I recently had the opportunity to test the Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum Cleaner. It’s one of the company’s newest upright models. I was curious about the POWERDETECT technology, which adjusts modes when it detects embedded dirt, senses edge and corners, detects a change in floor type, and senses the vacuum’s direction has changed.
Shark is a global product design and technology company with headquarters in Needham, Massachusetts. It produces upright, cordless, corded stick, robot, handheld, and wet/dry vacuums. It also makes floor and carpet cleaners, air purifiers, and fans.
I tested the Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum for one month at home. I used it to vacuum daily debris such as dust and hair, and I challenged it with crushed potato crisps to see how well (or not) this vacuum removed them from my floors. I worked through the four settings and recorded the noise levels to measure against the specifications.
Keep reading to see how it compares with our round-up of the best vacuum cleaners.
Terri has tested dozens of vacuums from Dyson, LG, Tineco, Bissell, Miele, Shark, Roborock, Samsung, and Eufy. She tested the Shark POWERDETECT for over a month, evaluating design, user-friendliness, performance, and cleaning. Terri was allowed to keep the vacuum cleaner for ongoing use.
Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum: Key specs
| Type | Upright |
| Cleaning Path Width | 12 inches |
| Suction Power | 1416 watts |
| Filtration System | HEPA |
| Capacity | 0.5 gallons |
| Cord Length | 29.98 feet |
| Attachments | Duster Crevice Tool, Pet-Multi Tool, Hair Pro Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush, Odor Neutralizer Technology Cartridge |
| Weight | 17.57 lbs |
Shark DETECTPRO Upright Vacuum: Price & availability
The Shark POWERDETECT retails for $499 at Amazon, and it’s $399 on the Shark website – which also includes an under-appliance wand as a gift.
Shark makes several upright vacuum cleaners with lift-away pods. The POWERDETECT is one of the higher-end models. Shark also offers a POWERDETECT Model that’s $100 more. It includes a free steam mop, an appliance wand, and three odor-replacement cartridges.
Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum: Setup
The Shark POWERDETECT arrived in a Shark-branded box. It was well-packed, and the molded cardboard inside cushioned all the parts and kept them securely in place.
The box’s contents include the motorized floor nozzle, wand, pod and hose, odor neutralizer dial, crevice tool, pet multi-tool, and manual.
Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum: Design
Shark is known for its smart vacuum designs, and this one continues the tradition. It cleverly packs a lot of features into not a lot of space. I’m a big fan of cordless stick vacuums because they are convenient and easier to manipulate. Admittedly, they don’t perform as well as corded models, but that’s usually a trade-off I’m willing to make.
However, the Shark POWERDETECT is impressive enough that I continued reaching for it after the testing phase.
Assembly was quick and easy: I inserted the wand into the nozzle until it clicked, placed the pod onto the wand, slid it down, inserted the hand into the wand, and connected the hose to the back of the pod.
There’s an odor-neutralizer chamber on the top of the nozzle. After removing the odor-neutralizer cartridge from its bag, I inserted it into the nozzle. There’s a dial that allows it to be set for a low or high-intensity level. I chose low because I thought the higher setting would be too strong. A cartridge can last for 6 months and costs roughly $7, so it’s not expensive to replace.
In addition to the odor neutralizer, the vacuum has an anti-allergen complete seal and HEPA filter. Together, they trap dust and allergens and keep them out of the air.
Shark refers to a two-brush roll system as their "DuoClean." This system consists of a soft brush roll in the front and a regular brush roll in the back.
The colorful display on the front of the handle includes three settings: hard floor, carpet/low pile, and thick carpet/area rug. There’s also a Detect Mode setting, which, when activated, automatically adjusts depending on the floor type, when it senses edges and corners, and when the vacuum changes direction.
Also, the two attachments can be housed on the back of the vacuum cleaner, so I don’t have to worry about losing them.
Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum: Performance
The Shark POWERDETECT shines in performance. The strong suction and the dual brush rolls made it easy to dig into and pick up dust and debris on carpets and rugs. And the vacuum works even better on hard floors since the dual brush system includes a regular brush roller and a soft brush roller that not only attracts particles but also polishes hard floors. One of my tests was to crush some Pringles potato crisps and put them on the floor. The Shark POWERDETECT easily picked up the chips.
Another feature that I liked is the self-cleaning brush roll system's anti-tangle system, which keeps hair (or, in my case, strands from my rugs) from getting wrapped around the brush rolls.
However, my favorite function is the 4-part detection system.
Floor Detect recognizes the floor type and adjusts both suction and brush roll speeds. This is quite a valuable feature for someone like me who is not always paying attention to when I need to switch modes.
Edge Detects boosts suction power when I get close to the baseboard – based on the theory that the edges and corners tend to have more hidden dirt. Dirt Detect boosts suction power whenever dirt is detected anywhere.
