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Alen BreatheSmart 75i review: a powerful air purifier for large spaces

4:18 pm | April 5, 2024

Alen BreatheSmart 75i: two-minute review

While there are plenty of air purifiers on the market, most of them don't come with the power of the Alen BreatheSmart 75i. This model stands out for being suitable for larger spaces – up to 1,300 square feet. In fact, Alen advertises that, at its highest setting, this model can completely cycle through the air in a room in 30 minutes. For that level of suction alone I think it's a worthy contender for inclusion in TechRadar's best air purifier ranking.

Power isn't the only thing the Alen BreatheSmart 75i has going for it, though. It's available with three different HEPA filters, and it's easy to use with its capacitive controls, an LED indicator for current air quality, and the ability to track your space's air. For more remote control there's app support, although it's strangely well hidden.

Close up of control panel on Alen BreatheSmart 75i in reviewer's home — (Image credit: Future)

The build quality is high and the design is attractive if understated, falling more on the discreet side of air purifier aesthetics. You can change out the faceplate for different colors, to blend in or match your decor. It's also very easy to set up – you basically pull it out of the box and remove some wrapping it's ready to go.

This is the bigger sibling of the 45i (which I've also tested – review incoming) and it functions in almost the exact same way. There are just two key differences: it delivers slightly more powerful performance, and it's more expensive. That brings me to this model's two main potential drawbacks. When it's pulling in a lot of air at its highest settings, things can get a bit loud. And it's not cheap – you could probably buy seven smaller air purifiers for the cost of one Alen BreatheSmart 75i. If you don't need to clean a large space, this purifier is overkill; but if you do, and can afford the price tag, it's hard to fault. Read on for my full Alen BreatheSmart 75i review.

Alen BreatheSmart 75i air purifier review: price & availability

Prices from US $749
Different filters and front panels cost extra
Available now in US only

With a starting price of $749 (about £590 / AU$1150), the Alen BreatheSmart 75i is far from cheap. (Even the smaller 45i cost from $429.) It's available to buy direct from Alen, but also via Amazon.

If you wish to upgrade the front panel to anything besides white, that's going to cost an extra $39. And going from the basic 'Pure' HEPA filter to the 'Fresh' filter adds $30, while upgrading to the 'Odor' filter adds $40. You could be looking at up to an extra $818 (about £650 / AU$2150) if you want all the upgrades.

It's a bit tough to compare the Alen BreatheSmart 75i to the competition as most models are designed for smaller spaces, and are much cheaper. Costwise at least, it's roughly in line with the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 (retail price: $769.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,149). It's meant for a slightly smaller space – a little over 800 square feet – but it does include both heating and cooling as well as the ability to take care of carcinogenic formaldehyde, something that the 75i doesn't do with its most basic filter. However, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i can automatically change its cleaning level according to the surrounding air quality, something that the Dyson doesn't offer.

The Alen BreatheSmart 75i is only available in the US.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Alen BreatheSmart 75i specs

Alen BreatheSmart 75i air purifier review: design

Discreet but sleek aesthetic
Easy capacitive controls for full functionality
Has three different filters to choose from

Aesthetically, the Alen BreatheSmart 75i is on the discreet side, eschewing the more space-age look of some other pricey air purifiers. It's basically a large box-shaped appliance with a bit of ergonomics thrown in. Its white and black colorway reminds me a little of EVE from Wall-E, though there are currently five other different-colored front panel options to choose from if the white doesn't fit with your decor. Either way, it looks sharp, but in a non-obtrusive way.

Some cool design features include an indentation around the base of the unit, where you can neatly wrap any excess cabling from the power cord, and a handle on the upper back for easy lifting. Also, those front panels are held on by magnets so it's about as easy as it can get to pull it off to get to the filter, whether you're replacing it or setting up for the first time.

Functionally, all the controls sit atop the unit and are of the capacitive variety. They're responsive and offer basically all of the unit's functionality without having to dig into the app. You can turn on the ionizier, check and reset filter levels, adjust the brightness of the button lights and LED indicator, adjust speed, switch on an automatic mode (where the unit will adjust according to air quality level), and lock in current settings so there are no accidental presses. That last one is a necessary feature, because the buttons are ultra-sensitive.

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Alen BreatheSmart 75i in reviewer's home — The central ring indicates air quality. Red means poor... (Image credit: Future)

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Lit match next to Alen BreatheSmart 75i air purifier, with purple hoop showing poor air quality — ... and purple means very poor (Image credit: Future)

Sitting in the middle of the control panel is an LED indicator encircling the power button. It changes color depending on the air quality, so you can see at a glance the level of contaminants in the room. While this is a powerful air purifier, I have seen it reach its highest level (purple) before – at which point I decided to open a window to assist.

If you prefer, you can control the Alen BreatheSmart 75i remotely via the app. The only additional functionality available here is that the app tracks usage and logs cleaning history. The fact that you're not locked out of any key features if you're not using the app is actually good, in my opinion – not least because the fact that there even is a companion app was not apparent to me right away.

Close up of vent on Alen BreatheSmart 75i — A handle makes it easy to move about (Image credit: Future)

While the Alen BreatheSmart 75i is bigger than the 45i, it's slightly more limited when it comes to the filters that are available. Instead of having four different filters to choose from, there are three. There's the 'Pure' one, which is the basic H13 HEPA filter and the one included with my review unit, a 'Fresh' one that adds carbon to capture VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and chemicals that the 'Pure' might not capture, and, lastly, there's the 'Odor' filter that adds in an odor neutralizer. Everything beyond the 'Pure' comes at a small upcharge. Also of note, Alen offers a subscription program where it will send you a new filter every nine months (typically the end of a filter's life cycle).

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Alen BreatheSmart 75 air purifier review: performance

Setup is straightforward
App support is not immediately apparent
Powerful performance designed for large rooms

Let's start this section by discussing setup. It's so easy that you won't even need to crack open a manual. All you have to do is remove the purifier from the box, pull the front panel off (this is magnetically held into place, so doesn't require a lot of pressure), pull the tab out at the top of the filter to take it out, remove its plastic casing, put the filter back in, and remove the paper band off the front panel. Plug it in and you're good to go. It takes maybe five minutes to go from in-the-box to in use.

Alen BreatheSmart 75i open to show filter inside — The front panel is attached with magnets (Image credit: Future)

Setting up the app is pretty straightforward as well… at least, once I realized it had app support. There's nothing on the unit to indicate that this air purifier has app support – the Wi-Fi symbol indicator can only be seen once connected to the app. Even the manual doesn't mention it. Pairing the BreatheSmart 75i with the app requires holding down one of the capacitive buttons, which is not labeled as such, to start the process. Once you've done that, however, the setup through the app is straightforward.

Since this is the performance section of my review, let's talk about the actual performance. The review unit came with the basic 'Pure' filter so there are no odor neutralizers involved here. If that's part of your concern beyond just having clean air, make sure to upgrade to the appropriate filter.

To that point, this air purifier was used in a family member's apartment after they had unwittingly sublet it to a smoker. They ran the Alen BreatheSmart 75i and it got rid of a lot of stale air. However, the smell of cigarettes did linger a little.

Beyond that, I can say that the Alen BreatheSmart 75i does a great job even without the odor neutralizer. The indicator is very reactive and lets me know right away when the air quality has dropped. I prefer using the air purifier on Auto mode, so it will adjust as needed to the air quality.

When run on turbo, the BreatheSmart 75i can pull in a lot of air. It can completely clean the air in up to 1300 square feet in 30 minutes when on turbo, and has a CADR of 347 cfm (cubic feet per minute). That means that it comes quite a bit of airflow with a strong filter to do the job it's meant to.

Beyond refreshing a stale-smelling apartment, I've also used the Alen BreatheSmart 75i with incense, flatulent family members, and cooking, to see it kick into action fairly quickly and work efficiently. While I don't have a real-world way to test the ionizer, which is designed to slow down viruses and bacteria, I do keep it on and appreciate the fact that it is included.

Performance score: 4.5 out 5

Should you buy the Alen BreatheSmart 75i?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Alen BreatheSmart 75i review: also consider

If our Alen BreatheSmart 75i review has you considering other options, here are two air purifiers to consider...

Alen BreatheSmart 45i
The Alen BreatheSmart 45i is very similar to the 75i, but is designed for smaller spaces and costs less. It also has one more filter option – VOC/Smoke, which has extra carbon, designed specifically for dealing with noxious gases.

Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09
This air purifier from Dyson will cost you; but it's powerful, can tackle formaldehyde, heats as well as cools, and comes with quite a few smart features.
Read our full Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 review

How I tested the Alen BreatheSmart 75i air purifier

Tested for two months
Used incense, candles, and stale air to test
Tried all the different functions, including the app

To test the Alen BreatheSmart 75i, I used it for a month to see how it would fare in the living room as well as a whole one-bedroom apartment. I intentionally put it in areas of strong odors to see how it would perform, and delved into the app to see what functionality it offered.

Having used it over this period I can conclude that this is a powerful air purifier, working particularly well in larger spaces. That said, you'll need to upgrade the filter if you care about completely killing odors.

I've spent the past few years reviewing tech gear for the home, where I've gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it's worth the recommendation.

First reviewed March 2024

T3 Afar review: light, breezy and easy to travel with

5:07 pm | March 29, 2024

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

One minute review

T3 sells a range of standard and compact-size hair dryers, with the T3 Afar design marketed as the brand’s travel hair dryer. Having reviewed both the T3 Fit and T3 AireLuxe models, I was interested to see how different an experience the T3 Afar would deliver.

While the Afar model is very different from the T3 AireLuxe in terms of settings and shape, it does share some similarities to the equally compact T3 Fit. However, the T3 Afar’s foldable handle makes it far more suitable for traveling, and it's easily one of the best hair dryers for that reason.

Overall, the T3 Afar feels sturdy, which isn’t true of many travel hairdryers. The handle, too, shows no signs of flimsiness, instead feeling smooth, solid and comfortable in the hand.

Inside the box, you get one concentrator nozzle that clicks onto the body of the T3 Afar and can be adjusted to direct the airflow as you wish. Like both the AireLuxe and Fit models, the Afar has an ion generator that saturates the airflow with negative ions to create a smooth and silky finish when drying hair. I found that while the T3 Afar doesn’t dry hair as quickly as a standard hair dryer, it does produce satisfying results, limiting flyaway hair in the process.

