Shark NV352 Vs. NV360: Which Lift-Away Vacuum Actually Deserves Your Money?

Vacuum shopping is weirdly complicated. You look at two machines that seem identical, cost about the same, and even have similar names, yet you are expected to know which one won’t break your heart (or your back) after six months. I have spent years testing floor care products, and the battle between the Shark Navigator Lift-Away (NV352) and the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe (NV360) is one of the most common debates I see. The intent of this article is to cut through the marketing noise and tell you exactly which purple or blue plastic beast is right for your home. By the end, you will know whether to save a few bucks on the classic or spring for the “Deluxe” badge.

A Brief Comparison Table

My Experience With Shark NV352

When I first unboxed the Shark NV352, my immediate thought was, “Is this thing going to be powerful enough?” It looks unassuming with its lavender accents and relatively compact body. I live in a house with a mix of high-pile carpet, hardwood floors, and a Golden Retriever who sheds like it is his full-time job. The first time I fired up the NV352, I was genuinely shocked by the self-propelling feel. The suction is so strong that on the “carpet” setting, it practically pulls itself forward.

The “Lift-Away” feature is the real star here.

I have a carpeted staircase that has always been the bane of my existence.

With previous vacuums, I had to balance the entire heavy unit on each step, risking a concussion if it tipped over.

With the NV352, I clicked the red button, detached the canister, and carried it in one hand while vacuuming with the other.

It felt like I was using a lunchbox-sized vacuum with the power of a full upright.

One specific instance where the NV352 won me over was cleaning under my dryer. The 24-inch crevice tool that comes with this model is a game-changer. It is long, flat, and rigid, allowing me to reach all the way back to the wall without moving the heavy appliance. I pulled out lint bunnies that had probably been there since the Obama administration. It is these small, practical inclusions that make the NV352 feel like it was designed by someone who actually cleans houses for a living.

However, it is not perfect. The “swivel steering” is smooth, but the vacuum is so light that sometimes it feels a bit top-heavy when the canister is attached. If you pull the hose too hard while using the wand, the whole unit can tip over. I learned quickly to hold the canister or wedge the base against a wall. Despite this, the sheer amount of dirt I saw spinning in that clear dust cup after just one room was both disgusting and satisfying. It proved that my old vacuum had been lying to me about my floors being clean.

Read More: Compaeison Of Shark NV360 And UV730

Pros Of Shark NV352

• The Unbeatable 24-Inch Crevice Tool: This might seem like a minor accessory to list as a top pro, but in daily use, it is revolutionary. Most vacuums come with a stubby little 5-inch tool that forces you to bend down and barely reaches the corners. The NV352 includes a massive 24-inch flat crevice tool.¹ I have used this to clean the impossible gap between my car seats and the center console, the coils under my refrigerator, and the high corners of my cathedral ceilings where cobwebs gather. It extends the functional reach of the vacuum significantly, making it far more versatile than competitors that only include standard attachments.
• True Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology: Many vacuums claim to have HEPA filters, but they leak dirty air through the seams of the plastic casing. Shark uses a sealed system here. When I vacuum fine dust like drywall powder or baking soda, absolutely nothing escapes back into the air. As someone who suffers from seasonal allergies, this is noticeable. The air actually smells neutral coming out of the exhaust, rather than smelling like “hot dust.” If you have asthma or pets, this feature alone justifies the price tag because it traps 99.9% of dust inside the unit.
• Incredible Suction-to-Weight Ratio: Weighing in at roughly 12.5 pounds, this vacuum is exceptionally light for an upright. However, it does not sacrifice power for portability. The 1200-watt motor generates suction that rivals machines twice its weight (and price). On my medium-pile area rugs, it lifts the fibers and restores the “fluff” that gets matted down over time. It is easy to carry up and down stairs, which removes the dread of cleaning the second floor. You get the deep cleaning of a heavy Dyson Ball with the portability of a stick vacuum.
• Versatile Suction Control Collar: On the handle, there is a small sliding collar that lets you adjust suction physically. This is a lifesaver for area rugs. If you have ever vacuumed a bathroom rug only to have the vacuum try to eat it, you know the struggle. With the NV352, you just slide the collar open to release some suction, and you can glide over delicate mats without them getting sucked into the brush roll. It is a simple, mechanical solution that works better than complex electronic sensors found on more expensive “smart” vacuums.
• Zero Maintenance Costs (Almost): The filters in the NV352 are washable. You have a foam filter and a felt filter that you just rinse in the sink every month or two, let dry, and pop back in. You don’t need to buy replacement bags or disposable filters constantly. This keeps the long-term ownership cost incredibly low. I have had mine for over two years, and the original filters are still going strong. The belt is also designed to last the life of the vacuum (though it can be a pain to change if it does break), further reducing the “hidden costs” of ownership.

