Shark vacuums are strongly discouraged due to build quality and planned obsolesence. Does it have to be a Shark? Answer from J3ttf on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › dyson cordless vs shark cordless
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Dyson cordless vs shark cordless
November 16, 2022 -

Hey guys! Gotta know what to get! I have no vacuum in my new house. I grew up using extremely heavy vacuums industrial types so I'm mentally bound on only having cordless. I watched vacuum wars on YouTube and dude recommended the Stratos in one video. But I'm really liking the Dyson 11 which is very hard to find especially at a great price. What's a good in between price vacuum from dyson 8-11 that's comparable to the shark stratos. Vacuum must come with many attachments OR able to add for a good price. Im looking for the motor head for stairs too. I have carpet and hard wood. My co workers told me I should stay away from cordless but I really don't know if I care.... but I don't want a dirty carpet. Any recommendations and things I should stay away from please let me know. Also I have no pets.

Budget 300-500ish

Top answer
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I generally warn folks to stay away from Shark in general, as they do not put a whole lot of emphasis on the longevity of their designs. Most of them, although they have nice features and work well out of the box, have especially dirty bin and filter setups and lack overall build quality. Dyson and Shark are compared directly quite frequently, but Dyson by far offers the better products with superior customer service, in my personal experience at least. I think the price Shark asks for the Stratos cordless is a lot of money for the quality of the machine. I like Vacuum Wars, but his videos do not always take that stuff into account, and I see it in the wild quite frequently from working on all types of vacuum cleaners. It is above your budget, but if you did not see, Dyson is offering a sale at $649 on their V15 Absolute package , which comes with a few fancy attachments, both the universal head for hard floors and carpet and the dedicated hard floor head with the laser, the "Detect" dirt sensor, the powered head you would want for stairs, built-in crevice tool and dusting brush, and so forth. For a unit that they typically sell for $799, the current sale price is actually a solid deal. I am guessing that it is discounted because Dyson is about to roll out a new model, the Gen5 Detect, to dethrone the V15. Since your budget is flexible, I thought it would be worth mentioning, because it really blows the V8 out of the water in about every way. There is some saltiness against Dyson on this subreddit, but the V15 is currently one of the most powerful cordless machines on the market. Dyson designed the V15 to replace a corded machine and I have yet to see evidence that one cannot do so, and the high levels of airflow and suction back that one could. Definitely take any claims that they cannot with a grain of salt, because it likely comes from a place of personal bias. That is an ongoing problem with certain folks. Of course, there are downsides to a cordless machine such as the V15 with examples being run times (though impressive), charge times, and long-term battery life. With that said, I know many people love the convenience of a cordless stick platform vacuum cleaner. If you want something cheaper but of similar quality to a Dyson, LG offers some great deals such as the CordZero A907GMS , which also comes with a universal head, dedicated hard floor roller, and miniature motorized tool for stairs. A few benefits that it has over a Dyson are that it comes with a dual charging stand, it has a cyclone pack that can be washed with the filters, and it has an extender wand. Basically anything from LG would work. They make Kompressor models that are more powerful than the regular models and have a lever that you press to compact the debris in the bin, so definitely search around and find an attachment package and price that is suited for you if you are interested. The main differences between all the models they sell in the CordZero line are the attachments, the amount of batteries, and whether it is a Kompressor model or not. The LGs are of good quality, so no worries there. This is just cordless vacuum cleaners, since that is in what you seem to be interested. I could also list a few corded machines if that would be helpful, because there are benefits to those.
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I hate my Dyson hand held. It is loud, breaks often and is hard to empty. Buy anything else.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › shark's cordless lineup of vacuums is very confusing. help!
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Shark's cordless lineup of vacuums is very confusing. Help!
August 20, 2023 -

I need help with Shark Cordless vacuum choices. They all look very similar and have very similar SKU codes. It's difficult to work out what's the difference between them all. And which suits my needs.

Any ideas about what separates these? They all have similar prices.

