Archive notice: This article covers Black Friday 2023 prices observed on or around November 24, 2023. Those offers have expired and are preserved for historical reference—not as current deals.
The best value depended less on the biggest percentage discount than on the kind of cleaning and maintenance you wanted. The Roomba 694 at $159 was the strongest inexpensive connected option; the eufy RoboVac 11S Max at $130 after coupon was the cheapest simple choice; the Roomba j7+ at $469 best suited homes with pets and clutter; and Shark’s AI Ultra at $300 and AI Ultra 2-in-1 at $400 offered self-emptying convenience without disposable bags.
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Prices and product descriptions below come from Engadget’s November 24, 2023 roundup. They are not 2026 price or performance claims.
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| Model | Historical price | Type | Self-emptying | Connectivity | Best for | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iRobot Roomba 694 | $159, 42% off | Vacuum | No | Wi-Fi, app, Alexa | Budget smart cleaning | Manual bin emptying |
| eufy RoboVac 11S Max | $130 with $10 coupon | Vacuum | No | Remote only | Lowest cost and low furniture | No app or mapping |
| iRobot Roomba j7+ | $469, 22% off | Vacuum | Yes, bagged | App, voice assistants | Pets and obstacles | No mopping; replacement bags |
| Shark AI Ultra | $300, 50% off | Vacuum | Yes, bagless | Mapping, Alexa, Google Assistant | Bagless convenience | Less advanced obstacle ecosystem than j7+ |
| Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 | $400, 43% off | Vacuum and mop | Yes, bagless | Mapping and obstacle avoidance | Hard floors and light mopping | Manual bin/tank change |
| iRobot Roomba s9+ | $600, 40% off | Premium vacuum | Yes, bagged | Mapping, app, voice support | Large homes wanting premium features | High purchase and consumable costs |
Discount percentages and “record low” descriptions are historical statements from the original coverage, not permanent price reductions or independent 2026 testing results.
#1 Best Overall
- INCREDIBLE SUCTION: Powerful Shark suction picks up dirt and debris on all floor types—tackling even the toughest of messes in your home.
- NO SPOTS MISSED: With Matrix Clean Navigation, the vacuum cleans in a precise matrix grid taking multiple passes over dirt and debris for whole home, deep cleaning coverage.
- IT EMPTIES ITSELF: The bagless, self-emptying base holds up to 30 days of dirt and debris while its true HEPA filtration captures and traps 99.97%* of dust and allergens (*down to .3 microns).
- PRECISION HOME MAPPING: 360° LiDAR vision quickly and accurately maps your home so your robot can methodically clean detecting and avoiding objects in its path, day or night, adapting to everyday changes in the home.
- PERFECT FOR HOMES WITH PETS: With powerful vacuum suction, Shark’s self-cleaning brushroll, and HEPA filtration system the robot captures pet hair, dust, dander and allergens with ease.
Fast recommendations
- Best under $200: Roomba 694, if app and voice control matter.
- Cheapest and simplest: eufy RoboVac 11S Max at $130 after clipping the coupon.
- Best for pets and obstacles: Roomba j7+.
- Best vacuum-only self-emptying deal: Shark AI Ultra.
- Best vacuum-and-mop deal: Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1.
- Best premium option: Roomba s9+, although its $600 price made it a weaker value for ordinary homes.
1. iRobot Roomba 694: the best inexpensive connected option
Historical deal: $159, described as 42% off.
The Roomba 694 was Engadget’s budget favorite in the original roundup. It included Wi-Fi, app control, Alexa support and a spot-cleaning mode—useful features for buyers who wanted basic automation without paying for a docking station.
It did not include a Clean Base or automatic dirt disposal. You had to remove and empty its bin manually, and it lacked the more advanced obstacle avoidance associated with the j7+.
Buy it if: you want an inexpensive connected robot for routine vacuuming, scheduling and occasional spot cleaning.
