Shark Detect Pro Review

We couldn't help but notice Shark's “Detect Pro” name, which pits it directly against Dyson's V15 Detect and the company's well-known debris detection technology that adapts suction power based on floor type and the volume of debris underneath it. Both vacuums count particles and make adjustments as they suck, but there's a big difference in how we see and detect debris on hardwood — read further to learn more about the differences.

Carpet Performance

On a low-pile carpet, we noticed this vacuum was one of the worst offenders we tested for backward plowing, which slowed its performance because reverse strokes were far less effective than forward strokes. It only managed to suck up 75% of our test debris, which is below average for all the vacuums we tested.

This vacuum seems underpowered to us, especially compared to other heavier, larger Shark vacuums we have tested. More so than others, it visibly left sand behind near the end of the test, making us believe that it lost suction when the small dustbin filled up.

With an average pick up of just 39% of our test debris, we identified two possible explanations for this sub-average performance on high-pile. First, when the relatively small 0.4-liter dustbin fills up, performance seems to degrade quickly. Second, Shark's Quad-Clean brushroll might have too much soft cushy material to adequately whisk debris from carpet and into its suction tube.

Those who have carpet in their home might want to start vacuuming with a clean dustbin and empty it frequently to get the most performance out of this machine on carpet.

Hardwood Performance

While we suspect the soft fibers of the Quad-Clean brush roller were to blame for its poor carpet performance, those same fibers had no trouble whisking debris into the suction channel and tube. In fact, the whole experience was remarkably better, leaving us with floors that almost seemed polished. We believe this vacuum could be a good option for someone with mostly hard floors in their house.

We were excited to find that this model could pick up 100% of all coffee grounds in both our parallel and head-on testing. Long hallways, corners, and tight areas will all be a breeze with this machine, making this a great all-around cleaner when it comes to hard surfaces.

Pet Hair

Out of all the vacuums we tested that trapped clumps of pet hair in the brush roll, this vacuum was the worst offender. This result occurred on both low and high piles, leaving a huge clump of hair stuck in the brush roller on each test.

In many vacuums, pet hair can get caught in tines or stiff bristles, but the bottom of this cleaner head has no tines, and the brush roller has few stiff bristles. This tells us that this new multi-purpose roller type still can't prevent clumps or stop long hair from wrapping. Those who are Shark fans and need a vacuum for pet hair might want to consider the Shark Stratos Cordless instead, which sucked up nearly 30% more hair.

Filtration

This vacuum generated no strong spike in particulate matter, earning it an excellent score and making it a good choice for those sensitive to allergens or pet dander. Most vacuums we tested released or stirred up fewer than 70 particles in our test, which is a good result unlikely to cause significant air quality changes for most people in most households.

Ease of Use

This model was very easy to push and pull, making it one of the most user-friendly vacuums we've ever tested. It stands out for its ultralight motorhead weight of just 2.8 pounds, giving it a super-light feel in the hands. If you're tired of pushing around a bulky vacuum, this could be the answer you're looking for. The cleaner head did catch a bit when transitioning from hard floors to mats and rugs, but because the vacuum is so light, it's easy to tilt and adjust. One drawback that surprised us was that it didn't corner very tightly, as sharp turns tended to lift the brush roll head slightly.

This version has a clamshell dust bin opening that seems like it would be easy to use — but we were frustrated when we had to empty it. The dustbin makes a huge mess every single time we empty it.

To make matters worse, the interior of the dustbin has several ridges and pockets for strength or airflow dynamics. These interior elements catch dirt and force you to rotate and tilt the dustbin to empty it, making it even harder than it should be to empty it cleanly and quickly.

On the other hand, We appreciated how easy it was to remove the brush roller—it simply required the push of a button. In comparison, the DuoClean heads on the Shark Stratos and Vertex have two rollers, but you can only remove the soft roller. Non-removable rollers are more difficult to clean, especially when they accumulate a significant amount of wrapped hair.

This unit comes with only one attachment: a crevice tool, which was also easy to use, although it wasn't particularly effective on fabric or furniture in our tests. Typically, we would prefer to use a small motorized roller accessory for this test, but this crevice attachment is all that ships with this “pro” vacuum.

One key reason we like cordless vacuums so much is that they're versatile. Without much to work with, this vacuum lacks versatility compared to the best vacuums we tested, which come with a stellar motorized roller tool that's even good with pet hair.

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Battery

Because this machine is somewhat underpowered, we expected a better-than-average battery life when running a less-powerful motor; however, we didn't find that to be the case with the numbers we obtained.

Those with primarily small jobs around the kitchen will likely have enough runtime to tidy up, but they might need a recharge for whole-house, multi-floor days.

Should You Buy the Shark Detect Pro?

As our extensive testing revealed, the Shark Detect Pro is a lightweight option that excels on hardwood, making it a great choice for those who primarily have hardwood floors and simple, low-pile carpet needs. Because it's so lightweight, we believe it would be a good option for aging adults. It's not a great choice for high-activity homes with a lot of carpet and certainly not good for pet hair challenges. We're also not bullish on it at its full MRSP, but it could be a winner for your hard floor needs if it's on sale.

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