The Shark ChillPill is one of the best personal fans around, but it's selling out fast, and if you want to grab one for delivery this week you'll have to be quick. Right now the only option available for rapid delivery is the Shark ChillPill in Dragonfruit for £129 at Amazon.

All other colours are back-ordered, with the silver Cloud version not available until the end of July, and more popular options like Matcha green unavailable for at least six months. If you want your fan this side of Christmas, don't hang around.

I've been keeping a close eye on stocks of various fans during this summer's heatwaves, and personal coolers have been especially popular. In fact, according to a report published by the Guardian this morning, Britons are expected to buy eight million mini fans this year. Most of those will be cheap, low-quality devices sold for just a couple of pounds or even given away free, and last year it was calculated that 55% ended up in landfill.

You certainly don't have to spend £129 on a fan to keep yourself comfortable, and there are many cheaper options available. However much you spend though, it's worth taking care of it, and hanging onto it for as long as possible to prevent unnecessary e-waste — and to make sure you're ready when the temperature starts to climb again next year.

Hands-on with the ChillPill

If you do opt for the ChillPill, I think you'll be pleased. It's a compact and lightweight fan with 10 different speed settings, and a choice of three attachments: the standard fan, a misting fan with its own water reservoir, and a cooling plate to place against pulse points when you're getting uncomfortably warm.

I bought a ChillPill myself after trying one out, and it's been very welcome during my daily office commute — particularly when the train is replaced by a bus service. The misting attachment is especially effective, and can be filled from your drinking water bottle, though I recommend using the intermittent mode rather than continuous misting so the reservoir lasts longer between fills.

For more cooling options, take a look at our complete list of the best fans, which includes plenty of desk, standing, and tower fans to keep you comfortable at home.

For two years, I was TechRadar's chief vacuum tester. That wasn't my actual job title (more's the pity) but that is mostly what I was doing. My main takeaway from those very housework-heavy times is that most people should ignore the flashy cordless stick vacuums and just buy a corded upright. And that's especially true for anyone with pets, lots of carpet, or a home with many people living in it.

I'll get into exactly why I've turned into such a corded upright evangelist below, but I'd like to flag up first that if you were going to convert, now would be a great time to do so. We're just nearing the end of the Amazon Prime Day sales and there are a ton of discounts on corded upright vacuums from Shark — if you're quick. (Want to see? Skip my waffle and jump straight to the deals.)

• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Why buy a corded upright?

Why are corded upright vacuums the superior type of vacuum? Three big reasons:

#1. The suction is better

The main reason to choose a corded upright is because, as a general rule of thumb, the suction is almost always better than on a cordless model. If you have carpet, hairy pets, or a high-traffic household, it's just going to be much more effective at keeping it clean.

#2. They last longer

Speaking generally, corded uprights are typically more robust and longer-lasting than cordless options — possibly because often, on a cordless vacuum, the first thing to expire will be the battery. A decent lifespan on a cordless stick vac might be 2-5 years, whereas many upright models can run and run... my mum has a corded upright that used to belong to my grandmother, and has been in use for maybe two decades. It's still going strong.

#3. You can clean, uninterrupted, for longer

With a corded vacuum, you're never going to run out of juice mid-clean. Perhaps even more significant is that the dust cups are much bigger — the cup on a cordless stick vacuum generally be 0.8L at the most (many are smaller), whereas it's common to see 2L cups on uprights. If you're dealing with pet hair in particular, it's such a blessing not to have to traipse to the bin every 10 minutes.

Shark cordless upright deals

Okay then, let's get into the deals. We're nearing the end of Amazon Prime Day, but there are still some bargains to be had, if you're speedy. These Shark corded uprights all have decent discounts that are well worth checking out.

Which should I buy?

How do I tell the difference between these vacuums, I hear you ask? Well, some of them are slightly older models, but that might not be immediately obvious. Most are designed around the same 'lift away' system, where you can remove and hold the canister while you use the floorhead on the wand attached to the flexible nozzle.

A key differentiator to pay attention to is the attachments included. Most will come with your standard narrow nozzle and 'multi-tool' but some might also have a mini motorized head that's designed for use on furniture, and is especially useful at getting hair off upholstery.

The fanciest models will also have some advanced 'detection' features — for instance, they might be able to sense carpet or room edges and increase suction in response. The PowerDetect Upright has a nifty trick where it will suck up (rather than showploughing) debris when it's being pulled backwards. That feature makes a surprisingly big difference to how fast you can clean.

Cordless alternatives

Not convinced? There are some situations where a cordless vacuum is still a better choice. For instance, if you have mostly hard flooring (so don't need a ton of suction power for effective cleaning), or your home has lots of stairs (which would require some awkward traversing with a bulky, heavy upright), or you're trying to navigate many nooks and crannies (in which case the cord and chunky form factor is going to get annoying).

Here are the Prime Day deals I'd recommend on Shark cordless stick vacuums:

More Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Fans: from £20
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

If, like me, you're having to use public transport this week, a personal fan will make your life a lot more comfortable — and I've found just the Amazon Prime Day deal for you. Right now, the Shark ChillPill Travel Bundle is just £119.99 (was £149.99) at Amazon. That includes not just the fan and its three cooling attachments, but a travel case to keep everything safe, and a cross-body strap so you can wear it and stay comfortable hands-free.

• See all Prime Day deals at Amazon

After testing this little fan myself, I loved it so much that I bought my own, and I've not regretted it for a second. My personal favourite is the misting attachment, which sprays you with a fine cloud of vapour when you fill it from your water bottle, but the regular fan and icy cooling plate are a joy as well. Whether you're on a bus or a train, your fellow commuters will be green (and sweaty) with envy.

Considering how high the temperatures are going to soar later this week, I wouldn't be at all surprised if this deal sells out, so I'd strongly advise grabbing it now if you're tempted. This deal only applies to the silver version, but personally I think that's one of the nicest colours anyway.

If you happen to be viewing this article from the US (hello!) then there's good news for you as well if you're feeling the heat — you can grab the Shark ChillPill for $99.99 (was $129.99) at Amazon for Prime Day. This deal doesn't include the carry case and strap, but it's excellent nonetheless, knocking $30 off the list price.

I'm not expecting the ChillPill's main rival, the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool Fan, to receive any Prime Day discounts, so this is likely to be the best offer we see on a personal cooling system this week.

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Trying to sleep during a heatwave can be difficult, and even if you leave all your windows open (and risk letting insects inside), it's likely that you'll have a restless, sweaty night that leaves you feeling irritable and sluggish in the morning. To solve the problem, you need a fan — and not just any old model. Here I've picked out a selection of three of the best fans that are not only effective at keeping you cool overnight, but are whisper-quiet as well, so they won't disturb your slumber with humming or whirring.

All of these fans have received our seal of approval, and are particularly well suited to night-time use. Not only do they have dedicated bedtime modes that are near-silent, all come with a remote control so you can adjust their settings without having to get out of bed, and are very effective even on low power settings.

This is a particularly good time to shop for a fan, too, with great discounts available for Amazon Prime Day. You'll find the best prices for each of these fans below, along with links to our full reviews, so read on to find out which one is best for your bedroom.

Meacofan Sefte 8in Air Circulator

The eight-inch version of this super quiet fan has a rechargeable battery so you can place it anywhere in your bedroom at night, and its barely-audible hum won't disturb your slumber. Our reviewer Cesci Angell was particularly impressed by its Eco mode, which helps prolong battery life, while Sleep mode dims the display and silences the fan's beeps.

Another great feature is the remote control, which lets you operate the fan from the comfort of your bed rather than getting up to switch to Sleep mode when you're ready to settle down. The remote clips onto the fan's body magnetically when not in use, so you don't lose it in the sheets.

Despite its compact size, we found that the MeacoFan Sefte has a real impact on the temperature of a room It's reasonably priced too, considering how much you're getting for your money. A great option if you're struggling and sweating at night.

Read our full Meacofan Sefte 8in Portable Air Circulator review

Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan

We called this fan "ridiculously good" when we tested it last summer, and we stand by that — especially considering its bargain price. It has two heights, so you can place it on your nightstand or in the corner of your bedroom, and offers automatic horizontal and vertical oscillation to keep the whole space feeling cool and breezy.

Our tester reported that it was super quiet despite its strong airflow and found it easy to fine-tune the angle using its remote control, or the touch controls on the fan's stem.

"I measured a volume of just 29dB from around 2ft away on fan speed one, 37dB at speed five, and 51dB at speed 12," she said. "This means it can operate with whisper-quiet volume at its lowest speed, and only gets as loud as moderate rainfall."

If you're looking for a fan to keep you cool at night that's both versatile and affordable, this is the one for you.

Read our full Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan review

Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool

What price would you put on a good night's sleep? The Dyson Find+Follow is the money-no-object option, but it's a top quality fan that will keep you cool and comfortable for many summers to come. As the name suggests, it will also help ease seasonal allergies thanks to HEPA H13-grade and K-Carbon filters, which capture pollen, dust, and pet dander so you don't wake in the morning with a stuffy nose and red eyes.

During the day, its key selling point is its ability to track motion and follow you around the room, rotating up to 350 degrees. If you leave the room briefly, the Find+Follow Purifier Cool will wait patiently in a ‘dormant’ state for your return. The fan will continue, but movement will only resume when you re-enter the room and it picks you up again.

Night mode keeps the fan quiet, and lets you switch it off after a certain duration so you can save electricity once the temperature has dropped sufficiently. "Once on, Dyson’s clever bladeless design delivers smooth air flow that feels like a natural breeze moving through your home, rather than the harsh buffeting you get from some other propeller and tower fans," said our reviewer John McCann, who noted it was super quiet even on its highest setting. Intense heatwaves are only likely to get more frequent in future, so investing in a premium fan now could be a very wise decision.

Read our full Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool review

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat

This unusual-looking fan will prove its worth all year round thanks to its ability to both heat and cool your home, and doing so quietly. We found its cooling particularly effective, and its horizontal arms mean it can blow a refreshing blanket of air over your bed at night. With the provided remote control, you don't even need to get up to do that.

In 'BreezeBoost' mode, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat's airflow can be felt as far as 30 feet / nine meters away, but is much more noticeable at 20 feet / six meters. I didn't really need to adjust the fan speed higher than a five most of the time. Even alevel three was sufficient to keep us cool, though we appreciated having the option to increase the airflow right up to 10, or use the BreezeBoost mode on really hot days.

"Sleep Mode provided some in-room circulation that I enjoyed at nigh," said our reviewer Alex Temblador. "Best yet, it wasn't any louder than my ceiling fan."

Read our full Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat review

More Prime Day deals in the US

• Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks & Echo from $18
• Amazon Haul: viral gadgets, tech & appliances from $1.99
• Apple: MacBooks, AirPods & AirTags from $29
• Beauty: 50% off toothbrushes & hair tools
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs from $69.99
• Garden: tools, mowers, planters from $24.99
• Headphones: 50% off Beats, Bose & Samsung
• Laptops: Apple, HP & Dell from $199
• Mattresses: Sealy, Serta & more from $186
• Patio: outdoor furniture, rugs & decor from $19.99
• Sports: 50% off fitness gear, treadmills & clothing
• Vacuums: Dyson, Shark & Bissell from $34

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £24.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

• Shark has launched a new Luxe Collection of robot and cordless vacuums
• The range features muted colors, satin finishes, and metallic accents
• It was designed in partnership with designer and TV personality Jeremiah Brent

Robovacs are perfect for keeping your home tidy between deep cleans, but they're not very attractive. Even the best robot vacuum is usually a piece of black or white plastic that sits in a matching dock, and is something you'd probably prefer to hide away if possible — some owners even build miniature garages to keep their bots out of sight. Now, Shark has come to the rescue with a robot vacuum that looks more like artwork than an appliance.

The company has teamed up with interior designer Jeremiah Brent of design studio AD100, who you might remember as the interior design expert on seasons 9 and 10 of Queer Eye. He's used his expertise to help develop a new version of the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-In-1 Vac & Mop that looks much more appealing than the original, while cleaning just as well.

We awarded the PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-In-1 Vac & Mop four stars out of five in our review, and were particularly impressed by its obstacle avoidance, edge cleaning with extending mop pads, and its ability to lift itself over thresholds. It's not much to look at though, which is unfortunate for such a conspicuous appliance.

Now, however, the same vacuum is available in four subtle new colors — Evergreen, Ivory, Espresso, and Deep Harbor (navy blue) — all of which have co-ordinating satin-finished metallic trim.

These new Luxe Collection robot vacuum is available for the same list price as the original black model ($1,299.99, which works out at about £970 / AU$1,820), though it's worth noting that the black version is currently discounted to $949.99 (about £710 / AU$1,330) in Shark's online store.

At the time of writing, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-In-1 Vac & Mop Luxe Collection is only available in the US, but I'm hopeful it will be ready to clean homes globally very soon.

Cordless and chic

If you're fed up with an ugly cordless vacuum occupying space on your wall, the Shark Luxe Collection also includes a more stylish version of the Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean & Empty. This lightweight vacuum with its flexible head now comes in four extra colors (Oatstone, Harbor Slate, Sagewood, and Walnut), which are again finished with muted metallic accents.

Each vacuum has a list price of $499.99 in the US, or £499.99 in the UK (about AU$700). They're not currently available in Australia, but will hopefully roll out there before long.

Our tester Tim Gee gave the Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean & Empty four and a half stars in his review, saying: "It did a great job picking up fine dust and larger debris in our tests on carpet and hard floors, has good edge cleaning, and can easily be moved around the house making it an ideal occasional cleaner."

Summer is here, and Shark and Dyson have both launched portable fans to keep you cool as the temperature rises. But which one should you choose — the three-in-one Shark ChillPill, or the sleek Dyson HushJet Mini Cool?

I was expecting these two fans to be closely matched, but having tested both fans extensively, for me the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool is the clear winner. It's much more powerful than the Shark ChillPill, and comes with a better set of accessories (including a pouch to protect the fan in your bag). It's also less expensive, which might come as a surprise, since Dyson products are often pricier than their Shark counterparts.

The Shark ChillPill isn't without its appeal. It's slightly quieter than the Dyson fan, and has three swappable attachments that include a misting fan to enhance the cooling effect of the airflow, and an actively cooled metal plate (called the Instachill Cryro Plate), which you can press against pulse points. However, for me it ultimately couldn't compete with the Dyson's sheer cooling power. Read on for the full low-down on both devices.

Price and availability

The Shark ChillPill launched in March 2026, with a list price of $149.99 in the US, or £129.99 in the UK. That converts to about AU$210, but at the time of writing it's not yet available in Australia.

Dyson revealed the HushJet Mini on April 9, 2026, and it was available to buy a few weeks later. It's significantly cheaper than the Shark ChillPill at $99 / £99.99 / AU$169.

Design

The HushJet Mini Cool follows Dyson's usual 'form follows function' approach. It's a tubular device, with an angled nozzle on top, which rotates so you can direct the airflow. It can be held in one hand, stand upright on a desk (by itself, or in its charging stand) or worn around your neck.

It's operated using two simple switches: one to turn the power on and off, and another to adjust the airflow. The current airflow setting is shown by a row of small white LEDs.

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool comes in three colorways: Ink/Cobalt, Carnelian/Sky, and Stone/Blush (shown here). At the time of writing, Stone/Blush is the most widely available.

The Shark ChillPill is a stranger-looking device, made up of two cylinders that pivot in the middle so you can change the direction of the airflow when it's sitting on a flat surface. It resembles a small pair of binoculars, and although each cylinder is shorter than the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool, its total size is larger.

One of the ChillPill's cylinders houses the fan motor, while the other contains the rechargeable battery, an LED screen, and the controls. You press the screen to switch it on, and twist it to adjust the fan speed. You can lock the controls using a switch on the body of the cylinder.

The ChillPill also has two attachments that twist onto the fan unit. One is a misting fan, which contains a small water reservoir, and can emit a fine spray intermittently or continuously. The other is an actively cooled plate, which you can press against pulse points when you're feeling uncomfortably hot.

The Shark ChillPill is available in six colors: Carbon, Glacier, Haze (shown here), Dragon Fruit, Matcha, and Iced Latte.

Features and performance

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool has five power modes, plus a boost option for extra cooling. During my tests its volume ranged from 46dB on its lowest setting through to 67dB on the highest. That's even quieter than Dyson's claimed 52dB to 72.5dB — though since Dyson tests its devices with professional-grade microphones in an anechoic chamber, I'm inclined to trust its figures more than mine.

The Shark ChillPill has 10 speed settings, but the airflow isn't as concentrated as that from the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool. The ChillPill is slightly quieter (our reviewer measured 43.4dB at the lowest speed setting and 70.5dB the highest), but Dyson's HushJet technology does a better job of cancelling out high frequencies, which I found easier on the ear.

The ChillPill's misting feature is a particularly nice touch, increasing the cooling effect of the fan without making your hair wet or frizzy. The Instachill Cryo Plate is also effective, becoming noticeably cold within a few seconds, though personally I found the mist more effective.

However, there's no denying the fact that Dyson's fan is much more powerful. The Shark ChillPill can reach up to 25,000rpm, while the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool can reach 65,000rpm, and that's a difference you can really feel, even on the lowest settings.

Accessories

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool has a charging stand, which keeps the fan in a stable upright position, and is useful when you just want to use it free-standing on a desk or table. It also comes with a strap that allows you to wear it hanging around your neck. Slide the ring onto the body of the fan (it has a gap that allows it to pass over the buttons), put the cord over your head, and adjust the length. The strap has a section of faux leather that's comfortable against your skin, and you can adjust the direction of the nozzle so the breeze blows onto your face.

The HushJet Mini Cool also has a soft carry case, which is made from black velvet and tightens with a ribbon that matches the color of your fan. A universal mount and clip grip for the fan are sold separately.

The Shark ChillPill comes with three swappable fan attachments — the standard fan, misting fan, and cooling plate — plus a packet of spare misting wicks. These fit into a black velvet bag supplied with the device, but the bag isn't quite large enough to hold the ChillPill itself (it will just about fit inside, but is too large to allow you to tighten the drawstring).

A hard case for the ChillPill is available to buy separately, along with other accessories including a wrist strap, cross-body strap, clip (for attaching to clothing and bags), and clamp (for objects such as gym equipment and pushchairs). You can also buy replacement fan caps and misting wicks.

Both fans charge via USB-C and come with their own charging cables.

Conclusion

I own the Shark ChillPill, and although I don't regret my purchase — it's an effective tool, particularly for use on public transport during a heatwave — if I could choose again I would pick the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool. Although the ChillPill is marginally quieter, and its misting and cooling plate accessories are nice additions, it doesn't have anywhere near the power of the HushJet Mini Cool.

Dyson also provides a better set of accessories, including a case that fits the whole fan and a neck strap, whereas Shark sells these separately. Add in the fact that the Dyson fan is considerably less expensive, and it's an easy choice.

Shark PowerDetect Speed: one-minute review

The Shark PowerDetect Speed is a very capable cordless stick vacuum with a great auto empty base, but like other high-powered cordless vacuums a lack of battery life means it can’t replace a main vacuum.

It did a great job picking up fine dust and larger debris in our tests on carpet and hard floors, has good edge cleaning, and can easily be moved around the house making it an ideal occasional cleaner.

It's a premium product from an established vacuum brand, but when compared with Dyson it's significantly more affordable, making it a good choice if you want top, reliable performance without the high price.

Battery life is a major concern though, as it didn’t last 11 minutes on the highest power setting and took over five hours to recharge the battery, limiting its practicality.

Shark PowerDetect Speed: price and availability

The PowerDetect Speed launched in the US and UK in April 2026 costing US$499.99 and £499.99 for the Clean & Empty version that comes with an auto empty charging dock (although it is worth noting the US version comes with an extra Pet Multi tool that the UK version doesn’t). It was released in Australia in early June 2026 for a retail price of AU$799.

This places it at the premium end of the scale for vacuums, although it is significantly cheaper than the Dyson Gen5detect models it is competing with, making it feel very good value for money when comparing spec with spec.

The build quality is good, it feels capable of handling the rough and tumble of everyday cleaning and it has a good set of features you would expect of a top of the line vacuum including floor and dirt detection. The addition of a dock that empties and charges the vacuum is a godsend and real standout at this price point.

The PowerDetect Speed is also available without the auto empty dock for $429.99 or £429.99, which come with an extra upholstery tool in the US or pet tool in the UK. This version hasn't been released to Australia at the time of writing.

• Value score: 4/5

Shark PowerDetect Speed: specs

Shark PowerDetect Speed: design

• Simple, functional design
• Place to store accessories
• Dirt detect feature not shown on the floorhead

While a vacuum cleaner is very much a practical product rather than a statement piece it is nice for it to look at least smart in a subtle way if you do have to have it visible and Shark has done a decent job with the PowerDetect Speed. The grey and blue metallic finish feels mostly focused on blending into the background and any out-there accents have thankfully been limited to the orange roller in the floorhead.

The auto empty dock is also unfussy but does include one of my favorite features of this entire product in the shape of two small notches at the back of the dock for storing the included accessories. This is such a small thing, but after years of trying to find where in the house the kids have hidden the crevice tool this time, it is hugely appreciated.

The body of the vacuum is similar to the older PowerDetect model but it is slightly smaller, lighter and they have swapped the trigger button for a second button on the back of body. This is a definite improvement as it was easy to accidentally change modes with the trigger button, especially if vacuuming at different heights such as cleaning the stairs.

The PowerDetect Speed does lose 0.5kg on the previous version and comes in under Dyson’s Gen5 Detect by around 300g, but that said, this is still a bit of a chunky vacuum cleaner and may feel like a bit of a workout to push around for some, Rivals like the Dreame R20 weigh in almost a whole kilo lighter so if lightweight is top of your priority list it may be worth looking elsewhere.

