Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away Speed (NV803) Review

Shark has been busy in terms of developing new products, and this new product is another innovation from their lab.

Shark Duo Clean NV803 Review

They were the first to utilize the “Lift” system that separated the bin and frame to extend reach.

The next upgrade is the “Powered Lift-Away” feature, where Shark engineers designed a product in such a way that it would function as an upright and canister.

They did this by making the frame, bin, and floor tool separate, so with a push of a button, the container breaks away from the frame but with the hose still attached to the floor tool.

The next innovation was the DuoClean system that combined a soft roller head (similar to the Dyson V6) and a bristled brush.

Lightweight upright that will clean floors well

SharkDuoCleanNV803 250

The Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away, model NV803 is a lighter option than the Shark APEX upright at just 14.5 pounds. It’s one of the more popular Shark uprights because it is lighter but still retains the powered lift away feature where the main cleaning head is still usable even in lift-away mode. The DuoClean brush roll is one of the best innovations, in my opinion, as it is capable of picking up fine dust to large bits of dirt on carpet and bare floor. Shark has patented this technology, and you won’t find it in other brands. This feature is found in their newer stick and upright vacuums and is one of the best at picking up surface dirt.

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Related: Please check out my in-depth guide on the best Shark vacuums and find out which Shark cleaner would be best suited for your needs.

The Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away combines all these features into one package and the latest upright in their product line.

It has the same motor as the Rocket Powered Lift-Away (NV752), but the dual brush system will do better at cleaning larger bits of dirt.

This means it will provide better agitation on both carpet and bare floors, especially large chunks of debris.

All these improvements come at a price, so is it worth the added cost?

A quick look at the features

  • Most advanced Shark upright
  • Now with DuoClean that adds a soft roller to a bristled brush that will help pull in large debris
  • Lift mode provides above-the-floor cleaning on upholstery, stairs, etc.
  • Powered Lift-Away detaches the canister to extend the reach of the cleaning head
  • Anti-allergen seal technology + HEPA filtration will filter 99.99% of dust and allergens
  • LED headlights
  • 5-year warranty

Pros

  • DuoClean brush roll provides excellent agitation on carpets and bare floors
  • Has HEPA filtration (filters out 99.99% of allergens)
  • Versatile – able to clean not just floors but also stairs, upholstery, etc.
  • Great at cleaning large debris
  • Extended warranty (5 years)
  • Better agitation compared to the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away

Cons

  • Most expensive Shark upright
  • Smaller bin compared to the older NV752

What to expect from the latest Shark upright?

Shark calls this their most advanced upright vacuum to date.

It combines all the latest features found in all the other Rotator series products rolled into one.

Similar to the NV752

In terms of features, this product is similar to the Rotator Powered Lift-Away (NV752) that allows you to use the main cleaning head in canister mode.

This new product adds the DuoClean feature that has two motorized brushes – a soft roller and bristle brush that improves agitation.

To see a glimpse of this product, please watch this video recorded by V-Blogger Ibaisaic. You’ll see the features, assembly, and a cleaning test.

According to the review, this vacuum uses an 850-watt motor and an 80-watt power nozzle. The label says that it will consume 33.5 kWh per annum and produce 84.8 decibels of noise.

Filtration is excellent because it got an A-rating. This means that allergens up to 0.3 microns will stay inside the bin, but since this is bagless, there will be some exposure to dust when you empty it.

In terms of performance, it got a C-rating for picking up dust on hard floors and carpet. This is considered above average because the rating is between A and G.

New cleaning head

The most significant upgrade in the DuoClean Powered LiftAway would be the cleaning head.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayCleaningHead

Instead of a bristled brush, it now uses the DuoClean system that combines a soft roller and bristled brush.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayCleaningHead1

Shark added a safety feature in this product not found in older variants. With the cover taken off, this vacuum will not turn on.

Cleaning these two beater bars is easy because it easily pops off. It even comes with a tool that will help cut off wrapped up hair around the bristled brush. It has a grooved part where you can slide the blade to remove any hard wrapped around.

The soft roller brush is washable and will work well, pulling not just large debris but also fine dust on bare floors.

Here’s a view of the cleaning head’s brushes.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayCleaningHead2

Aside from the soft roller and bristled brush, it also has two side brushes for edge cleaning. But you’ll notice that there is a considerable gap on the left side (almost 2 inches) while the right has a little gap.

So this machine will do well in terms of edge cleaning on just one side.

Dirt bin

To remove the dirt bin, press the latch located on the handle. One feature I like is that it has two doors – one at the bottom and another on top.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayBin

This feature makes it easier and less messy to empty dust that clings on the plastic shell.

It does have a smaller bin compared to the LiftAway NV752 (0.9 vs. 1.4 dry quarts).

