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Samsung Bespoke Jet review
7:40 am | April 20, 2022

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Comments: Off

Editor's Note

• Original review date: April 2022
• Newer Samsung Bespoke Jet AI model now available
• Launch price: from $1,035 / £629 / AU$1,299
• Official price now: $699.99 / £449 / AU$1,099

Updated: February 2024. Despite Samsung releasing the Bespoke Jet AI in 2023, the original Bespoke Jet is still one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners you can get, especially since prices have dropped since launch. While the UK and Australia have multiple variations of the Bespoke Jet available to purchase, which include a variety of attachments and an extra battery as well, the US now has just the one model that comes with a single battery and not a lot of different attachments – which explains the massive price drop. Samsung regularly discounts the Bespoke Jet models now, and you can save about $200 / £150 / AU$300, making it excellent value. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Samsung Bespoke Jet: two-minute review

Using the Samsung Bespoke Jet is one of the best experiences we’ve had when testing a vacuum cleaner of any kind. It’s capable of putting the Dyson V15 Detect to shame in terms of its functionality and power, and does a better job on piled carpets than a corded Miele (some of the more powerful traditional vacuums on the market today).

The Bespoke Jet will not just suck up dirt, debris and hair, it will also mop hard floors, even washing up ingrained stains as you can spray water on them to loosen the dirt first. After it’s all done, you just need to press a button to empty the dust canister and all the dirt collected gets sucked out in a second or two.

Samsung has definitely thought through the entire design and functionality of the Bespoke Jet, with one small exception. The large Jet Dual floor cleaning head (which we suspect most people will be using above all else) doesn’t move too well in angles, i.e the swivel isn’t great.

That’s compounded a little by the fact that it’s a touch top-heavy, but this issue isn’t unique to Samsung – as with most cordless vacuum cleaners with detachable battery packs, the weight distribution is uneven and trying to turn the vacuum cleaner can cause a little wrist/arm fatigue despite the Bespoke being lighter than previous Jet models. 

Having said that, the mopping and the soft roller cleaning heads don’t have the same issue, so it’s possible that this might be a one-off and a small defect on our review sample.

If we really had to complain about something else (we’re definitely in nitpicking territory now), that would be the extra space required by the accessory cradle. To be fair, though, that cradle is a necessity as it provides space not only for the plethora of tools that ship with the machine, it also adds an extra charging dock for the second battery that ships with two of the Bespoke Jet models. And it also comes with its own power cable, so you’re going to need two spare power points for the vacuum cleaner.

And that’s all we could find to complain about. The Bespoke Jet has excellent suction as a vacuum cleaner and does a pretty decent job as a mop too. It can also 'sweep', which is a functionality we never thought was a necessity until it was (more on this later). Long story short: it’s plenty powerful, particularly at its two high power modes, is self-cleaning and versatile... and also very competitively priced, making this one of the best vacuum cleaners yet.

Like Dyson, LG and Miele cordless vacuum cleaners, the Bespoke Jet also has different configurations (in select markets) – three to be precise – with the only difference between them being the number of batteries and the number of cleaning tools that ship with each.

Hand holding the Samsung Bespoke Jet over a rug

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Samsung Bespoke Jet price and availability

  • Announced February 2022
  • Launch price from $1,035 / £629 / AU$1,299
  • Available in different configurations in select markets

To confuse availability across its markets, Samsung has decided it will offer different models of the Bespoke Jet in different countries… with different names.

For example, the US only gets one model – the priciest option at $1,035 – that comes with all the cleaning heads and accessories, the Clean Station and, importantly, two battery packs. The UK, on the other hand, gets two models (at least for now) – the Jet Complete and Jet Complete Extra – costing £629 and £899 respectively. The difference here is the cheaper option comes with a single battery pack, while the latter ships with two packs and the Power Mop cleaning head to boot.

Australia hits the jackpot with three models called the Jet Pro Extra, Jet Complete Extra and Jet Elite Extra. Interestingly, all three come with two battery packs, with the only difference being the accessories shipping with the three models. The first two configurations cost AU$1,299 while the Elite Extra is AU$1,399.

It’s hard to compare the price of the Bespoke Jet with anything else on the market as most other popular brands – Dyson, Shark, Bissell, Miele – don't come with auto-empty stations for the cordless stick vacuums. The only one that's comparable is the LG CordZero A9 Handstick with All-In-One Tower that costs $999 / AU$1,599 (unavailable in the UK). It vacuums, mops and self-cleans too, plus offers two battery packs as well. Interestingly, the All-In-One Tower offers all the space you need to store the attachments and tools.

With just one model to compare the Bespoke Jet with, we think it's pretty competitively priced.

Samsung Bespoke Jet docked on cleaning station

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Samsung Bespoke Jet design

  • Free-standing Clean Station and charging dock
  • Accessory cradle
  • Telescopic tube

Just like the Bespoke Fridge range, the Bespoke Jet cordless vacuum cleaner comes in an array of earthy colors – white, navy blue and green – which should complement your home decor no matter what shades you’ve opted for.

And no matter which Bespoke Jet model is available in your country, you’ll get it with the headline feature – the all-in-one Clean Station. It doubles as the charging stand as well, with space for the main floor cleaning head attached to the telescopic tube. You just have to make sure the tube is retracted for it to fit. Yes, you read that right: the Bespoke Jet comes with a telescopic tube – a rare occurrence in the world of modern cordless uprights.

Samsung’s Clean Station is a little different from the auto-empty stations now available with plenty of newer robot vacuum cleaners. Instead of automatically sucking out the dirt from the dust canister as soon as the machine is docked, the Clean Station requires the user to press a button for the process to start and also stop it manually. It takes no more than 2-3 seconds for a full 0.5L canister to empty into a 2L bag that can easily be swapped out when full (you get three with the machine – one installed and two extra) by removing a panel on the stand.

Samsung Bespoke Jet's Cleaning Station start/stop button

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The panel fits so seamlessly around the Clean Station that it’s easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention to the user manual. Even better is just how easy it is to remove and put back – it takes absolutely no effort at all – and that goes for every part of the vacuum cleaner when you’re assembling it, including the telescopic tube (something you don’t usually get in a lot of handsticks), cleaning heads, the tiny bottle that’s the water tank or the battery. Everything about the handstick is just… so easy.

Under the removable panel is another one that swings outward to reveal the dust bag. A point to note about this inner door is that it will not click shut if no bag is attached, meaning you won’t be able to close the outer panel either. So when changing out the dust bag, be sure to replace it immediately.

If you’d like to avoid the recurring cost of the disposable bags, you can empty the dust canister the usual way. You can also take it apart completely to wash it out occasionally and clean/replace the filter, which is best practice if you want to extend the life of your vacuum cleaner.

Samsung Bespoke Jet's replaceable dust bag inside the Clean Station

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The Bespoke Jet is also lighter than some of the other popular cordless vacuum cleaners on the market today. For example, the Dyson V15 Detect weighs in at 3kg, while the Bespoke Jet tops the scales at 2.7kg. That said, the battery on the top of the handheld unit (which weighs 1.44kg) does make the weight distribution uneven and the machine can feel heavy, particularly when you’re trying to manoeuvre it in small angles.

And that is our only complaint with Samsung’s new vacuum cleaner – unless you take into account the extra space you’re going to need to either store all the various tools and accessories (there’s no space for them on the Cleaning Station itself) or the Accessory Cradle that ships with the Bespoke Jet.

The cradle is a thoughtful addition as it provides a charging slot for the second battery that ships with specific models, meaning you’re going to need to place the cradle near a second power point or use a multi-way plug as it comes with its own cable. Moving the cradle around is easy, though, as it’s got a carry handle.

Samsung Bespoke Jet Clean Station and Accessory Cradle standing side by side

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Depending on the Bespoke Jet model, you can get up to seven cleaning heads and tools. This includes two motorized cleaning heads for hard floors alone – the Jet Dual Brush that has a bristle roller and a soft roller for use on hard floors and carpets, and the Slim Action attachment that’s got just the soft roller and designed for wood floors.

Then there’s the Spray Spinning Sweeper that, as the name suggests, can be used to sweep and to mop. Samsung provides a pair of bristly pads that can be handy to loosen particles in dried-up kitchen spills or muddy shoe tracks. Note that there’s no suction when using the Sweeper, so all you’re doing is moving the dirt around, calling for a round of vacuuming and/or mopping after.

Alternatively, you can fill the little plastic bottle (aka the water tank) and spray some water onto the caked-in grime, then mop using the washable microfiber pads. Samsung also provides a pack of disposable, antimicrobial wet wipes that attach to the bristles of the stiff pads, but we found these to be quite wasteful as they dry up quickly and a pair isn’t enough to mop a full room, let alone the whole house.

Samsung Bespoke Jet's Spray Spinning Sweeper and its water tank

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Other than the three motorized cleaning heads, there’s a smaller soft roller called the Pet Tool (which is also motorized), as well as the usual suspects of the crevice tool, the combination tool and a flexible tool.

Take all seven into account and you’ll find the Accessory Cradle is the best storage option if you have the extra floor space. While the cradle itself fits only four tools (even the big motorized ones), a smaller attachment adds a few more spots.

All the controls you need are within easy reach of your thumb when holding the handstick and the digital display is clear and sharp. Other than the power button, there’s just the plus and minus buttons that cycle through the suction/power modes (there are four) and, when the water tank and Spray Spinner are attached, you use the plus button to spray water. Note that unlike the LG CordZero A9 Kompressor Aqua, the mopping head does not automatically suck water to the pads – you can pre-wet the microfibre pads and then spray as and when you need more moisture on the floor, or spray and use the dry pads to clean up the puddles.

As with the digital display on Dyson vacuums, the Bespoke Jet will show you what power mode you’re on and how much battery life is left for each. When docked, it becomes a battery charging indicator.

Samsung Bespoke Jet being used on a rug

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Samsung Bespoke Jet performance

  • Extremely powerful suction in Jet mode
  • Lacks dynamic suction
  • Good as a mop

Not only is the Samsung Bespoke Jet good-looking (well, when docked on the Clean Station, it’s sleek as), it’s quite powerful too. There are four suction modes – Min, Mid, Max and Jet – and we found ourselves mostly using the Mid level for regular cleaning runs. Carpets take a few passes to get clean in this mode, but we have to talk about the Jet mode. It’s got the most powerful suction we’ve seen on any vacuum cleaner we’ve tested or used, proven by our test of a very hairy carpet getting cleaned in a single pass.

We allowed a wall-to-wall carpet space to get really dirty over three weeks, adding hair from brushes as well and grinding them right into the fibers. A light-brown mid-pile carpet turned almost black by the time we were done with it and we kid not: a single pass and it was all gone! The Dyson V15 Detect in Boost mode was not able to keep up, requiring two to three passes to clean the same amount of equally dirty carpet.

Samsung Bespoke Jet's Dual Jet Brush cleaning head

(Image credit: TechRadar)

We also threw some talcum powder on the same carpet, a fluffy bath mat and on a tiled floor – on the Jet setting, it took a single pass for the fine white powder to disappear from the carpet, a couple of passes on the bath mat and a single pass on the tiles.

As impressive as that sounds, using the Bespoke Jet on its highest suction mode limits battery to just eight minutes (more on battery life later). Having said that, a single pass means you finish cleaning quicker and those eight minutes go a long way. We were able to clean a fully-carpeted bedroom and half a living room in that time in our test space, which is pretty good. And given we had two batteries to play with, Max and Jet modes quickly became our favorite options for vacuuming. To be fair though, the Mid setting, which is the default option as soon as you turn the handstick on, is pretty capable too, and would be perfect for the day-to-day cleaning runs.

The one thing Dyson has over Samsung in their respective flagship cordless vacuum cleaners is dynamic suction. The Dyson V15 Detect automatically increases suction when it detects a rug or carpet, or when it detects more dirt. The Bespoke Jet misses out on this feature – if it did boast dynamic suction, we think Samsung truly would have had the perfect vacuum cleaner.

Samsung Bespoke Jet's digital display

(Image credit: TechRadar)

We didn’t think a sweeper would be very useful until we needed to get rid of caked-in muddy boot prints. We tested the Bespoke Jet in Sydney when the city was deluged with unseasonal rain, so tracking mud through our test space seemed to be the norm each day. Vacuuming (even in Jet mode) did not take care of the dry mud, so a quick loosening of the dried grime with the bristly pads helped. It might seem a complicated process, but this needed to be followed up with a quick vacuum run and a mop to get the hard floors looking spotless. But given how quickly attachments slot in and out, the whole process really doesn’t take so long. Sweeping, though, isn’t something we see most people using a lot, but it’s handy to have.

