If you have struggled for years to find a vacuum worth the money, you might consider the Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator NV501. And through this article, I will help you narrow your selection down to one product.
The Shark Apex AZ1002 comes out as the winner. This one has excellent suction power, is easy to use, and is ideal for pet owners (thanks to its “Zero M” technology). There are so many things to love about this vacuum, and just one or two minor things that should be improved, such as its heavy weight and lack of a swivel head.
As for the Shark Rotator NV501, its suction has never let me down, and it still works like a pro. It does a great job capturing anything, from fine dust to pet hair, but leaves a lot of tangled hair on its roller. But given all the other pros it brings to the table, this seems like a pretty small minus.
Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator NV501: Comparison Chart
Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator NV501: Differences
The Shark Apex AZ1002 wins 2-1 against the NV501. The winner is heavy, bulky, and lacks a swivel head, but that’s all I can complain about it. It’s certainly not the cheapest model you can buy, but the powered lift-away, super suction, and great features make it worth every penny.
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Shark AZ1002
The suction power of the Shark NV501 is phenomenal, allowing it to suck up everything on my carpet and hard floor. Trust me, it will raise your eyebrows at how much dust and hair it can pull out of your carpet. If you feel it is hard to push on your dense, shaggy carpet because of its too-strong suction, adjust it by twisting a ring on the handle.
I would give its cleaning performance 5 stars if it were equipped with a self-cleaning roller. It picked up almost all the hair after just a single pass but left a lot in its brush roll instead of sending it to the dust canister. At the end of the day, I had to cut the hair out of the roller and pull it out, and I wish it were easier to access the roller for cutting away tangled hair.
As for the Shark AZ1002’s suction, let me put it this way: Just turn it on, and it will remove any mess, whether it’s on the carpet or the floor. My test showed that it picked up so much dust and dog hair from my carpet, and I was shocked.
But its strong suction is a double-edged sword, as it cannot be adjusted to your will. You may find it a bit difficult to push this machine on the high-pile carpet, and it can even move forward on its own. This sounds like a self-propelled element, but it’s not, and you might struggle a bit to pull it back.
But what makes the AZ1002 win this round is the “Zero M” technology, which is awesome for preventing hair from wrapping around the roller, and the new-design brush roll that is supposed to be clog-free. It isn’t as magical as advertised, but it does work.
Weight and Maneuverability
Winner: Shark NV501
The weights of the AZ1002 and NV501 are 16 lbs and 15.5 lbs, respectively. I don’t feel they are heavy, but some people do. Maneuvering them is not challenging, which is especially true for the NV501 since it has a swivel head.
When you get your hands on the NV501 or many other Shark uprights for the first time, you may not understand the purpose of the swivel head. But I bet you’ll love it soon since it helps you get into corners and up closer to the wall much more effortlessly. Unfortunately, the AZ1002 lacks this feature, although it is heavier.
A common drawback of the AZ1002 and NV501 is that their canister portions are bulky enough to prevent them from reaching very far under furniture, such as a coffee table or bed.
Utilities
Winner: Shark Apex AZ1002
LED lights
From my point of view, the LED headlight is a must-have feature on an upright vacuum. This cool feature will light up the cleaning path and help you find dust and dirt in dark places, like under tables, that you can’t see with your naked eye.
Fortunately, both the Shark AZ1002 and NV502 have some LED bulbs on the floorhead that help a ton to ensure you don’t miss any dust and dirt on your floors. But one thing that the AZ1002 has over the other is that it has an LED light on the handle. This will give you a helping hand when you use the AZ1002 in a semi-handheld configuration.
Controls
The NV501 features a ring on the handle that you can use to fine-tune its suction power to ensure shoving the machine is as light as feathers on all types of carpets. In addition, it has a brushroll on/off button that can be used to turn off the roller to avoid scratching your bare floors. But the problem is that you must bend over to press that button. It may sound harmless, but if you have severe back pain, this can be a deal breaker.
There is a slider on the handle of the AZ1002, which allows you to switch between three surface-type settings: “Hard Floor,” “Carpet/Low Pile,” and “Thick Carpet/Area Rug.” So basically, you don’t have to crouch every time you move from one type of surface to another, and I think this is a positive improvement. But this model does not allow you to adjust its suction strength, so you may find pushing this machine on a particularly thick carpet quite hard.
Lift-Away
For places where these upright cleaners can’t reach because of their bulky footprint, you can convert them to portable vacuums using the “Lift-Away” feature. All you need to do is detach the main “engine” and dustbin unit from the floorhead and work with the wand/hose. This is useful for cleaning stairs, vacuuming bookshelves, or removing cobwebs from ceilings. The canister is heavy enough to be set on the floor without falling over.
The key area where stick vacuums triumph over upright ones is going further under things. This is also where the AZ1002 completely outshines the NV501 and many other uprights, thanks to the powered lift-away feature. This feature basically keeps the roller spinning after the canister is removed, and you can slide the floorhead under furniture with just a bit of bending over.
If you prefer a “roll-along” canister vacuum, you can place the NV501’s pod on a wheeled caddy for such use. But note that this unit tends to tip over if you pull its wand/hose hard. In addition, you will need to spend a little more to receive the caddy since it is sold separately instead of attached as before.
Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator NV501: Similarities
Dust Cup Capacity And Filter System
If you are allergic to allergies and dust, you will be glad that both the Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator NV501 are entirely sealed systems with HEPA filters. Combined with the anti-allergen complete seal technology, they ensure everything is locked inside the unit before it is properly filtered through the filter.
These filters are washable and should be rinsed at least once a year. I highly recommend buying extra filters so that when you rinse them out, you can temporarily alternate them until they are completely dry.
Cord Length
Both the Shark Vacuum Apex vs Rotator NV501 share a super long 30-foot cord compared to many others. I can plug them into one or two outlets to clean a large area, saving me time. I didn’t have to unplug and move outlets frequently because these cords were long enough to reach everywhere in my house. Of course, if 30 feet is still too short for you, you can always use an extension cord.
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 NV501
- LIFT-AWAY FUNCTIONALITY: Detachable pod for cleaning under furniture or detach the nozzle to clean above the floor, on upholstery, furniture, stairs, and more.
- ANTI-ALLERGEN COMPLETE SEAL TECHNOLOGY: Works with a HEPA filter to trap dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner.
- ADVANCED SWIVEL STEERING: Easily maneuver your vacuum to get in and out of tight spaces, in corners, around furniture, and more.
- LED HEADLIGHTS: Powerful lights on the nozzle reveal hidden debris and pet hair around your home.
- WIDE UPHOLSTERY TOOL: The wide cleaning path helps remove pet hair, dust, and large debris from mattresses, couches, curtains, lampshades, and other delicate upholstered surfaces.
Product Video
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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 NV501: https://www.sharkclean.ca/products/shark-rotator-professional-lift-away-upright-vacuum-zidNV501
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.