Shark Detect Pro Review: 12 Objective Cleaning Tests

In This Review
Cleaning Performance | Sealed System Test | Build Quality | Run Time Test | Noise Test | Usability | Maintenance | Size | Specs | Product Evolution | Comparison | FAQs

Performance Summary

At Modern Castle we test 13 different factors that impact the performance, build quality, and usability of the vacuum. Below is a complete list of our testing categories and their performance.

Test Type	Test Data
Overall Debris Tests	95.8%
Hardwood Floor Test	99.1%
Low Pile Carpet Test	94.9%
High Pile Carpet Test	93.5%
Long Hair Test	53.0%
Pet Hair Test	100%
Edge Cleaning Test	92.9%
Crevice Test	95.3%
Sealed System Test	Fully Sealed
Build Quality Test	Excellent
Run Time Test	29:53
Noise Test	83.8 dB

Video Review

The Shark Detect Pro had exceptional cleaning performance on all our tests. It was able to visually capture all the debris on the forward pass, and then collected the remaining debris / hair on the backward pass.

To test the debris removal performance of the Shark Detect Pro, we put it through a series of 12 different cleaning tests consisting of 3 different floor types and 4 different debris types.

We measure 0.5 oz. of each debris type, laying it in rows on the floor for the vacuum to clean. Next, we run the Shark Detect Pro over the debris on the highest suction power with a single forward and backward pass. After, we measure how much of the debris remains by weight and compare it to the starting amounts to determine cleaning performance.

Here are the overall results for the Shark Detect Pro:

In our debris tests, the Shark Detect Pro was able to remove 95.8% of debris by weight. This is 6.0% less debris than the average of 96.4%, based on all of our debris tests to date.

The Shark Detect Pro had excellent scores overall for our debris tests. Between all debris types, the vacuum shows minimal issues collecting small, medium, and large common household floor debris.

The Shark Detect Pro had excellent performance in collecting debris off the hardwood floor. Its powerful suction and cleaning head were able to effortlessly collect nearly all the debris.

In our hardwood tests, the Shark Detect Pro was able to remove 99.1% of debris by weight. This is 6.0% more debris than the average of 93.1%, based on all of our debris tests to date.

As the vacuum began to pass over each debris field, it swiftly collected the debris without throwing any of it across the testing area. Its powerful suction was able to gather most visual debris within the first pass.

The only minor issue we observed was the cereal. When the head began to collect the debris, it broke it up into smaller chunks, which may require a second or third pass.

Low pile carpet was not an issue for the Shark Detect Pro. During testing, the vacuum was able to traverse the testing area with exceptional performance in debris collection.

In our low pile carpet tests, the Shark Detect Pro removed 94.9% of debris by weight. This is 2.2% less debris than the average of 97.1%, based on all of our debris tests to date.

High pile carpet was, again, not an issue for the Shark Detect Pro. The “Boost” suction mode was able to pull a majority of the debris off the carpet within two passes.

In our high pile carpet tests, the Shark Detect Pro was able to remove 93.5% of debris by weight. This is 3.9% lower than the average of 97.4%, based on all of our debris tests to date.

The debris that had the most issue for the Shark Detect Pro was the sugar. There was 0.1 oz that remained out of 0.5 oz initially poured into the testing area. In my opinion, this is due to the small sugar grains falling too deep into the carpet for the Shark Detect Pro to collect.

To test how well the Shark Detect Pro manages long hair and avoids tangles, we pit it against 1.0 grams of long hair. We lay the strands of hair on the hardwood flooring and run the vacuum over it on the maximum suction power with a single forward and backward pass. After cleaning, we check the floor for hair and the brush roll for tangles.

In our long hair tests, the Shark Detect Pro only removed 47.0% by weight. This is 32.8% more hair tangled than the average of 14.2%, based on all of our long hair tests to date.

Additionally, removing the tangled hair was a slight issue. There is no quick-release feature to remove the roller from the head. You’ll need to remove the screws on the bottom of the accessory to gain access. For quick removal, we used scissors to cut the hair and pull it through the roller.

For our pet hair test, we embed 1.0 grams of pet hair into high pile carpet. Next, we run the vacuum over the carpet with a single forward and backward pass on the highest suction power. Finally, we measure the amount of remaining pet hair on the carpet and compare it to the starting amount to determine performance.

In our pet hair tests, the Shark Detect Pro removed 100% by weight. This is 1.0% more pet hair removed than the average of 99.0%, based on all of our pet hair tests to date.

Our pet hair was no issue for the Shark Detect Pro. No pet hair was found tangled in the roller. However, all pet hair is different in length and thickness. We recommend observing how your Shark Detect Pro handles pet hair during the first cleaning.

