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Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i review: my new favorite budget-friendly air purifier

10:00 am | January 1, 2025

Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i : two-minute review

Blueair offers similar air purifiers under different model names in the US and UK. In the US, this air purifier is known as the Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max, but as I’m located in the south of England, I tested the UK model, Blueair Blue Max 3250i.

The Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max is available to purchase at the Blueair website and Amazon for a list price of $169.99, but can occasionally be on offer for a discounted price. In the UK, the Blueair Blue Max 3250i is priced at £169 at multiple retailers including Very and Amazon, and also sees a price drop now and then.

The large Blueair air purifier sits on its side with the top removed on a wood surface against a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

Despite being compact and impressively light for its capabilities, there’s a lot to love about the Blueair Blue Max 3250i. The two touch buttons make it simple to power on the air purifier and to cycle through auto mode, night mode, and fan speeds one to three.

The straightforward design is composed of the white plastic top section that houses the working parts, and a simple yet efficient base that consists of a lightweight frame within the changeable particle and carbon filter, plus a machine-washable fabric pre-filter outer layer. The neatness of the seam isn’t perfect, but other than this it is a great way to capture dust before it reaches the single-use filter, and is available in a range of colors making it effortless to switch things up if desired.

The Blueair Blue Max 3250i does a great job for the price, rivaling some of the best air purifiers. For the most part, the fan speed remained on the lowest setting when the Blueair Blue Max 3250i was left in auto mode.

This came as no surprise to me, but I’ve seen some customer reviews complaining that this air purifier doesn’t do anything. In fact, the Blueair Blue Max 3250i is purifying, and it’s capable of clearing more than just the PM2.5 it detects, such as VOCs when manually operated – it just doesn’t possess the capability to detect these things automatically. That's fine, in my professional opinion, considering the low price.

A close-up of the top of Blueair air purifier on a wood surface against a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

During testing, it took just 10 minutes for the contamination from spraying dry shampoo to be detected and cleared by the Blueair Blue Max 3250i. It continued to impress me over the days I tested it, being sensitive enough to detect the drop in air quality when I used hair products in the next room.

In terms of noise levels, I didn’t experience any issues with the Blueair Blue Max 3250i. I found that I could sleep or watch TV with it in the room without it being disruptive.

I’m a big fan of the Blueair Blue Max 3250i, both for its innovative design, and its good performance for a low price, so I can envision it finding its way into our choice of the best air purifiers in the near future. So if you're in the market for a low-cost air purifier that won't shock you with extortionate costs for replacement parts, this is the one for you. If you'd like to learn more, read on for our full review to get all the facts.

Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i review: price & availability

List price: $169.99 / £169
Available: in the US and UK under different product names

The Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max is available to purchase from the Blueair US website for $169.99, and at the time of writing has a Black Friday deal slashing the price down to $119.99 at Amazon US. The comparable UK model, the Blueair Blue Max 3250i, can’t be purchased from the Blueair website but is available at many major UK retailers, including Argos, Very, and Amazon. The list price is £169 for the Blue Max 3250i at Amazon, and a Black Friday deal has knocked the price down to an even more impressive £113.

I was pleasantly surprised that the Blueair Blue Max 3250i performed so well and had such a considered design considering its price tag, making it fantastic value for money. Replacement components won’t break the bank either, with replacement Particle and Carbon filters costing just $29.99 / £35 – this is particularly impressive as Blueair states that these filters can last between six to nine months.

Value for money score: 5/5

Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i review: specs

Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i review: design and features

No display
Simple to use
Machine-washable pre-filter

I became a fan of the design aspects of the Blue range when I reviewed the impressive Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max. The standout design feature is the attractive machine-washable fabric pre-filter covering most of the purifier’s outer. This design proves innovative, as directly behind the pre-filter cover sits the particle and carbon filter (this can be upgraded to Smokeblock or Allergenblock filters if desired), which surrounds a simple plastic frame. This makes the base of the purifier super lightweight for its size, weighing in at 7.5 lbs / 3.4 kg. The Blueair Blue Max 3250i can purify an area of 219 sq ft / 48 sq meters yet still remains fairly compact, measuring 18.9 X 10.6 X 10.6 in / 481 x 269 x 269 mm. I’m very pleased with the reduced amount of materials used on the body of the Blueair Blue Max 3250i, but my concern with this construction is that the exposed filter could be prone to damage.

The sleeve of the large Blueair air purifier is rolled down to reveal the HEPA filter underneath. — (Image credit: Future)

I’ve never seen a design quite like this, as most air purifiers have plastic casing to protect the inner filters whereas the body of the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max is simply some structural plastic sitting within the particle and carbon filter, covered in the washable pre-filter. This goes to explain its very light weight of 2.5 lb / 3.4kg but could make it vulnerable to damage.

Despite its minor flaws, it’s a nice touch that Blueair made the pre-filter part of the overall aesthetic, which has meant less material and wasted plastic, which we’re always happy to see at TechRadar. It’s also an advantage that they are machine washable and extras can be purchased in a range of colors, just in case you don’t want to wait for one to dry, or want to switch things up occasionally.

Not only is it delightfully light, it’s dinky in size, too. Measuring just 11.4 x 6.8 x 5.9 inches / ‎172 x 172 x 289mm. This cylindrical 360-degree design enables the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max to be placed in a variety of spaces, as there’s plenty of opportunity for it to pull air in.

The large Blueair air purifier sits with its back turned toward the camera on a wood surface against a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

As was the case with the Mini Max, the seam of the fabric pre-filter could be neater as it is a little puckered and bulges in places, but this is less noticeable on the Blueair Blue Max 3250i as the overlapping seam doesn’t stand out as much over the larger area.

The controls on the top of the Blueair Blue Max 3250i are simple, there are just two touch-operated buttons, a power button, and a fan button that cycles between auto mode, sleep mode, and fan speeds of one to three when pressed. There’s no LED display to view the air quality data; however, there’s a light on the front of the unit that changes color to indicate the air quality score, ranging from Excellent to Very Polluted, and a light below each fan mode to indicate which is currently being used.

Real-time quality levels are easy to view on the Blueair app, but there’s no detailed data to review, simply a colored graph showing the air quality rating over time. I found I was able to use a pinching motion to zoom in and out of the graph, which allowed me to view more detail of the air quality changes over smaller increments of time.

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i review: performance

Quiet operation
Clears PM2.5 contaminations quickly
Detects and reacts to PM2.5 that originates in other rooms

Getting the Blueair Blue Max 3250i set up was quick and simple. The user manual was easy to follow, containing first-time setup instructions including how to connect it to my home Wi-Fi, which proved to be a breeze. It also included instructions on how to remove and wash the fabric pre-filter, which I appreciated. Upon installing the Blueair app, I was given the option to use it without creating an account, but I chose to so I could enter my location and view the outdoor air quality data too.

Connecting the Blueair Blue Max 3250i to the app was blissfully straightforward, taking less than three minutes after switching the air purifier on to view my indoor air quality. As I was using the Blueair Blue Max 3250i in my living room, I selected “Living room” as the product name, but there was an option to add a custom name should I have been using it in an office or nursery, for example.

The HEPA filter from inside the Blueair air purifier sits facing forward on a wood surface against a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

It’s worth noting that although it’s claimed the Blueair Blue Max 3250i’s electrostatic and mechanical filtration captures airborne particles as small as 0.1 microns, it will not detect anything smaller than PM2.5. PM2.5 is particulate matter over 2.5 microns in size, including dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria. Other far more expensive air purifiers, such as the Molekule Air Pro, can monitor and react to VOCs along with PM2.5. These volatile organic compounds can come from paint, furniture, carpets, and cleaning products, and are often the main offenders behind lower air quality, so having an air purifier capable of detecting these contaminants would be advantageous.

However, just because an air purifier doesn’t detect these contaminants doesn’t mean it isn’t tackling them, but it won't be aware of them so won’t initiate higher fan speeds in their presence. Considering the low price of the Blueair Blue Max 3250i though, it’s not surprising that it doesn’t have this capability, but this is something to bear in mind if you want a purifier that you can leave to its own devices to tackle all the common contaminants.

According to the Blueair Blue Max 3250i, the air quality in my living room was considered excellent, so it remained at a low fan speed when I put it into auto mode. To test how sensitive the sensors were to contaminants, and how quickly they reacted to them, I sprayed some dry shampoo roughly three meters away. Within two minutes the Blueair Blue Max 3250i detected the dry shampoo, raising the contamination reading to 56 on the graph within the app over about thirty seconds, which it classed as very polluted. Within three minutes of spraying the dry shampoo, the reading had lowered to 25, classed as good; within six minutes, it returned to excellent.

It was at this moment that my fluffy cats chose to pay a visit, and interestingly, the air quality reduced slightly again, raising the score, so it appeared to detect their fur or dander in the air. Within a minute of them leaving, the score gradually dropped further than before, so it appear that the Blueair Blue Max 3250i’s particle sensors were doing a good job.

I continued to be impressed by how sensitive this air purifier was to changes in air quality over a week of testing. I would be surprised to hear the fan speed ramping up, before realizing I’d used my dry shampoo in the next room. I’ve not encountered a cheap air purifier that possessed this level of sensitivity before.

The inside of the top section of Blueair air purifier on a wood surface against a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

When it came to viewing the testing data on the air quality graph on the Blueair app, I found that it wasn’t very easy to view data over multiple days. Whenever I viewed the graph, the data was in real time and I would need to scroll along for some while. I could change from hourly readings to readings across a day or month, but when I scrolled back to a previous day and switched to hourly view to see more detail, it returned to the current day and time. This meant that I could only see this level of detail by scrolling all the way back to my chosen day when in hourly view, which wasn't ideal. The air quality graph didn’t give the full picture of how contaminated the air had become after I sprayed the dry shampoo. It communicated the highest score as being 22, despite reaching 56 in reality. This lack of detail isn’t unheard of, though, as I found that the Molekule Air Mini+ also failed to relay all readings if they were cleared quickly.

I found the Blueair Blue Max 3250i to be easy to sleep next to when in sleep mode, and I found that I couldn’t hear it over the TV when operating on fan level 2. Some other air purifiers can prove deafening at higher fan speeds, but this was not the case with the Blueair Blue Max 3250i.

Overall, though, I was very impressed with how sensitive the Blueair Blue Max 3250i was, how quickly it responded to contaminants, and how swiftly it dealt with them. The level and quality of features are great for the price, and this is only the second non-VOC detecting air purifier that I’ve found myself growing a fondness for, with the other being the Blueair Blue Mini Max.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i?

Buy it if...

You want good results on a budget
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m highly impressed with this air purifier. It’s repeatedly proven itself sensitive, responsive, and fast-acting, making it a great performer for the cost.

You need something lightweight
The Blueair Blue Max 3250i isn’t just light for its size; it’s lightweight in general. With barely any body material in its base, it is very easy to pick up and move, making it a good choice for anyone wanting to use it in multiple rooms.

You want something simple
With only two onboard buttons to operate the air purifier and a simple-to-use app, the settings of the Blueair Blue Max 3250i are easy to get a handle on.

Don't buy it if...

You want detailed air quality readings
With a low-cost piece of tech, there’s always going to be an element of compromise. In this case, the contamination detected is limited to PM2.5, and the app doesn’t give any detail on indoor air quality aside from an overall score.

You want something to fight off the nasties on its own accord
As this air purifier can’t detect VOCs, it won’t automatically react to strong odors or finer particles, so settings will need to be altered manually if a higher level of purifying is required.

You want something robust
Despite the advantages of such a lightweight air purifier, there’s no denying that the base design could be at risk of damage should anything make contact with it.

Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i review: Also consider

Levoit Core 300S Smart True HEPA
We rated this little air purifier a commendable four-and-a-half stars thanks to its performance and smart features. It is cheaper than the Blueair Blue Max 3250i, but there were delays in response time, and it doesn’t offer washable pre-filters. For more information, why not check out our full Levoit Core 300S True HEPA air purifier review.

Molekule Air Pro
I know, I know, the cost difference here is vast, however, if you happen to be looking for an option with medical-grade materials, FDA medical device clearance, and fantastic VOC detection, then this is hands down the product to go for. If you'd like to find out more about this air purifier's skill set, take a look at our full Molekule Air Pro review.

How I tested the Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i

I used the Blueair Blue Max 3250i for a week and a half
I tested how much of an impact it had on the surrounding air quality
I tested how easy it was to operate and live with

I checked how easy was to get the Blueair Blue Max 3250i set up, how easy it was to operate, and how portable it was.

I tested it in different rooms in my home, and observed how quiet it was at night time and whether it disturbed my sleep.

I assessed its design and structure, paying close attention to quality and any sustainable elements.

I reviewed the impact it had on the air quality in my environment, and how well it handled cooking smells.

First reviewed: November 2024
Read TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: I was ready to make this my new car vac until I made an unwelcome discovery

7:00 pm | December 31, 2024

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

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum: two-minute review

The Temola TS20BS is available to buy at Amazon for $49.99 / £45.99. This is a fairly average cost for a handheld vacuum from a lesser-known brand, and after testing it out I would say that you get what you pay for here.

I was very disappointed to discover that there doesn’t appear to be replacement stainless steel HEPA filters for this model, although I could see replacements for some of their other vacs. Although the stainless steel covering could potentially increase the longevity of the HEPA filter within, but there’s no telling how long it would last. There is, at least, a replacement filter provided with the purchase, but without further replacements, this could significantly decrease the lifetime of the Temola TS20BS.

The Temola TS20BS is lightweight enough to use easily, although in my case using it with my arm extended with nothing to lean on did cause some aching. It’s fairly compact, so it has been easy to store, especially when combined with the convenient drawstring storage bag that fits the accessories, too. The Temola TS20BS doesn’t come with a storage dock but was easy to charge with the included USB-C cable, although it is disappointingly short at just 30.5 inches / 780mm long.

I was happy with the material quality of all parts of the Temola TS20BS set, the dust brush, crevice nozzle, and floor brush didn’t look cheap, the storage bag looked durable, and the materials on the vac itself felt sturdy and looked good. To aid visibility when vacuuming in darker spaces, there’s an LED light situated just above the top of the 3.6 cup / 850ml dust cup. It wasn’t outstandingly bright, but it was good enough.

The Temola TS20BS handheld vacuum — (Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

As is the case with many handheld vacuums in this price bracket, I had to remove the front end of the vacuum to empty the dust cup. Detaching it was easy, but care needed to be taken when removing the filter from within, as a lot of debris collects around it. Getting the dust cup to clip back on was tricky on occasion. The level of noise emitted from the TS20BS is fairly standard for a vacuum cleaner, reading 76dB at 10,000PA power, and 80dB on the higher 15,000PA setting.

