Shark ION Flex vs Dyson V8: Which The Best Cordless?

One of the most innovative Shark vacuums today is the Shark ION Flex 2X with a flexible wand that makes it easy to clean under furniture without breaking your back.

ION Flex also contains DuoClean which makes cleaning less difficult. So the question is that ION Flex 2X is a good alternative to Dyson V8?

We will find out more about these two products in this review.

But first, a quick look at the Shark ION Flex vs. the Dyson V8.

Shark ION Flex

 

*Only if you purchase the IONFlex 2X, which comes with 2 ION batteries. Each battery will operate for up to 24 minutes in normal mode.

* If you click on this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Introduction to Shark ION Flex vs. Dyson V8

Let’s start with the general design of these two products.

Both vacuums have the same design principles with the removable wand and convertible tools.

But the similarities between them end there.

Shark has a few features that make the ION Flex a compelling choice despite being the larger alternative.

Shark ION Flex  2X

One of the best features, in my opinion, is DuoClean technology. For those unfamiliar with it, DuoClean is a combination of a soft roller and a traditional bristle brush.

It’s a technology that I believe is the future of hard floor cleaning. DuoClean will clean dirt regardless of size, from tiny dust to very large objects like fruit rings and grains.

This is possible because it has large amounts of clearance up front. There are seals on the sides and back of the brush roll to direct dirt toward the room.

Also, there is no sagging on the carpet as the tough bristles behind the soft roller will provide just enough irritation.

The DuoClean brushes on the Shark won’t clean the dirt as well as their direct-drive counterparts, but you don’t need to change tools on every transmission on a regular basis.

It’s a good idea to clean carpets, rugs, and hard floors well enough.

However, if you have pets, of which there are a lot, the DuoClean system may not be able to handle them; take a look In the new Shark APEX ZS362 with Zero-M.

Unlike the IONFlex, the ZS62 is a corded vacuum cleaner, but it’s an excellent alternative if that’s not an issue.

There are two options for IONFlex on Amazon – IF251 and IF205.

Both options are the same product with a different colored stick just to tell them apart.

The IF251 is the more affordable option with two Li-ion batteries, essentially doubling the runtime of the IF205 that comes with just one battery.

Tools that come with IF251

The tools that come with the IF205

Dyson V8 Absolute

The Dyson V8 has perhaps one of the most popular Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners thanks to its combination of power and compactness.

It is the first Dyson car to have a coil Hygienic container emptying system facilitates dirt disposal.

This cordless cleaner weighs only 5.8 lbs (approx. 2 pounds lighter from IONFlex) and is one of the best in its line when it comes to ergonomics.

In manual mode, the compact structure facilitates cleaning of high areas.

V8 engine is not Newest Dyson cordless vacuum cleanerbut the lightweight body is highly maneuverable.

It has one of the best spinning mechanisms available and will spin easily.

Moving this around the furniture is easier than the Shark’s larger DuoClean head, but it doesn’t have any LEDs.

The downside (maybe subjective) is the trigger switch which can hurt the finger or wrist if you vacuum for too long.

Dyson says they use a trigger because it increases uptime.

Attachments included will depend on the model.

Absolute V8 attachments

Animal Tools V8

The ‘Animal’ edition has the same set of devices as the best Absolute Edition except for the soft, rotating brush. This model is an excellent choice for homes with a lot of carpet.

There is also a “MotorHead” version on Amazon, but it’s unclear what attachments come with it. This model is not officially listed on the Dyson website, so I’ll stick with the Absolute or Animal versions instead.

To summarize, here are the differences between the Shark IONFlex and the Dyson V8.

How are Shark IONFLex and Dyson V8 cleaned?

Dyson relies on two types of brush rolls to clean hard floors and carpets. These tools are the direct drive cleaning head and the soft roller brush.

The soft roller brush is a unique rotating rod design with a fabric-like exterior that works well on hard surfaces.

It can tackle piles of debris that a conventional brush roll would fall into.

However, the soft cylinder V8 tends to struggle to pick up the larger piles of grain, such as Fruit Loops or Cheerios.

For the carpet, the V8 relies on a direct drive gear. It combines soft carbon fibers with tough nylon bristles to move carpet.

This tool does an excellent job of deep cleaning carpets, Capture 92% of the submerged sand.

You can technically use it on hard floors, but it will be limited to cleaning small dust particles.

The direct drive head is low clearance and does not have There are adjustable gates in the head of the Dyson V10.

You will struggle with anything larger than a small debris. Even large piles of pet hair on hard surfaces, snow will fall.

The Shark IONFlex Uses a unique ground tool. Unlike a V8 that uses two separate attachments, it combines a soft cylinder and a bristle brush. Shark calls this technology DuoClean.

You will see this brush roll in many sharks Latest stick and vertical brooms.

It excels at sweeping hard surfaces because the soft roller will pick up any type of debris, big or small.

