With advancements in technology and the way the market overflows with so many different products, it really is rather tough deciding on a new Shark brand vacuum. Between the Navigator and the Rotator, these two particular models are considered some of the very best professional uprights available to consumers. I’ll try to compare here the latest model of Navigator (NV356E/NV370) with the latest model of Rotator (NV650 series/NV752). Even though these two vacuums are fantastic examples of efficiency and flexibility, both share some similar features. Gauging the differences between them is the key goal of this entry. Hopefully, this will provide you with a better idea of which unit would ultimately be the best choice.
The Looks
As a wise man once said, a picture is worth a thousand words. So there you go:
The Portability
A feature that always comes at a bit of importance is how portable the specific unit is and how much less of a strain factor does it possess. None of us enjoy having to lump around a hefty, awkward vacuum from one area of the house to another just to simply clean your home.
Both the Navigator and the Rotator enable ease due to a Lift-Away pod. The two vacuums weight generally in the same area of an average of 14 lbs and the weight and the canister on both units averages out to around half the full vacuums weight.
The Ease of Use
Each vacuum includes a lengthy 30 ft cord, which really creates an ease of use factor in the regards of vacuuming large spaces or areas of the home that are closely adjacent. This element is a great advantage because it will enable you to not have to always bend down or have the need to keep plugging and unplugging the unit. Both of the units run at 1200 watts, so the power is all there, making for an easier push.
The Navigator’s body is developed with very lightweight materials which allow less wear-and-tear. The vacuum also includes a really big dust cup that makes emptying an effortless endeavor. The Rotator is comparable to the Navigator in the terms that it is also very much easy to push around to different areas of your home while in use. Because it is so effortless to haul around while operating, vacuuming the stairs just got a whole lot easier.
The element of the Rotator which gives it a slight edge over the Navigator is its headlights, located on it’s base. When you are vacuuming up areas that may be particularly dark, you can find your way around easier, making certain that everything is left spotless.
Which Vacuum is the Easiest to Push Around?
Deciding which one of these is the easiest to push around and operate in general comes as a bit of a challenge. These two units both were developed with quality swivel steering, which creates a quintessential seamlessness while using. The Navigator does have the bigger dust cup included but then the newer Rotator has a well-designed dust cup as well. However, Rotator’s digital display allows the user to select among the types of surfaces to be cleaned. So, it pretty much comes down to the operator’s particular needs in the end and what would work best for them.
Read Related Topic: Shark Navigator Freestyle SV1106 Vacuum Review
Attachments and Accessories
A component of the vacuum that can really differ the outcome, regarding what is the all-around best would be what various attachments and accessories are included and how versatile each unit is. The Navigator and the Rotator both include crevice tools that measure out at 24’’ and 8’’ inches, made for cleaning areas of home like the baseboards and other tighter areas that call for more detail in it’s movement. The two models also include really good quality dusting brooms that were made to extend out for crumbs, pet dander and other elements similar to that. The Navigator has a really nice pet power brush and an attachment head for hard surfaces. The Navigator’s package includes two microfiber pads that are great for enabling a more polished, detailed clean. The Rotator clearly has the upperhand in this particular category because it includes so many different useful accessories. On top of the traditional attachments, it includes a multi-angled dusting brush, a straight suction nozzle, a home detail kit with various cleaning heads and a canister caddy. Once again, it depends on what the specific user will be needing but on average, a consumer’s selection would most likely go to the Rotator.
The Best Technology
Both the Navigator and the Rotator work favorably on all types of carpet and hard surfaces. The Rotator particularly is improved in the suction department, so when it comes to cleaning complex surfaces, it simply works better. It also creates a wider cleaning path, with a great edging element incorporated for covering more ground. The average cleaning path measurements for the Navigator is 9.5’’, while other units within the Shark line have cleaning radiuses that reach out to as much as 14’’.
In this particular category, the Shark Rotator enables a more enhanced standard of cleaning but it also comes at a higher price as well. The Navigator on the other hand may not be a detailed in the technical department as the Rotator but it is most certainly adequate to say the least.
The price
Talking about the price, the newer model is as you may expect, more expensive than the old one. You can get the Shark Rotator Lift Away Truepet NV752 with a 7 year warranty for as little as $272.49, while the best price I could find for the Shark Navigator Lift Away Pro Special Edition NV370 with a 5 year warranty is almost twice as low: Price not available.
