At Ideal Home, we make it our mission to keep on top of exciting new launches and ever-changing cleaning technology. But the Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum Cleaner proves that if it ain't broke, there's no need to fix it.
Yes, we originally tested this vacuum cleaner upon its release in 2022, and it quickly topped the charts as one of the best vacuum cleaners out there. In fact, it's also been one of the bestselling cordless vacuum cleaners we've ever added to the site. But how does it stack up in 2026? We've retested it to find out.
In a nutshell
The Shark Stratos is a bestseller for a reason, and after trying it out, I'm happy to report that it reaches stratospheric heights in suction power, technology, and design.
This vacuum aims to solve many of the age-old cleaning dilemmas that make cleaning so often tiresome. First up, you've got unrivalled hair pickup with the Anti Hair Wrap Plus technology, and suction power that will make a noticeable difference on carpets as well as hard floors.
Then there's the CleanSense IQ feature, which adjusts that wonderful suction power to where you need it most, without you having to think about it. And if you hate nasty, musty vacuum bin smells, just wait until you hear about the Anti Odour Technology Shark offers to make the Stratos one of the best vacuums I've tested.
Don’t just take my word for it, though. The Shark Stratos has since been re-tested by Lauren, Ideal Home’s Content Editor and Certified Expert for Vacuums. And while four years have passed since this cordless vacuum was initially reviewed, she agrees that this particular model is a must-have.
Specifications
- Max. run time: up to 120 minutes (split over two batteries)
- Charge time: 3.5 hours per battery
- Bin volume: 0.87 litres
- Weight: 4.1kg
- Dimensions: 1140H x 270W x 170D mm
- Modes: normal, boost, eco, CleanSense IQ
How we tested
Unboxing, assembly, and first impressions
I was very excited about receiving the Shark Stratos. A big part of my job is testing new cleaning releases, and the best Shark vacuums haven't let me down yet.
One thing I always love about Shark vacuum cleaners is that they arrive in compact boxes without any fuss. There's no plastic and no excess, and everything is protected by a cardboard shell and then wrapped in eco-friendly paper to keep the smaller components safe.
Inside the box was a 'Quick Start' guide printed on the lid and a more detailed instruction manual. There was also the handheld part of the vacuum, flexology wand, motorised floor nozzle, crevice tool, multi surface tool, anti-allergen brush, motorised pet tool, dual charging dock, anti-odour cartridge and accessory bag.
Everything that came with this vacuum felt high-quality, and I loved that there was a tote bag in the box for all the accessories. On the whole, though, I do think Shark has missed a trick by not including a charging dock where you can situate your vac and all of its attachments. I've learnt that a dock tidies up your house no end and means you don't have to hide attachments away in bags or cupboards.
Assembling the Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum also took minimal effort on my part. All I had to do was connect the flexology wand and the floorhead with the handheld vacuum and click them all together. This took a matter of seconds.
I then took the anti-odour cartridge out of the box and the tin, and inserted it into its home on the floorhead. You simply twist it in place, and the waft of scent is instant. This has always been a perk of Shark's vacuums that I've loved, as it makes your house smell clean while you're vacuuming - enhancing the overall feeling of cleanliness.
With everything assembled, I then took a step back to look at the Shark Stratos in all of its glory. And overall, the look and feel of the vacuum is a winning formula for Shark in my eyes. Sure, it's never going to be as pretty as one of the best Dyson vacuum cleaners, but it's sleek and compact, and the colourway works really well.
I also love how - like many Shark vacuums - it folds over itself when not in use. This seriously helps with storage, especially if you live in a small home with limited storage, like me.
Performance
The Shark Stratos won me over from the outset with its incredible suction power. Though it's slim and lightweight, as soon as you hit the power button on the handle, you feel this vacuum roar into life. Using it in stick mode on carpet initially, I was impressed by the visible lines this left, where it had really gotten into the depths of the fabric and pulled up dirt. The same can be said of hard floors, too, with the wheels on the DuoClean head also really helping me along.
