Shark AI Ultra Robot [AV2501AE, AV2501S, AV2511AE, RV2502AE] Robot Vacuum Review

The build quality is decent. Like most other Shark models, this vacuum's body is made mainly from matte-finish hard plastic, giving it a reasonably upmarket, if nondescript, appearance. However, the Shark Matrix Robot does feel sturdier. It uses the same 'self-cleaning' brushroll design as the cheaper Shark AI Robot, with pronounced vanes meant to reduce hair buildup over time, though pet hair can still get tangled around the roller. The vacuum itself doesn't flex or creak to a significant degree when picked up, though the hard plastic covering the top of its LIDAR sensor scratches very easily. If you're looking for a self-emptying robot vacuum that feels a little more premium, the bObsweep Dustin is worth a look.

The out-of-the-box assembly is quite simple; you only need to snap the two side brushes into place and plug in its docking station.

The Shark AI Ultra has many parts that need periodic cleaning, but thankfully, they're easy to access.

• Dustbin: You can remove this part by pressing its release button. The vacuum's self-emptying capability ensures that you won't have to empty it yourself very often, which is good, as the dustbin itself is quite small and opens from the top, allowing debris to spill out pretty easily.
• Pre-motor filter: The pre-motor filter is located inside the dirt compartment and can be pulled out by its release tabs. You can tap this part over your garbage to dislodge dirt and dust after each use, though it shouldn't be washed under water, which is a pretty big inconvenience should the filter ever get really dirty. The manufacturer recommends clearing away any stuck-on debris periodically to ensure peak performance, though no specific time frame is given.
• Brushroll: You need to remove the brushroll guard underneath the vacuum to access this part, which isn't too hard. While it's billed as 'self-cleaning', long hair can still get tangled around the brushroll, forcing you to pull it away with your bare hands or cut it free with a pair of scissors. Hair can also get caught around the brushroll bearings, which aren't as easy to clean.
• Side brushes: The side brushes can be pulled out of their sockets. You should check them weekly and clean them as needed by removing hair or debris. You can also wipe them with a damp cloth.
• Drive wheels: The drive wheels and their housing need periodic cleaning, as hair can get wrapped around them pretty easily. In light quantities, this won't have too severe an impact on performance, but you should still get into the habit of cleaning the wheels periodically.
• Front wheel: You can pull the front wheel from its housing, but this can be hard, and you might want to use a screwdriver for a bit of added leverage. You should clean it periodically and take it out of its housing to clear it of debris.
• Sensors and charging pads: The sensors and charging pads are on both the robot and its charging station. You should clean them regularly by dusting off the sensors and pads with a dry cloth.
• Self-Emptying Dustbin: You can remove the dustbin in the vacuum's charging dock by pressing the button on top of the dock. A small observation window gives you an idea of how full it is.
• Self-Emptying Dustbin Filters: The self-emptying station has two filters. The foam pre-motor filter can be found under the top cover of the docking station, while the post-motor HEPA filter is located on the right side of the dock. The pre-motor filter should be rinsed with water once a month, while the HEPA filter needs rinsing once a year. Make sure to avoid using soap when cleaning either filter.

Any part you can rinse under water should be left to dry for at least 24 hours before reinstallment.

This vacuum incurs high recurring costs.

• Pre-motor filter: There isn't a specified replacement time for this filter, as it's washable. That said, you can buy a replacement from Shark's website.
• Brushroll: You should replace the brushroll every six to 12 months, depending on your usage. You can find a replacement here.
• Side brushes: You should replace the side brushes if they're bent or damaged. You can find replacement three-armed side brushes here.
• Self-Emptying Dustbin Filters: No replacement time is given for either the pre-motor or post-motor HEPA base station filters. Still, you can buy a replacement pre-motor filter here and a replacement HEPA filter here. It's worth mentioning that the manual for the Shark EZ Robot Self-Empty, which has a similarly-designed dustbin post-motor HEPA filter, advises replacing this filter after three years of use.

The Shark AI Ultra Robot Self Empty XL takes up fairly little room for a robot vacuum bundled with a self-empty dock. The vacuum itself has a smaller overall footprint than alternatives like the Roborock Q5. Its bagless self-empty docking station is also quite compact, with a remarkably low-profile base plate that doesn't protrude very far.