Unlike the V8’s soft rotating brush that clogs when handling large volumes of brush, IONFlex’s DuoClean picks up with ease.

Too bad, the small dust cup means you’ll have to empty it sooner than in a V8.

Unfortunately, it will not work well on carpets as the DuoClean brush has a self-propelled effect on carpets.

If you turn on carpet mode, the brush will spin quickly, creating this effect.

Moving it around on the rug won’t be that smooth, and effort is required to combat that forward momentum.

cleaning performance

Next, let’s look at how these two work cordless vacuums Cleaning.

Each brush roller design will have an advantage over the other, and we’ll focus on that in this section.

Hard floor cleaning

The Dyson V8 and Shark IONFlex perform extremely well on hard surfaces with the soft cylinder and DuoClean heads, respectively.

You can’t go wrong with either of these when it comes to cleaning bare floors.

If there is one advantage DuoClean has the ability to clean large piles of dirt without clogging. He will be able to handle things like Cheerios and Fruit rings with ease.

The V8’s soft-roller tool isn’t sagging either. He’s able to pick Cheerios, but it doesn’t match the qualities a DuoClean header can pick up.

Dyson V8 results

To appreciate how the V8’s soft roller brush picks up dirt on the carpet, please watch this clip.

For these types and amounts of dirt, a soft roller has no problems picking up dirt.

When you overload your brush roll with massive amounts of very large dirt like fruit rings, the problem appears.

It becomes a problem because the nozzle inside the container is not as large as the nozzle inside the Shark IONFlex.

Shark IONFlex Results

If there’s one thing DuoClean excels at, it’s cleaning hard surfaces.

This tool will clean almost any dry dirt of any kind Bare surface such as hardwood.

Try using a Dyson V8 to clean up this kind of mess, it will clog easily.

When it comes to cleaning and dusting hard surfaces, Shark’s DuoClean System is the best.

Not only will it pick up big bits of dirt, but it also removes dust off the floor and works great on sand.

The excerpt above is the results of the Shark ION P80. Since IONFlex uses a similar cleaning head, it will have the same performance.

Carpet cleaning results

We won’t look at how these two vacuums perform on carpet.

There are several points to consider when comparing the performance of the V8 and IONFlex.

The first thing we’ll look at is surface capture. How good is this broom at cleaning surface dirt? Then we’ll look at performing a deep cleaning.

Dyson V8 results

In cleaning tests, the Dyson V8 performed well on carpets, being able to pick up small to large debris from dust, and from coffee to Cheerios.

The brush inside the direct drive head combines tough nylon bristles with soft carbon fiber bristles that work well for dusting bare floors and fuzzy carpets.

Next, we’ll look at deep cleaning. The V8 engine can clean the built-in dirt. I picked up 92% of the sand on medium pile carpet.

Keep in mind that it will not run vertically at full size due to battery life limitations.

Shark IONFlex Results

IONFlex will do just as well when it comes to capturing the surface.

It can handle small to very large objects with ease.

One problem with the DuoClean nozzle is that it has a strong forward pull, possibly from a soft spinning brush.

You will need to make an effort to pull the thing back, and it can be inconvenient for prolonged use.

When it comes to deep cleaning, the DuoClean system won’t do as well as a direct drive head.

To give you some perspective on how they compare, the newer Shark ION P50 uses a comparable DuoClean head that cleans 86% deep.

The strength of this feature is that it does not depend on suction but rather on the mechanics of the brush roll.

Ergonomics: Are Shark IONFlex and Dyson V8 Easy to Use?

The Dyson V8 is the lightest vacuum cleaner at just 5.8 pounds with the base floor attachment and extension wand attached.

The Shark IONFlex is Almost three pounds heavier at 8.7 pounds.

Most of that extra weight comes from the considerably larger DuoClean head.

Without the cleaning head and wand, the Shark IONFlex weighs down to 4.12 pounds!

The V8 isn’t very far, so in portable mode the weight is much closer.

However, the design of the V8 More balanced and feels lighter in manual mode.

The Shark IONFlex is not Balanced and uncomfortable like a hand broom because most of the weight is in front of the handle.

If you are considering using any of these vacuums for such, then a V8 would be the best choice.

Empty the trash

The V8 was the first Dyson cordless motor with a plumbing system that made getting rid of dirt much easier.

This feature has a system that pushes dirt down while the lever is retracted, allowing most of the trash to fall out.

It also has better access to clean any dirt that sticks to the metal lid inside.

Shark IONFlex dust cup is not Removable, unlike the V8 . enclosure. So there is only one way to get to the dirt – from the bottom of the dustbin.

This can be a problem because things like dust that stick to plastic are hard to clean.

IONFlex Technology

One of the issues with older Shark Rocket series vacuums was their inability to stand on their own without detaching the stick vacuum housing.

The technology used by Shark Rocket is not bad but it can be annoying to use.

