Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless [IZ440H, IZ462H, IZ483H]  Vacuum Review

Reviewed Dec 09, 2020 at 07:34am
Tested using Methodology v1.2 
Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless [IZ440H, IZ462H, IZ483H]
8.0
Bare Floor 
7.4
Low-Pile Carpet 
7.2
High-Pile Carpet 
7.4
Pets 
8.3
Stairs 
7.5
Cars 
5.7
Workshop 
 0

The Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless is a cordless stick/handheld vacuum. It's lightweight, highly maneuverable, and offers fantastic performance on bare floors. Thanks to its washable filters and bagless design, recurring costs are minimal, and the vacuum itself doesn't have too many parts that require maintenance. Unfortunately, it struggles somewhat with fine and larger debris on some higher-pile carpets. Still, if you're looking for a basic cordless stick/handheld model with exceptional performance on bare floors, this is a good choice.

While there are two differently-named variants of this vacuum, though they only really differ in color. Further information is provided in the 'Differences Between Variants' section of the review.

Our Verdict

8.0
Bare Floor 

The Shark Vertex Cordless is amazing for bare floors. It sucks up pet hair as well as small and bulky debris, like rice or cereal, without difficulty and with very little drop in performance as its dirt compartment fills up. It incurs few recurring costs and is highly maneuverable as you can easily navigate around obstructions or clean under low-lying furniture.

Pros
  • Superb performance on bare floors.
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Great overall pet hair cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
7.4
Low-Pile Carpet 

The Shark Vertex Cordless is decent for low-pile carpet. It does a good job of cleaning pet hair and larger debris like sand, but it struggles somewhat with finer debris like baking soda. Thankfully, it's lightweight and highly maneuverable, with a cordless design that allows you to clean large spaces or a couple of rooms without searching for an outlet.

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Great overall pet hair cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Struggles with fine debris on carpeted floors.
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
7.2
High-Pile Carpet 

The Shark Vertex Cordless is satisfactory for high-pile carpet. It sucks up pet hair without difficulty, but it may take a couple of passes to clear fine debris like sand or larger sand-like material from this kind of surface. That said, thanks to its bagless design and washable filters, recurring costs are minimal, and it has a highly reconfigurable construction that makes it easy to adapt to different cleaning tasks.

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Great overall pet hair cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Struggles with fine debris on carpeted floors.
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
7.4
Pets 

The Shark Vertex Cordless is great for pet owners. It does an amazing overall job of cleaning pet hair on a variety of surfaces, and it comes with a HEPA filter to trap allergens as you clean. While its brushroll is advertised as being able to self-clear hair wraps, it isn't removable, which can slightly complicate the maintenance process. However, the vacuum itself incurs few recurring costs and it doesn't come with a turbo brush.

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Equipped with a HEPA filter.
  • Great overall pet hair cleaning performance.
Cons
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
  • No turbo brush.
8.3
Stairs 

The Shark Vertex Cordless is an excellent choice for cleaning stairs. It uses a cordless design that gives it an effectively unlimited range. It's also lightweight and easy to carry, with a highly-reconfigurable construction that can be quickly converted into a handheld vacuum. It does an outstanding job of cleaning bare floors and should perform decently well on low and high-pile carpets.

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Easily reconfigurable construction.
Cons
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
7.5
Cars 

The Shark Vertex Cordless is good for cleaning the inside of your car. Its cordless design makes it easy to clean far-off areas, like a car parked on a driveway, and it can be easily converted into a more compact handheld configuration. It comes with a crevice tool that allows you to tackle messes in tight corners, but unfortunately, it lacks any sort of onboard storage to make it easy to grab new attachments.

