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Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless [IZ440H, IZ462H, IZ483H] Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed Dec 09, 2020 at 07:34 am
Latest change: Test bench update Dec 14, 2023 at 11:24 am
Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless [IZ440H, IZ462H, IZ483H] Picture
8.0
Bare Floor
7.4
Low-Pile Carpet
7.2
High-Pile Carpet
7.4
Pets
8.3
Stairs
7.5
Cars
5.7
Workshop

The Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless is a cordless stick/handheld vacuum. It's lightweight, highly maneuverable, and offers fantastic performance on bare floors. Thanks to its washable filters and bagless design, recurring costs are minimal, and the vacuum itself doesn't have too many parts that require maintenance. Unfortunately, it struggles somewhat with fine and larger debris on some higher-pile carpets. Still, if you're looking for a basic cordless stick/handheld model with exceptional performance on bare floors, this is a good choice.

While there are two differently-named variants of this vacuum, though they only really differ in color. Further information is provided in the 'Differences Between Variants' section of the review.

Our Verdict

8.0 Bare Floor

The Shark Vertex Cordless is amazing for bare floors. It sucks up pet hair as well as small and bulky debris, like rice or cereal, without difficulty and with very little drop in performance as its dirt compartment fills up. It incurs few recurring costs and is highly maneuverable as you can easily navigate around obstructions or clean under low-lying furniture.

Pros
  • Superb performance on bare floors.
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Great overall pet hair cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
7.4 Low-Pile Carpet

The Shark Vertex Cordless is decent for low-pile carpet. It does a good job of cleaning pet hair and larger debris like sand, but it struggles somewhat with finer debris like baking soda. Thankfully, it's lightweight and highly maneuverable, with a cordless design that allows you to clean large spaces or a couple of rooms without searching for an outlet.

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Great overall pet hair cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Struggles with fine debris on carpeted floors.
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
7.2 High-Pile Carpet

The Shark Vertex Cordless is satisfactory for high-pile carpet. It sucks up pet hair without difficulty, but it may take a couple of passes to clear fine debris like sand or larger sand-like material from this kind of surface. That said, thanks to its bagless design and washable filters, recurring costs are minimal, and it has a highly reconfigurable construction that makes it easy to adapt to different cleaning tasks.

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Great overall pet hair cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Struggles with fine debris on carpeted floors.
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
7.4 Pets

The Shark Vertex Cordless is great for pet owners. It does an amazing overall job of cleaning pet hair on a variety of surfaces, and it comes with a HEPA filter to trap allergens as you clean. While its brushroll is advertised as being able to self-clear hair wraps, it isn't removable, which can slightly complicate the maintenance process. However, the vacuum itself incurs few recurring costs and it doesn't come with a turbo brush.

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Equipped with a HEPA filter.
  • Great overall pet hair cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
  • No turbo brush.
8.3 Stairs

The Shark Vertex Cordless is an excellent choice for cleaning stairs. It uses a cordless design that gives it an effectively unlimited range. It's also lightweight and easy to carry, with a highly-reconfigurable construction that can be quickly converted into a handheld vacuum. It does an outstanding job of cleaning bare floors and should perform decently well on low and high-pile carpets.

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Easily reconfigurable construction.
Cons
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
7.5 Cars

The Shark Vertex Cordless is good for cleaning the inside of your car. Its cordless design makes it easy to clean far-off areas, like a car parked on a driveway, and it can be easily converted into a more compact handheld configuration. It comes with a crevice tool that allows you to tackle messes in tight corners, but unfortunately, it lacks any sort of onboard storage to make it easy to grab new attachments.

