Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty
Not sold at any store we monitor today, so not in our ranking.
- Clutter on the floor 3D sensor detects obstacles
Labs that tested it
Before you buy, compare it with 2 recommended alternatives
No store here sells this model today, so beside it the highest-scored model with the same kind of station that one does, and the cheapest of the top 10.
Green is the best of these 3, also when they share the lead.
| This model Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty Best on 2 facts | Cheapest of the top 10 Roborock Q7 M5+ Best on 1 fact | Highest score here Dreame D20 Plus Best on 3 facts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price and ranking | |||
| The lowest price today at a store that ships to you, shipping included. A price with an asterisk comes from a store abroad, and its shipping cost is our own estimate. Lowest price | – | $249Roborock (brand store) best | $309Dreame (brand store) |
| Our own score out of 10: 60% lab tests, 25% store ratings and 15% the maker’s facts. Price does not count. Score | best | ||
| The labs that have tested this model, each linked to its own review. Tests | Vacuum Wars | Vacuum Wars | Just A Dad Approved Vacuum Wars |
| Where the model stands in our ranking, among the robots with the same kind of station. Rank | – | rank 11 of 18 with a self-emptying station | rank 1 of 18 with a self-emptying station |
| The average of the stars buyers give at the stores, with the number of reviews behind it. We only compare it from 20 reviews. Customer rating | – | – | – |
| Mopping | |||
| How the mop is built: flat pads, two spinning discs or a roller. Discs press harder on dried-on dirt, a roller rinses itself while it works. When it matters
Source
| no mop (assumed) | flat or vibrating pad | flat or vibrating pad |
| How far the robot lifts the mop when it drives onto a carpet. From about 0.4 in (10 mm) a medium pile stays dry. When it matters
Source
| – | no | no |
| The robot leaves the mop at the dock before it vacuums a carpet, so the carpet never gets wet. When it matters
Source
| – | no (assumed) | no (assumed) |
| The dock washes the mop for you, so you do not rinse it by hand. When it matters
Source
| no | no | no |
| Drying is done with warm air instead of cold. It is faster and it helps against smell. When it matters
Source
| – | no | – |
| Station | |||
| The station the robot returns to, and what it does by itself, such as emptying the bin or washing and drying the mops. Station same on all | self-emptying station | self-emptying station | self-emptying station |
| How long the maker says a dust bag lasts with daily use. With pets or a lot of carpet it is shorter. In this comparisonWhen it matters
Source
| – | up to 49 days | up to 150 days best |
| The dock can be connected to the tap and the drain, so you never fill or empty a tank. It does need a connection nearby. When it matters
Source
| – | no | – |
| Brush and obstacles | |||
| A brush that guides hair to the side instead of letting it wind around the shaft. It saves the cutting work in homes with long hair or pets. When it matters
Source
| – | yes | yes |
| How the robot sees loose things on the floor, such as cables, socks or a pet accident. A camera with depth sensing sees more than a bumper that reacts on contact. When it matters
Source
| 3D sensor (structured light) | – | – |
| The highest threshold the robot takes, as the maker states it. Measure your own: the step into a bathroom or onto a balcony is often higher. In this comparisonWhen it matters
Source
| 1 in (25 mm) best | 0.8 in (20 mm) | 0.8 in (20 mm) |
| An extending leg or wheel that carries the robot over a high threshold. Without one it usually stops at about 0.8 in (2 cm). When it matters
Source
| yes (best) | no (assumed) | no (assumed) |
| Size, noise and age | |||
| How tall the robot is. It decides whether it fits under your sofa, bed or cabinet. In this comparisonWhen it matters
Source
| – | 3.9 in (9.9 cm) | 3.8 in (9.7 cm) best |
| The noise in decibels, in the setting its source names: makers mostly give the standard setting, stores often the highest. 65 dB is like a vacuum at half power, 55 dB like a conversation. When it matters
Source
| – | 65 dB | – |
| The month the model first went on sale. It shows how old the technology in it is. On the market since | June 2024 | May 2025 | August 2025 |
Facts as the maker states them. A dash means the maker does not name it. Each model’s page gives the source of every fact. Noise is the maker’s own figure, so we do not judge it, and a customer rating only counts from 20 reviews.
Consumables: no dust bags to buy, the station collects the dust in a bin.
Suction and brushes 2 facts
- Carpet detection
When it matters
- Rugs and carpets, where the robot should raise its suction.
- Mopping in a home with rugs, which have to stay dry.
- Without carpets or rugs it has nothing to detect.
Source: sharkninja.com · checked on Oct 2
The robot notices when it drives onto a carpet. Most then raise their suction, and a mopping robot lifts its mop or leaves it at the dock.
