Shark vs. Dyson: Which Vacuum Brand Performs the Best?
Updated: Jun. 07, 2024
Debating on buying a vacuum from Shark vs. Dyson? Here's everything you need to know about these top two vacuum brands.
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If you’re in the market for the best vacuum cleaner, you have likely stumbled across the Shark vacuum vs. Dyson debate. The two highly reputable vacuum brands design some of the top models around. Both produce a variety of high-quality, high-tech cleaning gadgets, including cordless and stick vacuum cleaners, upright canister styles, mop-vacuum hybrids and even robot vacuums.
While these popular brands share similarities, each has pros and cons, including their typically lofty price tags. Since you can’t try before you buy, our Product Testing Team put nine of the most popular models to the test to see how they performed in a real-life scenario.
In an effort to help settle the Shark vs. Dyson debate—and help you make an informed decision on which brand is the best for you—we took several factors into consideration and tested vacuums on multiple surfaces using a variety of debris. We then took all of those results and put them together in this handy guide. So get ready, because you’re about to have the cleanest floors around.
What’s the difference between Shark vs. Dyson vacuums?
Shark and Dyson are two leading brands in the vacuum industry. Both companies take pride in actively developing and producing powerful, user-friendly and dependable vacuum cleaners. They each deliver excellent functionality and performance and have swaths of loyal fans, hence the ongoing Shark vs. Dyson debate.
Dyson launched the first bagless vacuum in Japan in 1991. It was an instant success, winning the 1991 International Design Fair prize. In 1993, James Dyson opened his own research center and factory in the United Kingdom, where he got to create the first vacuum cleaner to maintain 100% of suction 100% of the time—and he didn’t stop there. For over 30 years now, Dyson has been at the forefront of innovation and technology. Its sleek and luxurious products are found all over the world, and we’re not just talking about vacuum cleaners. Dyson hair tools have become a hot commodity in recent years, especially the Airwrap, which is known to sell out.
Shark, on the other hand, took the United States market by storm in 2007 with its No-Loss-of-Suction vacuum technology. Over the course of the last 17 years, Shark vacuums have become a household staple for good reason. In addition to offering a wide selection of vacuums including upright, cordless and handheld models, Shark aims to give the most bang (or suction!) for your buck.
And that’s not limited to vacuum cleaners. The brand has released a number of high-quality hair tools, like the Shark Flexstyle air drying & styling system and low-maintenance air purifiers that are more affordable than than its competitors.
Are Shark vacuums actually good? All about Shark vacuums
SharkNinja, the parent company of Shark, has been a prominent presence since its founding in 1994. Supporters of Shark assert that their vacuums, particularly the upright bagless models, deliver comparable performance to more expensive brands but provide superior value due to their competitive pricing.
Shark has gained recognition for its innovative vacuum accessories, as well. For example, the Shark Stratos Cordless, one of their premium offerings, features a folding wand that allows users to reach underneath furniture or fold it over for compact, freestanding storage.
Shark aims to provide users with lighter, longer-running and more maneuverable vacuums without sacrificing power and performance. So, how do they fare? To find out, we tested five cordless Shark vacuums: the Shark Stratos, Shark Vertex Pro, Shark Cordless Pro, Shark Pet Plus and the Shark Pet Cordless.
To test these vacuums, we scattered synthetic and natural hair, cornflakes and glitter on vinyl floors, medium-pile carpet and high-pile carpet. Overall, most models performed exceptionally well after three passes on all surfaces. Most models did leave behind a few straggler strands of hair or flecks of glitter on the carpet, but “nothing one more pass wouldn’t have sucked up,” says our Product Testing Team.
Our team concluded that Shark vacuums are, in fact, lightweight powerhouses that are easy to maneuver. Additionally, they’re easy to assemble, easy to empty and can be stored in an upright position without wall mounts. We were also impressed by the brand’s Clean Sense IQ, which causes the suction level to fluctuate based on the amount of dirt it detects. “I could feel the Clean Sense IQ adjusting the vacuum’s suction level as I rolled it over the carpet,” says our Product Testing Team about the Strato. “It automatically boosts the power, or has a mind of its own, when it has a big job to tackle.”
Though it’s a great feature, not all models have Clean Sense IQ. The Shark Cordless Pro was among the vacuums we tested that did, and we were impressed, to say the least. It actually outperformed all of the Dyson vacuums (with the exception of the Gen5outsize) when it came to picking up our mess of cornflakes and glitter on both vinyl and carpet. It was easy to empty and felt like it self-propelled, making it easy to move over thick carpet, according to our testers.
Our favorite Shark vacuums
Shark vacuums are available on the brand’s website and from most major online retailers, including Amazon and Walmart. You really can’t get away without spending a few hundred dollars, but you may get lucky with a vacuum deal.
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Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum
This cordless model features Clean Sense IQ to detect dirt you can’t see.
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Shark Vertex Pro Cordless Vacuum
Featuring DuoClean PowerFins technology, this cordless option is as intelligent as it gets.
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Shark Cordless Pro Vacuum
At just over 8 pounds, this unit has odor-neutralizing technology.
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Shark Pet Plus Cordless Stick Vacuum
This Shark model has a self-cleaning brush and has up to 40 minutes of runtime.
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Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum
This lightweight vacuum transforms into a handheld unit to tackle all parts of your home.
