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Customer reviews

Rating 4.4 out of 5 stars with 591 reviews

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Rating by feature

  • Cleaning Quality

    Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars

  • Maneuverability

    Rating 4.7 out of 5 stars

  • Ease of Assembly

    Rating 4.8 out of 5 stars

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86%would recommend to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers commend the Stratos MultiFLEX vacuum's powerful suction, ease of use, lightweight design, and effective carpet cleaning. Many appreciate its convenient storage and the added benefit of the odor neutralizer. However, some users point to the battery life as needing improvement, and a few mention the price point as a potential drawback. The noise level also received some negative feedback.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 2 Showing 21-40 of 591 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Suction power, Weight
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Strong suction and easy to maneuver

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum with Clean Sense IQ has been a really nice addition to our home for thorough and efficient cleaning. We have a mix of carpeted floors and laminate flooring, and I'm glad that this vacuum works really well on both surfaces. The Shark Stratos is easy to maneuver and fairly lightweight to be able to take from room to room and up/down the stairs. The cordless capability of this vacuum will allow for up to 60 minutes of run time when set in ECO mode, but that will vary when using the standard Clean Sense IQ setting. I like the large LED display that allows me to see the battery life remaining, and also allows me to select the power setting of my choosing. There is simply a power button to operate it, and a suction power button to control the vacuum. The Clean Sense IQ works well in my home for carpets and laminate floor areas. There are infrared sensors that detect dirt that I can't see from above, and therefore the vacuum will boost suction power as I roam across the room and adjust on the fly to ensure a thorough clean. The LED lights placed on the front of the vacuum allow for good visual spotting while I'm vacuuming. I also am liking the duoclean powerfins hairpro technology that Shark utilizes. This is a 2-brushroll system that helps to pick up dirt and debris in a more thorough fashion, and this also helps with preventing hair wrap from building up on the rollers. Shark also uses some clever tools here on this vacuum that allows you to have a flexible wand, allowing you to bend the wand/stick part of the vacuum and easily get under beds, furniture, and dressers to ensure a thorough clean. This foldable wand also is useful for storage as the vacuum can stand on its own, and then the wand folds over onto itself for a compact storage space. HEPA filtration is a must for our home and breathing clean air and this Shark Stratos does just that. Shark also adds in a unique odor neutralizer cartridge that helps to freshen the air a bit while you vacuum, which in essence is a guard against bad odors within the vacuum. The vacuum is also lightweight enough to be used as a hand vac for long-reach areas like ceiling fans. There are 2 additional accessories that come with this such as the duster crevice tool, and the dusting brush. Both can be helpful for various needs within the home like ceiling corners, and crevices in the couch space for example. I think this vacuum has a great look to it, easy to use and move around with, and the suction power has been strong. Cleaning up is easy and when I see the amount of dirt being picked up from what I thought was a clean room, I am thoroughly impressed. PRO: Lightweight Mobility Cordless operation Strong suction Small profile

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Suction power
    Cons mentioned:
    Battery life
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Initially not liked it, but it is good now liked.

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Nice packed. Very easy to assemble, it comes with 50% of battery charge, but it quickly dropped to 25% with just 1 min of usage, I was initially worried but later I verified manuals and tested battery usage it comes for just one clean ( of course it depends on the area ). To keep it stored safely we need to fold it. It won’t stand straight because of heavy weight at top handle. Coming to cleaning part, first thing do not follow the instructions given on the physical paper print they give, those instructions are not correct for filters part. It has two filters and easy to access both and clean. Scan the QR code given on the box that shows correct information regarding filters, it is better to clean one filter more frequently another one can be done yearly once maybe. It is powerful and gets most from floor very efficiently. No issues found with it, everything works as expected. I will recommend this product. Make sure you fold it correctly by pressing right thing, we accidentally press release of dust bin one so it fell and all dust came out, this happened twice accidentally. Hair does not wrap to the cleaning brush rolls that is the best part we noticed, corner places are easily accessible.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Suction power
    Cons mentioned:
    Battery life
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    This Shark Swallows Dust!

