Bagless 2-in-1 robot Vacuum
Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum
The Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum has the ability to mop and vacuum, but not at the same time. Instead, the standard dustbin needs to be replaced with the mop attachment in order to mop. But when the robot is cleaning it does a fantastic job. It removed 95.3% of all debris in our tests. In addition, it navigates well by fully cleaning our office space and always returning to the base. Furthermore, it has no bags, which reduces annual costs.
Pros
- Excellent navigational performance
- Solid cleaning performance with 95.3% debris removal
- Bagless dustbin in charging base
Cons
- Need to replace standard dustbin with mop attachment when wanting to mop
- No automatic maintenance for mop attachment
- Fair performance with hair management
Scoring
Auto Empty Base, No Bags
-
Design - 98%
98%
-
Performance - 95%
95%
-
Quality - 98%
98%
-
Usability - 96%
96%
-
Value - 97%
97%
Summary
There are a lot of good things to say about the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum. The auto empty base station is bagless, the navigational prowess of the Shark is fantastic, and the cleaning performance is top notch. But it isn’t perfect. It lacks automatic mop management features, failed to avoid objects in our tests, and didn’t manage long hair well. Either way, the overall usability and excellent cleaning performance speaks for itself.
In This Review
Cleaning Test | Mop Test | Long Hair Test | Pet Hair Test | Obstacle Avoidance | Navigation Test | Cleaning Speed | Usability | Noise Test | Specs | Summary
Performance Tests
For our performance tests of the Shark AI Ultra, we put it through a series of 9 different tests to measure cleaning performance, navigational efficiency, and overall usability.
Our testing series includes:
- Cleaning test
- Mop test
- Hair test
- Pet hair test
- Obstacle Avoidance test
- Navigation test
- Cleaning speed test
- Usability test
- Noise test
Cleaning Test
To test cleaning performance we use the Shark Ultra on 3 different floor types (hardwood, low pile carpet, and high pile carpet) against 4 different debris types (sugar, kitty litter, rice, and cereal). We lay the debris on the floor and run the robot on the maximum suction power.
After the test, we measure the remaining debris by weight to compare it to the initial measurement. Here are the results:
Here are the results:
Overall
95.3%
Hardwood
99.3%
Low Carpet
93.9%
High Carpet
92.8%
Overall cleaning performance was excellent for the Shark AI Ultra. Across the board it removed 95.3% of overall debris by weight.
While the Shark 2-in-1 is lacking a second spinning side brush, it tries to make up for it with the CleanEdge technology. Which blows air from the side of the robot against the edge of the floor to push debris into the cleaning path of the robot.
It had fantastic results on the hardwood floor being better than the average across all robot vacuums we’ve tested to date, which is 98.2%.
It struggled more on low and high pile carpet, being unable to clean up all of the sugar and kitty litter. That said, it still had over 90% debris removal on both floor types, which I still consider excellent performance.
Mop Test
To test how well the mop cleans on the Shark AI Ultra, we let it perform a full cleaning run in our office and studio space. After, we check the mop pads to see how much dirt has built up during cleaning.
Mopping performance was good for the Shark 2-in-1. While our office space is often cleaned by robot vacuums and other cleaning devices, there was still a good amount of dirt on the mop pad. It won’t be as powerful as a dedicated mop, but should be sufficient for everyday use.
The Shark Ultra comes with a mop attachment. This means that the robot cannot vacuum and mop at the same time. Instead if you want the robot to mop, you need to exchange the standard dustbin with the mop attachment.
We are starting to see more and more robot vacuums that can truly mop and vacuum at the same time, no matter the obstacle. This greatly improves the overall usability of the device, and it was disappointing to see Shark not include this with the AI Ultra 2-in-1.
Long Hair Test
To test how well the Shark AI Ultra managed long hair without tangles, we placed 0.3 grams of hair in the direct cleaning path of the robot. We let it clean it up, then check the floor and brushroll for any remaining hair.
After the test, we check the brushroll of the robot vacuum and see how much is tangled.
Amount on Floor
0.0 g
Amount Tangled
0.19 g
Overall Performance
Good
The Shark AI Ultra did a good job at managing long hair. It cleaned all of it up from the floor, but more than half of the hair remained tangled around the brushroll.
In particular, the hair likes to wind around the ends of the brushroll. This is a common place for hair to tangle and can be easily removed with scissors or a cleaning tool.
Pet Hair Test
For our pet hair test, we nestle 1.0 grams of pet hair into high pile carpet fibers. We then run the Shark AI Ultra over the hair on the maximum suction power 2 times. After the test, we check the carpet and measure how much hair remains.
Amount in Carpet
0.53 g
Overall Performance
Fair
Pet hair performance was fair for the Shark AI Ultra. It left just slightly over half the hair in the carpet after 2 cleaning passes.
I am sure with more passes the robot would be able to clean up more hair, but if you have a pet that sheds a lot, I would recommend a stronger dedicated vacuum.
Obstacle Avoidance Test
For our obstacle avoidance test, we place 4 objects in a cleaning area, and have the Shark Ultra 2-in-1 clean in that zone. We then watched to see how well it was able to avoid the objects we placed in its path. Here are the results:
Shoe
No
Mug
No
Cord
No
Pet Waste
No
The Shark 2-in-1 was unable to completely avoid any of the objects we placed in its path. It uses a LiDAR sensor with what they call “AI Laser Navigation”. While this works great for quick mapping and general navigation, it didn’t help to avoid any objects.
In some cases it would lightly bump the object, whereas in others it would completely move it around. It is possible something like this could be improved with software updates, and we will update the review if our findings change.
