The Shark Performance Plus Lift-Away UV900 is a corded bagless upright vacuum. It features a detachable canister unit, has an odor-neutralizing cartridge, and utilizes the DuoClean Powerfins Hairpro floorhead, which is equipped with built-in vanes designed to trap pet hair before it can jam the mechanism. It has a full complement of tools, including a soft-bristle brush, a small turbo brush, a straight-suction upholstery tool with a clip-on hard-bristle brush, and a crevice tool with a low-profile soft-bristle brush.
Our Verdict
The Shark Performance Plus is an excellent option for household cleaning. Its corded design means runtime isn't a concern for cleaning large areas. Pickup performance on bare floors and pet hair is very good, with the vacuum delivering sufficient suction for picking up nearly all debris. This vacuum feels decently well-built for the job, and its HEPA filter keeps dust out of the air and prevents it from settling back onto your floors. However, carpet pickup is only passable since the brushroll can't get deep down into carpet fibers to pull out embedded fine material. And like most bagless vacuums, emptying it will create a cloud of dust, so it's best to do this outdoors if possible.
Corded design is ideal for whole house cleaning.
Impressive overall debris pickup performance on hard surfaces.
- Easily handles pet hair.
Onboard HEPA filter captures nearly all dust particles in operation.
Brushroll can't lift fine material embedded in carpets.
Emptying releases a cloud of dust.
The Shark Performance Plus is a great choice for a small apartment. Its HEPA filter keeps dust out of the air, preventing poor air quality during operation and dust settling all over your room. Its bare floor pickup is very good, with the floorhead high enough to pull in almost all sizes of debris, and enough suction to draw up fine material from all but the deepest cracks. It tucks away neatly for compact storage, with tool storage on the canister. However, while carpet pickup is acceptable, the brushroll has trouble lifting embedded fine debris in carpet and leaves it behind. Additionally, you'll create a cloud of dust when emptying this vacuum, so be sure to do so well away from any living areas.
Impressive overall debris pickup performance on hard surfaces.
- Easily handles pet hair.
Onboard HEPA filter captures nearly all dust particles in operation.
Easy to store in small spaces.
Brushroll can't lift fine material embedded in carpets.
Emptying releases a cloud of dust.
The Shark Performance Plus is a decent option for cleaning stairs. Its power cord is long enough to clean taller staircases, though be careful to avoid tripping over it. The HEPA filter works perfectly, preventing dust from blowing into the staircase and redepositing onto the stair treads as you vacuum. The bare stair pickup is very effective, with sufficient suction to pull in all materials, and it's even better at picking up pet hair and debris from cracks and crevices. Carpet pickup is generally acceptable, although the suction holds it back from lifting deeply embedded debris. However, you will find this a heavy vacuum, even though the 'Lift-Away' feature helps somewhat on staircases, allowing you to detach the power unit and the dirt compartment and carry them around using a handle.
Impressive overall debris pickup performance on hard surfaces.
- Fairly long power cord.
- Easily handles pet hair.
Onboard HEPA filter captures nearly all dust particles in operation.
Brushroll can't lift fine material embedded in carpets.
Heavy, even with the chassis and floorhead detached.
The Shark Performance Plus is satisfactory for cleaning your car. Its power cord is fairly long, though you'll probably need to use an extension cord if you can't park within range of a power outlet. Even though it's a bit heavy, the 'Lift-Away' feature comes in handy for cleaning cars, as it allows you to detach and carry the canister, leaving the floorhead behind. It comes with a helpful assortment of attachments, including a soft-bristle dusting brush for cleaning easily scratched surfaces, an upholstery tool for cleaning seats and carpets, a clip-on hard-bristle brush for dislodging embedded dirt, and a miniature turbo brush, which works great on pet hair. The hose for using these tools is short, but the suction is adequate to clean automotive carpets. It's relatively easy to clean and maintain, and it's no problem putting it away neatly in a compact space.
- Fairly long power cord.
- Varied attachment set.
- Easily handles pet hair.
Easily handles medium and large debris.
Heavy, even with the chassis and floorhead detached.
Short hose.
The Shark Performance Plus is very good for bare floors. The floorhead is high enough to pull in almost all fine, medium, and large material without plowing it around. It does a good job of clearing fine debris out of cracks and crevices in flooring, although it could benefit from higher suction to pull material out of the very deepest cracks.
Impressive overall debris pickup performance on hard surfaces.
- Easily handles pet hair.
Leaves some fine material in very deep cracks.
