Shark Detect Pro Cordless IW1111 / IW1511UK vacuum cleaner review

Shark Detect Pro Cordless: two-minute review

The Shark Detect Pro Cordless is certainly one of the best Shark vacuums out there right now. In my opinion, it may also be among the best vacuums available.

For a cordless model, it packs a good amount of power and copes well with edges and corners, too. There are three power modes, but my favorite automatically adjusts suction depending on how dirty each part of the floor is. LED headlights make it easy to spot dust and debris in dark corners, it can be easily disassembled into a handheld, and the fact that the stick flexes to enable the vacuum to lie essentially flat is useful for getting under furniture. All this means that, despite the fact that the standard model only comes with one extra attachment (a crevice tool), it can be used in a variety of situations. 

For those seeking a deep clean, you might be better off with a corded model (even today's best cordless vacuums can rarely compete with the suction power of a tethered model, and that's the case here – read my Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight review for an example. However, there's still enough power to cope with most people's needs. 

The version I reviewed came with a self-emptying base station, which is an optional extra that's not available in all territories – there's one with a 1.3L dust bag (IW3510UK) or one with a 2L dust bag and an added Pet Tool (IW3611UKT). I tested the US version with 2L dust bin for this review. I found the self-empty station a welcome addition as it made charging and storing the vacuum simple. However, it's not an essential – the most important thing is to get the vacuum cleaner right, and the Shark Detect Pro Cordless is a capable and versatile cordless vacuum on its own. Read on for my full review.

Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum cleaner review: specs

Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum cleaner review: price & availability

• Ticket price: $379.99 / £349.99 / AU$799.99 
• Where can you get it? US, UK and Australia 

At full price, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless will set you back $379.99 / £349.99 / AU$799.99. However, at time of updating this review, it was discounted in all territories – so you might expect to pay more like $249.99 / £229 / AU$499.99. At that price, it's right on the cusp between our budget and mid-range price brackets, and incredible value for money.

• Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5 (assuming a discount on ticket price)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum cleaner review: design

• Easy to assemble and disassemble 
• Large and useful LED display
• Converts to a handheld vacuum
• LED headlights illuminate dirt in dingy areas

Adorned in an attractive white and gold colorway, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless follows the general outline of other such stick vacuums. The floorhead, with a single self-cleaning brushroll, features a strip of LED lights to illuminate any mess in the path of the cleaner. The stem is lightweight but large enough for decent-sized debris to pass through unencumbered, plus it also easily clips and unclips into the floorhead and handheld. Disassembling the vacuum takes just a press of a few buttons.

The handheld itself is the brains of the operation. To convey this fully, a sizable LED display as well as the two control buttons – one for power and one for mode – cover the top of it. This display is bordered by a ring of color that changes with the soil level.

As far as controls go, there are three modes to choose from: Eco, Detect, and Boost. While somewhat self-explanatory, the Detect mode became my go-to option. In this mode, the Shark Cordless Detect Pro will automatically adjust its suction power according to the amount of dirt or debris it comes across. This does away with the need to switch from Eco to Max on a particularly dirty section, and then back again, in order to save battery.

One of the great things about cordless vacuums is the versatility of being able to remove the handheld and use it for not only more detailed spot cleaning, but also vacuuming the ceiling or upholstery, for example. The standard model comes with just a Crevice tool, but the version I tested also came with a Pet tool (AU shoppers also get the Pet tool included). 

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum cleaner review: performance

• Powerful for a cordless vacuum 
• Does well on edges and corners, but not going backwards 
• A little heavy when using overhead 

The performance of the Shark Detect Pro Cordless is pretty impressive for an untethered stick vacuum. If you're hoping for suction comparable to that of the most robust corded vacuum cleaners out there then, sadly, cordless models aren’t quite there yet.

But that’s the price you pay for the convenience of cordless. Having tested this model right after the Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight, it was obvious to see that the Detect Pro Cordless needed an extra pass to clean up extra dirty areas compared to the Stratos, not to mention the fact that it didn’t perform as well sucking up debris with the backward pass.

Nevertheless, I found performance more than acceptable, even in homes where the Shark Detect Pro Cordless might be the only vacuum cleaner. It was able to pick up fine dust as well as large debris without too much issue; I even managed to vacuum up trimmings off a Christmas tree (not just individual needles).

The Shark Detect Pro Cordless was able to get pretty close to the edges and corners of floors. And the LED lights on the floorhead made it easy to see if any mess remained to be cleaned up – at least on hard flooring.

I tested this vacuum across carpets, rugs, and different types of hard flooring, and found that it performed equally well across all surfaces. Getting under furniture was no hardship, as it’s possible to get the floorhead to essentially lay flat. 

Getting up high proved a cinch, too. I simply removed the floorhead and clipped on one of the attachments to remove cobwebs in the corners of rooms. The only real issue with using the Shark Detect Pro Cordless in handheld mode is its weight. Using it to clean the couch wasn’t a problem, but holding it over my head for extended periods of time did become tiring. 

• Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum cleaner review: battery

• Around 60 minutes’ runtime in Eco mode 
• Battery life drops significantly in other modes 

The 60 minutes that the Shark Detect Pro Cordless can muster is fairly impressive, although it isn’t quite out of this world – and, of course, that’s 60 minutes in Eco mode. When using the vacuum in Detect mode, for instance, the LED display was showing a single bar of battery life after about 20 minutes. If you have a big area to clean, you might have to do it in shifts if it’s particularly dirty.

Note: it looks like the US version of this machine has a different battery, as the stated maximum battery life is shorter, at 40 minutes.

• Battery life score: 4 out of 5

Shark Detect Pro Cordless review: auto-empty system

• Empties contents of dust bin quickly and quietly
• Charges the vac and provides somewhere to store
• Adds pleasant-smelling odor neutralizer to the vacuum

The version I tested came with a self-emptying base station. This is fairly discreet, despite containing a 2L dust bag (there's also an option with a 1.3L dust bag). It features a handle to not only hold the Shark Detect Pro Cordless for easy grab-and-go use, but to charge it as well. I found it did a wonderful job of keeping the vacuum charged and accessible; without the base, you’ll actually have to find a place to plug in the vacuum each time. 

The self-emptying function pulls the contents of the dustbin into the bag in the basestation, and does so quickly and quietly. (It's quieter than using the actual vacuum (69dB vs 76dB during use.)

In addition, the base station adds odor neutralizer technology. On some Shark vacuums, the odor neutralizer cartridge is inserted into the floorhead, but here it's inserted into the base station (and as such isn't included in the versions that don't have the base station). How the vacuum still manages to spread that scent around to leave floors smelling fresh is beyond me – but it works.

Should you buy the Shark Cordless Detect Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

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How I tested

I used the Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System for a few weeks. I used it on carpet, upholstery, hard flooring, and even ceilings. And, in the course of these different cleaning scenarios, I tried all the different attachments, as well as using just the handheld on its own. I tested the odor neutralizer to see (or smell) if it was a gimmick or worthy addition, plus paid attention to how well it cleaned edges, corners, and debris of all sizes.

I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years from laptops and audio equipment to vacuum cleaners and air fryers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test. 

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: December 2023