As a mop, the Bespoke Jet was surprisingly impressive too. We allowed drops of sauce from different types of food to fall and dry on our test space’s kitchen floor over a few days. We didn’t even bother pre-wetting the microfiber pads; we just fitted the water tank to the Sweeper, sprayed some water on the bits of food and allowed the machine to do its thing. A few seconds later and all the spots were gone. 

We saw similar mopping prowess from the LG CordZero A9 Kompressor Aqua model in the Turbo mode – this vacuums and mops at the same time but adds some vibrations to the mopping process for caked-in grime. The Samsung has no such vibrations and can still manage to do a good job. It must be noted that mopping using a handstick (any brand) isn’t the same as your own elbow grease, which is perhaps the only option when your hard floors are particularly grimy.

Samsung Bespoke Jet being used as a handheld unit with Combination Tool

(Image credit: TechRadar)

It should be mentioned that with the rounded edges of the Spray Spinning Sweeper, you’re not going to be able to mop into corners, but the attachments swivels really well.

Like any other handstick, the Bespoke Jet quickly converts into a handheld unit that lets you dust shelves, and get into nooks and crannies with the crevice tool or the flexible tool.

Whatever the Bespoke Jet does, it does so relatively quietly. Where the Dyson V15 Detect registered 77dB on its Auto mode (81dB in its Boost mode), the Samsung topped out at 71dB in the Mid power level, 75dB in Max and 78dB in Jet.

We’ve also got to talk about how powerful the suction in the Cleaning Station is. As we mentioned before, it takes just a couple of seconds to empty a full canister, and this is even more impressive considering long lengths of hair that can be seen tangled around the central cylinder get pulled out. 

Speaking of long hair, you will need to be a little careful when using the Sweeper – if you haven’t done a good vacuum run before a mop, hair on the floor easily gets tangled around its roller wheel and cleaning that out is near impossible. This could affect its movement later in the life of the machine.

Samsung Bespoke Jet's battery charging indicator displayed

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Samsung Bespoke Jet battery life

  • Swappable battery pack
  • Up to 120 minutes battery life; more in wet mode
  • Fade-free power

60 minutes seems to be the standard for most of the cordless handsticks that have been released in the last two or three years, and that’s the case here as well. Each battery pack that comes with the Bespoke Jet offers you a maximum of 60 minutes while vacuuming, and about 1 hour 20 minutes when mopping. Note that the max of 60 minutes is while using the non-motorized tools like the combination or crevice tools. 

Depending on the suction mode, though, you’re looking at a maximum of 42 minutes when using a motorized cleaning head. 42 minutes, of course, is on the Min power setting, which drops to 24 for Mid, 14 at Max and a mere 8 minutes at the Jet setting.

The good thing is you really don’t need to pay attention to how long you’re using the vacuum for as the time remaining is displayed clearly on the screen. And having a second battery pack you can swap out, there really is nothing to worry about.

When a battery pack is done, the machine just switches off, like a Dyson, without fading out the power. From there, it takes about 3.5 hours to top up from zero to full.

Should I buy the Samsung Bespoke Jet vacuum cleaner?

Samsung Bespoke Jet being used on Max mode

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Also consider

  • First reviewed on April 2022
KitchenAid 13 cup / 3.1L Food Processor review
12:30 pm | March 28, 2022

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

KitchenAid KFP1318 / KFP1319: two-minute review

Product info

This model has slightly different names and product codes in different territories:

US: KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor KFP1318 / KFP1319
UK: KitchenAid 1.7 L Food Processor 5KFP1318 / 5KFP1319
AU: KitchenAid 13 Cup Food Processor KFP1319

The products with 319 in their codes have an extra dicing accessory and storage lid. For this review, we tested both of the UK models. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.

When it comes to countertop kitchen appliances, KitchenAid is a firm and trusted favorite, so it should come as no surprise that the KitchenAid 13 Cup / 3.1L food processor has left an impression on us.

This KitchenAid 13 Cup / 3.1L food processor is available in two different configurations – the standard 13 Cup / 3.1L food processor (KFP1318), and an identical version but with an extra dicing accessory and storage lid (KFP1319). In the US and the UK,  you can buy both versions, whilst only the dicer iteration is available in Australia. The current price of the KFP1318 is $169.99 / £237.15, and the KFP1319 is $239.99 / £239 / AU$369.

With both models, you’ll get an adjustable slicing disc, a reversible shredding disc, a multipurpose stainless steel chopping blade, and a dough blade. These all slot into a plastic storage caddy that fits inside the main bowl, providing a neat and easy storage solution. The size of this food processor is in line with similar models, it’s not exactly compact but it doesn’t take up a ton of space either.

A close up of the 13 cup work bowl of the KitchenAid 13 cup food processor, the black handle is on the right hand side. It is photographed against a pink background.

(Image credit: Future)

Removing and replacing the work bowl is delightfully easy, the one-click system means you can simply push it down to fix the bowl in place, which is more convenient than the conventional twist closures. Unlike most food processors, the main lid is hinged, but is also removable. In the case of the KFP1319, this can be replaced with the included refrigerator lid, to store food without tipping it into a separate container.

The 13 cup / 3.1L food processor offers two speeds and a pulse button, and the lid contains three removable pushers for inserting different-sized foods. As an added bonus, everything is top-rack dishwasher safe so cleaning is a doddle. The parts are easy to hand wash, too. However, it proved tricky to remove the dried pastry mixture from the little indents and crevices in the fitment ring of the chopping blade. We found that ingredients with smaller particles, like the almond dust, and ingredients from the pastry mixture liked to migrate inside the fitment ring of the chopping blade. This didn’t cause any issues, but we had to pay particular attention to this area when we hand-washed the chopping blade between tests.

A close up of the button controls on the front of a white KitchenAid 13 cup food processor.

(Image credit: Future)

On test, it coped well with most foods, slicing, shredding, and dicing with ease. The sharp stainless-steel blade and the dough blade work well, but there are limitations to the quantity of foods like dough and beef that can be processed, despite it being one of KitchenAid’s largest food processors. With this in mind, perhaps it’s best suited to smaller households or people who don’t want to process big batches of food if these are ingredients that are used often.

Overall, we were happy with the performance of the KitchenAid 13 Cup / 3.1L food processor. It breezed its way through most of what we threw in it, is not as loud as some other food processors we’ve tested, and has a well-considered and convenient design. It gets a thumbs-up from us.

KitchenAid KFP1318 / KFP1319 review: price & availability

  • KFP1318 list price: $169.99 / £237.15
  • KFP1319 list price: $239.99 / £239 / AU$369
  • Model available varies by region

The KitchenAid 13 cup / 3.1L Food Processor models available will vary depending on your location.  Both models are available to purchase directly from KitchenAid in the US, and they can both be purchased in the UK too, but only KFP1318 can be bought from KitchenAid directly. Only KFP1319 is available in Australia. There are no optional accessories available to buy separately.

A white KitchenAid Classic 13 cup / 3.1l sitting on a stone effect surface and against a pink background, with the storage caddy containing a reversible slicing disc on the right side, and the reversible grating  on the left.disc

(Image credit: Future)

The current price of the KFP1318 is $169.99 / £237.15, and the KFP1319 is $239.99 / £239 / AU$369. Some of the KitchenAid products are on sale currently, and it's worth keeping an eye out for KitchenAid promo codes to help take the price down.

Small appliances like this often attract discounts during major shopping events like the Amazon Prime Day deals and Black Friday sales, so if you aren't looking to invest this much in a processor right now, it's worth coming back during those events to see what deals are available.

  • Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

KitchenAid KFP1318 / KFP1319 specifications

KitchenAid KFP1318 / KFP1319 review: design & features

  • Two speeds and pulse
  • Easy to assemble
  • All attachments can be stored inside main bowl

The KitchenAid 13 cup / 3.1L Food Processor itself is no bigger or smaller than other similar capacity models, measuring 8.75 x 8.75 x 18 inch  / 222 x 222 x 464mm. What makes it feel smaller and more compact is the clever storage solution that we mentioned earlier. All of the accessories slot into the caddy which goes inside the main bowl, except in the case of the KFP1319 as the refrigerator lid will need to be stored separately.

The main hinged lid has three different size removable food pushers, ideal for lots of different foods. The lid removes easily from the bowl and can be replaced with the refrigerator lid to allow you to store food without decanting it into a different container if you have the KFP1319.

Image shows the black plastic storage caddy from the KitchenAid 13 cup food processor. It has the adjustable slicing disc on the top, and the reversible grating disc on the grey stone-effect surface on the right. It is photographed against a pink background.

(Image credit: Future)

As we’ve already noted, the accessories include a stainless steel blade and dough blade. The slicing disc is adjusted via a knob on the lid, making it very safe and simple to adjust, and there are six thickness options to choose from. The reversible shredding disc offers thick as well as thin shredding. And the dicing accessory cleverly cubes all manner of foods to about 0.4 inches / 1cm dice. Setup is simple and apart from the dicing accessory, we rarely had to consult the manual to work out how to put it together. All removable parts are dishwasher-safe on the top rack.

The round base looks nice on the counter and it’s not too imposing. The KFP1318 is available in White, Contour Silver, Empire Red, Black and Matte Black in the US, but is only available in White in the UK. For the KFP1319 the same range of colors are available in the US. The same colors are available in Australia too, but instead of the White option there is Almond Cream.

 A few design features are immediately noticeable, including a hinged lid that clips shut with a latch. Additionally, the bowl sits directly onto the base thanks to the one-click system, no awkward twisting motion to get it into position like you’ll see on many other food processors. Our only complaint is that the handle can only be positioned to the right, making it less comfortable for left-handed cooks, and less accessible for some, as they may be unable to use it due to this limitation.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

KitchenAid KFP1318 / KFP1319 review: performance

  • Not too loud
  • Excellent chopping, slicing and dicing
  • Can only process smaller batches of meat and dough

We used the large side of the shredding disc for carrot and cheese and it sped through both, producing even shreds fast. A small disc of carrot was left un-shredded and a piece of cheese which amounted to about 13% of the total, but otherwise we were happy with the results. 

The slicing disc is really easy to use and we like that the adjustment knob is on the lid, making it super easy to adjust the size of the slices. It sliced through half a cucumber in seconds, producing pleasingly even slices.

A close up photo of neatly sliced cucumber inside the KitchenAid 13 cup food processor work bowl.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

To try out the dough blade, we made a bread dough, but the instruction manual advises against processing quantities of dough larger than 13.5 oz / 384g, which isn’t even enough for a standard size loaf. We adjusted our recipe down to the right quantity but the dough blade was quite slow to combine the ingredients into a dough and required an extra splash of water to help it come together. The food processor wobbled a little when mixing the dough, but it wasn’t unstable.

The stainless-steel blade aced almost every task we gave it, finely and evenly chopping onion and breadcrumbs as well as mixing a smooth cake batter. Hazelnuts were very finely chopped but with a little powder. Almonds on the other hand were chopped unevenly, with large and small pieces and a fair amount of powder.

A close up photo of some onion that was chopped by the Kitchen Aid 13 cup processor.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

Cubed beef was no match for this blade, it took just seconds to turn it into finely ground meat. But the instruction manual advises that only 0.5lb / 225g can be chopped in one go, which is half as much as we intended to chop and quite a small quantity given the food processor's overall capacity.

Finally, we tried out the dicing accessory and we were impressed with how fast it diced two potatoes. We had to chop the potatoes in half to fit in the feed chute, but the results were excellent nonetheless and it really does make short work of this labor-intensive task.

The KitchenAid KFP1319 food processor having just been used to grate cheese

(Image credit: TechRadar)

It was loudest when shredding with our noise meter maxing out at 84dB, which is the equivalent to the noise experienced when a truck is traveling at 40mph, but during the other tasks, it averaged around 75dB, which is similar to sound level when a toilet is flushed.  

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

Should I buy the KitchenAid KFP1318 / KFP1319?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

KitchenAid KFP1318 / KFP1319 review: also consider

How we tested the KitchenAid KFP1318 / KFP1319

We spent time assembling the KitchenAid 13 cup / 3.1L Food Processor, reading the instruction manual and assessing the design and accessories.

To put the food processor through its paces we used the chopping blade and different speed settings to chop carrot, cucumber, onion, and almonds. We also used it to process bread to make breadcrumbs and combine flour, margarine, and water to make pastry.

