Shark RV913S Vacuum Cleaner with Self-Emptying Base: In-Depth Review and Customer Opinions

The Shark RV913S is a powerful yet sleek robot vacuum with a self-emptying base that removes the need for frequent manual emptying. Part of Shark's AI Robot Vacuum line, it combines strong suction with advanced navigation and smart home connectivity for effortless whole home cleaning.

With its bagless self-emptying base, the RV913S can hold up to 60 days' worth of dirt and debris before needing to be emptied. This is a major plus for those who want a truly hands-off cleaning experience. The self-emptying base uses an enclosed bag system to trap 99% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum and base.

Overall, the Shark RV913S delivers robust cleaning capabilities in a stylish package that takes the hassle out of maintenance. Its self-emptying design and smart features make it ideal for busy households.

Design

The Shark RV913S has a unique D-shaped design that's different than most round robot vacuums. It measures 13.4 x 13.4 x 3.9 inches and weighs around 15 pounds. While it's on the heavier side, the vacuum still fits under most furniture.

You can choose from three different color options: black, navy blue, and plum. The top cover has a shiny plastic finish with the Shark logo in the center. The robot itself has a sturdy build quality.

The self-emptying base has a matte black plastic finish and measures 13.7 x 14.6 x 15.3 inches. It's designed to hold up to 30 days of debris before needing to be emptied manually. There's a bagless design with an enclosed bin that traps dust and allergens.

Overall, the Shark RV913S has a sleek modern design despite its larger size. The color options add a nice touch to differentiate it from the typical black and silver robot vacuums. The Loorow AT800 is another robot vacuum with a self-emptying base that has a unique design. It has a square shape with rounded corners and comes in white or black color options. The dust bin is completely enclosed inside the base for a streamlined look. While the Shark RV913S aims for a bold, eye-catching design, the Loorow AT800 goes for a more minimalist, subtle aesthetic.

The D-shape of the Shark allows it to get very close to walls and corners while cleaning. The Loorow AT800's square shape may not reach quite as close, but it still provides good wall coverage. So the designs are optimized for their different strengths. The Shark seems made to stand out, while the Loorow blends seamlessly into modern home decor. But they both use smart design details like enclosed bases and color options to create robot vacuums that look great in a home.

In terms of dimensions, the Loorow AT800 is a bit more compact at 12.5 x 12.5 x 3.1 inches. It also weighs slightly less at around 13.4 pounds. So the Loorow may fit under some furniture that the larger Shark can't. But the Shark's extra weight and size allow it to have a larger dust bin and battery capacity. So there are always trade-offs when it comes to robot vacuum size and design.

Overall, both vacuums feature thoughtful designs that aim to solve pet hair and long hair challenges. The Shark's unique D-shape targets corners and edges. The Loorow's enclosed base hides debris. While aesthetics are important, smart design considerations for improving performance matter too. Both robot vacuums succeed in balancing form and function.

Features

The Shark RV913S has several standout features that make it a versatile and user-friendly robot vacuum option.

Self-Emptying Base

The RV913S comes with a self-emptying base that enables the vacuum to empty its own dust bin after each cleaning session. The base has a large 3.2L dust bag that only needs to be replaced every 2-3 months for most users. This is a huge convenience factor that reduces the need to frequently empty the robot's bin yourself. The self-emptying base is a game-changer that takes the hassle out of robot vacuum maintenance.

Mapping and Navigation

Using laser navigation and vSLAM technology, the Shark RV913S can map your home and intelligently navigate from room to room. You can customize cleaning schedules for different parts of your home and even designate keep-out zones. The vacuum remembers multiple floor maps, so cleaning remains efficient after moving furniture or rearranging a room. The advanced mapping capabilities make cleaning more thorough and automated.

App and Voice Control

The accompanying SharkClean app allows you to schedule and monitor cleans right from your smartphone. Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands are also supported for hands-free control. The smart connectivity options give you maximum control and convenience.

Powerful Suction

With a suction power rating of 1000Pa, the RV913S delivers strong cleaning performance on carpets and hard floors. The vacuum automatically increases suction when transitioning between floor types. You can also manually switch suction levels based on your cleaning needs. The adjustable powerful suction tackles dirt and debris on any floor surface.

If you're looking for a slightly more affordable self-emptying Shark, check out the Shark RV911AE. It shares many of the same excellent features as the RV913S but at a lower price point. The RV911AE has a self-emptying base, intelligent mapping, app control, Alexa connectivity, adjustable suction power, and great cleaning performance across floor types. It's an excellent alternative self-emptying Shark vacuum to consider.

Cleaning Performance

The Shark RV913S vacuum cleaner delivers excellent cleaning performance on all surface types. Its powerful suction is effective at deep cleaning carpets and removing embedded dirt and debris. The self-emptying base keeps suction power strong over time by preventing dust build-up in the bin.

On carpets, the RV913S picks up surface debris and deep cleans fibers to lift out dirt from deep within the pile. Its brushroll is designed to agitate carpeting to loosen and extract embedded dust and dirt. Users note the vacuum leaves carpets looking freshly cleaned after each use.

Hard floors are no match for the RV913S either. Its strong suction extracts dust and dirt from tile, vinyl, and hardwood with ease. The vacuum produces a clean shine without leaving behind any dust or debris. The soft roller is gentle on delicate hard floors while still providing the power needed to thoroughly clean.