A travel pouch is also included in the box; it’s made from vegan leather and feels well-crafted and is easy to wipe clean, and sufficiently roomy for storing the folded hair dryer and the styling nozzle. In fact, it even has space for the hairbrush or diffuser attachment, which are sold separately.

T3 AFAR hairdryer with luxury travel pouch and nozzle — (Image credit: Future)

T3 AFAR: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

Free 30-day returns
Luxury travel pouch included
2-year warranty

The T3 Afar is significantly pricier than the average travel hair dryer you can buy from Amazon, but its ergonomically designed features place it a step above and make it easy to achieve great results.

At the time of writing, you can buy the T3 Afar for $179.99 | £150, which includes a luxury travel pouch and one concentrator nozzle. If you have wavy, curly or coily hair, you may want to add the T3 Afar diffuser attachment, but this is sold separately and costs an extra $25 | £20.

Rating: 4/5

T3 AFAR hairdryer in the box — (Image credit: Future)

T3 AFAR: SPECS

T3 AFAR hairdryer on the side — (Image credit: Future)

T3 AFAR: DESIGN

Stylish satin blush finish
Foldable handle makes it easy for transporting
Controls are easy to use

A soft pink, satin blush finish and lightweight design make the T3 Afar both easy to hold and easy on the eye. At 381g, it’s much lighter than your standard hair dryer; however, this not only limits arm ache over prolonged use, but also makes it a great option to pop in your hand luggage when travelling.

In fact, the T3 Afar’s USP is that it’s 25% lighter and 30% smaller than a full-size T3 hair dryer such as the T3 AireLuxe. Size-wise, it’s similar to the T3 Fit, which weighs in at 400g. It’s as compact as the Dyson Supersonic, which is considerably heavier at 659g. As a regular user of the Dyson Supersonic, I found the T3 Afar did feel far lighter in hand and offered a very different drying experience, which took me a few attempts to become used to. However, the results were just as satisfying.

T3 AFAR hairdryer facing forwards — (Image credit: Future)

In particular, I welcome how cleanly the T3 Afar’s handle folds in and out, clicking into place each time. The heat and speed settings are well positioned, again clicking into position so there’s no risk of accidentally adjusting the settings while in use.

The T3 Afar’s cord length is ample at 6ft 2, which delivered more than enough flexibility to move around freely when drying my hair at the dressing table. For context, with a cord length of around 8.4ft, the Dyson Supersonic is rather more generous.

The T3 Afar is missing a hanging hook with which to store the hair dryer upside down, but since it’s been designed for travel, it may have been deemed unnecessary. However, in the box you do get a vegan leather travel pouch for storage purposes. And since the hair dryer has auto dual voltage, you only need to add a plug adapter when travelling abroad.

Design: 4/5

T3 AFAR: PERFORMANCE

Ion-infused airstream for fast and gentle drying
Reduces frizz and smooths hair
Flexible heat and speed settings

As someone who has wavy hair that’s prone to frizz, having a hair dryer that can smooth my hair quickly and easily is a priority. In general, travel hair dryers have a reputation for being flimsy in design and underpowered; but I found the T3 Afar surprisingly powerful, and sturdy and comfortable to use. At 1,500 watts, this may not provide as powerful an airflow as a standard hair dryer such as the 1,875-watt T3 AireLuxe, but it can still pack a punch to deliver stylish results. However, like the AireLuxe, the T3 Afar comes with “IonAir” technology. This creates a wide, ion-infused airstream that gently dries hair, while smoothing the hair cuticle to minimize frizz and enhance shine.

Three heat and two speed settings provide plenty of flexibility to style with confidence. I found that switching between the two speed and three heat settings was easy, and while I preferred to ramp up to the highest speed and heat setting to get faster drying results, I can appreciate that the lower settings are beneficial for those drying shorter hair or even children’s hair.

It took me a while to figure out how to use the cool shot – it needs to be clicked into place rather than simply held down – but once familiar, I found that this actually made the whole process of setting a style easier.

Both the concentrator nozzle and diffuser fit cleanly into position on the head of the hair dryer. I welcome the fact that I could click and turn the concentrator nozzle, meaning I could easily adjust the airflow to suit my styling needs. Being able to channel the airflow more definitively helped me to achieve smoother results when blow-drying and styling more difficult to reach locks at the back of my head. I watched the T3 video on how to create a bouncy blow out and was pleased with the results. The trick is to use a 2-inch round brush and direct the airflow downwards.

Overall, those used to using a standard hair dryer such as the GHD Helios are likely to find that the T3 Afar will take some getting used to since it doesn’t feel as satisfying for power. However, as a travel hair dryer capable of producing smooth and stylish results, I found the T3 Afar impressive.

Performance: 4.4/5

T3 AFAR and GHD Helios comparison — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the T3 Afar?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

How I tested the T3 Afar

Used the included attachment
Tested on long, wavy, frizz-prone hair
Testing was done during winter months in the United Kingdom

To test the T3 Afar, I used it for several weeks to dry my hair from wet. I tried both the included concentrator nozzle as well as the additional diffuser, trying different styles and techniques as well as measuring the sound output.

As it's a travel hairdryer, I also put the design through its paces in order to see how durable it is as well as how easy it would be to travel with.

I've been testing lifestyle devices for years, and have been drying my hair for even longer, so I make sure to prioritise the right things when it comes to reviewing hair dryers; performance, value and design.

Two-minute review

GHD is a styling pioneer. It was one of the first brands to release flat iron straighteners (featuring its iconic ceramic yellow plates) and has consistently led the way when it comes to styling tech. Today it sells a range of stylers from curling tongs to hair dryers, brushes, styling products, and even the wet-to-dry GHD Duet Style, yet it's still best known for making some of the best hair straighteners, and the latest to join this collection is the GHD Chronos.

As a successor to the GHD Platinum Plus, which launched in 2018, the Chronos promises to be faster, smoother, and easier to use. GHD claims it halves frizz, boosts shine by 85%, and styles hair three times faster and, for the most part, it lives up to these claims.

I hadn't realized how much the Platinum Plus pulled on my hair until I used the Chronos. It glided through my hair with surprising ease, and this not only made it easier to use, but it reduced the friction and potential damage to my hair. In turn, this noticeably decreased frizzing and left my hair looking smoother and shiny, both when it was straightened but also when I used it to create curls and waves.

This styler is more compact, and with rounder edges than previous GHD straighteners, but the hot plates have stayed the same size. As a result, the Chronos is easier to store and travel with, but it also makes it more ergonomic, letting you create curls and flicks easily. In fact, the Chronos' ability to create curls effortlessly is its biggest selling point.

Yet despite these updates and upgrades, the Chronos still falls a little short. Firstly, the claims GHD makes about its improved responsiveness, speed, shine and more are either in comparison to naturally dried hair, the GHD Original, or on a small sample of consumers, which lessens the impact of those claims somewhat.

Secondly, while the speed, shine, and ease of use improvements I experienced were good, I don't feel like they were dramatic or impactful enough to warrant spending $329 / £289 / $AU465. The improvements between the Platinum Plus and Chronos, for example, were relatively minor on my long, thin hair. Decent, but not groundbreaking.

And thirdly, GHD continues to only offer one temperature setting — 365°F / 185°C — across all of its stylers. GHD says this is because it's the optimum temperature for creating a style without damaging the hair and, for my hair in particular, this is true. However, for thicker, longer, and coily hair, this remains a major sticking point with the Chronos as it does the rest of the range.

The biggest problem I have, though, is that because GHD has continuously led the way with its styling technology, any new product needs to be different enough to warrant ditching one of its older models. The GHD Original, for example, is still a great styler and much cheaper. All of GHD's stylers are so well-built that they last for years, if not decades, and they hold their value — and that's before you look at the wider flat iron market and how much competition there is.

If you've been looking for a new styler, have an older GHD or rival model, or regularly use a straightener to create curls, there's enough about the GHD Chronos to appeal. If you already have the Platinum Plus, need a styler with more heat options, or don't need any bells and whistles then $329 / £289 / AU$465 may be a step too far.

The GHD Chronos being held — (Image credit: Future)

GHD Chronos review: Price & Availability

List price: $329 / £289 / AU$465

The GHD Chronos is the latest flat iron styler to launch from the British brand and is available in white, and black for $329 / £289 / AU$465. You can buy it directly from GHD in all three regions.

In the US, the Chronos is available from Amazon, Walmart, and Ulta. In the UK, it's available via Lookfantastic, Selfridges, John Lewis, and Harvey Nichols. It's due to launch on Amazon UK on 15 April. In Australia, it's available at Adore Beauty.

The Chronos is the flagship flat iron styler in the GHD range but it's joined by a wider range of straighteners including:

GHD Platinum Plus – a 1-inch flat iron styler and Chronos predecessor
GHD Unplugged – GHD's first cordless flat iron, with 0.9-inch plates
GHD Duet Style – a 2-in-1 dryer and styler
GHD Original – the original, entry-level 1-inch GHD flat iron
GHD Gold – a model that sits performance and price-wise between the Original and Platinum Plus
GHD Max – 2-inch plates designed for longer, thicker hair
GHD Mini – 0.5-inch plates for shorter hair

GHD Chronos review: Design

Ceramic plates with ultra-glossy coating
Heats up to 365°F / 185°C
Redesigned curved barrel and wishbone hinge

At first glance, the GHD Chronos looks remarkably similar to the Platinum Plus and other straighteners in the range. The body of the styler is made from plastic with a matte finish, available in either black or white. There are two grey-silver ceramic plates fitted on the underside of each arm of the Chronos, above the power button which is surrounded by a white LED. At the bottom end of the styler is a metal wishbone hinge with a 360-degree, 2.7-meter swivel cord attached.

Yet look a little closer at the design and specifications and there are a handful of key differences. Firstly, the Chronos is smaller than previous GHD models, measuring 11.8 x 4.6 x 2.8 inches and weighing 1.63 lbs. The Platinum Plus, for comparison, measures 12.6 x 4.72 x 3.54 inches and weighs 1.65 lbs. Despite the Chronos' smaller form, the 1-inch plates have remained the same size.

