If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is a robot vacuum really worth it?”, you’re not alone. I spent months debating the same question before deciding to try the Shark Matrix IQ Robot Vacuum.
With so many options out there, the Shark Matrix IQ stood out to me for three key reasons: price point, home mapping technology, and the SharkClean app scheduling feature.
I want to address price point first. (More about the home mapping tech + SharkClean app is explained in the later sections.) At its regular price of $299.99, the Shark Matrix IQ sits on the more affordable end of the robot vacuum spectrum. I found that models typically range from around $150 to over $1,000, and right now, the Shark Matrix IQ is an additional 40% off on HSN — making it an even better value.
Now that I’ve had the Shark Matrix IQ in my home for a few weeks, I can confidently say that it has made a difference in my cleaning routine. From setup to performance, there’s a lot to love (and a few things to consider). Here’s my honest take on what it’s like to actually use this robot vacuum day to day.
An easy-breezy setup
Setting up the Shark Matrix IQ was surprisingly simple. Unboxing the product took around five minutes. After that, I downloaded the SharkClean app on my smart phone to establish an internet connection, enabling on-the-go control from my phone. Psst — my favorite part of the setup was naming my vac. I named her Charlene.
After establishing the internet connection, I allowed Charlene to charge for a few hours before completing the home mapping portion of the setup. Something to consider: Depending on the size of your home, it can take between 30 minutes to an hour to complete this step. My setup took ~45 minutes.
The home mapping feature uses advanced 360-degree LiDAR vision to create a digital map of my home. After the mapping was complete, I was able to designate specific rooms on the map and mark certain spots as no-go zones.
Now time to clean
This is when I got really excited. With home mapping complete, Charlene should be able to vacuum my entire house without my having to lift a finger. So was that the case?
Yes, but ...
There actually is no but. Charlene seamlessly vacuumed my house without a hitch — and has continued to do so during the weeks following this first clean. She didn’t get stuck on anything + navigated some tricky obstacles, like stairs to the couch for our dog and a vintage dining table with ornate legs.
Similar to a regular vacuum, if I wanted to use Charlene on multiple levels, she’d need to be carried from floor to floor. However, most of our time is spent on the main level of our home, so I didn’t bother testing her out in the basement. I mention this for full transparency that the vacuum cannot navigate stairs on its own.
A few days after this initial clean, I tested Charlene’s room-by-room cleaning featuring that allows me to chose certain rooms in the house I’d like cleaned, instead of the entire house. I love this feature, as it’s a great way to keep some of the higher traffic areas of the house — like the entryway and kitchen — tidy.
My favorite feature: Scheduling a clean in advance
Using the SharkClean app, you can schedule a clean from anywhere — like on your way back from vacation so that you return to a spotless home. Genius. You can also set up a recurring schedule, allowing your vacuum to run automatically on the same day and time each week.
The SharkClean app is also useful for last-minute cleans. Picture this: You’re out at dinner and spontaneously invite friends over for a night cap. Not sure if the floors are guest-ready? You can open the app and start a cleaning session right from the restaurant.
My final takeaways
This robo vac is a huge time saver. It’s ideal for busy families, people constantly on the go, or anyone tired of daily vacuuming thanks to a constantly-shedding pet. If you’ve been thinking about getting one, let HSN’s sale on the Shark Matrix IQ be the reason you finally make the move.
Bonus: Save an additional $15 on your first HSN order of at least $35 with code WELCOME2025 by Friday, Oct. 31.
This review was produced in partnership with HSN.
