Shark vs. Dyson Cordless Vacuums: A Detailed Beat-by-Beat Comparison

Comparison of Shark and Dyson Cordless Vacuums: Design/ Battery/ Technology/ Accessories/ Disposal/ Cost
shark vs. dyson cordless vacuum
Updated: 30th Nov 2020
Published: 30th Sep 2020
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By Rohan Tandon

Rohan is a passionate tech journalist with a degree in English literature. He's worked as a commissi Read More...

Shark and Dyson are currently the most popular and reputable vacuum brands on the market. And their market dominance makes sense — they’re truly brilliant. But when you have two brilliant brands butting heads, how do you decide which of them to favor over the other?

Well, that’s where we come in. At SmartHome News, we’ve thoroughly explored the best Shark and Dyson cordless vacuums to give you a beat-by-beat comparison of the two brands. This review primarily focuses on cordless vacuums necessary for heavy-duty performance in big homes. The two brands also have other types of vacuums, including upright vacuums, corded vacuums, and robot vacuums — but this review compares their selections of cordless vacuums.

Cordless vacuums are currently more popular than traditional corded vacuum cleaners because they don’t need access to a power source. You can move around with them, store them anywhere you like, and there’s no hassle with cord management. Until recently, cordless vacuums weren’t seen as powerful enough to handle deep cleaning tasks, but that’s no longer true — modern cordless vacuums are just as powerful as traditional vacuums. The growing advancements in wireless technology have all but made traditional corded vacuums obsolete.

Both Shark and Dyson have incredibly powerful and efficient cordless vacuums. I start this article with a brief overview of their selections, choose the BEST cordless vacuums from both brands, and finally compare their features specifically.

  1. Overview of Shark Cordless Vacuums

  2. Overview of Dyson Cordless Vacuums

  3. Comparison of Shark and Dyson Cordless Vacuums

  4. Which Shark or Dyson Cordless Vacuum Should I Buy?

  5. Verdict: Shark or Dyson?

  6. FAQs

 

Overview of Shark Cordless Vacuums

SharkClean, the brand of vacuum cleaners we discuss in this article, is managed by SharkNinja Operating LLC, a company that’s been in the cleaning appliances and household items business since 1998. Shark cordless vacuums are available in two styles — stick vacuums and handheld vacuums. The stick vacuums are useful for everyday above-floor cleaning purposes. The handheld vacuums are suitable for cleaning messes on tabletops, kitchen countertops, couches, etc. Shark cordless vacuums are also powerful enough for deep cleaning homes with pets, and some of them include spray mopping features for enhanced versatility.

Shark UltraCyclone™ Pet+

shark ultracyclone handheld vacuum

Shark UltraCyclone™ Pet+ is a small and lightweight handheld vacuum designed for powerful suction and deep cleaning. It comes with a self-cleaning pet power brush that automatically removes hair wrap on the brushroll.

  • Handheld and portable vacuum weighing 2.8 pounds.
  • Two cyclonic air streams for powerful suction and deep cleaning.
  • Detachable self-cleaning pet power brush to remove hair wrap from the brushroll.
  • XL dust cap for larger jobs.
  • Crevice tool reaches into the crevices of sofa cushions and hard-to-reach spots.
  • Scrubbing brush removes stuck-on dirt.
  • Washable filter for easy cleaning.
  • CleanTouch dirt ejector swiftly and automatically disposes of the debris.
  • Lithium-ion battery for smooth and convenient performance.

SMARTHOME News Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

SharkClean Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

Amazon Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

Manufacturer Cost: $79.99

Amazon Cost: See Best Offer on Amazon

Shark WANDVAC™

Shark WANDVAC vacuum

Shark WANDVAC™ is an incredibly lightweight and powerful handheld vacuum that can handle any mess with easy maneuverability. It’s designed with the latest filtration technologies, and it includes various additional components to clean different surfaces.

  • Handheld and cordless vacuum weighing only 1.4 pounds.
  • High-speed and brushless motor for powerful suction force.
  • Tapered nozzle reaches into hard-to-reach surfaces.
  • Duster crevice tool cleans in between cushions and car seats.
  • Multi-surface tool effectively cleans different surfaces, such as carpets, upholstery, and leather.
  • Charging dock ensures quick and efficient charging.
  • Quick and automatic single-touch debris disposal.
  • State-of-the-art filtration technologies.
  • LED light indicates battery life and charge status.
  • Simple maintenance with a washable filter and detachable dust cup.

SMARTHOME News Rating: 5/5 ⭐

SharkClean Rating: 4.4/5 ⭐

Amazon Rating: 4.6/5 ⭐

Manufacturer Cost: $119.99

Amazon Cost: See Best Offer on Amazon

Shark VACMOP™ Pro

Shark VACMOP Pro vacuum cleaner

Shark VACMOP™ Pro is a powerful vacuum cleaner with an inbuilt spray mopping feature to dislodge and vacuum hard stuck-on messes. It also features accessories like headlights for cleaning in the dark, a magnetic charger, and tools to efficiently clean the vacuum. Instead of traditional dust cups, the debris is stored in the disposable pads, which you must regularly replace.

  • Powerful suction force combined with a spray mopping feature.
  • Disposable VACMOP pads to vacuum debris more effectively.
  • Spray mopping dislodges and clears stuck-on messes.
  • Dirt chamber within the pad ensures automatic no-touch debris disposal.
  • Easy maintenance with VACMOP pad replacement.
  • Rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
  • LED headlights reveal debris in darker corners.
  • Magnetic charger ensures easy charging. 

