The Shark Navigator vs Rotator 2021: Comparison and Review
If you’re looking for a new upright vacuum cleaner, you’ve probably already come across some of the Shark vacuum cleaners.
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It has swivel floor steering, a lift-away canister, a far-reaching wand, and a brush roll shutoff. Not to mention, the vacuum can be emptied from both the top and bottom, making for mess-free cleaning sessions.
What’s more, it boasts an anti-allergen complete seal as well as a HEPA filter to prevent dust and allergens from reentering a room during a cleaning session.
It’s also super easy to maintain and works well on a variety of floor surfaces.
Advantages
The Navigator is a well-rounded machine that can eradicate a wide range of messes.
- Moreover, it features Shark’s proprietary Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology®. Together a HEPA filter, it ensures dust- and allergen-free environment.
- It also comes with a series of useful attachments, including a Hard Floor Hero™, a pet power brush, a dusting brush, and an 8-inch crevice tool.
- Overall, this vacuum is capable of capturing chunky debris and fine particles, such as dust and dandruff.
- It’s also low-priced, giving budget-minded buyers a break without jeopardizing their cleaning capabilities.
Disadvantages
- The Navigator is an outstanding performer, but the design is a bit dated. It features a white plastic body, a clear plastic canister, and a 30-foot power cord. At just under 14 pounds, it’s lightweight.
- However, it has a large exterior that may be difficult to store.
- We were also disappointed that it did not feature a retractable cord, because no one has the time nor desire to collect 30-feet of loose ends after every cleaning session manually.
Pros
- Several specialty accessories
- Lift-away canister for spot cleaning
- 360-degree swiveling base
- Brushroller with shutoff feature
- Work well on both hardwoods and carpets
- Extra-large transparent dust cup
Cons
- Dated design
- Limited accessories
Shark Rotator Pro Lift-Away Professional Upright Vacuum
It also has a built-in Anti-Allergen Complete Seal and a HEPA air filter for improved air quality.
The vacuum can be pushed for brushroll-aided suction, or the canister can be disconnected for deep cleaning hard-to-reach places, making for a high-powered 2-in-1 design.
Advantages
- The Lift-Away®’s detachable canister makes it easy for users to clean hard-to-reach places. Not to mention, it features a swiveling caddy base with LED lights for across-the-floor navigation.
- It also has an extra-large dust cup for uninterrupted cleaning sessions.
- Not to say, it has a reusable air filter and anti-allergen seal to ensure the best possible air quality during and after cleaning sessions.
- Topping off its features, the Rotator comes with a motorized pet hair brush and other superior accessories.
Disadvantages
- The Rotator is Shark’s original Lift-Away® canister vacuum. As such, it comes at a steep price.
- While it works well, it features a somewhat dated and bulky design.
- What’s more, not all of the accessories can fit in the onboard storage unit. It’s also a bit pricier than the Navigator.
Pros
- Extra-large transparent dust cup
- Anti-allergen seal and HEPA filter
- Premium Pet Power Brush
- Swivel steering
- LED lights on the handle and nozzle
- Versatile attachments for all sorts of spot cleaning
- Lift-away canister completes the 2-in-1 design
Cons
- Dated design
- Expensive
When we first looked at the Shark Navigator vs. Rotator for Pet hair, it was difficult to distinguish between the vacuums.
So we broke the vacuums into easy to compare categories, determining a winner of each roundup in hopes of identifying an overall winner.
Design
Both the Navigator and the Rotator have similar bodies and overall designs.
They are both full-sized upright vacuums with lift-away handheld canisters and loads of specialty accessories.
Both vacuums also feature 30-feet wall cords, transparent dust cups, and swivel bases.
Both vacuums feature interchangeable floor-level cleaning heads. Users can opt between a standard brushroll for carpets and rugs or a non-abrasive hardwood cleaning head for a variety of hard surfaces.
