The Shark AI Ultra Robot is a mid-range robot vacuum. It sits close to the top of Shark's lineup of robot vacuums, above cheaper models like the Shark AI Robot and Shark EZ Robot Self-Empty, as it features both LIDAR mapping and self-emptying capability to reduce hands-on maintenance requirements. Its docking station also features an onboard HEPA filter to reduce the spread of allergens as it transfers debris out of its internal dustbin.
It's worth noting that there are multiple variants of this vacuum, though they only really differ in color and the debris capacity of their external dirt compartment. Further details on the differences between models are outlined in the Differences Between Variants section of the review.
The Shark AI Ultra is decent for bare floors. It clears pet hair and small and bulky debris on this surface type without much of a problem. Its self-emptying base station also reduces hands-on maintenance requirements since you won't have to manually empty debris from its base station at the end of every cleaning session. Its LIDAR mapping system results in quicker room mapping than most other Shark robot vacuums, though it can register some benign household objects as hazards to avoid.
There are a few variants of the Shark AI Ultra, though they only really differ in terms of the size of their self-emptying station. We tested the entry-level Shark AV2501S model, and you can see the label for our test unit here.
Model Code | Included Accessories | Color | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
AV2501S | 2x side brushes, 1x filter | Black | Comes with standard-size Self-Empty Base with 30-day debris capacity. |
AV2501AE | 2x side brushes, 1x filter | Black/Bronze | Comes with XL-size Self-Empty Base with 60-day debris capacity. |
AV2511AE | 2x side brushes, 1x filter | Silver/Black | Comes with XL-size Self-Empty Base with 60-day debris capacity. |
RV2502AE | 2x side brushes, 1x filter | Black/Silver | Comes with XL-size Self-Empty Base with 60-day debris capacity. Replaced by AV-series robot vacuums. |
If you encounter a differently-equipped variant of the Shark AI Ultra Robot Self Empty XL, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
The Shark AI Ultra is a bit of a step up over most other Shark robot vacuums. Not only can it self-empty, a capability found on some other Shark models like the Shark EZ Robot Self-Empty, but it's also one of the few products in Shark's robovac lineup to offer LIDAR mapping, which is quicker and more precise than optical sensor-based systems. That said, if those features don't matter much to you, the vacuum doesn't offer any significant jump in debris pickup performance compared to cheaper Shark models.
If you're looking for an alternative, look at our list of recommendations for the best robot vacuums for hardwood floors, the best robot vacuums for carpet, and the best robot vacuums for pet hair.
The Shark Matrix Robot ultimately improves on the Shark AI Ultra Robot in a few key ways. The Matrix feels better built, takes considerably less time to recharge while offering similar battery life, and delivers better debris pickup on low-pile carpeting. Its integration with the SharkClean companion app is also noticeably smoother. That said, the AI Ultra could be a better option if you have pets, as it does a better job of dealing with hair and is more effective in sealing in fine particles.
The Shark AI Ultra Robot and Shark Matrix Plus are fairly evenly matched robot vacuums with self-empty base stations. The AI Ultra is the slightly older model, with a lower-capacity external dustbin and a battery that takes longer to recharge, though it can run for a lot longer. The Matrix Plus' CleanEdge feature is supposed to provide better performance along walls and in corners, but this feature doesn't seem to make much of a difference.
The Roborock Q5 is better than the Shark AI Ultra Robot. The Roborock feels better built, is easier to maintain, and lasts even longer on a single charge. It can also be bundled with a self-emptying station that has a much greater overall debris capacity. The Roborock also does a better job maneuvering itself, has a vastly better companion app, and performs better on bare surfaces. Conversely, the Shark does a better job of sealing in allergens and makes less of a mess when clearing away debris in cracks and crevices.
The Shark AI Ultra Robot is better than the Shark AI Robot. The AI Ultra is self-emptying compatible, does a better job of clearing debris from cracks, performs better on bare floors, has an easier time dealing with pet hair, and has a LIDAR mapping system, which allows for quicker room mapping, even in the dark. Conversely, the AI Robot has fewer parts needing regular cleaning, incurs lower recurring costs, and offers better overall coverage despite its simpler navigation system, as it won't identify everyday objects as hazards to avoid.
The Shark AI Ultra Robot is better than the Shark EZ Robot Self-Empty, though the two vacuums are similar in some ways. The AI Ultra has a LIDAR sensor for faster, more precise room mapping, though it can also register common household objects as obstacles to avoid. Performance on bare surfaces is pretty similar, though the AI Ultra has an easier time dealing with pet hair and clears more debris on low and high-pile carpet.
The Shark AI Ultra Robot and the Shark IQ 2-in-1 each have advantages, so one might suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The AI Ultra is compatible with a self-emptying dock, helping to reduce hands-on maintenance. It also does a better job of maneuvering itself. That said, the IQ is equipped with a mopping system, takes considerably less time to recharge while offering similar battery life, and feels better built.
The yeedi vac station is better than the Shark AI Ultra Robot for most uses. The yeedi feels better built, has fewer parts needing regular cleaning, does a better job maneuvering itself, has an easier-to-use companion app, performs better on carpeted floors, and comes with a mopping attachment for dried-on stains, though the latter isn't especially effective. The yeedi's external dirtbag also has a larger overall capacity than the Shark's bagless external dirt compartment. However, the Shark does a better job of sealing in fine allergens and clears more debris on bare surfaces.
The Wyze Robot Vacuum is better than the Shark AI Ultra Robot. The Wyze feels sturdier, is easier to maintain, clears away more pet hair, does a better job on bare floors, and has a markedly superior companion app. However, the Shark is compatible with a self-emptying base station to reduce hands-on maintenance requirements.
