Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator 752: No one is the winner, or it can be said that both win this battle
The Shark AZ1002 has excellent suction power, is light, and is so easy to use. This machine is so versatile because you can use it as a semi-handheld, a sick, or an upright. It is certainly not the cheapest upright available out there, but the super suction, powered lift-away feature, and self-cleaning brush roll are well worth the price.
The Shark NV752, on the other hand, is also very easy to use and has tons of features you might like. Just note that it doesn’t actually do well with long hair. In addition, you should also spend a few more bucks to buy a canister caddy because this part is worth it!
Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator NV752: Comparison Chart
Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator NV752: Differences
Shark Apex AZ1002 has a draw against the Rotator NV752. Both work great on carpets and hard floors and are very easy to maneuver around objects. The LED lights on both the nozzle and handle highlight dirt and dust that you ordinarily can’t see. The powered lift-away feature is also a real bonus!
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Shark AZ1002
The Shark AZ1002 has excellent suction, enough to do a great job on my hard floor and carpet. It gave my floor a brand-new look with minimal effort and pulled a lot of dirt and hair from my carpet. Although this sounds great, it doesn’t help it win this category since the Shark NV752 can also do the same thing.
What shocked me was that almost no hair was wrapped around its roller after testing. The secret lies in its self-cleaning roller, designed to prevent hair from wrapping around it. This brush roll, to my mind, is more efficient than its upgraded “PowerFins,” which just move hair around instead of picking it up.
The Shark NV752’s suction is fantastic. My carpet and the bare floor looked good after I did just a single pass, but I had to do another pass to ensure nothing was left behind on my surfaces.
The NV752 picked up pet hair and my human hair effortlessly, but what makes it inferior to its rival is that the hair got stuck in the roller like crazy. After just one use, I had to remove a lot of hair from the brush. So it might be a good vacuum cleaner if you have no pets. But if you live with four-legged friends, you’ll need something with a self-cleaning brush roll like the Shark AZ1002.
Weight and Maneuverability
Winner: Tie
The weights of the AZ1002 and NV752 are about the same, at 16 lbs and 16.7 lbs, respectively. They are bulky and heavy for some users, but they don’t feel like that to me or any young, uninjured, strong user. Shoving them isn’t as light as velvet, but it shouldn’t be considered an intense exercise. They will also become much lighter and more maneuverable if used in the lift-away configuration.
Utilities
Winner: Shark NV752
Both the AZ1002 and NV752 are 3-in-1 upright vacuums courtesy of the powered lift-away feature (which I’ll talk about later), but what the NV752 has in its favor is the ability to combine with a canister caddy. Previously, the caddy was packaged with the NV752 and was considered an attachment. As of 2017 (as far as I find out), it has been sold separately.
The caddy is a wheeled base that you could place the NV752’s canister on, and it would roll behind you. So you don’t need to hold the canister with one hand as you do with the AZ1002. Better yet, this caddy can be used as extra storage for all your favorite attachments, so they are available for use at all times.
Previously, the caddy was packaged with the NV752 and was considered an attachment. As of 2017 (as far as I find out), it has been sold separately.
Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator NV752: Similarities
The first thing the AZ1002 and NV752 have in common is the dust cup capacity. Their dust cups can hold up to 0.88 quarts before needing to be emptied. I was also impressed with how dead simple it was to empty these dust canisters. All you need is a flip of an easy-to-access button with the canister pointed into the trash can.
Both Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator have two pre-motor filters (a foam filter and a felt one) and a HEPA post-motor filter. These filters are washable and should be rinsed with water occasionally to extend the vacuum’s lifetime. Mother Nature will also be grateful to you for using these washable filters.
Better yet, on both machines, this high level of filtration is combined with a sealed system. That way, they ensure most dirt and allergens stay inside the unit, and away from the air you breathe.
LED Lights
You will never understand the importance of bright LED lights until you get into a dark area. Not only are there some headlights on the front of these units, but there is also a light on the wand when you use the hand tools. Thanks to these sweet lights, I could find dust you couldn’t see with old vacuums or expensive ones like the Dyson Ball Animal 3. Also, I find that placing several LEDs on a vacuum cleaner makes it look elegant and futuristic.
Fingertip Controls
These machines have three surface-type settings, and there are control buttons on the handle—the power button and the adjustment slider—up high, where they are easily accessed with your thumb. Hence, gone are the days when you had to bend over to press the switch, as you did with older models for the same purpose. Your back will definitely be grateful for this design.
Lift-Away Feature
The Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator share the powered lift-away feature, which basically makes them a 3-in-1 vacuum.
Like most of their siblings, you can separate the canister from the cleaner head and use them as semi-handheld vacuums. You will clean with the wand/hose and can reach higher, which is ideal for getting the cobwebs in the corners of the ceilings.
The selling point of these machines is that their floorheads can continue to run after removing the main engine and dustbin unit. In this “stick” configuration, you can get your machine under furniture with just a bit of bending over. But I find my hands are pretty tired after using the vacuum in this configuration for about half an hour because strong suction made the machine try to pull forward.
Quick Rundown Of Shark Apex AZ1002
- SELF-CLEANING BRUSHROLL: The vacuum that deep-cleans now cleans itself. Engineered for more pet hair pickup with no hair wrap (vs. Shark bristle nozzles).
- DUOCLEAN TECHNOLOGY: Dual-brushroll system deep-cleans carpets and directly engages floors for a polished look.
- POWERED LIFT-AWAY: Detachable pod for motorized cleaning under furniture or detach the nozzle to clean above the floor, on upholstery, furniture, stairs and more.
- ANTI-ALLERGEN COMPLETE SEAL: Works with HEPA filter to trap dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner.
- NOISE REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY: Expertly tuned to reduce noise and soften pitch.
Quick Rundown Of Shark Rotator NV752
- 2-IN-1 POWERED LIFT-AWAY TECHNOLOGY: Allows you to lift the pod away to deep-clean hard-to-reach areas, like under furniture, while the powered brushroll keeps spinning.
- ADVANCED SWIVEL STEERING: Easily maneuver your vacuum to get in and out of tight spaces, in corners, around furniture, and more.
- ANTI-ALLERGEN COMPLETE SEAL: Works with a HEPA filter to trap 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner. (Based on ASTM F1977 of particles .3 microns or larger.)
- LARGE-CAPACITY DUST CUP: 0.88-quart capacity for longer cleaning sessions. Easily remove dust cup to empty debris in seconds.
- LED HEADLIGHTS: Powerful lights on the nozzle reveal hidden debris and pet hair around your home.
Product Video
References:
- Shark Apex AZ1002: http://www.sharkclean.us/support/product-series/1127/shark-apex-upright-vacuum-with-powered-lift-away-duoclean-and-self-cleaning-brushroll/how-to
- Shark Rotator NV752: https://origin-www.sharkclean.com/support/product-series/1135/shark-rotator-powered-lift-away-upright-vacuum/
Victor K. Giles is a leading consultant and expert in vacuum cleaner technology with over a decade of experience. As a mechanical engineering graduate in the University of Michigan, he specializes in product development, design optimization, and performance analysis. Victor collaborates with manufacturers and educates consumers, making her a sought-after guest speaker at industry events. His work has been featured in renowned publications, and he shares his expertise on his blog, “The Vacuum Teria”. Victor’s passion for cleaner, healthier living spaces drives his to help clients choose the best vacuum solutions for their needs.