I rarely give 5-star reviews as an appliance tester, but Shark's new handheld vacuum made me break my own rules – it packs a powerful punch

It's no secret that Shark has produced some of the most premium floorcare appliances out there, and the brand already has two spots in our guide to the best handheld vacuum cleaners on the market.

But where does the Shark WandVac Deluxe sit amongst their current offering? After using it in my home for two weeks, I can confidently recommend this handheld vacuum to anyone.

In a nutshell

The Shark WandVac Deluxe quickly became one of the best handheld vacuums I’ve tested (and I've tested a lot). It’s incredibly lightweight, yet doesn’t feel like it’s sacrificed power for its slimline design. In my flour tests, it picked up everything from hard floors and carpets in a single sweep, and the boost mode gives you even more power when you need it.

The WandVac Deluxe also couldn't be easier to use. The attachments slot in and out effortlessly, the charging base doubles as storage for all three tools, and the compact design means I can keep it within easy reach without it feeling like a hindrance. The motorised tool is another big plus, particularly if you want a handheld that can tackle more than just everyday crumbs.

It's surprisingly loud for such a small vacuum, and the dust bin is fairly small, so you’ll need to empty it regularly if you’re using it for bigger cleaning jobs. But neither issue has really bothered me during testing.

Plus, I think the Shark WandVac Deluxe earns its £199.99 price tag. I've grown to prefer this model to other handhelds I've tested, and I'm still surprised at just how powerful it is given its lightweight design. So, if you're looking for a handheld vacuum that is as good for grab-and-go cleans as it is for tougher cleaning jobs, this is one I'd happily recommend.

How I tested

Katie Sims

I'm Katie, a regular freelance contributor here at Ideal Home, and I've tested a variety of home appliances over the years, including dehumidifiers, air purifiers, coffee machines, and of course, vacuums.

I tested the Shark WandVac Deluxe Handheld Vacuum for two weeks in my flat in Leeds. As part of how we review vacuum cleaners at Ideal Home, I used this model for any handheld vacuuming chores, including refreshing furniture, cleaning skirting boards, room edges, and general floor maintenance. I also performed the flour test to get a clear visual of the WandVac's pick-up capabilities.

Specifications

• Max. run time:  40 minutes
• Charge time:  3.5 hours
• Bin capacity: 0.13 L
• Weight: 2kg
• Dimensions: 46.99 L x 21.11 W x 11.81 H cm
• Modes: 3
• In the box: Main Unit, Duster Crevice Tool, Motorised Pet Tool, Charging Base, Charging Plug
• RRP: £199.99

Unboxing, set-up, and first impressions

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The WandVac Deluxe offered exactly the kind of unboxing experience I'd expect from a premium brand like Shark. Everything arrived neatly packaged in a box that was easy to carry around, and there wasn't a scrap of single-use plastic in sight.

All the components were wrapped in recyclable paper instead, which is a big thumbs up from me in terms of both the product's environmental impact but also in relation to the unboxing experience – it just feels elevated.

While I knew the WandVac was designed to be a lightweight, grab-and-go handheld, I was still surprised by just how sleek it looked once everything was out of the box. It's slimline rather than bulky, but it didn't feel flimsy. It's exactly the sort of streamlined design you'd expect from a handheld vacuum meant to be picked up and used at a moment's notice.

I was also a big fan of the charging base, which doubles up as an accessories holder. All three attachment heads slot neatly into the base, so everything has its own place, and I don't have to go rummaging through a cupboard every time I want to use them.

In terms of assembly, there's actually nothing to do at all. The instruction manual is still nice to have, though, as it provides all the information you need to get the most out of the vac.

It recommends fully charging the device before its first use (which takes around 3.5 hours), so I popped it onto the charging base and saw one of the indicator lights start blinking. Once all the lights stopped flashing, I knew it was fully charged and ready for action.

What's it like to use?

I'm glad to say that the seamlessness of the set-up process continued once I started testing the WandVac Deluxe in my home. The three attachments – crevice, upholstery, and motorised pet – each slot easily into the main unit, and detach just as easily via the tabs on either side of the handle.

There’s no fiddling around or wrestling with the attachments, which, from previous testing experience, I know isn't always a guarantee.

I started by giving the edges of my kitchen floor and living room a quick once-over with the crevice tool, and it didn't take long to get a sense of how much power this little vacuum has. There are three modes to choose from – normal, eco and boost – and although I started off in normal mode, I switched to eco pretty quickly.

In fact, Eco mode was more than enough for the surface-level cleaning I had planned, which was also good news for the 40-minute battery life.

However, the vacuum's noise surprised me; it’s pretty loud for a handheld, especially one this small. I could actually see the vinyl floor in my kitchen move slightly under the nozzle's suction, which gave a clear indication of how much power the WandVac has.

But to actually paint the picture of just how powerful this handheld vacuum is, I put it through our usual flour test. I was slightly more generous with the flour than I intended when scattering it across my kitchen floor, which left me a little worried that I’d made the test harder than it needed to be.

Thankfully, it was no problem for the WandVac Deluxe. I used the wider upholstery tool for this test (despite me very obviously not cleaning upholstery), as I wanted to put this attachment through its paces before I tested the motorised tool later on. And it got full marks from me as it picked up the flour in a single sweep.

It was the same story when I repeated the test on my living room carpet. The WandVac picked up all the flour in its path in a single pass, which is always a satisfying sight.

Speaking of the upholstery tool, this was the perfect attachment for refreshing sofas, pouffes, curtains, and even table runners. It glided effortlessly over surfaces and left the telltale, satisfying streaks on my pouffe, which usually indicate strong suction power.

