In this debate of Shark Navigator vs Shark Performance, I’ll compare the UV850 and UV725 and end up with the model I think is better.
With excellent cleaning performance and a powerful DuoClean PowerFins floorhead, the Shark UV850 seems like a steal at around $100. As a renewed machine, it’s an excellent choice for neat freaks on a tight budget.
In short, the Shark UV725 is good for the price paid and is highly recommended. It is also hard to beat for its great suction, fantastic ability to reduce tangled hair, and ease of use.
Shark Navigator vs Shark Performance: Comparison Chart
Shark Navigator vs Shark Performance: Differences
The Shark UV850 overpowered the Shark UV725 with a score of 3-0. The first one brings to the table all the best features you can expect to find in a Shark upright, such as the Lift-Away feature, LED headlights, and Anti-Allergen Complete Seal technology.
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Shark UV850
The UV850 did a great job on my floor and carpet. Its suction power is awesome, enabling it to get into crevices and pull everything out. This machine was so strong that it could grab my carpet when I tried to roll it back toward me. So, you may need to adjust its suction using a slider on the handle if you find pushing the unit on the carpet difficult.
I was glad the UV850 sports a DuoClean PowerFins floorhead with two rollers. The soft roller at the front helped to gently clean bare floors while the PowerFins brush roll in the back agitated the fibers for a deep clean. If you’ve owned another vacuum before, you probably already know how tedious it is to cut the hair out of the roller. Fortunately, the UV850’s brush roll did a great job of minimizing hair wrap issues.
My testing also showed that the Shark UV725 had incredible suction, allowing it to pick up everything on hard floors. It was also very easy to move from floor to carpet. However, the suction of this model wasn’t deep, so it only captured stuff on the top layer of my carpet.
The UV725 does not possess a dual roller like the UV850 but boasts a single powerful self-cleaning roller, which is excellent for a house with a lot of hair around! This machine captured most of the hair on my carpet and sent a large amount into its canister.
Weight and Maneuverability
Winner: Shark UV850
The UV850 is quite heavy at 13.64 pounds, so carrying it around your house is something like a stroll in the park. It’s even lighter if you detach its canister from the floorhead and use it as a portable vacuum.
On the other end of the spectrum, the UV725 weighs 16.7 lbs. It’s not too heavy, but pushing it on a high-pile carpet may not be easy for some users. So if you are an elderly person, a guy with weak wrists, or your home has many stairs, this model might not be your best bet.
The swivel head on both is a nice feature, but it can initially be quite annoying, and you need some time to get used to it.
Worth to Buy
Winner: Shark UV850
These machines are all on the cheap side. It is worth noting that these are renewed items, which is why they are so inexpensive on Amazon. So if you are a budget-oriented guy, you will be fine with them.
Shark UV725 is a bit cheaper than the Shark UV850. Nonetheless, I’m prepared to pay a little more to purchase the second one in order to benefit from its DuoClean PowerFins floorhead.
Shark Navigator vs Shark Performance: Similarities
Lift-Away Feature
The Lift-Away feature on both machines allows you to use them as semi-handheld vacuums by separating their canisters from their main bodies. This feature allows you to effectively clean any hard-to-reach area, like stairs, under furniture, or other hard-to-reach areas.
But there is a difference in how to convert them to a semi-handheld configuration. As for the UV850, you’ll need to step on a pedal and lift its canister. Meanwhile, you just need to press a button on the body of the UV725 to detach its pod from the floorhead.
LED Headlights
These machines have some little LED lights in the front. You’ll never realize their usefulness until you vacuum low-light areas like under furniture or nooks and crannies. Apart from making dirt and dust more visible, they also help you detect things that could damage your vacuum if sucked in, such as jewelry and coins.
Filter
Both the Shark Navigator vs Shark Performance have HEPA filters. Combined with the Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology, they can capture and keep up to 99.97% of dust and dirt inside the vacuum. That way, the thing that comes out of these machines is only pure air.
It is worth noting that these filters are washable, and you should wash them with water frequently to get rid of dirt. Before putting them back into the machine, ensure they are completely dry. I don’t recommend using soap or any other cleaning agent, as they might damage these filters.
Quick Rundown of Shark UV850 Performance
- 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 Shark UV725 Navigator
- Lift-Away For Above-Floor Cleaning
- Self-Cleaning Brushroll for Powerful Pet Hair Pickup with No Hair Wrap
- Swivel steering lets you easily maneuver your vacuum in and out of tight spaces, in corners, around furniture, and more
- Use as an upright vacuum for powerful floor and carpet cleaning, or for more portability, detach the pod to go into the lift-away mode to easily clean above-floor areas like furniture and stairs
- Powerful LED headlights on the nozzle reveal hidden debris around your home
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.