Small Appliances - Organizer

6:30 pm | October 28, 2022

• Original review date: October 2022
• Still T3s foremost compact dryer
• Launch price: $119.99 / £130
• Official price now: $149.99 / £130

Updated: February 2024. The T3 Fit remains the brand's premiere compact hair dryer, though in the US its price did increase a little. Compact hair dryers aren't the most fast-moving sub-section of haircare tech, so it's still one of the best hair dryers you can buy for its size. The rest of this review remains unchanged.

One-minute review

The T3 Fit stands out as one of our best hair dryer favorites as a result of its light and compact design. And, in fact, it’s just one model in a range of stylish hair tools from US-based company, T3. Starting out in 2003 as a “part tech start-up, part beauty venture”, T3 currently sells a wide range of hair gadgets and technologies that have been mindfully designed to enhance your hair-styling experience. Choose from hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons and other useful and coveted styling tools.

The T3 Fit compact hair dryer arrived in February 2021, and while it isn’t the most recent launch, it remains a popular choice for those in the know as a result of its lightweight yet powerful design. T3 has since launched the equally stylish-looking T3 Afar in January 2022, which is even lighter in weight and comes with a stowaway folding handle that makes it perfect for travel. Meanwhile, the T3 AireLuxe is the latest hair dryer from T3, launching back in April 2022; it champions 15 heat and speed settings to make it ideal for every hair type.

The T3 Fit is designed to be 30% smaller and 20% lighter than a full-size T3 hair dryer, while remaining powerful in performance. On board the T3 Fit is all the impressive technology you’d expect from a standard hair dryer. It features IonAir technology for the delivery of a wide, ion-infused airstream for drying hair gently and quickly. Plus, its Ion Generator saturates the airflow with negative ions to achieve a smooth and shiny finish; we noticed just how well this works on frizzy hair. While the control buttons aren’t the smoothest to operate and feel a little clumsy design-wise, we enjoyed using the T3 Fit because of its comfortable handle, quiet operation, balanced airflow and lightweight design. In short, we think it’s best suited to those who want the power of a standard hair dryer in a more compact form.

T3 Fit price and availability

List price: $119.99 / £130

At the time of writing, T3 hair dryers and styling tools can be bought online in the US and UK, with the T3 Fit model costing US $119.99/£130.

We feel this is a fair price for a hair dryer that delivers all the functionality of a full-size hair dryer, but in a more compact form. Also, in terms of style, T3’s products look and feels premium, with the brand offering all of its best-selling hair dryers at reasonable sub-$221/£200 prices. In comparison, you can expect to pay around $210/£189 for the popular GHD Helios, and from $354/£320 for the Dyson Supersonic.

Price & availability score: 5

T3 Fit design

Lightweight at 400g
Compact form makes it great for travel
Easy-to-navigate controls

The T3 Fit’s design looks and feels luxurious, with the hair dryer arriving neatly presented in a white box. Inside the box you’ll find it sits alongside a single concentrator nozzle, and if you’ve opted to buy it with its compatible diffuser, this will come in a separate box. There’s also a great range of accessories you can choose from in the T3 range, including a smooth paddle brush, clip kit and absorbent luxe turban towel.

T3 Fit hair dryer in box — (Image credit: Future)

We like the streamlined styling of the T3, which is finished in a shiny gloss white with rose gold accents. It’s also available in an attractive graphite finish, should you prefer. While it feels nice to hold and compact in hand, its shiny surface makes it slightly slippery to hold when styling with waxy hands. Unlike some hair dryers whose controls are flush with the handle, the T3 Fit controls jut out slightly. Although this makes it not as streamlined in style as some well-known hair dryers we’ve tried, it does make the T3 Fit easy to control.

T3 Fit has rose gold accents — (Image credit: Future)

The most enticing features of the T3 Fit design are its size and weight, which makes it instantly attractive for those who’d like a hair dryer for taking on their travels, or are simply short on storage space at home. It’s 20% lighter and 30% smaller than the full-size T3 AireLuxe, for example, yet it comes with equally impressive technology to style hair with impressive results.

At 400kg, the T3 Fit proves a great tool for those with long or dense hair that takes time to dry; it will limit any arm ache you might suffer with extended use – something hair stylists will tell you is a big bug bear.

Note that the T3 Fit’s head is shorter and chunkier than the sleeker, full-size T3 AirLuxe hairdryer; in fact, the T3 Fit is surprisingly similar in size to the Dyson Supersonic. However, while it’s lighter than the Dyson Supersonic, which comes in at 660g, the T3 Fit isn’t the lightest hair dryer on the market. For a full-size hair dryer of lighter weight, check out the Parlux Digitalyon Light Air Ionizer.

Setting up the T3 Fit for use was simply a matter of plugging it in and we were good to go. Its long 9ft cord enabled us to move around freely, while the hair dryer’s controls are conveniently positioned on the handle and click securely when pressed, with no possibility of accidentally knocking the settings while in use. The concentrator nozzle proved a little fiddly to attach to the head of the hair dryer at first, but once we’d discovered how it fixes in place, through the alignment of arrows, we were able to interchange between the concentrator nozzle and the diffuser attachment with ease.

Design score: 4.5/5

T3 Fit performance

Gentle, yet powerful, airstream
Ion generator to encourage a smooth and shiny finish
Great for blowouts

The great thing about the T3 Fit is that while it’s small in size, it has all the power and performance you’d expect of a standard-size model. At 1600 watts, and with two speed settings and three heat settings, it has been designed to tackle a range of hair types – from poker straight to hair with Type 4 curl patterns – through delivery of a steady and gentle airstream.

It’s the hair dryer’s Ion Generator that saturates airflow with negative ions to help reduce frizz and encourage shine, while IonAir technology ensures hair is dried at speed yet gently. Having used the T3 Fit, we could definitely feel the benefits of its built-in technology compared to rival brands, which can often feel too fast and too hot.

Using the T3 to dry long, wavy hair that’s prone to frizz with even the slightest hint of outdoor humidity, we were impressed at how quickly it dried the hair – inside five minutes. We felt the benefits of the steady airflow of this hairdryer at both speed settings and on all three heat settings. In fact, even when we used the T3 Fit at its top settings, the hair dryer never became too hot nor did it blast out air too powerfully. The result was smoother hair that was less fluffy in texture than it is when dried with other well-known hair dryers.

We used a large round brush to blow out our hair, too, and liked that it made hair feel thick and weighty, with a good bounce and shine. The results on shorter styles were equally impressive, with the T3 taking under three minutes to completely dry a head of shorter hair.

Note that while the hair dryer didn’t ever become too hot, nor was the cool shot all that cold; we were expecting a much cooler blast of air than it delivered. In addition, we noticed that when the cool shot was pressed, while it did reduce the power and heat of the hairdryer, it took a little longer than we’d like to get cooler.

Thankfully, the T3 Fit is reasonably quiet in operation. We used a decibel meter app to measure noise levels, with it coming in at 85dB on its highest setting and 77dB on its lowest setting. To put this into context, we’ve previously tried far noisier hair dryers that emit around 90dB of noise. Since the T3 Fit doesn’t become too hot nor too loud, it’s a good option for use on children’s hair as well, making it a good buy for all the family.

Performance score: 4.5/5

T3 Fit comparison with other compact hair dryers — A comparison of compact hairdryers, from left to right: Parlux, T3 Fit and Dyson Supersonic (Image credit: Future)

T3 score card

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First reviewed: October 2022

Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum cleaner review

7:56 pm | October 11, 2022

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: AU, LED, UK, US | Comments: Off

Shark Stratos Cordless: two-minute review

Product info

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

US: Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum IZ862H
UK: Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Cordless Vacuum IZ400UK
AU: Shark Stratos Cordless Pet Pro Vacuum With Clean Sense IQ IZ400

In the UK, there's also a version with added Pet Tool (IZ400UKT) and a Pet Tool plus extra battery (IZ420UKT). For this review, I tested the US version. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.

The Shark Stratos Cordless comes with Clean Sense IQ technology, which automatically adjusts the suction to pick up dirt and debris that you may not be able to see, and tells you when the floor is clean.

In my testing I was greatly impressed with the suction capabilities, especially the vacuum’s ability to remove hair from my couch when used in handheld and Boost mode. In fact, it holds a spot in TechRadar's best Shark vacuum guide as the top pick for people with a lot of carpet in their homes, as well as ranking highly amongst the best vacuums for pet hair. The MultiFLEX wand makes it easy to clean under furniture, and the flexible rotating head proved effective at picking up dirt in corners and around awkward pieces of furniture such as chairs.

The Stratos is reasonably priced for a high-performance cordless vacuum, although less of a strong prospect following the 2024 launch of the Shark PowerDetect Cordless vacuum, which promises the same suction but with added automation features. However, Shark deals are common, and it's still a good pick if you can find a good price-drop – and and it’s more affordable than some models with similar dust-detection technology like the Dyson V15 Detect.

Keep scrolling to find out more then, head to TechRadar's best cordless vacuum guide to see where it ranks the Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum cleaner.

Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum cleaner review: price & availability

List price: $499.99 / £399.99 / AU$999.99
Heavily discounted in all territories at time of update

At full ticket price, the Shark Stratos Cordless is $499.99 in the US, £399.99 in the UK, and AU$999.99 in Australia. At that price, it's right at the boundary between mid-range and premium price brackets. (Note that the AU version comes with a wider range of accessories.)

However, at time of update, it was significantly discounted in all territories when purchased via Shark – $399.99 in the US, £249.99 in the UK and AU$499.99 in Australia. That puts it into the middle of the mid-range price bracket.

That's not a bad price at all for a vacuum of this quality. However, it's less appealing when you consider the newer PowerDetect has a list price of $429.99 and promises the same amount of suction, with more advanced detection features.

