Shark makes many of the best vacuum cleaners on the market today. It’s especially good at coming up with solutions to problems that you might not even knew you had. For example, wands that can bend forward so you can clean under furniture without bending down, or floorheads that can be pulled backwards over chunky spillages to clear them, rather than just causing them to pool up.
I’ve tested plenty of different models from this brand, and I’m consistently impressed. The range can be a little tricky to make sense of though – Shark isn’t afraid to release 20 new models every other month – so here I’ve pulled together what I think are the three best Shark vacuums. Each will suit a slightly different type of customer, but there’s something for everyone here.
Shark PowerDetect Cordless
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The PowerDetect Cordless is the model that sits at the top of Shark’s cordless range. It combines outright power with advanced automation capabilities, and features geared towards convenience and usability.
This vacuum can sense the kind of floor it’s on and how dirty it is, and adjust suction power in response. It can also tell when it’s near the edge of a room and amp up the power on the relevant side of the floorhead to clear any dust that might have gathered there.
The wand can pivot in the middle to enable you to clean right under furniture, and has a floorhead that’s designed to pick up larger bits of debris when pulled back over them. The usefulness of that last feature shouldn’t be underestimated – I’ve tested far too many vacuums that just push dirt around. There’s also a compatible auto-empty base which, if you have space for it, is a big effort-saver.
Who should buy it?
If you want a cordless vacuum that packs plenty of power and is straightforward to use, the PowerDetect Cordless is your best bet.
Why shouldn’t buy it?
If you have mostly hard floors or only need something for light cleaning, the Detect Pro (#2) is a better choice. It doesn’t offer as much suction, but it’s lighter in weight and offers many of the same special features as the PowerDetect.
If you have tons of carpet or hairy pets, you should consider the PowerDetect Upright (#3). It’s bulkier and heavier than both the cordless stick vacuums here, but the benefit is far more suction power, no need to recharge, and a generous dust cup.
Read our full Shark PowerDetect cordless vacuum review
Shark Detect Pro cordless
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The Shark Detect Pro is slightly older than the PowerDetect above. It’s smaller and lighter, but offers many of the same convenient features. It’s the least powerful of all the vacuums here, but ideal for smaller homes or homes with lots of hard floor.
The floorhead isn’t designed to allow chunky particles to pass under it when pulled backwards. Otherwise, you’re getting most of the same features as you will with the PowerDetect Cordless (#1) above. It can sense dirt, edges and floor type, and there’s a compatible auto-empty base. Some versions of this vacuum have the forward-bending wand feature (Shark calls this MultiFLEX in the US and Flexology in the UK) while others do not.
Who should buy it?
Those who have homes with mostly hard floors and the occasional rug will find the Detect Pro packs ample power for a thorough clean. It’s also a great choice if you need something lightweight for getting into awkward corners.
Who shouldn’t buy it?
Pet owners and those with lots of carpet will need more oomph, and should check out the PowerDetect Upright (#3) for maximum power, or the PowerDetect Cordless (#1) if you’re set on a cordless stick vacuum.
Read our full Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum review
Shark PowerDetect Upright
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If it’s outright power you need, you can’t beat a corded upright. The best one in Shark’s lineup is the PowerDetect Upright (although UK shoppers should definitely also check out the Shark Stratos Pet Pro Upright). This vacuum will deliver a seriously deep clean, getting ingrained dust out of thick carpets and pulling up pet hair with ease. The dust cup is also large enough to handle serious volumes of dirt without having to make constant trips to the trash.
Obviously it’s heavier, bulkier and less convenient than the cordless cleaners at #1 and #2, but Shark has made it as flexible as possible with a modular design that enables you to use different configurations for different cleaning tasks. For instance, if you need to clean up high you can remove the dust bin and hold it in your hand while you use a detail tool on the end of a flexible hose.
Like its cordless counterpart (#1), the PowerDetect Upright can automatically adjust suction based on the floor type and how dirty it is, as well as increasing power at the edges of rooms. It also has that same floorhead that can be pulled backwards over chunky spillages. An anti-odor puck is designed to keep things smelling fresh, even if you have a bin full of dog hair.
Who should buy it?
Anyone seeking maximum suction should consider this model. That includes owners of hairy pets, those living in large, high-traffic homes, or anyone with lots of medium or deep-pile carpet to clean.
Who shouldn’t buy it?
If you have mostly hard floors, a corded upright is probably overkill – you’ll be able to get away with the lower powered, more convenient Detect Pro #2. Or if you need that power but live in a home where an upright is impractical – for instance, if there are lots of stairs or small nooks and crannies – the PowerDetect Cordless (#1) will make more sense.
Read our full Shark PowerDetect Upright review
|
Model |
Type |
Weight |
Bin size |
Max runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PowerDetect Cordless |
Cordless stick vac (optional auto-empty base) |
8lbs / 3.7kg |
0.7L |
70 mins |
|
Detect Pro Cordless |
Cordless stick vac (optional auto-empty base) |
6lbs / 2.76kg |
0.4L |
40 mins (US) / 60 mins (UK) |
|
PowerDetect Upright |
Corded upright |
17.6 lbs / 8 kg |
1.3L |
Unlimited |
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