I found the Temola TS20BS to be a helpful tool for vacuuming my desk and sofa, but it really proved its worth when I put it through its paces against our TechRadar vacuum testing process. It did an adequate job of picking up the larger particles of oats and a mixture of flour and biscuit crumbs when on the lower power setting, but the higher setting was required to collect up the finer dust particles.

When testing the floor brush attachment I found it wasn’t helpful in that instance, mainly flicking debris around rather than helping to collect it up. When I used the dust brush on the end of the crevice nozzle, on the other hand, the results were fantastic. I found this smaller brush to improve performance in many different areas of my car, from dusting and vacuuming the leather to removing stubborn bits of leaf from carpeted areas.

For the most part, I’d recommend you purchase the TS20BS, as it did a good job for its price. Sadly, though, the lack of replacement filters makes me hesitant to encourage you to buy without doing further research, in case some may have become available in the meantime. If you’d like to take a look at some alternatives to help make up your mind, we’ve collated a selection of the best car vacuums, and best handheld vacuums to help you discover the most suitable option for your needs.

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: Price and availability

List price: $49.99 / £45.99
Available at Amazon

The Temola TS20BS is a handheld vacuum that comes with accessories and a storage bag for a list price of $49.99 / £45.99 at Amazon. You’re getting what you pay for with the Temola TS20BS, considering the quality, performance, and ease of use; although some slightly more expensive vacs performed better, I was happy enough with its performance.

The set comes with an additional washable filter, which I was pleased about, but after investigating I cannot find replacement filters for this model. While the stainless steel covering of the filter may potentially increase the longevity of the filters, providing they are cleaned regularly, there’s no saying quite how long they’ll last, giving the Temola TS20BS a disappointingly short lifespan if replacements do not come available to purchase soon.

Value score: 2.5 / 5

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: Specs

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: design and features

Materials look good quality
Short USB-C charging cable
Useful drawstring storage bag

Considering its price, I was pretty impressed with the material quality of the Temola TS20BS. The majority of the vacuum is black and off-white and has a gloss finish, aside from the buttons and dust cup securing latch, which are bright orange with a slightly textured finish. The dust cup that makes up the business end of the vacuum is made from shiny transparent black plastic, making it easy for me to see when the dust cup is reaching capacity while obscuring the contents enough to stop it from being an eyesore.

The Temola TS20BS is fairly lightweight, but it isn’t the lightest handheld vac I’ve tested. It weighs 2.1lb / 957g, so it was easy enough for me to use but caused a little bit of arm ache if I wasn’t able to lean a little on what I was vacuuming. It isn’t a bulky vac, at 15 x 4 x 5 inches / 350 x 150 x 150mm, making it easy to store away in the handy drawstring bag, which also holds the accessories as well.

The accessories included are a dust brush, crevice nozzle, and a floor brush. Most of these did a great job, although I found one of them wasn’t very helpful during testing. Another useful addition that resides on the Temola TS20BS itself is the integrated LED light that is positioned above the dust cup. It’s not the most powerful LED I’ve seen, but it did an okay job of helping me see a little better when vacuuming darker spaces.

A close-up of the floor brush attachment. — (Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

The Temola TS20BS comes with what Temola states is a stainless steel HEPA filter in place, and an additional filter comes in the box. This is a nice touch, as although the filters can be washed, and made easier with the included cleaning brush, they would likely need to be changed within a few months.

The Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum doesn’t come with a charging dock, instead, it can be recharged using just a USB-C cable. While some users may prefer a dock for ease of access, I liked the flexibility of placement that came with charging via a cable, and I was still able to store the vacuum and accessories away neatly in the drawstring storage bag. The one downside here, however, is that the cable that comes with the Temola TS20BS is only 30.5 inches / 780mm long, proving a little annoying at times.

There isn’t a replacement battery available, so I was limited to the max run time, which wasn’t quite enough to give my car a full valet, although with it being winter as I write this and I both work and live near a lot of leafy trees, I can’t judge it too harshly for that. One aspect I appreciated is that the included USB-C charging cable can be used with a power bank, or with a cigarette lighter adapter, so I didn’t necessarily need to bring it into the house to charge.

The Temola TS20BS handheld vacuum inside the storage bag on a mustard color blanket and sofa. — (Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

I was satisfied with the level of noise the Temola TS20BS emits, as it was quieter than a lower-powered car vac I’d tested and pretty standard for a vacuum cleaner. On the low 10,000mAh setting it reached a sound level of 76dB, and the higher setting reached 80dB, so the highest setting was no louder than a busy restaurant. I still needed to use some ANC earbuds when using it, but that’s due to an auditory issue; for the average person I don’t envision the noise levels would be uncomfortable.

On a few occasions, I found that the dust cup didn’t always connect to the handle properly the first couple of times I’d attached it. It clicked on and looked attached, but any bit of pressure on it caused it to fall off, I found I needed to pay particular attention to making sure the bottom of the dust cup had clicked over the extra plastic tag, which was a little fiddly, but simple once I’d gotten used to it. This is likely just a personal preference, but long pressing the power button did nothing when on the lower suction setting, this would only work after increasing it to the max suction level. This is only a minor niggle, but I like to keep loud noises to a minimum, so I wasn’t a fan that the increase of sound was unavoidable when I needed to turn it off, especially when using it to give my desk a quick hoover in the office.

Design and features score: 4 / 5

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: performance

Performed well for the price
Dust brush works well
An extension hose would've been helpful

As it weighs just 2.1lb / 957g, the Temola TS20BS was easier to wield than the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus, which is currently our top pick of the best handheld vacuum and best car vacuum. I found the handheld Shark vac made my arm ache a little when performing the same tests for a direct comparison.

The Temola TS20B did a good job when I used it to vacuum my sofa, but I really put it to the test when I used it in my beloved car. One thing I love about working for TechRadar is our mission to perform thorough testing on all products – I just wish that didn’t involve spreading flour, biscuit crumbs, and oats in my car. But, if nothing else, I’m dedicated to our mission. So, dear reader, despite how uncomfortable it made me: I did it, for every single handheld vac I tested, each time praying they were up to the job of cleaning it up. I’m relieved to say, in the case of the Temola TS20BS, I needn’t have worried.

When following our testing procedure, the Temola TS20BS picked up most of the mixture of flour and biscuit on the lowest power setting, but smaller particles were left behind in the pile of my car mat. Turning up to the higher power setting made quick work of picking this up though, so I was able to get it all vacuumed up in a minute or so.

It was a similar story when it came to hoovering up the oats. The lowest setting picked up the large pieces without issue, but the smaller debris remained on the surface of the carpet and in the pile. Again, the higher setting cleared this up, but it required a little elbow grease and pressure.

The floor brush attachment of the Temola TS20BS didn’t do the best job of picking up the fine dust from my car mat. It kind of flicked debris around when using the lower suction, though it performed better on the higher setting. In the end, I found myself removing the floor brush attachment and giving the carpet a final going over on the higher setting just to collect the remaining dust. The dust brush, which is smaller and softer, did a vastly better job, even just on the lower 10,000PA power setting, and the performance improved further when I increased it to 15,000PA.

The dust brush attachment. — (Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

The crevice tool performed as expected, reaching smaller areas, and, naturally, the pickup was best with the higher suction setting. One nice-to-have would have been a flexible extension hose like the one included with the Homekane Handheld Vac, as getting down the edges of my seats was a bit of a struggle with the limited reach. As with the earlier tests the performance improved by far after adding the dust brush tool to the mix as it aggravated the debris just enough to allow it to be picked up easily.

When it came to emptying the 3.6 cup / 850ml dust cup, I must say that I preferred the Shark configuration, which simply required me to push a button and pull down a flap on the underside of its dust cup, which felt quicker and less messy than needing to remove the dust cup and filter from the Temola TS20BS each time. I had to bang out the filter, as most of the debris was caught on its surface and the cavity at the bottom of the filter housing, and it was also tricky to put it back into place properly.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum?

Buy it if...

You want a simple-to-use vac
With easy-to-master controls and a fairly lightweight body, you'll be up and running with this Temola vac before you know it.

You want a vac that's easy to store away
Whether you plan on sticking it in a cupboard or in the trunk of your car, the drawstring storage bag makes it easy to keep all the parts neatly in one place.

Don't buy it if...

You don't want a vac with an expiry date
As there doesn't appear to be any replacement stainless steel HEPA filters compatible with this model at present, there is a risk that this handheld vacuum could only be usable for as long as the two included filters last.

You want a charging dock
The Temola TS20BS doesn't have a model with a storage dock, so if you're a dock fan this won't be for you. The storage bag provides a tidy storage solution, though.

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: also consider

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus
The top spot holder of our pick of the best handheld and car vacuums, this handheld Shark vac delivers great suction power, easy emptying, and some versatile tools. Take a look at our full review to hear how well it performed.

Shark WandVac System WS642 / WV361UK 4
This versatile vac requires more investment, but it's a great choice if you're looking for a lightweight and ergonomic vac that can be used in a stick or handheld configuration. It features on our list of the best handheld vacuums for its flexible use and light weight, but its battery life is a little on the short side. Here's our full review if you'd like to find out more.

How I tested the Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum

I tested the Temola TS20BS against two other handheld vacs
I assessed its ability to vacuum both large and fine debris
I made use of the included accessories

I took a close look at the design and materials used for the Temola TS20BS. I used it to vacuum my sofa and my desk and put it through its paces against the TechRadar vacuum testing process in my car. This involves testing a vacuum's ability to pick up fine and coarse particles, namely oats, and a mixture of flour and fine biscuit crumbs.

I assessed the fit of the accessories and used each of them to see how effective they were. I also looked at how easy and efficient the dust cup emptying process was.

First reviewed: December 2024
Read more about how we test

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: I was ready to make this my new car vac until I made an unwelcome discovery

7:00 pm |

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

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum: two-minute review

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: Price and availability

List price: $49.99 / £45.99
Available at Amazon

Value score: 2.5 / 5

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: Specs

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: design and features

Materials look good quality
Short USB-C charging cable
Useful drawstring storage bag

Design and features score: 4 / 5

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: performance

Performed well for the price
Dust brush works well
An extension hose would've been helpful

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum?

Buy it if...

You want a simple-to-use vac
With easy-to-master controls and a fairly lightweight body, you'll be up and running with this Temola vac before you know it.

Don't buy it if...

You want a charging dock
The Temola TS20BS doesn't have a model with a storage dock, so if you're a dock fan this won't be for you. The storage bag provides a tidy storage solution, though.

Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: also consider

How I tested the Temola TS20BS Cordless Handheld Vacuum

I tested the Temola TS20BS against two other handheld vacs
I assessed its ability to vacuum both large and fine debris
I made use of the included accessories

I assessed the fit of the accessories and used each of them to see how effective they were. I also looked at how easy and efficient the dust cup emptying process was.

First reviewed: December 2024
Read more about how we test

Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer review

8:00 pm | December 24, 2024

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

Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer two-minute review

The $99/£80/€79 Dreame Gleam hair dryer offers a decent blend of thoughtful design, user-friendliness, and performance – especially for such a relatively cheap dryer. It’s lightweight and compact, making it comfortable to hold and easy to use. Its slim design also makes it a good travel companion, as it fits neatly into bags without taking up too much space. All of this make it a strong contender amongst the best hair dryers on the market.

Aesthetically, the Gleam has a cylindrical design, curved edges, and a soft matte finish. The main temperature and mode controls are found on the back of the handle and while this placement isn’t great for making adjustments mid-style, it's intuitive enough once you get the hang of it. By contrast, the power and speed slider, conveniently and comfortably placed within reach of your thumb, is great for quick changes between the Low and High speed settings.

In addition to these speeds, the Gleam has four heat modes – Cool, 57C Constant, Hot, and a Hot/Cold Cycle. Its 65m/s airflow delivers fast, efficient drying, even on the lower heat settings and the built-in ion technology, which releases 200 million negative ions, breaks down water molecules quickly, helping to reduce frizz and leave hair smooth and shiny.

One of my favorite features is the Cool mode, which provides a true blast of cold air. It’s fantastic for setting styles, reducing frizz, and adding extra shine. My waves and curls held their shape noticeably longer after a quick blast of cool air. By comparison, while the 57C Constant mode is great for offering gentle heat for damaged hair, I found it to be my least favorite mode. It adds a substantial amount to the drying time without drastically improving the quality and finish of your hair.

Dreame Gleam hair dryer on reviewer's dressing table — (Image credit: Future)

The best results, in terms of speed vs finish was with the Hot/Cold Cycle on High speed. Using this mode, I was able to dry my long, thin hair in under five minutes, and the result was soft, glossy, and full of life. This shine and smooth finish was even better when paired with the magnetic concentrator nozzle. This nozzle is excellent for directing the airflow precisely where you need it, making it ideal for smoothing out sections of hair. It's quite narrow, which doesn't lend itself well to drying all of your hair with the nozzle, but if you're willing to put in the extra time, it's worth it. Sadly, the Gleam doesn’t include a diffuser and this is a shame for people with naturally curly hair.

In terms of noise, the Gleam operates quietly, with a sound level that’s comfortable for most situations. It’s easy to carry on a conversation while using it, even at higher speeds, making it less disruptive than other dryers I’ve tried. In my tests, the noise levels averaged 70dB and never exceeded 80dB, even on the High speed setting. This is quite a bit louder than Dreame's advertised 59dB, but is a minor gripe.

And speaking of gripes, the fan is positioned at the base of the handle, where it meets the 5.9ft (1.8m) cord. This design makes the barrel more compact and prevents hair from getting caught in the fan blades but I constantly kept blocking it with my hand and this soon become tedious.

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer review: price & availability

List price: $99/£80/€79
Available: US/UK/EU

The $99 / £80 / €79 Gleam hairdryer is Dreame's entry-level model, coming in at around half the price of its €159 Dreame Pocket, and €139 / A$299 Dreame Glory.

It's available in the US and Europe from the Dreame website, as well as Amazon, in a pastel pink color. You can also buy it from Amazon UK in grey. Across all regions, the dryer ships with a concentrator nozzle although it doesn't have a dedicated diffuser. You can use the diffuser that ships with the Dreame Glory, as it connects in the same way, but who realistically is going to own both dryers in order to make this swap?

The price and power of the Gleam puts the dryer in the lower mid-range bracket, putting it on par with the likes of the $95 BaBylissPRO, and $90 Hot Tools Pro Artist Tourmaline dryer. The BaByliss Pro ships with a similar concentrator nozzle to the Gleam, yet the Hot Tools dryer is sold with two nozzles and a diffuser for a similar price.

