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Reviewed / Shark
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Credit:
Reviewed / Shark
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
The Shark Apex is a workhorse of a vacuum. It has powerful suction and plenty of features, but it's loud and heavy. Read More
If you want a corded pet vacuum with some useful attachments that are easy to lug around, this is the one to get. Read More
The Shark Stratos has all the best features, but its cleaning power is only average. Read More
If you’re shopping for a lightweight handheld vac for small messes, Shark’s Wandvac is a great option. Read More
The Shark IQ is a self-emptying robot vacuum that can also make maps of your home. While it's a good floor cleaner, the smart features need polish. Read More
We’ve tested dozens of Shark vacuums over the last decade, including everything from robot and cordless vacs to full-size upright models—so we know they’ve earned their reputation as one of the best, most reliable vacuum brands on the market.
Shark offers feature-rich products with great performance at reasonable price points; it’s worth investing a little extra in a Shark, rather than settling for another disappointing low-end vacuum that won’t last. Based on our extensive testing and product research, these are the best Shark vacuums you can shop online today.
We think most people will fall in love with the Shark Apex AZ1002
Lightweight and versatile
Under-appliance wand
So-so suction
Flexible design
Seamless cleaning
Heavy
One-touch empty button
Easy to use
10-minute max runtime
Self-emptying
Good debris pickup
Finicky smart features
Picks up 52% of dirt in a single pass
Excels at picking up cat and dog hair
Makes it easy to clean stairs and under furniture
None that we could find
Can transform into a pseudo-canister vac
Average dirt pickup
Difficult to use
Since 2011, we’ve spent thousands of hours testing vacuum cleaners in a controlled environment, with real dirt made right in our Cambridge laboratory. With the help of our staff scientist, we put every vacuum through a series of rigorous tests that simulate real-world clean-up jobs like macaroni noodles, pet hair, and other household debris.
Most vacuum cleaners we recommend have been put through these hands-on tests. But for products we haven’t tried yet, we choose our top picks based on factors like price point, suction power and performance, features and accessories, user reviews, and other specifications.
Based on our research and in-house testing, we think the Shark Apex AZ1002 (available at Amazon) is the best Shark vacuum for most people. It offers powerful suction, LED lights so you can see under furniture and a lift-away feature that converts the Apex into a pseudo-canister that makes vacuuming on the stairs a cinch.
You can narrow down your options once you determine which type of vacuum will work best for your cleaning needs. Some people prefer lightweight or cordless stick vacuums while others may be in the market for a robot vacuum to help spot clean their floors.
Most Shark vacuums we’ve reviewed can effectively clean floors, but some models may work better or worse for certain flooring types.
For instance, if you’re looking for a vacuum that works well on plush carpet, then an upright vacuum like the Shark Apex (available at Amazon) may be your best bet. However, if you’re looking for something that can easily spot clean hardwood floors, then a cordless stick vacuum may be the better choice.
Shark vacuums come equipped with accessories, like additional brush heads, crevice tools, and HEPA filters, but they also have plenty of features that can seem confusing at first. We’ve outlined some of the most important Shark vacuum terms below and what each means.
Shark Lift-Away Vacuums
The Lift-Away feature is not unique to Shark, but the company does it better than anyone else. You click a button atop the main body and the vacuum transforms from an upright to a canister with no wheels. This form distributes the weight more evenly, allowing you to easily clean stairs. You can also vacuum cars if you swap the main brush head for a miniature motorized brush.
The lift-away feature transforms a Shark upright into a canister with no wheels.
Shark Duo-Clean Vacuums
DuoClean vacuums carry two brushes in the head of the vacuum. The one on the front is made from a soft fleece-like material. Because it’s designed like more of a dusting cloth, the roller can pick up very fine particles or large debris. The front roller kicks up dirt and debris into the maw of the more traditional bristles.
The DuoClean system is made up of two different brush rolls.
Zero M
Zero M is a brush system that self-cleans. In theory, Zero M Shark vacuums won’t get hair wrapped around the brush roller. Pet owners get the most utility out of this feature.
Shark vacuums typically either have a five-year or seven-year limited warranty. These warranties are much longer than most of the competition. Most vacuum brands have one-year warranties. It isn't until you get to the luxury brands like Miele, that you get a seven-year warranty.
Shark vacuums often come with washable filters.
Most Shark vacuums use HEPA filters. HEPA filter stands for High-efficiency Particulate Air. United States law requires that a HEPA filter be able to remove 99.97% of all particulate matter bigger than 0.3 micrometers. That’s smaller than pollen, dust, and pet dandruff. Remember, boxes that advertise HEPA-like, HEPA-type, or 99% filters are not HEPA.
You should also note that most Shark vacuum filters are washable as well.
Shark makes it relatively easy to shop for replacement parts on its website. You can browse by category or enter your vacuum’s model number to find parts specific to the vac you already own. Suppose you can’t find what you’re looking for at the source. In that case, you can always try your luck with big retailers like Amazon, which offers a wide selection of aftermarket filters, replacement hoses, and other Shark-compatible parts.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Alex Kane is a senior editor at USA Today’s Reviewed and the author of the Boss Fight Books volume on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. He has written for Fangoria, PC Gamer, Polygon, Rolling Stone, StarWars.com, and Variety. He lives in west-central Illinois.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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