The Shark Performance Plus delivers acceptable carpet pickup performance. On all carpets, the brushroll and floorhead can easily handle medium and large debris. Unfortunately, this vacuum misses finer material embedded in both low-pile and high-pile carpets because the brushroll can't reach material that far out of its path. Pickup isn't great on edges and corners either. Additionally, some debris gets caught in the floorhead and is deposited back onto the carpet when you turn the vacuum off and lift the floorhead.
Easily handles medium and large debris.
Brushroll can't lift fine material embedded in carpets.
Not great at edge and corner cleaning on carpets.
Debris gets caught in the floorhead and deposited back onto the floor later.
The Shark Performance Plus offers great pet hair pickup performance. The brushroll lifts most pet hair on carpet, except for a few deeply embedded hairs. On upholstered furniture, both the turbo brush and the straight suction upholstery tool are highly effective in removing pet hair, except for the occasional short strand.
- Easily handles pet hair.
Turbo brush is very effective on pet hair on upholstered furniture.
Leaves a few pet hair strands behind.
The Shark Performance Plus contributes to good air quality. Its HEPA filter operates perfectly, capturing and containing nearly every particle of dust as you vacuum. This won't impact air quality or allow dust to settle throughout your room. Unfortunately, emptying this bagless vacuum creates a cloud of dust, which will impact air quality and deposit dust all around you. If possible, you should empty this outdoors or at least well away from your living space.
Onboard HEPA filter captures nearly all dust particles in operation.
Emptying releases a cloud of dust.
Performance Usages
Changelog
-
Updated Jan 16, 2026:
We added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 1.4, as well as the new verdicts.
- Updated Jan 16, 2026: We've updated this review to the latest test bench, adding Runtime, Mobility, Air Quality, and Mopping Capabilities sections, as well as a Swappable Battery test. See the Vacuum Test Bench 1.4 changelog.
-
Updated Dec 05, 2024:
We've added text for our performance tests and adjusted our verdicts at the start of the review accordingly.
- Updated May 24, 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.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Shark UV900 is available in only one color: Navy. You can see the label for our test unit.
It's also worth noting that the vacuum is only available as new from Costco and Walmart retailers. Let us know in the comments if you come across another variant of this vacuum.
Popular Vacuum Comparisons
The Shark Performance Plus is positioned in the middle of Shark's upright lineup, just below the Shark Stratos Lift-Away. It delivers excellent overall performance at a lower price point than many other traditional uprights. There are a few compromises at this price point compared to the Stratos: it has a smaller dustbin and a less powerful suction motor, and unlike the Stratos, you can't use its powerhead when you use the vacuum in its 'Lift-Away' configuration. Compared to another corded upright, the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, the Shark has better bare floor pickup but is less effective on carpets, as the floorhead isn't height-adjustable. While Dyson doesn't offer many corded upright vacuums, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 outperforms the Shark in every respect, but it falls into a higher price class.
If you're looking for alternatives, consider our recommendations for the best upright vacuums, the best bagless vacuum cleaners, and the best multi-surface vacuums.
The Shark Performance Plus Lift-Away UV900 is effectively an upgraded version of the Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV. The Performance Plus has a newer iteration of Shark's DuoClean floorhead that's a little more effective in preventing hair wraps as well as collecting debris on carpets, along with an odor-neutralizing cartridge in its floorhead. However, the older Rotator ADV does have a higher-capacity dustbin that won't need to be emptied as often.
The Shark Performance Plus Lift-Away UV900 is essentially a cheaper and more lightweight version of the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002, though there are a few differences under the skin. The Stratos features a bigger dustbin and a more powerful motor, though ultimately, the overall debris pickup performance between the two is pretty similar. The biggest difference between the two lies in the design of their alternative 'Lift-Away' configuration, though. The Stratos features a power socket for its main floorhead at the base of its wand, while the Performance Plus has its socket at the base of its canister unit. This means that only the Stratos allows you to use its powerhead when using the vacuum in this alternative 'Lift-Away' configuration.
The Shark Performance Plus Lift-Away UV900 is better than the Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean/Origin. The Shark feels sturdier in your hand, with a more robust chassis that doesn't squeak or flex nearly as much while in use. It also weighs a little less and makes less noise while operating. The Shark's 'Lift-Away' alternative configuration makes it a lot easier to clean tight spots as well. There's very little to differentiate the two vacuums in terms of performance, with both models easily clearing away debris on a variety of surfaces, but the Dyson generates a tighter seal with carpets to the point where it can rip away some fibers. That being said, the Dyson does have a higher-capacity dustbin and a longer power cord.
The Shark Performance Plus Lift-Away UV900 is a little better than the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pet ZD201, though the latter is a good option if you don't want to spend as much. The Performance Plus has more tools, a more powerful motor, and a slightly more complex floorhead with an integrated headlight.