The other line worth considering is the Detect Pro (read about the closest model for comparison in TechRadar's Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum cleaner review). The Detect Pro is slightly cheaper all round: $379.99 (discounted to $249.99 at time of updating), £349.99 (down to £229) and AU$799.99 (down to AU$499.99). This model is less powerful, but lighter and more advanced in terms of features than the Stratos – see exactly how the two compare in our Shark Stratos vs Detect Pro vacuum article.

Two brands you'll often find yourself comparing in this area is Shark vs Dyson. While the latter is typically pricier – and sometimes considerably so – there are reasons to factor Dyson into the equation. It's vacuums are unmatched when it comes to maneuverability, and technologies like the floorhead lights and dirt detection capabilities are more advanced than what Shark's vacuums offer. However, I'd still say Shark offers better value for money.

Vacuum cleaners often attract deals around major shopping events like the Black Friday sales or the Amazon Prime Day deals, and it's also worth keeping an eye out for a Shark promo code to take the price down.

Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum cleaner specs

Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum cleaner review: design

Flexible hose and option to convert to handheld
Floor head designed to prevent hair wrap
LED display shows battery level and lets you swap cleaning modes

At 8.9lb / 4kg, the Shark Stratos Cordless is fairly lightweight as cordless vacuums go, and the floor head can be removed to turn it into a handheld. Rather than an extendable wand it has a flexible wand – a popular feature referred to as 'MultiFLEX technology', which appears in a few of Shark's vacuum cleaners.

Releasing a catch on the back of the wand enables you to fold it forward for compact, freestanding storage, or for cleaning under furniture. The vacuum head swivels, and can effectively turn at a 90-degree angle with just a simple twist of the handle. Between this swivel action and the flexible wand, you can clean pretty much any place that the head can fit.

Shark Stratos Cordless in use — The Shark Stratos Cordless helpfully has a MULTIflex wand which bends to increase the reach under furniture (Image credit: Future)

An odor-neutralizing puck is inserted into the top of the vacuum head to keep it smelling fresh, and an LED headlight lets you see dirt and dust in dark corners. But the most significant aspect of the vacuum head design is the Clean Sense IQ indicator. When you’re vacuuming, a strip of light becomes illuminated on the top of the vacuum head. The longer the strip of light, the dirtier the floor. When the strip of light recedes, it means the floor is clean.

The Shark Stratos Cordless is designed for use on either carpet or hard floors. On the underside of the floor head you'll find two brush rolls, with fins designed to boost cleaning power. The rolls are designed to detangle hair and direct it into the dust cup as you clean, so you don't end up with a matted mess to remove from the floor head at the end of each vacuuming session.

To empty the 0.72qt / 0.68L dust cup, which is fitted with a seal to prevent dust and allergens escaping into the air, you detach the main unit from the wand, and release a catch on the cup to deposit the contents into a bin.

At the top of the handle is a LED screen that displays the selected power mode and the remaining battery life. Built into this are buttons for turning the vacuum on and off and switching between Eco, Clean Sense IQ, and Boost mode. The vacuum doesn't have a charging station or base, making it easy to store it away in a closet or other space between uses (newer Detect Pro models add a self-empty base that doubles as a charging stand, but that's not an option with the Stratos Cordless at time of updating this review – see TechRadar's Shark Detect Pro Cordless vacuum cleaner review for an example).

The tools provided vary depending on which territory you're in, but with the US version I tested, there was a Duster Crevice Tool (which can be used as a crevice tool or a brush), and a flat Anti-Allergen Dusting Brush.

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum review: performance

Excellent suction; automatic power adjustment works effectively
Flexible hose is a revelation for getting under furniture
Anti hair wrap works well

The Shark Stratos Cordless performed impressively during my testing. I used the vacuum in both stick and handheld mode on various surfaces including hardwood floors, vinyl floors, thick low-pile rugs, baseboards, a couch, and window treatments. The suctioning capability of this vacuum was superb, and I never had to run over the same area more than twice.

That said, cordless vacuums can rarely match corded options when it comes to sheer power, so if you really need to be able to deep clean, consider a corded option. There are a few options in this same range – read TechRadar's Shark Stratos Corded vacuum cleaner review for a closer look at our favorite.

While I did test out the Eco and Boost power modes, I generally used the vacuum in Clean Sense IQ mode as I wanted to get a good feel for how the automatic adjustment technology worked. When there was lots of dirt or debris on the floor, the suction was increased automatically and then returned to normal when the area was clean. It's a useful feature if you want effective cleaning that's kind to your battery; check out our Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum review to see a newer, similarly-priced model with more advanced dirt detection.

Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum flexing to fit under furniture — The floorhead can twist at a 90-degree angle (Image credit: Future)

Because I live in a period home with lots of nooks and crannies, it can be difficult to vacuum in certain corners or tight spaces. The vacuum head has a 10-inch cleaning path width and its low profile makes it easy to push it under cabinets. I appreciated that the floor head has an LED headlight and could twist at a 90-degree angle with just a slight twist of the handle. This made it far easier to clean corners, under dining room chairs, and around stands, in a way that's not possible with other vacuums.

I had never used a Shark cordless vacuum before, and the biggest revelation was the MultiFLEX wand. With a click of the button on the back of the wand, it bends in half, so you don’t have to squat down or lean over to vacuum under a bed or couch. When bent, the vacuum isn’t as easy to control as it is when it’s locked into a straight position, but you can still steer it well enough.

Shark Stratos Cordless bending under coach in living room — Testing out the Shark Stratos Cordless in my living room (Image credit: Future)

The Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum converts easily to handheld for cleaning furniture and upholstery. In boost power mode, it seemed to pick up hair from furniture much more effectively than other, similar vacuums I've tested.

Thanks to the self-cleaning dual brushroll, hair never wrapped around the brush. The 0.72qt / 0.68L dust cup is large enough to hold quite a bit of dust and debris – I didn’t manage to fill it even after vacuuming my entire house three times. I also found the lack of charging station a benefit, because it makes the vacuum easy to store in a closet or other space between uses.

Shark Stratos cordless folded making storage easy — The Shark Stratos Cordless can be neatly folded for storage, and stays upright (Image credit: Future)

The extra attachments vary depending on which territory you're in. For my review, I also tested out the Duster Brush Tool on my floorboards, switching to the Crevice Tool when I needed to get into tight corners. In this configuration, the vacuum was light enough to use the to clean the corners of my 10-foot ceilings and atop door frames. I was excited to try the Anti-Allergen Dusting Brush on my window blinds as they get very dusty, although it wasn't as effective as I'd hoped.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum: battery life

Up to 60 minutes of runtime on ECO mode
Battery recharges in three hours
LED display shows remaining battery life

The vacuum’s battery is housed in the back of the handle. You don’t need to remove it from the vacuum to charge it, but you can do so if you find that more convenient.

It takes three hours for the battery to charge, and on a full charge you can get up to 60 minutes of runtime in ECO mode. Other modes sap the battery quicker – including the Clean Sense IQ mode, in which the vacuum senses how much dirt is on the floor and boosts the suction power as necessary.

Shark Stratos Cordless showing battery display — Battery display on the Shark Stratos Cordless (Image credit: Future)

When testing the vacuum, I never came close to running down the battery when vacuuming my 1,600sq ft / 150sq m home, and I'd often end a vacuuming session with about 40% of battery left.

The only time I got close to running down the battery was when I vacuumed the whole house on Clean Sense IQ mode, and then followed it up by using the Anti-Allergen Dusting Brush to clean the dust off four large window blinds, before using the duster crevice tool to clean floorboards in two rooms; even then I still had 20 per cent left in the tank.

Battery life score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum?

Lasts long enough to clean most mid-to-large-sized homes, and automatic mode adjusts suction based on how dirty the floor is, for efficient battery use.

Buy it if...

It's difficult to see dirt on your hard floors or carpet

The vacuum's Clean Sense IQ technology uses an infrared sensor to spot dust and dirt, and automatically boosts the suction power for a better clean.

You want to be able to easily get into nooks and crannies

The wand bends in half, making it easy to clean under furniture without having to bend down or move items.

You want a vacuum that can be used handheld

The Shark Stratos Cordless with Clean Sense IQ converts to a compact and lightweight handheld vacuum for cleaning pet fur off furniture or a long handheld vacuum that can be utilized with other attachments.

Don't buy if...

You dislike having to use attachments to reach into narrow spaces

The vacuum head for the Shark Stratos Cordless is fairly bulky, so you’ll have to either break it down into a handheld vacuum, use it without the main vacuum head, or utilize one of the extra tools to get into narrow spaces.

You want a vacuum that comes with a self-emptying station

You need to empty the Shark Stratos Cordless dust cup manually. Shark does have a self-empty dock, but it's not currently available with this model.

Laifen Swift review

3:00 pm | September 26, 2022

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

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

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

One-minute review

Skepticism is key when shopping online, especially when it comes to new names and viral trends, so Laifen has an uphill battle establishing itself in the fiercely competitive hair styling market. Thankfully, the Laifen Swift makes an immediate impact.

Launching its campaign on Indiegogo in 2020, Laifen Swift was met with enthusiasm by its backers. Having hit the market in 2022, all eyes are now fixed on its lofty promises and more affordable price tag compared to some of the best hair dryers.

This lightweight, powerful tool arrives with some impressive specs, packing 1600W of power in its slimline frame with a 110,000RPM brushless motor that generates 22m/s airflow. It offers three temperature and two airflow settings.

While it offers professional-grade specs and performance, there are a few missteps that make the Laifen Swift a little less spectacular than it could have been. It doesn’t have a separate cool shot button, nor does it have a hook for hanging – and, as of writing, it has a cord length of just 1.8m/5.9ft. The latter might be fine for home use, but in a professional setting the Laifen Swift’s cord might prove limiting.

Still, having used the Laifen Swift over the course of a week, we were impressed by how quickly it dried hair, keeping frizz to a minimum as a result of it generating and releasing negative ions into the airflow. With such a strong start in the market, Laifen is one to watch in the years to come.

