Dyson
Dyson Supersonic
$399.99
Released 2016
Best Hair Dryers · head-to-head
Dyson Supersonic vs Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System is cheaper at $349.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Shark
Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
$349.99Cheaper
Released 2022
Which is better: the Dyson Supersonic or Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System?
The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System is the cheaper at $349.99. The Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Dyson Supersonic | Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $399.99 | $349.99 |
| Brand | Dyson | Shark |
| Released | 2016 | 2022 |
| Wattage (W) | 1600 | 1600 |
| Weight (g) | 816 | 699 |
| Heat settings | 4 | 4 |
| Speed settings | 3 | 3 |
| Ionic | Yes | Yes |
| Cool shot | Yes | Yes |
| Attachments included | Styling concentrator only (Origin colorway; the standard Supersonic ships 5 attachments) | 2x 1.25-inch Auto-Wrap Curlers, Oval Brush, Paddle Brush, Styling Concentrator (5 total) |
| Motor (rpm) | 110000 | — |
Sources — Dyson Supersonic: dyson.com (verified 2026-06-15). Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System: sharkninja.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Dyson Supersonic and Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (2 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Weight (g): Dyson Supersonic 816 vs Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System 699
- Attachments included: Dyson Supersonic Styling concentrator only (Origin colorway; the standard Supersonic ships 5 attachments) vs Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System 2x 1.25-inch Auto-Wrap Curlers, Oval Brush, Paddle Brush, Styling Concentrator (5 total)
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Dyson Supersonic
All three whitelisted hands-on testers — TechRadar, Reviewed (USA Today) and Good Housekeeping's Beauty Lab — rate the original Dyson Supersonic among the fastest-drying, strongest-airflow dryers they've measured and cooler-running than rivals, giving a smoother, shinier, less-frizzy finish. All three flag the steep price; GH's lab found it no quieter than rival dryers, and two testers call the head-mounted buttons awkward to reach. Newer Nural/r/Travel variants and non-whitelisted blogs were excluded. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Fast drying with the most powerful airflow these testers measured; Smoother, shinier, less frizzy finish; Lightweight and comfortable; handle-mounted motor eases arm/shoulder strain.
Flagged: Very expensive and hard to justify at ~$400+; Not genuinely quiet — GH's lab measured it about as loud as rivals, and even TechRadar concedes it's 'not really quiet'; Control buttons awkwardly placed on the head, out of easy reach.
Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System
Three whitelisted testers (Reviewed, Tom's Guide, TechRadar) hands-on tested this exact model and agree it's a genuine Dyson Airwrap dupe at roughly half the price, versatile, well-built and intuitive. Common gripes: a learning curve on the auto-wrap curlers, having to swap barrels to reverse curl direction, and bulky attachments. Testers split on curl longevity. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Genuine Dyson Airwrap alternative delivering comparable blowouts at roughly half the price; Versatile all-in-one: converts to a standalone L-shaped hair dryer plus a wide range of attachments; Well-built, balanced, comfortable to hold with intuitive controls.
Flagged: Learning curve to master the auto-wrap (Coanda) curlers; Must swap separate left/right barrels to change curl direction; Curls/styles can lack staying power without hairspray.