Navigation Test
To test navigation on a broader scale, we check how well the Shark AI 2-in-1 can complete 3 core requirements: can the robot fully clean the space, can it not get stuck, and can it return to the base.
Returned to Base?
Yes
Fully Cleaned?
Yes
Stuck?
No
In terms of navigation the Shark AI had fantastic performance. Across multiple cleaning runs in our studio, which is littered with furniture, film equipment, and testing products, the robot never got stuck and always returned to the base.
Even in low-light conditions, the Shark Ultra didn’t struggle and fully cleaned all the available space.
Cleaning Speed Test
Our cleaning speed test showed the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 was able to clean out 1,000 sq. ft. office space within 70-80 minutes.
Cleaning Area
~1,000 sq. ft.
Cleaning Time
70 – 80 min.
This cleaning speed is a bit longer than average, compared to robot vacuums we’ve tested to date. But thanks to recharge and resume and empty and resume features, the cleaning speed isn’t a huge issue.
Usability Test
Overall usability is good for the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1. While there are some things that it lacks, it still has a lot of helpful features for usability.
Setup
Setup is incredibly simple for the Shark 2-in-1. You’ll need to attach the pieces of the base together, plug it in, and install the side brush on the robot. From there, you simply set the Shark on the base station and let it charge.
While the robot comes partially charged out of the box, Shark recommends fully charging it before first use.
Additional setup can be completed with the Shark Clean app, by following the in-app instructions the process can be completed within a few minutes.
Here is what’s in the box:
- Shark AI Ultra robot
- Base station
- Base plate (2 pieces)
- Water tank attachment
- Mop pads 2x
- Side brush 2x
- Cleaning solution
- Manuals
Controls
There aren’t many physical controls on the Shark Ultra 2-in-1. It has two buttons on the robot itself that can start or stop a cleaning cycle and return the robot to the base.
App
Most of the controlling of the device is done through the Shark Clean app. The UI is intuitive and it offers a wide range of features that enhance usability. You can:
- Adjust cleaning settings
- Set a custom schedule
- Set rooms, no-go zones, and high traffic areas
- Check cleaning history
- Manage Do Not Disturb
- Change robot settings
While the app is does a good job at creating a great user experience, I had some minor issues with my experience. In some cases, I am not positive on the exact conditions, I was unable to adjust the suction power of the robot at all. The app would just not allow me to access the menu without telling me why.
In addition, the scheduling tool only allows you to set one cleaning time a day. For most people this is plenty, however for those rare few who need another scheduled cleaning on a certain day, you will have to manually activate it.
Again, these are minor issues and it is possible they will be fixed with updates to the app.
Maintenance
Maintenance is good for the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1, but not the best we’ve seen. It includes an auto empty base, which is a huge plus. In addition, that base uses no dustbags, instead having a bagless container that you can empty. This greatly reduces annual costs for the device, which is another huge plus.
However, the feature that is lacking is the ability to manage the mopping features of the 2-in-1 robot. It is unable to automatically wash the mop pad or empty/fill the water tank, let alone dry the mop pads. Instead that is all left to the user to manage.
These maintenance tasks are relatively easy to manage and generally only need to be done when you use the mopping attachment.
Other maintenance you will include general cleaning of the robot over time, in addition to cleaning the various filters in the robot and the base.
Noise Test
To test the noise levels of the Shark 2-in-1, we run it on each power mode measuring the noise created with a sound meter. We first record the ambient noise levels as a baseline to compare the noise levels of the robot with. Here are the results:
| Power Mode | Noise Level |
|---|---|
| Baseline | 42.2 dB |
| Low | 59.9 dB |
| Medium | 64.8 dB |
| High | 67.3 dB |
| Self-Empty | 75.1 dB |
Noise levels for the Shark were average when compared to other robot vacuums we’ve tested. It is loud enough to disrupt a conversation, but thanks to schedules and a do-not-disturb mode, this can mostly be avoided.
Common noise levels
- 20 dB – rustling leaves
- 30 dB – whisper
- 40 dB – quiet library, babbling brook
- 50 dB – refrigerator, moderate rainfall
- 60 dB – normal conversation, dishwashers
- 70 dB – traffic, showers
- 80 dB – alarm clock, telephone dial tone
Specifications
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Type | Robot |
| Manufacturer | Shark Clean |
| Model | Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 |
| Diameter | 14.9″ |
| Height | 5.7″ |
| Weight | 14.5 lbs. |
| Floor type | All (indoor) |
| Sensor | LiDAR, AI Laser |
| Runtime | 30 min. |
| Noise Level | 67.3 dB (High) |
| Obstacle Avoidance | Yes |
| Zone Cleaning | Yes |
| Room Cleaning | Yes |
| Digital Mapping | Yes |
| Returns | Varies by retailer |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Price | Check Price |
Should you buy the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum robot vacuum?
I would recommend the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum if you’re looking for the following features:
- Great Navigation: During our navigational testing the Shark AI never got stuck. What’s more, it fully cleaned our space and always returned to the base for charging even during low-light conditions.
- Fantastic Cleaning: Our cleaning tests showed the AI Ultra 2-in-1 had fantastic cleaning performance. It removed 95.3% of all debris across all floor types. While it struggled a little more on carpet, it always removed over 90% of the debris.
- Bagless Maintenance: When the base station automatically empties the debris from the robot, it does so in a bagless dustbin. This reduces annual costs of the robot and is incredibly easy to manage.
For more information or to buy the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 robot vacuum, click here.