Washable filter and HEPA filter

Under the dust bin are two washable filters that Shark recommends to wash every three months. Remember that the interval will also depend on the environment around you. If you live in a dusty area, the frequency may increase.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayFilter

It has two pre-motor filters – one made from sponge and others from felt. These two are washable.

Tip: Buy an extra filter so that you are still able to use the vacuum while waiting for the other filters to dry up.

It also comes with a post-motor HEPA filter.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayHEPA

Shark says that this filter is also washable but not as often – just once every nine months or so.

Handle and control

At the handle, there is a slide switch that toggles between carpet and hard floor. Below it is a suction control lever that allows you to control airflow and regulate suction.

There are three settings: hard floor, low pile, and high pile carpet. In the hard floor setting, only the soft roller is spinning while the primary brush roll does not. The carpet mode has the two brushes spinning with variances in airflow, depending on whether it’s on the high pile or low pile setting.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayControls

The Duo Clean head works better on rugs because the dual brush system pushes the cleaning head forward, so there will be no issues when cleaning lighter area rugs.

Swivel steering

Even in upright mode, moving this vacuum around the furniture will be easy thanks to the swivel steering.

It won’t be as flexible as a Dyson, but it up for it with the Lift-Away feature.

In this mode, you can use it as a canister vacuum to clean areas like this.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayUnderFurniture

Not many uprights can boast of a reach like this though Bissell has copied this design in their new products. The narrow cleaning head will be better at navigating around tight spots, so you don’t need to move furniture as much.

LED headlights

Another neat feature is the LED headlights that will help track down almost invisible dust and dirt hardwood and low lighted areas under furniture.

Stair cleaning

One of the toughest areas to clean at home is the stair area. Depending on your home’s design, it would be impossible to clean these areas using an upright or stick.

But the DuoClean Powered LiftAway made this possible in canister mode with the hose detached from the wand and attached directly on the powered floor tool.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayStairCleaning

Not even a Dyson upright has this versatility. Okay, maybe the V8 Absolute can do it, but it’s cordless, and this vacuum is much cheaper.

What comes inside the box?

Shark comes with a bevy of tools that will clean virtually any area inside your home and vehicle.

  • Pet Multi-tool
  • Duster crevice tool
  • Under appliance wand
  • Pet power brush
  • Accessory bag (to store these)

Bare Floor Cleaning

The older Shark Rotator Powered LiftAway came with a separate tool for bare floors. This one does not because it already has the dual brush feature with the soft roller upfront.

Can this new floor tool pick up well, or is it just hype?

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayBarefloorBefore 1

The mess you see has dust, dog biscuits, rice, all the nasty stuff that you’ll likely encounter daily.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayBarefloorAfter 1

After a single back and forth pass, it was able to pick up nearly 100% of all the dirt scattered on the tile. Agitation is good that it even picked up debris on grout.

The soft roller did a great job pulling dirt towards the inlet and not snowplow it. It makes it much more efficient in terms of cleaning larger debris compared to a traditional floor tool with a low profile opening.

Carpet Cleaning

Will the DuoClean system of Shark be effective at cleaning up a big mess on carpet?

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayCarpetBefore

After a single pass, here’s how it looks afterward.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayCarpetAfterOnePass

Agitation is pretty impressive as it was able to pick up the massive pile of a mess after just a single pass.

The soft roller brush did an excellent job of picking up the large clumps of dirt, something that a bristled brush may leave behind.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayCarpetCleaning

Its floor tool also has a higher opening thanks to the roller, so larger bits of dirt will not plow forward.

Pet Hair

The DuoClean system will work well, picking up pet hair on bare floor or carpet. And with the ability to attach the handle directly to the main cleaning head, it wouldn’t have difficulty cleaning pet hair on carpeted stairs.

It also comes with a “Pet Powered Brush” that will work well, picking up pet hair on fabric upholstery. It does not have a motor (only air-driven).

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayPetPoweredBrush

The tool did an excellent job picking up pet hair on the ottoman chair, but most of it wrapped around the brush.

SharkDuoCleanPoweredLiftAwayPetBrushAfter

This is a common problem with tools such as these, but cleaning it is easy since it’s easy to open. So you’ll have easy access just in case you need to deep clean.

Product Specifications

AttachmentsPet Multi-Tool

Duster Crevice Tool

Pet Power Brush

Under Appliance Wand

Accessory Bag
Brush roll on/offNo
Cord Length30 feet
Net weight15 pounds
Shipping weight23.3 pounds
Cleaning path11.9"
Overall length46.1"
Filter typeWashable
Dust capacity0.9 dry quarts
Voltage850 watts
Manufactured inChina
Warranty5 years

Consumer Reviews

Three things consumers like – (1) versatility, (2) power, and (3) lightweight. Based on current reviews, Shark has changed the way consumers thought about uprights.

A lot of upright vacuums are heavy, bulky, and only clean floors. Even if some of these have a hose and wand, it usually is short and unusable beyond cleaning the sofa.