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    The new Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum with Clean Sense IQ debuts, and comparing it to another Shark stick vacuum, this model does it all. From the "air freshener," you can install on the head of the vacuum to the dust container, the vacuum features the same attachable cleaning heads but with a new feature that is a game changer. The new feature is the option to unlock the "under furniture" mode, where the vacuum bends and glides underneath beds, dressers, you name it; to vacuum those hard-to-reach places (without having to get on the floor). Pros: Motor Modes "Under-Furniture" Feature Brighter LED headlight Room Refreshing Pod Ease of Use Cons: Charging indicator Cleansense IQ Knowing that Shark continued their successful self-cleaning brush roll stick vacuum heads that did not get tangled with hair was a breath of fresh air. With the three dogs I have in my home with long hair (that seemingly falls out everywhere), the Shark Stratos' self-cleaning brush roll was able to vacuum everything on the lowest motor mode without hair tangling (or getting caught). However, if you are unsatisfied with the power the Shark consumes, you can turn down the motor to conserve battery and vacuum longer in "eco" mode. Though, when I used eco mode, I had to go over several spots again due to the suction not being as powerful. Yes, I received a longer charge (roughly forty minutes), but I had to vacuum the same spots often due to fine dog hair still on the floor. There is a "high" power mode that vacuumed dust and debris off of my floor (you could see dust being removed,) but the battery drained in twenty minutes of use. The best and most consistent mode I found was using the vacuum as its intended mode when you first turn it on. Speaking of turning the vacuum on, the Shark Stratos displays an LED battery life indicator right on the base of the vacuum. The battery life indicator made it easier for me to see how much power I had left compared to previous models. Additionally, the much brighter (than previous models) LED head illuminates the floors to reveal more debris, hair, and dust that I could not see well before. One of the strongest features is the new MultiFlex wand technology, which allows you to bend the wand at a 90-degree angle and vacuum underneath furniture. The ease of pressing the "lock" button on the vacuum wand and bending the vacuum made the transition from upright to floor easier. While turning on the highest motor mode, I saw dust lift off the floor, and I placed the vacuum underneath a dresser and bed without having to get down on the floor. Also, when you finish vacuuming under your furniture, you snap the vacuum back into place to continue vacuuming at an upright angle. The Shark Stratos includes two detachable heads to vacuum in hard-to-reach corners as well as surfaces. These are the same heads on previous Shark models, but with the motor control (on the highest setting), I collected more dust on surfaces such as furniture and entertainment furniture (such as speakers). Shark continued to provide an easy trap door to empty contaminant containers (after you vacuum), and the new "pod" room refreshing technology made it easier to exchange used filters. Previously, refresher filters were specifically installed inside the vacuum base. However, the new pod twists to lock or unlock, thus making it easier to exchange used room refresher filters. With all the features, including the new LED battery-life indicator, the vacuum does not utilize that display to show you what percentage of the charged battery when plugged in for charging. However, ambient light on the side of the vacuum flashes to indicate the vacuum is charging. What Shark should have done was utilize the LED display to show you what percentage the vacuum is at (charging-wise). The new Clean Sense IQ technology on the Shark Stratos is novel on paper. Yet, I saw it fail on the hardwood floors of my home. The light indicator on the head of the vacuum will increase sensitivity and suction when it detects a lot of debris on the floor. However, when I vacuumed back and forth in the sensitive spot on my floors, the IQ sensor would turn off immediately. The point of the IQ sensor is to increase power and notice when it detects debris, but I found that sensor to activate when nothing was present on the floor. Although not a deal breaker for the Shark Stratos stick vacuum, the technology idea of sensing dirtier floors and visually telling you when the floor area is clean (with the light indicator) misses it for me when it turns on and off at-will. Overall, the Shark Stratos Cordless IQ Sensing technology vacuum is a new, improved, and added technology. The flexible wand allowing you to vacuum under furniture saves you from having to crawl on the floor. Additionally, the Shark Stratos offers powerful suction in various modes per the user, with an (although fussy) IQ sensing technology to tell you when your floor is clean. The vacuum performs well on a full-charge, and I can clean my floors with the highest motor setting (in a 1,300 sq ft ranch home) in twenty minutes. I would recommend this vacuum.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Odor neutralizer, Suction power
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 3 out of 5 stars

