Samsung vs Shark Vacuum Cleaners

Samsung and Shark are two of the best-known names in UK cordless and upright vacuums. Samsung's line runs from the Jet 65 Pet VS15A60AGR5 at £249 to the Jet 90 Pro VS20R9049T3 at £499, with the Jet 85 Pet VS20C8522TN at £349 and the Bespoke Jet Plus Pet VS20B95823W at £491 in between. Shark is cheaper across the board, with the Lift-Away NV602UK at £129, the NV602UKT True Pet upright at £229, the IZ202UK cordless at £249 and the Stratos IZ400UKT Pet Pro at £279.

Samsung's main selling points are its digital inverter motor, Jet Cyclone technology and WiFi control through SmartThings, with the Bespoke Jet Plus offering 60 minutes of run time. Shark's signature features are PowerFins, which keep the brush bar in contact with the floor, and Anti Hair Wrap technology that removes hair as you clean. Its Lift-Away design lets the canister detach for stairs and furniture, and the Stratos adds Anti-Odour Technology, Flexology and Clean Sense IQ. Samsung has more smart features, while Shark's hair handling is the stronger of the two.

Samsung suits a flat or a family home with mixed floors, where a cordless machine with a 60-minute run time avoids trailing a cable between rooms. Shark suits households with long-haired pets or where hair wraps around brushes is a daily problem, since Anti Hair Wrap and PowerFins target that issue directly. The Lift-Away uprights suit homes that clean carpets and stairs in one session, while the IZ202UK at £249 brings Shark's hair technology into a cordless body.

Bottom line: choose Samsung if you want smart WiFi control, a cordless machine with up to 60 minutes of run time and a five-year motor warranty, with prices from £249 to £499. Choose Shark if pet hair and hair wrap are your main problem and you want a lower entry point, with prices from £129 to £279.