# iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo vs Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE)

As of Oct 31, 2026, the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo costs $470 and the Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE) costs $500, so the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo is $30 cheaper. The iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo has a published review score and ranks #37 in our robot vacuums ranking; the Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE) is not scored yet. Pick the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo for small spaces with no room for a dock. Pick the Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE) for vacuum only cleaning with no bags.

Prices checked Oct 31, 2026. HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/vs/irobot-roomba-205-dustcompactor-combo-vs-shark-matrix-self-empty-rv2310ae/

## Side by side

| | iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo | Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $470 | $500 |
| 3 year cost | $470 | $500 |
| Our score | 5.8/10 | Not scored yet |
| Rank in Floors | #37 | #56 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | n/a | 1 year limited, 2 years on parts (SharkNinja US store) |
| Suction | iRobot claims 70x the suction of Roomba 600 series, 4 levels; no Pa figure published | No Pa rating from Shark; Vacuum Wars rated bench suction well above average but published no kPa figure |
| Navigation | ClearView LiDAR, up to 3 maps (iRobot) | 360 degree LiDAR with Matrix Clean grid passes (Shark); Vacuum Wars mapped about 350 sq ft in just over 5 min and found it about 28% faster than a Roomba i3+ EVO |
| Obstacle avoidance | Basic; TechRadar saw it push toys and drag a cable, Tech Advisor saw it suck up a glove and get stuck | Shark says it detects and avoids objects day or night; Vacuum Wars did not test it |
| Mopping | Reusable microfiber pad with Carpet Detect to avoid rugs (iRobot); Tech Advisor found it mostly spread mess | No |
| Self empty | No dock emptying; compacts debris onboard, claimed up to 60 days (iRobot); TechRadar needed to empty it after 8 days | Yes, bagless base that holds up to 45 days of debris (Shark) |
| Dock features | Small charging base only (Tech Advisor) | Auto empty and charging only (Shark) |
| Runtime | Not published; iRobot says it covers up to 1,000 sq ft | 90 min, 6 hour charge (Shark); Vacuum Wars estimated about 1,000 sq ft per charge |
| Dustbin | About 1.5 L compacting bin (TechRadar, Tech Advisor) | 0.2 qt robot cup (Shark) |
| Height | 3.98 in (robot 14.1 x 14.09 x 3.98 in, iRobot) | 4.2 in (Vacuum Wars spec table) |
| Pet hair | No measured pet hair result published in the reviews we read | Self cleaning anti hair wrap brushroll (Shark); Vacuum Wars said it did not notice a big difference from anti wrap rolls on robots |
| App | Roomba Home app; works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant (iRobot) | SharkClean app with map editing, zones and schedules; works with Alexa and Google Assistant (Vacuum Wars) |
| Threshold | Not published | n/a |
| Noise | TechRadar measured an average of 78 dB from five feet | n/a |
| Best for | small spaces with no room for a dock | vacuum only cleaning with no bags |
| Skip if | you want real mopping or good obstacle avoidance | you want mopping or a newer model |

## What reviewers found

### iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo

- TechRadar (Performance 2.5/5): Measured an average of 78 dB from five feet. The roughly 1.5 L bin needed emptying after eight days. It pushed aside toys and dragged a phone cable. Called a crushing disappointment. [Source](https://www.techradar.com/home/robot-vacuums/irobot-roomba-205-dustcompactor-combo-review)
- Tech Advisor: Good carpet cleaning and LiDAR navigation, but mopping mostly spread mess and it got stuck on furniture bases and thin table legs. [Source](https://www.techadvisor.com/article/2837405/roomba-205-dust-compactor-combo-robot-vacuum-review.html)

### Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE)

- Vacuum Wars: Called it Shark's best performing robot vacuum at the time. Covered about 1,000 sq ft per charge versus about 820 for a Roomba i3+ EVO, mapped about 350 sq ft in just over 5 min, and beat the Roomba on crevice pickup and carpet deep cleaning. Battery efficiency 1.29 min per 1%. [Source](https://www.vacuumwars.com/shark-matrix-review)
- 9to5Toys: Tested the Shark Matrix with the bagless 45 day self empty base at a $499.99 MSRP (the review does not print a model number). LiDAR avoided objects taller than a few inches, stopping about an inch away, but did not detect cords. It was barely audible on normal mode and Matrix mode added about 5 min in the largest room. The app does not show live robot position. [Source](https://9to5toys.com/2023/04/20/shark-matrix-robot-vacuum-review/)

## Questions buyers ask

### Which is better, the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo or the Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE)?

The iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo has a published review score and ranks #37 in our robot vacuums ranking; the Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE) is not scored yet. Pick the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo for small spaces with no room for a dock. Pick the Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE) for vacuum only cleaning with no bags.

### Which is cheaper?

The iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo at $470, versus $500 for the Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE), checked Oct 31, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $470 vs $500.

### What is the difference between the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo and the Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE)?

Suction: iRobot claims 70x the suction of Roomba 600 series, 4 levels; no Pa figure published on the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo, No Pa rating from Shark; Vacuum Wars rated bench suction well above average but… on the Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE). Navigation: ClearView LiDAR, up to 3 maps (iRobot) on the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo, 360 degree LiDAR with Matrix Clean grid passes (Shark); Vacuum Wars mapped about 350 sq… on the Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE). Obstacle avoidance: Basic; TechRadar saw it push toys and drag a cable, Tech Advisor saw it suck up a glove… on the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo, Shark says it detects and avoids objects day or night; Vacuum Wars did not test it on the Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE).

Full reviews: [iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/irobot-roomba-205-dustcompactor-combo/index.md), [Shark Matrix Self Empty (RV2310AE)](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/shark-matrix-self-empty-rv2310ae/index.md)