Shark Matrix Review

Pros

• Excellent debris removal and long hair management
• Bagless dustbin for cheaper maintenance costs
• Navigates well and relatively quickly

Cons

• Struggled with pet hair
• Lacks obstacle avoidance
• App connectivity issues, which could be resolved with future updates

Scoring

In This Review

Cleaning Test | Long Hair Test | Pet Hair Test | Obstacle Avoidance | Navigation Test | Cleaning Speed | Usability | Noise Test | Specs | Summary

Performance Tests

We test the navigational efficiency, cleaning performance, and overall usability of the Shark Matrix using 8 different performance tests.

Our testing series includes:

• Cleaning test
• Hair test
• Pet hair test
• Obstacle Avoidance test
• Navigation test
• Cleaning speed test
• Usability test
• Noise test

Cleaning Performance

Cleaning performance across the board was good for the Shark Matrix. It had excellent debris removal and long hair management, but struggled with pet hair on high pile carpet. 

Debris Test

To test debris removal performance, we place 4 different debris types:

• Sugar
• Kitty litter
• Rice
• Cereal

On 4 different floor types:

• Hardwood
• Low pile carpet
• High pile carpet

We run the Shark Matrix on the debris covered floor, letting it complete two full cleaning cycles on the maximum suction power. We then measure the remaining debris by weight and compare it to the starting amount of 2.0 oz. This comparison to the baseline assists us in determining performance.

Here are the results:

Cleaning performance was excellent for the Shark Matrix on all floor types. It had nearly perfect results on hardwood only missing an incredibly small amount of sugar. 

Low and high pile carpets weren’t as close to perfection but still managed fantastic results. Compared to the average across all robot vacuums we’ve tested to date, the Shark is significantly better. On average we see robot vacuums remove 89.1% on low pile carpet and 89.7% on high pile. 

In the case of the Shark, it missed sugar and kitty litter on both floor types, but that is a common issue for most robot vacuums. Regardless, its overall debris removal rate of 97.3% proves it is more than capable for any debris or floor type. 

Long Hair Test

To further test cleaning performance, we put the Shark Matrix against long strands of hair to check to see how well it manages tangles. We measure 0.3 grams of hair and place it on hardwood flooring. Next, we let the robot run over on the highest suction power and check the floor for remaining strands and brush roll for tangles. 

Long hair performance was excellent for the Shark Matrix. While a few strands remained wound around the brush roll and spinning side brush, it wasn’t a lot.

In addition, what remained was easy to remove. None of the hair got so tightly wound that I required scissors to cut it off, instead, only requiring my fingers to simply pull the hair away. 

Pet Hair Test

Our final cleaning test checks how well the Shark Matrix handles pet hair in high pile carpet. To test this, we nestle 1.0 grams of pet hair into the carpet fibers and run the robot vacuum over it twice on the highest suction setting. After the test, we measure how much of the pet hair remains by weight.

Overall, pet hair performance wasn’t the best for the Shark Matrix. It only removed 43.0% of the hair from the carpet after two cleaning passes, which isn’t the majority of the hair.

Overall, if you have a pet that sheds a lot, consider a more powerful vacuum to handle the task. 

Obstacle Avoidance Test

With the only sensors available to the Shark Matrix being internal and LiDAR, it didn’t seem to have the ability to recognize and avoid obstacles. Still, we wanted to test it by placing 4 objects on the floor. We then had the robot clean the area and observed the process seeing how well it avoided obstacles. 

To test this, we placed 4 objects on the floor and had the robot clean the area. We observed the cleaning cycle to see how well it avoided the obstacles placed in its path. 

Here are the results:

As expected, obstacle avoidance left much to be desired.

It avoided none of the objects placed in its path, choosing to charge through them in its quest to clean the floor. 

Navigation Test

In addition to obstacle avoidance, we tested how well the Shark Matrix navigates on a broader scale. We do this by having it run multiple cleaning cycles in our office and studio space and focus on 3 core requirements.  

1. Can it fully clean the space?
2. Can it not get stuck?
3. Can it return to the base?

Here is what we found:

Despite the lack of obstacle avoidance technology, the Shark Matrix navigated the office space well.

We have film equipment, other products we are testing, and various pieces of tech throughout the office, which we had to tidy up a bit to ensure a safe journey for the Matrix. That said, it still did a fantastic job, never getting stuck and returning to base each cleaning run. 

