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Shark Pet/Rocket Pro Cordless [IX141, UZ155, WZ240] Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed May 25, 2023 at 11:08 am
Latest change: Writing modified Nov 17, 2023 at 12:40 pm
Shark Pet/Rocket Pro Cordless [IX141, UZ155, WZ240] Picture
7.6
Bare Floor
7.9
Low-Pile Carpet
8.0
High-Pile Carpet
7.1
Pets
8.0
Stairs
7.1
Cars
4.7
Workshop

The Shark Pet/Rocket Pro Cordless is a basic cordless stick vacuum. It sits below newer, pricier, and more feature-packed Shark stick vacuums like the Shark Cordless Pet Plus, Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless, and Shark Stratos Cordless. It's missing many features that have become commonplace on models, like those with no self-cleaning floorhead, folding wand, or bundled HEPA filter.

It’s worth noting that this vacuum has many variants, which differ in included attachments, accessories, colorways, and can even exhibit slight differences in design. You can look at the Differences Between Variants section of the review for further information.

Our Verdict

7.6 Bare Floor

The Shark Rocket Pro is decent for cleaning bare floors. It's not especially powerful but still manages to clear away a wide variety of debris types on hard, flat surfaces like hardwood or vinyl, though it can struggle with debris wedged in cracks and crevices. It has a relatively spacious dustbin for a stick vacuum, so you won't be emptying it too regularly.

Pros
  • Good debris pickup on bare floors.
  • High-capacity dustbin.
  • Decent maneuverability.
Cons
  • Debris can get stuck at floorhead.
  • Cheap build quality.
7.9 Low-Pile Carpet

The Shark Rocket Pro is very good on low-pile carpet. It can handle a wide variety of messes on this surface type, though it's worth noting that fine and large debris can get caught at the lint strip that runs the width of the floorhead rather than being sucked into its dustbin. Unfortunately, its floorhead is rather tangle-prone, and since its roller isn't designed for easy removal, it can be a hassle to clean.

Pros
  • Great performance on carpet.
  • High-capacity dustbin.
  • Decent maneuverability.
Cons
  • Debris can get stuck at floorhead.
  • No floorhead height adjustment.
  • Cheap build quality.
8.0 High-Pile Carpet

The Shark Rocket Pro is impressively effective on high-pile carpet. It can lift away solid debris and pet hair from this surface type, though some material can get stuck near its floorhead rather than being sucked into its dustbin. While it does have different surface settings for bare floors and high-pile carpet, these settings only change the speed of its brushroll, not its height, so it's still liable to get caught up in shaggier carpeting.

Pros
  • Great performance on carpet.
  • High-capacity dustbin.
  • Decent maneuverability.
Cons
  • Debris can get stuck at floorhead.
  • No floorhead height adjustment.
  • Cheap build quality.
7.1 Pets

The Shark Rocket Pro is a decent choice for pets. It's actually very good when clearing away pet hair on various surfaces. Still, its brushroll lacks the self-cleaning features found on newer and pricier Shark models, so pet hair can easily wrap around the roller. Worse, the roller isn't designed for removal, so cleaning it can be a hassle. Model variants not equipped with a HEPA filter also do a terrible job of sealing in allergens. Thankfully, its simple upholstery tool is very effective when cleaning shed hair on fabric furniture. It's also very quiet, which is great if your pet is sensitive to loud noises.

Pros
  • Upholstery tool is highly effective.
  • Can easily clear away pet hair.
  • Quiet operation.
Cons
  • Tangle-prone brushroll.
  • Does a terrible job of sealing in allergens.
  • Cheap build quality.
8.0 Stairs

The Shark Rocket Pro is a great choice for cleaning stairs. While it's a little heavy for a cordless stick vacuum, it's still pretty lightweight, so you can easily pick it up and carry it up and down long staircases. It delivers good overall performance on a variety of surface types too. You can easily reconfigure it into a handheld vacuum to clean tight spots.

Pros
  • Great performance on carpet.
  • Good debris pickup on bare floors.
  • Upholstery tool is highly effective.
Cons
  • Cheap build quality.
7.1 Cars

The Shark Rocket Pro is a decent choice for cleaning your car. Its cordless design ensures that you don't need to stay close to a power outlet to reach every inch of your car's interior, and it comes with a crevice tool and combination hard bristle brush/upholstery nozzle to deal with messes in tight corners or on seats. Unfortunately, its somewhat bottom-mounted dirt compartment can sometimes get in the way when cleaning hard-to-reach areas when using it as a handheld. Its max battery life of about 40 minutes is far from spectacular, and you can't easily swap in a new pack if you run out of charge.

