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How do you find peace after war? A combat vet and NPR reporter's bond points a way

NPR News Headlines - Sun, 11/16/2025 - 04:00

NPR Veterans Correspondent Quil Lawrence interviewed Dave Carlson over 10 years, as the Iraq war vet went from war to incarceration to redemption on his long journey home.

(Image credit: Caroline Yang for NPR)

Categories: News

How AI is changing developers’ mindsets, not just their code

TechRadar News - Sun, 11/16/2025 - 03:00
Generative AI transforms software development, workflows, and developer careers.
Categories: Technology

Outlander season 8: everything we know so far about the hit Starz show's return

TechRadar News - Sun, 11/16/2025 - 03:00
Outlander season 8 is coming on March 6, 2026. Here's everything we know so far from release date, trailer, predicted cast, plot rumors and more.
Categories: Technology

What legacy business intelligence technology can learn from video games

TechRadar News - Sun, 11/16/2025 - 02:00
Why the future of business intelligence looks more like modern gaming than legacy reporting.
Categories: Technology

This robot vacuum delivers impressive mopping, but there are some quirks to know about before you buy

TechRadar News - Sun, 11/16/2025 - 00:30
The SwitchBot S20's roller mop is great on hard floors – just don't try to vacuum anything afterwards.
Categories: Technology

This robot vacuum delivers impressive mopping, but there are some quirks to know about before you buy

TechRadar Reviews - Sun, 11/16/2025 - 00:30
SwitchBot S20: two-minute review

The SwitchBot S20 is a hybrid robot vacuum with a particularly impressive mopping setup. While most robot vacuums feature flat mop pads that tend to spread spillages around, the S20 is equipped with a roller that's fed a continuous stream of fresh water, while any dirt is scraped off as it goes. The model also arrives with a comprehensive dock that not only empties the bot's onboard bin, but drains its dirty water tanks, refills the clean water tank and dries the mop pads, too.

I tested it out and was generally impressed, although a few quirks prevent me from recommending it as one of the best robot vacuums on the market right now. The mopping works as advertised, providing a more thorough clean than I've seen with most bots. Vacuuming is solid, too, while object detection and avoidance are perhaps the best I've encountered.

However, the S20 gets into a pickle if set to vacuum after it has completed a mopping run, when its roller is still a bit damp. In this situation, any debris on the floor is spread around, and no discernible vacuuming takes place. That's okay if your home's layout makes it easy to keep vacuuming and mopping completely separate (with the mopping last on the list), but I wouldn't recommend the S20 as a bot that can transition smoothly between the two tasks.

It's also rather noisy. I'd say it's louder than average in every cleaning mode, but the sound of it auto-emptying is especially alarming. For navigation the bot performed well, but did prove occasionally erratic – perhaps down to that ultra-sensitive object avoidance – and the app could be improved with a few tweaks.

At full price, this bot sits in the premium bracket, but hefty discounts are common and deliver much better value for money. If mopping is your priority and you spot a decent deal, the S20 could be a great buy.

A final note before I begin with my full SwitchBot S20 review. If you're here because you heard that SwitchBot makes mini robot vacuums, be advised that the S20 isn't one of those bots. The robot itself and the dock are full-sized, and also a little chunkier than average. Check out the SwitchBot K11+ if you're after a tiny home-helper that can tuck into tight spaces.

(Image credit: Future)SwitchBot S20 review: price & availability
  • List price: $799.99 / £799.99
  • Launched: September 2025
  • Available: US / UK

The SwitchBot K20 launched in September 2025, with a list price of $799.99 in the US and £799.99 in the UK. At time of writing, there was a voucher on the SwitchBot US site to activate a 44% discount (taking it to $448) and one for 39% off on the UK sites (taking it down to £488). Given the availability of big discounts so close to launch, it seems likely that this bot will not be sold at full price very often.

There's also an "Auto-Fill & Drain System" version of this model, which you plumb into your home's water supply. It costs the same at ticket price.

At full price this is a premium robot vacuum, but those chunky discounts see it sit more middle of the pack. On paper, at the discounted price it's a decent value proposition, but just make sure you're happy to live with the various quirks before you take the plunge.

