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Shark Stratos Cordless Review

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Welcome to Vacuum Wars and our review of the new Shark Stratos cordless vacuum. We thoroughly tested the one we purchased this week and found that not only is it the most feature-rich Shark cordless vacuum yet, its performance scores were better than any previous Shark cordless we have tested.

Pickup Champ
Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum
$499.99 $328.00

We think that the Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum is a remarkable advancement in the Shark lineup, offering unprecedented features and performance. It boasts significantly improved suction power and airflow, thanks to a higher wattage motor, and excels in deep cleaning carpetsโ€”a challenging feat for cordless models. The DuoClean head provides exceptional debris pickup on both hard floors and carpets without needing height adjustments. Additionally, the introduction of Shark's CleanSense IQ for optimized battery usage and the multi-flex wand for enhanced under-furniture cleaning solidify its position as a top-tier cordless vacuum. See full review.

Pros:
  • Improved suction and airflow
  • Perfect carpet deep clean score
  • Patented DuoClean head
  • Multi-flex wand for easy storage
  • Advanced filtration system
  • CleanSense IQ optimizes battery
Cons:
  • Heavier handle design
  • Not-great upholstery tool
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12/04/2024 09:53 am GMT

The Shark Stratos vacuum line

There is more than one Shark Stratos vacuum cleaner. The one we are reviewing today is the Shark Stratos Cordless. The other is the Shark Stratos Upright, a corded full-size vacuum that excelled in every test we put it through.

Shark Stratos Cordless Review
The Shark Stratos Cordless we purchased for review. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

With the Stratos Cordless being the high-achieving uprightโ€™s sibling, and the Stratos line representing the brandโ€™s flagship models, our expectations were high. Before reviewing the results of our tests, hereโ€™s a bit about the Stratos Cordless at a glance.

Specs

Vacuum typeCordless Stick
Motor309W / 12.26 amps
Cleaning path width10 in.
Bin capacity0.68L / 0.72 qts.
Weight8.9 lbs.
Maximum battery life60 mins.
Battery typeLithium Ion
Removable batteryYes
Converts to handheldYes
HeadlightNo
Warranty5 yr. limited
Shark Stratos Cordless specifications

Unboxing and setup

Setting up the Stratos Cordless we purchased is easy. It takes less than ten minutes from breaking the seal on the box to being able to use the vacuum. Before we got underway, we did top off its lithium-ion battery, which arrived partially charged.

In the box

  • Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum
  • Duster Crevice Tool
  • Battery
  • Anti-Allergen Brush
  • Power cord
  • Manual and warranty

Performance and test results

As the Stratos is the successor to the Vertex model, we will be referencing it throughout this review. Below we have included it aside the Stratos Cordless and the average score of all stick vacuums we have tested in the past.

Shark Stratos Cordless vs. Shark Vertex Cordless

Stratos CordlessVertex CordlessAverage Cordless
Carpet Deep Clean Test1009291
Airflow at Base (Max)56 cfm46 cfm42 cfm
Airflow at Head (Max)42 cfm34 cfm37 cfm
Sealed Suction at Base76″64″68″
Unsealed Suction at Head0.95 kpa0.34 kpa0.67 kpa
Motor309 watts281 watts
Dustbin Capacity.72 qt. / .68L.34 qt. / .32L
Weight at Handle1640 grams1636 grams
The test results above are from our independent testing and are not from the manufacturer, with the exception of information regarding motors and dustbin capacity.

Stratos Cordless power and suction

First and foremost, the Shark Stratos Cordlessโ€™ power is significantly improved from the previous Shark cordless vacuum, which held that designation. That vacuum and the Stratosโ€™ predecessor, the Shark Vertex, was above average in its own right.

In comparison, the Stratos Cordless had more airflow at both the base and the head. It also had significantly more suction power at the base as well as a higher score with the unsealed suction test at the head.

Shark Stratos Cordless and Vertex Cordless
Comparing the Shark Stratos Cordless with its predecessor, the Vertex Cordless. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

When comparing the Stratos Cordless to the Vertex, whatโ€™s interesting is that despite their very similar weight and size, Shark is able to deliver so much more performance with this new model. The likely reason is the larger motor in the Stratos.

It’s compact as a handheld (although we would have liked the inclusion of an upholstery tool for upholstered surfaces).

Cleaning, power modes, and dirt sensing

Power is nice, but cleaning performance is really what we are after, and what we found did not disappoint. In fact, the Shark Stratos Cordless was the first cordless vacuum to score a perfect 100 in our Carpet Deep Clean Test.

This test isnโ€™t one that is easy for stick vacuums in general. In that test, we deeply embed sand into medium pile carpet. To gauge a vacuumโ€™s performance, we measure the empty weight of the vacuumโ€™s dustbin and then weigh it again after a set number of cleaning passes.

Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum - Vacuuming Rug
Vacuuming carpet with our Shark Stratos cordless. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

The perfect score that the Stratos Cordless achieved wasnโ€™t a one-off either. We tested the Stratos several times in a row, and it repeatedly scored perfectly. A single pass picked up a lot of the debris, and before the test was over the carpet was completely clean.

