Shark Navigator vs Rotator: Who Wins the Vacuum Lover’s Favor

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 

If you are looking for a runner up in this contest, you might want to investigate the Shark Apex. Although not the first thing most people go for when choosing a home vacuum, the Apex has many features that could make it the second place: it sports a longer cord, wider beater bar, and more powerful motor than either the Navigator or the Rotator. 

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.