There aren't any temperature controls on the GHD Chronos. This is because all of GHD's hair tools are pre-programmed to only a single setting of 365°F / 185°C. GHD claims this is the optimum temperature for heat styling because it's hot enough to manipulate the bonds in the hair and set the style, but isn't so hot that it breaks the bonds completely and damages the hair.

Features-wise, the Chronos uses what's described as "HD motion-responsive technology with a next-generation ceramic heater" to control heat to the plates.

This is an upgrade to the ultra-zone technology seen on previous GHD stylers, and is said to be powered by an algorithm that identifies how the tool is being used. As you move and use the Chronos, its built-in algorithm understands the angle at which it's being held and the amount of hair in the plates. It then uses this to make sure the heat is evenly distributed. This promises to give you greater precision, and better heat consistency means better results. Ultimately, the technology has been designed to reduce the number of times you need to pass the plates over your hair, which saves you time and effort.

As a result of these upgrades, and the ultra-gloss coating on the plates, GHD promises "the smoothest glide to deliver one-stroke styling with up to 85% more shine."

Other features include a 20-second heat-up time and a three-year warranty. The Chronos will also switch off automatically after 10 minutes if it's not being used.

The GHD Chronos controls — (Image credit: Future)

GHD Chronos Review: Performance

Quick to heat up
One pass is enough to smooth hair
Temperature needs to be reset every time

GHD makes a lot of bold claims about the performance of the Chronos. It's said to create styles that last 24 hours, three times faster than previous models. It claims to reduce frizz by half, enhance shine by 85%, and its re-engineered hinge and barrel have been “designed to craft high-definition curls and waves easily”.

In terms of speed, the Chronos took an average of 3 minutes and 15 seconds to straighten my hair. This isn't noticeably faster than the Platinum Plus, which takes 3 minutes and 25 seconds on average. Yet the three-fold increase is in comparison to the GHD Original and without one on hand, I wasn't able to fully test this.

In terms of responsiveness, I didn’t notice much difference between the Chronos and other straighteners I’ve used. That said, I also didn’t have to pass the Chronos over my hair multiple times to achieve the desired finish, nor did I notice any hot or cold patches, so the best I can say about this is that it works as I'd expect.

Frizz was definitely reduced, and my hair did shine more than normal; as I have blonde hair it can be difficult to get a glossy finish due to the way it reflects the light. However, I had family members comment on the good condition of my hair, and I put that down to the Chronos.

Sadly this style only lasted until I stepped outside at which point my hair quickly lost the smoothness and shine the GHD Chronos had created and the frizz returned, which took significantly less than the 24 hours promised. It should be noted that I have naturally wavy hair and it doesn't like any form of humidity, but I still had hoped the style would hold for a little longer than it did.

Curling my hair using the Chronos took much longer – 9 minutes 45 seconds on average. This isn’t necessarily the Chronos’ fault; curling my hair with straighteners always takes longer than straightening it, and the Platinum Plus creates curls in a very similar time frame, but it’s worth noting.

The Chronos also glided through my hair without any friction as I twisted the styler to create the curls. This incredibly smooth experience, coupled with the smaller design and curved barrel, made curling my hair with the Chronos a hugely enjoyable experience. It was a noticeable improvement on the Platinum Plus, and any straightening iron I've ever used, and is where the Chronos really excels.

Again, frizz was reduced, the curls were well-defined and smooth and they caught the light even more than when my hair was straightened. This style held for much longer and looked as good at the end of the night as it did at the start.

For my thin hair, the single temperature offered on the Chronos was more than enough to create the style and hold it in place, until I left the house at least.

The GHD Chronos on a marble counter — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the GHD Chronos?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: March 2024

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight review: Light but powerful

3:20 pm | March 16, 2024

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

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: one-minute review

I was excited to put the Shark Stratos Corded vacuum to the test. While it isn’t the most future-proof model on the market – there’s no accompanying app loaded with smart features, nor is it cordless – it does its job very well.

In fact, my initial thoughts were that it would make a great in-between option for those who want more robust cleaning than a robot vacuum can deliver, or more convenience than a canister vacuum, but it’s much more than that.

While I won’t categorically say the Shark Stratos Corded, also known in some places as the Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight, is one of the best vacuums out there, although I do believe it’s worthy of inclusion, it is among the best Shark vacuums available; and certainly sufficiently powerful to be the only vacuum in the house.

However, it arrives at somewhat of a premium, at least in the world of stick vacuums, and there are some frustrations with the dust canister. Nevertheless, unless you’re on a budget, or have a significant amount of pet hair or dander to pick up (more on that later), it offers decent power to leave your floors looking clean and smelling fresh.

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: Specs

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: Price and availability

How much does it cost? $299.99 (about £237, AU$450)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US. Only the cordless version available in the UK and Australia

Paying around $300 (about £237, AU$450) for a vacuum cleaner might seem quite steep for the majority. But, when it comes to vacuums, you get what you pay for – and with the Shark Stratos Corded, you’re getting good value for the price.

Shark does offer cheaper stick vacuums, such as the Shark Rocket Pro DLX that’s $100 cheaper. However, that model includes neither the two-brush roll system nor odor-neutralizer technology. Still, if you’re a fan of the corded stick form factor, then it offers the versatility of the Shark Stratos Corded model reviewed here.

The Stratos line – which Shark introduced in 2022 – is widely available in the US, UK, and Australia, but it’s only the cordless versions (also available in the US) that are being offered in the latter two territories, at a far more expensive at $499.99 / £499.99 / AU$1,299.99. That feels like a significant bump in price for cordless convenience and makes the Shark Stratos Corded’s $300 price tag look a little more reasonable.

Value: 4/5

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight standng against a wall — (Image credit: Future)

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: Design

Utilizes two-brushroll system
Small dust canister
Lightweight and modular

Available in a dark blue and silver colorway, the Shark Stratos Corded definitely looks striking once set up, even if it can’t stand up on its own. Take a closer look, and you’ll see that all the parts are attractive and well thought out.

The floor head utilizes a dual-brush roll system – one fabric, one bristled – that can be seen in all its black and red glory through the transparent top. Plus, the self-cleaning brush rolls ensure that no hair becomes wrapped or tangled around the barrels to slow down cleaning. The front of the floor head is also home to a strip of LED lights to illuminate the path in front so you don’t miss any dirt and debris, as well as the nozzle that houses the odor-neutralizer cartridge.

What I mistook as the lever to adjust the angle of the floor head turned out to be the locking mechanism for the telescopic tube. The telescopic tube easily clips into place, while the handheld vacuum clips into the top of it.

The handheld vacuum is essentially the brains of the operation. The two buttons that control the vacuum sit on its base right below an LED panel that indicates whether the vacuum is in carpet or hard floor mode. It’s here that you’ll also find the dust canister, whose 0.79qt capacity is fairly small. For example, it had to be emptied six times when vacuuming up two weeks of dog hair in the master bedroom.

There’s a button on the front of the dust canister to pop it out of the handheld, and then two buttons on either side of the canister to open it on top. While I found it easy to empty, some might prefer a dust canister that opens from the bottom, allowing for quick emptying into the trash without any chance of any dust escaping.

Weighing in at just under 9lbs – or 3lbs, using the handheld on its own – the Shark Stratos corded is pretty lightweight. And, although you might at first think that the fact that it’s corded could hold you back, the cord offers more than enough length, 30ft to be exact, to reach across rooms.

The Shark Stratos’s modular design means that removing the handheld or the tube from the base and attaching one of the three included attachments is hassle-free. In addition, I found that the included crevice tool, upholstery tool, and pet power brush were sufficient to cover just about all my cleaning needs. Note that there are several other attachments available for purchase.

To those who might be wondering about how to keep the vacuum upright if it can’t stand on its own; simply unclip the handheld from the telescopic and clip it on the front of the floorhead stand. Then, it will happily stand unsupported all day long.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: Performance

Excellent suction, regardless of use case
Dust canister and floor head a little sticky
Odor neutralizer makes everything smell fresh

When it comes to performance, I wasn’t expecting the Stratos Corded Stick Vacuum to be quite as powerful as it is. It takes just one or two passes over an area of mess to achieve a spotless floor, whether that’s on hard flooring or carpet. It proved just as adept at cleaning the edges and into corners of rooms with its wide brush rolls and floorhead. And, using the handheld portion with any supplied attachment delivered similarly stellar results when pulling pet hair off upholstery and sucking cobwebs from the ceiling.

The Shark Stratos Corded handled dust and small particles, pet hair, and large-ish bits of debris with aplomb. It even sucked up a piece of plastic that was a couple of inches in diameter in an instant. Of course, the LED light on the front helped ensure I didn’t miss anything.

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight floorhead on a wooden floor — (Image credit: Future)

As mentioned, unclipping the handheld and clipping on attachments is super easy. The only issues I’ve encountered when using this vacuum are when trying to pull out the dust canister, which can stick a little, and adjusting the floor head, which doesn’t tilt smoothly – although, when it does, it goes far enough to easily reach under furniture.

I thought the odor-neutralizer technology, which is essentially an air freshener in cartridge form, was a gimmick. And while I remain nonplussed over the fact that there’s only one scent available, it does leave floors feeling and smelling fresh. Note that you can adjust the strength of the scent by turning the cartridge in place. I’m definitely a fan.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight floorhead closeup — (Image credit: Future)

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: Report card

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight

To test the Shark Stratos Corded, I used it for a week to vacuum both carpets and hardwood floors in my house as well as the stairs, upholstery, ceilings, and under furniture. I tested the odor neutralizer to gauge whether it actually brings any benefit, and paid particular attention to how the vacuum performed along edges and into the corners of rooms, as well as its handling of debris of all sizes.

I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years from laptops and audio equipment to vacuum cleaners and air fryers, and so have been able to use my expertise to give an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

Read more about how we test

Tested December 2023

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System review: untethered performance

3:20 pm | February 28, 2024

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

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: one-minute review

The Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System is certainly one of the best Shark vacuums out there right now. In my opinion, it may also be among the best vacuums available.

There are certainly some caveats. The price tag, although reasonable compared to rivals, might appear high, plus it isn’t as powerful as some tethered models – an important consideration for those who like to deep clean from time to time.