SMARTHOME News Rating: 4.2/5 ⭐

SharkClean Rating: 4.1/5 ⭐

Amazon Rating: 4.3/5 ⭐

Manufacturer Cost: $99.99

Amazon Cost: See Best Offer on Amazon

Shark NavigatorŽ Freestyle

Shark Navigator vacuum

Shark Navigator® Freestyle is a powerful cordless upright vacuum weighing only 7.5 pounds. It’s a powerful vacuum with a 2-speed brushroll that allows you to tackle different types of surfaces, carpeted, bare hardwood floors, or pet hair. It comes with an XL dust cup and a precision charging stand.

  • Powerful suction force with two-speed brushrolls for optimal suction and pet hair removal.
  • Optimized for carpets and bare floors.
  • Lightweight stick vacuum weighing 7.5 pounds.
  • XL-sized dust cup to ensure long periods of uninterrupted cleaning.
  • Advanced swivel steering allows for great control when moving around furniture.

SMARTHOME News Rating: 4/5 ⭐

SharkClean Rating: 3.9/5 ⭐

Amazon Rating: 4.4/5 ⭐

Manufacturer Cost: $162.99

Amazon Cost: See Best Offer on Amazon

Shark Vertex™

Shark Vertex Cordless Vacuum

Shark Vertex™, the latest addition to the Shark family of cordless stick vacuums, brings an incredibly powerful suction force in a lightweight package. Thanks to its versatility, it can tackle all kinds of surfaces, ranging from carpets to hardwood floors.

  • The Hypervelocity™ suction force provides stronger suction and cleaning capabilities than other vacuums.
  • DuoCleanÂŽ PowerFins™ ensure nonstop contact with carpeted or uneven terrains. This allows it to pick up more debris with each pass, minimizing the number of passes necessary for a spotless floor.
  • Self-cleaning brushroll removes pet hair without hair wrap.
  • Transforms into a handheld vacuum with a tapered nozzle for crevices and elevated surfaces.
  • Up to 60 minutes of continuous runtime.
  • Low-profile design allows it to pull debris from under sofas and narrow areas.
  • Inbuilt LED user interface allows you to change cleaning modes for different surfaces.
  • Hands-free debris disposal.
  • Advanced anti-allergen HEPA filter to remove the tiniest of bacteria and germs.

SMARTHOME News Rating: 4.3 of 5

SharkClean Rating: 4.8 of 5

BestBuy Rating: 3.6

Manufacturer Cost: $349.99

Amazon Cost: See Best Offer on Amazon

 

Shark UltraCyclone™ Pet+

Shark WANDVAC™

Shark VACMOP™ Pro

Shark NavigatorÂŽ Freestyle

Shark Vertex™

Style

Handheld

Handheld

Stick

Upright Stick

Stick + Handheld

Dimensions (L x W x H)

20.8” x 3.8” x 4.3”

16.5” x 2.5” x 2.4”

5.38” x 9.5” x 47.86”

24.7” x 10.9” x 10.1”

10.23” x 9.65” x 46.46”

Weight (lbs)

2.8

1.4

3.34

7.5

9.04

Amps

8

10.6

7.8

11.5

11.15

Max Runtime (minutes)

40

40

40

40

60

Recharge Time (hours)

6

2.5

3

4

3.5

Air Watts

80

115

85

125

281

Dust Cup Capacity (qts)

0.45

0.08

N/A

0.64

0.34

Cleaning Path Width (in)

2.55

3.6

9.81

10

10.63

Filter Type

Fabric

Fabric

N/A

Foam and Felt

HEPA + Foam and Felt

Washable Filter

✓

✓

N/A

✓

✓

Mopping

x

x

✓

x

x

Hands-Free Debris Disposal

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

SMARTHOME News Rating

4.5/5

5/5

4.2/5

4/5

4.9/5

Manufacturer Rating

4.5/5

4.4/5

4.1/5

3.9/5

4.7/5

Amazon Rating

4.5/5

4.6/5

4.3/5

4.4/5

3.6 (On BestBuy)

Manufacturer Cost

$79.99

$119.99

$99.99

$162.99

$349.99

Amazon Cost

See best offer on Amazon

See best offer on Amazon

See best offer on Amazon

See best offer on Amazon

See best offer on Amazon

 

Overview of Dyson Cordless Vacuums

Founded in 1987 by James Dyson, the company was originally intended to manufacture bagless vacuum cleaners. Dyson has since expanded into other avenues, but they’re still best known for their innovative vacuums. Dyson currently manufactures cordless, upright, corded, and handheld vacuums. However, their most popular line of vacuums is the V Series, i.e., their cordless vacuum cleaners. They produce lightweight and versatile cordless vacuums that handle heavy-duty tasks in big homes. Known for their versatility, some of them can be detached and converted into handheld vacuums, so you get stick and handheld vacuums in one.

Dyson V7

dyson v7 vacuum

Dyson V7 is a series of cordless, lightweight, and versatile vacuums that function both as handheld AND stick vacuums. It’s available in two versions — V7 Absolute and V7 Motorhead. The V7 Absolute features additional accessories, like a mini motorhead for smaller regions and a soft roller cleaner head.

