The Shark APEX Upright is a bagless upright vacuum cleaner. Its 'Lift-Away' design lets you pick up and carry its canister independently of its upright body. It performs exceptionally well on bare floors, does a good job of cleaning pet hair on a wide variety of surface types, and also has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter. However, it has many parts that need regular cleaning and struggles with fine debris on carpeted floors, even when using the dedicated surface settings for its floorhead.
Our Verdict
The Shark APEX DuoClean is very good for bare floors. It does an outstanding job clearing pet hair and small or bulky debris on this surface type with no significant loss in suction performance, even as the dirt compartment fills up. However, it has many parts that need periodic cleaning.
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Excellent bare floor performance.
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Easily clears pet hair.
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Good-sized dirt compartment.
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Demanding maintenance needs.
The Shark APEX DuoClean is a satisfactory option for low-pile carpets. When used on its 'Low-Pile' surface-type setting, it has very little trouble clearing pet hair as well as larger debris, but it struggles somewhat with finer debris. It also has many parts that need regular cleaning. However, it struggles more with small debris, and since it doesn't have a brushroll on/off switch, its floorhead can get stuck on loose obstructions like rug tassels.
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Does a good job cleaning large debris.
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Good-sized dirt compartment.
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Demanding maintenance needs.
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No brushroll on/off switch.
The Shark APEX DuoClean isn't bad for dealing with debris on high-pile carpets. It cleans a good amount of pet hair and large debris on this surface type when using its 'Thick Carpet/Area Rug' surface type setting, but you might need to make an extra pass to fully clear finer debris. While its bagless design and washable filters keep recurring costs to a minimum, it does have many parts that need regular cleaning.
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Does a good job cleaning large debris.
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Good-sized dirt compartment.
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Demanding maintenance needs.
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No brushroll on/off switch.
The Shark APEX DuoClean is a decent option for pet owners. It does a fantastic job of clearing this kind of debris on bare floors and low-pile carpets, but you might still need to make another pass to clear all of it on high-pile carpets. It also has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, which is good if you have a pet that sheds heavily. Its DuoClean floorhead uses two brushrolls, one of which isn't removable but uses Shark's proprietary 'Zero-M' self-cleaning design to reduce the risk of hair getting tangled inside the machine.
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Easily clears pet hair.
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On-board HEPA filter.
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No pet grooming tool.
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Can't deal with liquid spills.
The Shark APEX DuoClean is good for cleaning stairs. It performs outstandingly on bare floors and does an impressive job on low-pile carpets. If you have thicker carpet on your stairs, you may need a couple of passes to fully clean up finer debris. While it's a fairly heavy vacuum, its 'Lift-Away' design allows you to pick up and carry its canister body in a semi-handheld configuration while cleaning with its hose. That said, its hose is a little short, which could limit your maneuverability.
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More portable alternative configuration.
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Comes with a couple of tools and brushes.
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Short hose can limit your range and maneuverability.
The Shark APEX DuoClean is decent for cleaning cars. Its 'Lift-Away' design allows you to pick up and carry its canister body with one hand while cleaning with its hose, making it easier to clean tight areas in your car, though it's worth noting that the hose is short. It does an impressive job on low-pile carpets, and it comes with a crevice tool as well as an upholstery tool to clear debris on seats and floor mats.
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More portable alternative configuration.
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Comes with a couple of tools and brushes.
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Short hose can limit your range and maneuverability.
The Shark APEX Upright isn't designed for workshop cleaning. It does quite well when it comes to dealing with household debris, but using it to clean up things like metal shavings or large amounts of sawdust could result in damage. It also can't deal with liquid spills.
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Excellent bare floor performance.
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Can't deal with liquid spills.
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Not meant for workshop debris.