    Great suction, poor weight balance

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This vacuum from shark has incredible suction power. The cordless feature makes it desirable, along with the 60 minute run time. To test, I vacuumed carpet that I had already gone over with an older vacuum and thought it was clean. Well I was so wrong, as this pulled out about a quarter of the dustbin capacity's worth of dirt and dust. The folding feature is neat, but it is also the only way you can get this vacuum to be freestanding. as it will not lock into an upright position without being folded down. The odor neutralizer pod is very potent even at its lowest setting and is much like broadcasting Febreze or fabric softener scent while cleaning. The odor neutralizer only activates on the maximum setting, not eco or normal. The attachments are very easily changed out and the one touch power button makes this simple to use compared to models that require your to press and hold the power button. It arrived with a 30% charge out of the box and was fully charged in a few hours. I am always looking for something that is both easy to use and well weight balanced as I have limitations on what I can lift, push, pull and found this vacuum to be very top heavy. For suction and cleaning power I would give this 5 stars but the weight and inability to stabilize upright without folding are why I give it a 3 star review overall.

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Odor neutralizer
    Cons mentioned:
    Battery life

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent value for a cordless stick vacuum

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Excellent value vacuum! I did a ton of research before ending up on this one too replace my previous Dyson V8 absolute. Dyson generally is known to have poor battery life, so having a swappable battery in this unit is great. The Cleansense is really nice and definitely prolongs the battery by not running the motor as hard when it's not needed. The included odor capsule does it's job well and freshens the scent of our home while vacuuming. The accessories are fairly standard, but are generally a good system similar to how Dyson accessories work by snapping in pieces. Storing it away folded is great as well. I do miss the docking ability of my Dyson, but this works fine as well.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Suction power, Weight

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Shark Stratos MultiFLEX Cordless - A Game-Changer

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    Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    After using the Shark Stratos MultiFLEX Cordless vacuum cleaner for over a month, I can confidently say that it's one of the best investments I've made for my home. I've tried various cordless vacuum cleaners in the past, but this one truly stands out. It might be a bit pricey, but trust me, it's worth every penny! Here's why I love the Shark Stratos MultiFLEX Cordless: Powerful Suction: This vacuum cleaner has impressive suction power, making it a breeze to pick up dirt, dust, and debris. My floors have never looked so clean! Cordless Design: No more getting tangled in cords or searching for outlets! The cordless feature allows me to clean my entire house without any hassle. MultiFLEX Technology: The innovative MultiFLEX technology enables the vacuum to bend and reach under furniture, making it easy to clean hard-to-reach areas. Versatility: The Shark Stratos easily converts into a handheld vacuum, making it perfect for cleaning upholstery, stairs, and even my car. Long-lasting Battery: With its long-lasting battery, I can clean my whole house without needing to recharge it halfway through. Easy to Empty: The dustbin is simple to remove and empty, which means I don't have to deal with messy bags or complicated disassembly. User-friendly: The vacuum is lightweight and easy to maneuver, making it a joy to use, even for longer cleaning sessions. In conclusion, the Shark Stratos MultiFLEX Cordless vacuum cleaner has exceeded my expectations and truly changed the way I clean my home. If you're looking for a powerful, convenient, and versatile vacuum cleaner, I highly recommend giving this one a try.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Suction power
    Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    No more pet hair