Direction Detection senses when I’m pushing the vacuum forward or pulling it backward, automatically choosing the front brush roll when I’m going forward or the back brush roll when the vacuum is in reverse.
In Detect Mode, remember that if you’re vacuuming multiple surfaces, pushing the vacuum forward and backward, and up against the edge, you’ll constantly hear the vacuum cleaner shifting modes, so the noise level will increase and decrease. The noise level is 66.6dDs (comparable to a dishwasher), and on high, it’s 74.3 (comparable to traffic or a typical vacuum).
The LED headlights on the front allow me to see hidden dust. The importance of this feature is glaringly obvious when I’m vacuuming in the corners on hard floors. The swivel steering is also impressive and makes it easy to maneuver around objects. The vacuum cleaner weighs 17 pounds, and it’s not lost on me that this level of maneuverability is quite impressive for such a heavy item. It doesn’t feel like the vacuum is heavy when using it. However, I might have a different opinion if I had to lug it up and down the stairs.
The Powered Lift-Away feature lets me detach the pod and use it like a cordless stick vacuum to slide under furniture for a more thorough clean. Also, by disconnecting the hose at the bottom, I was able to use the pet multi-tool to vacuum a shag throw pillow and the crevice tool to clean around my beverage fridge. The only drawback I found during the testing process was the short pod hose, which does not provide much flexibility when trying to reach far-away items.
Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum: Maintenance
Cleaning the Shark POWERDETECT is relatively easy. I pressed the release button on the top to empty the dust cup. The dust cup itself has a release button on the bottom. While this wasn’t a difficult process, it doesn’t compare to other vacuums that let you release the dust and debris by pressing a button on the top. I always wear plastic gloves when emptying vacuum cleaners, but I would have preferred a top-releasing button (like the Dyson Ball Vacuums) to keep my hands out of that area.
The vacuum also has a pre-motor filter, which should be removed monthly, rinsed under cold water, and allowed to dry for 24 hours. The HEPA filter should be cleaned annually. The brush roll is self-cleaning, but you may want to occasionally rinse it under water and let it dry for 24 hours.
The Detection sensors will turn red if they’re clogged with debris. Wipe the DirtDetect sensors, the EdgeDetect sensors, and the FloorDetect sensors with a microfiber cloth and a cotton swab.
Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum: User reviews
The Shark POWERDETECT is a new release. At the time of publication, it had only 19 ratings on Amazon, with an average rating of 4.8. Buyers called the vacuum cleaner awesome and fantastic and were impressed with the suction and touch control panel. There are no negative reviews.
The Shark website has four reviews and a 4.9 average review. Buyers called it the best vacuum ever and were impressed with the suction power, attachments, and odor control cartridge.
Would I buy the Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum?
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | easy assembly and user-friendly features; Powered Lift-Away feature; easy to switch between different cleaning modes; short pod hose slightly limits its flexibility | 9/10 |
| Noise Level | varies depending on the mode; base noise level of 66.6 dB, comparable to a dishwasher, and a high of 74.3 dB, similar to traffic noise | 7/10 |
| Maneuverability | impressive maneuverability, thanks to its swivel steering; doesn't feel heavy during use | 8/10 |
| Suction Power | excels in suction power, effectively picking up dust and debris on both carpets and hard floors; dual brush roll system; Edge Detect and Dirt Detect boost suction when needed | 9/10 |
| Maintenance | relatively straightforward, with easy-to-clean filters and a self-cleaning brush roll; dust cup release mechanism could be improved for easier debris disposal | 8/10 |
Buy it if...
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How does the Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum compare?
The Dyson Animal Ball 3 ($399) is a comparable upright vacuum with very strong suction, detangling cleaner head, and four cleaning modes (although the vacuum doesn’t automatically select them. However, it has a high-reach wand that can be used to attach to the hose to reach up high (top of cabinets, ceiling vents, etc.), and you can place the vacuum at the bottom of the stairs and cover several steps. The Dyson Animal Ball 3 also has a dust release handle at the top, so your hands don’t come in contact.
If you’re open to a cordless stick vacuum, the Bissell IconPet Turbo Cordless Stick Vacuum has a tangle-free brush roll and variable suction mode. It also has an LED headlight and is slim enough to fit under furniture. Since it’s cordless, you don’t have to worry about tripping over cords or trying to find a wall outlet. However, while performance is excellent on hard floors, it’s not as impressive on carpet.
How I tested the Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum
I tested the Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum in my home for for over a month, using it on both hard floors and carpet, and also testing the attachments. Using it on a regular basis gave me the opportunity to assess the quality of the build, ease of use, performance, and ease of cleaning.
Read more about how we test.
