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Taking a deeper look at the Navigator and Rotator series
Shark vacuums are among the most popular in the world, and Shark offers a lot of products and series to choose from. When it comes to corded electric upright vacuums, you might be wondering what the difference is between a Shark Navigator and a Shark Rotator. They look a lot alike and seem to do almost the same things.
The differences between a Shark Navigator vacuum and a Rotator model might not be obvious at first glance. Basically, Shark Navigators are at the economy end of the brand’s cordless upright series and Rotators occupy the middle range.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to get a Rotator over a Navigator if you want the best vacuum for you. In fact, when it comes to everyday cleaning, we think you’ll be just as satisfied with a Shark Navigator as with a higher-priced Rotator.
Navigator vs. Rotator cordless vacuum specs
We’ve chosen three models each from the Navigator and Rotator series to illustrate the specifications they have in common. Four models are the latest ones offered by Shark’s online store, while the other two are older models that have stood the test of time.
Shark Navigator vacuums
Navigator vacuums offer mostly single-roller floor nozzles, lower prices and lighter weights than Rotators.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away ADV Upright Vacuum
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away ADV Upright Vacuum features a more streamlined design compared to other Navigator models.
Product Specifications
Cord Length: 25’ | Suction Power: 960 W | Bin Capacity: 0.89 qt | Weight: 12.3 lb | Dimensions: 10” L x 12” W x 46.5” H
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away ADV Upright Vacuum (LA322) is the most recent update to the Navigator line. It has the Navigator series’ moderate 12-pound weight and easy navigation and adds a more streamlined design, LED lights and other niceties.
The Navigator Lift-Away ADV features a 9.5-inch wide cleaning path from a floor nozzle equipped with Shark’s spiral-bristle brush roller. The floor nozzle detaches from the rest of the vacuum with the push of a red pedal, making changing configurations easy. It comes with a crevice tool and upholstery brush as well as a powered brush roller that’s effective on pet hair and cleaning above the floor. Its handle doubles as an extender wand.
While its design is more streamlined than that of previous Navigator models, the Navigator Lift-Away ADV has a dust cup that might not be big enough for long cleaning sessions. Its suction power is also a little weaker than that of older versions. However, it’s a complete package at a very attractive price for an up-to-date corded upright.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe is the most powerful of all the Navigators.
Product Specifications
Cord Length: 25’ | Suction Power: 1,200 W | Bin Capacity: 0.9 qt | Weight: 15.96 lb | Dimensions: 14.4” L x 11.6” W x 26.7” H
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe (NV360) is the bigger, heavier and more powerful Navigator model in Shark’s current lineup. A little older than the latest ADV model, it offers more suction power than the new Navigator ADV, but it has a somewhat dated design that’s a little harder to use.
The Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe weighs almost 16 pounds, a consideration if lifting and pushing that kind of weight is an issue. It has a 1,200-watt motor for excellent suction and HEPA filtration to keep dust and allergens inside the 0.9-quart dust cup. It comes with an upholstery brush and crevice tool, but its floor nozzle has no lights, and it can only switch its rollers on or off rather than adjust the suction power. It is also harder to transform from a floor vacuum to a pod than the newer ADV model, with its floor suction hose separate from the floor nozzle’s neck.
Shark Navigator NV352 Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
The Shark Navigator NV352 was first introduced in 2011 and is now one of the most popular and successful vacuums available.
Product Specifications
Cord Length: 25’ | Suction Power: 1,200 W | Bin Capacity: 1.1 qt | Weight: 12.5 lb | Dimensions: 15” L x 11.4” W x 45.5” H
Introduced in 2011, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away vacuum (NV352) is one of the most popular vacuums in the world. Its curvy purple plastic design might seem a little retro or low-tech compared to more recent models, but the fact that it’s still popular shows just how effective it is.
