Shark ION ROBOT Review: ION R75 vs. R85 vs. R87

During the past few years, a lot of new brands of robot vacuum cleaner have appeared in the market such as xiaomiAnd I liveAnd fulfillsFor example, but not limited.

Many of them have proven to be good, but some are absolute rubbish.

Shark is one of those brands that got involved in this niche due to its growing popularity.

We will consider the Shark ION robot vacuum cleaner.

Is this a brand A good and less expensive alternative to Roomba robot vacuums?

We will find out in this review.

This model doesn’t have high-end features like continuous navigation or LDS, but for the price, you get a lot.

It is Alexa and Google Assistant compatible as well as has a smartphone app that you can connect to via WiFi.

There are other models, but these are discontinued, and Shark no longer sells them.

Plus, these models are more expensive, so it doesn’t make sense to buy an older, more expensive machine when you can get something newer and cheaper for better.

We’ll take a closer look at these three Shark ION bots, how they differ and which one offers the best value.

Positives

Negatives

Shark ION R85 Design

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Not much has changed since the first ION robot appeared. All of their stand-alone cleaners are round in a gray/black finish with some gold trim around the main front.

The shade of gray will depend on the variable you select. As for the newer R85, it comes in charcoal/dark gray and black with some silver trim.

In the upper middle part there are three buttons (on the R85):

Battery and Wi-Fi indicators are located above the three buttons and provide a visual indication of the status of each.

Shark ION R75 . design

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The ION R75 has a slightly changed color scheme but the same button and pointer arrangement. It has a lighter gray tone with the same silver trim around the center.

The interface remains the same with a slight tweak:

It is a simple design that is easy to use – there is no need to look at the manual to use it.

Shark ION R87 design

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At first glance, you might think that the R87 is a different robot than the R85 because of the larger charging base.

But in fact, it is a mixture of two ION products – the mobile R85 and W1 robot.

No, the R87 does not have the self-discharge capability that the Roomba I7 or S9 provide.

The dock looks great, but it’s just a basic dock that charges the robot and stores the portable unit in place.

All ION robots have a round shape with a double-sided brush that works very well at cleaning corners and edges (more on that later).

no R75 and R85 are WiFi compatible and will work with Alexa and Google Play.

These two robots do not have a remote control because this app will provide the same functionality. The application also contains additional functions that are not present in the remote control such as remote access.

The R72 doesn’t have WiFi, so it does have a remote control to access features like scheduling.

Those who prefer to use audio will find these two options an attractive alternative to the more expensive Roomba 690.

How does the Shark ION robot clean?

To understand how to clean these bots, let’s look below and see their design.

All three current robots have the same construction consisting of two side brushes and a main whisker bar in the middle.

What makes Shark different from other robots in its price range is the side brush design.

Let’s take a look at the side brushes for the R75 and R85.

R75 . side brush

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The R75 side brush, for example, uses one fork with very long bristles and the other two prongs with shorter bristles.

R85 . side brush

The R85 side brushes have a single slit with long bristles that rotate slower than the Roomba which is better because it directs dirt towards the cleaning nozzle.

The Roomba, for example, spins at a faster pace causing more chaos.

Next, let’s take a look at the entire bottom.

Shark ION R75 [bottom design]

The R75 has two side brushes that surround the main cleaning brush. Behind the main brush is a row of brushes that direct dirt into the suction chamber and create a seal.

The main brush itself is a combo brush consisting of bristles and a rubberized blade design.

Consumers say the cleaning performance has been excellent for the price, and this design is the main reason behind this.

Shark ION R85

The R85 has almost the same design as the R75 but with a few minor tweaks. Like I said earlier, the side brushes on it have one slit, and the side brush on the R75 has two slits.

Another difference is the additional seals in the front of the brush as well as the ones in the back.

This gives it better cleaning performance for crevices and carpets.

How does the Shark ION robot navigate?

Most Shark ION bots use standard navigation which means they will go in a random direction.

These products rely on infrared sensors to avoid obstructions. On either side of the robot are two sensors that detect nearby obstacles and tell the robot to slow down.

This feature makes the ION robot less likely to dig into furniture.

It doesn’t have the smart mapping systems that more expensive options like the Neato D7 or Roomba I7 have, but they are very effective.

The absence of this system means that it will not restart and resume after recharging.

If you’re willing to wait, Shark will soon release an R100 that has smart navigation, but it will be more expensive.

The Shark ION R85 Capable of cleaning black carpet which is an advantage if your home has one.

Other robots will not overtake it because the slope detection sensors may think it is a ramp point and not allow the robot to pass over it.

How much power does the Shark ION robot have?

Know that there is no single standard that manufacturers use to measure energy. Some use motor power or watts. Others use air watts, while some Chinese brands use “kPa” or kPa.

One way to measure force is to use an anemometer to measure air flow. It’s a very accurate gauge that tells how much airflow the vacuum is producing in the nozzle or wherever you prefer to measure it.

Among the Shark robots currently available, the ION R85 has the most power 20 cubic feet per minute at maximum settingAnd 15 cubic feet per minute in the middleand 9 cfm at the lowest setting.

Compare with more premium brands like Roomba and Neato; The airflow exceeds that Roomba 980 and I7 It is compatible with the Neato D7.

You’ll get all that much power while you’ll get hundreds less! In terms of dollar-to-strength ratio, this robot should be on top with the best.

cleaning performance

With its solid brush barrel and side brush design, it excels at picking up surface dirt.

Hard floor cleaning

One advantage of using a slower, rotating side brush is that it reduces dirt.

This feature is most noticeable on hard surfaces where much less dirt is scattered around as in a fast-spinning brush robot like the Roomba 690.

