Even in the ones it didn’t excel at, it still had commendable performance. The front-facing bin holds .65 liters of dust, dirt and pet hair and the unit converts into a handheld vac for precision cleaning. Along with the Laser Slim shark pet vacuum Fluffy, you’ll also get a high-torque cleaner head, a hair screw tool and a crevice tool, just to name a few. If money is no barrier, and you want the most powerful cordless vacuum for your cash, the V15 is tough to match.
However, not only do Dyson products perform well, they’re also attractive and have design details that make them overall more enjoyable and easier to use. If you’re as ham-handed with your electronics as I am, you will probably want to get a Shark. The vac is Alexa-compatible and has a user-friendly app (available for iOS and Android) that lets you set your cleaning schedule. However, we’re disappointed that iRobot left off the no-go zone and zoned-cleaning capabilities for the i3+ EVO.
Given the lower price point, we’d say this is a solid choice for anyone expecting a vacuum that works incredibly well on pet hair, carpets and upholstery. Those looking for a machine that operates equally well on tile should spring for the more luxurious Shark Stratos or utilitarian Cordless Pro. The Beldray Smartflex doesn’t look quite as premium as other models, with chunky plastic joints and a simplistic LED screen that shows you the percentage of battery left rather than the time. But if it’s a budget vacuum you’re after, you won’t find much better for the price. Overall, though, the Gtech AirRam Platinum has exceeded my expectations because of its impressive cleaning performance, lightweight design and excellent battery life. The Eufy Mach V1 Ultra is a beast – it vacuums and mops, holds a 6l bin capacity, holds a battery of up to 84 minutes and weighs almost 6kg, the heaviest on this list.
The vacuum’s bulky design can make it a little unwieldy to maneuver handheld. It’s important to note that it doesn’t have a height-adjustable head or a brushroll off switch, so it’s liable to get bogged down on really thick-pile or shag carpeting. That said, on more conventional high-pile carpets, it can handle pet hair and small and large debris without too much fuss, though a very small amount of debris can get stuck to the bottom of its floorhead. The Clean Sense IQ system is effective in boosting power when required, though it’s worth noting that it’ll run out of juice fast in more potent suction modes.
Both perform well and have pluses and minuses, so which to choose hinges on what type of vacuum you’re looking to buy and how much you want to spend. The only category where the two brands really overlap right now is stick vacuums, though we expect to see a robot and maybe even a vacuum mop from Dyson soon. Several users expressed concern about the battery life being too short. “I wish the battery lasted longer than 20 minutes, but I’m able to vacuum the first floor of my house with no problem,” said one, adding, “If you have kids or pets, this is a must. Dog hair is no longer an issue.” They are designed to allow clean air to pass through the motor without impeding suction or clogging. Instead of collecting in a bag, the debris collects in a reusable dustbin that can be easily emptied after each use.
Hoover has combated that pretty spectacularly with its new vacuum, the Corner Genie. Having two brushes means the size of the overall head is bigger, which has made it slightly harder to manoeuvre than previous version but far more efficient at picking up mess on its first swipe, on both floor and carpet. It’s especially efficient on the boost setting, though that setting is noisy and goes through the battery in around 12 minutes. In a similar fashion, we assess how well the vacuum picks up large and fine particles of debris (like rice, dry oatmeal and gritty sand) from hard flooring like vinyl and how closely it cleans along edges.