Both vacuums can also be detached from their bases to transform into handheld canisters with extended wands.
Both cleaners also feature ergonomic handles, a flexible extension hose, and an extended wand with optional accessories.
The Navigator is more of a budget-rate version of the Rotator. Consequently, it comes with fewer accessories.
On the other hand, the Navigator features an extensive pet upholstery tool, a dusting brush, a 24-inch crevice tool, and a 5.5-inch crevice tool.
Meanwhile, the Rotator comes with a premium pet power brush, a full pet upholstery tool, a straight suction nozzle, a dusting brush, and a 12-inch crevice tool.
What’s more, the Rotator has a brushroll indicator light and on/off feature. It also has LED headlights and a deep cabernet and grey exterior.
On the other hand, the Navigator has a 2.2-quart dustbin while the Rotator’s is just 1.3 quarts.
Size and Dimensions
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional is 45.5 inches tall, 11.4 inches wide, and 14.96 inches deep. It weighs 13.7 pounds as an upright vacuum and 8 pounds as a handheld canister.
It has a 15-inch cleaning path and a 30-foot power cord.
Finally, it has a dust cup capacity of 2.2 quarts.
On the other hand, the Shark Rotator Lift-Away is 45 inches tall, 11.9 inches wide, and 13.2 inches deep.
It weighs 15.4 pounds as an upright vacuum and 8.4 pounds as a handheld canister.
It has a 9.5-inch cleaning path and a 30-foot power cord.
Finally, it has a dust cup capacity of 1.3 quarts.
The Navigator Professional can also be used with a 16-inch extension tube, a flexible hose, a 24-inch crevice tool, and other extendable accessories. As such, stairs, corners, crevices, and ceilings are no match for this far-reaching cleaning device. Like the Navigator, the Rotator comes with a 12-inch crevice tool, a 16-inch extension wand, and many attachable accessories.
Cleaning Parameters and Vacuuming Technologies
All of Shark’s Lift-Away vacuums features Anti-Allergen Complete Seal technologies and HEPA filters to prevent dust and debris from reentering the environment after being sucked up.
They also boast a dynamic 2-in-1 design, with optional upright or handheld vacuum postures.
Meanwhile, Active-Glide™ technology makes it possible for the vacuums to swivel effortlessly around corners, furniture, and other hazards. Not to mention, they have interchangeable cleaner heads that deep clean both hard and soft surfaces.
We performed a series of tests to assess how well each of these vacuums cleaned on different surfaces.
To perform these tests, we created tracks of three different types of debris, including lentils, cereal, and flour. We applied these tracks to thick-pile, low-pile, and hardwood floors.
We used the Navigator and the Rotator’s large brushroll attachment to see who fared the best in each of the categories.
We found that the Rotator performed better when picking up the lentils on hardwood floors. Both vacuums also performed outstandingly well on low-pile carpets. Finally, the Rotator performed better than the Rotator on thick-pile carpets. The Rotator left behind bits and pieces of lentils and flour.
Cleaning Quality on Different Surfaces
While we utilized the vacuums’ wide brush rollers to see how each of them fared on different surfaces, it was essential for us to dig deeper into their accessories to better rate their ability to clean different surfaces.
Read along to learn how the Navigator and Rotator fared on hardwoods, carpets, and more.
Hardwoods
The Shark Navigator features a Hard Floor Hero™ that attaches to the end of the wand. It also boasts a Dust-Away™ hard floor attachment that comes with a washable microfiber pad attachment intended for intensively cleaning hard surfaces.
It also has a brushroll shutoff feature that lets you switch between carpet and bare floor with the touch of a button.
The Navigator also features a dusting brush and 8-inch crevice tool for eliminating deep-set dust and debris.
On the other hand, the Rotator does not come with any hard floor-specific cleaning heads.
However, it does feature a dusting brush and 12-inch crevice tool that can be used to eradicate dust and debris from tight nooks and corners.