  1. Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Pet Vacuum (Certified Refurbished) - IZ300UKTREF

  2. Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Pet Vacuum [Single Battery] IZ202UKT | Refurbished

  3. Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum with TruePet IZ201UKT (Refurbished)

  4. Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum with Flexology IZ201UK (Refurbished)

  5. Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner IZ103UKGB | Refurbished

  6. Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum IZ202UKTDB | Certified Refurbished

I already have a corded, Shark upright vacuum which is great for deep cleans every week or so. But looking for a cordless for those smaller jobs and every day or two around the house.

I have long haired cats, a mix of mainly wood floors with one carpet and some short pile rugs in a couple of rooms. The property is 130sqm. I live in the EU.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › shark cordless stratos costco
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Shark Cordless Stratos Costco
December 14, 2024 -

Hi everyone, I need your help! I live in a 700 sqft one bedroom and I don’t have pets. I’ve been shopping for a cordless vacuum for a while. I’m currently using an Old Shark vacuum with cord that my friend gave me for free. It does the job but I really want something cordless. I always wanted to buy the Dyson V15. My friends tell me it’s amazing & it’s a must buy. However, it’s a bit pricey.. and looking in this sub, apparently the Miele with cord is the best. Anyways, my place is always clean and I’m not messy at all. I’m looking for something that will do the job but not something cheap. I’ve been thinking to buy the Shark Stratos. It is currently on sale at Costco for 300$ CAD. Worst case, I can buy and return it. I wanted to know what do you guys think of my situation and if I should buy the Stratos. If not, any other recommendations for a good price? I live in Canada btw!

Thank you all in advance!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › which shark do i get
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Which shark do I get
August 15, 2023 -

Next month I am moving into a 1 bedroom apartment, but due to the circumstances stances I’m not sure what type of floor the whole apartment is but I’m sure there is a mix of laminate and carpet. I stubble across these two shark vacuums and just don’t know. Please help. For some reference I do have long hair that gets everywhere and may eventually get a dog.

The first one is Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal - IX141H it’s on sale at target for 199.99 but was originally 259.99.

The second one is Shark Pet Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum with MultiFLEX, Blue, IZ340H which is on sale at Walmart for 199.99 but originally 329.99.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › why are shark vacuum cleaners so highly rated on various cleaning blogs, vacuum rating sites, etc., but very highly discouraged here and amongst vacuum repair shops?
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Why are Shark vacuum cleaners so highly rated on various cleaning blogs, vacuum rating sites, etc., but very highly discouraged here and amongst vacuum repair shops?
February 7, 2024 -

It’s daunting trying to find honest reviews and purchase advice for anything these days, vacuum cleaners included. Whenever I look at review sites that list the “top 10 vacuums” or something similar, Shark is always at or near the top of the list. Yet here and on YouTube channels run by vacuum repair people, Shark is always named as one of the worst choices for a vacuum, namely because they are not meant to be repaired.

Is this because Shark pays for good reviews? Even Consumer Reports, whom I generally trust for purchase because they don’t accept advertising money, lists Shark vacuums as more reliable than Sebo and on par with Miele.

Does Shark get good reviews because they work well until they fail? Please help me understand!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › best shark vacuum?
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Best Shark Vacuum?
June 29, 2025 -

I have an older Shark that I love but am looking to upgrade and get a newer one! I have 5 pets in the house and need something that works well on carpet and hardwood floors. I’m highly considering this one:

https://a.co/d/cX9wN3V

Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum Cleaner with HEPA Filter, Heavy Duty Vacuum with Powerful Suction for Pet Hair Pickup, DuoClean Technology, Powered Lift-Away, Ideal for Carpets & Hardfloors, AZ4002

Is there a better option? It sort of looks like the holy grail and want to make sure I’m getting the best option. Thanks!

Find elsewhere
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › are shark vacuums good?
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Are shark vacuums good?
November 23, 2021 -

Me and my girlfriend are first time buyers and have never owned a vacuum before. We are seeing that there are a lot of good reviews online for Shark vacuums but I’m very wary with online reviews.

We are currently looking at the following vacuum as it is decently priced on sale. If anyone has any other recommendations for this sort of budget it would be very appreciated

vacuum in question

Also forgot to mention we are living on the UK

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › shark stratos cordless
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Shark Stratos Cordless
November 26, 2023 -

I don't see much love on here for the Shark's but my brother swears by his (he previously had a Dyson stick, not sure which model). He said the duo brushes, bendable stick, and replaceable batteries are what made him switch. And for $299 right now, it seems to be a steal.

