Shark Vertex Cordless Review (IZ462H)

The biggest issue with the previous Duo Clean models is their inability to resist hair tangles. It was a concern for the Shark ION P50, which couldn’t even pick up shorter five-inch strands.

Shark aims to address these concerns with the redesigned Duo Clean head in the new Vertex (IZ462H). In place of the stubby, stiff bristles, Shark replaced it with “PowerFins” or silicone fins that supposedly have better agitation and tangle resisting properties.

I’ve spent the past few days testing it to determine whether these claims are valid.

Introduction to the Shark Vertex Cordless IZ462H

The Duo Clean nozzle was one of the best innovations in the last five years. It changed the way people looked at vacuuming hard floors, proving that strong suction isn’t a prerequisite for such.

However, that technology isn’t perfect and has some issues. The first and the most annoying would be hair tangles. Cleaning was a chore as the standard brush can’t repel tangles even from shorter strands.

PowerFins

Shark address this with the new “PowerFins” upgrade, consisting of silicone blades around the roller. Another enhancement is these soft bristles, which I believe are there for picking up stuff like dust.

The Blue arrow points to the “PowerFins” upgrade Shark put in the Vertex line.

If you look closely at the brush, the fins and bristles alternate each other in rows. The goal of Shark here is to provide better agitation with the silicone fins doing the work of the traditional stiff bristles you’ll see in other brands.

Another benefit of these fins is their ability to resist hair tangles. I’ve tested it on hair strands as long as 12 inches, and the results were superb (more in this section).

This feature works in conjunction with these combs (or teeth) above to untangle hair.

Please note that you may need to run it on carpet mode for a minute or two to remove hair wrapping on the brush.

Multi-Flex

The Vertex IZ462H retains the Multi-Flex system found in older Shark stick vacuums such as the ION Flex. It’s a patented feature from Shark designed to reach deep under furniture. Cleaning this zone is a challenge, even for the lightest stick vacuums.

Transitioning between stick and flex is done by pushing this lever. Going back to stick mode is done by straightening it back to its original form.

Another benefit of Flex is storage. Most stick vacuums will rely on a wall-mountable dock or stand for vertical storage. This vacuum does not. Upon pushing the level, users can fold it until it locks in place.

Folding it cuts the vertical space in half. Hence storing this in a cabinet is possible.

Dustbin design and capacity

It may not look massive, but the Vertex’s dustbin can hold more dirt than most other stick vacuums – at 1.28 liters. Not the biggest, but larger than most cordless vacuums.

I like that it’s detachable, making it easier to clean thoroughly.

There’s a lever to open the dustbin. The wide opening makes it easy to empty, but the hair will wrap around this middle component, so just a heads up.

There are three filters – a foam and felt before the motor and a post-motor HEPA filter.

The Vertex has a sealed system, and I didn’t see any noticeable leaks during the fog test. So it’s an improvement over the Shark ION P50 that leaked.

The Vertex has a HEPA filter located inside the motor. It’s easy to pull out, and according to Shark, it’s washable.

Egonomics and handheld usability

One feature I like with the Shark ION P50 is the light handheld weight with the motor close to the base. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case with the Vertex, as the motor and dustbin are at the handle, like a traditional stick vacuum.

Moving it up increases the handle weight up to 1.83 kgs or 4.03 lbs. Another negative is the body length in handheld mode. It’s almost as long as a V11 Torque Drive.

The chunky frame doesn’t make it ideal for handheld use since this vacuum is biased (designed-wise) towards cleaning floors.

Tools out of the box

You’ll get these three attachments out of the box.

1. Crevice tool
2. Combination tool (brush and upholstery)
3. Underappliance wand.

My favorite undoubtedly is the under-appliance wand, as it’s the only tool I’ve tested capable of cleaning this area in my home.

The clearance of this drawer is less than 5 inches – very low for most attachments, except for this tool.

I was hoping to get the full-sized version, but this is better than nothing.

Removable battery

Users will get one detachable battery with a claimed run time of 60 minutes with non-powered tools in its default setting.

