PowerDetect Cordless: two-minute evaluate
Product data
That is the vacuum by itself:
US: Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum IP1251
UK: Shark PowerDetect Cordless Pet Vacuum Cleaner IP1251UKT
AU: Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum IP1251
There’s additionally a model with an auto-empty base:
US: Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty System IP3251
UK: Shark Detect Professional Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Auto-Empty System 1.3L IW3510UK
AU: Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clear & Empty System IP3251
For this review, I tested the IP3251. There may be minor differences between different countries’ models.
The Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum comes with an entire host of sensible detection options. It is aware of whether or not it is on a tough ground or carpet, how soiled stated ground is, whether or not it is close to the sting of a room, and whether or not it is going right into a darkish nook, and can reply accordingly by adjusting suction, rushing up its curler or brightening its headlights. New to this mannequin is a redesigned floorhead will clear simply as nicely on the pull-back because it does when being pushed forwards.
The PowerDetect Cordless additionally incorporates the preferred options from right now’s best Shark vacuums, together with a wand that bends ahead that will help you get beneath furnishings with out having to stoop down. Throughout the wider Shark vary, it is designed to mix the smarts of the Detect Professional vary (which has virtually all the identical detection capabilities) with the outright suction energy of the Stratos line, theoretically making it the best cordless vacuum for most individuals.
On take a look at, I used to be very impressed. It delivered nice suction, and had no points choosing up high-quality supplies like flour, and bigger ones like bits of dried dust, cereal, leaves, and extra, from each onerous ground and a thick rug. All of the detection options labored as marketed and meant an environment friendly, low-effort cleansing session. I used to be to notice that it does not appear to be an choice to make use of the lower-powered Eco mode on comfortable flooring; the vacuum mechanically kicks into the next mode. It is good however not superb at tackling hair, and whereas the ‘suction in reverse’ characteristic labored nicely, loads of different (non-Shark) vacuums do that however do not promote it as a particular addition.
Value-wise, it sits within the mid-range of the broader market, and I feel the standard and options greater than justify that worth (related detection options from Dyson will set you again much more).
The evaluate mannequin I examined was the model with an elective auto-empty base, the place the onboard dustbin mechanically empties into a bigger bin when the vacuum is docked. I feel it is nicely price investing on this further, as a result of it is an ideal effort-saver – and it is perhaps a very good selection for allergy victims who need to reduce potential for particles to make their method again into the air.
That is the brief model; learn on for my full Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum evaluate.
Word: Shark has launched a robovac in the identical vary, however aside from the title, there aren’t too many similarities. Examine that one in our Shark PowerDetect Robot Vacuum and Mop review.
Shark PowerDetect Cordless evaluate: worth & availability
- Listing worth (vacuum-only): $429.99 / £499.99 / AU$849.99
- Launched: Summer time 2024
- Additionally out there with elective auto-empty base
Within the US, the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum sells for $429.99, or $499.99 in the event you go for the model with the auto-empty base.
Within the UK, it is £499.99 for simply the vacuum, or £549.99 for the model with the particular base.
Australian customers can choose up the vacuum for AU$849.99 or with an upgraded base for AU$999.99.
Primarily based on TechRadar’s worth brackets, that is across the lower-premium / higher mid-range band (something over $500 / £400 is counted as premium). General, I really feel just like the construct high quality and the options make this a well-priced vacuum. The DirtDetect system alone is nicely well worth the funding. When you’re on the fence about whether or not to shell out for the auto-empty base, I feel the added comfort is nicely well worth the barely increased worth.
Usually, Shark vacuums are far more affordably priced than, as an example, the best Dyson vacuums available on the market – the Dyson V15 Detect has related dirt-detection options, and a listing worth of $749.99 / £649.99.
By way of comparable fashions inside the Shark vary, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless prices $379.99 / £349.99. It is a bit much less highly effective than the PowerDetect and it does not have the reverse-suction characteristic, however in any other case the detection/auto options are related.
Alternatively, there’s the Shark Stratos Cordless, which prices $499.99 / £349.99. It does not have the identical detection / auto options because the PowerDetect, and I discovered the suction comparable too, so I am undecided why you’d go for a Stratos over a PowerDetect.
Shark affords reductions occasionally for its merchandise. Nevertheless, at time of penning this mannequin is new out, so that you won’t see it discounted besides throughout vacation and particular gross sales occasions. Until then, look to the TechRadar Shark promo codes page for a deal.