Cons Of Shark NV352

• Small Dust Cup Capacity: The main drawback of the compact design is the 1.1-quart dust cup. If you have a large home (over 2,000 sq ft) or multiple shedding pets, you will be emptying this bin frequently. In my experience during shedding season, I have to empty it twice just to get through the living room and hallway. It fills up with fluff very quickly, and once it reaches the “Max Fill” line, suction drops noticeably. It is a trade-off for the lightweight design, but it can be annoying to stop your cleaning flow to walk to the trash can multiple times per session.
• Top-Heavy Tipping Issue: Because the motor and dust cup (the heaviest parts) sit high up on the wand, the NV352 is prone to falling over when you use the hose. If you extend the wand to clean a spiderweb and tug slightly, the base unit crashes down. It has startled my dog and me more times than I can count. It doesn’t have the wide, stable footprint of a canister vacuum. You have to develop a habit of holding the handle or leaning it securely against furniture when you switch to hose mode, which effectively makes it a two-handed operation.
• Short Hose Length: While the marketing says the hose reaches a decent length, in reality, it is quite stiff and short. When you pull on it, the tension often pulls the vacuum toward you (see the tipping issue above) rather than stretching. It is not long enough to leave the vacuum at the bottom of a standard flight of stairs and reach the top. You have to carry the “Lift-Away” pod with you. This isn’t a dealbreaker due to the pod’s lightness, but if you were hoping to leave the base stationary and just wander with the wand, you will be disappointed by the leash-like feel of the hose.
• Brush Roll Cannot Be Removed Easily: Unlike newer Shark models (like the Vertex or Stratos) where the brush roll pops out for easy cleaning, the NV352 has a screwed-in brush roll plate. To remove wrapped hair—and believe me, hair will wrap around it—you have to flip the vacuum over and use scissors or a seam ripper to cut the hair away. You cannot just take the roll out to clean it in the sink. If you have long hair in your household, you will be performing “surgery” on the bottom of your vacuum every few weeks to keep it running smoothly.
• Lack of Height Adjustment for Carpet: The vacuum has two settings: “Bare Floor” (brush roll off) and “Carpet” (brush roll on).² It does not have a dial to physically raise or lower the cleaner head for different carpet piles. While the suction release valve helps, the head itself sits very low. On ultra-plush frieze carpet or thick shag rugs, the vacuum can effectively “seal” itself to the floor, making it incredibly difficult to push. It requires a significant amount of arm strength to maneuver on deep pile carpets because you are fighting that strong seal the entire time.

My Experience With Shark NV360

Moving on to the Shark NV360, also known as the “Deluxe.” I picked this one up when I moved into a larger space, thinking the “Deluxe” moniker meant a significant upgrade. Visually, the blue finish is quite striking and looks a bit more modern than the retro lavender of the NV352. The assembly was identical—click, click, click, and you are ready to go.

The cleaning performance felt familiar immediately. The NV360 shares the same motor DNA as the NV352. It devoured cereal spills in the kitchen and pulled dust out of the upholstery with ease. However, I noticed the handle felt slightly different in my hand—a bit more substantial. This model often comes with a “Pet Power Brush” in the box, which is an air-driven turbo tool. I used this on my velvet sofa, which acts as a magnet for dog hair. The tool worked well, spinning rapidly to beat the dust out of the cushions, though it did bog down if I pressed too hard.

The “Deluxe” label seems to apply mostly to the aesthetics and the slightly larger dust cup. While the spec sheet says it is 1.2 quarts compared to the 1.1 of the 352, in practice, this difference is negligible. I maybe got an extra minute of vacuuming before needing to empty it. What I did appreciate was the availability. The NV360 is often the model you find on shelves at Target or Best Buy, making it easier to pick up same-day compared to the NV352, which is often an online exclusive.

One thing that annoyed me slightly more with the NV360 was the hose stiffness. It felt even more rigid than the 352’s out of the box, perhaps because the materials were newer. It took a good month of use for it to “break in” and become pliable. But overall, the experience was consistent with the high standard Shark has set: excellent filtration, great maneuverability, and a satisfyingly clean floor. If you hate purple, this is your vacuum.

