Shark IQ Robotic Self-Empty XL RV1001AE Overview

The entire level of the usage of a robotic vacuum is to chop down in your house responsibilities, however maximum want to be emptied and wiped clean regularly, including no less than one chore for your checklist. If you are searching for a lower-maintenance possibility, the Shark IQ Robotic Self-Empty XL RV1001AE ($599) works briefly and successfully, hardly ever will get caught, and has a big dustbin in its base station that handiest must be emptied about as soon as a month. You’ll be able to keep an eye on the robotic out of your telephone or together with your voice, and arrange cleansing schedules so it mechanically will get to paintings when you need it to. The vacuum maps your own home because it cleans, so you’ll be able to ship it to precise rooms and create digital no-go zones, options you do not get with the in a similar way priced iRobot Roomba i3+. It is usually a compelling possibility for puppy house owners because of a self-cleaning brushroll and sufficient energy to suck fur from carpeting. All of those options earn the RV1001AE our Editors’ Selection award. 

Palms-Off Cleansing

The $599 IQ Robotic XL (RV1001AE) is the most costly style in Shark’s lineup, and includes a bagless base that holds as much as 30 days of filth and particles. For a extra inexpensive selection, the $449 Shark IQ Robotic(Opens in a brand new window) includes a smaller base that holds round two weeks price of particles, however is differently the similar because the XL style.

As just lately as a few years in the past, you would be arduous pressed to discover a sub-$1,000 self-emptying robotic vacuum, however the pricing on those fashions has been coming down. Ultimate yr, iRobot offered the aforementioned Roomba i3+, which at $599 is the corporate’s maximum inexpensive style with a self-emptying dustbin. Different self-emptying vacuums on this worth vary come with the $699 Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo N8 Professional+(Opens in a brand new window) (which additionally works as a mop) and the $599 Neabot NoMo(Opens in a brand new window), either one of which we plan to check someday.

Maximum self-emptying robotic vacuums empty the contents in their bin right into a bag. The great factor about that is that you just by no means have to return into touch with mud and particles. The disadvantage is that you just ultimately have to shop for extra luggage whilst you run out. 

The IQ Robotic XL, however, has two dustbins: one within the robotic itself, and a bigger one within the base station. Every time the Robotic XL returns to its dock after cleansing, it makes a noisy noise because the contents of its bin are transferred to the bottom station. A clear window at the left aspect of the bottom dustbin means that you can test the fill degree. 

The bottom station dustbin

When it is complete, you merely press a liberate button at the most sensible of the bottom, slide out the dustbin, grasp it over a trash can, then press the Empty button at the aspect. The ground of the dustbin will open, and the contents will fall out into the trash. It is a quite blank procedure, regardless that you probably have serious hypersensitive reactions to mud, it’s possible you’ll desire a bagged style.

RV1001AE Design and Options

The IQ Robotic XL has an all-black, utilitarian design. It measures 12.9 by means of 12.6 by means of 3.5 inches (LWH) and weighs 5.87 kilos. The bottom is ready 15 inches tall. It may not win any taste awards, however what a robotic vacuum seems like is much less vital than whether or not it really works effectively, and this one does.

The vacuum does not include a far off, however you’ll be able to keep an eye on it with the bodily Blank and Dock buttons at the most sensible of the unit, together with your telephone by the use of the SharkClean app (to be had for Android and iOS), or with voice instructions by the use of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Positioned between the Blank and Dock buttons is the IQ Navigation module, which permits the robotic to map your own home and assess its location. Within the robotic’s dustbin is a high-efficiency clear out that captures airborne mud, dander, and allergens because it vacuums. 

At the backside, the IQ Robotic XL options two aspect brushes and a self-cleaning brushroll, which repeatedly filters puppy and human hair into the dustbin, so it does not get wrapped across the roll, a not unusual drawback with many robotic vacuums. A Shark spokesperson says the brushroll is in a position to do that as it options fins and bristles that “comb during the hair and actively take away it.” 

The IQ Robotic XL has 3 energy ranges: Eco, Commonplace (the default possibility), and Max. As its identify suggests, Max provides probably the most suction energy, but additionally drains the robotic’s battery the quickest. Eco provides the least suction energy, however drains battery the slowest. Some robotic vacuums, together with the $799 Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI and the $499 Proscenic M7 Professional, mechanically building up their suction energy when cleansing over carpets and closely dirty spaces, however the IQ Robotic XL does not.   

The robotic has a Recharge and Resume characteristic, which is became off by means of default however beneficial for houses higher than 1,500 sq. ft. When enabled, the IQ Robotic XL will go back to its base to recharge when it is operating low on battery, then pick out up the place it left off. To permit/disable Recharge and Resume, press and grasp the Blank button for 15 seconds. 

It additionally provides a characteristic known as Evacuate and Resume, intended for houses with pets. When enabled, the robotic will go back to its base to drain the dustbin after half-hour so it does not get overly clogged with puppy hair, then resume cleansing the place it left off. Shark says you should not permit this option if your own home is smaller than 1,000 sq. ft. To permit/disable Evacuate and Resume, press and grasp the Dock button for 15 seconds. 