The lack of color options and accessories make it difficult to recommend the Dreame Gleam when other, cheaper dryers offer more value and choice. That said, its power and features coupled with its focus on hair health help elevate its appeal and at least justify its price.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer specs

Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer review: design

Compact design
4 heat modes and 2 airflow speeds
Concentrator attachment

If it wasn't for the pink color and soft-matte finish, it would be easy to mistake the Dreame Gleam for the Dreame Glory. The dryer’s body is cylindrical, with the same rounded edges. The two dryers are almost identical in size, shape and weight. Even down to the position of the fan at the base of the handle, and the matching power/speed and temperature controls on the side.

On the rear of the Gleam dryer, where the fan is usually found, is a flat, smooth panel. Beneath this panel, on the handle, is a sliding power switch that lets you toggle between the two speed settings – Low and High. This switch is perfectly located in just the right spot so that your thumb can easily reach it without having to re-adjust your grip mid-style and this is a small but welcome feature. Below this switch is a circular button surrounded by an LED ring which lets you switch between the Gleam's four temperature modes:

Cold
57°C Constant
Hot
Hot/Cold Cycle

As you'd expect, the Cold mode blows cold air, and the Hot mode blows hot air. The Hot/Cold Cycle Mode cycles between hot and cold air as you style your hair and the 57C Constant mode offers a consistent temperature designed to prevent heat damage.

I first used the Hot/Cold cycle feature on the BaByliss Air Wand and more recently on the Dreame Pocket and Dreame Glory. I initially thought I wouldn't this mode that much because it increases the styling time slightly, however it is now my go-to because it makes a noticeable difference to the finish and feel of my hair.

To switch between these modes, you press the circular button found on the rear of the handle and its LED ring will change color, depending on the mode selected. Cold mode is represented by a blue LED ring; Hot mode has a red ring; Hot/Cold cycle's LED ring alternates between red and blue; and the ring on the 57C Constant mode is yellow. It's impossible to see these colors mid-style, due to the position of the button on the rear of the handle and this makes it difficult to select different modes without looking. The more you use the dryer, the more you get used to what the different modes sound and feel like but it's not massively intuitive.

At just 11.6oz / 330g, the Dreame Gleam is incredibly easy to lift and move around your head, and its dimensions – 3 × 3.2 inches (7.6 × 8.2 cm) for the barrel and a 10-inch (25.5 cm) handle – make it a compact and well balanced styler. The longer handle, which I initially thought might make the dryer top-heavy, is balanced and provides a confident grip while styling.

There is only one attachment for the Dreame Gleam – a smoothing concentrator nozzle that snaps onto the barrel using a satisfying magnetic mechanism. This mechanism is strong enough to keep the attachments in place during styling, but gives you the freedom to twist and turn the nozzle to different angles to reach different parts of your head and hair. The nozzle doesn't get too hot during styling either, which adds to this ease-of-use.

Being positioned at the base of the handle, where it meets the 5.9ft / 1.8m cord, means its easy to block the fan with your hand. This is preferable to the fan being on the rear of the dryer and sucking your hair in, as is the case with some other dryers, but I don't love this positioning. The air outlet at the front of the Dreame Gleam is then wide enough to provide the powerful 70 m/s airflow.

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer review: performance

1600-watt motor
High-speed motor operates at 110,000RPM
76dB average noise

From my first use of the Dreame Gleam, I noticed how quickly it dried my hair, even on the lower speed and temperature settings. It handled my long, fine hair in minutes without the usual frizz or tangles and I love that you don't have to rely on intense heat to do the job. Instead, its high-speed airflow and 200 million negative ions help to break down water droplets faster, leaving my hair smooth and shiny in a short period of time.

The quickest results came from using the Hot mode, in which my hair went from wet to dry in four and a half minutes on High speed. The Hot/Cold Cycle on high speed added an extra minute to this, but my hair was noticeably softer and had more movement. This combination of warm and cool air also seemed to lock in the sleek finish for much longer. The slowest results came from using the Constant 57C setting. It took more than six minutes to dry my hair on this mode and there wasn't a huge improvement in the feel or look of my hair either. This will be a great addition for very fragile or damaged hair, but may feel a bit redundant for anyone else.

The Cool mode is a standout feature, though. Unlike some dryers where the cool setting just feels like slightly less warm air, the Gleam delivers a genuine blast of cold air almost immediately. After curling my hair, I used the Cool mode to lock in the waves and not only did the curls hold their shape for hours longer, they were noticeably more shiny. This mode is also great for smoothing flyaways or finishing a blowout with a polished look.

The concentrator nozzle deserves a mention too. It’s great for targeting specific sections, like when I want to smooth the hair around my face. It's not the largest of nozzles so if you use it to style the whole of your head, you'll probably need to add another three or four minutes to the overall styling time. Adjusting or removing it is easy though. It's a shame that the Gleam doesn't offer a diffuser. It is possible to add the Glory's diffuser onto the barrel of the Gleam due to their identical size, but not everyone will have access to both stylers (and nor should they have to.)

Another thing I appreciated about the Gleam is how quiet it is. I could still chat with my family while drying my hair and even on High speed, the dryer never exceeded 80dB. This makes it marginally quieter than the Dreame Glory. It should be noted that Dreame claims the Gleam operates around 59dB but even on the slowest, lowest setting, my app registered an average of 70dB.

It's not a perfect dryer but for the price and the power, it's a worthwhile choice.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer?

Buy it if…

You want a powerful, affordable, lightweight dryer

The Dreame Gleam delivers high-speed airflow in a compact, 330g body.

You need quick drying with minimal damage

The Gleam's range of temperature controls protects hair while providing rapid, frizz-free drying.

You value sleek, modern design

The Gleam’s matte finish and magnetic attachments add style and convenience – especially at this relatively low price point.

Don’t buy it if….

You need a diffuser for curly hair

The Gleam only includes a concentrator nozzle, limiting options for people with natural curls.

You dislike rear fan placement

The fan at the base of the Dreame Gleam's handle can be accidentally covered during use.

You want a wider range of colors

The Dreame Gleam comes with limited color options which may not suit everyone's aesthetic.

How I tested the Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer

I used the Dreame Gleam as my daily hair dryer over the course of four weeks at home. I used it most mornings as a replacement for my go-to hair dryer – the Revlon One Step – to dry and style my long, thin hair.

To test the dryer, I experimented with the full range of speed and temperature combinations, and attachment. I paid close attention to the dryer’s features, how fast and effectively each of the modes worked, and how easy it was to use. I measured the decibel levels of the dryer on Low and High speeds throughout the testing period to achieve an average noise score.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed November 2024

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker review: drip coffee just got a whole lot smarter

6:00 pm | December 22, 2024

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

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker: 2-minute review

The Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is a super slick, modern drip coffee machine that gives filter brewing the smart treatment with automatic water temperature adjustment, dosage calculations, carefully timed blooming of coffee before brewing, and presets tailored for different roasts. There's even a cold brew mode, which produces deliciously smooth results without you having to wait overnight.

If that sounds like a little too much effort (or you live with someone who's less exacting about their brew), there's also an Auto Brew mode that lets you use the Aiden like an ordinary manual drip machine - just load in your preferred quantity of grounds, and it will run until the water tank is empty.

The timer is a smart addition, though you'll need to make sure you're prepared with your coffee mug as soon as it's finished because the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker doesn't have a hot plate and while the carafe is double-walled it loses heat quite rapidly. You can minimize this problem by pre-heating it before brewing, but that's not a viable option if you're using the timer.

Single basket inserted in Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker — The machine comes with two baskets - one for single brews (green) and one for batch brews (blue) (Image credit: Future)

The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker has a mobile app (available for iOS and Android) with some handy extra features, like customizable brewing profiles that you can share with other people, and the option to update the machine's firmware. You can link the coffee machine to your phone using a QR code by selecting 'Connectivity' from the settings menu, but it's entirely optional.

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker: price & availability

Launched at $365 / £365 (about AU$580).
Available with coffee grinder for $111 more

The Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker launched in July 2024 and is available direct from Fellow in the US, or from Amazon in the UK. It has a list price of $365 / £365 (about AU$580).

Unlike some drip coffee makers we've tested, such as the Cuisinart Grind & Brew, the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker doesn't have a grinder. If you don't already own one, Fellow offers the machine bundled with a conical burr grinder for $476 (about £380 / AU$760).

That's about the same price as the Moccamaster KBGV Select, which currently sits at number one in our guide to the best drip coffee makers, and costs $359 / £229 / AU$515. Both are premium machines, but with the KBGV Select you're paying for a super tough manual machine that should last a lifetime, while the Aiden's price tag comes from its smart brewing technology. Both justify their list prices - it's just a question of where your priorities lie.

Value score: 4.5/5

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker: design

Stylish, modern aesthetic
Simple control dial
Single and batch brewing baskets

The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is beautifully designed - a compact black cuboid with a small, bright display panel, a single control dial, and a matching matt black carafe. Every part of the machine feels robust and well-made, from the sturdy hinge on the frosted plastic water tank (with clearly marked measurements on the front) to the smooth movement of the control knob.

During brewing, the LCD display shows a countdown timer and the current stage of the brewing process (such as 'blooming' or 'pulsing'), which is particularly handy since the black carafe doesn't let you see how much coffee is inside.

The machine has a maximum capacity of 1.5 liters (about 53oz), and brews in increments of 120ml (a standard tasse à café). A typical coffee mug holds around 280ml, so you'll need to set it to two cups for your usual morning brew.

Single and double baskets for Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker — The machine can recognize which basket is inserted (Image credit: Future)

It's supplied with two baskets - one for servings up to three cups, and one for bigger batch brews. It comes with filter papers designed for the larger basket; during testing, I found that my standard flat-bottomed 1x4 filter papers fitted the small one just fine. The machine can detect which basket you have inserted and will instruct you to set the 'shower' head to the appropriate color-coded setting so water is pulsed evenly over the grounds.

The carafe is well crafted, with a drip-free spout and sturdy handle, but as mentioned above, there's no hot plate in the machine's base to keep it warm when brewing has finished.

The Aiden is a piece of cake to keep clean; the baskets and carafe are easy to wash with warm, soapy water, and you can keep the body of the machine looking like new with a damp cloth. There's also a descaling mode to keep the water lines clear, which works with regular coffee machine descaling liquid. It's recommended that you do this every three months.

Fellow advises grinding your coffee coarser if you find mess in the brewing chamber once you're done, but this was never an issue for me. I used a Dualit burr grinder on a relatively coarse setting suggested for drip machines.

Design score: 4/5

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker with water tank removed — The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker has a maximum capacity of 1.5 liters (Image credit: Future)

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker: performance

Automatic and guided brewing modes
Very quiet in operation
No hotplate, and carafe cools quickly

The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker gives you a choice: an Instant Brew mode that works like a standard manual drip coffee maker, and a Guided Brew option that lets you tinker with settings, suggests an appropriate dosage, and brews only the amount of coffee you've specified.

Guided Brew defies the preconception that drip coffee is inferior to espresso, tailoring the temperature of the water, how long the coffee is allowed to bloom, and how long is spent sending pulses of water through it afterward depending on the dosage and whether you've selected light, medium, or dark roast. You'll even be asked to enter your elevation relative to sea level during setup. It's not something I'd typically consider, but water boils at temperatures below 100°C/212°F at elevations above sea level, which can result in under-extracted coffee if you don't adjust for it.

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker on counter with carafe removed, cup of coffee and small plant — The carafe is beautifully designed, but tends to lose heat rapidly (Image credit: Future)

I particularly enjoyed the machine's cold brew setting. It's much quicker than brewing overnight in your fridge, taking 1.5-2 hours from start to finish depending on the quantity. The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker still uses hot water to bloom the coffee but then switches to cold for the remainder of the process, and the resulting coffee is incredibly smooth. Pop the carafe in the fridge for a while once it's done, and it's fantastic.

There's also a timer, which is something I always appreciate with a drip coffee machine. The lack of a hot plate means you'll need to be organized in the morning to grab your fresh brew before it cools, but it shouldn't disturb any light sleepers who want a lie-in. During my tests, it only reached a maximum of 59dB while pulsing water through the grounds. That's about the same as a dishwasher, and the sound only lasted a couple of seconds at a time. Cold brew mode doesn't pulse and is nearly silent.

Woman's hand turning dial on Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker — The machine is controlled using a single dial - turn it to scroll through menus, and press to select an option (Image credit: Future)

For me, the drawback of the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is how quickly the hot coffee cools down. Not only is there no hot plate, the carafe seems to lose heat quickly despite its double-walled design and Fellow's claim that it "keeps your coffee warm for hours in any room of the house". In my tests, a four-cup serving cooled down significantly within half an hour in my kitchen.

That's not a problem if you're only brewing a cup or two, but the machine has a maximum capacity of 1.5 liters, and it's a real shame if you brew a batch and it goes cold before you can get through it all. You could decant your coffee into an insulated bottle or carafe once it's done brewing to keep it nice and hot, but that's an extra step I'd rather avoid if possible.

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker carafe with lid removed — The carafe and baskets are easy to clean with warm, soapy water (Image credit: Future)

Not everyone likes keeping their drip coffee on a hot plate, and leaving your drink on one for too long will definitely affect the taste, but for me, one of the joys of a drip machine is being able to brew a carafe and come back for a second cup. And if I've set a timer to brew my coffee in the morning, I don't want to find a cold carafe if I hit snooze on my alarm and spend a few extra minutes in bed.

It's a shame because the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is otherwise superb. It does its job exceptionally well, but you should be aware that it won't keep your beautifully brewed drink hot for long.

Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker?

Buy it if

You want to optimize your drip coffee brewing

There aren't many drip machines as smart as the Aiden, and its highly configurable settings will appeal to filter aficionados who want to optimize flavor extraction from their beans.

You enjoy cold brew coffee

The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker produces the best cold brew I've tasted and does so in just two hours. It uses hot water to bloom the coffee before the cold infusion, and the result is super smooth.

Don't buy it if

You want to brew big batches

The lack of a hot plate means you'll need to enjoy your coffee as soon as possible, and although the carafe is double-walled, it doesn't retain heat very well. A separate insulated bottle or jug will be necessary if you want to keep it hot for longer.

You'll only use the Quick Brew mode

The digital Guided Brew mode is what makes the Aiden special. If it doesn't appeal, you're better off saving some cash and choosing a simpler drip coffee maker instead.