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
  • Easily reconfigurable construction.
Cons
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
5.7
Workshop 

Pros
  • Lightweight, highly maneuverable design.
Cons
  • Has a couple of parts that require regular maintenance.
  • 8.0
    Bare Floor
  • 7.4
    Low-Pile Carpet
  • 7.2
    High-Pile Carpet
  • 7.4
    Pets
  • 8.3
    Stairs
  • 7.5
    Cars
  • 5.7
    Workshop
  • Changelog

    1.  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..
    2.  Updated Feb 27, 2023: We've changed the review name to 'Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless [IZ440H, IZ462H, IZ483H]' in order for the review to encompass all model variants. We've also added the IZ483H and IZ482H variants to the 'Differences Between Variants' section.
    3.  Updated Aug 25, 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.
    4.  Updated Aug 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.

    Check Price

    Silver/BlueIZ462H
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    Silver/Dark BlueIZ482H
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com
    Silver/OrangeIZ483H
    SEE PRICE
    Amazon.com

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    There are a few different variants of the Shark Vertex Cordless, though they differ only in color. We tested the IZ462H model, and you can see its label here.

    Model Code Included Tools Color
    IZ462H Anti-Allergen Dust Brush attachment, Pet Multi-Tool attachment, Crevice tool  Silver/Blue
    IZ482H  Anti-Allergen Dust Brush attachment, Pet Multi-Tool attachment, Crevice tool Silver/Dark Blue
    IZ483H Anti-Allergen Dust Brush attachment, Pet Multi-Tool attachment, Crevice tool  Silver/Orange

    If you come across a differently-equipped variant, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.

    Popular Vacuum Comparisons

    The Shark Vertex Cordless is a stick/handheld vacuum that is effectively a cordless version of the Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded and shares many of the same advantages and disadvantages. It has a bagless design that incurs minimal recurring costs and is very maneuverable. It's also highly effective on bare floors and easily clears pet hair on various surfaces. Unfortunately, it can struggle somewhat with finer debris on carpeted floors.

    If you're looking for other options, look at our list of recommendations for the best cordless stick vacuums, the best lightweight vacuums, and the best cordless vacuums.

    Dyson V8

    The Dyson V8 is slightly more versatile than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Dyson is significantly lighter, comes with more accessories, and performs better on low and high-pile carpet. The Shark is better built, more maneuverable, and charges much faster, though its overall battery life is quite similar.

    Dyson Cyclone V10

    The Dyson Cyclone V10 and the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless each have advantages, meaning one may suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Dyson is lighter, has a longer maximum battery life, comes with more tools and accessories, and delivers better performance on carpeted floors. Meanwhile, the Shark's folding wand makes it easier to clean under tables and chairs. It also has fewer parts that require regular maintenance, feels better built, comes with a larger dirt compartment, and performs better on bare floors.

    Dyson V11

    The Dyson V11 and the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless are fairly evenly matched overall, and you may prefer one over the other depending on your needs. The Dyson is easier to maintain, has a longer maximum battery life, and performs better on low- and high-pile carpets. Meanwhile, the Shark feels better made, is more maneuverable, and cleans more debris on bare floors. It also charges substantially faster.

    Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded

    The Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded and Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless have different advantages, and either may suit you better depending on your needs. The UltraLight Corded has an effectively unlimited runtime courtesy of its corded design, comes with a turbo brush, and performs better on both low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Lightweight Cordless has an effectively unlimited range, an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, superior maneuverability, and better performance on bare floors.

    Dyson V15 Detect

    The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Dyson has a longer maximum runtime, comes with more tools and accessories, is a little lighter, and performs better on all surface types. Meanwhile, the Shark charges faster, feels sturdier, is less demanding in terms of maintenance, and is easier to maneuver under tables and couches thanks to its flexible wand.

    Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight [IZ662H, IZ682H]

    The Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight is slightly better than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless, though both vacuums are very similar overall. The Vertex Pro has a longer battery life, better performance on high-pile carpet, and an LED display that shows current suction power and surface type settings.

    Shark Rocket Pet Pro

    The Shark Rocket Pet Pro is a better overall cordless stick/handheld vacuum than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Pet Pro is lighter and performs better on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Vertex has a slightly longer battery life in its highest power setting and has a bigger dirt compartment that doesn't need to be emptied as often.

