Average score
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
3.9
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
3.9
Accessories and Tools
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.2
Included tools (combination/crevice, stair, turbine/pet tools, and variant-specific extras) are generally seen as useful, though at least one review finds the turbine tool underpowered.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.1
Commonly described as coming with a practical set of basic tools (crevice and upholstery/wide upholstery tool; some variants add pet tools). Lift-Away makes these tools more useful for stairs and above-floor cleaning.
Area Rug Handling
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
3.3
Area rug handling can be challenging: several reviewers note the vacuum may stick, pull up mats, or feel overly aggressive on certain rugs due to strong suction and head design.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetAssembly and Setup
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.5
Assembly is consistently described as straightforward with a few click-in parts and minimal setup time.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetBin and Bag
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.4
Bagless bin capacity is described as large (roughly 0.48–0.55 gal / about 2L), supporting longer sessions; sealing is generally good, with occasional minor leakage notes in lab testing.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.3
Bagless dust cup is generally considered easy to empty; some sources highlight an open/easy-to-clean canister design that supports long-term upkeep.
Build quality and durability
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
3.8
Build quality is often described as robust with durable plastics, but a minority of comments call out cheaper-feeling hose/handle plastics.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetCarpet — High-Pile Pickup
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
3.6
High-pile carpet results are mixed: suction is strong, but several reviews report it can be difficult to push or it may struggle to capture larger debris sitting high in the pile.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
2.9
High-pile/shag performance is a recurring weak spot: fixed height and head geometry can struggle to get on top of larger debris or can be harder to push on thick carpet compared with uprights with height adjustment.
Carpet — Low-Pile Pickup
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.5
Low-pile carpet performance is a consistent strength, with strong debris and hair pickup reported across both consumer and test-focused reviews.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.2
Low-pile carpet pickup is consistently strong in testing-style writeups, often above average for the upright category at its price.
Carpet — Medium-Pile Pickup
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.4
No summary yet.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.6
Medium-pile carpet deep cleaning is often a highlight, with at least one lab-style comparison giving it top-tier embedded debris results in its price segment.
Clogging and debris prevention
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
3.2
Debris flow is generally reliable, but a narrow wand/tube can clog if large items are picked up, and hair tangling around the brush can add periodic clearing.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetComparative performance
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.1
Comparative discussions often place it among the most powerful uprights tested, though some reviewers prefer newer or less expensive competitors depending on features and value.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.2
Often framed as outperforming many budget uprights and competing surprisingly well against pricier models in certain tests, but it generally trails modern premium heads on high-pile and specialized hard-floor pickup.
Controls and UI
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.1
Controls are simple and functional, commonly including suction-level selection and brush control; most feedback is positive with few learning-curve complaints.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
3.3
Controls are generally simple and include a brushroll on/off (or brush control) to transition between carpet and hard floors; lack of height adjustment is a repeated limitation for thick rugs/high pile and some large-debris situations.
Cord length
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.3
Cord length and reach are strong for a corded upright (often cited around 30–35 ft cord and extended total reach), reducing outlet changes during cleaning.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.0
Cord length is generally reported as adequate/good for the class, with some comparisons noting premium or competing models can be longer; exact length varies by variant in sources.
Cord management
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.0
Cord wrap and basic cord management are mentioned as straightforward and adequate for storage.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetCrevice / Groove Pickup (Hard Floors)
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.2
Crevice and groove pickup is often called out as a strong point thanks to high suction, though fine powder in floor gaps can still require extra passes or tool use.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
2.9
Crevice/crack pickup is repeatedly described as a limitation versus newer designs; some tests show below-average removal in crevice-style trials, making the wand more important for edges/cracks.
Cyclone performance
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.7
Cyclone system is repeatedly credited for strong, consistent pickup and maintaining performance room-to-room, with only occasional notes that floorhead design (not suction) limits large-debris pickup.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetDried-On Stain Removal
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.0
No summary yet.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetEase of use
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.2
Reviews mention this area with mixed to positive feedback overall (average score about 4.20), with performance varying by flooring, settings, and user expectations.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetEdge and Baseboard Cleaning (Hard Floors)
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.6
Edge and baseboard cleaning is repeatedly rated near the top, with strong edging tests and effective side channels at the floorhead.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
3.8
Edge/baseboard performance is variable: some sources say it cleans edges well head-on, but others note it can miss a small band near edges or struggle on parallel passes along walls.
Emptying and Mess Control
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.4
Emptying is commonly described as quick and hygienic (one-button or point-and-shoot style), with minimal need to touch debris.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetFiltration / Dust Containment
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.4
Whole-machine HEPA filtration and washable filters are praised for allergen control, though one lab-style review noted the system can be only partially sealed over years of use.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.4
A key strength: sources describe a sealed system paired with HEPA filtration/Complete Seal-style containment, which improves dust/allergen containment compared with many budget uprights.
Floorhead design
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.0
Self-adjusting floorhead design improves sealing and surface adaptation, but multiple reviewers say it can sit too close and push larger debris or reduce usability on some rugs.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetHair Pickup — Carpets
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.5
Carpet hair pickup, especially pet hair, is repeatedly rated excellent and aligns with the product positioning for homes with shedding animals.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.0
Hair pickup on carpets is generally solid for typical pet hair, but some testing notes clumping and that not all hair makes it fully to the bin in tougher trials.
Hair Pickup — Hard Floors
P1Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
No score yet
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.1
Hair pickup on hard floors is generally described as effective for everyday pet hair, aided by strong suction and above-floor tools.
