We’ve tested and reviewed some of the best vacuum cleaners from the biggest brands, as well as smaller ones and independents. If you have problems with your current vacuum, you’ll definitely find a much better replacement below. Browse our round-up below to find the perfect vacuum cleaner for you. If you’re looking for a wet and dry vacuum, see our recommended wet and dry vacuums round-up. There’s a lot more tech in your average vacuum these days. If you haven’t upgraded for a while, you might be surprised at what newer models can offer, including Dyson’s lasers and LCD screens, which are designed to help you spot and remove more dust and dirt. Meanwhile, the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI comes with an auto-empty dock that means you’ll never again have to empty your vacuum by hand. But it’s not all high-tech solutions. Some of the vacs we’ve looked at have brilliant practical problem-solving features, such as Shark’s jointed wands and washable filters. The Capsule X meanwhile, offers a bagged system and HEPA filtration that make it a good choice for people with hay fever or a sensitivity to dust. When you check out our round-up, you’ll notice that the majority of our top-rated vacuum cleaners are cordless. Cordless cleaners are where companies are focusing their energies – so that’s where the innovations are. But we’ve chosen a best corded and best compact corded cleaner for households that need them. Still if you have a larger home, you can still opt for a cordless – but maybe look for one with a swappable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, so you can keep a spare charged and won’t run out of juice mid-clean. Why you should trust us Tech Advisor has been reviewing vacuum cleaners since 2018. In 2019, I joined the team to focus on home tech. I recruited two experienced floor care reviewers and we ramped up our coverage, testing dozens of vacuum cleaners in the years since. This means that we’re in a strong position to compare models and brands. We don’t rely on manufacturers’ specs or use a testing centre. Instead, we take the vacuum cleaners home and use them for several weeks, just like you would. We think that the best way to test how well a vacuum cleaner performs in day-to-day life is to use it in day-to-day life. If you want some tips on specs, features and terminology to help you make your choice, have a look at the guide that follows our top ten rundown. The best vacuum cleaners 1. Halo Capsule X – Best cordless vacuum Pros Two-litre dustbin HEPA filter Great on all surfaces Excellent accessories Cons Basic battery indicator Challenging to use holding overhead The Capsule X is the independently made follow-up to the excellent Halo Capsule and it’s unlike any other cordless on the market. It’s an exceptionally light (2.6kg) bagged vacuum cleaner that uses biodegradable dust pouches to capture dust and dirt, so you don’t have to deal with it. It has a 2-litre dustin, which means you won’t have to empty it often either. It has a running time of up to 60 minutes and its battery recharges from flat to full in two hours. The Capsule X has a host of great new features and accessories, including swappable batteries, headlights and motorised cleaning tools for carpets, hard flooring and upholstery – it’s great on all surfaces. Our one quibble with the design is that the way it’s weighed makes it tougher to use holding overhead, although you can use the hose attachment to get around that. To get all the tools and the extra battery, you’ll need to go for the Ultimate Accessories bundle. But there is another option. As it’s a completely modular vacuum, you can buy any accessories or parts separately (and all parts are reasonably priced). If a part fails or is damaged later on, you can easily replace it. This makes it a sustainable choice as well as a sensible option for anyone who wants to buy a vacuum once and keep it for years. Sadly, it’s not available in the US. Read our full Halo Capsule X review 2. Samsung Bespoke Jet AI – Best auto-empty vacuum Pros Beautifully designed Clean Station, which automatically empties and charges the vacuum Cleaning tools for every surface Powerful suction Swappable battery Cons Expensive AI features aren’t life-changing Samsung’s new flagship cordless vacuum is named for its AI features. It has a sensor-based system that adjusts the vacuum’s suction power and roller speed to handle the surface and dust level it detects. Use it in the AI mode and you won’t need to adjust any settings while you clean. It makes vacuuming simpler but it’s only one of the many excellent