Shark IQ AV1002AE Vacuum Cleaner with Self-Emptying Base: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

Shark is a well-known American brand that produces innovative floor care appliances like upright vacuums, steam mops, and robot vacuums. They are known for making high-quality vacuums at competitive prices.

The Shark IQ Robot RV1000 is one of their latest releases in the robot vacuum cleaner space. It's a mid-range model with smart mapping technology and a self-emptying base. Shark claims it has excellent cleaning performance suitable for all floor types including carpets and hard floors.

The self-emptying feature allows the vacuum to automatically empty its dust bin into the base after each cleaning run. This means you don't have to empty it manually as frequently. The large bagless base can hold up to 30 days of debris.

Design

The Shark IQ AV1002AE has a sleek, low-profile design that can easily navigate under beds and furniture. It stands 3.6 inches tall and is 13.4 inches in diameter, with a weight of 7.2 pounds.

The robot vacuum comes in a white and dark gray color scheme that will blend in with most home decor.

The self-emptying dust bin on the base station has a large 1.8 liter capacity, avoiding the need to frequently empty the bin manually.

The integrated rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 90 minutes of continuous cleaning time. When the battery gets low, the robot will intelligently return to the base station to recharge, then resume cleaning where it left off.

The Shark IQ robot vacuum aims to provide powerful cleaning performance in a compact, aesthetically pleasing package. With its low profile design, it can clean under furniture and in hard-to-reach areas. The white and gray color scheme helps it blend in subtly with home decor.

A key highlight is the self-emptying base station, which removes the need to manually empty the dust bin frequently. The 1.8 liter capacity allows the robot to hold several cleaning sessions' worth of dirt and debris before the base station needs to be emptied.

Battery life is an important consideration for robot vacuums. With up to 90 minutes of runtime, the Shark IQ can clean large homes in a single session without needing a recharge. It will automatically return to the base when power is low, then pick up cleaning where it left off once charged.

Other leading robot vacuums like the iRobot Roomba i5+ also feature self-emptying bases and long battery life. The Roomba i5+ offers up to 75 minutes of cleaning time and a bagless base that holds 30 bins worth of debris before needing to be emptied.

While the Shark has a more compact design at just 3.6 inches tall, the Roomba measures 3.9 inches tall with WiFi connectivity for app control. Both models can handle pet hair with powerful suction and come with mapping technology to methodically clean entire rooms.

Consumers looking for an effective robotic vacuum with hands-free emptying can choose between these self-emptying models from Shark and iRobot based on factors like battery life, charging features, smart home connectivity, and overall design.

Overall, the Shark IQ AV1002AE is a competitively priced option for whole home cleaning with its long battery, mapping capabilities, self-emptying base, sleek aesthetics, and robust suction power. Its low profile fits under more furniture while the white and gray colorway integrates into home decor.

Features

The Shark IQ AV1002AE comes packed with features to make cleaning your floors a breeze.

Self-Emptying Base

One of the standout features is the self-emptying base. The large bagless base can hold up to 30 days of dirt and debris so you don't have to constantly empty it yourself. Once the vacuum is low on battery, it will automatically return to the base to recharge and empty its contents.

Advanced Mapping and Navigation

This Shark vacuum utilizes advanced mapping technology to navigate your home efficiently. As it cleans, it maps out your rooms, floors, and obstacles to methodically clean in neat rows. You can even select which rooms you want cleaned via the app.

App Connectivity and Controls

Connecting to the SharkClean app allows for enhanced control and customization. Schedule whole home cleanings, target specific rooms or areas, and adjust suction power right from your smartphone. It also keeps track of cleaning history and alerts you when maintenance is needed.

Tangle-Free Brushroll and Comb

Pet hair and long hair getting wrapped around the brushroll is a common headache with robot vacuums. The IQ AV1002AE solves this with an anti-tangle comb that removes debris from the brushroll as it cleans. It also has a self-cleaning brushroll garage to remove any remaining hairs.

The Shark IQ AV1002AE has some great features, but another robot vacuum worth considering is the LIGHT 'N' EASY A5. This vacuum also comes with an auto-empty station that can hold up to 30 days of debris. The high suction power of 3000Pa allows it to deeply clean carpets and hard floors. It has an ultra-thin design to easily clean under furniture and get into corners. Some other notable features of the LIGHT 'N' EASY A5 include WiFi connectivity and app control, Alexa compatibility, smart mapping with room select, and a large 5200mAh battery for up to 200 minutes of runtime. The advanced navigation system uses multiple sensors to efficiently map your home and identify obstacles. Overall, the LIGHT 'N' EASY A5 is another great option for a robot vacuum with a self-emptying base. When shopping for a robot vacuum, be sure to consider the size of your home, types of flooring, and if you have pets. Look for features like strong suction, runtime, smart navigation, and room mapping. An auto-empty base is very convenient but takes up additional space. Read reviews and compare prices to find the best robot vacuum to suit your cleaning needs. With regular use, a robot vacuum can greatly reduce the time spent keeping floors tidy.

Performance

The Shark IQ Robot AV1002AE delivers excellent cleaning performance thanks to its strong suction power and long battery life.

• Suction Power: This robot vacuum packs some serious suction with 1800Pa of power. That's strong enough to lift debris and deep clean carpets. The suction is automatically increased when cleaning carpets to lift dirt from deep in the fibers.

