Shark WANDVAC WV200 Review

For those in search of a compact and convenient cleaning solution, the Shark WANDVAC WV200 series presents itself as a notable contender. This cordless handheld vacuum aims to transform how you approach small messes, offering a seamless blend of modern style and practical functionality. With its design specifically tailored for smaller living spaces, the Shark WANDVAC WV200 aspires to become your indispensable tool for swift cleaning tasks, whether at home or in your car. Before making a decision, a thorough exploration of its capabilities and potential limitations is essential.

While the sleek aesthetics and lightweight construction of the Shark WANDVAC WV200 may immediately grab your attention, it’s important to determine if its actual performance truly justifies the hype. Does its cleaning capability live up to its visual appeal? Are its features genuinely practical for the demands of everyday use? This comprehensive shark wandvac wv200 review will meticulously examine every aspect of this handheld vacuum, from its detailed specifications and features to its performance across various surfaces, empowering you to make a well-informed decision. Furthermore, it will be compared against similar products in the market to assess its value and functionality in a broader context.

The Shark WANDVAC WV200 strives to achieve a delicate balance between user convenience and effective cleaning power, but the question remains: does it truly succeed? Let’s delve into an in-depth analysis to determine if this compact cleaner is the ideal fit for your specific needs.

Product Specifications/Features

The Shark WANDVAC WV200 series includes a range of models, each distinguished by subtle differences in included accessories and unique color schemes. Let’s take a closer look at the key elements that define this vacuum, from its design and maintenance to its storage solutions and performance metrics.

Models and Variants

The Shark WANDVAC is offered in a variety of models, each distinguished by a unique color and a specific set of accessories to enhance its versatility.

• WV200/WV200C: As the base model, the WV200 is available in Graphite and comes with a crevice tool and upholstery cleaner, providing essential tools for everyday cleaning tasks. It’s worth noting that the WV200C designation is exclusive to the Canadian market.
• WV201: Presented in Slate, this model enhances the cleaning experience by including a duster crevice tool and an accessory storage rack conveniently located on the charging station.
• WV201BLBRN: This Cove-colored variant mirrors the accessory set of the WV201, featuring a duster crevice tool, upholstery cleaner, and an accessory storage rack, ensuring you have all the necessary tools at your fingertips.
• WV201GDBRN: Sporting a luxurious Gold finish, this model offers the same accessory configuration as the WV201, providing consistency in functionality and convenience.
• WV201RGBRN: Dressed in an elegant Rose Gold hue, this version also includes the duster crevice tool, upholstery cleaner, and accessory storage rack, combining style with practicality.
• WV270UK: Functionally similar to the Wandvac 1.0, this model distinguishes itself by offering a slightly extended runtime of up to 15 minutes, justifying its higher price point with enhanced endurance.

Design and Build Quality

The Shark WANDVAC WV200 boasts a robust hard plastic body, lending it a solid and dependable feel. Its sleek, modern design features a consistent black and silver color palette, making it an aesthetically pleasing addition to your cleaning equipment. The handle is carefully designed to ensure comfortable use, even during extended cleaning sessions. Crafted from high-quality plastic, the vacuum exudes durability, assuring a long-lasting cleaning companion. Furthermore, the attachments are equally well-constructed, securely attaching to the vacuum for enhanced reliability.

User Maintenance

Maintaining the Shark WANDVAC WV200 is a straightforward process, ensuring it remains in optimal condition with minimal effort:

• Dirt Compartment: The dirt compartment is easily removable via a convenient release button, streamlining the emptying process. It is recommended to empty the compartment after each use to maintain optimal performance. Washing it with water and detergent is a great way to keep it clean and hygienic.
• Filters: The fabric filter is strategically located in the pre-filter housing inside the dustbin, simplifying access for cleaning. To clean it, simply tap it to dislodge any loose debris or wash it gently under water. Regular cleaning of the filter is essential to uphold optimal suction power and cleaning effectiveness.
• Drying: After washing any parts with water, it’s crucial to ensure they are completely dry (at least 24 hours) before reassembling. This step prevents moisture-related issues and ensures the longevity of your Shark WANDVAC WV200.