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker: also consider

If the Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker hasn't won you over, here are two other options to think about.

Moccamaster KBGV Select

Our top-rated drip coffee maker, the KBGV Select doesn't have the smarts of the Aiden but is extremely well-built and very well regarded among filter enthusiasts. It has a hot plate, too.

Read our full review

Smeg Drip Filter Coffee Machine

If you're looking for a simple drip coffee machine with a timer for your morning brew, Smeg has you covered - and in style, too. It doesn't have the largest carafe, but this little machine does its job very well, including keeping your coffee hot until you're ready for breakfast.

Read our full review

How I tested the Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

I tested the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker using a variety of coffees from Clifton Coffee Roasters, comparing the results to those from a fully manual filter coffee machine and a V60 coffee dripper. The cold brew was compared to coffee steeped overnight in a fridge. Coffee was ground to the same coarseness using an electric burr grinder. The baskets and carafe were cleaned between uses, and I used filtered tap water for all beverages.

For more details, see how we test.

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: a five-in-one wet-dry vacuum for all kinds of floor

6:35 am | December 19, 2024

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

Tineco Floor One Switch S6: Two-minute review

There aren’t too many vacuum mops like the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 – it goes from being a wet-dry vacuum mop to just a vacuum to a handheld unit. Tineco claims the Switch S6 is a 5-in-1, but I found it to be more of a 3-in-1. Still, it's one of the most versatile vacuum cleaners I’ve tested. It takes into account that no two homes are alike and that several have mixed floor types – and I don’t mean just rugs; I mean homes with either wood or tile floors as well as wall-to-wall carpeting.

Product info

The Tineco Floor One Switch S6 is available in the US and Australia. In the UK, only the Tineco Floor One S6 is being sold, which is the vacuum mop without the hot-swappable vacuum attachment that allows it to also become a handheld unit. The wet-dry vacuum mop, though, is nearly identical in functionality, with just a minor difference in the display.

Its primary function is to be a wet-dry vacuum mop, so it does both at the same time. That means its main body consists of a front-mounted dirty-water tank, which has a filter to capture solids (like debris and hair) and a clean-water tank on the rear which can also take Tineco’s proprietary cleaning solution. In tests, I found that the vacuum mop was incredibly easy to use and its cleaning prowess was quite good on both wet and dry spills, thanks to really good water dispersal and the 450rpm roller cleaning head.

This wet cleaning head gets constantly washed with each rotation, plus there’s a scraper built into the casing that, as the name suggests, keeps scraping away the dirt from the roller so as not to transfer any muck back onto your just-cleaned floor.

I found the auto dirt-detection sensors to be quite good too, with the vacuum mop dynamically altering power and water dispersion to match the spill you’re trying to clean up. Equally good is its self-cleaning process, which uses clean water heated to 70ºC / 158ºF to clean the entire machine, although you will need to first manually clean out the dirty-water tank. The roller brush is then flash-dried with air, which I’m glad for, as it reduces the chances of it growing its own little ecosystem and eliminates odors. The self-cleaning process, though, I found to be rather noisy.

Where the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 falls short is when using it as purely a vacuum. Again, it’s not bad, but there’s just not enough suction power on the hot-swappable attachment to match some of the best vacuum cleaners on the market. However, I have to commend Tineco for making such a versatile cleaning machine, as it can still handle the small, quick jobs. And, thanks to being lightweight in vacuum mode, it makes sucking up cobwebs hanging off the ceiling corners easy.

Given the battery is shared between both the wet-dry functionality and the hot-swappable vacuum, the runtime of the Switch S6 isn’t too bad. Mopping, being the more power-heavy functionality, gets you a top of 35 minutes per charge, while you'll get nearly double that amount when using it as a vacuum. There are other vacuum mops with longer runtimes, but given its versatility and excellent performance on hard floors, there’s good value for money here.

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: price & availability

Launched in May 2024; available in the UK and Australia now via Amazon
List price: $649 / AU$999
UK model lacks the hot-swappable vacuum attachments

Having entered the market in May 2024, the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 has already seen some discounts during major sales but, even at full price, it offers plenty of bang for your hard-earned buck.

Unlike other vacuum cleaner models, the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 is identical in the US and Australia, where it will set you back $649 / AU$999 without a discount. Based on TechRadar’s price brackets, this price point puts the Switch S6 in the lower-premium / upper mid-range band (we consider anything over $500 / £400 / AU$1,000 as premium), but given it can be had for a discounted price at certain times of the year (usually down to around $440 / AU$640 mark), it really does represent good value as it’s so versatile.

This specific model isn’t available in the UK, although the standalone Tineco Floor One S6 is sold for £449 at full price. This is just the wet-dry vacuum mop main unit, without the swappable attachments for floor and handheld vacuuming.

While the standard S6 has plenty of comparable models from various manufacturers, including Shark and Roborock, there’s nothing quite like the Switch S6 to do a fair price comparison. Still, to put its value into perspective, the Dyson WashG1 costs $699.99/ £599.99 / AU$999, and it’s just a standard wet-dry vacuum mop. On the other end of the spectrum, the Shark HydroVac costs just $359.99 / £329.99 / AU$399.99. It’s not a versatile machine like the Tineco Floor One Switch S6, though.

You can purchase Tineco products directly from the manufacturer in the US and UK, but in Australia, the vacuums are sold via Amazon AU.

Value score: 4.5/5

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: specs

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: design

Removable motor for switching units
Lighter than other wet-dry vacuum mops
Easy storage to keep all attachments together

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 motor being removed — (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The first thing that hit me when I opened up the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 box was the staggering number of pieces that came out of it. And putting it all together while following the diagrams in the user manual was a losing battle. Thankfully, there are easier instructions on the box.

Given this is the first Tineco machine I’ve tested, I was a little surprised (pleasantly, I might add) to see that the motor is a separate piece on its own, which made sense to me once I realized it could be swapped between the vacuum mop and the standalone cordless vacuum. To handle those different tasks, there are two floor cleaning attachments in the box – the wet roller and a ZeroTangle brush. There’s also a Mini Power Brush for upholstery and a 2-in-1 crevice/dusting tool. Tineco even supplies a cleaning brush for the dirty water tank.

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 docking cradle with all attachments — (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

While the main charging dock houses the mopping unit of the S6, a small side cradle fixes onto the side of the dock to hold the vacuum in place and stow the other attachments as well. So essentially, every part of this versatile machine is in one place, and the total footprint isn’t too large – so you can consider this model if you live in a smaller apartment.

The vacuum alone is really quite light and, when used as a handheld, is easy to hold up to get to cobwebs on your ceiling. And, in comparison to some other vacuum mops we’ve tested here at TechRadar, the main unit of the Switch S6 isn’t too heavy either. At 4.3kg (9.5lbs), it’s about half the weight of the Roborock Dyad Pro and the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro. Well, it is a little smaller than both of them, with the front-mounted dirty-water tank holding only 450ml of liquid compared to 720ml in the Floor One S7 Pro. So while it’s not entirely ideal for larger homes, it is more than enough for smaller ones.

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Tineco Floor One Switch S6 clean water tank — (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

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Tineco Floor One Switch S6 dirty water tank — (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

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Tineco Floor One Switch S6 LED display — (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The dirty-water tank is also what prohibits the Switch S6 from sliding under furniture – it’s not bendy and tilting it beyond a 145º angle will see water slosh all over your feet. The swappable vacuum unit, though, is better able to clean under furniture, but you will need to be mindful that the angle of the cleaning head doesn’t change – if it lifts off the floor, its limited suction will be diminished further.

Like many other vacuum mops, the Switch S6 also boasts an LED display that shows you the battery life in the centre and the current cleaning mode. These include ‘auto’, ‘max’ or ‘eco’ depending on the attachment you have connected. A ring of light can be seen around the outer edge of the display that, for the most part in my case, remains blue, telling you that your floor is clean. If the iLoop sensor detects an especially dirty area of floor or a lot of debris, this turns red and the motor will increase its suction power to get your floor clean. Tineco says this function works for both the wet roller head and the vacuum head, but I only noticed it working for the former. There’s no touch functionality, but all the physical controls are within reaching distance of your fingers, so using the Switch S6 is easy. Importantly, it moves over floors smoothly, so you don’t need to exert too much energy when getting your cleaning done.

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Tineco Floor One Switch S6 crevice attachment — (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

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Tineco Floor One Switch S6 crevice attachment with brush — (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

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Tineco Floor One Switch S6 being used with vacuum attachment — (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

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Tineco Floor One Switch S6 being used with upholstery attachment — (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Aside from the main wet/dry foam roller head, the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 also comes with a swappable vacuum head for carpets and soft flooring. It’s fitted with what Tineco calls – and claims to be – a ZeroTangle brush to prevent fluff, hair and other debris getting caught up and affecting its cleaning performance. In my time using the vacuum head on carpets and rugs, I can certainly support the claims as I’ve not once had to pick or clean anything out of the brush.

Smaller attachments include an upholstery brush for use on a sofa or in the car, for example, and a crevice tool with a brush that can be attached or removed to the end to assist with agitating debris in hard to reach areas. An extender pole can be attached to the main motor unit too, and the crevice tool can also be used on the end of it.

The removable motor, which can be swapped between the mop unit and the vacuum, is easy to remove from the former but, during my testing, I found that it’s a little harder to take off from the vacuum. It needs a little extra elbow grease, so it’s a good thing it has its own handle.

Design score: 4.5/5

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: performance

Excellent mopping, but not a lot of suction when vacuuming
Auto dirt detection works effectively to boost performance
Self-cleaning functionality is good, but noisy

While I personally hadn’t tested any Tineco vacuum prior to the Switch S6, we have tested a few of the brand’s machines previously and have been impressed with what the company has been able to achieve at the mid-range price tag in terms of performance. The S7 Pro – while now discontinued in Australia – continues to be our pick of one of the best wet-dry vacuum cleaners for other markets.

So the expectations were high for the Switch S6 going into testing and, while it didn't outperform its older sibling, it still holds its own – particularly as a vacuum mop. I was very surprised at how much dirt it gathered in its tank, even when I thought the floors in my test space (which, for this review, was my own apartment) were looking quite clean. Importantly, none of the mopped-up dirt made its way back onto the floor.

I found that leaving the machine on Auto mode was ideal for my purposes, but there is also a Boost option for some extremely stubborn spills. The wet roller rotates at 450rpm and the cleaning head does a good job of dispersing water onto the floor for easy mopping. I found that even with caked-in stains, the Switch S6 needed no more than 3-4 passes before it mopped it all up. I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly the water dried, meaning I could walk on my floor within a matter of minutes.

What impressed me the most was how well the wet roller cleaned along the edges of a room (along skirting boards). While it won’t necessarily be able to get into very tight spaces, I found that it was able to automatically boost cleaning if it detected more dirt along room edges. I was relieved to find this didn’t need to happen very often in my apartment, but it was also reassuring to learn the iLoop sensor was doing its job.

Dynamic suction is also available for the hot-swappable vacuum as well, but don’t expect it to perform like a Dyson or Shark. While Tineco hasn’t revealed how many air watts of power is available for suction, I suspect it’s around 120 air watts. That's not as good as the approximately 250aw you get from the Dyson Gen5detect or Samsung Bespoke Jet AI, but it’s enough to handle the little clean-up jobs you might need in a pinch. I also appreciated the LED light in the vacuum head to help shine a light on otherwise invisible debris, ensuring I didn’t miss any spots. The vacuum could handle the regular weekly vacuuming, but I think the mop does such a fantastic job that vacuuming becomes unnecessary as a regular chore, saving me time.

The mopping head also made light work of liquid spillages, with just one pass being enough to clean up some milk from the floor. The iLoop sensor also kicked into gear to recognise there was a major spill and so adjusted its suction power accordingly. It also did an admirable job with grains such as rice, easily vacuuming up a small portion of rice from the floor and taking it through to the dirty water tank.

While the regular vacuum attachment does a good job with everyday dust and debris, it doesn't perform as well when attempting to vacuum up the same portion of rice. As you can see in the video, I vacuumed up a small portion of risotto rice, and while it seemed as though it had all been collected from the floor, when I picked the vacuum up, it all fell back out.

The lack of suction power also means that if you do have mixed flooring, the vacuum would definitely struggle on wall-to-wall carpeting with hair and dirt embedded deep into the fibres. I used it on the bedroom carpet and on a living room rug and wasn’t quite enthused by its suction, despite being in Boost mode. It’s still effective on hard floors, but only with everyday debris and crumbs.

However, I appreciate the fact that the Switch S6 also converts into a handheld unit. As I’ve mentioned earlier in this review, it’s light enough to keep raised for long periods of time, so cleaning upholstery or ceiling fans isn’t too hard at all.

Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: maintenance

Has a self-cleaning process that is good, but noisy
Flash-drying of the mop takes place automatically
Manual cleaning of the dirty-tank is necessary

When you’ve finished a clean using the mopping roller head and returned the machine to its docking station, the voice prompt (if you leave it activated) will instruct you to perform a self-cleaning cycle. A button on the handle with a water droplet icon is all you need to press and the machine takes care of the rest. The self-cleaning cycle sees the machine using leftover clean water heated to 70ºC to blast the roller head while it spins to remove any dirt and debris. Dirty water collected in the tray is then vacuumed up into the dirty water tank. This process takes a couple of minutes, after which the Switch S6 blasts the roller head with hot air for around a further five minutes to dry it completely. Suction continues to be used to remove any last dirty water droplets.

It’s an effective process but one that is pretty noisy and much louder than when the machine is used for cleaning. I used a decibel meter app on my phone and recorded a reading of around 78dB. Even with the machine in my laundry room towards the back of my apartment and the door shut, I could still hear it from my living room roughly 26ft / 8m away.

Once the self-cleaning cycle is complete, the voice prompt will inform you it’s finished and tell you to empty the dirty water tank to prevent odors. I absolutely agree you should do this, as (to my surprise) odor can build up quickly. Removing the tank is simple, and you’ll want to separate the lid and the filter and run everything under a tap to remove any debris collected. I left the pieces to air dry before attaching them back to the main unit.

Tineco supplies a small brush to help agitate and remove debris from the filter. You’re also able to remove the roller head entirely to give it an even deeper clean, and Tineco supplies a spare to swap over.

Maintenance score: 5/5

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: software

Voice prompts are a lovely touch
Tineco Life app is superfluous but handy

Tineco wants to make your time using the Floor One Switch S6 as easy as possible and so has integrated a voice prompt feature to give you useful instructions and to let you know what the machine is doing. These include telling you to perform a self-cleaning cycle, that it’s charging and which cleaning mode has been selected. If you don’t want to hear them, you can silence them within the Tineco Life app, or simply reduce the volume a few notches.

