Shark Matrix Robot Vacuum RV2300CA review

If you’re looking for a simple, easy-to-use robot vacuum that does it all, the Shark Matrix self-empty robot vacuum is a great place to start your search. This robot vacuum is uniquely satisfying and effective. It makes a great upgrade for your old robot vac & is an excellent gift, too.

What’s in the box of the Shark Matrix Self-Empty Robot Vacuum RV2300SCA?

In the box of the Shark Matrix, you’ll find the vacuum itself (the Matrix RV2300CA), its auto-emptying charging dock, a side brushe , and a filter.

Shark Matrix Robot Vacuum features

The Shark Matrix is a simple, basic robot vacuum that’s awesome for homes on a budget. It uses precision grid tracking and LiDAR-guided precision home mapping for an efficient, thorough clean. Despite its small size, the Matrix is designed for multi-surface cleaning in homes with pets. It can be used to suction up pet hair, dust, and dander on carpets and hard floors.

The Matrix is offered in two versions: the CA and the SCA. The CA is a basic robot vacuum with a charging base; the SCA is a robot vacuum with a charging base that also auto-empties the vacuum body’s dustbin. The hardware and other features are the same between the two models—the SCA just gets a little upgrade.

What that means is that a lot of this review is applicable for both the Matrix Robot Vacuum and the Shark Matrix Self-Empty Robot Vacuum. Both vacuums, for instance, can be directed to spot clean or room clean using the SharkClean app. Both can be voice activated, and both can Recharge + Resume. (If the CA is running out of power during a cleaning session, it’ll return to its base, charge, and pick up where it left off. If the SCA is running out of power during a cleaning session or gets full during a cleaning session, it’ll return to its base, self-empty, charge, and do the same.)

The Matrix robot vacuum creates a map of your home. It’ll remember the map for future cleans, and you can set cleaning schedules based around it in the SharkClean app.

Why is home mapping important?

When I’m looking at a robot vacuum, I always look for one with map memory. (The ability to save multiple home maps is even better). This is the same whether I’m looking for a robot vacuum for myself or for a loved one; for a house or for an apartment.

It’s nice to be able to set a robot vacuum and forget it, but having access to a detailed home map takes things to another level. I can’t count the number of times I’ve used my in-app home map to send my robot vacuum to a specific room or dirty area! It makes it so easy to clean up just where it’s needed when it’s needed, or to set a cleaning schedule to do it for you.

In my home, I find that there are certain areas that need cleaning more than others. I’ll send my robot vacuum to the bathroom every 1-2 days pretty consistently, as I have long hair that collects on the floor quite quickly. Areas like the bedroom need cleaning far less frequently, and the kitchen needs to be vacuumed on a sporadic schedule. Sometimes it’s every three days; sometimes it’s three times in one day. (It really depends on whether I’ve been cooking… And what I’ve been cooking.) Being able to send the Matrix out to clean these specific areas at specific times makes my life so much easier.

What sets the Shark Matrix apart?

I love that the Matrix is offered in both a self-emptying and a non-self-emptying version. I’ll always opt for a self-emptying version, but I know these models tend to be more expensive and are slightly more difficult to fit into a home. Shark recommends emptying the base every 30 days; based on my mixed vacuuming habits, I know I can get away with emptying it every 60-90 days. (But that’s just for my home—yours will likely be different!) It’s really nice that the base is bagless, which my previous self-emptying robot vacuum bases have not been. Every little thing helps when it comes to cutting down on household costs, and for something that needs to be emptied monthly in larger homes, vacuum bags add up.

It’s also great that the Matrix maps with 360-degree LiDAR, aka Light Detection and Ranging. LiDAR maps quickly compared to other robot vacuum technologies and works in the dark. It’s pretty good at avoiding household objects and, in my experience, is consistently stellar when it comes to things like staying indoors and not falling down any stairs.

What I really like about LiDAR, and what I enjoy about its inclusion in the Shark Matrix, is that it’s fully laser-based. It doesn’t record any camera data. That makes it an excellent choice for anyone who’s concerned about smart home privacy.

My experience with the Shark RV2300SCA

Thanks to its sleek, bagless design, the Shark Matrix is a very low-profile robot vacuum to add to your home. Yes, it’s self-emptying, but its base is significantly slimmer than what I’m used to seeing from self-emptying vacuum cleaners. This is a great vacuum for smaller spaces, and that’s not the only thing I enjoyed about using it.

Shark’s LiDAR mapping is quick and effective. The Matrix estimated 50 minutes to map my home; it took less than 30. Every door, stool, and piece of furniture was accounted for on my home map. When vacuuming, the SharkClean app estimates cleaning times—something else that’s unusual for robot vacuum cleaners. These cleaning times have been accurate in my experience, and when they aren’t, they seem to err on the side of caution. (That is, if the app estimates a 40 minute clean, the clean will end up taking 30-40 minutes.)

What Shark is excelling at in 2024/2025

Finally, on top of enjoying the Shark Matrix SCA charging base and the SharkClean app, I really liked the Matrix Robot Vacuum itself. It did a stellar job of cleaning around the edges of furniture and into the corners of rooms, and it is very quiet for a robot vacuum. Two things that I’ve noticed about the current generation of Shark vacuums is that they:

1. Include multiple, thick filter layers to trap as much dust, allergens, and debris as possible.
2. Prioritize minimizing noise.

The Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum (reviewed on the here) minimizes noise disturbances by featuring a clever “Eco Mode” on its self-emptying base. Its Eco Mode turns off the vacuum base’s auto-empty function, which is perfect for homes where not everyone goes to bed at the same time.

In a similar fasion, the SharkClean app directs users to choose an intensity setting when they send the Matrix Robot Vacuum out for its first clean. This robot vacuum is fairly quiet even on its regular setting, but this simple step makes it really easy to keep noise levels down by using Eco Mode during evenings, work hours, and nap times. After, and during, your first clean, you can toggle the vacuum’s intensity setting at will.

In conclusion

Overall, I really enjoy using the Shark Matrix Self-Empty Robot Vacuum RV2300SCA. It’s an excellent product that’s easy to set up, use, and maintain. Its slim, bagless base is great for small spaces and cuts down on cost over time.

If you’re looking for a robot vacuum that “does it all,” this is the perfect place to start. The Matrix can auto-schedule your vacuuming sessions, clean on demand, and clean by rooms/spaces, which helps it fit into any lifestyle. It works well in homes with pets and can be voice-activated, too. I particularly enjoy how quiet this vacuum is and the fact that the SharkClean app will estimate your cleaning times before running a cleaning cycle.

Shop the self-emptying Shark Matrix online at Best Buy today.