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Straddles the line between a cordless stick and full size vacuum. You get the best of both worlds with the Shark Stratos. It's definitely heavier than every cordless vac that I've used, and the brush head is way bigger. But the brush head combines both a bristle brush and soft roller for all floor types, which other vacuums require separate heads for. A big win here for the Stratos. Performance wise, hands down the most powerful cordless vac that I've used. With others, you can always see some pet hair left over after running it around, but the Stratos seems to pick everything up in the initial pass. It has Cleansense IQ which adjusts the power based on the dirt that the vacuum senses. It adjusts frequently and sounds like a revving car engine, which is a bit annoying but you get used to it. It also didn't rev up at times I thought it would (on the rug) but I can't argue with the results. Seems like the Cleansense IQ is smarter than me. Another notable feature includes the odor neutralizer. While a good idea (most other vacuums get that wet dog smell after a while) I hope they come out with different scents. The included scent is some sort of lavender that reminds me of both poop bags and cat litter. That's probably my issue, as those smells are just wired in my brain. But even at the lowest setting, the scent is still pretty strong. Probably better than wet dog though. The battery life is pretty great. I vacuumed my whole bottom floor (about 1000 sq ft.) and still had 70% battery left. There is a digital display that shows you in very big numbers how much battery is left. I like that it gives you a percentage rather than just some bars. Makes it easier to comprehend. I wish there was an indicator or sound that told you when the vacuum was charging. The first time I plugged it in I wasn't sure I was doing it correctly. The vacuum also bends forward in the middle, making it pretty easy to get to hard to reach places, like under the bed. It's a little awkward to control at first, but you get used to it. Now to the cons. It's billed as a free standing, but when the vacuum is fully extended, it does not stand on it's own. It only stands on its own when you bend it over for storage mode. I feel like the term "free standing" that's on the box is a little misleading, as I learned what it meant only after the vacuum crashed to the floor. The biggest con is the attachments. There is no smaller powered upholstery brush. It only comes with a crevice tool and a duster. I tried to use the duster on the pet hair on the couch, and it was not very effective. So I need to keep around my old vacuum just for the powered upholstery attachment. If not for this, this vacuum would be nearly perfect. All in all, the most powerful cordless vacuum I've ever used. Pet hair has finally met its match. If only the attachments were a bit better.....

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Suction power
    Cons mentioned:
    Battery life, Price

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Great purchase

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Happy with this purchase. Quick and easy to use and picks up very well. Only downside is the high price and wish the battery lasted longer on high.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Odor neutralizer, Suction power
    Cons mentioned:
    Battery life

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Nice vacuum! Good suction but feels flimsy

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    Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I really love the shark brand! However, I found the maneuverability on this particular vacuum to be a little lacking. Also the stick feels flimsy because it is able to fold, which is great but they could have made that part more firm. The suction is good as always and it’s what I expect from a shark. I love that it has two spinning brushes and the carpet deodorant is exceptional! Charge will last about an hour on eco mode but only around 20 minutes when you set it for its highest setting, which I do because I use it to clean the stairs. I do wish it came with a charging dock so I could hand it on the wall instead of just a charging cord. The battery does come off the vacuum with a simple push of a button though.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Suction power

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Very nice vacuum!

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    Posted . Owned for 8 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This vacuum is just fantastic. We have owned this since May of 2024 and it gets used all the time. It's powerful and easy to use. The battery on a full charge gets my entire house done, though I have a smaller 1128 sq. ft. home. I love that it folds up and can be placed out of the way. I love that the battery charges fast and provides plenty of power. I also love how the vacuum can be bent to go under furniture and such. Oh and I like how it can be used as a small handheld. Works great in this mode for handling my cars. A little pricey I originally thought but worth it now that I have experienced it.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use
    Cons mentioned:
    Battery life

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Easy to handle with kids vacuum

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Works great, easy to store, powerful motor, the only drawback will be the running time. I love it and easy for kids to use

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Ease of use, Suction power

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Works Great!