The Shark AI Ultra Robot's internal dustbin is incredibly small. Even when using it to clean up small messes, you'll still need to empty its dustbin at the end of almost every cleaning job.

This vacuum comes with a self-emptying station. Unlike most other models on the market, the Shark AI Ultra Robot doesn't use disposable dirtbags, with debris instead being sucked into a bagless compartment. This cuts down on ownership costs but also makes for a messier, less hygienic debris disposal process. As per the manufacturer, you'll need to empty out this dustbin every 60 days. If you purchase the  AV2501S model variant instead, note that it uses a different docking station with an advertised capacity of 30 days instead.

• Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum
• Vacuum body
• Internal dust bin
• Pre-motor filter
• 2x Side brushes
• Brushroll
• Brushroll door
• Owner's guide
• Base Station
• Self Empty Station/Charging station
• Base station dust bin
• Base station dust bin pre-motor filter
• Base station dust bin post-motor HEPA filter and cover

Battery performance is fantastic. On its high-suction 'Max' setting, it provides roughly 90 minutes of continuous runtime, which is more than enough even for cleaning stubborn messes. Using it in its more energy-efficient 'Eco' suction power setting extends its runtime to almost three hours. However, it's worth noting that whenever you turn the vacuum on, it defaults to its 'Normal' suction power setting, and you have to choose either the 'Eco' or 'Max' manually at the start of every cleaning session, which is somewhat annoying. This vacuum also takes approximately four hours to fully recharge, which is fairly long.

The Shark AI Ultra has a few quality-of-life features. It has three power settings: its energy-saving 'Eco' mode, its default 'Normal' mode, and its high-power 'Max' mode. If you want to adjust these settings, you have to set them in the app for each job you run. There's also an on/off switch for its self-emptying base station.

This vacuum's real-world suction performance isn't very strong, especially compared to most conventional manually operated vacuums. Its suction inlet is positioned too high above the contact surface to generate a tight seal on bare surfaces.

This vacuum's airflow performance is actually quite good for a robot vacuum, delivering comparable performance in this regard to more expensive models like the iRobot Roomba S9. That translates to relatively good debris pickup performance, though it's important to note that it still falls short of even the most basic of manually operated vacuums.

This vacuum is remarkably quiet. You'll hear nearby conversations even with the vacuum running in its 'Max' mode.

This vacuum has decent overall maneuverability. While it cleans in an organized pattern, its room coverage isn't actually any better than cheaper, non-LIDAR Shark models like the Shark AI Robot. It may interpret some common household items, like thicker carpets or power cords, as objects to avoid, so it's best to ensure that its cleaning area is free of any obstacles before letting it run. Unlike high-end robot vacuums like the Roborock S7 MaxV, it doesn't have a camera or an actual AI system that would allow it to see and identify the sort of obstacles that fall beneath the view of its LIDAR sensor. Its LIDAR sensor is also somewhat tall, and the vacuum can't clean under low-lying couches and TV stands. Still, it can climb over tasseled rugs without getting stuck too frequently, which is rare among other robot vacuums.

The Shark AI Ultra has good air filtration performance despite lacking an onboard HEPA filter. Better still, its base station has an allergen-trapping post-motor filter that the manufacturer advertises can capture 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size.

The Shark AI Ultra does a poor job sucking up debris from cracks and crevices compared to most manually-operated vacuums. Still, it outperforms alternatives like the Shark IQ Robot in this regard, which tends to throw around lightweight debris from cracks.

The Shark AI Ultra has terrible stain-clearing performance. This variant doesn't have any mopping capability that would allow it to scrub away dried-on stains.

This vacuum can't clear liquid spills.

The Shark AI Ultra Robot Self Empty XL has excellent physical automation capabilities. Its headlining feature is its self-emptying capability, which reduces hands-on maintenance requirements. Still, its overall feature set is very limited when you aren't connected to the internet and using its companion app. The 'Clean' button starts a cleaning session, while the 'Dock' button simply sends it back to its base station.

The SharkClean app is mediocre. It's slow and rather buggy, with the app occasionally reporting incorrect status information. You need a 2.4 GHz network to connect to the vacuum. The app also allows you to check the battery life, set different cleaning modes, or schedule cleaning times, though not necessarily for specific rooms. You can also check the cleaning session history and create no-go zones to prevent it from entering certain areas or maneuvering around delicate objects.