Read our full review of the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1,
The Matrix Plus 2-in-1 is one of the two main Shark contenders for those who want a robot vacuum that can mop. Price is the obvious factor that might force you to choose this over my favorite Shark hybrid, the new PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro – the self-emptying version of the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 can almost always be found on sale, while the PowerDetect rarely goes below $899.99 (if you can find it on sale at all).
The expected level of automation of your Shark mopping pad will also play a big role in choosing between these Sharks. If your home is mostly carpeted and there are only a few rooms that will require mopping, such as a bathroom and kitchen-only type of situation, you won’t mind physically placing a mop pad or filling the water tank to enable mop mode. The price difference may also be enough to convince you that manually washing a mopping pad after each run isn’t that bad. Alternatively, the pricier PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro washes and dries its own mopping pads and refills its own water tank.
Getting back to flooring type, the Matrix Plus probably won’t be the best choice for homes with heavy carpeting conditions, as the bot requires you to manually highlight carpets or rugs in the app and can’t vacuum with the water tank attached.
Shark became relevant again in the robot vacuum game when it introduced its matrix cleaning mode in 2022. I first experienced this while testing the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 and was particularly enthused by the simplicity and reliability of its spot cleaning. Although the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 has since been overtaken as the fanciest Shark hybrid, its combination of affordability, straightforward mapping, and meticulous cleaning keeps it as a top choice.
Shark’s Matrix Mode cleans selected rooms or areas in the app better by approaching the target area from multiple angles to soak up or clean anything missed on the first pass. During regular vacuuming, the Matrix mode cleans carpet 30 percent more thoroughly than older RV Shark models, and during mopping, the mopping pad vibrates 1,000 times per second to make a little more work on larger stains that require additional wiping, or lighter dried stains.
In my testing, I saw the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 successfully clean up crumbs near the kitchen counter, kitty litter in my bathroom, and minor spills on hardwood or tile at times — messes that similarly priced Roombas I tested couldn’t conquer in one go.