It's controlled using two buttons on the back of the body, which also has a screen to show you what mode you are in, how much battery you have left and whether the vacuum is currently detecting dirt where you are cleaning. This is done through a color coded arc around the top of the screen with a dark purple color indicating it is picking up a lot of dirt which then progressively goes paler until it goes white indicating the floor is now clean.

I will go into more detail about the PowerDetect feature later but I do have a gripe about how this is presented. In the previous PowerDetect model this color-coding was also shown in lights at the back of the floorhead so you could see cleaning performance as you cleaned without taking your eyes off where you were moving the floorhead. With it only on the back of the body of the vacuum you now have to keep moving your eyes from one to the other which is definitely a step backwards.

The floorhead uses one roller with anti-wrap elements and a light that switches from regular white light on carpet to a blue UV light on hard floors for highlighting dirt. This works well although I’m not sure the UV light really provides a significant improvement over a regular light.

Depending where you are you will get different accessories with US customers getting a crevice tool and pet multi tool and those in the UK only getting a crevice tool, but the slightly better version that includes a sliding duster to it. The pet multi tool did OK at picking up cat hair, although no better than the regular floorhead and generally just caught them in the bristles rather than picking them up directly. Where it was most useful was as a wider cleaning path than the crevice tool when vacuuming a car.

• Design score: 4/5

Shark PowerDetect Speed: performance

• Dirt Detect works well
• Excellent fine detail and debris pick up
• Handles pet and long hair well without tangling

It is straightforward to use with only the two buttons for one and off or to change mode — which unless you are trying to maximize battery runtime, you shouldn’t need. The attachments are easy to snap into place or detach using the large buttons and the whole vacuum can fold in half for storage away from the charging dock.

It maneuvers well and while it might not be quite as smooth as the Dyson equivalent or as light as some other rivals it is easy to steer around furniture. It also is able to bend the wand so you can run the cleaner under low furniture reaching hard to clean spots. This is a nice bonus and may be ideal for some homes but I personally didn’t find myself using it day to day.

Emptying the vacuum is one area where it really stands out, you simply pop it back on top of the charging dock when you are done — or more likely when it has run out of battery but more on that later — and the base sucks all the dust out into its own larger two-liter bin. This obviously will need emptying itself, but the shape (and the fact you will have to do it less often) makes it much easier to do this without making a mess.

The detect part of PowerDetect comes from the four ways it adjusts suction power to optimize cleaning by detecting the floor type, amount of dirt being sucked up, whether it is close to the edge of a room and what direction it is traveling. This means all you need to do is move the vacuum around and it will change its cleaning modes, with the dirt detection also letting you know whether certain sections are worth some more attention through the color coding display on the handle.

When I first used this dirt detection I was a bit skeptical that it was still picking up debris where it claimed it was but the dust bin would time and again prove me wrong. At first this felt like an amazing feature, but later when combined with the battery life, having to go back and forth over the same bits of floor made me start to wonder if ignorance was bliss.

In the cleaning tests the Speed struggled a bit in low suction mode with one pass leaving quite a bit of fine dust and larger debris on both carpet and hard floors. Moving it up to full suction did much better with it picking up almost all the fine dust on the hard floor and, aside from some scattering of the rice, most of the debris on the next pass.

Edge cleaning was a similar story at both low and high power, with it doing very well on high for hard floors. It still needed the crevice tool to get the finest material but it did as well as I have seen from a stick vacuum.

Hair pickup was also excellent handling long and pet hair well without any sign of tangling on the floorhead brush.

It’s not quiet but at around 70-75 dbs (somewhere between traffic and a busy restaurant) on maximum power it's not the loudest either. The auto empty base creates a similar level of noise as it flushes the dust from the cleaner, but this is a pretty quick process.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Shark PowerDetect Speed: battery life

• Less than 11 minutes on boost mode
• Long recharge time
• Spare batteries not yet available

My sticking point with the PowerDetect Speed is the battery life as, when testing on full power, it only managed a paltry 10 minutes and 38 seconds. While the variable speed in dirt detect mode will allow you to get a bit more cleaning out of a charge, I often found it would last less than half an hour. Couple this with a recharge time of 5 hours and 19 minutes and it severely limits its practicality as a main vacuum for anything but a small apartment.

This is a common problem for high powered stick vacuums as they try to keep the weight of the batteries down, but it is one of the shortest run times and longest charge times I have tested making it a bit of a challenge even thoroughly vacuuming the car on a single charge.

While you can switch out the battery, I wasn’t able to find a way of buying a spare battery online with the cordless vacuum battery available through Shark’s website only compatible with older models. If one is made available expect this to come with a hefty price tag, the older model batteries cost an additional $87.99 in the US.

• Battery life score: 3/5

Should you buy the Shark Poweretect Speed?

The answer is going to depend heavily on the size of your home and how you plan to use the cleaner. If this is going to be your only vacuum it’s barely going to get through a studio apartment before it needs a recharge. If you are looking for a convenient cleaner for spot cleaning it is superb both in terms of performance and ease of emptying, all while being a step cheaper than the Dyson equivalent.

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

How I tested the Shark PowerDetect Speed

I tested the PowerDetect Speed for over a week in day-to-day use as well as specific tests picking up fine dust (tea) and larger debris (rice) on hard floors, carpet and around room edges. Battery life was tested on the highest power setting and lowest, as well as checking the time it took to fully charge from empty.

I tested the Speed in different cleaning scenarios including vacuuming stairs, a car and a variety of floor types.

First reviewed May 2026

Despite the weather being a little hit and miss recently, the warm weather is on its way, and that means it's time to get prepared. For that, you'll want one of the best fans. And trust us, prices skyrocket in the summer months, so it really does pay to get sorted before that happens.

One deal that you can take advantage of right now is the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo at Amazon for £89 (was £129.99). This discount sees the highly rated portable fan drop back to the record-low price we've only seen once before.

The fan itself is solidly built, lightweight, and remarkably quiet. It's everything you could want to keep you cool, whether you're inside and escaping the sun or relaxing in the garden.

Today’s best portable fan deal

Read more about this misting fan in our Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo review. We tested it extensively, put it through its paces, and finally awarded it a solid four out of five stars.

We said that "the airflow packs a punch for its size, but the real standout feature here is the misting function, which helps cool you even more. Overall, a great companion for summer adventures."

We were also impressed by the fan's ability to direct airflow over long distances. There's nothing worse than having to be right next to a fan to feel the benefit. Thankfully, that's not a problem with the FlexBreeze HydroGo, because on the lowest fan setting, our tester could feel the airflow 17 feet away — and on BreezeBoost mode, from 30 feet away.

Now is a fantastic time to get a great price on kitchen appliances and gadgets. There are plenty of air fryer deals going on at the moment, as well as discounts on the best air purifiers, too.

This bank holiday weekend is going to be seriously warm, with temperatures hitting up to 28C on Sunday — and the warm weather is expected to continue into next week too. Great news if you're planning a barbecue, but it could soon get unpleasant if you're trying to work indoors, attempting to sleep in an overheated bedroom, or enduring a sweaty journey on public transport. You need a fan, and as TechRadar's homes editor I've put together a list of the three best value options you can buy right now, so you're prepared for the hot weather.

There's something here for every occasion. The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo works indoors or out, and can emit a fine mist to cool your skin instantly; the Meaco Sefte Pro will help you sleep more comfortably with its dedicated Night mode; and the Shark ChillPill is small enough to carry in your bag, but powerful enough to make sweltering train journeys bearable.

Affordable fans like these are going to sell like hot cakes this weekend, so I recommend grabbing one now so you can have it delivered before the temperature spikes, and start using it straight away.

Best budget fan

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo

The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo is currently £99 at Amazon (was £129.99), and is a particularly versatile fan with a large carry handle that means you can use it anywhere, indoors or out. Unlike most fans, it also has a rechargeable battery, so you don't have to keep it close to a power socket. During our tests, its battery lasted for one and a half hours on its maximum cooling setting, and four hours and 13 minutes on its middle setting, which is quite respectable.

During our tests we were able to feel the breeze from up to 17 feet away, even on the lowest power setting, so a single fan should be enough to cool most rooms. You can also tilt it to adjust the direction of the airflow, which isn't possible with most regular table fans.

My favorite feature is the HydroFan Go's mister, which uses a very fine spray of water that's just enough to cool your skin as it evaporates, without making your hair and clothes feel wet. It's only a shame that the fan doesn't oscillate to cover a wider area, but it's very impressive for the price, and should make hot weekends a lot more comfortable.

Read our full Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan review

Best personal fan

Shark ChillPill

Best table fan

Meaco Sefte Pro 10in Table Air Circulator

As an air circulator, the Sefte Pro moves large volumes of air around the room rather than directing a focused breeze at you. It's an important distinction that's worth knowing about when you're choosing which device to buy ahead of the weekend heatwave.

We've been big fans of Meaco's air circulators for a long time here at TechRadar, but this model, released just a couple of months ago, offers several new features including app control (so you can operate it from across the room), and a replaceable and rechargeable battery so it's not tethered to one room.

During testing we particularly enjoyed Eco mode, which provides effective cooling while keeping battery drain to a minimum, and Night mode, which is quiet enough to avoid disturbing your sleep. It's barely audible, and we found its very gentle hum just enough to help us nod off.

If you want to waft a blanket of cool air over your bed at night, the Meaco Sefte Pro is also available as a tall pedestal fan, though at £199 from Amazon it's considerably more expensive than this tabletop model.

Read our full MeacoFan Sefte Pro 10-inch Table Air Circulator review

Dyson changed the haircare game when it released the original Airwrap. This innovative gadget used directed air, rather than scorching hot barrels, to shape hair into curls. The Airwrap was good news for hair health, but bad news for your wallet — even that original version was a pricey proposition.

It took a while for decent Airwrap alternatives to start to appear. The air-based curling, using a phenomenon called the 'Coanda' effect, was the thing other brands seemed to be struggling to replicate. However, now — almost a decade on — there are plenty of Coanda-equipped multi-stylers on the market to choose from. I tested a whole load of top multi-stylers in my previous role as Homes Editor, and I've collected together my favorite recommendations below. The main brands to look for are Shark and Dreame, both of which have their own established styling tool line.

The Shark FlexStyle is probably the key Airwrap competitor, and does a great job of mimicking Dyson's efforts. I called it "versatile" and "well designed" in my review, and praised the range of compatible attachments. I wasn't so enamored with the newer Shark Glam, which adds in hot plates to smooth things even further, but it could be a winner if you're a fan of the ultra-glossy look.

The Dreame AirStyle Pro is one of the best-looking options around, and the new Dazzle (US only) is especially hi-tech, with attachment recognition. I'll be honest, though, the Airwrap alternative I find myself reaching for most often is my Dynamic Radiance Pro (UK only) — a cheap option that does the job with minimal fuss, and comes with an especially great brush attachment.

Awesome Airwrap-alikes

The real thing...

Considering buying the real thing? The model I'd recommend is the Airwrap i.d., which has a switch to launch an automated wrap > curl > cool shot sequence that takes all the skill and effort out of creating perfect coils. However, if you really want to push the boat out, the newest option is the Co-anda 2X, which has all the same tricks as the i.d. but in a lighter and more powerful package. At the other end of the price spectrum is the Airwrap Origin, which lacks the automation features but is much more wallet-friendly.

One of the best investments you can make for your home is a humble but powerful vacuum cleaner. When you can clean up your home faster and better than before, it really makes a difference. Today, you can buy the Shark PowerPro at Amazon for £169.99 (was £249), which is a record-low price for the already very well-priced vacuum cleaner.

It’s hit this record-low price a couple of times in the past, but it’s an all-or-nothing scenario. It’s either full price or discounted with big gaps in between, so you don’t want to miss out.

Considered to be one of the best value options around and from a much-loved brand, the Shark PowerPro has a multi-surface floorhead which can handle carpets and hard floors equally well. It also has anti-hair wrap tech for trapping allergens and handling hair dropping on your floor. It’s an excellent all-rounder.

Today’s best vacuum cleaner deal

Shark is a name you’ll see feature prominently when we talk about the best cordless vacuums. In our review of the Shark PowerPro, our tester gave it 4.5 stars and called it “the best-value vacuum cleaner I've tested.” It “delivers solid cordless suction across different surfaces” with its flexible wand and LED headlamps proving useful.

It can feel a little plasticky and cheap, and its floorhead misses edges, but for the price, it’s a great deal. Its anti-hair tangle technology should prove useful if you can’t afford the absolute best vacuums for pet hair, too.

I’ve used Shark vacuum cleaners for several years and found them better value than the best Dyson vacuum cleaners — and the Shark PowerPro demonstrates that well. It comes with a crevice tool and an upholstery tool for added convenience.

If your heart is set on another brand, there are many Dyson vacuum deals around. For a low effort option, check out the robot vacuum deals available today too.

Temperatures are starting to rise, and although we're not quite at the ice cream-and-sun hat stage of the year, it's a good time to start thinking about your hot weather survival kit. There will come a point, not too long from now, when a good fan will become a daily essential. The thing that keeps you sane while you work, and enables you to get a decent night's sleep rather than simply dissolving in a pool of sweat.

We put the legwork in and tested a whole load of fans last summer, from a range of brands and at a range of price points. You'll find all of our top picks in our official best fan ranking, but for this article I've focused on desktop models specifically.

These are compact fans that are designed to be positioned on a surface, and are easy to move about to exactly where they're needed (in contrast to pedestal or tower fans, which sit on the floor). Below, I've pulled together six models that you can rely on to keep you cool when the warm weather really sets in.

The coolest desktop fans we've tested

There are three standout models in our review back-catalogue. If you're looking for something that's simple but effective, you'd struggle to beat the Meaco Sefte 8in. Our tester was impressed that it could "blast out impressively strong airflow at a pleasingly low volume", commenting that it was so effective she ended up choosing it over more expensive models when it came to keeping the testing office cool last summer.

Next, the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo. This one is designed with portability in mind, and comes with a useful carry handle. You can even take it outside with you. There's a misting attachment for when you want to up the cooling ante (traditional fans don't actually lower the temperature in a room, but misting does). Our tester called it "a great companion for summer adventures".

Finally, if you fancy splashing some cash on something more premium, consider the Dyson Cool CF1. The bladeless design is sleek and stylish, and it operates whisper-quietly, making it a strong choice for keeping you cool while you're trying to get to sleep.

More options...

Not sold on any of those options? Here are some alternatives to consider. We haven't tested these specific models, but they come from brands we rate highly and would confidently recommend.

Vacuuming isn't especially fun, and having to shell out your hard-earned cash for a vacuum cleaner might be even more painful. I was in charge of TechRadar's vacuum cleaner coverage for two full years, during which time I tested out all kinds of vacuums at all kinds of prices. I've put together this article to help out anyone who's in need of a new vacuum for their spring cleaning kick, but doesn't want to pay over the over the odds for it.

Most of these picks come in just under £250 (although deals crop up on all of these models fairly regularly), which is generally enough to get you a very capable cleaner. My top recommendation is probably the Dreame R20, which is perhaps the best cordless vacuum cleaner I've tested all-round, serving up good vacuuming, a lightweight build and some advanced special features for that affordable price.

I'm also a big fan of the Dyson V8 Cyclone; a refreshed version of the iconic V8. It's relatively basic in features, but really shines when it comes to outright cleaning clout — this is the option I'd recommend to owners of shedding pets.

A wild card is the Shark Freestyle Max. It's unusual in that it's an upright model, but it's cordless. On test it delivered nimble maneuvering and superb suction — albeit over very short runtimes. It's the cheapest of the bunch, at around £100. Happy spring cleaning!

My favorite cheap vacuums — UK

It’s that time of the year when we all fall into the trap of thinking we don’t need one of the best fans for the summer. You do. Believe me. I’ve fallen into the trap of not buying a fan early in the year, then paying a premium once I’m melting. Don’t be that person.

That's why I'd strongly suggest buying the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo at Amazon while it's £89 (was £129.99), so you can enjoy suffering less in the future heatwave that’s no doubt on the way.

As well as simply getting ahead of the inevitable rush for fans in the summer months, now's the ideal time to buy as this is a record-low price for the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo. It previously dropped to £99, but it's never been as cheap as this. I own the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo, and it’s a delight for the price.

You can move it around your house thanks to its easily portable and lightweight design. Plus, it’s remarkably quiet for a fan and boasts a runtime of up to 12 hours at the lowest speed. It also uses Shark’s Evaporating Cooling technology, which produces ultra-fine droplets to create a refreshing mist wherever you are.

Today’s best fan deal

We truly appreciated the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo in our review. We gave it four stars and described it as “immediately [becoming] my summer essential.” We really appreciated its airflow as it “packs a punch for its size”, while “the real standout feature here is the misting function, which helps cool you even more.”

It isn’t the perfect fan as it doesn’t oscillate and its battery life is quite average. There’s no remote or app control either, but its powerful airflow is a huge plus. It brings the technology of the best Shark vacuum cleaners to the cooling world and you’ll wonder how you lived without it during the hottest days of the year.

While you’re planning ahead with how to keep cool, get one of the air fryer deals going on. It’ll save you from needing to go near your cooker during the summer months. It may also be time to read up on the best air purifiers too.

Last week, Shark launched a compact, rechargeable fan that's small enough to carry anywhere, and comes with three different attachments to keep you cool when the mercury rises. It sounds like bliss on a warm day, and having now tried it myself, I can confirm that it really is.

The ChillPill is much more solidly built than most personal fans, and comprises two cylinders: one containing the battery, display, and controls, and the other housing a variable-speed fan. The cylinders pivot in the center so you can place the ChillPill on a flat surface and twist it so the fan is pointing in exactly the right direction.

There are also attachments available if you want to clip the device onto something like an exercise bike, or the handle of a pushchair.

The ChillPill has three swappable attachments: a standard fan, a misting fan, and an 'InstaChill Cooling Plate', which is a metal disc that's actively cooled by the fan behind it. The higher you turn the fan, the colder it gets, and you can gently press it against your wrists, neck, or forehead.

Press down on the circular LED display to turn the ChillPill on, then turn it right and left to increase and decrease the fan power. An icon on the screen indicates the current battery status, and when it starts to run low, you can recharge it with a standard USB cable. You will also see a different icon on the screen depending on which attachment is in place: a fan, a water drop for the mister, and a snowflake for the cooling plate.

The screen will time out after a few seconds of inactivity to save power, and the ChillPill has a locking switch to prevent it being activated accidentally when you're carrying it in a bag.

The standard fan is very effective, particularly when you're working at your desk, as you can aim the airflow directly at your face and neck, but my favorite feature is the misting fan.

Fill the attachment's reservoir with water, clip it closed, then twist it into place. When you want to cool down, twist open the aperture on the front, switch on the fan, and take your pick from the two misting modes: continuous and intermittent (which pumps out mist in pulses so it can keep misting for longer).

The mist is extremely fine, and evaporates immediately on contact, so you won't end up with damp skin, clothes and hair, and you can adjust the fan speed while it's running. It's the same technology used by the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo tabletop fan, which launched last year, and quite frankly it's bliss. I'm writing this in a very warm apartment with the intermittent misting mode enabled, on the second fan setting, and the cooling sensation is wonderful.

It's not silent, but it's certainly quiet (registering at 35dB on the current setting) and you'll easily forget it's there — until you have to move away from its delightful breeze.

I'll soon be putting the Shark ChillPill through out usual battery of tests to see whether it can earn a place in our full roundup of the best fans, but my initial impressions are very positive, and I can see this little wonder keeping me company at the office, on the train, and at the gym throughout the summer.

Where would you take a ChillPill? Let us know in the comments.

Years ago, I switched from my old and inconvenient corded vacuum to a cordless one, and I loved it. Just grab and go! No setup, no tangling! I'm a tech journalist after all, and the promise of solving inconveniences using the power of lithium-ion is catnip to me. And it worked great for me for years, making it really easy to stay on top of floor cleaning.

But last year, I found the shine wearing off. When I first got my cordless vacuum, I lived somewhere with all hard floors downstairs, and only carpets upstairs. My Vax vacuum had two levels of suction power, and the lower level was fine for doing the hard floors, with plenty of battery life to get around the whole level, and then some.

Doing the carpeted areas required the higher power level, and this drained the battery way faster, to the point that I could only just do it all in one go (even ignoring the hard floor). Still, no problem — they needed doing less often than the hard floors in general, being in less-used areas of the house.

Since then, I've moved house to somewhere that's almost entirely carpeted, and pretty quickly my cordless vac started feeling in inadequate. Yes, it still had the convenience of being able to just grab it out of the cupboard and instantly start cleaning, but because I now needed to have it on maximum power all the time, I was barely getting through even half the house, with zero chance of doing the whole thing — it felt like it was extending the chore instead of making it more accessible.

On top of that, even at maximum power, I wasn't happy with the quality of the cleaning, now that all the highest-trafficked parts of my house were carpeted. I was wanting to clean more often, which then made the inability to do it all at once feel more frustrating.

Around that time, we were working on our Shark Stratos Pet Pro Upright Vacuum review, and so I ended up switching to that model — and I've stuck with it ever since.

It's bigger and heavier (we noted in our review that it's particularly bulky), and more of A Thing to get out and use when you combine its size with it being corded, but I feel far more proud of the cleaning results afterwards. I could instantly see the difference in the amount of cat hair in particular being picked up, too.

This model has Shark's 'Lift-Away' design, meaning I can separate the vacuum part from the main head and tube, connect a smaller attachment to the nozzle, and just use that for doing the stairs, which is essential, in my experience — the main unit itself is just too bulky to move around well on steps, and doesn't get into the corners at all.

Between the size, sorting out the cord and using the Lift-Away system, it does feel like the vacuuming job takes a long time in some ways — but I'd say it's been more economical with my time overall, because I'm doing the whole house in one go and it's cleaner afterwards, with each room taking less time to feel like it's been done well.

