Shark RV912S Vacuum Cleaner with Self-Emptying Base: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

The Shark RV912S is one of Shark's newer robot vacuum models featuring a self-emptying base for hassle-free cleaning. This vacuum specializes in picking up pet hair, dander, and debris from carpets and hard floors with its powerful suction and self-cleaning brushroll.

The RV912S comes with Shark's largest dustbin yet along with a bagless self-empty base so you can go weeks without having to empty it yourself. It has an anti-allergen seal to trap dust and allergens inside the base.

This model features Shark's AI laser navigation with targeted cleaning mode to clean designated rooms or spots. It connects to WiFi and can be controlled via the SharkClean app or voice assistants. Overall, the RV912S is a high-end robot vacuum geared towards whole home cleaning with minimal effort required.

Design

The Shark RV912S has a nice low profile design that allows it to clean under furniture. It measures 13.4 x 13.4 x 3.6 inches and weighs 13.7 pounds.

The vacuum itself has a black and grey color scheme that looks modern and blends into most home decors. The self-emptying base has a black color.

It has a decent 0.2 gallon dustbin capacity on the robot itself. However, the main advantage is the bagless self-emptying base which holds up to 30 days of dirt and debris.

The lithium-ion battery provides up to 60 minutes of runtime per charge. When the robot returns to the base after cleaning, it will automatically recharge.

A full charge from empty takes around 3 hours. This allows it to be ready for daily cleans.

Another popular self-emptying robot vacuum is the iRobot Roomba j5+. This model has a sleek disc design with a height of 3.5 inches to fit under furniture. It uses iRobot's 3-stage cleaning system with dual multi-surface rubber brushes, an edge-sweeping brush, and powerful suction up to 10 times the power of the Roomba 600 series.

The Roomba j5+ also comes with a self-emptying clean base that holds up to 60 days of dirt and debris so you don't have to constantly empty it. It will automatically empty itself as needed after each cleaning job. The clean base has a bagless design so you don't have to keep buying replacement bags.

Battery life is also excellent at up to 75 minutes which is more than the Shark. It can map your home and clean in neat rows using vSLAM navigation. You can even create Keep Out zones in the app to restrict it from certain rooms.

Overall, the iRobot Roomba j5+ is a very capable self-emptying robot vacuum with great features. It costs more than the Shark RV912S but delivers a more advanced clean thanks to the 3-stage system and intelligent mapping capabilities. The extra long battery life and larger capacity clean base are other nice bonuses.

When choosing between self-emptying robot vacuums, you'll want to consider the price, battery life, navigation system, capacity of the clean base, and overall cleaning performance. Both the Shark RV912S and iRobot Roomba j5+ are excellent options to reduce your effort and keep floors cleaner day to day.

Features

The Shark RV912S comes packed with features designed for effortless cleaning.

Self-Emptying Base

One of the RV912S' standout features is its self-emptying base. The large bagless base holds up to 60 days' worth of debris so you don't have to empty it frequently. Once full, the base automatically sucks the dirt and dust from the robot's bin into an enclosed bag to keep messes contained. This self-emptying capability makes cleaning maintenance much easier. The self-emptying base is a huge time-saver and convenience compared to robots that require manual emptying after each use.

Mapping Capabilities

Using laser navigation and floor mapping, the RV912S maps your home to intelligently and efficiently clean in neat rows. The mapping allows for selective room cleaning, cleaning high-traffic zones more frequently, and customizing no-go zones. You can also label rooms via the app. The advanced mapping results in thorough cleaning coverage.

App Connectivity and Features

Connecting with the SharkClean app provides smart home integration and control from your smartphone. With the app, you can start, schedule, and monitor cleans remotely. It also gives access to the robot's maps and cleaning history. The app connectivity adds convenience through voice commands and scheduling.

Brush Types

The RV912S has a multi-surface brush roll suited for carpets and hard floors. It also uses two side brushes to sweep debris from edges and corners into the robot's path. The brushes are designed to avoid getting tangled with pet hair. The specialized brushes adapt to different floor types for a deeper clean.

If you're looking for a self-emptying robot vacuum that requires minimal effort, check out the Shark UR1005AE. This model takes cleaning convenience to the next level with its bagless base that holds 60 days of debris. You'll save time and hassle with the UR1005AE's self-emptying capabilities and smart mapping technology.

Cleaning Performance

The Shark RV912S Vacuum Robot can handle multiple floor types and debris thanks to its powerful suction and intelligent navigation system.

Suction Power

This robot vacuum has a suction power of 22 air watts, which is strong enough to lift debris like dust, dirt, pet hair and crumbs off hard floors and carpets. The suction is adjustable between the Quiet and Max modes depending on your cleaning needs. Quiet mode is great for everyday cleaning while Max mode provides an extra boost for ground-in dirt.

Navigation

The Shark RV912S uses laser mapping technology to navigate and map your home. It methodically cleans row by row to ensure full coverage. The robot can map multiple floors and remember their layouts for more efficient cleaning in the future. Obstacle detection sensors also help the robot maneuver around furniture and other obstacles without getting stuck.