All about Dyson vacuums
Since its establishment in 1991, Dyson has been producing some of the world’s most advanced vacuum cleaners, investing significantly in cutting-edge technology. Notably, the brand pioneered the design of bagless and cordless vacuum cleaners, setting new industry standards. Additionally, Dyson introduced an innovative green light technology, which illuminates otherwise invisible dust particles. Its latest addition to the lineup, the Gen5detect Absolute, currently stands as the most powerful cordless vacuum available.
All Dyson vacuums feature advanced whole-machine filtration, and select models incorporate high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration, capable of capturing 99.9% of viruses and particles as small as 0.1 microns. In addition to their advanced filtration and sleek, almost futuristic design, the brand excels in providing a range of accessories, with most models offering extra tools to assist in cleaning hard-to-reach areas and tackling stubborn stains and pet hair.
A Dyson vacuum can set you back a pretty penny, but the brand stands behind its products’ quality by offering a two-year warranty on cordless vacuums and a five-year warranty on corded models.
In order to determine whether or not these vacuums are worth your hard-earned money, our Product Testing Team put four cordless Dyson vacuums to the test: Dyson Gen5outsize, Dyson V15s Detect Submarine, Dyson v8 and the Dyson v12 Detect Slim.
Overall, we found that Dyson vacuums are well made, easy to empty and have intuitive attachments, which simply slide into place with a satisfying click. We also found that Dyson’s edge-to-edge feature performed consistently well on all vacuums, including the cheapest model. However, we also concluded that there’s room for improvement.
We tested each vacuum by once again scattering hair, cornflakes and glitter on vinyl floors, medium-pile carpet and high-pile carpet. While all of the models did a great job sucking up glitter and hair on carpets in just three passes, it was hit or miss with the cornflakes, especially on vinyl floors. During our testing, some models simply pushed the cornflakes around while others didn’t suck up any cereal unless the vacuum was plunked down directly on top of it. The only exception was the Gen5outsize, which was able to crush the cornflakes and then suck them up. “For big debris, count on the Gen5outsize,” advises the Product Testing Team.
That being said, the Gen5outsize will set you back a cool $1,050. If you want a Dyson vacuum that boasts similar performance, then the Dyson V8 is a close contender. This vacuum, which happens to be the cheapest Dyson model at $470, did an impressive job sucking up glitter and hair on all surfaces and even picked up every bit of cornflakes on the medium-pile carpet. Plus, it was easy to maneuver. “This is more agile than the Gen5outsize with many of the same attachments,” notes our team. However, they also point out that it does have a smaller 0.14-gallon collection bin than the Gen5outsize, which means you may have to empty it more frequently. Luckily, emptying the bin is a breeze.
Another thing to consider is that none of the Dyson vacuums we tested can stand upright for storage without using the included wall-mount hardware. That means if you don’t have a place to mount the hardware, you’ll have to store your vacuum lying down or leaning against a wall.
Our favorite Dyson vacuums
Some models are exclusive to the Dyson website, but its vacuum cleaners can also be purchased from select online retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, The Home Depot and Bloomingdale’s. Take advantage of the opportunity to acquire the latest technology by buying now, as Dyson updated the majority of its models in June 2023. Additionally, be sure to keep an eye out for Dyson deals to secure discounts on these popular cleaners.
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Dyson Gen5outsize Absolute Vacuum
This cordless unit features a screen that shows you when your floor is clean.
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Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Vacuum
Sucking up long strands of hair? This vacuum has anti-tangling technology.
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Dyson V8 Vacuum
Noise won't be an issue with this vacuum, as it's acoustically controlled.
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Dyson V12 Detect Slim Vacuum
This Dyson model is smart enough to adjust its suction based on picked-up dust volume.
FAQ
Is Dyson more expensive than Shark?
In general, Dyson vacuums are more expensive compared to Shark vacuums. Two Shark vacuums made our list of the best cheap vacuums to tackle messes. For example, the least-expensive Shark cordless model goes for $128 while the cheapest cord-free Dyson will set you back $469.99.
How reliable are Shark vs. Dyson vacuums?
Both Shark and Dyson are considered very reliable, however, it also depends on the type of vacuum. For example, experts say that stick vacuums aren’t as powerful as upright, corded, bagless vacuum cleaners.
How long do vacuums last?
The lifespan of a vacuum can vary depending on several factors, such as the quality of the vacuum, frequency of use, maintenance and the type of flooring being cleaned. Generally, a well-maintained vacuum from a reputable brand can last an average of eight years. However, some high-end models with durable components and advanced technology can last even longer, potentially up to 15 years or more. To ensure you don’t shorten the life of your vacuum, it is crucial to keep up a regular cleaning schedule, such as emptying the dustbin or bag, replacing filters and checking for clogs.
The Shark vs. Dyson bottom line
You can’t go wrong with either a Dyson or Shark vacuum. Both brands offer powerful, dependable units that’ll keep your home spic and span. Of the models we tested, we found the Dyson V8 and Shark Cordless Pro to be the most similar in terms of price point, performance and overall score from our Product Testing Team. If you’re on a budget and looking for the best cheap vacuum, stick with a Shark. But if you have your heart set on a technologically advanced and sleek-looking gadget and are willing to spend the extra money, then go for a Dyson.
Additional reporting by Leah Groth.
Originally Published: June 22, 2023
