Shark Stratos vs Dyson V15: Both are designed to make vacuuming easier, quicker, and more enjoyable, and I found the second one is better!
If asked about the most comprehensive stick vacuum today, I bet many folks would eye-to-eye with me that it would be the Dyson V15. It is a comprehensive upgrade over its predecessor, the Dyson V11, with some new punches from the brand, including the Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, the laser technology, and the built-in Piezo sensor. Together, they provide a one-of-a-kind experience for the neat freak.
If you are afraid of the Dyson V15’s exorbitant price, I would recommend the Shark Stratos IZ862H to you. It’s significantly cheaper than the Dyson V15 but still more expensive than most Shark models, for good reasons. To justify its hefty price tag, it has some of Shark’s best assets, including the DuoClean Powerfins nozzle, the Clean Sense IQ tech, the MultiFlex design, and anti-odor tech.
Shark Stratos Vs Dyson V15: Comparison Chart
Shark Stratos Vs Dyson V15: Differences
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Dyson V15
Suction Power & Floorhead
Let’s start with the maximum suction power. The Dyson V15 maxes out at 230 AW and is the most powerful Dyson stick vacuum to date. Meanwhile, although Shark didn’t disclose the Stratos IZ862H’s suction according to the AW parameter, I measured it in the highest mode, and the result I got was 219 AW – also greater than all the Dyson sticks except for V15.
The Dyson V15 comes with two cleaning heads: a High Torque cleaner head and a Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, with some improvements over earlier versions. The first one can automatically adapt suction according to floor type, owning to dynamic load sensor technology, and prevent tangling around the bristles thanks to polycarbonate teeth. Unlike the first-generation Fluffy cleaner head, the Laser Slim Fluffy has a lower profile, makes getting under furniture easier, and features a green laser that lights up the cleaning path.
As for the Stratos IZ862H, it comes with a 2-in-1 cleaning head, which includes two rollers: one for hard floors and one for carpets. It’s somewhat bulky and heavy, but I was fine with that as it allowed me to vacuum seamlessly without swapping nozzles as I did with the Dyson V15. Better yet, the brush roll features a Powerfins design involving some rubber fins on the roller, which Shark claims will agitate the carpet fibers better for a deep clean and effective anti-hair wrap.
Hard Floor
The Stratos IZ862H could also handle all the small debris types without hassle – with an impressive score of 97%. But larger ones gave this boy some challenges: A moderate amount was pushed around, mostly the ones on the sides. Then I made extra passes with more thoughtful angles, and everything was collected.
The Dyson V15 Detect, along with the Fluffy floorhead, had no problem with debris of all sizes. Almost all, if not all, of the debris was easily picked up in the forward pass. Compared to the Shark’s DuoClean nozzle, I prefer this slim and low-profile roller since it can fit in any tight space and easily clean up the edges of my house.
Carpet
On CleanSenseIQ mode, the Stratos IZ862H worked incredibly well on all my carpets. It increased its suction when I moved from the hard floor to the carpet, and the rubber paddles really got deep into the fibers to collect about 95% of the total debris, including deep-seat ones. I found the suction of this one was a bit overkill on my low-pile carpet, so I switched to eco mode, but that turned the LED headlights off.
As for the V15, it also had trouble with the highest power suction enabled. So then I used auto mode and kept the two front gates fully opened. The V15 removed approximately 99.3% of total debris on all types of carpets and only missed some fine and small debris. This is still an impressive result that only a top-tier stick vacuum can achieve. Well done, Dyson!
Hair
Both the Shark Stratos vs Dyson V15 easily picked up all the hair and fur that I dropped onto hard floors and carpets with a pass or two. As I mentioned earlier, both are equipped with some sort of anti-tangle technology: the Shark Stratos has a Powerfins self-cleaning roller, while the Dyson V15 features polycarbonate teeth. My tests showed that they worked, but they couldn’t completely replace manual maintenance. There was still a small amount of long hair wrap on their rollers after the test sessions, and I could get rid of it easily.
The Dyson V15 includes a hair screw tool engineered to replace the mini-motorized tool of its predecessors. It did a sublime job of cleaning pet fur and humans’ long hair without tangles.
Design & Usability
Winner: Dyson V15
Attachments & Storage
| Shark Stratos IZ862H | Dyson V15 |
|---|---|
| DuoClean floorhead Combination tool (crevice tool & soft bristle brush) Odor neutralizing cartridge Anti-allergen dusting brushCharger Removable battery (x1) | Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head Digital Motorbar Hair screw tool Crevice tool Combination tool Mini soft dusting brush Stubborn dirt brush Wand clip Docking station & Charger Click-in battery (x1) |
I have tested many cord-free stick vacuums, but the number of models that can stand upright on their own can only be counted on the fingers, and the Shark Stratos is one of them. This model is equipped with MultiFlex technology, which allows the wand to fully flex to reduce footprint and move the dustbin close to the floorhead. In this configuration, it is more compact and can stand independently. With this technology, this one definitely could score some brownie points with those who hate drilling into walls.
The Dyson V15, like its siblings, comes with a wall charging dock for neat and organized storage/charging. There’s only room for two attachments, and I don’t mind that because expecting this low-profile dock to hold a bunch of accessories is impossible. You don’t have to mount it on the wall since the battery can be charged independently. So you can put the vacuum somewhere, like a cabinet, and plug the charger directly into the battery. You can also splurge on a self-standing station, which provides a safe spot for the vacuum and all the fittings.
Weight & Usability
Weighing 8.8 pounds, the Shark Stratos is somewhat heavy, mainly due to its bulky floorhead. But it didn’t feel heavy in my hands since most of the weight was moved downward. Maneuvering it on the floor and around obstacles was also quite easy, thanks to the pivoting head, but carrying it up and down stairs can be a bit of a workout for some people.
