Shark has a solid track record with cordless vacuums, but their robot vacuums have often played catch-up to iRobot and Roborock. The AV970 IQ changes that equation with one specific feature: the self-cleaning brushroll. This isn’t a gimmick. It actively cuts away hair as it spins, which means pet owners and long-haired households can stop pulling tangled strands off the roller every other day. The brushroll genuinely stays clear.

The navigation uses a combination of sensors and a gyroscope to map out rooms in neat, overlapping rows rather than bouncing around randomly. It covers a 1,200 square foot floor in about 90 minutes, which is competitive for this price tier. The XL dust bin holds 0.67 quarts, so it handles a full floor of shedding before needing a dump. Suction is strong enough to pull sand from low-pile carpet and grab cat litter from hardwood edges without scattering it. The included Boundary Strips let you block off cords or pet bowls without needing to buy extra accessories.

One honest limitation: the IQ navigation doesn’t save multiple floor plans. If you move the dock to a new room, it relearns the space from scratch. Voice control through Alexa or Google Assistant works reliably for starting and stopping, but you cannot send it to a specific room by name. For the price, the self-cleaning brushroll makes this a strong pick for anyone tired of maintenance, even if the smart mapping isn’t as polished as premium competitors.