Shark IONFlex Pros & Cons

In this article we highlight the pros and cons of the Shark IONFlex 2X IF252.  There are two groups of IONFlex vacuums, those with 1 battery and those with 2 batteries.  The models with a “2X” in the name come with 2 batteries.

The IONFlex is Shark’s popular new cordless stick vacuum which has a hinged wand. We’ve done a very detailed review of this vacuum which you can see here:  Shark IONFlex Review.  Our review considers consumer ratings from several sources and resulted in an average score of 78 out of 100 for the vacuum.  You can compare this to the scores of other stick vacs in our stick vacuum ratings table. 

PROS
Following are some of the things we really like about this vacuum:

• The 2X IF252 comes with 2 batteries.  Many cordless units have one battery and when it is drained you have to put it on charge and wait hours (sometimes many hours) before you can vacuum again.  Having two batteries that can be easily swapped out goes a long way towards alleviating this problem.  When one battery is drained you can put it on charge and start using the other battery to continue vacuuming.
• The package includes 4 tools: Duster crevice tool, Anti-allergen dusting brush, Pet multi-tool, MultiFLEX under appliance wand.
• Utilizes DuoClean Technology.  This technology has a soft brushroll at the front of the cleaner head along with the typical bristled brushroll in the center of the cleaner head.  Both are driven by the same motor.  This approach helps pull in dust/debris right up to the front of the cleaner head.  It also “buffs” bare floors and removes stuck-on dust.  In addition, it pulls in large debris – it does not snowplow large debris forward.  We thought DuoClean Technology may be awkward on carpet but it is not.
• Easy to charge the batteries.  The vacuum comes with a charging cradle and a battery can be detached from the vacuum and charged in this cradle.  You can also plug the charger directly into the battery while it is still attached to the vacuum.
• Run time is respectable.  The run time for this vacuum is generally measured using both batteries.  Using this approach the IONFlex 2X has a run time of 28-40 minutes on low power (depends on surface being vacuumed) and 22-24 minutes on high power.
• Suction on the vacuum is fairly strong.  We don’t have a unit measurement but our experience with other stick vacs indicates a decent amount of suction.
• Multi-use vacuum.  This is a 2-in-1 machine and can be used both as a stick vacuum and as a handheld vacuum.  The wand can be removed and you essentially have a handheld vacuum.  Attachments will fit both on the end of the wand and the handheld component.
• Simple and easy-to-access controls.  The vacuum controls can be used by your thumb while you are holding the vacuum.  They are very easy to use.  You can change between low power and high power, turn the vacuum on and off, and switch between bare floors and carpet.
• The machine carries a respectably long 5-year warranty.
• Our tests showed the vacuum does a reasonably good job at picking up pet hair.
• Has a headlight which is a nice feature.
• All filters are washable and reusable.

In the video below we walk through some of the things we love about the Shark IONFlex 2X IF252

CONS
Following are some of the things that we didn’t like about the IONFlex:

• As a stick vacuum the IONFlex is a bit on the heavy side.  It weighs in at 8.7 lbs which really isn’t too bad but Dyson is setting the stick vac bar these days and their V6/V7/V8 units are typically all under 6 lbs.
• The dust canister is small.  Most dust canisters on stick vacuums are fairly small due to the size of the vacuum but the IONFlex is a larger vacuum than the Dyson V6/V7/V8s and it has smaller dust canister.  You will find yourself emptying this frequently if you do a lot of vacuuming or if you have a lot of dust/debris to pick up.
• The handheld unit feels bulky and heavy.  It weighs about 3.5 lbs but has a large, bulky feeling to it.
• None of the 3 filters on the vacuum are HEPA level.  Not great news for those with allergies or asthma.
• The DuoClean Technology as a tendency to pull the cleaner head forward on carpet.  This can be annoying as it makes it harder to pull the cleaner head back.
• The MultiFLEX Technology (hinged wand) is awkward to use.  While this feature allows the vacuum to fold together and store more easily, it is not particularly useful for getting under low furniture.  It is hard to control the cleaner head with the wand bent.
• When trying to use this vacuum for overhead cleaning it can be heavy on the arm.  You will find yourself using two hands which isn’t bad but the marketing materials show someone casually using this for cleaning near the ceiling.  Sustained use is not that easy.
• The batteries will not charge if they are too warm/hot.  They have to cool to a certain temperature before they will charge.  This can add to overall recharging time.

In the video below we walk through some of the things we do not like about the IONFlex.

This vacuum is different from most of the machines we’ve tested. It has some interesting features.  Some of the features are great and others are kind of hit and miss.  We loved the 2 batteries and the DuoClean Technology but we weren’t overly fond of the MultiFLEX Technology - although we had a message from someone who was wheelchair bound and found the ability to flex the wand to be a real asset.  This was something we had not considered. 

You can check out IONFlex owner reviews and pricing on Amazon if you like.