- Worth for cash rating: 4 out of 5
Shark PowerDetect Cordless specs
|
Weight: |
8lbs / 3.7kg |
|
Dimensions (H x L x W): |
45.64 x 45.64 x 15.5″ |
|
Floorhead width: |
10.2″ / 25.9cm |
|
Filter: |
Felt + Washable Foam Filters plus HEPA Filter |
|
Onboard bin capability: |
0.7L |
|
Max suction: |
Not acknowledged |
|
Max runtime: |
70 minutes marketed, 67 minutes on take a look at |
|
Cost time: |
4 hours |
Shark PowerDetect Cordless evaluate: design
- Operated by button; battery and mode data supplied on a display screen
- Bendable wand permits you to effortlessly clear beneath furnishings
- Non-obligatory auto-empty base
When you’ve used a Shark cordless vacuum earlier than, you’ll rapidly understand that the PowerDetect Cordless has most of the similar Shark vacuum technologies that seem on different fashions, with a couple of enhancements. Like most cordless vacuums, you possibly can take away the wand and swap in one other attachment to be used as a handheld vacuum.
In stick vacuum mode, the PowerDetect Cordless is 46.3 inches lengthy with a cleansing path width of 10.19 inches, and it weighs round 8 lbs. That is on the bigger and heavier aspect for a cordless stick vac, though not excessively so.
The wand itself is exclusive amongst vacuums in that it’s bendable (this is without doubt one of the most well-received Shark options, and it is included on a lot of its vacuums – not simply the costly ones). Click on a button and it’ll bend forwards, permitting you to hoover additional beneath beds, couches, and different low furnishings.
The Shark Cordless PowerDetect vacuum has a number of various detection options. The DirtDetect system can acknowledge hidden dust and mechanically enhance the suction energy in response. You possibly can see when the ground is soiled and clear based mostly on the colours – purple or white – that seem on the display screen and across the vacuum head. With EdgeDetect, this Shark vacuum can sense edges and double the suction energy alongside the aspect of the floorhead when it’s transferring alongside an edge.
FloorDetect acknowledges the variations between carpets and onerous flooring and adjusts the facility relying on which one you’re vacuuming. Then there’s LightDetect, which mechanically will increase the sunshine on the vacuum whenever you clear in darkish areas (they don’t seem to be as vivid as you will discover on the – far costlier – Dyson Gen5detect, although).
New to this mannequin is ‘reverse cleansing’ – particularly, whereas most vacuums simply push bigger particles round when the floorhead is being pulled backwards, the PowerDetect has some patented tooth which can be designed to actively pull it in.
Picture 1 of 2
The vacuum is operated by a one-press button, and there is a set off beneath the deal with that permits you to change between the three modes. There is a low-powered Eco mode, high-powered Enhance, and a DirtDetect, which is the one which auto-adjusts suction based mostly on how soiled the ground is. The opposite ‘detect’ options, like EdgeDetect and LightDetect will kick in on any mode.
When the vacuum is turned on, the a round display screen reveals which mode you’re in (a inexperienced leaf for Eco mode, purple circle for Enhance, or a radar graphic for DirtDetect), in addition to an oblong image noting battery life. It isn’t fairly as clear as Dyson’s model, which is able to actually spell out what number of minutes of cleansing you might have left within the mode you are presently utilizing, nevertheless it’s nonetheless helpful.
Instruments can fluctuate by area – my evaluate mannequin got here with an 8-inch Crevice Device and a Pet Multi-Device. It is price flagging that that there’s an elective auto-empty base that I examined out. This can be a new factor that Shark has been embracing these days. Dock the vacuum and the dust from the bin will mechanically be sucked into a bigger chamber within the base, so that you need not do it manually practically so usually. It additionally creates someplace to retailer the vacuum, and expenses it too.
When you just like the sound of the PowerDetect’s options however need one thing barely completely different, there is a PowerDetect Upright and a PowerDetect Corded Stick additionally within the vary.
Shark PowerDetect Cordless evaluate: efficiency
- Auto adjustment options work nicely
- Good suction on each onerous flooring and carpet
- Snug to make use of; floorhead pivots fairly nicely
To find out the vacuum’s efficiency capabilities, I began by vacuuming my whole home, which is made up of historic hardwood flooring, rugs, and laminate flooring. I seen instantly that the vacuum floorhead lights up mechanically when the machine is working.
I discovered the vacuum simple to make use of, irrespective of whether or not I used to be utilizing it as a handheld or in its typical cordless stick type. It switches on with the only press of a button, so you do not have to fret about holding down a set off whereas vacuuming (a perpetual criticism with all however the very latest Dyson vacuums).