- 7.8 Bare Floor
- 7.1 Low-Pile Carpet
- 6.3 High-Pile Carpet
- 7.1 Pets
- 7.7 Stairs
- 7.4 Cars
- 5.6 Workshop
- Updated Aug 13, 2024: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 1.2 and Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Jul 30, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. We've overhauled our floor performance tests and added new 'Hard Floor Pick-Up,' 'High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' 'Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' and 'Pet-Hair Pick-Up' tests. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Dec 14, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
- Updated Apr 07, 2023: Added a link to the Shark Stratos Upright in the 'High-Pile Carpet Performance' section of the review to provide an alternative that performs better on this surface type.
- Updated Jan 20, 2023: We've changed the full product name to 'Shark APEX Upright' in order for the review to encompass all model variants.
- Updated Aug 22, 2022: This vacuum's suction force has been retested with a more accurate manometer. The test results for the 'Maximum Suction' and 'Normal Suction' fields have been updated. All relevant scores and text have been updated.
- Updated Aug 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Mar 22, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jan 14, 2022: Updated review for accuracy and clarity.
- Updated Jul 06, 2020: Review published.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Shark APEX AZ1002 — sold in the Canadian market as the AZ1002C — is only currently available in one color variant: 'Espresso'. A similar variant, referred to as the AZ1000, differs only in terms of included attachments and color scheme.
| Model Number | Color | Included Brushes and Tools | Notes |
| AZ1000 | Olive, Burgundy | Upholstery tool, crevice tool | |
| AZ1002 | Espresso | Upholstery tool, crevice tool, miniature turbo brush | |
| AZ1002C | Espresso | Upholstery tool, crevice tool, miniature turbo brush | Canada-exclusive designation |
Let us know in the discussions if you come across another variant, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The Shark APEX Powered Lift-Away is a corded upright/handheld vacuum. It's similar in design to other Shark Vacuums like the Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV but has a slightly more maneuverable design, a larger dustbin, and a longer hose, though it's heavier and has more parts that need regular cleaning.
If you're looking for an alternative, take a look at our list of recommendations of the best upright vacuums, the best bagless vacuums, and the best vacuums for tile floors.
For the most part, the Shark Stratos Upright improves on the older Shark APEX Upright. The Stratos has a more effective self-cleaning brushroll, weighs fractionally less, and delivers slightly better performance on most surface types. While some users might view it as a gimmick, the Stratos also has an odor-neutralization system that masks unpleasant scents as you clean. On the other hand, the APEX has a higher-capacity dustbin, and the design of its grip makes it more comfortable to use in its handheld configuration.
The Shark APEX Upright is better than the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe. The APEX feels better built, has a bigger dustbin, uses a longer power cord and hose, is easier to maneuver, and performs better on bare floors. Meanwhile, the Navigator is a little lighter and performs better on high-pile carpets.
The Shark APEX Upright and the Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded are differently-designed vacuums intended for different use cases. The APEX is an upright/handheld vacuum with a much larger dirt compartment. It's also equipped with a HEPA filter to trap allergens as you clean and delivers better performance on low-pile carpet and bare floors. The Vertex is a corded stick/handheld vacuum that's considerably smaller and lighter, consequently making it easier to maneuver and store. It also has fewer parts that require regular maintenance, and it performs better on high-pile carpet.
The Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV is better overall than the Shark APEX Upright. The Rotator has fewer maintenance needs, a lighter construction, and better performance on bare floors and high-pile carpet. Unlike the APEX Upright, it also comes with a hard-bristle brush and an extension wand. However, the APEX Upright has superior performance on low-pile carpet and is slightly more maneuverable.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean/Origin is a bit better overall than the Shark APEX Upright. The Dyson performs much better on carpet and is easier to move around and maintain. The Shark performs better on bare floors, has a bigger dirt compartment, and since you can also use it as a handheld vacuum, is better suited to use on stairs or to vacuum inside cars.
