Shark, also known as SharkNinja, is an American company founded in 1994 that manufactures homeware goods like irons and mops in addition to vacuums. Unlike other brands like Samsung or BISSELL, which focus on a limited range of vacuum designs, Shark offers a little bit of everything, including robot vacuums, secondary handheld configurations, and corded and cordless designs. Their vacuums come at various prices, so you can find something that fits your budget.
We've tested over 100 vacuums, and more than 27 of those were by Shark. Here are our recommendations for the best Shark vacuums you can buy. For more recommendations, check our articles for the best vacuums for stairs, the best vacuum cleaner brands, and the best car vacuums.
The best Shark vacuum we've tested is the Shark Stratos Cordless. This is an older flagship in Shark's lineup of cordless stick vacuums, having been supplanted by the Shark PowerDetect Cordless, but it's still worth a look if you're looking for a cordless vacuum. It's packed with features, including its Clean Sense IQ system, which uses infrared sensors to measure the amount of debris sucked into the dustbin and allows the vacuum to adjust its suction as needed. It also features an odor-neutralizing system that works via a replaceable cartridge in its floorhead, which emits a detergent-like scent as you clean. The vacuum's folding wand makes it easy to clean under most furniture since you won't have to crouch deeply, and it reduces its vertical footprint when stowed away.
Unfortunately, despite being advertised as self-cleaning, it isn't the best Shark vacuum for pet hair, as pet hair can still get trapped in the floorhead. Also, the primary brushroll isn't removable, making it a nuisance to clean. This vacuum can run for up to an hour on a charge, which is good battery life for a cordless vacuum. If you want an option with easier daily maintenance, the aforementioned Shark PowerDetect Cordless has a smaller dustbin than the Stratos but can be purchased with a self-empty station.
The Shark Cordless Pro is worth a look if you're shopping at a more conservative price point. In a lot of ways, it's a stripped-down version of the Shark Stratos Cordless, with the same Clean Sense IQ automatic power adjustment system and odor-neutralization cartridge. However, its lower purchase price comes with a few compromises; you'll need to make do with a less potent suction motor and a smaller battery, which can only offer a max runtime of about 40 minutes compared to the Stratos' approximate hour-long runtime. That isn't to say it doesn't perform quite well overall. It can easily clear away debris on hard floors, and while it has a less powerful suction motor than the Stratos, it's still capable of handling most kinds of messes on carpets. It uses a different floorhead design compared to the Stratos as well.
Instead of a dual-roller setup, it has only a single fluffy roller, which features angled fins that reduce the chances of hair buildup and provide surface agitation on carpets. Unlike the Stratos, not to mention most other Shark vacuums, you can completely remove this brushroll from its floorhead. While this may seem like a fairly minor design change, it makes everyday maintenance much easier since you can now easily clear away any stuck-on debris or tangled strands of hair, making it the best Shark vacuum for pet hair we've tested.
The Shark Pet Cordless (IX141) is the best budget Shark vacuum we've tested. Compared to a higher-end model like the Shark Stratos Cordless, this cheaper vacuum has far fewer features; you lose the convenience of things like automatic power adjustment and a telescopic wand. Nevertheless, it delivers impressive performance on bare floors as well as low- and high-pile carpets, and there's no shortage of accessories in the box. It comes with a crevice tool for handling messes in tight corners, an upholstery tool for cleaning fabric surfaces, and a soft-bristle brush to deal with dust on delicate, easily scratched surfaces.
Something this vacuum shared with its pricier siblings is it's also a hassle to keep clean; you can't remove the floorhead's brushroll, so cleaning long hair wrapped around its brushroll is a nuisance. Its battery life is pretty mediocre, as it can only run for up to 40 minutes on a full charge, though that's a downside shared with the pricier Stratos Cordless. If you want to avoid running out of charge, the Shark Rocket Corded is a good substitute, albeit one that feels more cheaply built and doesn't perform quite as well overall.
