Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro 2-in-1 review

Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro 2-in-1: Introduction

• Type: Robot vacuum cleaner with mopping
• Docking: Self-emptying dock with self-cleaning
• Navigation system: LiDAR

Back in September at IFA 2024, SharkNinja took the covers off of the new PowerDetect range, which consists of a plethora of different form factors, including a trio of new robot cleaner options. 

Boasting the brilliantly-named NeverStuck technology, which lifts the robot up when on carpet to keep the mop away, and a NeverTouch Base (which you will actually have to touch every now and again) the Shark PowerDetect Robot features a 360 LiDAR and 3D sensors, Alexa integration and dirt, edge, wet and stain detect functions.

The three different models – NeverTouch Pro, NeverTouch and Self-Empty – all feature the same robot (available in black or white) – but the bases differ.

On test here, to give it its full meaty moniker, is the Shark PowerDetect 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop with NeverTouch Pro Base, which has the model number RV2820ZE Stateside and RV2800ZEUK here in the UK.

With a mid-level price tag it’s up against the likes of the Samsung Bespoke Jet Bot Combo and the Eufy X10 Pro Omni.

I had barely finished packing away the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum Cleaner (Shark’s first UK launch) when its more powerful sibling came along.

But here we go again, with another Shark robo cleaner review…

Design and components

• Auto-empty, self-cleaning dock with anti-odour tech
• Advanced lift-up design
• Nifty mop release feature

Shark’s rapid product evolution is evident in the PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro.

Unlike the Shark Matrix Plus, which was a more basic option and – dare I say, looked a little dated, which I described as a “rather plasticky affair”, the new PowerDetect robot looks much more the part, with a much slicker aesthetic.

The robot itself includes a single side-sweeping brush and a combination floor roller designed to avoid tangling with pet hair.

The mopping bracket slides side-to-side for better scrubbing action and can be dropped off at the dock for vacuum-only mode, ensuring carpets stay dry – more on that in a bit.

The large docking station comes equipped with two water tanks: one for clean water and another for dirty water from mopping pad cleaning.

SharkNinja claims the clean water tank can last for 30 days. Additionally, the dock features a bagless 2-litre dust bin, which Shark estimates can handle up to 60 days’ worth of dirt.

I’ve had the model running around upstairs in my house, vacuuming the bedrooms and mopping the bathroom and that water tank claim certainly stands up, and the dust-bin isn’t close to being full yet.

On top you’ll notice a new anti-odour cartridge, designed to neutralises unpleasant smells during the bin-emptying process.

In the box you’ll get a tin with a fresh fragrance and you can buy more at a later date.

Filters within the dock and robot are washable, ensuring maintenance of the PowerDetect is pretty straightforward.

Setup, app and navigation

The Shark Clean app, as I mentioned in the Matrix review, is a glaring weakness. While initial setup is straightforward, its functionality is far too basic compared to competitors, although some additions – such as a live view of the robot during a clean, have been added.

The mapping process is divided into two stages; an initial mapping run and a floor type detection run, which seems unnecessarily cumbersome – why can’t it do both at once?

Once the map is finally complete, you can edit it to merge or split rooms and create no-go zones.

However, the app lacks a no-mop zone option. Instead, the robot relies on detecting hard floors for mopping.

Cleaning options are also limited to Home, Rooms, or Spot cleaning modes, with the Spot mode confined to a fixed-size box that cannot be resized, unlike the likes of Roborock, who let you choose bespoke-sized zones to spot clean.

Unlike the Matrix, there’s no manual control over suction power though, which seems daft; nor any tweaking with water usage, or the number of cleaning passes.

It relies entirely on its PowerDetect sensors to adjust these settings. While this may suit some users, advanced users will miss having greater control and I found that areas, particularly on thicker carpets, weren’t always that clean.

Scheduling when first launched, was equally simplistic, allowing just one schedule per day for a full-home clean. However, this has been updated now to allow you to different rooms to be cleaned at different times.

The PowerDetect robot features a built-in voice, which explains what’s happening at every step, and some catchy little bits of music too to signal the start or end of a clean.

Performance

The Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro is designed to intelligently clean, mopping hard floors and vacuuming both hard floors and carpets.

Because it can detect the type of surface it is cleaning, it only takes the mop out if it needs it. So, if you choose a vacuum only mode, it will leave the mopping equipment stationed in the dock.

If it needs the mop, it will reattach it and go and mop up, after it has vacuumed first… originally called Deep, this mode was recently renamed to Vacuum + Mop.

On this mode it vacuums and mops hard floors at the same time. The other modes are vacuum-only and mop-only; the latter of which has a slightly confusing name because it does vacuum hardwood detected areas, as well as mopping at the same time.

These two modes can also be initiated from the silver buttons on the robot itself – they sit alongside a return-to-dock button.

I found that the PowerDetect’s navigation was pretty inconsistent and the robot often had a hard time navigating out of certain spaces.

In carpet tests the robot’s Dirt Detect sensors performed okay but left some areas with visible bits of fluff and small particles after the first pass. A second run achieved complete cleaning, but it’s a not ideal that you have to send it out twice.

On the Matrix, you could choose a more powerful vacuum force but on this model it’s assumed the PowerDetect technology will decide when an extra boost is needed but sadly it doesn’t always work, so I’d like to see an option added back in to manually choose a power mode.

On hard floors, the robot performed a lot better, removing all debris in a single pass when vacuuming and mopping simultaneously. Stain cleaning tests further proved the robot’s strengths. Coffee, red wine, ketchup, and dried-on mud stains were all removed efficiently, albeit sometimes with multiple passes needed.

Edge cleaning was decent but not exceptional. While Edge Detect and Wet Edge Detect features improved performance, some dust remained along edges. Competitors like the Roborock Q Revo Slim performed much better here.

Noise levels are pretty low at under 60dB, making it easy to stay in the same room while the robot operates.

Battery life is rated at 110 minutes on the lowest suction setting but varies depending on dirt levels.

Final thoughts

The Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop is a significant technological advancement, offering innovative features and impressive cleaning power. However, it’s held back by an overly basic app, hit-and-miss features, and inconsistent navigation.

At this price, it competes with more polished models, from the likes of Roborock, Eufy and Dreame, which all offer much better app functionality and navigation systems.

While the hardware is promising, the software needs refinement. With app updates, the PowerDetect could become a strong contender. For now, it’s an ambitious robot vacuum that doesn’t fully justify its price tag.

How we test

When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.

Robot cleaners usually live within an ecosystem, or a range of products that – supposedly – all work in harmony. And they are designed to offer a range of different cleaning options. Therefore, it’s impossible to use a robo cleaner for a week and deliver a verdict.

Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular smart cleaning machine compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.

Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.

Read our guide on how we test robot vacuum cleaners to learn more.

FAQs

Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro 2-in-1: Specifications