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The Shark brand always delivers good vacuums at an affordable price. Out of all the different companies out there, they have one of the biggest selections of products to choose from.
One common comparison people often want to read about is the Shark nv500 vs nv501. Although these products are very similar they have some crucial differences that you’ll want to consider before buying.
Read until the end of this article to learn exactly how these two vacuums differ and which one is the best for you.
Shark NV500 vs NV501 at a Glance
Here’s our quick summary of the pros/cons of each of these vacuums.
NV500 Pros
- 3 in one upright vacuum
- Large capacity dust cup
- Enhanced swivel steering
NV500 Cons
- Not as many attachments as 501
NV501 Pros
- Multiple colors available
- Comes with a premium power brush
- Lighter weight
NV501 Cons
- Only a 2 in one vacuum
Winner: Don’t want to read the full article? The editors choice is the NV501
What’s the Difference Between the Shark NV500 and the NV501?
Power
Both vacuums have good suction power that enables them to clean many different types of flooring. The “never lose suction” technology gives them the power to handle even the dirtiest areas of your home.
HEPA filtration and anti-allergen complete seal technology comes standard on both of these vacuums. This gives them the ability to trap everything from tiny dust particles to dirt and allergens. Allergy sufferers will be happy with this feature.
Both models have a motorized brush roll that comes standard. This makes for really deep cleaning of carpets. The feature can even be turned off when you don’t need it.
The difference between the Shark NV500 vs NV501 in this category is that the NV500 can be a canister, powerful upright, and lift away pod (3-in-1). The NV501 on the other hand is an upright that doubles as a lift away (2-in-1).
Winner: Tie
Attachments
When it comes to vacuums, attachments and tools are an important thing to consider. It’s also one of the categories where these two vacuums differ the most.
The NV500 comes with these attachments: a power brush, multi tool, 18” flexi crevice tool, canister caddy, as well as a straight suction nozzle.
The NV501 comes with these attachments: a 5” dusting brush, 12” crevice tool, multi-angle brush, large turbo brush, and a straight suction nozzle.
So overall, both of these vacuums have a similar selection of tools but in completely different sizes. Which one you get depends on what your cleaning needs are. The premium power brush of the NV501 will be the better choice for pet owners, making it the winner in this category.
Winner: NV501
Design
At first glance, both of these vacuums appear very similar but there are a couple of differences to go over.
The NV500 comes in a red and white combination, while the NV501 comes in white + green, purple, or red.
The biggest difference between these two is definitely the size and weight. The NV501 is bigger, coming in at 45.7 x 12.1 x 12.2 inches. It is lighter though at just 15.5 pounds.
The NV500 on the other hand measures 29.7 x 15.1 x 13.2 inches and weighs 21.1 pounds.
Both vacuums come with lift away design that allows for convenient cleaning. All you have to do is press the button to lift the canister and then vacuum all those tight and awkward areas. This is good for the stairs and ceilings since you don’t have to carry the entire vacuum around the house.
Winner: NV501
Portability
Both of these vacuums are on the bigger side but that shouldn’t worry you. They are both portable for most people (unless you suffer from major back problems of course).
They both come with a 30 foot power cord. The long length means that you won’t have to repeatedly change power outlets during a vacuuming session.
One complaint we have about both the Shark NV500 and NV501 is that neither have built in wheels when in canister mode. The NV500 does include an optional caddy though which helps when moving it around.
This caddy has four wheels with swivel technology that rotate 360 degrees, making it easy to maneuver around furniture and other household obstacles.
Winner: NV500
Conclusion
When it comes to the Shark NV501 vs NV500 you can’t really go wrong with either vacuum. They both have good cleaning power, portability and come with a good amount of attachments.
Overall I give a small edge to the NV501. The premium power brush, lighter weight, and bigger selection of colors makes it the winner in my opinion.
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