The Tassimo Finesse Friendly from Bosch is a compact capsule-based coffee maker that's an affordable alternative to similar machines from Nespresso and Keurig. It works in much the same way as its rivals, accepting proprietary capsules, piercing them, and forcing hot water through to brew your drink.
Unlike some other small coffee makers, it can also brew milky drinks such as lattes if you use separate pods for the milk and the coffee, with impressive results. The downside is that these capsules (known as T-Pods) can be quite expensive, particularly for drinks with two components.
The Finesse Friendly is very simple to use and clean, with a blank disc stored in a slot at the bottom that enables a quick rinsing cycle between drinks. Its water tank is east to remove as well, though its small capacity (just 23.7oz / 700ml) means you'll be making frequent trips to the sink if you're making more than one or two drinks at a time.
(Image credit: Future)
It's a well-built and likeable little coffee maker, but if you enjoy lattes regularly, you might want to consider learning to use a compact espresso machine with a manual steam wand instead. Although the initial cost will be higher, you could save money in the long run by using fresh milk for your regular brews rather than capsules. Take a look at my roundup of the best espresso machines for options at various price points.
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: specifications
Name
Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly
Type
Capsule coffee maker
Dimensions (W x H x D)
6.2 x 10.4 x 14.2 inches / 15.7 x 26.5 x 36cm
Weight
6.2lbs / 2.8kg
Water tank capacity
23.7oz / 700ml
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: price and availability
List price £89.99 (about $120 / AU$180), but often discounted
Widely available in Europe, but not in the US or Australia
T-Pod capsules can be quite expensive, depending on type
The Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly is one of the most affordable capsule coffee makers machines I’ve ever tested. It has a list price of £89.99 (about $120 / AU$180), but is frequently discounted to £49.99 (about $70 / AU$100). That’s even less than the entry-level Nespresso Vertuo Pop. You’ll find all today’s best prices below.
The downside is that although it’s widely available in the UK and continental Europe, it’s not currently sold in the US or Australia.
Although the Finesse Friendly is cheap, Tassimo capsules (known as T-Pods) can be quite pricey particularly if you prefer drinks with milk, which require two pods each. They are widely available online and from supermarkets, and include varieties from brands including Cadbury’s, Costa, Kenco, Jacobs, and L’OR.
(Image credit: Future)
Prices vary widely depending on your chosen drink. For example, a pack of Costa Caramel Latte T-Pods, for example, contains enough capsules to make just eight drinks, and has a list price of £7.25 (about $10 / AU$15). Pods containing just coffee are much more affordable. At the time of writing, a bundle containing 80 Kenco Pure Colombian capsules is £21.38 (about $30 / AU$40).
Value score: 3.5/5
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: design
Compact and lightweight
Easy to clean and maintain
Water tank holds only 23.7oz / 700ml
The Tassimo Finesse Friendly is an exceptionally light and compact coffee maker, which is ideal for small kitchens and easy to tuck away in a cupboard when not in use. Its body is made using 60% recycled plastic, and is available in four colors: black, white, cream, and red. The black version I tested had a tendency to accumulate fingerprints, particularly on the matt-finish sides, but they were easily cleaned off with a damp cloth.
Its drip tray is removable for cleaning, and can be repositioned closer to the dispenser to accommodate espresso cups without splashing.
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It has a single control button, which uses colors and blinks to indicate the machine’s current status. A red light means the machine needs attention, and usually signals that the water tank is running low.
The tank is attached to the back of the machine, and is easy to remove; just angle it slightly and pull upwards. It has a maximum capacity of just 700ml / 23.7oz, so you’ll need to refill it after making two full-size drinks.
(Image credit: Future)
Cleaning the Finesse Friendly is straightforward. Just remove the orange maintenance disc from the slot at the bottom of the machine, place it in the capsule holder with the barcode facing down, close the lid, and hit the brew button just as you would when preparing a drink.
The machine will rinse itself with a cupful of hot water, leaving it clean and ready to use next time. It’s also worth wiping the outside of the dispenser clean if you’ve made a drink with milk, as this has a tendency to splutter.
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
The Finesse Friendly has no water filter, but is easy to de-scale when indicated by the red status light. Just fill the water tank to the line marked ‘calc’, add two descaling tablets (not provided with the machine but available online), insert the cleaning disc, place a cup under the dispenser and hold the start button for about five seconds.
Design score: 4/5
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: performance
The Tassimo Finesse Friendly is extremely simple to use. Just fill the water tank to the maximum line, pull the top of the machine upwards to open it, and place your drink capsule in the opening face-down. Push the lid closed and the light on the control button will light up orange, indicating that the Finesse Friendly is ready to start brewing.
After your drink has finished dispensing, wait until the light stops blinking orange before removing the used capsule.
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(Image credit: Future)
I tested the Finesse Friendly with a couple of different capsules: Tassimo Cinnamon Roll Latte (which Bosch provided with the review machine), and Jacobs Latte Macchiato (which I bought myself). Each variety came with two boxes of pods: one containing the coffee, and the other filled with long-life milk.
Although a latte macchiato is usually my coffee of choice, the cinnamon roll pods were the clear winner. Although it was definitely sweet, the drink had a more mellow flavor than many other coffee pods I’ve tried. In fact, it was so good I ended up buying a second pack.
The tiny Finesse Friendly did a particularly good job of steaming milk, producing a long-lasting layer of creamy foam. During my tests the machine had a tendency to sputter a little, and emitted quite a lot of steam once it had finished dispensing, but this had dissipated by the time the orange light stopped blinking.
In the UK, you can recycle used T-Pod capsules through Podback (a scheme that also accepts used Nespresso, L'OR and Dolce Gusto pods). You'll receive a Podback bag when you receive an order of T-Pods, and you can order more through the Podback website.
You can drop off your Podback bags in most big supermarkets, or take loose capsules to a recycling center with a Podback bin. Find your nearest drop-off point.
Performance score: 5/5
Should you buy the Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly
Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
The machine itself is very affordable, but pods for milk-based drinks can be expensive.
3.5/5
Design
Compact and light, made using 60% recycled plastic, but water tank is very small.
4/5
Performance
Heats quickly, foams milk well, and dispenses consistently tasty coffee. Easy to clean and maintain.
5/5
Buy it if
You want a coffee maker that's easy to use
Brewing coffee doesn't get much easier than this. Just add water and a pod, wait a minute, and you'll have a perfectly brewed drink every time.
You want more than just coffee
The Finesse Friendly also makes excellent hot chocolate, and there are plenty of T-Pod capsules available from brands including Cadbury's.
Don't buy it if
You drink several lattes daily
T-Pods for milky drinks can be quite expensive. They're delicious, but you'll go through a pack of capsules very quickly unless you keep them as a special treat.
You want to make drinks for a crowd
The Tassimo Finesse Friendly's small water tank will need refilling after every couple of drinks unless you're brewing short drinks like espresso.
Boch Tassimo Finesse Friendly: also consider
If the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly isn't the right coffee maker for you, here are two alternatives to consider.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop
This is another compact pod-based coffee maker with an affordable price tag. The upgraded Pop+ has an extra large water tank, which will be useful if you want to brew drinks for a larger group, and even premium Vertuo pods work out a little cheaper than the most expensive T-Pods.
This capsule coffee maker accepts Nespresso Original capsules. Nestlé no longer owns the patent to these, so they're widely available from a huge range of coffee producers, from big chains to small independent roasters.
I used the Bosch Tassimo Finesse Friendly in my own kitchen for three weeks, making an average of two coffees per day. I used tap water, and used the maintenance disc with the rinse program the clean the machine between each drink.
I used Tassimo Cinnamon Roll Latte and Jacobs Latte Macchiato capsules, and used the milk capsule for each drink first before dispensing the coffee through the foam. I compared the results to those from my own Nespresso Vertuo Pop machine.
The Bissell PowerClean FurFinder is a simple but effective cordless vacuum with an affordable price tag. I've been testing it out for two weeks and have generally been very impressed.
On the design front it keeps things basic, with three suction modes, a removable battery, a small but easy-to-empty bin and a wall mount for out-of-the way storage. Like almost all stick vacuums these days, it can be reconfigured for use as a handheld with one of the provided detail tools. In general use I found the performance very good – it had no issues clearing particles and hair from hard floors and carpet, and only struggled when it came to tackling large debris, which tended to get caught in the floorhead casing.
Those seeking the best vacuum for pet hair might prefer a model with larger bin, as the one included here is smaller than average and will fill up quickly if you have shedding pets. They might also struggle with the shorter runtimes – if you bump up to Med mode (as you will likely want to if you're vacuuming carpet), you'll only have 20 minutes or so or cleaning time before having to stop to recharge.
I was especially impressed with the Mini motorized tool, which did a stellar job of pulling fuzz from an old cushion-turned-makeshift cat bed. Unusually, this is kitted out with headlamps to help illuminate areas you might otherwise miss.
It's not doing anything especially new, and those who prefer a more hi-tech appliance have plenty of flashier options to choose from. In its price bracket, though, it's a very strong performer – and certainly one of the best cheap vacuums I've tested. If you're after a solid cordless vacuum for an affordable price, the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder should be on your shortlist.
The Bissell PowerClean FurFinder is only available in the US, where it's very competitively priced, coming in at $229.99 (equivalent to about £180 / AU$360). That's in TechRadar's budget bracket for vacuums, and considering the excellent performance, makes this vacuum easy to recommend.
If you're in the market for a new vacuum, you're probably also considering Shark or Dyson. The Shark Freestyle Max is comparable in price at $199.99 / £149 / AU$249.99 but it's an upright vacuum and can't be reconfigured for use on anything other than the floor, as you can with the Bissell. Plus the battery times are even shorter than on the Bissell.
The oldest and cheapest Dyson is the Dyson V8, which comes in at $349.99 / £329 / AU$397, though discounts do crop up on occasion. It's still a very strong option, with better battery life. But in terms of features it doesn't really add much outside of brand recognition to justify the price difference.
Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder specs
Weight:
3.3 kg / 7.3 lbs
Bin size:
0.4L
Max runtime:
40 mins
Charge time:
2 hrs 30 mins
Size (H x W x L):
in / cm
Max suction:
200AW
Modes:
Low, Med, High
Tools:
Main floorhead, Mini motorized brush head, Crevice tool
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder review: design
Cordless stick vacuum with three power modes and headlamps
Modular design means it can be used as a handheld; comes with useful tools
Dustbin is rather small – especially given it's meant for pet hair
While the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder cordless vacuum doesn't really redefine anything about cordless vacuums, it's a solid offering in just about every way. It's attractive, coming in a black and blue colorway. Its floorhead has lights, like most decent vacuums nowadays, so you can see any dirt right in front of it. It's modular so the main body of the vacuum can be removed from the telescopic tube, and the tube itself can be removed from the floorhead. And its included tools make it multifunctional, and suitable for use as a handheld vacuum.
Speaking of extras: this cordless vacuum comes not only with a 2-in-1 Crevice tool (it has a retractable brush), but a Mini motorized brush head that lights up like the floorhead, and a wall mount for easy storage. The wall mount does require a screwdriver to install, though I appreciate the inclusion of wall anchors if you have to install on nothing but drywall.
(Image credit: Future)
Getting back to the vacuum itself. The controls here are straightforward, with a power button and a mode button that cycles through low, medium and high suction. There are no screens to provide information and nothing in the way of automation here, which isn't surprising at this price point (although the similarly affordable Dreame R20does offer automatic dirt detection). I was pleased to see the battery is removable and swappable.
(Image credit: Future)
A minor complaint is that the dustbin is small. The 0.4 liter capacity will rule it out for large homes, and – perhaps ironically, given the name – it's also not ideal for households with shedding pets. It is at least easily removable, and just as easy to empty.
Design score: 4 out of 5
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder review: performance
Pickup is good on all sorts of dust and debris, including pet hair
Motorized mini brush is ideal for clearing pet hair from upholstery
Not that quiet in operation, and struggles to pick up chunky particles
After having tested the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder on all sorts of surfaces and with different types of messes, I'm confident in its cleaning abilities. Now, it's not going to compete with a heavy duty canister or upright vacuum in terms of pure power, but it has good enough suction that I'm okay grabbing this instead of said heavy duty vacuum. (If you do want a super-sucky upright, head to TechRadar's guide to the best upright vacuums.)
Even on the low setting, it did a good job sucking up dust and debris. I used this cordless vacuum to clean up some extra flour and sugar left over from a robot vacuum test and it got all the leftover remnants in a single pass.
(Image credit: Future)
I also vacuumed baking soda, lentils, and cereal as a benchmark on hard flooring using the low suction mode and was done spot cleaning in about a minute on low suction. The only issue I came across is that the transparent cover on the floorhead doesn't allow chunky debris to pass beneath it. I experienced this specifically when I pushed forward to vacuum the Cheerios, and they piled up instead of being sucked away. But that just meant it took me two passes instead of one to clean everything up.
I repeated the same test on low-pile carpet actually using the medium suction mode to see if it would take me just one pass, but I ended up with similar results, needing an extra pass to get the Cheerios.
(Image credit: Future)
Considering that this is advertised for picking up fur, we have to consider whether it actually handles that task well. I believe that this vacuum does. I used the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder to vacuum up after two dogs and a cat (and a number of humans, a few of which have long hair), and it did a great job of sucking up stray hairs.
I found it didn't really matter which mode I used – higher modes just sucked in more. The floorhead never got in a tangle, either. My only complaint is that the bin filled up quickly, so if you have multiple shedding pets you'll find yourself emptying it more often than you perhaps would like.
(Image credit: Future)
Where cordless vacuums shine over powerful corded ones is in their versatility. I was also impressed with how effective the Mini motorized brush head was at cleaning upholstery. I had a couch cushion in the basement was covered in hair from months of being used as an impromptu cat bed and no clean up. With the Mini motorized brush head, it took one pass to completely remove all that hair, and I didn't have any issues with it getting stuck. The motorized roller helped pull up strands of hair, and the headlamps (which are rare to find on a detail tool) helped illuminate any patches I might have missed.
(Image credit: Future)
I was also able to get into corners easily with the Crevice tool. I used this for multiple tasks, including clearing lentils and Cheerios stuck between the carpet and the molding after a benchmark test, tackling the cobwebs and spiderwebs that had been overtaking the basement, and vacuuming the dirt that had build up in the footwells of my car. It made short work of all these tasks, although it wasn't ideal as a car vacuum as it was a bit too bulky to get to awkward spots like the dashboard.