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5
SwitchBot S20 specs

Max suction:

10,000Pa

Robot diameter:

14.4in / 36.5cm

Robot height:

4.5in / 11.5cm

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

14.9 x 8.5 x 18.1in / 38 x 21.5 x 46cm

Dust bin volume (dock):

4L

Water tank volume:

2.5L clean; 2.5L dirty

Base type:

Charge, auto-empty dust, empty dirty water, refill clean water, dry mop

Max threshold clearance:

0.8in / 2cm

Smart home compatibility:

Matter (Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home)

Mop:

Roller

SwitchBot S20 review: design
  • Rather large, hybrid robot vacuum and mop
  • Roller mop that's continually cleaned as it mops
  • Dock empties dust, dries roller and drains/refills the onboard tanks

SwitchBot is known for making tiny little robot vacuums, such as the dinky SwitchBot K11+, so I was quite surprised when I unpacked the K20 to find that it wasn't small at all. In fact, far from being scaled-down, this bot is on the chunkier side for a modern robot vacuum.

By way of example, the Roborock Qrevo Master (a not especially swish or streamlined robovac) measures 13.9in / 35.3 cm in diameter and 4.1in / 10.3 cm tall, whereas the K20 is 14.4in / 36.5cm wide and 4.5in / 11.5cm tall.

The SwitchBot S20 (right) next to the brand's dinky K11+ (Image credit: Future)

The headline feature is the mop setup. The K20 has a roller mop that applies 1kg of pressure to scrub dirt from your hard floors. The roller is continually fed with clean water as it rolls across your floor, while a scraper siphons off the grime and dirty water and holds it in a small secondary water tank. While the roller can't kick out to the side of the machine for edge cleaning, as some premium models offer, it's still a very modern mop setup.

(Image credit: Future)

The suction stats are good, too, topping out at 10,000Pa. Until recently, that was about the maximum you'd find anywhere. Nowadays, there are premium bots that can manage twice that; but 10,000Pa should still be ample for most people's needs. There's a fixed side-sweeper brush and a single rubber roller.

Many modern robovac brands are exploring ways to help their bots scale tall room thresholds, but not so much SwitchBot. The chunky wheels should enable the S20 to make its way over steps up to 0.8in / 2cm – and perhaps a bit over that, based on my tests – but beware if your home has thresholds beyond that figure.

(Image credit: Future)

On the top side of the S20 you'll find three physical buttons. One is your on/off, another sends the bot back to its dock, and the third I'm not quite sure about. In any case, you'll generally be controlling your bot using the companion app. It's also Matter-compatible, so you can control it using Alexa, Google Assistant and so on.

(Image credit: Future)

There's also the LiDAR turret – or rather the LiDAR SLAM, as a label informs me. SLAM is an older, less-efficient method of robovac navigation (here's more on LiDAR vs SLAM in robot navigation), but there's no mention of it anywhere else in the literature. This is bolstered by an AI camera mounted at the front, for object identification and avoidance.

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Future)

The dock is designed to be able to take care of a number of maintenance tasks for you. It sucks the dust from the small onboard bin into a larger dust bag, drains the bot's dirty water tank and refills its clean one, and washes the roller and dries it with warm air (122ºF / 50ºC).

Unlike other similar models I've tested, the bot here docks only a short way into the base station, rather than driving right inside. I'm not sure exactly how it dries because the roller is hidden under the bot, away from the dock.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5
SwitchBot S20 review: performance
  • Excellent mopping and solid vacuuming, but a little noisy
  • Sensitive object avoidance; occasionally erratic navigation
  • Vacuuming with damp mop disastrous

Setup for the S20 was fairly standard. I performed a "quick mapping" run, where the bot ventured into all the rooms it could find, looked around a bit (without trying to clean them) and started to put together a map. No major issues here, although the bot did miss a room (I was confident it would find it later, and it did). I then edited the map and we were ready to start cleaning.

In terms of cleaning options, you can vacuum and mop together, just vacuum, or vacuum then mop. There are four suction modes (Quiet, Standard, Strong and Max) and Moist or Wet mopping modes.

Vacuum performance

To kick things off, I sent the bot off on a whole-floor vacuum, using the Strong suction mode, to get a general feel of its performance. My initial reaction was that it seemed noisier than other bots I'd used, with a vacuuming pitch that was a little irritating.

