Levoit LVAC-300 vs Shark IP3251
The short answer
Shark IP3251 comes out ahead overall with 7.7/10 against 7.5/10 for the Levoit LVAC-300. Levoit LVAC-300 is stronger on hair-tangle resistance, battery & runtime and value. Shark IP3251 is stronger on pet hair pickup, ease of use & maintenance and filtration, safety & repairability. At current verified prices, the Levoit LVAC-300 costs about $120.02 less.
- Choose the Levoit LVAC-300 if: Budget-minded owners of light-to-moderate shedders with hard floors or low-pile rugs.
- Choose the Shark IP3251 if: Pet owners with mixed floors and rugs who want strong carpet pickup and an auto-empty dock so they never touch the debris.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Levoit LVAC-300 | Shark IP3251 |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair pickup | 7.078% low pile but 54% high pile (TechGearLab) | 8.5Best high-pile result (74%) and 84% low pile in TechGearLab testing; RTINGS gives the IP1251 sibling 7.5 |
| Hair-tangle resistance | 7.0Long strands wrap, but the quick-release brushroll clears easily | 6.0TechGearLab: hair and fur wrap around the rollers |
| Versatility & pet tools | 7.0Mini motorized pet tool and handheld conversion | 7.0MultiFlex wand, but the motorized pet tool costs extra and the bumper limits edge cleaning |
| Battery & runtime | 8.057 min low / 16 min max (TechGearLab), swappable battery | 7.047 min low / 12 min max in testing, detachable battery, slow 4.7 h charge |
| Ease of use & maintenance | 7.53.5 lb handheld; small bin with heavy shedders | 8.5Dock holds up to 45 days of debris; 3.9 lb handheld |
| Filtration, safety & repairability | 7.0HEPA claim (ASTM F3150); TechGearLab particle count 41; genuine batteries; warranty not confirmed | 8.5Post-motor HEPA, 'Excellent' emissions per TechGearLab, 5-year warranty, no cordless recalls |
| Value | 9.0$230 from Amazon, best performance per dollar | 7.5$549 from Amazon, dock included |
Specifications
| Spec | Levoit LVAC-300 | Shark IP3251 |
|---|---|---|
| Pet hair removed, low-pile carpet (TechGearLab test) | 78 % | 84 % |
| Pet hair removed, high-pile carpet (TechGearLab test) | 54 % | 74 % |
| Runtime at max power (TechGearLab) | 16 min | 12 min |
| Claimed max runtime (eco mode) | 60 min | 70 min |
| Swappable/click-in battery | Yes | Yes |
| Handheld unit weight (TechGearLab measured) | 3.5 lbs | 3.9 lbs |
| Dustbin capacity | 0.75 L | 0.7 L |
| Claimed suction (max) | 90 AW | — |
| Anti-tangle/de-tangling floorhead (claimed) | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-empty dock included | No | Yes |
| HEPA filtration (manufacturer claim) | Yes | Yes |
| Manufacturer warranty | — | 5 years |
Levoit LVAC-300
Pros
- Much cheaper than the other picks
- 16 minutes at max power
- Quick-release brushroll
- Mini motorized pet tool
- Swappable battery and HEPA filtration
Cons
- Weaker on high pile (54%)
- Long strands still wrap
- Small bin for heavy shedders
The best value here for hard floors and low-pile rugs. It gives up some high-pile pickup, but it costs a fraction of the Dysons.
Full Levoit LVAC-300 review →Shark IP3251
Pros
- Best high-pile pet hair result in TechGearLab's test
- Auto-empty dock with HEPA filtration
- Detachable battery
- 5-year limited warranty
- Excellent emitted air quality in TechGearLab testing
Cons
- Hair and fur wrap around the rollers
- Front bumper limits head-on edge cleaning
- Motorized upholstery tool sold separately
- Charge time is about 4.7 hours
The best all-round choice for pet owners with mixed floors. It is not the lab leader on every test, but its carpet results, dock and warranty add up to the strongest overall package at a price well below the premium Dysons.
Full Shark IP3251 review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Cordless Stick Vacuums for Pet Hair of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.