Shark LA502 vs ZU561: The winning ticket came to the first one, but the other is also great for the price range.
The Shark LA502 is slightly more expensive, but you get what you pay for. If I were you, I’d spend the extra bucks to get a DuoClean head with a PowerFin roller and LED headlights. Maneuvering this machine is a bit difficult, especially on thick carpets. So if you have weak wrists or a bad back, consider carefully before making an order.
The Shark ZU561, on the other hand, is ideal for budget-oriented people who are looking for a workhorse for their daily cleaning chores. It is equipped with a Zero-M floorhead, which greatly reduces the problem of tangled hair. If this model was equipped with headlights and its cord was longer, it would be even better.
Shark LA502 vs ZU561: Comparison Chart
Shark LA502 vs ZU561: Differences
The Shark LA502 defeats the ZU561 with a score of 2-1. The key areas where the first one outshines its competitor are cleaning performance/suction and special features (LED headlights).
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Shark LA502
The Shark LA502’s suction is unbeatable. It sucked up well on my wood floors, carpets, and rugs, thanks to the DuoClean head with a soft roller and a PowerFin roller. It left me gasping and raising my eyebrows at how much dirt and pet hair it picked up on my carpet, which is often cleaned. Its strong suction is a blessing to me, but it can be a curse to many others.
The machine, even when set to the minimum suction setting, tended to go forward and forced me to make a little effort to pull it back. This one has a suction control slider on the handle. This is important because its strong suction makes the machine want to run when you only want to walk.
But there aren’t many options to fine-tune its suction. Unlike the ZU561 and many other Shark vacuums, it has no vent that can be progressively opened to reduce suction. Instead, this model has a binary slider with two options: minimum and maximum suction. The issue is, even set to min mode, this vacuum still has a lot of suction, so it really allows you to choose between max suction and slightly less max suction.
The Shark ZU561 also had a good cleaning performance on the floor, but it did seem awkward with larger debris, and I had to use its wand to get the job done. On my carpet, it performed worse than the Shark LA502, and that’s evident since the LA502 is equipped with the PowerFin roller, which helps pick up dirt deep in the carpet fibers. But the difference is not too significant.
At maximum suction, I also found it difficult to push the ZU561 on the carpet, but it was easier than the LA502. There was a ring on the handle, which could be used to customize the suction until I felt free to maneuver it. This collar is clearly more helpful than the LA502’s slider.
While many other vacuums are killed by tangled hair, both the Shark LA502 vs ZU561 sent most of the vacuumed hair into their dust cups, thanks to their self-cleaning rollers. While there are differences in the design of their self-cleaning rollers, they both do a great job of limiting hair wrap. Whether it’s Zero-M technology or PowerFin design, it couldn’t prevent everything from wrapping up, especially long hair. Still, I could definitely see that they limit anything getting caught up. Well done, Shark!
Design and Usability
Winner: Shark ZU561
Weight and Maneuverability
The Shark LA502 weighs 15.43 pounds, while the ZU561 is a few pounds lighter at 13.4 pounds. The ZU561 obviously wins this category because it’s lighter, making it easier to maneuver, but I’d like to say the Shark LA502 didn’t feel heavy in my hand at all. Both share a nice swivel, making maneuvering the vacuum around objects a stroll in the park. It will take you a little to get used to the maneuverability, but once you get the hang of it, it will be fine.
The ZU561 comes with three attachments: a brush, a corner tool, and the pet hair tool, but it only has onboard storage for two of them, meaning the other needs to be stored separately. I don’t like this. Even if storing all three attachments on board adds extra weight to the machine, I would be happy with that. Likewise, the LA502 also doesn’t have enough space on the body for all attachments.
Dust Cup Capacity
The ZU561 comes with a 0.9-quart dust cup, while the LA502’s dust canister can hold up to 0.88 quarts of stuff before it needs to be emptied. The ZU561 is, once again, slightly better than the competition since it can hold more dust and dirt. But nobody waits until the dust container is completely full to empty it. So, this 0.02-quart difference, to my mind, doesn’t matter.
These cups are large, and I usually have to empty them once to twice per vacuuming session. Emptying them was a breeze, and I didn’t have to stick my hand inside to remove stubborn debris. Moreover, you can open the upper portion for additional access inside the cup. Almost nothing can get clogged up, but if it does, it will be a quick, easy duty to deal with.
Special Features
Winner: Shark LA502
The only special feature the Shark LA502 has that the ZU561 does not have is some LED bulbs on the base. They allowed me to see clearly in any nook and cranny as I vacuumed to get all the dirt and hair off my surface. I guess that, in the future, all uprights will be equipped with this nifty feature.
Shark LA502 vs ZU561: Similarities
Filter System
The Shark LA502 vs ZU561 share an excellent filtration system that combines high-quality filters and proprietary sealing technology. There is a HEPA filter among those filters, which can capture up to 99.9% of dirt and allergens from vacuumed air. Better yet, you don’t need to spend money on frequent filter changes because the filters are washable and they don’t need to be washed too often.
Lift-Away Mode
Both the Shark LA502 vs ZU561 can be turned into portable vacuums by stepping on a pedal or pressing a button, respectively. Once in the Lift-Away position, it is much lighter and easier to maneuver the canister without the heavy weight of the power bar. You can walk around freely and get into corners and hard-to-reach areas to suck up dust and dirt.
Cord Length
The duo has a 25-foot power cord, which is on the short side for me. I had two choices: unplug and plug it in several times or use an extension cord, and I chose the latter to save time. Unlike other lift-away models, these cords come out of the top of the body instead of the bottom, so you won’t accidentally trip on them.
Quick Rundown Of Shark LA502
- DUOCLEAN POWERFINS: A PowerFins brushroll and a soft roller combine on all floors. Continuous cleaning contact to dig deep into carpets, directly engage floors, and pick up more in every pass. (vs. original DuoClean).Specific uses:hard floor,carpet,dual action
- SELF-CLEANING BRUSHROLL: for powerful pet hair pickup with no hair wrap.
- LIFT-AWAY FUNCTIONALITY: lift away the detachable pod and easily clean above-floor areas like stairs, furniture, 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.
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.
Product Videos
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References:
- Shark LA502: https://www.sharkclean.com/exclusive-offer/LA502WBKT/shark-rotator-lift-away-adv-upright-vacuum-with-duoclean-powerfins-and-self-cleaning-brushroll/
- Shark ZU561: https://support.sharkclean.com/hc/en-us/articles/4403100551186-ZU560-Series-Shark-Navigator-Lift-Away-Speed-FAQs
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.