Carpets
Both the Navigator and Rotator feature rotating brush rollers built into swiveling caddies that navigate well on both low and high carpets. The lift-away wand and crevice tool also works well to eradicate debris that has been crushed into corners and crevices.
The Rotator boasts an additional motorized Pet Power brush for removing pet hair from carpeted stairs and upholstery. Not to mention, its LED headlight makes for easier navigation around furniture and rugs.
The Rotator has three suction settings, which include:
- “Hard Floor,”
- “Carpet/Low Pile,”
- “Thick Carpet/Area Rug.”
Upholstery and More
Both the Navigator and Rotator feature low-profile swiveling bottoms and nozzle heads that are ideal for reaching under and around low-hanging furniture.
Meanwhile, the Rotator’s wide upholstery and multi-tools are great for removing pet hair and other debris from fabric-covered furniture, curtains, lampshades, and rugs.
Usability
Setup
The Navigator requires minimal assembly out of the box. You’ll need to attach the hose, bottom, wand, and canister. These pieces all lock into one another with ease. The entire process takes a few minutes. You’ll also need to hook the cord onto the side and attach the onboard accessories to the accessory caddy.
The unboxing and assembly processes are nearly identical with the Rotator. You need to attach the parts and make sure that all the tabs and grooves line up on corresponding parts. Keep in mind that the Rotator has a few more accessories than the Navigator.
Daily Use
They both have easy to steer swiveling bases that offer flawless multi-surface maneuverability.
Both vacuums also feature super convenient onboard accessory storage and snap-on connection points, enabling split-second, hassle-free accessory changes. Not to mention, they can both transform from a powerful upright vacuum to a lightweight handheld canister.
We found the caddy to be the most convenient setup, as the wheels and 30-foot power cord provide plenty of reach and flexibility. You can even disconnect the flexible cord and attach the wand to clean above the floor while still connected to the rolling base.
The handheld canister takes a little getting used to, as it weighs over 8 pounds and requires two hands to maneuver. Still, it’s superb for cleaning stairwells and other hard-to-reach surfaces.
Regular Maintenance
Both the Navigator and Rotator feature dust cups with a hinged bottom panel. Users can unlatch the pane, and it will swing open to release the contents. This enables ideal hygienic disposal.
Stubborn debris may also be emptied from the top.
Troubleshooting
Sometimes, even the best vacuums don’t work as expected. Both the Navigator and Rotator may require intermittent troubleshooting.
- When users observe insufficient airflow, they may need to remove individual parts and accessories to check for blockages.
- The vacuums may also overheat and need to be turned off to cool down.
- Finally, the foam filters and dust cup may need to be cleaned regularly.
Power
Both the Navigator and Rotator feature 30-foot wall cords.
The Rotator utilizes 800 watts per hour, while the Navigator utilizes 1,200 watts. With that said, it’s also important to consider the vacuums’ airflow, or the amount of air sucked into the unit.
However, this number varies depending on the type of accessories attached.
Noise
The Navigator produces over 75 decibels without any accessories. Meanwhile, the Rotator produces around 80 decibels at full force.
Maintenance and Dustbin Indicator
- Both the Navigator and the Rotator have zero maintenance costs. That’s because they both come with high-quality washable “lifetime filters” that can be re-used throughout the vacuums’ entire lives.
- They also boast “lifetime belts” that never need to be replaced.
- Other maintenance requirements include the periodic cleaning of the pre-motor foam filter, pre-motor felt filter and post-motor HEPA filter.
Both the pre-motor foam and felt filters need to be rinsed and air-dried every 3 months. Meanwhile, the HEPA filter needs to be rinsed and air-dried every 12 months.
- Users also need to empty the dust cup regularly. While neither vacuum features a dustbin indicator, both of them boast transparent dust cups with “max fill” lines. Users should take note of the dust cup contents before and after each use and empty it as needed.