Laifen Swift Special in its box with the three attachments — (Image credit: Future)

Laifen Swift price and availability

Laifen Swift: $199.99 / £175.11 / AU$297.83
Laifen Swift Special: $239.99 / £210.14 / AU$357.40

We received the Laifen Swift Special for review, which is identical to the regular Laifen Swift hair dryer, but comes with three attachments – a diffuser, standard nozzle and quick styling nozzle – as opposed to the standard nozzle-only bundle. You can also buy the quick styling nozzle separately, but the diffuser is exclusive to the Swift Special.

Compared to its biggest rival, the Dyson Supersonic (which retails at $429 / £329 / AU$599 as of writing), the Laifen Swift presents a much more affordable option with much of the same technology.

Currently, the Laifen Swift is the only product available from Laifen, and you can buy it directly from Laifen or on Amazon.

Value: 4.5/5

Laifen Swift Special without any attachments on — (Image credit: Future)

Laifen Swift design

Lightweight and compact
Short cord and no hook
Three heat settings and two speeds

Hair dryer Specifications

Here are the specifications for the Laifen Swift:

Speed settings: Two
Heat settings: Three, plus autocycle
Hanging loop: No
Cord length: 1.8m
Cool shot: No
Weight: 0.89lb/407g
Attachments: One with regular package, three with the Special bundle

The Laifen Swift hair dryer is available in four colors – matte black, silver blue, pearl white and ruby red – and has a wonderfully luxe soft finish that makes it a joy to behold and, well, hold. It has a short, rounded barrel atop its long, straight handle; but it’s a shape that might not be for everyone. Personally, we’ve found this form to be far more storage-friendly.

Measuring 10.9 x 2.7 x 3.5in/ 27.7 x 7 x 8.9cm, the Laifen Swift is wonderfully light at 0.89lbs/407g without its cable, so you’re unlikely to feel much arm fatigue, especially given how quickly it dries hair – but more on that later. The attachments connect magnetically to the front of the barrel, snapping on and off easily.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Laifen Swift is its airflow design. Instead of channeling air through the rear of the barrel, it’s pulled through from the base of the handle. Here, users will also find the dust filter, the casing of which also attaches magnetically, clicking on and off quickly for maintenance.

Laifen Swift without its dust filter casing on — (Image credit: Future)

As mentioned above, the hair dryer delivers 1600W of power across three temperature settings and two speed levels, the controls for which are situated at the top of the handle. If you press and hold the temperature button, you can also switch on its temperature autocycle mode. There’s no separate cool shot - you have to use the temperature button to cycle through the settings - which is a little disappointing, as was the omission of a hanging loop.

The biggest setback in the Laifen Swift’s design is its short cord length. While most home users may be content with its 1.8m/5.9ft length, with the professional potential of this hair dryer it’s a shame that Laifen didn’t opt to deliver its hair dryer with the longer cable lengths now commonly seen across the market. Plus, if you don’t have a well-situated mirror near a plug socket at home, you might find yourself reaching – or having to use an extension cord – with the Laifen Swift.

Design: 4.5/5

Laifen Swift performance

Fast drying times
Comfortable to use
Ionic technology reduces frizz

Delivering high-powered jets of ionized air, the Laifen Swift makes swift work of drying hair. We tested it on damp, thick, medium-length hair on its highest setting, which dried completely in just under seven minutes. It isn’t quite as impressive as the Dyson Supersonic, which takes four and a half minutes to dry the same hair type, but it’s a whole lot faster than the 12-15 minutes of the Panasonic EH-NA65 – which is this writer’s current home use hair dryer. For less porous and thinner hair, we’d expect a drying time of about five and a half minutes with the Laifen Swift, which just about matches the manufacturer’s claims.

After drying, our hair was left feeling super-smooth with a gentle shine, and we actually noticed it didn’t become greasy as quickly as it does having used less powerful airflow dryers. Perhaps this is because we felt more confident getting stuck into drying our roots without fear of hair being caught in the rear of the barrel.

The attachments all worked well during use, and while they (and the barrel) were prone to getting a little hot, temperatures didn’t reach anything close to being dangerous or uncomfortable. Switching the attachments out mid-dry proved nice and easy, too, thanks to the magnetic fixture.

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Laifen swift barrel rear, showing temperature setting LED indicator — The rear of the barrel displays the current temperature setting - blue for cool, orange for warm, red for hot. (Image credit: Future)

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We’ve mentioned before just how well designed the Laifen Swift is, but the actual experience of blow drying hair really is a feat worth highlighting. The handle remains cool throughout use, the hair dryer is light enough to reduce arm strain (or even eliminate it, depending on how long your hair takes to dry), and switching out attachments is supremely easy.

The Laifen Swift claims to be incredibly quiet, emitting just 59db while in use. Unfortunately, this wasn’t our experience – unless those figures were achieved through very specific testing parameters of which we’re not aware.

In our test, from six inches away, on the fastest setting the Laifen Swift recorded 79db for noise. This figure is fairly middle of the road in comparison to other hair dryers; the Dyson Supersonic registered 74db on our decibel meter, while one of the noisiest hair dryers we’ve tested, the Remington Hydraluxe Pro EC9001, registered 82db. However, what we can say in defense of the Laifen Swift is that the sound it emits is far less aggressive and grating than other hair dryers we’ve tried.

Laifen Swift rear showing its temperature and speed controls — (Image credit: Future)

A small, but notable issue we had with the Laifen Swift was its button placement. While the temperature and speed controls look and feel great, it’s far too easy to brush across or lightly press the temperature controls accidentally. If you’re not drying hair in front of a mirror, where you can see the temperature indicator on the rear of the barrel, you might not even notice that you’ve done it.

Performance: 4/5

Laifen Swift score card

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro review

6:00 pm | July 29, 2022

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

Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro: two-minute review

The Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro 3.3L food processor is a useful kitchen companion, offering family-sized capacity and plenty of functions, but beware – it’ll steal your cupboard space, and lighten your bank balance.

At a price of £280, the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro is far from a budget option, but you certainly get what you pay for. You can purchase this model directly from Cuisinart in the UK. It has been discontinued in the US, but is still available from third-party retailers such as Amazon.

With dimensions of 8.1 x 10.43 x 16.43 inches / 206 x 265 x 417mm, and a weight of about 22lb / 10kg the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro isn’t going to be one you’ll want to maneuver every time you need to use it. It lacks the useful in-bowl accessory storage that some KitchenAid food processors offer, but it does at least have a handy storage case for the shredding and slicing discs, chopping blades, and plastic dough blade, and another for the dicing and spiralizing accessories. Though of course, you will need space to store these.

The Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro food processor pictured against a pink background. The accessories storage case is pictured to its left, and the dicing accessory kit is pictured on its right. The stone-effect tabletop that it sits on has apples and bananas on. — (Image credit: Future)

Unlike some larger KitchenAid food processors which have a useful one-click attachment system, the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro uses a twist-lock system. While this does reduce the risk of accidentally knocking the work bowl off the base unit, the bowl's large size and weight make it cumbersome to twist and remove. This isn’t helped by the fact that one needs to put their back into it a bit to get it to unlock. The same can be said of the lid, which attaches via the same method. With this in mind, perhaps this food processor is best avoided if you have any mobility issues, but you may find a suitable alternative in our pick of the best food processors.

There are a few safety features to be aware of when using this processor, such as the requirement to remove the lid before the work bowl can be released – this took a little getting used to. Further safety features include the chopping blade's ability to stay in place when you tip the work bowl and that the food processor will not operate if the largest food pusher is not in situ.

A close up view of almonds inside the smaller work bowl of the Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro. — (Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

In addition to its large work bowl, the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro also comes with a smaller inner bowl and blade which is useful for when you just need to mix or chop smaller quantities of say herbs or salsa. During testing however, we did find that small particles, like almond powder, can find its way into the large work bowl below, which isn’t ideal when Cuisinart claims that the smaller bowl is fully sealed.

It excelled in virtually all of our tests, chopping, mixing, shredding, and slicing everything we threw at it. Plus, we were impressed with the dicing and spiralizing accessories too. This food processor is best suited to passionate home cooks who will get the most out of all the functions it offers. But those looking for an appliance for basic chopping, shredding, and slicing tasks might find this one has too many accessories that’ll just clutter up valuable kitchen space.

The Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro food processor pictured against a pink background. The small chopping blade is pictured to the left of the processor, and the spiralizing accessory is just in front. — (Image credit: Future)

If you’re still undecided whether the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro 3.3L is worth the investment, check out our full review below for a more in-depth analysis and full details on how it performed during our rigorous testing.

Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro review: price & availability

List price: £280
Available direct from Cuisinart in the UK
Available from third-party retailers in the US

The Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro is available direct from Cuisinart for £280. It is also available to purchase on Amazon, along with other appliance retailers. It was previously available in the US under the name Cuisinart Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor with Dicing, but it has since been discontinued. It is still available to purchase from some third-party retailers, however.

While the Expert Prep Pro is a bit more expensive than comparative products such as the KitchenAid 13 cup / 3.1L Food Processor, you’re getting a lot of additional functions for the extra investment. Spending almost £300 on a food processor may be extravagant, but if you’re going to take advantage of its abilities, have a tendency to batch cook, or have a large family, it could save you a lot of prep time in the long run. That, along with its safety-conscious and sturdy design, should make it an investment you won’t regret.

Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro specs

Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro: design & features

Good safety locking features
Two speeds plus pulse
Dishwasher friendly parts

If you’re thinking of leaving it out on your counter, the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro has a relatively compact footprint given all the functions it’s able to perform. The main food processor measures 8.1 x 10.43 x 16.43 inches / 206 x 265 x 417mm. However, it’s important to consider that alongside the processor there are two accessory storage cases to store, that’ll take up a fair amount of valuable cupboard real estate.