- detects carpet and boosts suction
- Dirt detection
When it matters
- Entrances and kitchens, where dirt gathers in one place.
- Pets that leave hair in a favorite spot.
- If dirt is spread evenly, a normal pass cleans it just as well.
Source: sharkninja.com · checked on Oct 2
A sensor notices where more dirt lies, at the doormat for example, and the robot cleans that patch longer or a second time.
- yes
Mopping 1 fact
- Mop type
When it matters
- Homes with a lot of hard floor that you want mopped, not just wiped.
- Dried-on dirt in a kitchen, which spinning pads or a roller scrub off better than a dragged cloth.
- If you only vacuum, the mop’s build decides nothing.
Source: sharkninja.com · checked on Oct 10
How the mop is built: flat pads, two spinning discs or a roller. Discs press harder on dried-on dirt, a roller rinses itself while it works. On this model: Assumed, not a stated fact: the maker's full specification does not name it, so we take it as no.
- no mop (assumed)
Dock 5 facts
- Empties the dust bin
When it matters
- Pets, sand or a large home, which fill the bin every run.
- Dust allergy, since you rarely touch the dust yourself.
- In a small home with little dust, emptying the bin by hand takes a moment.
Source: sharkninja.com · checked on Sep 26
The dock empties the robot’s dust bin, usually after every run. You only empty the dock’s bag or bin.
- yes
- Bagless
When it matters
- Not wanting to buy bags again and again.
- Pets, whose hair fills a bag quickly.
- With a dust allergy a sealed bag keeps the dust in when you throw it away, so bagless is no gain.
Source: sharkninja.com · checked on Sep 26
The dock collects dust in a bin instead of a disposable bag. No bags to buy, but you empty it yourself.
- yes
- Washes the mop
297 of the 378 models we track have this.
When it matters
- Mopping several times a week, when rinsing pads by hand gets tiresome.
- Kitchens and hallways, where a mop picks up a lot of dirt.
- If you rarely mop, washing the pads by hand is little work.
Source: bol.com · checked on Oct 5
The dock washes the mop for you, so you do not rinse it by hand.
- no
- Dries the mop
When it matters
- Mopping often, since a damp mop in the dock starts to smell.
- Humid rooms, where a mop dries slowly.
- If you take the pads off and wash them yourself, you will not miss it.
Source: bol.com · checked on Oct 5
The dock dries the mop afterwards, so it does not sit there wet and start to smell.
- no
- Dispenses detergent
When it matters
- Kitchens and greasy floors, where water alone leaves a film.
- Not wanting to add cleaner by hand each time.
- Some floors, such as oiled wood, are best mopped with water only, so there it adds nothing.
Source: bol.com · checked on Oct 5
The dock mixes detergent into the water itself, from its own bottle.
- no
Navigation and obstacles 5 facts
- Navigation
When it matters
- Several rooms, where a map lets you send the robot to one of them.
- Cleaning in the dark, which lidar does and a camera alone does not.
- In one open room even simple navigation covers the floor.
Source: support.sharkninja.com · checked on Sep 28
How the robot maps your home and follows that map. Lidar measures with a laser and works in the dark, a camera looks along and recognizes more.
- LiDAR turret
- Obstacle avoidance
When it matters
- Cables, socks and toys left on the floor.
- Pets, whose accidents a robot should steer around.
- In a home that is tidied before each run it matters less.
Source: support.sharkninja.com · checked on Sep 28
How the robot sees loose things on the floor, such as cables, socks or a pet accident. A camera with depth sensing sees more than a bumper that reacts on contact.
- 3D sensor (structured light)
- Climbs thresholds up to
Among the models we track
1 in (25 mm) on this model
Lowest
0.1 in (3 mm) Highest
2.4 in (60 mm) Middle
0.8 in (20 mm)Higher than 833 of the 914 models we track.
When it matters
- Door sills and raised strips between rooms.
- Thick rugs whose edge the robot has to climb.
- In a flat home with no sills it decides nothing.
Source: support.sharkninja.com · checked on Sep 28
The highest threshold the robot takes, as the maker states it. Measure your own: the step into a bathroom or onto a balcony is often higher.
- 1 in (25 mm)
- Climbing system for high thresholds
63 of the 116 models we track have this.
When it matters
- Door sills higher than most robots can take.
- Thick rugs and raised doorsteps between rooms.
- In a home without sills it decides nothing.
Source: sharkninja.com · checked on Sep 26
An extending leg or wheel that carries the robot over a high threshold. Without one it usually stops at about 0.8 in (2 cm).
- yes
- Stair-edge sensors
When it matters
- Homes with stairs or a step down into a room.
