So, while it’s the best cordless vacuum for quick clean ups, it’s not one for a deep whole house clean. The Proscenic P12 doesn’t shake up the cordless vacuum world visually, but a deeper look reveals features that you wouldn’t usually find on models in the low-to-mid-price range. For instance, you get HEPA filtration (very welcome, this), plus a big LED display screen and green detection headlights for illuminating small particles that you can’t otherwise see. For example, there’s iLoop Smart Sensor tech, which will visually indicate to you when your floors are dust-free – a neat feature we very much appreciate. Like the Dyson V15 Detect (#3), the Pure One S15 Pro can automatically adjust its suction power according to particulate size.
Overall, we thought it felt lightweight and easy to maneuver, though if you’re not used to this type of vac, you might need a couple of cleaning sessions to get used to it. Canister vacs tend to have a lot of pieces, but we shark handheld vacuum were impressed with how easily we were able to move about with this Shark model. Kibble was cleared from hard surfaces in a flash, but it struggled to clean up all of the stuff that got embedded in the deep-pile carpet.
The V12 Detect Slim easily converts into a handheld vacuum and comes with helpful attachments for tasks around the home and in the car. Its mini motorized brush tool was one of the best we tested for removing pet hair from couches, cat beds, and car upholstery. It has two effective cleaner heads for different types of flooring.
It’s only really noticeable in handheld mode but there nonetheless. A popular complaint I have when reviewing cordless vacuums is the lack of edge to edge cleaning, visible when you vacuum alongside sideboards or cupboards and find a thin trail of dust left behind. Hoover has combated that pretty spectacularly with its new vacuum, the Corner Genie. I’ve previously used Shark’s Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum and I’d say this new Stratos model is definitely worth the upgrade. Well, the DuoClean (essentially, two brush-rolls in one) floor head is now bigger and more powerful.
Since it’s a corded, upright vacuum, you won’t have to worry about running out of battery power, though. The 25-foot cord gives plenty of reach and the lift-away canister is useful for accessing all of the hard-to-reach areas (think, between couch cushions). We do think the canister is best used from the ground, rather than trying to carry it while also maneuvering the extension wand, but that’s a personal preference. BISSELL vacuums are generally cheaper than comparable Shark models, though that lower price tag is often reflected in inferior build quality, debris pickup performance, and air filtration performance. Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, New York, covering all things home and lifestyle for Better Homes & Gardens.
Dyson introduced its Ball vacuums many years ago, and while the brand has mostly shifted its focus to cordless models, Dyson still has a few corded uprights in its line. Though we haven’t tested one in a while, the last time we did, it had great suction and pickup performance. The ball made it easy to maneuver, though a bit clunky to carry around and store. The Animal 3 is similar to the previous Animal 2 we tested and included in this story, but has a new de-tangling technology that works to remove hair from the brush as you vacuum. However, they’re also notably pricier than comparable Sharks, which usually feel better built.
Unfortunately, you do need a screwdriver to open its TurboTeQ brush head. Fur, cereal, coffee grounds, mites, sand, glitter, dust, pollutants, hair, dander, booklice, kitty litter—there’s a whole underworld of grossness hiding on your floors and deep inside your carpets and rugs. All of that adds up to a great cordless vacuum at a price that won’t clean out your bank account.
Wirecutter staffers who have owned the Navigator for seven or eight years told us that it still performs like it did on day one. For upright fanatics who want it all, the SEBO Felix Premium offers excellent cleaning power and filtration, comfortable handling, shark stick vacuum and an extra-long warranty. It also has a variety of different designs and functions that you can choose from. While missing many of the features of our top pick, the Shark Navigator needs little maintenance and has essentially no recurring costs.
There are plenty of details that make this 3.1kg cordless vacuum a cut above others in the same price bracket. The LED headlights are extremely bright, illuminating any area, leaving the dust with nowhere to hide. Meanwhile, a specially designed floorhead means it moves seamlessly from carpet to hard floor. The crosswave max vacuums and mops hard floors at the same time, picking up wet and dry debris simultaneously. To start, we tested it on crumbs of toast with jam, which it soon ate up, leaving no sign of any stickiness. Then we emptied some cereal and milk onto the floor, and it handled that perfectly, too.
With four attachments and an alternative dust bin to use in handheld mode, the vacuum is completely modular and, in a slightly nerdy way, quite fun to play around with. I tested this vacuum in a bedroom particularly loved by my long-haired tabby cat, whose thick fur could probably withstand the pull of a black hole. Yet after a few passes, the Hoover managed to suck up the matted mess and, best of all, none of it was left on the brush thanks to the anti-twist technology (Hoover’s equivalent to Shark’s anti hair-wrap). We tested each vacuum for several weeks in flats, houses with steep staircases and larger still houses to test the battery life. We compared them for weight, battery life, ease of use and flexibility to manoeuvre on wooden floors, carpet, linoleum and tiles.