Aside from that aspect, the main accessory storage case is super useful for keeping all the sharp blades and discs safely organized in one place. It houses the large and small chopping / mixing blades, reversible shredding disc, adjustable slicing disc, dough blade, spatula, and the stem adapter. It’s got a useful latch on the front to lock the lid closed too, but at 9.1 x 8.3 x 7.4 inches / 230 x 212 x 187mm, it’s not exactly compact.

The dicing kit offers a quick and easy way to dice all sorts of fruit and veg, and also comes with its own storage case. Again though, you’ll want to consider where you’ll store it as it measures 8.3 x 8.7 x 4.6 inches/ 210 x 220 x 117mm.

The Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro accessory storage case is pictured open, with the adjustable slicing disc, reversible grating disc, dough blade, small blade, and stem adapter inside. The case is surrounded by other accessories, including the large chopping blade and spiralizing accessories. — (Image credit: Future)

The spiralizing kit which comes as standard with the UK model offers both a spaghetti and ribbon cut disc, but the storage solution for this kit isn’t quite so neat and you’ll have to store most of these extra parts individually rather than in a case. If you are able to buy this optional extra kit in the US, it comes with a third Angel hair disc too.

As there are only two speeds and a pulse button, the controls don’t take long to figure out. Getting to grips with the safety mechanisms is a little trickier. We are more used to being able to remove a work bowl from the base unit while the lid is still attached when working with the likes of Magimix and KitchenAid food processors. In the case of the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro, however, it has been designed so that you cannot remove the work bowl until the lid has been removed. Additional safety features are that the blade stays in place even when the work bowl is tipped for emptying, and the food processor will not operate if the largest pusher is lifted any higher than the top of the feed tube. While these aspects may take some getting used to at first, these safety features are reassuring, especially if you happen to have curious sproglets running about.

A close up of the Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro control panel showing the high, low, off, and pulse buttons. — (Image credit: Future)

We found the twist-to-lock mechanisms on the work bowl and the lid to be a chore. At various times both were stiff to undo. The lid is a little on the heavy side, which combined with the twisting motion needed to unlock it, made it awkward to maneuver. Plus, we had to put a lot of force into unlocking the work bowl, resulting in a couple of not-so-fun moments when it would suddenly loosen and give way. At least the processor’s base is heavy, which helped to keep it stable in those moments, but this means that it is not the easiest to relocate. With these details in mind, perhaps this food processor is best avoided if you have mobility issues. You may find a suitable alternative in our pick of the best food processors instead.

We like the concept of the small bowl that comes with the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro. It easily fits into the larger work bowl and can be used with the small chopping / mixing blade to cut up or mix smaller quantities. Cuisinart states on their website that the inner bowl is fully sealed, so you don’t have to worry about washing up the larger bowl. However, we found when chopping almonds that this was not the case, as a fair amount of almond dust found its way down into the large bowl, so perhaps “fully sealed” is a bit of a stretch.

Image shows almond dust that has escaped from inside the smaller work bowl of the Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro into the larger work bowl. — (Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

There are three different-sized feed chutes on the top of the lid, so you can have more control when pushing ingredients into the work bowl. Unlike some of the KitchenAid processors we’ve tested, such as the KitchenAid 13 cup / 3.1L Food Processor, larger-diameter cucumbers had no issue fitting in the largest feed chute on the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro.

Cleaning any food processor is a fiddly chore, this one’s no different. Thankfully though, all the parts can be cleaned in a dishwasher, which certainly makes life easier. It’s worth noting that if you do wash it in the dishwasher, water droplets get trapped in the handle and some parts of the lid, it does eventually dry out though. If you need some more top tips about how to clean a food processor then our step-by-step guide will help.

Design score: 4 out of 5

Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro: performance

Simple to use
Fast and efficient
Can be noisy

We really put the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro through its paces during testing, trying out virtually every function to get a true picture of whether it's worth the money and, we can safely say, it's good at what it does.

There is a max fill line on the largest food chute. The corresponding food pusher has a fixed attachment that stops the processor from functioning when raised beyond a certain point. This means the food must fit below the max line so the pusher can be positioned before processing. I used the low speed for cucumber, with the adjustable slicing disc on setting 4. The cucumber was sliced very quickly into perfect discs.

A close up of sliced cucumber inside the Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro large work bowl. — (Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

We used the coarser side of the reversible grating disc for cheese and carrot, which proved no match for this appliance. Both were shredded evenly and quickly, only a minuscule piece of the carrot was left un-shredded, and a very small amount of cheese got stuck in the lid.

A close up of some carrot that was grated by the Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro. — (Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

The large chopping blade was powerful, we cut an onion into six wedges and it only required six presses of the pulse button to turn it into even, finely diced pieces. The tougher task of grinding diced beef was no match for it either, taking just 15 seconds on the lower speed setting to chop up all the meat to a fine ground beef texture.

Similarly, cake mixture ingredients were quickly combined into an even, smooth batter in under a minute. It didn’t perform quite as well when making pastry, as unmixed flour gathered on the top and took a while to combine. When the pastry was finished there was a layer of flour coating the inside rim of the bowl, and the inside of the blade housing.

A close up of the flour that has leaked inside the blade housing of the Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro. — (Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

To chop nuts we used the smaller bowl and blade, it was a little slower than the large blade and required 20 pulses to turn whole hazelnuts into a finely chopped texture. Although the nuts were a bit uneven with some fine powder mixed in, it was a good result in comparison to some other food processors we’ve tested. The results were similar when we chopped almonds inside the smaller bowl, with uneven almond pieces and a fair amount of dust.

A close up of unevenly chopped lamonds inside the small work bowl of the Cuisinart Expert Prep Pro. — (Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

When we diced potatoes, they had to be cut in half to fit in the feed tube. Unlike slicing, the size of the diced food isn’t variable, and the pieces come out at around 0.4 inch/ 1 cm cubes, but it’s fast and effective. It diced a whole potato in around 10 seconds. Some potato did get lodged in the blade after dicing a second one, but given the speed and convenience, we didn’t mind needing to open it up to remove a bit of potato before continuing.

Dicing potato in the Cuisinart Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor with Dicing — (Image credit: Future)

Spiralizing was equally fast and easy, we made cucumber ribbons and carrot spaghetti. There was some waste, but there always is when spiralizing foods. It’s worth noting that the pusher has to be in position for the spiralizer to start up, so you have to cut food down to size accordingly, you can’t have cucumber poking out of the top, for example.

spiralizing cucumber with the Cuisinart Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor with Dicing — (Image credit: Future)

The dough blade is effective at combining bread dough and we mixed up the ingredients with five pulses, followed by 30 seconds on high speed, however, it can’t continue on and knead the dough. If you leave it too long and allow it to continue mixing after a dough has been formed, it shakes violently and has to be held down. The usually firm suckers on the feet aren’t enough to hold it to the counter in this instance, so we’d advise kneading by hand.

Making dough with the Cuisinart Elemental 13 Cup Food Processor with Dicing — (Image credit: Future)

Our noise meter maxed out at 86dB on several of the tests, but since this food processor is so speedy, the noise doesn’t last too long, making it bearable.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro review: also consider

How I tested the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro

We assessed the setup and performance
We ran our usual series of chopping, grating, and combining tests
We checked how easy it was to clean

We spent time getting the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro setup, read the instruction manual, and assessed the design and accessories.

To put the Cuisinart 3.3L Expert Prep Pro through its paces, we made use of the accessories to chop, dice, slice, grate, mix and spiralize a number of ingredients including onion, nuts, potato, carrot, and cucumber. We also used it to process bread to make breadcrumbs, and made cake batter, pastry and bread dough. These tests are in line with the process we follow for all food processors, making it easy to see how different models compare.

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

Read more about how we test
First reviewed: June 2022, re-tested July 2024

Miele Boost CX1 review: a compact canister vacuum suited to small homes

12:00 pm | July 28, 2022

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

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum: two-minute review

The Miele Boost CX1 – also known as the Miele Boost CX1 Powerline in the UK and Australia – is the entry-level vacuum in Miele's Boost CX1 range of canister vacuums. It's the cheapest of three Boost CX1 models, and the only one that comes with just the standard floorhead.

Miele is a high-end appliance brand that has been making vacuums for close to 100 years. Miele vacuums are known to be reliable, high performance models. And while this model is clearly an entry-level vacuum, it still comes with the Miele pedigree.

The Miele CX1 is bagless but corded, and while it's less maneuverable than a cordless stick vac, it's compact and streamlined for a canister vacuum. For that reason, it's best suited to smaller homes. It comes with three handheld tools, which are stored on the vacuum itself, for easy access while cleaning. I tried one out, to see how it compares to the rest of today's best vacuum cleaners, and was fairly impressed.

On test, I found that the CX1 was great at tackling hard floors as well as light cleaning of carpets and rugs. However, it's not quite up to deep cleaning carpets and can struggle with hair, making it less of a good choice for pet-owners (the models at the top of the range come with a turbo brush designed for these tasks). That said, this model is easy to use, easy to maintain, and will excel in smaller homes with light traffic.

That's the short version; read on for my full Miele Boost CX1 review.

Miele Boost CX1 canister vacuum in reviewer's home — (Image credit: Future)

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum review: price & availability

List price: $479 / £299 / AU$499
Availability: US / UK / AUS
Launched: 2022

The Miele Boost CX1 is widely available across the world and in most countries it's available to buy directly from Miele's website as well as through other large electrical retailers, depending on where you live. Prices will vary across the retailers so it's worth shopping around.

In some countries such as the UK and Australia, it's called the Miele Boost CX1 Powerline. In all countries though, this is the cheapest model in the Boost CX1 range of bagless plug-in canister vacuums.

Despite being the cheapest in the range, it's still not a budget vacuum – it sits in TechRadar's mid-range price bracket for vacuums). This is underscored by the fact that Miele is a high-end brand.

