If you're looking to upgrade your Shark vacuum cleaner, at some point you'll probably find yourself trying to figure out the differences between the Shark PowerDetect and Shark Detect Pro product lines. In terms of specs and smarts, these are the two of the best Shark vacuum ranges at time of writing, and despite the fact they have very similar names, there are key differences that should be taken into consideration when choosing between the two. Note: this article will mostly focus on the cordless stick vacuums in each line.
The Detect Pro range launched in September 2023, and comprises a cordless stick vacuum and (in the US only) a robot vacuum. The stick vacuum introduced a range of detection and automation features, and as well as an optional auto-empty base. You can get the full low-down in our Shark Detect Pro cordless stick vacuum review.
The PowerDetect range was unveiled the following year, in September 2024. It comprises a cordless stick vacuum, but also an upright, a corded stick vac, and a few different robot vacuums. The cordless stick vacuum has all the same detection features of the Detect Pro, as well as that optional base. It adds another 'detection' feature – it's designed to vacuum just as well when being pulled backwards as pushed forwards – but more significantly, it's much more powerful than the Detect Pro in terms of suction. Find out more in our Shark PowerDetect cordless stick vacuum review.
The Detect Pro currently features in our roundup of the best cordless vacuums on the market, and the PowerDetect is only absent because it's currently only available in the US – at time of writing we're awaiting UK and Australian launches. (These are two of Shark's key vacuum ranges. The third is the Stratos line – you can see how that matches up in our Shark Stratos vs Detect Pro comparison article.)
Overall, the PowerDetect will be the better of the two for most people, just because it's more powerful. However, it is more expensive than the Detect Pro cordless (although not massively) and a bit heavier, too. That's the short version; read on for a more in-depth look all the differences between the Shark PowerDetect vs Detect Pro vacuums.
Shark PowerDetect vs Detect Pro: range & price
- PowerDetect has a much wider range of models overall
- PowerDetect cordless stick vac only available in the US right now
- PowerDetect Stick vac more expensive than Detect Pro equivalent
The Shark vacuum range encompasses a lot of different models, so figuring out the different options is a tricky business. Availability varies by country, and where a model is international, it won't necessarily have the same name and code in every territory.
In this section, we'll do our best to explain the different models and prices for the Detect Pro and PowerDetect ranges. We'll only include what you can buy direct from Shark – there may be other options available from third party retailers.
Shark PowerDetect range
The key model in this range is the PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum. In the US, the vacuum on its own is the IP1251 and costs $429.99. Alternatively, you can opt for a version with an auto-empty base. This is the IP3251 and costs $499.99. The PowerDetect Cordless Stick vacuum is currently not available in the UK or Australia. It is due to join the UK lineup, but we don't have AU information yet.
Within the range you'll also find the PowerDetect Upright vacuum. In the UK it's the AZ3900UKT and it has a list price of £399.99 but is currently reduced to £349.99. In Australia this is the AZ3900 and costs AU$699. It's not part of the US range right now.
However, US shoppers do have the option of the PowerDetect Corded Stick vacuum HZ4002 for $259.99, not available in the UK or Australia at the moment.
Finally, in the US and UK, there's a PowerDetect robot vacuum. In the US there are three options: a basic version with no mop function RV2820AE for $599.99, a combo version with a NeverTouch Base RV2820YE for $899.99 or with a NeverTouch Pro base RV2820ZE for $999.99. In the UK it's just the self-empty vacuum-only robovac RV2820VEUK for £499.99. We're currently testing this model out to see if it's worthy of inclusion in our roundup of the best robot vacuums.
Shark Detect Pro range
The Shark Detect Pro range includes one cordless stick vacuum. In the US, its the IW1111 for $379.99, or you can go for the version with an auto-empty base IW3511 for $449.99.
In the UK, there was originally a vacuum-only version IW1511UK for £349.99, but at time of writing there are now only auto-empty base options if you buy direct from Shark. Choose between a 1.3L base IW3510UK for £399.99 reduced to £299.99, or a 2L base IW3611UKT for £449.99 down to £349.99.
