Updated November 2026
Data from the official iRobot and Shark sites.
2026 verdict
Mopping and a longer warranty against broader smart home support, and the Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE is the better buy of these two self-emptying robot vacuums.
It mops with pads its dock washes and heat-dries, lifts them over rugs, runs up to 180 minutes against 120 and carries a 2 year warranty against 1 year. The iRobot Roomba Max 705 is vacuum only, but it answers with 5 GHz Wi-Fi, a child lock and a much longer platform list: Apple Home, SmartThings and Matter on top of the Alexa, Google Home and Home Assistant support both share. Both navigate by LiDAR with no-go zones and empty their own bins. Choose the Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE for hard floors that need regular mopping, and the iRobot Roomba Max 705 for a vacuum-only robot that fits an Apple Home or Matter setup.
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz
- Bluetooth
vs
Winner
46% OFF
$649.99
$1199.99
Works with
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
News by email
Still comparing? Get what's new by email
New releases and the smart home news worth knowing, in your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
The biggest differences
Where these two are furthest apart, and by how much.
- Warranty2×Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE2 years vs 1 year
- Battery Life+50%Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE180 minutes vs 120 minutes
- Onboard Dustbin Capacity+38%Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE379ml vs 275ml
| Feature | iRobot Roomba Max 705 | Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £679.00 | $649.99 | Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE |
| Rating | 3.7 | 4.1 | Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE |
| Battery Life | 120 minutes | 180 minutes | Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth | 2.4 GHz WiFi | iRobot Roomba Max 705 |
| Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter | Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant | iRobot Roomba Max 705 |
| Mopping Functionality | NO | YES | Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE |
| Auto Mop Washing | NO | YES | Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE |
| Auto Mop Drying | NO | YES | Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE |
| Onboard Dustbin Capacity | 275ml | 379ml | Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE |
| Local Control | YES | NO | iRobot Roomba Max 705 |
| Auto Recharge | YES | YES | Tie |
What the differences mean
Mopping
The Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE mops, and its dock washes and heat-dries the pads and lifts them over rugs. The iRobot Roomba Max 705 has no mopping hardware at all, so hard floors still need a hand mop.
Runtime
Up to 180 minutes for the Shark against 120 for the Roomba, with similar charging times. In a larger home the Shark is more likely to finish vacuuming in one run.
Warranty
2 years on the Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE against 1 year on the iRobot Roomba Max 705, worth weighing given the dock and water problems some Shark owners report.
Smart home and Wi-Fi
Both work with Alexa, Google Home and Home Assistant. Only the iRobot Roomba Max 705 adds Apple Home, SmartThings and Matter, and it also connects on 5 GHz Wi-Fi where the Shark needs 2.4 GHz.
Child lock
The iRobot Roomba Max 705 has a child lock on its buttons; the Shark does not, which matters with toddlers who like pressing things.
Which one to buy if
- your floors are mostly wood or tile and you are tired of mopping
The Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE mops and cleans its own pads with heated washing and drying.
- your smart home is built on Apple Home or Matter
The iRobot Roomba Max 705 supports both, plus SmartThings; the Shark does not.
- you only need vacuuming and want a small dock
The iRobot Roomba Max 705 is vacuum only, with an AutoEmpty dock just 290 mm tall.
- you want the longest warranty
The Shark is covered for 2 years against 1.
£679.00
- + Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth
- + Integrations: Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter
- + Local Control: YES
- - Price: £679.00 vs $649.99
- - Rating: 3.7 vs 4.1
Winner
46% OFF
$649.99
$1199.99
- + Price: $649.99
- + Rating: 4.1
- + Warranty: 2 years
- - Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi vs 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth
- - Integrations: Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant vs Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter
What owners say
Owners of both robots praise accurate mapping, quiet running and self-emptying that keeps them away from the bin. iRobot Roomba Max 705 owners, many upgrading from older Roombas, single out LiDAR navigation that bumps into far less furniture and strong pet hair pickup on carpet, and their complaints are Wi-Fi setup failing when the router password has special characters, a dock that sometimes leaves the bin partly full and the odd false stuck error. Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE owners talk about the mop: parents running it nightly for a crawling baby, pet households that stopped mopping by hand and whole homes covered on one charge. Their complaints are about reliability, with the robot failing to leave or return to the dock, the mop cleaning cycle reporting obstructions that are not there and water dispensing stopping on some units within months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: iRobot Roomba Max 705 or Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE?
The Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE. It vacuums and mops, washes and dries its own pads, runs longer and has a 2 year warranty. The iRobot Roomba Max 705 wins on smart home support, 5 GHz Wi-Fi and a child lock.
What is the biggest difference between the iRobot Roomba Max 705 and the Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE?
Mopping. The Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE is a vacuum and mop with heated pad washing and drying, while the iRobot Roomba Max 705 only vacuums.
Do the iRobot Roomba Max 705 and the Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE empty themselves?
Yes, both self-empty their onboard bin into the dock, and both map with LiDAR and support no-go zones and scheduling.
Which works with Apple Home, the iRobot Roomba Max 705 or the Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE?
Only the iRobot Roomba Max 705, which also supports Matter and SmartThings. Both work with Alexa, Google Home and Home Assistant.
Who should buy the iRobot Roomba Max 705?
Owners upgrading from an older Roomba who only need vacuuming, pet households with carpet, and Apple Home or Matter users.
Who should buy the Shark PowerDetect ThermaCharged RV2920XE?
Families and pet owners with wood or tile floors who want mopping automated, including the pad washing and drying, and who value a longer warranty.
Spotted something wrong on this page? Tell us and we will fix it.
Our store on AmazonShop our ideas on AmazonLists of the smart home setups we would put together ourselves, ready to add to your Amazon cart.Shop on AmazonFull comparison table
Compare all 180 Robot Vacuums side by side
You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Robot Vacuums in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.
- 180 Robot Vacuums
- 47 specs compared
- 42 filters
- Robot Vacuums
Freo X Ultra
- Robot Vacuums
DEEBOT X2 COMBO
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Plus 678 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Max 875 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock
- Robot Vacuums
L60 Pro Ultra
- Robot Vacuums
Aqua20 Pro Ultra Roller X Complete
- Robot Vacuums
DEEBOT T90S Omni
- Robot Vacuums
DEEBOT X11 PRO Omni
- Robot Vacuums
DEEBOT X11S PRO Omni
- Robot Vacuums
L8000 Plus
- Robot Vacuums
Freo 20 Edge
- Robot Vacuums
DEEBOT X12S OmniCyclone
- Robot Vacuums
E25
- Robot Vacuums
Omni E35
- Robot Vacuums
Omni C28
- Robot Vacuums
S8 Max Ultra
- Robot Vacuums
L40 Ultra Gen 2
- Robot Vacuums
Omni C30 Edge
- Robot Vacuums
Tapo RV50 Pro Omni
- Robot Vacuums
L60 Ultra
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba 104
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba 105 Combo
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba 105
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba 105X Combo
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba 105X
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba 115X Combo Robot + AutoEmpty Dock
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba 205
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba 415X
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba 505X
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba 705X
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Combo 10 Max robot + AutoWash dock
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Max 705 Combo
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Max 715 Vac Robot + AutoEmpty Dock
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Max 775 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Max 875 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Plus 405
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Plus 415 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Plus 504
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Plus 505
- Robot Vacuums
Roomba Plus 507 Combo Robot + AutoWash Dock
- Air Purifiers
BreatheClear HP162
- Air Purifiers
BreatheClear Max HP362
- Air Purifiers
NeverChange Air Purifier HP152
- Robot Vacuums
AI Ultra AV2501AE
- Robot Vacuums
AI Ultra AV2511AE
- Robot Vacuums
AV2501S AI Ultra Robot Vacuum
- Robot Vacuums
Matrix Plus 2-in-1
- Robot Vacuums
Matrix Plus UR2650WS
- Robot Vacuums
Navigator 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop
- Robot Vacuums
Navigator AV2110S
- Robot Vacuums
Navigator AV2120
- Robot Vacuums
Navigator RV2110
- Robot Vacuums
Navigator RV2120AE
- Robot Vacuums
PowerDetect 2-in-1
- Robot Vacuums
PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro RV2820ZE
- Robot Vacuums
PowerDetect Self-Empty
- Robot Vacuums
PowerDetect UV Reveal
- Robot Vacuums
Stratos NeverTouch RV2720ZE