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Easily reconfigurable construction.
Cons
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
5.7 Workshop

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
Cons
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
  • 8.0 Bare Floor
  • 7.4 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 7.2 High-Pile Carpet
  • 7.4 Pets
  • 8.3 Stairs
  • 7.5 Cars
  • 5.7 Workshop
  1. Updated Dec 14, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
  2. Updated Feb 27, 2023: We've changed the review name to 'Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless [IZ440H, IZ462H, IZ483H]' in order for the review to encompass all model variants. We've also added the IZ483H and IZ482H variants to the 'Differences Between Variants' section.
  3. Updated Aug 25, 2022: This vacuum's suction force has been retested with a more accurate manometer. The test results for the 'Maximum Suction' and 'Normal Suction' fields have been updated. All relevant scores and text have been updated.
  4. Updated Aug 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  5. Updated Apr 11, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  6. Updated Dec 09, 2020: Review published.
  7. Updated Dec 03, 2020: Early access published.
  8. Updated Nov 17, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated Nov 10, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated Nov 02, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

There are a few different variants of the Shark Vertex Cordless, though they differ only in color. We tested the IZ462H model, and you can see its label here.

Model Code Included Tools Color
IZ462H Anti-Allergen Dust Brush attachment, Pet Multi-Tool attachment, Crevice tool  Silver/Blue
IZ482H  Anti-Allergen Dust Brush attachment, Pet Multi-Tool attachment, Crevice tool Silver/Dark Blue
IZ483H Anti-Allergen Dust Brush attachment, Pet Multi-Tool attachment, Crevice tool  Silver/Orange

If you come across a differently-equipped variant, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The Shark Vertex Cordless is a stick/handheld vacuum that is effectively a cordless version of the Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded and shares many of the same advantages and disadvantages. It has a bagless design that incurs minimal recurring costs and is very maneuverable. It's also highly effective on bare floors and easily clears pet hair on various surfaces. Unfortunately, it can struggle somewhat with finer debris on carpeted floors.

If you're looking for other options, look at our list of recommendations for the best cordless stick vacuums, the best lightweight vacuums, and the best cordless vacuums.

Dyson V8

The Dyson V8 is slightly more versatile than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Dyson is significantly lighter, comes with more accessories, and performs better on low and high-pile carpet. The Shark is better built, more maneuverable, and charges much faster, though its overall battery life is quite similar.

Dyson V15 Detect

The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Dyson has a longer maximum runtime, comes with more tools and accessories, is a little lighter, and performs better on all surface types. Meanwhile, the Shark charges faster, feels sturdier, is less demanding in terms of maintenance, and is easier to maneuver under tables and couches thanks to its flexible wand.

Dyson V11

The Dyson V11 and Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless are fairly evenly matched overall, and you may prefer one over the other depending on your needs. The Dyson is easier to maintain, has a longer maximum battery life, and performs better on low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Shark feels better made, is more maneuverable and cleans more debris on bare floors. It also charges substantially faster.

Dyson Cyclone V10

The Dyson Cyclone V10 and Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless each have advantages, meaning one may suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Dyson is lighter, has a longer maximum battery life, comes with more tools and accessories, and delivers better performance on carpeted floors. Meanwhile, the Shark's folding wand makes it easier to clean under tables and chairs.It also has fewer parts that require regular maintenance, feels better built, comes with a larger dirt compartment, and performs better on bare floors.

Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight [IZ662H, IZ682H]

The Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight is slightly better than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless, though both vacuums are very similar overall. The Vertex Pro has a longer battery life, better performance on high-pile carpet, and an LED display that shows current suction power and surface type settings.

Shark Rocket Pet Pro

The Shark Rocket Pet Pro is a better overall cordless stick/handheld vacuum than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Pet Pro is lighter and performs better on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Vertex has a slightly longer battery life in its highest power setting and has a bigger dirt compartment that doesn't need to be emptied as often.

Miele Triflex HX1

The Miele Triflex HX1 is a more versatile vacuum than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Miele is better built, easier to maintain, and performs better on all surface types. It also has fewer recurring costs. Meanwhile, the Shark has a bigger dirt compartment, has a longer battery life, and charges faster.

Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded

The Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded and Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless have different advantages, and either may suit you better depending on your needs. The UltraLight Corded has an effectively unlimited runtime courtesy of its corded design, comes with a turbo brush, and performs better on both low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Lightweight Cordless has an effectively unlimited range, an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, superior maneuverability, and better performance on bare floors.

