Choosing between the Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot and iRobot Roomba 104 Vac? Compare features, pricing, and performance to find the best robot vacuum for your home and budget today.
| Specification | Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot🏆 Winner 🏆 | iRobot Roomba 104 Vac |
|---|---|---|
| Suction Power | 1500Pa | 600Pa |
| Battery Life | 120 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Bin Capacity | 0.27 gallons | 300ml |
| Noise Level | 68dB | 65dB |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs | 6.8 lbs |
| Self Emptying | Yes | No |
| Navigation | 360° LiDAR | Random Navigation |
Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot
Our top pick for this comparison
When comparing the Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot ($449) and the iRobot Roomba 104 Vac ($179.99), we're looking at two distinctly different market segments within the robot vacuum category. The Shark positions itself as a mid-range premium option with advanced features, while the iRobot Roomba 104 serves as an entry-level budget-friendly alternative. The price difference of $269 reflects a significant gap in technology, features, and capabilities between these two products.
The most striking difference in performance metrics is suction power, where the Shark AI Ultra dominates with 1500Pa compared to the Roomba 104's modest 600Pa. This 2.5x difference in suction power translates directly to superior cleaning performance, especially on carpets and for deeper dirt extraction. The Shark's Matrix Clean technology allows for multiple passes over the same area, ensuring thorough cleaning coverage that the basic Roomba 104 simply cannot match.
Navigation efficiency heavily favors the Shark AI Ultra. While the Shark features smart home mapping with room selection capabilities, allowing users to designate specific rooms for cleaning, the Roomba 104 relies on random navigation patterns. This fundamental difference means the Shark will clean your home in a logical, efficient manner, whereas the Roomba 104 essentially bounces around until it covers most of the floor. The Shark's excellent obstacle avoidance also demonstrates superior sensor technology, though it does experience occasional navigation errors.
Unfortunately, both products lack specified battery life information in their documentation, making direct comparison impossible. This is a notable omission for both manufacturers, as runtime is a crucial factor in evaluating robot vacuums. However, the Shark's self-emptying capability suggests it may have adequate battery for typical home cleaning cycles, as the self-emptying feature would be less practical with minimal runtime.
The iRobot Roomba 104 is notably lighter at 6.8 lbs compared to the Shark's 8.6 lbs, making it slightly easier to manually move or transport if needed. However, this minor advantage is largely irrelevant for a robot vacuum that should operate autonomously. The weight difference is negligible and doesn't impact real-world usability for the intended purpose.
This category reveals a surprising advantage for the budget option. The iRobot Roomba 104 explicitly features Wi-Fi connectivity with app control, plus compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants. The Shark AI Ultra, despite its "Voice Control" branding, shows "N/A" for Wi-Fi connectivity and app control specifications, which is confusing and concerning given the product name suggests voice integration.
However, the Shark compensates with smart home mapping and room selection, features completely absent from the Roomba 104. The Shark's approach to smart features is more sophisticated, even if the connectivity specifications aren't clearly documented. The Roomba 104's voice assistant compatibility is somewhat superficial without true mapping capabilities—you can tell it to clean, but not which rooms to prioritize.
Both units operate at similar noise levels, with the Roomba 104 at 65dB and the Shark at 68dB. However, there's a critical distinction: the Shark's self-emptying base is notably loud, which could be a significant drawback for noise-sensitive users. The 3dB difference in the units themselves is negligible, but the self-emptying station adds an additional noise factor that isn't fully quantified. This is a legitimate con that affects overall user experience.
The Shark AI Ultra's self-emptying base that holds 60 days of dirt is a game-changing feature. This means you'll rarely need to touch dirt—the vacuum automatically empties into the base station, dramatically reducing maintenance requirements. This convenience factor alone justifies a significant portion of the price premium.
Conversely, the iRobot Roomba 104 requires frequent dustbin emptying due to its smaller capacity. For users with pets, allergies, or large homes, this becomes a recurring chore. The manual emptying also means more frequent contact with dust and allergens, which is a genuine quality-of-life disadvantage.
At $179.99, the iRobot Roomba 104 offers excellent value for money for budget-conscious consumers who want basic autonomous cleaning. For an entry-level robot vacuum, the Roomba 104 delivers reliable iRobot quality at an accessible price point.
The Shark AI Ultra at $449 represents a 2.5x investment, but delivers substantially more in return: 2.5x the suction power, intelligent mapping, room selection, self-emptying convenience, and superior obstacle avoidance. For users willing to invest moderately more, the Shark provides significantly better cleaning performance and convenience.
Choose the iRobot Roomba 104 if you:
Have a strict budget under $200
Live in a small apartment or single-room space
Don't mind emptying the dustbin regularly
Want basic autonomous cleaning without complexity
Prefer established brand reliability over advanced features
Need voice assistant compatibility for basic commands
Choose the Shark AI Ultra if you:
Have a larger home requiring efficient, mapped cleaning
Want to avoid frequent dustbin emptying
Prioritize cleaning performance and thoroughness
Appreciate room-by-room cleaning customization
Can tolerate occasional app glitches and navigation errors
Value the convenience of self-emptying technology
Winner: Shark AI Ultra Voice Control Robot
The Shark AI Ultra emerges as the clear winner in this comparison despite its higher price point. While the iRobot Roomba 104 offers respectable budget-friendly value, the Shark's superior specifications and features justify the investment for most consumers. The 2.5x suction power advantage (1500Pa vs. 600Pa) alone delivers noticeably better cleaning results. More importantly, the self-emptying base holding 60 days of dirt represents a genuine quality-of-life improvement that eliminates a recurring household chore.
The Shark's intelligent mapping with room selection provides cleaning efficiency that the Roomba 104's random navigation cannot match. While the Shark has documented issues with app glitches and a loud self-emptying base, these are minor inconveniences compared to the Roomba 104's fundamental limitations in cleaning power and navigation logic. The Roomba 104 is essentially a "set it and forget it" device that cleans randomly, whereas the Shark is a thoughtfully designed system that cleans intelligently.
For the additional $269 investment, the Shark AI Ultra delivers substantially better performance, convenience, and cleaning results. It's the superior choice for anyone who values their time and wants genuinely effective autonomous cleaning. The Roomba 104 remains acceptable only for budget-constrained buyers with small spaces and low cleaning expectations.