    JASHEN V16

    The Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded is a better overall vacuum than the JASHEN V16. The Shark is better built, has a larger dirt compartment, and performs better on all surface types. It's also more maneuverable. However, the JASHEN comes with a couple more accessories, including a removable brushroll and turbo brush.

    Miele Triflex HX1

    The Miele Triflex HX1 is a more versatile vacuum than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Miele is better built, easier to maintain, and performs better on all surface types. It also has fewer recurring costs. Meanwhile, the Shark has a bigger dirt compartment, has a longer battery life, and charges faster.

    Shark WANDVAC System [WS620, WS632, WS642]

    The Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless is a better vacuum for most uses than the Shark WANDVAC System. The Vertex Lightweight Cordless has a much better battery life and a significantly bigger dirt compartment. It also delivers better performance on bare floors. On the other hand, the Wandvac System does a better job of cleaning carpets and is more portable.

    Samsung Jet 90 Complete

    The Samsung Jet 90 Complete is a better vacuum than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Samsung delivers much better performance on carpets and has a longer maximum battery life. Nevertheless, the Shark has a better build quality and is significantly easier to maintain.

    Simplicity S65

    The Simplicity S65 and Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless each have their own advantages, so one may suit you better than the other depending on your needs. The Shark is better-built, has a larger dirt compartment, superior battery performance, and comes with more tools and accessories. It also does a better job of cleaning debris on bare floors. Meanwhile, the Simplicity offers better performance on low and high-pile carpet, is lighter overall, and easier to maintain.

    Dyson Omni-glide

    The Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless is a better vacuum than the Dyson Omni-glide. The Shark delivers significantly better performance on bare floors, and its dirt compartment is much bigger. It does a decent job on carpets, too. On the other hand, the Omni-glide is less than half the weight of the Lightweight Cordless. However, while it easily clears small debris like rice from bare floors, it struggles to suck up bulkier material and isn't intended for use on carpets.

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    7.0
    Build Quality
    Vacuum Type
    Stick/Handheld

    The Shark Vertex Cordless has a decent build quality. It's mostly made of plastic, but its folding wand has a metal construction. Like the closely-related Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded, it uses a twin-brushroll vacuum head that's designed to self-clear hair wraps. An indicator light makes it easy to see if the brushroll is engaged or disengaged. Overall, it feels reasonably sturdy, though its clear plastic dirt compartment feels as though it could break if you drop it. It's also pretty easy to disassemble and reassemble for maintenance since all of its parts clip together in an intuitive way.

    6.0
    User Maintenance

    The Shark Vertex Cordless is fairly easy to maintain.

    • Dirt compartment: You can remove this part by pressing the plastic button on the right side of the main body and then empty it by pressing the button with a trash bin symbol on it once it gets full. You can also open it up to clear stuck on-debris from its lint screen when necessary. You can rinse it under cold water if you notice a build-up of debris.
    • Brushroll: The brushroll is designed to be self-cleaning. It isn't removable, but you can access it by undoing three locks with a coin to clear any tangled debris.
    • Soft roller: The soft roller can be easily removed by sliding the blue roller release switch on the side of the vacuum. It can be wiped down with a dry towel or washed under cold water when necessary.
    • Pre-motor filters: The foam and felt pre-motor filters are located on top of the dust cup. The lint felt filter can be removed via a release tab, which allows you to lift the foam filter out of the housing. These filters should be washed with cold water at least once a month.
    • Post-motor HEPA filter: You need to remove the dust cup assembly in order to access the post-motor filter. It should be cleaned with cold water at least once a year.

    Any part that you wash with water must be left to dry for at least 24 hours before it can be reinstalled.

    8.5
    Recurring Cost
    Bag Part NumberNo bag
    Filter Part Number617FJ140
    HEPA Filter Part NumberXHF161H

    The Shark Vertex Cordless has few recurring costs.

