Customer Ratings & Reviews

I purchased this self-cleaning Shark upright vacuum shortly after Black Friday to take advantage of the $199 sale price. Positives First and foremost, the vacuum is very lightweight. It’s also quite ergonomic, especially when it comes to the handheld attachments and overall maneuverability. I opted for the model that folds in half, which allows you to easily vacuum under a crib, bed, or coffee table. This is a really nice feature and, in my opinion, absolutely worth getting if the model you’re considering includes it. Not all versions offer this capability, so it’s something to pay attention to when purchasing. The self-cleaning feature is another strong plus. I’ll be honest—I got this more for myself than for my wife, simply because it makes maintenance easier. The canister has a clear window on the side, which lets you see when it’s filling up. Shark states it should be emptied about once every 30 days, but realistically that depends entirely on how often and how aggressively you clean. If you’re vacuuming frequently or constantly picking up messes, it’s obviously going to fill up sooner. That said, when it does get full, it’s a helpful visual reminder that it’s also time to clean out the filters as recommended. Doing so helps ensure the vacuum maintains its suction power and overall cleaning efficiency. Because it’s a handheld-style vacuum, it does not stand upright on its own. That can be a minor inconvenience at times, but it’s not a dealbreaker and kind of comes with the territory. The attachments are pretty standard—nothing surprising, but nothing missing either. The self-emptying base is something that took a little time to get used to, but it’s genuinely convenient. Being able to dock it, let it empty itself, and know that it’s ready to go the next time you need it is a nice quality-of-life feature. As far as performance goes, the vacuum does a solid job. I really can’t complain. If you’re dealing with a massive spill, this probably wouldn’t be the best tool for the job, but for everyday messes it works well. We have a toddler who, as you can see from the photos, loves chasing the vacuum—mostly because of the bright light on the front. He’s been the true test for this thing. Between dropped snacks and constant crumbs on the floor, this vacuum gets regular use and holds up well for dry messes. To be clear, this is not meant for wet spills. Don’t expect it to pick up liquids or wet debris. The suction power is strong, and the front light is very bright. As for the sensors and AI-style sensing, I can’t say with certainty how much of that is marketing versus actual functionality. That said, it does seem to adjust power appropriately, and based on what I’ve observed on our floors, it performs well and does what it claims. The main reason I bought this vacuum, though, was the brush roll. I was completely fed up with our previous vacuum constantly getting hair tangled around the brush. Every time I emptied it, I also had to cut hair off the roll, which was frustrating and time-consuming. This vacuum has largely eliminated that issue. Hair buildup has been minimal to nonexistent, and that alone makes a huge difference for me. Maintenance Considerations It’s important to understand that while this vacuum comes with a lot of nice features, it also requires real maintenance. If you’re not willing to clean filters and properly maintain it when the canister fills up, this may not be the vacuum for you. Personally, I don’t mind doing that upkeep, and I’ve taken on that responsibility so my wife can simply enjoy using it without worrying about performance dropping over time. Negatives The biggest downside—really the only major one—is the price. The maintenance could be considered a negative by some, but I don’t see it that way; it’s expected with a vacuum like this. At full price, though, this vacuum is not worth $500. I absolutely would not pay that much for it. I got it for $200 on sale, and at that price, it’s a solid buy. But it doesn’t outperform other handheld vacuums enough to justify the full retail cost. Final Thoughts If you can get this vacuum at a deep discount, it’s worth picking up. At full price, I would pass—and that decision is based on price alone. Or if you got money to burn and can afford it go for it.

This cordless vacuum is lightweight, powerful, and very easy to use. It cleans floors and carpets well, and the battery lasts long enough for regular cleaning. Attachments are useful, and storage is convenient. Great choice for everyday cleaning.

It’s a great item , especially if you got it at a discount price. I got it on Black Friday. Love how light it is and the way you can maneuver it at will and how it detects the corners to get a better suction for those stubborn corners. The down fall of it , is the cup is super small. You’d think for price you’d get a larger cup. Overall, it’s a decent vacuum.

Light weight, suction is good for all surfaces and it self empties!

The overall ease of use, weight, and maneuverability has made this an excellent addition for spot cleaning, cleaning couches, and vehicles. The base station that empties the vacuum unit after every clean is fantastic, it makes quick cleanups a breeze.

Was skeptical about this one but very pleased with the vacuum love the edge sensor . Super practical for using around the house under the beds and the best part is that it empties on its own.

Excellent vacuum! Great running time! Battery is excellent! Love being able to not have to plug. Just grab and vacuum.

