Stick vacuums are getting better by the day that many people are finding them more convenient than normal vacuum cleaners. They are portable, flexible enough to be converted into handheld devices and the best ones can go toe to toe with normal vacuum cleaners in terms of power and performance.
Two of the best stick vacs in the market today are the Shark Ion F80 MultiFlex and the Dyson Cyclone V10.
While the Shark ION boasts of the unique MultiFlex wand, the Cyclone V10 prides itself on being the frontrunner of the iconic Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners. Let us look at side to side comparison of the two highly rated cordless stick vacuum cleaners.
Suction Power and Performance
Cyclone V10 Animal
Powered by Dyson’s V10 digital motor, the Cyclone V10 Animal is the most powerful cordless vacuum cleaner in the market. This new motor is the smallest and lightest Dyson motor available, but it provides up to 150AW of suction power, which is 20% more than the popular V8.
This can be attributed to the newly designed impeller with overlapping vanes that allows the motor to spin at an amazing 125,000RPM, producing enough suction power to compete with many corded upright vacuum cleaners. It also features three power modes for different floor surfaces. The lowest mode is used for light debris on hard floors, while the highest level has enough power to get deep into carpet fibers and floor crevices.
Shark ION F80
The Shark F80 is also powerful in its own right producing up to 100AW of suction power, which is enough to get rid of any type of debris.
What makes this robot an efficient cleaner is the DuoClean System that consists of two different brushes on the cleaning head. So, while the suction power is not very high, the two brushes work jointly to achieve high efficiency.
The soft brush lifts large debris and also engages hard floors for a more polished finish. The back bristle brush agitates and lifts debris from carpets and also aids in pickup on hard floors. This stick vacuum relies more on the brush rolls than on the suction. It also features two power modes: the lower suction mode for hard floors and the boost mode for high-pile carpets and rugs.
Bottom Line: As its name suggests, the Cyclone V10 is an animal when it comes to speed and suction power. It comes with three power modes, while the ION F80 only has two. Although the two lower modes are almost similar, what separates the two is V10’s power boost mode that is just far above all stick vacuums and not just the F80.
Battery Power and Runtime
Cyclone V10 Animal
The V10 features a long-lasting lithium-ion battery that offers up to one hour of fade-free suction when using a non-motorized cleaner head on its lowest power mode. No other stick vac comes close to this runtime with one full charge. Even its closest competitor, the V8 can only go for 40 minutes on one full charge. When using the highest power mode, the runtime is only six minutes.
This is because the strong suction mode consumes a lot of power, which quickly drains out the battery power. However, the highest power mode is so effective that the six minutes is more than enough to get the job done. It takes about 4 hours and the wall-mounted charging dock doubles as a storage facility for the device. The only problem with the Dyson battery is that it is permanently fixed and not interchangeable. Therefore, if you are out of battery power, you have no option but to wait for it to fully charge before you can resume work.
The ION F80
This stick vacuum is powered by a 25.2V lithium-ion battery that produces up to 300 watts. While the battery takes about 40 minutes of runtime in its lowest setting, the ION Power Pack comes with two batteries that are interchangeable. But you can buy separately as many batteries as you want. This is very convenient as you can always use one battery as the other charges. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to fully charge a completely drained battery.
The ION Boost mode, when used with a motorized head, increases the suction power and brush roll speed. This considerably reduces the runtime up to ten minutes per battery. Besides, the F80 has a one-minute timer that automatically switches from the ION boost mode to the lowest mode to economize on battery use.
Bottom Line: While the Cyclone V10 features the more powerful battery, the ION Power Pack comes with two interchangeable batteries which offer more runtime. The F80 is more convenient.
Accessories
Cyclone V10 Animal
This Dyson cordless vacuum comes with various cleaning accessories for different surfaces. It features the Torque Drive Cleaner Head, which is the most powerful cleaner head ever created by Dyson. It is so powerful that it easily digs deep into thick carpet fibers. According to Dyson, this cleaner head is 25% more effective at removing dust than the previous cleaner head on the V8.
