Achieving Unparalleled Cleaning Efficiency with Shark Ion Robot R85

Robots are beginning to feature more and more in our lives today. The vacuum cleaner industry has been revolutionized with the introduction of robot vacuums. However, a word of caution – don't expect your robot vacuum cleaner to replace any conventional vacuum cleaners that you already have.

However, there are some particular advantages of these machines. But you need to know what you are looking for before you shell out your hard-earned money.

Size of Your Home

If you have a large home with vast floors, you need a high-capacity vacuum

Some robot vacuums work well in small homes, and others are suitable for large houses with multiple floors. You will be spending extra money unnecessarily on a high-capacity vacuum if you live in a small apartment. However, a small robot vacuum may not be able to keep up with the large floor area of a sprawling country home.

Presence of Pets

If You Have Pets, Your Vacuum Cleaner Will Need to Handle Pet Hair

Pet hair presents unique challenges to vacuum cleaners. Even with robot vacuums, you can get ones that are specially designed to deal with pet hair. Most of them come with HEPA filters to keep allergens from pets at bay.

Battery Life

Battery Life Can Be an Important Consideration

Battery life shouldn’t be an issue if you live in a small dwelling. If you have a large house or one with multiple floors, then the runtime you get out of one charge is worth looking into.

➜ RELATED: What You Need To Know About Roomba’s Battery Life

Types of Floors

High-Pile Carpets Can Present a Challenge

Most robot vacuums will perform well on hardwood floors. However, if you have carpets and rugs, some vacuum cleaners may not perform that well on them. The biggest challenge is high-pile carpeting. So, if you have that type of surface in your home, you need to ensure to get a model from some of the best robot vacuums that won’t get stuck on your carpets.

Wi-fi Connectivity

Having a wi-fi Enabled Robot Vacuum Can Be Helpful

Having a wi-fi enabled robot vacuum cleaner is great to have. However, you need to ask yourself whether you need it or not. For example, if you are someone who rarely leaves the house, you could probably manage a basic robot vacuum cleaner that uses a local remote.

Wi-fi connectivity comes at a cost, and you may end up saving a bit of money without compromising on quality by buying a basic model.

Budget Considerations

You Need to Consider Your Budget

In some way or the other, all the above considerations have a bearing on the money that you need to spend on a robot vacuum cleaner. You can get cheap robot vacuums for less than $200.00. Then, some high-end models can touch $800.000 and above.

Between $200.00 and $600.00 is the price range that would probably meet your requirements. Choose a machine that fits your pocket but offers features that will get your cleaning tasks done as required.

Any Other Special Features?

Last but not least, when you shop for any product, you need to look for unique features that other models perhaps do not have. The vacuum cleaner industry is in a state of constant flux. There are new developments every month. New brands are entering the market.

Existing brands continue to upgrade their models and introduce new ones. Keep an eye on the market to monitor what different brands are offering. You may end up with something extra without having to spend too much.

The Shark Ion Robot R85 – A Force to Reckon With

The Shark Ion Robot R85 Via: Amazon

What is the best shark vacuum on the market? You may ask. The Shark Ion Robot R85 is an upgrade from the R75, also called the Shark Ion 750, and probably is one of the best value vacuum cleaners you can get. According to Shark Ion Robot Vacuum R85 Reviews, this robot vacuum has three times more power than its predecessor.

It has excellent cleaning mechanics as well. The Shark R85 has well-designed brushes that work well on carpets as well as hard floors, efficiently picking up various grades of debris.

According to Shark robot vacuum reviews, Shark's robot vacuum also performs well in deep cleaning carpets. It is a significant improvement compared to most other robot vacuums that don't deep clean carpets as efficiently.

The Shark R85 is a standard navigation robot that covers all the areas to be cleaned, avoiding obstacles quite efficiently. At two cups, the dust bin is relatively large. However, you may like to look at other models if you have deep pile carpets because this vacuum tends to get stuck in such carpets.

This robot vacuum cleans corners fairly efficiently as well – better than some other brands like Roomba. It is good at lifting debris from crevices as well. The Shark Ion Robot R85 is also one of the quietest robot vacuums in the market. The battery of this robot vacuum cleaner also runs for an impressively long time, almost 90 minutes in “quiet” mode and about 60 minutes in “max” mode.

Pros

• High suction power
• Good cleaning mechanics
• Navigates around obstacles well
• Large capacity dust bin
• Silent operation

Cons

• Exhaust tends to blow away fluff and fine pet fur
• Sometimes gets stuck in high-pile carpets

Shark Ion RV850: Features and Benefits

Shark Ion RV 850: Understanding the Model Numbers

You may have noticed different model numbers assigned to the R85. Well, here’s the logic behind these numbers:

Consider the product to be the Shark Ion Robot R85.

