Shark is a brand that knows how to make a good vacuum. In fact, when it comes to the best vacuum cleaners we've ever tested, Shark holds two of the seven top spots. Impressive, huh? But, it doesn't coast on its past success, releasing new innovative products on a pretty regular basis.
Its latest release, though, really feels like it might have outdone itself. The Shark PowerDetect Transformer vacuum has just launched, but it's not just one product – it's three. While it's an upright vacuum at first glance, it can easily be reconfigured into a lightweight stick vacuum or powerful handheld.
Now, when I hear the name Transformer, my mind goes immediately to the iconic robots. And while I loved that as a kid, my adult form is a big fan of the vacuum version.
About the Shark PowerDetect Transformer
The Shark PowerDetect Transformer is a little bit of everything. While you've got your full-size upright to begin with, it can easily be changed into a stick vacuum that's flexible and lightweight, or a handheld for those above-floor and tight spaces.
What you get with a lot of vacuums right now is a whole suite of cleaning tools to complete the job, but what the PowerDetect Transformer aims to do is streamline all of that into just one transforming system. And it's really as easy as one click to turn the upright into a handheld with the removable pod. Then, you simply click it back onto the upright and it'll empty itself into the main dust cup.
As Petra Oman, VP of Marketing at SharkNinja explains: "The upright vacuum has looked and worked the same way for decades. We saw an opportunity to rethink the category by eliminating the bulky hose and creating a system that adapts to the way people actually clean."
And it's not just an impressive reconfiguring vacuum that you get, but there's smarts packed inside, too. With both PowerDetect and Reveal technologies onboard, it's capable of finding hidden dirt and debris that usually goes unnoticed and then responds to the environment from floor types to edges.
Here's why I can't wait to try it
I've got a Shark vacuum right now, but I'll admit that I get fed up with the hose getting in my way, especially when going up the stairs or reaching for those annoying corners. I also absolutely hate when the attachments have a mind of their own, detaching themselves from my upright when I'm manoeuvring around.
What I've really been after is something streamlined that's still capable of tackling my whole home, and that's where the Shark PowerDetect Transformer seems like it could really fit the bill.
All three cleaning forms in one system for one price? Sign me up. And while it's a little more expensive than the likes of the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Vacuum, which launched for $499, or the Shark Stratos for $399, it's also not that much more considering it's a 3-in-1.
I'm also a big fan of the colorways, as well as the big Transformer logo down the shaft of the handheld. I never thought I'd see a day when I'd get excited about a Transformer that was a vacuum instead of a robot, but here we are. I'll reserve my full judgment for when we get hands-on for a full review.