Samsung Jet 90 Complete

The Samsung Jet 90 Complete is a better vacuum than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Samsung delivers much better performance on carpets and has a longer maximum battery life. Nevertheless, the Shark has a better build quality and is significantly easier to maintain.

JASHEN V16

The Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded is a better overall vacuum than the JASHEN V16. The Shark is better built, has a larger dirt compartment, and performs better on all surface types. It's also more maneuverable. However, the JASHEN comes with a couple more accessories, including a removable brushroll and turbo brush.

Shark WANDVAC System [WS620, WS632, WS642]

The Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless is a better vacuum for most uses than the Shark WANDVAC System. The Vertex Lightweight Cordless has a much better battery life and a significantly bigger dirt compartment. It also delivers better performance on bare floors. On the other hand, the Wandvac System does a better job of cleaning carpets and is more portable.

Simplicity S65

The Simplicity S65 and Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless each have their own advantages, so one may suit you better than the other depending on your needs. The Shark is better-built, has a larger dirt compartment, superior battery performance, and comes with more tools and accessories. It also does a better job of cleaning debris on bare floors. Meanwhile, the Simplicity offers better performance on low and high-pile carpet, is lighter overall, and easier to maintain.

Dyson Omni-glide

The Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless is a better vacuum than the Dyson Omni-glide. The Shark delivers significantly better performance on bare floors, and its dirt compartment is much bigger. It does a decent job on carpets, too. On the other hand, the Omni-glide is less than half the weight of the Lightweight Cordless. However, while it easily clears small debris like rice from bare floors, it struggles to suck up bulkier material and isn't intended for use on carpets.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
7.0
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Stick/Handheld

The Shark Vertex Cordless has a decent build quality. It's mostly made of plastic, but its folding wand has a metal construction. Like the closely-related Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded, it uses a twin-brushroll vacuum head that's designed to self-clear hair wraps. An indicator light makes it easy to see if the brushroll is engaged or disengaged. Overall, it feels reasonably sturdy, though its clear plastic dirt compartment feels as though it could break if you drop it. It's also pretty easy to disassemble and reassemble for maintenance since all of its parts clip together in an intuitive way.

6.0
Design
User Maintenance

The Shark Vertex Cordless is fairly easy to maintain.

  • Dirt compartment: You can remove this part by pressing the plastic button on the right side of the main body and then empty it by pressing the button with a trash bin symbol on it once it gets full. You can also open it up to clear stuck on-debris from its lint screen when necessary. You can rinse it under cold water if you notice a build-up of debris.
  • Brushroll: The brushroll is designed to be self-cleaning. It isn't removable, but you can access it by undoing three locks with a coin to clear any tangled debris.
  • Soft roller: The soft roller can be easily removed by sliding the blue roller release switch on the side of the vacuum. It can be wiped down with a dry towel or washed under cold water when necessary.
  • Pre-motor filters: The foam and felt pre-motor filters are located on top of the dust cup. The lint felt filter can be removed via a release tab, which allows you to lift the foam filter out of the housing. These filters should be washed with cold water at least once a month.
  • Post-motor HEPA filter: You need to remove the dust cup assembly in order to access the post-motor filter. It should be cleaned with cold water at least once a year.

Any part that you wash with water must be left to dry for at least 24 hours before it can be reinstalled.

8.5
Design
Recurring Cost
Bag Part Number No bag
Filter Part Number 617FJ140
HEPA Filter Part Number XHF161H

The Shark Vertex Cordless has few recurring costs.

  • Pre-motor filters: The foam and felt pre-motor filters shouldn't need to be replaced if they're well-maintained, but they can be purchased as a single kit from Shark's website if necessary.
  • Post-motor HEPA filter: The post-motor filter shouldn't need to be replaced if it's well taken care of. You can buy replacements from the manufacturer's website if necessary.

