In general, Shark Navigator UV440 and ZU561 are good vacuum cleaners with strong suction and decent cleaning performance. However, between Shark UV440 vs ZU561 Navigator Lift-Away, I see that the Shark ZU561 is relatively better than its rival.
The Shark Navigator ZU561 has a better brush roll with a self-cleaning feature, helping reduce the hair wrapping on the roller. Its suction is strong and comparable to that of the UV440. It is lighter than the Shark UV440 while having a nice swivel head for easy steering.
The Shark Navigator UV440, on the other hand, has the same filtration system, swivel head, and lift-away pod as the Shark ZU561 does. However, it is a bit heavier and presents a notable hair-warp issue. Yet, its cord is much longer compared to that of ZU561. Apart from its disadvantages, it still gets decent cleaning performance on both carpets and bare floors, comparable to that of the Shark ZU561.
Shark UV440 vs ZU561: Comparison Chart
Shark UV440 vs ZU561: Differences
In this comparison of Shark UV440 vs ZU561, the Shark ZU561 wins 1-0 against the UV440 due to its self-cleaning brush roll. Aside from that, they all perform strong suction and good pick-up efficiency and have well-sealed filtration.
Cleaning performance
Winner: Shark ZU561
Suction power and brushroll system
I can say that both Shark ZU561 and Shark UV440 have very strong suction. With that much strong suction, when using them on high-pile, thick shag rugs, it is so hard to push and pull them over that I have to use their attachments and the hose to do my rugs. Additionally, it is possible to adjust their suction with the color or slider positioned below the handheld, so I can reduce the suction amount to make cleaning carpets easier.
The scoring feature of Shark ZU561 over the UV440 is in its self-cleaning brushroll. Unlike the traditional bristle brush roller that often struggles with the hair-wrap problem, the self-cleaning brush roll of ZU561 does a better job of minimizing the amount of hair getting tangled on the brush roller and keeps it clear overall. I notice that the amount of hair staying on the brush roller after a cleaning session is only about 1-2%. Very impressive!
Besides, their brush rolls are automatically off when I put the vacuums in the most upright position. This is a useful feature to protect my floors and carpets when I get the hose in use for cleaning above-floor surfaces.
Floor-type compatibility
Both Shark N UV440 and ZU561 are easy to switch between the carpet and the bare floor and vice versa. They have the Surface switch responsible for that. Changing this switch will lead to a change in the movement of the brush roller, not the beater bar height. Though their nozzle height is fixed, for me, they still work well in picking up either small or large debris on the floor.
Besides, they can work well on deep-cleaning carpets. On the lower-pile carpets, they do pretty well, collecting plenty of debris and hair out of the carpet bottom, but sometimes, they do lift up my small area rugs. Meanwhile, on thick-pile shag carpets and rugs, they may be hard to push and pull, as I mentioned above.
On bare floors, both can collect many types of debris and dust, including cat litter, fruit loops, danders, and pet hair. However, I noticed that the ZU561 is a bit better in terms of picking up fine debris like sand. It may be attributed to the change in the design of its cleaning head’s bottom. The ZU561 adds a small straight “squeggee” behind the nozzle, creating a better seal on bare floors to pick up fine and small debris efficiently.
Design & Convenience
Tie!
I give it a tie in this category of Shark UV440 vs ZU561 comparison because the ZU561 wins in terms of weight while the UV440 wins in terms of cord length.
The UV440 has a very long cord (35 ft.) and is 10 ft longer than that of the Shark ZU561. The longer will help you clean a whole house with less time to unplug and replug the cord. However, the very small problem with such a long cord is that it often gets in the way while vacuuming.
The Shark ZU561 has a shorter cord (25 ft.), but it is lighter than the Shark UV440. The weight of Zu561 is 13.4 lbs, while that of the UV440 is 15.9 lbs. This indicates that maneuvering the ZU561 will be more comfortable than maneuvering the UV440, though both of them have good swivel heads. It is because the lighter vacuum requires less upper strength to push and pull and also puts less pressure on your wrist and back.
Both of them feature the Lift-Away pods, which allow you to detach the canister from the nozzle head. Such portable pods are wonderful as they offer great flexibility in cleaning stairs and above surfaces like sofas or blinds.
Dirt bin & Filtration
Tie!
The dust cup capacity between the Shark UV440 vs NV352 is relatively similar. According to the comparison chart, the UV440 has a little bigger dust cup, compared to the ZU561. However, for me, such a difference is insignificant. The dust cup of ZU561 still gives me enough room to spare, so I give it a tie.
For me, their filtration is outstanding in the vacuum market. They have a post-motor HEPA filter and two washable pre-motor foam filters, coupled with the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal technology. This combination is claimed to effectively collect and hold up to 99.99% of dust and allergens inside. Though I don’t really know how to verify this number, their filtration is actually awesome, as I do not sneeze or smell any bad odors from the vacuums while cleaning.
Quick Rundown of Shark ZU561
- Self-cleaning brushroll for powerful pet hair pickup with no hair wrap.
- Use as an upright vacuum for powerful floor and carpet cleaning. Or for more portability, detach the pod to go into Lift-Away mode to easily clean, above-floor areas like furniture and stairs.
- Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and a HEPA filter traps over 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner.
- Swivel Steering provides effortless maneuverability for cleaning hard-to-reach areas.
- Suction control slider to manage suction power from hard floors to carpets.
Quick Rundown of Shark UV440
- Lift-Away Convenience to clean walls, drapes upholstery and more
- Lightweight: Only 15.95 Lb.
- Crevice Tool, Dusting brush, Extension Wand and the On-Board Tool Holder are All Included
Product Videos
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References:
- Shark ZU561: https://support.sharkclean.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403100551186-ZU560-Series-Shark-Navigator-Lift-Away-Speed-FAQs
- Shark UV440: https://support.sharkclean.com/hc/en-us/articles/4402195299602-UV440-Manual-Quick-Start-Guide
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.