It's worth noting that it's not a particularly quiet vacuum, running from 66 to 76 dB depending on the power level chosen.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder review: battery life
Battery life is underwhelming – 40 mins on low, 21 on Med, and 13 on high
Recharge is relatively speedy at 2 hours 30 mins
Battery is removable and swappable
Bissell states this cordless vacuum will last up to 40 minutes on Min, 21 in Med, and 13 on Max. I found this accurate – I timed it at 40 minutes and 25 seconds on a single charge in the lowest suction mode. And I find that battery life is enough for vacuuming a good 800-square-feet on a single charge. However, most people will want to use the Med mode most of the time, and 21 minutes is really not enough to get much done.
(Image credit: Future)
The 40 minutes does not measure up favorably on the wider market, either. Most of today's best cordless vacuums last around 60 minutes in Min mode, and some even longer. Recharge takes around two and a half hours, which is actually quite quick, but still rather a long time to wait if you're having to stop mid-clean.
Because the battery is removable, it is possible to pick up a backup battery to extend your cleaning times – or to replace the existing battery if it starts to eventually lose charge. The power cable plugs directly into the battery, which is good news if you want to store the vacuum somewhere that's not near an outlet.
Battery life score: 3 out of 5
Should you buy the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
Budget bracket, and great value for the performance.
4.5 / 5
Design
Basic but effective, although the dustbin is smaller than I'd like.
4 / 5
Performance
Efficient pickup of dust and pet hair, although struggled with chunky particles.
4 / 5
Battery life
With a maximum of 40 mins per charge, battery life is underwhelming – most competitors manage 60 mins.
3 / 5
Buy it if...
You don't need anything fancy
This vacuum lacks fancy features but keeps all the essentials, including good pickup, three suction modes and an easy-to-empty bin.
You're on a budget
This vacuum is simple but effective, and comes in at a nice, wallet-friendly price.
You have a smaller home
This vacuum's runtimes are rather limited, but that won't be an issue if you don't have a massive area to clean.
You want a great upholstery tool
I was impressed with how efficiently this Bissell vacuum's upholstery tool pulled pet hair from an old cushion that was being used as a cat bed.
Don't buy it if...
You want something hi-tech
The Bissell PowerClean is rather simple in features. Competitor models offer things like automatic suction adjustment and info screens.
You have multiple shedding pets
As convenient as the Bissell PowerClean is, that small dustbin needs to be emptied after almost every use, and even more frequently if you have hairy pets.
You have a lot of space to cover
The battery life is the biggest weakness for this cordless vacuum. Most of the competition adds at least another 20 minutes of use before needing to be charged.
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder review: Alternatives
Dyson V11
The Dyson V11 is certainly still pricey, even if it's a bit older. But it still has that Dyson magic and does an excellent job cleaning up all sorts of debris, including pet hair. It also comes with a stronger battery life than the Bissell despite having come out in 2019.
The Shark Freestyle Max may not be modular but it's compact, has a large dust cup, and excellent suction power. Its battery life even worse than this Bissell's, and the fact it can't be reconfigured means you're more limited than most cordless stick vacuums, but it is very affordable.
To test the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder, I used it for a couple weeks, testing its vacuum capabilities not only on hardwood floors, but also tile, low pile carpet, and even a high pile bath mat. It was tested in a home that houses two dogs and a cat, plus a number of humans, a few of which have long hair. I used it at its various strengths and tested it by doing general cleaning and also running bench marks with baking soda, lentils, and cereal.
The Bissell PowerClean FurFinder is a simple but effective cordless vacuum with an affordable price tag. I've been testing it out for two weeks and have generally been very impressed.
On the design front it keeps things basic, with three suction modes, a removable battery, a small but easy-to-empty bin and a wall mount for out-of-the way storage. Like almost all stick vacuums these days, it can be reconfigured for use as a handheld with one of the provided detail tools. In general use I found the performance very good – it had no issues clearing particles and hair from hard floors and carpet, and only struggled when it came to tackling large debris, which tended to get caught in the floorhead casing.
Those seeking the best vacuum for pet hair might prefer a model with larger bin, as the one included here is smaller than average and will fill up quickly if you have shedding pets. They might also struggle with the shorter runtimes – if you bump up to Med mode (as you will likely want to if you're vacuuming carpet), you'll only have 20 minutes or so or cleaning time before having to stop to recharge.
I was especially impressed with the Mini motorized tool, which did a stellar job of pulling fuzz from an old cushion-turned-makeshift cat bed. Unusually, this is kitted out with headlamps to help illuminate areas you might otherwise miss.
It's not doing anything especially new, and those who prefer a more hi-tech appliance have plenty of flashier options to choose from. In its price bracket, though, it's a very strong performer – and certainly one of the best cheap vacuums I've tested. If you're after a solid cordless vacuum for an affordable price, the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder should be on your shortlist.
The Bissell PowerClean FurFinder is only available in the US, where it's very competitively priced, coming in at $229.99 (equivalent to about £180 / AU$360). That's in TechRadar's budget bracket for vacuums, and considering the excellent performance, makes this vacuum easy to recommend.
If you're in the market for a new vacuum, you're probably also considering Shark or Dyson. The Shark Freestyle Max is comparable in price at $199.99 / £149 / AU$249.99 but it's an upright vacuum and can't be reconfigured for use on anything other than the floor, as you can with the Bissell. Plus the battery times are even shorter than on the Bissell.
The oldest and cheapest Dyson is the Dyson V8, which comes in at $349.99 / £329 / AU$397, though discounts do crop up on occasion. It's still a very strong option, with better battery life. But in terms of features it doesn't really add much outside of brand recognition to justify the price difference.
Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder specs
Weight:
3.3 kg / 7.3 lbs
Bin size:
0.4L
Max runtime:
40 mins
Charge time:
2 hrs 30 mins
Size (H x W x L):
in / cm
Max suction:
200AW
Modes:
Low, Med, High
Tools:
Main floorhead, Mini motorized brush head, Crevice tool
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder review: design
Cordless stick vacuum with three power modes and headlamps
Modular design means it can be used as a handheld; comes with useful tools
Dustbin is rather small – especially given it's meant for pet hair
While the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder cordless vacuum doesn't really redefine anything about cordless vacuums, it's a solid offering in just about every way. It's attractive, coming in a black and blue colorway. Its floorhead has lights, like most decent vacuums nowadays, so you can see any dirt right in front of it. It's modular so the main body of the vacuum can be removed from the telescopic tube, and the tube itself can be removed from the floorhead. And its included tools make it multifunctional, and suitable for use as a handheld vacuum.
Speaking of extras: this cordless vacuum comes not only with a 2-in-1 Crevice tool (it has a retractable brush), but a Mini motorized brush head that lights up like the floorhead, and a wall mount for easy storage. The wall mount does require a screwdriver to install, though I appreciate the inclusion of wall anchors if you have to install on nothing but drywall.
(Image credit: Future)
Getting back to the vacuum itself. The controls here are straightforward, with a power button and a mode button that cycles through low, medium and high suction. There are no screens to provide information and nothing in the way of automation here, which isn't surprising at this price point (although the similarly affordable Dreame R20does offer automatic dirt detection). I was pleased to see the battery is removable and swappable.
(Image credit: Future)
A minor complaint is that the dustbin is small. The 0.4 liter capacity will rule it out for large homes, and – perhaps ironically, given the name – it's also not ideal for households with shedding pets. It is at least easily removable, and just as easy to empty.
Design score: 4 out of 5
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder review: performance
Pickup is good on all sorts of dust and debris, including pet hair
Motorized mini brush is ideal for clearing pet hair from upholstery
Not that quiet in operation, and struggles to pick up chunky particles
After having tested the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder on all sorts of surfaces and with different types of messes, I'm confident in its cleaning abilities. Now, it's not going to compete with a heavy duty canister or upright vacuum in terms of pure power, but it has good enough suction that I'm okay grabbing this instead of said heavy duty vacuum. (If you do want a super-sucky upright, head to TechRadar's guide to the best upright vacuums.)
Even on the low setting, it did a good job sucking up dust and debris. I used this cordless vacuum to clean up some extra flour and sugar left over from a robot vacuum test and it got all the leftover remnants in a single pass.
(Image credit: Future)
I also vacuumed baking soda, lentils, and cereal as a benchmark on hard flooring using the low suction mode and was done spot cleaning in about a minute on low suction. The only issue I came across is that the transparent cover on the floorhead doesn't allow chunky debris to pass beneath it. I experienced this specifically when I pushed forward to vacuum the Cheerios, and they piled up instead of being sucked away. But that just meant it took me two passes instead of one to clean everything up.
I repeated the same test on low-pile carpet actually using the medium suction mode to see if it would take me just one pass, but I ended up with similar results, needing an extra pass to get the Cheerios.
(Image credit: Future)
Considering that this is advertised for picking up fur, we have to consider whether it actually handles that task well. I believe that this vacuum does. I used the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder to vacuum up after two dogs and a cat (and a number of humans, a few of which have long hair), and it did a great job of sucking up stray hairs.
I found it didn't really matter which mode I used – higher modes just sucked in more. The floorhead never got in a tangle, either. My only complaint is that the bin filled up quickly, so if you have multiple shedding pets you'll find yourself emptying it more often than you perhaps would like.
(Image credit: Future)
Where cordless vacuums shine over powerful corded ones is in their versatility. I was also impressed with how effective the Mini motorized brush head was at cleaning upholstery. I had a couch cushion in the basement was covered in hair from months of being used as an impromptu cat bed and no clean up. With the Mini motorized brush head, it took one pass to completely remove all that hair, and I didn't have any issues with it getting stuck. The motorized roller helped pull up strands of hair, and the headlamps (which are rare to find on a detail tool) helped illuminate any patches I might have missed.
(Image credit: Future)
I was also able to get into corners easily with the Crevice tool. I used this for multiple tasks, including clearing lentils and Cheerios stuck between the carpet and the molding after a benchmark test, tackling the cobwebs and spiderwebs that had been overtaking the basement, and vacuuming the dirt that had build up in the footwells of my car. It made short work of all these tasks, although it wasn't ideal as a car vacuum as it was a bit too bulky to get to awkward spots like the dashboard.
It's worth noting that it's not a particularly quiet vacuum, running from 66 to 76 dB depending on the power level chosen.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder review: battery life
Battery life is underwhelming – 40 mins on low, 21 on Med, and 13 on high
Recharge is relatively speedy at 2 hours 30 mins
Battery is removable and swappable
Bissell states this cordless vacuum will last up to 40 minutes on Min, 21 in Med, and 13 on Max. I found this accurate – I timed it at 40 minutes and 25 seconds on a single charge in the lowest suction mode. And I find that battery life is enough for vacuuming a good 800-square-feet on a single charge. However, most people will want to use the Med mode most of the time, and 21 minutes is really not enough to get much done.
(Image credit: Future)
The 40 minutes does not measure up favorably on the wider market, either. Most of today's best cordless vacuums last around 60 minutes in Min mode, and some even longer. Recharge takes around two and a half hours, which is actually quite quick, but still rather a long time to wait if you're having to stop mid-clean.
Because the battery is removable, it is possible to pick up a backup battery to extend your cleaning times – or to replace the existing battery if it starts to eventually lose charge. The power cable plugs directly into the battery, which is good news if you want to store the vacuum somewhere that's not near an outlet.
Battery life score: 3 out of 5
Should you buy the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
Budget bracket, and great value for the performance.
4.5 / 5
Design
Basic but effective, although the dustbin is smaller than I'd like.
4 / 5
Performance
Efficient pickup of dust and pet hair, although struggled with chunky particles.
4 / 5
Battery life
With a maximum of 40 mins per charge, battery life is underwhelming – most competitors manage 60 mins.
3 / 5
Buy it if...
You don't need anything fancy
This vacuum lacks fancy features but keeps all the essentials, including good pickup, three suction modes and an easy-to-empty bin.
You're on a budget
This vacuum is simple but effective, and comes in at a nice, wallet-friendly price.
You have a smaller home
This vacuum's runtimes are rather limited, but that won't be an issue if you don't have a massive area to clean.
You want a great upholstery tool
I was impressed with how efficiently this Bissell vacuum's upholstery tool pulled pet hair from an old cushion that was being used as a cat bed.
Don't buy it if...
You want something hi-tech
The Bissell PowerClean is rather simple in features. Competitor models offer things like automatic suction adjustment and info screens.
You have multiple shedding pets
As convenient as the Bissell PowerClean is, that small dustbin needs to be emptied after almost every use, and even more frequently if you have hairy pets.
You have a lot of space to cover
The battery life is the biggest weakness for this cordless vacuum. Most of the competition adds at least another 20 minutes of use before needing to be charged.
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder review: Alternatives
Dyson V11
The Dyson V11 is certainly still pricey, even if it's a bit older. But it still has that Dyson magic and does an excellent job cleaning up all sorts of debris, including pet hair. It also comes with a stronger battery life than the Bissell despite having come out in 2019.
The Shark Freestyle Max may not be modular but it's compact, has a large dust cup, and excellent suction power. Its battery life even worse than this Bissell's, and the fact it can't be reconfigured means you're more limited than most cordless stick vacuums, but it is very affordable.
To test the Bissell PowerClean FurFinder, I used it for a couple weeks, testing its vacuum capabilities not only on hardwood floors, but also tile, low pile carpet, and even a high pile bath mat. It was tested in a home that houses two dogs and a cat, plus a number of humans, a few of which have long hair. I used it at its various strengths and tested it by doing general cleaning and also running bench marks with baking soda, lentils, and cereal.
For this review, I tested the UK version. There may be minor differences between models offered in different countries.
The Shark Glam is a does-it-all styling tool that combines a tube-shaped hair dryer and various attachments for creating curls, waves, straight styles and anything in-between. The USP is two new tools that have heated ceramic elements, which work alongside the airflow to lock in styles and eliminate frizz. Named the "Silki" (the straightener attachment) and the "Glossi" (the round brush), both are designed to be used on either wet or dry hair.
It's an innovative idea that could have been a game-changer... if only Shark had provided a way to turn each one off. Surely, using hot plates on wet hair is likely to cause damage? Shark insists it's fine, because the ceramics drop to a cooler temperature when the Glam is in Wet Hair mode, but they're still too hot to touch, so I'm not convinced. Similarly, when using the Glam in Dry Hair mode, I could have done without air blowing my already-dry hair all over the place as I tried to create some shape with the Glossi round brush the day after wash day.
