Shark reveals PowerDetect robot vacuum and stick vac

On Thursday, Sept. 5, Shark Ninja officially revealed two new vacuums in its PowerDetect line: the PowerDetect 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop with NeverTouch Pro base and the Clean & Empty cordless vacuum. The robot vacuum will retail for $999.99, while the cordless stick vacuum will retail for $499.99.

Both vacuums are available to order now at Shark’s online store, and will be available at retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart soon.

With these new launches, Shark is targeting the premium end of the vacuum marketplace, where certain bells and whistles have become standard. In the robovac world, the best hybrid robot vacuums and mops (or, at least, the most expensive ones) now feature a cleaning dock that combines self-emptying with self-washing and drying of the mopping pads. And for their premium cordless stick vacs, more brands are introducing docking stations that automatically empty the dustbin.

Both of these new vacuums bring Shark up to date with the competition in these respects, but with a lower price of entry.

Meet the new Shark hybrid robot vacuum and mop.
Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Mashable got the chance to preview both vacuums at a recent press event, and our resident robot vacuum expert Leah Stodart is in the process of testing. Ahead of a full review, we’ve got photos, first impressions, and a few other tidbits to share.

Shark now offers a self-washing 2-in-1

A premium hybrid robot vacuum with self-cleaning features can run you up to $1,500, which is bordering on absurd for a vacuum. For consumers who are skeptical of paying $200 more for self-emptying, all these extra features can feel more gimmicky than boundary-pushing.

And despite lacking these features, Shark’s simpler (and older) Matrix 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop has been a Mashable favorite for years, precisely because of its no-nonsense approach. However, with a retail price of $999.99, the new PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop will cost considerably less than similar offerings from iRobot, Roborock, Ecovacs, and Narwhal.

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Shark previously released an upright PowerDetect vacuum, and with these new launches, Shark says PowerDetect and Matrix will be its core vacuum lines moving forward.

The new robot vacuum’s best feature

The premium hybrid robovac space is definitely getting crowded, and Julian Levesque, Shark Ninja’s senior vice president of product development, told Mashable that with this launch the company is focused on expanding its global footprint. He specifically pointed to markets like France and Germany.

“To me, the coolest part is how the robot lifts up when it goes over a carpet,” Levesque told Mashable. “There are others in the space that have various solutions for that, but we lift up the highest.”

When I saw this vacuum at work, it noticeably lifted its mopping pads when approaching carpet. This is a standard feature in premium hybrids, but the vac seemed to lift higher than normal. It was satisfying to watch the vacuum lift its little butt off the carpet, and you can see this lift-up in our pictures from the demo.

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Shark now offers a cordless stick vacuum with self-emptying

More brands are bringing self-emptying to cordless stick vacuums. These docks typically use a bag system and HEPA filter to ensure that users never have to deal with allergens and dust. The dock sucks out all the debris when the cleaning is done.

The downside of these stations? You can’t shove the vacuum in a closet. For that reason, it’s hard to compete with Samsung’s Bespoke Jet, which features a modern and attractive emptying station you wouldn’t mind putting on display.

But once again, Shark’s version of this technology will cost consumers considerably less. Compare the $499.99 price tag of the PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum to the $999.99 price tag of the new Samsung Bespoke Jet AI stick vacuum. (Pro tip: Go with the previous-gen Bespoke Jet, which has 99 percent of the features and only costs $549 on sale.)

In a demo, the new PowerDetect vacuum easily sucked up hair.
Credit: Shark Ninja

And it goes without saying that Shark’s premium vacuum is much cheaper than Dyson’s premium vacuum offerings.

This is becoming a trend for Shark: offering lower-priced but still impressive alternatives to premium products like the Dyson Supersonic.

An impressive stick vacuum, less impressive design

So far, no vacuum brand has been able to match the visual appeal of the Samsung Bespoke Jet vacuums. And while Dyson’s designs can be a bit clunky, the brand’s vacuums have also become something of a status symbol.

To be honest, I just don’t love the aesthetics of the Shark Clean & Empty vacuum. At least, not enough to give it permanent real estate in my home.

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

However, in terms of cleaning abilities, it seems impressive so far. The stick vac bends in the middle to reach below furniture. It also detects floor type to increase/decrease suction, while also sensing edges to get hard-to-reach debris. It seemed to pick up hair really effectively, but we’re still in the process of testing for ourselves.

We’ll withhold judgment on the robot vacuum until we’ve tested it.

For now, you can head to Shark to order these new vacuums, which are available now.