• Runtime: A large 5200mAh lithium ion battery provides up to 120 minutes of continuous cleaning time. That's enough to clean multiple rooms or a large home on a single charge. The robot will automatically return to the base when the battery gets low to recharge.

• Noise Level: Despite the strong suction, noise levels stay relatively low at around 60dB on hard floors and 63dB on carpets. This allows you to run the vacuum without too much disruption.

• Cleaning Performance: The Shark IQ navigates intelligently in neat rows using laser mapping and a camera. It avoids getting stuck and covers the whole floor thoroughly. The self-cleaning brushroll is great at picking up dust, dirt and pet hair on both carpets and hard floors. The extra corner brush gets into edges. Large debris is no match for the 0.17 quarts dust bin.

Ease of Use

Setting up the Shark IQ AV1002AE robot vacuum is straightforward. Simply download the SharkClean app, connect to your WiFi network, and you can start controlling the robot from your smartphone. The app walks you through the whole process step-by-step.

Routine maintenance is also designed to be easy. The self-emptying base holds up to 30 days of dirt and debris so you don't have to constantly empty it. You only need to occasionally wash the filter and empty the base when notified.

The app allows you to easily schedule and customize cleans. Set whole home cleanings or target specific rooms or areas. Schedule the robot to clean whenever is most convenient for you, even when you're not home. You can also choose from three suction power levels depending on how thorough of a clean you need. Overall, the Shark IQ robot vacuum makes it simple to keep your floors consistently clean with minimal effort.

The Shark IQ App

The Shark IQ app allows you to fully monitor and control your Shark IQ AV1002AE vacuum. You can start, stop or schedule cleaning sessions directly from your smartphone. The scheduling feature is highly customizable, letting you set specific days and times to run the vacuum.

The app provides a detailed cleaning history so you can see exactly where and when your vacuum has cleaned. It also sends notifications if there are any alerts like a clogged brushroll or full dustbin that need your attention.

One handy app feature is the ability to create virtual boundaries to restrict where your vacuum cleans. This lets you limit it to certain rooms or keep it away from delicate areas.

Alexa and Google Assistant are both supported, allowing voice commands to start and stop cleaning sessions. This makes it easy to kickoff a cleaning hands-free.

Overall, the Shark IQ app provides excellent controls and customizations so you can monitor cleaning and tailor schedules to fit your needs. The voice assistant integrations add nice hands-free convenience as well.

Accessories

The Shark IQ AV1002AE comes with a few handy accessories to help keep your floors clean and the robot running smoothly.

• Charging Dock - The charging dock provides power for the robot when it's not cleaning. The robot can self-dock to recharge its battery, ensuring it's always ready for its next cleaning.

• Extra Side Brushes - Additional side brushes are included so you can easily swap them out when the bristles get worn down. The brushes help sweep debris from along walls and furniture into the path of the vacuum.

• Extra Filters - Extra filters allow you to replace clogged filters as needed. This helps maintain strong cleaning performance by allowing proper airflow through the vacuum.

• Cleaning Tool - A small cleaning tool is provided to brush dirt and debris out of the various nooks and crannies on the robot after use. This allows you to keep the vacuum operating at peak efficiency.

The included accessories help you keep the Shark IQ running smoothly for a long time so you can enjoy consistent, high-quality cleaning.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Powerful suction and cleaning for carpets and hard floors
• Large dust bin means less frequent emptying
• Self-emptying base holds up to 30 bins of debris
• Scheduling and app control for convenience
• Good battery life up to 2 hours
• Mapping capability learns floorplan

Cons

• Expensive compared to models without self-emptying
• Base is bulky and takes up space
• Some users report issues with mapping
• Dust bin fills quickly with pet hair
• Doesn't automatically resume when battery is low
• Lacks some smart features like room select

Price

The Shark IQ AV1002AE currently retails for $429.99 on Amazon. This is on the higher end for robot vacuums, but the self-emptying base and advanced navigation features help justify the price.

At this price point, the Shark IQ AV1002AE offers strong value compared to competitors. The self-emptying base alone is a huge convenience that can save many hours over the lifetime of the device. Meanwhile, the excellent obstacle avoidance and mapping allow the robot to clean thoroughly and efficiently.

While not the most affordable option, the Shark IQ AV1002AE delivers meaningful time-saving and cleaning performance that make the price tag worthwhile for many households. Overall, the price seems fair considering the robust feature set and advanced technology included. Those wanting the ultimate in autonomous cleaning capability will find this Shark to be a smart investment.

Conclusion

The Shark IQ AV1002AE robot vacuum is an excellent choice for whole home cleaning thanks to its self-emptying base station. The self-emptying feature allows the vacuum to empty its own dustbin into a large bagless base, eliminating the need to manually empty it for weeks at a time.

The powerful suction and deep carpet cleaning make it great for homes with different floor types. Mapping capabilities and smart navigation ensure full coverage of floors. Easy scheduling through the app and Alexa voice commands make operating the robot vacuum effortless.

The self-cleaning brushroll helps prevent tangles and keeps maintenance to a minimum. Multiple accessories like boundary strips help with customizing cleanings.

Overall, the Shark AV1002AE delivers powerful and convenient whole-home cleaning. If you want a robot vacuum that can tackle large areas without frequent dumping, the self-emptying base on this model makes it our top recommendation.