Shoppers in Australia can grab the vacuum on its own IW1611 for AU$599.99 down to AU$499.99, or with an auto-empty base IW3611 for AU$799.99 down to AU$699.99.
There's also a Detect Pro Robot Vacuum, but only in the US. This is a self-empty vacuum-only robovac, with the product code RV2820AEB, for $599.99.
Here's a summary table of pricing for the Detect Pro and PowerDetect cordless stick vacuums:
Shark PowerDetect vs Detect Pro: specs
Shark PowerDetect vs Detect Pro: design & features
- PowerDetect significantly more powerful, but also heavier
- Both have lots of automation features, and optional auto-empty base
- PowerDetect's USP is 'DirectionDetect', which we weren't impressed with
In this section, we'll focus on comparing the standard cordless stick vacuum in the PowerDetect and Detect Pro ranges. Bear in mind that, depending on where you live, you might also have upright and corded stick vacuum PowerDetect options, and there's also a robot vacuum in each range.
The PowerDetect Cordless stick vacuum is almost 2lbs heavier than the Detect Pro equivalent, and it's more than 2" taller, too. The PowerDetect has significantly higher wattage (450W vs 240W for the Detect Pro). Wattage is one of the ways you can tell how much suction a vacuum cleaner has. It's not a hard-and-fast rule – a poorly designed vacuum with a high wattage isn't going to have great suction – but because these models are from the same company and so should have similar builds, it's fairly safe to assume the PowerDetect will have the better suction of the two. Shark itself also markets the PowerDetect as being its "most powerful cordless ever".
Let's take a closer look at the design/feature differences between the Shark Detect Pro and PowerDetect vacuums. You might want to refer to our Shark vacuum technologies guide, because this brand uses a fair bit of marketing jargon.
Cleaning powers
As you might gather from the names, Shark has gone big on 'detection' features in both the Detect Pro and PowerDetect vacuums. Here are the automation features both models have:
- DirtDetect: adjusts suction based on how dirty the floor is
- FloorDetect: detects floor type, and uses more suction on carpet
- EdgeDetect: boosts suction on one side of floorhead when near the edge of a room
- LightDetect: brightens floorhead lights when entering dark areas
In addition, the PowerDetect also has DirectionDetect. This isn't so much a detecting thing, and the description of the feature is a little wooly, but essentially this vacuum is meant to clean just as well when it's being pulled backwards as it does when pushed forwards. On test, we didn't really notice a difference in performance compared to other vacuums that don't have this feature.
Related to these DirectionDetect features, the PowerDetect cordless stick vacuum introduces a new floorhead design, known as the DuoClean Detect floorhead. It has two rollers and has been designed to work equally well on hard floor and carpet, with extra-impressive hair pickup. It also has patented 'teeth' that are specifically meant to be good at picking up chunky debris on the reverse stroke.
The Detect Pro has a QuadClean floorhead, which has different parts for tackling different tasks. The roller is mostly fluffy microfiber (for grabbing surface dust on hard floors), but it also has firmer bristles (for carpet), and rubbery 'PowerFins' (to really dig into deep-pile carpet and pull out hair and ingrained dirt).
Both floorheads are designed to prevent hair from getting tangled up around the rollers. In the UK this is referred to as 'anti hair wrap technology' while in the US it called a 'self-cleaning brushroll'.
Special features
That's the design and cleaning powers covered; now let's take a look at the fun extras. One of the most popular Shark features is its bendable wand, and that's all present and correct on both the PowerDetect and Detect Pro cordless models. Press a button on the wand and it'll bend forward, enabling you to reach right under furniture without having to get low yourself.
These are the only two models in the wider Shark range to come with an optional self-empty base. As well as providing somewhere for the vacuum to charge, it'll empty the on-vac dust cup every time it's docked, into a much larger bin in the base. There's an anti-odor puck to prevent smells from building up. It's not an essential, but both our reviewers were fans, and generally it's not too much more expensive to pick up the version with the dock. We'd recommend it especially to allergy sufferers, because it means you'll need to manually empty dust and debris far less often.