On the plus side, though, I could hear it ramping suction up and down as it moved from hard floor to carpet. When I paused and checked the onboard bin, I found plenty of dust and dog hair in there. The following auto-empty process was the loudest I've experienced in all my time reviewing robot vacuums.

(Image credit: Future)

Now on to TechRadar's standard suction tests. I sprinkled a mix of dry oats, lentils (to represent chunky debris) and dry tea leaves (to represent fine debris) on a carpeted floor, and asked the bot to clean the area twice, in Strong suction mode.

It performed fairly well, sucking up the lentil/oat mix efficiently, and clearing a good amount of the tea as well. I followed up with an area clean in Max mode, which removed even more tea, leaving only a light sprinkling. This is a solid result – it's a purposefully tricky test.

Image 1 of 3

Dry tea and oat / lentil mix on carpet before the suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

After two passes in Strong mode (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

And the final result after a further pass in Max mode (Image credit: Future)

On hard floor, the test didn't go quite as smoothly. I ran my first hard floor test after I'd used the S20 for some mopping, and it was a disaster – by the time the S20 made its proud "Cleaning complete" announcement, there was tea, oats and lentils all over my kitchen floor.

Repeating the test on a different day, with the mop roller completely dry, yielded much better results. Although the bot flicked some particles about and left some in the grouting between tiles, it cleared most of the mess on the first pass.

With most robovacs, the mop pad(s) can either be removed entirely or will lift to traverse hard floors, but there's no such option here. It isn't the end of the world – you just need to make sure you save the mopping for the last task of the day.

Mop performance

I was dismayed and confused to see there isn't a "mop only" mode here, especially since it looks like this bot can do both things separately ("Vacuum then mop" is an option). The mopping here is more involved than usual – the bot isn't just feeding water onto the mop pads, it's also scraping them clean as it goes. Perhaps for that reason, the S20 emits a rather grating, droning noise when it's mopping.

It also takes quite a while for the roller to completely soak through – in my test, I found it had almost completed mopping my whole (quite large) kitchen before the striped track marks became solid. It isn't unusual for hybrid robot vacuums to take a while to get their mops properly wet – I usually like to remove the pad and wet it down myself before setting any bot out on a mopping run. That's more of a hassle here, though, due to the way it's attached to the bot.

(Image credit: Future)

While mopping tests didn't go completely smoothly, I got good results in the end. First, I drizzled soy sauce and soy milk on a tiled floor, and asked the bot to do an area clean in Wet mode.

The first area clean was scuppered by the fact the bot seemed to identify the milk as an object to avoid. It skirted carefully around the puddle, smearing the soy sauce in the process, but not really achieving any actual cleaning.

After spreading the puddle of milk around a bit to blur the edges, it was more successful on the my second run (shown in the video below). It delivered on its promise of clearing the spillage rather than spreading it about, as can happen with flat mop pads.

Buoyed by my success, I also ran a test to see if it could clear smeared ketchup from the floor. Unfortunately, it didn't manage to make much of a difference to the mess after one pass in Wet mode. That's not unusual – it's a difficult test – but I had gone in with quite high hopes for the roller mop.

xxxx does the dock dry the roller successfully?

Navigation and object avoidance

Moving on to navigation. Again, my experience was a little hit-and-miss. The SwitchBot S20 generally followed a logical up-and-down pattern, but there were plenty of occasions where it decided to – in the words of Fleetwood Mac – go its own way. It also had a little trouble clearing taller room thresholds, but managed them all in the end.

To test object avoidance, I placed a tissue box, shoe and charging cable on the carpeted floor in my lounge, and asked the bot to conduct an area clean. As you might have suspected from the its behavior in the mopping test, the S20 certainly has some object avoidance skills.

(Image credit: Future)

It successfully avoided both the cable (unheard of) and the shoe, and after deciding it wouldn't fit between them, took a long route around the coffee table to complete cleaning on the other size of the requested zone. I've never seen that before. It wasn't quite perfect – it did push the tissue box right across the room – but it is still very solid performance.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5
SwitchBot S20 review: app
  • Fairly easy to navigate
  • Some frustrating quirks
  • Part of a general SwitchBot app, for all the brand's products

The app is generally fine, with all the key adjustment options presented in a logical way. However, there are a few annoying quirks that stop it from being perfect.

