Roomba vs Shark: Which Robot Vacuum Should You Buy in 2026?

By TwelveTabs · Updated

Illustration: two plain round robot vacuum cleaners side by side on a hardwood floor in a tidy living room, one with a dome and one flat with a sensor bump, drawn as a soft 3D render. Not a real product.

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Our top picks

Most people should get the Shark AI Ultra. It costs slightly less, lists up to 90 minutes of runtime, and its dock has no bags to buy. Get the Roomba 105 Vac with AutoEmpty if you want iRobot’s app, its sealed bag dock, or Siri and Google Assistant control.

We compared the two self-emptying vacuums at nearly the same price. Neither lists a mop. Both listings pool reviews from older models, so read the owner complaints below as brand-level.

The method

How this pick was made

Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with 60-Day Self-Emptying Base (AV2511AE) is the top pick. This is the work behind that choice.

  1. 2Amazon search results read, across 1 search
  2. 2finalist pages read in full
  3. 24shopper reviews read
  4. 1expert source cross-checked: Tom's Guide

Run on October 14, 2026. AI read the listings and what shoppers say, then wrote this guide. Full method and limits

Our picks in detail

Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with 60-Day Self-Emptying Base (AV2511AE)

Best overall

Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with 60-Day Self-Emptying Base (AV2511AE)

Best for: Most people: a self-emptying robot vacuum with no bags to buy

  • $269.99
  • Pros Bagless self-empty base for up to 60 days, with no replacement bags to buy
  • Cons Amazon's summary says some units stopped working after two weeks or broke within two years
View on Amazon

Prices and ratings as of October 14, 2026.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Bagless self-empty base for up to 60 days, with no replacement bags to buy
  • Up to 90 minutes of runtime, and it recharges and resumes on its own
  • Self-cleaning brushroll to prevent hair wrap on pet hair
  • 360-degree LiDAR mapping, room targeting and spot cleaning in the app
  • HEPA filter, and the lower price of the two
  • Sold by Amazon

Cons

  • Amazon's summary says some units stopped working after two weeks or broke within two years
  • App and mapping problems: lost maps, Wi-Fi drops and re-mapping after changes
  • One owner says it is loud, and it can empty itself mid-clean
  • Its ratings pool several Shark models, so they may not describe this one
iRobot Roomba 105 Vac Robot Vacuum with AutoEmpty Dock

Best Roomba with the app, a sealed bag dock and voice assistants

iRobot Roomba 105 Vac Robot Vacuum with AutoEmpty Dock

  • $279.00
  • Pros Bagged AutoEmpty dock holds up to 75 days and traps allergens, per the listing
  • Cons Dock bags are replacement items, and the listing gives no bag price
View on Amazon

Prices and ratings as of October 14, 2026.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Bagged AutoEmpty dock holds up to 75 days and traps allergens, per the listing
  • ClearView LiDAR mapping with room targeting and keep-out zones
  • Works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant
  • A multi-surface brush and an edge-sweeping brush
  • Sold by Amazon

Cons

  • Dock bags are replacement items, and the listing gives no bag price
  • Owners of Roomba docks report loud emptying, false full-bag warnings and error codes
  • The listing gives no runtime, weight or box contents
  • Its ratings pool older Roomba models, so they may not describe this one

Compare the picks

Prices and ratings as of October 14, 2026. They change often, so check today's price on Amazon.

Our picks, side by side
PictureProductOutcome
1Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with 60-Day Self-Emptying Base (AV2511AE)Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with 60-Day Self-Emptying Base (AV2511AE)Self-empty base: Bagless, holds up to 60 days · Runtime: Up to 90 minutes · Mapping: 360° LiDAR, app room targeting · Mop: Not listedPrice $269.99Not listedRating Not listedNot listedWinner. Best for: Most people: a self-emptying robot vacuum with no bags to buy
2iRobot Roomba 105 Vac Robot Vacuum with AutoEmpty DockiRobot Roomba 105 Vac Robot Vacuum with AutoEmpty DockSelf-empty base: AutoEmpty bag dock, up to 75 days · Runtime: Not listed · Mapping: ClearView LiDAR, keep-out zones · Mop: No, vacuum onlyPrice $279.00Not listedRating Not listedNot listedBest for: A Roomba with the app, a sealed bag dock and voice assistants

The short version

  • Want a dock that needs no bags? The Shark AI Ultra. Its base is bagless.
  • Want a sealed bag that keeps dust out of the air when you empty? The Roomba. Its dock uses bags that trap allergens, per the listing.
  • Have pets that shed? The Shark’s self-cleaning brushroll is built to prevent hair wrap.
  • Use Siri or Google Assistant? The Roomba lists Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. The Shark listing does not list voice assistants.
  • Want to spend less and skip the dock? Amazon also sells the Roomba 105 Vac with no dock, at a much lower price. You empty the bin yourself.