The Shark APEX Upright and Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight are differently-designed vacuums that serve different purposes. The APEX is a corded upright vacuum with a virtually indefinite runtime and superior performance on bare floors and low-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Vertex Pro is a cordless stick/handheld vacuum that's much easier to maneuver in tight spaces and can be used to clean areas far from any electrical outlets. It also clears more debris on high-pile carpet.
The Dyson Ball Animal 3 is better for most uses than the Shark APEX Upright. The Dyson is easier to clean, has a longer overall range, comes with a wider assortment of tools, including a dedicated pet grooming attachment, and delivers superior performance on carpeted floors. That said, the Shark's 'Lift-Away' configuration does make it easier to clean hard-to-reach areas, as you can pick up and carry its motor unit independently of its floorhead. It's also noticeably quieter than the Dyson.
The Shark APEX Upright and Shark Rocket Pet Pro are differently-designed vacuums with different intended use cases. The APEX is a bulkier upright vacuum with a larger dustbin and a turbo brush included in-the-box. Meanwhile, the Rocket is a far more maneuverable cordless stick/handheld vacuum that has fewer parts needing to be cleaned regularly and offers superior performance on low and high-pile carpet.
The Shark APEX Upright is a better performing vacuum than the Shark Rocket Corded. The APEX Upright feels slightly better built, it has a bigger dirt compartment, and it comes with a turbo brush for helping you clean fabric-covered furniture. It cleans a mix of surfaces in a more efficient way than the Rocket. On the other hand, the Rocket Corded weighs less, it's easier to maintain, and it has fewer recurring costs. However, its cable is a little bit shorter than the APEX Upright.
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed is a good alternative to the Shark APEX Upright if you're looking for something cheaper. The Navigator has a much better performance on carpet, and it's lighter to hold in your hand, which makes it better suited for stairs or cleaning cars. However, the APEX has a better performance on bare floors, a longer range, and a better build quality.
The Shark APEX Upright is better overall than the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away vacuum. While the APEX performs similarly to the Rotator on carpet, it performs significantly better on bare floors. The APEX also has a bigger dirt compartment and a slightly longer hose length. On the other hand, the Rotator is easier to maintain.
The Shark APEX Upright and BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro are differently-designed vacuums for differing uses. The Shark is a conventional upright vacuum that isn't wet-compatible. It incurs lower recurring costs, has a larger dirt compartment, a longer range, and sucks up more debris on bare and carpeted floors. You can also use it in a handheld configuration to clean debris on furniture or other hard-to-reach places. Conversely, the BISSELL is a hybrid mop vacuum that is far more effective in cleaning stains thanks to its detergent and water-spraying features, though it lacks any floorhead height or suction power adjustment capability.
The Shark APEX Upright is a better upright vacuum for cleaning bare floors than the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus. If you have mostly hardwood, tile, or laminate floors in your home, the Shark can easily clean all pet hair and debris from these floors, whether large or small. It also has a slightly higher range and a larger dirt compartment, and its recurring costs are less overall. You can even turn it into a handheld vacuum, which is good for cleaning your car. If your home has mostly carpet, the BISSELL does a better job on low- and high-pile carpets. It's also slightly lighter.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is a better vacuum for cleaning pet hair than the Shark APEX Upright. The BISSELL has no problem picking up pet hair from any surface type, and it can be reconfigured into a smaller, lightweight handheld vacuum for cleaning harder-to-reach places. It's easier to maintain and has virtually no recurring costs. It also has an unlimited range, and its maneuverability is better too. That said, the Shark is better if you clean up a lot of non-pet hair debris, especially as it has a better overall performance on all surface types when compared to the BISSELL. Some users may even prefer its corded design as it means you don't have to worry about battery life. Unlike the BISSELL, it also comes with a turbo brush.
The Shark APEX Upright is somewhat better than the Eureka FloorRover. It's more effective than the Eureka on bare floors and low-pile carpet but doesn't perform as well on high-pile carpet. It also feels a little better built and is a bit more maneuverable. On the other hand, the Eureka is easier to maintain and comes with more tools and accessories.
The Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine is more effective on most surfaces than the Shark APEX Upright. It does a better job of clearing debris on carpeted floors, is easier to maintain, is much more solid-feeling, and has a longer power cord. However, you can use the Shark as a handheld vacuum, so it can clean harder-to-reach spots and stairs more easily than the Miele. It's also much more cost-effective to maintain and has slightly better performance on bare floors.
The Shark ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away is a better upright/handheld vacuum for most uses than the Shark APEX Upright. The cordless P50 is easier and cheaper to maintain, far more effective at sucking up debris on carpeted surfaces, and can be easily carried around. However, the corded APEX features a much longer runtime courtesy of its wired connection and performs better on bare floors.
The Shark APEX Upright and Shark APEX UpLight are differently-designed vacuums with different intended use cases. The UpLight is a more portable, maneuverable corded stick/handheld vacuum with fewer parts that need to be cleaned regularly, not to mention slightly better performance on carpeted floors. Meanwhile, the Upright has a larger dustbin that doesn't need to be emptied quite as often.
The Shark APEX Upright is a better upright vacuum overall than the Hoover WindTunnel 2 Whole House Rewind. The Shark has much better performance on bare floors and carpets and it has better maneuverability too. The Shark also has a bigger dirt compartment, but the Hoover is easier to maintain and it has a longer range.
Test Results
The Shark APEX AZ1002's build quality is okay. This vacuum is mostly made up of hard plastic except for the metal wand tubing. Most clear plastic components, like its dustbin, feel quite fragile, but the rest of the vacuum feels sturdy.
Out-the-box assembly is easy even though there are quite a few parts that need to be put together. However, it can be hard to realign the canister to the wand when switching back to the vacuum's upright configuration.
The Shark APEX AZ1002 has demanding maintenance needs. That said, it's still quite easy to access most of the parts that need regular cleaning.
- Dirt compartment: The dirt compartment can be removed by pressing a release button on its handle and pulled upwards. You should empty it once it reaches the max fill line. You can also lift the top cover to clean the lint screen when needed.
- Zero-M Brushroll: The Zero-M brushroll can be accessed by removing the brushroll cover. However, this brushroll isn't removable. While it's designed to be self-cleaning, you should still remove any tangled hair wraps with scissors or by hand.
- Soft Roller: You can access the soft roller by removing the brushroll cover and then pulling the part free of its housing. It should be washed under cold water if you notice an accumulation of debris.
- Pre-motor filters: Both pre-motor filters can be quickly accessed and taken out after you remove the dirt compartment. You should wash them with water every three months.
- Post-motor HEPA filter: The HEPA filter can be found behind a door located under the dirt compartment. You should wash this part under cold water once a year.
All parts that you can wash under water should be left to dry completely before reinstalling them in the vacuum.
This vacuum incurs very low recurring costs.
- Pre-motor filters: The pre-motor filters shouldn't need replacing if you clean it according to manufacturer recommendation. That said, if you do replace them, they're sold as a single kit on Shark's website.
- Post-motor HEPA filter: The HEPA filter also shouldn't need replacing if you clean it regularly. Still, you can purchase replacements on the manufacturer's website.
This vacuum is decent to store. While it's tall, it still has a fairly small footprint. Unfortunately, the included turbo brush doesn't fit into any of the tool storage spots on the vacuum.
The Shark APEX's dirt compartment is good. It's larger than the Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV's dustbin and is made of clear, hard plastic, so you can gauge how full it is with a single glance.
- Shark APEX AZ1002 vacuum body
- Vacuum head
- Wand
- Hose
- Turbo brush
- Crevice tool
- Upholstery tool
- User guide
This vacuum has an okay range. While the cord length should easily be enough to vacuum a room without having to change plugs, the hose is fairly short, making it hard to clean hard-to-reach areas in its semi-handheld alternative configuration. Consider the Dyson Ball Animal 3 if you're looking for an upright with a longer overall range.