Recurring Costs

One of the notable advantages of the Shark WANDVAC WV200 is its impressively low recurring costs, making it an economically sound cleaning solution. As long as you diligently maintain the fabric filter, frequent replacements should not be necessary. However, should the need arise, replacement filters are readily available for purchase on Shark’s official website, ensuring your vacuum’s continued performance.

Storage

The Shark WANDVAC WV200 is thoughtfully designed with storage convenience in mind, addressing the needs of users with limited space:

• Dimensions: With a height of 15.16 inches (38.5 cm), a width of 4.13 inches (10.5 cm), and a depth of 9.06 inches (23.0 cm), its compact size allows for easy storage in even the tightest of spaces.
• Charging Station: The low-profile standup charging station not only securely holds the vacuum upright but also incorporates space for storing tools and accessories, maximizing organization and accessibility.

Those with limited storage space will particularly appreciate the compact charging dock and sleek design, making it an attractive addition to any room.

Dirt Compartment

The dirt compartment is bagless, offering added convenience, but has a small volume of just 0.02 gallons (0.07 liters). This limited capacity means that you’ll need to empty it frequently, especially during more extensive cleaning sessions. The compartment is constructed from transparent plastic, allowing you to easily monitor its fill level, but it lacks a max fill line to guide you.

In The Box

Upon purchasing the Shark WANDVAC WV200, you’ll find a comprehensive set of components:

• The handheld vacuum body, the core of your cleaning tool.
• The dirt compartment, ready to collect dust and debris.
• A combination crevice tool/extension wand/soft bristle brush, offering versatility for various cleaning tasks.
• An upholstery cleaner, specifically designed for fabric surfaces.
• A pre-filter, essential for capturing larger particles.
• A fabric filter, ensuring fine dust and allergens are trapped.
• A charging station and cable, providing convenient power replenishment.
• A user guide, offering detailed instructions for optimal use.

Range and Portability

The Shark WANDVAC WV200 is cordless, providing exceptional freedom of movement and unparalleled portability. Weighing in at just 1.37 lbs (0.62 kg), it’s remarkably lightweight and effortless to carry around your home or car. The wand extends from 1.02 ft (0.31 m) to 1.51 ft (0.46 m), providing additional reach when needed. Its lightweight design and easy maneuverability make it an excellent choice for individuals with strength or mobility challenges.

Battery Performance

Battery performance is a critical factor in the overall usability of any cordless vacuum. The Shark WANDVAC WV200 offers a minimum and maximum battery life of approximately 8 minutes, which is relatively short compared to other handheld vacuums on the market. It requires approximately 118 minutes (2.5 hours) to achieve a full recharge. The charging station features a battery life indicator that provides visual feedback, transitioning from solid blue to blinking blue when the battery is running low.

Performance Metrics

Here are some key performance metrics that define the Shark WANDVAC WV200’s capabilities:

• Maximum Hose Suction: 39.0 inH₂O (9.71 kPa), indicating its suction power.
• Maximum Hose Airflow: 18.7 CFM (0.5 m³/min), reflecting its ability to move air.
• Noise (Bare Floor): 77.8 dBA, measuring its noise level on hard surfaces.
• Noise (Low-Pile Carpet): 75.1 dBA, measuring its noise level on low-pile carpets.

Maneuverability

The Shark WANDVAC WV200 excels in maneuverability, thanks to its compact and lightweight design. Its design facilitates easy movement around, under, and on top of furniture, allowing you to reach even the most challenging spots. However, some users may find it slightly difficult to push on upholstery due to its tight sealing against fabric surfaces.

Air Quality

While the Shark WANDVAC WV200 doesn’t include a HEPA filter, it is proficient at sealing in fine allergens, making it more effective than other non-HEPA handheld vacuums. For those who require enhanced air filtration, aftermarket HEPA filters are available for purchase.

Other Considerations

The Shark WANDVAC WV200 is particularly effective at clearing debris from crevices, thanks to its narrow suction inlet. However, it is not designed to address dried-on stains and is not wet-compatible, limiting its versatility in certain cleaning scenarios. It’s also important to consider that using the same vacuum for both floors and counters can potentially transfer harmful contaminants. The vacuum features an intuitive on/off switch, and the attachments are simple to attach and detach, further enhancing its user-friendliness.

