Vacuuming is a necessary chore, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a pain. With the right cordless vacuum, cleaning your floors can be quick and easy. Shark makes some of the most popular cordless stick vacuums on the market, but with so many models available, it can be tricky to decide which is right for you.
Two of their top vacuums are the NV360 and NV380. Let’s take a close look at the key features of each to see how they compare.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Shark NV360 | Shark NV380 |
| Weight | 7.5 lbs | 8.7 lbs |
| Runtime | Up to 24 mins | Up to 40 mins |
| Dust Bin Size | 0.7 quarts | 0.3 quarts |
| Filtration | Washable filter | Anti-allergen seal + washable filter |
| Accessories Included | Crevice tool, pet multi-tool, dusting brush | Crevice tool, pet multi-tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush |
| Charging Time | 3.5 hours | 4 hours |
| Charging Base | Wall-mounted | None included |
| Suction Power | 500W peak | 430W peak |
| Steering | Swivel | Swivel |
| LED Lights | Yes | Yes |
Overview Of Shark NV360 And NV380
The Shark NV360 and NV380 are both lightweight, bagless cordless stick vacuums. They offer strong suction power and come with a variety of attachments for cleaning floors, furniture, ceilings, and more.
Both vacuums have swivel steering, LED headlights, and large-capacity dust bins so you don’t have to stop to empty as frequently. They can convert to handheld vacuums by detaching the wand, making them versatile for above floor cleaning.
While they share many similarities, there are some differences that may make one model a better choice over the other depending on your needs:
Shark NV360
- Weight: 7.5 lbs
- Runtime: Up to 24 minutes
- Dust bin capacity: 0.7 quarts
- Accessories: Crevice tool, pet multi-tool, dusting brush
Shark NV380
- Weight: 8.7 lbs
- Runtime: Up to 40 minutes
- Dust bin capacity: 0.3 quarts
- Accessories: Crevice tool, pet multi-tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush
The NV360 is lighter and has a larger dust bin, while the NV380 has significantly longer battery life. Read on for more details on the designs, features, and performance of each.
Design And Ergonomics
Cordless vacuums need to be lightweight and easy to maneuver. Here is how the NV360 and NV380 compare:
Weight – At just 7.5 pounds, the NV360 is remarkably light for a full-size cordless vacuum. The NV380 is heavier at 8.7 pounds, but still relatively lightweight compared to many cordless models. The NV360 gets the edge here as the lighter option.
Body style – Both vacuums have a slim stick vacuum design that’s optimized for cleaning floors. They convert to handhelds simply by detaching the wand, giving you a lightweight cleaning unit for furniture, stairs, and hard-to-reach areas.
Steering – Flexible steering makes it easier to maneuver around and under furniture. The NV360 and NV380 both have swivel heads that turn easily to go where you need to.
Ergonomics – With cordless vacuums, comfort is key since your arm bears all the weight. Both models have padded handles designed for comfort. The trigger switch is also designed for easy use.
For design and ergonomics, the NV360 gets a slight edge for being over a pound lighter. But both earn high marks for their steering and comfortable builds.
Also Read: Is Shark WV200 Better Than WV201?
Cleaning Performance
The most important factor in choosing a vacuum is how well it cleans. Here’s how the suction power, filtration, and overall performance stack up:
Suction power – Shark equipped both models with strong suction for picking up dirt, debris, pet hair and more from carpets and hard floors. The NV360 offers roughly 500 watts of peak power, while the NV380 has around 430 watts. For deep cleaning carpets, the NV360 may have a slight advantage.
Filtration – Keeping dust and allergens contained is crucial for clean air. Both vacuums use washable filters to trap fine particles. The NV380 also includes an anti-allergen seal technology to block dust from escaping back into the air. Those with allergies may favor the NV380 for its superior filtration.
Pet hair cleaning – With specialized pet tools and strong suction, both vacuums are excellent for homes with pets. The NV380 does come with an extra pet multi-tool for removing hair from upholstery.
Runtime – Here’s where we see a big difference. The NV360 offers up to 24 minutes of fade-free power. The NV380 boosts this to 40 minutes – one of the longest runtimes you’ll find in a cordless stick vac. You can clean more on a single charge with the NV380.
Accessories – The NV360 comes with a crevice tool, pet multi-tool and dusting brush. The NV380 adds an upholstery tool for furniture cleaning. Both provide useful attachments, but the NV380 offers more versatility.
For cleaning performance, the NV380 pulls ahead thanks to excellent filtration, longer runtime, and more accessories. But the NV360 still cleans very effectively for smaller homes.