The Shark APEX DuoClean has okay portability. It's slightly heavier than other comparable uprights, like the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away. Thankfully, it has a carrying handle that makes transporting this vacuum from room to room easier.
This vacuum has a couple of quality-of-life features. Its floorhead pivots for better overall maneuverability and has an integrated headlight to help you see what you're cleaning in shadowed areas. There are also dedicated surface-type settings for bare floors, low-pile carpet, and high-pile carpet, which is great if you're having trouble pushing the vacuum around on some carpets.
This vacuum comes with several tools and brushes. It has a miniature turbo brush to clean fabric surfaces and dedicated upholstery and crevice tools. However, unlike the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, it doesn't come with a soft-bristle dusting brush to help clean delicate surfaces.
The Shark APEX can be configured in two alternate ways from its default upright mode by detaching its canister from its upright chassis. Its 'Powered Lift-Away Mode' allows you to clean under tables and chairs with its wand and powered floorhead. When using the 'Above-Floor Mode', you can clean on top of counters and other furniture.
This vacuum's performance on hard floors is excellent. Its DuoClean floohead is effective in gathering up fine debris like sand and larger debris like cereal, even against walls and in corners. Unfortunately, a small amount of debris can get stuck in its floorhead and fall back out once you shut the vacuum off, which you'll need to clean up afterwards.
This vacuum's performance on high-pile carpets is bad. The APEX does a good job of clearing away larger materials like cereal and rice, but its floorhead doesn't provide enough agitation to lift up finer debris like sand that's been pressed into carpet fibers.
This vacuum performs decently on low-pile carpets. It's capable of clearing away large- and medium-sized debris pretty effectively, but you'll probably need to make an extra pass or two to fully clear away finer debris like sand on this surface type.
This vacuum's pet hair pickup performance on low-pile carpets isn't bad. It'll clear away lightweight strands that haven't been pressed into carpet fibers very deeply, but you'll need to spend quite a bit of extra time cleaning to deal with any strands that are embedded in carpet fibers.
This vacuum's real-world suction performance is satisfactory. It produces enough power to lift away debris in deeper cracks and crevices, though it won't do so quite as effortlessly as a higher-end model like the Miele Complete C3 or the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium.
This vacuum has fantastic airflow performance, comparable to premium bagless uprights like the Dyson Ball Animal 3. It won't have any trouble lifting away heavy debris.
This vacuum isn't too noisy. You're likely to have a bit of trouble hearing what people nearby are saying if you're vacuuming in the same room, but it won't be too much of a disturbance if you're cleaning in a partially enclosed room or on another floor.
The Shark APEX AZ1002 has decent maneuverability. Its rotating head navigates well around objects like coffee tables and walls, but its weight might cause fatigue during extended cleaning sessions. Using it in its 'Powered Lift-Away' configuration allows you to clean hard-to-reach, low places like beneath the couch. If you've got light rugs at home, this vacuum tends to suck up their tassels and move them around, even when using the area rug setting, since there isn't a brushroll on/off switch.
While we tested maneuverability in all configuration styles, your experience may vary depending on how you use this vacuum.
This vacuum does a fantastic job of cleaning pet hair from furniture with its upholstery brush tool. The attachment features two lint strips ahead and behind the inlet, which help gather up any small amounts of hair that don't make their way into the inlet. The tool itself is also rather compact, and maneuvering it on fabric surfaces isn't hard at all.
This vacuum does a good job of sealing in fine particles, which won't escape from its exhaust thanks to its on-board HEPA filter.
The Shark APEX Upright does an amazing job of cleaning crevices in its 'Hard Floor' setting. Its secondary soft roller helps dig into shallow and medium-depth cracks. Still, use the crevice tool to clear out really deep cracks.
This vacuum delivers poor stain-clearing performance. Unlike the BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro, it lacks any sort of mopping capability that would allow it to soak and lift away stains.