It's a shame that, in my opinion, this fundamental part of the Glam concept is flawed, because on other levels this tool is excellent. The dryer itself feels pleasingly compact, well balanced and comfortable to use, and it delivers powerful airflow. I was also impressed with the other accessories – the auto-wrap curl barrels work very well, the diffuser has adjustable prongs for different lengths of hair, and the double-walled concentrator feels a cut above average, too.
There's a lot to like about the Glam; but, unfortunately, it isn't the parts that are exclusive to this styler. This means it won't be knocking the Shark FlexStyle off our list of the best hair stylers any time soon. Read on for my full Shark Glam review.
(Image credit: Future)
Shark Glam review: price & availability
List price: from $399.99 / £369.99
Launch date: September 2025
Available: US and UK
The Shark Glam launched in September 2025, and is currently available widely including the US and UK (although not yet in Australia). There are a few bundle options available, with most including the dryer, Silki straightener attachment, Glossi heated brush attachment, and auto-wrap curl barrels; but beyond that they have different accessories.
In the US, you can opt for the HD6051S bundle, which includes a concentrator and FrizzFighter finishing tool. Alternatively, if you have natural curls or coils, you'd be better off with the HD6052S bundle, which has a wide-tooth comb and diffuser. Both of these options cost $449.99.
Alternatively, you can build your own bundle (HD6000) for $399.99. With this option, you get the Silki and Glossi attachments and choose two further accessories (the curl barrels are an option, but not included as standard).
In the UK, it's the HD6051SUK bundle, which comes with a FrizzFighter finishing tool, or the HD6052SUK, which swaps the finishing tool for a diffuser. Both cost £369.99.
Given the sheer variety of accessories and tools included here, the Shark Glam isn't a bad price. It's especially strong value if you'll be using all the attachments – buying an individual set of straighteners, dryer and hot brush would cost far more. However, if you don't need all the attachments, there are simpler muti-stylers available that will cost far less.
If you don't want the integrated ceramic plates (which I wouldn't personally pay extra for), you have many more options. The older Shark FlexStyle has a list price around $279.99 / £269.99. The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is notably pricier $599.99 / £479.99 – but it feels like a more premium option, and boasts a better auto-wrap curling system.
Value for money score: 3 out of 5
Shark Glam specs
Wattage:
1,500W
Temperature settings:
3 + cool shot
Speed settings:
3
Cord:
CHECK
Size w/ no attachments (L x W x H):
CHECK 4.3 x 4.1 x 27.4cm
Weight w/ no attachments:
~338g (no cord)/ 740g (with cord)
Airflow:
Not provided
Shark Glam review: design
Compact, tube-shaped dryer with lots of styling attachment options
Two attachments – Glossi and Silki – combine hot air and ceramic plates
Wet and dry modes, but no way to turn off air or ceramic plates in either
The Shark Glam is what I'd describe as the Swiss Army Knife of hair tools. The base machine is similar to that of any modern breed of multi-styler: a tube-shaped dryer, with a top section that twists to sit at 90-degrees to the handle, for easier drying. Where things get a little more exciting is in the accessories. The two most notable additions are the Silki and Glossi attachments.
(Image credit: Future)
The Silki is a straightener attachment for creating sleek, straight styles. It delivers a directed blade of air (à laDyson Airstrait) to dry hair, alongside hot ceramic plates of the type included in a traditional straightener, to smooth and remove frizz.
The Glossi is a round (or, more accurately, teardrop-shaped) brush tool. This, too, includes ceramic elements for smoothing. The asymmetrical shape is designed to enable you to get closer to the root of the hair.
(Image credit: Future)
These tools can be used in Wet Hair or Dry Hair mode, but the hot plates and the air will be on in both modes. Shark's instructions state that the hot plates will be at a lower temperature when used in Wet Hair mode, which makes the presence of settings to adjust the windspeed and temperatures manually even more baffling. Overall, the settings are confusing – even if you leave on the sticker that explains what each button does.
(Image credit: Future)
The other attachments are more standard. You get a pair of curl barrels that attract the hair, wrapping it around the barrel and setting it into curls as it finishes drying it. One barrel wraps clockwise, while the other wraps anti-clockwise; the Dyson Airwrap is still the only hair tool that offers both directions on one barrel (even the best Airwrap dupes can't manage this).
There's a variety of other compatible accessories available for the Shark Glam, but which you get will depend on the bundle you choose. Accessories include a FrizzFighter finishing tool for taming flyaways, a concentrator, a diffuser with extendable pins, and a wide-tooth comb.
(Image credit: Future)
The off-white and gold colorway of my review model looks stylish, but is ruined slightly by the bulky, somewhat ugly-looking plug. You'll also need to earth it by pressing two buttons simultaneously before each use (this is for the UK version; I'm not sure what the situation will be in other countries). My review model came in a soft carry case.
Design score: 3.5 out of 5
Shark Glam review: performance
Attachments feel secure, and airflow is powerful
Silki straightener is a bit unwieldy and can't get right to the root
Concerns about heat damage from using hot plates on wet hair
While I like the idea of combining hot air and ceramic plates in one do-it-all tool, I'm baffled that there's no way to turn either element off. Shark assures me that the hot plates won't cause damage when used on wet hair, but I remain unconvinced. In Wet Hair mode, the plates are meant to drop to a lower temperature; but this temperature is still too hot to touch with your fingers. Similarly, when used for a second-day touchup, I don't really need the Shark Glam to be blowing hot air onto my already-dry hair. It's just annoying.
During the review period, I also found the controls confusing. It isn't clear if the Wet Hair / Dry Hair mode slider switch overrides the manual controls or vice versa.
(Image credit: Future)
My experience with the Silki straightening tool was mixed. One side of the straightener is much chunkier than the other, which makes it feel a little unwieldy if you're coming from using traditional straighteners. It also means that on one side of your hair, the chunky bit will be next to your head, and you won't be able to get close to your root (worth flagging that we had the same complaint with the Dyson Airstrait; the other major wet-to-straight option on the market). However, it did leave me with fairly smooth, straight locks once I was done.
(Image credit: Future)
It was a similarly mixed experience with the Glossi brush tool. The ceramic elements are tucked in on one side, and again you can't get right up to the root, despite the teardrop shaping. When used on wet hair, I found this setup did help deliver a smoother final look compared to using just a hot brush. However, when used on the day after washing, the hot air blasted my dry hair around and made styling tricky.
(Image credit: Future)
In terms of the basics, things are much more positive. The dryer itself is lightweight and comfortable to hold, and delivers strong airflow and a good range of temperatures at which to style hair. The attachments clip on and off securely, and I like the way the top section of the dryer can be twisted and redirected for more comfortable use.
I could also tell that a good amount of thought had gone into the design of the other attachments (the ones that don't have ceramic elements). The diffuser, for example, has pins that can be made longer or shorter to suit your hair length. And although the bubble-shaped curl barrels look a bit odd, they work perfectly well in practice.
(Image credit: Future)
Overall, though, I'm struggling to get on board with the Shark Glam because of my earlier complaint. Without the ability to switch off the air and heated elements on and off independently of one another, I can't see myself reaching for the Shark Glam as my preferred styling tool in any situation. I'd use it with the curl barrels attached as an Airwrap alternative... but that part is the same as the (cheaper) Shark FlexStyle.
Performance score: 3 out of 5
Should you buy the Shark Glam?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
You're getting a lot of tech for your money, but there are cheaper options if you don't want the ceramic elements.
3 / 5
Design
The decision to combine air and heated ceramics is innovative, but it's baffling that you can't use each one independently. Otherwise, well-designed and built.
3 / 5
Performance
Decent results, but using hot plates on wet hair surely isn't great for long-term hair health, and it's annoying to have air blowing at dry hair. Good results from the other tools, including curl barrels.
3 / 5
Buy it if...
You want the most versatile multi-styler
To my knowledge, this is the only multi-styler on the market to offer both hot plates and airflow in one tool. There's no style that the Glam couldn't (theoretically) create.
You struggle with frizz
The ceramic elements help smooth out frizz in a way that air alone can't do.
You spot a great deal
Although I wouldn't pay a premium to get the Glossi and Silki tools, if I spotted a deal I'd be very tempted – the basics are great here, including the auto-wrap curl barrels.
Don't buy it if...
You're worried about hair health
There's no way to switch off the ceramic plates on the Silki and Glossi tools, even in Wet Hair mode. Shark says it's fine, but I can't see how that wouldn't cause heat damage.
You already have a straightener
The Silki attachment is a little unwieldy – and considering you can't turn off the hot plates and just use the directed airflow, if you already have a pair of straighteners, then you might as well use them.
How I tested the Shark Glam
I used the Shark Glam as my main styling tool over the course of several weeks. I have frizz-prone, armpit-length wavy hair with some particularly curly patches. I tested the Glam in Wet Hair mode and Dry Hair mode (on wet and dry hair), and used all the different attachments, including the Glossi and Silki. I compared the results to what I could achieve with other multi-stylers I've tested, including the Dyson Airwrap i.d., the Shark FlexStyle and the Dreame AirStyle Pro.
For this review, I tested the IZ380UK. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.
The Shark PowerPro Cordless is a capable, no-nonsense stick vacuum that prioritizes consistent performance and everyday value over flashy extras. It’s one of the most affordable cordless models we've tested, yet it comes with very few compromises where it matters. And while its build isn’t premium, it's not a barebones vacuum either: one of the key selling points is automatic surface detection, which adjusts power as you move from carpet to hard flooring. It's a very strong contender for TechRadar's best budget vacuums guide.
Despite the budget price, you also get hallmark Shark touches like an anti-hair wrap brushroll, a flexible wand for reaching under furniture, plus a floorhead with built-in LEDs that illuminate dust and dark corners. Taken together, these features – borrowed from pricier models in Shark’s line-up – make the PowerPro feel like a far more rounded tool than its price might suggest.
That’s not to say it’s flawless. In places, the no-frills build betrays its budget status. It all clicks together with solidity, but there are some plastic components that cheapen the experience – particularly the boost trigger.
The appeal here lies in the PowerPro’s stripped-back convenience. You’re getting a functional, reliable vacuum with a handful of well-executed features that are genuinely useful in everyday use.
The interface is foolproof: there are no modes to select. Instead, the Floor Detect head automatically chooses the right setting based on the surface you’re cleaning. All you have to think about is using the Boost trigger at your fingertips. It won't offer dirt detection or edge detection (as found on the best Shark vacuums in the lineup), but this floor-based adjustment is useful nonetheless.
In use, the PowerPro is balanced and maneuverable. The floorhead moves easily over different surfaces, while the hinged wand unlatches to give you flexible reach beneath beds and sofas. Switch to a handheld configuration and the PowerPro is impressively lightweight. It’s slightly bulky for tackling tighter spaces like car footwells, but the crevice attachments help to hit nooks and crannies.
While not as powerful as the Shark PowerDetect cordless, the PowerPro performed impressively well in my cleaning tests. Suction was strong on carpeted floors, lifting both visible debris and ingrained dust without repeated passes. It also handled fine dust and heavier particles on hard floors, though Boost mode was useful for picking up larger pieces. One caveat is that the brush bar sits inset within the floorhead, which means it can struggle to get right into edges along skirting boards.
Battery life is decent, too. Although there's no battery-maximizing Eco mode, in Auto mode I achieved a very decent 40 minute average when cleaning a combination of carpeted and hard flooring. At around 3 hours, the PowerPro is relatively quick to recharge, too. Because the power plugs directly into the removable battery, you could enlist a backup battery if you wanted to extend runtimes.
The Shark PowerPro isn’t the most stylish or advanced stick vacuum on the market, but it might be the best cordless vacuum for budget-conscious shoppers. But with consistently strong performance, good battery life and a few thoughtful features, it’s a strong choice for households who need a no-fuss solution for busting dust. Robust enough for daily use, the PowerPro offers excellent overall value.
The Shark PowerPro launched in early 2025, and is widely available from Shark and various third-party retailers. At list price, the standard model costs $329.99 in the US, £249.99 in the UK and AU$399.99 in Australia. That puts this model towards the bottom of the mid-range bracket, but at time of writing it's heavily discounted in all territories.
Based on price history, it looks like discounts are fairly common, and you shouldn't have too much trouble picking up the PowerPro for closer to $200 / £180 / AU$300 – which is firmly in TechRadar's budget price bracket, despite it offering several features found on Shark’s pricier models.
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
There are a few bundle options around with different tools included (for example, the 'Pet' version has a mini motorized cleaner head for furniture), as well as a more advanced 'Flex Reveal' version in some territories. For this review, I tested the IZ380UK version, which ships with crevice and upholstery tools, in addition to the standard floorhead.
Based on the current discounts, the PowerPro is one of the most affordable Shark cordless vacuums, and I think its priced well for what it delivers. As a simple, effective cordless vacuum with a streamlined but useful featureset, it offers excellent value for money in its class.
Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5
Shark PowerPro specs
Weight (handheld unit w/ no attachments):
7.6 lbs / 3.45kg
Weight (with wand and floorhead):
3.7 lbs / 1.7kg
Dimensions (H x L x W):
45 x 12.4 x 10.4in / 114.3 x 31.6 x 26.4cm
Floorhead width:
8.5in / 21.5cm
Onboard bin capacity:
0.7L
LED headlights:
Yes
Max suction:
Not stated
Max runtime:
50 mins advertised, 40 mins on test
Charge time:
3hrs 30 mins
Shark PowerPro Cordless vacuum review: design
No-frills construction feels plasticky but sturdy
Flexible wand and bright floorhead LEDs
No wall mount, but locking floorhead helps it lean steady
The Shark PowerPro follows a practical design philosophy. It doesn’t pretend to be a premium vacuum, but still includes several thoughtful touches that elevate it above basic alternatives. It’s not an ugly unit either, although Shark has focused on functional choices rather than aesthetic refinement.
Out of the box, the PowerPro feels solid enough for daily use. Everything clicks together with a reassuring snap. That said, the construction leans heavily on plastics. Parts like the boost trigger and dustbin release latches feel hollow, while there’s some flex and creak in the casing, giving a clear indication of where costs have been saved. These don’t affect performance, but they do contribute to a less premium impression than pricier Shark models.
The PowerPro follows a familiar cordless stick design. There’s a tidily packaged handheld unit that attaches to a motorized floorhead at the base. Shark’s useful 'MultiFLEX / Flexology' wand is also part of the setup. A latched hinge in the middle allows it to bend, letting you reach more easily beneath furniture without crouching. It’s a feature usually found on Shark’s more expensive cordless models, so it’s a welcome presence at this price point.
