TL;DR: The Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Pet Vacuum IP3251MET is a self-emptying, AI-powered cleaning marvel that makes every other cordless vacuum feel prehistoric. With smart sensors, insane suction, and a dock that empties itself, it’s like owning a cleaning robot you actually control. Whether you’ve got pets, kids, or just a healthy hatred of dust, this is the vacuum that delivers peace of mind—and perfectly clean floors.

If you’ve ever vacuumed a living room, only to realize your cat just walked across it again like a furry little saboteur, you’ll understand why the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Pet Vacuum IP3251MET feels like it was designed by someone who truly lives among the chaos. I’ve tested a lot of cordless vacuums over the years—some that promised Dyson-level suction, others that looked like concept art for a sci-fi movie—and very few have hit that rare trifecta of power, brains, and genuine usability. The Shark PowerDetect? It might just be the first one to do it all. And yes, I’m saying that after spending weeks watching it hunt down dog fur like a cybernetic bounty hunter from the future.

Meet the Shark PowerDetect IP3251MET

Let’s start with the basics. The Shark PowerDetect IP3251MET isn’t just a cordless vacuum—it’s a mission statement. It’s Shark saying, “We’ve seen what Dyson’s been doing, and we can outsmart it.” On paper, the PowerDetect reads like a vacuum that went to grad school, completed a thesis on suction efficiency, and came out ready to revolutionize domestic life. It’s Shark’s most powerful cordless model to date, and it shows. From the moment you power it up, it hums with a sort of intelligent confidence that makes you feel like it’s quietly judging your cleaning habits.

What makes it different is the brain behind the suction. This machine doesn’t just suck (in a good way); it thinks. It’s equipped with five interconnected detection systems that turn your average cleaning session into a precision-engineered operation:

• DuoClean Detect: Two brush rolls and a suite of sensors working in harmony to react and adapt for optimal performance. One brush tackles carpets, the other hardwood floors. Together, they’re a symphony of efficiency.
• DirectionDetect: It cleans forward and backward with equal power—finally recognizing that we humans are not one-directional creatures.
• DirtDetect: Boosts suction when it senses debris, automatically targeting problem zones with precision.
• EdgeDetect: Detects edges and corners, then cranks up suction to extract every last crumb from your skirting boards.
• FloorDetect: Recognizes whether you’re on hardwood, tile, or carpet and adjusts the brush roll speed and suction accordingly.

In short: it’s got more sensors than some smartphones—and unlike a smartphone, it never crashes mid-task. You feel it responding to your environment in real time, recalibrating its behavior as it glides from your dusty hallway runner to your crumb-riddled kitchen tiles. It’s AI-driven cleaning that actually feels useful, not gimmicky.

Then there’s Reverse Clean technology—a first for Shark—which allows the vacuum to clean efficiently in both forward and backward directions. Traditional vacuums? They act like stubborn toddlers, refusing to pick up dirt unless you push them forward. The PowerDetect? It’s ambidextrous, baby. It doesn’t matter which way you go—it’s cleaning at full force both ways. Pull it back, and you’ll feel it engaging, collecting the crumbs, dust, and dog hair you didn’t even know existed. It’s almost unsettling how effective it is.

Design & Build: The Mocha Grey Mech

Visually, the PowerDetect is what happens when industrial design meets household utility. The Mocha Grey and Brass colorway gives it an unexpectedly premium feel—like a gadget Apple would design if they cared about dirty floors. The contours are sleek, the edges soft but purposeful, and every joint feels engineered, not manufactured. At 3.71kg, it’s no featherweight, but Shark’s balance and handle ergonomics make it feel far lighter in hand. You can whip it around corners, dance it across rugs, and navigate under tables with minimal effort.

The Flexology wand deserves its own standing ovation. This ingenious design allows the vacuum to bend in the middle, so you can reach under furniture without dropping to your knees or dislocating a shoulder. It’s one of those features that sounds like a gimmick until you use it—and then you’ll wonder why every vacuum hasn’t adopted it. Fold it back, and the vacuum becomes freestanding, no awkward leaning against walls, no ugly dock stands in the middle of your living space. It just stands there, self-assured, ready for its next mission.

Then there’s the LED display—a small but mighty feature that makes you feel like you’re piloting a spacecraft. It shows real-time readouts for Dirt Detection, Battery Level, and Mode Selection (ECO, DETECT, or BOOST). It’s the kind of intuitive user interface that transforms cleaning from a chore into a satisfying routine. Every flicker and sound communicates exactly what’s happening, and I found myself glancing at the display mid-clean just to watch it work.

PowerDetect Intelligence: Cleaning With a Brain

This is where the PowerDetect truly earns its name. Shark’s PowerDetect Intelligence system feels like something lifted straight out of a robotics lab. It uses embedded sensors to scan surfaces, analyze dirt density, and adjust suction in real-time. The result? Maximum cleaning efficiency with minimal user effort.

Imagine vacuuming your hallway carpet and hearing the motor subtly rev as it senses more dirt, then throttle down as you move into a cleaner zone. That’s PowerDetect in action. It’s constantly making micro-adjustments—more power where you need it, energy savings where you don’t. And DirtDetect provides instant gratification: as you clean, a glowing indicator shifts from purple (dirt detected) to white (clean). Watching it transition feels like winning a mini boss battle with every square foot of floor.

