How do the best Dyson vacuum cleaners compare to the best Shark vacuums? Which models are the best by each manufacturer, and how do they rate in a head to head comparison?
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Shark Vs Dyson
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vacuum Model | Shark Rotator NV752 | Dyson Ball Animal | Shark Rotator NV501 | Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal | Shark Navigator NV356E | Dyson Ball Multi Floor |
| Pet Hair |  | |  | | | |
| Carpet | | | | |  | |
| Hardwood and Tile Floors | | | | | | |
| Weight | 15.6 lbs | 17.3 lbs | 15.8 lbs | 19.2 lbs | 14 lbs | 17.32 lbs |
| Cord Length | 30 Feet | 35 Feet | 30 Feet | 35 Feet | 30 Feet | 35 Feet |
| Dust Capacity | 0.825 Gallons | 0.55 Gallons | 0.77 Gallons | 0.57 Gallons | 1.1 Gallons | 0.55 Gallons |
| Attachments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Brushroll On/Off | Yes | Self Adjusting | Yes | Self Adjusting | Yes | Self Adjusting |
| Vacuum Type | 3 in 1 - Upright / Portable Canister / Canister with Caddy | Upright | 3 in 1 - Upright / Portable Canister / Canister with Caddy | Upright | 2 in 1 - Upright / Portable Canister | Upright |
| Anti Allergy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Dyson Vacuums
1. Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum
This vacuum cleaner is a rival to the Shark TruePet. This Dyson vacuum cleaner is simply a highly maneuverable vacuum cleaner with strong suction, HEPA filtration and seals that keep in the dust and dander. If you want a vacuum cleaner head that will never tangle on pet fur, that will cost another fifty collars. This vacuum head solves the problem that the prior Dyson animal models had, where they could pick up loads of pet fur until it wrapped around the brush head and jammed it. If you want a vacuum cleaner head that is safe for hard floors, that’s another fifty dollars or so. Dyson vacuums cost more than Shark vacuum cleaners, on average, and when you add in the tools you’d want to do the best job, Dyson costs far more.
Where this vacuum exceeds the Shark is in its near total containment of dust, dander, pet hair and allergens. If your home needs to be nearly sterile due to respiratory problems, the Dyson allergy branded vacuums are the better choice.
2. Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Vacuum
This vacuum offers convenience. It maneuvers tightly with little effort. It doesn’t need much maintenance in terms of replacing filters or replacing belts.
This Dyson model ranked third overall in the 2016 ratings of bagless upright vacuums. Its worst performance, ironically, was with its ability to pick up pet hair. If you are looking for an upright vacuum cleaner to handle the mess left by four shedding pets, the TruePet Shark vacuum line is better than the Dyson Cinetic – and cheaper, too.
3. Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum
One of the points in favor of this model is its high suction. This won’t just pick up cookie crumbs and pet dander off the floor – it will get everything else the other vacuums leave behind.
The Dyson Ball multi-floor upright vacuum cleaner is as safe for those with allergies and asthma to use as the “Dyson Ball Allergy” model.
Why would you want to buy the Dyson Ball Multi-Floor 2 over the rival Shark model? In short, performance.
The Dyson Ball Multi Floor is one of the best bagless upright vacuum cleaner for carpets and bare floors. It performed well on carpet and did very well on bare floors. It did well with pet hair though not specifically being designed for that task and had no emissions. Dyson vacuums, overall, are better if you need to ensure that you’ve picked up all the dirt, dust mites, pollen and pet dander to minimize allergies and respiratory problems.
Shark Vacuums
4. Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet, Model NV752
However, one of the points in favor of the True Pet is not just its lower price than the comparable Dyson “allergy” model that is intended for pets users, but the fact that the Shark Rotator provides the motorized brush and hard floor attachment with its full tool kit if you buy more than the basic vacuum. A basic Dyson plus these tools is easily $200 more than the Shark Rotator NV752 with the brush kit.
So if you are trying to control pet hair and dander, the True Pet models by Shark are the better deal both in performance and price.
5. Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away Vacuum Cleaner, Model NV501
It comes with tools for cleaning up pet hair and standard cleaning tools for the handheld version. You can pay extra for car detailing tools that fit the vacuum when it is in the “lift away pod” configuration.
The Lift Away model NV501 is perhaps the most versatile Shark model. It can work as a canister vacuum. You can use it as a portable vacuum cleaner. And the wand lets you use it as if it were an upright vacuum, though it is as easily used to clean the drapes or couch.
What are the pros on the Shark Rotator NV501? The 2016 Consumer Reports Buying Guide rated this bagless upright vacuum came in fourth. It did best on bare floors and better than average on carpet. Its only weakness was pet hair, which it did worse than average picking up. It had decent handling and lower than average emissions. And on average, it is quieter than the comparable Dyson.
If you want a versatile and well performing vacuum cleaner, the Shark Rotator NV501 model is a good choice.
6. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional, Model NV356E
In this review, we’re looking at the Shark model with the standard brush roll. The version with a microfiber brush roll tool, however, is rarely marked down.
Dyson promotes its vacuums as lacking a filter you don’t have to wash or replace, but that is not much work and being able to replace it may actually improve vacuum cleaner over time. One of the pluses of Shark vacuums is that the manufacturer offers replacement filters and other parts for a reasonable price – you don’t always have to pay to send the vacuum cleaner to Dyson’s authorized repair centers to get the expensive vacuum repaired.
This vacuum cleaner rated seventh in Consumer Reports’ 2016 reviews. Its performance was average or above average in all categories except for its handling of pet hair. It did best on bare floors, better than average on carpets and handled well.
If you want the best basic bagless vacuum cleaner for the money, the Shark NV356E model is the best choice.
Summary
Shark vacuums tend to beat Dyson vacuum cleaners on price. When it came to handling pet hair, Shark’s vacuums won hands down. When dealing with dirt, debris and dander removal in an essentially air tight manner, Dyson wins.