Performance Analysis

To truly understand the capabilities of the Shark WANDVAC WV200, a thorough analysis of its performance across various surfaces and cleaning scenarios is essential. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how it performs in different cleaning tasks:

Cleaning Performance

• Bare Floors: The Shark WANDVAC WV200 delivers decent performance on bare floors, effectively picking up small debris and pet hair. However, it may struggle with larger or bulkier materials that can potentially cause clogging. (Score: 7.3)
• Low-Pile Carpet: On low-pile carpets, it performs admirably, successfully collecting pet hair and the majority of debris. A potential issue to be aware of is that some debris may adhere to the fabric filter, requiring more frequent cleaning. (Score: 7.6)
• High-Pile Carpet: While it effectively handles pet hair on high-pile carpets, it encounters challenges with both fine and large debris, indicating a limitation in its deep-cleaning capabilities. (Score: 7.5)
• Pets: The WANDVAC is an acceptable choice for pet owners, but it may struggle with effectively removing pet hair from carpets. On the positive side, it provides good air filtration, which can be beneficial for allergy sufferers. (Score: 6.5)
• Stairs: This vacuum excels at short cleanups on stairs, demonstrating impressive performance on various surface types commonly found in staircases. (Score: 8.9)
• Cars: Thanks to its portability and the inclusion of an extension wand/upholstery brush, the Shark WANDVAC WV200 is an excellent tool for cleaning cars. However, the absence of a turbo brush may limit its performance in certain situations. (Score: 8.7)
• Workshop: Due to its limited debris capacity and lack of liquid compatibility, this vacuum is not well-suited for workshop environments, where larger messes and spills are common. (Score: 5.5)

The Wandvac’s performance was average and below many others in our lineup in dust and dirt cleaning test. This vacuum could suck up Mini-Wheats cereal without any tools attached, which is about the biggest particle type it can handle, but that’s average for this vacuum category. The Wandvac vacuumed 99% of the hair from the cushion using its upholstery brush — we found this to be far more effective than its standard brush — and the vast majority of it made it into the collection bin without becoming tangled up on the brush head.

Maneuverability

The Shark WANDVAC WV200’s compact and lightweight design significantly enhances its maneuverability around, under, and on top of furniture. However, some users may find it slightly challenging to push on upholstery due to its tendency to tightly seal against fabric surfaces.

Battery Performance

One of the most significant drawbacks of the Shark WANDVAC WV200 is its sub-par battery performance, which can limit its usability for larger cleaning tasks. The battery tends to drain quickly, and the absence of a low-power mode further restricts its runtime. While it does recharge faster than some comparable models, the short battery life remains a notable limitation. The battery life is decent, lasting about 15-20 minutes on a full charge. Unfortunately, the Wandvac didn’t impress us in this metric. It didn’t even last for 10 minutes, dying after 9 minutes and 45 seconds. However, it does recharge quite fast, only taking 2.5 hours.

Noise Level

The Shark WANDVAC WV200 is known for producing a loud, high-pitched noise during operation, which may be a concern for some users. It registers 77.8 dBA on bare floors and 75.1 dBA on low-pile carpet, indicating a relatively high noise output.

Pros and Cons

To provide a balanced and objective assessment, here’s a comprehensive summary of the pros and cons of the Shark WANDVAC WV200:

Pros

• Compact and Lightweight: Ideal for small spaces and effortless to carry around.
• Good for Quick Cleanups: Perfect for spot cleaning and addressing small messes.
• Effective on Low-Pile Carpets and Pet Hair: Demonstrates good performance on these surfaces.
• Easy to Maintain and Store: Simple maintenance procedures and compact storage design.
• Fast Charging Time: Recharges relatively quickly compared to competing models.
• Good Air Filtration: Effectively seals in fine allergens, beneficial for allergy sufferers.

Cons

• Small Dirt Compartment: Requires frequent emptying, which can be inconvenient.
• Short Battery Life: Limits its use for more extensive cleaning sessions.
• Struggles on High-Pile Carpets: Encounters difficulty with both fine and large debris on these surfaces.
• Loud Noise Level: Can be quite noisy during operation, which may be bothersome.
• Higher Price Point: More expensive than some similar models on the market.