- A landing or a split-level floor.
- In a home on one level with no drops it has nothing to guard.
Source: support.sharkninja.com · checked on Oct 5
Sensors under the robot that see a drop, so it stops at the top of a staircase instead of falling down it.
- yes
Robot 1 fact
- Dust bin in the robot
When it matters
- A robot without a self-emptying dock, which you empty by hand.
- Pets and long hair, which fill a small bin within one run.
- With a self-emptying dock the bin is emptied after every run, so its size hardly matters.
Source: smarthomecompared.com · checked on Oct 5
How much dust the robot holds before you empty it. It matters less with a self-emptying dock, which empties the bin after every run.
- 189 ml
Battery 2 facts
- Runtime per charge
Among the models we track
60 min on this model
Lowest
45 min Highest
360 min Middle
150 minLower than 979 of the 989 models we track.
When it matters
- Large homes or several floors cleaned in one go.
- Carpet, where the robot uses more power.
- In a small home most robots finish well before the battery runs low.
Source: support.sharkninja.com · checked on Sep 28
How long the robot cleans on one charge, at its quietest setting. After that it recharges and carries on where it stopped.
- 60 min
- Charging time
When it matters
- Large homes, where the robot recharges in the middle of a run.
- Running several times a day.
- If it runs once a day, it has hours to charge.
Source: support.sharkninja.com · checked on Oct 5
How long an empty battery takes to charge fully in the dock.
- 6 h
Smart features and warranty 3 facts
- Voice assistants
When it matters
- Starting the robot by voice while your hands are full.
- A home already run with Alexa, Google or Siri.
- If you start it from the app or a schedule, you will not miss it.
Source: support.sharkninja.com · checked on Sep 28
Which voice assistants the robot works with, such as Google Assistant or Alexa.
- Alexa, Google Assistant
- Warranty
When it matters
- A robot with a dock full of pumps and moving parts, where more can break.
- An expensive robot you plan to keep for years.
- For a cheap robot you would replace rather than repair, the extra years count for less.
Source: sharkninja.com · checked on Sep 26
The warranty the maker gives in the United States.
- 1 year
- Scheduled runs
When it matters
- Cleaning while you are at work or asleep.
- A fixed routine, such as the kitchen after every dinner.
- If you start it by hand each time, you will not miss it.
Source: support.sharkninja.com · checked on Oct 5
You set days and times, and the robot starts by itself, also when you are not at home.
- yes
Sources: sharkninja.com · bol.com · support.sharkninja.com · smarthomecompared.com
Our score
Confidence: medium. One lab and fewer than 300 owners’ ratings. The highest score today is 8.8.
-
Lab tests 60%5.0
5 cleaning abilities measured, on one scale for every robot.
- Deep clean on carpet6.5
- Pet hair7.2
- Mopping0.4
- Obstacle avoidance6.0
- Navigation5.0
Measured by Vacuum Wars (read on September 29, 2026).
-
Owners’ ratings 25%–
Owners’ ratings, 25%: none yet at the stores that ship to the United States, so this part is left out and the others count for more.
-
Features 15%–
Features, 15%: too few facts known yet, so this part is left out.
- Price never countsA sale can’t lift a model. Today’s lowest price sits beside the score, checked every morning.
- No test, no rankOnly robots a lab has tested are ranked. The rest get a provisional score.
- Reviewers beside, not insideReviewers’ picks are shown next to the score and do not count in it.
The testers’ picks
- Vacuum Wars · Position 98 of 151September 26, 2026
Positions and labels, never text. These picks are shown beside the score and do not count in it. How the score comes about is on the method page.
Frequently asked questions about the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty
Does the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty empty its own dust bin?
Yes. The station empties the robot’s dust bin after every run. The dust goes into a bin in the station, with no bag.
Does the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty work with Alexa, Google Home or Siri?
It works with Alexa and Google Assistant.
How high a threshold can the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty climb?
Thresholds up to 1 in (25 mm), the maker says. It has a climbing system for higher thresholds. Measure your own thresholds: the ones to a bathroom or balcony are often higher.
How long does the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty run on one charge?
60 minutes on its quietest setting. A full charge takes 6 hours.
How much warranty does the maker give on the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty?
1 year in the United States. Your statutory rights are separate and can last longer.
The maker
Shark
- Reviews on Trustpilot
- Headquarters: United States
- Founded in 2007
- Owned by SharkNinja, United States
Shark is a brand of SharkNinja, Inc., which sells household appliances under the Shark and Ninja names, including vacuum cleaners and robot vacuums. SharkNinja is headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts, in the United States, and its shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company was incorporated in the Cayman Islands in 2023 and was previously part of JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited.
