Head-to-head · Best Upright Vacuum

Dyson Ball Animal 3 vs Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.2 vs 3.9). Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 is best for: Homes with a mix of hard floors and low-pile carpet, and allergy-conscious buyers who want sealed HEPA filtration. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best Upright Vacuum

Dyson Ball Animal 3

3.9

2 sources$347.95as of Oct 11

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 cleans exceptionally well, with a 99.4% debris removal rate in review tests. Its adjustable cleaning head and advanced motorbar system work across floor types and handle pet hair, and reviewers noted it detangles long and pet hair automatically. Some users find the dustbin smaller than its predecessor's, and availability is limited at many retailers. Pet owners after high-performance cleaning are the fit; budget-conscious buyers, or anyone who wants wide retailer access, are not.

Strengths

— Adjustable cleaning head enables effective cleaning on varied floor types
— Handles pet hair easily with automatic tangle-free operation
— Effective at removing long hair with 100% success rate

Watch-outs

— Slightly smaller dustbin compared to previous model

$347.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Upright Vacuum

Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002

4.2

2 sources$529.99as of Oct 16

The Shark Stratos AZ3002 is a corded upright with a dual-roller DuoClean head, a HEPA seal and a Lift-Away pod for above-floor cleaning. TechGearLab named it Best Overall in its upright test with a score of 81, picking up 97% of test debris on low-pile carpet and hardwood. TechRadar, after a year of use, rated it 4 out of 5. Both note limits: average results on shag carpet and pet hair (TechGearLab), and no Auto mode plus a self-propelled head that can run away from you (TechRadar).

Strengths

— Picked up 97% of test debris on both low-pile carpet and hardwood, per TechGearLab
— Aced TechGearLab's filtration test with its HEPA filter
— Lift-Away pod and wand reach under furniture and into tight corners

Watch-outs

— Only average on thick shag carpet and pet hair (64% in TechGearLab's pet hair test)
— No Auto mode, and the self-propelled head can feel like it is running away, per TechRadar
— Heavy and bulky next to a stick vacuum, per TechRadar

$529.99 · Buy at sharkninja.com Full review →

How they stack up

Dyson Ball Animal 3

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 detangles pet hair automatically, where the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 struggles with embedded pet hair that clumps and tangles and the brushroll of the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 can tangle with pet hair. Its 35-foot cord is longer than the 27 ft of the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet 2252, and at 17.3 lb it is heavier than the 15 lb Bissell. It costs more than all three.

Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002

At 16.6 lb it is a little lighter than the Dyson Ball Animal 3 (17.3 lb) but heavier than the Shark Navigator NV360 (12.5 lb). It costs considerably more than the Navigator NV360 and NV352 and the Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Dyson Ball Animal 3	Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002
Suction Power	290 AW	—
Dust Capacity	Smaller than previous model	—
Cord Length	35'	30 ft
Weight	17.3 lb	16.6 lb
Filter Type	HEPA	—
Cleaning Head	Adjustable	—
Warranty	5-year manufacturer’s parts and labor warranty	—
Model	—	AZ3002
Type	—	Corded upright with Lift-Away
Filtration	—	HEPA
Dustbin Capacity	—	1.4 L
Noise	—	77 dBA (TechGearLab)
Brushroll	—	DuoClean dual rollers with PowerFins

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