In comparison, the top-of-the-range Miele Boost CX1 Cat & Dog, also called the Miele Boost CX1 Cat & Dog Powerline, will set you back US$679 / GBP £399 / AU$649.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Miele Boost CX1 specs

The dimensions of the canister are 11 x 10.6 x 15.7 inches / 28 x 27 x 40cm (h x w x d)

18lbs / 7.8kg

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum review: design

Streamlined and compact for a canister vacuum
Short power cord and small dust canister
Pared-back selection of tools

The Miele Boost CX1 comes in three colors; white, gray, and black and has a pleasingly curvy yet compact design that makes it well suited to smaller homes. It doesn't take up too much storage space and it doesn't come with an overwhelming number of accessories that'll take up valuable space either.

It comes with three small hand tools: a crevice tool, upholstery tool, and a dusting brush. These can all be stored on the holder that attaches to the handle, so they're always easy to grab right when you need them.

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Main floorhead on Miele Boost CX1 vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

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Underside of main floorhead on Miele Boost CX1 vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

The main floorhead is a pretty basic universal brush that includes a foot-operated switch on top to adjust the brushes depending on whether you're vacuuming carpet or hard floors. Above the floorhead, the telescopic tube means you can easily adjust the height of the handle or lengthen the reach of the vacuum.

All the controls are on the main vacuum; there are none on the handle. There are four suction levels to choose from and these are selected via a dial on the vacuum, meaning you'll have to bend down to adjust the suction. The power button and the cord rewind button can be pressed with your foot though.

Close up of controls on Miele Boost CX1 canister vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

As a corded canister vacuum, it's understandably less maneuverable than one of today's best cordless vacuums. However, at 18lbs / 7.8kg it's not too heavy for most people to lift. Its small size does translate into a small one-liter dust canister, which won't be sufficient for very large, busy homes. That said, it's plenty big enough for smaller homes and apartments. It is also worth noting that it does have a particularly short 21 ft / 6.5 meter power cord, which again, will become frustrating in larger homes.

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum with dust canister removed — (Image credit: Future)

The dust canister is removed simply by grabbing its handle and lifting it up and out of the vacuum. Then the dirt empties out of the bottom when you press the release catch. Once you're done, it slots straight back onto the vacuum. The design means the emptying process is very user-friendly.

Filter on Miele Boost CX1 vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

There are three main filters and all are easily accessed for cleaning, diagrams in the instruction manual clearly demonstrate how to access them.

The first is the pre-filter, which is located at the end of the vacuum just above where the hose attaches. This is the Hygiene AirClean filter and it needs replacing yearly. The fine dust filter can be found in the back of the dust canister, this is washable and needs cleaning monthly. Lastly, the pre-filter is inside the dust canister and can be cleaned using the small brush tool that's housed on the canister. All of this maintenance is straightforward enough.

Design score: 4 out of 5

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum review: performance

Quiet in use, with straightforward controls
Best on hard floors, not so good at carpet or hair
Easy to move about for a canister vacuum

When using the Boost CX1 vacuum on hard floors, it did what it needed to do, thoroughly sucking up all the dust and debris. Regardless of whether I used it on wood floors, tile, or LVT it had no problem leaving the floors looking clean and dust free.

When I sprinkled flour onto my wood floors, it sucked it up in one sweep. It didn't do what some vacuums do and push the flour along in front of the floorhead, nor did it leave flour in the grooves between the boards.

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum cleaning flour from hard floor — (Image credit: Future)

My only complaint is that I noticed some parts of the floor were still slightly white. On closer inspection I found that where the wood grain is quite open, it did leave a tiny amount of flour in the grain. And I had to go over it a couple more times to ensure this was fully removed. This wasn't an issue on other types of hard floor.

I also sprinkled flour along baseboards at the edge of the room to check how good the suction is at the sides of the floorhead. It was pretty faultless, sucking debris from the edges, no matter whether I went along it with the right or the left side of the vacuum.

Miele Boost CX1 being used on carpet — (Image credit: Future)

While it left my carpets looking free of visible debris, I could just tell that they weren't getting a deeper clean. This was evident from the debris in the canister: there was a lot less than I'm used to seeing when I vacuum my carpets with my high powered vacuum.

Suction and pick up does depend on the type of carpet and the thickness of the pile. On a newer synthetic carpet in my spare bedroom, I had to turn the power down, as the suction felt too strong on this carpet, making the floorhead difficult to move.

On an older wool carpet, the suction on max still didn't feel strong enough. Similarly, on a deep-pile area rug it didn't seem to be effectively removing all the deeper, ground-in debris that I know collects on that particular rug.

While the CX1 did an okay job of picking up my long hairs from hard floor, I noticed that on carpet the hair was pushed around until it clumped up enough to get sucked up. And on that basis, this isn't the ideal vacuum if you have pets. (Note, there is a Pet-specific model in the Boost CX1 range, which might be a better choice if you're looking for the best vacuum for pet hair).

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum cleaner being used on carpeted stairs — (Image credit: Future)

The canister is compact enough to balance on stairs, which makes vacuuming up a full flight of stairs easy and straightforward. I found removing the telescopic wand and instead attaching the floorhead directly to the handle was the easiest and most convenient way to tackle stairs. This also meant I could quickly switch to the crevice tool if any detailed cleaning was needed in the corners.

Alternatively, because the vacuum has a good long reach and the floorhead swivels round, I found I could easily vacuum the first seven steps while standing at the bottom of the stairs.

The handle on the top of the vacuum is easy to grab should you need to lift it to move it around, but I did find that during the first few uses I sometimes grabbed the dust canister handle instead. When you grab this handle it ejects the dust canister, which is no big deal if the vacuum is switched off, but pretty annoying if it's in use. I soon learnt my lesson though and over time, naturally reached for the correct handle.

The power cord is short and unless you live in a very small home it doesn't really reach easily from one room to another. So I found it was simply easier to make sure I plugged it into an outlet in the room I was vacuuming, rather than hoping it would reach.

Detail tool on Miele Boost CX1 vacuum cleaner being used to clean shelving — (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of reach, like all canister vacuums, what the CX1 does really well is reach under furniture, thanks to the long slim wand and hose. Plus you can extend the telescopic wand to its maximum length should you need extra reach, like when vacuuming under a bed.

Overall maneuverability is good, the canister seemed to follow when I pulled it and I didn't have too many incidents of bashing it into furniture. Though admittedly, the small size helps with this particular problem.

During day-to-day use I really liked having the three tools attached to the handle. It meant if I was vacuuming floors but spotted some debris on a shelf or ledge, it was super quick and easy to switch to a small tool and clean that up as I went.

Close up of tool storage on Miele Boost CX1 vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

I was initially concerned that the small tools would get in the way, but they actually didn't. The upholstery tool was ideal for cleaning sofas, chairs, and even a headboard. But again, it's a pretty basic design and it wont give the same kind of deep clean or pick up pet hair as effectively as a small mini motorized tool would.

In the car I used all three small tools. The upholstery tool was effective on the seats but also on the mats. Meanwhile the crevice tool managed to reach into some of the narrow gaps, but it was simply too short to reach everywhere that I needed to get to. The dusting brush was fine for removing dust from the dash. (If you have space for a separate appliance, one of the best car vacuums would probably be more straightforward for in-car cleaning.)

Detail tool on Miele Boost CX1 vacuum cleaner being used to get into crevices in a car — (Image credit: Future)

Emptying dirt is as straightforward as I'd hoped it would be, simple and mess-free. The noise level is comfortable, no high pitch squeals or annoyingly loud hums. When on the highest suction level on carpet, the Miele Boost CX1 registered 75dB on my noise meter, and on hard floors it was 78dB. Plus, if you need it to be quieter, the noise level will drop as you decrease the suction power.

Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Miele Boost CX1 vacuum?

Buy it if...

You're short on space
When you live in a smaller home, storage space is always at a premium. This compact vacuum won't take up more than its fair share of storage space.View Deal

You don't mind being tethered to a power cord
Cordless, battery-operated vacuums might be the most fashionable right now, but plugging into a power outlet takes away the worry of running out of juice right when you need it most.View Deal

You're looking for a straightforward vacuum
With just four suction levels and a paired back selection of tools, this is a no-frills vacuum that doesn't overcomplicate things.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You have lots of carpet
The performance on carpet was fine for very light cleans, but it doesn't lift the deeper, more ground in dust and dirt. If you have multiple carpeted rooms, this isn't the vacuum for you – today's best upright vacuums pack more power. View Deal

You have a large, busy home
The Miele Boost CX1 is a smaller vacuum that's really designed for smaller homes. The short power cord and small dust canister aren't suited to bigger spaces with lots of people and pets.View Deal

You have pets
This model isn't the best choice for homes battling pet fur and grime. Ideally you need a vacuum with a turbo-brush floorhead for a deeper clean.View Deal

How I tested the Miele CX1 vacuum

I used the Miele Boost CX1 in my own home for a week. I used it in place of my usual vacuum to clean wood floors, tiled floors, carpets, and stairs. I used the tools to clean upholstery, shelves and overhead. I even took it outside to see how it fared cleaning my car.

As well as looking at the suction and the tools, I recorded the noise level on the different settings and also noted how easy it is to use and maintain. I paid attention to how convenient it is to empty the canister and maintain filters.

I've been reviewing vacuums for over a decade and during that time I've tried more models than I'd care to remember. Along the way I've learnt that there are certain desirable features to look out for, as well as annoying quirks that I don't want to see. So I use all this expertise to bring you a thorough evaluation of the vacuum.

First reviewed: July 2022
Replaced with new review and updated tests: October 2024

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT review

1:58 pm | July 8, 2022

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

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum: two-minute review

Update: This model is no longer available. For an alternative, head to our guide to the best Shark vacuum cleaners, or the best vacuum cleaners in general.

Shark is a brand that’s known for designing vacuum cleaners packed with innovative features, such as flexible wands for better reach under furniture and Anti Hair Wrap technology. Shark has built a reputation as one of Dyson's biggest rivals.