Convenience Features
Cordless vacuums aim to make cleaning as easy as possible by eliminating cords and adding helpful features. Here’s how the NV360 and NV380 compare:
Cordless convenience – As the names imply, both are cord-free for maximum freedom and flexibility when cleaning. You can easily move from room-to-room and clean stairs, vehicles and more without unplugging.
Removable batteries – The lithium-ion batteries can be taken out and charged separately as needed. No need to carry the whole vacuum to the charger.
Charging time – Expect about 3.5 hours from empty to full charge on the NV360, and 4 hours for the NV380. Quick charging gives you a partial charge in under an hour if you just need a power boost.
Headlights – LED lights on the cleaning head illuminate debris and dust that might otherwise be missed, especially in dimly lit areas. Both vacuums have this handy feature.
Dust cup design – The dust bins utilize Shark’s Anti Hair Wrap technology to keep dirt and hair from getting tangled as you clean. Just pop them open and dump when needed. The NV360 holds over twice as much debris (0.7 quarts VS. 0.3 quarts) before you need to empty.
Wand release – You can easily detach the wand to go into handheld mode for cleaning cars, furniture and other surfaces. Both vacuums allow you to transition between floor and handheld quickly.
Storage – The NV360 includes a wall-mounted docking station for conveniently storing and charging the vacuum. The NV380 does not come with a wall mount.
For convenience, the NV360 gets points for its larger dust cup capacity and included wall mount. But both deliver on key cordless benefits like removable batteries, LED lights and easy storage.
Also Read: Is Bissell Spinwave Pet Better Than Expert?
Price Considerations
As newer Shark models, both of these vacuums fall on the higher end of the company’s price range. MSRP pricing is:
- Shark NV360: $349.99
- Shark NV380: $299.99
The NV380 is the more budget-friendly option at $50 less. But you can often find sales bringing the NV360 down closer to $300 as well.
For the extra $50 or so, the NV360 adds advantages like lighter weight, bigger dust cup, and wall mount. But the NV380 still packs in plenty of performance for the money. Overall, both represent a solid value compared to similar cordless vacuums.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Shark model numbers indicate the type of vacuum and its position within that category. The first letter(s) denote the type – NV stands for Navigator Vacuum, AZ stands for Apex Upright Zero-M Vacuum, etc.
The first number indicates the series, with higher numbers representing newer/upgraded models. Additional numbers provide more specifics on features and position within that series. Higher model numbers tend to have more advanced features and capabilities.
Based on customer reviews, the Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away NV501 is one of the highest rated Shark vacuums overall. It earns consistent 5-star reviews for its powerful cleaning across carpets, hard floors and furniture, long 30 foot cord, and Lift-Away canister for portable cleaning.
Other top models include the Rocket Pet Pro Ultra-Light HV322, Vertex Pro Cordless stick vacuum, and Apex Upright Vacuum Zero-M AZ1002.
Some of Shark’s best cordless stick vacuums include the Vertex Pro, Rocket Pet Pro, ION F80 Lightweight Cordless, and Navigator Freestyle Cordless SV1106. Top picks combine strong suction, swivel steering, large dust bins, extended runtimes, and useful accessories.
Advanced models may include self-cleaning brushrolls, HEPA filtration, and anti-allergen technology. The Vertex Pro and Rocket Pet Pro tend to rate the highest for overall performance.
The Shark Navigator is the company’s baseline upright vacuum line with powerful cleaning and affordable pricing. The Performance Lift-Away series takes the capabilities up a notch with features like:
Lift-Away canister for portable cleaning
Advanced swivel steering for better maneuverability
Longer power cords
Zoned brushrolls to better tackle carpets and hard floors
High-capacity dust bins
Additional accessories like crevice tools and pet multi-tools
Performance Lift-Away models are more versatile for whole-home cleaning. But the Navigator still provides outstanding cleaning performance for a more budget-friendly price point.
Also Read: Differences Between Shark NV352 And NV356.
The Verdict
So which is better, the Shark NV360 or NV380? Here’s a quick recap of the key differences:
- The NV360 is lighter, has a bigger dust cup, and includes a wall mount docking station.
- The NV380 runs longer on a charge, has better filtration, and comes with more cleaning accessories.
The NV380 does edge out the NV360 when it comes to cleaning performance and convenience factors like runtime and accessories. But the NV360 remains a great choice for smaller homes where the lighter body and big dust cup come in handy.
You can’t really go wrong with either of these excellent Shark cordless stick vacuums. Choose the NV360 if your top priority is an ultra-light vacuum with big capacity and handy wall storage. Go with the NV380 if you want maximum cleaning time and versatility from the added tools. Both will tackle embedded dirt, pet hair, and everyday messes with ease.