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2. eufy RoboVac 11S Max: the cheapest simple choice
Historical deal: $140, or $130 after applying a $10 coupon.
The lowest advertised price required an extra checkout step: the coupon had to be clipped. Without it, the price was $140.
The RoboVac 11S Max was a slim, relatively uncomplicated robot operated by remote control rather than Wi-Fi or an app. Its low profile was its clearest advantage, since it could fit under furniture that might block taller robots. The original coverage also highlighted its long battery life.
The product was eufy-branded, although the 2023 article referred to it as an “Anker Eufy” machine because eufy is associated with Anker. It should not be confused with a vacuum sold under Anker’s ordinary consumer branding. See eufy’s official support page for manuals and maintenance information.
Buy it if: you want the lowest-cost option, have low furniture, or prefer not to connect an appliance to an account or home network.
Skip it if: you need room mapping, app scheduling, remote monitoring, voice commands or self-emptying.
Rank #2
- POWERFUL SUCTION ON CARPET & HARD FLOORS: High suction power pulls up dirt, debris, pet hair, and fine dust from carpets and hard floors, delivering deep, consistent, whole-home cleaning performance.
- SONIC MOPPING FOR STUCK-ON STAINS: Sonic mopping scrubs floors up to 100x per minute to lift tough stains, grime, and dried spills, while intelligently avoiding carpets; use the SharkClean app to set carpet zones for vacuum-only cleaning.
- SELF-EMPTYING & SELF-CLEANING BASE: The NeverTouch base self-empties debris into a 60- day capacity bagless bin, refills water for up to 30 days, and automatically washes and dries the mop after every clean for convenient, hands-free cleaning.
- PERFECT FOR HOMES WITH PETS: Advanced suction and sonic mopping removes pet hair, dirt, and dander, while HEPA filtration with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal helps trap dust and allergens for a fresher home.
- EDGE & CORNER CLEANING WITH EDGE DETECT: Blasts of air pull debris from edges and corners into the cleaning path, ensuring more thorough pickup along walls and tight spaces.
3. iRobot Roomba j7+: the strongest pet-and-obstacle fit
Historical deal: $469, described as 22% off.
The j7+ combined a self-emptying Clean Base with mapping, room-level cleaning, app schedules and support for Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. Its defining feature was PrecisionVision Navigation. iRobot said the system could identify and avoid hazards such as cords, clothing, shoes, toys, bowls and solid pet waste.
That is a manufacturer claim, not a guarantee that the robot will avoid every object or pet accident in every home. Floors should still be cleared before cleaning. iRobot also offers a Pet Owner Official Promise, but its eligibility and terms should be checked directly rather than assumed from an old deal page.
The Clean Base uses disposable dirt bags. That reduces how often you empty the robot but adds an ongoing consumables cost, alongside filters, brushes and eventual battery replacement. iRobot’s support documentation identifies the j7+ as using an Auto Evac Dock and a 2,210 mAh lithium-ion battery; those component details should not be treated as standardized cleaning-performance measurements.
Buy it if: you own pets, frequently find cords or toys on the floor, or want room-specific cleaning and automatic emptying.
Skip it if: mopping is your priority or you would rather avoid proprietary disposal bags.
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4. Shark AI Ultra Voice Control: the best bagless self-emptying deal
Historical deal: $300, described as 50% off.
The vacuum-only Shark AI Ultra offered mapping, voice control through Alexa and Google Assistant, a self-cleaning brush roll and a bagless self-emptying base. The original deal copy claimed that the base could hold up to 60 days of debris under expected conditions.
“Bagless” does not mean maintenance-free. You still need to empty and clean the base and robot, wash or replace filters as directed, clear brushes and keep sensors clean. The benefit is avoiding proprietary disposable dirt bags.
Buy it if: you want mapping and self-emptying at a lower historical price than the premium Roombas, particularly if you prefer a bagless dock.
Skip it if: you want a vacuum-and-mop machine or place a higher priority on iRobot’s pet-waste and obstacle-recognition features.