It also includes a Combo tool for dusting furniture and draperies; a Crevice tool for corners and deep cracks on the walls; and a Mini-Motorized tool for vacuuming stairways and upholstery. Besides, the Dyson supports various add-ons that are bought separately, such as the Soft Roller head, an extension hose, a mattress tool and grooming tool for long-haired animals.
ION F80
The F80 utilizes the same cleaner head from the previous Shark IONFlex vacuum. The vacuum head has a DuoClean feature that uses a combo of two different brush rolls. The first brush has soft and dense bristles that easily pick up larger debris, while the second brush has regular stiff bristles and is used to agitate and pick up debris from carpets.
What is amazing about this cleaner head is that it automatically transitions from hard floors to carpets once you select the necessary mode. So you do not have to worry about the brushes damaging the floor. This stick vac also comes with a Crevice tool and an Upholstery tool.
Bottom Line: The Dyson V10 gets a slight edge because it comes with the mini motorized tool, while the F80 does not. However, the F80 has an accessory similar to the mini motorized tool, but it is purchased separately.
Filtration System
Cyclone V10 Animal
The V10 features the Advanced Whole Machine Filtration System that utilizes a pre-motor and post-motor filters. The filters are HEPA grade and are capable of catching up to 99.97% of particles as tiny as 0.3 microns in size.
To prevent any air leak before it is filtered thoroughly, the system is completely sealed with a pressurized rubber seal around the filter and an airtight gasket around the cyclones. The system also features 14 concentric cyclones that narrow to accelerate airflow, which creates centrifugal forces that filter most particles even before they reach the filter.
The HEPA filter does not require replacement, unless it is damaged, which is very economical in the long run. Also, the filter does not require much when it comes to maintenance. It just needs to be washed at least once a month with cold water and then left to dry out for 24 hours.
ION F80
The F80 maintains the same filter system as other IONFlex vacuums. It comes with two pre-motor filters and one post-motor filter. Unfortunately, the filters are not HEPA grade, and the system is not sealed. It is not the ideal vacuum cleaner for you if you own a pet or have allergies.
The filter system is also easy to maintain, as the pre-motor filters need to be washed at least once a month. The post-motor filter is more resilient and only needs to be washed once every nine months. The filters also require regular replacements, which can be costly in the long run.
Bottom Line: The Dyson offers the best filtration system period.
Dirt Cup
Cyclone V10 Animal
One of the notable changes from the V8 is the alignment of the dirt cup. It is in line with the motor and cyclones, which helps generate up to 20% more suction power than the previous models. The bin is also slightly larger with a 0.77L (0.2 gallons) capacity and also features the “point and shoot” disposal technique that allows for easy emptying with a simple push of a lever.
ION F80
The F80 features a small dirt cup with a 0.3 dry quarts (0.2L) capacity, which is on the lower end of most stick vacuums. Due to the small size of the bin, the F80 may pose a challenge if you have a pet or a large house as you will be forced to empty it after a short cleaning interval. Emptying the contents from the bin is as simple as pressing a button and the bottom opens up to release the dirt into a trash can.
Bottom Line: The Dyson takes the cake in this category, as it offers more storage space for the dirt, has a better disposal mechanism and does not require constant emptying.
Single Reviews
Dyson V7 Animal Pro+ Cordless Vacuum
Comparison Articles
Dyson vs. Shark
Verdict
The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal is, without a doubt the clear cut winner. However, the Shark ION F80 is also a great stick vacuum cleaner and will suit you perfectly if you want a cheaper alternative to high-end models like the Dyson. One particular feature we loved about the Shark ION F80 is the MultiFlex wand that allows it to bend for easy access under the furniture. The MultiFlex also allows the F80 to stand upright when folded backward, which saves a lot of space. If you have back problems, we would recommend going for the F80.
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Last update on 2023-06-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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