Pros
  • Upholstery tool is highly effective.
Cons
  • Cheap build quality.
4.7 Workshop

The Shark Rocket Pro isn't designed for workshop use. It can handle normal household debris on bare floors just fine, but it isn't powerful enough to deal with heavy-duty debris, and using it to clean up things like wood or metal shavings is likely to damage its internals. It can't deal with liquid spills, either.

Pros
  • Good debris pickup on bare floors.
Cons
  • Cheap build quality.
  • Not rated to clear liquid spills.
  • 7.6 Bare Floor
  • 7.9 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 8.0 High-Pile Carpet
  • 7.1 Pets
  • 8.0 Stairs
  • 7.1 Cars
  • 4.7 Workshop
  1. Updated Nov 17, 2023: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 1.2.
  2. Updated Nov 07, 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..
  3. Updated May 25, 2023: Review published.
  4. Updated May 23, 2023: Early access published.
  5. Updated May 15, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
  6. Updated May 11, 2023: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  7. Updated Apr 18, 2023: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The multiple variants of this vacuum differ only in terms of regional availability, color, and floorhead design. We tested the IX141 variant, and you can see its label here.

Model Code Included Tools Self-Cleaning Floorhead Color Notes
IX141 Crevice tool, Upholstery nozzle, Dusting brush No Blue  
IX140/IX140C Crevice tool, Dusting brush No Orange IX140C is the Canadian market designation
IX144AMZ Crevice tool, Dusting brush No Mojito green  
IZ142 Crevice tool, Dusting brush Yes Orange  
IZ140/IZ140C Crevice tool, Upholstery nozzle, Dusting brush Yes Green IZ140C is the Canadian market designation

Let us know in the discussions if you encounter another variant of this vacuum we missed.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The Shark Rocket Pro is a basic cordless stick vacuum. It lacks many features found on newer, pricier models, with no automatic power adjustment, no self-cleaning floorhead, a limited battery life, and no HEPA filtration. It still delivers strong overall debris-pickup performance on various surfaces and is decently maneuverable.

If you're looking for an alternative, check out our list of recommendations for the best cordless stick vacuums, the best cordless vacuums, and the best cordless vacuums for pet hair.

Dyson V8

The Dyson V8 is better than the Shark Pet/Rocket Pro Cordless. The Dyson is easier to maintain, incurs virtually zero recurring costs, weighs less, is more maneuverable, has a wider array of attachments, and has a more powerful suction motor. Conversely, the Shark has a bigger dustbin and offers a similar 40-minute battery life while recharging in less time.

Dyson V7

The Dyson V7 and Shark Pet/Rocket Pro Cordless each have their advantages. The Dyson is easier to maintain thanks to its removable brushroll, weighs noticeably less, is easier to maneuver, and does a better job of filtering out allergens thanks to its HEPA filter. Meanwhile, the Shark does better cleaning carpeted floors, has a larger dustbin, and has a marginally longer battery life.

Shark Rocket Pet Pro

The Shark Rocket Pet Pro is better than the Shark Pet/Rocket Pro Cordless, though both vacuums are similar. The Rocket Pet Pro has all of the same features as the latter but with a self-cleaning brushroll, an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, and an easily removable and replaceable battery.

Shark Cordless Pet Plus [IZ361H, IZ362H, IZ363HT, UZ365H]

The Shark Cordless Pet Plus is better than the Shark Pet/Rocket Pro Cordless. The Pet Plus is effectively an upgraded version of the Rocket Pro, with a higher-capacity, easily removable battery pack, a HEPA filter, and a self-cleaning brushroll, though both vacuums are otherwise identical.

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
6.5
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Stick/Handheld

The build quality is alright. It feels similar to similarly-designed Shark stick vacuums like the Shark Cordless Pet Plus. It’s made mostly from plastic but features an aluminum wand. It feels relatively sturdy for the most part, though its clear plastic dirt compartment is a tad fragile. Thankfully, it's very easy to take apart and reassemble, with most components attaching via easy-clip mechanisms and featuring visible latch buttons to take them apart.