- The brushroll also needs to be removed and cleaned periodically. What’s more, the Navigator’s Dust-Away™ microfiber pad should be cleaned periodically. Finally, both models are also protected by a 5-year limited warranty.
Pricing
The Shark Navigator’s list price is $249.99, though it often sells for a reduced price.
Meanwhile, the Shark Rotator’s list price is $259.99. Of course, it too sells for a reduced cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shark Navigator vs Shark Rotator: which vacuum is better for pet hair?
Though Navigator features almost twice bigger dust cup (2.2 vs 1.3 dry quarts), Rotator comes with more additional tools like improved premium pet power brush and straight nozzle. Thus, having balanced pros and cons, both Sharks are the best options for pet hair.
Can Shark Navigator and Shark Rotator Lift-Away adjust to the height for carpets?
How can I clean the filters in my Shark Navigator Lift-Away?
To clean pre-motor filters, please remove the dust cup, pull the filters out from the top of the motor base, and rinse them thoroughly.
Then squeeze extra water, dry the filters, and place them back. To clean HEPA filter, remove the filter cover from the front of the vacuum, take out the HEPA filter, and repeat the same procedure like with pre-motor filters. For more information, please read the manual.
Can I use Shark Navigator and Rotator to vacuum a car?
Final Thoughts
Are you still wondering whether you should buy the Shark Navigator or the Shark Rotator?
The Navigator is an excellent 2-in-1 upright canister vacuum with loads of accessories and plenty of sucking power. It’s also the most budget-friendly option of the two vacuums. Not to mention, it has a dust cup that is nearly double the size of the Rotators. While it was a close call, it also happens to be our number one pick.
Still, we’re big fans of the Rotator and believe it’s worth a few extra bucks. Especially if you’re a pet owner or someone who commonly uses accessories to clean things like furniture and drapes. It’s also has a sleeker, more modern design with colorful highlights.
- With that said, both vacuums performed better than pricier alternatives.
- They were also both easy to navigate, even without significant upper body strength.
- Not to mention, they both did well on a variety of surfaces.
- They also both had plenty of accessories to clean up anything left behind by the main rotator head.
I`m Gary Johns and I`m this very person who is responsible for the technical part of all the reviews and tests on this blog.
In 2015 I got a technical degree at the University of California, and since that time I help people and give a professional and detailed overview of any smart technology.
Hi! It was an in-depth review, thank you. However, you said little about Shark’s filters. I suffer from allergies seasonally. Can Navigator and Rotator relieve it to me? Which model should I choose then? Thanks!
Hello, Marry! Thank you very much for your question. We’ve shortly mentioned that both Shark vacuums come with HEPA filters and feature special Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology. While the filter traps 99.9% of dust and hazardous particles, sealing ensures they will never return to your room. However, apart from the main filter, Navigator NV356E S2 and Rotator NV502 boast two additional filters – foam and felt units. Thus, we get a triple air cleaning system. Shark vacuum cleaners can eliminate pollen and pet allergens as well as some other particles and do improve the air quality to help allergic people. Since the models are identical, you can pick up any in terms of filtration.
Hi! Amazon shows several Rotator models (NV500, NV 501, and NV502) that look identically. Could you explain the differences? Thanks.
Hello, Sam! Excellent question, thank you so much!
Indeed, the cleaner has several modifications, which are identical technically. We have the same performance, functions, and design. The difference is the accessory kit.
Shark Rotator NV500 cleaner comes with a multi-tool, a crevice tool, a straight suction nozzle, and a standard power brush.
Shark Rotator NV501 offers the same multi-tool, crevice tool, and straight suction nozzle and has additional dusting and premium power brushes.
The NV502 cleaner has multi and crevice tools, a straight suction nozzle, and an extra premium power brush with a car kit.
We also highlight the Rotator NV503 model equipped with a multi-tool, a crevice tool, a dust-away pad, and a standard power brush.