I also want to note something that isn't a cordless versus corded thing, but because I live with someone who has a lot of long, thick hair, the Anti Hair Wrap design of the rollers in the Shark cleaner is also miracle in its own right.

There are lots of reasons why you might still prefer to go with one of the best cordless vacs over a corded one, and it's true that many will be able to offer stronger suction or swappable battery packs that would've helped solve my issues — but on balance, I'm happier with the reliability and power I've had from the Shark corded vac.

(And just to prove that I learned my lesson from this change, when I got a new car recently, I chose the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum for cleaning it, because as my colleague Cesci said in her review, 'I can just clean as deeply as I want, at my leisure, with no worries about running out of battery before I'm done'.)

If you're thinking of grabbing a new vacuum cleaner for your spring cleaning, and want to join me in going old-school and corded, I've worked with our resident vacuum testing expert Ruth Hamilton and Homes Editor Cat Ellis to pick out four top deals from the Amazon Spring Sale.

Today's best corded vacuum deals at Amazon

More of today's best Amazon Spring Deal Days deals

• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Blink & Echo from £13.99
• Apple: AirPods & Apple Watch from £139
• Appliances: up to 30% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Clothing: up to 50% off Sketchers & Crocs
• Essentials: from £5
• Gaming: up to 50% off PS5 & Switch games
• Headphones: Sony & Shokz from £59
• Health & Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Smart home: up to 50% off cameras & doorbells
• Smartwatches: Apple, Samsung & Huawei from £99
• Tablets: Fire & Galaxy Tabs from £59.99
• Toys: up to 30% off Lego
• TVs: from £139.99
• Vacuums: up to 30% off Shark & Vax

If you’re looking to spruce up how you clean your home, there’s a great offer right now in the spring sale at Amazon. Today, you can buy the Shark Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum Cleaner at Amazon for £189.99 (was £252.07), which is just £20 more than it was during last year's Black Friday sales.

The Shark Clean & Empty has some great features and it comes from a very reliable brand. It has an auto-empty system, anti-wrap technology, and it can handle both carpets and hard floors. It’s particularly good for a small flat or apartment, but its 40-minute battery life should have you all set for most living spaces. It even looks pretty stylish, as you don’t always find sleek-looking white vacuum cleaners.

Today’s best cordless vacuum cleaner deal

Our Shark Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review called it “the most convenient vacuum I’ve ever tested” and described it as the “perfect everyday cleaner.” It’s “lightweight, balanced and agile” with useful automation features and a handy auto-empty dock.

We found it isn’t “the most high-powered vac” and its battery life is “good [but] not great”, but it’s a great choice at this price. It’s sure to be one of the best cordless vacuums for many situations, and I really love how it looks.

Its anti-hair tangle makes it a good option for the best vacuum for pet hair, too, while being much cheaper than the best Dyson vacuum. If you’re keen to keep on top of dust and dander around your home, this is a convenient way to do so, plus you have the benefit of it looking pretty nice too.

If you want to spend a little more, take a look at the Dyson vacuum deals available right now. To save you even more afford, don’t overlook the robot vacuum deals going on too. They’re ideal if you prefer the hands-off approach.

• The Shark ChillPill is a small but powerful portable misting fan
• It also has a small cooling plate for instant relief on pulse points
• It's available to buy now for $149.99 in the US, or £129.99 in the UK

Shark has just released a new personal misting fan that you can carry with you, clip onto your bike, use at the gym, or even wear for quick relief on hot days. The Shark ChillPill is battery-operated, and keeps you cool with high-speed airflow and 'dry-touch mist' that evaporates on contact with your skin for a quick cooling sensation.

It works on the same principle as the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo — a cordless, carriable fan designed to be used indoors or out, which we awarded four stars out of five.

Like the FlexBreeze HydroGo, the ChillPill shift a lot of air for its size, and is assisted by two misting modes: consistent and interval. My colleague Ruth Hamilton has already experienced its cooling power in a hands-on demo, and found it very effective despite its compact size.

"During my hands-on time I was impressed with the fan function — even though it's small, it packs a decent punch when it comes to airflow — and loved the idea of being able to mist myself on the go too," she said.

Her favorite feature, however, was the InstaChill cooling plate, which immediately lowers skin temperature when you want quick relief.

"It instantly dropped to an impressively chilly temperature, and holding it against pulse points (neck, wrists) was immediately refreshing," she said. "I can imagine it being absolutely dreamy during a heatwave, perhaps to use in cramped situations like a sweaty underground train."

The ChillPill is available to buy now from Amazon for $149.99 in the US, and will cost £129.99 in the UK. I'll be putting it to the test soon, and will bring you a full review once I've found out how it fares at home, in the office, and in particularly sweaty situations like a tough spin class.

If you're looking for something larger, take a look at our complete guide to the best fans, including tabletop and pedestal models to suit every room.

• The Shark EveryMess 3-in-1 can vacuum wet and dry spills, and act like a spot cleaner
• It's impressively compact and comes with a range of attachments
• Available to buy now for $149.99 / £199

Shark has expanded its spot cleaner lineup with a multitalented new machine. The Shark EveryMess can vacuum liquid and solid messes, or work as a spot cleaner on upholstery. I saw one in action at Shark's HQ, where it sucked up a Coke spill from a cream carpet with not so much as a trace of sticky soda left behind.

This 3-in-1 combination is pretty unusual — in this corner of the market, you typically get wet-and-dry vacuums or spot cleaners, but it's rare for an appliance to do both. It's available to buy now from $149.99 in the US, and £199.99 in the UK (scroll down to check out the best prices at a range of retailers).

What's more, it's impressively compact. The US and UK versions have slightly different proportions, but either would fit into an average-sized kitchen/utility room cupboard. (The US version is 10.5 x 16.5 x 13.5in / 26.7 x 41.9 x 34.3cm L x W x H. The UK version is 22.7 x 36.9 x 36.4cm / 8.9 x 14.5 x 14.3in.)

There are multiple compatible attachments for tackling different kinds of messes: an extending Crevice tool for tight corners, a wider Squeegee tool for covering larger spaces, and a dedicated Stain Eliminator attachment for tough, set-in stains.

Although it's marketed as a 3-in-1, this doesn't look like a sensible replacement for a full-sized wet floor cleaner, because none of the attachments are especially big. However, for smaller, trickier cleanups of any kind, it seems ideal — Shark lists broken glass and permanent marker as examples of awkward cleanups this appliance can happily tackle.

Another obvious market for such multipurpose cleaners is pet owners. Not only is the EveryMess suitable for cleaning everything from muddy pawprints on your soft furnishings to the occasional toilet-training accident, but Shark says it's especially good at picking up pet hair at the same time.

Shark boasts about a 'Rinse & Ready' self-clean function, but it's a little more rudimentary than it sounds: to rinse out the tubing, you can simply vacuum up a pitcher of fresh water. For especially disgusting messes, Shark recommends lining the main bin with a 15-50L plastic bag so you don't need to get your hands dirty when it comes to disposal.

The EveryMess is designed for use with Shark's 'StainForce' two-part cleaning solution, and the brand suggests you'll only get that kind of extreme, stain-busting performance with that specific formula. The spray nozzle part clips straight onto the cleaner cartridges, replacements of which can be purchased separately at a cost of $24.99 / £24.99 for two, or $14.99 / £14.99 for one.

Shark Stratos IZ400: two-minute review

It might be looking a little long in the tooth now, but there's a reason the Stratos IZ400 is still part of Shark's vacuum cleaning lineup. This model packs a punch for cleaning power, and comes with a handful of special additions that help elevate it above the competition.

Standout features include dirt-based automatic suction adjustment and a forward-bending wand that makes it easy to clean under furniture, not to mention enabling the entire unit to fold in half for freestanding storage. But maybe my most favorite thing about this vacuum is that you can actually reach the on-off and mode buttons with your holding hand – something that's ridiculously rare on modern vacuums.

While the Stratos IZ400 isn't quite as efficient as the newer and pricier Shark PowerDetect, it still performed impressively well in my cleaning tests, proving equally capable on vinyl flooring, plus mid-pile and deep-pile carpet. Score-wise, it's up there with the best cordless vacuums on the market right now.

It won't be the best vacuum for everyone, however. The main downside is that it's rather heavy and bulky, and the PowerDetect pips it to the post when it comes to both special features and outright cleaning power. However, because it's older, this vacuum attracts plenty of discounts, with which it can represent incredible value for money.

Read on for my full Shark Stratos 1Z400 cordless vacuum review.

Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless review: price & availability

• List price: £429.99 / AU$799.99 (discounts common)
• Available: UK and Australia

The Stratos IZ400 has been out for a few years now, launching in 2022. Shark has released several newer models to its lineup since, including the Shark Detect Pro and PowerDetect Cordless.

In the UK, the list price for the Stratos Cordless IZ400 is £429.99, but it isn't difficult to find it at far less than this – at time of writing, it was available for £249.99 from Shark direct. This model is also available in Australia, where it costs AU$799.99 (reduced to AU$599.99 at time of writing).

At full price it's no doubt a premium model, but those discounts take it into mid-range territory. For what you're getting, it's excellent value for money.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless specs

Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless review: design

• Heavy and bulky for a stick vacuum
• Controls are simple and effective
• Auto-suction adjustment and a forward-bending wand

Features include auto-suction adjustment based on how dusty the floor is, and enhanced anti-hair wrap design on the floorhead, an anti-odor capsule for keeping everything smelling fresh, and a wand that can be released to bend forwards to make it easier to clean under furniture. That last feature is also handy for storage, since it means you can fold the vacuum in half and it will stand on its own.

Like almost all cordless stick vacuums, the wand can be removed and the unit can be used as a handheld.

The main floorhead is Shark's older-style unit, featuring two separate rollers: a soft one for hard flooring, and another with rubbery fins for carpet. The front-mounted headlamps here are pretty dim, and won't illuminate dirt as effectively as those that feature on Dyson's laser floorheads. The Shark also lacks the "suction in reverse" feature included on the PowerDetect vacuums – this would prevent chunky debris from pooling up when the vacuum is pulled back over it.

Not too, that the IZ400 is one of the heaviest cordless stick vacuums I've used, weighing in at nearly 4kg with the wand and main floorhead attached. In handheld mode, however, it's fairly light – much of the weight is in the wand and floorhead, both of which are rather chunky.

Although the size and weight make it a little unwieldy, the IZ400 still feels decently easy to maneuver. Shark has added shaping and padding to the handle, which means it's easy to get a solid grip, yet it remains comfortable to use.

There are three modes to choose from: Eco (low suction), Boost (maximum suction), and Clean Sense IQ. That last one is the auto mode, where the machine will automatically adjust suction based on the level of dirt detected.

There are two control buttons: one switches the machine on and off, and the other lets you toggle modes. I was thrilled to discover that these are within easy reach of the handle – something that is bewilderingly rare on modern vacuums. It means you don't have to keep a spare hand free when cleaning, which is great.

Information is delivered via a screen above the handle. This is refreshingly uncomplicated – it tells you which mode you're in and how much battery remains, as a percentage.

Emptying the vacuum is simple, although you will need to remove the floorhead to activate the open-bin switch. Unlike on newer Shark vacuums, there's no compatible auto-empty dock.

The model I tested came with two attachments: a Crevice tool and a Multi-Surface tool, which is a wider brush tool for upholstery. Note, the one I tested here didn't have a motorized roller, as some upholstery tools do.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless review: performance

• Strong cleaning on hard floor and carpet
• Auto-suction adjustment works well and saves effort
• Not quite as efficient as the Shark PowerDetect

During general use, I was impressed with the cleaning on offer here. I could hear the suction ramping up and down as I encountered patches of dust – and, despite the weight the vacuum, it felt relatively easy to maneuver and comfortable to use.

The forward-bending wand is great for cleaning under furniture. I was concerned the vacuum would be wobbly in this mode, but I needn't have worried – it felt sturdy and was easy to direct.

One thing I noticed is that the vacuum seemed to take a second to switch on each time. That's true of all Shark cordless vacuums I've tested, and although it isn't a deal-breaker, it is a bit irritating.

To gain a more objective view of the Stratos IZ400's cleaning powers, I ran a series of standard tests using fine debris (loose, dry tea) and chunky debris (a dry rice and lentil mix) on vinyl flooring, mid-pile carpet and deep-pile carpet.

Carpet

The Stratos IZ400 did a very good job on carpet, pulling the vast majority of tea from both mid-pile and deep-pile carpet in a single swipe. However, there was still a light sprinkling remaining – this model isn't quite as powerful as the Shark PowerDetect, although it is up there with other premium vacuums I've tested.

Chunky particle pickup was excellent, with very little debris pinged around the room. It should also be noted that the Stratos was easy to push in Auto mode, even on thick carpet. Some vacuums are ultra-powerful but are too sucky to actually push; I think Shark strikes a good balance here.

Hard floor

On hard floor, the Stratos cordless cleared the tea easily in a single forward pass in Auto mode. However, it caused the tea to pool up behind the floorhead when approached in reverse. This issue is widespread among such cleaners, but Shark has managed to fix it in its PowerDetect range, which has a newer floorhead design than the one found here.

Handheld mode and accessories

I also tested the Stratos in handheld mode, using the Multi-Surface tool to remove dry tea from an upholstered chair, in Auto mode. It did a decent job, although I found it worked better when the bristle part of the tool was removed. Some Stratos bundles come with a Motorized Mini tool – that's worth prioritizing if you have pet hair to deal with, for example.

Although this vacuum is actually relatively light in this mode, it's still a little unwieldy. The body of the motor section is quite long, and I found myself using two hands to keep things stable as I cleaned.

Battery

In Eco mode, Shark says this vacuum will last up to a full hour per charge. I timed it at 10 minutes in Boost, which is good. In Auto mode, runtimes will vary depending on the kind of cleaning you're doing.

The battery is removable and swappable. In fact, some bundles come with a spare, effectively doubling your cleaning time. One minor complaint I have is that it's really tricky to see how full the battery is during charging – there's a blinking battery icon on the side that switches off when the battery is fully charged, but it isn't displayed as a percentage, nor is there any kind of level indicator. The percentage on the screen also jumps down in 10% increments, rather than being precise.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless: scorecard

How I tested the Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless

I ran a series of trials in TechRadar's vacuum testing lab. These included seeing how well the vacuum could clear large (dry rice and lentils) and fine (dry, loose tea) particles from vinyl floor, mid-pile carpet and deep-pile carpet. I also assessed its general usability, flagging any pain points I encountered and shouting out any unexpected benefits. I compared my findings to other vacuums I've tested, and weighted all that up against the price, to gauge if this vacuum is a good buy or not.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed January 2025

The best cordless vacuums are fantastically portable, but their slim size often means they need emptying far too regularly. If that's a problem for you, then you'll want a self-emptying vac, and I can recommend the four-star Shark Detect Clean & Empty Vacuum Cleaner, which is on sale at Amazon for £199.99 (was £252.07).

Thanks to automatic self-emptying technology, the Detect Clean & Empty automatically releases its debris into the bagless base unit. This dock is capable of holding up to 30 days of debris, which is longer than most wired vacs would manage.

All you have to do is whizz the vacuum around your house, put it in the dock, and the machine will take care of the rest. Sounds good, doesn't it? Now at its best price since Black Friday, the Detect Clean & Empty is a premium-featured vacuum cleaner at a new, affordably low price.

Today's best vacuum cleaner deal

In our four-star Shark Detect Clean & Empty review, we loved the vacuum's auto-empty dock, automation features, and agile feel, as well as the mini motorised tool, which was particularly effective for getting up pet hair.

The highlight of this Shark Detect vacuum is the 2L base, which automatically sucks the contents of the vacuum’s bin out into a larger container when you drop it on the dock. The vac will also recharge while in the dock, which is a bonus.

As well as these automated and innovative features, the Shark Detect Clean & Empty is also very capable of doing what vacuums should do: picking up debris and dust. Thanks to its special brushroll, it makes light work of both carpets and hardwood floors.

This is a fantastic deal that is well worth considering, but there are plenty of other options available. Take a browse of our dedicated guides to the best vacuum cleaners, best cordless vacuums, and best wet-dry vacuums.

No one wants to spend a fortune on something as mundane as a vacuum cleaner, but choosing a cheap vacuum is a risky process – pick the wrong one and you'll be wasting your money on a model that won't clean properly and needs replacing before its time.

I've tested dozens of vacuums at different price points, and I have good news: there are affordable vacuums about that do a sterling cleaning job, without breaking the bank. Below, I've rounded up the best cheap vacuums to buy, and found the best deal on each to save you from having to shop around.

I've tested two of the three personally, and all come from reliable, respected brands that have considerable expertise in this area. In fact, the #1 pick also sits right at the top of my best cordless vacuum ranking. Read on for my favorite cheap vacuums...

1. Dreame R20

The Dreame R20 is just a really solid all-rounder for a very affordable price. It's relatively easy to find around the £200 mark, and you're getting features and extras that usually command a much higher price. There's automatic suction adjustment based on dirt detected, generous runtimes, and a separate soft floorhead designed for hard flooring (it'll get right up close to the surface and buff it clean without risking scratches). There's also a mini motorized upholstery tool that's amongst the best I've used at removing pet hair from furniture.

In my review the Dreame R20 achieved solid scores across the board when it came to cleaning, performing especially well in my deep carpet and pet hair tests. It's not the suckiest cleaner I've used (the V8 below is a better choice if outright power is your priority) but it'll be more than adequate for most people's needs.

2. Dyson V8 Advanced

If your priority is suction power, this is the affordable vacuum I'd go for. It's simpler than the Dreame – there's no automatic suction adjustment, and just two power modes to toggle between – and it comes with fewer attachments. However, what it lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in outright power. If you have lots of carpet or shedding pets to clean up after, this is the vacuum to go for.

The V8 is the oldest model in the current Dyson cordless lineup, and there is a very slightly updated version with 130AW of power rather than the original 115AW. Slightly confusingly, there's also an even more updated option, called the Dyson V8 Cyclone – it's better all round, but deals are rare so expect to pay more if you opt for that version.

3. Shark Corded Stick vacuum HZ500UKT

Opting for a corded vacuum rather than a cordless one is a great way to maximize your bang for buck, and this one from Shark is excellent value for money. As a general rule of thumb, corded vacuums tend to deliver better suction than cordless, and last longer overall too.

While I haven't tested this exact model, we have reviewed other, similar corded stick vacuums from Shark and they've impressed us (here's an example review). In fact, Shark is one of my favorite vacuum brands, and consistently earns high scores. The features look good too – there's no automatic suction adjustment, as you'll find on the Dreame (#1), but this vacuum has a handy forward-bending wand for cleaning under furniture, an anti hair-wrap floorhead and comes with three detail tools including a mini motorized head for upholstery.

Let's get one thing clear before we start: Shark makes some great vacuums. But having tested a number of different models from this brand, I've noticed they all fail in one specific way. It was especially clear in a recent group test to find the best cordless vacuum, in which I compared options from a range of brands side-by-side.

Here it is: user-friendliness. And in particular, how the brand conveys information to the user. It might seem like a small thing, but it can be ultra-frustrating, and I suspect it means some people aren't getting the best from their appliance, simply because it's not clear how to use it properly.

Take, for example, the Shark PowerDetect Cordless. It's a stellar cleaner, smashing through all my suction trials in the group test and earning the highest overall score in this area. But making sense of it is a nightmare.

 A riddle wrapped up in a mystery

Upon switching the PowerDetect Cordless on, a selection of different icons flashes up on the screen. The Eco and Boost symbols are easily discernible, and having used a number of hi-tech vacuums, it was clear to me that the target symbol represented some kind of Auto mode.

But a fourth symbol also appears: a water droplet. I've never seen this appear in use, and scoured the product manual for clues as to what it might mean, but it's not mentioned anywhere (it's absent from "Instructions for use" and "Error codes"). I've also emailed Shark directly for help, and so far they're as baffled as I am. To this day, I don't know what it means or why it's there.

To add insult to injury, Shark insists on having each icon flash up individually on screen every time you switch the vacuum on. This mini-display becomes tedious quite quickly, and especially because it's accompanied by a second or two's pause before the power actually kicks in. Shark's vacuums are the only vacuums I've tested that have this delay, and it's frustrating if you just want to do a quick clean.

In its Auto mode, the vacuum will sense dirt on the floor and boost or lower suction in response, to clean it efficiently without wasting battery. To illustrate this, Shark has also added a color-changing ring to the outside of the screen. The colors it has chosen are white for clean (although Shark insists it's actually blue, but let's not quibble on that) and purple for dirty – not the most intuitive, and hard to distinguish between, too.

The vacuum switches on and off with a one-press button, but there's no second button to switch modes. For the longest time, I couldn't figure out how to switch modes at all. Very late in the day, I discovered you could press in what I assumed to be a comfort-focused bit of molding under the index finger on the handle to toggle modes.

For those used to turning their vacuum on and off using a trigger in exactly this position, and pressing a separate button to switch modes, this reversal of functions will take some getting used to. Oh, and the On button can't be reached from your holding hand either, so you'll need to have a hand free at all times while cleaning – although this issue isn't exclusive to Shark.

Keeping it simple

My complaints here are mostly about one specific vacuum, but I've noted a general tendency to over-complicate and under-explain in Shark's newer, fancier vacuum options (and in fact its other products, too – looking at you, Shark Glam multistyler).

It might be a knock-on effect of having too many cool features to work with – the list of automation capabilities seems to grow ever longer with every launch – but even so, I think things could be handled better.