6.5
Design
User Maintenance

This vacuum has a few components that need regular cleaning.

  • Dirt compartment/Lint screen: The dirt compartment can be easily removed by pressing its release button on the spine of the main body of the vacuum. From there, you can lever it out of its socket. If you don’t want to remove the dustbin entirely and just want to empty it, you can press down on the trashbin lever to open up its bottom door—just make sure to do so when you’re hovering over the trash, as any accumulated debris spills out fast. The lint screen inside the dustbin isn’t removable and tends to collect a lot of hair, which is something to watch out for if you have a long-haired pet that sheds heavily.
  • Brushroll: Unlike most other new Shark vacuums, this model doesn’t use the brand’s self-cleaning PowerFins brushroll design and instead uses a far more basic bristled roller. As such, pet hair tends to get wrapped around it easily and tightly. Worse yet, it shares a common downside with other Shark vacuums in that this component isn’t removable, so you’ll need to work within the constraints of the floorhead itself. Pulling out any long strands of hair that may have gotten wrapped around the roller can take quite a bit of time, so you find it easier to clear out any tangled hair with scissors.
  • Pre-motor filter: The foam and felt pre-motor filters are stacked on top of one another in a slot at the top of the dustbin. You should regularly rinse both to maintain suction power and wash them with cold water and soap once a month.
  • Post-motor filter: The post-motor filter is located inside the main body of the vacuum, just ahead of the grip, so you’ll need to remove the dustbin to access it. You should wash this part once a year with cold water.
  • Any part rinsed under water should dry completely before being reinstalled in the vacuum.

    8.5
    Design
    Recurring Cost
    Bag Part Number No bag
    Filter Part Number 617FJ140/616FJ140
    HEPA Filter Part Number No HEPA Filter

    Recurring costs are very low.

    • Pre-motor filters: The foam and felt pre-motor filters won't need replacing if they're well-maintained, but you can buy them as a single set from Shark's website if necessary.
    • Post-motor filter: The post-motor filter isn't listed as a replaceable wear item either, but you can still buy a replacement from Shark's website if you need to.

    You can also buy a replacement lithium-ion fixed battery from Shark’s website.

    6.5
    Design
    Storing
    Height
    33.27" (84.5 cm)
    Width
    10.24" (26.0 cm)
    Depth
    9.06" (23.0 cm)
    Cord Storing
    Not Needed
    On-Board Tool Storage
    No
    Vacuum Rack/Station
    No

    It isn't a difficult vacuum to stow away when not in use. Like Shark's other stick vacuums, you can detach the main body/dustbin assembly from the wand and stow it onto a slot just above its floorhead to minimize its vertical footprint. Unfortunately, there's no rack or onboard storage for the included attachments, so you'll have to find another place to put them.

    7.6
    Design
    Dirt Compartment
    Bagless
    Yes
    Volume
    0.20 gal (0.75 L)
    Full Indicator
    Yes
    Bag Included
    No Bag Needed

    The Shark Rocket Pro has a relatively large dirt compartment for a stick vacuum. It's mounted parallel to the wand, allowing for a larger overall capacity than alternatives with vertically-oriented dustbins like the Dyson V8.

    Design
    In The Box

    • Vacuum motor unit/body
    • Vacuum head
    • Vacuum wand
    • Brushroll cover
    • Dirt compartment
    • Felt pre-motor filter (with pink tab)
    • Foam pre-motor filter
    • Post-motor filter
    • Recharge cable
    • Crevice tool
    • Upholstery tool (not included with IX140, IX144AMZ , and IZ142 variants)
    • Dusting brush
    • User guide

    10
    Design
    Range
    Cordless
    Yes
    Cord Length
    N/A
    Hose Length
    N/A
    Minimum Wand Length
    1.35 ft (0.41 m)
    Maximum Wand Length
    3.35 ft (1.02 m)
    Total Range
    N/A

    This is a cordless vacuum, so the range is limited only by the remaining battery life.

    7.8
    Design
    Portability
    Total Weight
    7.01 lbs (3.18 kg)
    Weight In Hand
    4.08 lbs (1.85 kg)
    Carrying handle
    Yes

    This vacuum is fairly portable. At a smidge over seven pounds, it's noticeably heavier than contemporaries like the Samsung Jet 60 but much lighter than other Shark stick vacuums like the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight, which features a more complex dual-roller floorhead as well as a heavier folding wand.