  • Transforms into a handheld vacuum with a single click.
  • Runs for up to 30 minutes without fading with a non-motorized tool.
  • Runs for up to 20 minutes with a motorized tool.
  • Lightweight and versatile design allows it to slide under low spots or high areas.
  • Wall-mounted charging dock provides easy charging capabilities.
  • The power motor drives nylon bristles deep into the carpet for thorough and deep cleaning.
  • 2-tier hierarchy of 15 cyclones ensures maximum airflow and suction force.
  • Has different modes for different surface, including pet hair removal.
  • Touch-free and automatic debris disposal.

SMARTHOME News Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

Dyson Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

Amazon Rating: 4.4/5 ⭐

Manufacturer Cost: $304.00/ $389.90

Amazon Cost: See Best Offer on Amazon

Dyson V8

Dyson V8 cordless vacuum

Dyson V8 is a cordless vacuum powered by the Dyson digital V8 motor, spinning at up to 107,000rpm to produce around 15% more suction force than the aforementioned V7. It used to be available in three versions — V8 Absolute, V8 Animal, and V8 Animal Pro+, but as of late, Dyson offers only the Animal Pro+ version. That’s totally reasonable since the V8 Animal Pro+ is Dyson’s most advanced V8 model, including advanced tools to reach into nooks and crannies.

  • Transforms into a handheld vacuum for easy and lightweight use with a single click.
  • Runs for up to 40 minutes without a motorized cleaner head.
  • Runs for up to 25 minutes with a motorized cleaner head.
  • Features a nickel-cobalt-aluminum battery for fade-free operation.
  • Low head allows it to slide under furniture and low areas.
  • Up-top adaptor twists and locks to easily clean higher areas.
  • Crevice tool allows it to get between narrow edges.
  • Comes with a wall-mounted charging dock.
  • Thoroughly cleans carpet fibers in a single pass.
  • The soft-woven nylon traps larger debris, and the anti-static carbon fiber traps fine dust.
  • Can be easily lifted to clean ceilings.
  • HEPA filtration system removes 99.9% of particles down to 0.3 microns.
  • The hygienic dirt ejection mechanism automatically removes the debris.

SMARTHOME News Rating: 4.8/5 ⭐

Dyson Rating: 4.8/5 ⭐

Amazon Rating: 4.6/5 ⭐

Manufacturer Cost: $425

Amazon Cost: See Best Offer on Amazon

Dyson Cyclone V10

Dyson Cyclone V10 vacuum cleaner

Dyson Cyclone V10 uses a powerful and innovative Dyson digital motor V10 to produce strong air suction cyclones that enhance the vacuum’s capabilities. It’s available in three versions — V10 Motorhead, V10 Animal, and V10 Absolute. The V10 Motorhead is a basic version of this wireless vacuum and comes with a Direct Drive cleaning head, smaller dust bin, and only a basic set of accessories. V10 Animal has a larger dust bin, comes with a more advanced Torque Drive cleaning head, mini dusting brush, and mini motorized brushroll. Finally, V10 Absolute includes everything V10 Animal has and adds a soft brush for hardwood floors.

  • One-click transformation into a handheld vacuum for car seats, tabletops, etc.
  • Cyclone suction technology for efficient deep-cleaning.
  • Three suction modes for different purposes of types of surfaces.
  • The torque drive cleaner head includes a DC motor and brush bar that drives dirt from deep within carpet fibers.
  • The motor-driven brush bar has an optimal combination of soft-woven nylon and anti-static carbon fiber to remove larger particles and fine dust.
  • Runs for up to 60 minutes without fading in suction mode 1 with a non-motorized tool.
  • Runs for up to 35 minutes in suction mode 1 with a torque drive cleaner head. 
  • Spacious bin to ensure uninterrupted vacuuming.
  • Point-and-shoot style of hands-free bin ejection.
  • Easily reaches into nooks and crannies or higher ceiling corners.
  • The mini motorized tool removes pet hair and dirt from deep within carpet fibers.
  • The HEPA filtration system removes up to 99.99% of all particles down to 0.3 microns.
  • Wall-mounted recharging dock for efficient charging.

SMARTHOME News Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

Dyson Rating: 4.3/5 ⭐

Amazon Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

Manufacturer Cost: $569.00 / $575.99 / $676.88

Amazon Cost: See Best Offer on Amazon

Dyson V11

Dyson V11 cordless vacuum cleaner

Dyson V11 is currently the most powerful series of cordless vacuums on the market. The Dyson V11 series runs on the Hyperdymium™ motor, spinning at 125,000rpm to produce twice as much suction as all other vacuums. It’s available in four versions — V11 Animal, V11 Torque Drive, V11 Outsize Origin, and V11 Outsize. However, V11 Outsize is far more powerful and advanced than the others in the series, so we’ll discuss it exclusively in the next section.

  • One-click transformation into a handheld vacuum.
  • Dyson Hyperdymium™ motor produces stronger suction force than all other vacuums.
  • Radial Root Cyclone™ technology produces cyclonic forces that trap fine dust and the smallest particles.
  • The whole-machine filtration system traps 99.99% of all germs down to 0.3 microns and then expels fresh air. As such, it also cleans your indoor atmosphere.
  • Dyson DLS (Dynamic Load Sensor) automatically adjusts the suction force according to the floor type for the optimal combination of effectiveness and battery conservation.
  • The anti-static carbon fibers release and capture fine dust from carpets.
  • The nylon fibers release debris from deep within carpets.
  • LED screen reports charging status, battery power, and power mode in real-time.
  • Auto-mode allows it to automatically adjust between different power modes based on floor type.
  • Can be charged on the wall-mounted charging dock.
  • Point-and-shoot system of touch-free debris disposal.
  • Multiple tools and accessories to clean hard-to-reach spots, pet hair, and different surfaces.