He also sent me a few compelling YouTube reviews.

https://youtu.be/DkWj9TNiNVo?si=VUn4W9T9ZRwoSfB0

https://youtu.be/ZMAHwJg-ISw?si=w2Mh50WLB979DozR

So, what is all the negativity about Shark on this Reddit?

Here's the BF deal:

https://www.sharkclean.com/products/shark-stratos-cordless-vacuum-with-free-steam-mop-zidIZ862HB

Top answer
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Vacuum wars is less credible than a toddler reading the box
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The problem with all of the big box brands is that they all only last a couple years and are unrepairable. They are made out of cheap Chinese parts and cheap non durable plastics. When you compare a Shark or a Dyson to a Miele or Sebo in person it is shocking how different they feel and how cheap the big box store ones feel. Shark may boast a warranty but its only warrantied for certain parts and they are a hassle to deal with. For example I had the head blow up on mine after 9 months and the head is not repairable or covered under warranty. The best they could do is point me towards buying a replacement head for 200 fucking dollars. I have had several and several Dysons before going to a local vac shop and getting a Sebo. Besides cheap parts most of these big box store brands are all bagless. Bagless sounds great but after you empty the cannister for the 4th time during a vacuum session and get dust all over thr trash can and kill your allergies you realize it's not all it's cracked up to be. I have two dogs and I have to change my bag once a month and it's made out of recycled paper. My vacuum has a ten year warranty, every part is repairable and replaceable and I should have it for 20 fucking years. In the initial review of sharks and dysons they may come out of the box powerful but that is pretty short lasting in my expirence. Bagless have this inherent problem of still somehow filling the motor with crap and dust and getting clogged up in insane and annoying ways. Like, if you take apart a Shark or a Dyson ever you will realize that they were never mean to be cleaned. This drastically effects performance even if you change the filters regularly. I know they also say you can wash the hepa filter but that is total bullshit, washing barely does anything and may make it slightly more reusable but it's not as good as a new filter. With my vacuum I just have to change out the bag and bam, it's right as rain. On one of my sharks I tried to change the filter every month only to have the motor fail and when I opened it up to try snd fix it myself the motor was clogged full of dust in a supposedly hepa filtered product. If you don't mind buying a vacuum every couple years, go ahead buy one, or buy a vacuum for 20 and not have problems. Also, I don't hate cordless vacuums. They are great for quick pickups but definitely not for dedicated deep cleaning. Also, the vacuum wars guy worked for Shark and probably gets paid a ton to be a brand influencer from the vacuum companies he reviews. Shark and Dyson are notorious for having fantastic marketing but not the best vacuums the reasons I explained above. I used to watch him and buy vacuums based on his recommendations. After many years of failed vacuums, I finally saw the light. E-waste is a huge problem in our society. Dyson and Shark are certainly not helping the problem. I also like to buy products built by people who were paid fair wages in union shops. Dysons and Sharks are built in sweat shops. Those vacuums sort of exemplify consumerism and how gross our society can be, and thats why they get so much hate on here and on r Buy it for Life. I think that covers everything.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/cleaningtips › was a cordless shark not a good investment and will a corded do anything more?
r/CleaningTips on Reddit: Was a cordless Shark not a good investment and will a corded do anything more?
April 29, 2024 -

Hi! I’ve been living on my own with my fiancé for a year now. We bought a cordless Shark pet vacuum (IX141) when we moved in. We loved it at first, but as the months have gone by, it doesn’t seem like it’s going the extra mile anymore. I have cleaned every nook and cranny of the vacuum but it doesn’t seem to get the carpet looking nice like it used to. I will preface the carpet we have isn’t the best, but it was new at the time we moved in.

We also have a Shark “Made for Pet Hair” (EX201) that we have used to clean the carpet thoroughly twice since moving in. It’ll look/feel nice for a few days but isn’t a long-term solution. Not to mention it’s a whole day’s job.

I know that this is something bound to happen with cheap(er) carpet, but before I take a $300 plunge into a nice vacuum, I want to know if it will actually remedy my issue.