DirectionDetect adds another layer of wizardry. Because the PowerDetect cleans just as effectively when pulled backward as when pushed forward, you’re suddenly cutting your cleaning time dramatically. Fewer passes, fewer missed spots, less effort. It’s the kind of subtle innovation that, once you experience it, you can’t go back from. You’ll start judging other vacuums for being so one-directional.

And yes, it even adapts to your movement style. The sensors inside the floorhead track direction, adjust brush roll speed, and optimize suction on the fly. It’s like your vacuum has developed a personality—one that’s determined to out-clean you.

The Clean & Empty Dock: Set It, Forget It, Live Your Life

Let’s take a moment to talk about what might be the best feature in this entire setup: the Auto-Empty Base. This is Shark’s mic-drop moment, their answer to every vacuum owner who’s ever choked on a cloud of dust while emptying a canister. When you finish vacuuming, you simply dock the PowerDetect into its base, and it automatically empties itself into a sealed bag. It also charges the vacuum while it rests, meaning it’s always ready for your next round of cleaning warfare.

The base can hold up to 45 days’ worth of dirt and debris. That’s a month and a half of zero maintenance. The Anti-Allergen Complete Seal technology ensures 99.9% of dust and allergens stay locked inside, and the Anti-Odour filters keep things smelling fresh. For allergy sufferers, this feature is life-changing—it’s like adding a HEPA purifier to your vacuum routine.

Maintenance used to be my least favorite part of owning a vacuum. Now, it’s a non-issue. You don’t empty the bin, you don’t deal with the dust—it all just disappears into the dock like it’s been Thanos-snapped into oblivion.

Anti Hair Wrap Plus: A Pet Parent’s Holy Grail

If you have pets, you know the existential dread of vacuuming up a fur-covered rug, only to realize your brush roll has transformed into a woolly mammoth. Shark’s Anti Hair Wrap Plus system is here to save your sanity. Using a chevron-bristle design that funnels debris and hair toward a self-cleaning comb, it effortlessly removes hair as you clean. You can actually see it pull in strands, chop them up, and keep rolling without missing a beat.

In my testing—two dogs, a cat, and one fluffy throw blanket that sheds like it’s on a mission—I never once had to cut tangled hair off the brush. Not once. That’s miraculous. This feature alone makes it worth the price of admission for pet owners. It’s the difference between finishing your cleaning session with satisfaction or sitting on the floor with scissors, muttering curses at a tangled roller.

Runtime & Charging: The 70-Minute Marathoner

Battery anxiety is real, and Shark clearly designed this vacuum to destroy it. With a claimed 70 minutes of runtime in ECO mode (without motorized tools), it sits comfortably among the elite tier of cordless vacuums. In real-world conditions, I averaged around 50 minutes using a mix of DETECT and BOOST modes, which is still excellent. That’s enough to clean an entire two-story home without stopping for a recharge.

Charging is equally frictionless. Because the Auto-Empty Base doubles as a charging station, you never have to remember to plug it in. It’s always ready when you are, topped up and waiting. And for the obsessive cleaners (you know who you are), the removable battery means you can swap in a spare and clean for hours without interruption.

Usability: Everyday Chaos, Meet Your Match

The true genius of the PowerDetect lies in how it transforms everyday cleaning chaos into something manageable. The swivel head glides like a dream, the LED headlights reveal horrors you didn’t know existed, and the transitions between upright, handheld, and stick modes are instantaneous. Need to clean the car? Detach the handheld. Dusting the blinds? Attach the Duster Crevice Tool. Taking revenge on the couch your dog thinks is his? Motorised Pet Tool. It’s like a modular weapon system for mess.

And let’s talk about how good it feels to use. There’s a weird, almost therapeutic satisfaction in hearing it ramp up when it hits a dirty patch, then calm back down when the job’s done. DirectionDetect cuts your cleaning time in half, while DuoClean Detect ensures no surface is left behind. I finished cleaning sessions faster, but with better results—and for once, I didn’t dread the process.

Maintenance & Longevity

Here’s the best part: the PowerDetect barely asks for anything in return. Wash the filter occasionally, empty the dock bag once every few weeks, and you’re good to go. There’s no high-maintenance nonsense here. Everything feels robust, over-engineered, and built for years of use. Shark’s five-year warranty (two years for the battery) speaks volumes about their confidence in the build quality.

Even after several weeks of heavy use, the PowerDetect felt as strong and smooth as day one. The battery held charge consistently, the suction didn’t fade, and the Auto-Empty Base performed flawlessly. It’s the kind of product that feels like it’s meant to last—not just another annual upgrade cycle trap.

Verdict: The Smartest Shark Yet

After weeks of testing, I can confidently say the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Pet Vacuum IP3251MET is a triumph. It’s Shark’s most advanced cordless vacuum ever—one that combines intelligence, raw power, and genuine usability in a way that feels effortless. The PowerDetect Intelligence suite isn’t marketing fluff; it genuinely makes cleaning smarter and faster. Add in the Auto-Empty Base, Anti Hair Wrap Plus, and that Flexology wand, and you’ve got the ultimate vacuum for modern homes.

It’s not the cheapest vacuum on the market, but in this case, you get what you pay for—and then some. If you’re tired of vacuums that almost get it right, this one actually nails it. It’s the rare appliance that earns its place in your home.