How to choose between them

Tom’s Guide compared older models of each, a Shark IQ and a Roomba s9+. It found the Shark base smaller and bagless, and the Roomba base bagged and sealed. It also found Roomba’s flagship picked up more pet hair in its lab tests than the Shark. That does not describe these two models.

  • Dock. The Shark’s holds up to 60 days of dirt without bags. The Roomba’s holds up to 75 days in a bag.
  • Runtime. The Shark lists up to 90 minutes. The Roomba listing gives none.
  • Mapping. Both use LiDAR. The Roomba adds keep-out zones. The Shark adds Matrix Clean grid passes and spot cleaning.
  • Mop. Neither listing’s bullets or specs list one.
  • Voice. The Roomba works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, and the Shark listing names none.
  • Seller. Both listings are sold by Amazon.

What owners complain about

  • On the Shark AI Ultra: reliability, an app that loses maps or disconnects, noise and a base that empties mid-clean for some.
  • On the Roomba 105 Vac with AutoEmpty: loud emptying, false full-bag or clog warnings, an error code on nearly every run for one owner, and maps that are not saved.
  • On both: reliability is the main worry in Amazon’s summaries, and most owner reports describe older models.

What we left out, and why

We read three listings and 24 reviews, including the Roomba 105 Vac without a dock.

  • Roomba 105 Vac without a dock. We read it, and it lacks the self-empty dock. It costs much less, and you empty the bin by hand.
  • Roomba 415X and the Roomba Combo. Higher-priced Roombas with a mop. We did not open them.
  • Shark Matrix Plus and Navigator. Other Shark robots on the search page. We did not open them.
  • Mopping robots and stick vacuums. A different question. For a stick vacuum, see Shark vs Dyson.

How we researched

On October 14, 2026 we read the Amazon listing pages for the Shark AI Ultra (AV2511AE), the Roomba 105 Vac with AutoEmpty Dock and the Roomba 105 Vac without a dock. We read each page's bullets and specs, Amazon's review summaries and the reviews we could see. We also read Tom's Guide's Roomba vs Shark comparison and checked Google's top results for this question. AI wrote this guide from that research.

Both listings show ratings and reviews that pool older models: most visible Roomba reviews describe the i3+ and i4+ from 2020 to 2023, and the Shark ratings are shared with the AV2501 models. We therefore treat complaints as ones owners of each brand's docks report, not as faults of these exact models. The Roomba listing gave no runtime, weight or box contents, and the Shark listing gave no weight or suction rating. Tom's Guide compared older flagship models, so we use it for how the two docks differ.

Prices, ratings and review counts come from Amazon and were read on October 14, 2026.

Sources

Why trust TwelveTabs

  • What this guide rests on: 2 Amazon search results, 24 shopper reviews and 1 expert source.
  • No brand paid for a place on this list.
  • Dated, not timeless: the research was read and this page updated on October 14, 2026.
  • The limits of the research are written down, in how we researched.

How TwelveTabs researches its guides

Frequently asked questions

Is Roomba or Shark better?

Shark suits most people because it costs slightly less and its dock has no bags. Roomba suits iRobot fans who want its app, keep-out zones and Siri or Google Assistant control.

Does the Shark AI Ultra need bags?

No. Its self-empty base is bagless. The Roomba’s AutoEmpty dock uses bags, which you replace.

Do these robot vacuums mop?

Neither listing’s specs list a mop. Treat both as vacuum only.

How did TwelveTabs choose between them?

We read the Amazon listings for one Shark and one Roomba robot vacuum, their spec lists, Amazon’s review summaries and the reviews we could see, plus Tom’s Guide’s comparison. We put the facts side by side and checked each against its listing.

For more options, see our best robot vacuums.

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