Cordless Vacuums / Shark
Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum (IP1251)
Best-handling stick here, with the vaguest runtime claim and no published suction figure.
Overall score 7.3/10
Pros
- + The MultiFLEX wand folds so it stands on its own and lies flat under a sofa — Dyson has no equivalent at any price
- + Push-button power rather than a held trigger, which is the ergonomic complaint people actually leave Dyson over
- + 5-year limited warranty on the unit is by far the longest here
- + Detection genuinely modulates suction by floor type and dirt level rather than just lighting up an icon
Cons
- − The 70-minute claim is ECO at the bare handheld with no wand or floor head — the honest working figure is much lower and Shark publishes none
- − Shark publishes neither air watts nor Pa, so this machine cannot be compared on paper against anything else in the category
- − Sources disagree on whether this SKU even has a HEPA filter, and Shark pointedly does not claim a sealed anti-allergen system on it
- − One battery in the box and no published spare-battery price
Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum (IP1251) review: what the specs say
Best-handling stick here, with the vaguest runtime claim and no published suction figure. At $349.99, Shark's 2024 model sits in the middle of the range — the cordless Vacuums we compare run from $129.99 to $1,199. It scores 7.3/10 overall, calculated from published specifications across 8 categories rather than from a subjective impression.
Its strongest showing is Suction Power at 8.5/10 — actual cleaning force at the head, judged on air watts where a maker publishes them and discounted where only Pa or motor watts are quoted. The weakest is Sustained Runtime at 5.5/10, which is the trade-off to weigh before buying: if that is the specification you care about most, one of the alternatives below will serve you better.
Worth knowing before you buy: the 70-minute claim is ECO at the bare handheld with no wand or floor head — the honest working figure is much lower and Shark publishes none; and shark publishes neither air watts nor Pa, so this machine cannot be compared on paper against anything else in the category. Every specification on this page comes from Shark's own documentation or a verified retail listing — where a figure is not published, the table says so rather than estimating it.
Specifications and price last verified . Report an error
Full Specifications
| Machine Type | Dry cordless stick vacuum, converts to handheld |
| Suction (as published) | Sources conflict, and none is a suction figure: SharkNinja publishes no air watts and no Pa, describing it only as 'Shark's most powerful cordless suction' under ASTM F558 in Boost. Abt's spec sheet lists 380 W at 21.6 V, which is input power drawn, not suction delivered |
| Runtime, Eco / Headline | 70 min |
| Runtime, Max Power | Not published by the manufacturer — Shark quotes only 'up to 70 minutes' min |
| What the Runtime Claim Actually Means | SharkNinja states the 70 minutes is ECO mode at the handheld unit — no wand, no powered floor head. Shark publishes no figure at all for Boost with the DuoClean Detect nozzle fitted |
| Removable Battery | Yes — removable 21.6 V pack, but only one is included |
| Spare Battery | Not published by the manufacturer; Shark does not list a price on the product page. Third-party XBATR-series replacements are widely sold |
| Dock / Wall Mount | Charging stand and charging cord included. The PowerDetect auto-empty base is a separate product (IP3251) and cannot be added to this one later |
| Filtration | Sources conflict: SharkNinja lists felt and washable-foam pre-motor filters plus a HEPA post-motor filter, while Abt's spec sheet for the same SKU says 'no HEPA filter'. Shark does not claim its Anti-Allergen Complete Seal on this cordless model, though it does on the corded PowerDetect |
| Bin / Tank Capacity | 0.7 qt (23.68 oz) dust cup with a bottom-release flap — debris drops out but your hand stays above the opening |
| Weight | 7.96 lbs |
| Filters, Consumables & Self-Clean | Foam and felt pre-motor filters are washable and Shark specifies a monthly rinse. Replacement brushrolls and filters are stocked by SharkNinja |
| Connectivity | On-board LED mode indicators, No app, no Wi-Fi |
| Material | ABS with a hinged MultiFLEX aluminium wand |
| Warranty | 60 months |
Compare Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum (IP1251) With
Cheaper Alternative
Hoover ONEPWR Evolve Pet Elite (BH53801V) — $279.99
Premium Alternative
Dyson V15 Detect Plus — $599.99