When it comes to buying a new vacuum cleaner, Shark is one of the top brands that comes to mind. They make some excellent vacuums that can handle all sorts of messes on carpets, hard floors, furniture, and more.
Two of their most popular models are the Shark Navigator and the Shark Vertex. But what’s the difference between these two vacuums and which one is better for your needs?
In this comparison article, we’ll break down the key features and performance of the Shark Navigator and Vertex to help you decide which is the right vacuum cleaner for you.
Overview of the Shark Navigator
The Shark Navigator is one of Shark’s classic and best-selling models. This versatile vacuum can tackle messes on bare floors, carpets, furniture, ceilings, and more.
Some of the key features of the Navigator include:
- Powerful lift-away design – The detachable canister lifts away for portable cleaning.
- Anti-allergen Complete Seal Technology + HEPA filter – Traps dust and allergens.
- Swivel steering – For excellent maneuverability.
- Multi-surface pet brush – Removes pet hair from carpets and upholstery.
- Accessory tools – Crevice tool, dusting brush, and pet power brush.
The lift-away canister is handy for cleaning stairs, upholstery, and hard-to-reach areas. The HEPA filtration helps reduce dust and allergens in your home. Overall, the Navigator provides strong everyday cleaning performance on both carpets and hard floors.
Overview of the Shark Vertex
The Shark Vertex is a newer, more high-tech model from Shark. This ultra-lightweight cordless stick vacuum is designed for powerful cleaning across all floor types.
Some key features of the Vertex include:
- Powerful suction – Up to 120 AW peak power.
- Cordless convenience – Up to 80 minutes of runtime.
- DuoClean PowerFins technology – Deep cleans carpets and hard floors.
- Anti Hair Wrap tool – Removes pet hair from brushroll.
- Advanced swivel steering – Easily maneuvers around furniture.
- Detachable hand vacuum – For portable cleaning.
With strong suction power and a motorized brush roll, the Vertex excels at cleaning carpets. The PowerFins help scrub stuck-on messes from hard floors. Overall, the Vertex delivers top-notch cleaning versatility in a lightweight and portable cordless stick format.
A Brief Comparison Table
Here is a direct side-by-side comparison of the features offered by the Shark Navigator and Vertex vacuums:
| Feature | Shark Navigator | Shark Vertex |
| Power Type | Corded | Cordless (rechargeable battery) |
| Suction Power | 1200W | 500W (120 AW peak) |
| Battery Run Time | N/A | Up to 80 minutes |
| Floor Type Cleaning | Carpet, hard floor | Carpet, hard floor |
| Brush Rolls | Motorized brush for carpet | DuoClean PowerFins for carpet & floor |
| Filtration | Anti-allergen Complete Seal + HEPA | Advanced filtration |
| Dust Bin Size | 1.2 quarts | 0.7 quarts |
| Weight | 15.5 lbs | 10 lbs |
| Attachments | Crevice tool, dusting brush, pet power brush | Anti Hair Wrap tool, crevice tool |
| Swivel Steering | Multi-directional | Advanced swivel |
| Lift-Away | Yes | Hand vacuum only |
| Headlights | No | LED headlights |
As you can see, there are some noticeable differences between these two vacuums. The Navigator is a corded upright model, while the Vertex is a lightweight cordless stick. The Vertex has a smaller dust bin but stronger peak suction power. The Navigator has a larger cleaning head while the Vertex has more advanced steering.
Direct Comparison of Shark Navigator And Vertex Vacuum Cleaners
- Cleaning Performance
When it comes to actual cleaning performance, both of these Shark vacuums can deliver excellent results.
Carpets
On carpets, the Shark Navigator lifts away debris and embedded dirt thanks to the motorized brushroll. The lift-away canister provides portable cleaning power for carpetsed stairs and upholstery.
The Vertex uses powerful suction and an anti-tangle brush roll to deep clean carpets and remove pesky pet hair. The DuoClean PowerFins help scrub carpets to loosen ground-in dirt.
Hard Floors
On bare floors, the Navigator can pick up light debris. For more stuck-on messes, you’ll need to use the hand tools.
The Vertex uses its PowerFins to actively scrub hard floors while suctioning up large and small debris. The soft brush roll prevents scattering and flinging of debris.
Pet Hair
Both vacuums work well for homes with pets thanks to specialized pet hair tools. The Navigator has a pet power brush for removing hair on furniture. The Vertex has an Anti Hair Wrap tool to prevent tangles and keep hair out of the brush roll.
Edges and Tight Spaces
The Navigator’s lift-away design allows you to detach the canister for cleaning hard-to-reach spots and edges. The Vertex’s cordless stick design can easily maneuver into corners and other tight spaces.
