Shark released a newer version of the Vertex cordless stick vacuum – the IZ682H Pro variant with the new digital display on the handle.
It’s an upgraded model over the Vertex IZ462H, one of Shark’s first releases with the enhanced DuoClean nozzle with “power fins.”
What are the upgrades in the IZ682? And are these worth the premium over the older IZ462H?
I’ve put this product through a grueling series of tests to find out, so let’s get into it.
Are the Upgrades Worth the Higher Cost?
- Ergonomics - 94%94%
- Surface Cleaning - 99.66%100%
- Deep Cleaning - 92.75%93%
- Quality - 96%96%
- Design - 96%96%
- Value - 95%95%
Summary
The IZ682H Vertex Pro is Shark’s latest product with a foldable wand. This model has the same DuoClean nozzle with the combs and the plastic fins, helping it resist hair tangles better than the older design. Surprisingly, this model has weaker airflow than the older IZ462H, only making out at 48.25CFM, but (surprisingly) has better pick-up because of the reconfigured bristle layout.
Pros
- Improved agitation over the previous Vertex model
- Extended run time (over 100 minutes)
- Large dustbin capacity (1.28 liters)
- Above-average at cleaning long hair strands
- The twin battery dock will charge two batteries simultaneously
- Redesigned handled control offers more convenience and usability
Cons
- Extremely noisy
- Expensive
- Lower airflow impedes deep cleaning performance
- The bulky nozzle will not fit in tight areas
Jump to: Introduction, Run Time, Power, Cleaning Performance, Noise, Specs, Where to Buy, Value Option, The Verdict
Introduction to the Shark IZ682H Vertex Pro
Shark has introduced several innovations over the past five years.
First, the ION Flex series with the foldable wand had two functions – clean deep underneath furniture and self-stand without the assistance of a dock, helping consumers save space.
That line also introduced the Duo Clean nozzle, combining a soft roller and standard brush roll attachment into one nozzle.
It’s a patented technology you won’t see in other brands.
However, it had one issue – hair wrap on the rear brush, which can be tedious to clean.
Shark addressed this issue with the Vertex series, tweaking the second brush by adding “fins” and combs above it.
These enhancements did the trick, as the Shark Vertex is one of the best cordless stick vacuums I’ve reviewed for cleaning long hair strands.
But it’s not perfect, so this model aims to address some issues like the short-range and old-tech switch that requires consumers to pull a lever to access the max setting.
First, let’s go through the features of the Vertex Pro IZ682H.
New Handle Interface
One of the most significant upgrades in the Vertex Pro is the new handle controls featuring a three-button interface with an interactive screen showing the battery status in real-time.
It’s a more refined interface, providing better control with suction and agitation since these are toggled separately. In contrast, the older Vertex only has three modes – hard floor, carpet, and the max setting (you’ll need to pull a lever).
Since it uses buttons, there’s no need to squeeze a lever to engage the max setting, which is helpful in its handheld configuration.
Duo Clean Nozzle w/”Powerfins”
This model retains the same Duo Clean nozzle as the older IZ462H with the two brush roll system, fins, and combs above it to untangle hair.
I’ve compared the two Vertex nozzles side-by-side and noticed little difference.
There are variations with the bristle placement as the Vertex Pro utilizes a V-shaped alignment flanked by fins in front and behind it.
More bristles increase “agitation surface area,” improving its debris pick-up a tiny bit over the older Vertex (more later).
It retains the LED headlights helping illuminate the path ahead. Unfortunately, it’s not as effective as the Dyson V15 or the V12’s green laser with tracking dust.
Twin Battery Charger
In my opinion, this is one of the better upgrades Sharked introduced. Instead of utilizing a plug, Shark used a dock with slots for two batteries – yes, the Vertex Pro comes with two detachable batteries.
There are four suction-cup-like legs, so it won’t move or slide around while charging.
Smaller Battery Capacity
Surprisingly, the Vertex Pro uses a smaller battery (2350 vs. 2450 mAh) but runs longer than the older Vertex. Why? It has less airflow across the board. Hence it uses a weaker motor.
This downsizing is meant to improve run time since the Duo Clean nozzle is highly efficient at picking up surface dirt and, with the brush tweaks, is better than the Older Vertex nozzle (based on tests).
Unfortunately, the Vertex and Vertex Pro batteries aren’t interchangeable.
Dustbin and Filtration
The Vertex Pro retains the same dustbin capacity as the older Vertex at 1.28 liters, one of the largest among cordless stick vacuums I’ve reviewed.
It has a trap door mechanism underneath for emptying debris, but unlike Dyson, there’s no mechanism for pushing dirt downward, so it relies on gravity.
You’ll notice the dustbin’s detachability in the photo above, adding to its usability aspect and making it easier to empty.
It has a twin filter system, but unlike other brands where these are in different locations, Shark’s filters are stacked on top of each other.
The HEPA is the top part (and thinner filter), helping it block allergens from seeping through the exhaust. Underneath is the thicker foam filter, protecting the HEPA from getting soiled directly from debris.
Here’s how it looks after the fog and cleaning experiments.
