Shark vs Dyson: Which Vacuum Cleaner is Best?

Shark and Dyson are two of the most popular brands in the UK for vacuum cleaners.

Admittedly, they are both excellent vacuum cleaners which can be purchased corded or uncorded, depending on personal preference. 

Shark and Dyson are powerful vacuum cleaners and immensely versatile; both include an array of attachments, making cleaning less of a chore and contributing to better cleaning results.

Shark Vacuums: An overview

Shark has a twin tech floorhead, enabling it to clean carpets and hard floors with little effort, without ever changing the power head.

The built-in clean sense IQ simply detects dirt and adjusts the cleaning power accordingly. The suction automatically increases, the floorhead illuminates until the dust has vacuumed away and the suction will automatically decrease once the dust has vanished. 

Anti-odour technology is a fantastic feature on the Shark vacuum cleaner – a selection of models have a cartridge system which guards against pet odours and dust.

The Shark Lift-Away Upright hoover is sleek, lightweight and effortlessly handles carpets, hard floors and soft furnishings. The cylinder can be easily-lifted to assist with the hard to reach areas, offering a generous 8 metre power cord which means you can vacuum further at ease without the constant disruption of finding an alternative plug socket. 

The shark easily cleans stairs using the lift-away system, creating an easy-to-manoeuvre machine. 

Dyson Vacuums: An overview

Dyson are renowned for their invention and improvement. Dyson created the world’s first bagless Vacuum that took 5 years and 5127 prototypes. 

Dyson has developed over the years some really sophisticated models working on constantly improving run time and weight of the vacuum. They are lightweight and designed to make cleaning a breeze.

Dyson have engineered their products to the customers needs, improving every model for a more effortless cleaning experience. A downside to the Dyson cordless vacuum is the run time and battery life.  Newer models now have an improved 60 minutes of run time, helping you to get through the whole house, compared to the earlier models that would need charging after a few rooms. 

What’s the difference between Shark and Dyson?

Shark is known for their bagless technology and power, and Dyson on the other hand is known for their lightweight features and capacity.  

• Dyson cordless vacuums have a maximum dust capacity of up to 2 litres, whilst Shark’s maximum dust capacity is only 1.6 litres. The extra capacity could reduce the time spent on emptying. 

• The Dyson offers a 2-year warranty whilst Shark offers an astounding 5 years warranty. Both manufacturers’ warranties do not cover wear and tear such as brush bar, fuse, belt and batteries. 

The most important thing about a vacuum is how they perform! 

• Shark cordless models have swappable batteries, which could be a game changer if you have large areas to cover. The Dyson cordless doesn’t offer this feature and the battery charging time can take up to 60 minutes. 

The key features in the Dyson Cordless (V11 model) are a digital display with a real-time countdown, a dust bin ejector and auto clean mode. The real-time countdown can assist with your cleaning routines, allowing you to clean smaller areas quickly if your vacuum needs charging. 

One of the key features of the Shark is a lift away unit, flexible hinge, helping you get to the hard-to-reach areas, led lights helping to show up stray dirt and dual brush floor head.   

Best types of Shark and Dyson vacuums

There are so many choices on the market for Shark and Dyson vacuum cleaners; it’s hard to pin down the best. This would depend on the size of your home, whether you have pets and which type of furnishings you need to care for and of course, your budget. 

If it is the best technology that you are looking for and money is no object, then the Dyson V15 detect extra vacuum may be the one that would stand out for you. 

This vacuum exceeds all expectations of a cleaner – this has an upgraded HEPA post-motor filter which traps even more microscopic particles. The built-in dusting and crevice tool removes the need for all the unnecessary attachments which can sometimes delay your cleaning flow. 

This fancy piece of machinery also has an LCD screen which can detect what’s been sucked up, displaying scientific proof of a deep clean. 

The Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro Cordless Vacuum is giving the Dyson V15 detect extra a run for their money. This vacuum certainly does tick all the boxes with a run time of 120 minutes in eco mode (I’m not sure I would like to vacuum for that long, but it would be nice to have the choice). 