Ceilings and Walls
The lift-away canister on the Navigator also excels at above floor cleaning like ceilings, walls, and drapes. The lightweight Vertex stick can be used above floors as well, though high ceilings may be tricky.
Furniture and Stairs
Again, the lift-away design of the Navigator provides great versatility for cleaning upholstery and stairs. The Vertex hand vacuum is also suited for furniture, stairs, and vehicles.
- Ease of Use
In terms of everyday usage, both vacuums are quite easy to use and maneuver.
A key advantage of the Navigator is that it stands upright on its own for convenient storage.
The Vertex relies on a wall-mounted charging dock for storage.
The Navigator weighs more but glides smoothly across floors thanks to swivel steering.
The lightweight Vertex is very nimble and the advanced swivel head makes it highly maneuverable.
Because it is corded, the Navigator provides unlimited continuous cleaning time. The Vertex will run for up to 80 minutes on a full battery but then requires 3-4 hours to fully recharge.
Emptying the dust bin on the Navigator is very easy – just hold it over a trash can and push a button. The Vertex dust bin requires manually pulling out debris that can get stuck inside.
- Maintenance
For maintenance, the Navigator’s brush roll and filters are accessible and can be washed when needed. The Vertex also has washable filters, but the brush roll is not removable.
The Navigator utilizes replacement vacuum bags to trap dirt and debris. With the bagless Vertex, you’ll need to regularly empty the dust bin yourself.
Overall, the maintenance demands are relatively minimal for both of these Shark vacuums.
- Cost Comparison
In terms of upfront purchase price, the Shark Navigator is typically less expensive, usually by around $100 or more.
However, as a corded vacuum, the Navigator does require ongoing costs for replacement bags and filters. With the rechargeable battery powered Vertex, there are fewer consumable costs over time.
Here is a price comparison of some of the most popular configurations:
- Shark Navigator Lift-Away (NV352) – Around $159
- Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro (NV355) – Around $199
- Shark Vertex Cordless Stick Vacuum (IZ163H) – Around $349
- Shark Vertex Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum (IZ201H) – Around $399
As you can see, there is a significant price difference, especially for the base models. The higher-end configurations narrow the gap but the Vertex Pro still costs about $200 more upfront.
Over a 5 year period, the total costs even out more as you factor in replacement parts. Still, the vertex represents a notable upfront investment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Two of Shark’s best vacuums are the Shark Navigator and Shark Vertex. The Navigator is an excellent affordable upright vacuum. The Vertex is a high-performance cordless stick vacuum.
The main Vertex models are the IZ163H and the IZ201H. The Vertex Pro IZ201H has a longer battery runtime (80 vs 60 minutes), stronger suction power, and LED headlights. It also includes an upgraded self-cleaning brush roll.
Shark makes upright, stick, robotic, and handheld vacuums. Uprights like the Navigator provide corded power. Sticks like the Vertex are lightweight and cordless. Robotic vacuums can clean automatically. Handhelds are portable for small cleanups.
The Apex is an older model while the Vertex is Shark’s newest cordless stick vacuum line. The Vertex has a longer battery life, more advanced swivel head, and improved suction power. The Vertex also utilizes Shark’s Anti Hair Wrap system.
Conclusion and Recommendation
So which is better – the Shark Navigator or Vertex?
The Navigator is best suited for larger homes that need a corded upright vacuum with versatile cleaning. It delivers great performance on carpets and can handle above floor cleaning thanks to the lift-away design.
The Navigator is also more budget friendly.
The Vertex is ideal for smaller homes that want lightweight cordless cleaning across floors. It provides excellent cleaning power and pet hair removal in a nimble stick format. The Vertex costs more upfront but delivers greater freedom and maneuverability.
Here is a quick summary of the ideal users for each vacuum:
Shark Navigator
- Homes with mostly carpets
- Larger homes over 2,000 sq ft
- Households with pets
- Users wanting lift-away versatility
- Buyers on a tighter budget
Shark Vertex
- Smaller homes under 1,500 sq ft
- Households with lots of hard floors
- Users wanting cordless freedom
- People needing lightweight design
- Buyers willing to pay more upfront
So in choosing between the Shark Navigator and Vertex vacuums, consider your home size, floor types, budget, and cleaning needs. Both deliver excellent cleaning performance and usability. Choose the Navigator for more affordable upright power or the Vertex for high-end cordless cleaning.
With either of these quality vacuums in your arsenal, you’ll be equipped to tackle dirt, dust, debris, and pet hair in your home.