We tested how easy it was to clean the processor parts by hand-washing, and using the dishwasher to establish how well the parts cleaned with either method.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed March 2022, re-tested June 2024
Sonos Roam review
6:17 pm | March 1, 2022

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

Editor's Note

• Original review date: April 2021
• Cheaper Sonos Roam SL now available
• Launch price: $179 / £179 / AU$299
• Official price now: $179 / £179 / AU$299

Update: February 2024. Coming up to three years after its launch, the Sonos Roam is a still arguably the best Bluetooth speakers for a lot of people thanks to its flexibility at a good price. It has the full Sonos Wi-Fi connectivity to act as a multi-room speaker, as well as Bluetooth support, a tough design, and a bass-forward sound that's suited to outdoor use. The big wrinkle is the Sonos Roam SL, which Sonos says is exactly the same but lacks built-in voice assistant support – we haven't had a chance to test this, but since every component is apparently the same apart from the lack of Alexa/Sonos Voice Control, we're inclined to believe Sonos. It's also worth nothing the Sonos Move 2 is now out, as Sonos' latest portable speaker, but it's over double the price and way more than double the size and weight, it's not quite a replacement for this product. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

Sonos Roam: Two-minute review

The Sonos Roam is the latest portable wireless speaker from the multi-room audio company, and the brand’s CEO Patrick Spence calls it “the smartest speaker we have ever built.”

Following in the footsteps of the larger Sonos Move, the Roam comes with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, which means it can work as a portable speaker as well as part of your wider multi-room Sonos system – and with Google Assistant and Alexa onboard, it doubles up a smart speaker too. 

At $179 / £179 / AU$299, it’s the cheapest and smallest Sonos speaker to date, and therefore the most affordable entry point into the brand's multi-room audio ecosystem. For the avoidance of confusion, the Sonos Ray is a newer product from Sonos, arriving on June 7, 2022, ($279 / £279 / AU$399) but the Ray is a demure plug-n-play soundbar, rather than this portable Bluetooth beauty. 

Back to the Roam then, and in spite of its (relatively) low price you’re getting a lot for your money here. Its slick design means the Sonos Roam won’t look out of place in your home, while a rugged, waterproof and dustproof build and a decent battery life make it ideal for listening to music outdoors. It also comes with Google Assistant / Alexa support, so you can control it with your voice alone, and use it to control your other smart devices. 

If the idea of a Bluetooth speaker with built-in microphones makes you feel uneasy, Sonos also offers a version of the Roam that comes without them – the Sonos Roam SL is also slightly cheaper owing to the omission of mics, in a similar vein to the Sonos One and Sonos One SL speakers.

To make that transition from indoors to outdoors as seamless as possible, the Sonos Roam comes with a host of cool features. The first of these is Sound Swap – simply hold down the play button and the Sonos Roam will ‘throw’ your audio to the nearest other Sonos speaker available. 

Another, Automatic Switching between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, means you can simply walk into your home and the Sonos Roam, having previously been paired with your Bluetooth device, will connect to your Wi-Fi, without the need to set it up and reconnect manually. 

Finally, the Auto TruePlay feature first introduced with the Sonos Move has been upgraded here, so the Roam will automatically tune its soundstage to your environment, whether you’re on Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. 

Of course, all these flashy features would be pointless if the Sonos Roam didn’t sound great – but we’re happy to report that, despite its small stature, the Roam delivers a powerful sonic performance, with remarkably prominent bass, even if it does lack the rhythmic accuracy you'd expect from an audiophile speaker. If you do count yourself among the audiophiles of the world, you may find the bass to be slightly overpowering – though those forceful low frequencies work well outdoors, where there are no walls for the sound to bounce off. 

The Sonos Roam's combination of class-leading connectivity features, powerful sound, and excellent design means it's our pick for the best portable speaker of 2021 and 2022, though take note: it doesn't beat the seriously talented Sonos One in terms of audio quality.

In any case, we think Sonos has achieved its aims of creating the smartest Sonos speaker to date, and for that reason, we'd absolutely recommend buying it if you're looking for a portable speaker that can slot into your existing home audio system as easily as it can provide tunes around a campfire or at the beach. 

And Sonos isn't one for resting on its laurels either. In September 2021, the Sonos Roam got even better thanks to an upgrade that brought improvements to connectivity and battery life. Downloading the update via the Sonos S2 app improved the Roam’s power management to help extend the Roam’s battery life when not actively being used. Neat! 

The sonos roam speaker in a tree.

The Roam is the cheapest Sonos speaker to date. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Price & availability

  • Available to buy now
  • $179 / £179 / AU$299
  • Cheapest Sonos speaker to date

The Sonos Roam is available to buy for $179 / £179 / AU$299; that's $20 / £20 / AU$20 more than its original launch price in April 2021, after Sonos announced a nearly product-wide price hike.

That price tag makes it the level-cheapest Sonos speaker to date in the US and UK, equalling the Sonos One SL, which also costs $179 / £179 (although it gets a bit confusing in Australia, because here the One SL costs AU$269). It's also cheaper than Sonos' first portable smart speaker, the Sonos Move, which costs $399 / £399 / AU$649 – a price that puts that speaker firmly at the top end of the Bluetooth speaker market, although it earns that price tag thanks to its array of Sonos smarts and powerful audio.

It’s still not cheap by any means though; one of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, the UE Boom 3, costs $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$199.95, and the cheap and cheerful Tribit Stormbox Blast is only $199 (which is around £163 or AU$290, where sold) – although of course, neither come with the smart assistant compatibility of Sonos’ latest device.

If you don't want your Roam to come with voice assistant capabilities, you can save money on the new Sonos Roam SL. It's available for $159 / £159/ AU$269.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker outdoors

The rugged Bluetooth speaker comes with a IP67 water-and-dust-resistance rating. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Design

  • IP67 water-and-dust-resistance rating
  • 0.95lbs / 0.43kg
  • Rugged build

While the Sonos Roam retains the minimalist aesthetic of the brand’s previous devices, its design is still quite the departure for the audio company, with a focus on ruggedness and portability. 

It’s longer and thinner than the comparatively squat Sonos Move, and is similar in size to a water bottle – or the newer Cleer Scene (which is very similar in shape to the splendid JBL Flip 6). It’s far lighter than the Move too, weighing in at 0.95lbs / 0.43kg, and you can easily hold it in your hand or sling it in a bag when on the move.

That light build, combined with an IP67 water-and-dust-resistance rating, makes it more easily portable than its predecessor, and rugged enough to withstand the elements. In fact, Sonos says it can survive being three feet underwater for 30 minutes.

On the front of the speaker is an embossed Sonos logo in white; above this, is an LED that indicates the speaker’s connection status, while an LED on the opposite end indicates battery life.

The control buttons are on the left end of the speaker when it’s placed horizontally – you can also orient the speaker vertically, with the buttons on the top.  There are volume up and down buttons, a play/pause button, and a button for turning the microphone on and off. The play/pause button can be double-pressed to skip to the next track, or triple-pressed to go back to the previous track. 

To pair the Roam with other Sonos products, you need to press and hold the play/pause button; keeping the button pressed for longer will activate the aforementioned ‘throw’ feature, switching your audio to the nearest other Sonos speaker. Slightly embossed, the buttons feel more tactile and easier to use compared to the touch-sensitive buttons on top of the Sonos Move – and they’re more accessible for those with visual impairments.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker in a garden

You can stand the Sonos Roam upright, or on its side. (Image credit: TechRadar)

On the back of the speaker is the power button – you need to press and hold this until you hear the pairing tone to connect the Sonos Roam to a Bluetooth device. Beneath the button is a USB-C port for charging – you get a USB-A to USB-C connector in the box, but you’ll have to use your own adapter.

The ends of the speaker are slightly concave, which Sonos says increases its  drop-resistance, and helps to prevent accidental button presses, so you don’t jack the volume up to 11 every time you brush past it.

The buttons themselves are described by Sonos as “tactile and slightly embossed”, with the raised design making it easy to hit play or change the volume. They’re very responsive, and we didn’t experience any lag in between hitting the button and the resulting action; the Sonos Move’s buttons are touch-sensitive, so the ability to feel the buttons will likely be a welcome feature for anyone with visual impairments. 

Coming in 'Shadow' black and 'Lunar' white, the Sonos Roam boasts a “precision-engineered” honeycomb grille – it’s not a wraparound grille though, so don’t expect true 360-degree sound.

the sonos roam being held

The design of the Sonor Roam works just as well indoors as it does outdoors. (Image credit: TechRadar)

You have some flexibility when it comes to placing the speaker – the Roam can be positioned horizontally for stability on uneven ground, or vertically for a smaller footprint, with its triangular shape funneling sound upwards. If you do place the Roam horizontally on a flat surface like a table, small feet on what is, in this orientation, the bottom of the speaker help to keep it stable.

If you wish, you can buy a $49 / £44 / AU$79 wireless charging stand for the Roam. Simply place the speaker on the stand and it’ll snap into place with magnets, giving the Roam a permanent home inside yours. 

Overall, we think the design of the Sonos Roam is really attractive. While many of the best portable waterproof speakers are finished with garish colors and functional materials, the Roam retains the slick aesthetic of the brand’s home speakers, and its light and compact build makes it ideal for listening to music on the go.

If Sonos’ goal was to make a speaker that works just as well indoors as it does outdoors, it has succeeded.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker on a table

You get a powerful sound from the Roam, but the bass can be overwhelming. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Audio performance

  • Powerful sound
  • Bass can be overwhelming indoors
  • Comprehensive support for streaming services

In spite of its small size, the Sonos Roam delivers a powerful sonic performance with remarkably prominent bass. Inside the speaker are two class-H amplifiers, with a high-efficiency motor that Sonos says increases the power and range of the audio output, as well as a custom racetrack mid-woofer, and a tweeter.

While the sound isn’t as room-filling as that provided by the larger Sonos Move, the Roam comes pretty close, thanks to some clever design choices when it comes to the transducer. 

Key specs

Weight: 0.95 pounds (0.43 kg)

Battery life: 10 hours

Connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5

Drivers: One tweeter, one mid-woofer

NFC: Yes

Aux-in: No

The transducer transforms the electric signal into wave-shaped changes in air pressure – the sound you hear – and for that it needs space to move, as well as space within the speaker to pack in as much air as possible.

As Sara Morris, Principal Product Manager at Sonos explains, the team managed to keep the size down by making the transducer part of the housing itself, allowing the Sonos Roam to be “smaller, lighter, and still have a really good sound.” 

Sonos has certainly succeeded in that regard. Listening to Childish Gambino’s Feels Like Summer, thumping bass lines drive the smooth synths, while the clear and rich falsetto vocals soar above the mix. 

If we’re nit-picking, we’d like to hear a little more from the mids and lower trebles, as some of the detail is lost amid that powerful bass; in fact, if you’re using the Roam inside, you may want to adjust the EQ settings to increase the treble frequencies. Those powerful low frequencies work very well outside, where there are no walls for the sound to bounce off, but inside, it can be slightly overpowering.

Listening to Gorillaz' Glitter Freeze, and the whining synths sound clear without being overly harsh, while the driving bass lines are powerful. The Sonos Roam lacks the kind of rhythmic accuracy and dexterity of audiophile speakers, but for a speaker of this size, we weren't disappointed by the overall presentation of our music. 

As for support for music services, there’s support for AirPlay 2 on Apple devices with iOS 11.4 and later, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube Music, 7Digital, Sonos Radio, and more via the Sonos S2 app. 

the sonos roam on a garden table

The Roam isn't quite as sonically powerful as the Sonos Move. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Sound Swap

  • Throws sound from your Roam to another Sonos speaker
  • Works in reverse

Sound Swap is one of the best features on the Sonos Roam, allowing you to ‘throw’ the music from your Sonos Roam to the nearest Sonos speaker available, and vice versa. 

All you need to do is hold down the play/pause button until you hear the third tone (one more than if you were pairing two speakers), while holding the Sonos Roam close to the other speaker. Your music should then begin playing from the second speaker – or if you’re casting to a Sonos system, the full speaker setup. 

We tried Sound Swap with our home cinema system, comprising a Sonos Arc, two Sonos One SL rear speakers, and the Sonos Sub, and it worked seamlessly. Being able to bring the Sonos Roam in from the kitchen to our living room and continue listening to our music on a surround sound system without messing around with our phone was wonderful.

