Robot vacuums have revolutionized home cleaning, offering convenience and automation. Among the many options available, the Shark IQ Robot and the Roomba i6+ stand out as popular choices, both offering self-emptying capabilities. These models target consumers who want a hands-free cleaning experience, whether they are busy professionals, pet owners, or individuals with mobility issues.
Both the Shark IQ Robot and the Roomba i6+ aim to provide a seamless cleaning experience with features like smart mapping, app control, and automatic dirt disposal. However, they differ in their approach to navigation, cleaning performance, and additional features. This comparison dives deep into their strengths and weaknesses to help you determine which robot vacuum best suits your needs and preferences, ensuring a cleaner home with minimal effort on your part.
Table of Contents
- Quick Verdict
- Short Review of Shark IQ Robot
- Short Review of Roomba i6+
- 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 i6+?
- Final Recommendation
Quick Verdict
- Shark IQ Robot: Best for those prioritizing affordability and a bagless self-emptying system. It excels in quick cleaning and offers a more compact base station.
- Roomba i6+: Ideal for users who value thorough cleaning, smart navigation, and advanced app features like zone cleaning and multiple maps. It is a stronger performer on carpets.
Short Review of Shark IQ Robot
The Shark IQ Robot is designed to offer a convenient and efficient cleaning experience at a reasonable price point. It boasts a self-emptying base that can hold up to 45 days’ worth of dirt and debris, reducing the frequency of maintenance. Equipped with IQ Navigation, it maps your home to clean in neat rows, ensuring comprehensive coverage. The SharkClean app allows for scheduling, targeted room cleaning, and voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
This robot vacuum excels on bare floors, effectively picking up pet hair and small debris. Its self-cleaning brushroll minimizes hair tangles, making it a great option for pet owners. The Shark IQ Robot is also known for its powerful suction, capable of tackling both large and small debris on various surfaces. Despite some limitations in navigation and app features compared to higher-end models, it provides excellent value for those seeking an affordable and reliable cleaning solution.
Short Review of Roomba i6+
The Roomba i6+ is a smart robot vacuum designed for a hands-free, autonomous cleaning experience. Its standout feature is the self-emptying Clean Base, which can hold up to 60 days of dirt, minimizing the need for frequent maintenance. With Imprint Smart Mapping, the i6+ learns your home’s layout, allowing for customized cleaning schedules and targeted cleaning of specific rooms or zones via the iRobot Home app.
This model excels in thorough cleaning, particularly on carpets, thanks to its dual multi-surface rubber brushes that effectively capture pet hair and debris without tangling. The Roomba i6+ offers advanced navigation, ensuring comprehensive coverage and efficient cleaning patterns. Its compatibility with other iRobot devices, like the Braava jet m6 mop, allows for a coordinated cleaning system. While it may come at a higher price point, the Roomba i6+ offers superior performance, smart features, and long-term convenience.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Navigation: The Roomba i6+ features more advanced navigation with Imprint Smart Mapping, which allows it to learn and adapt to your home’s layout better than the Shark IQ’s IQ Navigation.
- Dustbin: The Shark IQ Robot uses a bagless self-emptying base, while the Roomba i6+ uses a bagged system, which some users find more hygienic.
- App Features: The Roomba i6+ offers more sophisticated app features, including zone cleaning, multiple floor mapping, and personalized cleaning suggestions, which are lacking in the Shark IQ.
- Cleaning Performance: The Roomba i6+ generally provides better overall cleaning performance, particularly on carpets, due to its dual multi-surface rubber brushes and stronger airflow.
- Price: The Shark IQ Robot is typically more affordable than the Roomba i6+, making it a budget-friendly option.
- Base Station Size: The Shark IQ Robot features a more compact base station compared to the Roomba i6+, making it easier to place in smaller spaces.
- Runtime: The Roomba i6+ typically offers a longer runtime than the Shark IQ Robot, allowing it to cover larger areas on a single charge.
Specifications Comparison
| Feature | Shark IQ Robot | Roomba i6+ |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | IQ Navigation (mapping) | Imprint Smart Mapping (vSLAM) |
| Self-Emptying | Yes, bagless | Yes, bagged |
| Dustbin Capacity | Up to 45 days | Up to 60 days |
| App Control | Yes, SharkClean app | Yes, iRobot Home app |
| Voice Control | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Brushroll | Self-cleaning brushroll | Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes |
| Battery Life | 60 minutes | 75-90 minutes |
| Recharge & Resume | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Floor Mapping | No | Yes (up to 10 maps) |
| Zone Cleaning | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 12.8″ width, 3.5″ height | 13.34″ width, 3.63″ height |
| Special Features | Compact base station, fast mapping | Imprint Link Technology (with Braava jet m6) |
Price Comparison
The Shark IQ Robot is generally priced lower, often found for around $400-$500, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers. It offers a strong value proposition, providing self-emptying convenience and effective cleaning at a more accessible price point.