In my tests, the brand that scored highest on usability was Shark's biggest rival, Dyson. If you compare the two brands, the difference is night and day: Dyson spells out the cleaning mode in words on screen (intuitively color-coded for extra clarity), and in its Auto mode, it'll show you what's being sucked up on a moving bar graph that packs in plenty of information but is still easily understandable. It shows there are ways to handle complex information without forgoing user experience. (Here's more on my take on Shark vs Dyson vacs, if you're interested.)

Shark has proven it can deliver outstanding cleaning, so with a little more attention paid to usability, it could have the power to create the perfect vacuum.

Shark has been trying to make auto-empty docks happen since at least 2023, but I think 2026 might be the year they finally take off. If you're in the dark about what exactly I mean by an 'auto-empty dock', it's just what it sounds like: a base that houses a large dust bag or bin, into which the contents of the vacuum's small onboard bin will automatically eject when it's docked.

Auto-empty docks are already commonplace in the robot vacuum market, where they feel like a natural fit – onboard bins are necessarily tiny, the bot needs to dock itself to charge anyway, and the main selling point of the whole thing is that it's a hands-off solution.

They're less common with manual vacuums, where an auto-empty dock feels more luxury than essential. But still, there are plenty of benefits of auto-empty docks for stick vacuums – less effort required from users, the potential for smaller and lighter onboard bins, and minimal chance you'll end up in a cloud of your own just-vacuumed dust as a result of a misjudged dirt ejection.

I'm seeing more and more examples of manual vacuums with auto-empty docks hitting the market. As the author of TechRadar's best cordless vacuum guide, I keep an eye on all the major new releases, and it feels like now more of these have auto-empty docks than don't.

Who started it?

As far as I can tell, the brand that released the hand-break on the auto-empty bandwagon was Samsung. The Samsung Bespoke Jet launched in 2022, and was the first of many self-empty Bespoke Jet vacuums with ever-longer names and ever-loftier price-tags (the most recent being the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra).

However, Samsung is still quite a peripheral brand in the vacuum market, so I think it's Shark's efforts that have been more instrumental in pushing the trend forward, with popular models like the Detect Pro and PowerDetect Cordless available in 'Clean & Empty System' (US) / 'Auto-empty system' (UK) versions. Most recently, Shark has come out with several cheaper, more basic auto-empty options that seem to be aimed at cementing this as an option for everyone, rather than a premium choice.

This year also saw Roborock attempting to establish itself in the manual vacuum space with a range that includes several auto-empty docks (I tested the Roborock H60 Hub Ultra). But the thing that really convinced me they were here to stay was Dyson's announcement that it would be launching compatible docking stations for its newest vacuums.

I say 'announcement' – it was a single line, tucked away in a much larger press release detailing the brand's many September 2025 launches. No images, no prices, no fanfare. For that reason, I'm maintaining a healthy level of wariness about when (and possibly if) these docks will actually arrive on the market. If they do, though, then it could be major.

Shark and Dyson are arguably the two biggest names in the manual vacuum market right now, and if both of those brands are going hard on auto-empty docks, you can assume they're going to be kind of a big deal.

Cleaning thick carpet isn't easy. There needs to be just enough suction to pull up particles that have settled deep within those long, luxurious fibers, without making the floorhead impossible to push. Too much suction and you'll get stuck; too little and there won't be much cleaning happening.

I recently ran a big group test to find the best cordless vacuum on the market, and as part of that I ran several suction tests on thick carpet. The model that scored the highest marks for cleaning deep-pile carpet was the Shark PowerDetect Cordless.

Read on for a closer look at the tests I ran, how this vacuum performed, and what makes it such a strong choice for deep-pile carpet (plus the runners up, if it's not quite right for you).

How did I test?

To test how well each vacuum performed on deep-pile carpet, I sprinkled dry tea (representing fine particles), a dry rice and lentil mix (representing chunky particles), and dog hair clippings (representing, well, dog hair) onto a large sample of thick carpet, rubbing each mixture into the fibers. I then vacuumed over the mess with the various models, using Auto mode if the vacuum had one, or the medium suction setting if it didn't.

I assessed how effectively the vacuum cleared each spillage – both at surface level and deeper down in the carpet fibers. I also assessed how easy it was to push the vacuum over the carpet, and the extent to which the floorhead pinged or pooled the particles about, rather than sucking them up.

The PowerDetect Cordless scored a perfect 5/5 in my chunky particle test, clearing everything in a single forward pass in Auto mode. It was equally effective with pet hair (in fact, this is the best vacuum for pet hair that I've tested, in general).

For fine particles the score was a little lower (4/5), because I could still see a fine dusting of tea within the carpet fibers after a forward pass. However, that was the equal-highest score that any vacuum in my group test achieved here – the reality is that it's just super tricky to effectively clean fine particles from deep-pile carpet.

Why is this vacuum so good for thick carpet?

In my opinion, the success of the PowerDetect cordless is down to a combination of outright power, an Auto mode that copes superbly when clearing mess off thick carpet, and a well-designed floorhead. The vacuum clearly comes packing plenty of suction – the PowerDetect came top or joint-top in all my cleaning tests, which covered mid-pile carpet, hard flooring, and further pet-hair trials.

The suction level of this model is designed to amp up and down depending on the floor type and how dirty it is, and I could hear the power shifting as I moved the floorhead over any mess. No matter the level of power it was exerting, the vacuum remained easy enough to push in Auto mode, never getting stuck down as a result of the suction.

Shark has also added a flap to the back edge that makes it more effective at sucking up particles when the floorhead is pulled backwards over them. While this feature really shines on hard flooring, it also seemed to help when cleaning thick carpet – there was some pooling (as you can see in the video above), but nowhere close to the levels that some competitor models created. I also found that the wheels appeared to help agitate the carpet fibers.

The runners up...

If the Shark PowerDetect doesn't look quite right for you, these were there runners up in my deep-pile carpet tests.

If you have hairy pets that like to hang out on your sofas, you will know how quickly the fuzz builds up on the fabric and the pain of trying to clear it. Thankfully, many modern stick vacuums come with motorized upholstery attachments designed specifically for this purpose.

I recently ran a group test of a load of different cordless vacuums to see how they compare across a range of cleaning challenges and ultimately find the best cordless vacuum on the market. As part of that test, I tested all the mini upholstery tools to see how efficiently they could remove pet hair – kindly gifted by my local dog groomer – from a velvet cushion. The aim was to see which brand has the most effective pet hair tool.

Results: the short version

Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that while the design of the mini head plays a big part in the effectiveness of the cleaning, the vacuum that's attached to it also has a rather big impact. For that reason, it's difficult to give a definitive result as to which brand has the best mini pet hair tool.

However, the TL;DR version is that the top performers were the Shark PowerDetect cordless with its Motorized hand tool, the Dyson Gen5detect with its Hair screw tool, and the Dreame R20 with its unnamed mini tool. That's overall, not per brand – I tested multiple options from Shark and Dyson, and not all performed as effectively.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at each brand individually...

Shark – Motorized hand tool

The Shark PowerDetect Cordless I tested came with a Motorized hand tool, which was outstanding at clearing dog hair – it pulled all visible strands out in a single pass. This vacuum also performed best in my carpet tests using the main floorhead, earning it the overall best vacuum for pet hair crown.

Be aware that this tool doesn't seem to be included as standard with every version of the PowerDetect Cordless, so double-check before you buy. It is available to buy separately direct from Shark, and costs $87.99 in the US or a significantly more affordable £14.99 in the UK.

My group test included a second Shark vacuum: the Shark Detect Pro. This vacuum didn't come with a Motorized hand tool, so I tested its regular Duster crevice tool, and it got a bit of the hair up, but not much.

That's likely due to a combination of relatively weak power (this vacuum was one of the least efficient cleaners in my wider tests) and a tool that's not up to the job.

Dyson

Dyson has a few different styles of upholstery tools. The most common these days is the Hair screw tool, which has a tapering shape designed to prevent long hair from getting tangled up. With the newest flagship – the V16 Piston Animal – Dyson has upgraded this tool by adding a grippy strip along the front edge, to help lift up hair so it can be suctioned away.

The Dyson V8 Cyclone – a new, more basic option – has a Mini motorized tool that's parallel in design rather than tapering, similar to the one Dyson offered before the Hair screw tool was introduced.

So, on to the cleaning results. Dyson Gen5detect with its original Hair screw tool was the top performer here. It cleared all visible hair from the pillow in a single swipe, in Auto mode.

An unexpected runner-up amongst the Dyson contenders was the V11. This didn't come with a motorized mini tool, so I used the standard Combi tool, and it was just as effective as the Gen5/Hair screw option, despite not having a motorized roller.

A downside is that this tool is narrower than the motorized option. It's great for things like cushions, but if you were going to use it to clean a whole sofa or flight of stairs, it might take a while.

Coming in third was the V16 Piston Animal. Despite having an upgraded Hair screw tool, it wasn't as effective as either the Gen5detect or the V11 at removing hair.

It wasn't awful, but it took a few passes to get everything. I wonder if this is down to a flaw in the design rather than the changed tool – this vacuum performed poorly in my general cleaning tests.

Dyson V8 Cyclone, with its Mini motorized tool, was the least effective at tackling hair. Again, it took a few passes to clear the hair with the detail tool, despite this vacuum performing well in my other cleaning tests.

Dreame

The Dreame R20 was the surprise hit of the mini tool competition. This was the only Dreame vacuum included in my trials, and the mini motorized tool (which doesn't have a specific name) cleared my velvet cushion of hair just as efficiently as Dyson and Shark's best efforts.

That's especially notable because in my general cleaning tests this model sat in the middle of the pack, earning perfectly acceptable scores but not excelling as the Dyson Gen5detect and Shark PowerDetect did. If you have a hairy pet and mainly hard floors with some rugs or mid-pile carpet, this would be a top, budget-friendly choice.

Roborock

Finally, I tested out the Roborock H60 Hub Ultra with its mini motorized tool. This did a decent job of clearing pet hair from my velvet cushion, but it took a few passes to get everything clear, and I had to crank up the vacuum to Max mode, too.

For more advice, here's what the experts recommend you look for in a vacuum for pet hair. Or if you want something to take care of day to day cleaning for you, my guide to the best robot vacuums for pet hair has plenty of recommendations (although, of course, you'll still have to handle vacuuming the couch yourself).

As one of TechRadar's Homes Editors, I get to test all the newest vacuum cleaners that come onto the market. These days, almost every vacuum that makes it into my flat has some kind of fancy feature included – many can sense floor type (and dirt levels) and adjust suction in response, but others might have an unusual-looking floorhead designed to banish hair wrap, or the ability to tell when they're approaching the edge of a room.

These kinds of features are so common that when the new Dyson V8 Cyclone landed on my doorstep, with its three suction suction levels and no special features to speak of, it seemed positively prehistoric. I was skeptical that this ultra-basic model would be able to compete with the other, tech-crammed stick vacuums in my cleaning cupboard.

But compete it did. So effectively that I've had to revise my priorities when it comes to what I look for in a stick vacuum.

In my recent group test to find the best cordless vacuum on the market, the V8 Cyclone more than held its own in the cleaning trials. It also earned much higher scores than both the Dyson V16 Piston Animal and Shark Detect Pro; two of the most hi-tech and innovative vacuums around.

The V8 Cyclone is an updated version of the Dyson V8 vacuum, which came out absolutely ages ago but remains a Dyson best-seller. The Cyclone version is not yet available in the US, but the other straightforward vacuum in the group test, the Dyson V11, earned almost exactly the same score as the V8 Cyclone.

These vacuums took spots #3 and #4 in my tests – the overall winner for cleaning was the Shark PowerDetect Cordless, followed by the Dyson Gen5detect. Both of those vacuums do have advanced features, but the gap in performance compared to the simple V8 Cyclone and V11 was minimal. Here are the scores:

My main takeaway from that group test is that while fancy features like auto-adjustment are nice to have, they aren't the final word in great cleaning. What's most important is strong suction and a well-designed floorhead.

The reason the V16 Piston Animal earned such low scores is because the floorhead has been over-engineered, to its detriment. For its All Floors Cones Sense head, Dyson has swapped a parallel roller for two cone-shaped rollers, with the aim of making it impossible for long hair to end up tangled in the floorhead. And sure, the hair doesn't wrap, but there's now a gap between the rollers where nothing's getting sucked up, and the front of the head comes to a slight point, so it won't sit flush to a wall.

The Detect Pro, meanwhile, offers all kinds of advanced automation features, but it lacks outright power. So while it can sense dirt, carpet and room edges, even the amped-up power isn't enough to deliver effective cleaning in those more challenging situations.

The V11 and V8 Cyclone both have the old-style Dyson Motorbar floorhead, which is far simpler than the newest offerings, but a much better cleaner than the new cone-based head. And while they lack automated suction adjustment, they make up for it in outright power. I know which one I'd rather have if I was trying to tackle a pet hair-strewn carpet, or dusty old rug.

If you had a case of choice paralysis with so many incredible Cyber Monday deals on appliances, you may be relieved to hear that we've been gifted more time to deliberate, thanks to the Shark Cyber Week sale.

• Shop Shark's full Cyber Week sale in the US

• Shop Shark's full Cyber Week sale in the UK

There's still up to 50% off on some of Shark's best appliances, from vacuums to hair tools, offering savings of up to $400 / £300.

One highlight for US buyers is the PowerDetect 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop with NeverTouch Pro Base at Shark for $599.99 (was £999.99), which is a fabulous discount on this smart chore-saver.

While it's not been declared Cyber Week in the UK, there are still plenty of Cyber Monday deals still live at Shark. The most exciting discount is on the PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop, at Shark for £499.99 (was £799.99), saving you £400.

There are many more tempting Shark deals available, so I highly recommend checking out the fantastic offers below to see how much you can save.

Shark Cyber deals – US quick links

• Shark Cyber Week vacuum and air care deals
• Shark Cyber Week beauty deals

Today's best Shark Cyber Week deals in the US

Shark Cyber Monday deals – UK quick links

• Shark Cyber Monday cordless vacuum deals
• Shark Cyber Monday haircare deals

Today's best Shark Cyber Monday deals in the UK

If you've enjoyed exploring our pick of the generous discounts Shark is offering this week, you might want to take a look at their full sale via the link in the intro.

Want to see more of our top vacuum picks? Take a look at our guide to the best Shark vacuums.

More Cyber Monday deals in the US

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
• Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

More Cyber Monday deals in the UK

• Amazon: up to 66% off tech & essentials
• AO: up to £500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense
• Argos: up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys
• Boots: save on 1,000s of beauty products
• Currys: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo
• Dell: laptops from £279
• Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
• EE: Switch 2 bundles from £20/month
• John Lewis: up to 50% off tech & fashion
• Lego: sets & accessories from £2.99
• Samsung: deals on appliances & phones
• Very: up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion

Cyber Monday is your last chance to grab a great vacuum deal, with everything from affordable Shark models to premium Dyson vacuums heavily discounted in time for the holiday season. In all the deals mania, it can be hard to pick the right vacuum for you, so I've found the best Cyber Monday vacuum deals based on our expert testing and experience.

My pick of the bunch is probably the Dyson V11 Extra, which has incredible deals in both the US and UK right now. US shoppers should head to Walmart to pick up the V11 for $399 (was $659.99) while UK shoppers need to make a bee-line to John Lewis to grab the V11 for £337 (was £499). In both cases you're getting a superb vacuum with a bunch of useful detail tools bundled in.

As TechRadar's Homes Editor for floorcare, I've tested vacuums at all prices from various brands, so I know what kinds of features and specs to look for. I've only included the options that our reviewers and I genuinely recommend in my roundup below.

Cyber Monday vacuum deals – US quick links

• Amazon: Huge savings on a variety of brands and models
• Best Buy: Save $300+ on Dyson vacuums
• Lowes: Budget vacuums for less than $500
• Walmart: Floorcare essentials starting at $94.99

Cyber Monday Cordless stick vacuum deals

Cyber Monday corded upright and cylinder vacuum deals

Cyber Monday vacuum deals – UK quick links

• Amazon: Huge range of products on offer
• Currys: Up to £220 off Dyson and Shark vacuums
• John Lewis: £100s off Miele and more
• Very: Save £220 on the Shark Stratos
• Argos: Record-low prices on vacuums

Cyber Monday cordless stick vacuum deals

Cyber Monday corded vacuum deals

If you want to cut through the noise even more, we've also published guides on the best Cyber Monday Shark deals, as well as Cyber Monday Dyson deals. Or, alternatively, you might be looking to stock up in the Cyber Monday Kitchen deals.

More Cyber Monday deals in the US

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
• Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

More Cyber Monday deals in the UK

• Amazon: up to 66% off tech & essentials
• AO: up to £500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense
• Argos: up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys
• Boots: save on 1,000s of beauty products
• Currys: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo
• Dell: laptops from £279
• Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
• EE: Switch 2 bundles from £20/month
• John Lewis: up to 50% off tech & fashion
• Lego: sets & accessories from £2.99
• Samsung: deals on appliances & phones
• Very: up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion

As we move towards Cyber Monday, Shark's massive sale is still live with mega discounts across its floorcare, aircare, and beauty products. Shark offers a slightly more budget-friendly alternative to the likes of Dyson, and during sales events like Cyber Monday deals, we see top-rated products drop to even more affordable prices.

A great example is this record-low deal on the Shark PowerDetect Clean + Empty, now $379 (was $599) at Amazon US, a vacuum we scored highly in our testing. In the UK, there's even more excitement, with the viral Shark Cryoglow now £249 (was £299) at Amazon.

I've been tracking all of the major retailers to find who has the best deals, and you can score up to 50% off devices in the list I've compiled below.

Shark Cyber Monday deals – quick links (US)

• Amazon: Huge savings on Shark vacuums
• Best Buy: $100 off the Shark TurboBlade
• Shark US: Browse the official Shark US Cyber Monday sale
• Walmart: Up to 50% off vacuums, beauty and more

Today's best Shark Cyber Monday deals in the US

Shark Cyber Monday deals - quick links (UK)

• Amazon: £50 off the Shark Cryoglow
• Shark UK: Shop the official Cyber Monday sale
• John Lewis: Save £100s on Shark gadgets
• Very: Up to £300 off vacuums
• Argos: Record low prices on Shark devices

Today's best Shark Cyber Monday deals in the UK

Shark makes some of the top-performing home appliances we've tested, including some of the best vacuums, best robot vacuums and best fans. Its sister-brand, Ninja, handles more of the kitchen appliance side of things, and you can also shop the Ninja Cyber Monday sales for more top-rated devices at a discount.

More Cyber Monday deals in the US

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
• Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

More Cyber Monday deals in the UK

• Amazon: up to 66% off tech & essentials
• AO: up to £500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense
• Argos: up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys
• Boots: save on 1,000s of beauty products
• Currys: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo
• Dell: laptops from £279
• Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
• EE: Switch 2 bundles from £20/month
• John Lewis: up to 50% off tech & fashion
• Lego: sets & accessories from £2.99
• Samsung: deals on appliances & phones
• Very: up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion

At TechRadar, we've been testing the best vacuum cleaners for nine years — and as Homes Editor for floorcare, I've personally tested dozens of vacuums of all shapes and sizes. In this guide, I've rounded up the models that came out top in our tests, with options for a range of different customers.

For most people, I'd recommend the Shark PowerDetect Cordless. This cordless stick vacuum delivers outstanding cleaning, and comes with a range of useful special features including the option of an auto-empty dock. However, it's on the heavier and bulkier side for a stick vacuum, so if your cleaning needs aren't so great, then the lightweight Dreame R20 will be a better fit. You'll find both of these models, plus three more carefully chosen options in my list below.

All of these vacuums have been meticulously tested, either my myself or by one of my trusted, experienced reviewers. All bring something different to the table, and all are excellent cleaners in their own right.

All clear? Read on for the best vacuum cleaners on the market...

The best vacuum cleaners — tested and recommended by an expert

The best vacuum cleaner for most people

The Shark PowerDetect Cordless is my top recommendation for most people. It delivers outstanding cleaning power with the convenience of a cordless, is powerful enough to tackle pet hair with ease, and comes with an optional auto-empty base that means you don't need to deal with the mess and effort of manually emptying it.

Generally this vacuum sits at the pricier end of affordable (and you'll need to pay extra if you want the dock). However, deals do crop up fairly regularly.

Read TechRadar's full Shark PowerDetect Cordless review

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The best lightweight vacuum cleaner

The best lightweight vacuum I've tested is the Dreame R20. It's nimble and easy to drive, and punches well above its affordable price tag when it comes to features and accessories. In fact, in my group test to find the best cordless vacuums, this model earned the highest score overall. The cleaning is very decent, but it's nowhere near as powerful as the PowerDetect Cordless (#1).

Read more: Dreame R20 cordless vacuum review

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The best upright vacuum cleaner

If you want the most power, opt for a corded upright. My top pick in this category is the Shark Stratos Upright. You'll sacrifice the maneuverability and freedom you'd get with a cordless stick vac, but the pay-off is more suction, a larger dust cup, and never having to pause to recharge. Shark has made buying confusing by releasing several similar vacuums with the same name, but the good news is that we've been impressed with all the Shark upright vacuums we've tested, so you can't really go wrong.

Pricing for this vacuum can vary as Shark loves a deal, but in general it's pretty affordable. Corded uprights are often cheaper than cordless vacuums, and tend to have a longer lifespan too, so it might be a better investment in the long run.

If you're looking for a slightly more fully-featured alternative, check out the Shark PowerDetect Upright, or head to my general best upright vacuum guide.

Read our full Shark Stratos Pet Pro Upright Vacuum review

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The best premium vacuum cleaner

If you have more cash to splash, I love the Dyson Gen5detect. This cordless vacuum is meticulously engineered and boasts a range of innovative features, executed in a user-friendly way. It also delivers excellent, low-effort cleaning.

