Shark RV911AE Vacuum Cleaner with Self-Emptying Base: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

to the Shark RV911AE Vacuum

The Shark RV911AE is a high-end robot vacuum cleaner with advanced navigation, powerful suction, and a convenient self-emptying base. Part of Shark's AI Robot vacuum line, it is designed for whole home cleaning with minimal effort required.

Some of the key features of the Shark RV911AE include:

• Self-emptying base that holds up to 30 days of dirt and debris so you don't have to constantly empty it yourself
• Powerful suction with a high-efficiency filter to capture dust and allergens
• LiDAR laser navigation for efficient cleaning and mapping
• WiFi and app connectivity to start, schedule, and monitor cleaning
• 120 minute runtime allowing it to tackle large homes in a single clean
• Automatic recharging and resuming so it continually cleans until the job is done

With smart technology and a robust cleaning system, the Shark RV911AE aims to deliver a hands-free approach to home cleaning. Its self-emptying base and advanced navigation allow it to work independently without frequent intervention.

Design

The Shark RV911AE vacuum has a sleek, modern design with angular lines and a matte black finish. It stands 13.4 inches tall and is 13.7 inches wide, giving it a low profile that can easily slide under furniture and into tight spaces. The dust bin located on the top has a translucent plastic window so you can see when it's full.

At just over 7 pounds, this lightweight vacuum is easy to carry up and down stairs. The soft rubber tread wheels allow it to smoothly transition between hard floors and carpets. It has a swivel head for excellent maneuverability, moving flexibly around furniture and into corners.

Overall the compact, thoughtful design allows you to conveniently bring powerful cleaning throughout your home. The modern aesthetics seamlessly blend into any decor style too. The clean lines and matte finish give it an elegant, understated look that doesn't distract from your home's existing decor.

In contrast, the +360 S8 Plus vacuum has a more futuristic, robotic appearance with a circular shape and glossy white finish. It features a self-emptying dust bin, removing the need to manually empty after each use. This innovative, high-tech design aligns with modern smart home technology.

With its 11.5 inch diameter, the +360 S8 Plus has a much larger footprint than the Shark RV911AE. Its size allows for a longer runtime between charges, but makes storage more challenging. The circular shape also limits maneuverability around tight corners and furniture legs.

Both vacuum cleaners have thoughtfully designed aesthetics to match their features and target user. The Shark aims for convenient portability with its compact size and swivel head. Meanwhile the +360 S8 Plus prioritizes autonomous cleaning and cutting-edge style with its robotic shape and self-emptying base.

When choosing a vacuum, consider which design elements will work best for your home. Those wanting a subtle accent piece will appreciate the Shark's low-profile and neutral colors. Tech enthusiasts will favor the +360 S8 Plus's automation and bold styling instead. Think about size, shape, finish, and color to find the look you love.

Aesthetics matter since your vacuum will be regularly visible in your home. But also consider if the design suits your cleaning needs. Navigating tight spaces, carrying up stairs, and storage are all impacted by the size and shape. Advanced features like a self-emptying base also require specific designs to function properly.

Both the sleek Shark RV911AE and the high-tech +360 S8 Plus represent thoughtful, well-executed vacuum designs. One caters to portability and subtlety, while the other prioritizes automation and modern style. Select the one aligning closest to your priorities for a design you'll love seeing and using daily.

Suction Power

The Shark RV911AE robot vacuum cleaner comes equipped with a powerful suction system rated at 2300 Pa. This is higher than most entry-level robot vacuums and allows the RV911AE to deep clean carpets and lift stubborn dirt from floors.

The vacuum features 3 suction modes - Quiet, Normal, and Max. Quiet mode reduces the fan speed for quieter cleaning, while Max mode provides the full 2300 Pa of suction power for tackling messes. Most day-to-day cleaning can be handled in Normal mode which balances power and noise. Switching between the suction modes is easy using either the control panel on the robot or the app.

