You’ve decided to take the plunge and invest in a robot vacuum; however, you’re not sure which one to purchase. Two of the most popular brands of robot vacuums are Shark and iRobot. In Shark IQ Robot XL v iRobot Roomba i7+ Vacuum -Comparison, you’ll explore the differences, the pros, and cons of each and discover which one best fits your needs.
Shark IQ Robot and iRobot Roomba i7+ Vacuums are leaders in robotic vacuums (RVCs). With these RVCs, you can get the vacuuming done without lifting a finger, while a big advantage is that they never lose their energy and they come back to their charging station after their cleaning is done. That makes it so much easier to maintain your home.
At the bottom of this post, there is a side-by-side comparison table that makes it easy to see the differences between the Shark and iRobot.
With all products, features can change, so be sure the qualities that attracted you to the product are still the same before purchasing.
Features
- Alexa and Google Assistant Compatible
- Voice Control
- A Bagless, Self-emptying Base
- No-Go Zones
- Boundary Strips
- Self-cleaning Brushroll Removes Pet Hair And Long Hair As It Cleans – No More Hair Wrap
- Mapping
- Phone App Or Voice Command
- Recharge And Resume Feature
- Scheduling
- Use On Hard Floor, Carpet, Dual Action
- Warranty – 1-year Limited
What Comes In The Box
- Shark IQ Robot Vacuum
- Self-empty Base
- Boundary Strips
- High-efficiency Filter
- Side Brushes
- Owner’s Manual
Specs
- Dimensions
- 12.90 x 12.60 x 3.50 inches
- Weight
- 13.20 Lbs
- 1 Lithium-ion Battery Required (included)
- ASIN: B07S864GPW
Pros
- Bagless
- Mapping
- Scheduling
- Self Emptying
Cons
- Loud On Startup And Emptying
- Some Reports Of Mapping Problems
Shark IQ Robot Vacuum Highlights
The Shark IQ Robotic Vacuum Cleaner has a powerful brush that sweeps up debris and dust from hardwood floors, carpets, and other surfaces. The brush roll is self- cleaning. No more of those messy hair removals from the brush. It’s simple with the Shark’s brush – every time the brush rotates, it loosens and pulls hair away from the blades and bristles; when needed, it’s simple to remove the hair from the ends of the brush.
The Shark IQ Robot Vacuum has a battery life of up to 90 minutes, so it can get through many houses on one charge. If the battery comes close to dying the robot will return to the docking station to recharge. Once charged, it will return to where it left off cleaning. The battery can take up to 6 hours to fully charge.
After its cleaning cycle is complete, the Shark IQ robotic vacuum returns to its docking station to empty. The included filter captures dust, dander, and pet allergens. The dust bin will need to be emptied up to every 45 days.
Installing the SharkClean App on your smartphone simplifies many of the functionalities of your Shark robot vacuum cleaner by letting you schedule cleaning times, adjust scheduling options to avoid certain rooms if necessary, and even keeps track of the Sharks cleaning history. The app works on both iOS and Android devices and lets users control multiple remotes with a single swipe (each remote comes equipped with a controller that activates when they are within 20ft of each other).
The Shark IQ Robot Vacuum is a fantastic vacuum cleaner for anyone on a budget. It may lack a few of the same features as its competitors, but it offers strong suction power, hands-free controls, scheduling, mapping, and a lot more for a great price. It costs around $370 less than the iRobot Roomba i7+.
iRobot Roomba i7+
Features
- Automatic Dirt Disposal
- Climbing Threshold – 5/8”
- Color – Black
- High-Efficiency Filter
- No-go Zones
- Mapping
- Run Time – Up to 75 Minutes
- Scheduling
- 1-year Limited Warranty
- Asin – B07GNPDMRP
What Comes In The Box
- Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum
- Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal
- 2 Dirt Disposal Bags
- 1 Extra Side Brush
- 1 Extra High-Efficiency Filter
- North American Line Cord
- Virtual Wall Barrier
Specs
- Dimensions
- 13.34 x 13.26 x 3.63 inches
- Weight
- 7.44 pounds
- 1 A battery required (included)
- ASIN: B07GNPDMRP
Pros
- Automatic Emptying
- Mapping
- Supports both 2.4 and 5GHz networks
Cons
- High Price Point
- Bags Are Not Reusable
- Hair Can Tangle in Wheels
Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum Highlights
The Roomba i7+ robot vacuum has a lot of improvements over previous models. It has improved cleaning performance, longer battery life, and an app that allows you to schedule cleaning sessions.
With its price tag, this robot vacuum cleaner remains a bit expensive. Still, it packs some serious performance, such as 10x the Power-Lifting Suction Power & Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes that pull in dirt, debris, & pet hair from wherever it hides.
