Shark offers some of the best vacuums on the market. The company’s NV400, NV450, NV501 and NV502 models are some of the best in the industry. We’re going to be reviewing and comparing each of these models to find out when they work best.
Comparing the Top Shark Vacuum Models
Shark has transitioned into one of the leaders in the vacuum industry. Forbes even notes that Shark has started to take market share away from one of the world’s leading, innovative companies: Dyson.
The models below are from the 400 and 500 series, which offer power, feature-rich options and a sleek design.
Shark Rotator NV400 Review
Shark’s NV400 features never lose suction technology, anti-allergen technology, enhanced swivel steering and deep carpet cleaning technology. The NV400 also features:
- Premium pet tools
- Ultra-quiet design
- Ant-allergen seal technology
- HEPA filter
- Cyclonic technology
- 18-inch crevice tool
- Pet power brush
- 12-foot hose reach
- 30-foot power cord
- 10-inch cleaning path
- 6-pound operation
The NV400 offers supreme suction control on the hose, allowing for quick and easy cleaning. The sealed vacuum technology keeps allergens at bay, while the included HEPA filters dirt and dust, according to Explain That Stuff.
The swivel head allows you to maneuver the vacuum into tight corners and around furniture.
And the vacuum can be used on carpets and bare floors. You’ll be able to go from your hardwood floor to your carpet without needing to waste time changing settings. The vacuum is also very light at just 15.6 pounds, so it’s easy to push the vacuum around small and large spaces.
The power cord is 30-feet in length, and there’s a hose to reach high-to-reach places with ease. Hose length is a generous 12-feet.
You’ll clean with a 10-inch cleaning path, allowing you to clean larger surfaces with ease. Shark also includes a crevice tool and a pet power brush. If you have pets, this vacuum’s power brush can be used to remove hair from flooring and furniture.
It’s a great option for pet owners or anyone that has a mix of carpeting or bare floors in their home.
Pros
- Extreme suction power, picks up hairs, cat litter and everything in between
- Roller brush turns on and off to work on bare floors and carpet
- Cord length is exceptional and suction is extremely powerful
Cons
- Canister capacity is lacking for the amount of dirt the vacuum picks up
The only minor complaint with this vacuum is that the canister doesn’t hold much. You’ll have to dump the canister often if you have a larger home. Part of the problem is that the vacuum’s suction is so strong that it really does pull up more dirt and debris than other vacuums.
Shark Rotator PowerLight NV450 Review
The Shark Rotator PowerLight is the next model on our list, and it features many of the same features as the NV400 despite having a few upgrades. A major improvement is the brush roll control that allows for seamless vacuuming between hardwood and carpet.
This model features:
- Enhanced swivel steering
- Never lose suction technology
- Anti-allergen seal
- HEPA filter
- Premium pet tools
- Brush roll control
- Headlights
- 18-inch flexi crevice tool
- 5-inch crevice tool
- 30-foot power cord
- 4-pound weight
Notable differences between these two vacuums include this model having brush roll control, an 18-inch flexi crevice tool and a 5-inch crevice tool. You’ll also find that this vacuum has an ergonomic handle and an enhanced swivel design.
You’ll be able to maneuver easily around furniture using the headlights to illuminate the path.
And when it comes time to go from carpet to bare flooring, the brush roll control will allow you to seamlessly go from one surface to the next. The no loss suction technology ensures that the vacuums suction remains consistent when switching floors.
The built-in HEPA filter removes dust and dirt from the air while the complete seal keeps 99% of allergens out of the air.
Pet tools and the crevice tool are included. The addition of the headlight is nice and comes in handy when trying to work in corners or darker areas of a room where visibility is poor. The stretch hose is extra-long and will also help you reach hard-to-reach areas.
There are ample attachments included, and while I do love to have a lot of additional attachments to make cleaning easier, there is one concern, which you’ll find out about in the cons section.
Pros
- Extreme suction power and seamless floor transitions make vacuuming quick
- Headlights allow you to see in corners and areas where dirt and dust hide
- Swivel head advancement allows you to easily maneuver the vacuum in corners
Cons
- Attachments tend to get clogged quickly
The only downside of this vacuum is that the attachments have a habit of clogging often. When the attachments clog, this makes it difficult to continue without stopping and unclogging the unit.
Aside from this, the NV450 is an upgrade over the NV400. It offers an easier transition across flooring types and headlights, which allow you to see with much greater ease.
Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away NV501 Review
Shark’s NV501 is a lot different than the last two models that we’ve reviewed. First, you’ll be able to choose between an array of colors. But when you look at the features, you’ll find that this vacuum has a lot to offer aside from aesthetics, including:
- 2-in-1 design
- Premium pet power brush
- Anti-allergen design
- HEPA filter
- Advanced swivel steering
- LED headlights
- Lift-away design
- Upright mode
- Above-floor mode
- Lift-away mode
- Dusting brush
- 5 pounds
- 12-inch crevice tool
- 4-foot hose length
- 30-foot cord length
- 5-inch cleaning path
The NV501 is a lot like the NV450, but it has a lot of nice additions, too. This model’s power comes from its 2-in-1 design. You’ll be able to use your vacuum as an upright with swivel steering. Headlights are also included to allow you to see in small, dark spaces.
