But first, the elephant in the room
The lukewarm rivalry between Shark and iRobot heated up for a second in March 2025, when iRobot went rogue and overhauled the entire Roomba lineup outside of its usual release schedule. But the last-ditch effort to get people excited about Roombas again didn't work. Once iRobot's lack of acquisition interest dwindled down to zero potential buyers, iRobot filed for bankruptcy in December 2025. Ownership of the brand was surrendered to its manufacturer, Picea.
Let's break down why Roombas were considered the best for so long, and where iRobot went wrong.
Where Roomba wins: Small obstacle avoidance and more variety
Shark's family of robot vacuums is definitely growing. But the variety in the Roomba lineup offers slightly more flexibility for mixing and matching staple features like smart mapping, mopping pads that automatically avoid carpet, self-empty docks that also wash and dry the mopping pads, and most importantly, small obstacle avoidance technology.
For much of 2024 and 2025, there were more Roombas to choose from because iRobot released new robot vacuums more frequently than Shark. The Roomba range seriously widened when iRobot randomly overhauled the Roomba lineup with eight new models in March 2025. That was certainly an interesting move, considering new Roombas had typically been announced in August in years past. That turned out to be a last-ditch effort to save iRobot as we knew it from bankruptcy.
iRobot released a bleak financial report the same week it released that flood of Roombas. I still decided to test most of them at the time — I thought it'd be interesting to see if these new Roombas could make iRobot a competitive brand again.
Yes, you can still buy a Roomba online despite the bankruptcy filing. The newest Roombas released last March are all available and often discounted. The best options that I've tested include the Roomba 105 (a standalone model with smart mapping) that has permanently dropped to $149 and the Roomba Plus 505 Combo (self-washing and -drying mopping pads, small obstacle avoidance) for as low as $499 on sale.
iRobot thankfully diverted from the traditional flat mopping pad with its 2025 overhaul. Now, the Roomba Plus 405 and 505 Combo use dual spinning mopping pads — a design that the majority of iRobot customers prefer, iRobot told me in a press briefing. The Roomba Max 705 Combo was actually one of the first mainstream roller mop robot vacuums, which debuted months before that became a major trend at CES 2026. Still, the Max 705 Combo wouldn't be a worthwhile purchase over better roller mop robot vacuums like the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow or the Eufy C28.
Not for nothing, iRobot heard the cries of the anti-mop crowd on Reddit and released a vacuum-only version of one of its more powerful models, the Roomba Max 705 Vac. A lot of people simply don't want to deal with tanks or anything soggy at all, but finding a vac-only robot vacuum typically means settling for a super basic model — all of the most advanced robot vacuums are automatically hybrids nowadays.
iRobot's mastery of small obstacle avoidance does provide some leverage over Shark — it's some of the best small obstacle avoidance I've experienced from any brand I've tested at home. The Roomba Combo 10 Max, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, and both 705 models have the special small obstacle detection camera system, which helps to avoid small obstacles that less-advanced robot vacuums would typically eat, like a phone charger, extension cord, rogue sock, or pet waste. In short, it solves the main gripe that many robot vacuum non-believers have: robot vacuums get stuck so often that they're more trouble than they're worth. I first experienced it when reviewing the Roomba j7+ and Combo j7+ and could never go back to the habit of pre-tidying.
Where Roomba loses: No recent innovations, still too expensive
iRobot isn't the pioneer it once was.
The self-emptying, smart mapping Roomba S9+ was a huge deal when it came out in 2019, and the Roomba j7+'s small obstacle avoidance set a new standard for robot vacuum navigation in 2021. Its star power was so influential that "Roomba" became the colloquial generic term for any robot vacuum.
But somewhere down the line, iRobot stopped innovating in the ways that justified its steep price points. Roombas started costing way too much for the brainpower or cleaning performance they offered. I saw the Roomba flop era coming from a mile away. iRobot tried to rectify its overpriced tendencies with the eight new Roombas in March 2025, but even those didn't sell well enough to save iRobot from bankruptcy.
Neither basic nor premium Roombas are super cost-efficient
So while I'll give credit to Roomba for getting more practical with its prices, Shark still does budget-friendly better. For instance, I think that the perfect starter robot vacuum is one with smart mapping and self-emptying, with suction power being less of a priority as long as it's sufficient for light daily upkeep. In Roomba world, the cheapest option for this is the Roomba 105 + AutoEmpty Dock, going for $449.99 at full price or $249.99 on sale. In Shark world, the same capabilities can be secured for as low as $199.99 on sale with the Shark IQ RV2302AE.
Either way, there are definitely more powerful cheap robot vacuums than both of those out there. It's the same story on the premium end of the spectrum: The fanciest Roombas still cost too much given their skills. The Roomba Plus 505 Combo that I tested comes to mind. Its debut price of $999.99 was comically high, and I think its recent price cut in half to $499.99 shows iRobot coming to terms with its pricing still. It didn't have any glaring drawbacks, but it's certainly not the strongest robot vacuum you could find for 500 bucks.
