Robot Vacuums · Head to head

Roborock Saros 20 Flow vs Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty

Full Robot Vacuums comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from the official Roborock and Shark sites.
2026 verdict
On paper these are two very different robots, and in practice the Roborock Saros 20 Flow is the more capable machine for anyone who wants mopping and full platform support.
Roborock Saros 20 Flow
Winner
Roborock Saros 20 Flow
$1499.99$1699.9912% OFF
Buy on Amazon USA
It wins on integrations, reaching Apple Home, SmartThings and Matter as well as Alexa, Google Home and Home Assistant, and on mopping, with a dock that washes and dries the mop and doses detergent. The Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty is the more affordable option and the simpler, vacuum-only machine, and it compensates with a bagless HEPA base rated for about 30 days and NeverStuck lifting that keeps it moving over thresholds. The Roborock also runs far longer, up to 301 minutes against 110 for the Shark, so pick the Roborock Saros 20 Flow for a complete wet-and-dry robot and the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty for dry cleaning with less to maintain.
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FeatureRoborock Saros 20 FlowShark PowerDetect Self-EmptyWinner
Price$1499.99$549.99Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty
Rating4.04.1Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty
Battery Life301 minutes110 minutesRoborock Saros 20 Flow
IntegrationsGoogle Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, MatterGoogle Home, Alexa, Home AssistantRoborock Saros 20 Flow
Mopping FunctionalityYESNORoborock Saros 20 Flow
Auto Mop WashingYESNORoborock Saros 20 Flow
Auto Mop DryingYESNORoborock Saros 20 Flow
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
Auto RechargeYESYESTie
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi2.4 GHz WiFiTie
Navigation TypeLaser (LiDAR)Laser (LiDAR)Tie
Obstacle DetectionYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Cleaning type

The Roborock Saros 20 Flow vacuums and mops and then washes and dries its own mop, while the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty is vacuum-only, with no tank, pad or mopping routine to run.

Smart home reach

Both work with Alexa, Google Home and Home Assistant, but the Roborock Saros 20 Flow also reaches Apple Home, SmartThings and Matter, which the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty does not.

Suction figures

Roborock rates the Saros 20 Flow at 36,000 Pa, while Shark does not publish a suction figure for the PowerDetect Self-Empty, so the numbers cannot be compared directly.

Dock

The Roborock Saros 20 Flow uses a large station that empties the bin, washes and dries the mop and doses detergent, while the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty uses a bagless HEPA base rated for about 30 days of debris.

Runtime

The Roborock Saros 20 Flow is rated for up to 301 minutes per charge, while the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty is rated at 110 minutes, so the Roborock covers far more floor before it has to recharge.

Body profile

The Roborock Saros 20 Flow is 89.8 mm tall, while Shark does not publish dimensions for the PowerDetect Self-Empty, though its summary describes a taller body than most robots.

Which one to buy if

Winner
Roborock

Roborock Saros 20 Flow

12% OFF
Prime exclusive deal
$1499.99
$1699.99
Buy on Amazon USA
  • + Battery Life: 301 minutes
  • + Integrations: Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter
  • + Mopping Functionality: YES
  • - Price: $1499.99 vs $549.99
  • - Rating: 4.0 vs 4.1
Shark

Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty

Prime exclusive deal
$549.99
Buy on Amazon USA
  • + Price: $549.99
  • + Rating: 4.1
  • - Battery Life: 110 minutes vs 301 minutes
  • - Integrations: Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant vs Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter

What owners say

Owners of the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty keep returning to two themes: it almost never gets stuck, and it picks up pet hair relentlessly. Homes with several dogs and cats describe it holding its own against constant shedding, and owners who came from other robots credit NeverStuck for carrying it over rug edges and thresholds that used to end a run. The taller body also comes up as a quiet win, because it stops wedging under furniture, and hard-floor households say it has reduced hand mopping to an occasional task. The SharkClean app is the most repeated complaint, called plain next to rivals, with some buyers stuck on registration or Wi-Fi pairing on day one. A few owners report missed patches or a robot that bumps objects instead of steering around them, and the base holds roughly a month, less than the longer windows of costlier docks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, the Roborock Saros 20 Flow or the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty?

The Roborock Saros 20 Flow, for its integrations and its self-washing, self-drying mop. The Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty wins on price and is the simpler, vacuum-only choice.

Does the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty mop?

No. The Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty is vacuum-only. The Roborock Saros 20 Flow also mops, and its dock washes and dries the mop and doses detergent.

Which one works with Apple Home and Matter?

Only the Roborock Saros 20 Flow. Its Matter support reaches Apple Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant, while the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty works with Alexa, Google Home and Home Assistant only.

Does the Roborock Saros 20 Flow support 5 GHz Wi-Fi?

No. The Roborock Saros 20 Flow connects over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, the same as the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty.

Who should buy the Roborock Saros 20 Flow?

Homes that want vacuuming and mopping handled with almost no upkeep, including mop washing and drying, with every major smart home platform on board.

Who should buy the Shark PowerDetect Self-Empty?

A home with shedding pets that wants dry cleaning only, a bagless base and the lower outlay, and does not need Apple Home, SmartThings or Matter.

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