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Shark Freestyle Max: two-minute review
Product info
This model has slightly different names and product codes in different territories:
US: Freestyle Max SV2002
UK: Freestyle Professional / Freestyle Max SV2000UK
AU: Freestyle Max SV2000NV
For this assessment, I examined the US model. The UK model has additionally been examined by the TechRadar houses group. The one notable discrepancy between the completely different variations is that the US model has headlamps, and the UK and AU variations don’t.
The design is very basic but effective – you use your foot to press down on a big button on the floorhead to turn the machine on and off and switch modes. Charging happens via a dock, but this is about as compact as you can imagine – smaller than even the footprint of the vacuum itself. It’s also incredibly affordable – pricing is lower than some of the best cheap vacuums available on the market, however the suction energy is up there with far pricier stick vacuums.
There are a few important potential drawbacks. Firstly: battery life. The battery does not last more than 20 minutes in onerous flooring mode and fewer than 12 minutes in carpet mode. That wasn’t sufficient for me to scrub my home in a single go with out stopping to recharge (no less than recharge is comparatively fast at three hours). Secondly: the Freestyle Max is to be used on flooring solely. There are not any element instruments, and neither is there a versatile hose that allows you to use the vacuum to scrub furnishings, stairs, or up excessive.
If you happen to can deal with these drawbacks and are in search of a easy vacuum that packs the ability of an upright however with out the load and bulk, the Freestyle Max is a superb alternative. Hold studying to get deeper perception into its professionals and cons.
Shark Freestyle Max review: price & availability
- List price: $199.99 / £149 / AU$249.99
- Launched: October 2025
- Available: US, UK, AU
The Shark Freestyle Max launched in October 2025, and at list price in the US it costs $199.99, though it’s often on sale – at time of writing, it was down to $149.99.
There’s an almost-identical model in the UK, minus the headlamps, which costs £149.99 but was discounted to £99 at time of writing. Shark doesn’t seem to have decided whether to call it the Freestyle Pro or Freestyle Max, so look at the product code (SV2000UK) to make sure you’re getting the right one. The AU model doesn’t have headlamps either, and costs AU$249.99 at list price.
It’s a budget buy on the wider market, and with the typical discount, it’s well priced, considering the strong suction power and the shorter battery life.
Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5
- Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5
Shark Freestyle Max specs
|
Product code: |
SV2002 (US) / SV2000UK (UK) / SV2000NV (AU) |
|
Weight: |
6.6 lbs / 3 kg |
|
Bin size: |
0.7qt / 0.7L |
|
Max runtime: |
21 mins |
|
Charge time: |
3 hrs 20 |
|
Size (H x W x L): |
44.9 x 10.2 x 9.8in / 114 x 26 x 25cm |
|
Modes: |
Hard floor mode, Carpet mode |
|
Cleaning path: |
10.3in / 26.2cm |
|
Headlamps: |
Yes (US) / No (UK and AU) |
Shark Freestyle Max review: design
- Extremely lightweight for an upright, and cordless
- Generous dust cup, foot-press button operation, and two suction modes
- Basic but effective in design
Shark set out with the intent to create a more compact and lightweight upright vacuum, and it did just that with the Shark Freestyle Max. Aesthetics wise, the vacuum is white and gray with a modern sleek design.
The vacuum is very lightweight, clocking in 6.6 lbs / 3kg, which would be fairly light for a stick vacuum, let alone an upright. Unlike other vacuums, the button to change between the two suction modes is found on top of the vacuum head.
To shift between the two modes, you press the button with your foot, and a blue or green light indicates which mode you’re in. Look extremely closely and you’ll see an icon to indicate that the more powerful ‘green’ should be used on carpet, whereas the lower-powered ‘blue’ is for hard flooring.
The vacuum locks in place so it can stand up on its own. Although the vacuum can’t lean back 180 degrees, it comes very close. If I had to guess, I’d say the vacuum leans to about 160 degrees, which is not quite as nimble as a stick vacuum, but still very decent. The US version also has a headlight on the front of the vacuum head to help users see in dim spaces. This isn’t included on the UK or Australian versions.
The 0.7-quart / 0.7L dust cup can be removed from the vacuum pod and emptied with a lid release button. A debris screen and filter are located inside the dustbin. There are no additional accessories, nor a flexible tube that would allow you to break down the vacuum and use it to clean windowsills or in the corners of ceilings, à la something like the Shark Stratos Upright.
Moderately unusually, there is a dock for charging. That is smaller than even the footprint of the vacuum, however a easy plug-in setup would in all probability be extra handy.
Setup took only some minutes. I simply needed to click on the wand into the vacuum pod, and the vacuum pod onto the ground nozzle. From there, I charged the vacuum, and it was able to go.
- Design rating: 3.5 out of 5
Shark Freestyle Max review: performance
- Very powerful hard floor and carpet suction, with excellent edge cleaning
- Picks up fine materials in a single pass
- Maneuverable for an upright but not as nimble as a stick vacuum
From the get-go, I was impressed with the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Upright Vacuum, especially in terms of suction power. It may be a simple vacuum without smart features or app integration, but it did a great job cleaning fine material – like flour – and larger items – like crumbs and leaves. In fact, no matter if I used the bare floor or the carpet mode, it only took a single pass on rugs and hard floors for the vacuum to pick up all material, be it dirt or hair.