However, unlike Dyson, the company hasn’t abandoned plug-in vacuums in favor of battery-powered models, still making a decent range of corded vacuums for those who prefer a mains-powered cleaner.

The range includes canister vacuums, which you might know as cylinder or barrel vacuums, depending on where in the world you’re located.

In the UK, this vacuum is called the Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT. However, the same model in the US goes under the name Shark Vertex Bagless Corded Canister Vacuum with DuoClean Powerfins. Meanwhile, in Australia, it’s called the Shark Bagless Barrel Pet Vacuum with Multi-flex CZ500. Despite Shark’s penchant for a different name in every territory, the vacuum is virtually the same no matter where you are. The biggest difference is that in the US it doesn’t come with the powered pet tool.

This model is the top-of-the-range canister vacuum from the brand, building upon the cheaper Shark CZ250UKT; but the differences are subtle. The main upgrade is to the floorhead, which here features two motorized brush rolls instead of the single one you’ll find on its less expensive sibling. It comes with the same crevice and upholstery tool as the cheaper model, and is packed with all the same Shark features – a flexible wand and Anti Hair Wrap technology, as well as the same-sized dust bin. Surprisingly, there isn’t an upgrade in suction power, but the beefed-up floorhead should take care of that by dislodging greater dirt from deep in the carpet pile.

On test it performed well, thoroughly cleaning all surfaces, extracting ground-in dirt and dust out of carpets. It’s a superb choice for those looking for a plug-in vacuum, but who don’t want to push around a weighty upright model. Whether it’s worth forking out the extra money for this top-of-the-range model, it’s difficult to say. Having said that, it isn’t a huge jump in price and the floorhead is much better than the cheaper canister.

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT standing against a wall — (Image credit: TechRadar)

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum: price & availability

List price: $479.99 / £329.99/ AU$799.99

As we’ve already mentioned, this vacuum goes under several different names. It’s the Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT in the UK; in the US, it’s the Shark Vertex Bagless Corded Canister Vacuum with DuoClean Powerfins; in Australia, it’s known as the Shark Bagless Barrel Pet Vacuum with Multi-flex CZ500. The main difference between the three models is that the US version doesn’t come with the small, powered pet tool supplied with the UK and Australia models. You can purchase this vacuum direct from Shark in all countries.

For those on a budget, we’d recommend considering the cheaper Shark Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250, which also goes under several names; find out what it’s called in your country by reading the full review here. It comes in at the slightly cheaper price of $399.99 / £299.99/ AU$699.99. Whatever your plan, don't forget to see what Shark promo codes are currently available to keep costs down.

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT components laid out on carpeted floor — (Image credit: TechRadar)

Shark CZ500UKT review: design

Two motorized brush rolls in floorhead
Flexible wand bends to reach under low furniture
25ft / 9-meter power cord

The canister alone measures 19.3 x 10.2 x 10.2 inches/49 x 26 x 26cm (h x w x d), which is a fairly standard size, with it sufficiently compact to balance on the stairs for cleaning them. At 9lb/ 4.4kg without the hose or floorhead, it’s also light enough for most people to carry with ease.

The large 1.9-quart/ 1.6-liter dust cup is capable of holding a decent amount of dust and debris before it will need emptying, and the vacuum is equipped with foam, felt and HEPA filters. These work as part of the anti-allergen complete seal, which, according to Shark, will capture 99.9% of dust and allergens and prevent them from reentering the air.

The DuoClean floorhead features two brush rolls. The main one is responsible for deeper cleaning, drawing dust out of carpets, while the soft one at the front is best for picking up fine dust from hard floors. Meanwhile, the Anti Hair Wrap technology is designed to stop the brush roll from becoming tangled with hair and becoming clogged. There’s also a headlight to illuminate the floor ahead.

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT being used on carpet — (Image credit: TechRadar)

In the box, you’ll find a crevice tool and upholstery tool, which sit in a cradle on the wand for easy access. These tools mean the vacuum can be used to clean furniture, curtains and mattresses, as well as to remove cobwebs or dust from overhead. In addition, if purchased in the UK or Australia, the pet power tool is also included, which is great for removing pet hair from furniture.

As well as an on/off button on the canister itself, the vacuum can be turned on via the touchscreen LED display on the handle. From here, you can also switch between the carpet and hard floor modes, as well as cycle through the three power levels. It’s all very straightforward in use – but, frustratingly, it doesn’t remember your last selection and always defaults to hard floor and the middle power setting.

Two buttons slide to release the dust cup, which lifts smoothly from the top of the canister, and the large main handle doubles as a handle for the dust cup for easy carrying, too. To empty, you push another button to flip open the bottom, to allow the dirt to fall right out into the trash. The filters, dust cup and soft brush roller are all washable for easy maintenance.

Shark CZ500UKT review: performance

Delivers a thorough clean on carpet
Quiet
Maneuvers well

The floorhead glides very smoothly across carpet and hard floors, picking up surface dirt and debris as well as pulling out deeper dirt when vacuuming carpets. We certainly had no complaints with regards to dust pick-up and the amount of dust, dirt and dander in the dust cup at the end of vacuuming just one carpet, which confirmed that the cleaner was picking up far more than simply what was on the surface.

Unlike a cordless vacuum, there’s no need to conserve battery here, so you can vacuum on the highest power for as long as you like for the most thorough clean. While the vacuum didn’t struggle to remove hair from carpets, we did notice that some hair remained wrapped around the end of the brush roll and wasn’t removed by the Anti Hair Wrap technology, even after several uses.

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT floorhead — (Image credit: TechRadar)

When collecting oats from along the baseboard, the Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT took several pushes back and forth to collect the majority of the spill on carpet. And it didn’t manage to collect as much when we approached the baseboard with the front of the floorhead as opposed to the side. However, on hard floors, it removed all the debris along the baseboard at first attempt.

The vacuum managed to remove an impressive amount of debris from deep within a long-pile area rug, and the floorhead transitioned easily between the rug and hard floor. The controls on the handle make for easy switching between floor types and power levels. Likewise, the two main tools can be stored on the wand, so they’re always to hand when you need them.

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT being used on carpeted stairs — (Image credit: TechRadar)

The upholstery tool made vacuuming sofas a breeze, and the crevice nozzle proved useful for getting into all sorts of tight spots. We did try using the wand to vacuum overhead, which was fine to suck up the odd cobweb; but it can feel heavy if used for much longer.

Canister vacuums are always a good choice if you have lots of low furniture under which to vacuum – and this model is no exception; it reaches easily beneath chairs and beds. The flexible wand allows extra reach without you having to bend, but we struggled to control the direction of vacuuming in this mode.

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT dust bin — (Image credit: TechRadar)

The canister glides effortlessly behind you as you vacuum, plus the 360-degree pivot wheels help agility, even as the vacuum fills up and becomes heavier. The hose did on occasion become folded, which meant we had to pause vacuuming to tug it back into shape; but this is typical of longer hoses. Helpfully, when clicked into the upright position, the floorhead is self-supporting and the brush roll switches off until you tilt it back down to continue vacuuming.

The Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT is a quiet vacuum. Even on the highest power setting, it only hit a maximum of 70dB on our noise meter, no matter whether vacuuming carpet or hard floors. In addition, since most of the noise comes from the floorhead, reducing the power level didn’t reduce the noise output.

Should I buy the Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: July 2022

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Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum CZ500UKT review

1:58 pm |

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

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum: two-minute review

Update: This model is no longer available. For an alternative, head to our guide to the best Shark vacuum cleaners, or the best vacuum cleaners in general.

However, unlike Dyson, the company hasn’t abandoned plug-in vacuums in favor of battery-powered models, still making a decent range of corded vacuums for those who prefer a mains-powered cleaner.

The range includes canister vacuums, which you might know as cylinder or barrel vacuums, depending on where in the world you’re located.

Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum: price & availability

List price: $479.99 / £329.99/ AU$799.99

Shark CZ500UKT review: design

Two motorized brush rolls in floorhead
Flexible wand bends to reach under low furniture
25ft / 9-meter power cord

Shark CZ500UKT review: performance

Delivers a thorough clean on carpet
Quiet
Maneuvers well

Should I buy the Shark DuoClean & Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Pet Vacuum?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: July 2022

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Shark Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250UKT review

5:30 pm | June 22, 2022

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

Shark CZ250UKT: two-minute review

Product info

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

UK: Shark Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250UKT
US [discontinued]: Shark Canister Pet Bagless Corded Vacuum CZ351
AU [discontinued]: Shark Bagless Barrel Vacuum CZ250

For this review, we tested the UK version.

Shark is well known for making some of the best vacuum cleaners around and we know the brand as one of the frontrunners when it comes to cordless vacuums. But unlike its rival Dyson, Shark still makes a range of plug-in corded vacuums. This includes uprights and canister vacuums, which are also known as cylinders and barrel vacuums depending on what part of the world you’re from.

The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250UKT is the slightly cheaper sibling of Shark's top-of-the-range plug-in canister vacuum, but that’s not to say it’s lacking in features. The powered brushroll floorhead employs Shark’s Powerfin technology to get deep into carpets, as well as its self-clean anti hair wrap technology. The cleaning wand bends in half to reach under furniture and can be used for overhead cleaning too. There’s a crevice and an upholstery tool included in the box, plus UK customers benefit from a powered pet tool too.

On test, this Shark canister displayed good performance and maneuverability. We noticed particularly good pick-up on carpets, but it’s equally at home on hard floors as well as cleaning upholstery or overhead. It’s a great choice for those who don’t like upright or stick style vacuums or for anyone who wants a reliable clean without having to worry about how much battery is left.

Shark Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250UKT hero image2 — (Image credit: Future)

Shark CZ250UKT: price & availability

List price: £299.99
Discontinued in Australia and the US

This vacuum has slightly different names in different countries. It’s the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250UKT in the UK. Whereas in the US it goes by the name Shark Canister Pet Bagless Corded Vacuum CZ351 and in Australia you’ll find it called the Shark Bagless Barrel Vacuum CZ250. The only real difference between the three models is that the UK version comes with an additional small, powered pet tool.