The clean sense IQ automatically detects dust and adjusts the power to collect more dirt – you could just walk around your home with this vacuum and leave it to do its magic. This vacuum is extremely good for pet odour with its anti-odour technology which protects your vacuum and home from odours with a unique cartridge system. 

This vacuum has a twin battery pack which contributes to the 120 minutes run time, each battery can be recharged on the dual battery dock or recharged on the vacuum.

Shark vs Dyson Cordless Vacuums

Both Shark and Dyson have plenty to offer in terms of features and performance; the best will ultimately depend on how much you have to spend.  

Dyson V15

The Dyson V15 detect absolute cordless vacuum is an impressive vacuum that has a digital motor bar cleaner head with de-tangling technology which will powerfully suck up dust and hair from any floor type. 

With an illuminated cleaner head to reveal hidden dust, Dyson refers to this model as “The most Powerful, intelligent cordless Vacuum”. This is admittedly the truth when compared to the Shark Anti-Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum.  

Shark Anti-Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum

This Shark Anti-Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum is perfect for homes with pets. The vacuum includes a motorised pet tool for the harder more stubborn areas. This transforms into a held vacuum cleaner for stairs and soft furnishings making cleaning awkward areas easier. 

The flexible wand is a fantastic addition to assist with cleaning ceilings and hidden areas where dust can accumulate that can sometimes get missed. It’s easy to charge and has up to 60 minutes run time per charge and the ability to charge on or off the vacuum and led smart display with 3 suction levels and 2-floor type settings. 

The Anti Hair wrap Technology combs and removes hair as you clean, reducing the cleaning of the roller brushes, so this is a perfect vacuum for long and short pet hair.

Shark vs Dyson Upright Vacuums

As Dyson are moving more into their cordless models, it seems that Shark are continuing to be far more popular for their upright vacuums and are making wider ranges. Shark uprights are sturdy, sophisticated and made to last, hence the 5 year guarantee.

Shark Classic XL Anti Hair Wrap Upright Pet Vacuum

Shark models have fantastic features and are reasonably priced. Sharks most popular upright model Shark Classic XL Anti Hair Wrap Upright Pet Vacuum AZ950UUKT has all the below features, other models may not include every feature.

• Powered lift aways – Have detachable canisters, helping to reduce the weight of the vacuum for stairs, soft furnishing and them hard to reach areas.
  
• True pet – This is a great feature for allergy sufferers, tough on pet hair.
  
• Duoclean – Glides from carpet to hard floor without additional attachments with its two motorised brush rolls. Reducing cleaning time without affecting performance.
  
• Anti Hair Wrap  – This technology combs and removes hair as you clean reducing the cleaning of the roller brushes, this is a perfect vacuum for pet owners. 

Shark vs Dyson Robot Vacuums

Robot vacuums are forever evolving, taking the hassle out of cleaning at the touch of a button. 

Shark AV1010AE

The Shark AV1010AE is an astounding vacuum cleaner equipped with a bagless self-emptying base that holds up to 45 days of dust and dirt. 

Built-in Multi-surface brushrolls suck in dust and debris from hard floors to carpets, with the advantage of methodically cleaning row by row and navigating room by room creating a dust-free home with very little effort.

Dyson 360 Eye

Dyson 360 Eye seems to be Dyson’s equivalent to Shark robot vacuums. This skipped a US release due to the design apparently not being suited to the layout of American houses. 

So far Dyson has released 2 robot vacuum cleaners the 360 eye and the Heurist both with excellent suction power which learns and adapts to your home. Unfortunately, these two robot vacuum cleaners are like gold dust and can only be purchased now pre-owned.

Shark vs Dyson Hardwood Vacuums

Both Shark and Dyson are renowned for their capabilities for suction power on hardwood flooring. It’s hard to differentiate between both brands as to which would be best. 

Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Pet

Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Pet IZ252UKT  is fantastic on hardwood floors. It’s very versatile whilst using handheld mode for the hard-to-reach areas, overall a really good vacuum for hard floors and has an excellent price too.