The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is the best cordless Shark vacuum with a handheld design that we've tested. Unlike the Shark Pet/Rocket Pro Cordless or any other Shark stick vacuum, it's only intended for quick spot-cleaning. It does a fantastic job picking up pet hair and solid debris on flat, even surfaces, and it delivers a superb overall performance on carpets and rugs. It feels surprisingly sturdy and has a simple, easy-to-clean design that incurs minimal recurring costs. The CH951 variant comes with a crevice tool for tackling messes in tight corners, a hard-bristle brush to dislodge stuck-on dirt and debris, and a turbo brush for cleaning furniture, though unfortunately, the latter isn't very effective for dealing with pet hair on upholstered surfaces.
Its battery life of a little over 10 minutes isn't especially noteworthy, even by the standards of other handheld vacuums, so you'll need to work fast when cleaning bigger messes. It also has terrible air filtration performance, making it less ideal for those with allergies. If that's a concern, consider the Shark WANDVAC, which does a much better job of sealing in allergens like pet dander; you can further bolster its filtration performance by purchasing an aftermarket HEPA filter. However, it has a much smaller dustbin.
When comparing their lineup of cordless stick vacuums, Dyson's offerings provide better debris-pickup performance than most Shark models and come with a broader range of attachments and unique quality-of-life features like automatic power adjustment. 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.
BISSELL vacuums are generally cheaper than comparable Shark models, though their lower price tag often results in inferior build quality, debris-pickup performance, and air filtration performance. However, some BISSELL models are a little easier to maintain—many new Shark models use non-removable brushrolls that can be a hassle to clean properly.
Shark produces a wide range of vacuums at various price points. They often have a smart design that lets you switch to a handheld mode for a closer clean, and many cordless options are available. When comparing their stick vacuums to Dyson's offerings, Shark vacuums feel better built and sturdier. However, they also tend to have a similar but slightly worse performance on carpet. Their upright vacuums usually perform better on all surface types than BISSELL vacuums.
Shark has a diverse lineup of vacuums, and their naming convention can sometimes be confusing. In broad strokes, you can outline their model lineup as follows.
Upright Models
Stick Models
Canister Models
Robot Models
Common Terminology/Features
Replaced the Shark Stratos UltraLight with the Shark Cordless Pro as the 'Best Mid-Range Shark Vacuum' pick due to current product availability.
We've added the Shark PowerDetect Cordless as an alternative to the Shark Stratos Cordless that comes with a self-empty station.
We've verified our recommendations are available and represent the best options, and we made small edits to the text for clarity.
Sep 18, 2024 : Verified that all picks are valid and available. Small text changes for conciseness and clarity. No change in recommendations.
Jun 12, 2024 : We've checked all picks for their ongoing availability and pricing. We made a minor text update to add the Shark Matrix Plus as an alternative to the Shark Matrix Robot.
Shark is a good household manufacturer that produces items like mops and irons alongside vacuums at different price points and styles. You can also use many Shark vacuums as handhelds, which is nice if you need to clean hard-to-reach places. If you want an easily portable model, Shark sells some cordless vacuums. However, the best cordless Shark vacuum models tend to have a few maintenance needs and can be a little more tricky to clean.
What do you think of our picks? Let us know below.
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Thanks Ben! I’ve been using rtings for years when trying to buy a tv. A7N is prob going to be the pick for the home office after your reply, that said BB dropped the price more on the q5 550f! It seems to have some poor ratings (the g) version from you folks. Tv has a much higher list price at $399 but Best Buy has it done close to same price as the a7n… I’ve heard fire tv os kinda stinks along with tons of adds, still go with the a7n in your opinion?
No worries! It’s hard to say for sure since we haven’t tested the Q550F, but I’d likely still go with the A7N. It’s just a solid overall TV for the price. A TV’s smart OS often comes down to preference, but the common opinion (and my personal opinion) is that Google TV is better than Fire TV. If you do end up going with the A7N, report back and let us know what you think of it!