I had a seriously frustrating time trying to divide the hall from the toilet, with the app refusing to give me the solid line required for an acceptable room division; it repeatedly bumped my adjuster off to elsewhere on the map. I managed to create a divider eventually, but it's on the slant, and not at right angles to any wall (to be clear, this is not the situation in real life).

(Image credit: Future)

Maps and rooms have an eight-character limit so you can't, for example, create a "Top floor". Oh, and there's no "Hall" or "Corridor" option within the room defaults – you can make one (just about, in the case of "corridor", and that pesky character limit) but I'm baffled as to why it isn't there in the first place.

Finally, because it's part of a general SwitchBot app for all the brand's products, you'll have to click through a couple of screens before you reach the robovac options. It's fine if you've bought into the SwitchBot ecosystem and have multiple products to control, but a bit annoying if you're using the robot vac on its own.

  • App score: 3.5 out of 5
Should you buy the SwitchBot S20?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Premium at list price but regular large discounts deliver decent value.

3.5 / 5

Design

Larger than average, with an advanced roller mop setup and comprehensive clean station.

4 / 5

Performance

Above-average mopping and decent vacuuming, but don't try to vacuum with a damp roller. Excellent object detection. Rather noisy overall.

3.5 / 5

App

Includes all the key information, presented logically, but there are a few annoying quirks.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

Mopping is your priority

The mopping here is a cut above average, and this bot will come into its own in homes with lots of tiled or lino floors that need regular upkeep.

You have other SwitchBot products

SwitchBot has a whole bunch of smart home products – if you're already in the ecosystem, it makes sense to stick with the brand for your robovac. The app is designed for all SwitchBot gadgets.

You spot a good deal

I wouldn't pay full price for the S20, but I've seen some strong discounts that make it much better value – especially if you want the roller mop, because these are generally only found on pricier models.

Don't buy it if...

You have a mix of hard floor and carpet

This bot operates best when the mopping and vacuuming are kept completely separate. If you want something that will switch seamlessly between the two tasks, there are other bots that will suit your needs much better.

You want a tiny robovac

If you're here expecting for one of SwitchBot's tiny robovacs, you're in for a shock – this one is not only full-sized, but it's actually chunkier than average.

You're sensitive to noise

This is one of the noisier bots I've tested, with the self-empty mechanism especially loud. One to avoid if you're noise-sensitive, or live with someone who is.

How I tested the SwitchBot S20

I used the SwitchBot S20 as my regular robot vacuum for a fortnight, to get a feel for how it performs day-to-day. I also ran a series of standardized vacuuming and mopping tests, to see how it would cope with spillages of all kinds. I dug into the app and assessed the different options there, as well as gauging how easy it would be to use and if things are presented in an intuitive way. I compared my findings to other robot vacuums I've tested, and weighed everything up against the cost to ascertain if the bot delivered good value for money.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

  • First reviewed October 2025
Categories: Reviews

Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Sunday, Nov. 16

CNET News - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 23:18
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Nov. 16.
Categories: Technology

Trump issues two pardons related to Jan. 6 investigation

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 19:26

President Donald Trump has issued two pardons related to the investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 riot, including for a woman convicted of threatening to shoot FBI agents.

(Image credit: Julio Cortez)

Categories: News

Hollywood's Biggest Stars Shine in This Lesser-Known Sci-Fi Thriller

CNET News - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 18:30
Cillian Murphy plays a physicist with a world-altering bomb. Stop us if this sounds familiar.
Categories: Technology

Disability rights activist and author Alice Wong dies at 51

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 17:32

The MacArthur "Genius" Award-winner was best known as the founder of the Disability Visibility Project, which highlights disabled people and disability culture through storytelling projects, social media and other channels.

(Image credit: Allison Busch Photography)

Categories: News

This Shark upright might not be the fanciest vacuum in town, but in terms of cleaning power I can't fault it

TechRadar Reviews - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 17:30
Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002: two-minute reviewProduct info

This is the vacuum on review:

Shark Stratos DuoClean PowerFins Hair Pro Upright Vacuum AZ3002

Shark can be erratic with its naming, so check the product code to make sure you're buying the model you think you're buying. There are similar but slightly different models available in the UK and Australia (I tested a US vacuum).

The Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 is a corded upright vacuum that packs plenty of cleaning power. Although bulky and heavy compared to a stick vacuum, it has a modular design that means you can remove the bin and hold it in your hand, while you use the wand on a flexible hose to tackle cleaning tasks off the floor. In floor mode, it will propel itself forwards when switched on, making it easier to drive (although at times it did feel like it was running away from me).

I've been using this vacuum on-and-off for a little over a year, so I've had plenty of opportunity to try it out on different floor types and see how it copes with different cleaning challenges. I'd rate it amongst the best upright vacuums around. It sucks up large and fine debris with ease, and handles hair well, too. It comes with a range of tools that are useful for tackling detail work, and with the pod removed it's easy to slide the wand under furniture and clean thoroughly in tight corners and right up against baseboards.

The main floorhead is kitted out with headlamps to help you spot dirt and fluff in dark corners, as well as an odor-neutralizing puck to keep things smelling fresh. Underneath are two rollers that work in tandem to tackle different floor types – a softer roller helps polish hard floors, and a firm roller with rubber fins helps agitate carpet fibers.

It's not the most advanced Shark Upright, and lacks some of the special features of newer models like the Shark PowerDetect Upright – including an Auto mode, which I missed here. However, it's still an excellent all-rounder, and worthy of consideration if you're hunting for the best vacuum for your needs.

(Image credit: Future)Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 review: price & availability
  • List price: $529.99
  • Launch date: Unknown
  • Availability: US

The Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 launched several years ago, and is available to buy in the US. There are similar models in the UK and Australia, but with slightly different product codes.

At list price, this vacuum costs $529.99 on the SharkNinja website. It's also available to buy via third party retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy.

That price puts it in TechRadar's mid-range bracket for vacuums in general, but is rather expensive in the context of corded uprights. It's a high-quality vacuum cleaner that works really well and comes with plenty of accessories, so I think the price is justified. There are cheaper, still capable, uprights on the market if it's out of your budget, though.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 specs

Type:

Corded upright

Weight:

22.7 lbs / 10.3kg

Bin size:

1.5 qts / 1.4 L

Size (H x W x L):

46.5 x 11 x 12.2 in / 118.1 x 27.9x 31cm

Filter:

HEPA, felt and washable foam

Max suction:

Not provided

Modes:

Hard floor, Carpet/low pile, Thick carpet/area rug

Cord length:

25 ft / 7.62m

Flexible hose length:

3 ft / 0.9m

Product code:

AZ3002

Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 review: design
  • Modular design – can remove the motor section and hold in your hand
  • Floorhead for any floor type, and fitted with odor-neutralizing cartridge
  • Three suction levels to choose from but no auto mode

The first thing I noticed when unboxing the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 is the plethora of accessories. My review model came with a Crevice tool, Upholstery tool, and HairPro self-cleaning pet power brush for detail cleaning, plus an odor-neutralizer cartridge to slot into the floorhead. I found everything relatively easy to put together without needing to consult the manual.

As is almost always the case with upright vacuums, the Stratos AZ3002 is relatively bulky and heavy – especially compared to the best cordless stick vacuums on the market. However, here you can detach the pod that contains the dust cup and hold it in your hand while you use the wand on a flexible hose, which makes things like cleaning the stairs far easier.

This model is corded, so you'll need to deal with the relative inconvenience of having to unplug and re-plug as you clean. The cord is also shorter than I'd like, at just 25 ft / 7.62m.

(Image credit: Future)

One design feature I like is the ability to choose from three suction levels: one for hard flooring, one for low-pile carpet and one for thick carpet. A lot of corded uprights just have one setting, but I appreciate that I can customize the cleaning based on floor type here.

However, it's not the most advanced of the Shark uprights – the Shark PowerDetect Upright has an Auto mode whereby it'll increase or decrease suction based on how much dirt is on the floor. This vacuum will also amp up power when the vacuum nears the edge of a room, and has a floorhead that's designed to be able to pick up chunky debris when it's pulled backwards over it. None of those features are included on the Stratos Upright.