The model number of variations of this Shark vacuum is RV850XXXX.

The zero in the model number is reserved for updates. Hence, RV851 will be the same as RV 850, but the “1” will denote that it is an updated version.

Further variations indicate:

• RV850: The product is being sold on Amazon.
• RV850C: The product is being sold at Canadian Tire.
• RV 850WV/RV850BRN: Being sold directly by Shark through their website. The variation in the two model numbers indicates the different sales regions.

The conclusion here is that all these different numbers belong to the same product. Now we have cleared up the issue of the RV85’s different model numbers, let’s jump into the main features and benefits of the Shark Ion RV850.

Design

The Shark Ion RV850 is a rugged vacuum cleaner. Although it doesn’t have a profile as low as a few other robot vacuums, it is slim enough to disappear under most low-clearance furniture.

The three buttons on the top of the appliance are for the clean, dock, and max functions. You will also see a lot going on with the lights and sound on the device. You get a manual that explains all of it. All this information is available on the app as well.

The underside of the RV85 reveals three wheels, two on either side and a small roller wheel in the front. Each of the side wheels has a single-spoke brush, and although these brushes are less robust than the three-spoke variety, the tendency to get entangled with hair gets reduced.

There is also a self-cleaning single roller brush that features twisted rubber fins, which is easy to clean. You will also see a couple of stationary brush pieces.

The Shark Ion RV850 offers three stages of suction. Using different levels of suction helps conserve the battery with a lower suction, which is also useful to prevent fluff and hair from being blown around by the exhaust vent.

Considering that the R85 has a reasonably-high suction, it has a surprisingly silent operation at less than 60 dB.

In what we could consider as a drawback, the Shark Ion RV850 has no mapping feature. Thus, you will not be able to program the vacuuming operations. Unlike some other robot vacuum cleaners like the iRobot Roomba 690. The R85 with wi-fi connected apps moves in random patterns until it has completed the cleaning operations.

➜ RELATED: Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL RV1001AE Wi-Fi Connected

Setting it Up

Setting it Up is Easy Via: Amazon

You will need to download the Shark app onto your Android or iOS device, and you should have a 2.5 GHz wi-fi connection. Once your setup is complete, you can toggle between the different suction levels and send and receive information to and from your robot vacuum through your wi-fi.

The vacuum is compatible with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. You can use these facilities to send the machine for charging to the charging dock or stop its operation if you need to.

Battery

Although the battery of the Shark Ion RV850 robot vacuum is smaller than its predecessor, the R75, it is only minimally lower at 2550mAh as against the 2600mAh of the R75. However, this slight reduction seems to have slightly impacted the runtime and effectiveness of the vacuum.

The maximum runtime that you can get from the R85 is one hour against the one-and-a-half-hour of the R75. Nevertheless, the machine should be able to cover a fair degree of surfaces on a single charge, of course, depending on the size of your home. It should take about an hour to clean a house of 900 to 1,100 square feet.

After the battery level is about 10%, the vacuum takes off to the charging station. You will then be looking at about three hours of downtime until the battery is fully charged.

Dust Bin

The dust bin of the Shark Ion RV850 at 0.7 quarts is larger than the Shark RV750 and some of the best robot vacuums from top brands. It is easy to release the dust by pushing the rear edge. The dust bin of the R85 is built on a clamshell design. There is a second release button to prevent accidental ejections en route to the garbage.

You get a better user experience while emptying the R85’s dust bin thanks to its hands-free operation.                

General Performance

The following description of the performance of the Shark Ion RV850 robot vacuum cleaner is based on how it fared being tested on a mostly open-floor-plan house, having hardwood floors and an assortment of rugs and mats. It was also tested on a 2.25”-thick shag carpet. So, let’s take a look at how the machine performed.

Overall, the robot vacuum performed quite an aggressive cleaning operation. Although the machine slowed down while approaching obstructions, it still bumped into them, and with considerable force. The “bot boundary” tape came in handy for restricting the movements of the robot vacuum.

The R85 picked up most of the debris that included Cheerios, kitty litter, dog hair, sugar, rice, and cereal sprinkled liberally on hardwood floors, rugs, and carpets. It had some issues with sugar, however.

Performance on Carpets

The R85 Performs Reasonably-Well on Carpets

Initially, the Shark Ion RV850 did not get stuck on a thick shag rug, but plowed through it, merrily picking up the scattered debris. However, after a while, the machine lost the battle and gave out a notification that it was stuck. Hence we can conclude that a 2.25” pile carpet is probably a bit out of the league of this robot vacuum cleaner.

Performance on Hard Floors

Powerful Suction on Hardwood Floors

The machine performed considerably better on hardwood floors. Initially, the R85 missed out on a hardwood floor bathroom, and part of another room. However, it returned to the missed sections and completed them. As we mentioned earlier, the Shark Ion RV850 picked up all the debris efficiently, except sugar, which could be due to the heavy and sticky consistency of the sugar.