Of course! I’m happy to help. Since 120Hz doesn’t matter to you, I’d personally go with the A7N. It’s very similar to the S551G, but it edges it out when it comes to picture quality since it’s a bit brighter, has a wider color gamut/better color volume, is more accurate in SDR, has better upscaling, and a faster response time. It’s just a bit better overall. We actually haven’t reviewed the Q550F, but we expect it to be very similar to the Q550G we reviewed. However, the Q550F uses Fire TV as its smart OS. The A7N uses Google TV, which tends to be snappier when navigating through the menus. I hope that helps with your decision!
Thanks Ben! I’ve been using rtings for years when trying to buy a tv. A7N is prob going to be the pick for the home office after your reply, that said BB dropped the price more on the q5 550f! It seems to have some poor ratings (the g) version from you folks. Tv has a much higher list price at $399 but Best Buy has it done close to same price as the a7n… I’ve heard fire tv os kinda stinks along with tons of adds, still go with the a7n in your opinion?
Thanks for the reply! What’s important to me besides general picture quality - good streaming. 1440p @ 120 for ps5 doesn’t matter. Decent color accuracy, good colors etc (I own a cx and 635) I’m fine with 60hz, I don’t gane a ton. The tv would be used for an office. Dont really want to spend the money for fald. Your personal pick out of these? Tcl s5 551g Hisense a7n Tcl q5 550f You would think the q5 being a qled, but its has some poor performance areas. They are all similar prices currently between $230-$250.
Of course! I’m happy to help. Since 120Hz doesn’t matter to you, I’d personally go with the A7N. It’s very similar to the S551G, but it edges it out when it comes to picture quality since it’s a bit brighter, has a wider color gamut/better color volume, is more accurate in SDR, has better upscaling, and a faster response time. It’s just a bit better overall. We actually haven’t reviewed the Q550F, but we expect it to be very similar to the Q550G we reviewed. However, the Q550F uses Fire TV as its smart OS. The A7N uses Google TV, which tends to be snappier when navigating through the menus. I hope that helps with your decision!
Hey there. There’s certainly a few models that could fit into our ‘best cheap’ category. It’s tough to decide between the Roku Select and the A7N, as they both offer things that the other doesn’t. Despite the A7N scoring slightly higher overall, the Roku has a higher contrast ratio and a pretty big advantage with SDR brightness, which are more important to most people looking for a cheap model than things like color gamut, VRR, and 480p upscaling. We do have the A7N in our Notable Mentions section as an alternative to the Roku Select Series, so it really comes down to your needs. It’s pretty much the same when it comes to the S551G vs the Roku Select. Both have very similar contrast ratios, but the Roku has a pretty big advantage when it comes to SDR brightness and pre-calibration accuracy, and it has the faster response time. On the other hand, the S551G is better for gamers with its support for 1080p @ 120Hz and VRR. For gamers, the S551G is the better option. For people who just need a TV that looks decent in a bright room, the Roku Select Series is the better option. We update our recommendations regularly, so expect to see the S551G showing up in them more often, especially our gaming focused ones. Sorry for the confusion, and I hope that helps clears things up. Thanks for reaching out!
Thanks for the reply! What’s important to me besides general picture quality - good streaming. 1440p @ 120 for ps5 doesn’t matter. Decent color accuracy, good colors etc (I own a cx and 635) I’m fine with 60hz, I don’t gane a ton. The tv would be used for an office. Dont really want to spend the money for fald. Your personal pick out of these?
Tcl s5 551g Hisense a7n Tcl q5 550f
You would think the q5 being a qled, but its has some poor performance areas.
They are all similar prices currently between $230-$250.
Completly confused why the Roku is picked as best cheap tv. I’m looking for an office tv for some streaming and ps5. I own high end stuff for the family room etc so I understand we are not talking premium. That being said your own reviews for tcl s4 551 are way higher than the Roku, plus the tcl has some vrr. Same with the hisense a7, your own review is much better for the hisense over the roku, again the hisense a7n has some vrr.. All 3 TV’s are priced similar… so how do you come up with the roku is the best “cheap” 4k tv????? Am I missing something??? Confused.