Easy to Set Up

To start out the usage of the IQ Robotic XL, merely take away the entire protecting movie from the robotic and base, connect the aspect brushes to the posts at the backside, and turn the transfer at the aspect of the robotic to show it on.

Subsequent, you want to find a place for the bottom. Shark recommends surroundings it up no less than 3 ft clear of the rest on all sides and 5 ft throughout from the rest. For the most productive effects, arrange the bottom on a naked surface, or use the incorporated plastic mat if you want to position it on carpet. Then simply plug the bottom energy twine into {an electrical} outlet, turn the ability transfer at the again to show it on, and a small inexperienced mild at the left aspect of the bottom will light up, indicating it has energy. 

From there, pick out up the robotic and put its again aspect up in opposition to the bottom. When it begins charging, you’ll be able to listen a beep and a blue charging indicator mild at the base will pulse. When the robotic is totally charged, the sunshine will flip cast blue. Shark says to price it for 6 hours the primary time. 

While you are looking forward to it to price, it is a good suggestion to prep your own home. Shark recommends cleansing any cords and getting rid of items similar to toys, clothes, and drapes from the ground, and opening the doorways to spaces you need wiped clean and mapped. For the most productive effects, Shark recommends operating the robotic in well-lit stipulations. The corporate additionally says to keep away from transferring the robotic or the bottom, as doing so can affect its talent to map your own home. 

The robotic comes with a bodily boundary strip that can save you it from cleansing spaces you need it to keep away from, similar to puppy bowls or energy cords, regardless that you’ll be able to additionally use the map within the app to do that to some degree. Like maximum floor-cleaning robots, the IQ Robotic XL options cliff sensors that can save you it from falling down the steps. 

Whilst you attach the robotic to its SharkClean significant other app, it’s going to construct an interactive map of your own home, permitting you to make a choice particular rooms for house cleansing. The app additionally means that you can create a cleansing time table, remotely keep an eye on the robotic from anywhere you’re, test its battery degree, and think about cleansing stories. 

After downloading the app, practice the on-screen directions to create and test your account. When you find yourself able to attach it to the app, press and grasp the Dock and Blank buttons concurrently till the robotic’s Wi-Fi indicator mild starts to blink blue, indicating it is in setup mode. The primary time I attempted hanging it in setup mode, not anything took place, so I became the robotic off and on, and it labored. Whilst you see the flashing blue Wi-Fi indicator, press Proceed within the app, then faucet OK when brought about to permit SharkClean to connect with different gadgets in your native community. Subsequent, make a choice your own home Wi-Fi community from the checklist, input your password, press Proceed, and also you must be excellent to move. 

After effectively connecting your robotic to the app, it asks you to call the vacuum and will give you the strategy to permit the Evacuate and Resume characteristic. 

RV1001AE Cleansing Efficiency

The IQ Robotic XL strikes briefly and successfully, cleansing in immediately traces as a substitute of haphazardly ping-ponging from wall to wall like some inexpensive robotic vacuums. On its first take a look at run, the IQ Robotic XL wiped clean for 88 mins in Commonplace mode sooner than effectively returning to its docking station to drain its dustbin and recharge. When putting in place the robotic, I opted to permit the Evacuate and Resume characteristic, so half-hour into its first take a look at run, the IQ Robotic XL navigated again to its base station, emptied its bin, then resumed cleansing instantly. 

On its 2nd take a look at run, the robotic wiped clean for 97 mins in Commonplace mode, beating the Roomba i3+, which lasted 90 mins in checking out, however falling a ways in need of the Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI, which wiped clean for 170 mins, the longest of any robotic vacuum we have now examined. With reference to 100 mins is a good battery lifestyles consequence, however we have now examined numerous fashions that pass the 100-minute mark.

In checking out, the Robotic XL all the time effectively maneuvered round furnishings and traversed house rugs, carpeting, and difficult ground comfortably. On its first two runs, it by no means as soon as were given caught, even on puts that experience tripped up different robotic vacuums previously, such because the cords beneath my bed room cloth cabinet. 

After every take a look at run, my flooring appeared noticeably cleaner. I’ve a pitbull named Bradley who sheds, and the IQ Robotic XL did a very good activity of amassing his fur from my flooring. A excessive focus of canine hair normally collects at the surface round my front room sofa, the place Brad loves to chill out all over the day. After I checked this house after the IQ Robotic XL wiped clean, it used to be utterly freed from canine hair. It additionally left in the back of no hint of hair from the white rug in my place of job. 

After the ones first two take a look at runs, I may just already see some particles during the docking station’s fill window. Despite the fact that it wasn’t just about the entire method crammed, I emptied it early for checking out functions and used to be pleasantly shocked to peer how a lot filth, particles, and canine hair the robotic gathered.  