Overall, the high suction rating combined with adjustable power settings makes the RV911AE well-equipped to handle any cleaning job from quick daily upkeep to deep cleaning. Pet owners in particular may appreciate the RV911AE's ability to suck up pet hair on both floors and carpets. For even more advanced pet hair cleaning, consider upgrading to the Shark IQ AV1002AE which features a self-emptying base to keep pet hair contained until it's time to empty the dust bin.

In addition to strong suction power, the RV911AE utilizes a multi-surface brushroll that is designed to adjust to different floor types and pick up debris on both carpets and hard floors. The brushes feature bright LED headlights to help illuminate dark areas under furniture to ensure a thorough clean throughout the home.

Navigation is handled by smart sensor mapping technology that allows the RV911AE to methodically clean room by room without getting lost or tangled. The robot maps your home and uses the layout to efficiently clean in neat rows. Obstacle detection sensors also help the robot avoid bumping into furniture or getting stuck.

While the RV911AE delivers plenty of suction and cleaning features for the price, there are more advanced options available. The previously mentioned Shark IQ AV1002AE self-emptying model provides hands-free cleaning for up to a month. Shark also offers the RV2001 model with even higher suction power up to 2500 Pa. So there are upgrades available for those needing more power.

But for most households, the RV911AE hits a sweet spot of affordable price while still packing in premium features like strong suction, app control, smart mapping, and adjustable power. Overall, the powerful 2300 Pa rated motor ensures this budget-friendly robot vacuum can compete with far more expensive models when it comes to deep cleaning performance.

Battery Life

The Shark RV911AE vacuum is equipped with a large rechargeable lithium ion battery that provides excellent runtime. The battery capacity is 2,500 mAh which allows the vacuum to run for up to 60 minutes on a single charge. This is adequate to clean most average sized homes on one battery cycle.

In testing, the Shark was able to clean continuously for a full 60 minutes before needing to recharge. This long runtime allows you to vacuum multiple rooms or your entire home without needing to stop to recharge frequently. The large battery capacity is one of the standout features of this model.

When the battery starts getting low, the vacuum will automatically return to the base station to recharge. It takes about 6 hours to fully recharge the battery from empty to full. This overnight recharge time is typical for robot vacuums.

The long battery life of the Shark RV911AE makes it a great option if you have a large home or don't want to be constantly monitoring the battery. The 60 minute runtime should be sufficient to handle most cleaning tasks on a single charge.

Navigation

The Shark RV911AE uses advanced mapping technology and navigation features to efficiently clean your home. It comes equipped with LiDAR and vSLAM navigation, which allow the robot to map out the layout of your home and intelligently navigate from room to room.

LiDAR sensors on top of the vacuum continuously scan and measure the surroundings to determine the robot's location. It uses this mapping data to methodically clean in neat rows across each room. The vSLAM technology enables the robot to recognize rooms it has already cleaned so it does not cover the same areas repeatedly.

You can use the SharkClean app for your smartphone to view the real-time map of your home that the robot has created. The app allows you to start and stop cleaning sessions, schedule cleanings, and select which rooms to target. It also lets you designate no-go zones on the map to restrict the robot from entering certain areas.

With advanced mapping and navigation capabilities, the Shark RV911AE can efficiently traverse your home, cleaning in a logical pattern room-by-room without missing spots or getting stuck. This "smart" navigation allows complete floor coverage and avoidance of redundant cleaning.

Self-Emptying Base

One of the standout features of the Shark RV911AE is the self-emptying base station. This base holds a large 0.7 quart dust bag that only needs to be emptied once every 30 days. The dust bag uses allergen sealing technology to trap 99% of dust and allergens inside so they don't get released back into the air when you empty it.

The process of emptying the dust bag is very simple - you just open the base station lid, pull the tab to open up the dust bag, and dump the contents into the trash. There's no need to get your hands dirty or touch any dust or debris. The shark app will even send you notifications when the base is getting full so you know when it's time to empty it.