I found that the app itself wasn’t all that useful, and in some instances, totally unusable. I found that the machine has to be on, or at least ‘woken up’ for the app to connect. I wasn’t going to hold my phone whilst using the vacuum, so the only realistic time you can view information is soon after you’ve put it on the charging dock. It will eventually power itself down entirely, at which time I found the app didn’t connect.

Screenshots from Tineco Floor One Switch S6 app — (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

When you do manage to get the app to connect to view information, there isn’t really much to see. You can view a bar graph infographic showing the amount of time you spent cleaning on a particular day, and the current state of the water tanks and the roller head. On all occasions they all returned a ‘Normal’ result during my time testing, but the intention is that it will tell you if something needs cleaning.

There is a user manual in the app too, but I was never able to get this to open. It instructs you to “tap to enter the corresponding tutorial manual”, but in my experience, there was never anything to tap on. The app also regularly displayed the battery level as 0%, despite it being fully charged on the charging dock.

Software score: 3.5 / 5

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: battery life

Decent battery life but not adequate for large homes
Up to 35 minutes mopping; up to 65 minutes vacuuming
Takes a while to top up

The Tineco Floor One Switch S6 has average battery life for a vacuum mop. The company hasn’t revealed what battery capacity it’s using, but you won’t get more than 35 minutes when using the main vacuum mop unit. That’s because it needs more power to suck up dirt and debris while washing floors and keeping the brush rolling. This may not seem like much, but I found it more than enough for my apartment (which has an approximate total cleaning area of 120 sqm / 1,300 sqft), but potential users living in larger homes will need to consider another option with better battery life.

If you’re just vacuuming, however, there’ll be up to 65 minutes available on tap.

Battery score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Tineco Floor One Switch S6?

Buy it if...

You want one machine for all floor types

With a mopping head and a regular vacuum attachment, the Switch S6 can tackle all floor types with just one swappable motor. View Deal

You want an assured clean

With the iLoop sensor in mopping mode, suction power automatically increases when it detects major dirt and debris, meaning you can be sure everything will get sucked up. View Deal

You have a smaller home

I had no issues concerning battery life in a 2 bedroom apartment, with plenty of juice left in the tank after a clean.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You have deep pile carpet

The vacuum attachment for carpet doesn’t have the suction power to get deep within the fibres.View Deal

You have a tight budget

You are essentially getting four vacuum cleaners in one, but there are cheaper alternatives that do a similar – and sometimes better – job.View Deal

Also consider

Shark HydroVac Cordless
This 3-in-1 machine cleans and vacuums hard floors and carpets with a single roller head. No other attachments means it struggles with tight corners and ceilings, but for main tasks, it offers great value.

Read our full Shark HydroVac Cordless reviewView Deal

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine
Excellent performance in both mopping and vacuuming functions, but some design flaws keep it from getting full marks. Plus, you'll need to spend Dyson money.

Read our full Dyson V15s Detect Submarine reviewView Deal

How I tested the Tineco Floor One Switch S6

I tested this vacuum over a period of about a month in my apartment, which has a mixture of sealed wood flooring, tiles and carpets. I ran tests to see how well both main attachments picked up liquid spills and common solid spills such as rice and other grains.

Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum review

12:00 pm | December 14, 2024

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

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum: two-minute review

The Levoit LVAC-200 is a lightweight cordless vacuum that won't break the bank. I tested one out to see how it compares to the rest of the best vacuum cleaners, as well as the best cordless vacuums specifically.

This brand is better known for its air purifiers, but as an affordable alternative to high-end cordless vacuums, the LVAC-200 impresses. At only 6lbs, it's easy to maneuver no matter the configuration. There are three suction levels to choose from, and in my testing, I found these were enough to tackle most messes, including fine dust. The fact you'll need to unleash the battery-sapping max mode for carpets means it's perhaps better suited to homes with mostly hard floors and perhaps the occasional rug.

Admittedly, the LVAC-200 can have some trouble picking up larger debris, especially if you go over the debris too quickly, and it struggles to vacuum in reverse. However, it still offers solid performance for the price.

The battery lasts over 40 minutes on the lowest suction setting, and while that's not the longest runtime around, it's in line with what I'd expect from today's best cheap vacuums and will be plenty sufficient for most people's needs. That's the short version; read on for my full Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum review.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum, standing upright, next to supplied accessories, in reviewer's home — (Image credit: Future)

Levoit LVAC-200 review: price & availability

List price: $199.99 / £159.99 / AU$399
Launch date: November 2023
Availability: UK / US / AU

The Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum is sold in a range of territories, including the US, UK, and Australia. It was first announced in November 2023 and sits in TechRadar's budget price bracket for manual vacuums.

It's priced at $199.99 in the US, and is sold direct at Levoit as well as a range of third party retailers. In the UK and Australia, it's only available at third-party retailers like Amazon, and costs around £160 or AU$400.

At time of writing, this is the only vacuum in Levoit's range. Based on the number of accessories that you get, the length of the battery life, and the quality of the build, I think this vacuum is well priced.

Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Levoit LVAC-200 specs

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum review: design

Super lightweight, and comes with two accessories
Can be used as a stick vacuum or a handheld
Three suction speeds

The Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum is one of the lightest vacuums I've ever tested. At 6.17 lbs or 2.85kg, it is easy to maneuver this vacuum no matter if you're using it as a stick vacuum, a handheld vacuum, or by taking the vacuum head off and using the wand to clean in high places.

The stick vacuum itself is mostly white with black accents, and has a removable battery. In terms of size, it's 9.8 inches long, 7.7 inches wide, and 43.3 inches tall or 110 x 19.5 x 25 centimeters. Three LED lights are located on the front of the vacuum head. Inside that vacuum head is an anti-tangle brush. The wand is not bendable (as is the case with the best Shark vacuums on the market), but it can lie 180-degrees flat so you can vacuum underneath furniture with relative ease.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum broken up into its component parts — (Image credit: Future)

Setting up the vacuum took no time at all. I connected the wand to the handheld part and then attached the vacuum head to the wand. The dustbin is 0.75L, and it's attached to the front of the vacuum. This was a smart design choice by Levoit as it allows the vacuum to stand upright on its own, and not fall over when the vacuum head is locked into place. A wall mount is provided if you'd prefer.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum standing upright on its own — (Image credit: Future)

On top of the dustbin is a power button. In front of the power button is the suction speed button that lets you move between suction speeds – I, II, or III. If I needed to increase the power, I'd just push the button, and the vacuum would increase the suction. According to Levoit, the suction power is 70AW – that's likely the maximum power, although this isn't specified. (Here's more on how to tell how much suction a vacuum has).

Close up of handle and controls on Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

Thanks to a 5-stage filtration system, this vacuum is able to capture 99.9 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns. The filter is washable.

The charger plugs into the side of the battery. Two accessories are provided: a crevice tool that also doubles as a brush tool, and a 2-in-1 pet tool. You'll have to store these accessories when not in use since this vacuum doesn't come with a base or has a built-in holder.

Design score: 4 out of 5

Levoit LVAC-200 vacuum review: performance

Cleans up fine materials perfectly on medium and max mode
Vacuums poorly in reverse no matter the floor type
Better on hard floor than on carpet

The Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum is lightweight with a vacuum head that swivels with ease. It can be broken down into three configurations – as a cordless stick vacuum with the vacuum head, a vacuum with just the wand, and as a handheld vacuum. There are three different suction modes that are labeled in roman numerals – I, III, and III – with sound ratings of 78, 82, and 83 dB respectively.

I tested this vacuum in my house, which has three types of flooring (hardwood, laminate, and rugs). I also utilized the different accessories to clean my furniture and blinds.

My testing process began by vacuuming my entire house as I normally would. Originally, I felt like it did a good job vacuuming the hard floors in my house as well as the large rugs. There was some dirt and dried mud in my mud room that it picked up well, and hair in my bathroom that it cleaned away without the hair getting stuck in the brush. However, if the caked mud was larger in size, I had to vacuum over the pieces more slowly for the vacuum to suction it all up.

I am a big fan of bendable vacuum wands, and unfortunately, this Levoit LVAC-200 is not equipped with one. I was able to lean the vacuum completely down to 180 degrees so I could reach under my bed and couch for more thorough cleaning, but this required me to crouch down. The floorhead is equipped with LED lights to help illuminate dingy areas.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum cleaning a rug — (Image credit: Future)

I should also note that this vacuum doesn't have any smart capabilities, which means it can't sense or notify you if the floor is dirty or clean. That's not surprising at this price point – mid-range models like the Shark Detect Pro can sense if they're on carpet or hard floor, and boost or lower suction in response, while very high-end models like the Dyson V15 Detect or Gen5detect can adjust suction specifically based on what needs sucking up on any particular patch of floor. Here, you'll have to change the suction mode manually.

Close up of floorhead and accessories for Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

I also tested out the two supplied detail tools. I used the crevice tool to clean tight spaces around furniture and the corners of the wall. The crevice tool doubles as a brush tool, and I used that and the middle suction setting to clean my blinds, which were very dusty. The results were great.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum in handheld mode, cleaning in the corner of a room — (Image credit: Future)

I should also note that I was surprised by how well the 2-in-1 pet tool managed to pull up hair from my couch. Granted, I had to put the handheld vacuum on the highest suction setting and brush the couch as the vacuum suctioned, but it did better than most vacuums I have tested – and impressively well for a budget model.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum in handheld mode, being used to clean reviewer's sofa — (Image credit: Future)

Although it appeared like the vacuum did a good job cleaning my floors, I wanted to do more thorough tests with the Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum. To do that, I poured cereal, dried tea, and flour on my hard floors and on one of my rugs and then vacuumed over these items on the lowest suction setting.

No matter the flooring, it was clear that this vacuum is not equipped to vacuum in reverse, especially when it came to larger debris like cereal. Occasionally the cereal particles got stuck behind the wheels of the vacuum, and generally I noticed that the vacuum didn't pick up the dried tea or the flour as well when vacuuming in reverse as it did when vacuuming forward.

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Levoit LVAC-200 picking up fine debris on hard floor — (Image credit: Future)

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Levoit LVAC-200 picking up cereal on hard floor — (Image credit: Future)

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When I tested the vacuum on my historic hardwood and laminate floorings, I found it did a good job suctioning dried tea while set on the lowest suction setting and performed fairly well in cleaning up the flour, leaving only a slight sheen of flour on the floor. In my opinion, it's best to use the middle or high suction level when vacuuming fine materials on hard floors just to pick everything up in one go.

What surprised me the most was how much difficulty the vacuum had with picking up cereal on hard floors. When I pushed the vacuum head forward, larger pieces of the cereal would get pushed ahead of the vacuum head. Just like what occurred with large pieces of caked mud, I had to slowly vacuum over the cereal for the vacuum to suction the cereal up.

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Levoit LVAC-200 picking up flour on a rug — (Image credit: Future)

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When I ran these same tests on my rugs, the results were slightly different. The Levoit vacuum picked up cereal way better on carpet than it did on hard floors. Unfortunately, when I vacuumed over the flour and the dried tea, I had to do a few passes to clean these fine materials.

Again, using higher suction settings, such as the medium or high setting, requires only one or two passes on rugs. If you want to use this vacuum on carpet, you'll need to use the higher suction settings (which will sap battery fairly quickly). On balance, I don't think this is the best vacuum choice if your home has a lot of carpet.

Emptying the bin on the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

All the dust and debris are contained in a dustbin on the front of this cordless vacuum. It is very easy to dump the bin. I just had to remove the handheld portion of the vacuum from the wand, take it to a trash can, press a latch, and the dust and debris went straight into the trash can.

Beyond that, I didn't have to do much maintenance. The brushroll does a good job of preventing the tangling of hair, string, or debris. However, it's simple to remove it from the vacuum head and wash it separately if required. The filters are also washable and should be washed once a month, then replaced every three months.

Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum review: battery life

16 mins on max mode, 25 mins on medium and 42 on min mode
Less than the quoted 50 minutes, but enough for most people
It takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes to fully recharge

According to Levoit, the LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum has a battery life of 30-50 minutes. However, when I ran the vacuum on the lowest suction setting, it only lasted about 42 minutes. On the medium suction setting I managed 25 minutes of cleaning. In maximum mode, I only got about 16 minutes of battery life (probably long enough to clean less than 900 square feet in a single go).

In my opinion, the vacuum has a decent battery life considering how much it costs. It was more than enough time for me to clean my home – in fact, I could clean my house almost three times over in 42 minutes. If you have a much larger home, pricier models will give you longer – up to a full hour on a single charge. The fact that the battery is removable means you could also buy a backup battery and hot-swap them to eke out a longer cleaning time.

What is most impressive is that the LVAC-200 took about 2 hours and 40 minutes for the battery to fully recharge. This is much faster than the 4-5-hour estimate that Levoit provides on its website.

Battery life score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum?

Buy it if...

You're on a budget
The main selling point here is really how affordable this vacuum is. You're getting solid performance, battery life and build quality for the price.

You have mostly hard floors
In my tests I found the LVAC-200 did a good job of clearing debris on hard floor, and can also handle rugs with no issues.

You need a vacuum that can handle a variety of jobs around the house
The Levoit LVAC-200 has three configurations and comes with two accessories. Essentially, you can vacuum hard floors and rugs with ease, as well as clean furniture, blinds, baseboards, and in tight spaces. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

Your home is full of carpets
This vacuum is better suited to homes with hard floors and rugs. For a proper clean on carpet, you'll need to use the maximum suction mode, which will run down the battery quickly. If you have a number of rooms with carpets, you'll be better with a more powerful model.

You want or need to vacuum efficiently, in a hurry
There are no automation features here, you'll have to vacuum slowly to pick up large debris, and this model doesn't vacuum very well in reverse. All that can extend your cleaning times.

You have lots of furniture to clean around
Although the floorhead pivots well, this vacuum doesn't have the outright maneuverability of a Dyson model, nor does the wand bend forwards to easy under-furniture cleaning as is possible with many Shark vacs.

How I tested the Levoit LVAC-200

I used the Levoit LVAC-200 as my main vacuum for a couple of weeks, using it to clean my apartment – which has a mixture of hardwood, laminate, and rugs. During this time, I got a feel for how well designed it is, how easy to maneuver, and whether there are any usability issues.