Pros Of Shark NV360

• Professional, Modern Aesthetic: Let’s be honest, appearance matters for appliances you have to look at every day. The NV360 usually comes in a deep metallic blue or teal, which fits much better into neutral or modern home decor than the pastel lavender of the NV352. If you store your vacuum in an open utility area or a glass-door closet, the NV360 looks like a premium tool rather than a toy. It has a slightly more “finished” look with chrome accents on the handle release buttons that give it a “Deluxe” feel.
• Widespread Availability and Parts: The NV360 is a retail darling. You can walk into almost any big-box store and find it, along with replacement filters and belts specifically labeled for it. This accessibility is a huge plus if you need a vacuum today because of a messy emergency. It also means the secondary market for parts is massive. If you crack a dust cup or lose an attachment five years from now, you will have zero trouble finding a replacement part for the NV360 because so many of them have been sold.
• Excellent Edge Cleaning: The head design of the NV360 is fantastic at grabbing debris right up against the baseboards. I sprinkled some baking soda along the edge of my hallway to test this, and the NV360 sucked it up in one pass without me needing to use the crevice tool. The suction is channeled effectively to the sides of the nozzle. This saves a ton of time because you don’t have to switch to hose mode just to clean the perimeter of every room.
• Pet Power Brush Effectiveness: While attachment bundles vary, the NV360 almost always includes the Pet Power Brush. For pet owners, this air-driven tool is superior to a standard upholstery tool. It has a small turbine inside that spins a mini brush roll. When I use it on carpeted stairs or cat trees, it physically agitates the fabric to loosen embedded fur before sucking it up. It is far more effective at removing “sticky” pet hair than straight suction alone, making this model a slightly better pick for homes with heavy shedders.
• Consistent Swivel Steering: The swivel mechanism on the NV360 feels incredibly fluid. Navigating around chair legs and coffee tables requires just a twist of the wrist. It makes vacuuming feel less like a chore and more like a dance. Unlike older fixed-wheel uprights where you have to back up and turn to change direction, the NV360 glides around obstacles. This reduces wrist strain and makes cleaning a crowded living room significantly faster.

Cons Of Shark NV360

• The “Deluxe” Misnomer: The biggest con is simply the expectation setting. The word “Deluxe” implies a better motor, quieter operation, or significantly more features. In reality, it is mechanically 95% identical to the NV352. You are paying a premium (depending on current sales) largely for the color and a slightly different dust cup shape. If you buy this expecting a major upgrade in performance over the cheaper model, you will be disappointed. It is a lateral move, not a vertical upgrade.
• Air-Driven Tools Can Stall: The Pet Power Brush included with the NV360 is air-driven, not motor-driven. This means the suction of the vacuum spins the brush. If you press down too hard on a cushion, the friction stops the brush from spinning immediately. You have to learn the “sweet spot” of hovering slightly to keep it moving. Motorized pet tools (found on much more expensive Sharks) don’t have this issue. It can be frustrating when you are trying to scrub out a stubborn patch of fur and the tool just stops working.
• Cord Management is Basic: For a “Deluxe” model, I would have loved to see an automatic cord rewind. Sadly, the NV360 still relies on the manual two-hook wind system. With a 25-foot cord, winding it up by hand after every use feels tedious. The cord is also thick and tends to retain its coiled shape, which can create tripping hazards while you are working. It feels a bit dated compared to competitors that offer retractable cords at similar price points.
• Bin Design Traps Dirt: While the bin is easy to empty, there is a narrow annular space between the inner cyclone cone and the outer plastic wall. Dog hair and dust bunnies love to get wedged up in there. Simply opening the bottom trap door often isn’t enough; I frequently have to reach up inside the dirty dust cup with my fingers or a chopstick to dislodge a clump of hair that refuses to fall out. It’s a messy extra step that defeats the purpose of a “bagless” sanitary experience.
• Loud High-Pitch Whine: Both models share this, but it seemed more pronounced on my NV360 unit. The vacuum emits a high-pitched whine typical of cyclonic vacuums. It is loud—measuring around 77-80 decibels. You cannot listen to a podcast or watch TV while using this machine. It scares sensitive pets and might annoy your neighbors if you live in an apartment with thin walls. It screams “power,” but it is definitely not a “stealth” cleaning machine.

Also Read: Comparison Of Shark NV360 And NV380

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

After spending extensive time with both machines, the verdict is surprisingly simple. These two vacuums are essentially identical twins wearing different outfits. They share the same 1200-watt motor, the same sealed HEPA filtration, and the same Lift-Away convenience.

If you are looking for the absolute best value and utility, stick with the Shark NV352. The inclusion of the 24-inch crevice tool makes it functionally superior for cleaning hard-to-reach places, and the lighter weight is a blessing for stairs. It is the pragmatic choice that punches way above its weight class.

However, if you want a machine that looks a bit more premium, is easier to find in physical stores, or if you specifically need the air-driven pet upholstery tool, the Shark NV360 is a fantastic choice. Just don’t let the “Deluxe” label trick you into thinking you are getting a different engine. Pick the one that is cheaper at the moment or the color you prefer, and rest easy knowing your floors will be impeccably clean either way.