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Historical deal: $400, described as 43% off and available through Amazon and Best Buy at the time.
Rank #3
- POWERFUL SUCTION ON CARPET & HARD FLOORS: This robot vacuum delivers strong suction to lift dirt, debris, and pet hair from carpets, rugs, and hard floors, capturing fine dust and larger particles for deep, whole-home cleaning.
- UP TO 1.5X MORE COVERAGE* WITH SMARTPATH NAVIGATION: Uses LiDAR technology to precisely map your home and clean in a row-by-row pattern for maximum coverage and methodical cleaning compared to traditional robot vacuums (*vs. Shark ION).
- SELF-EMPTYING BASE WITH 30-DAY CAPACITY: The bagless self-empty base holds up to 30 days of dirt and debris, eliminating the need for disposal bags and delivering low-maintenance, hands-free cleaning.
- PERFECT FOR HOMES WITH PETS: Designed for pet owners, this robot vacuum captures pet hair, dirt, and dander with powerful suction and an anti-hair wrap brushroll for reliable everyday cleaning.
- DETECTS & AVOIDS OBJECTS: No need to pick up before cleaning—advanced sensors detect and navigate around objects and obstacles in its path, adapting to everyday changes so the robot vacuum can clean without interruption.
This model combined vacuuming and mopping with mapping, obstacle avoidance and a bagless self-emptying base. It was particularly relevant to homes with mostly sealed hard floors that wanted routine wet cleaning as well as vacuuming.
The important limitation was easy to miss: changing from vacuuming to mopping required switching the dustbin for the water reservoir and attaching the mop pad. In other words, it was not a completely hands-off mop system. Carpeted homes also needed appropriate no-mop zones or other cleaning restrictions. A robot mop is suited to maintenance cleaning, not necessarily scrubbing dried stains.
Buy it if: you have predominantly hard floors and accept a small amount of manual setup.
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Skip it if: your home is heavily carpeted or you expect the robot to manage water, pads and mode changes entirely by itself.
6. iRobot Roomba s9+: the premium option
Historical deal: $600, described as 40% off.
The s9+ was the most expensive model in the roundup. It paired the premium Roomba platform with mapping, object detection and a Clean Base automatic dirt-disposal dock. Engadget characterized it as having strong suction and premium cleaning performance; those are editorial assessments, not standardized suction measurements.
The price made sense mainly for shoppers who valued advanced navigation, automatic emptying and a premium vacuum-focused system in a larger or pet-heavy home. iRobot’s support documentation identifies the s9+ as using an Auto Evac Dock and a 3,300 mAh lithium-ion battery, but battery capacity alone does not establish real-world cleaning performance.
Ownership costs matter: Clean Base bags, filters, brushes and batteries can cost more over time than the consumables for a basic robot.
Buy it if: you specifically wanted a premium vacuum with mapping and automatic dirt disposal and were comfortable paying for it.
Skip it if: you live in a small apartment, mainly need occasional cleaning, want mopping or cannot justify premium consumable costs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose among the six
Start with navigation
The 11S Max used a remote and did not provide Wi-Fi mapping. The Roomba 694 added app and voice control but remained a basic model. The Shark AI Ultra models and the j7+ offered mapping, while the j7+ added a stronger focus on identifying household obstacles and solid pet waste. The s9+ occupied the premium end with mapping and object detection.
Rank #4
- POWERFUL SHARK PERFORMANCE: Up to 50% more suction* and designed for carpets and hard floors. (*vs. competitor robot vacuum)
- UP TO 1.5X MORE COVERAGE*: SmartPath Navigation uses spot liDAR technology to precisely map your home and clean in a row by row pattern for maximum coverage compared to traditional robot vacuums (*vs. Shark ION)
- DETECTS & AVOIDS OBJECTS: No need to pick up before your robot cleans with the ability to detect and avoid objects in its path, adapting to everyday changes in your home.