To get a more objective idea of this vacuum's suction powers, I ran TechRadar's standard tests, on both hard floor and soft rugs. These tests included vacuuming cereal, flour, and dried tea forwards and in reverse to determine the vacuum's suction capability. I also tested the sound rating and battery life to see if it matched up with the specs provided by the brand.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners.

First reviewed November 2024

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer review

12:47 pm | December 11, 2024

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

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer two-minute review

The Dreame Glory hair dryer balances well-thought-out design, ease of use, and a strong performance. It's comfortable to hold and maneuver, thanks to its lightweight and streamlined build, and this also makes it easy to store and travel with.

In terms of design, the Glory looks modern, with the curved edges and white gloss finish making it look more expensive than it is. Its main controls are on the rear of the barrel, which can make it difficult to switch modes mid-style, but the power and speed settings are within easier reach on the handle. The fan is then positioned at the base of the handle, where it meets the 5.9ft / 1.8m cord. While this makes the barrel smaller and prevents hair getting caught in the blades, it's too easy to block this fan with your hand during styling.

There are four temperature modes (Cold, 57C Constant, Hot, and a Hot/Cold Cycle) plus two airflow speeds (Low and High). The high-speed 70 m/s airflow is impressive, allowing quick drying even when paired with one of the lower heat settings. The dryer then uses ion technology that releases millions of negative ions to help break down water molecules quickly, reduce static, and leave hair with a smooth, frizz-free finish. When I used the Hot/Cold Cycle on High speed, it took less than five minutes to dry my hair completely, leaving it looking healthy, soft, and shiny.

The Cold setting is one of my favorites. It offers a true cool blast, perfect for setting styles in place and reducing frizz. I noticed my curls and waves held up significantly better throughout the day after being blasted with the Cold mode. I also found the 57C Constant setting to be a good balance, especially for fine or damaged hair, as it provides a moderate heat that dries efficiently without overexposure.

The included magnetic attachments – a concentrator nozzle and, in Europe, a diffuser – click securely into place and are easy to swap mid-style. The concentrator nozzle is relatively compact and great for directing the fast airflow, while the diffuser’s wider bowl design allows for even distribution, reducing frizz and boosting the definition of my curls. That said, I found the diffuser a bit large compared to the sleek barrel of the dryer, and I'm not a fan of the brown color. Plus, its large size makes it trickier to store and travel with.

On the noise front, the Dreame Glory operates at an average of 76 dB, making it reasonably quiet; it's possible to have a conversation during use and the app refers to it as the equivalent to being inside a car. At higher speeds, it does produce a bit more noise, approaching an average of 80dB, and this is noticeable in quieter environments. Even so, this is quieter than similarly priced models and remains comfortable to use.

In terms of value, the Dreame Glory offers great features for its price. Despite minor quirks, the dryer delivers quick, effective drying with a smooth finish. Its combination of high-speed airflow, heat control, and ergonomic design make it a worthwhile investment if you're looking for a dependable hair dryer.

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer review: price & availability

List price: €139/AU$299
Available: EU/AU

The €139 / A$299 Dreame Glory sits between the €79 Dreame Gleam and €159 Dreame Pocket.

It's predominantly sold in continental Europe and Asia-Pacific directly from the Dreame website and Amazon. In Europe, the dryer is known as the Dreame Glory Combo and ships with a concentrator nozzle and diffuser attachment. Outside of Europe, the dryer only ships with the nozzle. Depending on the region, the Glory dryer is then sold in white, and rose gold.

The dryer was previously sold in the UK at a list price of £119 but has since been discontinued, although you may still be able to buy it via third parties. Elsewhere, Dreame's PR told us that the Glory is only available offline in the US, and it's available from select sites in other regions, including Walmart Canada.

Its price and power puts the Glory dryer in the lower mid-range bracket, sandwiched between the likes of the €130 Parlux Alyon and €150 Parlux Advance dryer, and the €140 Babyliss 4Artist Steel FX dryer.

It should be noted that the Parlux, and Babyliss competitors only ship with concentrator nozzles, although the Parlux models are available in a wider range of colors than the Glory. With all of this in mind, the Dreame Glory is good value for money and versatile and, with its focus on hair health, it is a worthy investment.

Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer specs

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer review: design

Compact design
4 heat modes and 2 airflow speeds
Concentrator and Diffuser attachments

The Dreame Glory hair dryer strikes a decent balance between design and usability. Its light, 12.2oz / 345g weight, coupled with its compact design, is the first thing I noticed when picking up the dryer for the first time.

The relatively small 3 × 3.2 in / 7.6 × 8.2 cm barrel means you can get the Glory close to your head, making it great for precision drying and when styling your roots or bangs. Meanwhile, the long, slim 10in / 25.5cm handle gives a good level of control. I was worried that the seeming mismatch between the length of handle and barrel would make the dryer feel unbalanced but it was surprisingly ergonomic, without ever making my wrist feel strained, or feeling awkward as I moved the dryer around my head.

This compact size and weight also means the Glory is easy to store, and easy to travel with.

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer — (Image credit: Future)

Onto attachments. Both the concentrator nozzle and diffuser click into place on the dryer with a satisfying magnetized system. These magnets are strong enough to keep the attachments in place during styling, but give you the freedom to twist and turn the nozzle – should you need to change the angle – while also making it easy to switch between attachments without fumbling.

I’ve had dryers in the past where the nozzles were so tight that I had to wrestle them off, but the Dreame Glory's attachments are much more smooth. The attachments don't get too hot during styling either, which adds to this ease-of-use.

The nozzle is relatively compact, although the diffuser is bigger than I'd like and looks bulky and large next to the shape and size of the Glory. This means you can style a lot of curls and hair at the same time but it's a shame. As is the brown color.

Visually, the Glory has a modern, minimalistic design that blended in well with the rest of my stylers. I tested the white model and this coloring, coupled with its glossy finish, makes the Glory dryer look and feel more expensive than it is.

The dryer’s body is cylindrical, with rounded edges. On the rear of the dryer, where the fan is usually found, is a flat panel with four icons on it, each one representing the four temperature modes:

Cold: Blows cool air for to set your style
57°C Constant: A consistent temperature designed to prevent heat damage.
Hot: Suitable for fast drying.
Hot/Cold Cycle: Alternates between seven seconds of hot air and five seconds of cool air to reduce heat damage without sacrificing speed.

The Cold and Hot modes are relatively self-explanatory. The Hot/Cold Cycle Mode then cycles between hot and cold air as you style your hair. I first used this feature on the BaByliss Air Wand and more recently on the Dreame Pocket and while it increases the styling time slightly, it made a noticeable difference to the finish and feel of my hair.

To switch between these four modes, you have to press the circular button found on the rear of the handle until the icon for your chosen mode lights up. Due to the position of the panel on the rear of the dryer, it's difficult to select different modes mid-style without looking. The more you use the dryer, the more you get used to what the different modes sound and feel like but it's not massively intuitive.

Above this button is a sliding power switch that lets you toggle between the two speed settings – Low and High. In a world of increasing buttons and even touch-based controls on rival dryers, I really appreciated how easy this switch is to operate, even mid-drying. It’s located in just the right spot so that your thumb can easily reach it without having to re-adjust your grip, which is a small but welcome feature.

The fan is then positioned at the base of the handle, where it meets the 5.9ft / 1.8m cord. This is increasingly common as the shape and size of hair dryers barrels continue to shrink, but I don't love this design. I quite often cover the fan with my hand by mistake, or the fan grill – designed to be removed for easy cleaning – has a tendency to slip off. Both are minor points but do detract from an otherwise good design. One positive of this design is that your hair won't get caught in it, thought, which is always a problem for me when using traditional dryers.

The air outlet at the front of the Dreame Glory is then wide enough to provide the strong 70 m/s airflow, but doesn’t feel overly bulky and adds further to the precision of the dryer.

All things considered, the Dreame Hair Glory ticks a lot of boxes in terms of style and substance. It's lightweight, user-friendly and its shape and controls are largely well thought-out. There are a number of small flaws and things I'd change, but none of them are dealbreakers.

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer review: performance

1600-watt motor
High-speed motor operates at 110,000RPM
76dB average noise

When it comes to performance, the Dreame Glory offers almost everything you want in a dryer – it dries your hair quickly and efficiently, even at low speeds, without frying it or leaving it full of knots and frizz. My preferred mode was the Hot/Cold Cycle on High speed. This combination took my long, thin hair from wet to dry in just under five minutes, and left it looking and feeling soft and shiny. Something I credit to the millions of negative ions the dryer claims to produce. These ions help break down water droplets faster, reducing drying time while smoothing the hair cuticle for a sleeker finish.

It was possible to style my hair almost a minute faster on Hot mode but this left my hair looking dryer and less shiny, while using Low speed with the Hot/Cold Cycle pushed the styling time up to almost seven minutes; a noticeable difference. The 57C Constant mode is a good middle ground – not too hot, not too cold – which will suit damaged or curly hair. The different heat settings, paired with airflow options, does bring out the versatility of this dryer, though.

Elsewhere, the Cold mode worked like a dream. Cold shots tend to just drop the dryer's regular heat temperature slightly, which doesn't make much of a difference. On the Glory, however, the air actually felt cool almost instantly when using Cold mode. This was a game-changer – not just because it helped enhance the shine of my hair but because it meant my styles lasted much longer than they normally do. My hair is naturally curly so becomes frizzy easily, especially in humid environments. This rarely happened during the time I was reviewing the Dreame Glory. I could leave the house in the morning and my hair would look very similar by the time I got home.

The Cold mode also helped me set styles that weren't even created using the dryer. For example, after curling my hair with a curling wand, I used the Dreame Glory's Cold setting coupled with the diffuser to lock in the finish. The blast of cool air worked like a charm, setting the style without leaving any frizz. I found that using the Cold shot also extended the life of my curls by several hours compared to how long they usually last.

Speaking of the diffuser, I could really feel the difference in how evenly it distributed the airflow on the Dreame Glory – no random blasts of air that can leave curls looking more chaotic than defined. The diffuser’s wide, bowl-like design cupped my hair well, allowing me to dry it without losing any natural bounce or movement.

Similarly, the concentrator nozzle really shines – literally. It helped direct the airflow where I needed it and added to the precision that comes from the dryer's design. I found it particularly helpful when I wanted to smooth out sections of my hair, like those around my face.

In terms of noise, the Dreame Glory operates at an average 76dB on Low speed and 80dB on High speed. I could hold a conversation while using both speeds, although at High speed it was a little harder to hear my son from across the room. This noise level will be fine for most users, but if you're particularly sensitive to sound or often style your hair in a shared space, it could be a slight downside.

The Dreame Glory's powerful airflow, combined with its range of controls, left my hair looking shiny and feeling smooth. The Cold shot helped to lock in styles that lasted and it's a quiet machine. This performance is impressive anyway, let alone when you factor in the price.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame Glory Hair Dryer?

Buy it if…

You want a lightweight, ergonomic dryer

The Dreame Glory's 12.2oz / 345g weight and balanced design make it comfortable to use.

You need a choice of heat and speed settings

The Glory has four temperature modes and two speeds to provide a range of styling options for different hair types and styles.

You want frizz-free, shiny hair

The Glory's ion technology helps smooth hair cuticles, reduces frizz and leaves hair looking shiny and soft.

Don’t buy it if….

You need a compact diffuser attachment

The diffuser, though effective, is bulkier than the dryer’s streamlined design.

You need a super-quiet dryer for shared spaces

The Glory dryer’s noise levels aren't excessive but, on high speeds, they could potentially be disruptive in quieter environments.

You want a wider range of colours

Color options for the Dreame Glory are limited to white and rose gold which may not suit all aesthetics or needs.

How I tested the Dreame Glory Hair Dryer

I used the Dreame Glory as my daily hair dryer over the course of four weeks at home and during a week-long cruise. I used it most mornings as a replacement for my usual hair dryer – the Revlon One Step – to dry and style my long, thin hair.

To thoroughly test the dryer, I experimented with the full range of speed and temperature combinations, and attachments. I paid close attention to the dryer’s features, how fast and effectively each of the modes and attachments worked, and how easy it was to use. I measured the decibel levels of the dryer on Low and High speeds throughout the testing period to achieve an average noise score.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max review

10:00 am | December 7, 2024

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

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max: two-minute review

Despite the high-end build quality, the 2-in-1 iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max is quite some way behind the competition in terms of mapping, vacuuming, auto bin emptying and mopping. And although its price has dropped from an initial $1,399 / £1,499 to a more reasonable $999.99 / £799, I still consider this bot too expensive for what it offers, especially when compared to the almost sci-fi level of tech that companies like Roborock, Eufy, Dreame and Narwal are fitting to their products.

Although it isn't equipped with an extendable side brush, the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max is very capable at vacuuming hard floors. However, it struggles on carpet, especially if there's a lot of pet hair on it. Its bin-emptying and mopping system, too, are very underwhelming.

In iRobot's defense, the company apparently has some of the best troubleshooting tech support in the business, but then the secret to any good tech is to not require any troubleshooting at all – technology like this should work efficiently, reliably and logically which, sadly, this bot isn't especially good at, at least when compared to the extremely high level of futuristic smarts from the majority of its nearest competitors.

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max review: price & availability

List price: $1,399 / £1,499 (regularly discounted to around $999.99 / £799)
Launched: July 2024

The iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max was announced in July 2024 and went on sale in the US, UK and elsewhere shortly afterwards. It's available to buy direct from iRobot, or via third party retailers like Walmart or Amazon.

At time of writing, this model sits right at the top of the iRobot Roomba range in terms of price and specs. The official list price is $1,399 / £1,499 – firmly in the premium price bracket, and up there with the most expensive models on the market. However, by the time my UK review unit arrived, the price had dropped to £999. At time of submitting this review it's now it's £799 – a huge drop that suggests that iRobot looked closely at the Chinese competition from Dreame, Roborock, Eufy, Deebot and Narwal and felt they had no option but to bring the price crashing down. In the US the price-drop is less, but not insignificant: it's now $999.99.

That's still in the premium bracket, but lower down. And yet, I still think that even the current, discounted price is too big an ask given how far the vast majority of the competition is ahead of the game.

Value for money score: 2.5 out of 5

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max specs

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max review: design

Low-profile bot and attractive dock
Fixed mop that shifts to sit on top of the bot when not required
Loud in operation

There's a fair bit to get into here, so I've split the design section into the robot design and the dock design.

Robot design

With its long history in both industrial and military-use robots, US-based iRobot has been at the forefront of robot vacuum design for over two decades. But like any industry that finds favor with the public on a massive scale, it wasn't too long before a flurry of copycats jumped on the bandwagon with a host of new innovations and improved software design, to the point that today iRobot finds itself competing with around 15 other companies, mostly from China, a world–leader in robotics.