SMARTHOME News Rating: 4.8/5 ⭐

Dyson Rating: 4.6/5 ⭐

Amazon Rating: 4.7/5 ⭐

Manufacturer Cost: $599.99/ $699.99/ $729.99

Amazon Cost: See Best Offer on Amazon

Dyson V11 Outsize

Dyson v11 outsize vacuum cleaner

Dyson V11 Outsize is the company’s latest, most innovative, and most powerful cordless vacuum. It’s basically a supersized version of the V11 model. In fact, there’s a common perception that the V11 Outsize should have really been called the V12 because it has stronger technology and greater runtime than the other V11 vacuums.

  • One-click conversion into a handheld vacuum.
  • The Dyson Hyperdymium™ motor spins at 125,000rpm.
  • The Radial Root Cyclone™ technology has 18 cyclones that generate optimal airflow.
  • While using the Boost mode, the six-layer filtration system traps 99.99% debris down to 0.3 microns, while Eco and Auto modes reach at least 99.97%.
  • Absorbs surrounding vibrations to dampen the sound and ensure silent operation.
  • The High Torque XL cleaning head is 25% larger than on V11 model, allowing for a wider sweeping width, ultimately taking less passes to clean the same area.
  • The massive 0.5-gallon bin is 2.5 times larger than in the other V11 vacuums, allowing it to collect a lot more debris before removal.
  • Automatically moves through the three suction modes (Boost, Eco, Auto) to optimize runtime, battery, and performance.
  • The digital motor spins faster, and the combination of nylon bristles and carbon-fiber filaments removes both larger debris and fine dust from carpets.
  • LED display provides valuable insight into the battery life, runtime, cleaning status, etc.
  • Dual click-in batteries allow it to run for up to 120 minutes without fading into Eco mode.
  • Point-and-shoot mechanism ensures hands-free debris disposal.
  • Drop-in docking system on the wall-mounted charging dock.
  • Click-in batteries allow you to charge one set of batteries while using the other, ensuring you never run out of battery.
  • Dyson DLS (Dynamic Load Sensor) automatically adapts to different floor types and terrains.
  • The mini-motorized tool removes pet hair and gets between tight spaces.

SMARTHOME News Rating: 4.8/5 ⭐

Dyson Rating: 4.6/5 ⭐

Amazon Rating: 4.7/5 ⭐

Manufacturer Cost: $799.99

Amazon Cost: See Best Offer on Amazon

Dyson V7

Dyson V8

Dyson Cyclone V10

Dyson V11

Dyson V11 Outsize

Style

Stick + Handheld

Stick + Handheld

Stick + Handheld

Stick + Handheld

Stick + Handheld

Dimensions (L x W x H)

8.2” x 9.8” x 49”

8.2” x 9.8” x 49”

9.84” x 10.08” x 49.17”

9.8” x 10.3” x 50.6”

12.5” x 10.3” x 50.6”

Weight (lbs)

5.3

5.64

5.86

6.68

7.85

Amps

12

12

12

30.45

30.45

Max Runtime (minutes)

30

40

60

60

120

Recharge Time (hours)

3.5

5

3.5

4

4.5

Air Watts

100

115

150

185

220

Dust Cup Capacity (qts)

0.56

0.56

0.80

0.80

2

Filter Type

HEPA

HEPA

HEPA

HEPA

HEPA

Washable Filter

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Mopping

x

x

x

x

x

Hands-Free Debris Disposal

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

SMARTHOME News Rating

4.5/5

4.8/5

4.5/5

4.8/5

4.8/5

Manufacturer Rating

4.5/5

4.8/5

4.3/5

4.6/5

4.6/5

Amazon Rating

4.4/5

4.6/5

4.5/5

4.7/5

4.7/5

Manufacturer Cost

$304.00 / $389.90

$425.00

$569.00 / $575.99 / $676.88

$599.99/ $699.99/ $729.99

$799.99

Amazon Cost

See Best Offer on Amazon

See Best Offer on Amazon

See Best Offer on Amazon

See Best Offer on Amazon

See Best Offer on Amazon

 

Comparison of Shark and Dyson Cordless Vacuums

Shark vs. Dyson Design

Shark

Shark has some of the most slender and lightweight cordless vacuums on the market. They’re elegantly designed, ergonomic, and they come in two styles — handheld or stick. The handheld Shark vacuums, namely Shark UltraCyclone and WANDVAC, weigh less than 3 pounds each.

If you need a powerful vacuum at a decent price, then Shark Navigator Freestyle might be the one to consider. Besides being pretty lightweight for its size and power, it also comes with an XL dust container and a swiveling cleaning head.

When selecting a Shark vacuum, you can choose between a Stick and a Handheld vacuum. If you want the best of both, you can opt for Shark Vertex. It has an easy one-click system which provides for a quick stick-to-handheld transformation.

