Shark’s PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Pet Vacuum (IP3251UKT in the UK, IP3251 in the US) offers a unique cleaning experience with an automatic emptying feature that sets it apart from the competition. Much like some robot vacuums, it automatically empties its dust cup into its charging dock after every cleaning session. This feature is especially convenient for busy households and pet owners, as it reduces the need for frequent emptying.
Design & Build
The design of the Shark PowerDetect is more substantial than most stick vacuums, featuring a sizable charging dock (H86 x W22 x D31 cm and 4.7 kg) that not only charges the vacuum but also empties it. While it has the advantage of eliminating the need for manual emptying, the dock takes up floor space and height, making it a bit trickier to store. The vacuum itself can fold for more compact storage when not in use.
The dock includes space for the crevice tool and a flat section for other attachments (although in the US, the motorized pet tool is not included). Its functionality is impressive, with features such as hair-wrap resistant brush rolls, sensors that adjust suction and brush speed based on floor type, and dirt detection that increases suction when debris is detected. Plus, the vacuum even works in reverse to reduce the number of passes needed to clean an area.
Performance & Features
The PowerDetect vacuum has several standout features, including floor lights that change color based on suction mode, making it easy to monitor performance at a glance. A light on the floor head activates when it detects dark areas, ensuring you can reach all corners. The dock’s auto-empty feature is another major perk, although it can be turned off if you don’t want it running at night.
However, some elements of the vacuum’s design could be improved. The vacuum is relatively bulky, and with a short power cable, finding a place to store it near a plug socket can be tricky. The scent capsule in the dock is a nice touch to combat potential odors, although its fragrance is subtle.
Another drawback is the single battery it comes with. Since the battery is removable, having a spare would be ideal, especially if you need longer runtime. The runtime in “eco” mode can reach up to 70 minutes, but in “detect” or “turbo” modes, it tends to drain much quicker, with around 30 minutes of use on heavy-duty tasks.
Cleaning Performance
When tested on both hard floors and mid-pile carpets, the vacuum performed well in both eco and detect modes. On hard floors, it easily picked up both light dust (flour) and heavier debris (oats). On carpets, detect mode automatically boosted suction for better debris pickup, although it did make the vacuum harder to push in some cases, which was resolved by switching to eco mode.
The vacuum also did well in picking up pet hair thanks to its motorized pet tool. However, the handheld vacuum portion (weighing 1.9 kg) can become heavy after prolonged use.
Price & Availability
In the UK, the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Pet Vacuum is priced at £549.99 from Shark’s website or Currys, but it can be found for £500 at Very or John Lewis, and even cheaper at £465 on Appliances Direct. In the US, it’s priced at $499.99 at launch but is now available for around $449.99 from various retailers, with the best deal at Amazon for $427.49.
Should You Buy It?
If you’re looking for a vacuum that takes care of the mess for you by automatically emptying itself, the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Pet Vacuum is a fantastic choice. It offers strong cleaning performance, especially for pet hair, and comes with a number of useful features like reverse brush rolls and dirt detection. However, the single battery and relatively bulky design may not suit everyone, especially for larger homes or those who do all their vacuuming in one go. If you have a smaller to medium-sized home and want a vacuum that requires minimal effort to maintain, this could be a great option.
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