Vacuum cleaners need to be reliable in order to be effective and help you manage the house. There are also plenty of good options based on which seems to fit you best such as Shark AZ1002 Vs ZU881 that are ideal for a wide range of users and the lifestyle in the house. These vacuums are more similar than different so before deciding the option, let’s see below about which you may like better.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- Are You Currently Looking for a Vacuum Cleaner
- What are Shark AZ1002 and ZU881
- How are the Design of Shark AZ1002 and ZU881
- How are the Specs of Shark AZ1002 and ZU881
- How are the Performance of Shark AZ1002 and ZU881
- What else Shark AZ1002 and ZU881 can offer
- Shark AZ1002 Vs ZU881
Contents
Vacuum Cleaners for Home Use
Being an adult we have so many responsibilities and one of them is maintaining our own living space. It may sound trivial but we are sure none of us enjoy living in a dirty and unkempt room where everything is on the floor and there is so much dust everywhere. It is a daunting task for many of us and best when you can do it routinely because apparently these small particles will always exist whether or not we do a lot of activities inside.
The higher the traffic in the room, the messier it gets and the more often we have to clean it. Thankfully modern technology is improving the convenience of housekeeping by a lot especially with how robot vacuums are invented and used in lots of houses nowadays. If you don’t trust a robot vacuum yet, a regular vacuum is a basic tool that everyone will need to help maintain their house. It is a very important appliance that we should invest in for convenience.
Vacuum cleaners are useful and as the name suggests, they will collect such small particles from almost any surface and then collect them in a compartment. The way they work is similar regardless of the type of your vacuum itself. In the past we usually got an upright or a canister vacuum. They have different styling but are equally effective. What to consider is the flooring layout and how you want to use the appliance for cleaning because they are quite different here.
For an upright we have to support the weight while navigating the vacuum head and since they are quite large in general, it can be difficult to reach some parts unless they have an attachment like hose that we can connect into other accessories. For a canister vacuum, they are typically lighter since users only need to hold the hose and not the whole housing. They are slimmer and can get into narrow places such as below a sofa or TV table.
Additionally nowadays there are stick and robot vacuums as well. Stick vacuum is an upright with slimmer profile and lighter weight so they can reach narrow places and also more convenient in operation; it is almost like a bigger car vacuum. Robot vacuums such as Shark Ion Vs Roomba 675 are automatic by features with sensors that help them navigate on the flooring. They are smaller so the dust collection is much smaller as well but if your house doesn’t have much traffic, this can be a very convenient solution to try.
| Shark AZ1002 | Shark ZU881 | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 11.2 x 12.2 x 46 inches | 10.6 x 12.2 x 47.2 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 16 pounds | 24.9 pounds |
| Shop now at Amazon | Check price | Check price |
About Shark AZ1002 and ZU881
There are so many good options as well whether you want to go for the budget, affordable options or those that are more on the higher range such as Dyson vacuums. We do think any vacuums will have their own advantages and drawbacks since no one is perfect so it is wise to consider how much you want to spend and match it with a vacuum that is more convenient for the type of application in your house or how you want to use the appliance.
For those who want the styling of an upright but also want the versatile cleaning ability, the Lift-Away vacuums from Shark are going to be very ideal. As the name suggests, Lift-Away means that the main housing can be removed from the handle and it is very convenient when you need to attach various cleaning tools or accessories. What’s confusing is that Shark also has so many similar vacuums with almost identical styling and features yet they come with different names.
If you are looking for a vacuum that will work effectively and also be easy to use, the Shark AZ1002 and ZU881 are two perfect options to consider. The two come from different lines or families but they have a set of very similar features and also equally being powered lift-away with duo-clean brush. They can be used to vacuum both hard floor and carpet flooring with the dedicated settings as well as detachable from the main body to transform into a handheld vacuum.
They have the same set of features and even cleaning head design which is using double rollers. Performance wise the Shark AZ1002 and ZU881 are equally reliable and they are easy to use. We do think most users will have no difficulties operating the appliance. They will still need routine maintenance however because sometimes there can be hair stuck on the roller and the filter which is washable or replaceable when needed. As for the price point, Apex or AZ line is among the most expensive in Shark’s collection.
Shark AZ1002 and ZU881 Design
As you can see, the styling of Shark AZ1002 and ZU881 are very similar and if you have an older Shark lift-away vacuum, chances are they will look the same as well. The differences are usually on the shade and some minor change in control panel or attachment. These vacuums are pretty tall at 45-46 inches from the bottom to handle. They are also still manageable in weight by less than 20 pounds when fully assembled. The appliance will come in a few parts along with the accessories.
Depending on the model, they may come with different inclusion as well but for the AZ1002, this box comes with the vacuum, crevice tool, upholstery tool, and a pet power brush while the ZU881 also comes with a crevice tool, pet multi tool, and brush; you can buy more accessories from Shark for a wider range of cleaning application. The vacuum materials are plastic and we can wash some of the parts as well when needed.
Shark AZ1002 and ZU881 Specs
The most important part of a vacuum cleaner is their ability to clean your flooring. Similar to many upright or lift-away models from Shark, the mechanism is pretty much the same. The main difference here is the motor because AZ1002 which is part of the Apex line is currently the highest in motor rate at 11.3 amps motor while many others including the ZU880 series is coming with a 9.5 amps motor. When you check the cleaning head, they have the same arrangement too.
Unlike many vacuums, there are two brush rollers here; one is soft and the other one is larger made of stiff bristles and rubber-like paddle that work hand in hand to swipe your flooring. There is also a soft brush lining at the edge of the cleaning head. This technology is supposed to be self-cleaning while being effective for both soft and hard flooring.
Shark AZ1002 and ZU881 Performance
Next for the performance, one thing we want to mention about self-cleaning is it doesn’t mean we will never need to clean the cleaning head or roller because it is certainly necessary from time to time. If you have long hair or often shed, the vacuum will keep the hair from getting sucked into the hose by keeping it on the main roller. This may happen as well when you have pets like dogs or cats that often shed so it is wise to check the roller after cleaning.
For the suction power, the Shark AZ1002 and ZU881 are impressive for both floorings but we do think they are better for hard flooring type, thanks to the powerful motor. The carpet suction is good as well but may not be as effective compared to models from high-end brands. Overall they can handle visible debris really well but not as impressive for deep cleaning taller carpets.
Shark AZ1002 and ZU881 Features
Lastly for the features, both Shark AZ1002 and ZU881 are also identical because there are only options to adjust the brush roll speed for different flooring. We can choose from thick carpet, low pile carpet, and hard floor cleaning; all modes will keep the brush to spin but at different speeds. The vacuums will operate at full motor power all the time so we don’t have an automatic suction level to choose. They do have head lamps to illuminate the spot being cleaned.
Shark AZ1002 Vs ZU881
These vacuums are more similar than different so we do think what sets them apart is only the main motor since AZ1002 is more powerful and more effective at hard flooring. Depending on the model or variant, their accessories may vary and in comparison they come with the same standard accessories. For the overall performance and set of features, they are equally reliable and easy to use. These vacuums are also perfect for users with pets.
Conclusion
The decision is all yours since the two have the same set of features but AZ1002 does have a higher motor and is more expensive. If you don’t really need the added power, ZU881 is a good option at a much lower price point.