Shark vacuum cleaners are also flexible and modular. By flexible, I mean they have multiple joints that you can bend in different angles to reach harder areas or the ceiling. By modular, I mean you can detach the end nozzle to replace it with other accessories, like the pet power brush or scrubbing tool.

shark cordless vacuum cleaner design

Dyson

The Dyson vacuum cleaners are larger and heavier than most of the Shark vacuums, with the smallest vacuum weighing 5.3 pounds. However, they’re all ergonomically designed even if they weight just a little more than the Shark vacuums. They’re also attractively designed with low heads that can get into narrow crevices.

Dyson cordless vacuums get past the binaries of Stick or Handheld design — each Dyson vacuum can function as both an upright vacuum AND a handheld vacuum. All of them feature a one-click transformation system — you press a button, and the stick vacuums turn into handheld devices you can use on tabletops and car seats.

Dyson vacuum cleaners are also incredibly modular, and they often come with 6 to 8 additional accessories that you can attach in various spots.

dyson cordless vacuum design

Winner (design): Shark vs. Dyson

 
 
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Winner: Dyson

The Dyson vacuums are the clear winners because of their brilliant versatility of design. Even though they’re a little heavier than the Shark vacuums, they more than make up for it with a unique one-click handheld transformation system. With Shark, you have to decide if you want a stick or a handheld vacuum, but all Dyson vacuums function as stick AND handheld vacuums.

 

Shark vs. Dyson Battery

Shark

The shark cordless vacuums run on 14.4-volt lithium-ion batteries. All of them have a runtime of up to 40 minutes, depending on the type of usage. Thanks to an improved battery, the Shark Vertex model is the only one to provide runtimes of up to 60 minutes.

Some of the Shark vacuums come with a charging dock, like the handheld WANDVAC, and the others have a traditional charger. Finally, the charging time ranges from 2.5 hours (WANDVAC) to 6 hours (UltraCyclone). I’m cool with the 2.5-hours charging time, but waiting 6 hours for a vacuum to charge only to use it for less than 30 minutes seems like a pretty bad deal.

shark charging dock

Dyson

Dyson has a reputation for consistently improving upon every aspect of their vacuum cleaners’ internal mechanisms — the same applies to their battery. They continue improving their battery technologies to ensure longer runtime as their vacuums grow more powerful.

Dyson V7 has a rechargeable nickel manganese coral battery that allows the vacuum to run for up to 30 minutes and then needs to be recharged for 3.5 hours. Dyson V8 improves significantly with a six-cell lithium-ion battery engineered with nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) composition, allowing it to run for up to 40 minutes with a 5 hour charging duration.

At this point, the relationship between the runtime and charging duration seems pretty standard. However, Dyson breaks through with a significantly more powerful battery system with the Cyclone V10.

Dyson Cyclone V10 has a 7-cell lithium-ion battery with nickel-cobalt-aluminum cathodes, allowing it to run at a higher voltage. Furthermore, it integrates an automatic power optimization system that allows the vacuum to strike the correct balance of power preservation and efficiency. The Cyclone V10 increases the runtime to 60 minutes while maintaining a 3.5 hour charging duration.

Following the Cyclone V10, the next breakthrough comes with the Dyson V11 Outsize. Even though the V11 Outsize has the same underlying battery technology (7-cell lithium-ion battery with NCA cathodes), it has a total runtime of 120 minutes, i.e., twice as much as the V10 and 4x as much as the V7 and V8.

The V11 Outsize achieves such a brilliant battery life by integrating two batteries and an automatic eco-mode setting. It essentially includes two 60-minutes batteries, doubling the runtime immediately. You can also remove one battery with a single click, charge it, and continue running the vacuum with the other battery. This mechanism allows you to vacuum continuously without ever running out of battery.

Besides the ever-evolving battery technology, Dyson is also known for its incredibly sleek and attractive docking station. Unlike most vacuum cleaners, Dyson cordless vacuums provide a modern wall docking station where you can hang your vacuum once it’s done.

dyson vacuum charging dock

Winner (Battery): Shark vs. Dyson

 
 
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Winner: Dyson

The Shark cordless vacuums provide a decent battery life of up to 50 mins with an average charging duration of 3 hours. However, their products fail to display innovation, they don’t have automatic energy-saving features, and their charging stations are pretty basic.

Dyson’s early vacuums don’t have a great runtime-to-charging proportion — they run for around 30 minutes and need 3.5 to 5 hours to charge completely. However, their batteries improve significantly, with the latter cordless vacuums providing 1-2 hours of runtime with around 3.5 hours of charging. That’s enough time to clean some pretty large homes at a single go.

Furthermore, Dyson vacuums also display innovation in their battery usage. They include automatic power preservation features that go into Eco mode when you don’t need too much power. And the V11 Outsize has a dual-battery feature so you can double your runtime or charge one battery while using the other.

Finally, Dyson cordless vacuums have the most attractive charging dock out there. You don’t need to hide your vacuum cleaner in some dusty closet — proudly display it hanging on your wall.

 

Shark vs. Dyson Technology

Shark

Shark vacuums feature strong high-powered brushless motors that ensure easy suction. Most of the Shark vacuums have a primary flood nozzle with various settings for different types of floors, such as hardwood floors or carpets.

The floor nozzle includes a rotating soft brush roll and a composite flap to ensure anti-allergen operation, making sure the dirt is only pulled inwards. The floor nozzle also features a fabric layer that easily pulls and traps dust balls and hairs without getting trapped in the brushes.

A vacuum cleaner’s effectiveness is often measured in airwatts, measuring a vacuum’s airflow and power wattage. All current Shark vacuum cleaners have airwatts ranging from 80 to 125, with the exception of Shark Vertex, which achieves an impressive airflow of 281 airwatts.