For our edge cleaning test, we test to see how close the Shark Detect Pro is able to clean walls, baseboards, and the perimeter of the room. To test this, we place 0.5 oz. of debris (sugar, kitty litter, and rice) directly along the edge of the wall, extending out 4.0″ from the wall.

We then run the vacuum over the debris, towards the wall, on the highest suction power with a single forward and backward pass. We then measure in inches how close the vacuum was able to clean in proximity to the wall and how much of the debris remained by weight.

In our edge cleaning tests, the Shark Detect Pro removed 92.9% of debris by weight. When pushing the vacuum head against the wall, we noticed that the middle of the head did not capture as much debris as the sides.

This was not factored into the scoring, as the next pass was able to clear all the remaining visual debris left over.

To test the crevice cleaning capability of the Shark Detect Pro, we use a specially built cleaning lane that has 3 distinct crevices of varying depths. We fill the crevices with 0.075 oz. (shallow) / 0.10 oz. (medium) / 0.150 oz. (deep) of sugar and run the vacuum over each crevice on the highest suction power with a single forward and backward pass. Finally, we measure the amount of debris remaining by weight.

In our crevice tests, the Shark Detect Pro removed 90.0% of debris by weight from the deepest crevice.

Performance across the three crevice depths varied. Top performers were the shallow and medium crevice depths where the vacuum was able to create a semi-complete seal for suction. However, on the deepest crevice we have, the suction was not powerful enough to create the seal needed to remove all the debris.

For the sealed system test, we want to determine how well the entire vacuum system is sealed. Vacuums that are fully sealed ensure that dust and debris vacuumed stays inside the vacuum. Vacuums that are not fully sealed may spread dust and debris around your home.

To test this, we set up a fog machine and place the tube of the vacuum directly in front of the output nozzle. We then turn the vacuum on and release short bursts of smoke into the vacuum, checking how well the device is sealed.

The sealed system test showed the Shark Detect Pro was completely sealed. Based on all of our vacuum testing to date, on average, we see 70% of vacuums are fully sealed, 20% of vacuums are mostly sealed, and 10% of vacuums are not sealed.

We saw no visible smoke leave the Shark Detect Pro. We observed the debris chamber fill with smoke, but no smoke was able to escape the bin.

Our build quality test is a subjective test where we examine and assess the major material and design components of the stick vacuum. Specifically, we are looking for build and design issues that are more likely to break and/or be difficult to use.

The base charging station and the vacuum are both made out of plastic, like most vacuums. The vacuum extension arm is constructed out of metal and has a brushed metal finish. Overall, the plastic felt firm and well-assembled.

However, while testing, we noticed that the extension arm does wobble and flex slightly when pushing the vacuum back and forth. In my opinion, I believe this is caused by the thin plastic connection points. After repeated use, this could be an issue if the plastic is worn out and flexed too much.

Part	Build Quality
Overall	Excellent
Body	Very Good
Dustbin	Very Good
Display / Controls	Excellent
Cleaning Head	Excellent
Accessories	Excellent
Attachments	Very Good

The Shark Detect Pro follows the market standard in making a lightweight vacuum out of plastic. The material needs to be light enough that users of all strengths can hold it, but also maintain durability after repeated use. In my opinion, the build quality is not the highest quality cordless vacuum we have tested, but it’s not bad.

For our run time test, we fully charge the battery of the Shark Detect Pro and run it on a single power mode until the battery is empty. We measure with a stopwatch how long this charge lasts and repeat these tests for each power mode available. Note: We leave the extension wand and standard cleaning head attached for this test.

In our runtime tests, the Shark Detect Pro had a run time of 29 minutes on the lowest power mode. This is 30 minutes less battery life than the average of 59 minutes, based on all of our run-time tests to date.

While on the eco-mode, you do get a longer runtime, but at the sacrifice of suction power. Our suggestion would be to keep the Shark Detect Pro on auto mode, which has an estimated run time of 29 minutes, to help balance runtime with appropriate suction power.

Vacuums are loud while in operation. To measure how loud, we run them on high pile carpet on each power mode and measure the noise generated with a sound meter. Before the test, we take a measurement of the ambient noise in the room to use as a baseline comparison to the vacuum. 

Power Level	Noise Level
Ambient	41.6 dB
Eco	74.3 dB
Auto	78.2 dB
Boost	83.8 dB

In our noise tests, the Shark Detect Pro generated 83.8 dB of noise on the max suction power. This is 9 dB louder than the average of 74.8 dB, based on all of our noise tests to date.

