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Shark vs. Dyson 2020 Best Cordless, Upright, For Pet Hair

Updated: Mar 28, 2024

Video made by Modern Castle

Shark and Dyson are in different price categories. Normally, Dyson products are more powerful yet are expensive. The Shark cleaners perform well but not as good as the Dysons.

Shark vs. Dyson

The main differences between Shark and Dyson are price, suction, and weight.

In general Dyson vacuums have more suction but they are more expensive. Shark vacuums are lighter and less expensive but don't have is much suction respectively. 

Firstly, let's talk about cordless vacuums.

These vacuums are arguably the most popular models for Shark and Dyson, both companies offering many different styles, features, and price points.

For cordless vacuums are the Shark IONflex DuoClean and the Dyson V11 Torque Drive.

Shark offers more budget options but these machines are also less powerful.

The Shark IONFlex 2X IF251 offers a flexible handle that helps to reach most places.

It is also equipped with a DuoClean cleaning head that is suitable for both surfaces, bare floor and carpet.

Keep in mind, the Shark is not able to provide deep carpet cleaning but would pick up everything from bare flooring to high-pile carpets.

What is common between the Shark IONflex DuoClean and the Dyson V11 Torque Drive

Both are cordless vacuums that can transform into a handheld unit. They have different cleaning brushes and body style.

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive has one of the strongest suction on the market, it can deep clean even high-pile carpets and lasts longer than most cordless machines.

It has a display that shows cleaning mode, estimated battery life, and sends maintaining alerts. Another thing is that the Dyson V11 recognizes carpets and boosts suction when on one.

Specs/Models Shark IONFlex Dyson V11
Dust Capacity, ml 300 770
Run time, min 30 60
Weight, kg 4 3

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive has better suction 185 air Watts and a longer runtime at 60 minutes.

However, it is novelly more expensive than the Shark IONFlex DuoClean.

How they clean 

Another thing is filtration.

The Dyson V11 has a sealed HEPA filtration and is safe for allergy and asthma sufferers

The IONFlex DuoClean uses a dual powdered brush roll system that combines a standard bristle brush roll with a soft roller brush roll to help capture large and fine debris types.

If you’re looking for a less expensive choice than the Dyson or want a flexible handle, then you need to buy the vacuum clean Shark IONFlex DuoClean.

The advantage of Dyson V11 over a Shark is that it has twice as much work. It is also much more powerful and has a smart carpet sensing which boosts suction once the cleaner recognizes one.

The Dyson V11 comes with a single multi-surface cleaning head with 3 manual height adjustment options. If you do have lots of hard surfaces in your home you could add a soft roller brush cleaning head.


The Shark IONflex DuoClean is for small or average houses with low-pile carpets or mostly hard flooring.

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive is a great cleaner for big homes with all kinds of carpet and hard floors.

Dyson V11 vs. V10

The Dyson V10 is the 2nd most advanced Dyson cordless stick vacuum, to date.

It offers the longest Dyson battery life, up to 60 minutes, and includes a wide range of accessories for versatile cleaning experience. The V10 also performed very well when cleaning all floor types.

Also, the Dyson V10 and V11 have the best swivel steering.

The Dyson V11 has stronger suction, identifies carpeted surface, has a display, and lasts longer.

Tech specs/Models Dyson V11 Dyson V10
2-in-1 yes yes
Power, mAh 3600 2600
Run time, min 60 60
Dust bin capacity, ml 770 770
Height 50,6 49,2
Width 9,8 9,8
Depth 10,3 10,1
Weight, kg 3 2,6

Upright Vacuum Comparisons

Upright models are still a powerful option to consider. Truth is that both Shark and Dyson could be right for you. They each have good models with slightly different features.

Both Dyson and Shark offer a few upright models, varying in price. You pay for more features, higher suction, on-board accessories, additional cleaning heads, etc.

Most Shark and Dyson upright models include:

  • large capacity dust bins;
  • on-board accessories;
  • an extension wand and hose;
  • advanced swivel steering.

Shark offers three main upright vacuums:

  1. Shark Rotator
  2. Shark Navigator
  3. Shark APEX

Dyson offers two main upright vacuums:

  1. Dyson Ball Animal 2
  2. Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2

The best in the lineup would be the Shark APEX DuoClean Zero-M and Dyson Animal Ball 2.

Shark APEX DuoClean Zero-M vs. Dyson Animal Ball 2

What is DuoClean technology

DuoClean technology is basically just a soft roller brush that is designed to work with the traditional brush roll to help suck up large debris or bare floor cleaning.

Let's start with the Shark APEX DuoClean. The main features and pros at the same time are next:

  1. DuoClean brushroll head is great for hardwood & carpets
  2. Lift-Away canister allows it to operate as a handheld or upright vacuum
  3. Typically less expensive than Animal 2.

This model has Powered Lift-Away which allows releasing the wand with a cleaning brush to clean above the floor areas.

Another technology is Zero-M that resists hair tangles.

The Shark APEX DuoClean is the best in the Shark lineup.

APEX DuoClean vs. Dyson Ball Animal 2

Specs/Models Apex DuoClean Ball Animal 2
2-in-1 yes no
Dust capacity, ml 1,420 2,100
Cord length 30 30
Weight, kg 7.7 7.9

The Dyson has a bigger dust capacity and is a bit heavier.