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The main unit is very lightweight, and while the wand and floorhead is less so, with that attached it still sits at the lighter end of the stick vacuum market.
The simple handle design isn’t exactly ergonomic, but it’s comfortable enough to maneuver in general use, thanks in part to the lightness of the main unit. It’s slightly too bulky for very tight spaces like car footwells, but the included crevice and upholstery tools help to maximize reach. The accessory set included with the classic model is modest, but it covers most essential tasks around the house.
Controls are deliberately minimal. Because the Floor Detect head automatically adjusts suction based on whether you’re tackling carpet or hard floors, there are no settings to toggle through. There’s just a power button and the boost trigger at the tip of your index finger. Three illuminated icons on top of the handheld unit show which mode is active, while three more on the battery show the charge level. This is less accurate than a digital readout, a feature not commonly found at this price.
At ground level, built-in LEDs illuminate dust and debris on darker surfaces. In contrast to more expensive Shark models like the Shark Detect IW4621KT, these headlights aren’t reactive depending on how well-lit the area is. They’re simply on whenever the vacuum is running, which will be perfectly fine for most users.
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At 0.7L, the dustbin slightly smaller than average, although it fills less quickly than you’d expect. The design of the dustbin itself is slightly unusual. To empty it, you press a latch to remove the entire bin from the handheld unit, before releasing the bottom door via another button. This adds an extra step compared to vacuums with direct drop-bottom bins, but it does help to reduce accidental spillage.
Charging the PowerPro isn’t as neat as it could be. The position of the charging port on top of the battery pack means that the cable trails up and over the handheld unit. It would be more natural if the port were positioned beneath it, but this is a necessary compromise to make the battery removable. The pay-off is that you can disconnect the cell to charge it, unlocking the option to keep several back-up batteries ready to swap in.
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The PowerPro doesn’t include a wall mount or charging dock, which you’d expect to receive with a more expensive model. Instead, you’ll need to lean it up against a wall when you need a pause in cleaning. The unit can’t stand upright on its own at full height, but the floorhead can at least lock at 90 degrees, to stop it rolling away from the wall.
The forward-bending wand also enables you to fold the unit completely in half and lock it that way for more compact storage. These are neat practical touches for a model sold without a stand.
Design score: 4 out of 5
Shark PowerPro IZ380UK review: performance
Solid debris pick-up on carpets and hard floors
Brushroll misses edges
Automatic adjustment based on floor type works well
Performance is where the Shark PowerPro sets itself apart from other budget stick vacuums. On test, it consistently demonstrated effective debris pick-up, removing both surface-level and embedded dirt from carpet with just a single forward-and-back pass.
The Floor Detect head does much of the heavy lifting here. As you move the PowerPro from hard floor to carpet and vice versa, it automatically adjusts the power to suit the surface. The system is quick to respond to changes, with no lag to speak of. Suction is noticeably stronger on carpet, where the floorhead feels like it’s really pulling up dirt.
As a result, the PowerPro performed very well in my carpet tests. Tackling the fine, dry contents of a teabag sprinkled on a medium-pile carpet, the Shark PowerPro collected almost everything in its path with a single pass. The remnants were tidied up on the return sweep. It also dealt well with larger debris. 30g of oats were removed cleanly enough, with little in the way of snow-ploughing or scattering. This is an area where many budget cordless vacuums falter.
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
The PowerPro didn’t just grab visible debris, either: it also pulled up ingrained dust. After a week of regular use, the bin was still filling with fine grey dust and fluff during my tests, highlighting how effectively the PowerPro can lift deep-set dirt that other vacuums have left behind.
It’s also a strong performer on hard flooring. Fine tea disappeared cleanly from kitchen vinyl, as did drill dust. Standard suction was enough to collect heavier particles like oats, though switching to boost mode did speed things up.
Unlike some vacuums, the PowerPro generally didn’t push debris around or scatter it on hard floors. For the best performance, however, you might want to consider upgrading to a Shark PowerDetect Cordless, which has an extra flap added to the floorhead that specifically enables it to clear large particles on the reverse stroke.
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
The boost trigger deserves a special mention. While designed as a temporary power uplift rather than an always-on mode, it provides a genuinely significant increase in suction. I found it especially useful for tackling stubborn debris in carpet fibers and lifting heavier crumbs on hard floors. Running in Boost mode does cut battery life considerably, but for targeted use, it’s a welcome addition.
Edge performance is one area where the PowerPro shows some limitations. The brushroll is inset slightly within the floorhead, which means the suction window doesn’t reach right up to the bottom of cabinets and furniture.
When I scattered tea and oats along a skirting board, a thin strip remained even after a high-powered pass. This is a limitation of the head design rather than the power, and it means you’ll need to use the crevice tool for spotless edges.
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
The Floor Detect head features Shark’s anti-hair wrap head, with built-in rubber fins designed to stop strands from tangling around the brush bar. Over several weeks of running the PowerPro across carpets where longer human hair had been shed naturally, it worked very well.
The brushroll stayed broadly free from tangles and I didn’t need to cut away any wrapped strands, which is something many cheaper sticks struggle with. It’s another feature typically found on Shark’s pricier models that works just as effectively here.
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Noise is well-controlled, too. Those rubber fins produce a low rumble on carpet as they whizz around inside the floorhead, while the handheld unit generates a relatively modest whine that only becomes pronounced when Boost mode is active.
To my ears, the PowerPro is quieter than other cordless vacuums I’ve tested. It’s not exactly hushed, but it avoids the harsh, high-pitched tones common among budget sticks. This makes it a better choice for households where noise sensitivity is a factor.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Shark PowerPro review: battery
No Eco mode, average of 40 mins in Auto
Boost mode reduces battery life to <15 minutes
Battery removable, and can be charged independently
Shark quotes the PowerPro's battery life at 50 minutes. In reality, run-time varies a fair bit based on what and where you vacuum. Cleaning carpets is more power-hungry than hard floors, for example, while liberal use of the boost trigger will put a serious dent in the performance figures.
Unlike other Shark vacuums, the PowerPro doesn’t have an low-powered Eco setting. Because of this, you can’t force it to be more frugal by disabling the Floor Detect mode. Instead, it will always assess the surface it’s running over and adjust power accordingly.
As a result, you’ll get longer battery life if your home has hard floors throughout, versus one that’s clad primarily with carpet. My own home has an even balance of the two, meaning the numbers I achieved in my tests should be fairly representative of real-world performance across different surfaces.
Over several runs, I consistently netted between 35 and 45 minutes from full to flat. Taking the average as 40 minutes, that unsurprisingly comes in lower than the official number. It also puts the PowerPro a step below the best cordless vacuums when it comes to longevity – although do bear in mind that the given runtimes will almost always be for the Eco mode.
For me, 40 minutes felt like a healthy amount of time for a single stint and a competitive number for the price category. It’s certainly enough to cover a single-story home and have some charge left in the tank.
The more modest capacity also gives the PowerPro a shorter charge time than other models. Shark says it takes “approximately 3 hours” to fully charge the IZ380UK, which proved an accurate figure in my experience. While that’s hardly instantaneous, many vacuums take significantly longer.
(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
Using Boost mode does have a considerable effect on battery life. Keeping my finger held on the trigger brought the number down to around 15 minutes. That's actually a strong runtime for a Boost mode – but it still reflects the fact that it’s intended to be used as a brief uplift for tougher debris, rather than an always-on solution for high-powered cleaning.
The PowerPro also benefits from a removable battery. The cell itself can be charged while detached from the vacuum. This means you can extend runtime by keeping a second back-up battery charged, ready to swap in when the first one runs flat.
Battery life score: 4 out of 5
Should you buy the Shark PowerPro Cordless vacuum?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
A budget vacuum that represents excellent value, given its solid performance and surface detection smarts.
4.5 / 5
Design
The no-frills build feels plasticky in places, but it’s sturdy enough. A wall-mount would make charging neater, given the vacuum can’t stand up on its own.
4 / 5
Performance
Strong pickup and surface detection works well, with Boost mode available for tackling more stubborn debris. The brushroll doesn’t get right into corners.
4 / 5
Battery
No Eco mode, but an average of 40 minutes in Auto is very decent, as is the ~15 mins in Boost. Recharge is speedy.
4 / 5
Buy it if...
You want a great-value vacuum With impressive suction, solid battery life and decent build quality at a competitive price, the Shark PowerPro ticks a lot of boxes for the money.
You prefer a simpler interface With just two modes, a power button and a Boost trigger to master, the Shark PowerPro is more straightforward than many vacuums on the market.
You want a lightweight vacuum In handheld mode the PowerPro is impressively light, and even with the (rather chunky) wand attached, it's on the lighter side for a stick vacuum.
Don't buy it if...
You need all the bells and whistles While it has a Floor Detect head with built-in lights, you don’t get the edge detection smarts or charging dock of premium Shark vacuums.
You want premium build quality The plastic body is robust enough to shake off bumps around the house, but the boost trigger and bin release latch feel cheaper than rivals.
You expect perfect pick-up The floorhead does a great job of sucking up dust, it's not as powerful as the PowerDetect, and the brushroll doesn’t get right into corners either.
How I tested the Shark PowerPro Cordless vacuum
Used as my main vacuum cleaner for a month
Tested across hard and carpeted floors at home
Conducted standardized tests for debris pick-up
I tested the Shark PowerPro IZ380UK over a period of several weeks. I used it as my main vacuum cleaner in my own home, which has a mix of both carpeted and hard surfaces. Before running any formal tests, I used the PowerPro for ordinary daily cleaning to get an understanding of its general performance, noise levels, maneuverability and battery life.
I then moved on to running the PowerPro through TechRadar’s standard vacuum testing protocol. To assess fine dust pick-up, I sprinkled the contents of a dry teabag on both carpet and hard flooring, then passed over the area with the PowerPro on its standard setting. For a trial with larger debris, I repeated the process with a bag of oats. I only switched to Boost mode if the floorhead failed to collect everything on the first pass.
To test edge performance, I distributed tea and oats along skirting boards then checked how much was left behind when I ran the floorhead flush along them. I also evaluated hair pick-up by running the anti-hair wrap brushroll over areas of carpet home to longer strands, to see whether any tangled around the brush bar.
I measured battery life first by charging the vacuum to full, then running it continuously across a mix of surfaces until it powered down. I then charged it fully again to confirm the recharge time, before repeating the process to get an accurate average of battery life. I also ran similar trials using boost mode to verify the higher-powered run-time.
Finally, In tested the included crevice and upholstery tools on furniture, stairs and inside a car footwell to evaluate how effectively they picked up dirt, as well as the balance and reach of the unit as a handheld tool. Throughout my tests, I also paid attention to functionality and ease of use, especially when it came to regular actions in real-world situations, like emptying the bin.
The Lavazza Assoluta is a fully automatic espresso machine with an interesting selling point: when you scan the barcode on a pack of Lavazza beans using the smartphone app, the machine automatically optimizes its own brew settings to deliver optimally extracted, well-balanced coffee.
I was somewhat skeptical about how well this would work, particularly since the Assoluta only has two grind sizes (most machines have 15 or more. In practice, however, it does seem to work well. I tested two very different types of Lavazza coffee, and both times the machine extracted a shot of espresso in 30 seconds, which is pretty much ideal.
The downside is that brewing coffee using your own beans will be hit-and-miss (as Lavazza itself warns), so this isn't a machine for anyone who wants to delve into the world of speciality coffee from independent roasters.
(Image credit: Future)
The Assoluta also has an unusual milk-frothing system, consisting of a large glass cup with a lid containing a steam wand and motorized whisk. Fill the mug with milk to the appropriate measuring line, push it under the coffee dispenser, choose a drink, and two minutes later you'll have a latte or cappuccino topped with rich, creamy foam. It works very well, but the lid can't be used with your regular cups. If there's more than one coffee-drinker at home, you might want to pick up another Lavazza cup so you can both enjoy a drink at the same time.
The Assoluta is advertised for £699.95 (about $920 / AU$1,400), but that price drops to £349.95 (about $460 / AU$700) when you also subscribe to Lavazza's coffee delivery service. Since the machine is specifically designed to work with Lavazza's branded coffee, this is a good option for regular coffee-drinkers.
Lavazza Assoluta: specifications
Name
Lavazza Assoluta
Type
Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine
Dimensions (W x H x D)
8.7 x 14 x 17.1 inches / 22 x 35.8 x 43.5cm
Weight
22lbs / 10kg
Water reservoir capacity
1.6 quarts / 1.5 liters
Milk frother
Yes (in cup lid)
Bars of pressure
Not stated
User profiles
n/a
Lavazza Assoluta: price and availability
Available now in Europe
Australian release expected in early 2026
Not expected to launch in the US
Half price with a Lavazza coffee subscription plan
The Lavazza Assoluta is only available in Europe at the time of writing (November 2025), but is expected to arrive in Australia in early 2026. Lavazza currently has no plan to release the machine in the US.
The Assoluta has a list price of £699.95 (about $920 / AU$1,400) when bought alone, or £349.95 (about $460 / AU$700) when you also sign up to Lavazza’s coffee subscription service.
The subscription price is very reasonable, and cheaper than anything in my roundup of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines, but Lavazza’s website doesn’t actually seem to let you buy the machine alone at full price. I’ve enquired about this with Lavazza, and will update this review when I have more information.
Value score: 4.5/5
Lavazza Assoluta: design
Attractive and solidly made
Easy to clean and maintain
Fold-out tray for espresso cups
Glass cup has milk frother in lid
The Lavazza Assoluta is a large, but good-looking automatic espresso machine with a bronze-colored plastic case and bright LED control panel.
When the Lavazza Assoluta is switched on, a light on top illuminates to show its current status (ready to brew, brewing, connecting to Wi-Fi, or requiring attention). Turning the top of the bean hopper left or right will adjust the "aroma", changing the dosage of coffee for a stronger or milder drink.
Turn the dial on top of the machine a few degrees to adjust the "aroma" (or dosage) (Image credit: Future)
The bean hopper has a control for adjusting the grind size, but there are only two settings: fine and coarse. The finer you grind your beans, the longer it takes for water to pass through. Most espresso machines offer at least 15 settings so you can get exactly the right extraction time for your particular beans, so the fact that this machine offers only two is surprising.
The water tank is solidly made with a sturdy handle, but it’s worth bearing in mind that it lifts out of the back vertically, so you’ll need plenty of space above the machine. If you place the Assoluta under a cabinet, be prepared to slide it out whenever it’s time for a refill.