While the user manual recommends replacing these pars regularly, no specific service interval is given, and we can only estimate their lifespan relative to parts in similar Shark vacuums.

6.6
Design
Storing
Height
26.57" (67.5 cm)
Width
10.24" (26.0 cm)
Depth
11.02" (28.0 cm)
Cord Storing
Not Needed
On-Board Tool Storage
No
Vacuum Rack/Station
No

The Shark Vertex Cordless has alright storing capabilities. Its wand folds in half to reduce its vertical footprint, but there's no rack station or on-board storage for the included tools and accessories.

7.6
Design
Dirt Compartment
Bagless
Yes
Volume
0.18 gal (0.70 L)
Full Indicator
Yes
Bag Included
No Bag Needed

The Shark Vertex Cordless has a decent dirt compartment. It's bigger than that of the Simplicity S65 and has a fill line indicator to let you know when it's reached maximum capacity.

Design
In The Box

  • Vacuum body
  • MultiFLEX wand
  • Vacuum head/floor nozzle
  • Dirt compartment
  • Soft roller
  • Anti-Allergen Dust Brush attachment
  • Pet Multi-Tool attachment
  • Crevice tool
  • Pre-motor foam filter
  • Pre-motor felt filter (with pink tab)
  • HEPA post-motor filter (in vacuum body)
  • Battery
  • Charging cable
  • User guide

10
Design
Range
Cordless
Yes
Cord Length
N/A
Hose Length
N/A
Minimum Wand Length
1.44 ft (0.44 m)
Maximum Wand Length
3.35 ft (1.02 m)
Total Range
N/A

This vacuum is cordless, so its range is limited only by the remaining battery life and room left in its dirt compartment.

7.5
Design
Portability
Total Weight
9.15 lbs (4.15 kg)
Weight In Hand
4.17 lbs (1.89 kg)
Carrying handle
Yes

The Shark Vertex Cordless is quite portable. It's noticably heavier than alternatives like the Roborock H7, but it feels light in your hand and has a built-in carrying handle that makes moving it around a little easier.

7.3
Design
Battery
Minimum Battery Life
19 min
Maximum Battery Life
38 min
Recharge Time
184 min
Recharge Dock
No
Battery Life Indicator
Yes
Removable Batteries
Yes

The Shark Vertex Cordless has a satisfactory battery performance. In its most powerful 'Carpet' floor setting and with the 'MAX' trigger pulled to activate the 'Boost' power mode, you can drain its battery in just under 20 minutes. If you use it in its 'Hard Floor' setting, which lowers the speed of the brushroll, you can expect just under 40 minutes of runtime, which is slightly less than the near one-hour maximum runtime offered by the Shark Anti-Allergen Pet Power, though the latter vacuum does take longer to recharge. It's also worth noting that battery life can vary in the real world. Its battery indicator lights allow you to quickly check the remaining charge, as the three lights gradually turn off as you use the vacuum. The battery itself is removable and can be charged separately.

Design
Quality Of Life Features
Rotating Head
Yes
Power Adjustment
Yes
Self-Propelled
No
Headlights
Yes
Easy On/Off
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
None

The Shark Vertex Cordless has a couple of quality of life features. There are two surface type settings: 'Carpet' spins the brushroll faster to clear debris on carpeted surfaces while 'Hard Floor' slows the brushroll down for cleaning bare floors or rugs. There's also a separate 'MAX' trigger to enable 'Boost Mode', which allows you to increase suction for stubborn messes. Its flexible wand lets you easily clean under furniture and its headlight should help you see what you're cleaning in darker environments. Unlike the very similar Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight, however, it doesn't have an LED display that shows the vacuum's remaining battery life or current suction power and surface-type setting.