Alternative Models That You Can Consider

1. Shark Ion Robot RV720

The Shark Ion Robot RV720 Via: Amazon

We also call this model Shark R72. The Shark Ion Robot RV720 is the pioneering model in which Shark introduced Smart Sensor technology. Like the R85, the R72 also moves around your house, bumping into obstacles to chart the boundaries.

This robot vacuum uses a battery similar to the R85 but only a bit older and larger of 2600mAh one. Due to this reason, the Shark R72 has a slightly longer run time than the R85 at 70 minutes.

The Shark Ion Robot RV720 does not have wireless connectivity. Hence you do get a mobile app or the luxury of voice control and operating the machine when you are away. But you get a remote control. There is only one cleaning mode, so the controls of this robot vacuum are pretty straightforward.

The dust bin is a bit small at 0.45 quarts, but the brush roll is of the self-cleaning variety, which saves you a lot of time and energy from that quarter. You can use your remote control to program daily cleaning schedules.

2. Shark Ion Robot S87

The Shark Ion Robot S87 Via: Amazon

Here, we present another viable alternative to the Shark Ion RV850. The verified customer reviews of the Shark Ion Robot S87 suggest that it is a suitable option for you to own a robot vacuum like the Shark R85 but at a lower price. And what is more, you get a dust cup with a capacity of 0.7 quarts, which is the same as the R85.

Like the R85, the Shark Ion Robot S87 uses Smart Sensor navigation, and it is lightweight at 1.4 Lbs with sufficiently powerful suction. It is also a wireless device, so you can link it to Alexa or Google Assistant and control it through voice commands.

This robot vacuum cleaner also performs well on hard floors and carpets and is specially designed to pick up pet hair as well. All-in-all, we can consider the Shark Ion Robot S87, a suitable alternative for a model that you can get for all your house cleaning tasks.

iRobot Roomba 690

The iRobot Roomba 690 Via: Amazon

Coming to our last alternative to the Shark Ion RV850 vacuum cleaner, we highlight the iRobot Roomba 690. This vacuum will cost you more than double than that of any of the Shark robot vacuums featured in this list. Let's look at the additional features to justify its higher price.

Regular Features of the iRobot Roomba 690

The Roomba 690 is a wi-fi connected robot vacuum that you can control by using Alexa or Google Assistant. You can access the vacuum cleaner when you are away from home and create cleaning schedules using hands-free voice commands on your smartphone.

Like all the Shark models mentioned in this list, the Roomba 690 also returns to the charging dock when its battery gets depleted. And, of course, it navigates itself, avoiding obstacles and potential hazards like stairs.

The Roomba 690 also uses high-quality rubber brushes, like all the other models. But, when you are paying so much extra, you expect something more. Much more. And this is what you get:

Value-Added Features of the iRobot Roomba 690

• • 3-Stage Cleaning

The Unique 3-stage cleaning involves LOOSENING the dirt, then LIFTING it up and finally SUCKING it into the vacuum to ensure a deep clean.

• • Auto-Adjust Cleaning Head

No more fiddling around with different cleaning heads – Auto-Adjust technology changes the cleaning head automatically when the vacuum moves from one type of surface to another.

• • Dirt DetectTM Technology

The patented Dirt DetectTM technology automatically detects areas where dirt is concentrated and works harder there.

• • Virtual Wall Barrier

Besides barrier tape, you get an invisible wall barrier that you can program into your Roomba robot vacuum cleaner to set the boundaries.

• • 90 Minutes Run Time

With one of the most extended run times at 90 minutes, you can get all of your cleaning done in a single session with the iRobot Roomba 690.

Conclusion

So, what are our key takeaways from this review? Here’s what we feel that you should have gained from this review, and we hope it should be one of the best Shark Ion Robot Vacuum R85 Reviews that you have read so far:

When you decide to buy a robot vacuum cleaner, it is better not to jump into it blindly. Be aware of what you need to look for. We have highlighted the things you need to consider to choose a suitable product for yourself.

Are you still confused? We have highlighted the product of one of the best value vacuum cleaners in the market – the Shark Ion RV850 robot vacuum cleaner. While this vacuum cleaner may not be the best in the market, it has a fairly decent track record. We verified this by sharing test results and verified customer reviews.

To make this review more comprehensive, we have also highlighted a few alternative models to give you a broader range of choices. We even provided you with the high-end alternative of the iRobot Roomba 690 if you are looking for a serious upgrade. Please do have a look at our other vacuum cleaner posts on our website, or click here to check out the Shark Ion RV850 and what it offers. 

Happy vacuuming!