When you combine the “Powered Lift-Away” feature with the DuoClean technology, you’ll get a vacuum that is both versatile and a great cleaner.

It may not match brands like Miele or Rainbow in terms of power, but the versatility makes up for it. And consumers love this versatility.

I’d call this the Dyson of the upright vacuums because of the level of interchangeability.

It has enough tools to clean nearly every nook and cranny of your home. You can remove the handle from the wand and attach it directly to the floor tool. This tool allows you to clean carpeted stairs.

Assembly is easy thanks to the locking mechanism that clicks. Build quality is reliable, and the instruction manual is easy to follow.

One consumer complained about the narrow cleaning path that he measured at 9 inches. But a small head would mean it would fit in tighter areas better at the expense of coverage.

Another review said that this didn’t perform as well on carpet as a Dyson Cinetic that produces much more power. But remember, the Shark is much cheaper and more versatile, so this negates the performance difference.

You may need to empty more often because it has a smaller bin compared to the previous Rotator variant.

Does the Shark DuoClean NV803 provide good value?

When it comes to value for money, the Shark DuoClean NV803 provides a lot to the table. In my opinion, the DuoClean system is one of the best at picking up dirt thanks to the soft roller and bristle brush combo that not only picks up large debris but also cleans fine dust. No other upright has this type of versatile when it comes to cleaning floors. It may not be as potent as a Dyson Ball Animal 2 when it comes to deep cleaning carpet, but it blows it away when it comes to cleaning hard floors. The powered lift-away feature allows it to clean areas other upright vacuums cannot, such as spaces under the bed or sofa. And when you consider that this upright cheaper than other higher-end options such as the Miele U2 and Dyson Cinectic Ball makes it a compelling choice thanks to its superb cleaning performance all around.

4 Reasons why you should consider the Shark DuoClean NV803

  1. Excels at cleaning small to large debris: The DuoClean head of the NV803 does well at picking up surface dirt regardless if its carpet or hard floor. Not only will it pick up significant bits of trash, but it’ll also dust the floors and pick up bits of sand.
  2. Reasonably priced: It’s priced in between entry-level and high-end upright options around the $260 range, which is a bargain, in my opinion, considering the versatility and its ability to clean.
  3. Fully sealed filtration: The NV803 is one of the cheapest options with a sealed system. If this is a concern for you, then this upright is an excellent option.
  4. Extended warranty: Shark offers a 5-year warranty on all their upright vacuums.

The Shark DuoClean NV803 is available in Amazon, but only as a renewed product. You can opt for their newer options like the Shark APEX DuoClean or the APEX DuoClean with Zero-M if you have pets.

Take note that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I will earn a commission, but at no additional cost to you, so it’s a win-win.

To Wrap Up

Shark has done it again with the DuoClean Powered LiftAway. They’ve managed to improve an already excellent product with the Rotator NV752 by adding the dual brush system in the main cleaning head.

This technology improves agitation on bare floors and carpets. It will clean not just fine particles of dirt but also large chunks. The soft roller brush does a good job pulling dirt towards the inlet and not snowplow.

It’s so good that Shark tells consumers to remove any wires because it will try to pick it up. That’s how good the agitation is.

Filtration is also excellent thanks to the “Anti Allergen Complete Seal” and post-motor HEPA filter. All filters are washable, so you may want to buy an extra set to avoid any downtime waiting for it to dry.

A Lightweight Upright That Is Excellent At Cleaning Floors
  • Ergonomics - 92%
    92%
  • Surface Cleaning - 95%
    95%
  • Quality - 91%
    91%
  • Design - 94%
    94%
  • Value - 93%
    93%
93%

Summary

The Shark NV803 DuoClean is an excellent option for people looking for an upright that can clean lots of dirt on carpet and hard floors. It has the DuoClean system which is one of the best at picking up surface dirt regardless of size and quantity. The powered lift away system and the attachments give this product a lot of reach and versatility. Not only will it clean floors, but it can also clean upholstery and stairs. It’s a less costly option than a Dyson upright and will do much better on bare floor – a compelling reason enough for me to consider this.

Recommended Reading

About the author: Garrick, the visionary behind Cordless Vacuum Guide, brings over a decade of hands-on expertise in cordless vacuum testing to his insightful reviews showcased on this platform. Beyond his passion for empowering consumers with informed choices, he cherishes precious moments with his family, exploring global cuisines and exploring different horizons with his beloved wife and son. Follow him on Youtube, Tiktok, Facebook, and Instagram.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Laurie Jan 13, 2018 @ 23:08

    I am looking at purchasing this vacuum, but on Shark.com they only have the NV 800 available. I cannot find any comparison to the NV 803. Do you know?

  • Kara Onativia Oct 6, 2019 @ 11:17

    So when they break, what is the most common part that breaks down?