(Image credit: Future)

The main floorhead contains two motorized brushrolls that work in harmony to clean different flooring types. In the front is the soft roller, which picks up dust and helps polish hard floors. In the back is the PowerFins roller, which has rubbery fins to agitate carpet fibers, as well as helping to scoop up chunkier debris on hard floors.

One special feature which crops up on a number of the best Shark vacuums is an odor neutralizer cartridge. Here, it sits directly in the main floorhead, and can be rotated to raise or lower the intensity. I'm sensitive to some fragrances, but fortunately, on a low setting, the scent is not overpowering. It's a mild and clean fragrance. If you don't like this feature, the cartridge can be removed and won't affect the vacuum's actual performance.

The dustbin can hold 1.5 quarts / 1.4 liters of dust and debris at a time, which is far more than you'd fit into a cordless stick vacuum, but not as generous as you'll find on some upright models. However, it's nice and easy to empty: simply press the release button on the top of the pod and then push the level on the back to open the lid.

There are two types of filters in the vacuum: the HEPA filter, and the pre-motor filters (foam and felt filters), both of which will need cleaning semi-regularly and eventually replacing.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5
Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 review: performance
  • Great suction on both hard floors and carpet
  • Cleans under low furniture (sofas and beds)
  • Reaches into tight spaces and above floor places

I was impressed with the powerful suction of the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum. The company does not specifically list the suction power, but it's strong enough to easily remove debris on both hard floors and carpeted surfaces. While relatively weighty, it also propels itself forwards when turned on, which makes it easier to drive – although sometimes, when steering, it seems like the vacuum is almost going to topple over.

On hard floors, the brushroll is so strong that sometimes, during my tests with instant grits, a few specs would scatter or fly away. This did not happen on carpet, or with heavier types of debris – and I'm not deducting any points for the few scatters.

Throughout my time using the Stratos AZ3002, I never had any issues with hair getting tangled in the brushroll system. I don't have pets, but this vacuum pulled up my own short hairs with ease, and in general I think it'd make a good vacuum for pet hair – corded uprights like this one almost always have more suction than cordless stick vacuums, and I was certainly impressed with this model's cleaning power.

(Image credit: Future)

To get a more objective view of the AZ3002's performance, I ran a series of suction tests. In my first test, I opened a packet of dry apple cider tea and scattered it on the floor. I chose the hard floor mode, and the Shark Stratos easily removed it in a single pass.

In the next test, I sprinkled some instant grits on the floor. Still in hard floor mode, the vacuum also removed most of the debris in a single pass. However, in the left side of the photo above, you can see that the vacuum also scattered some of the grits on the floor.

In the third test, I poured some of the instant grits along the edge of the floor to test how closely the Shark Stratos cleans there. The vacuum cleaner removed the vast majority of the grits when vacuuming sideways and those left were picked up when I vacuumed head-on.

On carpet, I performed the same tests with dry apple cider vinegar tea and instant grits. This time, I poured the tea and grits side by side. I switched the setting to carpet/low pile cleaning. The Shark Stratos made easy work of picking up both the tea and grits – one pass is all that was needed for both types of spillage.

I must admit that I don't always remember to switch modes when vacuuming, and I missed having an Auto mode where the vacuum cleaner would adjust itself automatically when going from one type of flooring to the other.

(Image credit: Future)

One of my favorite features is the ability to remove the pod and use the vacuum cleaner almost like a stick vacuum. In this configuration, I found it easy to clean under my sideboard as well as under my sofa, and the floorhead was able to clean right up to the baseboards. Such thorough cleaning isn't always a given with an upright vacuum, and I appreciated it here. I also found the vacuum's headlights helped me spot dirt in dark spaces.

I also tried adding the Crevice tool to the end of the main wand. This setup was great for cleaning dust from the HVAC vent covers on the ceiling, as well as in tight spaces like under and on the side of the refrigerator. I found the Upholstery tool very effective for cleaning throw pillows and curtains, as well as any upholstered furniture. Finally, I used the Pet power brush to clean my carpeted stairs.

In all of these scenarios, the Shark Upright Stratos did an excellent job of removing dust and debris in just one forward motion (although I tended to go forward and backward when cleaning anyway).

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Top of the mid-range bracket, but sometimes discounted. Great features help justify the price.

