Shark Vacuums Buying Guide 2024: Best Overall, Budget and Cordless

Shark makes many vacuums, and it's challenging to choose the one that would be right for your needs. Let's talk about the best in each category:

There are budget options such as old Rotator and Navigator models. Those have been produced for about 10 years, and have decent build quality, some of them have a sealed filtration system with HEPA which is rare even for high-end models.

Shark Navigator vs. Rotator versions:

It is hard to understand the difference between those lines: they have the same cyclonic technology and motor type, the same brushroll and filtration system.

• The Navigator's filter is flat, the Rotator has a round filter. 
• Mostly the differences are in a cleaning path size, cord length, warranty, different dustbin sizes, and included attachments.
• Also, Rotator models are slightly heavier and tend to have more extra tools.

Budget Shark vacuums & classic models

The three Navigator and one Rotator vacuums are more expensive than the budget series. There is not much of a difference in cleaning abilities among those cleaners. They have the same motor and basic features.

Budget option: NV105

Classics: NV352, NV356E, NV360 (Navigator Series), NV501 (Rotator, the expensive one).

Newer Lift-Away Cleaners

The build quality is much better than the classics. These machines have a sleeker look, more features, and attachment options. A mix of a regular cleaning head and a soft roller that provides the best pickup on both carpet and hard floors.

Premium Shark Vertex vs. Apex vs. Stratos

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What is Shark's Anti-Allergen system?

Shark's anti-allergen technology includes a HEPA filter with a sealed filtration system. The dust stays inside the vacuums as you clean.

Self-cleaning brushroll (Zero-M)

The cleaners with Zero-M technology have a yellow nozzle. This unique brushroll design is made to prevent hair from wrapping around the roll.

What is DuoClean technology?

It is a double brushroll (red color) system, one is a soft roller and the other one has stiff bristles. Such a brushroll design is ideal for picking up all kinds and sizes of debris on any surface. No switching between the rollers and no need to buy a soft roller separately.

The latest models have DuoClean PowerFins technology (blue rollers). According to Shark, PowerFins contacts deeper into carpets and picks up more (vs. original DuoClean).

DUOCLEAN POWERFINS HAIRPRO is a two-brushroll system that digs deep into carpets, engages hard floors, and picks up dirt, debris, and hair in every pass. The best at picking up pet and human hair.

DuoClean Detect is a two-brushroll system with four Intelli-Sense sensors that automatically senses and reacts to hidden dirt, debris, and pet hair and boosts suction and brushroll speed for optimal performance on both carpets and hard floors.

What is Powered Lift-Away technology?

You can detach the canister, and now you have the same power as a canister Shark but with some flexible ways to get where you want without stopping the brush spin. In this mode, you can use your upright vacuum as a stick without losing power.

What is the difference between Powered Lift-Away Technology and Lift-Away?

In Lift-Away mode, you can detach the hose and use the vacuum to clean above-floor areas. In this scenario, the vacuum loses power compared to Powered Lift-Away technology.

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Are you confused about all these Shark models and don't know which one to get? Here are some of the best Shark vacuums after testing them on carpets and bare floors. To make it easier, let's break it into three categories

1. Cordless vacuums
2. Wet Dry vacuums
3. Corded stick vacuums
4. Upright vacuums

Cordless Vacuums

The Shark IZ682H Vertex Pro does not have a lift-away yet MultiFlex helps reach some areas under furniture which is not possible with most cordless vacuums. It has the biggest dustbin and a display. Two batteries are included in the box which helps to extend battery life for up to 120 minutes.

The Shark IZ363HT Anti-Allergen Pet Power lacks multiflex and lift-away which doesn't make it suitable for above-floor cleaning. It is also the only model in the lineup with one brushroll that resists hair tangles. A relatively big dustbin is good for pet owners. The vacuum is a good buy for homes with mostly hard floors and pet owners.

The Shark IZ462H Vertex DuoClean PowerFins has enough power yet its dustbin is small, and the vacuum is not suitable for pet owners.

The IZ862H Stratos with IQSense neutralizes odors and has an advanced DuoClean system, LED display, and more power than others in the lineup. 

Best Shark cordless vacuum

The best in the cordless vacuum category would be the Shark PowerDetect IP1251. It has sealed filtration, long battery life, and lots of power for a cordless cleaner. Advanced DuoClean Detect technology provides the best cleaning performance and hair tangle resistance.

It is compatible with an auto-empty station but this model is not available on Amazon for now.

Cordless Vacuums with Self-Emptying System

Best Shark Auto-Empty System

The biggest dustcup in the auto-empty station & smart features for smooth cleaning experience.

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Wet Dry Vacuums HydroVac series

The HydroVac series is a cleaner designed for mopping and has some light vacuuming performance.

The difference between the two is that one is cordless and has more mobility and the second one is corded and is not limited by battery life. Also, the cordless option is more lightweight.