And I was actually very pleased I had a new handheld vacuum for this purpose, as my previous model (the Gtech ProLite Handheld Bagged Vacuum) lacked an upholstery tool altogether.

Next, I tested the WandVac's 'motorised pet' tool by cleaning the interior of our car. This review was well-timed, as I had an oat-related disaster in the car a few weeks back and I still hadn't got around to cleaning it.

Happily, the WandVac made light work of this job. Not only did it pick up the oats and other debris that had been lingering, but it also cleaned the car seats and removed the oat residue that had worked its way into the fabric when I switched to boost mode.

Using the device in boost mode with the motorised head is a powerful combination, and I seriously doubt the WandVac Deluxe would struggle to clean anything with this pairing.

I'd highly recommend the motorised pet tool for deeper cleaning jobs like this. While I don't have any pets, the way it cleaned our car left me with little doubt about the WandVac Deluxe's cleaning capabilities. It's picked up stubborn dirt and hair in my home, and I'd be confident recommending it to people with pets.

Lastly, in terms of how the WandVac Deluxe actually feels to use, I couldn’t be happier. It’s the lightest handheld vacuum I’ve tested so far, and it's made me realise this is exactly what I want from a handheld.

If a handheld vacuum feels bulky, it kind of defeats the point of having one in the first place. The WandVac’s slimline design fit in my hand like a glove, and I could easily pick it up to tackle different surfaces around my home without feeling like I was lugging an appliance around.

It’s also small enough to leave on its charging base between cleans without creating the sort of visual clutter that can come with bulkier handheld devices.

Cleaning and maintenance

My first thought when I saw the size of the WandVac Deluxe was that the dust bin would need frequent emptying. It looked tiny, and I expected it to be a nuisance.

That said, the small dust bin didn't bother me during testing, and I found it took a surprisingly long time to fill up. And when the time does come to empty the dust bin, it doesn't require too much effort or patience.

It springs open at the touch of the button, so you need to hold it horizontally over a bin; otherwise, you risk spilling the contents on the floor. I had a little trouble reinserting the dust cup after I emptied it, but it's easy enough once you get the knack.

Though I didn't find the small dust bin too much of a hindrance, there are great handheld vacuums out there with a larger capacity, so keep that in mind if you think this would bother you.

As with any vacuum, it's best to clean the filter regularly to keep the device in tip-top condition. Although I struggled to remove the filter holder, I could still access the filter easily enough.

Taking mine out revealed just how much flour I'd used on my earlier tests, but thankfully, most of it came out by tapping the filter over the bin. Rinsing the filter is the best way to clean it fully (just make sure it's completely dry before putting it back into the vacuum).

After using it, the upholstery tool had a little dust and debris on it, but it only took a couple of minutes to wipe it down, too. I'd recommend keeping all attachment heads as clean as possible to keep the WandVac working optimally.

How does it compare to similar models?

Shark is no stranger to producing high-quality handheld vacuums, but where does the WandVac Deluxe sit amongst the brand's current offerings? First, it's the upgrade of the WandVac 2.0, a cheaper (£129.99 compared to £199.99) option with a much shorter battery life (max 15 minutes). The WandVac 2.0 is still good for on-the-go cleaning, but you might struggle to use it for longer jobs like cleaning the car.

Then, there's the Shark PowerBoost Pet Handheld Vac. Our reviewer was impressed by its suction power, lightweight design, and battery life, and this model includes a flexible hose and extra tools for awkward areas, making it slightly more versatile. The PowerBoost's dust cup is slightly larger (0.25L), but I'm not convinced the price hike (£229.99) is worth it. It's not a slimline design like the WandVac Deluxe is, which is my personal preference for handheld vacs.

Finally, the Dyson Car+Boat has long held the top spot in our handheld vacuum buying guide. I tested it myself, and it earned full marks for its impressive cleaning performance.

In standard mode, the Dyson Car+Boat runs for 50 minutes, the longest battery life I've found for a handheld vac. That said, after testing the WandVac Deluxe, I think this is my preferred model for easy handheld cleaning. I prefer the lightweight design to the bulkier Dyson model, but I don't feel like the WandVac Deluxe compromises on power. It's also cheaper than the Car+Boat, which costs £249.99 at full price.

Should you buy the Shark WandVac Deluxe Handheld Vacuum?

I rarely give an appliance five stars in my reviews, because it really needs to tick all the boxes. But testing the Shark WandVac Deluxe has genuinely been a delight. The seriously impressive suction, the three power modes for cleaning flexibility, and the motorised tool for deep cleaning mean it handled everything I threw at it. It's perfect for grab-and-go cleans but also holds its own on tougher jobs.

What really sets the WandVac Deluxe apart for me is how lightweight it is. I’ve tested plenty of handheld vacuums, and I’ve realised that if a handheld feels bulky or cumbersome, it defeats the point. The WandVac Deluxe is slim enough to sit comfortably in my hand, and I can quickly grab it to clean room edges or freshen up soft furnishings without feeling like I’m lugging a hefty appliance around.

The compromises are there, but they're small. It's a little on the loud side (especially in boost mode), and the dust bin is small, but I didn't need to empty it as much as I thought I would. That might change if you use the vacuum for regular heavy-duty cleaning, but for this review, it wasn't a problem.

At £199.99, it isn’t the cheapest handheld vacuum around, but after testing it alongside models from Gtech and Dyson, I think it offers excellent value for what you get. If you want a powerful, lightweight handheld vacuum that can handle more than just the occasional crumb, I’d have no hesitation recommending the Shark WandVac Deluxe.