I tested both the front edge and edge cleaning of the vacuum and was very happy with the results. It cleans right to the edge. Unfortunately, if I tried to vacuum in reverse, larger debris like coffee grinds got stuck behind the wheels. It was better to do a forward pass over a mess for quick and efficient cleaning.
I’ve tested many vacuums over the years, and the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Upright Vacuum feels a lot more powerful than others. With some vacuums, I need to use a Max or a Turbo mode to pick up large debris. The Freestyle Max isn’t outfitted with those types of modes, but thankfully, you don’t need them. The suction power of this vacuum outshone many cordless stick vacuums that I’ve tested in the past.
While not as powerful as bulkier, corded uprights, it’s right up there with the priciest cordless stick vacuums when it comes to power. TechRadar’s Home Editor Ruth tested the UK version side-by-side with the Dyson Gen5detect and located the cleansing energy comparable with that mannequin – all of the extra spectacular contemplating that vacuum prices 5 occasions the value.
The compromise right here is that due to the upper suction energy, the battery on this vacuum does not final very lengthy. I focus on extra in regards to the battery within the battery part, however for reference, I wasn’t capable of clear my whole home switching between naked flooring and carpet modes.
I really like that the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Upright Vacuum is outfitted with a headlight, because it made it simpler to see mud and filth in low lit areas. If solely the vacuum paused when locked upright. By way of sound, the onerous flooring mode has a dB score of 79. I measured an 83 dB score throughout carpet mode. For my part, the vacuum is not any louder than most.
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The one different factor I ought to word is that the vacuum felt a bit stiff when it comes to maneuverability. Turning the vacuum left or proper was not as clean as I might have preferred. Whereas it is nimbler than your common upright vacuum, it is not as maneuverable as most stick vacuums I’ve used. Not less than it is light-weight, the vacuum head suits in comparatively tight areas, and it may possibly lean again to about 160 levels, making it straightforward to achieve underneath my mattress and low furnishings.
Upkeep does not take lengthy to finish. When the mud cup was full, I eliminated it from the vacuum pod and positioned it over a trash can. Then I pressed the ‘lid launch’ catch and the mud and filth emptied. I used to be capable of maintain my arms clear. The particles display and the filter – each positioned within the mud cup – must be often eliminated and washed with water, earlier than air drying for twenty-four hours.
- Efficiency rating: 4 out of 5
Shark Freestyle Max review: battery life
- 11 mins in Carpet mode; 21 mins in Hard floor mode
- Takes about 3 hours and 20 mins for the battery to fully recharge
- Battery not removable or replaceable
The battery life of the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Upright Vacuum depends on which mode is being used. In higher-powered carpet mode, the battery lasted almost 11 and a half minutes, and in hard floor mode, 21 minutes.
Since I have both hard floors and rugs in my 1,600-square-foot house, I tested how long the battery lasted when switching between modes. I was able to clean my bare floors in 15 minutes. Then I switched to carpet mode to vacuum my rugs. The battery lasted only three more minutes, which was not enough time to fully vacuum one of my large rugs. The battery took about three hours and 20 minutes to fully charge. I let it charge for an hour, which gave it enough juice to finish vacuuming my rugs.
The Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Upright Vacuum’s battery life is far shorter than most cordless stick vacuums – many models can last up to a full hour in their lowest-powered mode these days, and it’s rare to see a maximum runtime shorter than 40 minutes. This model won’t fit the bill for those with bigger homes or lots of carpet. However, I see it as a strong choice for apartments, small homes, or anyone who just like having a vacuum to do short bursts of cleaning.
One final black mark against Shark here is that the battery isn’t removable or swappable, as is the case with most good modern cordless vacuums. That means once the batteries wears out, you’ll have to throw the whole machine away.
- Battery life score: 2 out of 5
Should you buy the Shark Freestyle Max?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Value |
Very affordably priced, with performance up there with far more expensive cordless models. The compromise is short battery. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Design |
Very basic in terms of features, but perfectly functional and well-built. Cordless uprights are very rare, so it fills that niche. |
3.5 / 5 |
|
Performance |
Very lightweight and maneuverable for an upright. Picks up fine and large materials in a single pass and offers impeccable edge cleaning. |
4 / 5 |
|
Battery life |
The battery doesn’t last longer than 20 minutes, which is very short. |
2 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How I tested the Shark Freestyle Max
I tested the Shark Freestyle Max Cordless Upright Vacuum for a week in my 1,600-square-foot home, using it to vacuum my hardwood and laminate floors and two large rugs. Everything from how well it suctioned debris to the length of battery life and ease of movement was tested and considered when writing this review.
The UK version was also tested on-team in the TechRadar offices, where it was used on hard floor, mid-pile carpet and deep-pile carpet, and the suction power was compared to that of a premium Dyson stick vacuum.
Learn extra about how we test vacuum cleaners
- First reviewed November 2025
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