Test Results
The Shark Performance Plus Lift-Away is great at clearing debris on hard surfaces. It easily deals with debris of all sizes in a single pass. The two minor issues include pushing debris into walls and corners due to the floorhead's height, and trapping a small amount of debris in the back of the floorhead, resulting in a minor mess when you lift.
The Shark Performance Plus is not bad at clearing debris from high-pile carpet. Most medium- and large-sized debris is no problem, although its brushroll can't reach deep within the carpet fibers to clear away finer debris, such as sand. Similarly, some larger debris tends to get caught in the back of the floorhead, causing a mess when you lift it.
The Shark Performance Plus offers unremarkable performance on low-pile carpet. It can clear most medium- and large-sized debris, but is ineffective for small debris, such as sand, caught deep within the carpet fibers. Corners also prove challenging, as debris tends to accumulate there after using the vacuum.
The Shark Performance Plus is great at picking up pet hair from carpet. Its floorhead can lift away most hair in a single pass, though its brushroll can't agitate the carpet enough to remove all hair from deep within the fibers. You'll need to do a couple of extra passes to get the remainder.
This vacuum does an excellent job of cleaning pet hair from furniture with its turbo brush tool. The attachment is very effective in lifting away hair, though some short strands can be left behind. The straight suction upholstery tool is similarly effective for this purpose. The vacuum's 'Lift-Away' design makes it easy to carry the canister unit close to the couch; however, it's worth noting that the vacuum hose isn't particularly long.
The Shark UV900 does a good job of cleaning crevices. Its secondary soft roller helps dig into shallow and medium-depth cracks, removing any lightweight debris. However, this is one of the few areas in which its suction motor shows its weakness compared to the more powerful unit in the Shark Stratos Upright, as it doesn't do as well as its pricier stablemate when cleaning deeper cracks.
The Shark Performance Plus feels decently well-built. The vacuum is primarily made from thick ABS plastic, although it features a metal wand with plastic fittings. Its dustbin and floorhead top plate are also made of clear plastic. Its floorhead also has twin plastic wheels with rubber treads. The dustbin is one of the few obvious weak points, being made of thinner plastic that could easily crack. The dustbin release door has flimsy, cheap hinges, too.
Thankfully, the overall assembly is quite simple, with all the vacuum's major component parts clicking together smoothly. Nothing jiggles or wobbles too much when attached. The 'Lift Away' system also works quite well, allowing you to detach the canister from the floorhead with the press of a single lever.
- Vacuum body
- Floorhead with primary brushroll
- Soft roller
- Wand
- Wand handle
- Vacuum hose
- Odor Neutralizer cartridge
- Odor Neutralizer cartridge dial
- Dirt compartment
- Upholstery tool with Detachable Hard Bristle Attachment (Pet Multi-Tool)
- Turbo Brush (HairPro™ Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush)
- Soft Bristle Brush (Anti-Allergen Dust Brush)
- Foam pre-motor filter
- Felt pre-motor filter
- Post-motor HEPA filter
- Post-motor HEPA filter cover
- User Guide
The Shark UV900 is fairly easy to store. It's marginally more compact than the Shark Stratos Upright, so it won't be too much of a hassle to fit in most closets. It features two tool storage pegs on either side of the canister unit. Unfortunately, like its pricier stablemate, you'll have to roll up the power cord manually. Since this cord is stored on the side of the vacuum, it can get in the way of wider attachments, such as the miniature turbo brush.
This vacuum has a decently sized dirt compartment. It's made of clear plastic and features a clearly labeled maximum fill line, so you'll always have a good idea of when to empty it. However, it's also about 30% smaller than that of the Shark Stratos Upright. Its measured capacity of 0.50L also falls well short of the advertised capacity of 1.1 qts (1.044L).
Since this is a corded vacuum, runtime isn't a concern.
This is a corded vacuum, not a battery-powered one.
The Shark UV900 is relatively easy to maintain, although a few parts require regular servicing.
- Dirt compartment: The dirt compartment can be removed by pulling up a release latch at the base of its handle and then lifting it upwards. From there, you can open the bottom door to drop any accumulated debris into the trash. The upper section of the dustbin features a lint screen to catch longer strands of hair or bulkier debris. You can access it by opening the second door at the top of the dustbin after it has been detached from the vacuum. The manufacturer recommends cleaning the lint screen by gently brushing it out as needed.