Shark solves this problem with the IONFlex, it has a flexible pane and, by pressing the quick release, the button flexes forward, allowing for vertical storage.

Another use of IONFlex is to clean under furniture without kneeling.

Technology is useful, but it can be tricky when it comes to routing.

Size difference between Shark IONFlex and Dyson V8

The Dyson V8 measures 49 inches long and 8.8 inches wide while the Shark IONFlex measures 46 inches long and 10.2 inches wide.

When it comes to weight, the IONFlex is heavier at 8.7 pounds versus the 5.8 pounds of the Dyson V8.

Purification

Of the two, only the Dyson V8 has a tight system that passes the fog test. It contains two filters – a pre-engine HEPA filter and a post-engine HEPA filter.

Shark IONFlex does not have a closed system but uses a washable foam filter. If you want a Shark cordless vacuum cleaner with an airtight system, Take a look at the Shark ION P50.

maintenance costs

The Dyson V8 comes with a lifetime washable filter – both require periodic washing but will last the life of the battery.

Replacement filters are available for the Dyson V8 and several options if they become damaged.

Check price

The Shark also has three filters – two pre-motor filters and one after-motor that is not a HEPA filter. All of these filters are made of foam and should last a long time.

For both vacuums, wash the filter only with water, do not use any detergent, otherwise it will degrade.

Shark’s aftermarket filter will be gently felted, so the life of the vacuum will not last.

Unlike the Dyson V8, which uses lifelong filters, Shark recommends replacing these filters once every three months or so.

 

Fortunately, kits for these filters are readily available on Amazon and cheap!

Annual maintenance costs for these filters It will be around $22.

How long is the battery life?

The Dyson V8 will run using only suction tools such as notches and combo tools for up to 42 minutes.

With the main cleaning head, it will run for up to 33 minutes in the normal mode and 9 minutes in the MAX setting.

Shark IONFlex will run for up to 24 minutes without any attachments and 11:50 minutes on its highest setting using the DuoClean header.

Those numbers will double with the IONFlex 2X with two ION batteries, increasing the time to 48 and 23:40 minutes, respectively.

Which of these two stick vacuum cleaners offers a better value?

Both of these products bring a lot to the table.

Each model comes with its own unique strengths and weaknesses that we will have to break down by category.

Best value for cleaning performance

Soft cylinder and Dyson V8 direct drive attachments are excellent performers on hard floors and carpets, respectively. The latter is capable of deep cleaning carpets, albeit using the highest setting.

The shark is no slouch when it comes to capturing the surface. It does a better job on hard surfaces at picking up large bits of dirt.

The DuoClean head not only vacuums up large bits of dirt but also dusts and cleans fine debris like dust. It also works well in cleaning edges and corners.

However, it will not be cleaned as deeply as on carpet. Another problem is the cleaning head creeps forward – it has a self-propelled effect.

You will have to make some effort to get it back.

Choosing one depends on the type of flooring inside your home. If it was just a bare floor, I would choose IONFlex due to its superior performance even on large dirt piles.

For homes with carpets, I’d go with the V8 Animal.

Best value for work environment

There is no doubt that the V8 engine is the best engineering broom.

It has a better weight distribution so that it is not tiring to use for cleaning overhead areas.

The Shark IONFlex’s balance point isn’t as good in practice, with the handle being pushed back more.

The Shark IONFlex is poorly balanced with the handle positioned at the rear.

This makes it too tiring to use in a handheld configuration.

People who will want to use any of these spaces As a portable vacuum cleaner Broadly speaking you will find the V8 better.

Best value for uptime

V8 prides itself on a per battery basis Longer run time up to 42 minutes. While IONFlex only works for 24 minutes.

However, if you buy the more expensive IONFlex 2X version, it will be Longer run at MAX at 22 minutes vs. 9 minutes for a V8.

Best value technology

Both vacuums offer plenty of versatility when it comes to interchangeable parts and cleanable areas.

The IONFlex comes with more compelling attachments like a lower gear tool which I find useful because my home has very low clearances.

It also has IONFlex technology which will take up less space and will not require drilling only holes in the pavement.

If you want basic tools, I’ll use the V8, but for those who need more specialized tools for cleaning under or over furniture, the Shark may provide a better value.

Where can I buy these vacuum cleaners?

These two cordless products are available at online stores such as Amazon and Walmart. Please check the links below for the latest prices.

• Dyson V8
  

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON

• Shark ION Flex
  

BUY NOW FROM AMAZON

Please note that if you purchase through any of the links above, I will earn a commission, but at no additional cost to you. So it is a win-win for both of us!

Product Specifications of Shark IONFlex and Dyson V8

Verdict: Which one to buy?

There is no doubt that these two places are among the best options in their respective price ranges.

But what is the best option? Let’s look at some compelling reasons for each one.

Four reasons to buy a Dyson V8

Four reasons to buy Shark IONFlex