The left-hand side of the machine has a large panel that provides easy access to the Assoluta’s brewing group for cleaning, and the drip tray pulls out to reveal the dump box for used coffee grounds. The machine won’t warn you when this needs emptying; personally, I recommend doing this at the end of each day, cleaning the box and drip tray, and leaving them out overnight so everything has a chance to dry out.
The Assoluta has a small flip-down drip tray for espresso cups (Image credit: Future)
The Assoluta has a small fold-out tray to hold an espresso cup, but if you want to make a milky drink then you’ll need to use the large Lavazza Trasparenza Collection mug supplied in the box.
Unlike most automatic espresso machines, which dispense foamed milk from a carafe, the Assoluta requires you to fill your mug with milk, then place a special lid on top. This lid contains a steam wand and electric whisk, which foam the milk for your lattes and cappuccinos before the Assoluta pours a shot of espresso on top.
The milk-frothing system works well, but can only be used with Lavazza's own large glass coffee cup (Image credit: Future)
I’ve never seen a system quite like it before, and although it works (read on for more details), it means you can’t use your favorite mugs with the machine, and all your milky drinks will end up being quite large. The cup has minimum and maximum fill lines to indicate how much milk to add.
The fact that the machine only comes with a single mug also means that you’ll be drinking your lattes alone unless you purchase a second Trasparenza cup for $22.70 / £15 (about AU$30).
Design score: 3.5/5
Lavazza Assoluta: performance
Before using the Assoluta for the first time, you’ll need to install the Piacere Lavazza app on your phone, and connect it via Bluetooth. Many of the best espresso machines I’ve tested have their own apps, but these are usually pretty limited. They might allow you to update your machine’s firmware and view its instruction manual, but that’s usually it.
The Piacere Lavazza app is different. Once set up, give it permission to access your phone’s camera, scan the barcode on your bag of Lavazza espresso beans, and it will transmit the optimal brew settings to the Assoluta. The machine will then configure itself accordingly, selecting the ideal dosage and brew temperature. The only thing it can’t adjust itself is grind size, so you’ll need to do that by turning the dial inside the bean hopper as instructed.
Scan the barcode on your coffee with the Piacere Lavazza app to configure the machine (Image credit: Future)
As mentioned above, the Assoluta has just two grind sizes, so I was a bit skeptical about how well it would be able to cope with different bean types. After all, dialling in a coffee grinder is often one of the trickiest parts of making a well-extracted espresso, with even small adjustments making a big difference. However, when I tried it out with different Lavazza beans, I was pleasantly surprised.
The machine I tested came with a pack of Lavazza Espresso Barista Gran Crema coffee beans, and I bought an extra pack of Lavazza Espresso Italiano Classico to see how well it coped with both types. The Barista Gran Crema is made using a blend of light roasted arabica and robusta beans, while the Italiano Classico is 100% arabica and more similar to the coffee I usually choose at home.
Brewing a double-shot of espresso took 30 seconds with both Lavazza blends I tested (Image credit: Future)
I timed how long it took the Assoluta to extract a shot of espresso, and in both cases it took exactly 30 seconds from the moment the pump started, which is pretty much ideal. Although it was lightly roasted, I found that the robusta beans in the Barista Gran Crema gave the coffee a slightly more bitter, traditionally Italian flavor, while the Italiano Classico (which required the finer grind size) was fruitier and sweeter.
I’d have liked to try Lavazza’s whole range with the Assoluta if my budget allowed, but I was impressed at how well the machine dealt with these two very different coffees. The downside is that results with your own coffee are likely to be hit-and-miss. You might find that one of the two grind sizes works reasonably well, but if not, you’re going to be left with a disappointing shot of espresso - and Lavazza does warn you that this might happen. You can’t use your own grinder either, because unlike some bean-to-cup coffee makers, the Assoluta doesn’t have a chute for pre-ground coffee.
The milk-foaming system works particularly well with full-fat dairy milk (Image credit: Future)
During my tests, the Assoluta’s unusual milk-frothing system worked best with full-fat dairy milk, and I attained the best results using the thick foam setting. You're instructed to place the lid on the cup so that its steam spout is opposite the handle. The lid never looks like it’s sitting completely flush with the rim of the cup, but in practice this doesn’t seem to matter; I never had any trouble with milk splashing out, even when using the maximum recommended quantity.
It will take about two minutes to foam your milk, after which the machine will pour your coffee through the top and bleep to let you know your drink is ready. Removing the whisk and steam pipe from the cup disturbs the foam and makes the top of your drink look a little untidy, but that’s a very minor quibble. Despite the long steaming time, the milk isn’t overheated, and the Assoluta creates consistently creamy, sweet-tasting foam.
Image 1 of 2
Creating custom drinks in the Lavazza app is much easier than using a tiny touchscreen (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
You'll find various hot drink recipes in the Lavazza app, which will help you make them using the Assoluta (Image credit: Future)
Steaming and whisking the milk directly in the cup is unusual, but it means that you’re not limited to making coffee with the Assoluta – you can also use it to prepare hot chocolate following the instructions provided in the app, which is packed with recipes. They’re well worth perusing, and work in a similar way to the Cookidoo app for the Thermomix all-in-one cooker, taking you through preparation of your preferred drink step-by-step.
You can also use the app to create custom drink recipes from scratch, adjusting the coffee volume, temperature, aroma (coffee dosage), and milk thickness. The machine itself offers quite a small menu of presets, but the app makes it easy to tinker with brewing options, walking you through the process one step at a time.
Worried you might be overdoing the caffeine? The Lavazza app keeps track of how much you're drinking (Image credit: Future)
If you're concerned that you might be drinking too much caffeine, the app even keeps track of your consumption over the past day, week, month, and year, with a breakdown of the type of coffee you tend to drink most often. It's a nice extra feature (and potentially eye-opening).
Performance: 4/5
Should you buy the Lavazza Assoluta?
Lavazza Assoluta score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
Very affordable if you also subscribe to Lavazza's coffee subscription service, but not available in the US.
4.5/5
Design
Good-looking and easy to clean, but milk can only be frothed using Lavazza's large lidded mug, plus the grinder has just two settings.
3.5/4
Performance
Brews consistently good coffee with Lavazza's own beans, and customizing drinks using the app is a breeze. You may not be able to achieve good results with other beans. Foamed milk is thick and creamy.
4/5
Buy it if
You like long, milky drinks
You can only prepare lattes and cappuccinos using the Trasparenza Collection Lavazza Mug, which is pretty huge. Great if you want to be able to wrap your hands around a big, warm drink for cozy nights in.
You want simplicity, but don't like pods
If you like the idea of using fresh coffee beans, but don't want the hassle of setting up a coffee machine perfectly to use them, the Assoluta does the calculations for you.
You want to make more than coffee
The Lavazza Assoluta's unusual milk-frothing system is ideal for making hot chocolate drinks, or making milky drinks infused with syrup.
Don't buy it if
You love experimenting with speciality coffees
The Assoluta is designed to be used with Lavazza's own espresso beans, and although you can use your own, the machine only has two grind sizes, so you have very little control when dialling it in.
You're attached to your own coffee cups
The Lavazza Assoluta's milk-frothing system only works with the large glass mug supplied with the machine.
Lavazza Assoluta: also consider
If you're not completely sold on the Lavazza Assoluta, here are two other espresso machines to think about:
Ninja Prestige DualBrew System
This machine gives you both, with a full-size filter coffee maker, a Nespresso machine, and a pull-out milk frother. It's extremely convenient, and particularly handy if you're bleary-eyed and sluggish in the morning.
An excellent little bean-to-cup espresso machine for small households, and particularly easy to keep clean and fresh. It brews hot and cold, and offers an impressive menu of 20 different coffee drinks.
I tested the Assoluta with the Lavazza Espresso Barista Gran Crema beans that came packaged with it, as well as Lavazza Espresso Italiano Classico beans, which I bought myself. I made sure that all the beans in the hopper were finished before changing beans, to prevent mixing.
I installed the Piacere Lavazza app on my phone, and used it to choose the correct brewing profile for each type of coffee, then timed how long it took the Assoluta to brew a shot of espresso with each one.
(Image credit: Future)
I tested the milk frother with both plant-based and dairy milk, and used both regular and thick milk texture settings. I also tried different drink recipes from the Piacere Lavazza app, and used it to make custom beverages.
Shark Stratos DuoClean PowerFins Hair Pro Upright Vacuum AZ3002
Shark can be erratic with its naming, so check the product code to make sure you're buying the model you think you're buying. There are similar but slightly different models available in the UK and Australia (I tested a US vacuum).
The Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 is a corded upright vacuum that packs plenty of cleaning power. Although bulky and heavy compared to a stick vacuum, it has a modular design that means you can remove the bin and hold it in your hand, while you use the wand on a flexible hose to tackle cleaning tasks off the floor. In floor mode, it will propel itself forwards when switched on, making it easier to drive (although at times it did feel like it was running away from me).
I've been using this vacuum on-and-off for a little over a year, so I've had plenty of opportunity to try it out on different floor types and see how it copes with different cleaning challenges. I'd rate it amongst the best upright vacuums around. It sucks up large and fine debris with ease, and handles hair well, too. It comes with a range of tools that are useful for tackling detail work, and with the pod removed it's easy to slide the wand under furniture and clean thoroughly in tight corners and right up against baseboards.
The main floorhead is kitted out with headlamps to help you spot dirt and fluff in dark corners, as well as an odor-neutralizing puck to keep things smelling fresh. Underneath are two rollers that work in tandem to tackle different floor types – a softer roller helps polish hard floors, and a firm roller with rubber fins helps agitate carpet fibers.
It's not the most advanced Shark Upright, and lacks some of the special features of newer models like the Shark PowerDetect Upright – including an Auto mode, which I missed here. However, it's still an excellent all-rounder, and worthy of consideration if you're hunting for the best vacuum for your needs.
The Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 launched several years ago, and is available to buy in the US. There are similar models in the UK and Australia, but with slightly different product codes.
At list price, this vacuum costs $529.99 on the SharkNinja website. It's also available to buy via third party retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy.
That price puts it in TechRadar's mid-range bracket for vacuums in general, but is rather expensive in the context of corded uprights. It's a high-quality vacuum cleaner that works really well and comes with plenty of accessories, so I think the price is justified. There are cheaper, still capable, uprights on the market if it's out of your budget, though.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 specs
Type:
Corded upright
Weight:
22.7 lbs / 10.3kg
Bin size:
1.5 qts / 1.4 L
Size (H x W x L):
46.5 x 11 x 12.2 in / 118.1 x 27.9x 31cm
Filter:
HEPA, felt and washable foam
Max suction:
Not provided
Modes:
Hard floor, Carpet/low pile, Thick carpet/area rug
Cord length:
25 ft / 7.62m
Flexible hose length:
3 ft / 0.9m
Product code:
AZ3002
Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 review: design
Modular design – can remove the motor section and hold in your hand
Floorhead for any floor type, and fitted with odor-neutralizing cartridge
Three suction levels to choose from but no auto mode
The first thing I noticed when unboxing the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 is the plethora of accessories. My review model came with a Crevice tool, Upholstery tool, and HairPro self-cleaning pet power brush for detail cleaning, plus an odor-neutralizer cartridge to slot into the floorhead. I found everything relatively easy to put together without needing to consult the manual.
As is almost always the case with upright vacuums, the Stratos AZ3002 is relatively bulky and heavy – especially compared to the best cordless stick vacuums on the market. However, here you can detach the pod that contains the dust cup and hold it in your hand while you use the wand on a flexible hose, which makes things like cleaning the stairs far easier.
This model is corded, so you'll need to deal with the relative inconvenience of having to unplug and re-plug as you clean. The cord is also shorter than I'd like, at just 25 ft / 7.62m.
(Image credit: Future)
One design feature I like is the ability to choose from three suction levels: one for hard flooring, one for low-pile carpet and one for thick carpet. A lot of corded uprights just have one setting, but I appreciate that I can customize the cleaning based on floor type here.
However, it's not the most advanced of the Shark uprights – the Shark PowerDetect Upright has an Auto mode whereby it'll increase or decrease suction based on how much dirt is on the floor. This vacuum will also amp up power when the vacuum nears the edge of a room, and has a floorhead that's designed to be able to pick up chunky debris when it's pulled backwards over it. None of those features are included on the Stratos Upright.
(Image credit: Future)
The main floorhead contains two motorized brushrolls that work in harmony to clean different flooring types. In the front is the soft roller, which picks up dust and helps polish hard floors. In the back is the PowerFins roller, which has rubbery fins to agitate carpet fibers, as well as helping to scoop up chunkier debris on hard floors.
One special feature which crops up on a number of the best Shark vacuums is an odor neutralizer cartridge. Here, it sits directly in the main floorhead, and can be rotated to raise or lower the intensity. I'm sensitive to some fragrances, but fortunately, on a low setting, the scent is not overpowering. It's a mild and clean fragrance. If you don't like this feature, the cartridge can be removed and won't affect the vacuum's actual performance.
The dustbin can hold 1.5 quarts / 1.4 liters of dust and debris at a time, which is far more than you'd fit into a cordless stick vacuum, but not as generous as you'll find on some upright models. However, it's nice and easy to empty: simply press the release button on the top of the pod and then push the level on the back to open the lid.
There are two types of filters in the vacuum: the HEPA filter, and the pre-motor filters (foam and felt filters), both of which will need cleaning semi-regularly and eventually replacing.
Design score: 4 out of 5
Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 review: performance
Great suction on both hard floors and carpet
Cleans under low furniture (sofas and beds)
Reaches into tight spaces and above floor places
I was impressed with the powerful suction of the Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum. The company does not specifically list the suction power, but it's strong enough to easily remove debris on both hard floors and carpeted surfaces. While relatively weighty, it also propels itself forwards when turned on, which makes it easier to drive – although sometimes, when steering, it seems like the vacuum is almost going to topple over.
On hard floors, the brushroll is so strong that sometimes, during my tests with instant grits, a few specs would scatter or fly away. This did not happen on carpet, or with heavier types of debris – and I'm not deducting any points for the few scatters.
Throughout my time using the Stratos AZ3002, I never had any issues with hair getting tangled in the brushroll system. I don't have pets, but this vacuum pulled up my own short hairs with ease, and in general I think it'd make a good vacuum for pet hair – corded uprights like this one almost always have more suction than cordless stick vacuums, and I was certainly impressed with this model's cleaning power.
