Comparing the Shark AZ1002 vs ZU782: It’s not hard to see that the former is worth buying, although it does require you to spend a bit more.
The Shark AZ1002 is a great value-for-money upright for every household owner, especially pet owners. It is perfect for removing hair shed from your four-legged friends and keeping the house dirt-free.
As for the Shark ZU782, the best feature is the DuoClean floorhead in the front of the unit, but that alone doesn’t make it worth the money. By spending a little more on the AZ1002, you will get more advanced features like fingertip controls and the powered Lift-Away.
Shark AZ1002 vs ZU782: Differences
The Shark AZ1002 defeats the ZU782 with a score of 2-2. The strong suction makes it challenging to maneuver on the carpet, but the excellent ability to remove hair and debris makes up for this. It can adapt to clean more scenarios with useful features like LED lights (on both nozzle and handle) and the powered Lift-Away feature.
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Shark ZU782
The ZU782 generates awesome suction, making it an excellent vacuum for both hard floors and carpets. Its DuoClean floorhead did very well, allowing the machine to get a lot of dust on the hard floor and pulling a good amount of dirt and hair from my carpet.
However, it can be so powerful that it pulls you with it, and you may almost have to fight with it to pull it back while it just wants to take off. Getting it to the upright position again is also awkward since it just wants to keep moving instead of liking being still. In this case, you need to sacrifice suction in exchange for easier maneuvering by twisting a ring on the handle.
If you’ve ever used a vacuum without a self-cleaning roller, you know how tedious and awkward it is to cut and pull out tangled hair. Fortunately, the ZU782 also features a self-cleaning brush roll and Zero-M technology, which are miracle features for pet owners. It works just as described: No hair wrap around the roller at the end of the day.
Regarding the AZ1002’s suction power, this model is also so powerful that I could feel it trying to pull forward. But I couldn’t adjust its suction arbitrarily as I could with the AZ1002, which puts it at a disadvantage in this category. It still picked up so much dust and hair out of my carpet and floor that looked clean, and I was shocked, but its powerful suction made me struggle to push it, especially on a thick carpet.
Like the Shark ZU782, the AZ1002 is also fitted with a DuoClean cleaner head with a self-cleaning brush roll and Zero-M technology. So almost nothing to cut off with a pair of scissors since the majority of hair is sent to the dust cup instead of being stuck in the roller.
Weight and Maneuverability
Winner: Shark AZ1002
The ZU782 weighs about 17.7 lbs and is on the heavy side. Combined with somewhat strong suction, it may require even more force to pull it back, so I would not recommend it for seniors or people with back and hip problems. In addition, its wheels squeaked when you pushed it, and the squeak was rather loud.
It’s bulky but doesn’t have enough room to store all the attachments on board, so if you need a tool that isn’t on the vacuum, you have to go retrieve it. It can’t also go far under furniture because of the large dust cup.
The Shark AZ1002 is a bit lighter at 16 pounds but still heavy and difficult to maneuver while vacuuming. So you may have difficulty deciding whether to get another model or get used to this heavyweight and live with it. It also doesn’t allow storing all the accessories on the body, but this is a minor problem, and I can easily accept that.
Both Shark AZ1002 vs ZU782 share a swivel head which will pivot instead of just stationary, making them easier to reach tight space and go under the overhang at the bottom of cabinets. This feature may be initially challenging to get used to, but it is really convenient.
Although the weight difference is negligible, the Shark AZ1002 wins this round because it is slightly lighter than its competitor.
Utilities
Winner: Shark AZ1002
Lift-Away Feature
The ability to detach the main body from the base is another thing in common between the Shark AZ1002 vs ZU782. This features definitely makes doing stairs a breeze. In this portable configuration, you can easily reach up to get dust from a curtain and fan or grab pesky on the wall. You can also get under stuff by just slightly bending over. These machines don’t come with a wheeled base that I can set the canister on and it. So I wish these models had that option.
I decided to give the nod to the AZ1002 because it features a powered Lift-Away. This feature allows you to effectively clean under furniture with its floorhead after removing its canister. But note that using it in this configuration for a long time can result in hand fatigue.
LED lights
Both the Shark AZ1002 vs ZU782 have LED lights on the nozzle to see into dark spaces, which will give you a helping hand when in dark corners or vacuuming under furniture. The AZ1002, better yet, has a light on the handle, which is really useful when you use the handle and attachments.
Control
The Shark AZ1002 has a vacuum on/off button and a small slider on the handle, which allows you to switch between three surface-type settings. Everything is conveniently located right on the handle!
As for the ZU782, the on/off button is not conveniently located on the handle, forcing you to bend forward over the machine to turn the unit or brush roll on and off. In return, it has a small ring on the handle that is used to fine-tune the suction, and the AZ1002 lacks this feature.
Shark AZ1002 vs ZU782: Similarities
Cord Length
Both the Shark AZ1002 vs ZU782 also share a 30-foot power cord, which is reasonably long for an upright vacuum. I’m not sure this length will prevent you from switching outlets while vacuuming, but it will undoubtedly help keep unplugging and plugging to a minimum. These cords would be perfect if they were retractable, but that’s not a must-have for me.
Dust Cup Capacity and Filters
These vacuums have a 0.88-quart dust canister, which is not small nor particularly large. Empty them is easy with the push of a release button, but be careful to avoid scattering dust and dirt around.
The duo also has three filters, including a HEPA filter, and is fitted with anti-allergen complete seal technology, which is good for allergies. All the filters are removable and washable, by the way, so you can keep them last longer by taking the extra few minutes to wash them after each session or so.
Quick Rundown Of Shark 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 ZU782
- LIFT-AWAY FUNCTIONALITY: Detachable pod for cleaning under furniture or detach the nozzle to clean above the floor, on upholstery, furniture, stairs, and more.
- DUOCLEAN TECHNOLOGY: Dual-brushroll system deep-cleans carpets and directly engages floors for a polished look.
- SELF-CLEANING BRUSHROLL: Engineered for more pet hair pickup with no hair wrap (vs. Shark bristle nozzles).
- 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.
Product Video
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References:
- Shark AZ1002: https://support.sharkclean.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/4402165795218/AZ1000Series_Manual_E_F_Mv4_20200325.pdf
- Shark ZU782: http://m.sharkclean.us/support/product-series/1216/shark-rotator-pro-upright-vacuum-with-lift-away-duoclean-and-self-cleaning-brushroll/
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.