It's well priced in comparison to cordless vacuums and is also cheaper than Shark's top-of-the range canister vacuum, which comes in at $479.99 / £329.99/ AU$799.99. You may even be able to use one of the Shark promo codes currently available to bring the price down.

Shark CZ250UKT review: design

1.9 quart/ 1.6 liter dust cup capacity
25 ft/ 9 meter power cord
HEPA filter

Weighing in at 9 lb/ 4.4kg without the hose or any attachments in place and without a full dust cup, the canister itself is a pretty good weight for most people to carry up and down stairs, the large carry handle and rubberized grip certainly help, too.

The canister size is fairly standard, measuring 19.3 x 10.2 x 10.2 inches/49 x 26 x 26cm (h x w x d) and there are plenty of different configuration options for storage, depending on whether you’ve got a tall or short cupboard space.

Storing the Shark Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250UKT — (Image credit: Future)

The floorhead has headlights in the front to illuminate dark spots such as areas below furniture. There’s a powerful self-cleaning brushroll that’s designed to remove debris from deep within carpet fibers, whilst avoiding that annoying clog of hair around the brush. There’s no option to turn off the brushroll though, which can sometimes be desirable for particularly delicate floors.

A control panel on the handle houses a power button, but there’s also one on the canister so you can switch it on using either. A suction level button allows you to easily cycle between the three suction levels using your thumb, and a third button lets you choose between carpet or hard floor modes. For this as well as the suction levels there are easy-to-understand symbols that light up to display the selections you’ve made. It defaults to hard floor and the middle suction power when first switched on.

The full box contents for the Shark Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250UKT — (Image credit: Future)

In the box you’ll also get a crevice tool and an upholstery tool as well as a clip to hold them to the wand, providing convenient and easy access when cleaning. If you buy it in the UK you’ll get an additional pet power brush to tackle pet hair on upholstery and cushions.

The flexible wand can bend in half at the midpoint, allowing it to reach under low furniture without the user having to bend down, a feature seen on many Shark upright vacuums. And for overhead cleaning the small tools can be attached directly to the wand. Likewise, the main floorhead can be attached to the handle for easier cleaning of small spaces like stairs.

Shark CZ250UKT review: performance

Maneuvers well
Controls conveniently located on handle
Good dust collection

The flexible wand does its job and allows for easy cleaning under low furniture without having to bend. Although it’s not quite so easy to maneuver in this mode, we didn’t feel we had as much control over the direction of vacuuming as when it’s in standard mode.

The floorhead is self-supporting so when you click it upright to go and move a stray sock out of the way, it stays put without falling over or having to be placed on the floor, plus the brushroll will automatically pause. And switching between power levels or floor type is super easy with the controls at your fingertips on the handle.

controls an dattachments on the Shark Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250UKT — (Image credit: Future)

General pick up is good on both carpet and hard floor and the beauty of a plug-in vacuum means you don’t feel the need to use one of the lower power levels to conserve battery, you’ll only need to switch to lower power for vacuuming delicate rugs or upholstery. Speaking of rugs, it coped well with a long pile area rug, removing lots of debris left behind by a robot vacuum that had cleaned it the same day.

We were impressed with the dust and dirt collection even if it was slightly horrifying how much it removed from recently vacuumed carpets. Edge cleaning is good, too, and it was able to collect oats from along our baseboards no matter whether we approached with the front or side of the floorhead. It didn’t struggle to remove hair from carpets and we were pleased to see that none of it became tangled in the brushroll.

The canister is small enough to balance on stairs and by removing the wand and attaching the floorhead or one of the tools directly to the handle, cleaning stairs is a breeze. Similarly, we were left with clean sofas after vacuuming them with the upholstery tool. And the crevice nozzle attached to the wand came in handy for removing cobwebs overhead, though you wouldn’t be able to clean like this for long without getting arm ache.

Shark Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250UKT on the stairs — (Image credit: Future)

The dust cup is easy to remove and during our tests all of the dirt and dust fell straight out into the trash at the push of a button. Having said that, though, the large capacity means you don’t have to do this too often, which is particularly helpful if you’ve got allergies and are sensitive to the usual dust cloud that erupts upon emptying a vacuum. The filters are also easily removed and they’re washable, so keeping them in good condition doesn’t require expensive regular replacements.

Emptying the Shark Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum CZ250UKT — (Image credit: Future)

During use, the floorhead proved to have good general maneuverability and the canister followed behind, with very little effort required to pull it along. Occasionally the hose would become folded and inhibit suction, but that’s quite common for long hoses and doesn’t take much to adjust back.

On the highest suction power vacuuming hard floor, our noise meter maxed out at 76dB, but this went down to around 68dB on the lowest suction level. On carpet the noise levels were pretty similar, but the tone wasn’t quite so high pitched.

Should I buy the Shark Bagless Cylinder Pet Vacuum?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: June 2022

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Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer review

4:04 pm | May 30, 2022

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

One-minute review

Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer: one-minut review

Ninja is the kitchen appliance brand that just seems to be going from strength to strength. Not only is it known for making some of the best multi-cookers and air fryers around, but it’s continually innovating, producing numerous multipurpose appliances such as its blenders that double as food processors.

The Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer is known as the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill in the US or the Ninja Foodi Airgrill in Australia. Like many air fryers, it offers other cooking functions in addition to air frying. These include bake, roast and dehydrate, but it’s the grill function that sets it apart from the rest. It allows you to chargrill foods, but a smoke-control system means you can do it indoors without setting off your smoke alarm. It’s like having an outdoor grill or barbecue in your kitchen.

It comes with a cooking pot, crisper basket and grill plate, all of which are non-stick and dishwasher-safe; but not all can be stored inside the appliance at the same time. When measured in quarts or liters, the air fry basket isn’t huge. However, it feels generously sized thanks to its wide and shallow design, which means food can be spread out for better results.

On test we were impressed with the air frying and grilling results, but there’s no denying this is a chunky appliance that demands a lot of countertop space - especially when compared to slightly less bulky competitors likes some of the best air fryers we’ve seen. As such, it isn’t ideal for smaller kitchens. However, it’s worth it if you’ll get a lot of use out of the grill function; otherwise, you may as well plump for one of Ninjas standard air fryers instead.

The Ninja Double Stack is a great option if you want to cook more food without taking up a lot of space on your counter, and it took the prize for best air fryer in the 2024 TechRadar Choice Awards. If you want the smoky flavor of food cooked on a BBQ, without the mess, the Ninja Woodfire is well worth investigating. It uses wood pellets (available in different types) to create an authentic BBQ flavor, and can be used indoors or out, provided there's a power outlet within reach.

Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer: price and availability

List price: £199.99 / $229.99 / AU$399.99

As mentioned above, the Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer is known as the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill in the US or the Ninja Foodi Airgrill in Australia. You can buy it direct from Ninja and the price is similar to Ninja's other large-capacity air fryers. However, with this model you also get the ability to grill indoors as well as bake, dehydrate and roast.

Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer: design

Intuitive control panel
Auto preheat
Dishwasher-safe parts

This Ninja grill and air fryer was chunkier than we were expecting, measuring 11 x 14 x 17 inches/ 26 x 35.6 x 45cm (h x w x d). In addition, the configuration of the hinged lid means it requires a fair bit of clearance around the rear to allow it to open fully. Not being able to push it to the back of the countertop only contributes to the unit feeling bigger than it is. Of course, you can push it back when it isn’t in use, but it still demands a good chunk of counter space.

The main cooking pot has a 6-quart/ 5.7-liter capacity, and if you’re air frying then you’ll need to insert the crisper basket, which knocks down the capacity to 4 quarts/ 3.8 liters. For grilling, there’s a heavy grill plate that sits inside the main cooking pot. Everything is dishwasher-friendly, but those without such an appliance needn’t worry since a stiff brush is also provided to help with cleaning the grill plate by hand. If you want to store the Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer away in a cupboard, you’ll need space not only for the appliance itself, but also either the grill plate or the crisper basket, since both items can’t be stored inside the unit at the same time.

Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer with cooked fries inside — (Image credit: TechRadar)

The control panel is easily accessible at the front of the appliance and is simple to use. For grilling, you can choose one of four heat levels. The air fryer can be set at temperatures between 300-450oF / 150-240oC; for roasting, the temperature range is 250-500oF / 120-260oC; or you can bake at 250-400oF / 120-210oC. The dehydrate function uses lower temperatures between 105-195oF / 40-90oC, but requires longer cook times. The screen combined with straightforward arrow buttons to adjust time and temperature mean there’s no complicated setup. The Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer even preheats automatically, informing you when it’s hot enough to add your food. It doesn’t remind you to shake or stir when air frying, however.

A quick-start guide as well as a recipe book with cooking charts offers plenty of guidance on time and temperature selections for common foods. Although note that there are very few suggestions for the roast and bake functions, so these will require some trial and error.

Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer with fried chicken inside — (Image credit: TechRadar)

Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer: performance

Plenty of space to spread out food when air frying
Bar marks from grill are curved not straight
Foods cook and brown evenly

Using this air fryer is slightly different to a standard air fryer with a pull-out basket. Instead, the crisper basket here drops into the appliance; you access food by lifting the top lid. The set-up is no better or worse than other air fryers, but it’s a bit trickier to shake food mid-cooking, since you’ll have to lift out the hot crisper basket in order to do so.

To test out the air fry function, we cooked up a batch of frozen thick-cut fries. We set the temperature to 360oF / 180oC, allowing the cooker to preheat with the crisper basket inside. This took just three minutes. Once hot, the Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer prompted us to add the food and automatically started the countdown timer on closing the lid. There’s no reminder to shake or turn food during air frying, but we checked it half way through, lifting out the basket with oven gloves to give the fries a shake. After 20 minutes, the resulting fries were crisp, golden and perfectly cooked. Not only did they taste great, but they cooked faster than the 28 minutes they would have taken in an oven.