Pet hair doesn't stand a chance against this vacuum. The self-cleaning brushroll actively removes wrapped hair as it cleans. Multiple rows of bristles grab onto pet hair and lift it out of carpets and rugs. The powerful suction keeps it contained within the vacuum. Users with multiple pets report the RV913S makes quick work of removing pet hair from their home.

Navigation

The Shark RV913S navigates using lidar technology and advanced mapping. The lidar laser beams map the home and detect obstacles in real-time, allowing the robot to efficiently navigate rooms and around furniture.

This robot vacuum has excellent navigation and obstacle avoidance capabilities. It deftly maneuvers around furniture legs, thresholds, and clutter on floors. The lidar mapping enables precise navigation without bumping into objects or getting stuck.

One of the standout features is the shark's PerfectPath Navigation with Room Select. You can use the app or voice control to send the robot to clean specific rooms. It's able to navigate to different rooms and provide focused cleaning where you want it.

The mapping is accurate and the robot builds a persistent map saved to the cloud. This allows for efficient directed room cleaning and purposeful spot cleaning. It also enables the shark to automatically resume cleaning after returning to the base station to empty the dustbin.

Overall, the advanced navigation and mapping technologies make this an exceptionally capable and convenient robot vacuum able to thoroughly clean homes without getting tangled or trapped. The efficient navigation ensures complete coverage for a satisfying clean.

Battery Life

The Shark RV913S robot vacuum has excellent battery life, able to clean for up to 60 minutes on a single charge. This is among the longest runtimes available in a robot vacuum today.

A 60 minute runtime is sufficient to clean small to medium sized homes of up to 1,000 square feet on a single charge. For larger homes, the Shark will need to recharge mid-cycle before finishing.

When the battery gets low, the Shark RV913S will automatically return to the base station to recharge. It takes around 3 hours to recharge fully. This is on the slower side, but acceptable given the long runtime.

The lithium ion battery is designed for longevity. Shark states it should maintain maximum capacity for up to 3 years. Replacement batteries are available if needed after this period.

Overall, the excellent 60 minute runtime makes the Shark RV913S a great option for those needing to clean larger spaces in a single cleaning session. Just be prepared for longer recharge times.

Maintenance

The Shark RV913S is designed to be low-maintenance thanks to its self-emptying base, but some periodic cleaning is still required.

The dust bin in the self-emptying base holds up to 60 days' worth of dirt and debris before needing to be emptied manually. This is a huge improvement over regular robot vacuums that need frequent emptying. Simply remove the bag when full and replace with a new bag for convenient, mess-free disposal.

The filter should be cleaned every 2-3 months. The self-cleaning brushroll makes hair wrap less likely, but it should still be inspected and cleaned as needed. The sensors and charging contacts can be wiped down if they get dirty.

Overall, the maintenance demands are minimal for this robot vacuum. The self-emptying base eliminates the need for daily emptying, and the other maintenance tasks only need to be done every couple months. This makes the Shark RV913S an appealing option for busy homeowners who want a convenient, low-maintenance cleaning solution.

Noise Level

The Shark RV913S operates at a quiet noise level, making it suitable for daily cleaning without causing too much disruption. When running on the lower suction settings, it produces around 65-70 decibels of noise. This is comparable to the volume of a typical conversation and won't drown out your TV or music.

Even on the max suction mode, the noise level reaches around 75 decibels. While noticeably louder, this is not excessively noisy. The vacuum has a gentle hum rather than a high-pitched whirring or whining sound. You may need to turn up your TV a few notches, but you can still carry on a conversation nearby without shouting.

The self-emptying base emits a muted "whooshing" sound when sucking debris into the bag. This only lasts for several seconds each time the robot returns to empty itself. Overall, the Shark RV913S is discreet enough for everyday cleaning and won't force you to flee the room when running. The noise level is very reasonable for a powerful vacuum with strong suction capabilities.

App and Smart Features

The Shark RV913S comes with the SharkClean app that allows you to control, schedule, and monitor cleaning from your smartphone.

The app has an easy-to-use interface that lets you start, stop, or schedule a cleaning session. You can also switch between cleaning modes, activate spot cleaning, or send the vacuum back to its base.

For scheduling, you can set up daily, weekly, or customized cleaning schedules. The app will automatically start a cleaning cycle at the designated time. You can even schedule it when you're away from home.

The map view shows you where the robot has cleaned and allows you to target specific rooms or areas to clean. You can also use no-go zones if there are areas you want the vacuum to avoid.

With Alexa and Google Assistant integration, you can control the Shark RV913S with voice commands. Just connect it to your smart home ecosystem to start cleaning using your voice.

Overall, the app provides a high level of convenience by putting monitoring and controls right on your smartphone. The integration with smart home platforms also expands the options for controlling the vacuum remotely.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Powerful suction for deep cleaning carpets and hard floors
• Large dust bin with auto-emptying base for minimal maintenance
• Methodical navigation maps home and cleans efficiently
• Impressive battery life up to 2 hours of runtime
• Advanced sensors avoid obstacles and cliffs
• Easy to schedule cleaning via app or voice assistant
• Quiet operation compared to other robot vacuums

Cons

• Expensive upfront cost
• Base is large and takes up space
• App has some bugs and connectivity issues
• Gets stuck on high pile rugs and dark carpeting
• Does not empty base fully on its own
• Limited customization options for cleaning patterns