One of our favorite brands just revealed a new 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.
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Both of these new vacuums bring Shark up to date with the competition in these respects, but with a lower price of entry.
Mashable got the chance to preview both vacuums at a recent press event, and our resident 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.
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.
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 previous-gen Bespoke Jet, which has 99 percent of the features and only costs $549 on sale.)
And it goes without saying that Shark's premium vacuum is much cheaper than 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.
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.
Topics Robot Vacuums Vacuums
Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men's product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.
Tim studied print journalism at the University of Southern California. He currently splits his time between Brooklyn, NY and Charleston, SC. He's currently working on his second novel, a science-fiction book.
