The Shark Vertex AZ2002 is the latest addition to their upright vacuums and an upgrade to the Shark Apex AZ1002.
As per Shark, the Vertex AZ2002 is their powerful upright vacuum cleaner yet, and it has more suction and innovative features than Apex AZ1002.
Does Vertex stand to these claims? Is it worth paying more than the Apex?
Want to uncover the answers?
Keep reading.
Shark Vertex Vs. Apex: Quick Overview & Verdict
In a hurry? Here’s a quick overview of both models and a summary to help you decide.
The Shark Vertex has an incredible suction, which, combined with the DuoClean PowerFins floor head, makes it a powerful and versatile tool to clean different floor types – bare floors, low-high pile carpet, area rugs, etc.
The PowerFins roller is more effective at picking up debris from hard floors and carpets than a bristle brushroll. However, there is no significant difference in deep cleaning carpets compared to the Apex. Also, this new floor head design is flawless in resisting long hair wrap around the brushroll.
Apart from these two upgrades and a new look, the Shark Vertex has many similar features and functionalities as the Shark Apex.
- SHARK’S ULTRA-POWERFUL VACUUM: The Vertex is an ultra-powerful vacuum, with incredible suction and innovative cleaning technologies.
- SELF-CLEANING BRUSHROLL: Engineered for more pet hair pickup with no hair wrap (vs. Shark bristle nozzles).
- DUOCLEAN POWERFINS: A PowerFins brushroll and a soft roller combine on all floors. Continuous cleaning contact to dig deep into carpets, directly engage floors, and pick up more in every pass. (vs. original DuoClean).
- POWERED LIFT-AWAY: Detachable pod for motorized cleaning under furniture or detach the nozzle to clean above the floor, on upholstery, furniture, stairs, and more.
- PERFECT FOR PETS: Includes a self-cleaning Pet Power Brush for deep cleaning with no hair wrap and a Pet Crevice Tool to remove pet hair from hard-to-reach spaces like corners, ceilings, and between couch cushions.
Last update on 2023-03-25 at 13:40 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Though the Shark Apex upright has slightly low suction, it is still a strong contender for the Vertex. Its DuoClean floor head competes closely with the Vertex DuoClean PowerFins in cleaning multiple floor surfaces. The Zero-M is very effective at removing hair tangles but tends to get some hair caught in its rollers.
Besides, the Apex also has the Powered Lift-Away, Complete Seal System with HEPA, Active Glide Technology, etc., like the Vertex, but comes at a lower cost.
- SELF-CLEANING BRUSHROLL: The vacuum that deep-cleans now cleans itself. Engineered for more pet hair pickup with no hair wrap (vs. Shark bristle nozzles).
- DUOCLEAN TECHNOLOGY: Dual-brushroll system deep-cleans carpets and directly engages floors for a polished look.
- POWERED LIFT-AWAY: Detachable pod for motorized cleaning under furniture or detach the nozzle to clean above the floor, on upholstery, furniture, stairs and more.
- ANTI-ALLERGEN COMPLETE SEAL: Works with HEPA filter to trap dust and allergens inside the vacuum cleaner.
- NOISE REDUCTION TECHNOLOGY: Expertly tuned to reduce noise and soften pitch.
Last update on 2023-03-25 at 08:49 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Difference Between Shark Vertex AZ2002 And Shark Apex AZ1002
Suction Power
The Shark Vertex has even more suction power than the Apex.
As per tests, the Vertex generates a suction of 104″ of water lift and 105 CFM of airflow at the hose. In comparison, the Apex generates 101″ of suction and 90 CFM of airflow.
To give you a perspective, the Apex AZ1002 out beats premium models such as Dyson Ball Animal 2 and Miele U1 Dynamic in terms of suction and airflow.
Read our comparison of Vertex AZ2002 with Dyson Ball Animal 2
The Shark Vertex is indeed the most powerful vacuum in Shark’s lineup.
This insane power shows up in its pickup ability on bare floors, carpet, and crevices, which we’ll see later.
Read our detailed Shark Apex AZ1002 review here.
Floor Head Designs
Another significant difference between Shark Vertex and Apex is the floor head designs.
The Vertex upright comes with a newly designed floor head called DuoClean PowerFins, whereas the Apex has the classic DuoClean floor head with bristles.
Both the PowerFins and Classic DuoClean designs have a soft front roller. However, their back rollers are different.
The Vertex has an alternate lining of flexible silicone fins and soft bristles.
In contrast, the Apex has a lining of bristles and rubber stirps in the back roller.
Shark claims that the new PowerFins roller makes continuous cleaning contact with carpets and bare floors compared to bristle rollers that leave cleaning gaps in the cleaning path.