Most egregiously, even the most powerful Roomba doesn't stand a chance against the most powerful contenders from other brands. On its face, the Roomba Max 705 Combo sounds like a beast: It has "175 times the suction power of a 600 Series Roomba" and is coined as the most powerful 2-in-1 Roomba. But iRobot, which is quietly revealing Pa suction power measurements for the first time, has confirmed that the Roomba Max 705 Combo has 13,000 Pa suction power.
That means that even the best Roomba for pet hair or carpet is significantly weaker than the other flagship robot vacuums out there — still a relevant point, even if it's not a direct comparison to Shark. 2026 flagship vacuums like the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete and the Roborock Saros 20 series both hit a new record of 35,000 Pa. It's not hard to find a robot vacuum with 15,000+ Pa with self-washing and drying mopping pads for less than $700. As a refresher, the Roomba Max 705 Combo costs $1,299.99 at full price or as low as $799.99 on sale.
Will my Roomba still work now that iRobot went bankrupt?
iRobot does not expect the company's restructuring to disrupt app functionality, customer programs, or ongoing product support. That's comforting news to people who already have a Roomba. But for those still deciding if they should buy a Roomba, that's not a worthwhile option right now.
Where Shark wins: Spot cleaning, affordability, and the UV light
Shark robot vacuums haven't exactly been known for their innovation. Historically, it felt like the Sharks were several months to a year late on premium features that all of the other brands had. So the genius packed into the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 that dropped in March 2026 was a pleasant surprise. The UV Reveal uses a real UV light to detect invisible stains on the floor that a robot vacuum using AI cameras or plain LEDs may not see.
One memorable moment from my testing is the UV Reveal finding and mopping up dried cat puke that another premium robot vacuum mop combo didn't thoroughly scrub the week before. It's a game-changing feature for mopping hardwood floors.
So yes, the Shark UV Reveal breathed life into an otherwise just OK lineup of Shark robovacs. But for everyone trying to spend less than $1,299.99 on a robot vacuum, are the other Shark robot vacuums worth it?
I've always found Shark to be in tune with what the average person is willing to spend on a robot vacuum. The brand consistently offers core capabilities like smart mapping and mopping at affordable price points, topped with a straightforward user experience that doesn't involve a million high-level app functions. It's a particularly enticing brand for first-time robot vacuum owners.
Shark's more approachable price points don't necessarily mean it skimps on cleaning performance, though. Shark Matrix vacuums clean in a grid pattern, approaching the area several times from multiple angles to grab anything it may have missed in the first pass or two. According to Shark, Matrix mode dishes out 30 percent better carpet cleaning than the older RV Shark models. For Shark 2-in-1 robot vacuums, a mop in Matrix mode vibrates 100 times per minute to scrub at stains that likely wouldn't budge from a single pass of a cheaper robot mop or a paper towel. Matrix mopping always comes in clutch for keeping up with the constant layer of shoe prints by my front door.
Shark even extends the Matrix cleaning mechanism to most of its super-affordable models, making any of the RV2310 or RV2300 models a solid choice for a budget robot vacuum. Shark's spot cleaning has been such a streamlined, reliable feature in every Shark robot vacuum I tried. My ultimate spot cleaning test is the area outside either of my cats' litter boxes — even the cheap Shark robot vacuums always got to the right spot and cleared the kitty litter before I walked in there with bare feet.
Every other big brand had at least one model with self-washing and -drying mopping pads far before the Shark PowerDetect Pro series hit the scene in September 2024. They originally cost between $999.99 and $1,199.99, which seemed reasonable (at the time) compared to the models that cost $1,599.99. Both Pro models can now be found on sale for around $699.99.
For good measure, the PowerDetect models are also equipped with large wheels that hoist the vac over carpet to keep it dry during mopping mode. Those hydraulics put the PowerDetect robot vacuums in the small group of robot vacuums that have never gotten stuck on one of my rug corners or scrambled up my bath mats.
But there are smarter robot vacuums out there for that same $699.99 or less.
Where Shark loses: Small obstacle avoidance and slow releases
Shark's biggest shortcoming is that it takes forever to release new robot vacuums, and that staggered schedule often leaves it playing catch-up with other brands. Brands like Roborock and Dreame seem to drop new crops of robot vacuums twice in the time period that Shark introduces a single new model.
Overall, Shark's lineup outside of the UV Reveal feels a little basic compared to its competitors. For instance, the original PowerDetect line was in desperate need of a successor for a while. When Shark did finally "revamp" the series in fall 2025, the upgrades were criminally underwhelming. The major difference is heated mop washing and drying for improved sanitation between mopping sessions, hence "ThermaCharged" in the title. That's not exactly a front-page headline when the vacuum is still so far behind other brands' models in the same price range.