Cleaning Speed Test

Our cleaning speed test showed the Shark Matrix was able to clean out 1,000 sq. ft. office space within 40-50 minutes. 

This cleaning speed is about average compared to other robots we’ve tested equipped with LiDAR and RGB camera technology. 

Usability Test

Usability is solid for the Shark Matrix. It is a fairly simple device that shines most in its easy setup and maintenance. 

Setup

Setup for the Shark Matrix is quite simple, requiring a single person only 5 minutes of their time. Out of the box, the robot comes with:

• Shark Matrix robot vacuum
• Charging dock
• Spinning side brush
• Manuals

With the packaging removed, you will need to attach the spinning side brush, plug in the docking station, and set the Matrix to charge.

Shark recommends fully charging the robot before first use.

Controls

There are two buttons on the Shark Matrix: the dock and clean buttons.

The clean button will start / pause a cleaning cycle as well as start a spot cleaning if held for 5-7 seconds.

The dock button will send the robot back to the base, in addition to turning on / off the robot if held for 5-7 seconds. 

App

Most of the functionality is accessed through the Shark Clean app. The app allows the user to:

• Adjust suction power
• Manage maps
• Add no-go zones and virtual walls
• Start / stop a cleaning cycle
• Create a custom schedule
• View cleaning history
• Adjust robot cleaning settings
• Adjust robot volume
• Manage do not disturb mode
• Google assistant or Alexa connectivity

The app has a simple UI that can be a little clunky at times, but is overall easy to navigate, understand, and use. 

However, we had some odd issues with our Shark Matrix and the app. We were able to connect the two devices without issue, but we weren’t able to fully control the device for some reason. Notifications would come through the app notifying me of cleaning cycles and issues with the device, but any commands I sent through the app weren’t recognized. I could adjust the cleaning settings of the robot, but nothing else. 

This is especially odd considering we had no issues while testing the Shark AI Ultra and AI Ultra 2-in-1. Both of those robot vacuums connected to the app seamlessly and responded to commands via the app quickly. Smart home devices can be finicky and due to the lack of issues with the AI Ultra, I assume these issues will be resolved with a future update.

Maintenance

Maintenance is excellent for the Shark Matrix. It comes with a charging station that automatically empties the robot’s dustbin into a bagless dustbin of its own. Having a bagless dustbin reduces maintenance costs in the long run, which is a great addition. 

Because of this, the only maintenance required by the user is cleaning out the dustbin on the dock, cleaning out the filters, and maintaining the robot as needed. 

Noise Test

Our noise test measures how loud the robot is while running and self-emptying. We test this by using a sound meter from about 3` away and run the Matrix on each power mode measuring the level of noise generated. 

Power Mode	Noise Level
Baseline	49.3 dB
Eco	59.7 dB
Normal	62.4 dB
Max	65.1 dB
Self-Empty	76.5 dB

Noise levels are average for the Shark Matrix. Most robot vacuums we’ve tested fall in the 60-70 dB range for noise. In addition, self-emptying levels were also average as most robots we’ve tested with this feature fall in the 70-80 dB range. 

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 Ninja
Model	Matrix
Diameter	13.4″
Height	4.2″
Weight	13.2 lbs.
Floor type	All (indoor)
Sensor	LiDAR
Noise Level	62.4 dB (standard)
Obstacle Avoidance	No
Zone Cleaning	Yes
Room Cleaning	Yes
Digital Mapping	Yes
Returns	Varies by retailer
Warranty	1 year
Price	Check Price

Should you buy the Shark Matrix robot vacuum robot vacuum?

I would recommend the Shark Matrix robot vacuum if you’re looking for the following features:

• Excellent cleaning performance: The Shark Matrix removed 97.3% of all debris in our cleaning tests, showcasing fantastic cleaning performance. Additionally, it managed long hair with ease, removing all of it from the floor and keeping practically all of it from tangling around the brush roll. While it struggled with pet hair, it managed all other cleaning tasks with little to no issue. 
• Bagless dustbin: The charging station for the Shark Matrix not only automatically empties the robot’s dust bin, but also does so without a bag. This reduces long term maintenance costs and it can hold up to 45 days of debris according to Shark. 
• Navigates well: While it lacked obstacle avoidance technology, the Shark Matrix navigates well and quickly. In 40-50 minutes, it cleaned our 1,000 sq. ft. office and studio space and returned to the base successfully. It didn’t get stuck on anything and fully cleaned the space.

For more information or to buy the Shark Matrix robot vacuum, click here.