Unlike Most Combo Robot Cleaning Devices, the Shark Navigator Mops Just as Well as It Vacuums—Maybe Better

3 min readI live in a home that’s almost evenly split between hard floors and rugs. The bathroom is tile, and the majority of the kitchen and living room is hardwood, but large area rugs in my bedroom and by the living room couches cover huge swaths of floor space. Cleaning every surface has traditionally required two devices and about an hour of labor. The near-perfect split of surfaces always kept me from committing to a robot cleaning device.Then the Shark Navigator entered the chat.This is a two-in-one robot cleaner that functions equally well as both a mop and a vacuum. At Popular Mechanics, we haven’t always been huge fans of combo robot cleaning devices, usually because the mop functionality leaves something to be desired. But the Navigator easily vacuumed dirt from my carpets, and after filling the tank and adding a mop pad, it transitioned into an impressive wet mop for my hard floors.Beyond cleaning power, I also liked the Shark Navigator’s hands-free automatic emptying base. Whenever the tank is full, it will immediately go back to its charging station and empty itself out into the larger storage bin. That meant I didn’t have to empty debris into the trash more than once every two months or so.ProsAutomatically empties out into the storage bin on the back of the charging stationMop pad easily detaches and attached to the robot vacuumConsRequires WiFi connection to work with your smartphoneKey SpecsNavigationLiDARBrushes1 side brush, 1 brushroll, 1 mop padExclusion zonesYes, virtualSuctionn/aTank Capacity2.1 litersConnecting to the App Is a Little Tricky, and WiFi Is Always RequiredThere are only a few pieces that need to be installed on the Navigator, and doing so takes little to no time at all. That said, I had a bit of trouble when it came to connecting it to my smartphone. After downloading the app, it took a few tries to get it connected.Tom PriceThe two manual buttons on the body can turn it on and off or send it back to the charging base.It’s worth noting that you must connect the robot vacuum to your home WiFi in order to operate it via your smartphone. That’s not uncommon with an appliance like this considering even my air purifier requires an app and WiFi to access the full range of features. However, it can be a bit annoying—especially if your WiFi goes out. There is a manual mode you can use by pressing the buttons on the robot in order to operate it, though it isn’t possible to enact all of the possible commands this way.Its Cleaning Ability Is Impressive on All SurfacesAt the end of the day, the most important factor for any robot vacuum is how it cleans. On this front, the Shark Navigator is impressive. As a mop, the cleaning process is straightforward and thorough. With the help of its 360-degree LiDAR navigation, it basically doesn’t miss a spot. Even near the lip of a door that extends slightly beyond the wall, the robot would adjust itself to get as close to the wall as possible. I was able to see the moisture from the mop within millimeters of the wall.One of my favorite features was the spot cleaning. Essentially, you can set the Navigator to continuously clean the same 5-by-5 square of floor over and over again. This worked well for cleaning up spills and light stains that needed some extra love to clean up.On the vacuuming side, I was impressed by the roller brush’s power. It was able to genuinely disrupt some set-in dirt from the carpet. While the suction power numbers aren’t available to the public, I was pleased with how well it worked. Even transitioning from hard flooring to carpet, the cleaning power stayed consistent.The Base Makes a DifferenceThe Shark Navigator comes with a charging base that also functions as an auto-emptying storage bin. For those that like to clean daily (or the supremely lazy, like myself), this is a huge difference-maker over a robot vacuum without one. Because of the storage on the base, you only have to actually empty it into the trash about once every two months.Tom PriceThe self-emptying base suctions out all debris from the robot.So, not only can I cede all cleaning responsibilities, I have now reduced even the bare minimum care to just once every couple of months.Final ThoughtsAs far as robot vacuums and mops go, the Shark Navigator gets the job done well. The LiDAR navigates well and ensures that it reaches tight corners and hugs walls, the mopping and vacuuming are powerful, and the self-emptying base reduces the labor I have to do by an even larger amount. Especially for homes with a healthy mix of hard flooring and carpet, this is well worth your time and attention.Shop the Shark Navigator Robot Vacuum and MopOther Robot Vacuums and Mops We RecommendTom Price is a reviews editor for Popular Mechanics while also contributing to Runner's World, Best Products, and Bicycling. Here at Popular Mechanics, Tom loves testing out home appliances, smart tech, gear for city life and outdoor adventures, small gadgets like watches and multitools, and anything else you can find piled up at his hoarder's nest of a desk. Prior to working here, Tom attended NYU, graduating with a degree in English and a minor in creative writing. He also wrote for Best Reviews, The Daily Beast, and other publications covering tech, fitness gear, gadgets, and lifestyle products. Furthermore, he covered startup news, pop culture, and even professional wrestling. To follow more of his work, check back here for new stories.