    7.2
    Design
    Battery
    Minimum Battery Life
    14 min
    Maximum Battery Life
    38 min
    Recharge Time
    157 min
    Recharge Dock
    No
    Battery Life Indicator
    Yes
    Removable Batteries
    Yes

    In its 'Barefloor' surface setting with no attachments, you can expect a nearly 40-minute runtime, less than newer Shark vacuums with higher-capacity 2450 mAh battery packs. In its most-power-hungry configuration, with the 'MAX power trigger depressed, the floorhead attached and set to its faster-spinning 'Carpet' setting, battery life drops to just under 15 minutes, which doesn't give you a lot of time to deal with stubborn messes. You can keep tabs on the remaining runtime via the trio of LED indicator lights on the battery, which turn off one by one as the charge level decreases.

    Unlike the pricier Shark Cordless Pet Plus, its battery isn't easily removable; instead of the press of a latch, you'll need to remove four Philips-head screws to remove the battery cover and access the pack. Thankfully, you can still buy a replacement pack if its performance degrades over time.

    Design
    Quality Of Life Features
    Rotating Head
    Yes
    Power Adjustment
    Yes
    Self-Propelled
    No
    Headlights
    Yes
    Easy On/Off
    Yes
    Head Surface Type Adjustment
    None

    This vacuum has a couple of quality-of-life features. The slider on top of the grab handle allows you to switch between 'Hard Floor' and 'Carpet' modes, which decrease and increase the rotational speed of the brushroll, respectively. However, since there's no height adjustment, its floorhead can still get dogged down in thick carpeting. Pulling and holding the trigger inside the handle activates the vacuum's 'MAX' power setting for cleaning stubborn debris.

    Design
    Tools And Brushes
    Brushroll
    Yes
    Brushroll On/Off
    No
    Removable Brushroll
    No
    Turbo Brush
    No
    Crevice Tool
    Yes
    Upholstery Tool
    Yes
    Soft Bristle Brush
    No
    Hard Bristle Brush
    Yes
    Extension Wand
    Yes
    Ceiling Fan Tool
    No
    Pet Grooming Tool
    No

    This vacuum comes with a somewhat limited attachment set. There's a crevice tool for cleaning tight corners and an upholstery nozzle with a clip-on hard-bristle brush to deal with debris on upholstery or to scrub away embedded dirt.

    Design
    Alternative Configuration
    Blower Mode
    No

    You can use this vacuum in a handheld configuration by detaching its wand and floorhead.

    Performance
    8.7
    Performance
    Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
    Setting Used "Bare Floor", "MAX" Trigger Pulled
    Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 90%
    Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 88%
    Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
    Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
    Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
    Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
    Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 100%
    Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) 100%
    Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
    Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
    Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
    Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

    Performance on bare floors is excellent with the vacuum configured in its 'Bare Floor' surface setting and the 'MAX' suction trigger pulled. It easily clears away small debris like rice and bulkier material like cereal.

    8.4
    Performance
    Low-Pile Carpet Performance
    Setting Used "Carpet", "MAX" Trigger Pulled
    Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 84%
    Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 84%
    Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
    Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
    Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
    Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
    Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 85%
    Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 85%
    Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
    Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
    Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
    Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

    Low-pile carpet performance is great with the vacuum configured in its 'Carpet' surface setting with the 'MAX' suction trigger pulled. It clears away most fine material like baking soda and larger debris like sand. Unfortunately, static buildup can cause debris to get stuck at the lint strip at the back of the floorhead rather than getting sucked into the dustbin.

    9.3
    Performance
    High-Pile Carpet Performance
    Setting Used "Carpet", "MAX" Trigger Pulled
    Large Debris at 0 gal (0L) 92%
    Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 92%
    Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
    Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
    Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
    Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A
    Small Debris at 0 gal (0L) 84%
    Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L) ≈ 84%
    Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L) N/A
    Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L) N/A
    Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L) N/A
    Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L) N/A

    This vacuum does a fantastic job of cleaning high-pile carpets when used in its carpet surface setting with the 'MAX' trigger pulled. It can clear away fine debris like baking soda and larger debris like sand without too much trouble. As with its performance on low-pile carpet, a small amount of debris gets stuck at the lint strip at the back of the floorhead rather than getting sucked into the dustbin.