(Image credit: Future)
To get a more objective view of the AZ3002's performance, I ran a series of suction tests. In my first test, I opened a packet of dry apple cider tea and scattered it on the floor. I chose the hard floor mode, and the Shark Stratos easily removed it in a single pass.
In the next test, I sprinkled some instant grits on the floor. Still in hard floor mode, the vacuum also removed most of the debris in a single pass. However, in the left side of the photo above, you can see that the vacuum also scattered some of the grits on the floor.
In the third test, I poured some of the instant grits along the edge of the floor to test how closely the Shark Stratos cleans there. The vacuum cleaner removed the vast majority of the grits when vacuuming sideways and those left were picked up when I vacuumed head-on.
On carpet, I performed the same tests with dry apple cider vinegar tea and instant grits. This time, I poured the tea and grits side by side. I switched the setting to carpet/low pile cleaning. The Shark Stratos made easy work of picking up both the tea and grits – one pass is all that was needed for both types of spillage.
I must admit that I don't always remember to switch modes when vacuuming, and I missed having an Auto mode where the vacuum cleaner would adjust itself automatically when going from one type of flooring to the other.
(Image credit: Future)
One of my favorite features is the ability to remove the pod and use the vacuum cleaner almost like a stick vacuum. In this configuration, I found it easy to clean under my sideboard as well as under my sofa, and the floorhead was able to clean right up to the baseboards. Such thorough cleaning isn't always a given with an upright vacuum, and I appreciated it here. I also found the vacuum's headlights helped me spot dirt in dark spaces.
I also tried adding the Crevice tool to the end of the main wand. This setup was great for cleaning dust from the HVAC vent covers on the ceiling, as well as in tight spaces like under and on the side of the refrigerator. I found the Upholstery tool very effective for cleaning throw pillows and curtains, as well as any upholstered furniture. Finally, I used the Pet power brush to clean my carpeted stairs.
In all of these scenarios, the Shark Upright Stratos did an excellent job of removing dust and debris in just one forward motion (although I tended to go forward and backward when cleaning anyway).
Performance score: 4.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
Top of the mid-range bracket, but sometimes discounted. Great features help justify the price.
4 / 5
Design
Bulky, but modular design makes it versatile and it comes with lots of detail tools. Lacks advanced features of other Shark uprights and cord is a bit short.
4 / 5
Performance
Strong suction on hard floors and carpet. Cleans under low furniture, and with attachments, it reaches into tight places and can be used on steps and upholstery.
4.5 / 5
Buy it if...
You only plan to have one vacuum
The Shark Stratos Upright is equally effective on both carpet and hard floors, unlike some vacuum cleaners that do better on one or the other type of surface. With the attachments, you can also clean stairs, as well as upholstered items, and in tight places.
You worry about your hardwood floors
The soft roller head is gentle on hard floors so you don't have to worry about the vacuum cleaner being too rough and scratching the surface. As a bonus, the soft roller head also helps to buff the floors.
You don't like emptying the dust bin
The Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 has a large dustbin so you'll likely never have to stop in the middle of a cleaning session to empty it. The push button mechanism means you don't have to touch the bin's contents, either.
Don't buy it if...
You struggle with bulky or heavy appliances
All in, this vacuum cleaner weighs 22.7 lbs / 10.3kg. Even with the self-propulsion and fact you can remove and hold the bin pod, it's rather heavy. If you struggle with heavy appliances, a stick vacuum might be a better fit.
You want low-effort cleaning
There are three suction modes here, but you'll need to toggle them manually. More advanced Shark Uprights have an Auto mode that'll do it for you.
You need to vacuum a lot of stairs
While the pod is removable, making it easier to clean stairs, the cord and hose can only stretch so far. A cordless stick vacuum is a better option for stairs.
How I tested the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002
I've had the Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002 for over a year, and used it on-and-off for months at a time in my two-bedroom home, which has a mix of carpet and hard floors.
For this review I used the Shark Stratos Upright as my primary vacuum cleaner for a couple of weeks, so I could determine cleaning effectiveness in the three modes. I also gauged how easy it was to maneuver the vacuum, and how easy it was to empty and maintain.
To measure performance more specifically, I conducted several tests on both hard floors and carpet, using dry tea and instant grits. I also tested how well the vacuum cleaner was able to clean up against baseboards, and how well it worked with the various attachments to clean stairs, upholstery, and in tight spaces.
The Roborock F25 Ultra is a premium cordless upright wet-and-dry cleaner that seeks to outshine the competition with its three USPs: a sanitizing steam function, grease-busting hot water mopping and adjustable power-assisted wheels.
And outshine the competition it does: this is the best wet-and-dry vacuum I've tested. On test, I found the steam function excelled at lifting dried grime and killing bacteria, while the hot-water mopping dissolved sticky kitchen spills with ease. Powerful suction makes it an exceedingly dab hand at sucking up liquid and debris spills like cereal, porridge, soup and wine. There's a built-in floor cleaning fluid tank for even dispensing, too.
Although rather heavy, the power-assisted wheels make the F25 Ultra super-easy to drive, and you can even hook up the companion app, lie it down and remote-control it under low-slung furniture if you desire. Once you're finished cleaning, a thorough self-cleaning mode takes care of the majority of maintenance. All the user has to do is periodically empty the contents of its dirty water tank into the toilet bowl.
While I would have preferred a full-width roller for true edge cleaning, the F25 Ultra is an excellent performer in all disciplines. Whether all this state-of-the-art tech is worth the asking price is open to debate but I'm personally very much smitten.
(Image credit: Future)
Roborock F25 Ultra review: price & availability
List price: $599.99 / AU$1,499
Launched: Fall 2025
Availability: US and Australia
The Roborock F25 Ultra was unveiled at IFA in September 2025, and is available to buy in the US and Australia. At time of writing, the Roborock F25 Ultra isn't available in the UK or Europe but I suspect it'll be launched this side of the Atlantic in due course.
At full price, it costs $799.99 / AU$1,499 – although I'm not sure it'll be sold at that price very often, because while I've been writing this review I've seen it for $599.99 and $549.99 in the US, and AU$899 in Australia. It's available to purchase direct from Roborock as well as via a range of third-party retailers, including Amazon.
That's quite a slice of cash for a hard floor cleaner given that you can find something similar without the bells and whistles for substantially less, including Roborock's base-level F25 LT which comes with the bare essentials like standard mopping and a slightly lower suction power of 20,000Pa.
Nevertheless, if you want a true state-of-the-art hard floor cleaner that covers all bases from sucking up spills to hot water mopping and hygienic steaming, the F25 Ultra is most definitely worth splashing out on.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Roborock F25 Ultra specs
Type:
Cordless wet-and-dry vacuum
Water tank volume:
Clean 1L, dirty 0.72L
Weight:
11.5 lbs / 5.2kg
Dimensions (H x W x D):
43.1 x 10.4 x 9.7 in / 109.6 x 26.5 x 24.6cm
Max runtime:
60 mins
Max suction:
22,000 Pa
Modes:
Sponge, Auto, Steam, Hot Water
Detergent dispenser:
Yes
Lie flat:
Yes (4.9in / 12.5cm tall)
Hot water cleaning temp:
187F / 86C
Steam temp:
356F / 180C
Self-clean cycle:
Yes (steam at 356F / 180C; water at 194F / 90C)
Self-dry:
Yes (5 min fast dry; 30 min quiet dry)
Roborock F25 Ultra review: design
Hot water mopping and new steam function
Power-assisted wheels and the ability to remote control via an app
LED headlamps, and can lie flat to the ground
I always get a bit excited whenever Roborock announces a new product (this brand makes some of the very best robot vacuums I've tested) and, believe me, this new addition to its F25 range of hard floor cleaners is definitely cause for a spot of childlike jumping up and down.
But it wasn't always like this. I remember Roborock's first attempt at making a hard floor cleaner. It was called the Dyad and it wasn't great, it must be said, mostly because it was cumbersome, difficult to maneuver, and it couldn't stand up on its own. I'm sure the latest range of Dyads have improved but I still can't see them holding a candle to the newer F25 range.
I've already tried out the Roborock F25 ACE, but this newer model excites me even more because it comes with a 356F / 180C steam function and hot-mopping feature. These are a godsend for blitzing ingrained stains that most hard floor cleaners' standard mopping functions may have trouble removing.
(Image credit: Future)
While it's difficult to muster up much enthusiasm about the styling of most wet-and-dry cleaners, for my money the models in the F25 range are the best lookers I've laid eyes on in a long time. Nevertheless, it's what goes on beneath the skin that matters most and in this regard the F25 Ultra trounces much of the opposition by dint of its three main USPs: the aforementioned steam function, the newly added hot mopping option and its adjustable power-assisted wheels.
But before I discuss these in detail, let's take a closer look at the design, starting with the floorhead. While the F25 Ultra's 720ml dirty water tank is housed on the main body like most wet-and-dry models, its fresh water reservoir is positioned lower down on top of the brushhead housing, and this not only lowers the weight on the handle while providing instant line-of-sight to its water level, it also reduces the body's overall profile which means it can be lowered parallel with the floor for reaching deep under low-slung furnishings like sofas and beds. In fact, there's a tiny wheel behind the handle section for this purpose, but more on that in a moment.
(Image credit: Future)
The 870ml clean water reservoir features two sealed fillers, one for fresh water and a much smaller one for adding the contents of Roborock's supplied 200ml bottle of floor cleaning solution. Both liquids are mixed automatically during cleaning and you'll be pleased to learn that the floor solution lasts for many cleaning sessions. To fill the fresh water tank, simply grab its rose-gold handle while pressing on a latch behind to lift it off its plinth.
The F25 Ultra's floorhead measures 10.5in / 26.6cm in width. However, the cloth roller itself measures 9.8in / 25cm with 0.4in / 1cm of space at one outer edge and 0.2in / 0.6cm at the other. That's par for the course for most models of this nature, but I recently reviewed a Eureka RapidWash 730 that uses a split roller that runs the full width of the housing, even protruding a couple of millimeters beyond the housing on one side. I'd like to see other manufacturers adopt this innovative approach because it allows for cleaning right to the very edge.
According to the product blurb, the F25 Ultra's brush housing is equipped with 32 outlets for heating the water to 187F / 86C as it hits the roller, and six steam outlets delivering a volume of 2,000mg/min at a whopping 356F / 180C. The roller itself exerts a force of 33 Newtons – equivalent to 7.4 lbs / 3.36kg of deep scrub-ability – while a pair of ‘jaw scrapers' behind the roller help keep the floor streak-free and the roller tangle-free. The floorhead also has a set of bright LEDs that emit a purple hue for cleaning the darker recesses of a home.
(Image credit: Future)
The F25 Ultra comes with four main cleaning modes – Sponge, Auto, Steam and Hot Water. All modes are accessed via the mode button positioned on the main handle, along with the on/off button and another button for selecting the self cleaning function when the unit is placed in the charging dock.
Although confusingly named, Sponge mode is for sucking up large liquid and debris-based spills so you don't have to get down on hands and knees with a handful of paper towels. This single suction task is one of the main reasons why these wet-and-dry machines are so popular. Spilt bowl of cereal or bowl of soup? Check. Small water leak around the sink? Check. Dog sick in the kitchen? Check. You get the gist.
(Image credit: Future)
In Auto mode, the F25 Ultra uses a sensor to detect dirt and automatically adjust cleaning intensity to clear it. This mode leaves only a thin veneer of dampness in its wake and is the best option for light day-to-day mopping duties. But when the going gets tough, you also have the option of either hot water mopping or, for deep down germ-killing cleanliness, the power of steam.
In fact, you can tell that the machine is steaming because there's a plume of the stuff wafting up from the front like some special dry ice effect at a rock concert. According to Roborock, this steam function is also suitable for use on wooden flooring and I second that because I detected no tell-tale signs of damage on my floors.
(Image credit: Future)
If you find pushing and pulling vacuum cleaners around a bit of a workout, you'll love this model's adjustable power-assisted wheels. With a brushless motor in each wheel and some AI-enhanced tech to govern it all, Roborock's SlideTech 2.0 system functions like a power-assisted electric bicycle. As soon as you push or pull the cleaner, the wheels instantly provide a level of self-propulsion that feels extremely natural while making the unit feel really light in the hand.
The adjustable power assistance also applies to the turns, giving the F25 Ultra the ability to effortlessly glide around furniture and walls with 70-degree steering. And unlike its predecessor, the F25 ACE, the motorized wheels are disengaged the moment you stand it up.
Couple this dextrous motorized ability with the wherewithal to remotely control the F25 Ultra via the excellent Roborock app and you have a hard floor cleaner that you can quite literally drive under the entire length of a super king bed by lowering the handle to the floor and steering it using the app's virtual joysticks.
Whenever you have finished a task, simply place the unit into its square tub-shaped dock and tap the self-clean button on the vac's handlebar to automatically engage the cleaning process which washes the roller and areas around it with hot water at temperatures between 194F and 356F (90C to 180C) before drying the roller with hot air at a substantial 203F / 95C. When it's finished cleaning, chuck the contents of the F25 Ultra's dirty water tank into the toilet bowl.
The Roborock F25 Ultra weighs 11.46 lbs / 5.2kg which is about average for a hard floor cleaner. While it's light enough for most able bods to haul up a flight of stairs, a carrying handle on the rear wouldn't have gone amiss.
Design score: 4.5 out of 5
Roborock F25 Ultra review: performance
Stupendous suction power sucks up solids and liquids easily
Groundbreaking steam function clears even dried stains
Very easy to push, pull and maneuver
I tested this model in a number of disciplines. Firstly, I used it as a bog-standard mop on my engineered wooden flooring and was pleasantly surprised by how little water it left behind – just a thin perfectly uniform film with no streaking or signs of missed areas.
Some models I've tested have had a habit of leaving a small pool of water around the roller when turning the unit off. But, like the Eureka SpeedWash 730, this model gave a quick blast of suction just before it switched itself and I have no pools of water to report. I'm happy with that.
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(Image credit: Future)
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My second test was using the Sponge mode to collect a nasty spill using a variety of wet and dry ingredients, including oats, ketchup, milk, a crushed biscuit and an egg for extra grunginess. Cleaning up something as disgusting as this the conventional way involves a pile of paper towels and a pair of Marigolds. But not with this gunk swallower, which I would say performed better than any model of this nature that I've so far reviewed. It quite literally sucked up every last vestige of the mess without leaving any sign that anything was there.