Amazing vacuum! Lightweight and Powerful… Gets the job done every time

I bought this vacuum during a Black Friday special at Best Buy. I was hopeful this would be a good replacement for our LG stick vacuum given all the positive reviews I read about this particular Shark model. However, after using for a few days I ended up returning it. 1) The auto empty feature is a bit gimmicky in my opinion. Once you dock the stick vacuum, the contents are sucked down into the base. You're essentially just transferring the collected debris from one container to a larger container. I guess that might more convenient for some? But I actually found it annoying because it's quite loud and the suctioning lasts for awhile. I discovered that you can actually turn off this auto emptying feature but then you're just left with a "regular" stick vacuum. 2) The sensors used to detect the amount of suction needed require regular cleaning and maintenance. Seems obvious, but in practice how often do you want to be cleaning the various sensors on this thing to ensure it's working properly. 3) You don't have the option of turning off the roller brush head. I have a weird rug with tassels and other decorative pieces that would get tangled up in the roller brush. Other vacuums give you the option of turning off the roller brush. Bottom line, I wanted a simple yet effect vacuum that just sucked, in a good way. I didn't need any unnecessary bells and whistles like auto emptying or smart dirt detection. In the end, I got the RYOBI ONE+ HP 18V Cordless Advanced stick vacuum and I love it! Much simpler to use!

Best vacuum we ever owned, we have 3 vacuum on each floor , living in a 3 floor townhome this is most convenient one , because it automatically empties the debris, saving more time and energy for working families like us. Its affordable given the things this self emptying vacuum can do

Cords on a vacuum can be a hassle. I’ve owned multiple vacuums with cords, and as a corded vacuum user, the worry that you might accidentally pull the plug or run over the cord is always at the back of your mind. Luckily, cordless vacuums exist to alleviate this anxiety. This is my first cordless vacuum, and wow, this one has certainly exceeded my expectations! There are some minor downsides to this cordless vacuum, but overall, this little guy is a beast. This is my review of the Shark – Detect Clean & Empty, Cordless Vacuum. *TLDR at the bottom ================== IN THE BOX/SET-UP: In the box, you get many parts to assemble. The floor nozzle, flex wand, and handheld vacuum are some of the items included with the vacuum. This cordless vacuum also comes with a dock to charge the vacuum and to empty the handheld vacuum dust cup. There are two attachments included as well: A crevice and upholstery tool. The assembly instructions are both on the box and in the owner’s guide. Setup took less than 15 minutes. The instructions are straightforward and to the point. I highly recommend charging the vacuum before first use. Outside the box, the battery level on the vacuum was around 50%. Once the vacuum is fully charged, it is ready for use! ================== BUILD QUALITY/DESIGN AND COMFORT: I’ve owned Shark products in the past, and they all have stood the test of time. I have a corded small Shark vacuum from 5 years ago, and it is still running great to this day. This cordless vacuum seems to be built well. Most of the vacuum is plastic to keep it lightweight. The floor nozzle, which is likely to sustain the most wear, feels sturdy. The only item I’m worried about is the lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Like most rechargeable batteries, the battery degrades over time, and eventually, the battery won’t hold a charge. It is hard to tell how long this battery will last, as it depends on many factors. But luckily, Shark does offer replacements for $90 when that replacement time comes. There is also a 2-year warranty for the battery and a 5-year limited warranty for the vacuum. Overall, this vacuum is built well! In terms of design and comfort, the vacuum is designed to be as comfortable and versatile as possible. It is lightweight and easy to handle, and comfortable to use in both floor vacuum and handheld modes. I love the ability of being able to easily switch to a handheld vacuum. There are hard-to-reach areas in my home, like in some corners or above tall cabinets, where handheld mode is useful to pick up all that packed dust. There’s also a mini clip to store the hand vac on the wand when not in use. The dock is amazing. It does not take up a lot of space, and it is designed to charge the vacuum and empty out the dust cup on the vacuum when you are done vacuuming. The dock also has an accessory storage compartment for the crevice tool. But a downside is that it looks like there is no storage compartment for the upholstery tool. I have been storing it in the slot where the dustbin’s handle is for now. Another downside is that the vacuum is top-heavy. Whenever you are not using it in between vacuuming sessions, you will need to find a place to lean it against, otherwise, it will tip over. Although this is an understandable design necessity and a fair trade-off to be able to use this vacuum without a cord. ================== PERFORMANCE: This little guy is powerful. Using the UI display on the vacuum, you can switch between 3 modes: Auto, Eco, and Boost. Auto mode does what’s best to optimize suction and power, Eco mode maximizes runtime and saves battery, and Boost mode maximizes suction but uses the most battery. I mostly vacuumed in auto mode, and this mode does a swell job at vacuuming both hard floors and some carpets. I have high pile, low pile carpets, and hard floors. On low pile carpet and hard floors, maneuvering this vacuum is easy. On the other hand, with high pile, it does get a little challenging to operate the vacuum. During turns, the little wheels tend to struggle, and I found myself sometimes lifting the vacuum. Keep this in mind if you have these carpet/floor types. I used Boost mode in my kitchen to pick up the small food scraps. Note, the vacuum does get louder in this mode. I didn’t use Eco mode a lot, but power is at a minimum in this mode. Sound is also noticeably quieter. I was most surprised by how much suction power this vacuum has for something of this size. In Auto mode, there are several features that assist the user in seeing how much power is being used and which side of the floor nozzle is being used. There is an LED light indicator on top of the floor nozzle. When the LED is blue, it indicates that no heavy debris is detected; when the LED is red, this indicates that heavy debris is being vacuumed up. Additionally, whenever an edge is detected, like the edge of a wall. The side of the floor nozzle that is touching the wall will boost in power. This can be seen when the LED light is lit up for the edge that you are vacuuming. Also, this is really meant for small to medium-sized apartments or homes. It would take a long time to vacuum a large home with a vacuum this size. The handheld vacuum and wand work great, too. I used mine to clean hard-to-reach areas and crevices, and it did an amazing job. I especially love the weight. This handheld vacuum is certainly more lightweight than some other vacuums I’ve used. Once you are finished, dock the vacuum to the dock, and click the little moon button on the dock. All your dust and debris in the vacuum’s dust cup will quickly proceed to be sucked into the dust bin. And just like that, your vacuum’s dust cup is empty. There is no need to hover over a trash can while hoping no dust gets into your nose. ================== CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE: Like any vacuum, this one also requires maintenance to keep it running well. Maintenance can be a hassle, but looking through what is needed for this vacuum, it doesn’t look like it is too time-consuming. On the vacuum itself, I have been emptying out the dust cup into the dock’s dust bin each time I am finished vacuuming. I have yet to fill up the dust bin on the dock, but according to Shark, the bin holds up to 30 days' worth of dust and debris. After a month or two, the vacuum’s dust cup and filter should be cleaned too. The filter must be rinsed with water only; soap is not recommended. The hand vac also has a HEPA filter that must be occasionally cleaned. There is no recommended schedule, but this filter is located on the side of the hand vac. The final filter is located on the dock which will also need to be cleaned regularly. Some other items that need maintenance are the floor nozzle and the sensors located on both the hand vac and the floor nozzle. This may seem like a lot, but realistically, one can get all of this done in less than an hour. ================== CONCLUSION/TLDR: Overall, this is an excellent cordless vacuum cleaner. It is meant for small to medium-sized apartments or homes due to its size. But don’t let its size fool you, it’s certainly powerful. This vacuum is on the pricier side, but if you are willing to bite, you will get a variety of premium features that come in higher-end Shark vacuums. The dock that works both as a charging station and a dust bin is great for easy clean-up after vacuuming. Auto mode senses what is on the floor, and the suction power will adjust to what is detected. Finally, this is a cordless vacuum; there is no need to worry about tripping over a wire or running over one. Battery life over time is a concern, but Shark does offer a 2-year warranty and replacements. If you are looking for a great cordless vacuum that is lightweight, has strong suction power, and is easy to maintain, I wholeheartedly recommend you give this vacuum a shot!