As mentioned this feature also works in reverse, so holding down the play/pause button will cause the Roam to pick up audio that’s playing on another speaker or setup – handy when you’re taking the Roam out into the garden for example.

the back of the sonos roam speaker

You can charge the Roam via the USB-C at the back of the speaker. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Connectivity

  • Easy setup
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Automatic Switching

In spite of its focus on portability, the Roam is very much part of the Sonos ecosystem, which means you can use it as part of a wider multi-room audio setup, or pair two speakers for stereo sound. Pairing the Sonos Roam with other Sonos speakers can be done by simply holding down the play/pause button.

Unfortunately, though, you can’t use two Sonos Roams as a pair of rear channels for your home cinema system. We expected this to be the case, as the same is true for the Sonos Move – the company puts this down to sync issues, and the potential for a directional soundtrack to lose its focus if a speaker isn't optimally positioned in a room.

The Roam works with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5, so you can use it in the home or on the move, and the new Automatic Switching feature makes this transition more seamless than ever, with the speaker automatically connecting to your Wi-Fi network when in range, and re-pairing with your phone when you’re out and about. 

To start using the Sonos Roam you’ll need to connect it to your Wi-Fi network via the Sonos S2 app – this isn’t super-clear from the instruction leaflet included in the box, but you won’t be able to pair via Bluetooth without doing this first. 

sonos roam

Pairing the Roam with other Sonos speakers is super easy. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Setting up the Sonos Roam took us just a few minutes. To get started, you’ll need to download the Sonos app if you don’t have it already, and then tap Settings > System > Add Product.

When you begin connecting the Sonos Roam to your network, you’ll be prompted to enter an 8-digit code that you’ll find on the bottom of the speaker – this can either be entered manually, or automatically using NFC. 

Once you’ve done this, you’ll hear a chime to let you know that the code has been entered successfully, and the speaker will begin connecting to your Wi-Fi network. You may also have to wait for the Roam to update, if an update is available.

Once connected, you can turn on Auto Trueplay, add your voice assistant of choice (Google Assistant or Alexa) and toggle other settings. There’s also a ‘product tour’ within the app, to help you get to know the Sonos Roam’s controls and features – it’s a neat touch that makes the setup process feel really easy. 

Sonos Roam review: Voice Assistant

  • Google Assistant or Alexa
  • Smart home control
  • Requires Wi-Fi

Both Google Assistant and Alexa are onboard, and you can use your voice assistant of choice to control the speaker hands-free, control your other smart home devices, check your calendar, ask questions, and more – you will need to be connected to Wi-Fi to take advantage of these features. 

Setting up the Sonos Roam with Google Assistant is super easy, with the Sonos app directing you to the Google Home app to configure your settings. We found the microphones were able to pick up our voice pretty clearly, even with music playing at a medium volume.

It's a shame that you can't call on the voice assistant while using Bluetooth, but it's certainly not a dealbreaker – and we daresay the experience of using Google Assistant over Bluetooth would be more frustrating than helpful.

the sonos roam bluetooth speaker on a garden table

You can only use the Sonos Roam's voice assistant while connected to a Wi-Fi network. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Sonos Roam review: Battery life

  • 10-hour battery life
  • 10 days in sleep mode
  • Supports wireless charging

The claimed battery life of the Sonos Roam is 10 hours, though we found that this came in at around nine hours while playing at a medium volume, and the company says the speaker can last for up to 10 days in sleep mode – it’ll automatically go into sleep mode when you stop playing music. 

That battery life almost matches the Sonos Move’s 11 hours, and that of most decent portable speakers on the market.

You can charge the Sonos Roam with any Qi-certified charging device, but if you want to keep it in the family, Sonos sells a dedicated wireless charging stand for $49 / £44 / AU$79, which features magnets to hold the speaker in place. You also get a USB-A to USB-C connector in the box, so you can use your own adapter.

Should I buy the Sonos Roam?

the sonos roam being held on a picnic blanket

The Sonos Roam is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker you can buy today. (Image credit: Sonos)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Sonos Roam review: Also consider

Not convinced by our Sonos Roam review? We've picked out three more Bluetooth speakers for you to consider below:

First reviewed: April 2021

Tineco Floor One S5 review
1:30 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Comments: Off

Tineco Floor One S5: two-minute review

The Tineco Floor One S5 is a cordless wet-dry vacuum with a floor-standing dock. It vacuums and mops in tandem, removing the need to vacuum before mopping, and potentially cutting your hard floor cleaning time in half.

It features Tineco's iLoop smart sensor technology, which detects both wet and dry dirt and adjusts suction, water flow and roller speed accordingly. A light ring will glow red when it finds a particularly dirty bit of floor, and slowly change to blue as it cleans it. It's all very satisfying. I was impressed at how efficiently it worked when vacuuming and mopping up dirt and cleaning fresh wet spills in my home. Understandably, it took a little more effort to dislodge caked-on dirt, but it cleared that eventually too, with the help of Max mode. It can't get into grouting cracks between tiles, however, and although it can tackle dust, it can't be used on area rugs or carpet, so if you have those you'll still need to supplement this with one of the best vacuum cleaners.

While it's quite heavy, the fact it propels itself forwards means it's still comfortable to use, and it's easy to maneuver, too, although it won't lie flat so you won't be able to get too far underneath furniture. There's an automatic self-clean program for hands-off cleaning of the brush roller, and an onboard voice assistant that'll prompt you to add water, empty the dirty water tank and even remind you to start the self-clean program. There's a companion app too, although it's far from essential.

The Tineco Floor One S5 would be great to have on standby if you have young kids who are prone to spilling food under the table, you simply need to refresh a muddy hallway, or as a quick fix on dusty floors that look desperately messy when the sun shines through. That's the short version; read on for my full Tineco Floor One S5 review.

Tineco Floor One S5 vacuum and mop review: price & availability

  • List price: $499 / £399
  • Launch date: April 2022
  • Availability: US / UK

Tineco is a Chinese company that sells a range of carpet cleaners, wet-dry vacuums and smart vacuum cleaners. The Floor One S5 was added to its floorcare range in 2022 and is available to buy in the US and UK with a list price of $499 / £399.

The S5 isn’t a budget appliance, but considering it can perform the dual functions of vacuuming and mopping, it’s a time-saving two-in-one floor cleaner that’s worth the expense, especially for people who mop floors several times a week. The build quality is high, and Tineco provides things like spare brushrolls, a replacement filter, and cleaning solution, in the box.

There are cheaper options on the market, if you're on a budget. For example, the Shark HydroVac Cordless vacuum-mop has a list price of US$359.99 / £329.99.

While the S5 isn’t available in Australia, the Tineco Floor One S5 Pro is available. It’s virtually the same model but features additional animations on the screen as well as a suction-only mode.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Tineco Floor One S5 vacuum and mop specs

Tineco Floor One S5 review: design

  • Large charging dock holds all accessories
  • Auto mode detects dirt
  • Self-cleaning brush roller

The Tineco Floor One S5 is designed to be used on both wet and dry spills on hard flooring, and is roughly the size of a standard upright vacuum cleaner. With its graphite, white and navy finish, it's easy on the eye. The parts that look premium, and it feels like it has been built to last.

The wet-dry vacuum sits on a floor-standing charging dock for convenient grab-and-go cleaning. Bear in mind that the dock has quite a large footprint, so you’ll need to find floor space (near a power outlet) for it. When sat on its floor-standing charger, the handle is at a slight angle, so it’s not completely flush up against the wall. I appreciated that the dock includes spaces for a spare brush roller and filter, so they won't get lost.

The components of the Tineco Floor One S5

(Image credit: TechRadar)

On the vacuum are generously sized clean and dirty water tanks. Both are easy to remove, empty and fill. When the dirty water tank is full, the appliance switches off and the voice assistant prompts you to empty it. Likewise, when the clean water tank needs a refill, the voice assistant prompts you to do so, but it doesn’t automatically switch off.

On top of the main body of the cleaner, there’s a large, round screen that displays the battery percentage as well as the cleaning mode. There are two modes to choose from: an Auto mode, which uses iLoop Smart Sensor Technology to detect dirt and adjust suction accordingly, and a Max mode.

iLoop on the Tineco Floor One S5 Extreme vacuum cleaner goes from blue to red as it cleans

(Image credit: Future)

There are also a number of other symbols, which light up to alert you of issues such as when the dirty water tank needs emptying or the self-clean program needs running. A light ring around the edge of the screen changes color depending on the level of dirt detected: red when the cleaner detects a high level of dirt, becoming blue as the floor becomes cleaner.

The on/off switch is conveniently located on the handle, and next to it is a button to switch between Auto mode and Max mode. There's also a Suction mode, for when you don't want any cleaning solution sprayed out. This appliance comes with a companion app, which provides user advice and cleaning stats (more on this below).

The Tineco Floor One S5 being used to clean hard flooors

(Image credit: TechRadar)

A self-cleaning cycle can be activated by pressing a button on the top of the handle. During this cycle, clean water from the tank is used to rinse out the brush roller.

You can also change the brushroll in the floorhead, to extend cleaning times. Unclick the top cover from the floorhead and swap in a fresh roller while you rinse and leave the used one to dry. That means the machine is always ready to go.

Tineco is quite generous in terms of the extras provided in the box. My review model came with two extra brush rolls, a spare filter, a brush to clean the short section of pipe between the roller and dirty water tank, and some deodorizing and cleaning solution (this is the only solution recommended for use with this appliance).

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Tineco Floor One S5 vacuum and mop review: performance

  • Maneuverable and self-propelling, but doesn't lie flat
  • Effectively cleans lots of mess types, but won't get into grouting
  • Voice prompts are useful

The Tineco Floor One S5 comes out of the box pretty much ready to go – there’s very little assembly required, other than clicking the handle into position and placing it on the dock. When the device is positioned on the docking station it delivers a voice prompt to let you know that ‘charging has commenced’, and you can see the battery levels rise.

The water tank is easy to fill and given that only one cap of cleaning fluid is required, the included bottle should last a while. The cleaner always starts in Auto mode, even if you were using Max mode last time.

The Tineco Floor One S5 Extreme vacuum cleaner at work on fine debris

(Image credit: Future)

This device is designed to remove wet spills, dirt, grime, grease and tough stains from most types of hard surfaces, although it's not suitable for rugs or carpets. I tested it out on sealed hardwood flooring, vinyl tiles, and ceramic tiles.

The Tineco Floor One S5 works by pushing forward to vacuum and pulling back to mop. Although it's quite heavy, when switched on it propels itself forward, requiring minimal effort. It’s also really maneuverable, turning tight corners with ease.

The floorhead does a great job of getting close up to baseboards and furniture. However, and because the handle won't go flat, you’re limited when it comes to cleaning under furniture, and the floorhead won't fit into small or awkward spaces, either. Wet-dry cleaners typically don't come with detail tools, but I think a crevice tool would be helpful here.

The controls are clear and useful. It's easy to see how much charge is left at any time, and the screen will also provide a prompt when the dirty water tank needs changing or the clean water tank has run out. There's also the option to use a voice prompt button for this, so you don't need to look at the screen.

The Tineco Floor One S5 being used to clean a hard floor

(Image credit: TechRadar)

On test, the Auto setting worked well, with suction audibly increasing when dirt was detected, and the changing colored lights providing a useful at-a-glance indicator of what was going on. Sometimes, the lights would turn red when going over parts of the floor that didn’t look dirty to the naked eye, prompting me to pay extra attention to these areas, which I wouldn’t have done with a regular mop. In general, I was impressed with how much dirt it pulled up from what I'd thought were relatively clean floors.

I found the Floor One S5 mopped evenly and didn't leave the floor too wet, leaving behind a mild, pleasant scent of cleaning solution.

When cleaning in both Auto mode and Max mode never went above 72db, which is the same level of noise made by a dishwasher mid-cycle, and is more than acceptable for a device like this.

Cleaning tests

To assess this cleaner's performance on different kinds of cleaning tasks, I ran series of tests.

I used it on my kitchen floor to clear up a milky cereal spillage and was amazed at how quickly and effortlessly it tackled the area. I removed most of the spillage using the suction-only mode, then switched to the Auto mode to completely clean the surface. In general, I found it a very convenient way of cleaning up liquid spills such as milk. It sucks up the liquid quickly and cleans the floor simultaneously, so it’s useful to have to hand if you’ve got small children.

I also tested it out on dried food splatters. Here, the mop needed a little more help and I found myself ramping up to Max mode and going over the area a few times to dislodge and clean effectively.

The Tineco Floor One S5 being used to clean a hard floor

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Certain consistencies of spillage also proved problematic. For example, it struggled to remove a blob of foundation from one of my bathroom tiles, and I had to go back and forth over the area several times to get it clean. It's also worth noting that on this tiled floor, while the surface was left clean and free of debris, the cleaner didn't get into grout lines, so these remained dry.