Features include side brushes for deeper cleaning and no-go zones so it won’t get stuck in places you don’t want it to.
The Roomba Vacuum will return to the dock and empty the contents of its dustbin into a bagged canister while it is charging. One drawback is the bags are not reusable, and they will need to be disposed of up to every 60 days. On the other side of things, the bag does keep the canister cleaner, so you won’t have to be cleaning it as often as other robot vacuums.
Once the robot vacuum has recharged, it will return to cleaning where it left off.
Features include side brushes for deeper cleaning performance and no-go zones so it won’t get stuck in places you don’t want it to, such as play areas or the area around pet bowls.
The Roomba robot vacuum can be controlled through the smartphone app. You can stay on top of messes with personalized cleaning tips. You can also connect to Google Home or Amazon Alexa to make voice commands, such as, “Roomba clean under the kitchen table.” All the power is in your hands, from customizable routines to customizable maps.
The iRobot Roomba Vacuum does have a couple of drawbacks; the price tag and the bags are not being reusable are two of them.
Comparison Table
| Features | Shark IQ Robot Vacuum XL | iRobot Roomba i7+ |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| Auto Empty | Yes | Yes |
| Bags | Not Required | Yes – 1-time use |
| Dust Bin Empty Suggestion | Up to 30 Days | Up to 60 Days |
| Alexa Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Phone App | Yes | Yes |
| Mapping | Yes | Yes |
| Boundary Strips | Yes | No |
| Cliff Sensors | Yes | Yes |
| No-Go Zoning | Yes | Yes |
| Specific Room Cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Recharge Resume | Yes | Yes |
| Cleaning Modes | 3 | 2 |
| Brush Roll | Self Cleaning | No Hair Tangle |
| Filter | High-Efficiency | High-Efficiency |
| Run-Time | Up to 60 Minutes | Up to 75 Minutes |
| Supported Network | 2.4GHZ | 2.4GHz |
| Warranty | 1-year Limited | 1-year Limited |
| Price | Price Click Here | Price Click Here |
Similarities
The Shark IQ and iRobot robot vacuums are both well-known brands that share a lot of the same great features. Having the ability to schedule cleanings or have on-demand cleanings and their ability to self empty makes a chore just about effortless. You can operate the vacuums from your smartphone, and they are also compatible with Alexa. You can create no-go zones with each, and both are capable of cleaning carpet, as well as tile and hard floors. Both vacuums come with high-efficiency filters and a 1-year limited warranty.
Differences
But what about the differences? Some differences may make or break the decision for you. Where the Shark is bagless, the iRobot requires one-time-use bags. This makes for an added expense with the iRobot.
The Shark has three cleaning modes; econo, normal, and power, where the iRobot has 2; spot clean and normal. The estimated run time is 60 minutes for the Shark, and the iRobot gets an additional 15 minutes coming in at 75 minutes. Both will return to the dock to charge and resume cleaning when charged.
Lastly, the price of the iRobot is usually more than the Shark.
All-in-All
Overall, both the Shark IQ and iRobot robot vacuum help make what is to some a dreaded time-consuming chore into a much more effortless job. They both share many great features, but there are a few differences between the two. It’s in weighing these differences that will help you in the decision-making process.
FAQs about Shark IQ and iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuums
1. Is it possible to use Shark IQ Robot XL on hardwood floors?
Based on the manufacturer’s information that is available, it seems as though the Shark IQ Robot XLwould be a good choice for hardwood floors. Before purchasing, check to ensure this is still correct and hasn’t changed with any of their new updates.
2. Do I need Wi-Fi to operate the Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL?
Wi-Fi is not required. To operate the robot, simply press the Clean button to begin. Nevertheless, to unlock the SharkClean app’s home mapping, room selection, recharge & resume, and cleaning schedules, then you would need to connect to Wi-Fi.
3. What are BotBoundary strips for the Shark IQ, and why would I use them?
Robot vacuums that have boundary strips will be kept out of the areas you don’t want it to go by BotBoundary strips. Pet bowls, plants, and power cords are all examples of obstacles that can be blocked with the strips. Your robot will avoid these areas as it cleans once you’ve marked them off.
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Final Words
A robotic vacuum is a great way to clean up your home without having to spend hours doing it yourself. The Shark IQ Robot XL and the iRobot Roomba are two robot vacuums that have some differences, but both are effective at cleaning up dust and dirt.
I hope in reading Shark IQ Robot XL v iRobot Roomba i7+ Vacuum – Comparison, you have come away with a better understanding of what each one offers.
If you’ve experienced purchasing or using a robotic vacuum, I would love to hear from you. Please comment below.
Good explanation
Robert,
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words.