The Shark AI Ultra Robot and the bObsweep Dustin each have their advantages. The Shark performs better overall, with superior debris-pickup performance on hard floors and carpets. It also gets stuck less frequently. That said, the bObsweep provides a slightly more premium ownership experience: it feels better made, and its self-empty station uses disposable dirtbags, unlike the Shark base station's bagless design. This makes for much easier, more hygienic routine maintenance. While the bObsweep's app is somewhat clunky, it does have a wider range of features than the Shark.
The build quality is decent. Like most other Shark models, this vacuum's body is made mainly from matte-finish hard plastic, giving it a reasonably upmarket, if nondescript, appearance. However, the Shark Matrix Robot does feel sturdier. It uses the same 'self-cleaning' brushroll design as the cheaper Shark AI Robot, with pronounced vanes meant to reduce hair buildup over time, though pet hair can still get tangled around the roller. The vacuum itself doesn't flex or creak to a significant degree when picked up, though the hard plastic covering the top of its LIDAR sensor scratches very easily. If you're looking for a self-emptying robot vacuum that feels a little more premium, the bObsweep Dustin is worth a look.
The out-of-the-box assembly is quite simple; you only need to snap the two side brushes into place and plug in its docking station.
The Shark AI Ultra has many parts that need periodic cleaning, but thankfully, they're easy to access.
Any part you can rinse under water should be left to dry for at least 24 hours before reinstallment.
This vacuum incurs high recurring costs.
The Shark AI Ultra Robot Self Empty XL takes up fairly little room for a robot vacuum bundled with a self-empty dock. The vacuum itself has a smaller overall footprint than alternatives like the Roborock Q5. Its bagless self-empty docking station is also quite compact, with a remarkably low-profile base plate that doesn't protrude very far.
This vacuum comes with a self-emptying station. Unlike most other models on the market, the Shark AI Ultra Robot doesn't use disposable dirtbags, with debris instead being sucked into a bagless compartment. This cuts down on ownership costs but also makes for a messier, less hygienic debris disposal process. As per the manufacturer, you'll need to empty out this dustbin every 60 days. If you purchase the AV2501S model variant instead, note that it uses a different docking station with an advertised capacity of 30 days instead.
Battery performance is fantastic. On its high-suction 'Max' setting, it provides roughly 90 minutes of continuous runtime, which is more than enough even for cleaning stubborn messes. Using it in its more energy-efficient 'Eco' suction power setting extends its runtime to almost three hours. However, it's worth noting that whenever you turn the vacuum on, it defaults to its 'Normal' suction power setting, and you have to choose either the 'Eco' or 'Max' manually at the start of every cleaning session, which is somewhat annoying. This vacuum also takes approximately four hours to fully recharge, which is fairly long.
The Shark AI Ultra has a few quality-of-life features. It has three power settings: its energy-saving 'Eco' mode, its default 'Normal' mode, and its high-power 'Max' mode. If you want to adjust these settings, you have to set them in the app for each job you run. There's also an on/off switch for its self-emptying base station.
This vacuum's real-world suction performance isn't very strong, especially compared to most conventional manually operated vacuums. Its suction inlet is positioned too high above the contact surface to generate a tight seal on bare surfaces.
This vacuum's airflow performance is actually quite good for a robot vacuum, delivering comparable performance in this regard to more expensive models like the iRobot Roomba S9. That translates to relatively good debris pickup performance, though it's important to note that it still falls short of even the most basic of manually operated vacuums.
This vacuum is remarkably quiet. You'll hear nearby conversations even with the vacuum running in its 'Max' mode.
This vacuum has decent overall maneuverability. While it cleans in an organized pattern, its room coverage isn't actually any better than cheaper, non-LIDAR Shark models like the Shark AI Robot. It may interpret some common household items, like thicker carpets or power cords, as objects to avoid, so it's best to ensure that its cleaning area is free of any obstacles before letting it run. Unlike high-end robot vacuums like the Roborock S7 MaxV, it doesn't have a camera or an actual AI system that would allow it to see and identify the sort of obstacles that fall beneath the view of its LIDAR sensor. Its LIDAR sensor is also somewhat tall, and the vacuum can't clean under low-lying couches and TV stands. Still, it can climb over tasseled rugs without getting stuck too frequently, which is rare among other robot vacuums.
The Shark AI Ultra has good air filtration performance despite lacking an onboard HEPA filter. Better still, its base station has an allergen-trapping post-motor filter that the manufacturer advertises can capture 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size.
The Shark AI Ultra does a poor job sucking up debris from cracks and crevices compared to most manually-operated vacuums. Still, it outperforms alternatives like the Shark IQ Robot in this regard, which tends to throw around lightweight debris from cracks.
The Shark AI Ultra Robot Self Empty XL has excellent physical automation capabilities. Its headlining feature is its self-emptying capability, which reduces hands-on maintenance requirements. Still, its overall feature set is very limited when you aren't connected to the internet and using its companion app. The 'Clean' button starts a cleaning session, while the 'Dock' button simply sends it back to its base station.
The SharkClean app is mediocre. It's slow and rather buggy, with the app occasionally reporting incorrect status information. You need a 2.4 GHz network to connect to the vacuum. The app also allows you to check the battery life, set different cleaning modes, or schedule cleaning times, though not necessarily for specific rooms. You can also check the cleaning session history and create no-go zones to prevent it from entering certain areas or maneuvering around delicate objects.