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Shark ION Robot RV700 Series [RV750, RV761] Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed Jan 07, 2022 at 10:24 am
Latest change: Test bench update Dec 14, 2023 at 11:24 am
Shark ION Robot RV700 Series [RV750, RV761] Picture
7.2
Bare Floor
6.6
Low-Pile Carpet
6.7
High-Pile Carpet
5.1
Pets
5.9
Stairs
4.8
Cars
4.3
Workshop

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is a basic robot vacuum. It feels decently well-built, has a fantastically long battery life, and performs impressively well on bare floors. However, it struggles with clearing pet hair on most surfaces and struggles with fine debris on carpeted floors. Its random pathing navigation system makes it somewhat inefficient when covering an area.

It's worth noting that there are multiple variants, though they only really differ in color and included accessories. Further details on the differences between models are outlined in the Differences Between Variants section.

Our Verdict

7.2 Bare Floor

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is okay for bare floors. It clears small and bulky debris without difficulty, but pet hair can get caught in its brushroll, brush guard, and wheels rather than being sucked into its dust bin. It also isn't the best at maneuvering itself over obstructions like electrical cords, and like many robot vacuums, it incurs high recurring costs and has many parts that need regular cleaning.

Pros
  • Fantastic battery life.
  • Comes with physical boundary strips.
  • Decent build quality.
Cons
  • Mediocre maneuverability.
  • High recurring costs and demanding maintenance requirements.
  • Struggles with pet hair.
6.6 Low-Pile Carpet

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is inadequate for vacuuming low-pile carpet. It struggles with cleaning pet hair, which can get caught in its brush roll, brush guard, and wheels instead of being sucked into its dustbin, and it has a very hard time dealing with fine and large debris. It also tends to drag around or get stuck on obstacles like rugs or power cables. Otherwise, it has a very long battery life and feels decently well-built.

Pros
  • Fantastic battery life.
  • Comes with physical boundary strips.
  • Decent build quality.
Cons
  • Mediocre maneuverability.
  • High recurring costs and demanding maintenance requirements.
  • Struggles with pet hair.
  • Has a hard time clearing fine debris.
6.7 High-Pile Carpet

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is mediocre for cleaning high-pile carpet. It does a great job of dealing with larger debris, but some amount of this material can get stuck at the back of its brush guard rather than being sucked into its dustbin. This vacuum also struggles with very fine debris and pet hair on this surface type. Unfortunately, it can drag around some high-pile carpets too.

Pros
  • Fantastic battery life.
  • Comes with physical boundary strips.
  • Decent build quality.
  • Clears most larger debris.
Cons
  • Mediocre maneuverability.
  • High recurring costs and demanding maintenance requirements.
  • Struggles with pet hair.
  • Has a hard time clearing fine debris.
5.1 Pets

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is a poor option for dealing with pet hair. Pet hair usually gets caught in its brush roll, brush guard, and wheels rather than sucked into its dust bin. While it feels well-built, many parts need regular cleaning or replacing. Thankfully, you can remove its brushroll for easier cleaning of tangled hair. It's also worth noting that this vacuum has a built-in anti-tangle comb advertised to reduce the risk of hair getting tangled within the machine.

Pros
  • Decent build quality.
Cons
  • High recurring costs and demanding maintenance requirements.
  • Struggles with pet hair.
5.9 Stairs

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is a robot vacuum and isn't designed to clean stairs.

4.8 Cars

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is a robot vacuum and isn't designed to clean cars.

  • 7.2 Bare Floor
  • 6.6 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 6.7 High-Pile Carpet
  • 5.1 Pets
  • 5.9 Stairs
  • 4.8 Cars
  • 4.3 Workshop
  1. Updated Dec 14, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
  2. Updated Mar 14, 2023: We've changed the product name to 'Shark ION Robot RV700 Series [RV750, RV761]' in order for the review to encompass all model variants. We've also added the RV750 and RV771 models to the 'Differences Between Variants' section.
  3. Updated Sep 07, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  4. Updated Sep 06, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  5. Updated Jan 07, 2022: Review published.
  6. Updated Jan 04, 2022: Early access published.
  7. Updated Nov 30, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  8. Updated Nov 30, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Nov 26, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is available in three variants, though they differ only in color and included accessories. We tested the RV761/R76 variant, and you can see the label for our test unit here.