A very nice unit but instructions are a bit confusing. I still don’t think I have a complete grasp of how to use it.

Really happy with the Shark Detect vacuum, it’s working great. Loving the auto empty canister feature which doubles as a stand/battery charger so it’s always ready when you need it. Highly recommend!

Exactly what I needed. Great for daily use, stairs, and those weird/hard corners. Gets the job done and is not too heavy. One of the best features is the auto emptying.

Easy set up. Good self cleaning functionality, runtime is better than previous vacuum

Works excellent!! Haven’t had any issues & the vacuum cleaner feature in the best when cleaning the entire house in one go!!

Got this for my wife for Christmas love it use it every chance she gets

Excellent product, I have 3 of these products and I'm fascinated by them.

I purchased this less than a month ago expecting the auto-empty system to be a major convenience feature and unfortunately it has been the opposite. In the last week alone, I’ve had debris and hair slowly leak back out of the vacuum near the dust cup/neck area on three separate occasions. After vacuuming, I’ll find clumps of hair and dust hanging from the unit or falling onto the floor. This defeats the entire purpose of the sealed, auto-empty design and makes me question whether the internal flap/seal or airflow path is functioning correctly. Whats annoying is that this isnt from misuse or overfilling. The base does perform the auto-empty cycle, but afterward, dirt and hair still escapes from the vacuum body itself. For a $500 product that heavily advertises its “2L Auto-Empty System” and hygienic design, this is a serious design flaw and makes the whole vacuum useless at this point. I got rid of my 8 year old dyson v8 thinking that this would be a major uograde and in do upset/disappointed. I’ve double-checked that everything is seated correctly and that the dust cup is properly installed, yet the issue continues to happen. This has now occurred three times in one week. I really wanted to love this vacuum because the suction and features are great, but the auto-empty system (the main selling point) is unreliable and messy. At first i wish i went with the PowerDetect pro but now am most likely returning for a dyson. If you are buying this specifically for the convenience of auto-empty and a clean experience, be aware that garbage can leak back out of the unit after use. I hope Shark addresses this issue because right now, this feature is not performing as advertised. -Sebastian

Live this vacuum cleaner so much. I had D son before that also cordless and you always have to press button there to work!!! So annoying. And stand makes it so easy to store! Amazing. Almost forgot to mention elbow so you can easily clean under beds, couches and other furniture, game changer for me.