Still, the Shark Cordless Detect Pro’s power is very good for a cordless vacuum. And since it can be easily disassembled into a handheld, not to mention the fact that it comes with a few attachments, it can be used in a variety of situations. The self-emptying base station, along with its large dust bag, is also a welcome part of the experience since it makes charging and storing the vacuum simple. While most of the best cordless vacuums somewhat fit that description, the majority don’t leave your floors smelling fresh.

Overall, then, this is a capable cordless vacuum that most people will find more than delivers for their needs.

Shark Detect Pro clleaning a floor — (Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Specs

Shark Detect Pro accessories and components — (Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Price and availability

How much does it cost? $449.99 / £449.99 / AU$999.99
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK and Australia

At $449.99 / £449.99 / AU$999.99, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System is unlikely to be the budget option for anyone. Of course, you can save a little by skipping the Auto-Empty base station, which brings the price down to $379.99 / £349 / AU$799.99. But, in my opinion, that isn’t enough of a reduction in price to do away with functionality that not only empties the dust bin for you, but charges and stores the vacuum, too. Without the base, you’ll actually have to find a place to plug in the vacuum each time.

Considering that the Tineco Pure One S11 – a cordless stick vacuum with a similar auto-detect feature – comes in at $399.99 / £269 / AU$699, for example, and is missing that self-empty base station, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless’ price tag isn’t bad.

You can certainly spend much more. For instance, the LG CordZero arrives with a self-empty base station that doubles as storage for $999 / AU$1,299 (about £785).

Value: 4 / 5

Shark Detect Pro chamber — (Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Design

Easy to assemble and disassemble
Large LED display
Base station is discrete and hides the odor-neutralizer cartridge

Adorned in an attractive white and gold colorway, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless follows the general outline of other such stick vacuums. The floorhead, with a single self-cleaning brushroll, features a strip of LED lights to illuminate any mess in the path of the cleaner. The stem is lightweight but large enough for decent-sized debris to pass through unencumbered, plus it also easily clips and unclips into the floorhead and handheld. Disassembling the vacuum takes just a press of a few buttons.

The handheld itself is the brains of the operation. To convey this fully, a sizable LED display as well as the two control buttons – one for power and one for mode – cover the top of it. This display is bordered by a ring of color that changes with the soil level.

As far as controls go, there are three modes to choose from: Eco, Detect, and Boost. While somewhat self-explanatory, the Detect mode became my go-to option, with the Shark Cordless Detect Pro adjusting its suction power according to the amount of dirt or debris it comes across. This does away with the need to switch from Eco to Max on a particularly dirty section, and then back again, in order to save battery.

One of the great things about cordless vacuums is the versatility of being able to remove the handheld and use it for not only more detailed spot cleaning, but also vacuuming the ceiling or upholstery, for example. And, with the couple of attachments Shark has included, I was able to do just that with this vacuum.

The self-emptying base station is fairly discrete, despite containing a 2L dust bag. It features a handle to not only hold the Shark Detect Pro Cordless for easy grab-and-go use, but to charge it as well.

In addition, this Shark Cordless vacuum takes advantage of the company’s odor neutralizer technology. Unlike the Shark Stratos corded vacuum I tested, the odor neutralizer cartridge is inserted into the base station, not the floorhead. How the vacuum still manages to spread that scent around to leave floors smelling fresh is beyond me – but it works.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Shark Detect Pro auto-empty base — (Image credit: Future)

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Performance

Powerful… for a cordless vacuum
Does well on edges and corners, but not going backwards
A bit heavy when using overhead

The performance of the Shark Detect Pro Cordless is pretty impressive for an untethered stick vacuum. If you’re hoping for suction comparable to that of the most robust corded vacuum cleaners out there then, sadly, cordless models aren’t quite there yet.

But that’s the price you pay for the convenience of cordless. Having tested this model right after the Shark Stratos corded model, it was obvious to see that the Detect Pro Cordless needed an extra pass to clean up extra dirty areas compared to the Stratos, not to mention the fact that it didn’t perform as well sucking up debris with the backward pass.

Nevertheless, I found performance more than acceptable, even in homes where the Shark Detect Pro Cordless might be the only vacuum cleaner. It was able to pick up fine dust as well as large debris without too much issue; I even managed to vacuum up trimmings off a Christmas tree (not just individual needles).

The Shark Detect Pro Cordless was able to get pretty close to the edges and corners of floors. And the LED lights on the floorhead made it easy to see if any mess remained to be cleaned up – at least on hard flooring.

Shark Detect Pro control panel — (Image credit: Future)

I tested this vacuum across carpets, rugs, and different types of hard flooring, and found that it performed equally well across all surfaces. Getting under furniture was no hardship, as it’s possible to get the floorhead to essentially lay flat.

Getting up high proved a cinch, too. I simply removed the floorhead and clipped on one of the attachments to remove cobwebs in the corners of rooms. The only real issue with using the Shark Detect Pro Cordless in handheld mode is its weight. Using it to clean the couch wasn’t a problem, but holding it over my head for extended periods of time did become tiring.

As for the self-emptying base station, it does a wonderful job of keeping the vacuum charged and accessible. It’s also quick with the self-emptying function; it pulls the contents of the dustbin into the bag in the basestation. Plus, it does so more quietly than using the actual vacuum (69dB vs 76dB during use).

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Battery

Around 60 minutes’ runtime in Eco mode
Battery life drops significantly in other modes

The 60 minutes that the Shark Detect Pro Cordless can muster is fairly impressive, although it isn’t quite out of this world – and, of course, that’s 60 minutes in Eco mode. When using the vacuum in Detect mode, for instance, the LED display was showing a single bar of battery life after about 20 minutes. If you have a big area to clean, you might have to do it in shifts if it’s particularly dirty.

Battery: 4 / 5

Shark Cordless Detect Pro Auto-Empty System: Report card

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

I used the Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System for a few weeks. I used it on carpet, upholstery, hard flooring, and even ceilings. And, in the course of these different cleaning scenarios, I tried all the different attachments, as well as using just the handheld on its own. I tested the odor neutralizer to see (or smell) if it was a gimmick or worthy addition, plus paid attention to how well it cleaned edges, corners, and debris of all sizes.

I’ve tested a lot of gear over the years from laptops and audio equipment to vacuum cleaners and air fryers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

Nutribullet Pro 900 blender: One minute review

Nutribullet is a top name in the blender market and sells a wide range of powerful personal blenders such as the Nutribullet Pro 900, also known as the Nutribullet 900 Series in the UK and Australia. If you’re thinking about investing in one of the best blenders for 2024, you might want to consider the Nutribullet Pro 900 for its simple functionality and easy-to-store structure. Alternatively, you may want to invest in one of the brand’s more traditional countertop blenders such as the Nutribullet Smart Touch Blender, which works well for preparing larger quantities in one go.

But for instant results when preparing dips, sauces, and smoothies, the Nutribullet Pro 900 is a great mid-range option. It features an extractor blade that spins an impressive 24,000 RPM, which is 50% more power than the original Nutribullet. It’s a great buy if you want to invest in a blender that doesn’t take up too much room on your worktop, and its powerful motor is great for making silky smooth drinks, sauces, and drips quickly

Nutribullet Pro 900 box — (Image credit: Future)

Nutribullet Pro 900 blender: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

With its 900-watt motor, this is a mid-range Nutribullet blender, but a powerful one at that. If budgets won’t stretch to its very reasonable $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$119.95 price tag, you can spend a little less and buy the equally efficient 600-watt Nutribullet 600 Series ($69.99 / £69.99 / $99.95). If you want to invest in the brand’s most powerful model, you can choose the Nutribullet 1200 Pro+ ($119.99 / £119.99 / $189.95), which is double the power of the original Nutribullet.

Depending on your region, you can buy the Nutribullet Pro 900 that we’ve taken a closer look at here as either as a 4-piece set, or as a seven piece set.

The seven-piece set seems to generally be better value as for the extra spend you get a tall cup and an oversized cup that can be sealed with either a ‘stay-fresh’ resealable lid or a flip-top lid for use on the go. It’s worth noting that for optimum performance, Nutribullet suggests that you replace the extractor blade every six months, which is something to bear as these cost around $15 / £10 / AU$20.

Price: 4 / 5

Nutribullet Pro 900 smoothie ingredients in the chamber — (Image credit: Future)

Nutribullet Pro 900 BLENDER: DESIGN

Simple to use push, twist and blend design
Stylish Champagne finish
Dishwasher safe BPA-free cups

With its eye-catching Champagne finish base, silver accents, and black accessories, this has to be one of Nutribullet’s most stylish blenders. It’s 14-inches / 36cm tall, with a smooth form that’s easy to wipe clean and can be easily dismantled for convenient cupboard storage.

There are seven pieces in the set that I found very easy to put together without having to look at the instructions. There are two cups in the box, including one tall 680ml BPA-free container that can be paired with either a stay-fresh lid or the flip-top lid. This means you can make a smoothie and conveniently store it or take it with you for drinking on the go. There’s a larger 909ml oversized cup for when you want to make larger quantities - I was able to make two smoothies using this vessel and enough dip for around three people in one go. There’s also a ‘handled comfort lip ring’ in the box, which makes the cups easier to hold.

I like the way the high torque power base sits securely on the countertop and the cable is a nice length so that it reaches the plug with ease. There aren’t any controls on the design, which keeps things simple and makes it very straightforward to use.

Assembling the design was fuss-free and the clean-up was relatively straightforward. I simply wiped down the base and placed the cups in the dishwasher. On the odd occasion that I had used thicker ingredients inside such as pancake mixture or walnut dip, I needed to give the cup a good rinse before popping in the dishwasher. This ensured caked-on ingredients were dislodged and ensured a more thorough clean. The blades could them be simply rinsed clean straight after use and left to dry.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Nutribullet Pro 900 berry smoothie ingredients — (Image credit: Future)

Nutribullet Pro 900 BLENDER: PERFORMANCE

Crushes ice and blitzes seeds, tough skins and stems with ease
Powerful 900 watt motor
Fast 24,000 RPM

Nutribullet blenders have been designed to be easy to use and efficient and the Nutribullet Pro 900 is just that. To blend ingredients smooth, it’s a simple matter of filling the cup, twisting on the extractor blade and turning it upside down onto the base. Then a simple push and twist and the device will start to blend. To stop blending it’s a simple matter of twisting the cup the alternate way and it will immediately stop. There’s no pulse function here, however, so you’ll need to keep an eye on it if you’re after a certain texture – for a chunky guacamole, for example.