As you might expect, the Dyson Gen5detect is firmly in 'investment pricing' territory, although deals do crop up semi-regularly. If it's still out of your budget, could also consider the V15 Detect – this is the model down, and has most of the same features but is slightly more affordable (my Gen5detect vs V15 Detect article runs down the differences).

Read my full Dyson Gen5detect review

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The best robot vacuum cleaner

Robot vacuums are perfect for regular, hands-off, light cleaning. The whole point is to run them little and often while you’re out, so the dust never really gets the chance to build up. For that kind of low-effort upkeep, the winner in this category is the Roborock Saros 20.

In our testing, it handled vacuuming and mopping very well, clearing everyday debris, pet hair, and general dirt without needing regular attention. Our floors came away properly clean rather than just “good enough,” and it also coped well with thicker rugs and uneven flooring, which is where many robot vacuums start to struggle. It's not perfect, and during testing, there were a couple of quirks, including a zone clean that wandered off route and the odd mop-only run starting without wet pads.

The biggest difference is how little needs to be done once it is running. The dock takes care of emptying, washing mop pads with hot water, drying them, and general upkeep. So, manual maintenance is really only reduced to occasional refills and emptying tanks.

It does sit at the expensive end of the market, so it won't suit every home, but for anyone wanting a low-effort way to stay on top of cleaning, it delivers one of the most complete setups available right now.

Read TechRadar's full Roborock Saros 20 review

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Specs comparison

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What kind of vacuum do I need?

There are a number of different types of vacuums on the market, to suit different needs. Here's a super-quick rundown of the main benefits and drawbacks of each type:

More vacuums we've tested (A-Z)

If none of the vacuums look quite right for you, here are some other models worth considering.

Frequently asked questions

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How we tested these vacuum cleaners

At TechRadar, we test dozens of vacuum cleaners each year. We cover a range of cleaner types – from cordless stick vacuums, to upright vacuums, to handheld vacs and robot vacuums – at a range of price points and from different brands. Each model included here has been put through its paces either by a member of the TechRadar Homes team or by one of our trusted freelance reviewers.

Our reviews are underpinned by a set of specific, standardized tests. Here's a quick rundown of our vacuum cleaner review process.

Suction tests

These are designed to test how well the vacuum can suck up different kinds of debris on different floors. For fine debris, we sprinkle a teabag's worth of loose, dry tea on a carpet or carpet-like rug, and see how many passes are needed to clear it. We'll start on the vacuum's lowest setting, then increase until there's no mess left.

To see how the vacuum handles chunkier debris, we run the same test using a handful of oats. We'll then repeat both tests on hard floor.

The final suction test is to see how well the vacuum handles hair – both human and pet. We'll see how effectively the main floorhead can pull hair from both carpet and hard flooring, and test any hair-specific detail tools on furniture too. We'll also check to see if it ends up tangled around the roller or is effectively diverted into the dust cup.

Battery tests

If the vacuum is cordless, we'll record how long it lasts on a single charge, on each available suction setting, plus how long it takes to recharge. For corded vacuums, we note how long the cable is and if it's generous enough not to be too much of a hindrance while cleaning.

General tests

To get a feel for how the vacuum performs in general use, we'll use it regularly over the course of a couple of weeks. We'll report back on how easy it is to maneuver, how usable it is, if there were any unexpected pain points in the design.

Read more on how we test vacuum cleaners.

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Figuring out the best cordless vacuum for your needs isn’t always an easy feat. There’s no single spec that clearly shows how powerful a vacuum really is, and even then, plenty of other factors affect how well it actually cleans your floors. Add in bold marketing claims, and it’s not always obvious which models are genuinely worth your money.

That’s where we come in. We’ve put a range of the best cordless vacuums through their paces to get some clear, real-world answers. We’ve tested models across a mix of price points and feature sets, so whether you want something budget-friendly, lightweight, or packed with extras, there’s an option here that should suit you.

To compare them fairly, we ran a series of hands-on tests. We assessed cleaning performance on mid-pile carpet, deep-pile carpet and hard floors. We also tested how well each vacuum handled pet hair on carpets and upholstery, timed battery life across different power modes, and scored each model for design, features, comfort and maneuverability.

We collated all of that data and used it to put together the article below: our official ranking of the best cordless vacuums you can buy right now.

Quick summary – the top 3

The runners-up in Ruth’s tests were the Shark Detect Pro, which impressed with its ultra-lightweight design but fell short on cleaning power, and the Dyson V11 Advanced, which delivered excellent results but at a higher price point.

Ruth also tested the Dyson V8 Cyclone, Roborock H60 Hub Ultra and Dyson V16 Piston Animal, although none quite did enough to earn a spot in her top picks.

Since then, we’ve picked up the baton with our own ongoing testing. One model that’s stood out enough to earn a place here is the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder, which we rate as the best budget cordless vacuum on our radar right now.

The best cordless vacuum overall

The Dreame R20 earned the highest overall score in my group test, and was the best all-rounder too – it didn't score below a 3/5 in any category. This vacuum was especially strong on battery life, and comfort and maneuverability. This is all the more impressive given it's the cheapest vacuum in my group test.

The best cordless vacuum for cleaning

The Shark PowerDetect Cordless offers the best outright cleaning performance, and is equally impressive on hard floors, medium- and deep-pile carpet, and when tackling pet hair. The compromise is that it's also the heaviest, bulkiest and least comfortable to use of the vacuums I tested.

The Shark PowerDetect came top in every single cleaning test, scoring a perfect 5/5 in every pet hair test and every medium-pile carpet test. Its excellent performance is down partly down to outright power, and partly to a clever floorhead design.

Shark has added a flap that lifts to enable the vacuum to suck up particles when it's pulled backwards over them, rather than causing them to pool up, as is the case with every other vacuum I tested here. This feature is especially useful on hard floors.

Now for the bad news. The Shark PowerDetect is the heaviest vacuum in my group test, and feels noticeably chunkier and less nimble than the rest of the bunch. The weight is more evenly distributed than it is on the Gen5detect – which is heavy and also top-heavy – making it a little easier to use in both handheld and floor-standing modes than that model.

To its credit, Shark has also made a big effort to improve comfort, by shaping the handle ergonomically and adding a rubberized grip and padding. Nothing digs in or sits awkwardly as you clean, which is more than can be said for a number of other models I tried here.

Shark has excelled at the special features, but dropped the ball when it comes to basic usability. The vacuum switches on with a one-press button (good for long sessions but annoying for quick cleanups, because the button isn't reachable from the handle, so you'll need to use your other hand) and it takes a second or so to kick into gear each time, rather than responding immediately, as all the other vacuums did.

When switched on, the screen cycles though various icons representing the suction modes – a leaf for Eco, a boost icon, a target representing the Auto mode, and a water droplet to represent... actually, I have no idea what this is for. I've scoured the product manual for clues, but it's not mentioned anywhere (it's notably absent under "Instructions for use" and "Error codes").

Initially, I couldn't find any way to manually switch between the modes, so I ended up stuck in Auto, which fortunately is the most useful mode. Eventually, I discovered there's a button for mode-switching where the trigger would usually sit – a setup that took some getting used to, and felt especially counter-intuitive as I was moving between the PowerDetect and other vacuums that are trigger-operated. There's a colored ring to indicate how much dirt has been detected, but it's not immediately clear which color means what.

Usability niggles aside, this vacuum has one of the most comprehensive feature lists of any vacuum I reviewed. It can auto-adjust suction based on floor type and dirt levels, but also boost suction on the relevant side of the floorhead when the vacuum approaches the edge of a room, and brighten the headlamps in particularly dark areas. There's also an optional auto-empty dock, complete with odor-neutralizing puck.

My battery-life tests were scuppered somewhat by the fact that I couldn't find any way to manually change to suction mode for this vacuum. However, Shark promises a maximum of 70 minutes cleaning per charge, which is a very solid runtime. The caveat, of course, is that that figure is for relatively clean, hard floors, and runtimes will decrease for anything more challenging.

The best premium cordless vacuum

The Gen5detect is the best premium option. It has the best design of all the vacuums I tested, offering advanced features paired with outstanding usability. It managed the joint-longest runtimes, and was a runner-up in all the cleaning tests. However, it's the priciest vacuum of the bunch, and also one of the heaviest.

The Gen5detect was a close second behind the Shark PowerDetect in all my cleaning tests. It suffered from being slightly too powerful in Auto mode on deep-pile carpet, but the suction was strong enough in Eco mode that it cleared spillages very effectively while being much easier to push.

Usefully, Dyson has added an air intake slider to the floorhead to help release some pressure as required (this was missing the Dyson V11 that I also tested, to its detriment). It also proved excellent at handling pet hair, both with its main floorhead and its mini motorized tool.

Runners-up

These three models didn't make our top-three best cordless vacuums, but both are still strong options, and worth considering.

The best budget cordless vacuum

Reasons to buy...

✅ Excellent value for money: The HF3 DynamicClean offers strong suction, anti-hair wrap technology and HEPA filtration at a very competitive price.

✅ Lightweight and easy to handle: At just 2.54kg, it's effortless to carry between floors and comfortable to use for longer cleaning sessions.

✅ Anti-hair wrap technology actually works: Hoover's Anti-Twist brushbar prevents hair from tangling around the roller, reducing maintenance and making it a great choice for homes with long hair or pets.

Reasons not to buy...

❌ Battery life drops quickly on higher settings: The quoted 60-minute runtime is only achievable in Eco mode, with Standard and Turbo offering much shorter cleaning times.

❌ Build quality feels budget: Some of the plastics and attachments feel a little flimsy compared to pricier Shark and Dyson rivals.

❌ Dustbin can be fiddly to empty: The narrow bin opening makes it awkward to clean out thoroughly, particularly around the central filter.

The best lightweight cordless vacuum

Reasons to buy...

✅ Very lightweight: The Detect Pro is the lightest of all the vacuums in my test, as well as being compact and streamlined in design. It was a dream to use, with or without a wand.

✅ Super-comfortable to use: As well as being lightweight, Shark has added shaping to the handle, and a rubberized grip that makes it even more comfortable to use.

✅ Fine for light / everyday cleaning: Although far from the most efficient cleaner I tested, the Detect Pro achieved a perfectly acceptable score in my medium-pile carpet, and was fine on hard flooring too.

Reasons not to buy...

❌ Weaker overall cleaning scores: The Detect Pro didn't perform well in my deep carpet tests, and it wasn't great at clearing pet hair, either.

❌ Short and none-too-sturdy: The Detect Pro is shorter than the rest of the vacuums in my test, so possibly one to avoid if you're tall. And the flip-side of it being so light is that it doesn't feel that robust.

❌ Potentially difficult to find: This model isn't available to buy direct from Shark any more, and prices can fluctuate quite a bit. Also be aware that the Shark Detect is a different, though largely similar, vacuum.

The second-best premium cordless vacuum

Reasons to buy...

✅ Excellent on pet hair: The V11 was a joint runner-up on the pet hair tests, second only to the Shark PowerDetect.

✅ Great cleaning in general: This vacuum performed well across the board in my cleaning tests, only struggling a little on deep carpet due to having too much suction, and lacking an air intake slider to make it easier to push.

✅ Long runtimes: The V11 will last a full hour in Eco mode, and the runtimes in Boost mode are long too, at 15 minutes per charge.

Reasons not to buy...

❌ Not the best value at full price: The V11 is a premium vacuum but lacks the special features (in particular, automatic suction adjustment) I'd expect at that price. So while it's much cheaper than the Gen5detect, and the cleaning performance is similar, the Gen5 arguably justifies its price better with all those special features.

❌ Annoying trigger operation: The V11 uses a trigger for operation, which is fine, but what's not fine is that there's no continual running lock for when you want to embark on a longer cleaning session.

❌ Not the most comfortable to use: The V11 is one of the weightier vacuums I tested, with the same top-heavy distribution as the Gen5detect. There's no padding or shaping on the handle to make it more comfortable to use.

Also tested

Comparison charts

Testing methodology

Finding the best cordless vacuum isn't all about testing suction power – there are multiple factors that play into how well a vacuum performs. Here's a rundown of the key areas I focused on in my group test, why they're important, how I test the vacuums, and which models came out on top in each area.

Carpet cleaning performance

Carpet cleaning ability is of course a key factor in a cordless vacuum cleaner's performance. To efficiently clean carpet, a vacuum needs a good amount of suction, but there's more to it than that. If the suction is too strong a vacuum will be difficult to push, so an air intake slider on the floorhead can help here by reducing the suction pressure. A well-designed beater bar (the roller in the floorhead), with bristles to agitate the carpet fibers and release ground-in dirt, is also a must for efficient carpet cleaning.

How I tested

For the carpet cleaning test, I used dry tea to represent fine particles, and a dry rice and lentil mix to represent chunky particles. I sprinkled a set amount of each on the carpeted floor, then ran over it once with each vacuum on its 'medium' setting, or dropping to its low setting if that proved too difficult to push. I then assessed how much of the spillage had been picked up, and I continued cleaning until the spillage was clear. I ran these tests on medium-pile carpet and deep-pile carpet.

I made notes on each vacuum's performance in each test, and gave it a score out of five for its fine particle clearing ability and for its chunky-particle clearing ability. The average score for each floor type is the two scores divided by two.

Highest scorer: Shark PowerDetect

Runner up: Dyson Gen5detect

Hard floor cleaning performance

Cleaning a hard floor requires less suction than tackling carpet, because all the dust and debris is sat on top of the surface. Great hard floor head cleaning performance relies on a floorhead that doesn't cause particles to ping about or pool up. It may also be kitted out with headlamps that illuminate debris that might get missed, and/or a separate soft floorhead designed specifically to buff and clean hard floors without risking scratches.

How I tested

For the hard floor cleaning tests, I used fine particles (dry tea) and chunky particles (a mix of dry rice and lentils). I sprinkled a pile of each on my vinyl floor floor, then approached it forwards with each vacuum in its 'medium' setting to see how efficiently it cleared the mess and if there was any pinging or pooling. I also reversed the vacuum backwards over each spillage to see if it cleared it or simply pushed the particles about. I checked my findings on the studio's own wood laminate flooring.

I made notes on each vacuum's performance and awarded each a score out of 5 for each particle type. The overall score for hard floor cleaning is the two scores divided by two.

Highest scorer: Shark PowerDetect

Runner up: Dyson Gen5detect

Pet hair cleaning performance

Pet hair can be one of the trickiest substances to clean from carpet and upholstery. Great pet hair cleaning relies on strong suction and a floorhead that can effectively lift the hair from carpet fibers so it can be vacuumed up. I also look for a mini motorized tool that can effectively tackle pet hair on furniture.

How I tested

I took bags of dog clippings from a friendly local groomer, and rubbed the hairs into my deep-pile and medium-pile carpet samples. I then passed over it once with each vacuum on its 'medium' mode to see how much hair was removed. I adjusted the setting if required, and continued cleaning until the carpet was clear.

I made notes on performance, and I awarded each vacuum a score out of five for medium-pile carpet and for deep-pile carpet. The overall pet-hair score is an average of these two scores.

To test furniture-cleaning performance, I rubbed hair into a velvet cushion, and used each vacuum's mini motorized tool (if included) to clear it. I made notes on how efficiently it removed the hair, and I've used this information to influence my recommendations. However, I didn't score this element or include it in the overall average for pet hair because not every model I test came with a mini tool included, but most have a compatible tool that's included with some bundles.

Highest scorer: Shark PowerDetect

Runners-up: Dyson Gen5detect and V11 Advanced (tied)

Design and features

In this category I look at the basic design of the vacuum, plus any special features that have been added. I want a vacuum that boasts useful advanced features, but is still user-friendly and doesn't neglect the basics.

For usability, I'm looking at how the machine relays information like remaining battery life and charge level, blockages, which mode is in use, and (if relevant) how much dirt has been detected. I'll also consider the process for emptying the bin and switching attachments.

In terms of special features, I'll look for things like automatic adjustment capabilities (to account for factors like dirt levels, floor type, proximity to room edges, or light levels), a second soft floorhead for delicate hard flooring, a compatible auto-empty dock, and lasers or LED headlamps to light the way or illuminate dust.

How I tested

I scored each vacuum out of five for its interface design, with the highest scores going to machines that present plenty of information nice and clearly, and the lowest going to machines that show minimal information or are confusing in their presentation.

I then scored each vacuum based out of five based on how many special features it offers, and how well those features are executed. The total 'Design and features' score is an average of these two marks.

Highest scorer: Dyson Gen5detect

Runners-up: Dyson V16 Piston Animal, Shark Detect Pro, Shark PowerDetect (tied)

Comfort and maneuverability

One of the big benefits of going for a cordless stick vacuum over a bulky upright is that it's easy to maneuver. That benefit is undermined if the vacuum is too heavy, uncomfortable to hold, or won't maneuver smoothly.

Things that play into this section are the weight of the vacuum and how that weight is distributed, whether the handle is shaped or padded, how ergonomic the design of the handheld section is, and how easily the floorhead pivots. I'll also look at how the machine switches on and off, and if that's conducive to both quick cleanups and longer sessions.

How I tested

I weighed the handheld section of each vacuum (with no wand and no attachments) and then added the wand and primary floorhead to assess the weight in general upright use. I scored each model out of five based directly on these weights, with lower scores going to the heaviest models and higher scores going to lighter ones.

I then gave each vacuum a subjective score out of five for comfort and maneuverability. To gauge this I used each vacuum in floorstanding and handheld mode. The total score for this section is an average of those two marks.

Highest scorer: Shark Detect Pro Cordless

Runner up: Dreame R20

Battery life

The joy of going cable-free can quickly turn sour if your cordless vacuum doesn't have enough battery power for a whole-home clean without you having to stop to recharge. Battery life is a more complicated metric than you might first imagine, though. Many of the models I test these days have an Auto mode, where suction (and thus battery use) increases or decreases based on dirt levels or floor type, making it impossible to give a runtime for this mode.

It's important to consider how much power is tied to that runtime – an Eco mode might last 90 minutes, but if the suction is too weak to pick anything up, that's not useful to anyone. If you're dealing with really ground-in dirt, an ultra-powerful Boost mode that drains the battery quickly is arguably better than one that lasts longer but isn't powerful enough to pull the dirt up.

You'll also want to factor in that a vacuum's runtimes will likely deplete as time goes by. I'd prioritize a removable and swappable battery when choosing a cordless vacuum, as the battery is often the first thing to go – all the vacuums in this group test have a removable battery.

How I tested

I recorded the maximum runtime for each battery (i.e., in its lowest-powered mode). I also recorded how long each model lasted in its highest suction mode. I scored each vacuum out of five in each of those tests based on a set scale – so in Max mode, 3 for 10 mins or less, 4 for 11-15 mins, and 5 for 16+ mins. The overall Battery score is an average of the two scores.

Highest scorers: Dyson Gen5detect, Dyson V16 Piston Animal, Dyson V11 Advanced (tied)

Runners up: Dreame R20, Shark PowerDetect, Roborock H60 Ultra (tied)

Shark Glam: two-minute review

The Shark Glam is a does-it-all styling tool that combines a tube-shaped hair dryer and various attachments for creating curls, waves, straight styles and anything in-between. The USP is two new tools that have heated ceramic elements, which work alongside the airflow to lock in styles and eliminate frizz. Named the "Silki" (the straightener attachment) and the "Glossi" (the round brush), both are designed to be used on either wet or dry hair.

It's an innovative idea that could have been a game-changer... if only Shark had provided a way to turn the hot plates off for use on wet hair. Shark insists it's fine, because the ceramics drop to a cooler temperature when the Glam is in Wet Hair mode, but they're still too hot to touch, so I'm not convinced.

This complex setup also comes with rather confusing controls. It took much cross referencing with the instruction manual to get to grips with the Glam, and even then I wasn't always entirely sure it was doing what it was meant to.

It's a shame, because on other levels this tool is excellent. The dryer itself feels pleasingly compact, well balanced and comfortable to use, and it delivers powerful airflow. I was also impressed with the other accessories – the auto-wrap curl barrels work very well, the diffuser has adjustable prongs for different lengths of hair, and the double-walled concentrator feels a cut above average, too.

There's a lot to like about the Glam; but, unfortunately, it isn't the parts that are exclusive to this styler. This means it won't be knocking the Shark FlexStyle off my list of the best hair stylers any time soon. Read on for my full Shark Glam review.

Shark Glam review: price & availability

• List price: from $399.99 / £369.99
• Launch date: September 2025
• Available: US and UK

The Shark Glam launched in September 2025, and is currently available widely including the US and UK (although not yet in Australia). There are a few bundle options available, with most including the dryer, Silki straightener attachment, Glossi heated brush attachment, and auto-wrap curl barrels; but beyond that they have different accessories.

In the US, you can opt for the HD6051S bundle, which includes a concentrator and FrizzFighter finishing tool. Alternatively, if you have natural curls or coils, you'd be better off with the HD6052S bundle, which has a wide-tooth comb and diffuser. Both of these options cost $449.99.

Alternatively, you can build your own bundle (HD6000) for $399.99. With this option, you get the Silki and Glossi attachments and choose two further accessories (the curl barrels are an option, but not included as standard).

In the UK, it's the HD6051SUK bundle, which comes with a FrizzFighter finishing tool, or the HD6052SUK, which swaps the finishing tool for a diffuser. Both cost £369.99.

Given the sheer variety of accessories and tools included here, the Shark Glam isn't a bad price. It's especially strong value if you'll be using all the attachments – buying an individual set of straighteners, dryer and hot brush would cost far more. However, if you don't need all the attachments, there are simpler muti-stylers available that will cost far less.

If you don't want the integrated ceramic plates (which I wouldn't personally pay extra for), you have many more options. The older Shark FlexStyle has a list price around $279.99 / £269.99. The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is notably pricier $599.99 / £479.99 – but it feels like a more premium option, and boasts a better auto-wrap curling system.

• Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Shark Glam specs

Shark Glam review: design

• Compact, tube-shaped dryer with lots of styling attachment options
• Two attachments – Glossi and Silki – combine hot air and ceramic plates
• Wet and dry modes, but no way to turn off ceramic plates in either

The Shark Glam is what I'd describe as the Swiss Army Knife of hair tools. The base machine is similar to that of any modern breed of multi-styler: a tube-shaped dryer, with a top section that twists to sit at 90-degrees to the handle, for easier drying. Where things get a little more exciting is in the accessories. The two most notable additions are the Silki and Glossi attachments.

The Silki is a straightener attachment for creating sleek, straight styles. It delivers a directed blade of air (à la Dyson Airstrait) to dry hair, alongside hot ceramic plates of the type included in a traditional straightener, to smooth and remove frizz.

The Glossi is a round (or, more accurately, teardrop-shaped) brush tool. This, too, includes ceramic elements for smoothing. The asymmetrical shape is designed to enable you to get closer to the root of the hair.

These tools can be used in Wet Hair or Dry Hair mode, but the hot plates will be on in both modes. Shark's instructions state that the hot plates will be at a lower temperature when used in Wet Hair mode, which makes the presence of settings to adjust the windspeed and temperatures manually even more baffling. Overall, the settings are confusing – even if you leave on the sticker that explains what each button does.

The other attachments are more standard. You get a pair of curl barrels that attract the hair, wrapping it around the barrel and setting it into curls as it finishes drying it. One barrel wraps clockwise, while the other wraps anti-clockwise; the Dyson Airwrap is still the only hair tool that offers both directions on one barrel (even the best Airwrap dupes can't manage this).

There's a variety of other compatible accessories available for the Shark Glam, but which you get will depend on the bundle you choose. Accessories include a FrizzFighter finishing tool for taming flyaways, a concentrator, a diffuser with extendable pins, and a wide-tooth comb.

The off-white and gold colorway of my review model looks stylish, but is ruined slightly by the bulky, somewhat ugly-looking plug. You'll also need to earth it by pressing two buttons simultaneously before each use (this is for the UK version; I'm not sure what the situation will be in other countries). My review model came in a soft carry case.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Shark Glam review: performance

• Attachments feel secure, and airflow is powerful
• Silki straightener is a bit unwieldy and can't get right to the root
• Concerns about heat damage from using hot plates on wet hair

While I like the idea of combining hot air and ceramic plates in one do-it-all tool, I'm baffled that there's no way to turn the hot plates off. Shark assures me they won't cause damage when used on wet hair, but I remain unconvinced. In Wet Hair mode, the plates are meant to drop to a lower temperature; but this temperature is still too hot to touch with your fingers.

During the review period, I also found the controls confusing. It isn't clear if the Wet Hair / Dry Hair mode slider switch overrides the manual controls or vice versa.

My experience with the Silki straightening tool was mixed. One side of the straightener is much chunkier than the other, which makes it feel a little unwieldy if you're coming from using traditional straighteners.

It also means that on one side of your hair, the chunky bit will be next to your head, and you won't be able to get close to your root (worth flagging that we had the same complaint with the Dyson Airstrait; the other major wet-to-straight option on the market). However, it did leave me with fairly smooth, straight locks once I was done.

It was a similarly mixed experience with the Glossi brush tool. The ceramic elements are tucked in on one side, and again you can't get right up to the root, despite the teardrop shaping. When used on wet hair, I found this setup did help deliver a smoother final look compared to using just a hot brush.

In terms of the basics, things are much more positive. The dryer itself is lightweight and comfortable to hold, and delivers strong airflow and a good range of temperatures at which to style hair. The attachments clip on and off securely, and I like the way the top section of the dryer can be twisted and redirected for more comfortable use.

I could also tell that a good amount of thought had gone into the design of the other attachments (the ones that don't have ceramic elements). The diffuser, for example, has pins that can be made longer or shorter to suit your hair length. And although the bubble-shaped curl barrels look a bit odd, they work perfectly well in practice.

Overall, though, I'm struggling to get on board with the Shark Glam because of my earlier complaint. Without the ability to switch off the air and heated elements on and off independently of one another, I can't see myself reaching for the Shark Glam as my preferred styling tool in any situation. I'd use it with the curl barrels attached as an Airwrap alternative... but that part is the same as the (cheaper) Shark FlexStyle.

• Performance score: 3 out of 5

Should you buy the Shark Glam?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Shark Glam

I used the Shark Glam as my main styling tool over the course of several weeks. I have frizz-prone, armpit-length wavy hair with some particularly curly patches. I tested the Glam in Wet Hair mode and Dry Hair mode (on wet and dry hair), and used all the different attachments, including the Glossi and Silki. I compared the results to what I could achieve with other multi-stylers I've tested, including the Dyson Airwrap i.d., the Shark FlexStyle and the Dreame AirStyle Pro.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed November 2025

Shark and Dyson are perhaps the two biggest names in the vacuum cleaner market right now, and both are serving up some strong discounts in the Black Friday sales. If you're wondering which brand to spend your money on this sales season, I'm here to help.

I'm TechRadar's Homes Editor for floorcare, and I've tested dozens of vacuums from different brands, including almost the entire current Dyson lineup, and all the key models from Shark too. That means I have a pretty good idea of what to expect from each brand, and the main differences between the two options.

Here's a quick guide to Shark and Dyson vacuums – and once you've decided which brand is right for you, scroll down for a roundup of the best Black Friday deals in your country. Alternatively, head to my guides to the best Dyson vacuums or the best Shark vacuums for a closer look at my favorite models from each brand.

1. Cleaning performance

Both brands have vacuums that deliver excellent cleaning. In my recent mega group test to crown the best cordless vacuum, it was the Shark PowerDetect Cordless that earned the highest scores in my cleaning tests. The runners up, however, were all Dyson models: the Dyson Gen5detect, V11 and V8 Cyclone.

In the cordless vacuum space, Dyson's models consistently deliver excellent cleaning – even the cheaper, older models like the Dyson V8. I'd say there's more inconsistency within the Shark range; some Shark vacs deliver outstanding cleaning while others are less efficient, so it's more important to do your research before buying.

2. Price

Shark's vacuums are typically cheaper than Dyson's – especially if you're shopping at the top end of the range. If you're on a budget, I'd probably start with Shark. Generally, I'd say Shark is also more generous and regular with its discounts, but Dyson is delivering some unexpectedly strong deals this Black Friday, so things are more balanced.

I've rounded up all the top offers for each brand below, so look there for the best value options right now. Generally speaking, in the budget bracket, for Shark you'll want to look at the PowerPro Cordless or Detect Pro Cordless, and for Dyson you'll want to check out the V8 or the V9 Motorbar.

3. Comfort and quality

Dyson's vacuums are meticulously engineered and generally feel very premium, but one area where I think they fall down a bit is on comfort. The handles on the cordless vacuums aren't shaped ergonomically, and at the top end of the range (the V15 Detect, Gen5detect and V16 Piston Animal), the main part of the vacuum is heavy and elongated so it's a little unwieldy.

In contrast, Shark's vacuums can feel cheaper, but are often more comfortable to use. The Detect Pro is the most comfortable vacuum I've used – it's ultra-lightweight and the handle is shaped and rubberized so it's nice to grip. It's not the most powerful vacuum, although perfectly fine for lighter cleaning tasks.

4. Special features

Both Shark and Dyson shine in their own way when it comes to special features – you just need to decide which ones are important for you. Both brands offer automatic suction adjustment, based on floor type and dirt detected, with certain models.

I'd say Dyson's Auto mode is more precise – it comes with real-time particle updates delivered on a colorful, moving bar graph on the vacuum's screen. However, Shark's version includes edge detection, whereby the vacuum will also boost suction when the floorhead approaches the edge of a room.

Other popular Shark vacuum technologies include a wand that can be released to bend forward for easier cleaning under furniture, and an odor-neutralizing capsule that leaves floors smelling fresh.

Aside from the real-time dust reports – which can be useful for making sure a patch of floor is clean before moving on – Dyson's other USP is a bright green laser that creates shadows to highlight tiny specks of dust that might otherwise be missed. Many of Shark's vacuums also have headlamps, but they're nothing like this.

Today's best US Black Friday Dyson vacuum deals

Today's best US Black Friday Shark vacuum deals

Today's best UK Black Friday Dyson vacuum deals

Today's best UK Black Friday Shark vacuum deals

Shop more of today's best Black Friday sales

• Amazon: up to 66% off tech & essentials
• AO: up to £500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense
• Argos: up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys
• Boots: save on 1,000s of beauty products
• Currys: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo
• Dell: laptops from £279
• Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
• EE: Switch 2 bundles from £20/month
• John Lewis: up to 50% off tech & fashion
• Lego: sets & accessories from £2.99
• Samsung: deals on appliances & phones
• Very: up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion

Looking for a steam cleaner, wet-dry vacuum, or spot cleaner Black Friday bargain? You've come to the right place. Below, I've rounded up all the best offers across a range of retailers, using my expertise as one of TechRadar's Homes Editors to pick out the brands and products I'd recommend personally.

Black Friday is a great time to invest in new cleaning appliances. I've been covering this sales event since 2017, and deep discounts on cleaning and home gadgets are common. This year's offers are looking especially good, with price drops of half price on some models. Lots of brands have kicked their sales off early this year, but we're now on the home stretch – Black Friday is at the end of this week, and I'm not expecting prices to fall any further.

Read on for my pick of the best deals, or if you're not sure where to start, head to my guide to the best wet-and-dry vacuums for some product recommendations.

Quick links

Prefer to browse yourself? Here's the best places to look in the US:

• Browse floorcare deals at Amazon
• Shop the vacuum discounts at Best Buy
• Check out the Lowes vacuum cleaner discounts
• Shop floorcare deals at Walmart

And here's where to go in the UK:

• Browse the best floorcare deals at Amazon
• Explore the Argos Black Friday sale
• Check out the John Lewis vacuum sale
• Browse vacuum cleaner deals at Very
• Check out the floorcare deals at Currys

The best vacuum and floor cleaner deals in the US

The best floorcare and vacuum deals in the UK

More Black Friday deals in the US

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $119
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 30% off appliances, holiday decor & tools
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
• Target: 40% off Christmas decor, clothing & furniture
• T-Mobile: up to $1,100 off latest iPhone 17
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off Christmas, furniture & decor

More Black Friday deals in the UK

• Amazon: up to 66% off tech & essentials
• AO: up to £500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense
• Argos: up to 50% off appliances, tech & toys
• Boots: save on 1,000s of beauty products
• Currys: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo
• Dell: laptops from £279
• Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
• EE: Switch 2 bundles from £20/month
• John Lewis: up to 50% off tech & fashion
• Lego: sets & accessories from £2.99
• Samsung: deals on appliances & phones
• Very: up to 40% off tech, toys & fashion

You'd think that choosing a vacuum for a hard floor would be easy. Partly, you'd be right – cleaning hard flooring is much easier than cleaning carpet, because all the dirt is right there on the surface. Nothing needs to be excavated from deep within the depths of the fibers.

But if you want the best vacuum for hard floor, there are other things to consider. You want a vacuum that won't ping debris around, or cause it to pool up around the floorhead rather than clearing it. If you have a more delicate floor, you might want an entirely soft floorhead that'll buff your floors without risking scratches. And to make sure you don't miss any mess, you might want a vacuum that's kitted out with dirt-illuminating headlamps.

I recently ran a big group test of eight different cordless vacuums from leading brands. As part of that, I tested their cleaning abilities on vinyl and on laminate wooden flooring.

The model that scored highest in my hard floor tests was the Shark PowerDetect Cordless (in fact, it scored highest in my carpet and pet hair tests too, earning it the crown of best cordless vacuum for cleaning performance). Read on for a closer look at why this vacuum is such a great choice for hard floors – and the runners up that are also worth considering.

A quick note before we start – now's an especially good time to be shopping for a new vacuum. There are tons of Black Friday floorcare deals about, and this year's offers are especially good.

Why is this vacuum so good for hard floor?

To test how well each vacuum performed on hard floor, I sprinkled dry tea (to represent fine particles) and a dry rice and lentil mix (to represent chunky particles) onto vinyl flooring. I ran over it with the vacuum in medium or automatic suction mode, and gauged how effectively it cleared the spillage, looking especially at how much pinging and pooling of particles there was, approaching forwards as well as backwards. I repeated the tests on a wood laminate floor to see if the results were any different.

The PowerDetect Cordless earned a 4/5 in my rice/lentil test, and a 5/5 for tea. It has ample suction to handle picking up particles of any size, and offers automatic suction adjustment that means it will intelligently increase or lower suction when it moves from carpet to hard floor (as well as when it detects a particularly dirty area). But the main reason it stood out from the competition was because of its suction-in-reverse skills.

Shark has added an extra flap to the back of the floorhead, which lifts automatically when the machine is pulled backwards. That means it can pick up particles on the reverse stroke, rather than causing them to pool up behind the floorhead – which is what happened to greater or lesser extent with every other vacuum in my group test.

It also has an edge-detect feature that increases suction on the relevant side of the floorhead when the vacuum approaches the edge of a room, where dirt can collect.

Its cleaning power won it the crown, but the PowerDetect Cordless is weaker than some alternatives in other hard floor-focused areas. While there are white lights on the floorhead, they're not especially bright – they're more for illuminating dingy areas than helping you find hidden particles.

Speaking of the floorhead – there's only one, all-purpose option included here, and no hard floor-specific head. However, the provided floorhead does have a soft roller at the front that's especially good at buffing hard flooring.

The runners up...

If the Shark PowerDetect doesn't look quite right for you, these were the models that earned runner-up scores in my hard floor tests.

Shark PowerPro Cordless vacuum: two-minute review

The Shark PowerPro Cordless is a capable, no-nonsense stick vacuum that prioritizes consistent performance and everyday value over flashy extras. It’s one of the most affordable cordless models we've tested, yet it comes with very few compromises where it matters. And while its build isn’t premium, it's not a barebones vacuum either: one of the key selling points is automatic surface detection, which adjusts power as you move from carpet to hard flooring. It's a very strong contender for TechRadar's best budget vacuums guide.

Despite the budget price, you also get hallmark Shark touches like an anti-hair wrap brushroll, a flexible wand for reaching under furniture, plus a floorhead with built-in LEDs that illuminate dust and dark corners. Taken together, these features – borrowed from pricier models in Shark’s line-up – make the PowerPro feel like a far more rounded tool than its price might suggest.

That’s not to say it’s flawless. In places, the no-frills build betrays its budget status. It all clicks together with solidity, but there are some plastic components that cheapen the experience – particularly the boost trigger.

The appeal here lies in the PowerPro’s stripped-back convenience. You’re getting a functional, reliable vacuum with a handful of well-executed features that are genuinely useful in everyday use.

The interface is foolproof: there are no modes to select. Instead, the Floor Detect head automatically chooses the right setting based on the surface you’re cleaning. All you have to think about is using the Boost trigger at your fingertips. It won't offer dirt detection or edge detection (as found on the best Shark vacuums in the lineup), but this floor-based adjustment is useful nonetheless.

In use, the PowerPro is balanced and maneuverable. The floorhead moves easily over different surfaces, while the hinged wand unlatches to give you flexible reach beneath beds and sofas. Switch to a handheld configuration and the PowerPro is impressively lightweight. It’s slightly bulky for tackling tighter spaces like car footwells, but the crevice attachments help to hit nooks and crannies.

While not as powerful as the Shark PowerDetect cordless, the PowerPro performed impressively well in my cleaning tests. Suction was strong on carpeted floors, lifting both visible debris and ingrained dust without repeated passes. It also handled fine dust and heavier particles on hard floors, though Boost mode was useful for picking up larger pieces. One caveat is that the brush bar sits inset within the floorhead, which means it can struggle to get right into edges along skirting boards.

Battery life is decent, too. Although there's no battery-maximizing Eco mode, in Auto mode I achieved a very decent 40 minute average when cleaning a combination of carpeted and hard flooring. At around 3 hours, the PowerPro is relatively quick to recharge, too. Because the power plugs directly into the removable battery, you could enlist a backup battery if you wanted to extend runtimes.

The Shark PowerPro isn’t the most stylish or advanced stick vacuum on the market, but it might be the best cordless vacuum for budget-conscious shoppers. But with consistently strong performance, good battery life and a few thoughtful features, it’s a strong choice for households who need a no-fuss solution for busting dust. Robust enough for daily use, the PowerPro offers excellent overall value.

Shark PowerPro IZ380UK review: price & availability

• List price: $329.99 / £249.99 / AU$399.99
• Launch date: 2025
• Availability: US, UK, AU

The Shark PowerPro launched in early 2025, and is widely available from Shark and various third-party retailers. At list price, the standard model costs $329.99 in the US, £249.99 in the UK and AU$399.99 in Australia. That puts this model towards the bottom of the mid-range bracket, but at time of writing it's heavily discounted in all territories.

Based on price history, it looks like discounts are fairly common, and you shouldn't have too much trouble picking up the PowerPro for closer to $200 / £180 / AU$300 – which is firmly in TechRadar's budget price bracket, despite it offering several features found on Shark’s pricier models.

There are a few bundle options around with different tools included (for example, the 'Pet' version has a mini motorized cleaner head for furniture), as well as a more advanced 'Flex Reveal' version in some territories. For this review, I tested the IZ380UK version, which ships with crevice and upholstery tools, in addition to the standard floorhead.

Based on the current discounts, the PowerPro is one of the most affordable Shark cordless vacuums, and I think its priced well for what it delivers. As a simple, effective cordless vacuum with a streamlined but useful featureset, it offers excellent value for money in its class.

• Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Shark PowerPro specs

Shark PowerPro Cordless vacuum review: design

• No-frills construction feels plasticky but sturdy
• Flexible wand and bright floorhead LEDs
• No wall mount, but locking floorhead helps it lean steady

The Shark PowerPro follows a practical design philosophy. It doesn’t pretend to be a premium vacuum, but still includes several thoughtful touches that elevate it above basic alternatives. It’s not an ugly unit either, although Shark has focused on functional choices rather than aesthetic refinement.

Out of the box, the PowerPro feels solid enough for daily use. Everything clicks together with a reassuring snap. That said, the construction leans heavily on plastics. Parts like the boost trigger and dustbin release latches feel hollow, while there’s some flex and creak in the casing, giving a clear indication of where costs have been saved. These don’t affect performance, but they do contribute to a less premium impression than pricier Shark models.

The PowerPro follows a familiar cordless stick design. There’s a tidily packaged handheld unit that attaches to a motorized floorhead at the base. Shark’s useful 'MultiFLEX / Flexology' wand is also part of the setup. A latched hinge in the middle allows it to bend, letting you reach more easily beneath furniture without crouching. It’s a feature usually found on Shark’s more expensive cordless models, so it’s a welcome presence at this price point.

The main unit is very lightweight, and while the wand and floorhead is less so, with that attached it still sits at the lighter end of the stick vacuum market.

The simple handle design isn’t exactly ergonomic, but it’s comfortable enough to maneuver in general use, thanks in part to the lightness of the main unit. It’s slightly too bulky for very tight spaces like car footwells, but the included crevice and upholstery tools help to maximize reach. The accessory set included with the classic model is modest, but it covers most essential tasks around the house.

Controls are deliberately minimal. Because the Floor Detect head automatically adjusts suction based on whether you’re tackling carpet or hard floors, there are no settings to toggle through. There’s just a power button and the boost trigger at the tip of your index finger. Three illuminated icons on top of the handheld unit show which mode is active, while three more on the battery show the charge level. This is less accurate than a digital readout, a feature not commonly found at this price.

At ground level, built-in LEDs illuminate dust and debris on darker surfaces. In contrast to more expensive Shark models like the Shark Detect IW4621KT, these headlights aren’t reactive depending on how well-lit the area is. They’re simply on whenever the vacuum is running, which will be perfectly fine for most users.

At 0.7L, the dustbin slightly smaller than average, although it fills less quickly than you’d expect. The design of the dustbin itself is slightly unusual. To empty it, you press a latch to remove the entire bin from the handheld unit, before releasing the bottom door via another button. This adds an extra step compared to vacuums with direct drop-bottom bins, but it does help to reduce accidental spillage.

Charging the PowerPro isn’t as neat as it could be. The position of the charging port on top of the battery pack means that the cable trails up and over the handheld unit. It would be more natural if the port were positioned beneath it, but this is a necessary compromise to make the battery removable. The pay-off is that you can disconnect the cell to charge it, unlocking the option to keep several back-up batteries ready to swap in.

The PowerPro doesn’t include a wall mount or charging dock, which you’d expect to receive with a more expensive model. Instead, you’ll need to lean it up against a wall when you need a pause in cleaning. The unit can’t stand upright on its own at full height, but the floorhead can at least lock at 90 degrees, to stop it rolling away from the wall.

The forward-bending wand also enables you to fold the unit completely in half and lock it that way for more compact storage. These are neat practical touches for a model sold without a stand.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Shark PowerPro IZ380UK review: performance

• Solid debris pick-up on carpets and hard floors
• Brushroll misses edges
• Automatic adjustment based on floor type works well

Performance is where the Shark PowerPro sets itself apart from other budget stick vacuums. On test, it consistently demonstrated effective debris pick-up, removing both surface-level and embedded dirt from carpet with just a single forward-and-back pass.

The Floor Detect head does much of the heavy lifting here. As you move the PowerPro from hard floor to carpet and vice versa, it automatically adjusts the power to suit the surface. The system is quick to respond to changes, with no lag to speak of. Suction is noticeably stronger on carpet, where the floorhead feels like it’s really pulling up dirt.

