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Shark Vertex vs. Apex Which One Is A Better Value

Updated: Nov 20, 2024

Video made by Modern Castle

The Shark Apex and Vertex are advanced upright vacuums from the manufacturer with the DuoClean brush roll. Those are the best in the lineup overall but the most expensive too.

 

Specs/Models Vertex DuoClean PowerFins AZ2002 APEX DuoClean Zero M
Price $229.99 $327.01
Bin capacity, ml 946 1400
Power, W 1344 1350
Cord length, ft 30 30
Filter HEPA HEPA
Self-cleaning brushroll yes yes
Lift-Away yes no
Anti-allergen complete seal yes yes
DuoClean PowerFins yes no
DuoClean yes yes
LED lights yes yes
In the box
  • dusting brush
  • crevice tool
  • pet power brush
  • HEPA filter
  • crevice tool
  • upholstery tool
  • pet power brush
Noise level, dB 77 77
Weight, lbs/kg 16.4/7.4 16/7.3

How well the vacuums perform

On cleaning tests Shark Apex and Vertex, both achieve some of the highest scores we've ever seen. Both the Shark Vertex and Apex remove 99% of all debris across all floor types and debris types.

On hardwood floors Apex and Vertex both clean 100% of all debris. This is thanks to the DuoClean roll which is ideal for hard surface flooring and is the best at picking up debris from ultra-fine to large.

On low pile carpet, the Apex was virtually flawless. Leaving only minuscule amounts of kitty litter sugar and cereal. The Vertex was also effective on low carpet struggling only slightly with sugar. on a high-pile carpet, they showed a similar result with Apex leaving behind only very small amounts of sugar and kitty litter.

Design

Both the Shark Apex and Vertex have an incredibly solid build quality. And it's a noticeable step up from Shark's more budget-friendly vacuums including the Navigator Rotator and others.

The individual parts and materials feel like quality well-built pieces. In addition, both Apex and Vertex include LED headlights indicator lights on the handle and adjustable cleaning modes.

Apex and Vertex both feature the Lift-Away canister design that helps users reach all areas of the home. The middle section of the vacuum can be lifted off the cleaning head and uses a canister.

Dimensions

Dimentions/Models Shark Vertex DuoClean Shark Apex DuoClean
Dustbin, ml 1,100 1,650
Heigh, inch 46.5 46
Width, inch 12 12.2
Depth, inch 10 11.2
Weight, lbs 16.4 17.1

The DuoClean title refers to the two brushrolls. The Apex and Vertex both have a soft roller that is effective on hard surfaces and a rubberized spiral roller to help clean carpets and suffer dirt.

The brushrolls work together to agitate carpet fibers for improved performance. While still providing a gentle clean for hard surfaces.

Parts and accessories

The Vertex and Apex come with a HEPA filter and pre-motor foam and felt filter.

The Apex includes an:

  • upholstery tool
  • crevice tool
  • pet power brush

The accessories included with the Shark Vertex are the:

  • dusting brush
  • crevice jewel 
  • pet power brush

The upholstery tool on the Shark Apex is ideal for cleaning both fabrics and upholstered surfaces like sofas.

The dusting brush from the Vertex is used for dusting hard surfaces;

the crevice tool is useful for corners and furniture;

the pet power brush is a mini motorized tool for removing pet hair from fabrics and carpets.

Usability and maneuverability

Changing the floor typesetting can be done with a switch on the handle which makes it effortless to clean different floor types to use it as a canister. Press the Lift-Away release button and carry the canister off the base.

The Lift-Away canister makes it more portable and allows users to clean hard to reach areas more easily on both the Vertex and Apex. The long wand allows users to clean under and behind furniture and reach into corners. The hose is 5 and a half feet long and the power cord is 30 feet.

While the Apex and Vertex are on the heavier side they're still fairly maneuverable

They have a low center of gravity that can roll and turn well. And can lay completely flat against the floor which is helpful for cleaning under furniture.

Maintenance

Maintenance on both the Shark Vertex and Apex is about the same. The foam felt and HEPA filters can all be washed at home and reused. Simply rinse the filters with water and let them air dry before reinstalling in the vacuum.

The self-cleaning brush roll resists tangles and will not need to be replaced under normal cleaning circumstances. Emptying the dust bin is simple and straightforward. Click the release button to remove the dustbin then flip the tab to dump the contents out at the bottom.

Differences

  1. larger dust bin
  2. cleaning head technology
  3. price

One difference is a larger dust bin on the Apex.

Another difference is the cleaning head. The brush roll on the Vertex includes upgraded power fins that is better at agitation and resists hair. Cleaning performance is nearly the same so no significant difference between the two.

Finally, prices fluctuate for these models. But Apex is generally less expensive than the Vertex. For this reason, the Apex could be seen as a better value. Ultimately both Apex and Vertex are fantastic vacuums, they're a notable step up in terms of build quality relative to Shark's Navigator and Rotator lines. And the cleaning performance for both the Apex and Vertex was incredible.


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