To find out just how well the blender performs, I used it to make a smoothie and a dip. In my berry and avocado smoothie I used fine and tough ingredients and packed a handful of spinach, chopped avocado, frozen berries, a spoon of nut butter, honey, a splash of maple syrup and some almond milk into the cup.

Nutribullet Pro 900 avocado and berry smoothie — (Image credit: Future)

With its 24,000 RPM extractor blade, this blender prides itself in making a smoothie in one minute and this seemed to work well for me. The blade has a cyclonic action that is designed to force your ingredients down so that it can achieve the smooth blend of your dreams, and the 900-watt motor claims to create less aeration than the original Nutribullet so you have a purer consistency too. After one minute the mixture was very smooth and well blended. To make it even smoother and ensure the frozen berry seeds were nicely crushed I added another 30 seconds to the timing.

When using a Nutribullet, the liquid should always be added last and the cup has a max line that you shouldn’t go over. To stop the smoothie becoming too thick and also make sure all the ingredients got captured by the blade, I had to experiment with how much almond milk to put inside. When there wasn’t enough liquid inside, I found myself having to shake the cup mid-blend to ensure everything got combined.

To see how well the design could tackle thicker dips and nuts, I also used the device to make Roasted Walnut and Red Pepper Dip. The recipe includes whole walnuts, pepper, whole garlic cloves and olive oil. As a much thicker sauce, a shake of the cup 30 seconds in was again needed. I was impressed at how quickly these ingredients could be mixed to create a satisfying consistency for a dip, however.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Nutribullet Pro 900 walnut dip results — (Image credit: Future)

SHOULD I BUY THE Nutribullet Pro 900 BLENDER?

I was very impressed by the design, performance and aesthetics of the Nutribullet Pro 900 blender and would recommend it for anyone wanting to make smoothies, pancakes and dips in a hurry. It does a great job at whizzing cold ingredients super smooth with a simple push, twist and start. To get smoother results, you simply twist and press down.

I think this design is a particularly good buy for who already has a traditional blender and wants to prepare smaller quantities of their favorite drinks and snacks. But bear in mind this only has one speed setting. Should you want to make chunkier dips and sauces, you’ll need to guestimate how long to blend for.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Dual Air Fryer review: a behemoth air fryer that can serve 8+ people

6:30 pm | February 20, 2024

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

Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Dual Air Fryer review: one minute review

You might be wondering how many more ways a company can innovate on the best air fryers, but Ninja is at it again with its enormous Foodi FlexBasket dual air fryer, also known as the FlexDrawer in the UK. This vast air fryer can serve eight (or more, by a small margin – although I felt six was the sweet spot) and offers up Ninja’s excellent air fry features, including Dual Zone technology.

But is bigger always better? Broadly speaking, yes – and if you regularly need to cook for more than four people, the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket 11qt / 10.4L dual air fryer is easily the best large-capacity air fryer I’ve tried. For a bit of visual context, 11qt / 10.4L can easily fit a whole leg of lamb and accompanying vegetables.

It isn’t flawless, of course. Compared even to Ninja’s own dual-drawer competition, the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300, the Foodi FlexBasket has one large basket with a divider rather than two distinct drawers that can be independently opened and cleaned. Granted, this difference is intentional; the FlexBasket allows you to cook either across two zones or remove the divider to create one aptly named MegaZone, which is excellent for cooking larger meals such as roasts.

When using the independent zones, you can choose any of the seven cooking functions, different times and temperatures, and use the Sync mode to ensure cooking in both compartments completes at the same time.

It’s a delightfully easy machine to use that delivers consistent, fantastic results; but it absolutely dominated my kitchen countertop. Were it a little lighter then I wouldn’t have been so bothered by it, but the combination of size and weight make it difficult appliance to stow away.

A portion of fries cooked in the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Dual Air Fryer — (Image credit: Future)

Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Dual Air Fryer review: price and availability

Price: $199 / £270 / AU$599.99
Available directly from Ninja and most third-party retailers

With great power comes a pretty hefty price tag for the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket 11qt / 10.4L dual air fryer, coming in at $199 / £270 / AU$600. It’s available directly from Ninja in the UK and Australia as well as from third-party retailers; but, interestingly, it appears to only be available from the likes of Walmart in the US at the time of writing.

The slightly smaller 7qt FlexBasket is more widely available in the US both at Ninja and on websites such as Amazon, where it’s also available for other regions wanting a slightly less domineering MegaZone air fryer, and sells for $179.99 /

There’s little else to consider in terms of maintenance costs and accessories for this air fryer, and it’s pretty well-priced overall. Considering that some rival models, such as the Instant Vortex Plus XL 8QT ClearCook, come in at a far higher price for less capacity – and, in my opinion, inferior build materials – the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket dual air fryer offers impressive value for money. However, I’d have loved to see a cooking window included.

Value: 4.5/5

Ninja Foodi Flexdrawer air fryer — (Image credit: Ninja)

Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Dual Air Fryer review: design

One 11qt / 10.4L basket that can be configured to have two zones
Absolutely enormous
Easy controls

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room; literally. The Ninja Foodi FlexBasket dual air fryer is huge at 12.9 x 19.5 x 12.4 inches / 32.7 x 49.6 x 31.6cm and weighs in at 9.3kg – which shouldn’t be surprising, really, given its capacity. However, it's when you factor in things like the clearance needed at the front of the machine to open and close the drawer and the space required on either side to ensure good airflow while cooking that its size could become an issue.

The basket itself measures 12.9 x 19.5 x 12.4 inches / 13.7 x 37 x 21.5cm, and with its 10.4L capacity, there’s plenty of cooking room available. Simply insert the two crisper trays (and the divider, if you want to cook across two zones) and you’re ready to get started. Note, too, that all of the drawer parts are dishwasher friendly, for convenient cleanup.

However, if you don’t have a dishwasher then you might find cleaning the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket dual air fryer a little annoying. Since it uses one large basket instead of the two independent drawers of some other dual air fryers, you’ll have to wash the entire basket regardless of whether or not you used both sides.

On the front of the machine are the controls: you can select the time and temperature as well as one of the seven cooking modes that include air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate and prove.

There’s a silver roller dial that allows you to navigate these modes, as well as buttons to switch between Sync and Match cooking times and powering the machine on and off. It’s overall a very inoffensive control system, although every now and then, it would become non-responsive if I pressed too many buttons in close succession while trying to change cooking zones.

Ninja Foodi FlexBasket Dual Air Fryer review: performance

No need to preheat
Gorgeous, crispy results
Very configurable for every meal

Ninja Foodi cooking a chicken — (Image credit: Future)

As a smaller household, I was a little intimidated by the sheer size of the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket dual air fryer, but I put it to the test by making several meals using a variety of ingredients – including a whole roast chicken.

The air fryer can heat up to 450°F / 240°C for up to four hours (although not at its highest temperature, which only offers up to 30 minutes of continuous cooking time) and offers seven cooking modes – air fry, max crisp, roast, bake, reheat, dehydrate and prove. These offer rough guidelines for cooking times and temperature, although it’s likely you’ll need to tweak these set times.

One of the key benefits of standard air fryers is that they’re able to deliver speedy results, using less energy, due to their reduced capacities over regular ovens. As such, I had expected the FlexBasket’s cooking times to be longer. Pleasingly, I didn’t find a significant difference, with cooking times only a few minutes longer.

The Ninja Foodi FlexBasket dual air fryer doesn’t require preheating, doing so very quickly during the first few minutes of cooking time, but it does have an automatic cooling mode at the end of the cycle. Of course, there’s no imperative to observe this, but it won’t alert you to remove your food until that time has elapsed.

You also have Sync and Match cooking modes, which allow you to set individual temperatures and times for both sides of the basket, cook on just one side, or use the MegaZone. All of these settings worked as expected but, every now and then, the air fryer would become a little confused or overwhelmed when I was flitting between the different drawer settings – although this is more likely me being too scattergun than it is the machine being faulty.

Ninja Foodi air fryer cooked chicken — (Image credit: Future)

A lot of the air fryers I’ve tested feature automatic shake timers that encourage you to move your food around mid-cook to ensure even cooking results; but this air fryer doesn’t, and that isn’t the end of the world. Especially given that this behemoth of a basket couldn’t be easily shaken. It’s much better to just grab a fork or a pair of tongs to shuffle around your food.

As with most Ninja air fryers, the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket dual air fryer performs exceptionally on test, delivering deliciously crispy results with ease. In addition to our standard tests of fries, potatoes, and chicken wings, I wanted to try using the MegaZone configuration for its intended use. I opted to test with a whole roast chicken and a few roast potatoes thrown in for good measure.

Ninja air fryers easily cook the best frozen fries I’ve ever tried, and it was no different with the FlexBasket I tried both its max crisp and bake settings for my thick-cut fries, and the results were excellent, with the air fryer producing wonderfully crispy fries with soft, fluffy centres – although the max crisp came out on top.

Likewise, my chicken wings were perfectly cooked, too. Full of flavor and moist on the inside, and crisp and golden skinned on the outside, even without the use of lashings of oil.

However, it was the full roast chicken and potatoes that were the pièce de résistance. I was incredibly nervous that the innermost part of the chicken wouldn’t reach an adequate temperature to cook off any harmful bacteria, but I forged onwards, and I’m so glad I did. I cooked the chicken at 350°F / 180°C for 40 minutes, adding in the roast potatoes after 10 minutes, and turning the chicken halfway through. I cranked up the temperature a little for the last five minutes, for good measure; but I don’t think it was required. My chicken came out gorgeously cooked: succulent inside, and with a wonderful brown skin on the exterior. The roast potatoes were some of my best, despite having cut back on the amount of butter I usually use to encourage a crispy outer layer.

One issue I have found is that the divider doesn’t prevent heat transfer between the two cooking zones. However, this is only a problem if you’re cooking food at vastly different temperatures, or only using one zone since energy is wasted heating the whole fryer. TIt proved most problematic when cooking my greatest nemesis, crispy kale. At the best of times, I struggle to nail perfect results even in the oven; but when you’re contending with the other side of the air fryer leaking much hotter air into the side holding the kale, it produces less than ideal results. I ended up with a lot of too well cooked kale.