As a result, the PowerPro performed very well in my carpet tests. Tackling the fine, dry contents of a teabag sprinkled on a medium-pile carpet, the Shark PowerPro collected almost everything in its path with a single pass. The remnants were tidied up on the return sweep. It also dealt well with larger debris. 30g of oats were removed cleanly enough, with little in the way of snow-ploughing or scattering. This is an area where many budget cordless vacuums falter.

The PowerPro didn’t just grab visible debris, either: it also pulled up ingrained dust. After a week of regular use, the bin was still filling with fine grey dust and fluff during my tests, highlighting how effectively the PowerPro can lift deep-set dirt that other vacuums have left behind.

It’s also a strong performer on hard flooring. Fine tea disappeared cleanly from kitchen vinyl, as did drill dust. Standard suction was enough to collect heavier particles like oats, though switching to boost mode did speed things up.

Unlike some vacuums, the PowerPro generally didn’t push debris around or scatter it on hard floors. For the best performance, however, you might want to consider upgrading to a Shark PowerDetect Cordless, which has an extra flap added to the floorhead that specifically enables it to clear large particles on the reverse stroke.

The boost trigger deserves a special mention. While designed as a temporary power uplift rather than an always-on mode, it provides a genuinely significant increase in suction. I found it especially useful for tackling stubborn debris in carpet fibers and lifting heavier crumbs on hard floors. Running in Boost mode does cut battery life considerably, but for targeted use, it’s a welcome addition.

Edge performance is one area where the PowerPro shows some limitations. The brushroll is inset slightly within the floorhead, which means the suction window doesn’t reach right up to the bottom of cabinets and furniture.

When I scattered tea and oats along a skirting board, a thin strip remained even after a high-powered pass. This is a limitation of the head design rather than the power, and it means you’ll need to use the crevice tool for spotless edges.

The Floor Detect head features Shark’s anti-hair wrap head, with built-in rubber fins designed to stop strands from tangling around the brush bar. Over several weeks of running the PowerPro across carpets where longer human hair had been shed naturally, it worked very well.

The brushroll stayed broadly free from tangles and I didn’t need to cut away any wrapped strands, which is something many cheaper sticks struggle with. It’s another feature typically found on Shark’s pricier models that works just as effectively here.

Noise is well-controlled, too. Those rubber fins produce a low rumble on carpet as they whizz around inside the floorhead, while the handheld unit generates a relatively modest whine that only becomes pronounced when Boost mode is active.

To my ears, the PowerPro is quieter than other cordless vacuums I’ve tested. It’s not exactly hushed, but it avoids the harsh, high-pitched tones common among budget sticks. This makes it a better choice for households where noise sensitivity is a factor.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Shark PowerPro review: battery

• No Eco mode, average of 40 mins in Auto
• Boost mode reduces battery life to <15 minutes
• Battery removable, and can be charged independently

Shark quotes the PowerPro's battery life at 50 minutes. In reality, run-time varies a fair bit based on what and where you vacuum. Cleaning carpets is more power-hungry than hard floors, for example, while liberal use of the boost trigger will put a serious dent in the performance figures.

Unlike other Shark vacuums, the PowerPro doesn’t have an low-powered Eco setting. Because of this, you can’t force it to be more frugal by disabling the Floor Detect mode. Instead, it will always assess the surface it’s running over and adjust power accordingly.

As a result, you’ll get longer battery life if your home has hard floors throughout, versus one that’s clad primarily with carpet. My own home has an even balance of the two, meaning the numbers I achieved in my tests should be fairly representative of real-world performance across different surfaces.

Over several runs, I consistently netted between 35 and 45 minutes from full to flat. Taking the average as 40 minutes, that unsurprisingly comes in lower than the official number. It also puts the PowerPro a step below the best cordless vacuums when it comes to longevity – although do bear in mind that the given runtimes will almost always be for the Eco mode.

For me, 40 minutes felt like a healthy amount of time for a single stint and a competitive number for the price category. It’s certainly enough to cover a single-story home and have some charge left in the tank.

The more modest capacity also gives the PowerPro a shorter charge time than other models. Shark says it takes “approximately 3 hours” to fully charge the IZ380UK, which proved an accurate figure in my experience. While that’s hardly instantaneous, many vacuums take significantly longer.

Using Boost mode does have a considerable effect on battery life. Keeping my finger held on the trigger brought the number down to around 15 minutes. That's actually a strong runtime for a Boost mode – but it still reflects the fact that it’s intended to be used as a brief uplift for tougher debris, rather than an always-on solution for high-powered cleaning.

The PowerPro also benefits from a removable battery. The cell itself can be charged while detached from the vacuum. This means you can extend runtime by keeping a second back-up battery charged, ready to swap in when the first one runs flat.

• Battery life score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Shark PowerPro Cordless vacuum?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Shark PowerPro Cordless vacuum

• Used as my main vacuum cleaner for a month
• Tested across hard and carpeted floors at home
• Conducted standardized tests for debris pick-up

I tested the Shark PowerPro IZ380UK over a period of several weeks. I used it as my main vacuum cleaner in my own home, which has a mix of both carpeted and hard surfaces. Before running any formal tests, I used the PowerPro for ordinary daily cleaning to get an understanding of its general performance, noise levels, maneuverability and battery life.

I then moved on to running the PowerPro through TechRadar’s standard vacuum testing protocol. To assess fine dust pick-up, I sprinkled the contents of a dry teabag on both carpet and hard flooring, then passed over the area with the PowerPro on its standard setting. For a trial with larger debris, I repeated the process with a bag of oats. I only switched to Boost mode if the floorhead failed to collect everything on the first pass.

To test edge performance, I distributed tea and oats along skirting boards then checked how much was left behind when I ran the floorhead flush along them. I also evaluated hair pick-up by running the anti-hair wrap brushroll over areas of carpet home to longer strands, to see whether any tangled around the brush bar.

I measured battery life first by charging the vacuum to full, then running it continuously across a mix of surfaces until it powered down. I then charged it fully again to confirm the recharge time, before repeating the process to get an accurate average of battery life. I also ran similar trials using boost mode to verify the higher-powered run-time.

Finally, In tested the included crevice and upholstery tools on furniture, stairs and inside a car footwell to evaluate how effectively they picked up dirt, as well as the balance and reach of the unit as a handheld tool. Throughout my tests, I also paid attention to functionality and ease of use, especially when it came to regular actions in real-world situations, like emptying the bin.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed November 2025

If you're hunting for a vacuum cleaner deal in the early Black Friday sales, you're in luck – there's an outstanding price-drop on one of my top-rated models: the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Clean&Empty is $399.99 (was $599.99) at Amazon US, and £314 (was £549.99) at Amazon UK. That matches the cheapest price on record in the US, and is a new record low in the UK.

• Shop the full Amazon early Black Friday sale

There are plenty of Black Friday deals around right now, but I'm especially excited about this one, because this is one of my very favorite vacuums. I recently ran a big group test of all the best cordless vacuums on the market, and the Shark PowerDetect cordless won out in the cleaning categories. It's superb on carpet, great on hard floor, and whisks away pet hair with ease. Read on to find out more...

Today's best Shark PowerDetect Cordless Black Friday deal

There are a few reasons why I think the PowerDetect Cordless is such a great vacuum cleaner. Of course, it packs a punch when it comes to suction, which is an important starting point. But the floorhead is optimized for different floor types, too. For carpet, there are rubbery fins that do a great job of agitating thick fibers to release dust and hair. There's also a flap that lifts when the vacuum is pulled back over chunky debris, so it can suck it up rather than causing it to pool behind the floorhead – this feature really comes into its own on hard floor.

The extras also shine. The auto-empty base included in both these deals is a big effort-saver and mess-minimizer (hooray for not having to excavate wedges of dog hair from a small vacuum bin every 30 minutes), and I found the mini motorized head did an outstanding job of shifting pet hair from a velvet cushion. For the full low-down, head to TechRadar's Shark PowerDetect Cordless review.

However, be aware that all that cleaning clout comes with a bit of a weight penalty – this vacuum is rather heavy and chunky. If that's a deal-breaker, my guide to the best vacuums has plenty of alternative recommendations.

More Black Friday deals in the US

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• Amazon: up to 66% off tech & essentials
• AO: up to £500 off Dyson, Bosch & Hisense
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• Currys: deals on Ninja, Shark & Lenovo
• Dell: laptops from £279
• Dyson: up to £550 off vacuums
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Pet hair is one of the trickiest things to clean up. If you have a furry, four-legged friend and a home with lots of soft furnishings and carpet, staying on top of the build-up of fuzz can feel like a full-time job.

I recently ran a group test of eight vacuums from leading brands, in a bid to crown the best cordless vacuum on the market. As part of that trial, I ran a bunch of pet hair tests, which involved rubbing pet hair clippings into carpet and cushions and then seeing how efficient each vacuum was at clearing it away.

The model that came out on top, and the vacuum that now holds the #1 spot in my ranking of the best vacuums for pet hair, is the Shark PowerDetect Cordless. This stick vacuum earned a perfect score in all of my pesky pet hair tests, and has some special features that make it an especially good choice for pet owners. Read on to find out more – and learn which models snagged the runner-up spots.

Before I get into exactly why the Shark PowerDetect Cordless is my top recommendation for pet owners, I should let you know that now is a good time to be shopping for a new vacuum. The Black Friday sales are just kicking off, and there are plenty of deals floating around already. There aren't any big discounts on this specific model yet, but I anticipate some appearing before long.

Why is this vac so good for pet owners?

To test how well my vacuums handled pet hair, I using clippings from my dog's groomer (who told me my request to take home a bag of fur was "surprisingly common" – which raised a few questions for me). I rubbed handfuls of hair into deep pile carpet, medium-pile carpet, and a velvet cushion. I then assessed how effectively the vacuums cleared the hair, and gave each model a score out of 5 for each part of the test.

The Shark PowerDetect Cordless cleared almost all the hairs from both carpet samples in a single forward pass in Auto mode (this is the middle mode, in which the vacuum will intelligently adjust its suction based on how much dirt or debris it detects on the floor). It was just as impressive on the velvet cushion, removing all visible strands with a single swipe of Shark's mini motorized upholstery tool.

It was the only vacuum to score a perfect 5/5 across the board in all the pet hair tests. In fact, it was the highest scorer (or joint highest scorer) in all my cleaning tests – it also proved very capable of pulling fine particles from carpet, which bodes well if you're worried not just about hair but about dander and general dirt from your furry friend.

Aside from its exceptional cleaning, the Shark PowerDetect cordless is a particularly good choice for pet owners because it comes with a compatible auto-empty base. When you dock the vacuum, everything in the small onboard bin will shoot out and into a larger bin in the base, via a closed system. That means you won't have to spend time pulling wodges of hair from your vacuum's bin after (or half-way through) every cleaning session.

The runners up...

If the Shark PowerDetect doesn't look quite right for you, these were the models that earned runner-up scores in my pet hair tests.

Buying a new vacuum cleaner is an essential purchase once in a while, but it never feels quite as exciting as you’d like it to be. That’s where this early Black Friday deal on one of the best vacuum cleaners around really helps. Today, you can buy the Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum at Currys for £199 (was £399.99), which is a very nice discount of just over 50% off.

Such a price cut keeps your bank account happy, but also means you gain one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners around. It’s particularly adept at handling pet hair with powerful suction, offers an excellent hair-detangling brush roll, and a set of genuinely useful attachments. I have a Shark vacuum cleaner – having previously used some of the best Dyson vacuum cleaners – and I love how much easier it makes my life.

Today’s best cordless vacuum deal

Our Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum cleaner review gave it a very respectable 4.5 stars calling it “a flexible cordless vacuum that packs plenty of power”.

“Designed to tackle the common obstacles to cleaning your home,” it has “powerful suction” and is “great on carpets [and] hard floors”. Its flexible wand is great for reaching under furniture even if the floor head is a “little bulky”.

It’s “heavier than other Shark cordless models” but its strengths outweigh its issues. It happily tops our look at the best vacuum for pet hair, especially at this price. Such a low price means it’ll compete with the best budget vacuums easily.

If you’re still considering something different, there are Dyson vacuum deals around. For the ultimate low-effort tech, try the robot vacuum deals that are currently available.

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat: two-minute review

I love to consolidate appliances where I can, which is why when I heard about the launch of the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat, I knew I had to try it. Earlier this year, I tested the TurboBlade, a unique tower fan outfitted with arms with vents that blast out cold air and can be adjusted in height, orientation and direction for 360-degree cooling coverage. The Cool + Heat uses the same basic design but adds a small heater between the two fan arms.

There's a massive selection of settings to explore in this combo heater and fan. There are 10 fan speeds and three special fan modes (Sleep Mode, BreezeBoost, and Natural Breeze mode). As a heater, the Thermo IQ mode lets you adjust the temperature between 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit, and there's also a Focus mode for quick room heating, and a Comfort mode for all-day comforting warmth.

Whether cooling or heating, you can choose between 45, 90, and 180-degree oscillation. There's no companion app, but you can adjust most settings using the remote control. Notable exceptions are the arm and vent positions, which have to be shifted by hand, and shifting between hot and cold modes, which requires the flipping of a physical switch. (You can't use the fan and heater together.)

The TurboBlade is one of the best fans I've tested, delivering effective, directional cooling (head to my Shark TurboBlade fan review for my full take on the original model). However, the heating functions left me a little underwhelmed. I expected the heat to come from the arms themselves (arguably the product's USP), rather than a small, fixed central vent, the maximum temperature was cooler than I'd ideally want, and the warming wasn't any more effective than that delivered by my cheap space heater. In all likelihood, you'll have to use it for long periods of time on cold days to keep a room warm. Not to mention, the vents go in one direction, so you'll need to use the oscillation function to ensure the hot air is evenly dispersed.

At list price, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat is a premium buy (and $100 more than the fan-only TurboBlade). It's quite pricey considering the product can't be controlled by an app and adjusting between the fan and heater isn't hands-free. If you're thinking of buying one, I'd keep an eye out for a deal.

Read on to see how the TurboBlade Cool + Heat performed during various tests.

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat review: price & availability

• List price: $399.99 / £ 349.99
• Launch date: September 2025
• Availability: US / UK

The Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat launched in September 2025, just eight months after the original Shark TurboBlade was introduced to the market. In the US, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat comes in three colors – charcoal, white, and dove – and is priced at $399.99. In the UK, it costs £ 349.99.

Shark has a presence in Australia but I don't have details on when or if it'll also be available there. The original version of the TurboBlade, without heating, has a list price of $299.99 / £249.99.

Dual-purpose heater-fans are not a new idea – there are plenty on the market, with prices ranging between $40 and $750. The $399.99 price tag puts this fan on the higher end, although there are no other bladeless tower fans with similar designs, so if you love the windmill-style build, it may just be worth the premium price.

That said, I think this price would be easier to swallow if the fan was outfitted with app control, or at the least the capability to adjust the arms, vents, and switch between the fan and heater with the remote. Luckily, Shark isn't afraid of a sale, so hopefully you'll be able to avoid paying list price if you're savvy about when you buy.

You'll find Dyson's heater-fans in a similarly lofty price bracket. Options include the Dyson Hot+Cool Jet Focus AM09 for $469.99, or the Purifier Hot+Cool HP1 (which throws in air purification too) and costs $659.99 / £549.99 / AU$899. (Head to TechRadar's Dyson fan guide for a breakdown of how the options compare.)

• Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat specs

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat review: design

• Multidirectional fan arms and vents that can be adjusted extensively
• Fixed, centrally located heater with vents that open and close
• Bigger than you'd expect, and heavy

The Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat arrived in several pieces, but took less than five minutes to set up thanks to easy-to-understand instructions. The tower fan features a base and a bladeless fan that comprises two arms at the top of the telescopic pole. These arms can be adjusted horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and the vents on the arms can also pivot so that air blows up, down, or straight on.

A heater sits between the arms of the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat. The arms can only emit cool air, and the heater – hot air. Above the heater is a vent slider and a switch. The switch must be turned to the blue dot to use the fan, and the red dot to use the heater. If it's turned toward the red dot, you must also use the vent slider to open the heater's vents.

Although the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat comes with a remote control, not everything can be controlled by remote. You can set the oscillation to 45, 90, or 180 degrees with the remote, or adjust the angle of the base to your preference. You can also use the remote to set a timer, change the fan speeds, or swap between various heater or fan modes. However, if you want to go from heating to cooling (or vice versa) you'll need to flip the switch manually, you can't adjust the arms and vents of the fan using the remote either.

The remote control is compact and has a digital screen that shows the different modes in use, fan speeds, and oscillation degrees. When not in use, the remote can be stored on the magnetic top part of the fan where instructions are printed. There is also a digital touchscreen on the base that lets you turn the appliance on/off, adjust the display panel brightness, the heater temperature, fan speeds, and oscillation settings. Unfortunately, if you want to utilize one of the six special modes, you'll have to use the remote.

Speaking of modes, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat is equipped with three fan modes (Sleep, BreezeBoost, and Natural Breeze), and fan speeds between 1-10. The heater has three heat functions: ThermoIQ, which lets you set the desired temperature, as well as Comfort and Focus. Focus is a boost mode for the heater, Comfort delivers soothing warmth over multiple hours.

The SharkTurbo Blade Cool + Heat is bigger than you might expect– check the dimensions before buying – and at 19.8 lbs / 9kg it's not the easiest to move between rooms. If you are shifting it about, make sure the top and base are locked in place or the two will break apart when you move the product from room to room (I learned this the hard way).

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat review: performance

• Fan airflow reaches up to 30 ft / 9m away on highest fan speed
• Heater less hot and less powerful than I'd hoped
• Cooling is still excellent, with lots of adjustment options

Earlier this year I tested the Shark TurboBlade, and I was a big fan of the unique bladeless fan design and the way you could adjust the vents in different directions. When I heard the brand had taken the same fan and added a heater, I had to test it.

There are differences between the Shark TurboBlade and the TurboBlade Cool + Heat beyond the fact that it has an additional heater. For one, the Cool + Heat has a digital touchscreen on the base that lets you adjust four things: power, brightness of the display panel, oscillation settings, fan speeds, and Thermo IQ temperature.

I opted to use the remote so I didn't have to keep walking back and forth to the fan. The remote fits on the magnetic strip on the top of the back of the fan, and it's the only way to activate the special modes. If I could have my way, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat would come with app integration too, or at least a remote with the capability to adjust the vents and arms of the fan. I found it frustrating that I had to walk over to the fan and manually shift things about if I wanted to change the angle of air.

Let's talk about the fan before we dive into the heating function. The arms can be adjusted horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Combine that with the fact that the vents can be adjusted up, down, or straight on and, you can achieve 360-degree fan coverage of a room. I found this feature extremely useful in my kitchen, where it grows especially warm when I'm cooking on the stove or with the oven.

You can also set the oscillation at 45, 90, or 180 degrees, or simply adjust the angle and have it blow in one spot in the room. There are no sensors to prevent the fan from hitting walls or furniture, so you'll want to keep it clear of other objects.

In 'BreezeBoost' mode, the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat's airflow can be felt as far as 30 feet / 9 meters away, but is much more noticeable at 20 feet / 6 meters. I didn't really need to adjust the fan speed higher than a 5 most of the time. Even a 3 fan setting was sufficient to keep me cool, though I appreciate having the option to increase the airflow right up to 10, or use the BreezeBoost mode on really hot days.

Sleep Mode provided some in-room circulation that I enjoyed at night. Best yet, it wasn't any louder than my ceiling fan. The Natural Breeze Mode mimics natural winds by randomizing the airflow. It is a lovely feature to use indoors when I'm not particularly hot but appreciate a 'breeze' every few seconds or so.

When it comes to the heater, I have mixed opinions. I assumed that the brand would make hot air come out of the arms, but that's not the case. Instead, the designers placed a small rectangular heater in between the arms. If I wanted to use the heater, I had to physically go up to the TurboBlade, flick the switch to heater mode and open the vents.

For the most part, I used the Thermo IQ heater setting, which essentially lets you adjust the hot air between 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit (equivalent to 15.6-32 degrees Celcius – although I assume that'll be rounded up or down when this model comes to the UK). I also utilized the other two modes – Comfort and Focus. I can see buyers using the Comfort mode if they plan to spend a few hours in a room and just want some additional warmth. Focus is better equipped to warm up a room quickly.

The heater airflow isn't that strong. In fact, it didn't matter which mode I used, I could only feel hot air from a maximum of 10 feet / 3 meters away. The airflow from the fan is significantly stronger.

Plus, if you want to feel the full force of the heater, you have to be situated to the left of the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat, because that's where the vents are angled. For that reason, it's necessary to use the oscillation feature when using the heater.

The heater has a maximum temperature of 90F, which is somewhat average on the wider market. I recently tested the Dreame AirPursue PM20 and it has a maximum heater temperature of 104F. I know that some space heaters have a 90F temperature maximum, but for the price, I expected the temperature to be a little higher.

I tested how quickly the temperature rose in a room with the doors shut. In Thermo IQ mode, with the target set to the 90F maximum temperature, the room temperature rose from 77 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit in 10 minutes. I ran the same test in the Focus mode and found that the room went from 76 to 84F within 10 minutes. In both cases, it would have taken much longer for the room to heat if I had left the doors open.

It should be noted that my house is very old so I have little insulation and 10-foot ceilings. The room might grow warmer faster if your ceilings are lower and your house is more modern.

As someone whose home gets exceptionally cold in the winter, the heater element could be helpful but I'm not sure if it would be more effective than the small space heater I currently have. I also wish you could use the fan and the heater at the same time – using the lower fan speeds to circulate hot air around a room would have been invaluable.

