Shark slipped out its strongest handheld vacuum last month. Quietly. No fanfare.
I’m a fan. Their stuff usually lands in my top lists. So when this drop happened, I had to dig in. The question was simple: is the new Shark PowerBoost Pet actually good? Or just expensive marketing fluff?
Here’s what I found.
In a Nutshell
I lived with it for two weeks. My house is chaos—kids, food, the usual. I grabbed this thing more than expected. It’s light. It sucks up messes that make my main floor vacuum feel cumbersome.
The suction? Punches above its weight. It’s handheld, remember. But it didn’t struggle. Crumbs. Dust. Debris. Gone.
There’s a car detailing kit too. Hose. Little brushes. Honestly? The hose killed the suction power. It was underwhelming. The tiny brushes, however, are clever. Great for keyboards and vents. Precision tools.
But the real star? The motorised hand tool. It’s got a spinning brush roll. On carpets and sofa fabric, it lifted dirt that sitting there said, “I am stuck here.” This attachment saved the experience for me.
Maintenance is simple. One button pops the dust bin open. It swings out. Easy emptying. The bin is small. You’ll empty it often. But it’s fast. No fuss.
How I Tested It
Here are the numbers, because I know you like them:
- Run time: Up to 40 minutes
- Charge time: 4.5 hours
- Bin size: 0.25L
- Weight: 1.13kg (light)
- Price: £229.99
It came in plain cardboard. No plastic. I liked that. Shark usually does packaging right.
The box contents were sparse. The vacuum. A charger. That motorised tool. And the detailing kit.
I clicked the tool onto the vacuum end. It fit. Snapped into place.
The unit itself felt sturdy but light. Charcoal grey with blue accents. It looks expensive.
Two buttons on the back. Power. Mode. Simple.
One quirk. It stands upright on its own. But attach that motorised head, and it tips over. Not a dealbreaker, just… annoying.
I plugged it in. Charged it for about four and a half hours. The display blinked. Done.
On The Ground
My home has three bedrooms and three kids. I vacuum daily. Maybe multiple times a day. I usually use my Dreame V20 Pro. Or the Shark Stratos if I’m feeling nostalgic. For this test? I parked the Stratos. The PowerBoost was the main character.
It has three modes. Auto, Eco, Boost.
Auto mode became my default. Boost drains the battery too fast. Who has time to chase that down every time there’s a spill?
I did a full lap. Hard floors first. Carpets next.
The suction hit me instantly. It wasn’t just pulling; it was grasping. It sucked crumbs from my bar stool legs. You know those places where dust goes to die? The PowerBoost ate it alive.
I switched on that motorised head for the rugs. Big difference. It agitates the fibers. Loosens the dirt. The suction does the rest. It cleaned better than my big stick vacuum did in the same spots.
I did the flour test. Classic review move. Sprinkle white powder on hardwood. Run the vacuum.
Single pass. Most of the flour gone. Clean floor.
Then the carpet flour test. I kept the motorised brush on.
It glided. Effortlessly. Picked up almost everything. I wasn’t expecting that. It worked too well.
Now. The car kit.
I attached the flexible hose. Tried my laptop keyboard. Suction dropped. Immediately.
It pulled some dust out from between the screen and keys. But not enough. I had to double-check. Was it actually sucking?
I tried the wider brush. Slightly better. But not transformative. These small tools aren’t about power. They’re about getting in tight spaces. Keep that in mind.
My car is a disaster. I won’t lie. I hate cleaning it. I put it off forever.
I brought the hose and attachments to the car.
Same issue. The hose restricted the airflow. It picked up light dust. Loose lint. But the heavier debris? The motorised head or the main vacuum unit was needed. The little angle brush was handy under seat belt buckles though. Nifty. Just not a miracle worker.
Keeping It Clean
Emptying it is easy. The bin swings outward. I prefer bins that tip forward. But this works fine. Drop it in the trash. Done.
The filter pulls out. Rinse with water. Wait 24 hours to dry. Simple.
It gets covered in flour and dust inside. Don’t ignore it. Clean it. Or your suction drops.
Replacement filters are cheap. Under £10. You can buy more tools. Wider brushes. Duster attachments.
For £230, I expected more freebies. Maybe another tool. But the accessory list online is good to know. You can expand it later.
The Competition
So. Where does this sit?
The Dyson Car+Boat is the gold standard right now. Great suction. Cleans deep. Costs a fortune. If you have the budget? Buy it. This Shark isn’t Dyson-tier expensive, but it’s close in ambition.
Within Shark’s own line, it’s the step-up model. Better than the WandVac 2.0. Stronger suction. More modes. Larger bin. It is also heavier and more expensive. Trade-off.
Shark has a dedicated Cordless Pet model that gets raves for fur removal. This PowerBoost might win on versatility, though. That motorised head helps with pet hair embedded in rugs. It’s a contender.
Elsewhere? The Gtech Multi Platinum is a legend. Strong suction. Big battery. Bulky. Expensive.
If you just want something featherweight? Look at the Gtech ProLite. It’s lighter. Cheaper. But you need bags. Ongoing cost adds up.
What Others Think
Online, the scores look good.
Shark’s site lists a 4.6 stars from 24 people. Mostly happy customers. They love the suction. The light weight. But read the fine print—many of them got it for free. Bias check? Yeah.
Amazon is slightly colder. 4.5 stars from 19 reviews. Some praise. Some confusion about the price. One guy said it was too expensive for what it is. Fair point. It’s new, so opinions will settle as more real users buy it at full price.
The Verdict
Do you need a Shark PowerBoost?
If your idea of cleaning is sweeping a few crumbs off the counter? Probably not. Get the WandVac. It’s cheaper. Lighter.
But if you want handheld power that actually competes with mid-size messes? This is brilliant.
The motorised tool changes everything. It handles stairs. It digs into upholstery. The three modes give you control.
Yes. The bin is small. Yes. The hose hurts suction. These are trade-offs. I’ll take them for the raw power of the main unit.
It didn’t replace my full-size vacuum. I still need the big one for deep cleaning the whole house. But for quick strikes? For the kitchen floor after dinner? For the sofa before guests arrive?
I grabbed this thing constantly. It sat there ready to go.
Maybe it’s not the most exciting tool ever built. But in a chaotic home? Reliability matters. Power matters.
It earned its place in my hallway. Right next to the mop. Where it belongs. 🦈