Hair‑Wrap / Tangle Resistance
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
2.6
Long-hair management is a weak spot on the main brush in some objective testing (notable tangling reported), even though pet-hair pickup is strong and some turbine tools resist tangles.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
2.9
Long-hair wrap is a consistent drawback across tests and reviews; owners should expect periodic brushroll clearing, especially with longer hair and heavy shedding households.
Hard Floor — Fine Dust Pickup
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.1
On hard floors, fine dust pickup is generally strong, but multiple tests note residue can remain in cracks/crevices (e.g., flour between boards) depending on technique and settings.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
3.7
Fine debris on hard floors is generally good but not best-in-class; at least one test notes it can leave fine sand behind, requiring extra passes.
Hard Floor — Large Debris Intake
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
3.7
Large-debris pickup is inconsistent: some reviewers get solid results with the correct head setting, while others report the self-adjusting head can push cereal/large bits instead of ingesting them.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
3.3
Large debris on hard floors/rugs can be mixed: it can handle many everyday pieces, but multiple mentions note pushing/scattering crummy or larger particles in some scenarios without height adjustment or a more modern head design.
Headlight and LED lights
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
1.5
Multiple sources note the floorhead lacks LED headlights, which can make it harder to see debris in darker spaces.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetHose length
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.4
Hose and wand reach are frequently praised for above-floor work (stairs, corners, behind furniture), though one reviewer notes the wand/tube can feel narrow for larger items.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
3.1
Hose/wand reach is a common nit: multiple writeups mention wishing the hose were longer or the wand had more reach, which can limit above-floor range compared with some alternatives.
Kid-friendliness
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.2
A few comments suggest kid-friendliness via safety behavior when parked upright (rollers/brush not spinning), though overall usability still depends on handling the unit's weight.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetMaintenance requirements
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.2
Maintenance is viewed as simple: wash filters on a schedule, empty the bin, and occasionally clear hair/debris from the brush or airway.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
3.9
Maintenance is straightforward (wash/replace filters, keep bin empty), but brushroll hair wrap and periodic clearing are repeatedly mentioned as the main ongoing chore.
Maneuverability and Handling
P1Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
No score yet
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.1
Maneuverability is often a plus (notably swivel steering), though some testing notes it can feel stiffer than premium uprights and may require a bit more effort under strong suction conditions.
Noise level
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
3.6
Noise impressions vary by test: some measurements place it in the high-60s/low-70s dB range while others find it louder; overall it is not silent, but generally within typical upright ranges.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.2
Noise is frequently described as relatively quiet for an upright; at least one test set places it among the quietest in its comparison group.
Onboard tool storage
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.3
Onboard storage for key tools and brackets is appreciated for keeping frequently used attachments accessible without a separate bag.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetOverall opinion
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.2
Overall sentiment trends positive on cleaning power and results, with the most common drawbacks being weight, high price, and occasional usability quirks on rugs/tight spaces.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetPet-Ready Features
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.4
Pet-focused performance is a highlight, with strong pet-hair pickup and useful pet tools, though tool effectiveness can vary by included kit and expectations.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetPrice and Value
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
3.3
Price is a frequent criticism: many reviewers call it expensive, recommending it most when discounted or when maximum suction matters more than cost.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.6
Repeatedly positioned as a standout value in the $100–$200-ish budget upright space, with performance and sealed filtration that often beat cheaper uprights and compete well for the price.
Stair Cleaning
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.3
Stair cleaning is a standout: the long hose/wand reach lets users clean many steps from one position, reducing the need to carry the main body upstairs.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.4
Lift-Away is repeatedly called out as making stair cleaning and above-floor cleaning meaningfully easier than standard uprights, though hose/wand reach can be a limiting factor depending on variant.
Storage footprint and upright-stand stability
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
2.9
Bulky storage footprint and upright-stand behavior show tradeoffs: some users report an finicky click/lock into the upright position and overall size that can be harder to store.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetSuction and Airflow
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.7
Reviews consistently describe class-leading suction that deep-cleans carpets and pulls embedded debris, but the strength can make the vacuum feel grabby on plush carpet and some rugs.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.3
Suction and airflow are frequently described as strong for the price and consistent over time when maintained; several comparisons treat suction power as a primary reason it remains popular.
Support and Reliability
P1Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
No score yet
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.3
Support expectations are helped by commonly cited multi-year warranty coverage and broad parts availability; durability is often described as adequate but plastic-heavy.
Tool-change simplicity
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.4
Tool swaps are typically described as quick click-on/click-off, making it easy to move between floor cleaning and above-floor attachments.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetUnder-Furniture Pickup
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
2.8
Under-furniture reach is limited for an upright; bulk and the ball housing prevent cleaning far under low-clearance furniture without moving items or switching to the wand.
P2Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
No score yetUpholstery / Above-Floor Pickup
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
4.6
Above-floor and upholstery cleaning are frequently praised when using the turbine and combination tools, especially for furniture and blankets with hair.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.1
No summary yet.
Versatility
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
3.4
Versatility is good for an upright via wand and tools, but it is not a true convertible handheld and can feel less flexible than lift-away or cordless designs.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.4
Versatility is a defining feature due to Lift-Away mode and above-floor usability; it’s commonly recommended for stairs, upholstery, and hard-to-reach areas relative to basic uprights.
Weight
P1
Product 1: Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright...
2.4
Multiple reviewers flag the unit as heavy (roughly 16–17.5 lb), which can add arm strain during whole-home cleaning or when carrying it between floors.
P2
Product 2: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
4.2
Usually described as lightweight for an upright and easier to carry than many competitors, supporting its budget-all-purpose positioning.