The ZU62 and the ZU561 are two recent additions to the shark upright vacuum collection.
There is one main difference between these vacuums. Have a look at our review of the Shark ZU62 vs ZU561 to see what it is.
If you are in a hurry you can have a look at the comparison table below to get a brief overview of the main differences between these two vacuums.
Table of Contents
Comparison Table
Shark ZU62 |
|---|
| Dust Cup Capacity – 2.8 quarts |
| Weight – 16 lbs. |
| Zero M self-cleaning brush roll |
| No Powered Liftaway Feature |
| Cord Length – 25 feet |
| Hose length – 12 feet |
| Cleaning path – 11.97 inches |
| Accessories – Duster Crevice Tool, Upholstery Tool, and the Dusting Brush. |
| Check Price |
Shark ZU561 |
|---|
| Dust Cup Capacity– 0.9 quarts |
| Weight – 13.4 lbs. |
| Zero M self-cleaning brush roll |
| Liftaway feature |
| Cord Length – 25 feet |
| Hose length – 6.6 feet |
| Cleaning path – 12 inches |
| Accessories – Accessory Holder, Duster Crevice Tool, Wide Upholstery Tool, Hair Removal Multi-Tool. |
| Check Price |
(Note: Attachments might differ depending on which retailer you purchase the vacuum from)
Shark ZU561 vs ZU62 – The Differences
- The ZU62 has a larger dust cup capacity.
- The ZU561 model has the liftaway feature.
- The ZU62 model has a longer hose length but no liftaway feature.
- The ZU62 weighs 3 lbs. more than the ZU561 model.
In this case it’s hard to select the better vacuum. What you have to do is decide what features are important to you.
What really distinguishes this vacuum though is the fact that it does not have a liftaway feature. To compensate for this Shark has given you a longer vacuum hose.
The liftaway feature also makes the vacuum more versatile when you want to clean hard to reach areas such as under couches.
What is Zero M Cleaning Brush Roll
Both of these vacuums have a zero m self-cleaning brush roll.
The self-cleaning brush roll has a series of protrusions that constantly remove hair from the brush roll as you vacuum instead of having to manually do this task.
If this is one of the tasks that you dislike you will find this feature really handy.
What is Liftaway
Lift-Away means that the main unit can be detached from the wand at the click of a button, turning your upright vacuum into a portable.
Detailed Comparison of the Features
- Cleaning Performance (Tie) - Both of these vacuum have the zero m self-cleaning brush roll and should perform well on all surface types.
- Weight & Dust cup capacity (Winner ZU62) - The ZU62 model (2.8 quarts) has a larger dust cup capacity than the ZU561 model (0.9 quarts).If you don’t relish the ideaa of constantly having to empty the dust cup you might want to have a look at the ZU62 model. If the weight of a vacuum is an issue you might want to have a look at the ZU561 model which weighs less than the ZU62 model.
- Maneuverability ( Winner ZU561) - One of the unique features of Shark vacuums is the liftaway mode. This allows the vacuum to mimic a canister vacuum. The fact that you can detach the main pod allows you to vacuum hard to reach areas and above ground areas.
- Accessories (Tie) - Both the ZU561 and the ZU62 come with a wide variety of accessories.
- Cost(Tie) - Both of these models have a similar price range. The ZU561 is slightly cheaper.
Quick look at the ZU561
| Features | |
| Type: | Upright & Bagless |
| Product Dimensions: | 12" L X 9.5" W X 45.6" H |
| Weight: | 13.4 lbs. |
| Liftaway Feature: | Yes |
| Floor Type: | Hardwood floors, and carpets |
| Dust Bin: | 0.9 quarts |
| Cord Length: | 25 feet |
| Hose Length: | 6.6 feet |
| Cleaning path: | 12 inches |
| LED lights: | Not Included |
| Filter type: | Washable HEPA + foam filters |
| Wattage: | 800 |
| Amps: | 6.7 |
| Price: | |
PROS
- Has liftaway feature
- Good cleaning performance
- Zero m self-cleaning brush roll good for pet hair
- Lightweight
CONS
- Small dust cup capacity
Who is this vacuum best suited for?
If you are looking for a lightweight upright vacuum this is a great option. It is good for pet and human hair with the zero m self-cleaning brush roll feature.
Quick look at the ZU62
| Features | |
| Type: | Upright & Bagless |
| Product dimensions (in.): | 9.8" L X 11.9" W X 45.2" H |
| Weight: | 16 lbs. |
| Floor Type: | Good for pets |
| Dust Bin: | 2.8 quarts |
| Cord Length: | 25 feet |
| Hose Length: | 12 feet |
| LED lights: | Not included |
| Filter type: | Washable HEPA + foam filters |
| Wattage: | 1150 |
| Amps: | 9.5 |
| Price: | |
PROS
- Good for pet hair
- Larger dust cup capacity than the ZU62 model
- Zero M self-cleaning brush roll
CONS
- Does not have the powered liftaway feature
Who is this vacuum best suited for?
This vacuum is suited for pet owners. It has the zero m self-cleaning brush roll so you don’t have to worry about having to physically remove hair wrapped around the brush roll.
It also comes with a large dust cup capacity so you don’t have to worry about constantly emptying the dust cup.
The only drawback is this vacuum is not a liftaway model so you can detach the pod from the vacuum cleaning head. To compensate for the lack of this feature this vacuum does have a large hose.
These are two very good models. However they satisfy different needs. Purchase the Shark ZU62 models if you are looking for large dust cup capacity.
The main difference between this vacuum and the ZU561 model is the lack of the liftaway feature. Shark compensates for this by adding a long vacuum hose to reach hard-to-reach areas.
If you are looking for a lightweight vacuum with the liftaway feature you can have a look at the Shark zu561 model.