features the Bespoke Jet AI offers to simplify and streamline its use. Its best feature, without a doubt, is the slim, elegantly designed Clean Station, into which you dock the vacuum. It’ll empty and charge it, so that every time you pick it up, the Jet AI is ready to go. Still, its running time is as good as anything on the market at over 100 minutes (on its lowest setting, without a motorised tool) but in day-to-day use, you’ll get over 40 minutes before it needs to charge. And, as it comes with a second battery and separate charger, you can double that running time for marathon cleaning sessions. It’s powerful, lighter than the Gen5detect (although I found it slightly heavy to use overhead, in handheld mode) and comes with all the cleaning tools and attachments you could want. Altogether, this is the ultimate luxury vacuum and if price is no object, we can’t see how anyone would be disappointed with it. If the price is prohibitive, have a look at the Samsung Bespoke Jet. It doesn’t have the AI tech of the newer model, or a few of its upgrades, but it’s much more reasonably priced and has most of the same features, including the auto-empty Clean Station. Read our full Samsung Bespoke Jet AI review 3. Dyson Gen5detect – Best Dyson vacuum Pros Incredible suction Great design Excellent cleaning accessories No trigger Long battery life Cons Heavier than earlier models at 3.5kg Wildly expensive Pricey spare batteries Price When Reviewed: 939 Euro There are two problems with this cordless cleaner: the price and its weight. But everything else is pretty close to vacuum cleaner perfection. We were blown away when testing it. It’s hugely powerful – with 262AW of suction versus the V15’s 230 – something that’s evident when you’re testing it. It has all of the features of the V15 Detect, including the green laser and piezo sensor – and some new clever bits of design. One of the best is the crevice tool built into the top of the wand for instant handheld cleaning. But you’ll also get all the other accessories you’ll need, including the hair screw tool and the jointed low reach adapter that lets the Gen5 lie flat to get under sofas. But all this tech means that it is Dyson’s heaviest cordless yet at 3.5kg/7.7lbs. And then there’s the matter of its extraordinary price. But we think if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed. If you’d like a Dyson, but don’t know which one to choose, you can see how we rate all the brand’s cordless cleaners in our round-up of the best Dyson vacuums. Read our full Dyson Gen5detect review 4. Shark Stratos Pet Pro Upright – Best corded vacuum Pros Amazing cleaning performance Modular design Three suction levels Effective anti-hair & anti-odour tech Cons Somewhat cumbersome Heavy (6.7kg) Not the most aesthetically appealing vacuum If you’ve had your fill of stick vacuums and need something with more power, this is our recommendation. The Stratos Pet Pro Anti Hair Wrap Plus Anti-Odour Upright Vacuum NZ860UKT (to give it its full, and very long, name), can tackle just about anything from muddy floors to dusty carpets to fur-covered pet beds. It has a host of excellent features as well, including headlights, impressive anti-hair wrap tech, and anti-odour technology that leaves a pleasant fragrance behind. For a very reasonable price, you’ll get a highly versatile cleaner with astonishing levels of performance. The only downsides are that it’s heavy at 6.7kg, not hugely manoeuvrable and not the most attractive vacuum around. But if you have a busy household, it’s well worth the trade-off. Read our full Shark Stratos Pet Pro Upright review 5. Hoover HFX – Best for cluttered homes Pros Excellent corner cleaning mode Display with remaining cleaning time in minutes Storage mode Effective headlights Cons Heavy with main vacuuming head attached Learning curve for use Dustbin can jam If you have a cluttered home, or lots of awkward spots that need cleaning and you’re tired of shifting furniture around, Hoover’s HFX could well be the vacuum you’re looking for. It’s a modular cordless vacuum, with three cleaning modes: as a regular carpet or hard flooring cleaner, with an anti-tangle brush bar and LED headlights; as a handheld, with either a combi brush or crevice tool; and as a full-size vacuum optimised for corners, edges and difficult bits. This last mode – the Corner Genie – is really the reason to buy it. Just use the foot pedal to remove the main cleaning head and you can whip it around to deal with difficult spots like down the side of the fridge or behind the sofa, without having to stoop or shift furniture. Other