    • Pre-motor filters: The foam and felt pre-motor filters shouldn't need to be replaced if they're well-maintained, but they can be purchased as a single kit from Shark's website if necessary.
    • Post-motor HEPA filter: The post-motor filter shouldn't need to be replaced if it's well taken care of. You can buy replacements from the manufacturer's website if necessary.

    While the user manual recommends replacing these pars regularly, no specific service interval is given, and we can only estimate their lifespan relative to parts in similar Shark vacuums.

    6.6
    Storing
    Height
    26.57" (67.5 cm)
    Width
    10.24" (26.0 cm)
    Depth
    11.02" (28.0 cm)
    Cord Storing
    Not Needed
    On-Board Tool Storage
    No
    Vacuum Rack/Station
    No

    The Shark Vertex Cordless has alright storing capabilities. Its wand folds in half to reduce its vertical footprint, but there's no rack station or on-board storage for the included tools and accessories.

    7.6
    Dirt Compartment
    Bagless
    Yes
    Volume
    0.18 gal (0.70 L)
    Full Indicator
    Yes
    Bag Included
    No Bag Needed

    The Shark Vertex Cordless has a decent dirt compartment. It's bigger than that of the Simplicity S65 and has a fill line indicator to let you know when it's reached maximum capacity.

    In The Box

    • Vacuum body
    • MultiFLEX wand
    • Vacuum head/floor nozzle
    • Dirt compartment
    • Soft roller
    • Anti-Allergen Dust Brush attachment
    • Pet Multi-Tool attachment
    • Crevice tool
    • Pre-motor foam filter
    • Pre-motor felt filter (with pink tab)
    • HEPA post-motor filter (in vacuum body)
    • Battery
    • Charging cable
    • User guide
    10
    Range
    Cordless
    Yes
    Cord Length
    N/A
    Hose Length
    N/A
    Minimum Wand Length
    1.44 ft (0.44 m)
    Maximum Wand Length
    3.35 ft (1.02 m)
    Total Range
    N/A

    This vacuum is cordless, so its range is limited only by the remaining battery life and room left in its dirt compartment.

    7.5
    Portability
    Total Weight
    9.15 lbs (4.15 kg)
    Weight In Hand
    4.17 lbs (1.89 kg)
    Carrying handle
    Yes

    The Shark Vertex Cordless is quite portable. It's noticably heavier than alternatives like the Roborock H7, but it feels light in your hand and has a built-in carrying handle that makes moving it around a little easier.

    7.3
    Battery
    Minimum Battery Life
    19 min
    Maximum Battery Life
    38 min
    Recharge Time
    184 min
    Recharge Dock
    No
    Battery Life Indicator
    Yes
    Removable Batteries
    Yes

    The Shark Vertex Cordless has a satisfactory battery performance. In its most powerful 'Carpet' floor setting and with the 'MAX' trigger pulled to activate the 'Boost' power mode, you can drain its battery in just under 20 minutes. If you use it in its 'Hard Floor' setting, which lowers the speed of the brushroll, you can expect just under 40 minutes of runtime, which is slightly less than the near one-hour maximum runtime offered by the Shark Anti-Allergen Pet Power, though the latter vacuum does take longer to recharge. It's also worth noting that battery life can vary in the real world. Its battery indicator lights allow you to quickly check the remaining charge, as the three lights gradually turn off as you use the vacuum. The battery itself is removable and can be charged separately.

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

    The Shark Vertex Cordless has a couple of quality of life features. There are two surface type settings: 'Carpet' spins the brushroll faster to clear debris on carpeted surfaces while 'Hard Floor' slows the brushroll down for cleaning bare floors or rugs. There's also a separate 'MAX' trigger to enable 'Boost Mode', which allows you to increase suction for stubborn messes. Its flexible wand lets you easily clean under furniture and its headlight should help you see what you're cleaning in darker environments. Unlike the very similar Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight, however, it doesn't have an LED display that shows the vacuum's remaining battery life or current suction power and surface-type setting.