The Official Vote
Both vacuums have earned quite a bit of acclaim in their own right because they both were designed and constructed with technical expertise and craftsmanship, as only Shark would do.
In the end, when you are talking about Shark Navigator vs Rotator, the first place is taken by the Rotator, as it has just a few more bells and whistles than the Navigator. IMO, the Rotator is the cream of the crop in Shark vacuums in this current market. However, if you have other opinion, I would love to hear from you.
Shark APEX
The usual disregard for the Apex stems from its greater weight and a smaller selection of accessories, which make most homeowners look at it as a commercial rather than a household machine. It costs somewhat more than the other two as well, making it less attractive to many, but its double beater bars clean the floor and themselves with greater efficiency and last longer than the two main choices. If you find yourself conflicted between the Rotator and Navigator, the Apex may be the right way out of your dilemma.
Jason Roberts
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Matt Farmer says
I have the Navigator we love it. My parents have the Rotator and they love it. My navigator came with the bare floor attachment with the micro fiber cloth cleaner. We have carpet in the bedroom but the rest of the house is bare floors with area rugs. I picked the Navigator for the price and this attachment. We had a Dyson that had stopped sucking, the repair shop wanted $65 to look at it. We where given the Dyson from my Mother in Law who used for one year and hated it. We had it for only 2 years My wife thought it was too heavy I traded the Dyson with the handy man that our family uses for a couple of light house projects that the wife wanted done. He fixed the Dyson himself and uses it. I didn’t have to pay cash on the projects and I bought a lighter vac with the money I would have paid him. Win/Win I think.
Dawn says
U totally convinced me..I can’t wait to own one..probably the Shark vac or steam.
Thanks…Dawn
Rashmi says
I am looking for a new vacuum cleaner for my hardwood floors; was vacillating between Hoover and a Central Vacuum. Saw your blog and changed my mind; will go for either a Shark Navigator or a Shark Rotator. Am veering towards the Navigator as it has microfiber pads too.
Very informative article; thanks.
Nina says
Thanks! Very informative. We had a Kirby for many years. Worked great I guess, never used it bc it weighed a ton so my husband did al the vacuuming!! It was his choice to purchase it so he won the prize! Lol!! We put a large extension on our house with an outlet to put a central vac. Well that doesn’t look like it’s ever going to happen and right now we have a cheap vac that doesn’t do a very good job bc I brought the Kirby to the Goodwill! It worked fine but 20 years looking at it was enough!! I was just channel surfing and came across QVC, they had a Shark Navigator on there in many colors, decided to google it. The rest is history! came upon your blog and it is very very helpful. Thank you so much. I know Shark has many models, have not looked into them but these two look like where I want to be. Thank you for your hard work.
Tracy Jarrell says
Thank you. I just wanted to know the difference in the Shark models.
Roopa Raghavan says
Well written. I just ordered the Rotator after reading much about various Shark models and having my head spin in the process. Wish I’d seen this post 1 day before.
Donna Ryder says
I have used the navigator for over a year and love it, however, I am going to purchase the rotator as I would like something tgat will go under furniture! I hope that I love it as much! I also have been using the steam mop that has three settings to choose from and love that as well!
Thank you Shark
Randi says
Super informative; thank you very much! Shark’s own website recommended one of these two for me but provided very little information of the differences. You should be running their website! I’m convinced the Rotator is for me, thanks again!
Cheryl Marconi says
I have to mention,in case it hasn’t been said, that Sharks customer service is AMAZING! My Shark just stopped working one day and I called the 800# on the vacuum to see if there might be a reset button or something. After attempting several things, I was told about their “Repair or Replace”policy. They told me to send mine back(shipping label from THEM) and before I could find a box to send it back,there was a BRAND NEW VACUUM ON MY DOORSTEP! Box for me to send back is found! Haha!
Paul Fischer says
I used Dyson for years and years, but they would break and are expensive to fix. I went to Sears to get yet another Dyson, and the guy talked me into a Shark. He said if you don’t love it, bring it back and get the Dyson. I LOVE it! I have several big dogs and a couple cats, a couple of kids…I use my vacuum a LOT. I have bought three Sharks now (in an average house without 1000 pounds of dog hair in it, it should last for years). I LOVE them. They are lughtweight, as opposed to Dyson which were so heavy, easy to manuver, easy to clean, easy to empty. I have both the Navigator and the Rotator, I like them both.