Shark is a popular brand that’s well known for its range of vacuum cleaners, which while more affordable than models from Dyson, are still functional and just as capable. The Shark IZ462H is the company’s popular release and is easily a contender for our list of the best vacuums. The IZ462H Vertex is a cordless vacuum cleaner, which can also be used as a handheld vacuum, and offers three levels of suction power.
It’s powered by a rechargeable battery, which according to Shark will last for up to 60 minutes between charges. That’s a little less than the 100 minutes from the Shark Vertex Pro IZ682H, the firm’s latest release that features a redesigned Duo Clean head, and replaces the IZ462H’s stiff bristles with PowerFins that offer better agitation and tangle-resisting properties.
The cleaner head has two brush rollers that spin at the same time. One of the rollers is hard, with flexible silicon fins (Shark calls it PowerFins) that are meant to dig deep into carpets to remove dirt and debris. The second roller is a soft, fluffy unit to dislodge fine dust and debris.
Both rollers use Shark’s efficient ant-tangle feature which stops human and pet hair from being wrapped around the brush roller; instead, it is sucked straight into the dust canister. The cleaner head also has six LEDs that illuminate the cleaning path and make it easy to clean in dark corners or under furniture.
The Shark IZ462H also has a bendable wand that allows for easy cleaning under low-clearance furniture, which also makes for easy, compact storage. It comes with a 0.7-liter dust canister and two attachments for instances when the vacuum cleaner is being used in handheld mode.
However, unlike its closest rival the Dyson V15 Detect, the IZ462H lacks an LED display to display the remaining battery power and the selected suction model. In a nod to the competition, Shark adds those features in the newer Shark Vertex Pro IZ682H, but at a much more affordable price than Dyson’s vacuum cleaner.
Design & Features
The Shark IZ462H Vertex is a cordless vacuum cleaner with a simple, yet stylish design and is loaded with flexibility and user-friendly features. It comes offers a handful of different attachments for both upright and handheld cleaning.
Here are the design upgrades on the Shark IZ462H:
- DuoClean: This cleaner uses a DuoClean brush roll system, which is a 2-roller concept that comprises a soft roller on the front and a spiral rubberized roller in the middle (aka “PowerFins”) to remove dirt from surfaces.
- PowerFins: This technique provides nonstop contact on carpets and floors. The two rollers on the cleaner head rotate in opposite directions to help whip debris into the vacuum and deposit it into the dust bin.
- Self-Cleaning brush roll: The head brush’s updated design prevents hair from wrapping around the axle for more effective cleaning performance.
The cleaning path is a little over 8 inches, and you get a line of LED lights at the front to illuminate the cleaning path. Weighing 9.05 pounds as a complete stick vacuum and a little under 3 pounds when used as a handheld, this vacuum cleaner is among the lightweight stick vacs models around.
In the package, the Shark Vertex comes with the following parts and accessories:
- Crevice tool
- Dusting brush
- Pet power brush
- Onboard storage clip
The crevice tool, dusting brush, and pet brush are handy when the Vertex is used as a handheld vacuum. The storage clip, on the other hand, is a great accessory when using the vacuum in stick mode.
Just note, some versions of the Shark Vertex include different accessories, so remember to double check the package specs to ensure you’re getting the exact accessories for your needs.
Performance
The Shark IZ462H is, without a doubt, a powerful vacuum cleaner. It sucks up fine dust and larger debris on both carpet and hard floor with ease on all power settings. However, on hard floors, the wheels on the back of the cleaner head tend to flick some of the debris on the floor, rather than collecting them. This means you have to make several passes to ensure the mess is cleared.
The vacuum cleaner does a good job collecting dirt from hard floors, although you’ll get some resistance on the carpet since it’s a heavy cordless cleaner. The flexible wand is very useful for reaching under furniture, as are the six LED headlights on the floor-cleaning head – they make it easier to see the area you’re vacuuming.
Beyond that, the Anti Hair Wrap technology on the Vertex cleaner is very impressive as it ensures hair doesn’t become tangled around the brush roll. When vacuuming up a clump of hair removed from a hairbrush, it gets whisked straight into the canister without being struck.
The Shark vacuum cleaner is easy to empty. All you do is disconnect the wand and use the button on the left-hand side of the canister to activate the mechanism that ejects the contents into the bin in one swift move. The only issue you might have with this cleaner is the noise – it’s one of the loudest vacuums out there at 88db when being used at its most powerful setting on the carpet. This is the same level of noise as when using a blender.
Finally, battery life varies from 15 minutes to 60 minutes between charges; however, the maximum is when used on the lowest power setting. The battery takes about four hours to recharge but the unit is swappable, so you can buy an additional battery to avoid interruption to your cleaning session.
Bottom Line
The Shark IZ462H is one of the best cordless stick vacuum cleaners when it comes to picking up spillages in your household. While there’s an updated version – the Shark Vertex Pro IZ682H, the model we’ve reviewed remains a solid choice if you need to save some bucks and still get the job done.
It delivers superb performance on both hard floors and carpets beats even the top-end Dyson V15 Detect and the Dyson V11 Outsize, and the credit should go to the PowerFins since we’ve reviewed a similar, but fanless Shark IZ201UKC and it doesn’t deliver such a thorough clean.
Other features make Shark’s cordless stick a compelling option. Having the hard floor and carpet rollers in a single cleaning head is a lot more convenient than having to choose between them, and it doesn’t have any detrimental effect on its cleaning ability on either surface. I’m also a big fan of Shark’s innovative Anti Hair Wrap tech, and I dare say it does a good job keeping the rollers clear of long hair.
There are some refinements you don’t get with the Shark that is available in the pricier models from Dyson. I just realized that the back of the V15 AND V11 Outsize lift off the floor when being pulled back, and they have more sophisticated LED screens. The Dyson vacuum cleaners also adjust their power levels, adjusting the suction depending on the type of surface they’re on, and that helps prolong the battery life.
Overall, the Shark IZ462H Vertex is an excellent, all-rounder, delivering fantastic power at a very reasonable price.
Recommended Configuration
Shark IZ462H Vertex Ultra Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins, Crevice, Pet Multi-Tool, Anti-Allergen, Brush, Removable Handheld, Flex, 60 min Runtime, Blue, MultiFLEX
9 used from $150.86
The Review
Shark IZ462H Vertex
The Shark IZ462H Vertex is a fantastic cordless vacuum that does a good job picking up dust and debris from carpets and hard floors with ease and is much more affordable than rivals from Dyson.
PROS
- Superb cleaning performance
- Flexible wand can reach under furniture
- Anti Hair Wrap technology
CONS
- Heavy
- Noisy in use
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
