Dyson Ball Animal 3 vs Shark NV501: You will be glad you can spend less money to get the latter, which is generally better.
The Shark NV501 is a powerful vacuum with a wealth of features. It lacks a self-cleaning roller, making it struggle slightly with longer hair. But this minus is overshadowed by other great features, such as LED lights and Lift-Away.
The Dyson Ball Animal 3 generates incredibly strong suction to suck up any mess on your carpets and hard floors. It also has a large dust cup and a longer power cord. But those can’t help it beat the NV501.
Dyson Ball Animal 3 vs Shark NV501: Comparison Chart
Dyson Ball Animal 3 vs Shark NV501: Differences
The Shark NV501 wins 2-1 and draws one against the Dyson Ball Animal 3. The NV501 wins as it is lighter, less complicated, and has many bells and whistles. But the other is still worth considering, especially if you’re a pet owner.
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Tie
I tested the Shark NV501 on my carpet, tile, and wood floor, and it proved itself to be a real workhorse by performing well on all surfaces.
The NV501 did a superb job capturing anything, from pet hair and fine dust to large debris. My carpet and floor looked brand new and fluffy, and everything felt cleaner after just one pass. It was harder to push on a thick carpet, but that wasn’t a big deal as the suction could be adjusted by twisting a ring on the handle.
I was particularly impressed with the astronomical amount of dog hair the NV501 picked. This one would be perfect if it were equipped with a self-cleaning roller. After testing, a fair amount of long hair got stuck in the brush roll, and I had to take out a pair of scissors to cut and get rid of them. Besides, accessing the roller for cutting tangled hair is not easy, but that is the common case with most uprights.
Few models can compete with the Dyson Ball Animal 3 in terms of suction, which gives the NV501 a run for its money. It can generate a surprisingly strong suction, so I recommend avoiding using it around anything, such as Lego blocks or anything lightweight since it will suck them up. Better yet, its suction never gets lost.
It could also suck up anything its floorhead encountered on my bare floor or carpet. On a thick carpet, it was tough to push, although I adjusted its suction by setting the slider on its floorhead to the rightmost position.
Hair cleaning is where the Dyson Ball Animal 3 shines. It could capture the majority of hair on my bare floor and carpet alike, and almost no tangled hair is on the roller. The secret lies in the hair removal vans on its cleaner head, which is a huge improvement over Ball Animal 2.
Generally, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 is effective at minimizing tangled hair but is harder to push on carpets, especially thick carpets. So I call this round a draw.
Design and Usability
Winner: Shark NV501
Weight and Maneuverability
The Dyson Ball Animal 3 weighs 17.4 lbs, so lugging it around is annoying, especially for those with a bad back. Its ball-shaped mechanism makes it easy to maneuver around furniture and obstacles, but it’s hard to get in and out of tight areas because of its large footprint. You can use its wand and attachment to clean hard-to-reach areas, but it will take longer and be less effective.
The NV501, on the other hand, weighs only 15.5 lbs. I wouldn’t say it’s light, but shoving it around didn’t make me sweat. The advanced swivel steering feature is beneficial for maneuvering this machine but has a learning curve. Once you get used to this nice feature, you’ll see how the NV501 is better than vacuums with fixed floorheads.
Cord Length
The power cord of the NV501 is 30 feet long, while the Dyson Ball Animal 3 takes the lead with a 35-foot cord. They allow me to vacuum a large area from one outlet, which saves me time. But I can’t give them perfect respect in this category because they lack automatic cord management. Winding such long cords manually is not difficult but quite tedious and time-consuming.
Dust Cup Capacity And Filters
Winner: Dyson Ball Animal 3
The dust cup of the NV501 can hold up to 0.88 quarts of dirt, whereas the Dyson Ball Animal 3 comes with a 1.28-quart dust canister. They are somewhat large and do not need to be emptied too often.
It’s also pretty easy to empty these dust cups. All you need to do is push the release button, and the dust and dirt will fall straight into the trash can underneath. It is worth noting that you are prone to exposure to allergens at this time, so if you have severe asthma or allergies, consider a bagged vacuum.
Regarding filtration, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 vs Shark NV501 are both fitted with a HEPA filter, which is the best choice to trap dust and allergens. These filters are washable and don’t need to be rinsed too often. In addition to improving the air quality in your home, these washable filters help reduce recurring costs.
The HEPA filter of the Dyson Ball Animal 3 is located inside the ball, and removing it is a bit doozy. Guess where this filter is on the Shark NV501? Well, it is in the most-easy-to-reach location.
Special Features
Winner: Shark NV501
LED Lights
The headlights on the Shark NV501’s base are well-placed and bright enough to illuminate any debris or hair on any surface, particularly on my bare floor. I wish its LED headlights were blue or purple instead of yellow because yellow makes my white floor look like animal pee. Of course, I don’t consider it a minus.
As for the Dyson Ball Animal 3, given the price set for it, it should have some LED bulbs on its cleaner head. Why such an expensive device lacks this feature is difficult to comprehend.
Alternate Configuration
Here is also where the Shark NV501 triumphs over the Dyson Ball Animal 3. Its “Lift Away” feature is a real bonus. By pressing one button, you can lift the canister away from the floor base and use the NV501 as a “carry-along” vacuum. In this portable configuration, reaching for cobwebs on a wall or ceiling is a quick and simple task.
Alternatively, you can also place its pod on a caddy (a roll-around base) and use it as a canister vacuum. This machine tends to tip over if you use the wand while its body is still in “upright” mode. But this isn’t an issue if it is used with the caddy.
Quick Rundown of Shark 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.
Quick Rundown of Dyson Ball Animal 3
- The best cleaning performance of any upright de-tangling vacuum.¹
- Engineered for larger homes with pets. Removes dirt and pet hair around your home. Easily tackles big messes. With two additional specialized pet tools.
- De-tangling technology. Automatically clears wrapped hair from the brush bar as you clean.
- Specialized pet tools. Pet groom tool for medium and long-haired pets.² Tangle-free turbine tool removes pet hair from upholstery and cars.
- Ball technology. Navigate around obstacles with a simple turn of the wrist. For easy, precise maneuvering around your home.
Product Videos
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References:
- Shark NV501: https://www.sharkclean.ca/products/shark-rotator-professional-lift-away-upright-vacuum-zidNV501
- Dyson Ball Animal 3: https://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/uprights/ball-animal-3
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.