The good news is that you can spend less money to get the better model in the battle of Shark NV501 vs Dyson Ball Animal – the Shark NV50.
Budget-oriented neat freaks should thank Christ that Shark created some great vacuums like the Shark NV501 at an affordable price. Powerful suction, quiet operation, an appealing design, numerous accessories, versatility, ease of use, and a 5-year warranty. However, it has no self-cleaning roller, so it may take you hours to remove tangled hair by hand. Given all the other pluses it brings to the table, this seems like a pretty small minus.
The Dyson Ball Animal has strong suction, and it could get the job done better than any vacuum I’ve had or tested. It’s heavy and quite pricey, which would be fine if it came with many useful features, but it doesn’t. So I suppose it’s not worth the money spent on it.
Shark NV501 vs Dyson Ball Animal: Comparison Chart
Shark NV501 vs Dyson Ball Animal: Differences
The Shark NV501 wins 2-1 and draws once against the Dyson Ball Animal. I highly recommend the first one and tell all my loved ones to get it when they need to upgrade!
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Shark NV501
I must admit that the Dyson Ball Animal is among the most powerful machines I have tested. It is advertised as producing strong suction and not losing suction. And my testing showed that it was 100% true. I was confident it captured most, if not all, animal hair in my house. After I was done running the Dyson, my hard floor, which was primarily what I had in my house, had never looked so good. Meanwhile, my rugs and carpets actually felt revived and had nice lines again.
On the downside, the Dyson Ball Animal’s strong suction is not adjustable, so it was hard to use on my carpet. On the thicker carpet, it’s even stuck so hard that the roller stopped spinning. Also, at the end of the day, I had to spend dozens of minutes untangling the hair wrapped on the roller with scissors. So it may not be the best bet for pet owners.
As for the Shark NV501, its suction was also amazing. On my bare floors, it did a great job of grabbing anything, from fine dirt and large debris to pet hair. Its cleaning performance on carpets was also amazing, and I was almost shocked to see the amount of gross dirt and pet hair that the machine pulled from my carpet.
Moreover, this machine tended to pull itself along my carpet, so I didn’t have to struggle with moving and turning it because it went so easily. Whenever I found it hard to push this machine on the carpet, all I had to do was turn a ring on the handle to reduce suction, and I was good to go.
Like the Dyson, I found a lot of hair stuck on the brush bristles, which partially obstructed it from spinning at full speed. Still, with a pair of scissors, I quickly took care of this problem. When I was done testing, I cut and pulled out all of the tangled hair, then sucked it up using the handle. Very easy! If you don’t want to deal with this mess, buy a model with a self-cleaning roller.
Design and Usability
Winner: Tie
Weight and Maneuverability
At about 17 pounds, the Dyson Ball Animal is a little on the heavy side. But I was relieved that it was a breeze to move from bare floors to carpets and vice versa by pushing the brush roll button on and off. It also pivoted easily to deal with corners, thanks to the ball-shaped mechanism.
However, vacuuming the stairs with this Dyson vacuum can be a back-straining task for some people. Also, the bulky size of the big ball thing makes it impossible to get under furniture like a bed or table. That means you may constantly need to switch to the hose/wand, which is quite an awkward maneuver, making it a wrestling match.
On the other hand, the Shark NV501 is lightweight, and I was surprised at how light this vacuum was for its sturdiness. So I had no problem carrying it from room to room and even up and down stairs. The handle is well placed, making it easy for simple maneuvering or carrying from one place to another. So far, the only minus I can think of is that its pod is bulky, preventing it from reaching far under furniture.
Cord Length
The Shark NV501 has a 30-foot cord, so I could plug it into one outlet and reach everywhere I want, saving me time! The Dyson Ball Animal even offers a better range with a 35-foot cord. I just kept on cleaning until my duty was done.
These machines have no automatic cords, but it isn’t a deal breaker. I’ve tested less advertised, much cheaper uprights that have retractable cords or at least better cord management systems.
Dust Cup Capacity And Filter
Winner: Dyson Ball Animal
After sucking dust and dirt from the cleaner head, the vacuum will send them to its dust cup. I always favor models with large dust cups so I don’t have to stop in the middle to empty them. The dust canister capacities of the Shark NV501 vs Dyson Ball Animal are 0.88 quarts and 1.28 quarts, respectively. So the second one gets an edge.
These machines also have some washable filters, including a HEPA filter, which is thought to be the best at trapping dirt and allergens. I find that the filters on the Shark are in an easier-to-reach convenient location, but that doesn’t matter. These filters should be washed periodically to prolong their life and maintain the good suction of the machine.
Special Features
Winner: Shark NV501
LED Lights
There are some white LED headlights on the NV501’s base, which are well-placed and very bright to be of actual use! This feature makes it easier to vacuum the areas that need attention. Dyson Ball Animal lacks these features, letting me down a bit.
Alternate Configuration
As mentioned above, the Dyson Ball Animal can’t get into tight spaces because of its slightly bulky size. To deal with this, you need to set the machine upright and work with its hose, which is a bit awkward, and I think you may need more time to get used to it.
As for the Shark NV501, it is easy to switch it from a standard upright vacuum to a semi-handheld one, thanks to the “Lift Away” feature. All you need to do is press one button, lift the canister away from the floor base, and use the wand/hose.
Better yet, you can turn it into a “roll-along” canister vacuum by putting its pod on a caddy. This part is a wheeled base and can also be used to store attachments.
Controls
With a flip of a button on the Dyson vacuum’s body, I could go from carpet to hardwood without shutting it off, and I love that. The NV501 also has a roller on/off button on the canister, and the best way to switch from a hard floor to a carpet (and vice versa) is to press this button. But the NV501 allows adjusting its suction using a collar, while the Dyson does not.
Quick Rundown of Shark NV501
- Radial root cyclone technology captures more dirt and microscopic dust
- Self-adjusting cleaner head Seals in suction across carpets and hard floors
- Rides on a Ball and steers easily into difficult places
- Whole-machine filtration ensures that allergens are trapped inside the machine, not expelled back into the home.
- Includes Extra tools for pet Owners, including the tangle-free turbine tool
Quick Rundown of Dyson Ball Animal
- Radial root cyclone technology captures more dirt and microscopic dust
- Self-adjusting cleaner head Seals in suction across carpets and hard floors
- Rides on a Ball and steers easily into difficult places
- Whole-machine filtration ensures that allergens are trapped inside the machine, not expelled back into the home.
- Includes Extra tools for pet Owners, including the tangle-free turbine tool
Product Videos
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References:
- Shark 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.