In the handheld configuration, it’s significantly more compact and lighter, making it ideal for cleaning my stairs and inside my car. The Shark Stratos’s wand is bendable, so I could clean under my low-clearance couches and tables without crouching over too deeply. It may take you some time to get used to this design. But once you get the hang of it, you will find that it is a lifesaver for your back.
The Dyson V15, on the other hand, is noticeably lighter at 6.8 pounds, but it felt a bit top-heavy in my hand. Anyway, maneuvering it was easy for me because it has a swivel head, and I’m a young and fit guy.
The V15 can also be reconfigured into a portable vacuum for cleaning hard-to-reach areas. It can lie flat on the ground, so reaching deep under furniture is a stress-free task, but it’s not as convenient as the Shark Stratos.
Battery Life (With The Main Nozzle Attached)
| Shark Stratos IZ862H | Dyson V15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Battery Life | ≈ 49 mins | ≈ 71 mins |
| Minimum Battery Life | ≈ 11 mins | ≈ 8 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 3.6 hours | ≈ 3.9 hours |
The Shark Stratos’ battery life is somewhat pretty impressive, but it wasn’t enough for me to get the job done on a full charge. This one uses a removable battery, which could theoretically be swapped out to increase its runtime. But unfortunately, I can’t find anywhere that sells spare batteries for it.
The V15 Detect is also powered by a swappable battery that is built into the handle, similar to the V11 and the V12, and I bet Dyson will implement this feature in future products. Fortunately, it is easy to purchase additional batteries on Dyson’s original website. There are two ways to charge the battery: dock the entire vacuum on the station or remove the battery from the machine and plug the charger directly into it.
Dust Cup & Filtration System
Winner: Dyson V15
The Stratos IZ862H’s dust cup has a capacity of 0.68 liter. To dump all the dirt and disgusting dirt, just Take the stick out of the handheld part and press a small button on the side to open the bottom, and let gravity pull everything down – it’s all very easy. I found myself pulling out clumps of hair and dust manually several times, which left my hands dirty, but I was okay with that (since I don’t suffer from an allergic reaction).
The Dyson V15’s dustbin, on the other hand, can hold up to 0.75 liters of stuff, meaning it needs to be emptied less frequently. I was also impressed by its “no-touch” emptying mechanism – just pushing a red lever down to eject all the dirty things.
The Shark Stratos boasts two pre-motor filters and one post-motor grade HEPA filter. Better yet, it features a sealed system that ensures these filters can catch all the vacuum dust and allergens – a gift from heaven for patients with severe allergies.
The Dyson V15’s filter is not labeled HEPA (just the V15 Absolute has a HEPA grade filter), but it is claimed to be able to capture 99.97% of particles as small as 0.1 microns. In addition, it also has a sealed system, making it allergy-friendly as well.
Utilities
Winner: Shark Stratos
User Interface
It couldn’t be easier to use and control the Shark Stratos. Its user interface includes a high-tech LED display that digitally displays the battery life in percent and the current power mode. Also, there is an on/off button and a boost button, which are all easy to reach with the thumb. In addition, there is an eye-catching LED strip neatly located on the floorhead that tells you how clean the area is.
As for the Dyson V15, you must keep a trigger pressed to make it run so it can’t accidentally run, resulting in a longer operating time. But the price to pay for that can be a tired hand at the end of the day. The best part is an eye-catching LCD screen on top that shows some pieces of information: run time left, error codes, and particle levels captured.
There is a Piezo sensor inside the handheld unit which can measure and count vacuumed dust particles, adjusts the vacuum’s suction accordingly, and displays how many and what size the dust particles were vacuumed on the screen. Many people think this feature is superfluous, but I don’t think so. It gives me an idea of how clean a particular area is.
Headlight
The Dyson V15’s Laser Slim Fluffy floorhead has a green laser light which, in my opinion, makes things visible better than LED headlights on the Shark Stratos. I wish that its Digital Motorbar head was also equipped with this “Laser Detect technology.” The Shark Stratos’ LED headlight is also useful, but it will be turned off when you’re in ECO mode.
Mode
We were really impressed by the Clean Sense IQ mode on the Shark Stratos, which can sense the dust on the floor and automatically adjusts the suction power accordingly for optimal performance. In addition, there are two other modes: ECO mode (the energy-saving mode) and Boost (the high-power mode). On eco mode, the roller brush and LED lights are shut off – not very useful.
Likewise, the Dyson V15 has three modes: eco, auto, and boost. With the auto mode on, the onboard sensor will adjust the suction according to the dust density and display the dust particle data on the LCD screen, as mentioned above.
Anti-odor Tech
The novel aspect of the Shark Stratos is the odor-neutralizer capsule, which generates a subtle fragrance that overwhelms the odor smells when you vacuum. This small knoblike device needs to be installed on the upper side of the floorhead, and it has a handle used to turn it until it clicks into place or tailors its intensity. Lovely feature!
Quick Rundown Of Dyson V15
- The most powerful intelligent cordless vacuum.¹ With laser illumination.
- Engineered for whole home, deep cleans. Suction power, run time and tools designed to deep clean your whole home. Engineered for homes with pets.
- Up to 60 minutes of run time.³ Power saving trigger helps maximize battery life, only using power when you need it. Actual run time will vary based on power mode and/or attachments used.
- Laser reveals microscopic dust. A precisely angled laser makes invisible dust visible on hard floors, so you don’t miss anything.
- Intelligently optimizes suction and run time based on dust level and floor type. A Piezo sensor and Dyson DLS technology automatically sense debris level and floor type to adapt suction for the right balance of power and run time when you need it.²
Quick Rundown Of Shark Stratos
- 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.
Product Videos
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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.