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested

I used all of the air fryer presets
I cooked fries, potatoes, chicken wings, and a roast dinner
I used both the dual zone and MegaZone configurations

Ninja Foodi air fryer end result — (Image credit: Future)

Testing the Ninja Foodi FlexBasket dual air fryer involved eating a lot of food. As well as performing all of our standard tests (fries, potatoes, and chicken wings), I used it to cook my usual weekday meals, including salmon, kale, and roast vegetables to see how well the presets represent standard cooking times as well as the overall cooking performance of the machine.

I tried out the various basket configurations, and the Sync and Match cooking modes to see how easy the air fryer was to set up, use, and clean.

I’ve been testing home appliances for three years now, from cleaning tech to cooking to smart home, and I’ve become familiar with what a variety of different users need from their home devices. I’ve also been cooking with an air fryer almost every week throughout that period, so I’m pretty used to navigating these clever cookers.

De’Longhi Rivelia review: finally – a compact, luxury bean-to-cup machine

9:00 pm | February 19, 2024

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

De'Longhi Rivelia review: one-minute review

Those looking for one of the best coffee makers are likely to be signing up for a fairly hefty machine that will dominate the countertop – or a far more simple filter or pod coffee machine.

In that sense, De'Longhi’s Rivelia is a much needed breath of fresh, coffee-scented air, and could provide the next generation of coffee-lovers with the best bean-to-cup coffee maker experience for their morning brew.

In general, it’s remarkably compact for a coffee machine, let alone a bean-to-cup model, and it comes with a 0.74 gallon / 200ml removable milk carafe, a 1.4L water tank and two 250g bean hoppers, allowing you to easily swap out between different coffee beans.

Simply use the TFT screen and touch controls to navigate through the menu of 11 coffee options, as well as hot water and hot milk, make adjustments to coffee strength and type of froth, and let the machine’s smart Bean Adapt and LatteCrema Hot technology intelligently do the rest. Plus, you can store coffee preferences for up to four profiles, making it an excellent choice for a family or young professionals sharing a home.

Maintenance, too, is pretty straightforward as a result of simple cleaning, rinsing and descaling programs. Overall, then, the De’Longhi Rivela is easily the best bean-to-cup coffee maker I’ve ever tested.

De'Longhi Rivelia coffee machine — (Image credit: Future)

De’Longhi Rivelia review: Price and availability

Price: £749
Availability: UK only, but will likely come to US/AU soon enough

De'Longhi Rivelia time settings — (Image credit: Future)

The De’Longhi Rivelia is available for £749 from retailers such as Amazon, as well as from the De’Longhi website and regional retailers such as John Lewis in the UK. As of writing it’s not available in the US and Australia, but most De’Longhi products arrive abroad a little later, and I’d be very surprised if the Rivelia doesn’t release globally.

While it is pretty pricey, in terms of what it offers – from excellent, consistent results, compact and effective design, and a host of features and smart technologies – it’s a league above many of its competitors.

Nevertheless, it’s worth factoring in the ongoing cost of the machine. Depending on the water hardness in your area, the filter will need to be replaced every 2-3 months (£15.99), and the machine will need descaling once a month (EcoDecalk Descaler, 11.99 per 500ml bottle), which could set you back up to £76 per year.

De’Longhi Rivelia review: Design

Slim and compact
Comes with two bean hoppers
0.74 gallon / 200ml removable milk carafe is well-designed but fiddly to clean

De'Longhi Rivelia water tank — (Image credit: Future)

Despite its slim design, the De'Longhi Rivelia comfortably packs in everything you need for your daily brew. Measuring just 15.1 x 9.6 x 16.9-inches / 38.5 x 24.5 x 43cm / (h x w x d) – gaining a couple of inches in width as a result of the 1.4L water tank – it’s actually pretty compact for a bean-to-cup coffee maker of this high quality. My review sample was the discrete black option, but it’s also available in grey, white and beige colorways, for those looking for a machine that’s a little more stand-out. Note that each color option arrives with matching bean hopper lids, too, which is a lovely touch.

On top of the machine is a slot for one of the two included 250g bean hoppers, whose metal ring surround is rotated to select the grind coarseness. You’ll also find the TFT screen and touch controls here.

The screen is bright and easy to read, requiring a firm press to select a drink; there’s no fear here of ending up with a drink you don’t want as a result of an accidental press. On either side of the screen are two buttons, for turning the power on and off, plus a profile selector, and milk and coffee menus. Barring the power button, however, you can use the screen for everything else – although the buttons are nice to have for people with larger fingers who might not want to play whack-a-menu with the touchscreen.

De'Longhi Rivelia coffee bean tank — (Image credit: Future)

On the front of the machine sits an adjustable cup stand, the spout, and the removable, dishwasher-friendly 200ml / 0.74-gallon milk carafe, which neatly clicks into the front of the machine for easy maintenance. There’s also a movable built-in steam wand, and the carafe’s lid features a dial for choosing your milk frothiness or switching to the cleaning function.

The cup stand and spout can accommodate cups up to 5.3in / 13.5cm tall and 3.3in / 8.4cm deep. I have some pretty generously sized mugs in my kitchen, so I’d have welcomed a slightly deeper tray to avoid my coffee-making routine feeling like a balancing act, but it wasn’t too much of an issue.

Removing the drip tray is simple, as is disposing the grounds from the front of the machine for cleaning. Note, too, that there aren’t too many nooks and crannies to navigate – a welcome change from other bean-to-cups I’ve tested. Generally speaking, maintaining the Rivelia is easy enough, offering a good balance of manual and automatic cleaning; however, the milk carafe requires a little more TLC. While not unusual, it can be annoying at times.

Design: 5/5

De'Longhi Rivelia cleaning setting — (Image credit: Future)

De’Longhi Rivelia review: performance

Fantastic results
Four user profiles with ample customization options
Bean Adapt and LatteCrema Hot technology make brewing a breeze

De'Longhi Rivelia making a cappuccino — (Image credit: Future)

Following a super-quick and easy setup, the De’Longhi Rivelia proved a rapid, remarkable bean-to-cup machine, offering oodles of customization options and smooth, well-made coffee every time.

You can set up to four user profiles on the Rivelia, with each user able to customize their drinks just as they like them, choosing from five coffee strength settings.

It takes the machine just 30 seconds to heat up, and 35 seconds thereafter to pour a single espresso – so that’s just over one minute from bean to cup on its standard settings. It offers the option to use coffee grounds, too.

De'Longhi Rivelia user set up — (Image credit: Future)

Personally, I didn’t feel the need to adjust the default settings to tweak the taste profile of my coffee; it was delicious. However, it’s super easy to do so. Simply tap the button below the menu item to open up the drinks settings, adjust to your preferences, and save. Now, whenever you make that drink with your user profile selected, the Rivelia will remember your preferences and make your drink exactly as you like it. For even more customization, you can tap the encircled “My” button in the settings menu. The machine will begin making your drink, and you can hit stop on both the milk and coffee to let the machine know exactly how much of each you’d like in your drink.

You can also make use of De'Longhi’s Bean Adapt technology by tapping the bean on the display and entering information about your coffee beans of choice. The Rivelia will then brew an espresso and recommend the best grind and temperature settings, allowing you to name and store the profile for future use – super helpful if you like to try a variety of beans and want to make use of the two hoppers included with the Rivelia.

De'Longhi Rivelia milk spout — (Image credit: Future)

In addition to the easily navigable menu, the TFT screen will also provide tips on brewing and milk, as well as a heads-up for maintenance – which were greatly appreciated by myself.

So, what about the results? Well, the Rivelia makes a mean espresso, that’s for sure. There’s a healthy, rich brown crema topping every shot, near-perfectly foamed milk with excellent microfoam, and every drink comes out at pretty much the perfect drinking temperature, erring on the warmer side rather than cold.

I was slightly less impressed with the hot water settings; note that the machine can only heat water to 176°F / 80°C , which isn’t quite hot enough to properly brew most black teas. For Brits, this will be less of an issue since many of us use kettles to boil water; but overseas, where this is less common, properly brewed tea remains just out of reach. The LatteCrema Hot milk frother heats full-foam milk to 140°F / 60°C.

As a regular iced-latte drinker, I also attempted to make cold drinks in the Rivelia – note I have fairly high standards in this department. I chose to have my drink “extra cold” when prompted by the machine (made using ten cubes of ice) and I was super impressed by how well the machine tackled making the beverage to the right strength and flavor in accordance with the volume of ice.

All in all, the Rivelia is a fabulous bean-to-cup coffee maker; it’s a machine I won’t be replacing in a hurry. Whether you’re a coffee nerd or just need consistent, tasty results, it’s an excellent choice.

De'Longhi Rivelia making a coffee — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested

I tried most of the drink options on the menu
I set up the Bean Adapt function and tested the LatteCrema Hot technology
I adjusted my beverage preferences

To test the De'Longhi Rivelia, I used my usual coffee beans (a gorgeous Monsoon Malabar from Whittards in the UK) and tried to make a variety of hot drinks from the machine’s menu.

I adjusted my preferences of these drinks, as well as trying out the default settings, measuring both the temperature and quality of the resulting drinks.

I’ve been testing home appliances for two years, but I grew up with a real coffee aficionado for a father and now date a coffee nerd. It’s like they follow me. I try to approach each test with a different coffee drinker in mind; casual drinkers like myself, burgeoning baristas and the ultimate brew masters.

Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer review: hair drying made easy

2:21 am | February 12, 2024

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

Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer: One-minute review

It might be a mouthful of a name but the SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer (hereon referred to as the SpeedStyle) has been designed to dry hair with less time and effort. Coming with a selection of five attachments, you can even reduce the amount of frizz in your hair while styling, resulting in glossier looks.

Its high performance is backed by the Shark SpeedStyle’s ability to automatically adjust the heat and airflow settings when switching between attachments, recycling this feature from the Shark Style iQ. You can still manually adjust the settings to your liking though, as the hair dryer sports two convenient buttons for airflow and temperature, allowing you to gain complete control over your styling needs.