I have included a picture of the original sample on top of a pretty high traffic area in my home. How can I get it to look a little closer to that on a long-term basis? Thank you in advance!!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › [deleted by user]
[deleted by user] : r/VacuumCleaners
May 26, 2023 - Shark vacuums work while they are new but when they break they become unrepairable. Shark makes so many new models that don't share any parts and don't provide support for older models. I applaud Shark for making the battery removable and replaceable which is a must because all batteries wear out over time. If you want a cordless vacuum you could get by since you have all hard floors but they don't have the suction power and durability that corded vacuums have.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumhelp › shark powerdetect cordless vacuum review
r/VacuumHelp on Reddit: Shark PowerDetect Cordless Vacuum Review
July 31, 2024 -

I’ve been using the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Vacuum for a few weeks now, and I have to say, I’m pretty impressed. I was a bit skeptical at first, since cordless vacuums often don’t have the power I need, but this one surprised me. The PowerFins technology really does live up to the hype—it grabs everything from pet hair to dust and debris, no matter the floor type. I have a mix of carpet and hardwood in my place, and it transitions smoothly between the two.

The suction power is solid—definitely more than I expected from a cordless. It does a great job picking up on the first pass, and I don’t feel like I have to go over the same spot repeatedly. The battery life holds up pretty well too; I get about 35-40 minutes of cleaning time on the lowest setting, which is enough to cover my entire apartment. The only downside I’ve noticed is that the battery drains faster on higher suction modes, so I’ve learned to pace myself depending on what I’m cleaning.

The design is sleek and lightweight, making it easy to maneuver around furniture and into tight spaces. The dustbin is easy to empty, and I appreciate that the filter is washable, which saves me from constantly buying replacements.

All in all, I’m happy with the Shark PowerDetect—it’s reliable, easy to use, and has made cleaning my home a lot quicker and more efficient. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a powerful cordless vacuum without breaking the bank!

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TechRadar
techradar.com › home › small appliances › vacuums
I tested a bunch of vacuums this year, and the Shark PowerDetect Cordless was hands-down my favorite – here's why | TechRadar
October 10, 2025 - It only struggled to clear extra-large cereal pieces, which even the best cordless vacuums can struggle with. ... If that wasn’t enough, the Shark was able to recognize what type of floor I was cleaning and increased the suction when necessary, such as when I vacuumed my rugs.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › shark cordless pro pet plus vs shark navigator nv105
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Shark Cordless Pro Pet Plus vs Shark Navigator NV105
March 9, 2024 -

For quite some time, I have been wanting to get a cordless vacuum. I did some research online, but wanted to see firsthand what the real difference would be between a corded and a cordless vacuum when used on carpet especially since my old vacuum is six years old I thought in six years cordless vacuums would be a lot better. Some of my local stores had similar models, but I figured I would pick one up from my local Costco given the return policy, it was 280 plus tax. I live in a small 800 square-foot apartment that’s 80% carpet with a small dog that doesn’t shed too much, but I always have the windows open which lets a lot of dust in. My old navigator I bought at Macy’s for $100 on sale it does not have a HEPA filter. Originally I wanted the cordless one so that I can get into places that my old navigator couldn’t get into since it’s not the lift away model. I used the cordless vacuum to do a first pass-through the entire apartment before going over it with the old navigator as you can see by the pictures the old navigator picked up a lot more that was left by the cordless vacuum. I will say I was surprised that the shark cordless model even picked up the amount it did given that I vacuum twice a week, but it’s still amazing that a six year old model that I’ve never had issues with thankfully was able to pick up a lot more. at this point, I think I might be returning the new one and just picking up the lift version of the shark corded model. I’ve seen some of them for around 150. I’m gonna try it out for another week.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › garbage alert: shark pet pro cordless stick vacuum cleaner is a piece of junk!
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Garbage Alert: Shark Pet Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner is a piece of junk!
September 10, 2024 -

Are you considering buying the Shark Pet Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with Powerfins Brushroll, 40 min Runtime, IZ240? Here’s my experience with wasting $200!

Decided to treat myself to an “expensive” vacuum. Got the Shark Pet Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with Powerfins Brushroll, 40 min Runtime, IZ240.