To test performance on dry messes, I sprinkled oats and crushed biscuit/flour on the floor. The vacuum picked up both with no problems, without leaving any residue behind. Overall, I found the performance on dry debris very effective – this cleaner clears hair and dust very effectively, even at the edge of the baseboards.

Maintenance

When cleaning on Max power, the dirty water tank required emptying after just six minutes of cleaning and the clean water tank needed a refill after only eight minutes. Both lasted longer in Auto mode, though, as it doesn’t use as much water.

Emptying the tank is a simple process but if you empty into your sink, you’ll then need to deal with all the larger debris that's mixed in with the grubby water. Emptying into the toilet makes things much simpler. (It's usual for wet-dry cleaners to mix wet and dry debris like this – Dyson WashG1 takes a different tack by separating solids from liquids for easier disposal and more straightforward maintenance.)

Removing the Tineco Floor One S5 Extreme's filter for cleaning

(Image credit: Future)

Once back on the charging dock, the Floor One S5 scans the dirt level on the brush roller and will prompt you to perform the automatic clean if needed. This takes roughly two minutes, during which time clean water will flush through the system and rinse the brush roller. It's a completely hands-off process, so you can walk away and do something else until it’s finished, at which point the dirty water tank will need emptying.

I also found it beneficial to remove the brush roll and leave it to dry separately when not in use. This can be fiddly – and rather grim if there’s a lot of mess – but a simple wash under warm water straight after use keeps things fresh.

Less frequently, you'll also need to clean the filter, and clear the tube between floorhead and water tank using the brush provided.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Tineco Floor One S5 vacuum and mop review: app

  • Provides cleaning stats and helpful instructions
  • Only supports 2.4G Wi-Fi

This cleaner comes with a companion app: the Tineco Life app. This connects easily to the floor cleaner and it walks you through the setup process. While having an app for a floorcare appliance isn’t exactly necessary, it does contain a few useful features.

It allows you to change the language as well as volume of the voice prompts on the cleaner, you can also mute the voice altogether if you prefer. You can use it to check the cleaner's battery levels while it's charging, and tell you how long it is before charge is complete.

There are video tutorials on everything from how to fill and empty the water containers, to removing the brush roller and cleaning. Furthermore, you can tell the cleaner whether you’re using cleaning solution or cleaning with water only, this allows it to adjust settings if necessary, although this can be done without the app too.

There are other, arguably less useful features in the app, such as stats on the time spent cleaning and average daily use. It’s not necessarily an app you’ll use regularly, but it’s helpful to download it when first setting up the appliance, in our case it performed a firmware upgrade upon the initial setup.

Note: the companion only supports 2.4G Wi-Fi.

Tineco Floor One S5 vacuum and mop review: battery

  • Up to 35 minute runtime
  • Battery level displayed clearly on screen
  • 4-5 hour charging time

The battery percentage is shown clearly on the screen during use as well as while it’s charging. If you’re not near the cleaner, you can also check the battery level in the app, which will give you additional information about how much time is remaining before it’s fully charged. I found this to be quite accurate.

The Tineco Floor One S5 on charge

(Image credit: TechRadar)

During use in Max mode, the battery lasted 27 minutes, which is just shy of the 28 minutes stated by Tineco. It’ll last longer in Auto mode, but exactly how long will vary because auto mode adjusts the power depending on the dirt level detected.

Once the battery reaches 10 percent the number flashes to alert you that it’s low. A full recharge took just under four hours, which is faster than the four to five hours suggested by Tineco.

Should I buy the Tineco Floor One S5?

Buy it if...

You have a lot of hard floors
This cleaner will take care of vacuuming and mopping all your hard floors, in one go.

You’ve got children
It makes short work of cleaning up spills and washes the floor at the same time, which takes the stress out of accidents like dropped cereal bowls or drinks.

You want a smarter wet-dry cleaner
There are plenty of wet-dry cleaners on the market, but the automatic suction adjustment and voice prompts help this one stand out from the pack.

Don't buy it if...

You're short on space
This cleaner's dock is pretty bulky, so you’ll need to find somewhere to store it, and it'll need to be near a plug outlet too.

You have a lot of carpet
This cleaner isn't suitable for use on carpet or rugs, so is probably only worth it if you have lot of hard flooring in your house.

You’ve got delicate or uneven floors
While it’s gentle on floors, I wouldn’t recommend this cleaner for very delicate floors – if anything got embedded in the brush roller it could cause damage. And given that it can’t clean into grout lines, it won’t be suitable for uneven floors like rough slate or stone.

Re-review with updated tests: May 2024

First reviewed: February 2022

Shark Style iQ hair dryer review
2:00 pm | December 10, 2021

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

• Original review date: December 2021
• Replaced by Shark's new 3-in-1 SpeedStyle in the US, but widely available
• Launch price: £229.99 / $229.99
• Official price now: £199.99 / $179.99

Updated: February 2024. The Shark Style iQ / HyperAir hair dryer is still widely available and is actually a little more affordable than it used to be, bucking the trend many manufacturers have followed in line with inflation. It's got a sister product now, too, the Shark 3-in-1 SpeedStyle, which we're presently in the process of reviewing. In the US, the SpeedStyle seems to have fully replaced the HyperAir on Shark's website, but it's available from third-party retailers like Walmart and Amazon, still. In the UK, it's retailing as usual. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

One-minute review

Shark is a brand well known for making some of the best vacuum cleaners around. Often mentioned as a rival to floor-cleaning stalwart Dyson, it’s no surprise that the brand has followed its competitor into the hair-care market. 

The Shark Style iQ, which is known as the Shark HyperAir in the US, is the brand’s first hair dryer, but while Dyson opted to design its hair dryer from the ground up, Shark’s model follows the traditional design with which we’re all familiar. However, the Style iQ comes with smarts such as the ability to automatically adjust the air flow and temperature, based on the attachment you’ve connected, to suit the type of style you’re trying to create.  

The Shark Style iQ hair dryer features three temperature settings, three speed levels, and a cool-shot function. The 1600W hair-care appliance ships with two attachments. The first is a concentrator nozzle with an adjustable opening, suitable for a gentle all-over quick-dry; or, when narrowed, it can be used to create a smooth, sleek style. The second is a diffuser, whose extendable prongs ensure the roots, as well as the ends of curly hair, can be dried evenly, reducing the risk of heat damage. 

At £229.99 / $229.99, the Shark Style iQ is more expensive than many hair dryers on the market, but it still manages to undercut the Dyson supersonic. It’s ideal for those who want to create an array of hairstyles without worrying about which settings they should be using. It will also suit those with curly hair who wish to limit heat damage.  

The back view of the Shark Style iQ hair dryer

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Shark style iQ hair dryer price and availability

  •  List price: £229.99 / $229.99 

The Shark Style iQ, or the Shark HyperAir iQ in the US, will set you back £229.99 / $229.99. It’s available directly through Shark, as well as from retailers including John Lewis in the UK. 

In the UK, the Shark Style iQ comes bundled with a concentrator nozzle and a diffuser, while in the US the diffuser is replaced by a styling brush attachment. An additional bundle in the US also includes the diffuser, a tool for creating soft waves, plus hair clips and a non-slip mat for $249.95. 

There are also Shark promo codes around, so see if the latest arrivals apply to this.

The Shark Style iQ hair dryer with its attachements

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Design

  • Three temperature and speed settings
  • Ships with two attachments
  • Compact and lightweight

The Shark Style iQ looks as you’d expect a hair dryer to, although the barrel is slightly shorter than on some models we’ve tested, such as the Panasonic EH-NA67. It’s a compact hair-care appliance, measuring 25 x 7.5 x 12cm  /  9.8 x 3 x 4.7 inches (h x w x d) and weighing 500g / 1.1lb. 

The UK model comes in a stylish black and rose gold finish, while in the US the hair dryer has a muted gold tone. As mentioned, in the UK the hair dryer comes bundled with a concentrator nozzle and a diffuser, while in the US the package comprises a styling brush attachment in place of the diffuser. 

The hair dryer offers 1600W of power with three temperature settings and three options for the speed of air flow, which are controlled using the buttons on the back of the barrel. The power button is located on the back of the handle, while on the front of the handle is a cool-shot button that delivers a blast of cold air to set your style. 

Those who don’t have a mirror conveniently located next to a power outlet will still be able to dry their hair easily, thanks to the Style iQ’s 2.5m / 8.2ft power cord.

The front of the Shark Style iQ hair dryer's barrel

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Performance

  • Fast drying times
  • Automatically adjusting heat and speed settings
  • Fiddly to clean

The Shark Style iQ certainly lives up to its claims of being super-quick to dry hair. On the fastest setting, it took 3 minutes and 56 seconds to get our damp, below-shoulder-length fine hair to completely dry. When used on the lowest temperature settings, this increased only to 5 minutes and 8 seconds, making it among the faster hair dryers we’ve tested. 

On all settings, hair was left looking shiny and smooth, with very few fly-away strands. Overall, the Shark Style iQ was comfortable to hold in both the left and right hand (we switched hands, depending upon the side of the head being styled).

We were impressed that when the concentrator nozzle or diffuser were attached to the hair dryer, the temperature and speed settings were adjusted automatically to the optimum level to use that tool. We also found the sliders on the attachments – used to extend the prongs on the diffuser and widen or narrow the concentrator nozzle – moved smoothly. 

In terms of noise, the Shark Style iQ registered 76dB on our decibel meter on the fastest settings. This puts it middle-of-the-range when it comes to noisy hair-care appliances, and is equivalent to the sound emitted by a vacuum cleaner. Since the hair dryer is likely to be on for only a few minutes at a time, it's acceptable.

However, we were disappointed that the hair dryer lacks a removable filter, which makes it fiddly to keep free of both dust and lint. 

The attachements that ship with the Shark Style iQ hair dryer

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Should I buy the Shark Style iQ hair dryer?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: November 2021

Shark Vertex Pro / Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Vacuum review
1:00 pm | September 23, 2021

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Shark IZ662H / IZ300UK: two-minute review

Product info

This model has different names and product codes in different territories:

US: Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins IZ662H
UK: Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Vacuum IZ300UK / IZ300UKT
AU: Shark Cordless Apex Pro X2 Pet Stick Vacuum IZ320

For this review, I tested the UK version. There may be minor differences between different countries' models. See Specs section for more details. 

Shark Vertex Pro (known as the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless in the UK, and Shark Cordless Apex Pro X2 Pet Stick Vacuum in Australia) is a powerful cordless stick vacuum cleaner. I tested it out to see how it compares to the rest of today's best cordless vacuum cleaners, and the best vacuums in general. 

The Shark IZ662H / IZ300UK's cleaner head has two brush rollers that spin at the same time. One roller is hard, with flexible silicon fins (known as PowerFins) to dig deep into carpets to dislodge dirt. The second roller is a soft, fluffy unit to tackle fine dust. Both benefit from Shark's handy anti-tangle feature, which stops human and pet hair from becoming wrapped around the brush roller; instead, it’s whipped straight into the dust canister. On test, I was impressed with how effective this design feature is.

There are a couple of features designed specifically to help you clean dark and difficult corners. The cleaner head features six LEDs that light a path and make it easy to clean in dark corners or beneath furniture. This model also has Shark's popular bendable wand, which enables the cleaner to reach under low-clearance furniture, while also making the unit more compact for easy storage. It can also be used as a handheld, although it's fairly heavy, so I don't think it's ideal for this. 

There are three levels of suction, and I found this vacuum powerful and effective on both hard floor and carpets – although the heaviness means it can be a little sticky to use on deep pile carpet. Note, too, there's no auto-adjust suction, as you'll find on Shark's newest vacuums. 

In a nod to rival, the Dyson V15 Detect, the cordless cleaner also has an LED display that can show the remaining battery level, as well the suction mode selected, and whether the hard floor or carpet setting has been activated. 

Price-wise, it sits it TechRadar's mid-range price band. If you want a powerful cleaner, or have lots of nooks and crannies around your home, the flexibility this model would make it a good choice. You can see how it compares to other products from this brand in our best Shark vacuum cleaner guide.

The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology  in stick vacuum mode resting against a grey wall

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Before I start the review properly, a note on naming conventions. You may have noticed, this product has different names. In the US, it's the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins (IZ662H). In the UK, it's the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Vacuum (IZ300UK), and there's also the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Pet Vacuum (IZ300UKT), which is the same base model with added Pet Tool. Be especially careful here because there's another product with the same name, but a different product code. In Australia, you're looking for the Shark Cordless Apex Pro X2 Pet Stick Vacuum (IZ320). I tested the UK version, and I'll flag any differences in specs throughout my review.