So, how effective is the new DuoClean head than the previous one? We’ll discuss that in the cleaning performance section.
Another thing worth mentioning is the wider cleaning path in Vertex. The new floor head has a 12″ cleaning path, while the Apex has an 11″ floor head.
It may seem insignificant; however, a broad cleaning head reduces the time and effort needed to clean large surface areas.
Dust Bin Capacity
The Vertex AZ2002 has a slightly larger dust bin of 1 quart, 0.12-quart bigger than the Apex. Again, it may seem less, but this nitty-gritty can lead to inconvenience over the long run.
Similarities Between Shark Vertex And Apex Upright Vacuum
Speaking of the similarities, both the Shark Vertex and Apex have a lot of similar features discussed below.
Self-Cleaning Brushroll
Both vacuums have an anti-hair wrap brushroll that actively removes hair tangles from the rollers. However, the no-hair wrap mechanism differs in each model.
In the Shark Apex, there’s a comb behind the back roller to remove the hair tangles and suck them into the bin.
In contrast, the PowerFins in the Vertex seems to do the job of removing the hair wraps.
Note: Both vacuums do get hair tangles, but the self-cleaning system actively removes hair wraps while the vacuum is operational.
Powered Lift-Away
The powered lift away is an innovative and valuable feature in many Shark upright models. Both Vertex and Apex have this feature, which adds to the versatility of whole-house cleaning.
This feature allows you to use the motorized tools even when the pod is detached from the whole unit.
Anti Allergen Complete Seal System With HEPA Filter
They are completely sealed systems with HEPA filtration, something to look for if you are allergic to dust and allergens.
Active Glide Technology
This feature adds to the smooth maneuverability of the vacuums over different surfaces without getting the feeling of dragging a lawnmower.
Weight, Cord, & Hose
The Vertex weighs less than the Apex (16.38 lbs vs. 17.1 lbs). They both have 30 ft cord and a 5.5 ft hose.
So, how do they compare in cleaning performance?
Stay tuned; this is what we’ll discuss in the next section.
You might also like:- Comparison between Shark Vertex AZ2002 and Shark Navigator ZU561.
Comparing The Shark Vertex AZ2002 With The Apex AZ1002
Cleaning Performance
Speaking of performance, they don’t seem to differ in cleaning carpets and hard floors significantly.
Bare Floors
Due to the soft front roller, they flawlessly pick up any size of debris from hard floors without scattering them like a bristle roller.
Also, the soft roller is adept at picking stuck fine dust and giving the hard floors a polished look.
Carpet and Rugs
The PowerFins roller shows a marginally better deep cleaning performance on carpet than the bristle roller in Apex. The Apex has the same pickup ability as the Vertex for general carpet cleaning.
The Vertex shows excellent performance on crevices, and it picks up everything in a single pass.
Note: The Shark Rotator NV752 is more powerful at deep cleaning carpets than the Vertex AZ2002 or Apex AZ1002.
Hair Wraps
The Silicone Fins in Vertex are more effective at removing long hair wraps than the Shark Apex.
Though the Apex is also great at resisting hair tangles, reviews showed that the hair gets stuck in the gates – below the large roller – which needs manual cleaning.
Versatility
Due to Powered Lift-Away, both models have the same flexibility for tackling different cleaning jobs.
They can lay flat to reach under appliances, bed, couch, and sofa. Detach the pod and carry it to clean stairs, upholstery, and above surfaces.
They offer three cleaning modes – Hard Floor, Carpet/Low Pile, and Thick Carpet/Area Rugs- making it easy and convenient to clean across multiple floors without changing the floor nozzle like some other vacuum cleaners.
Ease of Use – Ergonomics
Like the Apex, the Vertex also has all the power and cleaning controls on the handle, under the thumb.
The Vertex has a rigid 5.5 ft hose like the Apex, making the vacuum tip over with a bit of stretch. Shark has not solved this problem from the previous model.
Using either vacuum to clean carpets in lift-away mode is tiring on the arm. The absence of the pod’s weight makes the wand self propel away from you, which takes more effort to pull back.
The Apex has a Garage door to easily access the brushroll for routine maintenance. The Vertex doesn’t have such access, so maintaining the roller can be a pain without the brushroll garage.
Shark Vertex Vs. Apex: Which One Should You Buy?
The Shark Vertex AZ2002 and the Apex AZ1002 have a lot of similarities in terms of their functionality and performance.
Though the Vertex has a new floor head design and more suction, that doesn’t translate to improved real-world cleaning performance compared to the Shark Apex.
So, the Shark Apex is still a great contender to the latest Vertex in every aspect at a lower price. The Apex will give you the best value for the money period.
However, the Vertex is good if you want to get your hands on the latest technology aesthetics and don’t mind spending extra money.