I tested it, and the IZ462H exceeded these claims by nine minutes. However, that figure is cut by half if the main nozzle is attached. I’ll share the results of the run time tests in the next section.

Fortunately, doubling the run time is possible since extra batteries are available.

It also scores plus points for practicality since you can charge it separately. So users can keep one battery on standby while using the other one attached to the vacuum.

How long does the Shark Vertex cordless IZ462H run?

The Shark Vertex has three power modes – normal, carpet, and max. There isn’t much difference between the standard and carpet modes in terms of airflow. However, the brush roll spins more rapidly, increasing agitation on carpet. As I’ve said earlier, this will also help to untangle hair wrapping on the brush.

Here are the results of my experiments with the main nozzle:

• Hard floor mode: 36:42 mins
• Carpet mode: 22:58 mins

These figures are better than the Shark ION P50, but not by much. Decent figures for cleaning high-traffic areas are still lacking compared to stick vacuums like the Lupe Pure, Dyson V11 Outsize, V11 Torque Drive, and Tineco Pure One S12.

Here are the results with the crevice tool:

• Hard floor mode: 69:50 mins

If you’re using any of the non-powered tools, keep it at the default setting as there won’t be any significant bump in power moving the switch to carpet mode. Pull the max lever if there’s a need for it.

How much power does the Shark Vertex Cordless have?

Another claim Shark made is “Hyper Velocity,” enabling this vacuum to have the “strongest suction” of any cordless stick.

To put that theory to the test, I measured airflow both at the cleaning head and extension wand, and here are the results.

First, here are the results at the nozzle.

• Hard floor mode: 28.76 CFM
• Carpet mode: 29.64 CFM
• Max (hard floor): 36 CFM
• Max (carpet): 37.87 CFM

Results at the extension tube:

• Hard floor mode: 29.63 CFM
• Carpet mode: 29.97 CFM
• Max (hard floor): 52.53 CFM
• Nax (carpet): 53.11 CFM

The difference between hard floor and carpet modes is too small to matter. As I’ve said earlier, the brush roll will spin faster in carpet mode. For extra suction, you’ll need to pull a lever.

I’m not sure why Shark didn’t put a dedicated max setting on the slide switch. They must have been confident that the agitation was good enough without more airflow assistance.

My preference is to have a dedicated setting, if the need arises, to avoid continually pulling a lever.

Cleaning performance

Next, we’ll look at how well the Shark Vertex Cordless handles different debris types – from quaker oats to heavy debris like sand.

Here are the results:

• Overall: 98.4%
• Hard floor: 99.35%
• Sand on hard floor: 99.7%
• Carpet: 99.87%
• Deep cleaning: 94.7%

One surprise during these tests is the higher pick-up on carpet than on hard surfaces. It was a surprise for me since Duo Clean’s design is meant for better performance on hard surfaces. As such, this is a pleasant surprise as the PowerFins did its job.

Hard floor results

• Quaker oats: 99.4%
• Coffee grounds: 98.4%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 99.6%

I was expecting more from this vacuum on this surface, but the scores are still excellent. It picked up in the high-90s on all tests. Please note that I didn’t use the max setting on any of these debris types, only the default setting.

You can see from the before and after photos that the Duo Clean nozzle did the job at picking up dirt.

The front roller did throw some stuff forward, but it wasn’t anything substantial.

Sand on hard floor

Another area the Duo Clean excels at is cleaning sand on hard floors. It picked up an average of 99.7% – one of the best scores of all cordless vacuums for hard floors.

And it picked up most of it in the forward pass. This shows you how efficient it is at debris pick up, even with heavy debris like sand.

Hair wrap test on hard floors

Normally for stick vacuums, I’d do two tests – one for five-inch strands and another for seven-inch hair, but that’s it. In most instances, a good chunk of hair will wrap on the brush by the seven-inch test.

But I needed to find out if these “PowerFins” can actually keep hair from tangling on the brush.

The Duo Clean brush roll after the five-inch test.Hardly any hair wrapped on the brush.

