Technology
Best Vacuum Cleaner 2024: Cordless, Corded, Smart and More
![Vacuums from Shark, Dyson and Hoover](https://blogaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Best-Vacuum-Cleaner-2024-Cordless-Corded-Smart-and-More.jpg)
We’ve tested and reviewed some of the best vacuum cleaners from the biggest brands, as well as smaller ones and independents. Browse our round-up below to find the perfect vacuum cleaner for you. If you’re looking for a wet and dry vacuum, have a look at our dedicated 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.
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. If you have problems with your current vacuum, you’ll definitely find a much better replacement below.
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
Price When Reviewed:
Not available in the US
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. Dyson Gen5detect – Best luxury 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:
$949.99
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
3. 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
Price When Reviewed:
$499.80
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
4. 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
Price When Reviewed:
Not available in the US
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
5. Samsung Bespoke Jet – Best auto-empty vacuum
Pros
- Powerful
- Attractive
- Great features
Cons
- Limited colour options
- Feels heavier than it is
- Uncomfortable grip
Price When Reviewed:
$699.99
The Bespoke Jet builds on all the features that made the Jet 90 a really effective cleaner: it’s powerful, modular, comes with well-designed cleaning accessories, has a swappable battery, digital display and washable filter. It’ll give you 50 minutes of cleaning time on its lowest setting and will charge in 3.5 hours.
And now that the price has come down, it is well worth considering.
But the real selling point of the Bespoke is the fact that you won’t need to find a dark corner to store it. The completely redesigned dock is slim and attractive, and it not only charges the cleaner but will empty it via suction as well.
Our only issue with the vacuum itself is that it feels heavier than its 6lbs (2.72lbs with its main cleaning head), something that’s compounded by its uncomfortable grip.
But we do have to take issue with Samsung’s definition of Bespoke: in the UK, you can’t just choose the colour option you’d like from Woody Green, Midnight Blue and Misty White – each of the three colour options is a different model with a different price point and accessories.
Read our full
Samsung Bespoke Jet Complete Extra 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
Price When Reviewed:
$199.99
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 Little Green Cordless Carpet Cleaner 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
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
Price When Reviewed:
$199.99
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
Price When Reviewed:
$199.99
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 will give your home a really good clean.
Of course, given its price point, there are compromises to be made. As we’ve suggested, the build is not as robust as pricier models, and it’s a no-frills cleaner as well. Still, it does have LED headlights to illuminate darker corners.
Plus, there’s a small annoyance in the form of the vacuum cleaner head, which can get stuck up at an angle from the floor, meaning you’ll need to press it back down with your foot as you go.
Altogether though, it has plenty of suction for its price point, HEPA filtration, a fairly generous 35-minute running time as well as a short, 2.5-hour charging time.
Read our full
Vactidy Blitz V8 Pro review
10. Miele Boost CX1 – Best compact corded cleaner
Pros
- Well-priced
- Compact
- Manoeuvrable
- Powerful
- Quiet
Cons
- Hard work on carpets
- Difficult to use on stairs
- Basic accessories
Price When Reviewed:
$449
Corded vacuum cleaners are making it back into this round-up as brands are releasing more innovative designs. That’s certainly the case with Miele’s Boost CX1, a corded vacuum cleaner with many of the design features of a cordless, including a bagless system, adjustable wand length and 360° manoeuvrability.
It’s a very compact canister vacuum (its body can sit within the footprint of an open magazine) with impressive suction and an automatically retracting cord.
It telescoping wand means you’ll be able to remove cobwebs from your ceilings with the vacuum on the floor. However, even though it has a useful carry handle on top, it’ll still feel heavy if your stairs aren’t deep enough to stand it on while you vacuum. And, although it has the power to clean carpets, it’s not as easy to use as it is on hard flooring, and there’s no brush bar for deep cleaning.
Still, if you have a smaller place and are looking for a compact alternative to a corded vacuum, with better cleaning power, this well-made, well-priced appliance should be a contender. Don’t buy it if you have acres of carpet though.
Read our full
Miele Boost CX1 review
FAQ
How do we test our vacuum cleaners?
Rather than performing a series of tests in lab-style conditions, we take the vacuum cleaners home and try them out. We keep products for several weeks and use all of their functions in as many situations as we can, so we can give you an honest evaluation of how well they’ll work in your life.
