If you're in the market for a robot vacuum, you're probably familiar with one of the category's biggest brands, iRobot's Roomba. But you may be less familiar with its rival, SharkNinja.
iRobot was founded in 1990 by three MIT roboticists and it popularized the robovac category when it launched the first Roomba in 2002. Over the 20-odd years since then, the company has introduced a slew of improvements that allow its robovacs to map out the inside of homes, empty their dustbins autonomously and even mop floors.
While Roomba has consistently led the category, other brands are nipping at its robo heels. That includes SharkNinja, which launched its Shark line of robovacs in 2017.
The best robot vacuum to buy
For those on the market for a robovac and debating between the two brands, CNET's recommendation is simple: Get a Roomba.
In our list of the best robot vacuums of 2025, iRobot blew away the competition, with its iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus scoring the title of best robot vacuum overall alongside the Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo. The company also took the lead in two other categories: the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus was named the best robot vacuum for pet hair and plush carpets, while the iRobot Roomba J7 Plus (which doesn't include mop functionality) earned the distinctive title of best poop-detecting robot vacuum.
While iRobot is a clear favorite among CNET's testers, there are instances when someone may opt for a Shark robovac. Read on for more dirt on the competition between iRobot and Shark.
Shark vs. Roomba: How to decide between the robovacs
When deciding between robovacs, there are a few main factors to keep in mind. CNET has come up with an extensive series of tests we use to test robot vacuums. Briefly, these are:
- Navigation efficiency: How well they can navigate your home without bumping into furniture or running over socks on the floor or (shudder) pet poop. iRobot employs several modes of navigation for obstacle avoidance across its product line, from the PrecisionVision in the Roomba J7 Plus to vSLAM in Roomba S9 Plus. Shark employs IQ Navigation in its IQ robot vacuum.
- Cleaning power: One of the most important factors is how well the device cleans. This determines how well a robovac removes dirt and other debris from carpets and other surfaces and how well a device with mopping capabilities cleans floors.
- Smart features: Robovacs also come with a bevy of other features to make your life easier, including their capability to seamlessly charge themselves, empty their dustbins into a base autonomously and map your home to better clean it to whether an app is available to set schedules.
- Price: Finally, there's how much you'll need to shell out for all these fancy features and the value of the robovac for that price.
Here's a coverage photo of the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus as it moved through our test room. You can see it covered the floor well, except for one slight section in the center (left, bottom).
Where Shark robovacs win
Speaking of value, that's primarily Shark's selling point. For those looking to spend less than $500 on a robovac, Shark offers a few models on the lower end that offer a good mix of features and reliability. These include the Shark AI, a robot vacuum-and-mop combo, that can be bought on sale for $300. There's also the Shark Matrix, another two-in-one that can be found on sale for $500. This model features Matrix Clean, where the bot cleans in a "precision matrix grid" and takes multiple passes over your floors to clean dirt and debris.
If you have a little more money in your budget for a robovac, Shark's PowerDetect 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop may be worth considering. The two higher end models, available on sale for between $600 to $1,000, automatically refill their water tanks and empty debris into the base and use lidar for navigation. The more expensive model even washes the mop pad autonomously. In an email to CNET, a SharkNinja representative said that its "PowerDetect series with NeverTouch dock is the best all around. Both are great for pet hair with the self-cleaning brushroll and the auto-empty dock."
Like
- Excellent hardwood floor pickup
- Good navigation and obstacle avoidance
- Does mopping and vacuuming equally well
Don't like
- Heavy
- Struggles with carpets
The Shark PowerDetect is one of Shark's top-end models in robot vacuums. Like many competitors, including the Roomba Combo J7 Plus, it tackles both vacuuming and mopping. It deep-cleans and mops your floors, while the NeverTouch Pro base means you don't have to worry about cleanup or maintenance for weeks at a time. After every cleaning run, the robot will return to the base to empty debris, refill the water tank, and wash and dry the mopping pad so it's always ready for its next cleaning. It comes with NeverStuck Technology, to help lift itself over obstacles and across thresholds to avoid getting stuck.
During testing, the robovac performed well, picking up black rice from hardwood floors and low- and midpile carpet, earning perfect scores for each. The vacuum also picked up about 96% of sand from hardwood floors, but struggled more picking sand up from thicker carpets. Overall performance for carpets is similar to the Combo J7 Plus, though the PowerDetect is significantly heavier.
In CNET's testing of the Shark's PowerDetect, our review team found the robovac performed excellently while picking up black rice from hardwood floors and low- and mid-pile carpet, earning perfect scores (100%) scores for each. The vac also picked up about 96% of sand from hardwood floors. The PowerDetect scored decently when it came to picking up sand from carpet, vacuuming a bit more than half during tests (50% is considered a good benchmark by CNET's review team). It's worth noting PowerDetect's low-pile carpet performance is similar to the highly rated (and similarly priced) Roomba J7 Plus, while Shark claimed victory with midpile carpet.