The hardware that allows these intelligent features to function, along with a 1700W motor, are packed into a stylish and compact design, though it does mean the Shark SpeedStyle tips the scales towards the heavier end when compared to some of the best hair dryers. Despite the extra weight, it’s still small enough to neatly pack away into luggage, making it a good travel companion if your flight’s weight allowance allows for it.

Adding to the weight are five attachments that come with the SpeedStyle, and each one performs a specific task when drying and styling hair. They all use a simple rotating lock mechanism to connect to the hair dryer, and are cool-touch zones that don’t retain as much heat so you can touch them safely when swapping them. However, I found that those cool-touch zones would often still retain heat and I’d need to wait a moment or blast some cool air through them before I could touch them.

Depending on your location, you can find different Shark SpeedStyle bundles at various price points. The one I tested for this review comes with all the bells and whistles and is a hefty investment, which gets a little difficult to justify when you consider that the brand has a more versatile hair styling tool in the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Hair Drying System for around the same price.

Shark SpeedStyle hairdryer being held in front of mirror — The Shark SpeedStyle comes with five different attachments and a carry bag in its most expensive bundle. (Image credit: Future / Petra Player)

Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer review: price & availability

Initially released in the US in August 2023
Available now in the US, UK and Australia
List price for full bundle: $259 / £249.99 / AU$559.99

Released initially in the US back in August 2023, the Shark SpeedStyle is available in all major markets in different bundles, although these options will vary depending on where you live. You can purchase the SpeedStyle directly from its maker or through various retailers, including on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia, and other regional sellers who typically stock Shark products.

The full package with five different attachments and a handy travel pouch will set you back $259 / £249.99 / AU$559.99 at full price, and is the only available bundle in Australia at the time of publication. In the US, you can select two of your own attachments with a regular list price of $179, or buy bundles with three pre-selected attachments for various hair types, including curly and wavy hair, for $199. The UK also has the pre-selected bundles for £199.

This price isn’t as extreme as the Dyson Supersonic – the British brand’s popular hair dryer is available from $429 / £329.99 / AU$649. Though, in Australia you can find the Supersonic for AU$549 with five different attachments in an exclusive bundle, making it a slightly more affordable option than the SpeedStyle at full price.

While it might be possible to justify the SpeedStyle’s price in comparison to Dyson, I find its cost a little confusing compared to the Shark FlexStyle. Admittedly the latter is more of a styling tool, but it can still be used as a hair dryer and comes with five attachments costing $299 / £299 / AU$499. It’s a more versatile appliance as it can transform between a hair dryer and a styling wand, plus, it’s lighter too. It might be a bit more expensive in the US and UK, but in Australia especially, the FlexStyle sits at a more affordable price – so you do the math.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer review: specs

Shark SpeedStyle and Shark FlexStyle compared — The Shark SpeedStyle is larger than the FlexStyle, especially when the latter is in hair dryer mode. (Image credit: Future / Petra Player)

Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer review: design & features

Slim design with a decent heft
Intelligent sensor for automatic adjustments
Four heat settings, including a cool-shot button, and three for airflow

Shark has designed a sleek and compact hair dryer, although the FlexStyle is a touch smaller when folded into its dryer mode. Compared to other brands, though, the SpeedStyle is slim. Also aiding in giving it a modern look is an unique off-white and rose-gold color scheme.

Even with its attachments, the SpeedStyle is small enough to slip into a travel bag – its most expensive bundle even comes with a neat carry case for this purpose. However, it will tip the scales in luggage as the SpeedStyle is heavier than some of its competitors, weighing in at 750g before any attachment. In comparison, the FlexStyle is only 700g, while the Dyson Supersonic and T3 AirLuxe are also both lighter at 650g and 707g respectively. On the flipside, the GHD Helios weighs 780g, so there are still heavier hair dryers than the SpeedStyle.

Its main barrel is a simple cylinder that’s uniform from end to end, Similar to what Dyson did with the Supersonic hair dryer. The Shark SpeedStyle, however, is thinner and slightly longer than its competitor, which is both a good and a bad thing.

I personally found the handle uncomfortable to grip, occasionally causing cramps if I’ve held it for too long while using it as a styler. In comparison, I found the wider handle design of the FlexStyle more comfortable when I reviewed it for sister site Tom’s Guide. That said, the slimmer design might suit smaller hands, which is complimented by a well-thought out button placement for a shot of cool air that’s easy to reach and press when needed.

Shark SpeedStyle hairdryer showing the button placement — There's a button for both heat and air flow settings just above the on/off switch on the handle of the Shark SpeedStyle. These buttons are low enough that they won't accidentally be bumped while styling. (Image credit: Future / Petra Player)

The other buttons are also well situated – the power switch is at the base of the handle but nowhere you would accidentally turn the dryer off, while the heat and airflow controls sit just above the power button and light up to indicate the setting you’re currently using. You likely won’t have to use the latter two buttons as the SpeedStyle inherits the auto-adjustments from the much older Shark Style iQ hair dryer. You can still manually make adjustments if you need to, although I found letting the SpeedStyle do its thing can save a little time.

Fitting attachments is a simple clip-in-and-lock mechanism, and these include a diffuser for drying curly hair, a Touchup brush for natural-looking blowouts, a round one for straightening, a styling concentrator that lets you focus on sections of hair, and a RapidGloss Finisher to add a glossy and smooth finish to your hairdo.

Shark SpeedStyle hairdryer on table with filter removed — The Shark SpeedStyle's filter can be removed from the back of the hair dryer for easy cleaning with a simple twist. (Image credit: Future / Petra Player)

Like a lot of other hair dryers out there, the SpeedStyle boasts a removable filter, which is a major improvement over the Shark Style Qi – keeping it clean will prolong the life of the product by preventing overheating. Given that the SpeedStyle can hit temperatures of up to 100ºC, you’ll want to clean it regularly to avoid any ongoing issues, especially if you use it every day.

While I didn’t have issues with overheating during my testing of the SpeedStyle, which included everyday use over a full week, I found that its barrel and attachments retained heat for quite some time and I had to wait a few minutes before I was able to touch them to switch attachments. And this is despite the fact that Shark has included cool-touch zones on the dryer and the attachments.

• Design & features score: 4/5

Shark SpeedStyle on table surrounded by attachments and hair brushes — Each attachment included with the Shark SpeedStyle has a specific purpose, allowing it to dry and style multiple different hair types. (Image credit: Future / Petra Player)

Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer review: performance

Fast drying times
Good for different hair types
Requires a small learning curve for some attachments

Don’t be fooled by its compact size – the Shark SpeedStyle has some speedy dry times. Its 1,700W motor allows it to hit 100ºC / 212ºF, and I found I could dry my thick shoulder-length hair in three and a half minutes without any attachments at the highest settings. Brushing and styling my hair with the round brush attachment while also drying, however, took approximately 15 minutes for a simple and neat hairdo. While this is still quite fast, it doesn’t quite compete with the Dyson Supersonic or the GHD Helios – our reviewers found that the Supersonic can dry hair in a little over 2 minutes without attachments and the GHD Helios could do so in just over a minute.

What I really appreciate is that, even at its highest setting, the SpeedStyle doesn’t get very loud, hitting 85dB when on the maximum settings, but sitting comfortably between 76dB-80dB when on the lower settings, as recorded on the Decibel X app I used to measure sound for this review. Importantly, there’s no annoying high-pitched tone that I found with the Shark FlexStyle and that a colleague experienced with the Shark Cordless Detect Pro with Auto-empty System vacuum cleaner that was also reviewed on sister site Tom’s Guide.

My hair isn’t curly, so I didn’t use the diffuser very much but, for my needs, I found the Touchup brush the most useful. It can swivel to different angles while moving around your head, and uses the second heat setting to reduce heat damage. I found both brush attachments – the Touchup and round – capable of untangling knots easily, something my hair is prone to due to previous damage from bleaching, thanks to the combination of long, short and bunched bristles on both brushes.

Shark SpeedStyle hairdryer being held in hand with RapidGloss Finisher attachement — The RapidGloss Finisher attachment has a slight learning curve, but can be used for sleek and glossy styles with less frizz thanks to its metallic plating. (Image credit: Future / Petra Player)

I found that the RapidGloss Finisher – the SpeedStyle’s headline attachment – can take a bit of getting used to. It’s designed to smooth flyaways and leave a glossy finish by pulling locks of hair along a metal roller, but I couldn’t get it to work right the first few times I tried it. It took a few tries before I was able to smoothen my hair and achieve a glossier result than what my usual styling method yields. To get the best results from the RapidGloss Finisher, though, you need to use the highest heat setting along with the strongest airflow, so it can get uncomfortably hot on the scalp.

The styling concentrator also works well, but it’s a staple attachment for most hair dryers and not unique to the Shark Speedstyle.

I’m quite impressed with the cool-shot button – it kicks in real quick with an almost instantaneous temperature change even if the dryer is set at its hottest. I found that I could even use the cool-shot function to deal with the heat retention issue on the attachments, saving me a little bit of time.

• Performance score: 4/5

Shark SpeedStyle hairdryer behind held in hand with diffuser attachment — The Shark SpeedStyle comes with a diffuser attachment to help keep natural hairstyles while drying. (Image credit: Future / Petra Player)

Should I buy the Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider

If you’re not sold on the Shark SpeedStyle, here’s how it compares to three other hair dryers.

How I tested the Shark SpeedStyle RapidGloss Finisher & High-Velocity Dryer

Used all attachments for different styles
Tested on thick, shoulder-length hair
Testing was done during summer months in Sydney, Australia

To put the Shark SpeedStyle to the test, I used it every time I washed my hair over a period of eight weeks. My testing included a week when I used it every single day. To put it through its paces, I swapped between the SpeedStyle’s attachments each time, using a paddle brush and comb to achieve different styles and results.

I even went on holiday with it, leading me to the conclusion that it’s a good travel size despite being slightly weighty. I used it late at night in my hotel room and was relieved to not get any noise complaints.

Tineco Pure One Station: Two-minute review

It’s not difficult to instantly be drawn to the Tineco Pure One Station, given its unique navy blue and black colorway, and its elegant rounded aesthetic. At first glance, it looks like a premium cordless vacuum cleaner that will sit nicely in your living room, if you don’t have a cupboard or cabinet in which to store it.