Sadly, on evidence of the company's latest machine, the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max, it seems that the brand everyone went to as a first port of call has begun to lag behind the mainstream, with some reused technology and not many striking new innovations.

Let's start with the robot itself. It's fitted with a twin rubber roller system that should work wonders on carpet by beating deep into the pile to release as much dust and debris as possible.

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max flipped over to show underside — Underneath, you'll find two rubbery brushrolls and a fixed side brush (Image credit: Future)

However, while the rollers seemed perfectly capable on hard floor, they struggled at collecting pet hair from carpet (more on that later). I'm also wondering whether there's a lack of suction power. iRobot is pretty much unique amongst robot vacuum brands in not releasing suction specs, arguing that it's not a good indicator of pickup power. All I have to go on is that the unit offers three suction levels – Quiet, Balanced and High – and that it offers double the 'Standard' pickup power of most of the rest of the iRobot range.

It's a shame iRobot didn't opt for an extendable spinning side brush because this new innovation is very good at stretching into corners where the robot's centrally located brush rollers cannot reach. It's also a shame that iRobot only ever made one robot vac that was D-shaped – the excellent Roomba s9+ – so that even its fixed side brush could reach into any right-angled corner. But then again almost all robot vac manufacturers other than Dyson and Eufy continue with a circular design for their robots, and I know not why.

On the plus side, I'm thrilled to see that this bot is capable of riding over loose hard floor rugs without ruffling them up too much or worse, getting stuck in the middle of a rug mountain.

Mop pad on Roomba Combo 10 Max — This bot has a fixed mop pad rather than rotating one (Image credit: Future)

Where things fall away considerably is in the design of the Combo 10 Max's rear-mounted mopping system, at least by today's standards. When robot vacuum manufacturers originally discovered that they could include a wet pad on the rear to mop a floor while the front end did the vacuuming, they opted for a static wet pad that just dragged along behind as the robot moved around.

Then someone noticed that the wet pad was being dragged across any carpet that the robot needed to traverse en route to its next place of work. Roborock solved this conundrum by fitting a mechanism that raised the rear mop a few centimeters whenever the robot was on carpet. It was a revelatory innovation that others would soon adopt for their own products.

However, iRobot went even further with its earlier Combo j7+ model and instead of just raising the mop a few centimeters – which is plenty enough on all but the deepest of carpet pile – it developed a convoluted system that not only raised the mop but placed it on top of the rear of the machine.

Mop pad on iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max retracting to sit on top of the bot — Rather than simply raising the mop when not in use, this bot repositions it on top of the machine (Image credit: Future)

The very same system is in use on the Combo 10 Max. Which brings me to one of the biggest disappointments with this machine. You guessed, the nature of static mop itself. Anyone who has ever removed a floor stain using their hand and a wet cloth will know that a few tight circular swirls is more efficient than just swiping from one side to the other.

Consequently almost every other manufacturer has already dropped old-fashioned static mops like this for spinning towel-covered dual circular mop pads or, as in the case of Eufy, a cylindrical spinning towel. Moreover, some models like the Dreame L40 Ultra and Roborock Qrevo Curv even use extendable rear mops that pop out the side to run along skirting boards and around chair legs. By stark contrast – for a premium-spec model at least – the Combo 10 Max sticks to the old dyed-in-the-wool method of simply dragging a very thin and watery mop pad around behind it, albeit with some pressure applied by the weight of the robot itself.

While a static mop like this will sweep a floor clean of most light stains, it's no match for a pair of fast-spinning mops. Furthermore, the act of positioning the mop above the bot when it's not in use leaves unsightly splashes of water all over the top of the bot's shiny rear surface.

Water left on top of the Roomba Combo 10 Max after mop pad has shifted off — The retracting mop pad leaves the top of the robot wet (Image credit: Future)

When it comes to navigation around the home, almost all robot vacs these days use LiDAR, a radar-like laser-based range finder that maps an entire home in mere minutes. Like Dyson, iRobot has stuck to SLAM technology using its tried-and-tested RGB camera, LED headlight and sensor system, but this makes it painfully slow to map an entire floor plan.

However, one good thing with this bot is that its front-mounted RGB camera is pretty good at detecting obstacles. It will often pick up obstacles smaller than those detected by most other models, even those fitted with both LiDAR and a camera. Also, having no LiDAR on top of the machine means the bot can venture under low slung furniture and – if it feels like it – punch through sofa and bed valances, which is something LiDAR-based models cannot do.

Close up of camera on iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max — A front-mounted RGB camera is used for object detection (Image credit: Future)

The Combo 10 Max is equipped with all the usual technology to detect obstacles like stairs, drop-offs, walls and, as mentioned above, most small items like shoes and cables. However, as you'll read in my performance chapter, this robovac's obstacle avoidance is no better than the excellent Dreame L40 Ultra, though I would say that it's still a cut above some of its competitors.

The Combo 10 Max is also armed with a feature called ‘Dirt Detective' and according to iRobot, it 'creates a cleaning plan based on how often each room is cleaned and how frequently dirt is detected in each room. Selecting Dirt Detective to start cleaning will enable your robot to automatically prioritize the dirtiest rooms and use the most optimal cleaning settings for each.' To be honest, this function is very difficult to analyze since there are no real signals to suggest when it's in operation. But I'll give iRobot the benefit of doubt in this regard.

The great thing about most robot vacs is that they're pretty quiet while they go about their daily chores. Invariably all you will hear is a low-pitched hum as it passes by. Conversely, this model's sound frequency is higher pitched and, while it measures at an average 62dB, the nature of its higher frequency whine can be annoying when it's in the same room.

Dock design

The Roomba Combo 10 Max's AutoWash Dock gets an immediate star for great aesthetics. In fact, iRobot has consistently provided some of the best looking docking stations since the launch of the J7+. Yes, at 44cm in height, 50cm in depth and 40cm in width, it's a pretty large thing to have in the lounge or hallway, but in its favor the ribbed matt black plastic surround is a lot better looking than most other docks I've seen and, of course, the color black is far less noticeable in a home situation.

Like most contemporary robot vacs, this model's dock charges the robot, empties its small bin and cleans its mop. Although iRobot doesn't state the size of the AutoWash Dock's dust bag, it seems to be about average (around 2.5 liters).

Dust bag inside iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max dock — The bot empties dust into this dock dust bag (Image credit: Future)

Accordingly, it should hold enough debris in a non-pet household for over a month's worth of cleaning before you need to think about discarding it and fitting a new one (a spare bag is provided in the package). However, if you have shedding pets, you can expect to change dust bags much more frequently – possibly every two weeks.

Since this model also mops, it comes with two larger-than-average rectangular water tanks hidden behind a front door, one for clean water (2 liters) and the other for the dirty stuff (about 1.8 liters).

Water tanks inside the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max dock — The dock contains two water tanks hidden behind a door (Image credit: Future)

However, both water tanks have horizontal lids and both tanks are positioned horizontally instead of vertically, which means that the weight of the water forces the back of the containers downward as you pull them out.

If, for instance, the simple clip on the dirty water tank isn't firmly in place and you pull it out without bracing for the weight, the whole contents could easily tip backwards as it leaves the plinth and pour the dirty contents all over the floor. Unlike other models, removing and carrying these tanks to the sink is most certainly a two-handed operation.

Clean water tank from iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max dock — The tanks need to be held flat as they pull out horizontally (Image credit: Future)

The Combo Max 10s also performs a weird mop-cleaning routine whereby the robot moves in and out of its housing to run its mop over a ribbed rubber roller. That's in contrast to the way other systems work, where the cleaning mechanism moves back and forth across the mopping pad or, as is the case with most modern hybrids, a spinning system that scrubs the circular mops. This dock also uses a soft fan to dry the dock area after washing the pad but since the pad itself is positioned face down above the robot unit, the pad itself doesn't benefit from much drying at all.

Design score: 3 out of 5

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max review: performance

Decent mopping
Disappointing suction on carpet
Dock suction is poor

Again, there's plenty to discuss here, so I've broken this section up into Navigation performance (below), Obstacle avoidance, Vacuum performance, Mopping performance and Dock performance.

The iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max uses SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) navigation technology, which isn't terrible but also is nowhere near as efficient as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), specifically when it comes to fast and accurate navigation in all levels of light, even complete darkness.

For instance, it took about 30 minutes for the Combo 10 Max to map my open-plan floorspace comprising living room, dining area, kitchen, hallway and passage. A LiDAR-equipped model takes about eight minutes to map the same space.

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max cleaning around a rug in reviewer's home — This bot had real trouble mapping my home (Image credit: Future)

Also, the map it produced was nowhere near as defined as a LiDAR-equipped machine, which produces maps of such accuracy you can see exactly where to select a specific cleaning zone, like a small rug or highlighted section of flooring. LiDAR also allows you to see the robot work in real time and pinpoint its whereabouts using a phone app. Conversely, with this product you may find it tricky to accurately divide one room from another, because it's not particularly clear which bit of the map is which.

To give you some idea how confusing it is to decipher the iRobot map, I endured the following scenario. Firstly, I created a ‘kitchen vac & mop' routine under ‘Favorites' and it mopped the first few feet of kitchen floor, then retracted the mop and vacuumed the kitchen rug. So far so good. However it then completely forgot about the rest of the kitchen (amounting to 70% of the floor space) and went back to its dock to wash the mop. I thought it was just doing a mid-session clean but, no, that was it.

Floor looking extremely wet after mopping by iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max robovac — After mop cleaning, this bot left my floors too wet (Image credit: Future)

Round two. I set it off on the same task and this time it went straight to the kitchen rug to vacuum it. Then it started mopping the same section as before, only this time the amount of water left behind on the floor was unacceptably high due to the mop having just been washed. It then trundled back to the dock as before.

This confused me, so I checked the map which, at a glance looked okay until I examined it more closely and noticed that the bot had never fully mapped the kitchen during the dry mapping run it performed the moment I set it up. I expected it to at least learn about this unmapped space when it was in the kitchen vacuuming and perhaps think ‘oh, here's a new part of the floor plan I didn't see earlier. I'll go ahead and amend the map'.

In the end I resorted to resetting the whole system to get it back to the start and remapped the whole house again. Bizarrely, it mapped the entire home accurately the second time around, albeit with weirdly-shaped walls that still make it hard to work out what's what.

Obstacle avoidance

I then performed some obstacle avoidance tests and the results were varied but not too bad it must be said. For my first two obstacle tests I perhaps placed too many obstacles in the bot's path because it cut short both rug cleaning sessions and scuttled back home. Test three with reduced clutter proved more successful, though the Combo 10 Max did ride over the circular dog chew that has similarly flummoxed every other bot in previous tests. Sadly, it also failed to notice the wayward shoe lace. However, it did avoid the sock and the phone cable.

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iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max trying to avoid a charge cable — (Image credit: Future)

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iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max trying to avoid obstacles, including a sock and dog toy — (Image credit: Future)

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iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max trying to suck up a shoe after unsuccessfully avoiding it — (Image credit: Future)

Would I rely on it to avoid dog mess? Despite iRobot stating that, like many of its forebears including the j7+ and j9+, the Combo 10 Max will avoid dog waste, I would never trust it to avoid it 100%. But then again, I'd never trust any robot vac to avoid pet waste – it's already happened to me with a previous product and I'm not going down that horrendously smelly toothbrush road again. The moral is – if you have a puppy in the home that hasn't been housetrained yet, do not rely on any robot vac to avoid any messes it makes.

I should finally add that the Combo 10 Max also bumps into walls and furnishings as part of its daily routine and this inevitably adds so many scuffs and scratches to the sides of the unit that it may look 5 years old after just a few weeks of use. However, there is a setting that will reduce this pinball issue at the expense of not performing as thorough a cleaning job along edges and around table legs.

Vacuum performance

I expected much better carpet performance from this machine, especially as it's equipped with twin rubber brush rollers. During my basic rug and living room carpet test, the Combo 10 Max occasionally ruffled up some Labrador hair into long bundled strands that it left behind and, while the robot's small internal bin showed some evidence of hair collection, it turned out that it hadn't collected as much as I expected.

Dog hair rolled on carpet after the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max has failed to pick them up — The Roomba Combo 10 Max occasionally left remnants of Labrador hair bundled on the carpet (Image credit: Future)

To check this, I sent the Roborock Qrevo Curv to the same sections of carpet and its bin contained even more hair than the Combo 10 Max – after it had already been there. If you have a lot of hairy pets, this might not be the best robovac for you (head to TechRadar's best robot vacuum for pet hair guide for bots that can handle pet hair).

Roborock Qrevo Curv bin full of dog hair, after going over the carpet once the Roomba Combo 10 Max had tried to vacuum it once — This what the Roborock Qrevo Curv picked up *after* the Roomba Combo 10 Max had done a vacuuming cycle on this rug (Image credit: Future)

I then proceeded to embark on some proper pickup tests on both carpet and hard floor using TechRadar's menu of ingredients: raw oats, flour and biscuit crumbs. My Persian-style rug is only about 2.3 x 1.4m but the robot seemed to miss some sections entirely and the areas it did clean – including the specific test area – it didn't do very well. It literally made one speedy pass over the test patch and then started to erratically clean some but not all of the rest of the rug, leaving plenty of flour in its wake. It then went back to base.

Roomba Combo 10 Max trying to vacuum biscuit crumbs, oats and flour from a rug — The Roomba Combo 10 Max made one speedy pass over my purposeful spillage, then proceeded to head off elsewhere (Image credit: Future)

Worse, while doing this test, it also proceeded to smear more rolled strands of pet hair that had clearly been shed since a previous test. After returning, the dock's incredibly loud suction kicked into action to remove the contents of the bot's bin and you can read about the results of this in a chapter below.

My final test included the same ingredients on my kitchen's wooden floor and it collected the vast majority of detritus in the first pass and then went back and forth over the section several times. It also trundled back to base midway through the kitchen session to have its bin emptied and then headed back to finish the task. Good result.

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Hard floor with dry debris spillage before cleaning with Roomba Combo 10 Max — (Image credit: Future)

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Hard floor with dry debris spillage after cleaning with Roomba Combo 10 Max — (Image credit: Future)

One especially annoying aspect with this system is the level of noise it creates. Firstly, the bot's side brush makes an irritating scuttling noise on hard floor and the high frequency whine of the vacuum section is audible from the other side of a room. By comparison, my Roborock Qrevo Curv is almost as quiet as a church mouse.

