The Shark APEX DuoClean AZ1002 is an upright vacuum cleaner designed to take care of all surfaces inside the home. With Zero M technology, a DuoClean system, and other valuable features, this vacuum promises to get even hard-to-reach areas inside the house – but does it live up to those claims?
Compared to other Shark APEX models, like the ZU780 or AX912, the AZ1002 comes with higher wattage and a self-cleaning brushroll, which the AX912 lacks. We’ll get into the specifics of how these features work below, but here’s a quick list of the Shark APEX DuoClean’s most significant pros and cons:
Pros
- It continues to have strong suction, even when the bin becomes full
- Includes durable rubber grips
- Easy to control in hard-to-reach areas, like stairs
- It has an excellent HEPA filtration system
- Includes good noise reduction technology, so the vacuum isn’t as loud
Cons
- Not as lightweight as previous models, like the AX912
- Plastic wheels don’t feel as sturdy when you’re using the vacuum
- It can feel awkward to maneuver and swivel
Keep reading for a closer look at each of those pros and cons, what other features the Shark APEX AZ1002 has to offer, and whether this vacuum is worth the price.
Table of Contents
Who Should Buy the Shark APEX AZ1002?
A couple of types of people could benefit from the Shark APEX upright vacuum, including anyone who lives with long-haired pets that shed all the time and anyone who has different floor surfaces in their home.
If you’ve got dogs or cats, you already know how challenging it can be to deal with the constant shedding, and you don’t just need a powerful vacuum.
You need one that’s engineered for picking up pet hair. With its self-cleaning brushroll and Anti-Allergen Complete Seal, the Shark APEX allows for constant hair removal without dust or stray hair getting left behind in the cleanup.
Beyond the features that this vacuum has for pet-friendly homes, it may also be a good investment for anyone with a mix of hardwood, tile, and carpet floors in their home.
While some vacuums may work great on carpet and soft flooring, not all products can conquer hardwood, tile, or laminate flooring the same way. This difference can present a challenge for many homeowners who have more than just one type of flooring in their home and need a versatile vacuum to cover the entire house.
Fortunately, this isn’t an issue for the Shark Apex AZ1002, which can deal with carpet as equally well as it handles tile, laminate, or even hardwood.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the Shark Apex Upright Vacuum?
If you struggle with heavier weights and need a vacuum that’s a lot more lightweight, the Shark Apex AZ1002 may not be the best choice. The AZ1002 is far from the most lightweight vacuum in Shark’s lineup at just over seventeen pounds.
Some of Shark’s other upright vacuums, like the Rotator LA502 and Navigator ZU561, are anywhere from three to four pounds lighter and maybe better options if weight and maneuverability are your most significant considerations.
You can also consider the Shark Apex Uplight corded stick vacuum. It offers the power of an upright with the versatility of an ultralight stick vacuum
From the vacuum’s DuoClean technology to its self-cleaning Pet power brush, here are the features you can expect from a Shark APEX upright.
Zero-M Technology Cleaner Head
The Zero-M technology, or Zero-Maintenance technology, is incredibly capable when it comes to picking up long human hair from carpets.
One issue that can plague vacuums is how tangled and trapped the hair becomes in the brush. With the Zero-M technology, Shark has redesigned their bristle brush so that tiny protrusions or “fangs” help remove any hair wrapped in the brushroll while you clean.
So, you shouldn’t need to spend any time digging or cutting that hair out of your brush once you’ve finished cleaning.
However, it’s important to note that you’ll need to keep the vacuum running for another minute or so after you’ve finished your sweep around the house for this technology to work effectively. Doing this allows it to actively remove hair wrapped around the bristle roller into the dust bin before your next vacuum.
Powered Lift-Away Mode
While this may not be a new feature for you if you’ve used a lot of Shark’s vacuums, it’s a convenient one. With a full-sized upright vacuum, it can be tricky to clean those hard-to-reach places such as tiny corners, under beds, or other furniture.
This feature allows you to detach the pod from the rest of the vacuum so that you can clean those tight corners and crevices without the rest of the body of the vacuum getting in your way. Or, if you need to get above the carpet on furniture or shelves, you can detach the floor nozzle for easy cleaning as well.
DuoClean Technology
Another feature that’s become standard on some of Shark’s recent models, the Apex AZ1002, is the DuoClean technology. This dual brushroll system gives you two different rollers: a soft roller and a standard brush roller.
This technology allows the Shark Apex to work on just about any surface as each brush is tuned to do something different. As the name suggests, the standard roller can pick up small and general debris throughout your home, but it’s not always precise and can miss the little things.
That’s where the soft roller can come in handy as this brush is more exact and can pick up any small or large debris the standard brush misses. The soft roller is also just an essential part of having a vacuum that can cover hardwood or bare floors of the home.
Keep in mind that if you are switching between hard floor and carpet, you’ll need to change the settings on the vacuum, or the DuoClean technology won’t work like it’s supposed to. There’s a flip on the vacuum handle that allows you to go from hardwood to carpet, so you can ensure your floors get a more thorough cleaning.
Self-Cleaning Pet Power Brush
As an add-on that comes with most premium Shark vacuums, including this one, this mini pet brush uses a spinning brush roll so that you can quickly sweep away embedded pet hair on upholstery or stairs. Moreover, like the main floor nozzle, this one doesn’t clog with long hair.
Anti-Allergen Complete Seal
If you’ve got allergies to your pets, dander, or dust, having a vacuum that can get rid of these allergens is crucial – but all that extra effort can end up being worthless if your vacuum’s filter doesn’t properly trap and seal those allergens. Rather than sucking them up with the motor, you’ll just be spreading them back into the air.