Shark WD201 HydroVac

The versatile Shark WD201 HydroVac Cordless Pro XL vacuums, mops, and cleans itself at the same time to deep clean hard floors and clean area rugs. The cordless design combines powerful suction with an extra-large 2-tank water system for streak-free mopping and automatic self-cleaning. The XL Clean Tank maximizes cleaning efficiency with smart suction and flow control. The big pros of this vacuum are the seamless transition between suction for various floor types with push button controls. 

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Corded Stick Vacuums

We have already talked about the difference between the Vertex and Apex models. There is also a Rocket lineup. Let's talk about those

Shark Apex vs. Vertex vs. Rocket

The Apex and Vertex are top-line vacuums. They have more power than the Rocket models and most of them have LED lights, the Rocket cleaners lack.

The Shark HZ702 Ultralight Pet Pro does not have a second roller, mo lift-away feature, or sealed filtration. It is the most lightweight and as a result, has a small dustbin. It is an affordable vacuum cleaner for those who have a pet and no allergy as its filtration is not HEPA. 

The Shark ZS362 APEX DuoClean has less power yet a duoclean technology so it picks up everything from fine to large debris on hard floor. With a bigger dustbin, it can hold more debris but filtration is not HEPA which does not make it suitable for allergy sufferers.

The Shark ZS351 Rocket Zero-M does not have duoclean but Zero-M technology prevents the brushroll from hair tangles just it is not as good. The cleaner has less power compared to the previous one and is not suitable for most carpets. However, its big dustbin is good for those who have to deal with lots of debris.

The Shark Rocket DeluxePro HV322 is an upgraded version of the HV302 with more weight and a bigger dustbin.

Best Shark corded stick vacuum

Best for the price would be the HZ3002 Vertex DuoClean PowerFins. Lots of power and additional technologies like a sealed HEPA filter.

The Shark HZ3002 Vertex DuoClean PowerFins is one of the best corded vacuums in the lineup. It is powerful, and resists hair tangles but has a small dustbin. Lots of power makes it suitable for hard floor and carpet cleaning but not for high-pile ones. 

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Upright Vacuums

Let's break it into classic modifications and premium models.

Rotator vs. Navigator

Those are classic old models with some upgrades that have been on the market for 10+ years. I would say that Navigator is a cheaper series than Rotator.

The difference between the cleaners is mostly about cleaning technology, dustbin capacity, weight, and power. As to budget models, have a look at those that have at least a Zero-M brushroll system, the classic rollers do the job but if you can get something with better technology for the same price why not get it, right?

The best classic Shark vacuum cleaner is the Rotator LA702 followed by the Rotator ZU102.

The Rotator ZU102 has more power, a bigger dustbin, and a different accessory kit. Both have an odor-neutralizer cartridge; the biggest difference is the brushroll system. The LA702 has two cleaning brushes, the latest upgraded system DuoClean PowerFins HairPro and the ZU102 comes with one PowerFins HairPro. So technically the two are similar but the LA702 performs better at picking up things because of the two-roller system.

The Rotator ZU102 performs well on carpets but might not be as good at picking up things on both surfaces as the LA702.

The Shark LA702 is something between classic models and the premium lineup. It lacks some smart features and is not as powerful but has the upgraded brushroll system to work on both surfaces and deal with pet hair.

Shark Premium Upright Vacuums

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Let's break this down into four categories:

• Best overall
• Best budget
• Best cordless version
• Best corded stick model

The best overall would be the brand-new Shark POWERDETECT AZ4002.

The Shark POWERDETECT AZ4002 has advanced cleaning rollers and is a pro at dealing with long hair. It has more power than the previous Vertex and does slightly better at deep carpet cleaning even tho the Vertex already was good at it.

To date, the Shark POWERDETECT AZ4002 is the best vacuum cleaner in the lineup

The second option on our list would be the Shark Stratos AZ3002.

It is one of the most powerful bagless vacuum among all the Shark vacuums, it handles pet hair like a pro.

The cleaner performs well on carpet and has a good pickup ability

Hands down, Sharks with Duo Clean are the best vacuums in the model line.

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What about the best budget vacuum?

Here are the old-style Navigator 300 Series, which we mentioned earlier as one of the best budget cleaners, plus a new Navigator with Zero M, the Shark ZU561 Navigator Lift-Away

For $199.99 you get a powerful vacuum cleaner with hair-resistant Zero-M brushroll for pet owners.

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To Conclude

Premium Vacuum: the best for carpet, pet hair, and allergy would be the Shark POWERDETECT AZ4002. It is an absolute winner and the best value among all Shark cleaners. It is also the best to use on carpet.

If you don't need that extra power and are okay with not having Powered Lift-Away technology, go with the Shark LA702 Rotator Pet Lift-Away.

Budget: the Shark ZU561 Navigator Lift-Away with DuoClean is great at picking up things and resisting hair-tangling.

Cordless: if you want one of the most powerful cleaners with the latest DuoClean PowerFins technology which would work best on carpets and hard floors as well as handling hair, go with the Shark IW3511 Detect Pro.

Corded: if you are looking for a powerful vacuum cleaner that would handle pet or human hair, has a good filtration system, and performs better than average vacuum on carpet and bare floor, the HZ3002 Vertex DuoClean PowerFins.

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