Dyson PencilVac vs Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum

Buy the Dyson PencilVac if you mostly clean hard floors and want something that weighs under 4 lb and slips into tight gaps. Buy the Shark Stratos if you have carpets, pets, or a whole home to cover, since it runs up to 60 minutes and has a self-cleaning brushroll and HEPA seal. The Dyson is the more precise, more portable tool and its owners rate it higher, but it is not a carpet vacuum. The Shark cleans more surfaces and lasts longer per charge, yet owners report more reliability trouble, including broken folding parts, overheating and hair tangling.

• Choose the Dyson PencilVac if your home is mostly hard floors and you want a light, agile vacuum that reaches edges, gaps and under furniture.
• Choose the Shark Stratos if you have carpets and pets and need one cordless vacuum to cover the whole home with a long runtime.