iRobot Roomba i6+ vs. Shark IQ Self-Empty Robot Vacuums

In this comparison article, we will be comparing the Roomba i6+ with the Shark IQ robot vacuum. Both are self-emptying robot vacuums, meaning the dirt will be emptied at the base station into a large container.

The iRobot Roomba i6+ Robot Vacuum is the newest robot to join the iRobot family and is easily one of the most advanced robots that iRobot has ever built. So with that said, let’s go ahead and dive in first.

iRobot Roomba i6+

Let’s take a look at the design. On top, we have the control, interface, and buttons. The bottom side of the vacuum features a spinning brush, three wheels, navigation sensors, rubberized brush rolls, and a vent used by the base to empty itself. One of the most noteworthy features on the i6+ is the smart base. The base allows the Roomba to empty the dustbin contents into the base.

The base can hold up to 30 full loads of debris, allowing the Roomba to vacuum your home for weeks or even a month at a time without ever needing to be emptied. If you ever need or want to open the dustbin by hand on the robot itself, you can do that as well. Additionally, it is worth noting that the new i6+ dustbin is washable, though, but make sure you remove the filter.

Accessories

The Roomba i6+ comes with several essential accessories, including the smart base, two disposable bags for the cleaning base, one virtual wall barrier, two high-efficiency filters, and two spinning brushes. The iRobot’s cleaning performance is by far one of the best performances we have tested to date. The previous best robot vacuum cleaner was the Roomba i7+, nearly the same as the i6+.

Functionality

The Roomba i6+ checks all the maneuverability and mobility boxes on the list. It has a 75 minute run time, which isn’t super long. However, the recharge and resumed feature means it can head back to base and charge itself up as needed. The size allows it to get into hard-to-reach spots, like under beds and around furniture. And lastly, iRobot software navigation does an excellent job of propelling the Roomba around your home. On the iRobot App, you can see where it has been and where it still needs to clean.

To maintain the Roomba i6+, you’ll need to replace the spinning brushes and filter regularly. You will need to eventually replace the rubberized brush rolls, battery, and disposable bags for the smart base. However, these parts should last substantially longer. The battery has a capacity of 1800 milliamps and a runtime of 75 minutes.

Final Words

If you want the absolute best cleaning performance, the Roomba i6+ offers quickly the best cleaning performance we have tested in a robot vacuum. You also get smartphone control, smart mapping, recharge and resume, voice control, and the ability to clean rooms by name.

This is an expensive robot. It’s one of the most expensive robot vacuums we’ve tested to date. If you’re looking for budget options, you should check out the Roomba 692 or Roomba e5. However, if budget isn’t a concern for you – and you want the absolute best robot on the market, then the Roomba i6+ is going to be your best bet.

What about the Shark IQ RV1001AE Robot Vacuum

The Shark IQ Self-Empty Robot Vacuum automatically empties into a bagless base that holds up to a month’s worth of debris.

Cleaning is more hands-off than ever!

The shark IQ is a robot vacuum with a self-emptying dustbin, Wi-Fi connectivity, and advanced digital mapping, but how well this is clean. Let’s go ahead and find out.

Cleaning Performance

Overall, the IQ did leave a small collection of debris in the middle of the area after cleaning. It could have been a navigation issue rather than a problem with claiming on low pile carpets. The IQs’ results were less than impressive. It struggled to clean up each debris type, leaving some of every kind behind after cleaning for a lower score on high pile carpets.

The Shark IQ did a better job on hard floors. It did more zigzagging across the middle before sticking to the edges of the testing lane. We noticed the dust on the robot got clogged several times and caused problems with the auto empty function. Cereal seems to be the main issue related to blocking.

Also, the onward dust container is only 0.16 liters, meaning it fills up quickly. Until now, we’ve only seen a similar feature on robot vacuums with much higher price tags, such as the Roomba i6+ in this article.

When the shark IQ completes a cleaning cycle, it will automatically navigate back to the charging base. Once there, it will connect to a suction back on the docking station, which sucks out the onboard dustbin contents and into the larger dustbin on the station itself. According to the shark, the docking station can hold 30 loads of debris.

Navigation

The Shark IQ also includes a navigation feature called onboard mapping, which uses a camera to scan the room and help the robot learn the space and avoid obstacles to make sure the entire room is cleaned. After spaces are mapped, you can use the room select feature to send the Shark Robot Vacuum to a specific room in your home. You can even connect the shark app to a smart device hub to make the IQ even more convenient.

The Shark IQ has a clean button and a dock button on top, allowing you to start a cleaning cycle and send the robot back to its base on the bottom. You’Ll need to empty the docking station dustbin and periodically replace the filter. The navigation is a bit of a mixed bag.

On the plus side, it tends to navigate in a straighter lines compared to other robot vacuums that bounce and zigzag. However, we were not impressed with the boundary markers. The included boundary strip can be used to block off an area, but the thick black strip is a bit of an eyesore, especially when compared to other about vacuums that offer infrared virtual barriers or digital keep out zones.

Final Words

The overall value of the shark IQ is great, with several advanced features that offer an improvement over previous shark models highlights. Drawbacks are the boundary strips, clogging of the the onboard dustbin, particularly with large debris. We recommend the shark IQ to anyone who wants hands off vacuuming. The IQ takes care of itself with smart navigation and a self-emptying dustbin.

Best of the Best!

Also Great

Budget Option

Roomba i7+

Roborock S4

Eufy 11S (Slim)

• "Continuous" Runtime

• 150min Runtime

• 100min Runtime

• 1800Pa

• 2000Pa

• 1300Pa

Empties on its own - you don’t have to think about vacuuming for months at a time. Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal with AllergenLock bag holds 60 days of dirt, dust and hair.

A high-precision laser navigation system scans your room at 300RPM, creating a real-time map of your home.

Re-engineered to be the slimmest RoboVac (2.85") but with quiet operation and increased suction at 1300Pa for up to 100 minutes.

Check Latest Price

Check Latest Price

Check Latest Price

Best of the Best!

Roomba i7+

• "Continuous" Runtime

• 1800Pa

Empties on its own - you don’t have to think about vacuuming for months at a time. Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal with AllergenLock bag holds 60 days of dirt, dust and hair.

Check Latest Price

Also Great

Roborock S4

• 150min Runtime

• 2000Pa

A high-precision laser navigation system scans your room at 300RPM, creating a real-time map of your home.

Check Latest Price

Budget Option

Eufy 11S (Slim)

• 100min Runtime

• 1300Pa

Re-engineered to be the slimmest RoboVac (2.85") but with quiet operation and increased suction at 1300Pa for up to 100 minutes.

Check Latest Price

Last update on 2020-10-27 / Most affiliate links and/or Images from Amazon Product Advertising API