Shark’s No. 1 best-selling robot vacuum on Amazon just dropped to one of its lowest prices of 2019. For Cyber Monday, the Shark AI Ultra Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum is back on sale, down 58 percent to $249.99 from a list price of $599.99, putting a self-emptying model within budget range. It’s been discounted before and, yes, it sold out then, so I’d make sure you don’t dilly-dally if you’ve been holding off waiting for this deal. It regularly makes an appearance near the top of our best robot vacuum guides and currently has over 38,000 customer ratings.
What This Shark AI Ultra Deal Really Gets You
The discount is available for the Shark AI Ultra with XL self-empty base (also known as model AV2501AE or AV2511AE, depending on the retailer bundling). And at $249.99, it’s undercutting a lot of popular non–self-emptying robots while adding the convenience feature most owners say fundamentally changes daily use: automatic bin emptying.
Price trackers and retailer analytics often echo the same idea, emphasizing how bots with self-emptying systems are a premium — and during the holidays, many of us accept settling for lower-tier bots to roll up on a budget.
This markdown inverts that calculus — bringing high-end feature sets without a high-end spend.
What to Look for When You’re Shopping for a Robot Vacuum
Shark’s “Matrix Clean” method takes crosshatch passes to minimize missed spots — think north–south and east–west coverage in one, instead of doing a pass in each direction. In practice, that’s helpful for rugs and high-traffic areas where crumbs collect. Owners with animals consistently say there are fewer hair tufts left versus single-pass units.
The self-empty base can hold the equivalent of around 60 days’ worth of debris, depending on how big your household is, and it uses HEPA filtration to capture small particles and allergens. That’s important if your household is sensitive to dander and pollen, and it’s a feature you usually only see on higher-cost models.
Mapping and room-by-room control — delivered by LiDAR-based navigation on this line — allow you to set no-go zones, schedule targeted cleans, or trigger quick after-dinner sweeps of the kitchen. Voice control via the major assistants and app automations adds an extra layer of convenience if you’re already living with smart home routines.
How It Compares with Roomba and Other Top Models
iRobot is still synonymous with the category for many people, and features like top-notch obstacle avoidance remain the realm of models like the Roomba j7+. But at this sale price point, Shark’s AI Ultra offers a little value play: self-emptying, maneuverability, powerful suction, and smart mapping for less than a lot of competing bases tend to fetch on typical sale days.
Shark’s recent robot lineup, however, has been highly rated by independent reviewers and testing outlets for carpet pickup rates and overall reliability; Consumer Reports regularly references the brand’s strong performance-to-price cleaning ratios. The very best obstacle avoidance is still a premium feature elsewhere (and for most homes, not quite as useful in practice as self-emptying and consistent coverage — both of which are strong suits here).
Why It’s the Best Seller Right Now on Amazon
Shark’s AI Ultra frequently appears near the top of Amazon’s Best Sellers list, which is updated hourly, and has a massive base of owner feedback to support its rank. A hands-off dustbin, easy mapping, and strong suction for a solid all-around robot make the AI Ultra a very good choice for busy households. Simply put, it tackles the chore that most people are actually tired of doing: keeping floors clean without needing to babysit a robot for each run.
This deal also appeals to new robot vacuum purchasers. The AI Ultra is priced around $250, a level more commonly associated with starter models, but it performs like an everyday workhorse. For renters or people in multi-level homes, it’s set-it-and-forget-it simplicity over tinkering, and its crisscrossing cleaning pattern helps prevent the “missed strip” syndrome common with entry-level bots.
Who Should Get It and Who Should Wait to Buy
Best for: pet owners who battle daily tumbleweeds, parents managing snack-zone fallout, and anyone seeking self-emptying without stretching past $300. If you’ve passed because budget bots demand frequent bin emptying, this is the upgrade that takes out that friction.
Wait if: corded, toy-laden homes might still benefit from a top-tier camera-based avoider; or if you value the ability to see and dodge every minor obstacle more than avoiding the biggest ones on occasion, you may want to consider premium models. And if you want mopping, you’ll also have to pay attention to hybrid vac-mop models.
Bottom Line: Why This Shark AI Ultra Deal Stands Out
At $249.99 — a 58 percent discount — Shark’s AI Ultra Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum is one of the best smart home buys of Cyber Monday. It provides the two qualities that make the biggest day-to-day difference: reliable coverage and a bin you barely think about — all at a cost typically reserved for stick bots. If a robot vacuum has been on your wish list, this is the rare bargain that meaningfully improves what you are going to get for your money.