For best performance and noise levels, we recommend using the “Auto Detect” feature. This allows the vacuum to reduce noise and suction when that level of performance is not necessarily needed.

The Shark Detect Pro received exceptional scoring in our usability category. With the self-emptying feature, odor neutralizer, and convenient auto-detect feature

Assembling the base station and connecting the vacuum together took no more than 5 minutes. The vacuum comes pre-assembled with the only remaining step is to connect your desired accessories. We do recommend that you allow the vacuum to fully charge before its first cleaning.

The Shark Detect Pro includes 4 accessories / attachments.

For our maneuverability tests, we check to see how easy it is use maneuver the vacuum while cleaning. We focus on 3 key factors: can it lay down flat, how well can it turn, and how much does it weigh?

The Shark Detect Pro had exceptional maneuverability scores. Its lightweight and well-balanced weight offers the use of a wide range of maneuvers. At no point during testing did we feel restricted in handling the vacuum.

In our maneuverability tests, the Shark Detect Pro was able to lay fully flat and had exceptional turning ability. On average, vacuums we test can lay fully flat and have excellent turning ability.

The controls and display on the Shark Detect Pro are straightforward and simple. The button on the left is used to turn the vacuum on and off. The right button is to change the suction setting between three different modes.

• Eco – This runs the Shark Detect on its lowest suction setting to help conserve the battery.
• Boost – This is the most powerful suction level for the Shark Detect Pro
• Auto – This setting engages the sensor in the front head for the vacuum to detect the right mode for the job.

In The Box

• Shark Detect Pro Vacuum
• Vacuum extension Arm
• Storage Clip
• Floor Roller Head
• Docking Station
• Shark Odor Neutralizer Pod

The Shark Detect Pro has an estimated yearly maintenance cost of $30. The following are the major maintenance tasks for the Shark Detect Pro.

Task	Description	Est. Annual Cost
Dustbin	Empty dust bin as needed	$0
Brushroll	Remove tangles and any obstructions	$0
Pre – Filter	Periodically clean and replace once a year	$15
HEPA Filter	Periodically clean and replace once a year	$15
Vacuum Body	Remove any obstructions as needed	$0
Battery	Replace as needed or every 5 years	$0

Lastly, the brushroll can be easily removed with no tools required. There is a small release button on the side of the cleaning head, which allows the brushroll to slide out.

Size & Dimensions

Like other stick vacuums, it needs to be small and light to fit into the user’s hands. The Shark Detect Pro is small and compact, with a large base station to help charge and empty the dustbin.

Attribute	Measurement (metric)
Dustbin Capacity	0.0 gal. (0.0 L)
Height	43″ (109 cm)
Length	14″ (35 cm)
Width	10″ (26 cm)
Weight	6 lbs. (3 kg)

Specifications

The following table details the product specifications according to the manufacturer.

Manufacturer Specifications
Type	Corded Stick
Manufacturer	Shark
Model	Detect Pro
Height	43.0″ (109 cm)
Length	13.9″ (35 cm)
Width	10.4″ (26 cm)
Weight	6.0 lbs. (3 kg)
Floor Type	Multi
Filter	HEPA
Dustbin Capacity	Unknown
Run Time	29:53
Suction Power	Unknown
Bagless	Yes
Warranty	5 years
Price	Check Price

Product Evolution

Shark has a full line of cordless stick vacuums for various cleaning and functionality needs. However, all previous variants do not come with a charging and self-emptying base station.

The addition of the self-emptying base provides a stylish and functional location to easily store / charge the vacuum. Emptying the debris into the base helps to provide a more hygienic emptying process, ensuring that dust stays within the base station, and not escaping back into your home.

How does Shark Detect Pro compare?

Below is a complete list of our vacuum tests and critical product data compared side-by-side to the average based on all of our vacuum tests to date.

Test Type	Test Data	Avg. Data
Overall Debris Tests	95.8%	96.5%
Hardwood Floor Test	99.1%	93.1%
Low Pile Carpet Test	94.9%	97.1%
High Pile Carpet Test	93.5%	97.5%
Long Hair Test	53.0%	85.8%
Pet Hair Test	100%	99.0%
Edge Cleaning Test	92.9%	95.4%
Crevice Test	95.3%	95.5%
Sealed System Test	Fully Sealed	Fully Sealed
Build Quality	Excellent	Exceptional
Noise Test	83.8 dB	74 dB
Type	Corded Stick	Cordless Stick
Bagless	Yes	Yes
Dustbin Capacity	Unknown	0.2 gal. (0.8 L)
Run Time Test	29:53	55:41
Weight	6.0 lbs. (2.7 kg)	6.4 lbs. (2.9 kg)

Other Vacuums to Consider

FAQs