Robot vacuums are very convenient as they can work on their own but not all of them are going to be the same options since some are more capable than the rest such as the Shark IQ Robot Vs Roomba 960. They are not an affordable option but you can expect to see more from the vacuums and in general they are coming with optimized and more automated features. If you are considering these vacuums, see below about what they can offer.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Are You Going to Buy a Robot Vacuum
- What are Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960
- How are the Unit of Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960
- How are the Cleaning Ability of Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960
- What are the Features of Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960
- How are the Performance of Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960
- Shark IQ Robot Vs Roomba 960
Contents
Robot Vacuums
Vacuum cleaners are very convenient, chances are you do have at least one of them in the house because this is the basic house cleaning tool that we need to maintain the house. The suction power of vacuum cleaners are easy to use when you have to deal with a wide space because they can take care of the area much faster compared to our traditional way of using broom and dust collector. The dust is kept in the bin or canister as well to not fly around in the room.
But, because we are getting older, busier, and how tech proved that they can always be better, vacuuming now can be automatically done as well. Robot vacuums are a great product and we are happy to have them, the same with air fryers which is found in almost any modern households today. Robot vacuums is answering the demand of adults who want their house to stay clean with as minimum effort as possible. Because if we have free time, it is best to use them for more productive or fun activities than doing house chores.
Some people may like doing daily cleaning but we are sure most of us are not. Robot vacuums is a solution to spend less energy and time doing the cleaning everyday but the flooring will still look manageable. If you also think so, buying a new robot vacuum will be a great idea. However, there are some factors to consider before getting one because they are not perfect yet and at times you have to help them around the house when needed.
We all know that the reason why robot vacuums are great is because they can work on their own and this is because they are navigating automatically but, do note that they will occasionally get stuck on something. This is why we need to pay attention to the flooring layout or what can be in the way of your vacuums. We suggest to follow and see the robot on their first day of work to get an idea of those troublesome spots or places in your floorings.
In addition, if you are a parent, or have small things scattering or laying on the floor at any moment. Do expect to find the vacuum trying to suck those small items as well such as shoelace, cord, your kid’s toys, etc. Usually there is a mapping feature in mid or high-end vacuums to prevent them from going into those areas but you can eliminate the problem by removing these objects from the floor as well, it is free to do so, we just need to spare a little time to organize the room.
| Shark IQ Robot | Roomba 960 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
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| Product Dimensions | 38.9 x 26.3 x 49.6 inches | 13.8 x 13.8 x 3.6 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 5.87 pounds | 8.6 pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960
If you have decided firmly to buy a robot vacuum, now is the time to see what the market has to offer because there are so many of them out there. Robot vacuums can be quite affordable too so we don’t have to spend a lot but, we also recommend choosing the one with features that you like the most or necessary since not all of us will have the same type of layout or typical trouble spots in the house.
Robot vacuums are very common nowadays which is why they are getting more affordable as well. Plenty to choose from based on what brand you like or how much you want to spend but among those, Shark and Roomba will be two great options to shop from. We all know how Roomba is still the synonym of robot vacuums even today but the company who made them is called iRobot and for Shark, this is our personal favorite brand when it comes to decent and affordable vacuums such as Shark NV752 Vs NV501.
The two carry some interesting robot vacuums in their collection with better capabilities like the Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960. These vacuums are not in the budget options anymore but more of a mid-range alternatives so you will definitely get a reliable suction from the vacuums but, in comparison the Shark vacuum will be more affordable compared to what it can offer as it is similar to what the highest model from Roomba are carrying in the system.
We are very pleasant for their ability to clean the flooring as well as the scheduling and cleaning mode or adjustment provided but, the IQ Robot is offering more. In comparison we do think you can rely on them but there is only one we really want in these vacuums but not yet provided which is the mapping for no-go zone. This feature is only present on the more expensive Roombas and some of the high-end options in Shark as well.
Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960 Design
Before checking what they can offer, let’s see the unit first. As you can see, the Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960 are the same to most robot vacuums out there with the round shape. They are made of plastic but not flimsy at all and the unit is pretty heavy. These are pretty tall however, compared to affordable alternatives since measured at around 3.5-inch so you can’t make them clean the surface below a furniture with lower clearance.
Just like any robot vacuums, these are shipped with their dock as well and this is what makes the two quite different from each other because the IQ is coming with a self-emptying basket and dock which you can also find in Roomba S9 or i7 line. When you flip the robots, in comparison Shark have two rotating brushes on the side while Roomba only have one.
Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960 Cleaning Ability
Now for the most important part, let’s see what the Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960 can offer and start with cleaning ability. In addition to the rotating brush that bring debris and small dust to the path of these vacuums suction channel, there is a rolling brush as well on the suction channel’s opening and in Roomba there are two of them made of solid or rubber-like material instead of brittle brush like what Shark has. The rubber brush tends to tangle less compared to brittle brush when dealing with hairs.
There is the cleaning mode however in Shark which we like better than Roomba and this is because they let you adjust the suction strength manually. In IQ we can choose between Eco, Normal, and Max so following the name Max will deliver the most powerful suction but will also drain the battery faster. With Roomba 960, everything is automatic based on the new software update so we can’t adjust the suction but the vacuums will adjust themselves following the area and dirt it can detect.
Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960 Features
On the feature side the two are pretty common but the most useful will be the app. Both Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960 are coming with their own app where you can see the status of the robot and tell them to clean what room including scheduling and history. They have no feature for blocking the vacuum from entering a certain area in the room but, they are shipped with an invisible wall-like device that limits the movement of your robots.
They are different however since the device comes with Roomba is a standing vertical almost like a mini speaker the size of juice can while Shark have this a strip like sensor. It is sticking into the flooring to prevent the robot from entering the area or spot such as near the pet’s bowls or in a spot where there are lots of cables laying around.
Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960 Performance
Lastly on the overall performance, we do think the Shark IQ Robot and Roomba 960 are good vacuums that will work really well for most people. The suction is pretty strong as well but they are not best for corners in case you have to pay attention to such areas in the house. But, at least we can adjust the suction strength of Shark for a deep cleaning purpose. In terms of ease of use, the two are pretty straightforward as well and navigate properly across the room.
Shark IQ Robot vs Roomba 960
Both of them are good robot vacuums to help maintain the house. Depending on which you like better, we do think the Shark IQ is more capable, not only because it already comes with a self-emptying dock but also because you can adjust the suction power manually. It has no digital no-go zone however, the same as Roomba 960 so we have to rely on the said strip to prevent the robot from entering a certain area.
Conclusion
You will go amazing with any of the two but considering the price and capabilities, we highly recommend getting Shark IQ, especially this RV101AE because it is more capable and more convenient in general while performance wise also comes with plenty of suction power.