Not bad, considering I’ve put this vacuum through a grueling series of cleaning experiments with different debris types.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a fully sealed dustbin, and there was a slight leak during the fog test.
It’s not a full-blown leak where the fog was gushing out the exhaust, only a tiny one.
Tools and Accessories
While the Shark Vertex Pro is designed to clean floors, it has some versatility with three external handheld tools.
- Combo crevice and brush tool
- Upholstery tool (with an add-on brush)
- Under-appliance tool
- Dual charging dock
Foldable Wand
Shark pioneered the foldable extension tube, which has two functions – (1) cleaning areas under furniture and (2) vertical storage.
This feature has been a staple in most new releases, including the Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away.
How long does the Shark IZ682H Vertex Pro run?
Despite using a smaller battery, the IZ682H runs longer than the Vertex.
One reason is the smaller motor, evidenced by the lower airflow output (more below).
I tested this Shark cordless stick vacuum in all the settings in hard floor and carpet modes.
Even with the Duo Clean nozzle, it was excellent, maxing out at 50 minutes in the lowest setting and topping at over 100 minutes with the extra battery.
Hard Floor Mode
- Low: 50:21 mins
- Mid: 39:40 mins
- Max: 26:10 mins
Carpet Mode
- Low: 47:14 mins
- Mid: 28:29 mins
- Max: 11: 18 mins
The results in the middle setting are also impressive – close to 40 minutes on hard floors and 30 minutes on carpets.
Again, these figures double to 80 and 60 minutes with the extra battery.
How much airflow does the Shark IZ682H have?
I used an anemometer to check airflow from the extension wand and nozzle. The IZ682H doesn’t have much compared to other cordless stick vacuums in its price range.
One thing to note is that the IZ682H has several settings – three suction settings plus the two floor settings (hard floors and carpets).
Here are the results of the cleaning nozzle.
- Low: 19.74 CFM
- Mid: 22.93 CFM
- Max: 27.76 CFM
And the results at the wand.
- Low: 25.48 CFM
- Mid: 29.64 CFM
- Max: 48.25 CFM
Honestly, these are underwhelming results compared to other cordless stick vacuums in the same price range.
However, this product doesn’t rely on airflow as other brands, thanks to the Duo Clean nozzle.
The tweaks Shark implemented improved its cleaning performance.
One tweak is reconfiguring the bristle layout, employing a V-shaped layout spanning the width of the brush.
It adds more surface area for debris pick-up and is the primary reason (I think) why it’s better than the previous Vertex Cordless.
Cleaning Performance
Next, we’ll look at the meat of this review – cleaning performance, in which the Vertex Pro excelled (mostly with surface debris).
- Overall: 97.93%
- Hard Floors: 99.75%
- Sand on Hard Floors: 99.4%
- Carpets: 99.85%
- Deep Cleaning: 92.75%
It got a higher percentage with most surface debris experiments, picking up 100% in several of these tests.
The bristle tweak helped with agitation and got excellent results despite the low airflow.
Another tweak helping it improve performance is the slower brush rotation in its hard floor setting, so it doesn’t scatter as much debris on the forward pass.
Hard Floor Results
- Quaker Oats: 99.4%
- Coffee Grounds: 99.6%
- Quinoa: 100%
- Pet Litter: 100%
These results are above-average, especially for a low-airflow stick vacuum.
Again, this proves that the Duo Clean nozzle is one of the best at agitation, picking up debris without relying heavily on airflow, unlike other brands like Dyson.
Sand on Hard Floor
The Shark Vertex Pro also did well at vacuuming sand – one of the most challenging items to clean.
Looking at the before and after shots (above), it picked up nearly everything.
Another plus is you can leave it at the lowest setting, and it will have the same results since there’s slight variance with airflow in the low and middle settings.
Edge Cleaning
Cleaning edges is another Shark Vertex Pro strong suit, picking up efficiently in this area.
It needed only a few passes to pick up this much debris, another proof of the Duo Clean’s excellent agitation.
Hair Wrap [Hard Floors]
Next, we’ll examine how well the Shark Vertex Pro picked up hair.
The newer Duo Clean nozzle is miles ahead of the old Duo Clean head because it had an active anti-tangle system to untangle long hair strands, but it wasn’t perfect.
- 5-inch strands: 100%
- 7-inch strands: 100%
- 9-inch strands: 86%
- 11-inch strands: 98%
- 12-inch strands: 88%
You’ll notice it only got 86% of nine-inch hair, but there’s a caveat – I used a large quantity of hair (1.46 grams), which is a lot.
Still, the results between nine and twelve-inch hair are (still)l impressive. Compared to the older Vertex, it picked up more in nearly all the experiments.
Low Pile Results
- Quaker Oats: 100%
- Coffee Grounds: 99%
- Quinoa: 100%
- Pet Litter: 100%
I’m impressed with the Vertex Pro’s agitation on this surface, even with coffee grounds – a debris type most low airflow vacuums struggle to clean.
The 99% score is a bit misleading because a good chunk was left on the chamber connecting the dustbin and frame, so it got more than 99%.