Next, we’ll look at the brush roll after the seven-inch test.

After the nine-inch test, there was no visible hair wrapping on the brush, which is already impressive.

Here’s a close look after the eleven-inch test. A few strands were wrapping on it, but it was easy to pull out.

Lastly, the brush after the twelve-inch test.

One potential trouble spot would be the small side wheels on both ends—hair wrapped on this area during the test.

The Duo Clean exceeded expectations. Almost nothing wrapped in both the initial experiments, so I decided to push the envelope.

Here are the complete results.

• Five-inch strands: 100% inside the dustbin, 0% around the brush
• Seven-inch strands (1.27 grams): 99.05%  inside the dustbin, 0.05% around the brush
• Nine-inch strands (1.21 grams): 99.5% inside the dustbin, 0.5% around the brush
• Eleven-inch strands (1.76 grams): 97% inside the dustbin, 3% around the brush
• Twelve-inch strands (1.23 grams): 82.9% inside the dustbin 17.1% around the brush

* number in the parenthesis represents the amount of hair scattered on the surface.

I went above, and beyond the one gram of hair I’d normally use for most of these experiments because I want to stress test it to see its limits.

Even with long twelve-inch strands, it still picked up above 82%, which was impressive for any cordless stick vacuum.

These tests show that the “PowerFins” are practical and not just hype.

Edge cleaning

Another evidence of efficient agitation is the edge cleaning test. It picked up nearly all the coffee grounds I scattered in this area around four passes, along with stuff on the quarter-inch crevice. Of course, it needed more to get to the edges, but I like proficiency.

Carpet cleaning

One surprise during the testing phase is how well the Shark Vertex cordless picked up on carpet. It was one of the best scores of all cord-free vacuums I’ve tested, better than the costlier V11 Torque Drive and V10 Absolute based on percentages.

I pulled the Max lever for an extra boost after the initial passes, contributing to the high score.

But the ability to clean debris well on this surface is a massive bonus for consumers looking for something cheaper than a Dyson.

Low pile results

• Quaker oats: 99.2%
• Coffee grounds: 99.8%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

There are high scores across the board, even with fine coffee grounds, which most stick vacuums struggle picking up.

You can see in the photos above; it only left a minimal trail for coffee grounds, which confirms the high score.

Mid pile results

• Quaker oats: 100%
• Coffee grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

Picking up 100% across the board on a thicker pile carpet is impressive for a non-premium cordless stick vacuum. This vacuum pulled it off thanks to the superior agitation, despite the average airflow.

Deep cleaning results

The biggest chink in the old Duo Clean’s armor is its inability to deep clean carpet well. This is no longer the case with the new Shark Vertex Cordless.

It picked up an average of 93.85% on two tests in the default carpet setting! Yes, it’s not a misprint. The score isn’t far off other brands like the Tineco A11 and Dyson V8. However, the difference is, the Vertex didn’t need the extra suction boost.

So it’s a more practical option for cleaning carpets if options like the Dyson V11 Torque Drive or Outsize are too expensive.

The number goes up to 96.4% in the max setting. But you’ll have to pull the lever continually for the extra suction.

Hair wrap on carpet

Next, look at how well the Shark Vertex is cordless picking hair on carpet.

Some photos for your reference. First, a close-up look after the five-inch test.

Here’s a close look after the seven-inch test – still no visible hair showing.

After the nine-inch test where a few strands are wrapping, but still manageable.

This is a shot after the eleven-inch test, similar to that on hard floors where only a few strands are wrapped on the brush.

Lastly, the results on the twelve-inch test with 1.55-grams worth of hair – 50% more than my usual 1-gram test.

Here are the results:

• Five-inch strands: 99% inside the dustbin, 1% around the brush
• Seven-inch strands (1.33 grams): 100% inside the dustbin, 0% around the brush
• Nine-inch strands (1.18 grams): 99.8%  inside the dustbin, 0.2% around the brush
• Eleven-inch strands (1.22 grams): 98.3%  inside the dustbin, 1.7% around the brush
• Twelve-inch strands (1.55 grams): 82.5%  inside the dustbin 17.5% around the brush
• Twelve-inch strands (1.13 grams): 91% inside the dustbin 9% around the brush

* number in the parenthesis represents the amount of hair scattered on the surface.

