Shark AI Ultra Review: Voice-Controlled Vacuum with 60-Day Self-Empty Base

The Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot Vacuum promises to make cleaning effortless with its smart features and robust design. Right out of the box, it comes with the robot itself, an XL self-empty base, two side brushes, and a filter. It’s a pretty standard setup for robotic vacuums in this range, but the 60-day self-empty feature definitely catches the eye.

I spent a couple of weeks testing this vacuum in my home, which has a mix of carpet and hardwood floors, and a rather hairy cat. Given this setup, I was curious to see if the Shark AI Ultra lived up to its pet-friendly claims and if it could handle the daily messes with ease.

My initial impression was positive, especially with how easy it was to set up. Using the SharkClean app was straightforward, and integrating it with Amazon Alexa for voice control added a layer of convenience. It's not every day that you can tell your vacuum to start cleaning without moving a finger.

Overall, the introduction phase was smooth. Setting it up and getting it running was a breeze, which sets a nice tone for exploring what this vacuum can really do in terms of cleaning performance.

When it comes to value, the Shark AI Ultra sits in an interesting spot. Priced competitively against other high-end robot vacuums, it offers a range of features like voice control, a self-emptying base, and pet-friendly cleaning capabilities. For homes with pets or those needing frequent cleaning cycles, the 60-day self-emptying base is a significant advantage, as it reduces maintenance time.

Comparatively, it's cheaper than some competitors with similar features, making it a potentially good investment for those not wanting to break the bank. However, if you're looking for the absolute best in navigation and cleaning efficiency, there might be better options out there, albeit at a higher price point.

From my experience, it offers a pretty solid package for the price. You get a lot of technology packed into one unit without the need for additional purchases like disposal bags, which is a plus.

In summary, the Shark AI Ultra provides good value for the features it packs, especially if you're looking for convenience and ease of use without stretching your budget too far.

The Shark AI Ultra comes equipped with a 120-minute battery life, which was generally enough to clean my living area in one go. However, in practical use, the Recharge and Resume feature is a lifesaver. Whenever the battery runs low before the job is done, the vacuum returns to its base, charges up, and then picks up right where it left off.

This feature is crucial, especially if you're trying to clean a larger space, as it means you don’t have to worry about manually restarting the cleaning cycle. During my test, this came into play a few times when tackling multiple rooms on a single charge.

One downside I noticed is that the charge time can be a bit lengthy, which means if you’re in a rush to get the place clean, you might have to wait a bit longer. It would be nice if future models could improve on this aspect.

Despite that, the battery performance combined with the smart recharge feature makes it suitable for most households, ensuring that the cleaning job gets completed without much hassle.

Performance is often the make-or-break factor for a robot vacuum, and after two weeks of daily use, here's where the Shark AI Ultra stands. The Matrix Clean Navigation system is designed to ensure no spots are missed. In practice, it performed fairly well, covering most areas efficiently. It’s nice to see it take multiple passes over dirt and debris, especially on carpeted areas where pet hair tends to embed itself.

The precision home mapping with 360° LiDAR vision is another highlight. It managed to navigate around furniture and other obstacles without a hitch. This was pretty solid, especially when compared to my previous vacuum which often got stuck under the couch or tangled in wires.

However, it’s not perfect. It sometimes struggled with black rugs, which seemed to confuse its sensors. This is something I’ve noticed with other robot vacuums too, so it’s not entirely surprising, but it’s worth noting if you have similar flooring.

Overall, the performance is decent but not extraordinary. It gets the job done for daily maintenance cleaning, but it’s not replacing a deep clean anytime soon.