The 3 best Shark robot vacuums do more than similarly-priced Roombas

As the budget pick, it's pretty self-explanatory that the Shark Matrix RV2300 is the best contender for folks who want to spend as little as possible on a robot vacuum — one that still has a trusted name attached to it, that is. The sub-$300 price point stems from the lack of a self-empty base, positioning this model as a low-stakes option with a small physical footprint for close quarters like apartments. No automatic emptying won't necessarily be a deal breaker in small spaces that don't create a ton of debris that would fill up a dustbin quickly, such as no-pet or single-person households.

Lining up a cleaning or poking around in the app's map layout is also extremely straightforward in the Shark app. The quick dragging and dropping of a zone in the map to sweep a particular spot, like around the kitchen counter, sometimes had me reaching for it over the more premium robot vacuums I was testing at the same time. Sometimes basic is better, especially for anyone who'd prefer a less techy experience (that is, without completely settling for a robot vacuum that doesn't even have an app).

For a solid cheap Shark option, I can definitively say that the smartest move would be to skip the outdated ION line and opt for a standalone Matrix model instead. This is because any Shark with Matrix capabilities uses LiDAR navigation and the ION line doesn't, and when the price difference is less than $100, securing smart mapping is a no-brainer. Smart mapping not only unlocks the ability for a robot vacuum to clean a specific room on command, but to clean specific zones on command — and reliable spot cleaning is a crucial robot vacuum feature regardless of how many or few rooms a bot has to keep track of.

Past the navigational advantage, even the cheapest Shark Matrix robot vacuums clean better than the older ION models. Shark's signature Matrix spot cleaning mode tackles debris from multiple angles to grab anything that was missed on the original pass. This "one for good measure" approach had the RV2300 cleaning circles around the similarly-priced Roomba 692 that I also tested, which doesn't have smart mapping, either.

Shark RV2300S (self-emptying with 30-day capacity): $329

Shark RV2300AE (self-emptying with 60-day capacity): $399

Read Mashable contributor Timothy Beck Werth's full review of the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1.

The Matrix Plus 2-in-1 is one of two main Shark contenders for anyone who wants a robot vacuum that can mop. Price is the obvious factor that might make you opt for this one over my favorite Shark hybrid, the new PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro — the self-emptying version of the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 can almost always be found on sale while the PowerDetect rarely drops below $899.99 (if you can find it on sale at all).

Your expected level of automation of your Shark's mopping pad will also play a huge role in choosing between these Sharks. If your home is mostly carpeted with only a few rooms that would need to be mopped, like a bathroom and kitchen-only type of situation, you may not mind having to physically attach the mopping pad or fill the water tank to enable mopping mode. The price difference may also be stark enough to convince yourself that having to manually wash the mopping pad after each run isn't that bad. Alternatively, the pricey PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro washes and dries its own mopping pad and refills its own water tank.

Circling back to floor type, the Matrix Plus probably wouldn't be the best choice for homes with a heavy rug situation, as the bot requires you to manually highlight rugs or carpets in the app and can't vacuum while the water tank is attached.

Shark became relevant in the robot vacuum game again when it introduced its Matrix cleaning mode in 2022. I first experienced it when testing the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 and was pumped by the simplicity and reliability of its spot cleaning in particular. Though the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 has since been surpassed as the fanciest Shark hybrid, its combination of affordability, straightforward mapping, and meticulous cleaning keep it as a top pick.

Shark's Matrix mode cleans better in selected rooms or zones in the app by going over the target area from multiple angles to suck up or scrub anything that may have been missed on the first pass. During regular vacuuming, Matrix mode cleans carpet 30% more thoroughly than the older RV Shark models, and during mopping, the mopping pad vibrates 1,000 times per second to put in a little more work on larger spills that need an extra wipe, or light dried-on stains.

In my testing, I watched the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 successfully clear crumbs near the kitchen counter, kitty litter in my bathroom, and minor drops on hardwood or tile several times — messes that similarly-priced Roombas I tested couldn't conquer in one pass.