Another lesser-known late 2025 model, the Shark Stratos NeverTouch robot vacuum, is similarly bland. Its description mentions "ultra-powerful suction" and states that the Stratos delivers twice the suction power of the Roomba i5 Combo. A $799.99 robot vacuum is more powerful than an entry-level Roomba that came out in 2023? Yeah, I would hope so.
Shark is the lone major robot vacuum brand that hasn't really invested in small obstacle avoidance past its fanciest model. Multiple models feature Shark's NeverStuck technology to some degree, but the UV Reveal is the only one I've tested that actually felt like it was really perceiving items lying in front of it. Meanwhile, brands like Eufy, Roborock, and Dreame have prioritized small obstacle avoidance in robot vacuums at the $500 to $700 range.
The lack of agility around common items like cords, laundry, or pet toys seriously cramps the "premium" feel. This is such a staple feature in my life, as I'm sure it is for anyone whose floor might be cluttered lived in from time to time. In my testing, the Shark ThermaCharged was so inept at diverting obstacles (even large ones) that it gave up on cleaning missions instead of simply driving around a tote bag of groceries or a cordless Dyson vacuum attachment lying on the ground.
In the same vein of too-basic navigation, only the most premium Shark robot vacuums automatically stop mopping when carpet is sensed. This means vacuum and mop mode aren't possible at the same time with any of the 2-in-1 Shark Matrix models, and a person needs to manually attach the water tank to switch to mopping mode. That's enough of a pain to make someone want to skip mopping altogether. Even the cheap Roomba 105 Combo can detect carpet — the first time in recent memory where a base-tier Roomba outshines a base-tier Shark.
Shark's sonic mopping system feels a bit outdated now
Shark also has yet to grow out of the D-shaped mopping pad, while every other major brand has graduated to dual rotating mops or roller mops. The sonic vibrations of the PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro and PowerDetect ThermaCharged did a solid job of wiping up small spills and shoe stains on my apartment's hardwood, but they weren't able to scrub in corners and along edges as the Roomba 405 or 505 Combo's flexible spinning mops can.
I wrote the next two sentences in January 2026, highlighting one very specific objective for the next flagship Shark robot vacuum:
"If Shark doubles down on the D-shaped pad design in its next release, it should at least give the pad more mobility to scoot out past the circular body of the vacuum — similar to what Roborock did with the Saros 20 Sonic that it announced at CES 2026."
I called it. That's exactly the type of mopping system that Shark gave the UV Reveal, and I've personally witnessed the UV Reveal's extending mop pad scrub much closer to walls than other Sharks. Unfortunately, the UV Reveal's mopping is only geared toward scrubbing dry stains or sticky droplets, not spills. (The instructions specifically say to avoid sending it over liquid.) I'm still not 100 percent sold on the D-shaped design for that reason.
Shark doesn't do itself any favors by refusing to list its vacuums' suction power in Pascals (Pa). Almost every other major robot vacuum brand measures suction power in Pa (even iRobot now), which makes comparing options easy. Shark still insists on keeping an air of mystery by solely comparing suction power to other vacuums in its own family tree, or by making vague claims like "50% better suction than the best-selling iRobot."
Where iRobot and Shark both lose: Their apps suck
Ironically, two of the most longstanding names in the robot vacuum game have the two most outdated-feeling apps. The bare bones home maps in both the Roomba Home and Shark Clean apps are far less intricate than the color-coded maps that Roborock or Eufy offer. Pausing a clean or adding an extra room to the queue is similarly clunky on both.
Our winner: Shark
Neither Shark nor iRobot is in the running to be the best robot vacuum brand overall in 2026. But if you want to pit them against each other for old time's sake, Shark is the better robot vacuum brand.
When revisiting the Shark vs. Roomba debate in January of 2026, my answer was pretty much, "Uh, is there a third option?" It was hard to get enthusiastic when neither brand had released a memorable robot vacuum in years. That changed when Shark released a robot vacuum with UV stain detection in March. The Shark UV Reveal 2-in-1 is far more innovative than the latest Roomba 405, 505, and 705 Combo models that we have to choose from. Since the rest of the Shark and iRobot lineups are a wash, I think it's safe to give Shark the top spot based on the UV Reveal 2-in-1 alone.
Now that iRobot has filed for bankruptcy, it's hard to say when we'll see a new Roomba at all. The fact that Shark isn't bankrupt is another bonus point by default, presumably putting it in a more cushioned financial position to keep putting out new products.
However, iRobot doesn't want consumers to write it off just yet — iRobot.com has a whole page dedicated to "the most exciting chapter of Roomba yet." One blurb notes its partnership with a world-leading robotics manufacturing partner (probably its new owner, Picea), vaguely teasing some sort of robotic floor care launch in the future.
There are other brands that deserve your attention
Overall, I still think that Dreame vs. Roborock is the new Shark vs. Roomba, and I highly recommend taking a look at all of the Dreame robot vacuums and Roborock robot vacuums within your budget. You're probably going to find an option that's smarter and more powerful than the Roomba and Shark vacuum cleaners in your cart.