4 / 5

Design

Bulky, but modular design makes it versatile and it comes with lots of detail tools. Lacks advanced features of other Shark uprights and cord is a bit short.

4 / 5

Performance

Strong suction on hard floors and carpet. Cleans under low furniture, and with attachments, it reaches into tight places and can be used on steps and upholstery.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You only plan to have one vacuum

The Shark Stratos Upright is equally effective on both carpet and hard floors, unlike some vacuum cleaners that do better on one or the other type of surface. With the attachments, you can also clean stairs, as well as upholstered items, and in tight places.

You worry about your hardwood floors

The soft roller head is gentle on hard floors so you don't have to worry about the vacuum cleaner being too rough and scratching the surface. As a bonus, the soft roller head also helps to buff the floors.

You don't like emptying the dust bin

The Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 has a large dustbin so you'll likely never have to stop in the middle of a cleaning session to empty it. The push button mechanism means you don't have to touch the bin's contents, either.

Don't buy it if...

You struggle with bulky or heavy appliances

All in, this vacuum cleaner weighs 22.7 lbs / 10.3kg. Even with the self-propulsion and fact you can remove and hold the bin pod, it's rather heavy. If you struggle with heavy appliances, a stick vacuum might be a better fit.

You want low-effort cleaning

There are three suction modes here, but you'll need to toggle them manually. More advanced Shark Uprights have an Auto mode that'll do it for you.

You need to vacuum a lot of stairs

While the pod is removable, making it easier to clean stairs, the cord and hose can only stretch so far. A cordless stick vacuum is a better option for stairs.

How I tested the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002

I've had the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 for over a year, and used it on-and-off for months at a time in my two-bedroom home, which has a mix of carpet and hard floors.

For this review I used the Shark Stratos Upright as my primary vacuum cleaner for a couple of weeks, so I could determine cleaning effectiveness in the three modes. I also gauged how easy it was to maneuver the vacuum, and how easy it was to empty and maintain.

To measure performance more specifically, I conducted several tests on both hard floors and carpet, using dry tea and instant grits. I also tested how well the vacuum cleaner was able to clean up against baseboards, and how well it worked with the various attachments to clean stairs, upholstery, and in tight spaces.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

  • First reviewed November 2025
Categories: Reviews

This Shark upright might not be the fanciest vacuum in town, but in terms of cleaning power I can't fault it

TechRadar News - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 17:30
The Stratos Upright AZ3002 is a simple but effective upright vacuum that has no trouble getting into all the nooks and crannies in your home.
Categories: Technology

LTO tape storage is still going strong despite Elon Musk's efforts to wipe it out - and there's now even 40TB cartridges for the AI age

TechRadar News - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 16:33
LTO’s 40TB Ultrium tape revives magnetic storage with Aramid film and a roadmap targeting 913TB for AI-scale data.
Categories: Technology

Here's another chance to get the Shokz OpenRun Pro for a record-low price

TechRadar News - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 15:23
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are a great alternative to earbuds for exercise and running – and they're now back to a record-low price on Amazon for Black Friday.
Categories: Technology

Asus ROG NUC has a major mini PC rival - this new challenger offers fantastic specs for work and gaming, and comes from a company with possibly the greatest name ever

TechRadar News - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 15:05
Thunderobot Mix G2 compact gaming mini PC offers RTX 50 GPUs, Intel Ultra HX processors, and workstation-level performance.
Categories: Technology

Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for Nov. 16, #419

CNET News - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 15:01
Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Nov. 16, No. 419.
Categories: Technology

Today's NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Nov. 16 #623

CNET News - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 15:01
Here are hints -- and answers -- for the NYT Strands puzzle for Nov. 16, No. 623.
Categories: Technology

Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Nov. 16, #889

CNET News - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 15:01
Here are some hints -- and the answers -- for the NYT Connections puzzle for Nov. 16, #889.
Categories: Technology

Today's Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Nov. 16, #1611

CNET News - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 15:01
Here are hints -- and the answer -- for today's Wordle for Nov. 16, No. 1,611.
Categories: Technology

A red meat allergy caused by ticks killed a N.J. man. Here's what to know

NPR News Headlines - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 14:46

Researchers say they believe they've documented the first known death from alpha-gal syndrome — a red meat allergy caused by tick bites.

Categories: News

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