Products
Shark APEX Upright
Shark ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away
Tested using Methodology v1.3
Updated Jan 28, 2026 08:01 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Tested using Methodology v1.1
Updated Sep 04, 2025 03:37 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Wet Compatible
No
Vacuum Type
Upright/Handheld
Bagless
Yes
Cordless
No
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Wet Compatible
No
Vacuum Type
Upright/Handheld
Bagless
Yes
Cordless
Yes
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Our Verdict
Shark APEX Upright
Shark ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away
The Shark ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away is a better upright/handheld vacuum for most uses than the Shark APEX Upright. The cordless P50 is easier and cheaper to maintain, far more effective at sucking up debris on carpeted surfaces, and can be easily carried around. However, the corded APEX features a much longer runtime courtesy of its wired connection and performs better on bare floors.
Variants
- AZ1002 (Espresso)
- AZ1000 (Olive/Burgundy)
- ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away (IC160)
- ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away (IC162)
Check Price
Espresso
AZ1002
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
IC160
ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Olive/Burgundy
AZ1000
SEARCH
Amazon.com
IC162
ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Main Differences for
Bare Floor
Bare Floor
Threshold
Bare Floor
7.8
7.7
Cracks
8.5
7.5
Full Comparison
Design
Build Quality
7.0
7.0
Build Quality Picture
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Vacuum Type
Upright/Handheld
Upright/Handheld
User Maintenance
6.5
6.0
Maintenance Picture
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Brushroll Cleaning Video
Recurring Cost
8.5
8.5
Recurring Cost Picture
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Bag Part Number
No bag
No bag
Filter Part Number
XFF650
XFFK160
HEPA Filter Part Number
XHF650
XHEPA160
Storing
7.2
6.3
Storing Picture
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Height
45.51" (115.6 cm)
45.28" (115.0 cm)
Width
12.01" (30.5 cm)
10.24" (26.0 cm)
Depth
10.98" (27.9 cm)
11.02" (28.0 cm)
Cord Storing
Manual
Not Needed
On-Board Tool Storage
Yes
No
Vacuum Rack/Station
No
No
Dirt Compartment
8.0
7.5
Dirt Compartment Picture
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Bagless
Yes
Yes
Volume
0.44 gal (1.65 L)
0.16 gal (0.60 L)
Full Indicator
Yes
Yes
Bag Included
No Bag Needed
No Bag Needed
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Range
7.5
10
Cordless
No
Yes
Cord Length
29.53 ft (9.0 m)
N/A
Hose Length
4.92 ft (1.50 m)
3.38 ft (1.03 m)
Minimum Wand Length
1.18 ft (0.36 m)
1.08 ft (0.33 m)
Maximum Wand Length
3.38 ft (1.03 m)
3.35 ft (1.02 m)
Total Range
32.91 ft (10.03 m)
N/A
Portability
6.5
7.3
Total Weight
17.20 lbs (7.80 kg)
12.13 lbs (5.50 kg)
Weight In Hand
3.53 lbs (1.60 kg)
3.31 lbs (1.50 kg)
Carrying handle
Yes
Yes
Battery
0.0
8.0
Minimum Battery Life
N/A
23 min
Maximum Battery Life
N/A
57 min
Recharge Time
N/A
198 min
Recharge Dock
No
Yes
Battery Life Indicator
No
Yes
Removable Batteries
No
Yes
Quality Of Life Features
Picture Of Controls
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Rotating Head
Yes
Yes
Power Adjustment
No
Yes
Self-Propelled
No
No
Headlights
Yes
Yes
Easy On/Off
Yes
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
Manual
None
Tools And Brushes
Tools And Brush Picture
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Brushroll
Yes
Yes
Brushroll On/Off
No
No
Removable Brushroll
No
No
Turbo Brush
Yes
No
Crevice Tool
Yes
Yes
Upholstery Tool
Yes
Yes
Soft Bristle Brush
No
Yes
Hard Bristle Brush
No
Yes
Extension Wand
No
Yes
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No
No
Alternative Configuration
Alternative Configuration Photo 1
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Alternative Configuration Photo 2
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Blower Mode
No
No
Performance
Hard Floor Pickup
8.5
Hard Floor Pickup video
Hard Floor Pickup Post Test
High-Pile Carpet Pickup
5.0
High-Pile Carpet Pickup Video
High-Pile Carpet Pickup Post Test
Low-Pile Carpet Pickup
7.0
Low-Pile Carpet Pickup Video
Low-Pile Carpet Pickup Post Test
Pet Hair Pickup
6.0
Pet Hair Pickup Video
Pet Hair Pickup Post Test
Suction
7.1
5.6
Suction Video
Maximum Hose Suction
97.9 inH₂O (24.38 kPa)
Maximum Head Suction
3.4 inH₂O (0.84 kPa)
2.0 inH₂O (0.49 kPa)
Setting Used For Maximum
"ION BOOST", Mode "FLOOR"
Normal Head Suction
3.4 inH₂O (0.84 kPa)
1.6 inH₂O (0.40 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal
"Hard Floor"
"ION POWER", Mode "FLOOR"
Hose Diameter
1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.3" (3.2 cm)
Airflow
9.0
Maximum Airflow Video
Maximum Hose Airflow
97.6 CFM (2.8 m³/min)
Noise
8.1
8.6
Noise Video
Bare Floor
75.0 dBA
68.5 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
75.3 dBA
71.1 dBA
Maneuverability
7.0
7.5
Maneuverability Video
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
9.0
9.0
Sofa Pickup Video
Sofa Pickup Post Test
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Air Quality
Sealing Quality Video
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Yes
Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
8.2
Setting Used
"ION POWER", Mode "FLOOR"
Bare Floor Large Debris Graph
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)
91%
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
Bare Floor Small Debris Graph
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L)
97%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)
93%
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
Cracks
8.5
7.5
Cracks Video
Wood Cracks Post Test
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Stains
1.0
3.0
Stain Video
Stain Pickup Post Test
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Water
0.0
0.0
Wet Compatible
No
No
Water Video
Water Pickup Post Test
Compare High-Res
Compare High-Res
Low-Pile Carpet Performance
8.1
Setting Used
"ION BOOST", Mode "CARPET"
Low Carpet Large Debris Graph
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)
91%
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
Low Carpet Small Debris Graph
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L)
66%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)
63%
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
High-Pile Carpet Performance
7.9
Setting Used
"ION BOOST", Mode "CARPET"
High Carpet Large Debris Graph
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)
85%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)
83%
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
High Carpet Small Debris Graph
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L)
47%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)
43%
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
Pet Hair Floor Performance
9.6
Pet Hair Graph
Bare Floor
96%
Low-Pile Carpet
100%
High-Pile Carpet
97%
Automation
Physical Automation
0.0
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
Companion App Automation
0.0
Companion App Screen Grabs
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
Check Price
Espresso
AZ1002
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
IC160
ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Olive/Burgundy
AZ1000
SEARCH
Amazon.com
IC162
ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
To access
Become a member
unlimited full product reviews,
product prices, and
other exclusive site features
Shark APEX Upright
Shark ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away
Comments
Shark APEX Upright vs Shark ION P50 Cord-Free Powered Lift-Away: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Members have direct access to buying advice on our member forum.