Like the TurboBlade, the TurboBlade Cool + Heat has a timer that can be set on 1, 2, 4, or 8 hours. I rarely used this feature, but it's a nice option to have. I also like being able to mute the chime on the appliance, and how little maintenance there is beyond dusting the defense panel occasionally. If I could make some slight adjustments to the design, it'd be to add wheels to the bottom of the base. At almost 20 lbs / 9kg, it's not easy to move the fan and heater between rooms. Wheels could alleviate this and make it more accessible to those who may not have the strength to move it as easily.

• Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat vs TurboBlade

How I tested the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat

I tested the Shark TurboBlade Cool + Heat for over a week in my house in Texas in September. It was still pretty warm outside, so while I used the fan most of the time to aid in cooling down my home, I made sure to test the heating element to provide a full breakdown of how it works and how quickly it warms a room. I tested all the special modes, and compared the performance to other similar appliances I've used.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed October 2025

Among friends and family, I’m known for having a spotless house. Perhaps it’s because I work from home and I need a clean space to work. Or maybe my father’s obsession with cleanliness rubbed off on me. Either way, I find myself pulling out my vacuum at least once a day to clean up dirt, debris, or food crumbs. My need to clean is why I enjoy testing vacuums, and my favorite this year – the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum, complete with an auto-empty dock and charge station.

When the box arrived at my house for my Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum review, it took a few minutes to unpack and assemble the dock, and I was off to cleaning my historic hardwood and laminate floors, as well as two large rugs in my living room and study.

The Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum is designed to make cleaning floors easy in so many ways. For one, it’s outfitted with a DirtDetect system that automatically increases the suction when the vacuum recognizes dirt and debris on the floor. I was even able to watch the floor status go from dirty to clean on the screen and the vacuum head: a purple color indicated there was dirt and debris on the floor, and when the color turned white, I knew the floor was clean. Sometimes I needed to do a few passes over a single spot to clean everything up, which I wouldn’t have known to do otherwise without the DirtDetect system.

With EdgeDetect technology, the vacuum recognized edges and increased the suction power along the side of the floorhead that touched the edge. The new 'reverse cleaning' feature – where the floorhead is designed to be able to suck up chunky particles when pulled back over them, rather than just snow-ploughing them around the floor – was impressive as well. It only struggled to clear extra-large cereal pieces, which even the best cordless vacuums can struggle with.

If that wasn’t enough, the Shark was able to recognize what type of floor I was cleaning and increased the suction when necessary, such as when I vacuumed my rugs. Plus, the Shark’s headlights automatically turned on when I cleaned in dark corners or spaces. My house gets exceptionally dusty, and the headlights ensured that I could see the dust even in the dingiest corners of my floors and suction it quickly.

Although the vacuum is outfitted with Eco and Boost mode, I rarely used either since the DirtDetect mode performed so well. The suction capabilities of Boost were rarely needed, except with extra-large debris. Yes, Eco mode could let me extend the battery life to 67 minutes, but it didn’t work on rugs or carpet. Besides, it only took me 30 minutes to vacuum my house, and on DirtDetect mode, the battery lasted 47 minutes.

Magic wand

Technological aspects aside, my second favorite aspect of this vacuum is the bendable wand. With the bendable wand, I could clean under my bed, baker’s rack, couch, and under chairs without having to bend over, crouch, or reach my arm under furniture. This small design feature doesn’t get enough praise on the wider market in my opinion and I’m at a loss as to why more vacuums don’t have bendable wands. It’s what really sets the best Shark vacuums apart.

I ran a number of cleaning tests with the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum and found that it excelled in picking up fine materials like dust, tea, and flour and even larger debris like dirt and cereal. With the accessories, I dusted my window blinds and cleaned my car and couch. I should note that when cleaning hair off my sofa, I had to use Boost mode, and the results were a bit average. To be honest, I haven’t found a single vacuum that impresses me when it comes to removing hair from a couch.

I don’t like doing a lot of maintenance with vacuums, so the auto-empty dock station was a blessing. When I was done cleaning, I just placed the vacuum on the dock, and it automatically pulled the dust and debris from the bin and into a vacuum sealed bag that doesn’t need to be changed that often. Once the dust and dirt were sealed away, the vacuum began to charge. A full charge took about four hours.

All in all, I enjoyed the ease with which I could clean my house with this vacuum, whether it was maneuvering the vacuum head around furniture, using the tall wand and accessories to reach spider webs in the corners of my 10-foot ceilings, or bending the wand to clean under my couch. The design combined with the DirtDetect technology ensured my home was the cleanest it could be, and I’ve no doubt that anyone who brings the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum into their home will experience that too.

You might also like...

• I've been testing the new flagship Dyson for 3 weeks, and it's an excellent vacuum completely undermined by a poorly conceived floorhead
• Explore the best vacuums for pet hair 2025
• Shark just launched two new gadgets designed to suck the gunk from your face and leave you glowing

We're nearing the end of Amazon Prime Day, and in these shopping events I know how easy it can be to get swept up in all the deals and end up buying something that's really out of your budget, even with that 'unmissable discount'. Especially with so many other brands launching their own rival sales events this year.

If you're in the market for a multi-styler, allow me to direct you to my favorite affordable option: the Shark FlexStyle. Right now, there are unmissable deals on both sides of the pond: in the US, the build-your-own-bundle FlexStyle is $209.99 (was $299.99) at Shark. In the UK, the best deal is at Amazon, where the FlexStyle is down to £184.99 (was £249.99).

This is the styling tool I recommend to anyone who still wants a high-quality, versatile gadget but can't quite stretch to an Airwrap which, even with current deals ($549.99 instead of $649.99 at Dyson), is still a major investment.

• Browse all the Amazon US deals / Amazon UK deals

You can use the FlexStyle on its own as a hair dryer (the top section twists to a right angle to make things more comfortable), or add an attachment to turn it into a different kind of styling tool. The main ones are the auto-wrap barrels, which use directed air to attract damp hair and shape it into perfect curls as they finish drying. Unlike traditional curling tongs, this method doesn't rely on extreme heat. Other tool options include a diffuser, brush attachment, and flyaway smoother. (Note: there are a few curl barrel variations floating around, but these all work the same.)

I've tested out a bunch of Dyson Airwrap alternatives, and the FlexStyle my favorite – head to the TechRadar Shark FlexStyle review to find out what to expect from this versatile styler.

There are some things it can't do, and which are only available if you stump up for an Airwrap. You'll have to swap over the barrel when you want to go from clockwise curls to anticlockwise, and there's no automated wrap-curl-cool shot sequence, either. So styling will take a little bit more effort than if you used an Airwrap. But otherwise, it's an extremely capable styling tool.

Amazon's Prime Day sale in the US – quick links

• Amazon Devices: 50% off TVs, Ring & Fire Sticks
• Apple: AirPods + iPads from $99
• Back to school: deals from $5.99
• Beauty: 80% off toothbrushes & skincare
• Headphones: $120 off Bose, Apple & Sony
• Health: electric toothbrushes from $24.99
• Kitchen: 54% off Ninja, Nespresso & Keurig
• Laptops: record-low prices from $175
• Tablets: iPads and Samsung from $54.99
• Toys: 40% off Lego, scooters & Toniebox
• TVs: cheap TVs from $59.99
• Vacuums: Shark, Bissell & Dyson from $49.99

Amazon's Prime Day sale in the UK – quick links

• Amazon Devices: up to 50% off Echo & Ring
• Appliances: Ninja & De'Longhi from £29.99
• Gaming: Nintendo Switch 2 – in stock now
• Headphones: Anker & Sony from £15.98
• Health: up to 68% off Philips, Remington & Oral-B
• Home: fans from £12.99
• Laptops: Lenovo, Asus and HP from £159.99
• Phones: up to 20% off Apple & Samsung
• Tablets: Lenovo & Samsung from £119
• Toys: up to 50% off Lego & Mattel
• TVs: cheap TVs from £109
• Vacuums: Shark and eufy from £99
• Wearables: up to 25% off Huawei & Samsung

The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days event has begun, and it's delivering some surprisingly strong price drops on Shark vacuum cleaners. I've been covering these kinds of sales events for several years now, and the deals aren't always that great, so I was pleasantly surprised at the range of Shark discounts in this month's event. Many represent new, lowest-ever prices.

• Check out all the best deals in Amazon's full sale

I've rounded up the best deals below, with discounts on everything from affordable, basic models right up to the newest and smartest Shark vacuums. Read on for my top picks, or head to TechRadar's mega Amazon Prime Day hub for offers across a wide range of categories. If you know you need to upgrade your vac but are overwhelmed by the options, my guide to the best vacuums – or the best cordless vacuums specifically – will point you in the right direction.

Amazon Prime Day Shark deals in the US

Amazon Prime Day Shark deals in the UK

Amazon's Prime Day sale in the US – quick links

• Amazon Devices: 50% off TVs, Ring & Fire Sticks
• Apple: AirPods + iPads from $99
• Back to school: deals from $5.99
• Beauty: 80% off toothbrushes & skincare
• Headphones: $120 off Bose, Apple & Sony
• Health: electric toothbrushes from $24.99
• Kitchen: 54% off Ninja, Nespresso & Keurig
• Laptops: record-low prices from $175
• Tablets: iPads and Samsung from $54.99
• Toys: 40% off Lego, scooters & Toniebox
• TVs: cheap TVs from $59.99
• Vacuums: Shark, Bissell & Dyson from $49.99

Amazon's Prime Day sale in the UK – quick links

• Amazon Devices: up to 50% off Echo & Ring
• Appliances: Ninja & De'Longhi from £29.99
• Gaming: Nintendo Switch 2 – in stock now
• Headphones: Anker & Sony from £15.98
• Health: up to 68% off Philips, Remington & Oral-B
• Home: fans from £12.99
• Laptops: Lenovo, Asus and HP from £159.99
• Phones: up to 20% off Apple & Samsung
• Tablets: Lenovo & Samsung from £119
• Toys: up to 50% off Lego & Mattel
• TVs: cheap TVs from £109
• Vacuums: Shark and eufy from £99
• Wearables: up to 25% off Huawei & Samsung

• Shark's at-home facial kit includes FacialPro Glow and DePuffi gadgets
• FacialPro Glow works with formulas to hydrate and suck out impurities
• DePuffi has a plate that gets very cold or very warm, to firm and soothe

Shark has just launched a new kit that enables you to perform your own luxurious facial at home. It isn't just lotions and potions (although there are two specially developed formulas that form part of the offering): it includes two unusual gadgets designed to help purify, sculpt, firm, and generally leave you looking like the most radiant version of yourself. These are the Shark FacialPro Glow and DePuffi.

This brand is perhaps most well-known for making some of the best vacuum cleaners on the market, but it is also increasingly carving out a name for itself in the beauty space, too. The Shark FlexStyle is a popular Dyson Airwrap alternative, and the Shark CryoGlow light therapy mask has been causing a stir since its launch late last year.

I had a chance to test the new facial kit in Shark's London labs a few months ago, and as someone who's not terribly interested in skincare, I approached the experience with a healthy amount of skepticism. By the end, I wasn't completely sold, but I had fallen head over heels for the DePuffi tool specifically. If I can get over its stupid name, I'll be first in line to pick one up when it launches as a standalone gadget.

I'm getting ahead of myself, though. How does Shark's at-home facial kit work? The whole process takes around 10 minutes. You start by prepping your skin by applying the 'Derm Detox AHA + BHA Exfoliating Gel' to loosen any dead skin cells. Next, you deploy the FacialPro Glow tool. This has clean and dirty liquid tanks and a selection of nozzles.

You run the nozzle over your face in set patterns, and it sprays out whatever's in the clean tank (water to start with, and then 'Hydro Infuse BHA Hydrator' for the second round) while sucking on your skin to get it clean.

After this is complete, Shark invites you to open the dirty water tank and "decode your gunk". The water in my tank was indeed quite murky, but I'm not sure how much of that was the dirt, oil, and dead skin the FacialPro Glow had extracted from me, and how much was just product.

I recall expecting/wanting a bit more oomph from this gadget. The suction is understandably quite gentle, and that, combined with the fact that the nozzle is rather small, meant it didn't feel like the most thorough clean. Perhaps it was just the fact that central London was hotter than the sun the day I visited, and I was feeling especially sweaty and disgusting before heading in, but I felt like I could have done with something more vigorous.

I was far more impressed with the DePuffi, which can be used at the start or end of the process. This gadget draws inspiration from gua sha – the traditional Chinese technique of scraping the skin with a blunt object to encourage circulation. Here, the process is supercharged with the addition of hot and cold therapy. Essentially, the DePuffi has a plate that can become toasty warm or extremely cold in a matter of seconds.

Apparently, the combination of scraping and extreme temperatures will help you relax, improve the appearance of your face, and encourage further product absorption from the earlier stages. Specifically, the cold settings are to depuff, define, and help you look more awake, while the hot settings boost circulation and help you relax.

All I know is that it felt great. The tool can change from hot to cold ultra-quickly, the temperatures reached are satisfyingly extreme without being unpleasant (you can choose from three hot and three cold settings), and it's incredibly soothing to use.

The DePuffi is currently only sold as part of the whole facial kit, but it's due to join the Shark lineup as a standalone product at a later date. If you're wondering, the name follows a convention used by Shark's kitchen arm, Ninja, which is known for things like the Ninja Crispi air fryer and the Ninja Slushi drinks machine. Most people aren't aware that Shark and Ninja are the same brand, though, so here it sounds especially incongruous.

Shark FacialPro Glow has a list price of $399.99 / £299.99 for the basic kit. It's available to buy now direct from Shark UK, and is "coming soon" at Shark US.

You might also like...

• I used Shark's Cryoglow LED face mask for three months and still can't believe the results
• This hair dryer uses AI to protect your hair from heat damage – and that's just one of its tricks
• Learn about the best Shark vacuums 2025

Shark makes many of the best vacuum cleaners on the market today. It's especially good at coming up with solutions to problems that you might not even knew you had. For example, wands that can bend forward so you can clean under furniture without bending down, or floorheads that can be pulled backwards over chunky spillages to clear them, rather than just causing them to pool up.

I've tested plenty of different models from this brand, and I'm consistently impressed. The range can be a little tricky to make sense of though – Shark isn't afraid to release 20 new models every other month – so here I've pulled together what I think are the three best Shark vacuums. Each will suit a slightly different type of customer, but there's something for everyone here.

Shark PowerDetect Cordless

The PowerDetect Cordless is the model that sits at the top of Shark's cordless range. It combines outright power with advanced automation capabilities, and features geared towards convenience and usability.

This vacuum can sense the kind of floor it's on and how dirty it is, and adjust suction power in response. It can also tell when it's near the edge of a room and amp up the power on the relevant side of the floorhead to clear any dust that might have gathered there.

The wand can pivot in the middle to enable you to clean right under furniture, and has a floorhead that's designed to pick up larger bits of debris when pulled back over them. The usefulness of that last feature shouldn't be underestimated – I've tested far too many vacuums that just push dirt around. There's also a compatible auto-empty base which, if you have space for it, is a big effort-saver.

Who should buy it?

If you want a cordless vacuum that packs plenty of power and is straightforward to use, the PowerDetect Cordless is your best bet.

Why shouldn't buy it?

If you have mostly hard floors or only need something for light cleaning, the Detect Pro (#2) is a better choice. It doesn't offer as much suction, but it's lighter in weight and offers many of the same special features as the PowerDetect.

If you have tons of carpet or hairy pets, you should consider the PowerDetect Upright (#3). It's bulkier and heavier than both the cordless stick vacuums here, but the benefit is far more suction power, no need to recharge, and a generous dust cup.

Read our full Shark PowerDetect cordless vacuum review

Shark Detect Pro cordless

The Shark Detect Pro is slightly older than the PowerDetect above. It's smaller and lighter, but offers many of the same convenient features. It's the least powerful of all the vacuums here, but ideal for smaller homes or homes with lots of hard floor.

The floorhead isn't designed to allow chunky particles to pass under it when pulled backwards. Otherwise, you're getting most of the same features as you will with the PowerDetect Cordless (#1) above. It can sense dirt, edges and floor type, and there's a compatible auto-empty base. Some versions of this vacuum have the forward-bending wand feature (Shark calls this MultiFLEX in the US and Flexology in the UK) while others do not.

Who should buy it?

Those who have homes with mostly hard floors and the occasional rug will find the Detect Pro packs ample power for a thorough clean. It's also a great choice if you need something lightweight for getting into awkward corners.

Who shouldn't buy it?

Pet owners and those with lots of carpet will need more oomph, and should check out the PowerDetect Upright (#3) for maximum power, or the PowerDetect Cordless (#1) if you're set on a cordless stick vacuum.

Read our full Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum review

Shark PowerDetect Upright

If it's outright power you need, you can't beat a corded upright. The best one in Shark's lineup is the PowerDetect Upright (although UK shoppers should definitely also check out the Shark Stratos Pet Pro Upright). This vacuum will deliver a seriously deep clean, getting ingrained dust out of thick carpets and pulling up pet hair with ease. The dust cup is also large enough to handle serious volumes of dirt without having to make constant trips to the trash.

Obviously it's heavier, bulkier and less convenient than the cordless cleaners at #1 and #2, but Shark has made it as flexible as possible with a modular design that enables you to use different configurations for different cleaning tasks. For instance, if you need to clean up high you can remove the dust bin and hold it in your hand while you use a detail tool on the end of a flexible hose.

Like its cordless counterpart (#1), the PowerDetect Upright can automatically adjust suction based on the floor type and how dirty it is, as well as increasing power at the edges of rooms. It also has that same floorhead that can be pulled backwards over chunky spillages. An anti-odor puck is designed to keep things smelling fresh, even if you have a bin full of dog hair.

Who should buy it?

Anyone seeking maximum suction should consider this model. That includes owners of hairy pets, those living in large, high-traffic homes, or anyone with lots of medium or deep-pile carpet to clean.

Who shouldn't buy it?

If you have mostly hard floors, a corded upright is probably overkill – you'll be able to get away with the lower powered, more convenient Detect Pro #2. Or if you need that power but live in a home where an upright is impractical – for instance, if there are lots of stairs or small nooks and crannies – the PowerDetect Cordless (#1) will make more sense.

Read our full Shark PowerDetect Upright review

You might also like...

• What to look for in a vacuum for carpet – according to the experts
• Dyson is about to unveil auto-empty docks for its stick vacs – here's why it could be a game changer
• I tested the cleaning powers of Dyson's new flagship vacuum against two older models, and I couldn't believe the results

If you head to Amazon right now, you can pick up a Shark FlexBreeze TableMate for £99.99 (was £149.99). That's the cheapest price we've ever seen on this fan, and we're in the middle of a heatwave in many parts of the UK, which means right now, fan discounts are as rare as a good night's sleep. Plus, TechRadar rates this model's pedestal sibling, the Shark FlexBreeze, the best fan you can buy right now. It's a no-brainer, right? You should snap this deal up immediately.

Er... no. Check the small print and you'll see that this fan is "Usually dispatched within 1-2 months" and the free delivery is available for 1-30 September – just in time for, er, autumn. If you're looking for a heatwave saviour, this white knight will be limping in far too late.

It's still a very solid buy – so I'll explain more about this model and the deal below, in case you feel like investing in preparation for hot weather further down the line. But if you need something now, scroll to the bottom for two (told you there weren't many around) fan deals that will arrive in time to prevent you from perishing in the current temperatures.

Today's something sooner? Try one of these...

Fans are selling out faster than tickets to Take That's 2010 reunion tour as the UK enters another week of uncharacteristically hot weather, and if you've lasted this long without a good fan, I applaud you.

• See all of today's best deals at Amazon UK

I applaud you even more if you've survived with a cheap fan, because I've just thrown mine out in favor of a more premium model. So, before you hit the checkout button on your next Amazon Prime Day fan purchase, I implore you to read my guidance as to why you're better off with a pricier model, as well as some recommendations for the best deals live right now.

Amazon Prime Day fan deals in the UK

Top tips for fan shopping

A mistake I see people make all too often is thinking all fans are made equal in terms of design and performance; I'm here to tell you, that's just not true, even when it comes to simple oscillating fans.

1. Don't underestimate the importance of peace and quiet

In particular, volume is a problem. Cheaper fans can often be loud, whether it's rattling fan blades or creaky oscillation mechanisms, and you might not realise how maddening that is until it's grating in your ear all day, all night in the heat of summer. The fans I've included above are known for clever design elements which minimize noise, allowing for more comfortable sleeping, working and relaxation at home.

2. Cheaper fans can't always deliver the cooling power

Just because cheaper fans look the same as pricier models doesn't mean they work as well, either, and many cheaper fans offer inferior cooling to more premium counterparts with better motor and blade designs. In more technical terms, better parts lead to higher CFM (cubic feet per minute) ratings, meaning they can move more air and cool a space more effectively.

This could even mean you end up wasting money on electricity over time as you desperately try to cool your home with a fan that's just pushing around hot air. Worse still, less premium parts often mean worse build quality, so you might end up back at the end of the queue next Prime Day shopping for fans once again.

3. Lack of control over your cooling

Many cheaper (and older!) fans have limited controls, offering just a few speed settings. Modern fans will often far more customizability, from oscillation and blade speed to timers, and even further features like purifying, heating and temperature control when it comes to premium products like Dyson's fans.

Amazon's Prime Day sale in the UK - quick links

• Amazon Devices: up to 50% off Echo & Ring
• Appliances: Ninja & De'Longhi from £29.99
• Gaming: Nintendo Switch 2 – in stock now
• Headphones: Anker & Sony from £15.98
• Health: up to 68% off Philips, Remington & Oral-B
• Home: fans from £12.99
• Laptops: Lenovo, Asus and HP from £159.99
• Phones: up to 20% off Apple & Samsung
• Tablets: Lenovo & Samsung from £119
• Toys: up to 50% off Lego & Mattel
• TVs: cheap TVs from £109
• Vacuums: Shark and eufy from £99
• Wearables: up to 25% off Huawei & Samsung