Subsequent, I checked the brushroll at the backside to make sure Shark’s declare that it could possibly blank itself. I’m going to admit, I used to be a little skeptical, but it surely in truth works. After two cleansing classes, the brushroll at the backside of the robotic used to be hair-free. As anyone with lengthy hair, one in every of my largest issues of robotic vacuums is that when a couple of runs, hair will get wrapped round the primary brush. I then have to take away the comb and lower away the hair, a severely icky activity. You continue to would possibly have to do that one day with the IQ Robotic XL, however much less steadily than different robotic vacuums, a large perk you probably have lengthy hair or are living with anyone who does. 

My one gripe is that the IQ Robotic XL can get a little loud, particularly when operating over arduous ground. In Commonplace mode, it operates at round 57dB over arduous ground and 53dB over carpet, consistent with readings from the NIOSH Sound Degree Meter app(Opens in a brand new window) taken in the similar room the place the robotic used to be operating. In Max mode it will get even louder, whilst Eco mode is the quietest possibility. The CDC says that 60dB(Opens in a brand new window) is in regards to the quantity of a standard dialog or air conditioner. 

RV1001AE Good Options

The SharkClean app is definitely designed and makes it simple to keep an eye on the IQ Robotic XL and benefit from its sensible options. Within the heart, there is a crimson Blank button; simply faucet that to ship the robotic on its method. In checking out, the robotic all the time briefly replied to app controls. 

Whilst the robotic is cleansing, the app assists in keeping observe of ways lengthy it is been operating and allows you to view the remainder battery degree. You’ll be able to use the app to switch modes, or to chop the activity brief and ship it again to the dock. A To find Robotic button help you find your vacuum if it is going lacking.  

Shark says that it could take the IQ Robotic XL a couple of runs to generate an interactive map of your own home. In checking out, it handiest took one run to map my more or less 1,000-square-foot primary degree. Shark says the robotic will proceed to refine the map because it completes further runs. 

With a couple of clicks, you’ll be able to alternate the orientation of the map, label every room, and create digital no-go zones. After labeling your rooms, you are able to make a choice which of them you need wiped clean, and the robotic will cross immediately there. 

The app additionally makes it simple to create a cleansing time table so the robotic mechanically will get to paintings at a particular time on sure days. When making a time table, you merely make a choice the times you need it to wash, and set a get started time. You’ll be able to repeat the similar time table for every day of the week, or have it blank at other instances. There is additionally a toggle so you’ll be able to briefly disable/permit all scheduled cleansing jobs. In checking out, the robotic effectively adhered to the time table I created, beginning up and attending to paintings on the specified time. 

At this level, it’s not conceivable to time table the IQ Robotic XL to wash a particular room, a characteristic this is to be had at the $249 Wyze Robotic Vacuum. And you’ll be able to’t time table it to run a couple of instances in line with day, simply as soon as. Shark says it’ll upload those options someday. 

In checking out, I had no drawback connecting the vacuum to Amazon Alexa (simply seek for and permit the Shark talent within the Alexa app). As soon as attached, the robotic replied to voice instructions similar to, “Alexa, inform Shark to begin cleansing,” and, “Alexa, inform Shark to pause cleansing.”

Getting it attached to Google Assistant took a couple of tries, because the Shark app did not seem once I went thru the standard strategy of linking a brand new tool with the voice assistant by the use of the Google House app on each an iPhone and Android handset. I were given it to paintings by the use of the Google Assistant app on my iPhone following a technique I discovered on Reddit(Opens in a brand new window): faucet the compass icon within the decrease proper nook, then seek for Shark, and also you must be capable to hyperlink your accounts that method. I used to be then ready to keep an eye on it with voice instructions similar to, “Hello Google, get started cleansing with my Shark,” and “Hello Google, forestall cleansing with my Shark.” 

True Palms-Unfastened Cleansing

The use of a robotic vacuum can once in a while really feel like buying and selling one chore for any other: You not need to vacuum your flooring, however it’s important to blank your robotic always. The $599 Shark IQ Robotic Self-Empty XL RV1001AE, on the other hand, is extra self-sufficient than lots of the pageant. It may possibly retailer as much as 30 days’ price of mud and particles in its bagless base, so that you handiest want to empty it about as soon as a month, and it includes a self-cleaning brushroll that forestalls hair from getting wrapped round it. In checking out, the vacuum delivered robust suction energy, successfully cleansing mud, particles, and puppy hair from arduous ground and carpet, and it by no means were given caught. It provides numerous helpful sensible options, together with house mapping for centered room cleansing and digital no-go zones, perks you do not get with the comparably priced Roomba i3+. 

Allergic reaction victims would possibly desire the Roomba i3+, which empties its bin into an AllergenLock bag, so you might be no longer uncovered to mud. The IQ Robotic XL’s bagless design is extra handy and wallet-friendly, on the other hand, because you do not need to shop for alternative luggage. Except you might be allergic to mud, we propose choosing the IQ Robotic XL—this handy and robust robotic vacuum is definitely price the associated fee, and our Editors’ Selection winner.