Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ [CH951, CH964AMZ]  Vacuum Review

This vacuum does an excellent job of dealing with debris on hard floors when used with its turbo brush. However, you need to keep the vacuum at a fairly shallow angle so that this attachment can collect larger debris, like rice or cereal.

This vacuum does a good job of cleaning high-pile carpet. Its turbo brush tool provides a good level of surface agitation for this surface type, enabling it to clear away medium- to large-sized debris, like rice or cereal. However, its relatively weak suction motor means it can leave behind material that has been thoroughly worked into the carpet fibers.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ has good performance on low-pile carpet when used with its turbo brush tool. The attachment's suction inlet is large enough to accommodate material like rice or cereal. It's also capable of dealing with the majority of fine material like sand worked into carpet fibers, though a small amount can be left behind.

This vacuum does a mediocre job of dealing with pet hair on low-pile carpet. Its turbo brush tool simply doesn't provide enough surface agitation to remove hair that's been thoroughly worked into carpet fibers, and you'll likely need to make several passes to deal with everything.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ does a poor job of cleaning debris on fabric furniture. Its Self-Clean Motorized Pet Brush tool is remarkably ineffective in dealing with pet hair, leaving most of it behind. Using it with its hard bristle brush results in only marginal improvement. Pet hair gets collected in the tool's bristles instead of being sucked into its dustbin, forcing you to remove any leftover strands by hand.

This vacuum does a decent job of cleaning crevices. The small suction inlet seals pretty tightly against flat surfaces, and it has little trouble dealing with messes in shallow and medium-depth cracks.

It's worth noting that the vacuum's suction performance was heavily degraded after we used it for this test: its filter was almost completely clogged with baking soda, the type of debris used to evaluate crevice-cleaning performance. If you plan to clean a similar type of debris with this vacuum, be prepared to thoroughly clean its filter right afterward.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is a well-built handheld vacuum. It's made entirely out of plastic, but it feels mostly durable. While the dustbin feels sturdy, the dust cup has a flimsy plastic frame with a cloth attached, which feels a little cheap. However, this vacuum is very easy to assemble.

• Shark UltraCyclone handheld vacuum
  • Dust cup
  • Washable dust cup filter
  • Self-cleaning motorized brush (not included on CH900, CH901, CH950, or CH963AMZ/CH964AMZ variants)
  • Crevice tool
  • Hard-bristle scrubbing brush (not included on CH900 or CH950 variants)
• Charging adapter
• Vacuum User Guide

Exclusive attachments for the CH963AMZ/CH964AMZ are listed below:

• Extension wand
• Floor Nozzle

The following attachment is exclusive to the CH950 model:

• Motorized turbo brush

This vacuum is decent to store. It's compact in design but doesn't come with onboard tool storage or a rack to hold its tools. However, you can purchase a charging dock via the manufacturer's website. It's worth noting that the CH963AMZ and CH964AMZ models will occupy more space when not in use, as they come with an extension wand and a floorhead.

This vacuum has a mediocre dirt compartment. It has a smaller capacity than alternatives, like the Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Hand Vacuum, and lacks a cover to prevent debris from spilling out. This can be more problematic when the compartment nears its maximum capacity, and you must keep it upright while holding it in your hand. It also doesn't have a maximum fill line to indicate when it's full.

This vacuum has a poor runtime. There's no power adjustment to extend runtime, so it's only suitable for spot cleaning.

The battery system is sub-par. The low-capacity, short-running battery is neither hot swappable nor user serviceable. On the positive side, it recharges relatively quickly. The manual also lists an approximately six-hour charge time, but we were able to charge it in just under two and a half hours. It features a power indicator light that flashes when the battery is low on charge.

This vacuum is easy to maintain.

• Dust cup: This part can be emptied by clicking the button located near the vacuum head and can be removed entirely by pressing the button on the bottom of its body. Since this compartment is quite small, you may need to empty it quite often. You can tap it against your garbage to dislodge debris or rinse it with water for a more thorough clean.
• Dust cup filter: You can remove this part by pulling it from the dust cup by its plastic frame. The manufacturer suggests tapping this filter to dislodge dirt and debris from the cloth. You should also rinse the filter with water every three months.

All parts that can be cleaned with water should be left to dry for at least 24 hours before reassembly.

This vacuum has one recurring cost. Its dust cup filter needs to be replaced every six to nine months. You can purchase replacement filters through the manufacturer's website.

This vacuum has a power button on top of its handle, making it easy to turn on and off. However, unlike the Wyze Handheld Vacuum, it lacks a suction power adjustment feature.

The Shark Pet Pro+ is outstandingly portable. It's very lightweight and features a carrying handle, allowing you to easily transport it to other rooms.

This vacuum has decent maneuverability. It's not meant to clean large areas, but it's still lightweight and portable enough to tackle small messes. The crevice and turbo brush can also clean furniture. If you want to clean larger areas, consider the CH963AMZ/CH964AMZ variants, which can be used as a compact stick vacuum since they come with an extension wand and a floorhead intended for use on bare floors.

This is a cordless handheld vacuum with an unlimited range, provided there's room in its dirt compartment and sufficient battery life.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ does an awful job of sealing in dust particles. Before you even load it with debris, it releases dust from previous cleaning sessions at fairly high concentrations. In operation, it doesn't take long before the cyclone filter blows very high concentrations of particles out into the room. These impact air quality and settle throughout the area you have just cleaned.

Like with almost all bagless vacuums, emptying this one negatively impacts air quality. Even emptying this vacuum deep within a garbage container will result in a plume of dust escaping up into the air and settling down over surfaces. You should empty bagless vacuums outdoors or well away from living areas.

Like many other handheld models, this vacuum delivers great suction performance. It has little to do with the power of its motor and more to do with the fact that its suction inlet can seal very tightly against the surface it rests against.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+'s airflow performance is poor overall, although it outperforms other handheld options like the Shark WANDVAC. Still, its small suction motor simply isn't powerful enough to move large quantities of air and debris into its dustbin.

This vacuum is fairly quiet overall. You're likely to have some trouble hearing what people nearby are saying if they speak quietly, but it's far from unbearably loud, and it won't be too noticeable if you use it in another room.

This vacuum makes no impact on stains.

This vacuum isn't meant to deal with liquid spills.