Mopping performance

Unlike much of the competition that has already moved over to plush spinning mop pads, the Combo Max 10 sticks to the old-fashioned method of dragging a thin, damp mop around behind it. Yes, the mop lifts completely off the floor and out of the way – but then the few centimeters that other models raise their mops is sufficient to prevent any damage to most carpet, bar, say, the deep pile variety. And anyway, some of the very latest bots with revolving mop heads now simply leave them in the dock if not being used.

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max mopping a wooden floor — The retractible mop pad in mopping mode (Image credit: Future)

To give it its dues, the Combo Max 10's mopping is actually pretty decent, despite the lack of any dirt agitating vibration tech like that fitted to some earlier Roborocks. In my kitchen test, it mopped efficiently enough and no worse than some cheaper models I've tested. I also noticed that it also made a few back-and-forth passes over the stain I created so its SmartScrub system feature seems to work okay. Was it as good as a pair of spinning toweling mops? No, but for light mopping duties it'll do.

Suction inlet on iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max clogged with damp dust and debris after vacuuming and mopping simultaneously — Simultaneous vacuuming and mopping will leave the suction inlet clogged with damp dust and dirt (Image credit: Future)

However, if set to vac and mop at the same time, this bot will still vacuum over areas it has already mopped and this causes extra dampness around the suction intake which will start to look very messy after a few tasks. Many robot vacs do that, but at least some models now provide the option to vac then mop, rather than do both at the same time.

Dock performance

Perhaps one of the most surprising disappointments I've experienced with the Combo Max 10 is the poor level of the AutoWash Dock's suction when emptying the robot's bin. Aside from being much louder than the norm (around 83dB), it has had continuing trouble emptying a full bin's worth of pet hair.

Firstly, it made a racket with a sound of rushing air and no whoomph sound that all robots make when a clump of hair is sucked from the robot's bin into the cleaning station's dust bag. When I removed the robot's bin, I noticed a large semi-circular clump of pet hair sticking out. This can happen with some robot vacs, especially those with poor docking station suction. So I removed the protruding clump and the rest of the contents were eventually sucked into the AutoWash Dock's large dust bag. Or so I thought.

A large clump of hair stuck in the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max's onboard bin — Hair blocked the onboard bin and prevented it from emptying properly (Image credit: Future)

When I checked the robot's bin again, I noticed a lot of large sand-like particles and a few small pieces of gravel. These should have also been sucked into the main dust bag like every other robot vac I've ever reviewed. This very same anomaly occurred after my carpet and hard floor tests using raw oats, flour and crushed biscuits.

Debris left in the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max's onboard bin — I regularly found debris left in the onboard bin after the auto-empty process (Image credit: Future)

As my photos illustrate, the dock simply refused to suck the majority of oat flakes out of the robot's bin. And that's a major fail in my opinion. Put another way, I wouldn't recommend this vac if you live by the seaside or its cleaning station may struggle to remove all traces of beach sand from the bot's bin.

Regarding the dock's mop cleaning ability, I'm not convinced that a robot moving back and forth over a simple ribbed rubber roller is an efficient way to clean a mop. Yes it removes a lot of detritus and most signs of discolor but in no way can this system compete with the competition for cleanliness. Perhaps worse is the fact that, after having been washed, the mop itself is well and truly sodden, which means any subsequent mopping sessions will have it dragging around a soaking mop instead of a dampened one.

Wooden floor soaking wet after mopping with iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max — The mop cleaning process leaves mop pads (and subsequently, my floor) soaking wet (Image credit: Future)

Also, the amount of water the cleaned mop leaves on top of the robot is unacceptable for a product in this price band. Yes there is that drying cycle I mentioned earlier, but all that really does is dry the cleaning area in the dock and not the mop itself. And, as we all know, a damp mop usually leads to mustiness and mold, especially after a few days of non-use.

Performance score: 3 out of 5

iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max review: app

Decent home screen
Basic customization
Quite buggy

While there are some elements of the iRobot app that impress – like the instant home page access to pre-programmed favorite routines – I find it mostly confusing to use, clunky and full of bugs. For instance, I've received error messages whenever I tap on a Favorite routine while that particular routine is in operation. It should either allow you into that setting or remain inoperative. Instead you just get an unhelpful error message that says ‘please try again'.

Screenshots of iRobot companion app — The lack of LiDAR means the maps lack detail and accuracy (Image credit: iRobot / Future)

As alluded to above, I also find the floor plan map quite tricky to read because it's nowhere near as detailed as that of a LiDAR-based model. In fact, it's primitive and quite blocky. Take my dining room map, for instance. I have a large dog bed against the window but that area is represented by a slanted wall that makes no sense. This made it tricky to locate a precise area in front of the dog bed so I could create a specific zone-cleaning routine.

As you'd expect, the iRobot app provides options to create room dividers, room labels and – if you can work out the map – cleaning zones. It also lets you adjust various parameters like whether you want the dock to dry the mop pad (it doesn't totally dry it), set a child lock and locate the unit when it's lost by emitting a faint sound. You can also command this model using Alexa and Google.

App score: 2.5 out of 5

Should you buy the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max?

Buy it if...

You value aesthetics
This bot has one of the best-looking docks on the market.

You have more hard floor than carpet
The vacuuming is decent on hard floor, and the light mopping is fine too.

You find a really good deal
This robovac is very overpriced at full price, but if you find a good discount, it could be worth considering.

Don't buy it if...

You have pets in the home
The pet hair pickup on this model isn't great, and can easily clog the self-empty mechanism.

You want a no-fuss option
This robot can be hard to control, and the app has a few annoying quirks, too.

You want ultra-quiet operation
Both the robot and cleaning base are noisy in operation.View Deal

How I tested the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max

TechRadar has a set testing regime which I followed to a tee. Aside from having it set to perform some daily cleaning routines, I also tested the model's vacuuming ability using oats, crushed biscuits and floor on both hard floor and medium-pile carpet. I also tested its mopping function on engineered hard wood flooring and how well it navigated various obstacles. Finally, I made notes on the cleaning station's performance at bin emptying and mop cleaning, measured the noise levels of both the robot and its docking station and spent a lot of time getting to know the iRobot app.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners.

First reviewed November 2024

Ninja Thirsti Max review: your own personal soda machine

2:30 pm | November 16, 2024

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

Ninja Thirsti Max: one-minute review

Reduce the use of single-use bottles and cans by making your own carbonated beverages at home with the Ninja Thirsti Max. With a touch of the CO2 button, you can add a low, medium, or high level of carbonation for fizzy drinks or you can skip the carbonation entirely for a still beverage.

The Ninja Thirsti Max comes with four bottles of Flavored Drops, which you'll need if you want to make anything besides plain seltzer water. Ninja makes a variety of these flavor drops in different categories: Zero Soda, Seltzer, Fruiti Chill (electrolytes or B vitamins), and Fruiti Chill+ (with caffeine). You can also adjust the amount of flavoring that goes into your drink, either low or high. The machine holds two flavor drop bottles at once, so you can combine the flavors into one drink, proportioned the way you like. You can make four different drink sizes: 6oz, 12oz, 18oz, or one liter.

With some experimentation, I found the fizz and flavor level I liked best. I tested out eight different flavors, at least one from each category. I liked some flavors better than others, but overall the drinks were tasty. The flavored seltzer drops are unsweetened, similar to a La Croix or other sparkling water. All of the other flavor drops are sweetened with the artificial sweetener sucralose.

Ninja Thirsti Max: price and availability

List price: $169.99 (about £132 / AU$259)

The Ninja Thirsti Max is available at all the major retailers you'd expect, both in brick and mortar stores and online. The price includes a CO2 tank and four bottles of Ninja Flavored Drops. If you order directly from Ninja's website, you can select the exact flavors you'd like, otherwise you get four pre-selected flavors in the box.

The Flavored Drops retail for $6.99 (£5.43 / AU$10.64) apiece. Each bottle yields 17-20 12oz beverages. The 60L CO2 tank runs $36.99 (£28.76 / AU$56.34), but you can save 30% by recycling your spent tank each time. Each canister should carbonate about 100 12oz drinks, depending on how carbonated you like your beverages.

Value score: 4.5/5

Ninja Thirsti Max: specifications

Ninja Thirsti Max: design and features

Easy to use
Choose your fizz and flavor intensity
Choose your beverage size

The Ninja Thirsti Max is a nice neutral matte metallic gray that will probably look at home with nearly any kitchen decor. It's not a tiny machine, but it's reasonably-sized for what it does. Setting up the Ninja Thirsti Max is easy and takes just a couple of minutes. Plug it in, insert the CO2 tank, fill the water tank, attach the drink tray, place your Flavored Drops into their slots, and you're ready to go.

Ninja Thirsti Max CO2 tank — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The 60L CO2 tank is neatly hidden behind a door in the back, so once it's installed you don't notice it.

Ninja Thirsti Max top down view — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The water tank also happens to have a 60L capacity. Ninja recommends that you use either very cold water or water plus ice in order to maximize your carbonation and taste. The water tank has a plunger so you can quickly chill your ice water by pressing it up and down a few times.

Ninja Thirsti Max with Stanley cup — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The height of the drink tray can be adjusted depending on the size of the cup or glass you're filling. It can also be removed if you're using an extra large cup.

Ninja Thirsti Max close up — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Design score: 4.5/5

Ninja Thirsti Max: performance

The Ninja Thirsti Max works exactly as Ninja describes. Once you have set up the machine, choose the flavor intensity you want from each Flavored drop bottle: none, low, or high. Choose your beverage size: 6oz, 12oz, 18oz, or 1L. Choose your carbonation level: none, low, medium, or high. Place your cup under the nozzle and press start. The Ninja Thirsti Max will beep when your drink is ready.

Ninja recommends using ice water or very cold water in the water tank, and I agree that you get a better result if you do that. I'd also recommend emptying the water tank and adding fresh water once a day or each time the ice melts, otherwise your drink can have a stale 'melted ice' flavor.

Ninja Thirsti Max with orange soda — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The real limitation of the Ninja Thirsti Max is the Flavored Drops. There are currently more than two dozen zero sugar flavors with more on the way. The seltzer flavor drops are unsweetened, but all of the other flavors are sweetened with sucralose, the artificial sweetener found in Splenda. There are no flavors with sugar or any other sweeteners in the lineup as of this writing.

I tried all of the Flavored Drops that Ninja sent me to test. There were four soda flavors: root beer, orange, cola, and Dr Thirsti. I also received a lemonade with added vitamins, strawberry kiwi electrolyte beverage, peach mango energy drink, and unsweetened black cherry seltzer.

Ninja Thirsti Max with root beer — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The sodas are new to the Ninja Thirsti lineup. They all tasted pretty much like the diet sodas they are intended to replicate. However, the cola and Dr Thirsti flavors wouldn't fool you into thinking they are Diet Coke or Diet Dr Pepper in a blind taste test.

Ninja Thirsti Max flavors — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Ninja has changed the labeling on their original Flavored Drops, and I got both some of the old and the new. 'Hydrate' and 'Vitamins' became 'Fruiti Chill', 'Energy' became 'Fruiti Chill+', and what was called "Splash" is now "Seltzer."

All of the ones I tried were pretty tasty, once I got the right flavor intensity and level of fizz for my taste. All of the carbonation levels were sufficient, but I liked the highest level the best. I find I generally prefer a low level of flavor intensity since the higher level tended to be quite sweet, but your tastes may vary. In some cases, I even added extra plain seltzer to cut the sweetness a bit.

It's important to note that I do use sucralose in my everyday life, so I'm used to the way it tastes and I'm fine with it. If you don't, you might not enjoy it.

Ninja Thirsti Max making seltzer — (Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Of course, the seltzer flavor drops are not sweetened at all, and making sparkling water might be some people's main reason for buying the machine. I'm a big sparkling water drinker, and lugging home multi-packs of canned water is a hassle. I found the Ninja Thirsti black cherry seltzer to be comparable in both fizz and flavor to popular canned sparkling waters like La Croix, Polar, Waterloo, and others.

Keep in mind, there is nothing stopping you from making plain seltzer in the Ninja Thirsti Max and adding whatever you like to it. I tried adding a favorite powdered drink mix to the plain seltzer I made and that was great. You could also try adding fruit juice or even wine for a sort of spritzer beverage. You can always add flavor drops from any other brands.

Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Ninja Thirsti Max?

Buy it if

You love carbonated beverages

Whether it's soda, sparkling water, energy drinks, or vitamin drinks, you'll likely enjoy the convenience of making your own carbonated beverages at home.

You want to reduce your use of single-use containers

Rather than buying carbonated beverages in disposable cans and bottles, you can make your own at home and take it with you in any reusable container.

You like sucralose-sweetened sugar-free drinks and/or unsweetened seltzers

All of the Ninja Thirsti sweetened flavor drops contain sucralose, as many diet beverages on the market do. The seltzer flavor drops contain no sweeteners.

Don't buy it if

You don't like carbonated drinks

Technically, you can make non-carbonated drinks in the Ninja Thirsti Max, but what would be the point? I guess if you really like those Ninja flavor drops but not the fizz, go for it.

You don't like any of the Ninja Thirsti flavor drops

You can just make plain seltzer and add anything you like to it, but if none of the Thirsti's flavor drops sound appealing, it's probably not worth buying this particular machine.

You lack counter space

While this isn't a huge appliance, if counter space is particularly limited, it might be a deal-breaker for you.

Ninja Thirsti Max: also consider

If you're not sure about the Ninja Thirsti Max, here are some other options to consider...

SodaStream Spirit One Touch

The obvious competitor to the Ninja Thirsti Max is the slighter cheaper and smaller SodaStream. Unlike the Thirsti, it doesn't add the flavors directly, it just carbonates your water. Any flavorings are added after the fact.

Read our full review here.

Breville the InFizz Fusion

This gorgeous machine is a bit more expensive than the Ninja Thirsti Max, but it carbonates any and all of your favorite cold beverages.

Read our full review here .

How I tested the Ninja Thirsti Max

I tasted a variety of beverages
I tried different carbonation levels and different flavor intensities
I made plain seltzer and added my own drink mix

I've been drinking lots and lots of fizzy drinks over the past couple of weeks. I tried all eight of the flavors that Ninja sent me, plus I tried adding my own drink mix to plain seltzer. I tried different fizz levels and different flavor intensities. Personally I liked the lower flavor setting, as the higher flavor setting yielded too sweet of a beverage for my taste. All of the fizz settings were really fine, but I kept it set to maximum carbonation for the longest lasting bubbles. I tried mixing some of the flavors together, though I didn't find a combination that I really loved. Everyone's tastes are different, though.