Suitable Floor Types

This robot vacuum can transition smoothly between different floor types like hardwood, tile, and carpets. It adjusts suction power automatically based on the flooring and has a brush roll that can be enabled or disabled. So it's great for homes with a mix of bare floors and carpets. The brushes easily tackle debris on carpets while the strong suction picks up dust and dirt on hard floors.

Maintenance

The Shark RV912S has easy maintenance needs to keep it running optimally.

Filters

The vacuum has two types of filters that need regular cleaning. There is a foam filter that captures large debris. Shark recommends rinsing this filter every week under warm water to remove dirt and dust buildup.

The second is the high efficiency filter that traps fine dust and allergens. This filter needs a deep clean once a month by tapping it gently over the trash can and using a soft brush to remove embedded debris. Replacement high efficiency filters are available from Shark.

Brush Cleaning

The brush roll needs regular cleaning as hair and debris can become tangled in the bristles. Simply open the brush roll access door and use the included brush cleaning tool to cut and remove any built up hair or debris. It's recommended to check and clean the brush roll every week depending on your usage and amount of hair or debris accumulation.

Noise Level

The Shark RV912S operates at impressively quiet noise levels considering its powerful suction capabilities. When running in normal mode, it produces only around 60dB of noise which is comparable to a normal conversation. Even in max mode, the noise levels peak at around 65dB, which is quieter than your average vacuum cleaner.

You can comfortably run this vacuum all day without the noise becoming intrusive or distracting. The soft rubber wheels help reduce vibration noise as the robot travels across different floor types. Overall, the noise generated is relatively minimal so you don't have to worry about disturbing your household or neighbors as it cleans. This makes the Shark RV912S a great option if you have babies or pets at home that are sensitive to loud appliances. The quiet operation allows you to schedule cleans whenever is most convenient without causing a disruption.

Accessories

Included Accessories

The Shark RV912S comes with a few handy accessories in the box. It includes:

• Charging dock - The charging dock provides power for the vacuum and allows it to empty itself automatically into the bagless base after cleaning.

• Self-empty base - The bagless self-emptying base collects dirt and debris from up to 60 days of cleaning. It's easy to empty by just removing the base's dustbin.

• Two side brushes - The side brushes sweep along edges to pick up dirt in corners and along walls.

• Multi-surface brushroll - The brushroll is designed to pick up dirt and debris on carpets and hard floors.

• Reusable duster crevice tool - This handy attachment is perfect for cleaning in tight spaces and removing dust from surfaces.

Additional Accessories

Additional accessories that can be purchased separately include:

• Extra side brushes
• Extra filter kits
• Extra dirt disposal bags for the self-empty base
• Additional brushrolls optimized for different floor types
• Extension wand and other specialized cleaning tools

This allows owners to customize their cleaning experience with accessories tailored for their home and needs.

Pros

The Shark RV912S has many benefits for consumers looking for a quality self-emptying robot vacuum. Here are three of the top pros:

• Excellent deep cleaning ability - The vacuum has a self-cleaning brushroll and powerful suction to thoroughly pick up dirt, dust, pet hair and debris from carpets and hard floors. The extra-large dust bin capacity also means it can clean for longer without needing to be emptied.

• Automatic self-emptying - Once full, the vacuum will automatically empty itself into its bagless base so you don't have to empty it manually for weeks at a time. This makes cleaning much more convenient.

• User-friendly features - Connects to an app to schedule and monitor cleanings. Has Wi-Fi connectivity, mapping capabilities to navigate your home efficiently, and Alexa voice commands. Easy to set up cleaning schedules and target specific rooms or areas.

Cons

• Battery life could be better. The Shark RV912S has a run time of about 60 minutes before needing to recharge, which is decent but lower than some competing models that can run for 90+ minutes. For homes larger than 2,000 sq ft, you may need to do multiple cleaning cycles per charge.

• Struggles with high pile carpets. While the RV912S handles most carpets well, some users report it has difficulty with very thick or high pile carpets where it can get stuck. It may struggle to fully clean deeper shag carpets.

• Dustbin could be bigger. The bagless self-emptying dustbin only holds about 30 days worth of debris before needing to be emptied. While convenient, some competitors offer larger 60 day self-emptying bins. You'll be emptying the Shark's bin more frequently.

Conclusion

The Shark RV912S robot vacuum cleaner with self-emptying base is an excellent option for whole home cleaning. Its powerful suction, large dust bin, and hands-free emptying make it a convenient choice. The strong battery life, mapping capabilities, and thoughtful features like no-go zones allow flexible cleaning.

While it may struggle with high-pile carpets and lacks some advanced smart features, the RV912S delivers where it counts - thorough cleaning of hard floors and carpets. Its self-emptying base means you won't have to manually empty it for weeks.

Overall, the Shark RV912S is an outstanding self-emptying robot vacuum that requires minimal effort on your part. If you seek robust cleaning across rooms and different floor types, this is a recommended pick. We rate the Shark RV912S 4.5 out of 5 stars.