Shark IZ662H / IZ300UK review: price & availability

  •  List price: $449.99 / £399.99 / AU$899.99
  • Launch date: 2021

In the US, the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins is $449.99 at MSRP. The UK's version – the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Vacuum – is £349.99, or if you opt for the version with the extra Pet Tool, £379.99. That puts it in TechRadar's mid-range price bracket, and it's excellent value for that price. 

Shoppers in Australia can pick up the Shark Cordless Apex Pro X2 Pet Stick Vacuum for AU$899.99. Based on rough exchange rates, that's a fair bit more expensive than the US and UK versions, but that's partly because the AU version comes with a lot more tools and accessories, as well as an extra battery. However, at time of update, it was out of stock at Shark. 

Vacuum cleaners (and home appliances in general) often attract discounts during major shopping events, so it's worth keeping an eye out for an Amazon Prime Day deal or Black Friday deal if it suits when you want to buy. You might also get lucky and snag a Shark promo code.

Shark IZ662H / IZ300UK vacuum cleaner review: design

  • 0.7L / 1-quart dust canister
  • Converts into a handheld cleaner, and tools vary by territory
  • Flexible stick and anti hair wrap floorhead

The Shark IZ662H / IZ300UK vacuum cleaner is one of the heavier cordless vacuums we've tested, weighing in at 8.82lbs / 4.58kg. The US version has a 1qt dust cup, while the UK and AU models are marginally smaller at 0.7L.

The design is fairly standard for a cordless vacuum cleaner, with the motor, filter and dust canister at the top. This is attached to the wand, with the floorhead at the bottom. On the main unit you'll find a 2.5 inch LCD screen that displays the remaining runtime, along with the power button, suction level control, and the carpet or hard floor selector. The swappable battery sits in this section, too, with three LEDs that indicate the remaining power.

There are three different suction modes, including a carpet setting that sees the brush roller rotate faster to help suck up ground-in dirt from carpet pile, and a slower setting that ensures hard floors aren't damaged when vacuuming. Note that this model doesn't come with Shark's Clean Sense IQ technology, where the vacuum can sense how dirty the floor is and adjust its suction automatically in response. (For a models that can do this, head to TechRadar's Shark Detect Pro Cordless review.) 

The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology  being used in flexible mode

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Rather than the wand being a single section, it has a flexible extension tube in the center. When you press the catch on the back of the wand, it can bend by up to 180 degrees, enabling the vacuum to be easily maneuvered under furniture or made more compact for storage.  

The main floorhead features a hard brush roller with flexible silicon 'PowerFins', as well as a soft, fluffy roller; both rotate when the vacuum is switched on to improve pickup. Six LEDs at the front of the head light a path, and Shark's Anti Hair Wrap technology stops hair from becoming tangled around the brush roller, and instead removes it from the roller and directs it into the dust cup as you clean. 

The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology  being used in handheld mode to clean stairs

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Detaching the wand and floor-cleaning head turns the cordless stick vacuum into a handheld cleaner, to which you can connect any of the included tools. These vary by territory. In the US, the standard model just comes with a Crevice Tool. In the UK, it's that plus a Multi Surface Tool, and if you opt for the Pet version, there's also a Pet Tool. In Australia, there's a wide selection of tools included.

Shark IZ662H / IZ300UK vacuum cleaner specs

Shark IZ662H / IZ300UK review: performance

  • Powerful and effective suction, but can flick about larger debris
  • Smooth to use on hard floors; could get stuck a bit on carpet
  • Flexible wand great for getting under furniture
  • Noisy in use

The Shark Shark Vertex Pro / Anti Hair Wrap Cordless is certainly a powerful cordless vacuum. During testing, it sucked up fine dust and larger debris on both carpet and hard floor with ease on all power settings. However, when it came to hard floors, I found the wheels on the back of the cleaner head flicked some of the oats around the floor, rather than collecting them. This meant I had to make several passes to ensure the mess was cleared. 

The vacuum cleaner glided easily across hard floors, although there was some resistance on carpet since it's a heavy cordless cleaner. The flexible wand proved useful for reaching under furniture, as did the six LED headlights on the floor-cleaning head – they made it easier to see the area I was vacuuming. 

The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology being used with the stick in angled mode

(Image credit: TechRadar)

I was impressed with the Anti Hair Wrap technology, which ensures hair doesn’t become tangled around the brush roll. When vacuuming up a clump of hair I'd removed from a hair brush, it was whisked straight into the canister without becoming stuck.

I also found the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner was easy to empty. Just disconnect the wand and use the button on the left-hand side of the canister to activate the mechanism that ejects the debris into the bin in one swift move. Some newer Shark vacuums come with an auto-empty base option, but that's currently not available with this model. 

The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology  being used in handheld mode to clean up high

(Image credit: TechRadar)

What I wasn't so enamored by was the noise – it's one of the loudest vacuums I've tested, with my decibel meter registering 88db when using the vacuum on its most powerful setting on carpet. This is the same level of noise as when using a blender. The vacuum cleaner also proved cumbersome to use in handheld mode, as a result of its weight. It made my arms ache when I cleaned up high, so I wouldn’t recommend using it in this way for very long periods. 

If you need something primarily for use as a handheld, head to our Shark WandVac System review – the suction is lower, but this model is far easier to wield.

Shark IZ662H / IZ300UK review: battery life

  • Ranges from 11 to 60 minutes, depending on the power setting 
  • Battery takes up to four hours to fully recharge
  • Swappable battery reduces interruptions to cleaning

Shark claims the battery lasts up to 60 minutes between charges. As always, this is on the lowest powerful power setting, and you can expect it to drop considerably in higher suction modes – in my tests, when used on the most powerful setting, the cleaner managed only 11 minutes of vacuuming before the battery required recharging.

The battery took four hours to fully recharge. Handily, the unit is swappable, for minimal interruptions to your cleaning session. Some versions come with two batteries included, but if yours doesn't, they can be purchased separately. 

Should you buy the Shark IZ662H / IZ300UK vacuum cleaner?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: September 2021

GHD Flight review
1:00 pm | August 31, 2021

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

• Original review date: September 2021
• Replaced by the slightly upgraded GHD Flight+
• Launch price: $99 / £59 / AU$99
• Official price now: $119 / £99 / AU$160

Updated: February 2024. The GHD Flight has now been replaced with the GHD Flight+, which as of writing we've yet to get our hands on. It's more expensive than its predecessor; significantly so in the UK and Australia, but does now exclusively come as part of a gift set which includes a pretty chic protective travel case, so that's a benefit if you like keeping your kit in a good state. Its specs are slightly better compared to those listed in our original review; the Flight+ is now 49% lighter (vs. 50% previously) and 25% smaller than the GHD Air, but offers 78% of the power (vs. 70% previously). The rest of the review remains unchanged.

One-minute review

GHD is most well known for its hair straighteners. The company has spent the past two decades offering ceramic-plated flat irons, taking over from steam-powered straighteners as the must-have tool for hair styling. 

However, more than nine years ago, GHD also dipped its toe in the world of hair dryers, and now offers three different models, the smallest and most compact of which is the GHD Flight. Designed to be packed in your suitcase, the GHD Flight is 50% lighter than the GHD Air, but offers 70% of the power, at 1400W, allowing you to dry your hair in a relatively short frame of time. 

The GHD Flight comes with a folding handle, which ensures the hair dryer takes up as little space in your suitcase as possible. It operates on both 120V and 240V electrical supplies, so it really can be used anywhere in the world.

It has two temperature settings, along with a slower, cool-shot option for setting styles, and the hair dryer will automatically switch off if held too close to the hair when blow-drying to prevent overheating, too. In the box you’ll find a concentrator nozzle and a carry pouch.

At $99 / £59 / AU$99, the GHD Flight is the most affordable hair dryer GHD offers, and is ideal for those on a budget. It also makes a great additional hair dryer for those who travel, easily slipping into a bag or suitcase, safe in the knowledge that it won’t send luggage over a weight limit. However, those looking for a hair dryer with a plethora of attachments to create a wide array of hair styles might be better looking elsewhere.

The GHD Flight being held in a hand

(Image credit: TechRadar)

GHD Flight price and availability

  •  List price: $99 / £59 / AU$99

The GHD Flight is the brand’s entry-level hair dryer and is priced at $99 / £59 / AU$99. It’s available from GHD or Amazon worldwide. 

GHD also offers a mid-range hair dryer, the GHD Air, which will set you back $199 / £99 / AU$220, while it’s top-of-the-range model, the GHD Helios, costs $249 / £159 / AU$295.

The GHD Flight folded up ready for travel

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Design

  • Foldable design
  • Two temperature settings
  • Comes with one attachment

The GHD Flight is the most compact hair dryer we’ve tested to date, measuring 9.6 x 5.2 x 2.7 inches / 24.4 x 13.3 x 6.8cm (h x w x d). It’s folding handle means its dimensions come down further still to 7.9 x 4.1 x 2.7 inches / 20 x 10.5 x 6.8cm. It’s lightweight, too, coming in at just 0.9lb / 422g.

The hair dryer features a stylish matt black design, with a gold slider that lets you select one of the two temperature settings, or the cool-shot function for setting your hair after styling – a look that apes the GHD Air, although the gold band around the barrel of the Air hair dryer has been dropped in favor of a glossy black accent. 

As already mentioned, the 1400W hair dryer is dual voltage, so it can be used anywhere in the world. Simply use a coin to turn to the dial to select the correct voltage (either 120V or 240V) for the country in which you’re using it. The hair dryer has a 6ft / 1.8m cable and comes with a concentrator nozzle and a soft carry pouch in the box.

The hanging loop is also a nice touch, and is usually a feature on hair dryers used in salons. 

The GHD Flight hair dryer being held in a hand

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Performance

  • Fast drying times
  • Balanced in use
  • Automatically switches off when too close to hair

Even though the GHD Flight offers less power than some of the brand's other hair dryers, it certainly isn’t sluggish when it comes to drying times. On the lowest temperature setting, it took 5 minutes and 52 seconds to take below-shoulder-length fine hair from damp to completely dry. Using the hottest settings shaved 1 minute and 51 seconds off this time. On both settings, locks were left smooth – although they lacked the shine we’ve achieved with other hair dryers, plus there were more fly-away strands than usual.

We put this down to the lack of technology that uses negative ions to speed up evaporation and reduce flyaway strands. 

The GHD Flight felt balanced in the hand when blow-drying hair, and was comfortable to hold, both in the left and right hands (we switched hands, depending upon the side of the head being styled). The hair dryer was easy to fold into its more compact form, while the hinge felt durable and offered a reassuring click as the handle was moved. 

Also notable is the fact that the GHD Flight will automatically switch off if held too close to the hair, to stop the hair dryer from overheating. However, we were disappointed to find that the filter isn’t removable, which can make cleaning the hair dryer more difficult. 

For noise, the GHD Flight registered 77.8db on our decibel meter on its fastest setting. This puts it middle-of-the-range when it comes to noisy hair-care appliances, and is equivalent to the level of noise made by a vacuum cleaner. However, since it is likely to be on for only a few minutes at a time, it’s unlikely to bother too much.

The GHD Flight resting on the glass top of a dressing table

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Should I buy the GHD Flight?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: August 2021

• Original review date: October 2022
• Still Laifen's flagship, but the new Swift SE provides a more affordable alternative
• Launch price: $199.99 / £175.11 / AU$297.83
• Official price now: The same

Updated: February 2024. The Laifen Swift remains to be a great Dyson Supersonic alternative, though it's far from the only one at this point. Still, it's a fraction of the price, and nearly as affordable as some of the most high-performing standard hair dryers in this list. Since our original review, Laifen has released a more affordable sister product, the Laifen Swift SE ($149.99 / £128.01 / AU$228.02), which is marginally less powerful and more cheaply made, but comes in some adorable pastel hues.

• Original review date: October 2022
• Still Laifen's flagship, but the new Swift SE provides a more affordable alternative
• Launch price: $199.99 / £175.11 / AU$297.83
• Official price now: The same

Updated: February 2024. The Laifen Swift remains to be a great Dyson Supersonic alternative, though it's far from the only one at this point. Still, it's a fraction of the price, and nearly as affordable as some of the most high-performing standard hair dryers in this list. Since our original review, Laifen has released a more affordable sister product, the Laifen Swift SE ($149.99 / £128.01 / AU$228.02), which is marginally less powerful and more cheaply made, but comes in some adorable pastel hues.