It simply doesn’t get the job done. I don’t know how companies get away with this kind of stuff.

  • Battery lasts only 15 minutes on carpet, not nearly enough time to vacuum my tiny 550 sqft apartment.

  • Doesn’t work while charger attached. There is no cord option for reasons beyond me.

  • Takes several hours to charge.

  • Doesn’t stand up on its own.

  • It’s weak: 33 CFM pales in comparison to the average vacuum (50-100 CFM)

Before my first use, I charged the battery all day for a complete charge since it arrived completely dead (classy!).

I have a 550 sqft carpeted one-bedroom apartment. That’s pretty small. Using the carpet setting, while vacuuming at a reasonable pace, I was able to vacuum less than half of my apartment before the battery died. It lasted about 15 minutes. It doesn’t work at all when the charge cable is plugged in. It’ll be about 3 more hours until I’m able to possible finish vacuuming my apartment. I know it’s cordless, but regardless, how did a 15 minute time window EVER become acceptable for a vacuum cleaner?

$200 for this vacuum is absolutely unreasonable. This little thing is for cleaning up small messes, not routine maintenance of even tiny apartments.

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › is shark power detect cordless good?
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: is Shark Power Detect Cordless good?
August 6, 2025 -

I was thinking about getting the Dyson V15s, but I’m not sure I really need the mopping feature. While browsing around, I came across Shark and ended up watching a few YouTube videos comparing different options. Now I’m kind of leaning toward the Shark Power Detect Cordless, it doesn’t require switching heads between hardwood and carpet, and the suction looks just as good as the Dyson. I’ve never used a Shark before though. or should I stick with Dyson? Anyone have experience or thoughts? Would love some input. Thanks!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/costco › which cordless is better?
r/Costco on Reddit: Which cordless is better?
November 2, 2022 - Love my LG but don’t know if it’s best. Lots of good YouTube’s out there making the comparison. ... After many different vacuums over the years I will always and forever buy Shark vacuums only. We have a Great Pyrenees who loses approximately one ton of fur a day and the only vacuum that doesn’t lose suction or get clogged easily is the Shark. ... So...I haven't used this specific Shark, but I have used a number of other Shark vacuums in the past (including cordless) and they've all been excellent.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/vacuumcleaners › shark powerdetect clean & empty
r/VacuumCleaners on Reddit: Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty
October 13, 2024 -

I just bought one of these from Best Buy for an effective $360 ($400 sale and extra 10% cardmember appreciation). I hadn't seen many reviews on it, probably because it's so new, so I was nervous. No need to be nervous: it is amazing!

I thought all of the fancy Detect things would just be gimmicks, but they really do make a difference. Dirt detect helps battery last a lot longer; I vacuumed hardwoods and area rugs for over a half hour and it was flashing 1 bar of battery, but still going. Edge detect is incredible because it kicks on and really does pull in dirt off the baseboards in ways no other vacuum has for me. Even light detect is nice because the light is always on the show dirt in front of the vacuum, but light detect also helps light up the room if it is dark.

I've had two Shark Navigator LiftAways. When I bought the second one, I noticed that they kept the general design the same over the years but improved the engineering on a few things (like adding structural fins to plastic parts prone to breaking) so I've been a Shark fan since noticing that. My previous cordless is a Bissell ClearView XR which was neat, but not super effective.

My area rugs feel like new. So much nasty dust was pulled out of the fibers. And the fins of the roller fluffed up the fibers. Seriously my rugs haven't felt this soft in years. This vacuum is amazing.

100% do yourself a favor and get the Clean & Empty version. Having a base to put the vacuum in which pulls all the hair and dust without any of it going into the air is such an improvement. With the Bissell, I'm always holding my breath when I empty it, my garbage can gets dusty, often I spill on the floor by accident. With this new Shark, it sucks it all down (base, then the vacuum does a little rev, then base again quickly) and I supposedly should only need to empty once a month, which means it is going to the outside bin no problem. Oh, and it charges from that base too so it's always ready for you.

Can't recommend this vacuum enough! Hope this review helps; I would've appreciated finding one before purchasing so I wasn't nervous for no reason!