Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum Review

We purchased the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum so our reviewer could put it to the test. Keep reading for our full product review.

The Shark Rotator TruePet is specially designed for pet owners that struggle to keep fur and dander under control. It includes a motorized brush and pet multi-tool to target cat and dog fur that’s buried deep in carpets and stuck to upholstered furniture. With a sealed air system and a HEPA filter that traps 99.9 percent of dust and allergens, this is also a great vacuum for allergy sufferers. Since it’s one of the more expensive Shark models on the market, we put the Rotator TruePet through rigorous testing to see if it performs well enough to justify its steep price tag. Read on to find out what we discovered.  

Setup Process: A cinch to assemble, but the instructions are lacking 

The Shark Rotator TruePet was extremely easy to assemble; we had the vacuum put together in less than two minutes. This model comes with a great selection of accessories. However, with the exception of the TruePet motorized brush, the instructions don’t explain what each tool is intended for. We were familiar with some of the accessories because we had already tested several other Shark vacuums before this one. However, a first-time user would be at a disadvantage. We had to do some online research to see what each of the tools should be used for. 

Performance: A powerful vacuum that really tackles pet hair 

The Shark Rotator TruePet worked great on our hardwood floors, easily picking up dust and debris. It also worked really well on our thicker, larger area rugs. However, we thought the suction was a little too powerful on some of our smaller rugs. The vacuum actually sucked up one of the rugs, even on the low-pile carpet setting. Some of the lower-end Shark models have a suction release valve on the handle, allowing you to control the amount of suction you need for a particular job. We would have expected a premium model like this to have the same capability, but the Rotator TruePet does not. Since the suction of this vacuum is extremely powerful, it might be best to keep it in hard floor mode (its least powerful setting) when you’re vacuuming lightweight rugs and carpets. 

One thing we loved about the Rotator TruePet is that the floorhead is small enough to go under low furniture. Unlike other some of the other Shark models we tested, this vacuum can maintain all of its suctioning power even when the canister is detached. This gives you the ability to thoroughly clean under furniture and in hard-to-reach places on any floor surface. Lower-end vacuums can only operate in bare floor mode once their canisters are detached, and without the brushroll, their cleaning power is limited. The brushroll on the Rotator TruePet can be activated in any configuration, though. 

Since the Rotator TruePet is intended to tackle fur, dander, and stuck-in pet hair, we wanted to see how well it lived up to the challenge. We brushed out both of our small dogs and stuck the loose hair on different surfaces throughout our house. The TruePet motorized brush did an excellent job removing the hair from upholstered furniture and area rugs. Though the suction is very powerful, the brush is still gentle enough to use on lighter fabrics. 

We then decided to take our testing one step further. Since our house isn’t plagued with problematic pet hair, we brought the vacuum to a friend’s home with wall-to-wall carpeting and two cats that shed like crazy. The dust cup was empty when we started and it was almost full by the time we finished vacuuming the carpet. We were astounded by how much pet hair the Rotator TruePet picked up. The carpet looked cleaner and fluffier than it had in years. We also used the motorized pet brush on a cat tree that was covered with hair and the brush removed all of it. 

Design and Accessories: A+

We really liked the fingertip controls on the handle, which light up and let you easily switch between hard floor, carpet/low pile, and thick carpet/area rug settings. Another helpful feature are the LED lights on the nozzle and handle, helping to illuminate dark corners, the spaces under furniture, and poorly lit closets. The canister easily detaches with the push of a button; you can take it around with you as you clean without having to lug around the whole vacuum. The Rotator TruePet has an excellent turning radius thanks to swivel steering and with a 30-foot power cord, you can move around plenty. At 16.7 pounds in its full upright position, it’s standard weight for a higher-end vacuum, but it is on the heavier side. 

We appreciated the selection of accessories the vacuum came with. The motorized pet brush works great on pet hair that’s buried in carpets and stuck on seat cushions. For more delicate surfaces like drapes, you can use the pet multi-tool to more gently remove hair and lint. 

The Hard Floor Hero, an accessory that attaches to the wand in lift-away mode, is specially designed for bare floor cleaning. It can rotate 180 degrees, so it’s perfect for cleaning around baseboards and curved furniture. A crevice tool is also included. 

Price: Worth the money if pet hair is a big concern 

For combating difficult pet hair and airborne allergens, the Shark Rotator TruePet is certainly worth its steep $400 price tag. If stuck-in pet hair isn’t a problem for you, though, Shark has a suite of less-expensive vacuums that can tackle smaller jobs and everyday messes. 

Competition: Cheaper options out there 

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E: If you’re looking to save money, the Shark Navigator NV356E packs a powerful punch for a much more reasonable price. Retailing for roughly $200, this vacuum is one of the brand’s most highly-rated mid-range models. The Navigator Lift-Away Professional lacks some of the Rotator TruePet’s advanced cleaning capabilities, though; it can’t get under low furniture or maintain full suction power when its canister is detached. However, it still delivers incredibly powerful suction on hardwood and carpeted floors. It also includes a pet power brush which is very effective at picking up pet hair on various surfaces. 

Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum NV352: Depending on your needs and what features you’re willing to sacrifice, you could go with an even cheaper model. Although we have two dogs, they are hypoallergenic and don’t shed very much. We still find our fair share of pet hair around the house, but we were able to eliminate it just as effectively with this affordably priced model. The Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum (NV352) is a powerful cleaning tool that retails for about $140—less than half the price of the Rotator TruePet. Though it lacks some advanced features, it’s still an excellent choice for a more basic cleaning tool. The Navigator NV352 includes a pet upholstery tool that works great on seat cushions and carpeted stairs.