Dyson V15 Detect Absolute

Dyson V15 detect absolute has won it for me. The Dyson vacuum detects particles you can not even see, giving you the confidence that your flooring is spotless. This vacuum glides through the hard floor straight onto the carpet effortlessly, making cleaning a breeze. 

Shark vs Dyson Pet Hair Vacuums

Most of the newest models have excellent technology to tackle pet hair, also with accessories to help make cleaning easier and less of a hassle. 

Shark ICZ300UKT 

Shark ICZ300UKT is really well designed and fantastic for the removal of pet hair. Its duoclean floorhead is designed to make switching from hardwood to carpet uncomplicated without losing performance.

Dyson V12 and V15

Dyson V12 and V15 are engineered to reveal invisible dust picking up pet hair is an absolute dream with this vacuum. The accessories included with this vacuum have been considered for a home with pets. The hair screw tool is an anti-tangling brush bar which picks up pet hair fast.

Best features of Dyson vacuums

Dyson Vacuums are known for their lightweight vacuums, excellent performance and being extremely versatile on all floor surfaces. Some of the best features are the weight, bin capacity and improved run time. 

The newer models of the cordless Dyson are around 3kg in weight which is a great benefit to have whilst tackling stairs. A bin volume capacity of 0.77L means less time wasted in empting. An improved run time of up to 60 minutes also a reduced charged time of 4.5 hours compared to earlier models.

The best feature by far is the scientific proof of deep clean. The LCD screen shows real-time scientific proof of what actually has been sucked up. Dyson technology has massively improved over the years, listening to customers needs to advance models with modifications which will reduce cleaning times and improve performance.

Dyson has tried to remain competitive in the market, but they come with a hefty price tag.

Best features of Shark vacuums

Shark vacuums have a fantastic reputation for their upright models, being excellent in performance and power. Some of the best features are the Pet Power Brush, 2-floor mode and Powered Lift-Away. 

The advanced models include these features and have proved to be very popular for upright vacuum lovers. The Pet Power Brush removes stubborn hair effortlessly, 2 floor mode switches from carpet to hard floor at ease with a control on the handle which includes an adjustable suction mode for improved performance.

Shark has remained competitive in the market to produce affordable models that don’t disappoint.

Best Dyson vacuums

The best Dyson model would have to be the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute; the ingenuity used to create such a powerful model is astonishing. The Digital Motor Bar Cleaning head is fantastic and has de-tangling technology to powerfully suck up hair and dust from all floor types. 

This vacuum is best used for pet hair and long hair. The Manoeuvrability is great for under furniture, the removable handheld feature works fantastically well on stairs making this a lightweight vacuum to carry.  

Pros	Cons
Lightweight	Expensive
Excellent suction power
Great for long hair and pet hair
Hepa filtration for a deeper clean
Illuminates dust
Senses dirt and changes suction accordingly

Best Shark vacuums

The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Upright Pet Vacuum NZ710UKT is the best upright model Shark have made, apart from the small fact that it is heavy compared to a cordless model. 

Excellent for allergy sufferers, this traps 99.9% of dust within the vacuum. The crevice tool is a great addition that works really well for skirting boards and corners. 

This vacuum is made to last, hence the 5 year guarantee. 

Pros	Cons
Affordable	Heavy 5.65kg
Removes stubborn pet hair
Detachable main unit – for stairs
Anti-allergen
8-metre cord

Is a Shark or a Dyson vacuum best?

If budget is no obstacle and you have a busy household with pets and children, I would highly recommend the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute. This is built with advanced AI technology, 3D light sensors and vision and depth detection so you will never vacuum a sock up again. 

It’s effortless to manoeuvre, and powerful on suction making those tiresome chores a breeze. It’s lightweight at 3.08kg, looks impressive and is small enough to store away without taking up too much space. 

This model has exceeded all my expectations. It’s the Top of Pops of all vacuums!