Previous high-scoring peers include the Dyson V12 Detect and Shark Vertex, which scored 96 and 92 respectively. With our current testing methodology, the average score across 58 cordless vacuums we have tested is 91.

Vacuum on hard flooring and carpet

When gauging a vacuumโ€™s ability, we consider not only deeply embedded debris but also surface pickup on both hard flooring and carpet. Again, the Shark Stratos performed admirably with everything from small debris and larger. Where surface pickup is concerned, the Stratos cordless is about as good as it gets.

The Shark Stratos also makes short work of vacuuming up larger debris on hard flooring and carpets too. It does this without the need to make any height adjustments to the vacuumโ€™s head.

Shark Stratos Cordless - CleanSense IQ
Clean Sense IQ, Sharks’ Auto Mode, is new on the Stratos Cordless. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

Shark Stratos cordless power modes

There are three power modes on this Stratos Cordless: Eco, Max, and Clean Sense IQ mode. Clean Sense IQ Technology is an automatic mode, and it is new on the Stratos Cordless cordless model. When enabled, the vacuum’s suction power is adjusted automatically based on the amount of dirt and debris it encounters.

We will get into Clean Sense IQ a bit more in our features section below. We did want to note that after using Stratos Cordless we think to maximize cleaning time IQ mode is the best setting to use for day-to-day cleaning. Expect somewhere around twenty to thirty minutes of run time on a full charge in this mode.

Stratos Cordless Vacuuming Cereal on Hard Floor
Debris, both large and small, posed no challenge to our Stratos Cordless. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

Features

The Stratos is packed with features. Below we touch upon the ones that Shark calls the most attention to and that we find to warrant credit for the Stratos Cordlessโ€™ admirable performance.

Shark DuoClean Brushroll System - Stratos Cordless Review
Shark’s patented DuoClean two brushroll system. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

DuoClean

Sharkโ€™s tried and tested DuoClean system gets a lot of credit for how well the Stratos Cordless performs. For those not familiar, the DuoClean system utilizes two spinning brushrolls. The brushroll that leads is a soft roller. The second, more traditional brush, has alternating rubber fins and brushes.

The patented DuoClean technology allows the Stratos Cordless to achieve a high seal on hard flooring surfaces. That seal translates into the ability to extract dirt that is deep in crevices while also excelling at picking up fine dust and debris on the surface of tile, wood, laminate, and other hard floors.

Self-cleaning brushroll

For its main cleaning head, Shark is calling this version of the DuoClean system DuoClean PowerFins HairPro. The new addition to the name is the HairPro part.

Shark Stratos Cordless - DuoClean Anti-Hair Wrap
Shark’s anti-hair wrap technology worked great in our tests. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

HairPro is Sharkโ€™s latest anti-hair wrap technology designed to combat pet hair and human hair tangles. Generally speaking, this capability has become all but standard on both Shark cordless and upright models in some fashion. Essentially, when the Stratos Cordless encounters short or long hair, it manages to suck it into its dustbin as opposed to it becoming stuck on its brushroll.

To test it, we put the cordless up against large amounts of both pet and human hair. We have tested this system in the past and had high expectations, and we werenโ€™t disappointed. Shark has perfected this over the years, and we find it to be one of the best systems on the market for handling hair.

The Shark Stratos Cordless was the first cordless vacuum to score a perfect 100 in our Carpet Deep Clean Test.

Auto mode and battery life

We touched on Sharksโ€™ new Clean Sense IQ mode a bit above. In digging a bit deeper, how Clean Sense IQ Technology works is by measuring the amount of dirt coming into the vacuum with an infrared sensor. The sensor relays that information to its internal circuitry, which increases or decreases the vacuumโ€™s suction based on the current conditions.

Shark Stratos - Remaining Battery Life Display
Remaining battery life displayed on the Stratos Cordless’ LCD display. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

Suction power is reflected in real-time on the head of the vacuum. Systems like these are especially handy on cordless stick vacuums, as battery efficiency is maximized without compromising cleaning performance.

Shark claims a maximum of one hour of cleaning time before needing to charge its battery. That is in Eco mode, which is the lowest setting. For comparison, the Dyson V12 cordless is rated at a slightly higher 63 minutes of cleaning time in its lowest setting.

We tested the Stratos Cordless on its Max setting, where it was good for ten and a half minutes of cleaning. This provided more run time than the Dyson V12 delivered in our tests, at seven minutes and 45 seconds.

LED display

A compact, simple, and easily visible LED screen reports what youโ€™d want to know, such as the power setting currently in use and remaining battery life. Displays like this one are helpful and primarily found on high-end vacuums like this one.

Testing Shark Stratos Cordless Anti-allergen Complete Seal
Testing Shark’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

Anti-Allergen Complete Seal

Sharkโ€™s included its high-performing Anti-Allergen Complete Seal on the Stratos too. It is difficult to stress how beneficial systems like this are. In poorly sealed vacuums, dust and finer particles can literally make their way back out of the vacuum as opposed to being captured inside it.