Model Code Included Accessories Color Notes
RV771 4x side brushes, 2x filters, 1x BotBoundary strip Black Also referred to as the R77
RV761 4x side brushes, 2x filters, 1x BotBoundary strip  Blue Also referred to as the R76
RV750 2x side brushes, 1x filter, 1x BotBoundary strip  Grey  

If you come across another variant of this vacuum, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The Shark RV700 Series is a simple robot vacuum. Unlike the Shark IQ Robot, it doesn't have a smart-pathing navigation system, so you can't direct the vacuum to certain places within your home or set up virtual boundary markers. It's also incapable of resuming a cleaning session from where it left off after returning to its charging dock.

If you're looking for an alternative, take a look at our list of recommendations of the best robot vacuums for hardwood floors, the best robot vacuums for carpet, and the best budget robot vacuums.

Shark IQ Robot

The Shark IQ Robot is better than the Shark ION Robot RV700 Series. The IQ is better-built, does a better job of cleaning pet hair from all surfaces, is more effective on carpeted floors, and uses a smart-pathing navigational system that results in superior maneuverability and a more advanced suite of automation features. You can use the IQ's companion app to send it to a specific room, and it's capable of resuming a cleaning session from where it left off if it needed to charge partway through.

iRobot Roomba 694 [690, 692]

The iRobot Roomba 694 is better than the Shark ION Robot RV700 Series. The iRobot feels better-built, has fewer parts needing regular cleaning, and incurs lower recurring costs. It also does a better job of maneuvering itself and charges faster, though the Shark does have a longer battery life. The Shark also has a slightly larger dustbin and comes with a set of physical boundary strips in the box, unlike the iRobot, with which you need to purchase the boundary strips separately, though you can also opt for the older Roomba 690 variant that comes with a virtual barrier device.

Shark AI Robot

The Shark AI Robot is better than the Shark ION Robot RV700 Series. The AI feels better-built, incurs lower recurring costs, and maneuvers itself far more effectively. Its more sophisticated mapping system lets you set up virtual boundary markers to keep it out of certain areas. Meanwhile, the RV700 Series clears more debris on bare floors and high-pile carpet, though the AI does do a better job on low-pile carpet.

iRobot Roomba j7/j7+

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series and iRobot Roomba j7 each have their advantages, meaning one might suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Shark incurs lower recurring costs, is easier to store, and clears more debris on bare floors. Conversely, the far more expensive j7 has an advanced mapping system that yields much better maneuverability and allows you to set up virtual boundary lines or schedule cleaning sessions for specific rooms in your home. If you go for the more expensive j7+ model, it comes with a self-emptying base station, reducing hands-on maintenance requirements too. It's also advertised as capable of recognizing your schedule and organizing its cleaning session around it. The iRobot also feels much better built.

iRobot Roomba 675

The iRobot Roomba 675 and Shark ION Robot RV700 Series each have advantages, meaning one may suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The iRobot feels better built, has less demanding maintenance requirements, incurs lower recurring costs, and does a better job of maneuvering itself. It also recharges much faster, though the Shark does have longer battery life. The Shark also comes with a set of physical boundary strips to keep it out of certain areas, has a larger dustbin, and delivers better overall performance on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet.

eufy RoboVac 25C

The eufy RoboVac 25C is better than the Shark ION Robot RV700 Series. The eufy takes less time to recharge and delivers better overall performance on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. You can also use it without an internet connection, thanks to its included remote control. However, the Shark comes with a set of physical boundary strips that you can use to prevent it from entering certain areas. It also has longer battery life.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
7.0
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Robot

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series feels decently well-built. It has a body made of matte-finish hard plastic that feels quite solid. However, the front bumper scratches easily, and the paint on the side of the vacuum, unprotected by any bumper, can flake off if you scrub it. There are a trio of buttons on top of the vacuum: 'Dock', 'Clean', and 'Max'. You can see those buttons here. Meanwhile, the power on/off switch is located on the side of the vacuum, seen here.

Out-of-the-box assembly is rather simple, requiring only that you snap the two included side brushes into place and plug in its docking station.

4.5
Design
User Maintenance

The Shark RV700 Series is hard to maintain due to the high number of parts that require regular servicing. Fortunately, they're all easy to access.

