Whether you live a fast-paced life or suffer from physical limitations that make certain household chores difficult, a robotic vacuum cleaner can be a great helper. The world of robotic vacuums is a competitive one, but at HouseholdMe, we have found that there are some clear winners.
We tested more than 30 current models from numerous brands, including iRobot (Roomba), Ecovacs, Eufy, and many knock-offs which you’ve probably never heard before!
In this review we will be looking at the Shark AV2001 AI Robot Vacuum. This robot vacuum from Shark is best-suited for bare floors. It can pick up almost any piece of debris, but if you have large pieces like cereal, it might get stuck in its intake because there’s not much room left for smaller items.
Hair poses a challenge for this robot vacuum as it can get caught in the brush roll or intake opening on all surface types. However, its performance on carpet is passable.
The Shark AV2001 allows you to control its features with the companion app. It has excellent maneuverability and features, so let’s look at this Shark robot by setting it up.
Shark AV2001 Intro Video
Setup
Setting up the vacuum was a breeze. We just scanned the QR code and downloaded an app, put it on its charging dock- within hours of getting started (or minutes if you’re fast!) -and then got going with my cleaning!
The app found my WiFi without any problems, and we could map out the layout of my house.
The robot tried to navigate the staircase the first time, but it failed, trying to make sense of what seemed like an impossible task – moving away from the stairs. We are not sure what happened the first time. We think it was an interruption in mapping software; the app started sending out an alert tone telling us to “try again.”
It was hard to get the app on board with my new robot vacuum. The app thought it had started wet mopping after we installed some carpets, but now all of a sudden, there are more features for which this device is capable!
We could skip this step, but we still wonder what might be missing from the Shark app.
The robot mapped out just over 1,200 square feet. Nowhere in the user manual does it talk about maximum square footage, so there was some uncertainty about how much space this model would take up.
The website and app are in the process of being updated. This will include an improved customer service experience for all customers!
The Vacuuming
This app is pretty easy to use, but it could be improved. Now it was time to use the robot vacuum.
When I first started using the app, it took me a few minutes to get things set up and then select “rooms” or do everything.
That’s nice because that way, you can focus on one area at a time. We told the robot what to clean, so off went its work with no problem.
It took a while for this pattern to make sense, but eventually, we realized that it was dealing with angles first and then went into the row by row instructions.
The pattern reminded me of using a lawnmower. It’s not perfect, but it does have some overlap.
Overall, the Shark robot vacuum did a decent job. The vacuum picked up all of the rice on the tile and almost all on the carpet. We thought the rice might be stuck in between the carpet fibers, but it was easy to pick up with my fingers.
However, the Shark vacuum did an excellent job of avoiding the sofa when it mapped out my room.
We did notice that there was some debris next to the baseboard. Although it has side brushes, this robot vacuum doesn’t pick up small particles like dirt or dust bunnies in the corners very well.
The Shark AV2001 AI is much quieter than a regular vacuum cleaner! We could hear it, but not when the TV was on.
Notable features of the Shark AV2001 AI
- Powerful Vacuum Suction: Shark power with a self-cleaning brushroll, to tackle all types of debris on any surface.
- On-Demand Deep-Cleaning: Use UltraClean Mode to deep clean targeted areas like rooms or specific spots.
- Detects & Avoids Objects: Al Laser Navigation ensures total home coverage with row-by-row cleaning and object detection.
- Advanced Home Mapping: Maps your layout & lets you label rooms to clean.
- Clean From Anywhere: Customize & schedule cleans, create no-go zones, and map your home, all in the SharkClean app.
- Row-By-Row Cleaning: With Al Laser Navigation, your robot cleans row by row for up to 50% better coverage.
- Set No-Go Zones: Use the SharkClean app to block off obstacles like pet bowls or cords.
Shark RV2001WD vs AV2001
The RV2001WD and the AV2001 are very similar to each other. However, the Shark RV2001WD has an additional mopping function.
Mop robots are efficient and require little maintenance, but if you start with a floor covered with lots of dirt, it’s going to take some time before the floor is clean. We recommend that you wash your floors before using this robot and then maintenance afterward.
Besides that, the 2001WD has IQ Navigation, and the AV2001 model has Advanced Navigation. This is what sets them apart from one another, but other than that, it seems like pretty similar robot vacuums!
Related Shark Robot Vacuum Articles
• Shark AV2001 AI
• Shark AV2501AE AI
• Shark AV1010AE IQ
• Shark AV911S EZ
• Shark AV2001WD AI
• Shark ION AV752
Comparison Articles
• Shark IQ vs AI vs EZ vs ION Series
• Shark AV911S EZ vs AV2501AE AI
• Shark IQ vs. Roomba s9+
Final Words
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Is the Shark AV2001 AI as good as my a regular upright or canister vacuum? No it’s not.
We think the Shark picks up as much as the old vacuum cleaner, but new upright and canister vacuums do a much better job of cleaning next to baseboards. But these appliances have much more power, are louder, and, oh yeah – you have to push them. The AV2001 won’t replace the regular Bissell, Miele or Hoover.
This robot vacuum is an excellent choice for people who don’t want to spend more than necessary on their cleaning machine. We’ve had a few issues with the app, but hopefully, that will be fixed soon.
- POWERFUL CLEANING PERFORMANCE: Incredible suction picks up all kinds of dirt and debris...
- ON-DEMAND DEEP CLEANING: Select UltraClean Mode in the SharkClean app to target specific...
If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!
Last Update: 2024-04-26 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