This is another issue that Shark aims to solve with their Apex AZ1002 product. Using a HEPA filter that’s completely airtight, you can count on your vacuum to seal almost 100% of any dust, dander, hair, or other allergens that you pick up.
LED Lights
Located on the nozzle, there are two rows of LED lights, which can highlight the path you’re vacuuming. While this may seem like an odd feature for a vacuum, the lights can come in more handy than you might think.
The lights highlight tiny specks of dirt or debris that you may miss just with room lights when they’re on. This is especially useful if you’re trying to vacuum in a low or no light space and need that extra visibility.
Noise Reduction Technology
Nobody wants a vacuum that wakes up the entire house or disturbs the neighbors, and fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be much of an issue with the Apex AZ1002.
There may be a little noise with this model, but with Shark’s noise reduction technology, it’s still quieter than many of the competition, incredibly heavy-duty, upright vacuums.
Other Attachments
Along with the Pet Power Brush, some of the other attachments you’ll get with this product include a crevice tool and an upholstery tool.
The 12-inch crevice tool is for precisely what it sounds like – accessing those tiny cracks and crevices that you won’t be able to get otherwise. Even if you’re using Lift-Away mode and detached the pod, some tight gaps may remain out of reach.
So, the crevice tool allows you to reach into furniture cracks, tight corners, and underneath other objects without the hassle.
Although the upholstery tool on this product is what allows you to get rid of that stubborn pet hair, its use doesn’t have to be limited to just that.
There’s also a stiff bristle brush on this tool, which makes it easier to get rid of stuck-on debris that your vacuum just isn’t powerful enough to suck up.
While they aren’t automatically included with purchase, the Shark Online Store does allow you to buy an anti-allergen dust brush and under appliance wand separately if you’d like more attachments for your AZ1002.
What Real Owners Have to Say About the Shark Apex Vacuum Cleaner
Here’s what actual users who have tried and tested the Apex AZ1002 have to say about its pros, cons, and potential improvements for the future.
Best Bits
One of the best things about the Shark Apex upright is the way that it handles long human or pet hair. Not only does it pick up without getting tangled or clogged, but the vacuum seems to easily handle even small, sand-sized particles and large debris without issue as well.
Another feature that you’ll appreciate is how sturdy and long the cord is. A short cable can make it impossible to vacuum more than one room without changing outlets (or pulling out an extension cord), but that doesn’t seem to be a problem with this product’s durable, long cord.
Worst Bits
Since it’s not as lightweight, some people may have issues with maneuverability, especially when trying to push the vacuum backward. Another problem is that not all of the attachments seem to fit perfectly on the vacuum, making it harder to transport these items at once.
Improvements
If there’s any room to improve with this vacuum, it would be with maneuverability and noise level. Despite using noise reduction technology, the Shark Apex AZ1002 doesn’t come off as particularly quiet to many users. While it’s not super loud either, the vacuum could be a lot quieter.
As far as maneuverability goes, getting used to how the vacuum turns, angles and swivels can be tricky for many new users. It would go a long way if this vacuum were easier to navigate.
Cleaning Performance
We’ve covered the best features of this vacuum, but how well does it perform? Here’s what you should know.
How Effective Is the Apex AZ1002 at Picking Up Long Hair Without Getting Tangled?
This is one of the Apex AZ1002’s strong suits – even if you have long-haired pets, the Zero-M technology is still effective at picking up long hair without getting tangled.
Those that have family members with long, curly hair won’t seem to find any tangled, trapped hair after finishing vacuuming.
The Zero-M cleaner head on this vacuum is promising for anyone with long-haired pets, animals that shed a lot, or even family members with long hair.
Related: Find out the best vacuum cleaners for long hair individuals.
How Good Is the Shark Apex on Carpet?
Many users found that the Shark Apex performed well on all types of carpet – from high pile to low pile, rugs, and other soft floorings. They especially appreciated how the lights seemed to highlight any hair or debris they might’ve otherwise missed, especially on darker carpets.
How Does it Perform on Hard Floors?
This vacuum performed even better on hardwood or tile flooring than on carpet. As long as it is in the correct mode, the suction on this vacuum is powerful and even picks up debris and tiny particles from the gaps in between floor panels.
Alternatives
Here are a few alternatives from Shark that differ from the Apex AZ1002 in different ways.
While it does contain some of the same attachments, LED lights, and the Powered Lift-Away technology, this model does lack the DuoClean technology. It’s also a little less powerful than the Apex AZ1002, so you should expect slightly less suction with this one.
The price is a little more affordable on this model, so if you’re someone that doesn’t need to do a lot of deep or heavy-duty cleaning, this could be an alternative that might fit into the budget more.
With even more powerful suction and advanced DuoClean PowerFins technology, this vacuum might be worth considering if you need a lot of suction power or are constantly cleaning up debris.
Read our detailed comparison between Shark Apex AZ1002 and Shark Vertex AZ2002
With lower wattage and suction power, this is another model that lacks the Shark Apex DuoClean with Zero-M technologies but could be a better alternative for light cleaning.
Verdict: Is the Shark Apex AZ1002 Worth the Price?
Whether you’ve got too much pet hair that gets tangled in your vacuum or you need a versatile vacuum that can handle both carpet and hard floor, the Shark Apex AZ1002 is worth considering.
With DuoClean technology that allows the vacuum to go over multiple surfaces and prevents hair from getting tangled, the Shark Apex excels against both of these issues. The value of this vacuum for long hair is undeniable. If you’re looking for a lighter cleaning vacuum, check out some of the alternatives above.
For more information about where to purchase this product, you can check out the Shark Apex AZ1002 here.