Shark Stratos vs Dyson V12: Temporarily ignoring the whopping gap in price, both are high-tech stick vacuums with a wide range of state-of-the-art features that enhance the overall user experience. And after looking at all the pros and cons of each, I found the Dyson V12 better.
The Dyson V12 is the newest mode of Dyson’s cordless vacuum line (it came out after the V15. Sounds paradoxical, right?). It solves all the biggest issues of the V15 related to heavyweight and bulky size, allowing it to get in and out of hard-to-reach areas more easily. In addition, it has an on/off button (instead of a trigger), which helps reduce hand fatigue. On the downside, it has slightly less suction and a smaller dust cup.
At a significantly lower price (but still costly for a Shark vacuum), the Shark Stratos IZ862H still offers a lot to the table and gives the Dyson V12 a run for its money: lightweight and versatile with Duo Clean and Flexology technologies. And after vacuuming, it leaves behind spotless surfaces with a subtle fragrance thanks to the odor-neutralizer cartridge.
Shark Stratos Vs Dyson V12: Comparison Chart
Shark Stratos Vs Dyson V12: Differences
I call this battle a tie. The Dyson V12 works better on carpets and comes with many attachments, while the Shark Stratos has a large dust cup and features anti-odour tech.
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Dyson V12
Suction Power And Floorhead
The Dyson V12 generates a maximum suction power of 150 AW, significantly lower than the Dyson V15 (230 AW). Shark doesn’t specify the AW parameter for this model, but I measured it in boost mode and got the max suction of 219 AW – Amazing.
The Dyson V12 comes out of the box with two floorheads: a laser slim fluffy head (for hard floors) and a motorbar cleaner head (for carpet), and both have improvements over their predecessors. The Laser Slim Fluffy head has a lower profile and is equipped with Laser Detect technology, while the motorbar cleaner head features a dynamic load sensor and de-tangle technology.
The DuoClean floorhead is one of the Shark Stratos’ biggest selling points. As its name suggests, it features two rollers: one designed to clean hard floors and the other for carpets. Having two brushes in a single floorhead means I don’t need to swap floorheads when moving from hard floor to carpet and vice versa, as I did with the Dyson V12.
Hard Floor
The Shark Stratos IZ862H has easily handled almost all the small debris but has had a bit of a challenge with larger ones like rice and cereal. I found a moderate amount of large debris (about 3%), which was on the sides, pushed around, and not being sucked up. So I had to do more passes to remove all of them.
The Dyson V12, with its well-built soft roller, picked up 99% of fine and small debris, and I could almost see nothing left behind with my naked eye. It also performed superbly in collecting larger debris. There was a small amount that splashed in random directions, but this is negligible (1-2%, I guess).
Carpet
On my carpet, the Dyson V12 collected approximately 98% of the total debris in a single pass – this is a commendable score—and the rest was easily captured in the second pass.
As for the Stratos IZ862H, I found a decent amount of small debris left behind (approximately 7%), while the larger one was mostly collected. While it’s not quite as flawless as the Dyson V12, it’s still one of the Shark vacuums that performed best on carpets I’ve ever tested.
Hair Test
After using these machines on the highest power mode, the majority of the hair/fur was captured. Their floorheads are equipped with anti-tangle technologies. One is different from the other, but they are all geared towards the same goal: to reduce hair wrap issues, meaning less maintenance.
Look closely at the Shark Stratos’s center roller brush, and you’ll see some fins or paddles – Shark calls them PowerFins, and they work to prevent tangles. My test showed that there was an unnoticeable amount that ended up on the center of the roller, which was very easy to cut off and pull out.
The Dyson V12’s motorbar floorhead is also equipped with a comb engineered to send most of the vacuumed hair into its dust cup. I found it not perfect, but it worked as well. The included hair screw tool also worked very well in picking up hair on the carpet – nothing was wrapped around the roller brush.