Dyson

Dyson vacuum cleaners are known for their incredibly powerful aerodynamic mechanics and engines.

Dyson V7 is made of a digital motor V7 that spins at up to 107,000rpm, approximately five times the speed of a Formula One car. In doing so, it generates 100 airwatts of brush bar power. Dyson V8 maintains a similar engine and digital motor, merely increasing the power to 115 airwatts.

Dyson Cyclone V10 makes a major leap by implementing a ceramic shaft sintered at 1600 °C, making it 5x harder than steel. This improvement allows sets off a chain reaction that lowers the motor’s temperature and density, allowing it to spin at up to 125,000rpm with 150 airwatts. The subsequent V11 vacuums gradually increase the power to 220 airwatts.

The Dyson vacuums also utilize powerful g-forces to ensure optimal suction of dust and debris. They use 14 small cyclones to generate over 79,000g airflow, moving the dust particles and debris through post-motor filters to capture microscopic dirt particles down to 0.3 microns, removing up to 99.99% unwanted particles.

Besides the powerful suction force, wattage, and whole-machine filtration, Dyson vacuum cleaners are also acoustically-engineered to ensure whisper-quiet operation. The vacuums absorb vibrations to dampen noise, keeping the volume low.

Some of the latest Dyson vacuums also include LCD displays that provide valuable information, including battery, runtime, suction mode, filtration issues, etc.

dyson vacuum cleaner technology

Winner (technology) Shark vs. Dyson

 
 
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Winner: Dyson

Shark is a pretty powerful vacuum cleaner amongst all other standard cordless vacuums. But Dyson takes its performance to a whole new level, incorporating motors, filtration systems, and mechanics apparently reserved for race cars. The Dyson vacuum cleaners are made of superior technologies in every facet — airwatts, filtration, suction force, acoustics, and LCD displays.

 

Shark vs. Dyson Attachments

Shark

  • Duster Crevice Tool: It allows you to vacuum hard-to-reach spots, like high ceilings, between cushions, furniture, along the baseboard edges, etc. 
  • Multi-Surface Pet Tool: It allows you to remove pet hair from fabric, upholstery, and carpets.
  • Scrubbing Tool: It removes or dislodges harder stuck-on stains to vacuum them with greater ease.
  • VACMOP Disposable Pads: The VACMOP vacuum comes with disposable pads that lock away the debris for quick and efficient disposal. The VACMOP pad is also useful because it allows you to access the Shark VACMOP’s mopping feature.

shark vacuum accessories

Dyson

  • High-Torque XL Cleaner Head: The full-size cleaner head integrates Dynamic Load Sensor (DLS) technology to sense the surface quality and adjust the suction mode accordingly.
  • Mini-Motorized Tool: Enables you to clean smaller surfaces, like stairs and sofa upholstery, with greater ease.
  • Combination Tool: It includes a brush and a wide nozzle to alternate between seamlessly for different tasks.
  • Crevice Tool: Allows you to clean the regions around the edges and in tiny gaps.
  • Stubborn Dirt Brush: Made of stiff nylon bristles, it dislodges stuck-on dirt and stains from floors and furniture to vacuum them easily.
  • Mini Soft Dusting Brush: Made of soft nylon brushes, it cleans delicate fabric and surfaces.
  • Soft Cleaning Head: Specially made for cleaning hardwood floors, since it doesn’t have hard bristles that could potentially scratch the floor over time.

dyson vacuum attachments

Winner (attachments): Shark vs. Dyson

 
 
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Winner: Dyson

As you can probably tell by comparing the lists above, Dyson provides a lot more attachments and accessories than Shark. It’s worth noting that all of these accessories aren’t available for all vacuums. For example, the VACMOP Disposable Pads are only available for the Shark VACMOP vacuum, and the Mini Soft Dusting Brush is only available for the V11 Outsize. Different vacuums come with different combinations of attachments, and some of these accessories can also be purchased separately, but Dyson clearly has a far more exhaustive collection of accessories than Shark. 

 

Shark vs. Dyson for Pet Hair Removal

Shark

Shark cordless vacuums come with an additional self-cleaning Pet Power Brush accessory for households with pets. The accessory easily suctions hair wraps from the floor, upholstery, carpets, and brushrolls. Furthermore, the brush is designed to avoid pet hair tangling, ensuring a smooth operation throughout. You can also combine the Pet Power Brush with the Crevice Tool to vacuum pet hair stuck between cushions.

Dyson

Dyson doesn’t have any attachments or features geared specifically towards pet hair removal. However, all of their other features come together to ensure a pet hair-free environment. The following Dyson cordless vacuum features help eliminate all pet hair:

  • Deep cleaning power with a motor that spins at around 125,000rpm, creating the most powerful suction force to remove pet hair.
  • The torque drive cleaner head pushes the vacuum bristles deep into carpets to remove pet hair and dander from carpets.
  • Generates a 79,000g suction force to pull and eliminate pet hair, dander, and dead skin cells.
  • The crevice tool slides into hard-to-reach areas to get pet hair from your furniture.
  • The machine’s filtration system removes 99.99% of the germs, pollen, pet dander, and impurities and releases fresh air to ensure an allergy-free environment.