Dyson Supersonic review
4:08 pm | July 28, 2021

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

Dyson Supersonic: two-minute review

The Dyson Supersonic was this brand's first foray into haircare, and quickly cemented a reputation for being perhaps the best hair dryer on the market. The four years of development and £50 million (around $68 / AU$92 million) on research paid off.

Thanks to Dyson's engineering skill, the Supersonic delivers powerful airflow in a relatively lightweight form factor. The design is sleek and streamlined compared to your traditional chunky hair dryer, and because most of the weight is in the handle, it's comfortable to hold and easy to wield. It dries hair quickly, and is just as effective for styling – mainly thanks to a selection of very well-designed attachments. 

These attachments are magnetic, so snap easily on and off the barrel of the hair dryer. A special shout-out should go to the Flyaway attachment, which tames flyaways using the same hair-bending effect that powers the Dyson AirWrap. It works remarkably well, and there's nothing else like it on the market. 

In 2024, Dyson launched an upgraded version of the Supersonic. The design is very similar to the original, but there are a number of fancy new features – you can get the full low-down on that one in our Dyson Supersonic Nural review

There’s no denying the Dyson Supersonic is eye-wateringly expensive, which may limit its appeal for some, but we were impressed at how quickly we were able to create a shiny, sleek style from wet, and the effectiveness of the flyaway attachment. The faults we can find with it are so minor that we think it's worth the investment if you can stretch to the price tag. 

Dyson Supersonic hair dryer with fly away attachment being held above a dressing table

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Dyson Supersonic review: price & availability

  • List price: $399 / £299 / AU$549
  • Launched 2026
  • Available globally

 The Dyson Supersonic is priced at $399 / £299 / AU$549 and is available from Dyson as well as online retailers including Amazon. 

This is the most expensive hair dryer we’ve tested and come in at almost twice the price of the GHD Air - the top-of-the-range hair dryer from the Salon brand that occupies second place in our best hair dryers round-up and is priced at $199 / £109 / AU$235. 

Dyson also offers a hair straightener, called the Dyson Corale, which is priced at $499 / £399 / AU$699, and as we've already mentioned, the AirWrap hair styler, which will set you back $549 /£449 / AU$799. 

In all cases, it's a smart move to see what Dyson promo codes are applicable so you can save more.

The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and its attachements in the box

Dyson Supersonic review: design

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Unusual design
  • Comes with three speed and three heat settings

Hair dryers haven’t really changed in decades; the last significant design change happened all the way back in the 60s when the bulky motor was moved into the main casing.

This was an improvement on what we had before, but it resulted in a bulky device with most of its weight in the top rear of the device. This isn’t exactly ideal for something you hold above your head; we’ve experienced more than one thump to the head thanks to a weary arm.

Dyson has a history of throwing out the rulebook when it comes to designing products – ditching the bag in its vacuums; replacing blades with vents in its fans – so it’s no surprise its Supersonic doesn’t look like a traditional hair dryer. 

By using a much smaller and more efficient V9 digital motor – the company’s smallest in fact – Dyson has been able to move the motor from the head of the dryer into its handle. This redistributes the weight, and makes the entire thing much more compact - it measures 9.6 x 3.1 x 3.8 inches  / 24.5 x 7.8 x 9.7 cm (h x w d)

Close up of the back of the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer

Instead of a lengthy barrel and a clunky system of rotors, filters and vents, Dyson has shrunk the V9 motor in the Supersonic down to slightly smaller than a quarter or a 10p coin, and placed it at the bottom of the handle with a rubber mount. This sleek, thin handle extends to a circular ring, with two buttons on the shaft – the power, and cold shot buttons – and two on the rear of the ring; one that controls its three air speeds, another for selecting one of its three temperature settings. 

The rubber mount in the handle reduces the amount of vibration making it more comfortable to use for long periods. The downside to having the filter in the handle is that we often blocked it with our hand. In addition to making the dryer lighter and easier to hold, the Supersonic’s much smaller motor can propel 2.85 gallons / 13 liters of air per second, and spins around eight times faster than the motors used in standard hair dryers, which Dyson says makes it more efficient, and much less likely to overheat and burn out. 

Dyson Supersonic hair dryer with fly away attachment  next to it, on a dressing table

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The Supersonic also has a glass bead thermometer that monitors its temperature 20 times per second, and transmits the data back to a microprocessor to make sure the heat remains consistent.

All this means you won’t have to deal with that metallic burning smell that you sometimes get when you use other hair dryers for a long period of time. And you also won’t have to deal with the worrying smell of burning hair, as the microprocessor keeps the airflow temperature stable and under 302 degree F / 150 degree C no matter what.

Human hair is going to be damaged by brushing and heat no matter what, but past 302 degree F / 150 degree C the damage becomes irreversible and more noticeable, so by keeping airflow temperature in the optimal safe zone and instead upping the airflow pressure the Dyson Supersonic is able to prevent this.

The Dyson Supersonic also comes with a selection of attachments, including the flyaway attachment, a wide-tooth comb for coily hair, a diffuser for curly hair and a styling concentrator, although, unlike professional-style hair dryers, there’s no hanging loop on the Supersonic. 

Dyson Supersonic review: performance

  • Fast drying times
  • Flyaway attachment creates a sleek, smooth finish
  • Balanced in use

We were impressed with just how quickly the Dyson Supersonic dried our hair. On the lowest temperature settings and fastest speed, it took four minutes and 31 seconds to take below-shoulder-length fine hair from damp to completely dry. Using the hottest of the three settings shaved over a minute off this time (three minutes and 26 seconds) - making it the quickest hair dryer we’ve tested. On all settings, hair was left looking shiny and smooth.

We initially used the fly away attachment to dry our hair from damp, but we found that it increased the drying time to nine minutes. Instead, we were able to strike the right balance between time and a flyaway-free finish by sectioning off the crown of the hair. We used the Supersonic with a barrel brush on the remainder of the hair, while the flyaway attachment was used to blow dry the crown only, and resulted in a drying time of three minutes and 58 seconds - which we think is an acceptable compromise.  

The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer being  held upright

The attachments connect to the barrel of the hair dryer magnetically, which is a simple design change, but it makes fitting and removing them a much smoother process. They also have solid lips on their edges through which the hot air doesn’t blow, and as a result remain cool, which makes changing the attachment a more comfortable process.

The Dyson Supersonic should feel heavier than it does, due to its 1.5 lb / 659g weight, but this repositioning of parts means its weight is spread out more evenly than with traditional dryers. We found this significantly reduced arm ache during use. We were also able to hold the dryer closer to our hair, which made blow-drying the roots fair easier than with bulkier hair dryers.  

One of the most attractive claims of the Dyson Supersonic is that it’s quieter than other hair dryers thanks to the more efficient motor. It registered 74db on our decibel meter, which is around 8db quieter than the Remington Hydraluxe Pro EC9001, which is one of the noisiest hair dryers we’ve tested. That said, while it’s a level we can live with for a few minutes at a time, using it in the morning beside a sleeping partner was still not welcomed.

Should I buy the Dyson Supersonic?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

  • First reviewed: November 2019
Dyson V12 Detect Slim vacuum cleaner review
5:21 am | July 13, 2021

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Dyson V12 Detect Slim: two-minute review

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim was only mentioned in passing during the official launch of the V15 Detect – it was almost as though Dyson didn’t really want much to do with the V12 because it wasn’t a flagship. But I've just spent a few weeks with both new Dyson stick vacuums and I'm pretty impressed with what the V12 Detect Slim can do… at a slightly lower price than the V15 Detect.

Compared side by side, the V15 flagship is the clear winner in terms of performance, with far superior suction, but given the V12 Detect Slim comes with the headline-making features like the Laser Slim Fluffy cleaning head and the piezo sensor that ‘listens’ to what’s getting sucked up, but in a slightly cheaper package, there’s not much to complain about here. While it's not the most powerful model from this brand, it still compares well to the best cordless stick vacuums when it comes to suction, and it might well be the best Dyson vacuum for people with smaller homes.

The smaller, lighter build includes a far smaller bin than you'd find on the average stick vacuum. It'll be annoyingly small if you have a larger house or shedding pets, and I also found the compact size meant hair and dust regularly got stuck when emptying.

If you're not too fussed about that, though, I found there were hardly any other compromises with the V12 Detect Slim. It packs a decent amount of suction power and boasts automatic suction adjustment when it detects a particularly dirty patch of floor. A digital display on the main body of the vacuum shows you everything that's being sucked up, in real time. Plus, it ships with its own version of the amazing Hair Screw Tool – a masterpiece of engineering capable of sucking hair and fur (even slim cables if you’re not too careful) of any length without tangles.

That's the short version; read on for my full Dyson V12 Detect Slim review.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim review: price & availability

  • List price: $649.99 / £499.99
  • Launched: 2021 (but not until 2022 in the US and UK)
  • Availability: US and UK, discontinued in Australia

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim was unveiled alongside the flagship Dyson V15 Detect and the Dyson Omni-Glide in May 2021. To start with, it was only available in Australia, New Zealand and Japan (in several other countries, Dyson initially introduced the now-discontinued Micro 1.5kg instead – an even lighter model with a maximum runtime of just 20 minutes). In June 2022 the V12 Detect Slim arrived in the US and UK.

It's not part of the flagship range and as such, seems to attract much less attention than the core range. At time of updating this review (April 2025), if you go direct to Dyson in the US, the V12 Detect Slim costs $649.99 (but has been discounted to $499.99). At Dyson UK it's the V12 Detect Slim Absolute, at a list price of £499.99.

This models in no longer available to buy direct from Dyson in Australia, but when it was it came with a list price of AU$1,199.

As a side note: Dyson told us that the company decided to jump a couple of generations when it comes to naming its vacuum cleaners because the numbers 13 and 14 are considering unlucky in some cultures.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim review: design

  • Lightweight cordless stick vacuum with tiny 0.35L bin
  • Operates via power button rather than a trigger
  • Screen provides information plus real-time dust reports

Dyson hasn’t veered from its design aesthetic in… forever, so the V12 Detect Slim looks very much like the rest. Except for a large red button on the barrel of the handheld unit. This is the power button that replaces the trigger we’ve seen in all the other V-series handsticks. For those who’ve used any other Dyson stick vacuum, you’ll know that the trigger needs to be constantly pressed when using the appliance and can cause wrist fatigue or pain, particularly when trying to maneuver the vacuum in different directions. (Dyson would finally switch from trigger to single-press button in its flagship line with 2022's Dyson Gen5detect.)

This power button, in my opinion, is a wonderful change as it removes the issue of wrist/hand pain – press once to turn on, press again to turn off. That said, it needs your free hand to press each time, so this V-series model isn’t as well suited to one-handed use as its other siblings.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim power button

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The only other major difference between the V12 Detect Slim and the V15 is the bin capacity. The V12 comes with a 0.35L bin – the same one used in the Omni-Glide. That's really very small for a cordless bin; on test I found it was just enough for a one-bedroom apartment. If you live in a larger home, especially one with wall-to-wall carpeting, then you’ll find yourself emptying the bin often.

The mechanism to empty the canister is the same as in the V11 and V15 models, but here it’s not as hygienic – I found I regularly needed to stick my fingers in to pull out hair, fur and fluff. If you’re not too fussed about that, then pretty much everything else about the V12 is like the V15, including the attachments that ship with it. That said, the Hair Screw Tool that comes with the V12 is slightly different from that of the V15 and they aren’t interchangeable.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim handheld unit side view

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Look closely, though, and you’ll find the flower-like arrangement of the radial cyclones is also slimmer than the V11 or the V15. Where these two models have 14 radial cyclones, the V12 Detect Slim only has 11. That means lesser suction as compared to the V11 or the V15. However, even on the lowest mode, I found it was still capable of doing a pretty good job.

The smaller bin and fewer cyclones means the V12 is lighter than the V11 or V15. It weighs just 2.2kg (as compared to over 3kg for the other two) with a cleaning head attached, and also happens to be 3cm shorter than the V15. The lighter weight makes it a lot easier to hold the handheld unit aloft for getting at ceiling corners as compared to the V15, and also makes it easier to move across a floor.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim and Dyson V15 Detect side by side

Dyson V12 Detect Slim (left) vs Dyson V15 Detect (right) (Image credit: TechRadar)

Despite the lower price tag, you still get the digital display with the graphical representation of particle size and number displayed, along with the remaining runtime on each power mode. The suction level selection button is elongated, though, as compared to the silver circle on the V11 and V15 models.