- SELF CLEANING BRUSHROLL: Digs deep into carpets and directly engages hardwood floors pulling up debris, hair, and dirt from all surfaces in your home – engineered to pick up more hair and is anti-hair wrap.
- CONVENIENT HANDS-FREE CLEANING: Voice control activates cleaning the whole home, a room, or a spot through the app or using voice control. With recharge and resume, when low on battery, the robot will recharge and pickup cleaning where it left off.
Mapping is useful for room-level and zone cleaning, but it does not eliminate preparation. Cords, clothes, toys, thresholds and unusual layouts can still cause problems, and no model should be treated as infallible around pets.
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Decide whether self-emptying is worth the trade-off
Self-emptying is most useful for frequent cleaning, shedding pets and larger homes. It also means a larger dock, an outlet requirement and extra noise during the emptying cycle. Bagged systems such as the Roomba docks reduce hands-on emptying but require replacement bags. Shark’s bagless docks avoid those bags, while still requiring users to empty and clean the base.
The Roomba 694 and eufy 11S Max had no self-emptying dock. The j7+ and s9+ used iRobot’s Clean Base system; the Shark AI Ultra models used bagless bases. Confirm the exact bundle when shopping, because a similarly named listing may omit the dock.
Match the robot to your floors
Vacuum-only models are the simpler choice for carpet-heavy homes or buyers who primarily want dry debris removed. A vacuum/mop model can be more useful on sealed hard floors, but it adds water, pad and no-mop-zone maintenance. The Shark 2-in-1’s required bin-and-reservoir swap was a material part of its ownership experience.
Account for the total cost
The sale price was only the entry cost. Check the price and availability of filters, brushes, batteries, mop pads and—where applicable—Clean Base bags. A large discount does not make a robot a good deal if its required features do not suit your home or its ongoing maintenance is unacceptable.
The Tool Desk
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- Exact model and bundle: Confirm the model number, included dock, accessories and whether the listing is new.
- Seller and condition: A later page may represent a refurbished unit or a third-party seller rather than the original deal.
- Coupon mechanics: The eufy price was $130 only after applying the $10 coupon; the unadjusted price was $140.
- Consumables: Check current replacement-bag, filter, brush and battery availability.
- Dock placement: Measure the dock location, allow clearance and provide a nearby outlet.
- Carpet and mopping: For the Shark 2-in-1, determine how no-mop zones work and whether mode changes fit your routine.
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi models may require an account, compatible network and app support. The eufy 11S Max avoided those requirements but also lacked smart controls.
Why the largest discount was not automatically the best deal
The Shark AI Ultra’s historical 50% discount looked better than the j7+’s 22%, but percentage savings did not answer the ownership question. The Shark offered bagless self-emptying; the j7+ offered a stronger pet-and-obstacle proposition. Likewise, the inexpensive 11S Max could be the right answer for low furniture and offline simplicity, but a poor choice for anyone requiring app mapping.
The original roundup was selective rather than a complete survey of all 2023 robot-vacuum deals. Other retailers and roundups also featured brands such as Roborock, ECOVACS, Wyze and Bissell. Those alternatives should not be treated as current recommendations here because the historical research does not verify their 2026 pricing or availability.
Historical verdict
For the Black Friday 2023 snapshot, the right choice depended on priorities: the eufy RoboVac 11S Max minimized cost and complexity; the Roomba 694 was the better inexpensive connected robot; the Roomba j7+ was the most compelling pet-oriented convenience option; the Shark AI Ultra delivered the clearest bagless self-emptying value; the Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 was the better fit for hard-floor homes wanting light mopping; and the Roomba s9+ was justified only when its premium navigation and automatic-emptying features mattered more than price.
Because all six prices were tied to November 24, 2023, any current listing must be evaluated afresh. Do not assume an old “record low” remains available, or that a product page now showing the same name contains the same condition, bundle, warranty or retailer terms.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