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is a great vacuum. I love that it’s cordless so I can just grab it and vacuum wherever I need without fighting with cord tangles and changing outlets from room to room. Plus, it has plenty of suction and works just as well as my plug-in vacuum. A full charge gives me about an hours worth of vacuuming; who wants to vacuum for more than an hour? Not me :-) Oh, yeah, the vacuum is so flexible for whatever job I’m doing. I love the MultiFlex function for going under the bed and couches!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Odor neutralizer, Suction power

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Amazing Vacuum, Best on the market!

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Very satisfied with this product, I recently upgraded from my older Shark Flex Ion cordless vacuum and I could not be happier. The suction is great, the new powerfin roller does a great job at preventing hair to get stuck. The clean sense IQ does save a lot of battery life as I am able to vacuum for a longer period of time than my previous model. The odor neutralizer is a great added bonus, not necessary but very nice to have a nice fresh smell after vacuuming. I like the portability and convenience of how this device is able to fold and stand on its own without being leaned up against something. The only downfall that I have is the lack of tools and accessories included. My previous model I was provided with the under appliance crevice tool, upholstery brush, and a nicer dusting brush as well. Overall, I am very pleased with this product and would highly recommend to anyone that is shopping in the market as it is definitely the best overall product out there for the price.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Suction power, Weight
    Cons mentioned:
    Battery life

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Good unit

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Good feel. Light weight and good auto adjust pick up. Wish battery kept its charge just a little longer

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Suction power
    Cons mentioned:
    Battery life

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Amazing

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Best overall stick-vac on the market! Amazing versatility for hard to reach/ high and low spots that your regular vacuum would never be able to even think of! About 30 minutes battery life give or take in autosense mode on normal days wear and tear of the house. On the highest intensity youll get maybe 10 minutes out of a charge, with that said its very strong and will do the job faster to save you that time.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Definitely gets the job done

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    THE GOOD ~ Easy Setup ~ Lightweight ~ Powerful suction ~ Easily gets under furniture & around corners ~ Headlights make it easier to see dirt ~ Bin easy to dump ~ Built-in air freshener THE BAD ~ Won't stand up ~ Feels wobbly THE MEH (Could go either way) ~ Questionable battery life ~ Have to reach into bin sometimes For the most part, I like this Shark vacuum, but it could use some definite tweaks. It was easy to set up. Just click a few pieces together and plug it in. The headlights on this make cleaning easier. It's especially useful for when you're getting against those baseboards or under furniture. There are three settings: Normal (Clean sense IQ), Eco, and Boost (tornado LOL). Just the regular CleanSense mode picks up more dirt, dust and debris than I want to admit was on my floors. We have two cats and two dogs that like to constantly go in and out. To make matters worse, the cats and the Rottie shed a lot. With CleanSense, the vacuum adjusts suction based upon the need. This comes in handy when running over the area rugs. There;s also a nice visual indicator light/bar showing you how clean the floor is there. The more light is showing on the bar, the more dirt there is. As you vacuum, the bar shrinks at that spot until the spot is clear. The mechanics of the head make swiveling around corners and furniture a snap. Overall, clearing the bin is easy. it's just a button push to open the bottom. A drawback to this, though, is that if you do as I did and just stick it down in the trash can and drop the bottom out, a lot of that dust blows out and sticks to the outside of the bottom. At some points, I caught some very hairy areas (I guess). There's a conical screen filter in the middle of the dust bin. The hair stuck around it, so I had to reach up into the dirt & dust to pull it out. The thing I dislike most about this vacuum is that it won't stand on it's own. If you try to stand it up and walk away, it will fall over before you take your first step. So, when charging, I have to lean it against a wall. This goes along with the fact it feels "wobbly" to me. There seems to be a lot of play in the joints where it is pieced together. This wobbly feeling makes it feel cheaply made. I don't like saying that, because I generally have a very favorable opinion of Shark products. BIG QUESTION Would I recommend this to someone? Probably.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Carpet cleaning