Design
Tools And Brushes
Brushroll
Yes
Brushroll On/Off
No
Removable Brushroll
No
Turbo Brush
No
Crevice Tool
Yes
Upholstery Tool
Yes
Soft Bristle Brush
No
Hard Bristle Brush
Yes
Extension Wand
Yes
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No

The Shark Vertex Cordless comes with a couple of tools and accessories. There's an Anti-Allergen Dust Brush that can be used to clean fine dust and debris from delicate surfaces in narrow spots and a crevice tool to tackle messes in tight corners. There's also the Pet Multi-Tool attachment, which serves as a combination hard-bristle brush and upholstery tool to alternatively dislodge stuck-on debris and clear pet hair from fabric-lined furniture.

Design
Alternative Configuration
Blower Mode
No

The Shark Vertex Cordless can be used as a handled vacuum by removing its flexible wand.

Performance
9.6
Performance
Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
Setting Used "Bare Floor", "MAX" Trigger Pulled
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 96%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 99%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 100%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Shark Vertex Cordless delivers superb performance on bare floors. It clears pet hair as well as small and bulky debris, like rice and cereal, without an issue. Performance remains consistent as its dirt compartment fills up, which is good if you have several large messes to deal with.

6.9
Performance
Low-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used "Carpet", "MAX" Trigger Pulled
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 80%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 78%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 49%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 41%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Shark Vertex Cordless has decent performance on low-pile carpet. It struggles somewhat with fine debris like baking soda on this kind of surface. Thankfully, it sucks up most pet hair and larger sand-like debris, though the rubber lip on the front of the vacuum head can fling some coarser debris upwards. If you're looking for something with a better performance on this surface type, you may like the Shark WANDVAC System.

6.8
Performance
High-Pile Carpet Performance
Setting Used "Carpet", "MAX" Trigger Pulled
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 51%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 47%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 48%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 50%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

The Shark Vertex Cordless has satisfactory performance on high-pile carpet. It sucks up pet hair without an issue, but it may take a couple of passes to fully clear fine and larger debris like baking soda or sand. Unusually, the rubber lip on the front of the vacuum can fling some coarser debris upwards while cleaning. Consider the Miele Triflex HX1 if you're looking for a cordless vacuum with better performance on this surface type.

9.3
Performance
Pet Hair Floor Performance
Bare Floor
100%
Low-Pile Carpet
89%
High-Pile Carpet
93%
6.0
Performance
Suction
Maximum Hose Suction
73.9 inHâ‚‚O (18.40 kPa)
Maximum Head Suction
2.2 inHâ‚‚O (0.56 kPa)
Normal Head Suction
1.2 inHâ‚‚O (0.31 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal "Standard Mode", (Hard Floor)
Hose Diameter
1.6" (4.0 cm)
6.9
Performance
Airflow
Maximum Hose Airflow
52.3 CFM (1.5 m³/min)
7.2
Performance
Noise
Bare Floor
81.8 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
83.2 dBA
8.5
Performance
Maneuverability

This vacuum offers amazing maneuverability. It's lightweight and has a swiveling head that makes it easy to navigate around obstructions. Its MultiFLEX wand is another hugely convenient feature, as it allows you to clean under low-lying couches and tables with less difficulty. It can be quickly converted into a handheld configuration to deal with messes on furniture, and fitting new attachments in places is an intuitive process. Unfortunately, its brushroll can occasionally get stuck on rug tassels.

8.0
Performance
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test
Performance
Air Quality
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
7.0
Performance
Cracks
Wood Cracks Post Test
3.0
Performance
Stains
Stain Pickup Post Test
0
Performance
Water
Wet Compatible
No
Water Pickup Post Test
Automation
0
Automation
Physical Automation
Automatic Recharging
No
Automatic Bag Emptying
No
Pathing Algorithm
No Pathing Algorithm
Physical Boundary Markers
No
Scheduled Start Buttons
No
Cycle Control Buttons
No
Navigation Control Buttons
No

The Shark Vertex Cordless doesn't have any automation features.

0
Automation
Companion App Automation
App Name
No App
iOS Availability
No
Android Availability
No
Software Boundary Markers (No Go Zones)
No
App Scheduled Start
No
App Cycle Control
No
Navigation Control within App
No