We think that’s how you get to know the advantages and annoyances of each model.
We then compare the vacuum cleaners and come up with an overall rating that reflect their price and specs, our experience using them, where we believe they sit in the marketplace and how much easier they’ll make your life.
Which vacuum has the best suction?
Of all types of vacuum overall, a corded cylinder is likely to have the strongest suction. Miele makes some of the best and most reliable of these. They’re reasonably priced, as well. An even more budget-friendly option is the ever-reliable Henry. He is an icon for a reason, after all. But this level of power does mean dragging a heavy cylinder and cord around after you.
Still, cordless cleaners have ramped up so much in the last few years that a high-quality cordless will provide as much suction as most people need. If you’re after a cordless cleaner, newer models from Dyson (including the V15 Detect and the Gen5detect), Samsung (the Jet 90 and Bespoke Jet) and Miele (TriFlex) are among the most powerful.
However, it’s difficult to compare them using on-paper figures alone. For a start, manufacturers can be cagey about it, which is understandable, as suction power can be hard to quantify. Measurements have traditionally been in watts (W), which is only rating the power behind the suction. However, cleaners with a long distance between the motor and the vacuum head will use more power to create the same amount of suction.
Dyson has since pioneered the use of air watts (AW), which measure the suction itself. But it’s still a somewhat controversial measurement. And some brands prefer Pascals (Pa), a unit of pressure that is also used as the standard for measuring robot vacuum suction.
Given the fact that comparing different units of measurements isn’t straightforward, and that design plays a big part in how well a vacuum cleaner works, figures alone shouldn’t be used to judge effectiveness.
Which vacuum cleaner is the lightest?
The lightest cordless vac we’ve tested is the Halo Capsule X, at 2.6kg, but anything below 3kg is likely to be comfortable to use. Now that cordless vacuums have more tech and features packed in, they’re becoming a bit heavier. The Gen5detect, Dyson’s latest at 3.5kg/ 7.7lbs, is heavier than its previous flagship vacuum, the V15 Detect. That will be too heavy for some.
Should you buy a bagged or bagless vacuum?
Bagless is characteristic of most high-end cordless cleaners now. It’s certainly the more environmentally-friendly choice. However, if you are dust-sensitive, go for a bagged vacuum cleaner as it means much less contact with dust and dirt.
We’ve tested two cordless, bagged vacuum cleaners. The Halo Capsule X and the Henry Quick. One of the advantages of the Halo Capsule is that its dust pouches are environmentally friendly and can be composted at home.
But there’s another option to minimise your contact with dust. Samsung’s cordless and bagless Bespoke Jet range comes with an auto-emptying dock. When you return the vacuum to charge, it uses suction to empty the onboard bin into a bag in the dock. So does the Ultenic FS1. Meanwhile, you can buy the Shark Detect Pro with or without one.
If you have an earlier Samsung Jet vacuum, you can upgrade it separately with a suction bin, called the CleanStation. Bear in mind that this suction bin won’t be compatible with other makes and models.
How long does a cordless vacuum battery last?
The best cordless cleaners, using lithium-ion batteries, will promise up to an hour on a single charge – perhaps up to 70 minutes in the case of the Gen5detect. This will be on the lowest setting, without motorised attachments. On a medium setting, you’ll be lucky to get half an hour. On a high setting, your charge will probably last less than 10 minutes.
One of the innovations from new, top-of-the-line cordless cleaners like those from Dyson, Samsung and Miele, are removable lithium-ion batteries that can be charged separately. With another battery ready to go, you can instantly double your cleaning time.
The snag is that additional batteries tend to be pricey, so check their cost before you invest in a cordless if a swappable battery is a key reason you’re buying.
How long does the battery take to charge?
In more budget-friendly models, charging time could be as much as 5.5 hours. Three to four hours is normal for a more expensive model. Anything less than this is very good. The Capsule X charges in around two hours.
What is a HEPA filter and do I need one?
This is the current industry standard for a filter in a high-quality vacuum cleaner. HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters must trap 99.97% of particulates that are 3 microns or larger. (A human hair is 50-70 microns thick.) If you have a HEPA filter with a bagless cleaner, don’t forget that although it’s useful, it’s not perfect. When you empty it into your kitchen bin, you’ll still release some of the dust back into the air, which is where a bagged system comes in handy.