Like the Navigator Deluxe, it has 1,200 watts of suction power, and it beats both the Deluxe and the new ADV with a 1.1-quart dust cup while still weighing a manageable 12.5 pounds. Also, like the Navigator Deluxe, it takes a couple of steps to remove the NV352’s pod from its floor nozzle compared to the one-push ease of the newer ADV. Its single-roller floor nozzle has no lights and only on/off settings for carpet and bare floors. Still, with more than a decade on the market, multiple buyer guide recommendations and tens of thousands of five-star reviews, the Shark Navigator NV352 is as close to a sure thing as you’ll find in an upright vacuum.
Shark Rotator vacuums
Shark Rotators have sturdier builds than Navigators, which also makes them heavier. They also have a more advanced floor-nozzle technology shared with Shark’s high-end Vertex and Stratos lines.
Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum with PowerFins HairPro and Odor Neutralizer Technology
The roller on the Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum lifts dirt while preventing hair and fur from getting tangled in its bristles.
Product Specifications
Cord Length: 25.69’ | Suction Power: 1,150 W | Bin Capacity: 3 qt | Weight: 15.18 lb | Dimensions: 14.92” L x 12.05” W x 45.2” H
The Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum (ZU102) doesn’t have a Lift-Away pod like other Shark uprights we’ve examined, but its up-to-date floor nozzle and generous dust cup capacity make it an excellent choice for large homes or homes with multiple pets.
The Rotator Pet Upright’s floor nozzle features Shark’s PowerFins HairPro roller, replacing brush bristles with angled flexible fins. This allows the roller to still agitate and lift dirt particles from both carpet and bare flooring while minimizing tangled hair and fur. The nozzle also has bright LED headlights to illuminate the dirt.
Its nearly three-quart dust cup is the biggest of the models we evaluated, ideal for multi-pet households or large homes. To make up for its lack of Lift-Away portability, it comes with a hose that, when combined with its handle/wand, has a reach of up to 12 feet for high shelves or stairs. Its cord is also more than six inches longer than that on other Rotators or Navigators.
Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away ADV Upright Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins HairPro and Odor Neutralizer Technology
The Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away ADV features Shark’s odor-neutralizing scent cartridge.
Product Specifications
Cord Length: 25’ | Suction Power: 960 W | Bin Capacity: 0.8 qt | Weight: 14.35 lb | Dimensions: 13” L x 12” W x 45.5” H
A Lift-Away model with Shark’s DuoClean two-roller head and PowerFin HairPro anti-tangle design, the Shark Rotator Pet Lift-Away ADV (LA702) straddles the line between mid-range and high-end vacuum lines.
The DuoClean floor nozzle has two rollers, a design seen on Shark’s newer stick vacuums and the high-end Stratos and Vertex lines. One roller has Shark’s PowerFin HairPro flexible fins to agitate and lift dirt, and the other offers soft fibers to buff and dust bare floors. The nozzle features LED headlights and separates easily from the main vacuum pod with a push pedal. It also includes a compartment for Shark’s odor-neutralizing scent cartridge, which can help freshen a room and prevent stale odors from accumulating in the vacuum. (Pet lovers take note.)
The Rotator Pet ADV is slightly lighter than other Rotator models, though it’s still heavier than most Navigators. It has less suction power than other models, but you might not notice it with the dual-roller nozzle.
Shark NV501 Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
The Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum includes LED headlights so you can spot messes better.
Product Specifications
Cord Length: 25’ | Suction Power: 1,200 W | Bin Capacity: 0.88 qt | Weight: 15.5 lb | Dimensions: 45.7″ L x 12.1″ W x 12.2″ H
Introduced in 2013, the Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum (NV501) is an older Rotator model that still has a lot to offer shoppers looking for a solid corded upright.
Its Lift-Away mechanism is more advanced than that on older Navigators like the NV352, although not quite as streamlined as on newer models. Its floor nozzle features Shark’s older Zero M bristle brush roller, but it also includes LED headlights, and its swivel steering is nimble and maneuverable.
