One especially useful feature is the voice prompts, which let you know exactly what’s going on, whether you need to charge, refill the water tank, or empty the dirty water tank. Its 1.9-liter dust canister is the largest here and holds 150% more debris than the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute. The cleaning head is also wider than usual to cover more ground than others. We’re home cooks just like you—and we bring a home cook’s perspective to all of our rigorous testing.
It easily connects via Bluetooth and tells you battery level, standby time, how big an area you’ve cleaned and time spent cleaning. As expected from the weight and power of that battery, the vacuum performs excellently, clearing anything I put in its way after one swipe. If it encounters wires or cords – as when I accidentally shark handheld vacuum ran over the bottom of my curtain – the vacuum switches off automatically. I have a long-haired tabby cat who moults so much it’s a wonder she has any fur left. This feature typically uses a transmission and drive system to assist the pushing and pulling of the vacuum, thereby requiring little effort by the user.
The Stratos also has a larger-than-average dust bin at 0.7 liters. This vacuum’s superpower, however, is its completely sealed HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) system that traps 99.9% of pet dander, allergens and more inside. It also includes attachments shark stick vacuum that pet owners in particular will appreciate, like the Pet Power turbine brush that helps loosen and remove stray hair. Adding to its overall appeal is its high capacity, bagless XL canister of 0.9 liters that holds a lot of debris, causing less interruption.
Swap it out for the hard floor cleaning attachment and you get similarly impressive results for a longer run time. Actually the range of attachments was one of the things I like the most. Mine came with hard and soft motorised heads for carpet and hard floors, a Pet Pro motorised head with rubber bristles, which really worked, and various crevice and brush tools. Each of these types of machines have their own pros and cons to mull over.
Whichever style you select, consider whether the dust canister is large enough to clean all of the floors in your home, without needing to stop and be emptied half way through. If you’re looking to save time and effort but are working with a smaller budget, this appliance might be the best way to go as the few vacuum-and-mop alternatives tend to cost a bit more. The Airbelt K3 costs more than four times as much as our budget pick, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352.
Keeping the battery in the charging dock can shorten its lifespan, said Matthew Childe, director of energy storage at Dyson. Make sure that the charging contacts are clean and that the power adapter is in working order. The pricey Samsung Bespoke Jet comes with a freestanding (and bulky) charging and auto-emptying station. But when we tested this model, it wasn’t any better than the Dyson V12 Detect Slim or the Ryobi 18V One+ HP vacuum.
Our alternate budget pick, the Moosoo XL-618, has double that capacity (1.3 liters) so you’ll need to empty the bin less often. Miele’s £370 Duoflex HX1 is equally robust and easy to use and is half the price. You really are paying quite a premium here for 50 Watts more power. At this price level, the competition is our top pick, the Dyson Gen5 Detect.
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.