    9.4
    Performance
    Pet Hair Floor Performance
    Bare Floor
    97%
    Low-Pile Carpet
    94%
    High-Pile Carpet
    97%

    The Shark Rocket Pro does a fantastic job of sucking up pet hair, with a few caveats. It doesn't have trouble pulling away hair from bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet, but some strands of hair can stuck at the entry to the dustbin. Its floorhead, which lacks any of the self-cleaning features of newer Shark vacuums, is also very tangle-prone.

    1.2
    Performance
    Suction
    Maximum Hose Suction
    60.1 inH₂O (14.96 kPa)
    Maximum Head Suction
    0.4 inH₂O (0.10 kPa)
    Normal Head Suction
    0.2 inH₂O (0.05 kPa)
    Setting Used For Normal "Bare Floor"
    Hose Diameter
    1.6" (4.0 cm)

    This vacuum has poor real-world suction performance. While it has the same motor as other Shark vacuums like the Shark Cordless Pet Plus, its floorhead doesn't generate as tight a seal with the ground. Regardless, its floorhead delivers sufficient surface agitation to allow it to draw up most kinds of debris, which does help offset its limited power output.

    Note: The attachment point at which hose diameter is measured is D-shaped and doesn't form a perfect circle. As such, the hose diameter was measured at its widest point.

    6.3
    Performance
    Airflow
    Maximum Hose Airflow
    44.4 CFM (1.3 m³/min)

    This vacuum's airflow performance is mediocre. It can't generate as much air movement as newer, pricier Shark vacuums like the Shark Stratos Cordless and has a little more difficulty dealing with heavier debris.

    8.8
    Performance
    Noise
    Bare Floor
    66.9 dBA
    Low-Pile Carpet
    67.3 dBA

    It's a very quiet vacuum. Even with its 'MAX' power trigger pulled and the brushroll spinning faster in its 'Carpet' surface setting, you can still hear and understand nearby conversations spoken at a relatively normal volume.

    7.0
    Performance
    Maneuverability

    This vacuum has decent maneuverability. It's easy to adjust power and floor type settings on the go or to detach and reattach different tools. However, unlike the pricier Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight, it doesn't have a flexible wand, making cleaning under tables and chairs much easier. Its floorhead also doesn't pivot flat to clean under tables and chairs, but its bottom-mounted dustbin would get in the way even if it did. It does get stuck on carpet tassels and thick rugs, too, requiring you to turn the vacuum off to lift it free.

    8.0
    Performance
    Pet Hair Furniture Performance
    Sofa Pickup Post Test

    This vacuum does a great job of dealing with pet hair on furniture, even when used in its standard suction power setting. Its upholstery tool effectively collects pet hair on fabric, though the vacuum's relatively bulky design makes it a nuisance to use for extended periods.

    Performance
    Air Quality
    Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
    No

    Air filtration performance is poor. This model variant doesn't have a HEPA-rated post-motor filter, and particles can easily escape from its exhaust.

    5.0
    Performance
    Cracks
    Wood Cracks Post Test

    This vacuum does a poor job of cleaning cracks and crevices. It lacks the suction power to lift debris stuck in cracks when using its floorhead. Even using it in its higher-power 'MAX' suction mode does little to improve performance in this respect – you can see a video of the vacuum cleaning crevices in its 'MAX' power mode here and the outcome of that test here.

    1.0
    Performance
    Stains
    Stain Pickup Post Test

    This vacuum has no impact on dried-on stains.

    0
    Performance
    Water
    Wet Compatible
    No
    Water Pickup Post Test

    This vacuum isn't rated to suck up liquid spills.

    Automation
    0
    Automation
    Physical Automation
    Automatic Recharging
    No
    Automatic Bag Emptying
    No
    Pathing Algorithm
    No Pathing Algorithm
    Physical Boundary Markers
    No
    Scheduled Start Buttons
    No
    Cycle Control Buttons
    No
    Navigation Control Buttons
    No

    This vacuum has no automation capabilities.

    0
    Automation
    Companion App Automation
    App Name
    No App
    iOS Availability
    No
    Android Availability
    No
    Software Boundary Markers (No Go Zones)
    No
    App Scheduled Start
    No
    App Cycle Control
    No
    Navigation Control within App
    No

    There's no companion app integration for this vacuum.