The headlights could be a bit brighter, but they’ll suffice. I find that I rely on the headlights a lot when working in small spaces or around furniture, but the lights are just bright enough to illuminate the path.
With a nice 9.5-inch cleaning path, you’ll be able to clean up most spaces quickly. The head of the vacuum, remember it swivels, can get in between most furniture pieces and works well underneath tables, too.
Anti-allergen design and complete seal technology removes 99.9% of dust and allergens in the air.
The pet power brush can be used on upholstery or surfaces where pet hair accumulates. You’ll also have the ability to use the dusting brush as well as the different modes to clean all of the spaces in your home.
Lift-away allows you to clean stairs and smaller spaces with much greater ease than if you use an upright. There is even an above-floor mode, which allows you to clean corners or curtains with your vacuum.
You’ll also find that the upholstery tool is extra wide. You’ll be able to clean a much larger surface with this tool than you would with a smaller width tool.
Pros
- Lift-away designs allows for portable cleaning of hard-to-reach areas
- Extremely powerful and cleans up pet hair with ease
- Upright vacuum allows for quick floor transition
- Turns from an upright to a canister vacuum in seconds
Cons
- Vacuum’s light weight makes it easy to topple over
The vacuum is rather lightweight, so it falls over easily. You’ll find that if you tug the cord too hard, the vacuum will tumble over. This means you have to run over and pick it up if you’re using the hose.
Again, it’s not the end of the world, but it’s something to be conscious of when purchasing this vacuum.
Shark Rotator Lift-Away NV502 Review
The Shark Rotator NV502 boasts never lose suction technology, and it has the 2-in-1 design that the NV501 offers. So, what’s the main difference between these models? Not much. The biggest difference is with accessories.
Before we go more into the detail about this vacuum, let’s take a look at the features it has to offer:
- 2-in-1 design
- Premium pet power brush
- Anti-allergen design
- HEPA filter
- Advanced swivel steering
- LED headlights
- Lift-away design
- Upright mode
- Above-floor mode
- Lift-away mode
- Car detail kit
- Dusting brush
- 5 pounds
- 12-inch crevice tool
- 4-foot hose length
- 30-foot cord length
- 5-inch cleaning path
The main difference is that the NV502 comes with a car detailing accessory. If you have a tendency to get your car detailed often, the detail kit can be a powerful addition to your vacuum accessories.
You will not have the wide upholstery tool that some models offer, but everything else is virtually the same.
HEPA filters and never lose suction technology will ensure that 99.9% of dust and dirt stay in the vacuum. The vacuum’s crevice tool can get into hard-to-reach places, and you can transition to a canister with the touch of a button.
A pet power brush will prove an asset if you have dog or cat hair that seemingly gets stuck in everything from carpet to upholstery or in your car. I really like that I can save $50 -$150 in car detailing costs, according to CarsDirect, with this vacuum’s car detailing accessories.
It’s a powerful accessory that is worth every penny if you have animals that come into your car, children or live in an area where you have a dirt road.
It’s never a bad idea to detail your car.
Pros
- Easy to steer and visibility is increased with the LED headlights
- Car detail kit allows you to detail your own car
- Operates as an upright or lift-away vacuum for easy cleaning
- Complete seal technology keeps dirt and allergens out of the air
Cons
- Cord is not retractable
None of these Shark models have a retractable cord. The exclusion of a retractable cord makes it more time consuming to put your vacuum away. You’ll need to wind the cord up by hand. While this isn’t a major concern, it’s something I would have liked to have seen added.
The 500 series is a powerful vacuum series, and you really can’t go wrong with the NV502.
It’s a powerful vacuum that never loses suction, offers extreme cleaning power and comes with a car detailing kit that saves you money that you may have otherwise spent on detailing.
Which Product We Prefer
All of these vacuums have their own special place in a home. When choosing the NV400, you’ll have a great all-around vacuum that can be used on carpet and hard floor. The pet tools and crevice tool make this a great choice for pet owners, too.
The NV450 is an upgraded version of the NV400. This model has everything that the 400 offers, but it also comes with seamless transition between flooring types. You’ll also find that the headlights are a major perk and allow you to see between furniture and in corners.
Between the NV400 and NV450, the NV450 is the clear winner due to its upgrades.
But how does this model compare to the NV501 and NV502?
The NV501’s 2-in-1 design and includes of the power brush make it the clear winner among the NV400 and NV450. The vacuums are all rather similar in features and technology, but when you have a portable canister design, this provides extreme flexibility when cleaning.
If you have to pick between the NV400, NV450 or the NV501, I would recommend the NV501 as the go-to option.
Yet, there is one more vacuum that we need to consider: the NV502.
It’s really difficult to pick between the NV501 and NV502 because at the heart of both vacuums is the same exact technology. In truth, these vacuums are exactly the same with the only difference being in the attachments.
Car detailing attachments are a very powerful addition to the NV502, and if you want to detail your vehicle, then this is the right option for you.
Otherwise, the 501 and 502 are exactly the same.
