Looking at the price of the Shark UV850 vs Dyson Ball Animal 2, many might think that the second one is better as it is significantly more expensive. But is that true?
For approximately $100, I’m pretty sure you can’t find something better than the Shark UV850. There are still some things this machine could do better, but it still makes your cleaning chores less burdensome with strong suction and great features like a DuoClean floorhead, a self-cleaning roller, LED lights, and the “Lift Away” mode.
As for the Dyson Ball Animal 2, if you asked me if it was powerful enough to clean carpets and floors effectively, I would say Yes. But if asked if it’s worth the money, the short answer is No. For the money Dyson is asking for this model, the lack of utility features is a big disappointment.
Shark UV850 vs Dyson Ball Animal 2: Comparison Chart
Shark UV850 vs Dyson Ball Animal 2: Differences
The Shark UV850 wins 2-1 and draws once against the Dyson Ball Animal 2. For what the UV850 brings to the table at around $100, it’s hard to beat this machine!
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Shark UV850
With its DuoClean floorhead, the Shark UV850 works well on both my carpet and hard floor. Its suction power was amazingly strong. On my floor, its dust cup was quickly filled with dust and dirt while the floor regained its good look after a few passes, and it blew my mind with how much dust and hair it pulled out of my carpet, which I thought was fairly clean. If you find pushing it on the carpet difficult, just choose the minimum suction setting.
The Shark UV850 is much better than its competitor here because its roller could make hair wrap problems go away. Thanks to its self-cleaning brush roller, gone are the days when you struggled to cut the tangled hair off the roller with scissors. It isn’t perfect, but it works.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2, on the other hand, also has suction that shouldn’t be underestimated. While I thought the Shark UV850 did slightly better at capturing small dust particles in the carpet, this machine struck back on my hard floor. It really pulled up dust, dirt, hair, fur, and sand, and I could feel how clean my floor was with my bare feet. Meanwhile, the Shark UV850 even required an extra pass to get everything up.
However, the Dyson struggled on my carpet as its strong suction wasn’t adjustable. This is a big minus since I had no way to make it easier to push the machine on the carpet, especially the thick one. Another con is that a good amount of hair has stuck to its roller like crazy, which is evident because it has no self-cleaning roller.
The Dyson was also noisier than the Shark. I never sacrifice the suction power for noise reduction, but remember that this machine is absolutely not ideal for use where you might disturb others.
Design and Usability
Winner: Tie
Weight and Maneuverability
The Shark UV850 weighs only 13.64 pounds and is easy to maneuver. There may be lighter vacuums out there, but this one is very easy to carry upstairs or move from room to room.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is significantly heavier at 17.5 pounds. The ball steering is expected to make for quick and easy maneuvering, but it’s still too heavy, especially for older people. Pushing this vacuum can be a cardio workout, making you work up a sweat, stink the rest of the day, or even ruin your nice outfit with some pit stains.
About the common con between the two – The tool holder can’t hold all the attachments, which baffled me. Sometimes, this makes me wonder, “What should I do with the other tool?” In addition, they also cannot go further under furniture because of their bulky size.
Cord Length
The Shark UV850 has a 30-foot cord, which was long enough, so I didn’t have to plug and unplug continuously. But it was easy to step on this cord accidentally, and I had to hold it with one hand to avoid that. The Dyson Ball Animal 2 even gave me a better range with its 35-foot cord.
It would be great if their cords were self-retractable and I no longer needed to bend over and wrap them manually. It should not be considered a deal breaker, just my request.
Dust Cup Capacity And Filters
Winner: Dyson Ball Animal 2
The dust cup capacities of the Shark UV850 vs Dyson Ball Animal 2 are 1.16 quarts and 1.28 quarts, respectively. These dust canisters can hold a large amount of dirt and debris before needing to be emptied, and emptying them is also a breeze with the push of a button.
Both have a few filters, including a HEPA, to ensure that almost all dust and allergens in the vacuumed air are caught. So I can honestly say it helps many people’s allergies. Better yet, all of them are washable, eliminating the worry of filter replacement costs.
Utilities
Winner: Shark UV850
Alternate Configuration
The UV850 has the lift-away feature, just like most uprights from Shark. This nifty feature allows you to vacuum with just the pod without attaching it to the floorhead, which is ideal for cleaning stairs and hard-to-reach areas. All you need to do is step on a pedal and lift up the pod.
As for the Dyson Ball Animal 2, you can only set it upright and use its wand/hose to reach tight areas. Deploying the hose is unenjoyable, although it isn’t terribly difficult. You’ll need to pop the vented top cap, release the wand/hose using a button, and then pull the wand/hose combination from the rest of the handle. Replacing it is also a pain in the ass. You’ll need to get everything lined up and in the correct order to get them back into the handle.
LED Lights
The Shark UV850 has several LEDs on the floorhead, which will help illuminate the floor and make dirt and debris more visible when vacuuming in a dark area. It’s also another helpful feature that the Dyson Ball Animal 2 lacks.
Controls
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 can self-adjust its head’s height whenever you change it from carpet to hard floor and vice versa, so it doesn’t have as many buttons and switches as the Shark UV850. All you need to do is turn off the roller with the push of a button if you need to vacuum the floor. This sounds great because it’s automatic, but I found that it didn’t deep clean carpets as well as the UV850’s PowerFins brush roll (with the “Carpet” setting).
The UV850 has an on/off switch and a floor-to-carpet switch on the main body, meaning you will constantly reach down to move from carpets to floors. This is not good for people with a bad back.
Quick Rundown Of Shark UV850
- DuoClean PowerFins: A PowerFin roller 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)
- Self-cleaning brushroll for powerful pet hair pickup with no hair wrap.
- Engineered to pick up more hair with no hair wrap (vs. shark bristle nozzles)
- Lift-Away the detachable pod with the easy-to-use pod-release pedal to clean stairs, furniture, and everywhere in your home.
- Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and a HEPA filter trap 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner. (Based on ASTM F1977 of particles .3 microns or larger.)
Quick Rundown Of Dyson Ball Animal 2
- Strongest suction of any vacuum; Even more power for tough tasks
- Self adjusting cleaner head seals in suction across carpet, wood, vinyl, and tile floors
- Tangle free turbine tool, stair tool, combination tool included
- Whole machine filtration ensures that allergens are trapped inside the machine, not expelled back into the home.
- Hygienically empty the bin with the push of a button
Product Video
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References:
- Dyson Ball Animal 2: https://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/uprights/ball-animal-2/iron-purple
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.