design.
High-Pile Carpet
- Shark IQ Robot: Can clear most debris, regardless of size, in a single pass on high-pile carpets. However, it performs poorly along walls and corners.
- Roomba e6: Effectively cleans high-pile carpets with its auto-adjust cleaning head that adapts its height to the carpet.
- Verdict: Both perform reasonably well, but the Roomba e6’s auto-adjusting head provides a slight advantage.
Pet Hair
- Shark IQ Robot: Has decent airflow but tends to push pet hair further into the carpet fibers rather than lifting them away. Its self-cleaning brushroll helps reduce hair wraps.
- Roomba e6: Ideal for homes with pets, featuring dual multi-surface rubber brushes that don’t get tangled with pet hair and a high-efficiency filter that traps 99% of cat and dog allergens.
- Verdict: The Roomba e6 is the clear winner for pet hair removal due to its specialized brushes and high-efficiency filter.
Special Features Comparison
- Shark IQ Robot: Offers self-emptying base, intelligent home mapping, room selection, and row-by-row cleaning. Some models include sonic mopping.
- Roomba e6: Features Wi-Fi connectivity, app control, voice assistant compatibility, and learns cleaning habits to suggest personalized schedules. It also has Dirt Detectâ„¢ sensors.
The Shark IQ Robot’s self-emptying base and smart mapping provide significant convenience. The Roomba e6’s Dirt Detectâ„¢ sensors and personalized schedules enhance its cleaning effectiveness.
Usability and User Experience
- Shark IQ Robot: Initial setup involves mapping your home, which can take some time. The SharkClean app can be buggy, according to some users. Boundary technology uses physical boundary tape.
- Roomba e6: Setup is simple and takes less than 5 minutes. The iRobot HOME app is user-friendly. It offers scheduled cleanings and in-app control.
The Roomba e6 is generally easier to set up and use, particularly for novice users. The Shark IQ Robot offers more advanced features but may require more technical know-how.
Maintenance and Longevity
- Shark IQ Robot: Requires periodic cleaning of parts, including the brushroll, filters, and dustbin. Recurring costs can be high.
- Roomba e6: Features a washable dust bin. Its dual multi-surface rubber brushes resist tangles and are easy to maintain.
- Lifespan: The average lifespan of a Roomba is up to 2 years, but it depends on usage and maintenance.
The Roomba e6 has fewer recurring costs and is easier to maintain.
Who Should Buy the Shark IQ Robot?
The Shark IQ Robot is a good choice for:
- Users who want a hands-free cleaning experience with a self-emptying base.
- Those who appreciate smart features like home mapping and room selection.
- Individuals looking for a robot vacuum that offers good value for its price.
Who Should Buy the Roomba e6?
The Roomba e6 is a good choice for:
- Pet owners who need a robot vacuum that effectively removes pet hair and allergens.
- Users who prioritize powerful cleaning performance and reliability.
- Those who prefer a simple and user-friendly robot vacuum without advanced features.
Final Recommendation
The Shark IQ Robot and Roomba e6 are both capable robot vacuums, but they cater to different needs. The Shark IQ Robot stands out with its self-emptying base and smart navigation, making it a convenient option for those who want a truly hands-free cleaning experience. However, the Roomba e6 excels in cleaning performance and is particularly well-suited for pet owners due to its tangle-free brushes and high-efficiency filter.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your priorities. If you value convenience and smart features, the Shark IQ Robot is a solid option. If you prioritize cleaning power and pet hair removal, the Roomba e6 is the better choice.