(Image credit: Future)
All I had to do was unclip the dirty water tank and empty its revolting contents into the toilet. Hint: there's a recessed yellow handle on top of the firm-fitting dirty water tank that's designed to release the lid. If you try to force the lid off, there's a very good chance of spilling everything all over your legs.
For my third test I switched it to hot water mopping and it took about a minute for the roller to feel warm. While I was a bit nervous of using this mode for too long on my wooden floor (hot water seeps more easily), I was mightily impressed by the results when I tested it on some ingrained stains left behind by the dogs.
My final test used the new steam mopping feature on two patches of dried soy sauce stains on my bathroom's tiled floor, but they may as well have been wet because the combination of steam and the fast-spinning roller obliterated both stains in a single pass.
(Image credit: Future)
It's good to know that, according to Roborock, the F25 Ultra's steam function is wooden floor-friendly. My floors are made from engineered wood and I've seen no evidence of any harm after using this model's steam function. (As an aside: the act of mopping wooden floors can leave them looking tired and a bit dull, but I've started using Bona Wood Floor Gloss Finish, which works a treat to counter any dryness and leaves a beautiful sheen. Here's more on how to clean a hardwood floor, if you're looking for some general guidance).
The Roborock F25 Ultra's self-cleaning system automatically washes the roller mop in hot water followed by an efficient drying sequence using wafts of hot air to keep odors and mildew at bay.
In terms of battery usage, Roborock states a running time in Auto mode of 'up to 60 minutes'. I sadly don't have the floor space to have kept it running in Auto mode till the battery ran out or my wooden floors would have been soaked and possibly damaged. However, I did test both the hot water and steam modes which use a lot more battery power and the hot water function gave me 20 minutes of mopping while the steam function continued to operate for another five minutes. I call that a very decent set of stats and more than enough time to cover three or four average-sized rooms using a mix of all three cleaning functions.
Performance score: 5 out of 5
Should you buy the Roborock F25 Ultra?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
Expensive at full price, but discounts are very common. You're getting an awful lot of practical and efficient tech for your money.
4 / 5
Design
Fully featured and looks great too. A smidge away from 5 stars due to its fractionally short roller.
4.5 / 5
Performance
Exceptional in all disciplines, whether it's mopping the kitchen, cleaning up big spills or steam-cleaning the bathroom.
5 / 5
Buy it if...
You want something for tough stains
With its mix of powerful suction, hot water mopping and steam cleaning, the F25 Ultra can handle the toughest of stains and spills.
You aren't as nimble as you used to be
The F25 Ultra's power-assisted wheels make it feel light and easy to maneuver, and you can even remote-control it into awkward spaces.
You need something to sanitize floors
The steam function here is ideal for sanitizing flooring, as well as for lifting dried dirt.
Don't buy it if...
You just need something for light cleaning
There are cheaper, less powerful wet-dry vacuums that can handle day-to-day cleaning of hard floors.
You have lots of stairs
The F25 Ultra is quite heavy to carry, and if you're going to be mopping on different levels, you might want to opt for something lighter.
Roborock F25 Ultra: alternatives to consider
Roborock F25 Ultra (reviewed)
Roborock F25 ACE
Dyson WashG1
Type:
Cordless wet-and-dry vacuum
Cordless wet-and-dry vacuum
Cordless wet cleaner
Water tank volume:
Clean 1L, dirty 0.72L
Clean 0.74L, dirty 0.72L
Clean 1L, dirty 0.8L
Weight:
11.5 lbs / 5.2kg
10.4 lbs / 4.7kg
10.8 lbs / 4.9kg
Dimensions (H x W x D):
43.1 x 10.4 x 9.7 in / 109.6 x 26.5 x 24.6cm
45.6 x 13.9 x 21.4in / 115.7 x 35.2 x 31.6cm
44.9 x 8.9 x 11.8in / 114 x 22.5 x 30cm
Max runtime:
60 mins
60 mins
35 mins
Max suction:
22,000 Pa
22,000 Pa
None
Hot water mopping:
Yes (at 187F / 86C)
No
No
Steam cleaning:
Yes (at 356F / 180C)
No
No
Self-clean cycle:
Yes (hot water, steam, hot air)
Yes (hot water, hot air)
Yes (cold water)
Detergent dispenser:
Yes
Yes
No
Roborock F25 ACE
The ACE sits lower down the F25 range. It's still an exceptional cleaner has most things the Ultra does, but lacks steam cleaning and hot water mopping.
Dyson's wet cleaning effort relies on agitation and hydration to clear spillages and lift stains – there's no suction here. The WashG1 isn't as fully featured as the F25 vacuums, but it does have a clever separation system for solid and liquid waste.
I knew what to expect with the F25 Ultra since I reviewed its stablemate, the F25 ACE, earlier this year. Hence putting it all together and setting it up was a breeze.
The first thing I did was let it charge, before taking it for a spin in the kitchen to see how well it performed at general light-duty mopping. I then tried out the hot water mopping function on some dog stains followed by my main suction test using both liquids and solids. Finally, I tried out the steam function to see how well it removed a couple of dried soy sauce stains.
The Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro is a manual espresso machine that allows you to channel your inner barista. Naturally won’t get automatic bean grinding or one-touch drinks brewing; this is a machine designed for those who like to get hands-on when crafting their coffee.
As espresso machines go, the E24 Evo Pro is a bit of a beast. This isn’t going to slip discreetly among your kitchen appliances; it'll dominate your worktop and, honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of its boxy, industrial design. On the flipside though, this bulky frame makes room for one of most capacious water tanks we’ve ever tested, at a whopping 2.2qt / 2.1 litres.
One element of its design I’m less forgiving of though is Gaggia’s stinginess when it comes to providing accessories. Packaged with the E24 Evo Pro you’ll get three filter baskets – a single-shot filter, a double shot filter, and a dual-walled filter – a steam wand with no elbow joint, and a pretty flimsy plastic tamp. That’s it: there’s no milk jug, no cleaning kit – none of the extras you might expect from an espresso machine that costs this much.
Given these design gripes, why have I rated the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro so highly? Because it makes it possible to consistently pour quality shots of coffee like many of the best espresso machines without needing to fuss too much over the details. Once I’d finely ground some beans and tamped the puck with medium pressure, the Gaggia expressed a beautiful double espresso for me without having to endlessly tweak the variables to achieve the right pressure. And it wasn’t just beginner's luck: lightning struck twice with my second shot, which was just as rich and smooth as the first.
I also found the steam wand easy enough to use, although it perhaps isn’t quite as forgiving as the rest of the machine. Finding the right angle was harder than it tends to be with an elbow joint, but once I’d got the optimum orientation and depth, I was able to foam up a beautiful dairy cloud to add to my coffee. Watch your fingers though: the steam wand doesn’t have a cold-touch design, so it gets seriously hot during operation.
While the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro isn’t exactly a budget banger – its list price of $549 / £549 / AU$999 puts it firmly in the mid-market category – its performance definitely makes it good value for money. Even without professional barista skills, I was able to pull shot after shot of consistently great coffee, and didn’t need to endlessly tweak variables to get the perfect espresso. Yes, I feel that at this price, Gaggia could afford to be less stingy with its accessories but, all in all you’ll get a very reliable coffee companion with the E24 Evo Pro.
(Image credit: Future)
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review: price and availability
List price: $549 / £549 / AU$999
The Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro is available now and it has a list price of $549 / £549 / AU$999. For your spend, you get a wide variety of choice: the E24 Evo Pro comes in a wide range of colorways, whether it’s Polar White, Cherry Red or Sunshine Yellow. Unfortunately, what you don’t get is a lot of accessories: it’s missing a milk jug, backflush disc or any kind of cleaning kit, which all feels a bit stingy.
Still though, when it comes to value, the above pricing puts the Gaggia somewhere in the middle of the pack. It’s neither a budget brewer like the surprisingly capable De'Longhi Dedica Duo nor is it as ludicrously luxe as something like the Smeg Mini Pro Espresso Coffee Machine. But for what you’re paying, it’s a pretty sound investment, despite the dearth of accessories – I found it easy to create consistently delectable coffee in a way even many of its mid-market rivals struggle to manage.
Value score: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review: specs
Name
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro
Type
Manual espresso machine
Dimensions (H x W x D)
9 x 15 x 9.4 inches / 230 x 380 x 240mm
Weight
17.6lbs / 8kg
Water tank capacity
2.2qt / 2.1 liters
Steam wand
Yes, manual
Max pressure
15 bar
(Image credit: Future)
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review: design
Large-capacity water tank
Froths milk effectively
Missing some key accessories
The design of the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro is a little brutalist for my taste. At 9 x 15 x 9.4 inches (230 x 380 x 240mm) it’s not the smallest machine, and I’d say I prefer the sleeker shape of Breville or De’Longhi machines personally. But I appreciate that for some people the solidity and presence of the Gaggia will be part of its charm, and at least it comes in a wide variety of colorways, from Lobster Red to Jungle Green.
At 2.2qt / 2.1 litres, the Gaggia’s water tank is substantial, offering a capacity that even outstrips many of the candidates on our list of the best espresso machines. Its drip tray is also pretty capacious, allowing it to catch quite a lot of spilled coffee, but its depth does cause some issues. It’s tall enough that it was genuinely difficult for me to squeeze even relatively squat mugs under the portafilter, and there’s no way to adjust its height, meaning a lot of the time you’re going to want to extract straight into espresso cups.
The range of accessories supplied with Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro is pretty weak, with a few items conspicuous by their absence. Three filter baskets cater to most eventualities, with single-shot and double shot filters, while the ‘perfect crema’ filter makes it easy to pull easy shots even with coffee pods or coarser grinds. There’s also a tamper included, but no milk jug, so this is something to factor into your budget.
(Image credit: Future)
Frankly, the tamper that comes with the Gaggia is pretty flimsy and plasticky. Personally, I want a tamper with some substance and heft behind it to make it easier to get an even tamp on your grounds. While it’s possible to get the job done with the tamper that comes in the box, I think you’ll likely want to upgrade to a better-quality option pretty soon after purchase.
The steam wand is a little better built, and its dual-steam-outlet design frothed the milk pretty effectively. It did take me a little while to find the right angle, as the arm merely swivels rather than using a ball-joint system, but once I did I was able to whip up a frothy cloud of foam fairly easily. One thing to watch out for though is that there’s no cool-touch design here. If you’re careless – which I am – it’s easy to catch your bare skin on the hot wand, which I did.
As an espresso machine, the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro naturally doesn’t come with quite as many features as some of its bean-to-cup rivals. It’s focused on pulling spot-on shots and foaming consistently frothy milk, not automated drinks dispensing and custom profiles, so you won’t be getting those kinds of innovative capabilities here. Aimed squarely at caffeine addicts who like to tinker with their grind and tamping to achieve the perfect extraction, it also doesn’t offer an integrated grinder, so be prepared to pick one up if you don’t already have one to hand.
Design score: 3.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review: performance
Easy to pour really consistent coffee
Pretty quiet running
Drips a little after pump switches off
I’d been forewarned about the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro's leisurely warm up cycle, which is almost zen-like in its unhurriedness. But it’s not quite as long as some people make out. It took around 60 seconds to hit its target temperature when I first started using it – admittedly that’s slower than many machines, including my home machine, the Breville Bambino Plus, but not quite as bad as the five or 10 minutes I’d heard bandied around. And it takes less than 10 seconds on subsequent shots, which really isn’t that bad.
Once the Gaggia was up to temperature, I blitzed some beans to a fine espresso ground, tamped it with a medium firmness and stuck the filled portafilter in the machine. I honestly wondered if there might be some trial and error required to get used to the machine’s pressure and temperature. But right out the gate it expressed pretty evenly, with the espresso neither rushing out incontinently nor dribbling out in fits and starts.
I also tested how load its pump was using a sound level meter, clocking it at 66dB, which is seriously quiet. By way of context, the Smeg BCC13 is Quiet Mark certified and tops out at 67dB max. Admittedly our testing environment might not be quite as rigorous Smeg’s, but still the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro is quieter when running than many competing espresso machines.
The espresso itself was spot-on. It came out with a sturdy, persistent crema that was the perfect buff tone with the odd hint of caramel running through it. And the taste was genuinely pretty impressive: even on that first pull, I was able to produce something rich and refined, with just the right balance of bitterness and acidity, while there was none of the astringency you’d get from an over-expressed shot.
(Image credit: Future)
Wanting to be sure that I hadn’t just lucked out on my first cup, I ran it again, using the same fineness of grind and trying to tamp and run the machine at the same temperature as I had the first time. The second espresso was identical to the first, meaning you should be able to achieve fairly consistent results with this machine.
This time I did notice there was a little dribbling from the machine after the pump clicked off. It wasn’t immediately clear if it was just dripping from a slightly overtamped, waterlogged puck, so I ran the Gaggia again without the portafilter in place and it still seemed to drool when switched off. This only lasted for a few seconds, so it isn't a huge issue, but it does imply the Gaggia doesn’t have perfect control over its pump.
Scrubbing down the machine after use was more straightforward than I was expecting. Cleaning the steam wand requires you to give it a firm wipe down with a cloth and unscrew the tip before washing it under running water. Meanwhile, to clean the mesh screen, all I had to do was run the machine without a portafilter then wipe it down. Once you’ve switched off the machine, you can then wash out the water tank and wipe down the rest of the machine. All in all, while it sounds like a lot of steps, getting the machine spotless doesn’t take much of an investment.
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro?
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
While it’s not exactly budget priced, having tasted the coffee it produces I’m surprised it doesn’t cost a fair bit more.
4/5
Design
It has a slightly utilitarian design and few automated features, but its steam wand works reasonably well and it has some useful accessories, although also it's missing a few.
3.5/5
Performance
Takes a while to warm up but once it does, you can pull consistently excellent shots without much tinkering required.
4.5/5
Buy it if…
You want rich, refined coffee every time Rather than having to tweak pressure, grind and tamping endlessly, it’s really easy to pull quality, consistent decent shots with the Gaggia without too much fuss.
You want a machine that’s nice and quiet Not every coffee machine has to sound like a diving compressor. If you want caffeine on the QT, the relatively quiet 66dB Gaggia has got your back.
Don’t buy it if..
You want loads of automatic features As this isn’t a bean-to-cup machine, you won’t get loads of fancy automatic drinks settings and customizable profiles. Instead it’s designed to help you craft your own coffee like a pro.
You want your caffeine hit quick Given it takes 60 seconds to heat up and you’ll need to grind your beans yourself, the Gaggia might not be the best choice if you don’t want your latte to be late.