advantages of its design are its display, which shows the minutes left in each cleaning mode, its headlights and its large, 1.2-litre dustbin. But it has its downsides as well. With the main cleaning head attached, it’s heavier than the Gen5detect at a hefty 3.65kg/8lbs. You’ll also only get 30 minutes of running time in normal mode, although its charging time is a fairly speedy 3.5 hours. Read our full Hoover HFX review 6. Bissell SpotClean Cordless/Little Green Cordless – Best spot cleaner Pros Turbo and eco modes Easy to use and clean Portable Useful tools Cons Not as powerful as corded models No storage for tools Limited run time in turbo mode In the UK, it’s called the Bissell SpotClean Cordless. In the US, it’s the Little Green Cordless. The difference between the two is that the UK model comes with a two-in-one sliding crevice tool, as well as the the Tough Stain tool and the HydroRinse tool (for self-cleaning) that both models have. Wherever you buy it, it’s a handy cordless portable vacuum that’ll help you to wet clean carpets, sofas, car interiors and more. The chief problem of spot cleaners is that they can be heavy and bulky, especially when they’re filled with water. But this one weighs just 7.2lbs/3.4kg and is compact as well, which means it’s easy to take out to the car or use on stairs. This vacuum can be used with cleaning fluid as well as water, for tough stains and messes. As it has a dirty water tank, it’ll suck up and store the wastewater produced during cleaning. It has two cleaning modes: Eco and Turbo. We found that the Eco mode was sufficient for day-to-day cleaning, but you’ll need to switch to Turbo for serious stains. This does limit the running time to 20 minutes, after which you’ll need to let it charge for 4 hours. We especially liked its HydroRinse tool, which allows you to flush out the vacuum’s interior, for easy maintenance. Read our full Bissell SpotClean Cordless review 7. Shark Detect Pro – Easiest to use Pros Very lightweight & compact Detection features a genuine plus Headlights Easy to empty bin Cons Runtime far less than 60 minutes if you use detection features No HEPA filter Combi tool ineffective Small bin Price When Reviewed: €299.99 Best Prices Today: 299,99 € at Shark What we love about the Shark Detect Pro is that it’s so easy to use. If you hate vacuuming, this is definitely one to consider. Stick it in auto mode and all you need to do is steer it around the house. When it spots more dust or needs to vacuum along a wall, it’ll increase suction; when it hits carpet, it’ll automatically increase the roller speed; and when it encounters a dimmer spot, it’ll switch on its headlights. It’s lightweight as well, and the bin is very easy to empty. However, you won’t get anywhere near 60 minutes of running time if you use it in auto mode and the one additional cleaning attachment that comes with it is pretty feeble. The bin is small as well, but you can buy spare batteries and an auto-empty station, which will obviate these shortcomings – although it will cost you more. Speaking of price, its UK sale price is £279. Buy it for this amount and you’ll get a very good deal. Read our full Shark Detect Pro review 8. Ultenic U12 Vesla – Best value cordless Pros Clever features Light and manoeuvrable Great for cleaning corners and blinds Cons Better results on hard flooring than thick carpets No HEPA filter Manual not very clear There are plenty of budget-friendly cordless vacuums around, and we reckon this model from Ultenic is one of the best. For its price point, it’s good value and its spare batteries are much more affordable that those from the likes of Dyson and Shark, making buying a second one a good option. It’s an effective cleaner, although we think it would struggle with ingrained dirt in deep pile carpets. It has good features as well, including a pretty effective tangle-free brush bar, headlights and a crevice tool light. It has an excellent (although weirdly car dashboard themed) display that shows the battery life left in minutes too. Altogether, it’s a good all-rounder and we were impressed. Read our full Ultenic U12 Vesla review 9. VacTidy V8 Pro – Best cheap vacuum Pros Great suction Telescopic wand Lightweight HEPA filter Cons Cleaning head can get stuck at an angle Budget build No frills Buying a product for long-term use is the most economical thing you can do. But when money is tight, it’s not always possible to invest hundreds in a new vacuum. If you need a quick solution that doesn’t cost the earth, we’d recommend the VacTidy V8 Pro. It won’t last you forever but it
Leave a Reply