If you’re not sure where to start, consider opting for a model made by Shark, one of the leading vacuum brands on the market right now. When you’re done, the S7 self cleans and charges on a dock that has additional storage for the included cleaning brush and spare microfiber roller. This model also comes with a cleaning brush, an extra HEPA filter, and a small bottle of cleaning solution concentrate (only a capful is needed for each cleaning cycle). The Shark Vertex Pro is really similar to the Shark P50 ION cordless vacuum, which they released a few years before the Vertex Pro.
But, we should also explain the importance of the word powered which precedes Lift-Away in its name. It refers to the fact that you can also detach the pod in such a way that you can use it much like a stick vacuum, giving it a very low profile for getting under furniture. One of the big strengths of this vacuum is the Vertex Pro’s battery life. We tested it in its default mode, which is medium power, and it got 38 minutes, which is really impressive. It also has Shark’s new self-cleaning brushroll, where it’s supposed to resist hair tangles. This is the same style roller for their upright Vertex vacuums (see our Shark Vertex upright review), which Vacuum Wars has extensively tested, and it really does work.
We want to know how well each model picks up dirt and debris embedded into carpet, sprinkled on bare floors and trapped along wall edges. We test how adept each vacuum is at removing pet hair stuck to carpeting as well as ease-of-use concerns like how heavy it is to carry. We assess the ease of removing and emptying the dust cup or bag, dyson robot vacuum the usability of the attachments, a vacuum’s maneuverability and more. Depending on whether you’re looking to primarily vacuum hardwood floors or carpets, you might prefer some Shark vacuums over other models. The brand’s upright options are largely great for carpeting, while the stick/handheld and robot options are best for hardwood.
An aggressive brush can scatter certain kinds of debris on bare floors, or even scratch certain types of flooring, so it’s helpful to be able to switch it off. Most plug-in vacuums (including the upright and canister models we recommend) have this option, though it’s less common among cordless vacuums. In our last test of 19 handheld vacuums, we found the Shark WandVac to be compact and super lightweight and ideal for quick cleanup jobs. The accessory caddy attaches to the charging dock, keeping the combination duster/crevice tool and multi-surface pet tool right where you need them. It performed very well in our cleaning tests and was especially good at picking up large debris and pet hair with its multi-surface pet tool, though fluff did get caught on the brush and had to be removed by hand.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care and Cleaning Lab. She holds a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York. A cordless vacuum that rivals the popular Dyson vacuum at a irobot vacuum cleaner fraction of the price. This article was written by Rachel Simon, a writer for Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, and many other publications. To write this article, we tested 38 Shark vacuums and evaluated them on effectiveness, ease, portability, and more. For expert insight, we spoke to Whitney White, Airbnb cleaning specialist.
The long run time is due, in part, to the efficiency of Tineco’s proprietary iLoop sensor. It’s a feature of the brand’s smart models that detects wet and dry messes and adjusts the suction power, roller speed, and water flow accordingly. However, they’re also notably pricier than comparable Sharks, which usually feel better built. You can see a more detailed comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of each brand’s offerings in this comparison article.
Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company. A pricey upgrade to our previous top pick that cleans to the edge of your floor from any direction. This is solved with the Shark Vertex Pro by having all of its heavy components mounted lower to the ground, near the base of the vacuum.
The Shark AZ1002 Apex not only performs well as a traditional upright vacuum, but has the lift-away canister of some of our other favorite picks (best overall and best value) so you can convert it to other modes in seconds. This versatility means that I’m never more than a few clicks away from a canister-style mode (my personal favorite for stairs), or a handheld mode. Most Shark vacuums have reusable filters that you can rinse under water (without soap).