Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty

Verdict

The Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty is a feature-rich cordless with strong suction, HEPA filtration, smart auto-adjusting power and a very convenient auto-empty base. If you want a powerful stick that minimizes bin emptying and works well for pet and allergy households, this is an excellent but not ultra-cheap choice.

Pros

  • Hair-Wrap / Tangle Resistance 3 reviews 4.8
    Its brushroll design resists tangles very well, leaving long pet hair in the dustbin instead of wrapped around the roller, even after cleaning rugs in multi pet households.
  • Hard Floor — Fine Dust Pickup 3 reviews 4.8
    The PowerDetect Clean & Empty excels at collecting fine dust, dirt, and litter on hard floors without scattering debris, thanks to its DuoClean roller and strong suction.
  • Hard Floor — Large Debris Intake 5 reviews 4.8
    Its DuoClean floorhead quickly scoops up larger debris like rice, peanuts, and litter in a single pass, matching or nearly matching the very best hard floor performers.
  • Cordless convenience 2 reviews 4.8
    Cordless design and a self-empty base make it easy to grab for quick cleanups and move room to room without worrying about cords or frequent bin emptying.
  • Filtration / Dust Containment 5 reviews 4.7
    A sealed system and HEPA filtration give the PowerDetect perfect or near-perfect filtration scores in testing, making it a strong choice for allergy conscious homes.
  • Under-Furniture Pickup 6 reviews 4.7
    Flexible wand design enables thorough pickup under low furniture without needing to move heavy items.
  • Pet-Ready Features 4 reviews 4.6
    Handles multi-pet households well, lifting clumps of dog and cat hair from floors and rugs while the auto-empty base helps manage the extra fur load.
  • Overall opinion 5 reviews 4.6
    Reviews now highlight the PowerDetect Clean & Empty as a best overall cordless vacuum choice, combining great pickup, perfect filtration, excellent hair control, smart Detect features, and strong value compared with Dyson’s Gen5.
  • Price & Value 5 reviews 4.6
    Strong suction, a self empty base, and premium features at a price much lower than Dyson’s flagships make the PowerDetect one of the better value picks among high end cordless sticks.
  • Suction & Airflow 9 reviews 4.5
    The PowerDetect provides consistently strong suction and airflow that ramp up on carpets and rugs, easily capturing fine dust, pet hair, and larger debris across different floor types.
  • Odor control 1 review 4.5
    Built-in odor neutralizer technology helps keep the air smelling fresher after cleaning, which is especially useful in homes with pets or strong household odors.
  • Versatility 1 review 4.5
    With its DuoClean floorhead, flexible wand, auto-empty base and pet-focused tools, the PowerDetect adapts well to hard floors, carpets, furniture and tight spaces as a do-most-things cordless.
  • AI, Smart & App / Automation 8 reviews 4.4
    PowerDetect sensors read floor type, dirt levels, and edges to automatically tune suction and behavior, providing a smart, mostly hands off cleaning experience across surfaces.
  • Emptying & Mess Control 8 reviews 4.4
    The self-emptying Clean & Empty base automatically pulls debris from the onboard dust bin into a larger chamber that can hold weeks of dirt, reducing mess and manual emptying frequency, though sticky debris and the bagless dump can still create occasional cleanup and the system is trickier to clean than a simple bin.
  • Headlight & LED lights 4 reviews 4.4
    Bright floorhead LEDs highlight dust and debris across the cleaning path, improving visibility, especially near edges and in dimmer rooms.
  • Battery & Charging 3 reviews 4.3
    Real world testing shows runtimes that are well above average, with around 40 to 45 minutes on lighter modes and shorter but still competitive times at higher power.
  • Ease of use 3 reviews 4.3
    Intuitive controls, automatic suction adjustment, and a self-emptying base keep setup simple and day-to-day cleaning nearly effortless, though the top-heavy body and sensor upkeep add a bit of extra fuss.
  • Build quality & durability 3 reviews 4.2
    Overall build quality feels solid and durable, with components that look more robust than the lighter, plasticky parts on some budget competitors.
  • Bin & Bag 3 reviews 4.0
    A moderate-size onboard dust bin pairs with a larger Clean & Empty base collection chamber, so you rarely need to open the bin manually except after sticky or wet messes.
  • Carpet — Low-Pile Pickup 1 review 4.0
    Delivers strong cleaning on low-pile rugs and area carpets, pulling up plenty of pet hair, though it still falls a bit short of a full-size upright for deep cleaning.
  • Storage footprint & upright-stand stability 3 reviews 3.8
    The vacuum cannot stand upright on its own and must be leaned or docked, though the base provides a secure storage and charging spot.
  • Maneuverability & Handling 6 reviews 3.8
    A flexible wand and compact floorhead make it easy to reach under and around furniture, but the heavy, top-loaded chassis still makes steering more tiring than with lighter Dyson and Tineco competitors.
  • Runtime (Measured, Default) 6 reviews 3.8
    Real world testing shows runtimes that are well above average, with around 40 to 45 minutes on lighter modes and shorter but still competitive times at higher power, while marketing specs claim up to roughly 70 minutes in eco under ideal conditions.
  • Accessories & Tools 5 reviews 3.7
    Onboard tool storage keeps a basic combo attachment always connected to the vacuum for quick above-floor jobs, and the broader accessory set, including a pet multi tool and crevice brush, provides practical options for upholstery and tight spaces even if it is not the most extensive toolkit on the market.
  • Controls & UI 1 review 3.5
    Simple LED indicators communicate mode and battery status clearly enough, but the lack of a numeric runtime readout makes the interface feel less premium than some high end rivals.

Cons

  • Noise level 2 reviews 3.0
    Noise levels creep a bit above average at full power, though the sound remains manageable at lower modes for everyday cleaning.
  • Weight 5 reviews 2.3
    At roughly 8 lb with significant weight in the floorhead, the PowerDetect feels heavy in use and can be tiring to push over longer sessions.
  • Clogging & debris prevention 1 review 2.0
  • Dock noise 1 review 2.0
    The auto-empty cycle is noticeably loud when the base clears the dust bin, which may be disruptive in quiet times.