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.
- Excellent bare floor performance.
- Easily clears pet hair.
- Good-sized dirt compartment.
- 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.
- Does a good job cleaning large debris.
- Good-sized dirt compartment.
- Demanding maintenance needs.
- 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.
- Does a good job cleaning large debris.
- Good-sized dirt compartment.
- Demanding maintenance needs.
- 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.
- Easily clears pet hair.
- On-board HEPA filter.
- No pet grooming tool.
- 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.
- More portable alternative configuration.
- Comes with a couple of tools and brushes.
- 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.
- More portable alternative configuration.
- Comes with a couple of tools and brushes.
- 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.
- Excellent bare floor performance.
- Can't deal with liquid spills.
- Not meant for workshop debris.
Changelog
- 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.
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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.
Popular Vacuum Comparisons
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.
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.
For the most part, the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 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 Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra 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 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.
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