The clip-on battery pack from the V11 has also made its way here, so if you think 60 minutes of max runtime isn’t going to do it for you, you can always consider buying an extra one to swap out when necessary. The slightly uneven weight distribution I found on the V15 because of the clip-on battery is thankfully not an issue here.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim and Dyson V15 Detect digital displays side by side

Dyson V12 Detect Slim (left) vs Dyson V15 Detect (right) (Image credit: TechRadar)

The Laser Slim Fluffy that’s the headline act of the V15 has made its way into the V12 box as well. In both cases, I found that the casters used on the Laser Slim Fluffy tool aren’t great when trying to move the vacuum at an angle or backwards. As a result, the High Torque cleaning head (called the Motorbar cleaner head in some territories) was my favorite attachment for general use.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim review: performance

  • Automatic suction adjustment
  • Soft floorhead has a laser to highlight dirt
  • Great on hard floors; the more powerful V15 Detect better for carpet

While it's less powerful than the V15 Detect, if you happen to live in a home with mostly hard floors and you’re lusting after the Laser Slim Fluffy cleaning head, you won’t regret getting the V12 Detect Slim. When it comes to suction power, even the lowest setting – called Eco – is more than enough for general cleaning. There are two more higher power settings available, but you will be eating into the 60-minute battery life, especially when using the motorized cleaning heads.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim side view

(Image credit: TechRadar)

During my testing I found that the Eco mode did a good job on carpets, although if it’s a particularly ‘hairy’ task, it takes a few back-and-fro movements to get it all off (I wouldn't rate this amongst the best vacuums for pet hair). On hard floors, though, it's an excellent cleaner, working impeccably with both of the supplied floorheads, even on the lowest suction mode.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim digital display

(Image credit: TechRadar)

If you need proof of how well it can clean, all you need to do is use the Laser Slim Fluffy (designed specifically for hard floors) and watch as the illuminated dust and dirt get sucked up. Or you can keep an eye on the display and watch as the graph changes – although after a few uses I found myself barely looking at the display except to keep an eye on the remaining runtime.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim's Hair Screw Tool

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Be careful when using the Hair Screw Tool though. While it’s absolutely brilliant at sucking up hair and fur without tangling anywhere, it does also gobble up slim charging cables with ease. It’s best used on furniture or pet beds, but you can (theoretically) also use it on a floor. However, as with the V15 Detect, the attachment’s small footprint means it will take a long time to go over every inch of the floor space.

And because of the slightly unwieldy nature of the Laser Slim Fluffy casters, I found myself using the High Torque cleaning head the most, on both carpets and hard floors.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim review: battery

  • Up to 60 minutes
  • Recharges in 4.5 hours
  • Swappable battery pack

There are no compromises when it comes to battery life. Dyson seems to have used the same battery capacity on the V12 as it has on the V11 and V15 models, with a maximum runtime of 60 minutes, and it's fade-free. So if the appliance has run out of juice, it just stops, rather than gradually getting less sucky while the power runs down.

You get the full 60 minutes only when using the Eco mode with a non-motorized attachment. With the High Torque cleaning head, for example, I got about 46 minutes of power on the Eco mode, but the full hour when the Combination tool was attached.

On the Auto mode, I got a maximum of 40 minutes of power, while the Boost mode gave me no more than 20 minutes with the Laser Slim Fluffy. And that’s pretty much the same as what the V15 Detect offers.

If you think you may need more than 60 minutes, you do have the option of purchasing a second battery pack to swap out when necessary.

Should I buy the Dyson V12 Detect Slim?

Buy it if...

You want a laser-lit Dyson without paying top dollar

Although the Laser Slim Fluffy seems like a novelty, it does have its uses when trying to find dust and dirt gathered under furniture or in corners where you normally wouldn’t spot them. This is the headline-act of the V15 Detect and you get it by default with the V12 Detect Slim as well.

You live in a small home

The V12 Detect Slim’s bin capacity is enough for a single-bedroom home, but anything bigger, particularly if some (or all) rooms have carpets, then you’ll end up interrupting your vacuuming sessions just to empty the bin. If that doesn’t sound like something you’d want to do, you might want to consider opting for one of the Dyson V11 models instead, available for a similar price.

You really want the latest Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner

When it comes to vacuum cleaners, Dyson is arguably the most popular and, perhaps, the most coveted brand. So if the V15 Detect is beyond your budget, the V12 Detect Slim isn’t a bad alternative, if you can manage with the smaller bin and lower suction power.

Don't buy it if...

You need a more powerful vacuum cleaner

When it comes to suction power, not all Dysons are made equal. While the V15 Detect is the most powerful yet, the V11 – with its 14 radial cyclones – is also a touch more powerful than the V12 Detect Slim. And considering they both have better bin capacities, they’re both far better options for anyone looking for a great new Dyson machine.

You’re on a budget

Even though the V12 Detect Slim is cheaper than the V15 Detect, it’s still quite expensive. For those on a tighter budget, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Dyson V10 Cyclone, which matches the V12’s suction power, offers a bigger bin and comes in at a far lower price than any of the newer models.

You need a larger, more hygienic bin

Having to empty the bin often may not seem like a chore, but if you need to stick your fingers in to pull out clumps of fluff and entangled hair, that’s far from ideal. That’s my biggest complaint with the V12 Detect Slim.

First reviewed July 2021

Shark WandVac System review
5:04 pm | June 24, 2021

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Shark WandVac System: two-minute review

This model has slightly different names and product codes in different territories:

US: Shark WandVac System Lightweight Cordless Vacuum WS642
UK:
Lightweight 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum WV361UK
AU: Shark WandVac System WS632

We tested the UK version. Be aware there may be minor differences between different countries' models. It's also available as a handheld vacuum only – see Alternatives section for more on that.

The Shark WandVac System (called the Lightweight 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum in the UK) is a lightweight handheld vacuum that converts in to a very lightweight and maneuverable stick vacuum. It packs a punch when it comes to power, offering impressive suction. I found it performed better on carpet than hard floors, although it's good at both. Because it's so lightweight, it's great for tricky areas, and the included attachments make it nice and versatile, too. 

However, the small bin and short battery life mean it's really only for small cleanup jobs – if you want something to tackle your whole home, look elsewhere in our list of the best cordless vacuums. It’s best to think of the Shark WandVac as something you’d grab if you’ve just spilled flour all over the floor and needed to quickly clean it up.

If you don't need the floor head, then it is possible to buy this model as just a handheld. In the US it's the Shark WandVac Cordless Handheld Vacuum WV201, in the UK it's the Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum WV200UK, and in Australia it's the Shark Wandvac Handheld Vacuum WV203.

Shark WandVac System review: price & availability

  • List price: $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$499.99

The Shark Wandvac System is available in the US, UK and Australia, and at list price it'll set you back $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$499.99. That puts it into TechRadar's budget price bracket for cordless vacuums. It's decent value for money, and an especially good choice if you need something lightweight. 

If you're primarily wanting to use it as a handheld, you can save by opting for the version without the stick and floorhead – that one costs $129.99 / £129.99 / $249.99 – or check out TechRadar's guide to the best car vacuums for some alternatives. If you need that versatility, though, you'd arguably be better off opting for something like the Shark Detect Pro. It's currently only a little more expensive than the WandVac System, and offers much more power.

Seasonal events like the Black Friday sales are often a good time to shop for a new vacuum, and it's worth keeping an eye out for Shark promo codes to take the price down, too. 

Shark WandVac System specs

Shark WandVac System review: design

  • Very lightweight, and can be used as a handheld or a stick vacuum 
  • Anti-hair wrap cleaner head
  • Small, easy-empty dust bin

The Shark WandVac has been designed for those times when you need to clean up a mess and you need to do it fast, and it can be used as a handheld cleaner with various attachments, or in stick mode with the 11.2-inch / 28cm-wide floor head to clean larger areas.

It weighs under 1kg in handheld mode, and is easy to maneuver in stick mode – in this mode, according to Shark, the US model weighs 5.9lbs, while the UK model is 3kg – that makes the US model a little lighter, which may be down to the slightly different head design. 

Putting the vacuum together is simple, and you can add attachments by slotting them in until they click into place. If you're using the Shark WandVac as a stick vacuum, the anti-hair-wrap floor head has self-cleaning silicone 'Powerfins', rather than conventional bristles, which prevent pet or human hair from getting stuck. 

Shark WandVac cleaning flour from a kitchen floor

(Image credit: Future)

To convert the WandVac to a handheld vacuum, all you have to do is remove the wand and floor head and you’re good to go. If you're cleaning your car or other awkward spaces, a crevice tool is included, and with the UK version I tested, there's also a fluffy brush head that's ideal for cleaning blinds or delicate surfaces. In the US and AU, that's replaced by a Pet Multi Tool. 

The dust canister capacity on this Shark vacuum is just 0.25qts / 0.13 liters, which is more in line with what you'd expect on a handheld than a general cordless model (i.e. small). It means this vacuum is better suited to small spills rather than full-house  cleaning. 

Emptying the bin is simple – you just push down a lever with one hand and the dust cup cap opens at an angle to let the contents fall into your bin. It took me a few attempts to make sure the opening of the dust cup was right over my bin, but because the action is quite fast the dust cloud is minimal.

There are two ways to charge the Shark WandVac. The first is by simply plugging the handheld part of the vacuum into the charger. The second method is by using the charging dock, which comes as standard – this way you can simply finish cleaning and place the vacuum on the dock, and it’ll start charging.  

Shark WandVac System review: performance

  • Noticeably loud in use 
  • Good suction; performs better on carpets than hard floors
  • Lightweight and good to awkward jobs
  • Bin fills up quickly – not for cleaning a whole house

The first thing I noticed is just how loud this vacuum cleaner is. In its standard cleaning mode with the floor head on it hit 82 decibels – the average vacuum cleaner is around 75 decibels. And when you use the Boost mode the volume increases even more, so this is worth bearing in mind if you prefer a quieter model. 

I tested the WandVac on hard floors with a flour mixture that resembled fine dust and dirt, and the vacuum sucked up everything in its path with ease, although it did cause some small crumbs to scatter further away. On carpet, the cleaner also coped very well with the mixture, and I didn’t need to use the Boost mode. 

Shark WandVac

(Image credit: Future)

Next, I tested the Shark with larger debris on hard floors and found that the machine again did a good job, although it did take a few sweeps back and forth to scoop up all of the mess. I also noticed at this point that the dust cup filled up very quickly, which may have been impacting its ability to pick up.

Shark WandVac

(Image credit: Future)

I found the WandVac actually performed better on carpets – in standard mode it was able to pick up large pieces of debris, but it was even better in Boost mode, as you’d expect. I did notice that after cleaning up just one pile of larger debris (I used oats) the dust cup was pretty much full. This machine is designed primarily for cleaning up spills and other smaller cleaning jobs, so as long as you’re not expecting to be able to clean your whole home without a trip to the bin this shouldn’t be an issue.

I found the Shark WandVac was very light and easy to use with the crevice tool attached, and the suction was strong enough to provide a thorough clean, making it ideal for awkward jobs like cleaning your car or stairs. 

Shark WandVac System review: battery life

  • 16 minutes run time
  • Choice of charging options
  • Full charge takes approx 3.5 hours  

Shark claims the WandVac can run for 16 minutes as a handheld vacuum cleaner, which is definitely on the short side as vacuums go, but should be long enough if you just need to clean up a spill of crumbs or give your car a quick spruce-up. 

When you attach the floor head the cleaning time is reduced, which Shark does state, and I found that the battery only lasted 12.5 minutes, without using the Boost mode. For most people (myself included), that's not long enough to clean the entire home from top to bottom; however, that’s not what the WandVac is designed for. 

The battery takes around three and a half hours to fully charge – you can either plug the charger into the handheld section, or use the charging dock that comes with the machine as standard. LED lights on the WandVac’s handle tell you how much battery you have remaining: three lights are illuminated when the cleaner is fully charged, and I found in my tests that one light signaled roughly five minutes of cleaning time left. 

Should I buy the Shark WandVac System?

Buy it if… 

Don’t buy it if… 

How I tested the Shark WandVac System

I tested the Shark WandVac thoroughly, in each mode, on different floor types, and with all the supplied attachments. I ran the standard TechRadar tests to see how it performed across a variety of tasks, including cleaning up food debris and also finer dirt and dust. I also used the vacuum around the house as a general cleaner to see how it fared, and I was impressed with the amount of dust it picked up. Finally, I put the battery to the test to see if it lived up to the promised run time. 

First reviewed: June 2021

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