Where Roomba robovacs win
What sets apart iRobot's top-rated Roomba Combo J7 Plus (one of two of CNET's picks for best overall robot vacuum) from the competing Shark PowerDetect is a clever feature that allows the robovac to stow away its mopping pad while cleaning carpets. If it detects carpets, the robovac uses arms to lift out the motorized mopping pad from the bottom of the unit to the top.
"It's just a better, more high-end approach to automated mopping and one you won't need to think about quite as much," our review team wrote. The J7 Plus also boasts of PrecisionVision Navigation, which iRobot says helps it avoid objects such as cords, pet waste, socks and shoes, so you don't have to tidy up before it cleans.
Like
- Motorized mopping
- Identifying carpeted versus hardwood areas
Don't like
- No water tank for mopping
The Roomba Combo J7 Plus isn't just a vacuum. Like the Shark PowerDetect, it integrates mopping into its repertoire. Instead of simply attaching a mopping pad underneath, iRobot designed a motorized mopping system with arms that lift the pad from the bottom of the device and move it to the top when it detects carpeted surfaces.
This ensures the Roomba never drags a wet, dirty mopping pad across freshly vacuumed carpets. To evaluate this feature, CNET experts tested the Roomba Combo J7 Plus in a home setting with both carpets and hardwood floors. During its initial mapping run, it accurately identified carpeted areas and consistently lifted the mop before moving onto those sections. This thoughtful design makes for a superior, more sophisticated automated mopping experience that requires minimal oversight.
The Roomba Combo J7 Plus also excels as a vacuum cleaner, ranking among the top five on all three flooring types we tested -- a feat matched only by the Neato D10. It particularly shines on hardwood floors, topping our list of the best robot vacuums for this surface.
While its navigation isn't quite as precise as lidar-based models from brands like Dreametech, Neato and Roborock, and it would be convenient if it had a water tank in the dock to avoid refilling the reservoir before each mopping session, these are minor drawbacks. Overall, this motorized mopping machine meets all the criteria CNET experts expect from a high-quality combo cleaner for any home.
Like
- Efficent on carpeting
- Great for homes with pets
- Self-emptying
Don't like
- No mopping capabilities
- Average performance on hardwoods
Our testing procedures have changed over the years, but the S9 Plus continues to be a standout, with excellent performance on thick, plush carpets. It also handled one of the biggest challenges, picking up sand in our midpile carpet tests. In our previous test setup, the Roomba S9 Plus sucked up 71%, which was significantly better than any other cleaner we had ever tested.
The S9 Plus also aced our pet hair pickup tests, where we scatter clumps of actual pet hair donated from a friendly local groomer across all of our test floors. The Roomba S9 Plus didn't miss a single clump. It isn't as good a performer on hardwood floors, and it doesn't include a mop at all, but if your home is filled with plush carpets and your pets are having a field day shedding fur across them, the self-emptying Roomba S9 Plus is a perfect pick for your home.
Other units in iRobot's robot vacuum product line also scored highly with CNET's reviews team. The Roomba S9 Plus is no longer available from iRobot, but good deals can be found for it. Best Buy has it on clearance for $420 packaged with iRobot's Braava Jet M6, a robomop. In CNET's list of the best robot vacuums of 2025, the review team wrote: "If your home is filled with plush carpets and your pets are having a field day shedding fur across them, the self-emptying Roomba S9 Plus is a perfect pick for your home."
The new Roomba Combo j7 Plus can easily move from mopping your hardwood floor to vacuuming your carpet.
Shark vs. Roomba: Which one should you choose?
If you don't have a strict budget in mind for your robovac purchase, the choice between Shark and Roomba is clear: Go with one of CNET's choices for the best overall robovac, the Roomba Combo J7 Plus. If you're looking to save some money and don't mind waiting, you're likely to find a good deal on a Shark unit at or below $300.
Are Shark robovacs better value than Roomba?
It depends what you're looking for in a robot vacuum. Roomba is a popular robovac brand among CNET's review team, scoring three top picks in our list of the best robot vacuums of 2025. That said, Shark's lower priced devices, around the $300 mark, are said to pack a lot of value in that price range.
Do robovacs work for a house with multiple floors?
Certain models of robovacs, such as Shark's AI series and the Roomba Combo i5, come equipped with zone mapping that helps the bot navigate your rooms and furniture. However, most robovacs are not equipped to navigate stairs, meaning you'll have to carry your robovac to each floor for it to clean. If you have the budget, you could get a robovac for each floor of your home.
Do Roombas last longer?
According to iRobot, the battery in its robovacs should last for about two to three years before it needs to be replaced. The company provides a limited warranty for its products that lasts one year from the date of delivery. Some individuals on a Reddit discussion, however, have said they've seen units last for nearly a decade.