The Rotator Professional is a bit on the heavy side at 15.5 pounds, and while its dust cup is marketed as “XL,” it’s really just short of one quart. But Amazon customers are pleased by its 1,200 watts of suction power and its longevity, both as a model and in terms of individual vacuums they’ve owned. When available at a discount, it’s arguably one of the best values in Shark vacuums.
Key differences
- Price: Even with similar features, Shark Rotators generally cost more than Navigators.
- Weight: Due to differences in construction and features, Shark Rotators tend to weigh more than similar Navigators.
- Filter shape: Shark Rotators used to have circular filters compared to Navigators, but recent models have minimized this difference.
- Number of rollers: Currently, the latest Shark Rotator models have floor nozzles with two rollers while Navigator models have single rollers.
Key similarities
- Cord length: Five of the six models we looked at have a 25-foot power cord.
- Bagless: Both Navigators and Rotators are bagless.
- Lift-Away pod: Some Navigator and Rotator models (but not all) can detach from their floor nozzles for above-floor cleaning.
- Attachments: Both Navigators and Rotators have similar attachments, including dusting wands, upholstery brushes and crevice tools.
Setup comparison
Both Shark Navigators and Shark Rotators have been cited for complicated unboxing. Customers and reviewers alike note that each box comes with a lot of parts, packed individually with plastic bags and cardboard inserts. Having unpacked Shark vacuums ourselves, we can confirm that unboxing is one of the more tedious things you have to do when setting up your vacuum, but we appreciate that at least Shark uses recyclable cardboard in its packing materials.
Once unboxed, the setup is generally straightforward, but older Navigator models have fewer installation guide stickers on them than Rotators. These stickers were helpful when we set up our own Shark stick vacuums, and they were easy to remove afterward without leaving any residue.
In our experience, Shark vacuums that offer attachment storage on the unit have places for only two tools at a time. Buyers who have bought Navigators and Rotators note this as well, so you’ll want to keep the two attachments you use the most on the vacuum and store the rest elsewhere.
Suction comparison
Our research into Shark product lines reveals only broad trends in suction performance. Overall, Rotators tend to produce better results than Navigators, but the difference isn’t significant. It has been noted that there is more variation between specific models than there is between the two product series. Older Rotator and Navigator models both offer around 1,200 watts of suction power, while newer models like the Navigator ADV and Rotator ADV offer 960 watts. All six models in our lineup advertise an average noise level of 80 decibels.
It’s important to note that floor nozzle design affects cleaning performance as well as suction. From our experience, Shark’s PowerFins HairPro rollers, seen on both the Navigator ADV and Rotator ADV, have flexible fins instead of bristles and can move easily between carpet and bare flooring. They don’t have as much trouble as brush rollers on high-pile carpet, and are gentler on hardwood floors. Shark’s DuoClean system, with two individual rollers, adds a buffing and dusting action that we found useful on bare flooring when we tested Shark stick vacuums, and it is currently only available on the Rotator ADV.
Older models of both Navigators and Rotators, such as the Shark Navigator NV352 or the Shark Rotator NV501 Professional, use brush roll control to change from cleaning bare flooring to carpet. Shark encourages the non-brush roll option not only for bare floors but also for high-pile carpet and area rugs that might catch and lift completely if the brush roll were activated. Rotator models have also offered suction control in addition to brushroll on/off.
Design comparison
When it comes to the design, there are more differences between older and newer models of the same product line than there are between the Navigator and Rotator product lines. Navigators and Rotators from the 2010s have a more rounded appearance, with light colors of blue or purple, while more recent models have sharper edges with black and metallic accents. Upholstery wands are rounder in older models compared to smaller, more angular shapes in recent years.
The weight difference between Navigator and Rotator models seems to indicate a sturdier build in Rotators. However, when comparing Lift-Away pods, both Navigators and Rotators weigh about the same, which points at the floor nozzle as the main cause of the weight disparity. The 2013 model Rotator Professional floor nozzle includes LED lights, while the 2011 model Navigator NV352 does not, though both are single-roller Power Z brush models. The new Navigator and Rotator ADV models have a two-pound weight difference, with the Rotator being slightly longer and wider but not taller and having a DuoClean two-roller floor nozzle compared to the Navigator’s single roller.
