Shark and Dyson are certainly 2 of the best home vacuum brands available today. When you think of cordless vacuums that can clean your entire home including carpets, you likely think of the ultra powerful Dyson V series (specifically the V10 or V11). The V10 has a long lasting battery and multiple configurations for all types of floor surfaces, which is why it is one of the best selling models today. But what about the Shark ION P50? How does it compare to the powerful V10? You might be surprised by the comparison in a variety of categories.
Before we start, if you are new to the idea of buying a cord-free vacuum cleaner for your home you should know that the improvements in battery technology have made these models more than capable. The most powerful cleaners come equipped with lithium ion batteries that are long lasting and provide fade-free power right up until they are drained. No longer do you have to be tethered to an electric outlet but can instead move freely around your home. This is the biggest advantage to cordless vacuums like the P50 and V10. Before we begin comparing them in a variety of categories, here is a quick rundown of each model.
Shark ION P50 – Brief Overview
Make no mistake the Shark ION P50 is a full sized cordless upright vacuum that has many of the same features as their other popular offerings. It has 3 different cleaning modes for any type of surface, both at and above the floor. Upright mode is for basic hard floor or carpet cleaning in open areas, stick vacuum mode works well in tighter spaces, and hand vac mode is for those ‘above the floor’ areas that a larger machine cannot reach. Stick and hand vacuum modes are operated in Shark’s unique powered lift away which lets you remove the canister from the main body to keep full power to the cleaning attachment. It basically gives you multiple vacuums in one.
Here are some of the other main features:
- Anti allergen complete seal technology™ captures and traps more than 99% of the smallest allergens like dust mites and mold spores
- Extra large dirt capacity is ideal for large room cleaning where you don’t want to stop for emptying
- DuoClean™ powerhead is designed with 2 different brushrolls in one: 1 for hard floors and 1 for smooth surfaces
- Free-standing upright storage when not in use
Dyson V10 Cyclone – Lineup Rundown
The ultra powerful Dyson V10 remains one of the most popular cordless vacuums you can buy today. This model can be used in 3 different modes depending on what you are trying to clean. Suction mode 1 is what you would want for smooth floor like tile, laminate, and hardwood as well as lower pile carpets. Mode 2 gives just a little more power for higher pile carpets where you need to pull dirt particles up from deep down in the fibers. Boost mode gives an intense burst of suction power for those small messes that need it. You just need to keep in mind that the life of the battery will depend on which modes you are vacuuming in.
Some of the other features include:
- Battery optimization technology and newly designed trigger save the battery and provide a longer operating time than prior models (V8)
- Larger collection bin can hold 40% more dirt particles than their other cordless vacuum cleaners
- HEPA filters capture 99.97% of allergens inside so the air that comes out is much healthier to breathe in
- 2 different cyclone models to choose from: Absolute and Motorhead
Now that we have looked at the main features of each, here they are compared in a variety of categories.
Suction Power
The cordless vacuums of the past have been nothing more than powered brooms, capable of only picking up small dirt particles from smooth floors. These 2 vacuums are much more than that with enough power to rival most corded uprights. The Dyson V10 is rated at around 150 air watts on Boost Mode which is impressive to say the least. While you won’t be vacuuming in this mode for extended periods you can be sure the V10 has enough power to deep clean any carpet on demand. Even in their Mode 2 you will have enough suction to pull dirt up from high pile carpet fibers on a single pass.
The Shark P50 provides just over 100 air watts on their highest setting (estimate) which is lower than the Dyson. When using them side by side on thicker carpeting you can tell the difference in suction as the Dyson is just a bit more powerful. The ION P50 can handle carpets but if you have mainly carpets in your home then the V10 would definitely have the edge in this category. For smoother floors and low pile carpeting the difference is negligible. However, since this is the suction power category we have to give the win to the Dyson V10.
Batteries
Both of these contenders come with the latest lithium ion battery technology which is a huge advantage over what was previously available. But even though they have the same technology there are some key differences between the offerings. The Dyson V10 is built with a 7 cell pack that lasts longer and has higher output than what was found on their V8 vacuums. They claim about 60 minutes of runtime on a full charge but this is measured on the lowest setting in handheld mode. Expect about 35 to 45 minutes under normal conditions which is still quite good when you consider how powerful the V10 is. The one complaint we have with it is the battery is not removable so you must stop vacuuming when you are charging.
The Shark P50 comes with a fully removable lithium pack that they claim gives you 50 minutes of use in their handheld mode. Again, this will be lower when using it as an upright but still enough to clean the normal sized house. The biggest advantage is you can purchase a second battery if you have a larger residence or many rooms with carpets. You can have both batteries ready to go to give you twice the runtime of the Dyson, though this is almost a necessity if you plan on using the powered lift-away mode (more on that below). Removable batteries is enough to give the edge to Shark here.
One thing to note about lithium ion batteries is they not only provide longer lasting use but they also give you fade-free power right up until they are depleted. This means you can still use the vacuum to effectively clean your floors even if the charge is low.
Filtration
When you are looking for a vacuum cleaner that can handle carpets as well as hard floors, high rated filters are a must. Both the Shark and Dyson have fully sealed HEPA filtration to completely trap the smallest of allergens. On the P50 it is called the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal™ with a filter and internal seal to trap 99.99% of organisms down to 0.3 microns. The V10 is also rated to trap more than 99% of allergens which is pretty standard on full sized vacuums but not something you always see when researching cordless models. As long as you consistently clean and rinse the filters they will operate at peak performance for the life of the vacuum as well. Obviously if you are cleaning carpets exclusively you will need to care for the filters more often.
Other Thoughts
There are a couple of notable features that set these two competitors apart. The Shark ION P50 has their powered lift away system which lets you remove the canister and operate the wand at full power. It becomes portable without losing the extreme suction power so you can reach under and around large pieces of furniture and more. This is found on some of Shark’s other large vacuums but only on this cordless one. It’s a great feature and one that could really benefit you if you have multiple floor types or surfaces to clean. For more information and to check current pricing on the P50, click here to visit our recommended online supplier.
The Dyson V10 has the 3 different modes mentioned above (Modes 1 and 2, as well as Boost) to suit a variety of cleaning applications. You can also get it in 2 different models: Absolute and Motorhead which highlights just how flexible it is. Whether you have mostly carpets, mostly hard floors, or somewhere in between the Dyson will work great. It shines more where maximum power is needed, especially in large open areas. If this describes your home then click here to price it out where we recommend you purchase it.