Shark prevents this bad behavior in the Stratos Cordless by way of precisely engineered seals and HEPA filtration. According to the SharkClean website, the system โ€œcaptures and traps dust, allergens, dander, and more, keeping them out of the air you breathe.โ€ Once again, this level of filtration and containment is only found in premium vacuum cleaners.

We perform tests to gauge how well vacuums are sealed, and the Stratos Cordless did well in this regard too.

Odor Neutralizer

Like its upright sibling, the Stratos Cordless has Sharkโ€™s new Odor Neutralizer technology. The system leverages a round cartridge in the main cleaning head, which is intended to freshen the air while the vacuum is in use.

As we noted when testing the Stratos upright, weโ€™re not completely sold on the Odor Neutralizer technology, but the more we think about it, we canโ€™t identify a reason not to use it either. Its use is optional as well.

Where surface pickup is concerned, the Stratos Cordless is about as good as it gets.

Ergonomics

Ergonomically, the first thing we have to mention is MultiFLEX. Sharkโ€™s MultiFLEX wand system is a hinged section strategically located in the middle of the vacuumโ€™s rigid tube. Inside the joint, a flexible hose maintains the vacuum’s suction power when MultiFLEX is in use. It enables two of the vacuum’s convenience features, cleaning under furniture and storage.

In practice, cleaning under furniture is far easier with MultiFLEX, requiring less bending or crouching compared to other cordless vacuums. Additionally, when completely folded over, MultiFLEX dramatically reduces the Stratosโ€™ overall height making it easier to store too.

A negative strike against the Stratos Cordless is its handle. We found it a bit heavier than we would prefer and its shape to be awkward for use as a handheld vacuum.

Testing Shark Stratos on Hard Wood Floors
Five LED headlights light the cleaning path in front of the vacuum. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

LED lighting at a vacuumโ€™s cleaning head makes seeing what youโ€™re cleaning much easier. The majority of cordless stick vacuums do not have LED lighting; thankfully, this one does, in a series of five LED bulbs that provide adequate lighting when cleaning darker corners and beneath furniture.

Vacuuming in and around objects and just cleaning in general is easy with the Stratos Cordless. It has good weight in the head and at the floor, wheels at the rear of the cleaning head, and a confident swivel. This equates to predictable, simple movement, allowing precise placement of the head, especially when cleaning on hard floors.

Vacuuming Between Charis with Shark Stratos Cordless
Cleaning around furniture legs and objects is easy with the Stratos Cordless. ยฉ Vacuum Wars

Value

The Stratos Cordless is Sharkโ€™s most expensive cordless stick vacuum. Whether or not that price is worth it will depend on what you are looking for in a vacuum cleaner.

As far as cleaning performance, this is an excellent vacuum. It also carries a five-year limited warranty which is longer than most brands offer.

What you wonโ€™t find, however, are some options that may or may not interest buyers. For instance, an auto-emptying dock, like the one that the Samsung Bespoke Jet (review) includes, isnโ€™t included or an option. In fairness, that Samsung model is more expensive. One other notable omission is the lack of a dedicated, powered upholstery tool.

Getting back to the price component of value, while the Stratos Cordless is expensive, competing models by Dyson, Samsung, and others are at the same price point if not higher.

Recommendation

There isnโ€™t much fault to find in the Shark Stratos Cordless. From our seat, this is the best cordless vacuum Shark has ever made. The DuoClean system is excellent, and for the first time we are comfortable saying that in the case of the Stratos Cordless, the DuoClean system performs as well on carpet as it does on hard floors.

With the few shortcomings weโ€™ve noted, we think the Shark Stratos Cordless model is a great vacuum. It is the best Shark cordless vacuum weโ€™ve ever tested, and it is the first to score that perfect 100 in our Carpet Deep Clean Test.

If we had to pin down a home that it’s best for, weโ€™d say one with mainly hard flooring. That doesnโ€™t mean the Stratos isnโ€™t good on carpet, because it is, but it really shines on hard floors.

We recommend the Shark Stratos Cordless and its strong combination of features and cleaning performance.

The Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum is available online, including at the retailer(s) below.

 

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Christopher White

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Christopher White CEO
Christopher White is the CEO of Vacuum Wars, the premier YouTube channel dedicated to vacuum cleaner reviews. Over the past eight years, Vacuum Wars has become a trusted resource, meticulously reviewing hundreds of robot vacuums, cordless vacuums, carpet cleaners, and various floor care products. Known for their comprehensive in-house testing, Vacuum Wars has built one of the most extensive databases of vacuum cleaner metrics available. Under Christopherโ€™s leadership, the channel has maintained a strict no-sponsorship policy, ensuring that all reviews remain unbiased and trustworthy. This dedication to integrity has garnered a loyal following of over 300,000 subscribers who rely on their expert advice. Christopher is also a recognized authority on robot vacuums, boasting one of the largest private collections of these devices worldwide. Learn more.

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