Comparison with Similar Products

 

When considering the Shark WANDVAC WV200, it’s crucial to evaluate how it compares to its direct competitors in terms of features, performance, and value. Here’s a comparison with similar products:

• BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim: The Shark excels in debris clearance, boasts a larger dirt compartment, provides superior allergen filtration, and offers faster charging capabilities. However, the BISSELL distinguishes itself with a longer battery life and a more compact design.
• Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+: The UltraCyclone stands out with easier maintenance, a larger dirt compartment, extended battery life, and the inclusion of a turbo brush. In contrast, the WANDVAC offers virtually no recurring costs and is easier to store.
• Black+Decker 16V MAX dustbuster: The Black+Decker demonstrates better performance on bare floors, features a larger dirt compartment, and provides a longer runtime. Conversely, the Shark excels at capturing fine allergens, incurs no recurring costs, and boasts a smaller, lighter design.
• Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet: The Black+Decker offers a superior battery, a larger dirt compartment, a turbo brush, and enhanced performance on bare floors and high-pile carpet. The Shark, on the other hand, performs better on low-pile carpet, exudes a more premium build quality, effectively captures fine allergens, and eliminates recurring costs.
• Dyson Humdinger: The Dyson distinguishes itself with less maintenance requirements, a larger dustbin, suction adjustment capabilities, and a motorized turbo brush. The Shark, however, is lighter, feels better built, and excels at clearing pet hair and fine debris on low-pile carpet.
• eufy HomeVac H11: The Shark demonstrates superior effectiveness on all surfaces, features a larger dirt compartment, recharges more quickly, includes a charging station, and incurs no recurring costs. The eufy offers a slightly longer runtime and a lighter weight.
• BISSELL Featherweight Stick: The Shark is better suited for spot cleaning, boasts a superior build quality, performs more effectively on carpet, and excels at capturing fine allergens. The BISSELL, however, is superior for cleaning large areas of bare floors due to its corded design.
• Dyson V7: The Shark is a dedicated handheld vacuum designed for spot cleaning, offering a sturdier build, lighter weight, easier maintenance/storage, and superior debris clearance on bare floors. The Dyson is better suited for large floor areas due to its larger dirt compartment, longer runtime, and broader selection of tools, as well as superior performance on carpet.
• HoLife HM036E: The HoLife demonstrates better performance on bare floors, features a larger dirt compartment, offers better battery performance, and includes a liquid nozzle. The Shark, however, excels on low-pile carpet.
• iRobot H1: The Shark is easier to maintain, incurs no recurring costs, is lighter, and recharges more quickly. The iRobot features a motorized turbo brush, a larger dustbin, superior performance on high-pile carpet, suction adjustment capabilities, and a longer runtime in energy-efficient mode.
• Wyze Handheld Vacuum: The Wyze delivers superior performance on bare floors and high-pile carpet, comes with a broader assortment of tools, lasts longer on a single charge, and features a larger dirt compartment. The Shark incurs virtually no recurring costs and excels at sucking up fine debris from low-pile carpet.

Conclusion/Verdict

In conclusion, the Shark WANDVAC WV200 presents a diverse range of features and performance characteristics that may appeal to different users. Its compact and lightweight design makes it an excellent choice for quick cleanups and spot cleaning, particularly in smaller living spaces. It’s easy to maintain, store, and provides effective air filtration, making it a suitable option for pet owners concerned about allergens.

However, its limited battery life and small dirt compartment can pose challenges, especially for more extensive cleaning tasks. It also struggles with fine and large debris on high-pile carpets and is known for its loud, high-pitched noise during operation. When compared to similar products on the market, it faces strong competition from models that offer better battery life, larger dirt compartments, or superior performance on various surfaces.

Ultimately, the Shark WANDVAC WV200 is a reasonable choice for those seeking a reliable handheld vacuum for quick clean-ups in smaller households. However, it may not be the most ideal option for individuals who require a vacuum for more extensive cleaning sessions or who are particularly sensitive to noise. Consider the storage and charging requirements, as well as the potential noise level, before making a purchase. If noise is a significant concern, exploring alternative models such as the Tineco Pure One X may be worthwhile. With higher-scoring contenders in our review of vacuum cleaners, we think it’s worth considering a different device for your cleaning needs.