The Roomba i6+ typically retails for $500-$700. While more expensive, its advanced features like smart mapping, zone cleaning, and superior carpet cleaning performance justify the higher cost for users seeking a more comprehensive cleaning solution. The cost-to-feature ratio is higher, but the long-term benefits and performance may outweigh the initial investment for many consumers.
Design and Build Quality
The Shark IQ Robot features a sleek, low-profile design that allows it to navigate under furniture with ease. Its build quality is sturdy, although it may not feel as premium as the Roomba i6+. The bagless self-emptying base is compact and easy to move around, a notable advantage for those with limited space.
The Roomba i6+ boasts a more refined aesthetic with a high-quality finish. Its construction feels robust and durable, ensuring longevity. The Clean Base is larger than the Shark’s but provides a more hygienic, bagged disposal system. While both are well-designed, the Roomba i6+ has a slight edge in overall build quality and premium feel.
Performance Face-Off
Bare Floors
The Shark IQ Robot performs impressively well on bare floors, effectively clearing most pet hair and small debris like rice. However, as its dirt compartment fills, it may struggle with bulky debris, pushing it around instead of sucking it up.
The Roomba i6+ also excels on bare floors, offering consistent and thorough cleaning. Its dual multi-surface rubber brushes adapt to different floor types, ensuring optimal debris pickup.
Carpets
The Roomba i6+ outperforms the Shark IQ Robot on carpets. Its stronger suction and dual rubber brushes dig deep into carpet fibers, effectively removing embedded dirt and pet hair. While the Shark IQ Robot is decent on carpets, it may not provide the same level of deep cleaning.
Pet Hair
Both robot vacuums are suitable for homes with pets. The Shark IQ Robot’s self-cleaning brushroll is designed to minimize hair tangles, making it a good option for pet owners.
The Roomba i6+ also handles pet hair well, thanks to its tangle-free rubber brushes. Its stronger suction ensures that pet hair is thoroughly removed from both bare floors and carpets.
Edge Cleaning
The Roomba i6+ demonstrates good edge cleaning capabilities for a round-shaped robot, effectively picking up most debris along walls and edges.
The Shark IQ Robot also features side brushes to pull in debris from edges and corners, but its performance in these areas may not be as consistent as the Roomba i6+.
Navigation
The Roomba i6+ navigates more efficiently, ensuring comprehensive coverage and avoiding obstacles effectively. Its advanced mapping capabilities allow it to learn your home’s layout and clean specific areas with precision.
Special Features Comparison
Shark IQ Robot:
- Bagless Self-Emptying: Offers a convenient and cost-effective solution by eliminating the need for replacement bags.
- Compact Base Station: Easier to fit into smaller spaces.
- Fast Mapping: Quickly assesses and maps your home for efficient cleaning.
Roomba i6+:
- Imprint Link Technology: Enables coordinated cleaning with the Braava jet m6 mop for a comprehensive cleaning solution.
- Keep Out Zones: Allows you to create virtual boundaries to prevent the robot from entering specific areas.
- Customizable Cleaning Routines: Learns from your cleaning habits to offer personalized cleaning schedules.
Usability and User Experience
The Shark IQ Robot is user-friendly, with a straightforward app interface and easy setup. Its simple controls make it suitable for both novice and experienced users. However, its app lacks some of the advanced features found in the Roomba i6+.
The Roomba i6+ offers a more sophisticated user experience with its feature-rich app. While it may have a slightly steeper learning curve, the advanced customization options and smart features make it a powerful tool for experienced users.
Maintenance and Longevity
The Shark IQ Robot requires regular maintenance, including emptying the dustbin and cleaning the brushroll. Recurring costs can add up over time due to the need for frequent parts replacements.
The Roomba i6+ also requires regular maintenance, such as replacing the dustbin bags and cleaning the brushes. However, iRobot products generally have a broad range of aftermarket parts available, ensuring long-term ownership.
Who Should Buy the Shark IQ Robot?
The Shark IQ Robot is the better choice for:
- Budget-conscious consumers seeking a self-emptying robot vacuum.
- Users who prefer a bagless self-emptying system.
- Individuals with smaller homes or apartments.
- Those who prioritize quick and efficient cleaning on bare floors.
Who Should Buy the Roomba i6+?
The Roomba i6+ is the better choice for:
- Users who value thorough cleaning performance, especially on carpets.
- Those who desire advanced smart features and app control.
- Pet owners who need a powerful vacuum to remove pet hair.
- Individuals willing to invest more for a more comprehensive cleaning solution.
Final Recommendation
Both the Shark IQ Robot and the Roomba i6+ offer valuable features and benefits, but the best choice depends on your specific needs and priorities. The Shark IQ Robot stands out as an affordable and efficient option for those seeking a bagless, self-emptying robot vacuum for primarily bare floors. However, the Roomba i6+ provides superior cleaning performance, advanced smart features, and a more comprehensive user experience, making it a worthwhile investment for users who prioritize thoroughness and convenience.