  • Brushroll: You can access the brushroll by removing the brushroll compartment door under the vacuum and then pulling it out. Although the manufacturer doesn't specify a maintenance interval, you should make sure to remove any tangled hair or stuck-on debris regularly.
  • Dustbin: You can take out the dustbin by pressing the release button near the back of the vacuum. You should empty it after every use. The anti-tangle comb attached to the dustbin can collect hair, which you can pull off easily.
  • Pre-motor filter: You can find the pre-motor filter inside the dustbin, and it can be removed by pulling on its release tabs. You should clean it weekly by tapping it against the side of a garbage can to dislodge any dust or debris.
  • Side brushes: The side brushes can easily be pulled out of their socket. You should check them once a week and remove any tangled hair or stuck-on debris. You can also wipe them with a damp cloth before leaving them to air-dry completely if necessary.
  • Drive wheels: You should clean the drive wheels and their housing weekly to make sure that there isn't any significant buildup of dust or debris. You should rotate the wheels while cleaning them to ensure that no debris gets left behind.
  • Front wheel: The front wheel can be removed from its socket. That can be somewhat hard, so you may need to use a tool for sufficient leverage. The manufacturer suggests that you clean it weekly.
  • Sensors: You should clean the sensors on the vacuum regularly with a dry cloth or cleaning brush.
  • Charging pads: You can find the charging pads under the vacuum and on top of the dock station. You should clean them regularly using a dry cloth or cleaning brush to remove any dust or debris that accumulates.

5.0
Design
Recurring Cost
Bag Part Number No bag
Filter Part Number RVFFK950
HEPA Filter Part Number No HEPA Filter

The Shark RV700 Series has a lot of recurring costs. Fortunately, all the parts that need replacing can be purchased on Shark's website.

  • Pre-motor filter: You should replace the pre-motor filter every two months.
  • Brushroll: You should replace the brushroll every six to 12 months or whenever it's visibly worn or damaged.
  • Side brushes: You should replace the side brushes whenever you notice significant wear or damage.
  • Front wheel: You should replace the front wheel every 12 months. This component's model number couldn't be found on the manufacturer's website, but there are similar products available for purchase.

9.0
Design
Storing
Height
3.35" (8.5 cm)
Width
12.60" (32.0 cm)
Depth
14.96" (38.0 cm)
Cord Storing
Not Needed
On-Board Tool Storage
Not needed
Vacuum Rack/Station
Yes

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is fantastically easy to store. It's the same size as other Shark robot vacuums like the Shark IQ Robot and has a low-profile charging dock.

6.5
Design
Dirt Compartment
Bagless
Yes
Volume
0.11 gal (0.40 L)
Full Indicator
No
Bag Included
No Bag Needed

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series has unremarkable dustbin capacity. It isn't very big, so you'll probably need to empty it after every cleaning session. There also isn't any sensor to let you know how close it is to being filled.

Design
In The Box

  • Shark ION RV700 Series vacuum body
  • Dustbin
  • 2x filters (1x filter included with RV750 variant)
  • 4x side brushes (2x side brushes included with RV750 variant)
  • Brushroll
  • Brushroll guard
  • Boundary strip
  • Recharging dock
  • User guide

10
Design
Range
Cordless
Yes
Cord Length
N/A
Hose Length
N/A
Minimum Wand Length
N/A
Maximum Wand Length
N/A
Total Range
N/A

The Shark ION RV700 Series' range is limited only by the space in its dirt compartment and its remaining battery life. However, it can't go up or down stairs.

8.3
Design
Portability
Total Weight
5.47 lbs (2.48 kg)
Weight In Hand
0.00 lbs (0.00 kg)
Carrying handle
No

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series is very portable. It doesn't weigh very much, making it easy to carry around, but it doesn't have a built-in carrying handle to give you a more secure grip.

9.4
Design
Battery
Minimum Battery Life
145 min
Maximum Battery Life
183 min
Recharge Time
271 min
Recharge Dock
Yes
Battery Life Indicator
Yes
Removable Batteries
Yes

The Shark RV700 Series has superb battery performance. Running it in its 'Max' suction power mode yields over two hours of runtime, while using it in its more energy-efficient 'Eco' mode extends its runtime to roughly three hours, which should be more than enough for cleaning most areas. The three battery indicator lights on top of the vacuum give you an estimate of how much charge is remaining, as they gradually turn off as its battery runs out. Unfortunately, the battery takes over four hours to completely recharge, notably longer than most other robot vacuums.

Design
Quality Of Life Features
Rotating Head
No
Power Adjustment
Yes
Self-Propelled
Yes
Headlights
No
Easy On/Off
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
None

The Shark ION RV700 Series has a few quality of life features. You can toggle between the following suction power modes through its companion app: the energy-efficient 'Eco' mode, the default 'Normal' mode, and the high-power 'Max' mode. There are physical buttons on top of the vacuum, but they only let you select the 'Max' or 'Normal' modes.