    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

    The Shark Vertex Cordless comes with a couple of tools and accessories. There's an Anti-Allergen Dust Brush that can be used to clean fine dust and debris from delicate surfaces in narrow spots and a crevice tool to tackle messes in tight corners. There's also the Pet Multi-Tool attachment, which serves as a combination hard-bristle brush and upholstery tool to alternatively dislodge stuck-on debris and clear pet hair from fabric-lined furniture.

    Alternative Configuration
    Blower Mode
    No

    The Shark Vertex Cordless can be used as a handled vacuum by removing its flexible wand.

    Performance
    9.6
    Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
    Setting Used"Bare Floor", "MAX" Trigger Pulled
    Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)96%
    Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)99%
    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

    The Shark Vertex Cordless delivers superb performance on bare floors. It clears pet hair as well as small and bulky debris, like rice and cereal, without an issue. Performance remains consistent as its dirt compartment fills up, which is good if you have several large messes to deal with.

    6.9
    Low-Pile Carpet Performance
    Setting Used"Carpet", "MAX" Trigger Pulled
    Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)80%
    Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)78%
    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)49%
    Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)41%
    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

    The Shark Vertex Cordless has decent performance on low-pile carpet. It struggles somewhat with fine debris like baking soda on this kind of surface. Thankfully, it sucks up most pet hair and larger sand-like debris, though the rubber lip on the front of the vacuum head can fling some coarser debris upwards. If you're looking for something with a better performance on this surface type, you may like the Shark WANDVAC System.

    6.8
    High-Pile Carpet Performance
    Setting Used"Carpet", "MAX" Trigger Pulled
    Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)51%
    Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)47%
    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)48%
    Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)50%
    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

    The Shark Vertex Cordless has satisfactory performance on high-pile carpet. It sucks up pet hair without an issue, but it may take a couple of passes to fully clear fine and larger debris like baking soda or sand. Unusually, the rubber lip on the front of the vacuum can fling some coarser debris upwards while cleaning. Consider the Miele Triflex HX1 if you're looking for a cordless vacuum with better performance on this surface type.

    9.3
    Pet Hair Floor Performance
    Bare Floor
    100%
    Low-Pile Carpet
    89%
    High-Pile Carpet
    93%
    6.0
    Suction
    Maximum Hose Suction
    73.9 inH₂O (18.40 kPa)
    Maximum Head Suction
    2.2 inH₂O (0.56 kPa)
    Normal Head Suction
    1.2 inH₂O (0.31 kPa)
    Setting Used For Normal"Standard Mode", (Hard Floor)
    Hose Diameter
    1.6" (4.0 cm)
    6.9
    Airflow
    Maximum Hose Airflow
    52.3 CFM (1.5 m³/min)
    7.2
    Noise
    Bare Floor
    81.8 dBA
    Low-Pile Carpet
    83.2 dBA
    8.5
    Maneuverability

    This vacuum offers amazing maneuverability. It's lightweight and has a swiveling head that makes it easy to navigate around obstructions. Its MultiFLEX wand is another hugely convenient feature, as it allows you to clean under low-lying couches and tables with less difficulty. It can be quickly converted into a handheld configuration to deal with messes on furniture, and fitting new attachments in places is an intuitive process. Unfortunately, its brushroll can occasionally get stuck on rug tassels.

    8.0
    Pet Hair Furniture Performance
    Sofa Pickup Post Test
    Air Quality
    Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
    Yes
    7.0
    Cracks
    Wood Cracks Post Test
    3.0
    Stains
    Stain Pickup Post Test
    0.0
    Water
    Wet Compatible
    No
    Water Pickup Post Test
    Automation
    0.0
    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

    The Shark Vertex Cordless doesn't have any automation features.

    0.0
    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