Shark vs Roomba robot vacuums

Bagless against bagged self-empty bases

This is the clearest dividing line. Both Shark models here use bagless self-empty bases: the Matrix Plus and the Navigator listings each claim up to 60 days of debris and stress that you do not need to buy disposal bags. When the base is full, you lift out the bin and tip it into the household rubbish.

The Roomba models use bags. The j7+ comes with a Clean Base and a dirt disposal bag, and its listing says it empties itself for up to 60 days. The Max 705 Combo's AutoWash Dock lists 75 days of auto-emptying and also includes a dirt disposal bag. When the bag is full, you lift it out with the dust sealed inside.

Which is better is a matter of taste. A bag keeps dust contained when you empty it, but it is a spare you will keep buying. A bagless base saves on bags but the bin and its filter need emptying and rinsing, ideally outdoors or straight into a bin bag. Our page on robot vacuum dust bags covers capacity and fit.

Brush rolls and long hair

Hair wrapped around the brush is the most common chore with any robot vacuum. Shark's answer, on both the Matrix Plus and the Navigator, is a single self-cleaning brush roll which the listings say is engineered to pick up more hair and resist wrapping. Roomba's answer is a pair of rubber brushes that counter-rotate; the Max 705 Combo lists dual rubber brushes and dual edge-sweeping brushes.

In practice both designs reduce wrapping rather than end it. Long hair can still collect at the ends of the brush, around the side brush and on the wheels, so a quick check every week or two is still worth it. For a wider look at pet homes, see our guide to the best robot vacuum for pet hair.

Mapping and getting around

The Shark Matrix Plus lists 360 degree lidar mapping that works day or night, and a Matrix Clean mode that goes over the floor in a grid with multiple passes. The Shark Navigator uses what Shark calls SmartPath, based on spot lidar, and cleans in rows. Both recharge and resume if the battery runs low mid-clean.

The Roomba j7+ uses PrecisionVision, a front camera that recognises cords, socks, shoes and pet waste, together with Imprint Smart Mapping that stores maps for different floors and lets you set Keep Out Zones. The Max 705 Combo combines ClearView Pro LiDAR with PrecisionVision, so it has both a laser map and camera object recognition.

If your floors are often scattered with cables and toys, camera recognition helps. If you mostly want tidy, methodical coverage, the Shark lidar models are designed for it. Our lidar against camera explainer explains the trade-offs.

Mopping, if you want it

Only one pair here mops. The Shark Matrix Plus has sonic mopping, which the listing says scrubs hard floors 100 times a minute, with two reusable microfibre pads in the box. Its base empties dust but does not wash the pad. The Roomba Max 705 Combo goes much further: a PowerSpin roller mop at 200 RPM that cleans itself, extends for edges, uses heated mopping, and slides a protective cover over itself to keep carpets dry. Its dock washes the roller with heated water, dries it, and dispenses solution.

The Shark Navigator and the Roomba j7+ are vacuum-only robots.

Spec sheet from the listings

All figures come from the Amazon UK listings. Not stated means the listing does not say. The Roomba j7+ listing mentions a North American line cord and international sale terms, so check that the version you order has a UK plug and UK support.

Spares you will keep buying

Running a self-emptying robot means a short list of parts that wear or fill up. Plan for these whichever brand you pick, and check the maker's UK parts pages, because the range on sale varies by model:

• Dust bags: Roomba bases only. Shark bases are bagless.
• Filters: on the robot and, for Shark's bagless bases, in the base too.
• Side brushes: they fray and bend over time on both brands.
• Brush rolls: Shark's single roll or Roomba's pair of rubber brushes.
• Mop parts: pads for the Matrix Plus, the roller and cleaning solution for the Max 705 Combo.
• Batteries: eventually, from the maker or a reputable seller.

Note:Robot vacuums run on lithium batteries. Use only the supplied dock and charger, stop using a battery that swells or gets unusually hot, and leave battery and mains repairs to the maker's service or a qualified repairer.

See the Shark robot range →

Which one to buy

Our Shark robot vacuum range guide and iRobot Roomba models compared guide cover the full line-ups. Between the four here, the Shark Matrix Plus suits people who want lidar mapping, a light-duty mop and no bags. The Roomba Max 705 Combo is the one for serious mopping with a dock that washes and dries the mop. The Shark Navigator is the simpler bagless choice for vacuuming only, and the Roomba j7+ suits cluttered homes where camera object avoidance and sealed bags matter more than mopping.

Frequently asked questions

Do Shark robot vacuums need bags? The self-empty Shark models here, the Matrix Plus and Navigator, use bagless bases, so there are no bags to buy. You empty the base bin by hand and clean its filter from time to time.

Do Roomba self-empty bases use bags? Yes, the Clean Base on the j7+ and the AutoWash Dock on the Max 705 Combo both use disposable dirt disposal bags, which keep dust sealed when you empty them.

Which is better for pet hair? Both brands design their brushes to reduce hair wrap: Shark with a self-cleaning brush roll, Roomba with dual rubber brushes. Neither removes the need for an occasional check of the brush ends and side brush.

Is the Shark Matrix Plus a good alternative to a Roomba combo? For light mopping and bag-free emptying, yes. If you want the mop washed and dried for you, the Roomba Max 705 Combo's dock does that and the Matrix Plus base does not.