It is capable of picking up both fine and large debris because it has a good sealant and enough space to fit larger fragments of dirt.

Depending on the design of your home, it will pick up almost 100% of dirt.

Edge cleaning is another strength of the ION R85 as it performed better than the more expensive Roomba 690, leaving only a few bits of dirt in the corner.

Carpet cleaning

There are two parts to this equation – surface picking and deep cleaning.

To capture the surface, the ION R85 performed well regardless of size. It’s capable of picking up dust, hair, grain, and any typical dirt you clean on a daily basis.

The mixed brush design and surrounding sealer make a great vacuum for picking up surface debris.

As far as deep cleaning goes, it’s unfair to expect a robot to do so well with its tiny motor that it won’t pick up on the same.

ION R85 still works fine Deep cleaning 76% sand on medium pile carpet. Keep in mind that this was done in a small area, so the number will not be exactly the same in every case.

noise level

Shark robots are not noisy at all compared to Roomba. For example, the R85 produces only 61 dB at high and 59 dB at low power.

Compared to the Roomba 690 which has 72dB, it is much quieter.

robot shark ion dimension

The ION robot is one of the shortest robots at just 3.4 inches long. It’s shorter than the Roomba 980 and Neato D7 at 3.6 inches and 3.9 inches, respectively.

Dust container capacity

Shark says the ION R85 has a dry 0.7L capacity which is about 0.77L. It’s twice the size of the Roomba 690 with a capacity of just 0.3 liters.

Availability of spare parts

One of the issues with the newer brands of robots is the availability of spare parts.

Always keep in mind that items such as the filter, brushes, and battery will eventually wear out. If these parts are not available, you will end up with a worthless piece of the machine.

Fortunately, with the Shark ION robot, these consumables like the side brush, whisk rod, battery, and filters Available on Amazon.

The Shark website is a wide selection of parts not available on Amazon like the front wheel, charging cradle, dust box and even the battery door.

Ease of use

Another strong point of the Shark ION R75 and R85 is their usability.

Out of the box, almost everything comes assembled. The side brushes only snap into place, so there’s no tool needed to remove or attach them.

The main brush barrel is easily accessible and cleaned.

The operation of the bot is also simple. Simply press the Clean button and go through its default cleaning mode.

The app is also simple and easy to install. There have been complaints on the R75 of WiFi disconnecting but that doesn’t seem to be the case with the R85.

It has basic functions like scheduling, starting and stopping the bot, and giving you access to the history. However, it does not contain information about the condition of the filter or the brushes when they need to be replaced.

maintenance costs

When it comes to running costs for a Shark robot vacuum, that’s not much. You can buy a set that includes 2 sets of extra side brushes, 2 extra filters, and an extra brush roller for as little as $14!

Of all the elements, filters need to be replaced most often. The frequency will depend on how dusty the area is, what you need to clean and whether there are pets.

It may vary, it could be once every two or three months. Always check and clean the filter with the brush tool that Shark includes in the package to make it last longer.

Shark ION R75 Replacement Kit

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Shark ION R85 Replacement kit

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Let’s say you go through one in a year, it won’t cost you much, provided you do your due diligence in maintaining these bots. Make sure to clean the wheels, brushes, sensors, and dustbin regularly to keep them operating at their best.

The The main filter in these robots is not washable! Do not attempt to wash it with water as it may damage the motor and void the warranty.

In the event of a battery failure, Shark makes it easy to access the battery and purchase a fairly inexpensive replacement.

There shouldn’t be long-term issues with owning a battery for a Shark ION robot with such a high availability of affordable parts.

Values

Shark robots bring a lot of value to the table especially if you get one for less than $200. It has high strength to match Neato D7 and Roomba S9 When it comes to air flow.

Even at the lowest settings, it has more power than Roomba 690.

If you don’t mind not having a high-tech navigation system like more expensive robots, this is a bargain!

Dust cup is one of Largest robot vacuum cleaner available with a capacity of 0.77 liters Which is a big problem for options that don’t have an automatic empty dock.

It’s quiet and the best part is that you don’t have to use the highest power setting because it has a great design that picks up well no matter what the airflow is.

Now, there are some issues as I will enumerate them in the next section, but the bot doesn’t have it.

Also, the availability of parts will not be a problem as the filters, batteries, side brushes, and other parts are available either in the Shark online store or on Amazon.

Potential issues that don’t spoil deals

As with any robotic vacuum, there is no perfect product and Shark has its drawbacks.

to specify

Is Shark ION Robot A Good Robot Vacuum Cleaner To Consider?

Shark bots offer excellent value for money. Tests show it has (at least R85) the same power as the more expensive Neato D7 than the Roomba I7 and 980. That alone is reason enough to consider it.

Sure, there are complaints about quality control, but they can be dealt with by checking the filter and brushes thoroughly and keeping them clean.

Like most electronic devices, it will fail if you neglect it.

Why should you think about Shark ION R85 Robot?

There are a total of three ION robots in Shark’s product line readily available – the R85, R75 and S87.

Old models are no longer in production and are usually sold by third party sellers, so I wouldn’t recommend them because they are too expensive.

of the three, ION R85 offers the best value Because it has the most power, outstanding strength and excellent debris pickup.

If you can find an R75 that is less expensive than the R85, go ahead. In terms of value, this one is hard to beat.

The R72 is oddly the most expensive option if you check out the Shark website.

Now, why on earth would someone buy something older with less technology if there was something newer and less expensive?

I think Shark is thinking the same thing and pushing the R85.

5 reasons to choose with R85:

Click here to check the latest price for Shark ION R85.