Features comparison
Floor nozzle
Shark Navigator models tend to have more basic floor nozzles than Rotator models, even when comparing models by year of release. Navigator models took longer to include LED lights on their floor nozzles than Rotators. Navigator floor nozzles used to be more difficult to remove in Lift-Away models compared to Rotator models of similar vintage, although the two product lines have converged since then. Even in recent years, the floor nozzles on Rotator models share features with Shark’s high-end product lines that have yet to make it to the Navigator series, such as DuoClean rollers and odor-neutralizing cartridges.
Extension wand
Both Navigators and Rotators have a handle that doubles as an extension wand for added reach when cleaning above the floor. The wands are not designed to be interchangeable between the product lines or even between models, although they might be usable within model families (such as the NV350, 351 and 352 family, for example).
Swivel steering
All Navigator and Rotator models in our lineup and their related model families come with swivel steering. The flexibility of each model depends more on the model number and its size or bulk than whether or not it’s a Rotator or Navigator.
HEPA filtration
All Navigator and Rotator models in our lineup offer HEPA filtration, even older models and ones without the “pet” designation. Each one has a removable, washable HEPA filter in its main pod that prevents particles as small as 0.3 micron from escaping into the air while vacuuming. Having a washable and reusable HEPA filter is preferable to vacuums where the HEPA filters are not reusable or models without a HEPA filter.
Hose length
Rotator and Navigator vacuums have a flexible hose that varies from 30 inches in Lift-Away models to more than eight feet in non-pod types. The hoses connect directly to attachments or to the extender wand and come with a handle for control, so you don’t need to manipulate the attachments directly.
Attachments
Crevice tools come standard with all the Navigator and Rotator models. Most also come with an upholstery tool or dusting multi-tool with a removable brush. Other models may come with a powered roller brush or an angled dusting tool. Some Shark Navigator or Rotator models differ only in the number and type of attachments provided. If your model doesn’t come with an attachment you want, you’ll have to purchase it separately.
Price
Shark Navigator models cost between $129 and $299, with $150 to $250 as the sweet spot for the product line. The classic Navigator NV352 costs $199 retail, with discounts down to $149, while the new Navigator ADV lists at $240, with discounts down to $199.
Shark Rotator models start at $250 and approach $400. The Rotator Professional (NV501) lists at $299, but it can be discounted new down to $220, while the newer Rotator Pet Lift-Away ADV lists at $379.
How do they compare to other vacuums we tested?
Shark vacuums offer solid performance at a lower cost compared to rivals like Dyson, while having longer lifespans and more advanced or convenient features than brands like Bissell and Eureka. Compared to a low-cost upright, both the Navigator and Rotator series offer swivel steering, HEPA filtration and more overall suction power, albeit at heavier weights.
When compared to Shark’s stick vacuums, every Navigator or Rotator model provides more suction power and dust cup storage, although their weight and size make them less convenient for quick jobs. Shark’s newer stick vacuums also share features like the DuoClean rollers and PowerFins Hair Pro with newer Navigator and Rotator models.
Our expertise
Jmar Gambol has been writing for BestReviews since 2021. He’s written and researched on household cleaning products from mops to buckets to eco-friendly cleaning solutions. He also does his own housekeeping, so having a good and convenient vacuum is a personal necessity. Within the past six months he has personally tested and reviewed nine different robot vacuums and five different Shark stick vacuums. His apartment has never been cleaner.
Bottom line: Should you get a Shark Navigator or a Rotator?
When shopping for a Shark upright, you have a choice between a lower-cost Navigator and a more full-featured Rotator. While Rotator models have displayed marginally better cleaning overall, the difference isn’t huge, especially since both series are similar in terms of features. A Shark Navigator model can do essentially everything a Rotator can and do it at a lower cost.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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