I tested Shark’s new robot vacuum and mop — and only one thing wasn’t right

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Shark has been making robot vacuums for a few years and, although they are very popular and I’ve even seen them at friends’ houses, I’ve never tested them until now. To say that the Shark UV Reveal is a great robot vacuum and mop is a true statement.

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I love testing a device and feeling like the manufacturer has thought of everything – but that’s rare in the smart home world. Manufacturers are challenged to balance performance, quality, experience and affordability while also trying to make a profit. As a result, corners may be cut, features may be downgraded, and compromises may be made.

However, UV Reveal seems like one of those tools that Shark has thought of everything for. The vacuuming feature is excellent with obstruction avoidance, strong suction and bagless self-empty. The dock washes and dries detachable mop pads, has a deodorizer capsule for the dust canister, and has a light that changes color depending on the status of the vacuum.

Shark UV Reveal’s mop automatically detaches and reattaches as needed, without any human intervention. My robot vacuums the area rugs without the mop pad, then comes back to pick it up and goes back to vacuum and mop the hard floors. This is the first single mop pad I’ve used that can autonomously detach and reattach – I’ve only seen this with dual-rotating mop pads.

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The best part is the UV stain detect feature, which uses UV light to detect hidden dirt on your floors and clean them accordingly. The robot sees dirt and activates a deliberate scrubbing motion that provides up to seven times the scrubbing power of a traditional mop. Shark says the UV Reveal Robot offers twice the stain removal as the Dream X40 Ultra, which I also tested.

Compared to other robots, including the X40 Ultra, the UV Reveal is definitely one of the best mops I’ve used. However, don’t let this detract from its vacuuming functionality, which is also fantastic.

The Shark UV Reveal features expert obstacle avoidance that rivals the Mowa Mobius 60 and is better than the Roborock Qrevo Curve 2 Flow. This robot senses edges, objects, floor types and environmental changes in real life, using AI to navigate your home and, when applicable, even navigate obstacles. The robot uses on-device AI and processing, making it more future-proof than some competitors.

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When the robot detects an obstacle that it can overcome, such as a threshold, it climbs over it to continue cleaning. And frankly, this feature looks unbearably cute when the robot raises its rear while backing up to the dock to recharge.

The only thing that didn’t work for me is the Shark app. I have 12 robot vacuum apps on my phone right now, so I’ve tested a lot of options. The Shark app isn’t the worst app I’ve used, but it’s neither intuitive nor easy to navigate.

Making your way between the different options requires some getting used to, as the app does things in a different order than others. For example, most apps let you enter the robot’s profile, edit its cleaning preferences, and send it off to clean. You can easily find maps, settings, routines, robot and dock functions and additional features without leaving the robot profile.

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However, the Shark app prompts you to start the cleaning session and then asks you to select your cleaning preferences. Unlike other apps, additional features are somewhat hidden or hard to find, but this is a problem that can be fixed with an app update.

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After running the Shark UV Reveal several times a week, I’ve never had to rescue it when it got stuck on an obstacle. With up to three hours of battery life, the UV Reveal cleans my entire main floor, including the office and guest bedroom, in 94 minutes on a single charge.

Whenever the robot detects a leak, stain or sticky mess, it stops vacuuming and starts a scrubbing pattern. In my testing, it effectively removed dried juice, coffee, soda, and even maple syrup without leaving residue.

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Plus, did you know that all Shark robot vacuums feature a bagless self-emptying dock? I didn’t, and I’ve been testing rival devices for more than two years. This feature alone makes the Shark UV Reveal an attractive option for consumers who do not want the ongoing cost of dust bags, which must be replaced every 6 weeks on other robots.