Mid Pile Results
- Quaker Oats: 99.8%
- Coffee Grounds: 100%
- Quinoa: 100%
- Pet Litter: 100%
The Shark Vertex Pro’s results on mid-pile carpet are even more impressive, as it got 100% in three of the four experiments, even with coffee grounds.
Again, this is proof of the Duo Clean nozzle’s highly efficient pick-up, and the eye test confirms it since it didn’t leave trails.
These results are better than the previous Shark Vertex, so it’s something to consider if you’re choosing between these options.
I tried the Vertex on my mom’s plush rug, which was decent, but there are instances where it stalled using the max setting.
This phenomenon is not exclusive to the Shark Vertex Pro, but other high airflow stick vacuums.
Deep Cleaning
Unfortunately, one downside with low airflow is worse deep cleaning performance, which is the case for the Vertex Pro.
It picked up a few percentage points worse than the Shark Vertex (92.75% vs. 94.7%).
This is another potential deciding factor between these Vertex models.
Hair Wrap [Carpets]
The Vertex Pro was better at cleaning hair on carpets than hard floors, picking up a higher percentage between nine and twelve inches.
Perhaps the added friction from the carpet strands helped with dislodging hair from the brush, but it’s a good alternative if you need something to clean pet hair on this surface.
- 5-inch strands: 100%
- 7-inch strands: 100%
- 9-inch strands: 89%
- 11-inch strands: 95%
- 12-inch strands: 85%
How noisy is the Shark IZ682H Vertex Pro?
Despite not having much airflow, the IZ682H is one of the noisiest options, despite the low airflow.
Most of it comes from the Duo Clean nozzle motor to spin the two brushes.
For this experiment, I used a sound meter beside the cordless vacuum in hard floor and carpet mode in the three power settings.
Hard Floor Mode
- Low: 77.1 dB
- Mid: 82.7 dB
- Max: 84 dB
Carpet Mode
- Low: 78.2 dB
- Mid: 84.7 dB
- Max: 89.4 dB
Carpet mode is noisier, maxing at close to 90 decibels in the highest setting, so it’s not something I’d recommend using at night.
Availability of Parts
The SharkClean brand is growing in popularity, so there shouldn’t be any issue with parts availability. But it won’t match Dyson’s third-party support, where you can purchase (just about) any component.
Spare parts will be available directly on SharkClean’s website or Amazon.
I’ve owned multiple Shark products, and it has held up well. Even the batteries haven’t suffered any performance degradation.
One tip I’d give potential owners is to avoid using the max setting for extended stretches.
Product Specifications
Model | Shark IZ682H Vertex Pro |
---|---|
Brush roll on/off | No |
Battery | 25.2-volt 2350 mAh Li-ion battery |
Charging time | 4 hrs. |
Battery life | up to 101 mins. (2 batteries) |
Weight | 8.82 lbs. |
Width | 10" |
Overall length | 46.5" |
Battery indicator | Yes |
Filter type | Washable foam + HEPA filter |
Dust capacity | 1.28 li |
Airflow | Up to 48.25 CFM |
Cordless | Yes |
Bagless | Yes |
Warranty | 5 yrs. (vacuum) 2 yrs. battery |
Price | Check Price |
Where can I purchase the Shark Vertex Pro?
This SharkClean product is available in online stores like Amazon. Check the links below for the latest pricing information.
- Shark Vertex Pro on Amazon
Disclaimer: I’ll earn a commission if you purchase through the link above, but at no extra cost, so it’s a win-win for us!
Does the Shark IZ682H offer excellent value?
Given that this model is recent, its price will be higher than the older Vertex. So, are you willing to spend a premium on it?
The upgrades Shark put in the IZ682H is significant and, more importantly, practical.
Having two detachable batteries with a charging stand for both is beneficial in reducing downtime.
Also, the tweaks with the brush roll help with agitation and will pick up more surface debris.
Unfortunately, its weaker airflow hinders its performance in cleaning embedded debris, so there will be a trade-off.
5 Reasons to purchase the Shark IZ682H Vertex Pro
- Extended run time: With the two batteries, this cordless vacuum can run for over 100 minutes with the Duo Clean nozzle.
- Excellent surface debris pick-up: The tweaked Duo Clean nozzle adds more surface area and picks up surface dirt better than the older Vertex.
- Better control interface: The handle controls provide consumers with better control since it’s possible to adjust the brush speed and suction independently.
- Large dustbin: It has a generous dustbin capacity of 1.28 liters.
- Reaches under furniture: Shark’s bendable extension tube enables the Vertex Pro to reach deep under furniture compared to most brands.
The Verdict: Better Interface, Longer Run Time, Excellent Value
Factoring in all the upgrades Shark put in the Vertex Pro, it’s a potential winner (in my book) for consumers looking for a stick vacuum that’s efficient at cleaning surface debris.
It will be more efficient at debris pick-up and run longer, and the redesigned handle control is easier to use with the three-button layout and interactive screen providing real-time data on the run time status.
However, it’s not perfect. Lowering the power output affects its deep cleaning performance, albeit slightly, but it can be a sticking point for consumers who need to clean carpets or rugs.
It won’t match Dyson’s deep cleaning performance, but its lower cost, larger dustbin, and twin battery setup negate this con.