Design & Maneuverability
Winner: Dyson V12
Attachments & Storage
| Shark Stratos IZ862H | Dyson V12 |
|---|---|
| DuoClean floorhead Combination tool (crevice tool & soft bristle brush) Odor neutralizing cartridge Anti-allergen dusting brush Charger Removable battery (x1) | Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head Motorbar cleaner head Hair screw tool Crevice tool Combination tool Wand clip Docking station & Charger Removable battery (x1) |
There is no denying that the Dyson V12’s set of attachments outshines its competition, but you will get more with the V12 Slim Extra or the V12 Absolute, which have extra tools like a mattress tool, extension hose, or mini dusting brush.
The Shark IZ862H doesn’t need a docking station for charging and storage as it can stand on its own thanks to MultiFLEX technology, while the battery can be charged independently. The “MultiFLEX” is basically a hinge located in three-quarters of the wand, which allows it to fold down to halve its vertical footprint for compact storage. My only gripe is that there is no onboard storage for fittings.
The Dyson V12, on the other hand, comes with a docking station where you can park the vacuum to store it and charge it simultaneously, but that’s not the only way to charge the battery. If mounting something to the wall isn’t a preferred or impossible option for you, you can lay the vacuum down somewhere, such as under your desk, and dock the battery into a charging station to charge it (since the battery can get charged independently). It has a wand clip, which allows two attachments to be stored on board. So I didn’t have to return to my cupboard to get the desired tool in the middle of a vacuuming cycle.
Weight & Maneuverability
As the intro mentions, the Dyson V12 is lighter and more compact than the V15, making it easier to maneuver. By sacrificing the dust cup’s capacity, it felt very lightweight in my hand, and I could easily reach and clean the ceiling without experiencing any fatigue or discomfort.
Weighing 8.8 pounds, the Shark IZ862H is on the top end of the weight spectrum, mainly due to its DuoClean head.
This floorhead is chunky and heavy, so lifting the vacuum and carrying it up and down stairs is a daunting task for the elderly. But on the floor, it helped balance the weight of the vacuum and reduce the weight on my hand. It can also be turned into a portable handheld vacuum, which is ideal for reaching higher.
Both have swivel heads, so making the sharp turn is a breeze. Getting further under low-clearance furniture with the Dyson V12 is easy since it can lie completely flat on the floor, but the Shark Stratos can do it better with its MultiFLEX design. The bendable wand allowed me to clean underneath my TV unit and bed more comfortably since I didn’t have to crouch down.
Battery Life (With the Main Nozzle Attached)
| Shark Stratos IZ862H | Dyson V12 | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Battery Life | ≈ 11 mins | ≈ 12 mins |
| Maximum Battery Life | ≈ 49 mins | ≈ 45 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 3.6 hours | ≈ 4 hours |
With the main nozzle attached, both the Shark Stratos vs Dyson V12 run out of juice much faster than claimed by the manufacturers. The Dyson V12 uses a click-in battery, so I highly recommend spending on spare batteries to get the extra long run time and say goodbye to downtime. The battery can be charged without the vacuum (since the charger port is on it), so I could plug the charger directly into the spare battery and vacuum with the installed one. As for the Shark Stratos, it also comes with a removable battery, but I rummaged on the internet and couldn’t find a way to buy the spare battery.
Dust Cup & Filtration System
Winner: Shark Stratos
As I said earlier, the Dyson V12’s 0.38-liter dust canister is designed to be smaller for compactness and lightweight, resulting in a few more extra trips to the garbage to empty it. Regarding emptying the dustbin, the “point and shoot” mechanism still remains the same: detach the pipe or the tool, hold the dustbin above the garbage can, and pull a lever to eject all the contents. There were moments when I had to remove clumps of hair and dust from the canister using my hand.
The Stratos IZ862H’s dust battery can hold up to 0.68 liters of dust and dirt, and emptying it also requires some simple operations: detach the wand from the handheld part, push a button down to open a hatch, and send all the dust and hair straight down the trash can. I also found myself using my hands to remove leftover hair and debris many times.
There is a HEPA filter near the top of the Dyson V12. It can be detached by twisting it counterclockwise and should be rinsed with cold water at least once a month or whenever the LCD screen indicates that it needs to be cleaned.
The Shark Stratos has two pre-filters (a foam and a felt) and a post-filter (HEPA). No interval is given by Shark, but I think they should be rinsed monthly.