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Almost Great

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is a really good cordless vacuum with only a couple of areas that could use improvement. It does a very good job of picking up dirt and pet hair from carpet and is very easy to empty without the need to reach into the container to pull out hair which is a common problem with vacuums. It has enough space to hold a few rugs of dirt and pet hair. If you have a large job, you will likely have to empty it more than once. I have two dogs and plenty of dog hair and experienced absolutely no hair wrap as they claim. The Clean Sense seems to work as it changes during the course of vacuuming and has an indicator to tell you how hard it is working. I just assume it is working as it changes but have no way to actually test it. I was never able to get it past the halfway mark. It folds in half, and easily tucks away in the corner of a room without getting in the way. I vacuumed 4 large area rugs and had about 60% of the battery left. It allows it to fold in such a way to allow it to easily get under furniture and does fit under very low furniture. The vacuum does not stand up on its own when not folded and requires it to lean up against something it you need to set it aside. Unfortunate. Also, there is no indicator to tell you when it is charging and when it is done changing so you just have to plug it in and guess when it is done. Also unfortunate. These two problems should be fixed. Overall, very good cordless vacuum that's easy to just quickly grab and use.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Smart cleaning at it's best

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I’m always on the lookout for new vacuums and one of my favorite brands “Shark” just came out with the new “Stratos” model with “Clean Sense” technology, so I had to give it a go. Unboxing and setting up: The Stratos arrived in a very nicely logoed cardboard box which was pretty compact for a vacuum, the vac was nestled inside a cardboard and pressed paper cradle and was very well protected. The handheld vacuum main unit, Duoclean floor nozzle head, Multiflex wand, dusting tool, crevice/brush tool, odor neutralizer package, power adapter and quick start guide. The first thing I did was to remove the battery and hook up the charger, it did take a couple hours to get a solid white “fully charged” icon but it was ready to go after that. The handheld vacuum unit snaps right into the Multiflex wand then snap that into the Duoclean power head, pretty simple, and all the connectors have pretty large buttons for removal that are easy to find. There’s also a new odor neutralizer feature that you must install the scent cartridge in the top of the Duoclean head, the scent is adjustable, or you can remove the scent part of the cartridge, but you must install the control part of that in the head one way or other. First use: I like how the power button is situated on this new model, we did have an older Shark cordless stick vac and the power button was mixed in with the other control buttons making it way to easy to shut off the vac in the middle of cleaning. There’s also power select button behind the power button but it’s on a different side right where your thumb can hit it. I did set the scent control to minimum as we don’t like too much scent around the house, and we were pleasantly surprised, while a little strong, it wasn’t bad and had a familiar fabric softener type scent, we’d compare it to the “Clean” scent most advertise. There’s also a light bar on top of the Duoclean head that when you have the Clean Sense IQ setting selected the bar gets longer and the motor spins up showing that it’s hit a dirty spot and you can go over that area till the light bar and speed goes back down. The sensor seems pretty “sensitive”, there were areas the bar would jump up and the motor speed would ramp up quickly, then go right back down. Looking in the debris canister you can easily see the junk it has picked up. I’m glad to see that Shark still has headlights on their vacuums, we really don’t understand why some of the other manufacturers do not include this feature. The unit is very easy to maneuver around, and the power head is only 10” wide so it’s very easy to get under chairs in our dining room. They also kept the flex wand which is one of our favorite features. With a simple press of a button that’s a couple inches in front of the hand unit and the wand flexes down so you can easily push the head underneath a bed, coffee table or any other piece of furniture that it will fit under. The other vacs do not have this feature. Comparisons: We have a couple other cordless stick vacs from Dyson and I wanted to give this a good run for the money. I wanted to see how this new Shark stands up against the others, so my first tests were to vacuum the whole house with our large Dyson stick, then go over everything with the smaller Dyson stick, and finally go over everything again with the Shark. Once I was finished, I looked at the dust bin and couldn’t believe it, the Shark actually picked up a lot “and I mean a lot” even after I went over everything with two over vacuums. Then to further test I waited a couple days, then went over a small area of carpet from our Family room, hall, and home office “this was an area of heavy travel. I started with the large Dyson again, then the small Dyson and then the Shark. The large Dyson picked up some dirt, fuzz and debris, “not much since that are had already been over thoroughly a couple days before. The small Dyson really didn’t pick up anything, but the Shark, it didn’t have any large debris in it but had a coating on the inside of the bin of very very fine dust, enough to where you could see it “and I had washed the bin the day before so I could see clearly”. This is pretty amazing for the new shark. Conclusion, The new Shark Stratos performed exceptionally well, it bested our two Dysons in cleaning performance. Battery run time was great “unless you use max” but using the IQ sense I was able to vacuum all the floors in our home and still had over 50% life. The Stratos only comes with one battery, “their older unit came with two and our larger Dyson also came with two”, I like having a second battery just in case we forget to plug it in or are doing a deep cleaning and need more time. I do like the dual brush rollers and the way they groom the carpet giving it a perfect “cleaned” look. The rollers do not pick up hair “the others don’t either” but the front “soft” roller is removable and washable as it was in the older models and this is something I really liked as it does get a little grimy looking after a few uses. I like the ergonomics of the Shark in hand vac mode more than the other two, it’s a little sleeker and with the attachment affixed it seems easier to get in and around tight places. Our large Dyson has attachments but due to its large size hooking them to the main unit doesn’t work very well at all. The other thing is storing the Stratos is so much easier, just press a button just down from the front of the unit and it folds over itself and locks in place giving it a very small footprint, the two Dysons take up a lot more room and need to be hung on the wall, propped up on a corner or use a stand to set them in, and this takes up a good bit of room for a stick vac. Cleaning the Stratos is very simple, emptying the dust container is easy, just push forward on a small slider toward the top left of the unit and the front door swings right open. We both like this better as my wife has a difficult time trying to get the Dysons open without pulling their lever too hard and jamming up the whole thing. The dust container also comes right off with another push button on the front of the dust container giving access to all the filters. There are two at the back of the dust bin and one other HEPA type filter around the motor that comes right out “wasn’t obvious till I checked the manual” but they all come out easily and can be washed in the sink “cold water, no soap”. The dust bin itself can be easily washed out in the sink and there’s nothing in there to damage doing so. In the end, if you are looking for an excellent stick vac that does an extremely good job of picking up dirt, even very fine dust then the new Shark Stratos should be high on your shopping list “if not on the top”.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Carpet cleaning, Suction power
    Cons mentioned:
    Battery life