Next, we air-fried chicken wings, and we were impressed that there was enough space in the basket to hold seven wings side-by-side – you could easily fit more in, if you piled them on top of each other. Before air frying, we coated the wings in ½ tbsp oil and preheated the air fryer to 400oF / 200oC. We turned the wings after 10 minutes, and 15 minutes later they were cooked through with beautifully golden crisp skin and moist tender meat.

For our third test, we assessed the Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer’s ability to cook raw hand-cut fries. As per the advice in the air fry chart, we soaked the raw fries in cold water for 30 minutes then dried them thoroughly. We coated them in 1tbsp oil and preheated the air fryer to 400oF / 200oC. The cooking chart advises 23-26 minutes, and we gave them a shake following 10 and 15 minutes of cooking. We removed them after 18 minutes because they were cooked and golden brown. The insides were fluffy and the crisping and browning on the outsides of the fried was pretty even.

Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer with grilled burger patty inside — (Image credit: TechRadar)

The ability to grill is a core function of this air fryer, so we tried it out by grilling two beef burgers. We followed the suggestion in the grill chart and set it on high for 6 minutes. The grill is slower to preheat – it takes around 8 minutes – and you have to make sure the grill plate is inside, so it’s hot when the food is added. Once preheated, we added the burgers and then turned them after 3 minutes of cooking. We were impressed with the minimal amount of smoke and cooking smells emitted by the Ninja. The burgers were nicely cooked with charred lines on the outside, but the shape of the bars on the grill plate means the markings on the burgers were curved as opposed to the traditional straight marks you’d expect.

Cleaning the cooking pot and basket is easy thanks to the non-stick coating, or you can pop it in the dishwasher. The grill plate is a little more fiddly to wash by hand, but it’s made easier by using the brush that’s supplied by Ninja.

The air fryer didn’t go louder than 55dB on our noise meter; the grill was slightly noisier, but still only reached 58dB – which isn’t too loud at all.

Should you buy the Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer?

Buy it if...

You want smoke-free indoor grilling

There’s something very aesthetically pleasing, not to mention super-tasty about chargrilled lines on your meats, fish and veggies. But getting a pan hot enough to do this indoors can lead to clouds of smoke. If you want to grill food with minimal smoke, this is the appliance for you.

You want an air fryer that allows you to spread out food

Despite the relatively compact 4-quart/ 3.7-liter crisper basket, the Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer feels like a more spacious air fryer. The basket is shallower and wider than others of a similar volume, meaning foods can be spread out instead of piled up, for much better results.

You don’t want to do any scrubbing

The perfect end to the perfect meal is not having to wash anything by hand. With the Ninja Foodi Health Grill & Air Fryer, all the removable parts can go straight into the dishwasher for super-easy cleaning.

Don't buy it if...

You’re short on counter space

This is a bulky appliance that you can’t tuck discreetly into the corner of your kitchen. And when in use, it needs to sit towards the front of your counter to allow enough clearance at the back for the lid to open properly.

You want a dual-zone air fryer

With just one cooking zone, this air fryer doesn’t offer the same flexibility as a dual-zone model. If you’re looking for an air fryer that allows you to cook fries in one basket while you cook chicken wings in the other, this isn’t the model for you.

You don’t think you’ll use the grill

The grill function is a big part of the design of this air fryer, so if you don’t think you’ll use it, you’re better off considering one of Ninja's other air fryers. A similar-capacity model without the grill function will be far less expensive, too.

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+: two-minute review

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

US: Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ CH951
UK: Shark Classic Handheld Pet Vacuum CH950UKT
AU: Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro CH950

We tested the UK version. Be aware there may be minor differences between different countries' models.

Shark has become a popular choice in the home cleaning market in recent years, offering a range of vacuum form factors from uprights to cordless models, and the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus (known as the Shark Classic Handheld Pet Vacuum in the UK) is one of its dedicated handheld models.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus has a compact, lightweight form factor that makes it perfect for cleaning cars, as well as being on hand for quick clean-ups around the home, such as on worktops, tables and soft furnishings.

It comes with three accessories: a motorized brush aimed at collecting pet hair, a crevice tool and a dusting brush, which cover most use cases. It promises 10 minutes of battery (although actually performed better than that in our tests) and has a 15fl oz / 450ml bin, which is fairly generous in this market.

Considering its low price, the CH950UKT / Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus offers tremendous value. Despite only having one power setting, it proves plenty powerful enough for the majority of tasks asked of it, and it has sufficient battery life to do a good clean of your whole car on a single charge. Its versatility with the included tools makes it flexible in use too, making it perfect for busy families, particularly those with pets.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus handheld vacuum resting on a car seat — (Image credit: Future)

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ review: price & availability

List price: $99.99 / £59.99 / AU$149.99

The CH950UKT costs $99.99 / £59.99 / AU$149.99, and is available directly from Shark in the UK and US, as well as from Amazon and other online retailers, while Australian buyers will need to go to home retailers like Domayne or Harvey Norman.

Just be careful to search for the Pet Pro Plus model to ensure that you’re getting all the tools we talk about here if that’s important. There are a couple of cheaper models (CH900/CH901 – both without the “Plus” in the name) that are available from some retailers but come with fewer tools and in different colors.

That might be a great option if you’re on a really tight budget, but this is already a great-value handheld vacuum, made even better by the fact it’s also one of the best all-rounders we’ve tested. It could be even better value depending on the Shark promo codes currently available too.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus handheld vacuum yellow bin-release button — (Image credit: Future)

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ review: design

Cordless design
Comes with three attachments
15fl oz / 450ml bin

Measuring 20.5 x 3.7 x 4.3 inches / 52 x 9.5 x 11cm, the CH950UKT / Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is on the larger side of compact, and is probably better suited to being stored in a cupboard rather than on a countertop. It’s still an ergonomic design though, and feels good to hold, with the handle built into its main body.

The power button sits at perfect thumb height on the top of the vacuum and offers a single level of suction, while the yellow bin-release button (pictured above) sits towards the nozzle end and releases the bin downwards with a single firm press. The 12.8fl oz / 450ml bin feels plenty big enough for general car cleans, as well as cleanups around the house.

Considering that I have two dogs, two children under four, and very little time to keep my car in an acceptable state, I managed to get through testing without needing to empty the bin, which is pretty good going. The bin mechanism isn’t the smoothest when you do need to empty it though, and we often needed to use both hands to help the bin to open.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus handheld vacuum adjustable heads — (Image credit: Future)

This style of handheld vacuum cleaner gives good control over your cleaning, while the three different attachments (motorized pet hair tool, crevice tool and dusting brush) provide versatility too, giving you all the tools you need to tackle tougher dirt and pet hair, as well as harder-to-reach areas. It’s a pretty comprehensive package considering the low price.

At 3lb / 1.39kg it’s lightweight enough for you to be able to perform a full car clean without tiring your arm, and as handheld vacs go it looks pretty sleek too. The model we’ve reviewed is available in black only, though in the US you’ll find some similar models from Shark in a wider range of colors, with fewer tools and for a little cheaper too.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus handheld vacuum in use on a car seat — (Image credit: Future)

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ review: performance

Good pick up
Easy to use
Averagely noisy

The Shark CH950UKT / Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is one of the better handheld vacuums we’ve tested, so it’s easy to understand why it’s so popular. Its size, shape and weight make it perfect for cleaning your car, with its range of tools helping to ensure it’s always best suited for the task at hand.

We found the motorized pet hair tool and the crevice tool the most useful for car cleaning. The crevice tool was particularly helpful, as even though the CH950UKT is relatively compact, its all-in-one design still means getting into the harder-to-reach areas behind foot pedals or inside door bins would be tricky without it. It’s not the longest crevice tool we’ve used, but it’s helpful at getting into tight spots all the same.

The motorized tool is a great size for more widespread clear-ups on carpets and upholstery, and made quick work of both smaller and larger debris in our standard tests. It’s the perfect size for the job at hand too, collecting a wider surface area than the crevice tool without becoming unwieldy or imprecise. Its one power setting means that sometimes we needed to go over an area again to get the finer crumb or remnants of the debris, but overall the single power setting copes well with most tasks.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus handheld vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

Outside of our standardized tests, a more generic clean around my car found the Shark CH950UKT / Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus did best when clearing up more surface-level debris, and couldn’t entirely shift older dirt that had been more worked in, particularly in carpet. It also struggled with picking up the wiry hair from my Jack Russell in the boot carpet, but that’s a hard job even for more professional tools.

For what you can realistically expect from a vacuum of this size and power, the Shark CH950UKT performs admirably, and considering its handy form factor, it’s easy to have on hand to clear up any mess before it gets worked in.

In terms of noise, the CH950UKT / Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus measured at 88dB, which is about average for this kind of vacuum, and suction power stayed pretty consistent until right at the end, when you could hear it start to waver as the battery depleted.

Do take the time to wash out the filter after any particularly heavy-duty clear ups though, and regularly otherwise, as this will help to ensure the vacuum’s suction stays as strong as possible. Simply remove the filter and run it under warm water, then allow it to dry completely before using it again.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus handheld vacuum on switch, with a light indicating that the vacuum is powered on — (Image credit: Future)

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ review: battery

Better than the quoted 10 minutes
Around three hours to recharge
Battery is non-swappable

The Shark CH950UKT / Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus promises a 10-minute battery life, but we found the battery performed better than that, and we squeezed out almost 15 minutes from it on a single charge. You can expect that to drop a little with the motorized tool attached, but we had plenty of time to make our way around our car on a single charge, with even a little power to spare at the end.

Shark also seems to have been liberal with its quote of four hours for a full recharge, as in our tests we found it charged from flat to full in around three hours. You can’t swap out the battery though, so you will need to make sure you keep it charged so it’s ready when you need it.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus handheld vacuum dust bin — (Image credit: Future)

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