Utilities And Special Features
Winner: Shark Stratos
User Interface
No longer having a trigger like earlier Dyson models, the V12 has an on/off button on top of the hand unit. So you won’t need to keep a trigger pressed constantly to power the vacuum, which is especially great for folks who suffer from carpal arthritis. Just press the button to start and press it again to turn it off. But I wish it was within thumb reach so I didn’t need to use my other hand to press it.
The V12 has a fancy LCD screen that displays battery life, the current power mode, filter status, and data that shows the count and size of vacuumed dust particles. I found the particle data very helpful since it told me when I should spend more time cleaning a certain area.
All controls on the Shark Stratos are very simple and ergonomically pleasing. There is a power button used to turn the vacuum on/off and a boost button for toggling between settings – All within reach of my thumb. Its digital screen is quite simple as well. It gives you an estimate of the remaining battery life in percent and tells you which power mode your vacuum is in.
Cleaning Mode
There are three cleaning modes on the Dyson V12: Eco, Auto, and Boost. On auto mode (which I use most of the time), the onboard piezo sensor can detect the actual dust density and adjust the vacuum’s suction accordingly. The vacuumed dust and dirt are also displayed by count and size on the LCD. This feature is currently only available on the latest two Dyson sticks, and I would be excited to see it in subsequent models.
Likewise, the Stratos IZ862H has three power modes: ECO, Boost, and Clean Sense IQ. The new Clean Sense IQ technology can also detect the density of dust and dirt on the surface and automatically adjust the vacuum’s suction. This new feature definitely helps preserve battery life since it ensures the suction generated is most suitable for the situation. It also helped me know how clean my floors are through an eye-catching LED strip on the nozzle.
Headlight
There are some LED bulbs on the Stratos IZ862H’s nozzle that make it much easier for me to see the dirt and dust on my floors. This feature was especially helpful when I was trying to clean under furniture with the main nozzle.
The V12’s Laser Slim Fluffy head comes with the laser “Detect” feature that was first introduced with the Dyson V15. It is a green laser and shows me where the dust and dirt are by lighting them up. To my mind, it makes things visible better than any LED-equipped vacuum.
Anti-odour Tech
The key factor that made the Shark Stratos win this category is the included odor neutralizer pod, which gives a lovely, subtle fragrance and masks the bad smells that the vacuum kicks up from the dirty floor. This fragrance cartridge is on the main nozzle, and you can adjust its intensity by twisting it counterclockwise. The purchase includes only one cartridge that lasts up to six months, and you can buy a new one here.
Quick Rundown Of Dyson V12
- Dyson’s lightest intelligent cordless vacuum. Reveals invisible dust..Special feature: compact
- 30% more power.¹ 60 minutes of run time.²
- Power button operated for continuous cleaning.
- 24% lighter than the Dyson V15. Engineered to be ergonomic, effortless, and easy to use. Converts to a handheld vacuum for cleaning cars, stairs, and upholstery.
- Intelligently adapts power based on debris detected. LCD screen shows total picked-up particles on-screen as you clean.³ Also displays power mode, maintenance alerts, and remaining run time to the second.
Quick Rundown Of Shark Stratos IZ862H
- CLEAN SENSE IQ: Infrared sensor detects the dirt you can’t see and automatically increases power, giving you up to 50% better* dirt pickup. The Clean Sense IQ indicator visually shows when floors are clean. (vs. Shark Stratos Cordless in ECO Mode.)
- ULTRA-POWERFUL CORDLESS SUCTION: HyperVelocity Plus delivers ultra-powerful cordless suction.
- ODOR NEUTRALIZER TECHNOLOGY: Guards against bad odors from debris you pick up, leaving you with a fresh- smelling home.
- DUOCLEAN POWERFINS HAIRPRO: Two brushroll system digs deep into carpets, engages hard floors, and picks up dirt, debris, and hair in every pass. Experience powerful hair pickup performance.
- SELF-CLEANING BRUSHROLL: Powerful pet hair pickup and no more hair wrap.
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References:
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.