Hey there. There’s certainly a few models that could fit into our ‘best cheap’ category. It’s tough to decide between the Roku Select and the A7N, as they both offer things that the other doesn’t. Despite the A7N scoring slightly higher overall, the Roku has a higher contrast ratio and a pretty big advantage with SDR brightness, which are more important to most people looking for a cheap model than things like color gamut, VRR, and 480p upscaling. We do have the A7N in our Notable Mentions section as an alternative to the Roku Select Series, so it really comes down to your needs.
It’s pretty much the same when it comes to the S551G vs the Roku Select. Both have very similar contrast ratios, but the Roku has a pretty big advantage when it comes to SDR brightness and pre-calibration accuracy, and it has the faster response time. On the other hand, the S551G is better for gamers with its support for 1080p @ 120Hz and VRR. For gamers, the S551G is the better option. For people who just need a TV that looks decent in a bright room, the Roku Select Series is the better option. We update our recommendations regularly, so expect to see the S551G showing up in them more often, especially our gaming focused ones.
Sorry for the confusion, and I hope that helps clears things up. Thanks for reaching out!
Completly confused why the Roku is picked as best cheap tv. I’m looking for an office tv for some streaming and ps5. I own high end stuff for the family room etc so I understand we are not talking premium. That being said your own reviews for tcl s4 551 are way higher than the Roku, plus the tcl has some vrr. Same with the hisense a7, your own review is much better for the hisense over the roku, again the hisense a7n has some vrr.. All 3 TV’s are priced similar… so how do you come up with the roku is the best “cheap” 4k tv????? Am I missing something???
Confused.
We’ve just released a new video that mentions the Roku Select Series, Hisense U6/U6N, and Hisense U7N [U7, U75N] here.
Thanks Ben! I’ve been using rtings for years when trying to buy a tv. A7N is prob going to be the pick for the home office after your reply, that said BB dropped the price more on the q5 550f! It seems to have some poor ratings (the g) version from you folks. Tv has a much higher list price at $399 but Best Buy has it done close to same price as the a7n… I’ve heard fire tv os kinda stinks along with tons of adds, still go with the a7n in your opinion?
No worries! It’s hard to say for sure since we haven’t tested the Q550F, but I’d likely still go with the A7N. It’s just a solid overall TV for the price. A TV’s smart OS often comes down to preference, but the common opinion (and my personal opinion) is that Google TV is better than Fire TV. If you do end up going with the A7N, report back and let us know what you think of it!
Of course! I’m happy to help. Since 120Hz doesn’t matter to you, I’d personally go with the A7N. It’s very similar to the S551G, but it edges it out when it comes to picture quality since it’s a bit brighter, has a wider color gamut/better color volume, is more accurate in SDR, has better upscaling, and a faster response time. It’s just a bit better overall. We actually haven’t reviewed the Q550F, but we expect it to be very similar to the Q550G we reviewed. However, the Q550F uses Fire TV as its smart OS. The A7N uses Google TV, which tends to be snappier when navigating through the menus. I hope that helps with your decision!
Thanks Ben! I’ve been using rtings for years when trying to buy a tv. A7N is prob going to be the pick for the home office after your reply, that said BB dropped the price more on the q5 550f! It seems to have some poor ratings (the g) version from you folks. Tv has a much higher list price at $399 but Best Buy has it done close to same price as the a7n… I’ve heard fire tv os kinda stinks along with tons of adds, still go with the a7n in your opinion?
Thanks for the reply! What’s important to me besides general picture quality - good streaming. 1440p @ 120 for ps5 doesn’t matter. Decent color accuracy, good colors etc (I own a cx and 635) I’m fine with 60hz, I don’t gane a ton. The tv would be used for an office. Dont really want to spend the money for fald. Your personal pick out of these? Tcl s5 551g Hisense a7n Tcl q5 550f You would think the q5 being a qled, but its has some poor performance areas. They are all similar prices currently between $230-$250.
Of course! I’m happy to help. Since 120Hz doesn’t matter to you, I’d personally go with the A7N. It’s very similar to the S551G, but it edges it out when it comes to picture quality since it’s a bit brighter, has a wider color gamut/better color volume, is more accurate in SDR, has better upscaling, and a faster response time. It’s just a bit better overall. We actually haven’t reviewed the Q550F, but we expect it to be very similar to the Q550G we reviewed. However, the Q550F uses Fire TV as its smart OS. The A7N uses Google TV, which tends to be snappier when navigating through the menus. I hope that helps with your decision!