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    So much out of a “clean” carpet

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    Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Great vacuum, The first time I used it I couldn’t believe how much dust and cat hair it pulled out of a carpet I had vacuumed just a few days before with a cheaper vacuum The first couple times I used it it basically ran in high suction the whole time (it auto adjusts suction based on a sensor in the vacuum head) giving me ~10 minutes of battery life but now that my carpets are actually clean I can do the whole apartment and have 30-40% battery left over It works very well on my tile floors and gets all the dirt out of the grout lines The elbow is also incredibly convenient for vacuuming under the bed and other furniture

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Odor neutralizer, Weight

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Love it

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I absolutely love my Shark Stratos MultiFlex cordless stick vacuum. It replaced an older version (IF205 model) I bought that I also love that still works but the wheel is messed up and battery doesn’t keep a charge long. I will say my older model worked a little better on a couple of the rugs without resistance where as the Stratos has some resistance. Both do wonderfully well to be cordless. I will purchase again but I do wish replacement parts were made for them with the price being as high as it is.I like the odor neutralizer feature since I have a dog that picks up all sorts of funky odors from outside.Overall I find it to be lightweight (which is a plus when you have back issues anyway) and love that I don’t have to stop to change outlets to plug it in. Battery life is good but it is still new so I know it will start decreasing as it ages.Suction is good (even on my older one). I like this model because the battery is replaceable and/or you can get an extra one if they ever restock them. No complaints as of yet. Hopefully I will be happy long term with my purchase.

    I would recommend this to a friend
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