Regardless of being on the heavier aspect, it is snug to make use of and does not really feel unbalanced. The floorhead pivots nicely and it is fairly simple to maneuver, though noticeably much less nimble than the lighter Shark Detect Professional. It is also price flagging that total the vacuum is absolutely fairly tall. The wand offers loads of size, which is good for somebody like me with 10-foot ceilings, though somewhat unwieldy in tighter areas like hallways.
A part of the explanation for the taller construct is that the wand has a hinge inbuilt to permit it to bend forwards with the push of a button. With this characteristic, I may attain beneath couches and chairs with out having to lean over or squat down. The lights on the floorhead additionally bought brighter once I vacuumed in low mild areas, which made it simpler to see dust, mud, and particles.
My favourite side of this vacuum is the DirtDetect system, as a result of it will increase the suction mechanically when it detects dust or particles. When this occurs, the loop across the display screen adjustments colours from white to purple (Shark claims the colour is blue and never white, however I suppose it might be a lightweight grey blue), and the LED lights on the vacuum head match the colours on the display screen. It’s assumed that when the suction energy returns to regular, the ground is freed from dust.
One of many marketed options is that this vacuum is supposed to have the ability to vacuum simply as nicely in reverse as forwards. On take a look at, this labored very nicely, as you possibly can see within the video clip above. The one time it struggled was with chunky breakfast cereal.
Whether or not this reverse cleansing it is a characteristic that is unique to the PowerDetect is one other factor. It is noticeably higher than the Shark Detect Professional, which has a floorhead that swimming pools particles into little piles when pulled backwards, however I’ve undoubtedly examined different stick vacuums which can be simply pretty much as good at vacuuming forwards as backwards, nevertheless it’s not marketed as a particular characteristic.
With the ‘EdgeDetect’ characteristic, the vacuum will enhance suction mechanically close to the sides of rooms. On take a look at, I may hear the facility ramping up when the floorhead reached a baseboard, and the lights on the related aspect would brighten to indicate what was occurring, too.
Suction checks
It was necessary for me to run quite a few checks to see simply how nicely the vacuum may choose up varied gadgets from the bottom. To do that, I taped a four-by-four-foot sq. on my laminate ground and on considered one of my massive, thick rugs. I sprinkled every sq. with flour after which used the vacuum’s lowest setting – Eco – to suck up the flour.
When it got here to the laminate ground, the vacuum picked up practically each little bit of flour on a single once-over. I noticed solely three specks of flour remaining once I was performed. I didn’t discover any distinction when vacuuming ahead or backward over the flour.
Picture 1 of 2
When doing this similar take a look at on a thick rug, I spotted rapidly that I used to be not ready to make use of Eco mode, though that was the setting I would chosen. The Shark vacuum acknowledged that I used to be vacuuming a rug and elevated its suction mechanically. There doesn’t appear to be any option to stop this. Nevertheless, the vacuum did a good higher job eradicating the flour from the rug in a single move than it did on the laminate ground, as I didn’t see any flour remaining behind once I was performed.
Picture 1 of 2
Subsequent, I crunched up breakfast cereal (Cheerios, to be exact) and sprinkled them in each squares. Whether or not it was laminate flooring or the rug, the vacuum did a equally very good job, particularly once I vacuumed ahead. If I pulled the vacuum backwards over the grinded cheerios, among the bigger items bought caught behind the wheels and thus weren’t suctioned up till I made a ahead move.
I didn’t discover any change within the suction functionality of the vacuum once I switched it from a persist with a handheld with or with out the wand hooked up. Two attachments had been included with my evaluate mannequin – a Pet Multi Device and a crevice device. I don’t have pets, however loads of my darkish brown hair will get on my cream-colored sofa. I used the Pet Multi Device to take away my hair, and it did a mean job.
I discovered myself scraping the hair a couple of instances earlier than it was suctioned into the machine. The Pet Multi Device carried out higher on Enhance mode. Admittedly, I’ve by no means examined a vacuum that would simply pull my hair off the sofa, however I nonetheless would not essentially suggest it to pet homeowners (TechRadar’s best vacuum for pet hair checklist has some various ideas right here).
As for the crevice device, I used this one rather a lot as I’ve loads of furnishings set within the corners of rooms. I used to be glad to see that the device additionally has a brush. I used it to scrub my baseboards and blinds with nice success.
