For years, robot vacuums have operated on a kind of blind faith. You set a schedule, indulge in other chores, and assume the machine did its job. The vacuums have never been work-shy, but the question is whether they are competent enough to clean thoroughly. And most importantly, what’s the proof that the robot vacuum you own has done a good job?
These questions form the premise of Shark’s latest reveal, PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 Vac & Mop, which the company claims “gives customers the visibility and assurance that their floors don’t just look clean, they are clean.” As detailed in the company’s press release, “the vacuum cleaners combine UV light detection with an RGB color camera to seek out hidden messes.”
The signature feature, UV Stain Detect, works by illuminating hard floors as the robot travels, surfacing dried-on spills, pet urine, sweat residue, and other biological messes that standard lighting would never spot. Once a stain is located, the robot engages its HyperSonic Mopping system, a vibrating flat mop pad that Shark claims “delivers seven times the scrubbing power of its previous models.” Shark here is not afraid to take digs at Dreame too, and claims to offer twice the stain removal as the Dreame X40.
After cleaning, the robot circles back under UV light to verify the spot is gone before moving on. Wired’s Nena Farrell, who has had the opportunity to do a hands-on review of vacuum cleaner frames, describes it as “on a quest to embarrass users with how many stains it’s spotted.” Jason Cipriani, of Tom’s Guide, who also did a hands-on review of the same, praised the UV light functionality, saying the whole process is “gross, but cool.”
Navigation is a key USP of any robot vacuum, and its ability to scan the shape of objects and distances by creating a 3D map defines its technical prowess. Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal doesn’t lag in this facet and relies on NeuroNav AI technology for the same. As detailed in the company’s product page, the NeuroNav AI uses a combination of LiDAR, an UltraRange Camera, RGB sensors, and 3D obstacle detection to map and navigate a home in real time.
Also Read: Best Vacuum Cleaners to Buy on Amazon
Another highlight of the robot vacuum is the NeverStuck system technology, which allows the robot to physically lift its chassis over raised thresholds and keep its mop pad elevated when crossing carpet. A NeverStop battery provides up to three hours of runtime. While this is similar to SwitchBot S10, which we reviewed on Homecrux, the standard runtime is sufficient to cover most full-sized homes without a mid-run recharge.
Other features include NeverTouch Pro Base handles that automatically empty debris, refill the water tank, and wash the mop pad with water before drying it with heated air in a sanitization cycle. Shark says it eliminates 99.99% of bacteria. Not to mention, the base station includes a bagless debris container, so you don’t need to worry about bags. The robot is priced at $1,300 and is available on SharkNinja’s official website and Amazon.