On my first use, to my shame, the suction was so effective that even after just five minutes, the Stratos' dust bin was filling up. I noticed on this outing, too, that any hair pulled up into a separate part of the dust bin - clinging around a conical structure in the top - meaning that you can see exactly how much hair it has picked up.
I've been using this vacuum for a good few months now, and I've not yet had to cut out any hair from the head of the vacuum. Instead, it all travels straight up to the dust bin, which makes cleaning a whole lot easier, and proves that those bold anti-hair wrap claims really are true.
The CleanSense IQ feature is also an exciting development from Shark, and can be seen on the head of the vacuum in the form of an LED bar. When the vacuum senses more debris, it'll amp up the suction power used, and the bar will illuminate to reflect that.
I was a bit worried that this was going to be more of a gimmick than a truly useful feature, but over time I've come to view it as a useful addition to my cleaning routine.
Areas that I might not even have guessed were high-traffic (like around my bed) light up like a Christmas tree with this feature, prompting me to pay more attention to them during my next vacuuming session. The sheer amount of dust picked up when in this mode means that I stick to it most of the time, even though it drains the battery a little faster. There are also Eco modes and Boost modes to choose from, but with CleanSense doing the work for me, I don't see them as overly useful.
With headlights on the floorhead, the Shark Stratos also highlights dust and dirt not usually visible to the eye, meaning you can ensure every inch of your floors is clean. Plus, the flexology wand bends under furniture with ease, making it a seriously user-friendly cordless vacuum.
However, we take how we test products at Ideal Home very seriously. That's why, in 2026, our Vacuums Expert Lauren took the testing of the Shark Stratos one step further by performing the debris test. She scattered various types of debris on both hard flooring and carpets and tested how quickly and effectively the Stratos could pick it up.
The Shark Stratos instantly adjusted its suction power to deal with the debris in front of it, and it had no problem dealing with the coffee grounds and rice that Lauren threw on her hard flooring. The porridge oats were a little trickier and took a couple of passes to pick up completely, but the results were still impressive.
On carpet, the Shark Stratos performed even better. It picked up all of the debris on the first pass, and didn't leave any lingering coffee, rice or oats behind. Thanks to the anti-odour capsule, she couldn't even smell the coffee once it was gone, either.
Attachments
One of the biggest advantages of cordless stick vacs is how quickly and easily they can transform into one of the best handheld vacuums. And the Shark Stratos is no different.
Switching out to handheld attachments is so simple with the Stratos; one touch of a button and you're able to tackle your stairs, car or countertops with a more dedicated nozzle.
The crevice tool is ideal for vacuuming down the sides of your sofa or smaller nooks and crannies, the multi-surface tool can be used to dust everything from hard surfaces to upholstery, and Lauren found that the anti-allergen brush was ideal for cleaning the shutter blinds all around her house.
The motorised pet tool is a game-changer for those with pets, and allows the Stratos to stake its claim as one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair, too. Lauren used it on multiple surfaces in her dog-hair-filled home during testing and found that it was able to tackle her cocker spaniel's hair with ease.
Battery
I tried the two-battery Shark Stratos model, which has an RRP of £479.99 compared to the single battery model, which retails at £429.99.
Both batteries have a run time of up to 60 minutes, and I found during testing that one battery definitely lasts for the 60 minutes that Shark promises, and I felt that the charge time also held up, even when I took a week or so off from using the vacuum at a time.
The large display on the handle also enables you to see exactly how much battery you have left, and means that I'm always aware of when I need to pop my battery on charge.
During testing, I never ran out of charge mid-clean, so the single-battery model works perfectly for my tiny flat. The same happened when Lauren tested the vacuum in her small three-bedroom terrace house, and I'd say that a single battery is suitable for most smaller-to-medium homes.
However, I do appreciate that having a spare battery is always handy - especially if you also plan on vacuuming your car or if you need to use your vacuum multiple times a day and require charge all the time.
And I do think that larger homes would benefit from splashing an extra £50 on a spare battery, to ensure you have a full tank of juice whenever you need it.
