Best under $300 Shark Detect Pro and ???? ???Auto-Empty System 279.99 (save $170 at Amazon)
Best for carpet Shark PowerDetect and Auto-Empty System $549.99 at Amazon (save $150 at Amazon)
Shark's robot vacuums often get most of the Shark-related attention during Black Friday because they're one of the most-known Roomba alternatives.
But for anyone who isn't completely sold on the idea of their floor care being automated, a cordless stick vacuum upgrade is likely on their radar this season. Shark has strong contenders there, too, two of which I tested and loved: the Shark Detect Pro on sale for $279.99 and the Shark PowerDetect on sale for $349.99 at Amazon this Black Friday. Their auto-empty docks are reason enough to consider them before defaulting to a Dyson — and this is coming from someone whose ride or die vacuum isa Dyson.
SEE ALSO: The best Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and WalmartThis is because the most annoying thing about my Dyson is having to manually empty it. Dust flies up into the air every single time, often making another mess on the floor around the trash can — and often requiring me to reach my fingers up into the dustbin to grab some piece of a gray dust bunny that's stuck inside. Both of these Shark cordless vacuums deal with the dust themselves via the dock that they charge on, which also doubles as a storage stand for them (this does require more floor space than my Dyson, which hangs on the wall). Compared to similarly-priced Dysons, these Sharks also feature bright LED lights on the cleaning head, whereas Dysons have zero lights until you get to the $399.99 V12 Detect Slim.
I'll dive into the differences between these two Sharks quickly:
The cheaper option, the Shark Detect Pro, is a chic white and rose gold vacuum that I got a ton of compliments on when it was in my apartment. At $279.99 ($170 off its usual $449.99), it brings home automatic emptying for the same price as the Dyson V8's Black Friday price. The V8 is one of the older, more basic Dyson vacuums, so choosing the self-emptying Shark with more advanced cleaning technology is a no-brainer for me.
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Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Detect Pro and Auto-Empty System $279.99 $449.99 Save $170
If your budget is a little more flexible, the Shark PowerDetect is still a relatively budget-friendly option that happens to be Shark's smartest, most powerful cordless vacuum. At $349.99 ($150 off its usual $499.99), the PowerDetect is currently $50 cheaper than the $399.99 Dyson Outsize, which only adjusts suction based on floor type — not based on the actual level of dirt or debris detected, like the PowerDetect does. I can physically feel the oomph this vacuum dishes out when I use it on my living room and bedroom rugs, which is appreciated considering they're constantly covered in cat hair.
The PowerDetect's extender wand can also bend, making it much easier to get low and clean under furniture. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable 
Shark PowerDetect and Auto-Empty System $449.99 at Shark $499.99 Save $50