The Shark PowerDetect Speed, a new cordless vacuum from Shark, is now WIRED's top pick for the category, according to a review by Nena Farrell. The Speed model is lighter, slimmer, and cheaper than the original Shark PowerDetect, and it adds an optional base station that self-empties the dust bin and charges the battery, Farrell reported. The version with that base station, called the Clean & Empty configuration, is the one Farrell recommended.
Motor and Test Performance
Farrell tested the Speed side by side with Dyson's current vacuum lineup. The Speed's 350-watt motor — slightly less than the original PowerDetect's 380 watts — performed the best on a sand plus thin rug test, according to the review. In separate sand and Cheerios tests on thick rugs, the Speed was just as efficient as more expensive Dyson vacuums, Farrell wrote. The review also reported that the Speed pulled up a substantial amount of cat hair and debris from bedrooms that had been recently vacuumed. The tests covered both dry debris like sand and Cheerios and pet hair, according to the source.
PowerDetect Speed vs. Original PowerDetect
| Model | Motor Power | Test Results |
|---|---|---|
| Shark PowerDetect | 380 watts | Won overall comparison against Dyson Gen5Detect earlier this year |
| Shark PowerDetect Speed | 350 watts | Best on sand + thin rug test; matched expensive Dyson vacuums on thick rug tests |
The original PowerDetect's earlier victory over the Dyson Gen5Detect came in tests Farrell conducted earlier this year, according to WIRED. The Speed model carries a lower motor rating than the original, yet delivered stronger performance in at least one of the current test categories. The review does not provide exact price figures for either model or for the Dyson lineup, but it describes the Speed as cheaper and the Dyson vacuums it faced as more expensive.
Clean & Empty Base Station
The Speed's Clean & Empty version includes a base station that automatically empties the vacuum's bin and recharges its battery, according to WIRED. That automation, combined with the lighter and slimmer body and lower price, is why the Speed became Farrell's new default recommendation, the review states. Farrell specifically recommended the Clean & Empty version as her top pick among cordless vacuums as of her writing.
Cordless Vacuum Market Context
WIRED's review noted that the original Shark PowerDetect appears as a recommended cordless vacuum across much of the consumer press, even appearing on almost every page of the internet as a top cordless vacuum suggestion. The Speed builds on that reputation with a less powerful but better-performing motor in several tests, according to the review. Farrell described the Speed as "just as efficient as more expensive Dyson vacuums" in the thick rug tests, suggesting the lower-priced model holds its own against premium rivals. The review did not disclose which specific Dyson models were used in the side-by-side testing.
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