You’ll love it even more, however, once you start cleaning your floors (and furniture) with it. Admittedly, there are a couple of niggles – specifically, the way the bottom of its power brush feels a little harsh on hardwood floors, and the fact that human and pet hair does sometimes become stuck on the dustbin door after self-emptying – but based on its overall performance and design, I'd say that this is one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners I’ve had the pleasure of using.

Tineco may be a lesser-known brand in the home appliance space, but it’s already proven that its products are just as capable, if not better, than its rivals from big-name brands. Testing it alongside the new LG CordZero All in One Cordless Stick Vacuum with Auto Empty (A931KWM), for example, I found the Tineco Pure One Station to offer better battery life, a bigger dust canister that gives you up to 60 days of dust storage, and a more lightweight design. And while it's admittedly $200 pricier than the LG model, it also comes with extra features that you won’t find on the LG, making it a better value for your money.

If you’re looking to invest in the best vacuum cleaner, the Tineco Pure One Station is certainly a strong contender, especially if your budget will stretch, you're looking for convenience, and are tired of being tethered to an outlet.

Tineco Pure One Station: Price and availability

How much does it cost? $799.99 (about £630, AU$1,200)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US only at the time of writing

If you’re looking purely from the perspective of price point, the Tineco Pure One Station may appear an expensive investment, even for a cordless vacuum. At $799.99 (about £630, AU$1,200), it’s hundreds of dollars more than other self-emptying cordless vacuum cleaners out there. My own Shark WANDVAC System costs less than half that price and the LG CordZero All in One Cordless Stick Vacuum with Auto Empty (A931KWM) I’m currently testing is about $200 less.

From a value standpoint, however, I'd say that the Tineco Pure One Station’s higher price tag is more justified, since it offers some features missing in cheaper self-emptying cordless vacuum cleaners, including the ability to clean the brush, tube, and filter every time it self-empties; the massive 3-liter dust canister, plus its voice prompts. Although, I do also feel that a greater number of attachments should have been included in the box.

Sadly for UK and Australian consumers, the Tineco Pure One Station is only available in the US at the time of writing.

Value: 4 / 5

Tineco Pure One Station: Specs

The Tineco Pure One Station comes with a robot vacuum and base station.

Tineco Pure One Station: Design and features

Elegant, rounded design
Lightweight with great maneuverability
Trigger placement could be better, power brush bottom harsh on hard floors

One of the many things I love about Tineco’s products is their design. While many of its cordless vacuums are reminiscent of Dyson models – a look that many cordless vacuums are adopting these days – Tineco adds elegance to its designs by giving products rounded edges and corners, and that’s very apparent on the Tineco Pure One Station.

From its base station to the actual vacuum unit, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any sharp edges on the Pure One Station, and those smooth lines give this model a more elevated look. Tineco, which has in the past opted for the white-and-black aesthetic, opts for a soft matte navy blue-and-black finish here, setting it apart from the rest of the crowd.

It’s also clear that Tineco didn’t cut corners when it comes to build quality. The Pure One Station is a well-constructed product that feels premium and robust, and is surprisingly lightweight for a vacuum that comes with so many features. I’ve recently moved apartments, and I had no issues picking up the whole unit – the vacuum, the base station, and all the attachments – and carrying it from one apartment to another (in the same building) without assistance.

It does take up space, however. It’s not that the Pure One Station is bulky; more that it's fairly tall and has a docking base with a large footprint. As such, I was a bit limited on where to store it in my new apartment.

There are a lot of design features here that I'd miss if I were to swap it out for another cordless vacuum. For example, both the vacuum and the base station include helpful LED displays to alert you of any errors, show info such as battery level and the amount of dust it’s detecting during cleaning (called the Dust Monitoring Loop, where the lights turn from blue to pink to magenta based on the level of dust), and as well as providing info on some settings. The LED display on the base station also includes a touch self-cleaning button, so you can manually activate self-cleaning mode.

It’s helpful, too, that the vacuum itself isn't only lightweight but also very maneuverable. I had no issues gliding it around my maximalist apartment or any problems reaching under my furniture, thanks to the fact that its power brush attachment can lay flat without lifting. I also appreciate that the brush is on the slim side – it means that I can go further under my low-clearance couch.

Unlike the Tineco Pure One S11, whose trigger has to be continuously depressed to keep the motor running (or you have flick the trigger lock, which is even more inconvenient), the Pure One Station’s trigger only needs to be pressed once to start the motor (and again to stop it), making it less of a hassle. However, there are two design details that had me miffed: first, you have to press the trigger twice to get the vacuum going when you’ve just taken it out of its base; and second, the trigger is located in a spot where you could accidentally press it. To avoid the latter during a cleaning session, you'd have to first move your fingers back behind the safety tab before you start cleaning.

I also wish that Tineco put the Auto/Max mode button closer to the handle. Its current placement means that you’ll need your other hand to press it, which can be annoying when you’re picking stuff up off the floor but also need to switch to Max mode. Another thing I'd change here is the floor brush itself. It’s a good brush, but it's devoid of any pads at the bottom and each of its wheels only has about a quarter-of-an-inch of rubber around them. That means pushing it across your hardwood flooring feels harsher and annoyingly loud – although, to be fair, it hasn’t scratched or damaged my floor in any way.

Don’t get me wrong; this is a beautifully and thoughtfully designed vacuum, and none of the niggles I just mentioned are deal breakers. But they're worth a mention if you’re someone who's easily annoyed by manufacturer's design decisions.

The dust bin on the vacuum itself has a capacity of only 0.3 liters, but this isn't an issue because, as soon as you put the vacuum back on its base, it will automatically empty the dirst it's collected into the base. And the base’s dust canister is massive, big enough to last up to 60 days before it needs emptying. In my entire month of testing, I’ve managed to fill up this second unit only half-way – and that’s with a 6-inch pot full of soil, which I had to clear up after my cat knocked the pot off a shelf.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Tineco Pure One Station: Performance

Great suction that can tackle small and large particles
Self-emptying process also cleans brush, tube and filter
Hair sometimes gets stuck on the dust bin door after self-emptying

Despite how the Tineco Pure One Station feels as you’re gliding across your hardwood floor, you can be assured of its performance. It presents impressive suction power that allows it to pick up particles large and small, from the tiniest bits of litter that my cats drag across my living room, to the heavier bits of dry food that often end up on my kitchen floor when they’re eating.

It also does an amazing job of sucking up all the dust and hair; in a city such as Los Angeles, where dust can gather not even 24 hours after your last vacuum, the Pure One Station is a helpful and efficient tool, especially since it usually takes me just one run to get a section clean. For that reason, I’ve come to rely on this (and its additional attachments) to “dust” my appliances and furniture (the mini power brush is handy for cleaning my couch and my bed).

As per usual, Tineco’s iLoop Smart Dust Sensor does a fantastic job of sensing and automatically adjusting suction power to Max mode when there’s more dirt and dust to be sucked.

The Pure One Station has a FurFree version that comes with a FurFree Kit that you can use to brush your pet to minimize the spread of pet hair and dander around your home. Unfortunately, mine isn’t that – I would have loved to test it on my shed-happy kitties, although I'm not sure how they’d react to me “vacuuming” their bodies. They already run for the hills the moment I take the vacuum off its base.

The vacuum is quiet in operation, registering an average of 67dB on Auto mode and around 70dB on Max mode on the decibel meter I was using. However, it isn't just the motor and suction that should be taken into account; unfortunately, the floor power brush tool, due to its lack of appropriate padding on the bottom, is also annoyingly loud as it rubs against hard flooring.

Thanks to its great maneuverability, the Pure One Station has proven to be adept at accessing crevices, rounding tight corners and ducking under furniture. However, it isn't the best vacuum cleaners I’ve encountered for sucking up those hard-to-reach small particles in those tight corners. For such areas, I've had to turn the vacuum so that the head is directly facing the dirt, which usually – although not always – does the trick.

The Tineco Pure One Station's base station is just as impressive; but it isn't perfect. Sometimes, after a self-cleaning process, I've found a clump of hair and dust hanging off the door of the dust bin. This doesn’t happen often – in fact, during my month-long test, where I used the vacuum almost every day, it happened three times. Nevertheless, it’s worth a mention.

However, this doesn’t take away from the fact that the Pure One Station has a pretty impressive self-cleaning process. I shed hair as much as my cats do, and I deal with a lot of dust in LA, but even after having used the vacuum for a month, the power brush is still blissfully free of tangled hair, and the filter is still devoid of dust.

This is because the base station doesn’t just empty the vacuum’s dust bin. During its self-emptying process, it also thoroughly cleans the filter, the power brush, and the tube, doing the maintenance work for you. And it’s extremely effective – not to mention, a major selling point for this product. If you hate the idea of having to clean your vacuum cleaner, honestly, this is the one for you.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Tineco Pure One Station: Battery life

Up to 60 minutes of battery life
Battery is not swappable

Sadly, unlike the Tineco Pure One S11, the Tineco Pure One Station doesn’t come with a swappable battery. While this defintely would have been welcome, it isn't so much of an issue because the Pure One station does offer a longer battery life than most cordless vacuums on the market. Running on Auto mode, it can last up to 60 minutes of use on a full charge – more than enough time to vacuum my floors, dust my appliances, and clean my bed and my couch.

Compare that to the LG CordZero All in One Cordless Stick Vacuum, which stops of short of having enough battery life for me to clean my bedroom, which I typically do last. I only wish that the Pure One Station charged faster: it takes about four to five hours to get to full charge.

Battery: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Tineco Pure One Station?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Tineco Pure One Station: Also consider

If the Tineco Pure One Station isn't for you, why not consider these other cordless vacuums?

How I tested Tineco Pure One Station

I tested it for a month
I used it to clean floors as well as appliances and furniture
I tested its features and tools plus checked its noise levels with the Decibel X app

I put it through Tineco Pure One Station through its paces on different types of hard flooring, as well as rugs, furniture and appliances, to see how it would measure up to the competition. I made notes of its cleaning and self-emptying performance, as well as its longevity, ease of use, and more.

I’ve been testing and reviewing vacuum cleaners, home appliances, and smart home devices for different digital publications for years. Currently, I’ve taken on the role of Interim Homes Editor for TechRadar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2024

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