- Primary brushroll: The primary brushroll isn't removable, and you can only gain good access to it by disassembling the lower part of the floorhead, which requires the removal of 12 screws, making this process less practical. That said, the floorhead is advertised as self-cleaning, with integrated fins that discourage hair from wrapping around. This system is reasonably effective in real-world use, but a small amount of hair can still become tangled around the main brushroll, and you'll need to remove any remaining hair by hand or cut it away with scissors. The bottom of the floorhead features a separate door to access the hose leading up to the dustbin. You can simply press the twin release latches inward to open the door and clear any blockages.
- Soft Roller: The soft roller can be removed by pressing the red access button on the side of the vacuum head and then pulling it free. It should be washed under cold water if you notice an accumulation of debris.
- Pre-motor filters: The foam and felt pre-motor filters are located under the dustbin, and you can pull them out after you've detached the dustbin. You should clean them under cold water once a month.
- Post-motor HEPA filter: The HEPA filter is located at the front of the motor section. You can access it by removing the filter cover and then simply pulling it from its housing. You should wash this part under cold water once a year.
You must air-dry any part that's washed with water for at least 24 hours before using it again.
This vacuum incurs low recurring costs.
- Pre-motor filters: There's no replacement interval specified for the pre-motor foam and felt filters, with the manufacturer recommending that they be cleaned according to their instructions. Still, if you do need replacements, you can buy them as a set.
- Post-motor HEPA filter: No replacement interval is specified for the HEPA filter, with the sole recommendation being to clean it annually. Regardless, you can find a replacement.
- Odor Neutralizer Cartridge: Replace the odor-neutralizing cartridge every six months to maintain optimal performance. A replacement can be purchased.
The Shark UV900 features several quality-of-life enhancements. It has two surface settings. There's "I Hard Floor", in which the brushroll spins slowly to prevent scattering debris, and "II Carpet", which increases the brushroll's rotation speed to enhance surface agitation on rugs and carpets. Unfortunately, neither of these settings adjusts the brushroll height, so the vacuum can still get bogged down in thick carpeting. Thankfully, there's a suction release slider on its handle that you can use to make the vacuum easier to push and pull around on carpets and rugs.
There's also a headlight inside the floorhead that both illuminates darker areas and serves to indicate vacuum status; a solid white light indicates that everything is working well, a solid red light indicates that the brushroll is stuck, a flashing red light indicates that the motorized floor nozzle is overheating, and a flashing white light indicates that the operating environment is too hot or too cold for the vacuum to function properly.
The odor-neutralizing cartridge, mounted inside the floorhead, can mask unpleasant odors with an air freshener-like scent, the intensity of which can be adjusted by turning the cartridge in its housing. It can become a little overwhelming if you use the vacuum multiple times a day with the dial set to its highest intensity.
This vacuum isn't too hard to carry around. At just over 14 lbs, it's slightly lighter than the Shark Stratos Upright, making it easier to carry around; however, it's still noticeably heavier than conventional stick models. Thankfully, most of its weight is concentrated low to the ground, so it isn't too fatiguing to hold when using it as an upright.
Maneuverability is okay. You can easily switch between the vacuum's upright and semi-handheld configurations or attach and detach different tools, which is facilitated by the two onboard storage pegs. Its swiveling head makes it easy to maneuver around furniture. That said, the bulky, low-mounted canister unit can get in the way when cleaning under low-lying tables and chairs, which makes it a nuisance to use in tight spaces. The lack of a dedicated brushroll-off switch and brushroll height adjustment means it can also get stuck on really thick carpeting.
The Shark UV900 has an overall good range. Its power cord is quite long, allowing you to clean large spaces without needing to swap outlets, though its hose is a little on the short side.
This vacuum's filtering performance during operation is outstanding. The HEPA filter captures and contains virtually all dust particles. This vacuum will not impact air quality during operation or cause dust to settle over your living area.
As with almost all bagless vacuums, the Shark Performance Plus Lift-Away UV900 negatively impacts air quality when you empty it. You won't be able to contain all the dust, even if you empty it deep into a garbage container. We recommend emptying this outdoors if you can.
The Shark UV900's real-world suction performance is adequate. While it doesn't deliver the same level of peak suction power from its hose as the Shark Stratos Upright due to its less powerful motor, their similar floorhead designs ultimately equalize performance in this regard when measured from the floorhead. As a result, it won't have much trouble lifting away debris from carpets or cracks and crevices.
This vacuum has great airflow performance and isn't far off from premium bagless uprights. It won't have any trouble lifting away heavy debris, even if it isn't quite as powerful as the Shark Stratos Upright.
This vacuum is pretty quiet, especially for a full-size upright. You won't have too much trouble hearing what people nearby are saying, even when it's running in its more powerful suction mode.