The main features of Dyson Ball Animal 2 are different from the Shark: 

  1. Larger dust bin capacity than Shark APEX
  2. Raw suction power at 306 AW (the most of any vacuum on the market)
  3. Great build quality, Animal 2 feels great in-hand
  4. It can not be lifted.

What is common

Both of these models have: 

  • large capacity dustbins; 
  • great filtration;
  • numerous attachment and accessories for variable cleaning styles;
  • swivel steering.

The Dyson Animal 2 vs. Shark Rotator Pro Lift Away

Size

The Shark Rotator is over 3″ taller, but narrower and slimmer throughout the body and base. The Shark is also about two pounds lighter than the Dyson Animal 2 upright. With that in mind though, Dyson has a dust bin capacity of about 30% more than the Shark (2.1 L vs. 1.4 L).

How it cleans

Both of these uprights have a central brush roll that agitates and collects dirt, dust, and debris with advanced swivel steering for nice maneuverability. They both also have extension wands and hoses, although the Dyson extension handle feels a bit awkward when reaching high or narrow spaces.

The Biggest Difference

  • The Dyson Animal 2 comes with a lifetime washable filter and more suction power. It’s also heavier and more expensive.
  • The Shark Rotator Lift-Away is lighter weight, has a lift-out canister for mobile cleaning, and notably less expensive than Animal 2.

To conclude

The Shark is handier with the powered lift-away mode. The Dyson feels bulkier. 

When comparing power, the Dyson is better but if you don't have high-pile carpets, the Shark seems to be a better option as it is more convenient to use.


Dyson Ball MultiFloor 2 Is the Best Dyson Upright

It is a powerful upright designed to seamlessly transition across multi-surface flooring. This model uses the same cyclone technology that Dyson is known for.

It’s about 2 lbs lighter than the Dyson Animal 2 and comes with similar accessories—the high reach wand, washable lifetime filter, stair tool, and combination too.


If you are looking for a budget Shark option, have a look at the Navigator and Rotator. These are not as powerful but both have a sealed HEPA filtration system which is rare for the price. Both are suitable even for the most sensitive-to-dust people. These models are not as well built as the APEX but perform better than average.

Shark Navigator

The Navigator features an XL dust bin, on-board accessories, and a comfortable handle that makes it easy to use the extension wand and hose for areas that are hard to reach.

Shark Rotator Lift-Away TruePet

As a trade-off, the dust bin capacity of the Shark Rotator is about half that of the Shark Navigator series and the overall unit is about 2 pounds heavier.

Compared to the APEX, these two Sharks have less suction, a smaller bin, and the build quality is not as good as in the APEX. But these are considerably less expensive and have a better than above performance. And the Rotator features LED headlamps, swivel steering, and text notations for easy usability.

Swivel steering is a feature that is presented in the Dyson Ball MultiFloor 2 and also the Shark Rotator.

Still to be noted that Dyson has the price point is higher than most of the Shark models.

How it cleans

Both of these uprights have a central brush roll that agitates and collects dirt, dust, and debris with advanced swivel steering for nice maneuverability. They both also have extension wands and hoses, although the Dyson extension handle feels a bit awkward when reaching high or narrow spaces.

Specs/Models Dyson Ball
Multi-Floor 2
Shark Navigator Shark Rotator
Max suction power, AW 250 N/A N/A
Power, cord 30 30 30
2-in-1 no yes yes
Dust bin capacity, ml 1,600 1,320 1,430
Cleaning performance, % 98 84 86
Height 41.9 45.5 45.7
Width 15.6 15 12.2
Depth 13.4 11.4 12.2
Weight, kg 6.8 5.9 6.8

Dyson vs. Shark: Which is Best For Pet Hair

When vacuuming pet hair, there are a few critical pet-friendly factors.

These factors tend to improve the cleaning performance of pet hair, pet dander, and other ailments that are more common in homes with pets.

So what’s most important for cleaning pet hair?

  • large capacity dust bins
  • HEPA filtration
  • tangle-free attachments or brush rolls
  • swivel steering
  • upholstery tool for cleaning from beds or sofas

Shark and Dyson models that are used for pet hair:

Models that flawlessly handle your pet's hair have already been mentioned above.

Cordless

  1. Dyson V11 Animal
  2. Dyson V10 Animal
  3. Shark Rocket Pet Pro

The Shark Rocket Pet Pro, Dyson V11 Animal, or Dyson V10 Animal. All three of these models have great suction against pet hair and added portability.

The Dyson V10 and V11 are one of the most powerful cordless vacuums on the market. They are more suitable for high-pile carpets than the Shark Rocket Pet Pro.

The Shark has a rubberized cleaning brush for pet hair. It has a shorter runtime, less suction but is also cheaper than the Dyson. Ideal if you don't have medium-pile carpets.

Upright

  1. Shark Rotator Lift-Away
  2. Dyson Ball Animal 2

The Shark Rotator Lift-Away could be a great option. It lacks the tangle-free brush roll but has many of the other features that are important in a vacuum for pet hair. Additionally, the lower price point makes this one an excellent choice.

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 if you have pets with long hair, a large home, or just want the raw power of a corded upright vacuum, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 is the best choice. 


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