Winner (pet hair removal): Shark vs. Dyson

 
 
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Winner: Dyson

Even though Shark provides a dedicated accessory for pet hair removal, the Dyson vacuum cleaners are generally a lot more powerful at all tasks. The Shark vacuums only remove the pet hair, but the Dyson vacuums also purify the air to ensure an allergen-free atmosphere.

 

Shark vs. Dyson for Carpet Cleaning

Shark

Shark vacuums have high-efficiency brushless motors that are fairly effective on carpets. They can remove all the surface dirt, debris, and pet hair, but they’re not all that capable of digging deep within the fibers to extract trapped debris. But thanks to its DuoClean® PowerFins™, Shark Vertex is able to maintain a nonstop contact with the surfaces it rolls over. This allows it to be significantly more effective at dislodging and pulling up the particles from deep within your carpets.

shark carpet cleaning

Dyson

Dyson vacuums include torque drive cleaner heads with a powerful suction motor. The clean air pushes the nylon bristles deep within the carpet to remove the deep-down stuck-on debris and grime, including pet hair. After dislodging the debris, the vacuum simultaneously runs the air through the whole-filtration system to release purified and allergen-free air, ensuring optimal cleaning and health.

dyson carpet cleaning

Winner (Carpet Cleaning): Shark vs. Dyson

 
 
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Winner: Dyson

Dyson’s carpet cleaning mechanisms are a lot more effective than the Shark vacuums. Instead of removing surface debris, they go deep within the carpet fibers to remove all the internal debris while simultaneously purifying the air. The only Shark model which can measure up to Dyson in this arena is the new Shark Vertex, but that’s not enough for the Shark brand to take the win in this duel.

 

Shark vs. Dyson Disposal

Shark

Shark vacuums include dust cups ranging from 0.08 to 0.64 quarts; you’ll probably have to empty the dust cups several times during a single cleaning session. The Shark VACMOP doesn’t have a dust cup because its disposable mops have an inbuilt container for the debris. All of them feature a one-touch automatic debris disposal system, so there’s no need to get your hands dirty.

shark vacuum disposal

Dyson

Dyson vacuums include dust cups ranging from 0.56 to 2 quarts, enabling uninterrupted cleaning at a single stretch. They feature a sophisticated dirt ejection mechanism — when you press the right button, a silicon collar pushes the debris through a chemically-treated stainless steel tube. There’s no risk of dirt or debris escaping the shroud, ensuring optimal hygiene.

dyson vacuum disposal system

Winner (Disposal): Shark vs. Dyson

 
 
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Winner: TIE (Shark / Dyson)

Both Shark and Dyson have one-touch and hygienic disposal systems. However, the Dyson vacuums have much larger dust cups, allowing you to continue vacuuming for long periods without interruption.

 

Shark vs. Dyson: Cost at time of review

Shark

Dyson

 

Winner (Cost): Shark vs. Dyson

 
 
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Winner: Shark

Shark is clearly far more affordable than Dyson cordless vacuums, as is evident from the summary of costs mentioned above. The cheapest Dyson vacuum is more expensive than the most expensive Shark cordless vacuum, which clearly establishes that Shark is a more budget-friendly brand, while Dyson is a premium brand.

 

Shark Cordless Vacuums

Dyson Cordless Vacuums

Style

Handheld OR Stick

Handheld AND Stick

Weight (lbs)

1.4 - 9.04

5.3 - 7.85

Amps

8 - 11.5

12 - 30.45

Max Runtime (minutes)

40 - 60

30 - 120

Recharge Time (hours)

2.5 - 6

3.5 - 5

Air Watts

80 - 281

100 - 220

Dust Cup Capacity (qts)

0.08 - 0.64

0.56 - 2

Filter Type

Fabric OR Foam and Felt

HEPA

Washable Filter

✓

✓

Mopping

Only in VACMOP

x

Hands-Free Debris Disposal

✓

✓

Manufacturer Cost

$79.99 - $349.99

$304.00 - $799.99


Which Shark or Dyson Cordless Vacuum Should I Buy?

Best Overall Cordless Vacuum: Dyson V11 Outsize

  • Runs on an incredibly powerful Dyson Hyperdymium™ motor that spins at 125,000rpm.
  • Produces twice the suction force of any other vacuum.
  • The high torque XL cleaner covers 25% more space with each pass.
  • The 2-quarts bin is over 4x as large as some of the other vacuums.
  • Includes several accessories that allow it to work on different surfaces.
  • The Dyson DLS™ technology automatically adjusts suction force based on terrain.
  • Battery runs at least twice as long as other powerful vacuums.

dyson v11 outsize handheld

Best Budget Cordless Vacuum: Shark UltraCyclone™ Pet+

  • It costs only $79.99.
  • Despite the low cost, you still get pet brushes and other accessories to optimize usage.

Best Handheld Cordless Vacuum: Shark WANDVAC™

  • Incredibly portable.
  • Weighs only 1.4 pounds.
  • Ergonomically designed.
  • Has a decent cleaning width despite the small size.
  • Powerful enough to clean floors and carpets.

Best Stick Cordless Vacuum: All Dyson Vacuums

  • The stick Dyson vacuums are extremely flexible.
  • Dyson stick vacuums are the most powerful cordless vacuums on the market. 

Best Versatile Cordless Vacuum: All Dyson Vacuums

  • Dyson cordless vacuums can be transformed into a handheld vacuum with the click of a button.
  • As stick vacuums, they can vacuum floors, carpets, ceilings, etc.
  • As handheld vacuums, they can reach into harder spots, corners, etc. 

