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You can control this Shark robot vacuum with your voice and it’s 50% off on July 4th

You can control this Shark robot vacuum with your voice and it’s 50% off on July 4th

Shark AI Ultra Voice-Controlled Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Chris Bayer/ZDNET

As one of the most affordable bagless robot vacuum cleaners with LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) that also empties itself, Sharks AI Ultra Voice Control Robot Vacuum Cleaner is currently available at an unbeatable price. The machine normally costs $599, but you can currently find it on Amazon for 50% off (saving you $299).

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When I was researching the Shark AI Ultra, what caught my eye was the voice control with artificial intelligence – more on that later. Overall, however, this robot vacuum cleaner is a powerful and feature-rich cleaning device that offers good value for money.

The Shark AI Ultra uses LIDAR technology for navigation and mapping, making it the first of its kind for the popular brand. Customer reviews suggest that the companion app is easy to set up and has an intuitive interface. The robot moves in a matrix pattern and travels in straight lines when cleaning open areas. However, some users have reported that the AI ​​Ultra struggles with obstacles and sometimes takes inefficient paths around furniture.

The AI ​​Ultra offers a run time of up to 180 minutes at 2,500 Pa suction power and produces a noise level of 62 decibels during normal operation. It performs well in tests on hard surfaces, but multiple passes are reportedly required for finer particles on deep pile carpets. The dust bin is designed to hold dirt for up to 60 days.

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While the side brushes of most robot vacuums have at least two (more often three) fiber bundles, this unit only has one fiber bundle for sweeping on each side. As a result, the AI ​​Ultra may have trouble thoroughly cleaning the edges near walls and baseboards.

One of the Shark AI Ultra’s standout features is its self-emptying feature. It also features a bagless design, eliminating the ongoing cost of replacement bags. After cleaning runs, or when programmed, the device always finds its way back to its base station to recharge and perform its self-emptying feature.

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Voice control is available, providing additional convenience for hands-free operation via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. However, it seems that the actual artificial intelligence used in the AI ​​Ultra is limited. The robot vacuum receives basic voice commands, but cannot respond to specific instructions such as “go back” or “go over that area again.” We’re just not there yet with robot vacuums.

It offers powerful cleaning performance, excellent battery life and a bagless, self-emptying base. Shark AI Ultra has some limitations in app functionality and occasional navigation errors. But it’s a significant improvement over previous Shark robot vacuum models and competes well with more expensive alternatives. Getting a self-emptying robot vacuum with LIDAR for under $300 is pretty unusual, so you should take advantage of this deal while it lasts.

Deals can sell out or expire at any time, but ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing and updating the best product deals so you can get the best savings. Our team of experts regularly reviews the deals we share to make sure they’re still valid and available. We’re sorry if you missed this deal, but don’t worry – we’re constantly finding new ways to save and sharing them with you on ZDNET.com.