Hey there. There’s certainly a few models that could fit into our ‘best cheap’ category. It’s tough to decide between the Roku Select and the A7N, as they both offer things that the other doesn’t. Despite the A7N scoring slightly higher overall, the Roku has a higher contrast ratio and a pretty big advantage with SDR brightness, which are more important to most people looking for a cheap model than things like color gamut, VRR, and 480p upscaling. We do have the A7N in our Notable Mentions section as an alternative to the Roku Select Series, so it really comes down to your needs. It’s pretty much the same when it comes to the S551G vs the Roku Select. Both have very similar contrast ratios, but the Roku has a pretty big advantage when it comes to SDR brightness and pre-calibration accuracy, and it has the faster response time. On the other hand, the S551G is better for gamers with its support for 1080p @ 120Hz and VRR. For gamers, the S551G is the better option. For people who just need a TV that looks decent in a bright room, the Roku Select Series is the better option. We update our recommendations regularly, so expect to see the S551G showing up in them more often, especially our gaming focused ones. Sorry for the confusion, and I hope that helps clears things up. Thanks for reaching out!
Thanks for the reply! What’s important to me besides general picture quality - good streaming. 1440p @ 120 for ps5 doesn’t matter. Decent color accuracy, good colors etc (I own a cx and 635) I’m fine with 60hz, I don’t gane a ton. The tv would be used for an office. Dont really want to spend the money for fald. Your personal pick out of these?
Tcl s5 551g Hisense a7n Tcl q5 550f
You would think the q5 being a qled, but its has some poor performance areas.
They are all similar prices currently between $230-$250.
Completly confused why the Roku is picked as best cheap tv. I’m looking for an office tv for some streaming and ps5. I own high end stuff for the family room etc so I understand we are not talking premium. That being said your own reviews for tcl s4 551 are way higher than the Roku, plus the tcl has some vrr. Same with the hisense a7, your own review is much better for the hisense over the roku, again the hisense a7n has some vrr.. All 3 TV’s are priced similar… so how do you come up with the roku is the best “cheap” 4k tv????? Am I missing something??? Confused.
Hey there. There’s certainly a few models that could fit into our ‘best cheap’ category. It’s tough to decide between the Roku Select and the A7N, as they both offer things that the other doesn’t. Despite the A7N scoring slightly higher overall, the Roku has a higher contrast ratio and a pretty big advantage with SDR brightness, which are more important to most people looking for a cheap model than things like color gamut, VRR, and 480p upscaling. We do have the A7N in our Notable Mentions section as an alternative to the Roku Select Series, so it really comes down to your needs.
It’s pretty much the same when it comes to the S551G vs the Roku Select. Both have very similar contrast ratios, but the Roku has a pretty big advantage when it comes to SDR brightness and pre-calibration accuracy, and it has the faster response time. On the other hand, the S551G is better for gamers with its support for 1080p @ 120Hz and VRR. For gamers, the S551G is the better option. For people who just need a TV that looks decent in a bright room, the Roku Select Series is the better option. We update our recommendations regularly, so expect to see the S551G showing up in them more often, especially our gaming focused ones.
Sorry for the confusion, and I hope that helps clears things up. Thanks for reaching out!
Completly confused why the Roku is picked as best cheap tv. I’m looking for an office tv for some streaming and ps5. I own high end stuff for the family room etc so I understand we are not talking premium. That being said your own reviews for tcl s4 551 are way higher than the Roku, plus the tcl has some vrr. Same with the hisense a7, your own review is much better for the hisense over the roku, again the hisense a7n has some vrr.. All 3 TV’s are priced similar… so how do you come up with the roku is the best “cheap” 4k tv????? Am I missing something???
Confused.
We’ve just released a new video that mentions the Roku Select Series, Hisense U6/U6N, and Hisense U7N [U7, U75N] here.