Shark vs Roomba stays close as both vacuum lines expand
Mashable says Roomba has more variety and obstacle avoidance, while Shark’s UV stain spotting and spot cleaning keep it in the race.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
The Shark vs Roomba fight has new machines on both sides, but Mashable’s latest comparison says the choice still comes down to a few practical features rather than one brand flattening the other.
According to Mashable, iRobot released new Roombas in the U.S. in July 2026, its first fresh models under new ownership after filing for bankruptcy in December 2025. Shark, meanwhile, has been widening its robot vacuum lineup with new premium features and more design choices.
Is Shark or Roomba better?
Mashable’s comparison gives Roomba the edge on lineup variety and wider access to small obstacle avoidance, while Shark stands out for spot cleaning, lower-pressure pricing and the UV Reveal feature on its top model. The report does not frame either brand as the runaway winner.
Roomba’s current advantage, according to Mashable, is choice. The iRobot lineup includes more models than Shark’s robot vacuum range, with combinations of smart mapping, self-empty docks, mopping systems that wash and dry pads, automatic cleaning boosts and front-facing cameras for avoiding small objects.
Small obstacle avoidance is the feature that helps a robot vacuum steer clear of everyday floor hazards such as cords, shoes and toys. Mashable notes that this can mean less tidying before a cleaning run and less babysitting once the robot starts moving.
The cheapest Roomba cited by Mashable with front-facing obstacle avoidance cameras is the Roomba Plus 415 Combo at $599.99. The report says only Shark’s three priciest robot vacuums include small obstacle avoidance cameras, and those models cost more.
Mashable also points to several Roomba price moves and product changes. The Roomba 105, a standalone smart-mapping model, has dropped to $159, while the Roomba Plus 505 Combo has been seen on sale for as low as $499. iRobot’s newer mopping Roombas also moved beyond the old flat pad design, with several using dual spinning mop pads.
The Roomba Max 715 Vac gives buyers a higher-end vacuum-only option at $699.99, according to Mashable. That matters because many advanced robot vacuums now come as vacuum-and-mop hybrids, even though some shoppers do not want water tanks or mop maintenance.
What is Shark doing differently?
Shark’s flashiest move is the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1, released in March 2026. Mashable says the model uses a real UV light to find stains that may be missed by AI cameras or regular LEDs.
In Mashable’s testing, the UV Reveal found and mopped dried cat vomit that another premium robot vacuum mop had not fully scrubbed a week earlier. Shark also released the UV Reveal in four earth-tone colors in June 2026: espresso, evergreen, deep harbor and ivory.
Shark’s broader appeal, Mashable says, is that it keeps smart mapping, mopping and straightforward app controls within reach for shoppers who do not want to spend at the very top of the market. The report calls the brand especially tempting for first-time robot vacuum buyers.
Shark’s Matrix models clean in a grid pattern, making repeated passes from multiple angles. According to Shark, Matrix mode improves carpet cleaning by 30 percent compared with older RV Shark models. On Shark 2-in-1 robot vacuums, the mop vibrates 100 times per minute in Matrix mode to scrub stains.
The catch for both brands is familiar. Mashable says iRobot is still trying to rebuild trust and catch up to rivals such as Dreame and Roborock, while Shark’s most interesting UV model is expensive at $1,299.99, or $949.99 on sale. For shoppers, the boring answer may be the right one: pick the feature you will use most.
This story draws on original reporting from Mashable.