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review: also consider
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro
Breville Bambino Plus
Smeg BCC13
Type
Manual espresso machine
Manual espresso machine
Automatic espresso machine
Dimensions (H x W x D)
9 x 15 x 9.4 inches / 230 x 380 x 240mm
7.6 x 14.3 x 12 inches / 194 x 362 x 304mm
336 x 180 x 433mm
Weight
17.6lbs / 8kg
10.8lbs / 4.9kg
19.8lbs / 9kg
Water tank capacity
2.2qt / 2.1 liters
2qt / 1.9 liters
1.5qt / 1.4 liters
Steam wand
Yes, manual
Yes, hands free
No, automatic
Max pressure
15 bar
15 bar
19 bar
Breville Bambino Plus If you want an espresso machine that’s more economical in terms of both space and cash, yet offers just as sophisticated shot-pulling, Breville’s diminutive machine is a worthy alternative. Despite costing just $499.95 / £399.95 / AU$649, it makes great espresso while offering plenty of customization options with different milk temperature and textures. Read our full Breville Bambino Plus review.
Smeg BCC13 Should grinding beans, tamping grounds and frothing cow squeezings all feel like a little too much hassle, this bean-to-cup machine brews wonderfully consistent coffee and foams deliciously thick milk for cappuccinos and lattes. It’s not quite as adept at steaming non-dairy milks, and it does cost a fair bit more at $1,200 / £799.95 / AU$1,199. But as our full Smeg BCC13 review explains, it offers "perfectly brewed coffee and sweet, creamy foamed milk" every time.
How I tested the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro
I spent several days testing it
I poured multiple coffees in a row to see how consistent it was
I used the steam wand to foam multiple batches of milk
I used the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro regularly over a period of several days. To test the quality and consistency of its coffee, I poured multiple double espressos in succession, so I could assess how well the machine maintained its quality from drink to drink. I also used the steam wand to foam milk on several occasions, to test how well the boiler maintained its heat and how effectively the steam wand worked.
I also made sure I timed how long it took the Gaggia’s boiler to heat up initially and on subsequent runs, as well as using a sound-level meter to check how much noise it generated. Once I was done with testing, I also ran through the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro’s daily and long-term cleaning routines, to see how easy it was to clean and maintain.
When it comes to my own personal experience, not only have I spent years testing and writing about gadgets, I’ve been making and drinking coffee from espresso machines daily for more than two decades. I'm really only a fan of drinking coffee made of freshly ground beans – I'm not a pod person.
The Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro is a manual espresso machine that allows you to channel your inner barista. Naturally won’t get automatic bean grinding or one-touch drinks brewing; this is a machine designed for those who like to get hands-on when crafting their coffee.
As espresso machines go, the E24 Evo Pro is a bit of a beast. This isn’t going to slip discreetly among your kitchen appliances; it'll dominate your worktop and, honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of its boxy, industrial design. On the flipside though, this bulky frame makes room for one of most capacious water tanks we’ve ever tested, at a whopping 2.2qt / 2.1 litres.
One element of its design I’m less forgiving of though is Gaggia’s stinginess when it comes to providing accessories. Packaged with the E24 Evo Pro you’ll get three filter baskets – a single-shot filter, a double shot filter, and a dual-walled filter – a steam wand with no elbow joint, and a pretty flimsy plastic tamp. That’s it: there’s no milk jug, no cleaning kit – none of the extras you might expect from an espresso machine that costs this much.
Given these design gripes, why have I rated the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro so highly? Because it makes it possible to consistently pour quality shots of coffee like many of the best espresso machines without needing to fuss too much over the details. Once I’d finely ground some beans and tamped the puck with medium pressure, the Gaggia expressed a beautiful double espresso for me without having to endlessly tweak the variables to achieve the right pressure. And it wasn’t just beginner's luck: lightning struck twice with my second shot, which was just as rich and smooth as the first.
I also found the steam wand easy enough to use, although it perhaps isn’t quite as forgiving as the rest of the machine. Finding the right angle was harder than it tends to be with an elbow joint, but once I’d got the optimum orientation and depth, I was able to foam up a beautiful dairy cloud to add to my coffee. Watch your fingers though: the steam wand doesn’t have a cold-touch design, so it gets seriously hot during operation.
While the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro isn’t exactly a budget banger – its list price of $549 / £549 / AU$999 puts it firmly in the mid-market category – its performance definitely makes it good value for money. Even without professional barista skills, I was able to pull shot after shot of consistently great coffee, and didn’t need to endlessly tweak variables to get the perfect espresso. Yes, I feel that at this price, Gaggia could afford to be less stingy with its accessories but, all in all you’ll get a very reliable coffee companion with the E24 Evo Pro.
(Image credit: Future)
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review: price and availability
List price: $549 / £549 / AU$999
The Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro is available now and it has a list price of $549 / £549 / AU$999. For your spend, you get a wide variety of choice: the E24 Evo Pro comes in a wide range of colorways, whether it’s Polar White, Cherry Red or Sunshine Yellow. Unfortunately, what you don’t get is a lot of accessories: it’s missing a milk jug, backflush disc or any kind of cleaning kit, which all feels a bit stingy.
Still though, when it comes to value, the above pricing puts the Gaggia somewhere in the middle of the pack. It’s neither a budget brewer like the surprisingly capable De'Longhi Dedica Duo nor is it as ludicrously luxe as something like the Smeg Mini Pro Espresso Coffee Machine. But for what you’re paying, it’s a pretty sound investment, despite the dearth of accessories – I found it easy to create consistently delectable coffee in a way even many of its mid-market rivals struggle to manage.
Value score: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review: specs
Name
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro
Type
Manual espresso machine
Dimensions (H x W x D)
9 x 15 x 9.4 inches / 230 x 380 x 240mm
Weight
17.6lbs / 8kg
Water tank capacity
2.2qt / 2.1 liters
Steam wand
Yes, manual
Max pressure
15 bar
(Image credit: Future)
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review: design
Large-capacity water tank
Froths milk effectively
Missing some key accessories
The design of the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro is a little brutalist for my taste. At 9 x 15 x 9.4 inches (230 x 380 x 240mm) it’s not the smallest machine, and I’d say I prefer the sleeker shape of Breville or De’Longhi machines personally. But I appreciate that for some people the solidity and presence of the Gaggia will be part of its charm, and at least it comes in a wide variety of colorways, from Lobster Red to Jungle Green.
At 2.2qt / 2.1 litres, the Gaggia’s water tank is substantial, offering a capacity that even outstrips many of the candidates on our list of the best espresso machines. Its drip tray is also pretty capacious, allowing it to catch quite a lot of spilled coffee, but its depth does cause some issues. It’s tall enough that it was genuinely difficult for me to squeeze even relatively squat mugs under the portafilter, and there’s no way to adjust its height, meaning a lot of the time you’re going to want to extract straight into espresso cups.
The range of accessories supplied with Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro is pretty weak, with a few items conspicuous by their absence. Three filter baskets cater to most eventualities, with single-shot and double shot filters, while the ‘perfect crema’ filter makes it easy to pull easy shots even with coffee pods or coarser grinds. There’s also a tamper included, but no milk jug, so this is something to factor into your budget.
(Image credit: Future)
Frankly, the tamper that comes with the Gaggia is pretty flimsy and plasticky. Personally, I want a tamper with some substance and heft behind it to make it easier to get an even tamp on your grounds. While it’s possible to get the job done with the tamper that comes in the box, I think you’ll likely want to upgrade to a better-quality option pretty soon after purchase.
The steam wand is a little better built, and its dual-steam-outlet design frothed the milk pretty effectively. It did take me a little while to find the right angle, as the arm merely swivels rather than using a ball-joint system, but once I did I was able to whip up a frothy cloud of foam fairly easily. One thing to watch out for though is that there’s no cool-touch design here. If you’re careless – which I am – it’s easy to catch your bare skin on the hot wand, which I did.
As an espresso machine, the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro naturally doesn’t come with quite as many features as some of its bean-to-cup rivals. It’s focused on pulling spot-on shots and foaming consistently frothy milk, not automated drinks dispensing and custom profiles, so you won’t be getting those kinds of innovative capabilities here. Aimed squarely at caffeine addicts who like to tinker with their grind and tamping to achieve the perfect extraction, it also doesn’t offer an integrated grinder, so be prepared to pick one up if you don’t already have one to hand.
Design score: 3.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review: performance
Easy to pour really consistent coffee
Pretty quiet running
Drips a little after pump switches off
I’d been forewarned about the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro's leisurely warm up cycle, which is almost zen-like in its unhurriedness. But it’s not quite as long as some people make out. It took around 60 seconds to hit its target temperature when I first started using it – admittedly that’s slower than many machines, including my home machine, the Breville Bambino Plus, but not quite as bad as the five or 10 minutes I’d heard bandied around. And it takes less than 10 seconds on subsequent shots, which really isn’t that bad.
Once the Gaggia was up to temperature, I blitzed some beans to a fine espresso ground, tamped it with a medium firmness and stuck the filled portafilter in the machine. I honestly wondered if there might be some trial and error required to get used to the machine’s pressure and temperature. But right out the gate it expressed pretty evenly, with the espresso neither rushing out incontinently nor dribbling out in fits and starts.
I also tested how load its pump was using a sound level meter, clocking it at 66dB, which is seriously quiet. By way of context, the Smeg BCC13 is Quiet Mark certified and tops out at 67dB max. Admittedly our testing environment might not be quite as rigorous Smeg’s, but still the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro is quieter when running than many competing espresso machines.
The espresso itself was spot-on. It came out with a sturdy, persistent crema that was the perfect buff tone with the odd hint of caramel running through it. And the taste was genuinely pretty impressive: even on that first pull, I was able to produce something rich and refined, with just the right balance of bitterness and acidity, while there was none of the astringency you’d get from an over-expressed shot.
(Image credit: Future)
Wanting to be sure that I hadn’t just lucked out on my first cup, I ran it again, using the same fineness of grind and trying to tamp and run the machine at the same temperature as I had the first time. The second espresso was identical to the first, meaning you should be able to achieve fairly consistent results with this machine.
This time I did notice there was a little dribbling from the machine after the pump clicked off. It wasn’t immediately clear if it was just dripping from a slightly overtamped, waterlogged puck, so I ran the Gaggia again without the portafilter in place and it still seemed to drool when switched off. This only lasted for a few seconds, so it isn't a huge issue, but it does imply the Gaggia doesn’t have perfect control over its pump.
Scrubbing down the machine after use was more straightforward than I was expecting. Cleaning the steam wand requires you to give it a firm wipe down with a cloth and unscrew the tip before washing it under running water. Meanwhile, to clean the mesh screen, all I had to do was run the machine without a portafilter then wipe it down. Once you’ve switched off the machine, you can then wash out the water tank and wipe down the rest of the machine. All in all, while it sounds like a lot of steps, getting the machine spotless doesn’t take much of an investment.
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro?
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
While it’s not exactly budget priced, having tasted the coffee it produces I’m surprised it doesn’t cost a fair bit more.
4/5
Design
It has a slightly utilitarian design and few automated features, but its steam wand works reasonably well and it has some useful accessories, although also it's missing a few.
3.5/5
Performance
Takes a while to warm up but once it does, you can pull consistently excellent shots without much tinkering required.
4.5/5
Buy it if…
You want rich, refined coffee every time Rather than having to tweak pressure, grind and tamping endlessly, it’s really easy to pull quality, consistent decent shots with the Gaggia without too much fuss.
You want a machine that’s nice and quiet Not every coffee machine has to sound like a diving compressor. If you want caffeine on the QT, the relatively quiet 66dB Gaggia has got your back.
Don’t buy it if..
You want loads of automatic features As this isn’t a bean-to-cup machine, you won’t get loads of fancy automatic drinks settings and customizable profiles. Instead it’s designed to help you craft your own coffee like a pro.
You want your caffeine hit quick Given it takes 60 seconds to heat up and you’ll need to grind your beans yourself, the Gaggia might not be the best choice if you don’t want your latte to be late.
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro review: also consider
Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro
Breville Bambino Plus
Smeg BCC13
Type
Manual espresso machine
Manual espresso machine
Automatic espresso machine
Dimensions (H x W x D)
9 x 15 x 9.4 inches / 230 x 380 x 240mm
7.6 x 14.3 x 12 inches / 194 x 362 x 304mm
336 x 180 x 433mm
Weight
17.6lbs / 8kg
10.8lbs / 4.9kg
19.8lbs / 9kg
Water tank capacity
2.2qt / 2.1 liters
2qt / 1.9 liters
1.5qt / 1.4 liters
Steam wand
Yes, manual
Yes, hands free
No, automatic
Max pressure
15 bar
15 bar
19 bar
Breville Bambino Plus If you want an espresso machine that’s more economical in terms of both space and cash, yet offers just as sophisticated shot-pulling, Breville’s diminutive machine is a worthy alternative. Despite costing just $499.95 / £399.95 / AU$649, it makes great espresso while offering plenty of customization options with different milk temperature and textures. Read our full Breville Bambino Plus review.
Smeg BCC13 Should grinding beans, tamping grounds and frothing cow squeezings all feel like a little too much hassle, this bean-to-cup machine brews wonderfully consistent coffee and foams deliciously thick milk for cappuccinos and lattes. It’s not quite as adept at steaming non-dairy milks, and it does cost a fair bit more at $1,200 / £799.95 / AU$1,199. But as our full Smeg BCC13 review explains, it offers "perfectly brewed coffee and sweet, creamy foamed milk" every time.
How I tested the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro
I spent several days testing it
I poured multiple coffees in a row to see how consistent it was
I used the steam wand to foam multiple batches of milk
I used the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro regularly over a period of several days. To test the quality and consistency of its coffee, I poured multiple double espressos in succession, so I could assess how well the machine maintained its quality from drink to drink. I also used the steam wand to foam milk on several occasions, to test how well the boiler maintained its heat and how effectively the steam wand worked.
I also made sure I timed how long it took the Gaggia’s boiler to heat up initially and on subsequent runs, as well as using a sound-level meter to check how much noise it generated. Once I was done with testing, I also ran through the Gaggia Classic E24 Evo Pro’s daily and long-term cleaning routines, to see how easy it was to clean and maintain.
When it comes to my own personal experience, not only have I spent years testing and writing about gadgets, I’ve been making and drinking coffee from espresso machines daily for more than two decades. I'm really only a fan of drinking coffee made of freshly ground beans – I'm not a pod person.