Cleaning and maintenance
As is the case with most cordless vacuum cleaners, the dust bin on the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT is fairly small at 0.7 litres, meaning that those looking to clean areas that are far away from their main bin might struggle. On the flip side, I think that making the capacity any bigger risks ruining the sleek feel of this vacuum, and I'm happy that Shark has kept it smaller.
The Shark Stratos also uses a point-and-shoot mechanism, which means the canister collapses out into your main rubbish bin when you empty it. Unlike some vacs I've tested, the mechanism here is seriously powerful, and I've not yet had to fish any hair or dust out from the bin manually.
When cleaning a Shark vacuum cleaner, giving the dust bin a wipe to properly eradicate dust inside is a must, and I've found that you probably only want to go about a month before you give a deeper clean to this vacuum. That's because the sensors in the CleanSense IQ head will stop working if they become clogged with dirt or dust, and you'll lose one of the merits of this very expensive vacuum.
It's also recommended that you clean the Shark filter according to the instructions. I typically do this once a month, and it's easy enough to do by tapping off any loose dust and then rinsing it under the tap before allowing it to dry fully.
How does it compare to similar vacuums?
You probably don't need me to tell you that so many amazing vacuum cleaners have been released since we first tested the Shark Stratos. In fact, the best Shark vacuum we've tested overall is the relatively new Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, which also received a perfect 5-star review.
This model is around the same price, but comes with a noticeable difference - despite the fact that the cordless vacuums themselves are almost identical in terms of technology and run time. That's because this newer model comes with the auto-empty stand, which means it can auto-empty itself after use and can hold a lot more debris.
Of course, this is ideal if you want to empty your vacuum less, but it also takes up a lot more space in your home, so you need to weigh up what's most important to you.
In terms of comparisons outside of Shark, the Stratos is perhaps most similar to the Dyson V15, which is an older Dyson model with similar technology to the Stratos. It automatically adjusts suction power, has the same run time, and has an almost identical dust capacity.
However, the Dyson is significantly more expensive at £649.99, so it is a much bigger investment. After testing, the Dyson does have better suction power, comes with two floorheads for both hard flooring and carpets, and has the brand's iconic piezo sensor for a more spotless clean.
Because of this, I think the Dyson would suit those who have larger families and regularly have to clean high-traffic areas. But for the average home, I do think the Shark will be enough.
How has it held up over time?
I initially tested the Shark Stratos for several months in my own home in September 2022. I've since relied on a different vacuum during that time due to the nature of my job and my constant testing of new products.
Therefore, to provide a well-rounded update of the Shark Stratos' longevity over a prolonged period of time, our Vacuums Expert, Lauren, retested the vacuum in 2026.
Lauren used it as her main vacuum for weeks in her own home, and put it through a series of tests to see how it fared compared to other models she tested, and she still thinks it's a winner all these years later.
She said, 'The Shark Stratos is still the perfect everyday vacuum. It's lightweight and easy to use, and offers just enough tech for it to be effective in cleaning, without it becoming complicated, overwhelning or unnecessary.'
'It tackles everyday dirt and debris without any hassle, and it's surprisingly effective on pet hair, too. The flexology wand and the wide range of tools make it ideal to use in handheld mode and to clean every nook and cranny in the house, and the long battery life means that many will be able to clean their entire homes without running out of juice.'
She adds, 'The responsive CleanSense IQ technology and the anti-odour capsules make it both look and feel like you have a clean house after using the Shark Stratos, and I have a feeling that it'll continue to be a competitor for many years to come.'
Verdict: Should you buy the Shark Stratos?
If you've read this far, then you'll know that not one, but two Ideal Home reviewers rave about this vacuum cleaner. It's an investment appliance, but it's a worthy one that'll tick all of your cordless vacuum boxes.
It's ideal for everyday cleaning, and the suction power is more than enough to handle a range of debris on a regular basis. It's also lightweight, super easy to use, and an all-rounder that just gets the job done with minimal fuss.
We do wish there were a neat little charging stand that this vacuum could sit on - rather than having to separately find a space to house the battery charger and all of the attachments. But this is a small gripe, and if you want a truly phenomenally performing vacuum, then we can wholeheartedly get behind the Shark Stratos.
