The Shark PowerDetect is the brand-new flagship upright vacuum from Shark. The company claims it has more power and features than almost any other upright vacuum on the market, so we bought one to find out if that’s true. After rigorous evaluations over the past few weeks, it’s clear that this vacuum lives up to the hype. As a result, the vacuum has climbed to the number one spot in the Vacuum Wars ranking system for upright vacuums. In this Shark PowerDetect review, we’ll go over the pros, cons, and features to help you make an informed decision.
- Excellent debris pickup
- Advanced 'detect' features
- DuoClean roller system
- Active hair removal
- Powerful suction
- Complete Seal HEPA filtration
- Powered lift-away versatility
- Precise swivel steering
- LED lights for visibility
- Versatile attachment set
- Comparatively heavy
- Pull-forward effect on some carpets
- Less concentrated airflow
The Shark PowerDetect upright vacuum: performance and evaluation
We ran various evaluations to see how the Shark PowerDetect performs in real-world scenarios, and it did exceptionally well. Here’s what we discovered.
Debris pickup
The PowerDetect excels at picking up all types of debris and hair on both hard floors and carpets. In our pickup evaluation, it achieved a rare perfect score, successfully handling everything from fine to extra-large debris nearly perfectly.
This exceptional performance is largely due to the DuoClean roller, which features a soft roller at the front and a traditional roller at the back. We found this design highly effective for hard floors and carpets, but it truly shines on hard floors, offering a game-changing way to vacuum.
Hair Pickup
The upright vacuum performs exceptionally well at picking up pet and human hair. The front roller acts like a magnet for hair, aided by Shark’s active hair removal system, which is arguably the best on the market. This system effectively solves the age-old problem of hair getting caught in the roller. It handled hair pickup remarkably well in our various torture evaluations.
Power
Another significant advantage is its power. The Shark PowerDetect scored significantly above average in all power metrics, including airflow at the head, hose-sealed suction, and unsealed suction.
This level of power is more than sufficient for any conceivable use case. However, its power metrics were not drastically different from the previous Shark flagship upright, the Shark Stratos, where, for example, the airflow numbers were virtually identical.
Shark PowerDetect upright vacuum features
New Detect Features
The most impressive aspect of the new Shark PowerDetect is its array of new features, making it the most feature-rich upright vacuum we’ve evaluated. It has four innovative features related to the “detect” in its name.
1. Floor Detect
This ultrasonic sensor identifies the type of flooring and automatically adjusts suction power and brush roll speed. It’s particularly useful since while Shark vacuums usually have different brush roll speed settings for hard floors and carpets, it can be challenging to remember to switch the settings manually. Floor Detect does this automatically, enhancing carpet cleaning power when needed.
Edge Detect
These sensors on the side detect when you’re vacuuming close to a wall. In response, a light comes on and boosts the suction power on that side. This feature proved impressively effective at edge cleaning during evaluations.
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Direction Detect
This feature detects the direction you’re vacuuming and channels airflow through the correct side of the brush roll—the front side for a forward push and the back side for reverse. In our evaluations, the Direction Detect feature performed well, though further comparison with other vacuums is needed to determine its full usefulness.
Dirt Detect
When sensing dirtier areas, a light comes on, and the vacuum automatically boosts suction power for better performance. However, this feature is more beneficial for cordless vacuums, where balancing suction power and battery life is crucial. It’s less critical for corded vacuums like the Shark PowerDetect, where power consumption is not a concern.
Lift-Away and Powered Lift-Away Features
Another advantage of the Shark PowerDetect is the Lift-Away and Powered Lift-Away features. The Lift-Away feature lets you detach the canister and carry it around with the hose and wand for above-floor cleaning jobs.
This makes it incredibly easy to lift the wand or handle off the vacuum with the click of a button, enabling you to clean cobwebs or other odd things without interrupting your vacuuming flow.
The PowerDetect also includes the Powered Lift-Away feature typical with higher-end Shark models like this one. This means that when you lift the canister off the floor nozzle, the nozzle remains fully powered.
You can use it like a stick vacuum to easily reach difficult areas or simply because you prefer this vacuuming method. This feature adds versatility and convenience to your cleaning routine.
Filtration
The PowerDetect features Shark’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, which traps 99.99% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum. This system performed flawlessly in our fog evaluations. In addition, it includes Shark’s odor-neutralizing technology, a small cartridge that releases a fresh scent while vacuuming.
Attachment Set
The attachment set of the PowerDetect includes three tools, two of which are dual-purpose with brush options as well as upholstery and crevice tool options. Also, the power brush is suction-powered rather than motorized. While this might seem like a downgrade, the strong suction power of the Shark PowerDetect ensures that the brush roll spins effectively. This design leverages the vacuum’s impressive suction power, making the suction-powered brush a practical choice.
Cons of the Shark PowerDetect upright vacuum
The PowerDetect offers impressive performance and features, but there are some potential drawbacks to consider.
Powered Lift-Away
While the Powered Lift-Away or stick vacuum mode is convenient for hard floors, it could be problematic on thinner carpets. In this mode, there is a noticeable pull-forward effect, which can be annoying and tiring on the arm. This effect diminishes when the canister is placed back on the vacuum, adding its weight. Notably, this issue was observed only on thinner rugs and did not occur with thicker ones.
Sealed airflow suction
Another potential drawback is the slightly less concentrated airflow when sealed to floors. This might be due to the widening of the air channels on the floorhead or changes related to the Direction Detect feature. As a result, in related evaluations like the crevice pickup and carpet deep clean evaluations, the PowerDetect scored slightly lower than those of the Shark Stratos.
Weight
The overall weight of this vacuum is 17.5 lbs—about a pound heavier than the Stratos. Although it features a lightweight handle, good center of gravity, and responsive swivel, the weight is still about 2 lbs above average. This added weight is the trade-off for a larger motor.
Price
Price is always a consideration with flagship vacuums, and the Shark PowerDetect is no exception. While it was roughly the same price as the Stratos when it was released, the cost is still a significant factor to consider.
Shark PowerDetect: value and recommendation
After evaluating all the features and performance metrics, the Shark PowerDetect is our new favorite upright vacuum. It boasts exceptional pickup ability on both hard floors and carpets, innovative and genuinely useful features, several ergonomic upgrades, and impressive power.
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Despite its weight and price, the upright vacuum offers remarkable value and performance, making it a top recommendation for anyone needing a high-quality vacuum.