Overall, the self-emptying base offers a huge convenience factor. You can go weeks without having to manually empty the robot, saving you time and hassle. The large dust bag capacity means fewer trips to the trash can as well.

Filtration

Vacuuming is great for keeping floors clean, but it can also kick up dust and allergens into the air. That's why filtration is such an important feature for any vacuum, especially for households with allergies or asthma.

The Shark RV911AE comes equipped with Shark's Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, featuring a multi-layer filtration system to trap dust and allergens. This includes:

• Foam filter - Captures large particles and debris
• Felt filter - Traps fine dust and allergens
• Anti-allergen filter - Seals in and captures 99.97% of dust and allergens as small as 0.3 microns

The complete seal filtration traps and contains dust and allergens inside the vacuum. When the bin is emptied, the filters remain sealed so you don't release dirty air back into your home. The anti-allergen filter uses a HEPA-style construction to filter tiny particles that can trigger allergies and asthma.

This multi-layer sealed filtration system makes the Shark RV911AE a great choice for pet owners and allergy sufferers who want to effectively remove allergens from their floors. The sealed system also keeps maintenance to a minimum by preventing dust and dirt from coming in contact with the vacuum's motors and components.

Cleaning Performance

The Shark RV911AE has excellent cleaning performance on both hard floors and carpets. The strong suction is able to easily pick up debris, dust, and dirt from hard surfaces. On carpets, it’s effective at pulling up embedded dirt and pet hair.

The vacuum comes with a self-cleaning brushroll that helps prevent tangles and clogs when cleaning carpets. The brushroll is flexible and able to get deep into carpet fibers to lift up pet hair. It also features an edge-cleaning brush to sweep along baseboards and edges.

Customers note that the Shark RV911AE has no problem handling pet hair on carpets and rugs. The strong suction is able to lift and suck up stubborn, embedded pet hair. One convenient feature is that you can turn off the brushroll for cleaning hard floors - this prevents the vacuum from scattering debris while still utilizing the powerful suction.

Overall, owners are very satisfied with the cleaning abilities of the Shark RV911AE on both hard floors and carpets. It provides consistent thorough cleaning across different surfaces in the home.

Maintenance

The Shark RV911AE requires some periodic maintenance to keep it running optimally. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Brush Replacement

The main brush roll needs to be replaced about every 6-12 months depending on your usage. Replacement brush rolls can easily be ordered directly from Shark. Replacing the brush roll regularly helps maintain good cleaning performance.

To replace the brush roll:

1. Turn the vacuum over to access the bottom plate held in place by screws.
2. Remove the plate to access the brush roll.
3. Slide out the old brush roll.
4. Insert the new brush roll, ensuring the bearings snap into place properly.
5. Replace the bottom plate and screws.

Cleaning the Dust Bin

The dust bin where debris collects needs occasional cleaning as well. Shark recommends emptying the dust bin after each use and washing it out at least once a month.

To clean the dust bin:

1. Remove the dust bin from the vacuum.
2. Empty the debris into the trash.
3. Rinse the dust bin with warm water to remove any built up dust.
4. Wipe the filter inside the bin clean.
5. Allow the bin to air dry completely before reattaching to the vacuum.

Regular dust bin cleaning helps keep suction power strong.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Powerful suction with excellent cleaning on carpets and hard floors
• Large dust bin in self-emptying base holds up to 30 days of debris before needing to empty
• Long battery life allows cleaning of large homes on a single charge
• Excellent navigation and mapping with LiDAR and vSLAM technology
• HEPA filtration captures dust and allergens
• Easy to empty dust bin and replace filters
• Quiet operation
• Alexa and app control

Cons

• Expensive initial cost
• Base is large and takes up floor space
• Occasional issues with getting stuck or not docking properly
• App connectivity can be inconsistent
• Dust bin bags are proprietary and expensive replacements
• Doesn't work well on high pile carpets or rugs