Best Cordless Vacuum with Mopping: Shark VACMOP™ Pro

  • Includes VACMOP disposable pads to simultaneously mop the floor clean.
  • Sprays a liquid solution to dislodge stuck-on messes for effective cleaning.
  • Disposable pads capture the dirt and debris.
  • Hands-free debris removal directly from the disposable pads.

shark vacmop pro

Best Cordless Vacuum for Pet Hair & Carpets: Dyson V11 Outsize

  • The powerful suction force pulls debris and pet hair from deep within the carpet fibers.
  • The torque drive cleaner head pushes the nylon fibers deep within the carpet fibers to dislodge the debris and pet hair.
  • The whole-system filtration system purifies the air, trapping 99% of the germs, allergens, pet dander, etc.
  • Ensures an allergen-free environment.
  • Automatically adjusts the suction force according to the surface quality.

Best Cordless Vacuum for Large Homes: Dyson V11 Outsize

  • Has a total runtime of 120 minutes.
  • Charges completely in 4.5 hours.
  • Automatically adjusts the suction force to conserve battery and extend the runtime.
  • One-click battery removal system allows you to charge one battery while using the other.
  • You can replace the depleted battery with the charged battery to continue cleaning.
  • The 2-quarts bin captures a large amount of debris without interrupting the work.
  • Ensures uninterrupted vacuuming in a large home.

Best Overall Shark Cordless Vacuum: Shark NavigatorÂŽ Freestyle

  • More powerful than other Shark cordless vacuums.
  • Has a 0.64 quarts dust cup, making it larger than other cordless Shark vacuums.
  • The 10” cleaning width ensures more cleaning in less time.
  • Recharges in 4 hours.
  • The cleaning head has a super-convenient swivel steering mechanism for easier navigation around furniture.

shark navigator cleaning

Best Budget Shark Cordless Vacuum: Shark UltraCyclone™ Pet Pro+

  • It costs only $79.99.
  • Comes with some accessories to enhance utility.

shark ultracyclone vacuum cleaner

Best Overall Dyson Cordless Vacuum: Dyson V11 Outsize

  • The suction force is twice as powerful as all other Dyson vacuums.
  • It covers 25% more area with each pass, compared to other cordless Dyson vacuums.
  • The bin is 2.5 times bigger than those of other V11 vacuums.
  • Longer battery runtime than other Dyson vacuums.

Best Budget Dyson Cordless Vacuum: Dyson V7

  • Starts at only $304.00.
  • Has comparable functionality to some of the more advanced Dyson vacuums, like Dyson V8.
  • Lightweight and versatile design.

 

Verdict: Shark or Dyson?

When it comes to Shark vs. Dyson cordless vacuums, the dilemma is simple — VALUE or POWER?

Purchase a Shark cordless vacuum if you want a standard but effective vacuum cleaner at an affordable rate. Purchase a Dyson cordless vacuum if you’re willing to pay a premium for a product that uses the most powerful suction technologies to remove the finest of dirt particles.

Of course, it’s all a whole lot more nuanced than that. So I hope you read this entire article carefully before making a final decision.

 

FAQs

Which is better — Shark or Dyson cordless vacuum?

Dyson definitely produces some of the most powerful cordless vacuums out there, capable of producing powerful g-force suction to remove the most stubborn stains. However, all that power also comes at a great cost that makes them a little unnecessary for basic household usage. Shark, meanwhile, is a pretty great vacuum with standard features available at an affordable cost.

Which Shark cordless vacuum is the best?

Shark NavigatorŽ Freestyle is one of the best cordless vacuums because it has a large cleaning width, a decently-sized dust cup, and a powerful suction force. You can also steer around furniture with ease, thanks to its swivel cleaning head.

Which is the best Dyson cordless vacuum to buy?

Dyson V11 Outsize is one of the most powerful cordless vacuums on the market, and certainly the latest and most powerful Dyson vacuum. It generates twice as much suction as most other vacuum cleaners, has twice as much runtime, and is superior in most other aspects.

Are Dyson cordless vacuums worth the money?

Dyson cordless vacuums aren’t exactly known for their value-for-money. Some of the more reasonable Dyson vacuum cleaners cost $299.99, and they go all the way to over $700. Dyson certainly offers features and performance you can’t expect from other brands, but they may not be worth the money for the average user. Shark is a far better alternative for those considering budget-friendly vacuum cleaners.

Should I buy Dyson V8 or V11?

Dyson V8 is a pretty powerful machine with decent airwatts and runtime. If you have a small or mid-sized home, you can go with a V8. However, you should consider a V11 if you have a large home, need to clean often, or if you have a lot of carpeted areas and pets — V11 is far more effective at removing all the pet hair and debris from deep within the carpet fibers.

Which vacuum has the strongest suction?

Dyson V11 Series cordless vacuums have the strongest suction. Their motors spin at 125,000rpm to produce 150 to 220 airwatts. They also produce 79,000g airflow to suck the smallest of dust particles, down to 0.3 microns.

Is Shark or Dyson better for pet hair?

Shark provides a pet hair-removal accessory that does a decent job of removing all the pet hair. However, Dyson can remove pet hair from deep within carpet fibers, upholstery, and narrow crevices, while also purifying the air of pet dander. So Dyson is definitely better for pet hair removal and subsequent air purification.

 

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