Which is better for pet hair?

The Dyson V8 Absolute. Its Motorbar head has hair removal vanes and it ships with the Hair screw tool for pet beds and upholstery. The Shark is marketed for hair pickup but names no dedicated anti-tangle tool.

Which has the longer run time?

The Shark, at up to 70 minutes versus up to 40 minutes for the V8. Both figures are maximums on the lowest power setting and drop in boost mode.

Is the Dyson worth the extra money?

At the recent lows the Dyson was cheaper, at $25.99 on October 29 versus $229.99 for the Shark on November 1. Compare current prices on both before deciding, since the Dyson's low looks like an outlier against its $179.99 high.

Can I replace the battery on each?

On the Dyson, yes: the 2800 mAh pack is detachable and sold separately. The Shark's battery is non-detachable, so you recharge in place over about 6 hours.

Which is easier on a big floor plan?

The Shark. Longer run time plus an auto-empty dock means fewer interruptions. The V8's 0.14 gal bin fills quickly and must be emptied by hand.

Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty vs Dyson V8 Absolute

Buy the Dyson V8 Absolute if you want proven pet-hair tools, a light 6 lb body and a 2-year warranty. Buy the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty if you want a 70-minute run time and a dock that empties the dust cup for you. The Dyson's lowest recent price was $25.99 on October 29, against $179.99 on October 31; the Shark's lowest was $229.99 on November 1, against $349.99 on October 30. Treat the $25.99 Dyson figure with care, since it is far below its $179.99 high and may reflect a battery-only listing.

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