Again, impressive results considering the amount of hair involved. I’d typically use only one gram since it’s the limit for most cordless vacuums and, thus, a good benchmark.

You’ll notice there are two twelve-inch tests. I purposely did a second experiment to see how much the Duo Clean head would pick up if I reduced the quantity, and it got more!

These tests show the ability of the “PowerFins” and the combs to prevent hair wrapping on the brush.

How noisy is the Shark Vertex IZ462H?

One downside with the increased agitation and silicone fins is the noise it produces.

First, let’s look at the results of the sound meter test (with the cleaning head attached).

• Hard floor: 76.3 dB
• Carpet: 78.9 dB
• Max: 80.8 dB

Next are the results with the crevice tool in handheld mode.

• Hard floor: 77.4 dB
• Carpet: 78 dB
• Max: 80.2 dB

It breached the 75-decibel mark in all the settings and over 80 decibels at the max. So it’s not something you’d want to use a night in an apartment complex or condominium.

Availability of Parts

There aren’t many options for parts like the filter being a newer model in Shark’s line-up. I searched “Shark Vertex Cordless” on Amazon and got only results from the upright version. If you want to purchase filters, add the model number “IZ462H” to drill down further.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find batteries on Amazon, so you’ll have to purchase them directly from Shark’s website.

Product Specifications

Where can I buy the Shark Vertex Cordless IZ462H?

You can purchase this versatile stick vacuum in online stores like Amazon. Check the links below for more information and the latest pricing.

• Shark Vertex Cordless on Amazon
• Shark Vertex Cordless on Shark’s online store

Disclaimer: I’ll earn a commission if you purchase through the link above, but at no extra cost to you, so it’s a win-win for us!

Does the Shark Vertex Cordless IZ462H offer good value?

A resounding yes! The lower cost alone makes the Vertex IZ462H an attractive option for consumers looking for high-end cleaning performance from a mid-priced vacuum.

It doesn’t have the same deep-cleaning ability as a Dyson, but it makes up for it with better ergonomics at a fraction of the cost. This product is one of the best cord-free vacuums at this price range for cleaning debris, plus it passed the fog test – something that the ION P50 didn’t achieve.

5 Reasons to buy the Shark Vertex IZ462H cordless.

1. Resists tangles even from long strands of hair: It was the best from all the stick vacuums I’ve tested at picking up long strands of hair.
2. Above-average deep cleaning: The “PowerFins” provided enough agitation picking up over 93% of sand in deep cleaning tests at the default carpet setting. Impressive results!
3. Large capacity dustbin: It may not look the part, but this vacuum can hold up to 1.28 liters of dirty dirt at the fill line.
4. Sealed system: Three filters and excellent seals all around provides a sealed filtration system that works, as evidenced by the fog test.
5. Under appliance wand: My absolute favorite tool of the bunch. It will fit under shallow clearance furniture (below two inches).

The Verdict: Hype Is Real, The PowerFins Work!

Before reviewing, I always try to put my biases aside and base what I say on data. The Shark Vertex IZ462H made some big claims; for the most part, it delivered on those boasts with real-world performance.

The “PowerFins” upgrade is a revelation in my tests and enables this cordless stick vacuum to be the best at picking up long hair strands, better than the more expensive V11 Outsize.

Another benefit of this technology is better agitation on both surface and dirt tucked deep down carpet strands. Again, it’s not as good as other premium brands, but certainly in line with other more expensive “mid-price” options like the Dyson V8 in its default carpet setting.

The sealed system and self-standing feature sealed (no pun intended) the deal for me as it provides practicality not found in more traditional stick vacuums.

Sure, there are downsides, like the average run time (in stick vacuum mode), chunk frame, and less-than-ideal steering, but like in everything else, compromises must be made when purchasing products like this.