Design
Tools And Brushes
Brushroll
Yes
Brushroll On/Off
No
Removable Brushroll
Yes
Turbo Brush
No
Crevice Tool
No
Upholstery Tool
No
Soft Bristle Brush
No
Hard Bristle Brush
No
Extension Wand
No
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series comes with two side brushes, which help push debris from the side of the vacuum into the path of its main brushroll.

Design
Alternative Configuration
Blower Mode
No
Performance
9.4
Performance
Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
Setting Used "Max"
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 99%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 92%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 99%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 99%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Shark RV700 Series delivers impressive performance on bare floors. In its high-suction 'Max' power mode, it easily clears small and bulky debris like rice and cereal. However, it may need to make another pass to fully clear pet hair. You may want to consider the eufy RoboVac 25C if you're looking for a budget-friendly model that does an even better job on this surface type.

5.7
Performance
Low-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used "Max"
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 60%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 59%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 32%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 31%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Shark ION Robot RV700 Series performs poorly on low-pile carpet. It struggles quite a bit with cleaning pet hair, which gets caught in the brushroll, brush guard, as well as the drive and directional wheels rather than being sucked into the dustbin. Larger debris like sand, meanwhile, tends to get stuck at the brush guard's back brush. You can see the leftover sand here.

7.4
Performance
High-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used "Max"
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 77%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 76%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 34%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 33%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Shark RV700 Series' performance on high-pile carpet isn't bad. It does a great job of clearing larger debris like sand, but similar to the results of our low-pile carpet test, some amount of the material can get caught in the brush guard's back brush, as seen here. Pet hair also tends to get stuck in the brushroll, brush guard, as well as the drive and directional wheels rather than being sucked into the dustbin. Lastly, it struggles with finer debris like baking soda.

9.6
Performance
Pet Hair Floor Performance
Bare Floor
98%
Low-Pile Carpet
96%
High-Pile Carpet
97%
0
Performance
Suction
Maximum Hose Suction
N/A
Maximum Head Suction
0.0 inHâ‚‚O (0.01 kPa)
Normal Head Suction
0.0 inHâ‚‚O (0.00 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal "Normal" (App)
Hose Diameter
N/A
1.8
Performance
Airflow
Maximum Hose Airflow
8.6 CFM (0.2 m³/min)
9.6
Performance
Noise
Bare Floor
58.9 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
56.1 dBA
6.0
Performance
Maneuverability

The Shark ION RV700 Series has mediocre maneuverability. Unlike the smart-pathing Shark IQ Robot, it uses random pathing to cover an area, meaning that it doesn't follow an efficient cleaning route and only moves in a straight path, changing directions after it runs into something. It tends to miss some areas while vacuuming others multiple times. While it can climb over rug tassels without getting stuck, it may struggle to climb over lighter rugs more than once since it tends to move them around on the first pass. It can get caught on electrical cords too. The manufacturer recommends moving obstacles like cables and rugs that can get in its way while cleaning. Thankfully, it's compact, meaning it can clean under low-lying furniture like couches and tables.

0
Performance
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test
Performance
Air Quality
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
No
4.5
Performance
Cracks
Wood Cracks Post Test
1.0
Performance
Stains
Stain Pickup Post Test
0
Performance
Water
Wet Compatible
No
Water Pickup Post Test
Automation
6.5
Automation
Physical Automation
Automatic Recharging
Yes
Automatic Bag Emptying
No
Pathing Algorithm
Random
Physical Boundary Markers
Yes
Scheduled Start Buttons
No
Cycle Control Buttons
Onboard Only
Navigation Control Buttons
Return to Base Only

The Shark ION RV700 Series has good automation features. You can use the SharkClean companion app to turn the vacuum on and off remotely, switch between its power settings, make the vacuum return to its dock, schedule cleaning times, or make a noise so you can find it. This vacuum is also compatible with Alexa and Google Home devices, so you can use voice commands to enable some core functions. Although the vacuum comes with boundary marker strips, you can't set up virtual boundary lines in the app.

6.5
Automation
Companion App Automation
App Name
SharkClean
iOS Availability
Yes
Android Availability
Yes
Software Boundary Markers (No Go Zones)
No
App Scheduled Start
Yes
App Cycle Control
Yes
Navigation Control within App
No