In DirtDetect mode, the vacuum has a 72-80 dB sound ranking when cleansing onerous flooring and a 76-79 dB ranking when transferring over my rugs (this is because of the truth that the suction mechanically will increase when dust is detected, which makes it noisier). The dB ranking on Eco mode is 74 (you possibly can’t use Eco mode on carpets, solely onerous flooring). Enhance mode has an 82 dB and 83 dB ranking on hardwood and carpet respectively.
Whereas not everybody will essentially want it, I used to be so grateful for the comfort of the auto-empty system. Once I was completed vacuuming, I positioned the vacuum on the station and never solely did it begin charging mechanically, nevertheless it emptied the mud and dust from the vacuum right into a sealed container. Every time the container is full, I can take away it and dump the mud and dust within the trash. It might be a robust advice for allergy victims, as a result of there are fewer alternatives for particles to flee again into the environment.
(Word that’s it attainable to retailer the vacuum freestanding with out the dock: you possibly can fold it over, utilizing the flexible wand, for a extra compact storage choice.)
If you do not have the auto-empty dock, you will must take away the wand first after which hit a button when the bin is positioned over a trash can.
Upkeep is simple sufficient, even when there are a couple of duties that you just’ll must do about as soon as a month, like cleansing the brushroll and checking the wand for blockages. The onboard mud cup will have to be cleaned out, and also you also needs to verify the HEPA filter on the hand-held to see if it must be rinsed or changed. The filter on the auto empty station also needs to be rinsed and dried as soon as a month and changed frequently too.
Lastly, you’ll want to sometimes clear the sensors – the DirtDetect system sensor is contained in the mud bin of the vacuum, whereas the LightDetect sensor is on prime of the vacuum head, and the 2 EdgeDetect sensors sit alongside the perimeters of it.
- Efficiency rating: 4.5 out of 5
Shark PowerDetect Cordless evaluate: battery
- 4 hours to completely recharge the battery (utilizing auto empty station)
- Battery lasts 14 minutes in Enhance, 1hr 7 minutes in Eco
- Eco choice not attainable on carpet
Probably the most spectacular facets of this vacuum is the battery life. Shark claims it will final a most of 70 minutes in Eco mode, though that is in handheld mode. On take a look at, it managed virtually that lengthy: I clocked 67 minutes, though that was with a wand hooked up. Something over an hour is a very robust battery time for a cordless vacuum (assuming the suction continues to be respectable, which is true right here). Nevertheless, do not forget that Eco mode will not work on carpets or rugs, so when you have a house with comfortable flooring you will not obtain these instances.
Once I ran the PowerDetect totally in Enhance mode, the battery lasted 14 minutes. That is truly not unhealthy for a most energy mode; it is solely designed for use on the hardest, ingrained dust. When you use DirtDetect mode, runtimes will fluctuate based mostly on how soiled your flooring are an how a lot suction the vacuum wants to make use of.
On a mean clear, I discovered this vacuum lasted round 47 minutes, which concerned me switching between the bottom and highest energy settings. That’ll be greater than sufficient time to scrub most houses in a single go.
It took about 4 hours for the vacuum to fully cost. Shark does not present recharge instances, however a list on Finest Purchase stated it’d take 6 hours. I used to be glad to find that charging didn’t truly take that lengthy. Over time, it’ll doubtless take longer for the battery to cost. It’s common amongst vacuums on the broader market to take 4-6 hours to cost.
- Battery life rating: 4.5 out of 5
Do you have to purchase the Shark PowerDetect Cordless?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Worth for cash |
Sits within the upper-mid worth vary, however the suction energy, spectacular detection options and good battery justify the value. It is price investing somewhat further within the auto-empty system. |
4/5 |
|
Design |
Efficient, simple design, with helpful bendable hose. Auto-empty dock is well-designed and helpful. |
4/5 |
|
Efficiency |
Auto-adjust options work successfully and suction is spectacular typically. |
4.5/5 |
|
Battery |
Good battery life – most of 67 minutes on Eco mode (onerous flooring solely), takes 4 hours to recharge. |
4.5/5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
How I examined the Shark PowerDetect Cordless
I examined this vacuum for over every week in my home, which has a mixture of historic hardwood and laminate flooring, a few of which is roofed in massive, thick rugs. I ran quite a few checks corresponding to utilizing the vacuum to select up flour and crushed Cheerios, and utilized the attachments to scrub my sofa of hair and dirt from hard-to-reach locations. I in contrast the outcomes to different vacuum cleaners I’ve reviewed up to now. By working these checks and others, I used to be capable of present an in-depth evaluate.
Learn extra about how we test
First reviewed September 2024