Shark PowerDetect Vacuum review: Opposing forces

The PowerDetect Vacuum from Shark is full of juxtapositions. Its portable dustbin and extending hose make getting into small spaces easy, while the device on a whole is cumbersome and hard to manage. It’s UX is among the simplest and most effective I’ve seen, yet getting a hang of physically using the device is tricky. Without a doubt, this is the most powerful and efficient vacuum cleaner we have encountered, but it isn’t for the faint of heart.

Crazy powerful: Shark really puts the “power” into PowerDetect with this vacuum. The suction handled anything I threw at it with complete success. It sucked up sprinkles, oats, dog fur, food scraps, and other debris I didn’t even know was left on the ground. Normally when we test vacuums (or robot vacuums), they pull up somewhere between 80%-95% of our testing material, so it says something that the PowerDetect snagged upwards of 99%. 

Edge performance normally has mixed results, but the Shark tackled edges and corners just as well as the open floor. This isn’t by accident - the PowerDetect has Edge Detect that increases suction power when the vacuum is within 5cm of a wall. Since the device itself is so bulky, it can be hard to get up close to edges underneath an overhang, like under cabinets, or couches however.

This stellar performance is achieved with a simple UX comprised of just five buttons. Power, Detect, Hard Floor, Carpet/Low Pile, and Thick Carpet/Area Rug. Leaving it on Detect - which automatically adjusts suction based on what it encounters - works well, but if you want more control you can adjust with a quick press.

Annihilates animal fur: This is a bit of a flow on from the power conversation, but the PowerDetect makes light work of animal fur. My house has a border collie x kelpie who has not gone a day in her life without shedding her whole body, plus my partner and I who both have long, thick hair that is also prone to malting. Any vacuum that enters my home does so on expert mode. Generally speaking, every vacuum has enough suction to pull up hair and fur from hard floor, or anything fresh from carpet, but it takes substantial power to suck it from the depths of the carpet. Power that the PowerDetect has proven to possess.

The other fur related issue I come across when testing vacuums is how easily the rollers get tangled. Robot vacuums tend to have this problem more than stick vacuums, but it is still a recurring problem for fur-laden households. Despite finding fur in the depths of the carpet, the PowerDetect's rollers remained hairless.

Clever design features: The PowerDetect is intelligently designed to not only allow for the power it requires, but still be a somewhat portable option for hard to reach spaces. When it is all clipped together, it works as you would expect any other vacuum to - you press the on button, lower the handle, and get vacuuming. But, if you want to tackle small crevices, or anything higher up, the dust canister, and the vacuum wand unclick from the brush head. From here you can carry around the canister, and attach any of the extra attachments to the Stretch Hose and vacuum wand, in order to get into hard to reach spaces. While the device only comes with a small Pet Power Brush Attachment, a Crevice Tool, and an Upholstery Tool, there are other compatible attachments available for purchase.

On top of the transformation, it also comes with an Odour Neutraliser that dispenses as you clean to make your space smell as fresh as it looks.

Finnicky to put together: The downside of the clever design is how everything fits together. While it is clever, each piece needs to slide in just right, and it can be difficult to find that balance at first. Over time I’m confident it would get easier, but the whole set up, and learning process isn’t very intuitive. You’ll need to keep the instruction manual handy when you’re first getting started.

So heavy: All up, the PowerDetect weighs over 7kg. For a vacuum, that is insane. Stick vacuums tend to sit between 2kg-4kg, and other uprights such as this are between 3-6kg. By all accounts, this is a hefty lad. 

All that extra weight makes it cumbersome, and difficult to maneuver, plus it is physically large. The sheer size of it could make storage difficult in some spaces, and vacuuming a whole house is quite the upper body workout. I could see it not being viable for a lot of people.

Corded: Honestly, this could be classified as either a pro or a con depending on who you are. First up it needs to be corded to get this kind of power. If it were cordless, the PowerDetect would absolutely blast through battery and would be far less practical than it is. But on the other hand, having a long cord is just one more thing you need to keep track of on an already complex device. It also would have been nice for it to have a retractable cable stored in the body of the vacuum. As it stands the PowerDetect simply has a loose 6m of cord.

The Shark PowerDetect Corded Upright vacuum costs $699.99 in Australia, but you can already grab deals that bring that price down.

The Shark PowerDetect is the most powerful, and one of the most thoughtful vacuums available right now, but it won’t work for everyone. If you have mobility issues, a small living space, or simply don’t want to lug around 7kg while you clean your space, then you’ll want to give this one a miss. But, if the weight doesn’t bother you, there is no denying the PowerDetect has the capacity to clean your house down to its bones. If your stick vacuum isn’t cutting it, and you need something with more oomph, the compromises you need to make for the PowerDetect are well worth it.