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Dreo ChefMaker air fryer review: the best air fryer, but also more than an air fryer
11:00 am | December 20, 2023

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

Dreo ChefMaker: One-minute review

Outside of soups, casseroles, stews, and fondues, there’s nothing you can’t cook in the Dreo ChefMaker. And I’m not just talking about air-frying a steak here; I’m talking about a properly and perfectly cooked steak that’s worth serving in a steakhouse.

That’s because while the ChefMaker is one of the best air fryers on the market, it’s so much more than that. Much more. It has two other cooking modes, namely the Chef mode and the Probe mode, both of which deliver restaurant-worthy results. And Chef mode is supported by an app that comes with a plethora of clever Chef-curated recipes that are so delicious you'll feel like you’ve got Thomas Keller whipping up dinners in your own kitchen.

This is perhaps my favorite kitchen appliance by far. Since using the ChefMaker I've enjoyed one of the best and cooked-to-perfection medium-rare steaks I’ve ever had, home-cooked or otherwise. That’s saying something because (1) I’ve only cooked steak three times in my life, and (2) I didn’t have to do anything here but prep the steak, insert the included probe and put it in the basket, and press a couple of buttons. The ChefMaker's air fryer function delivers super crispy yet super-moist results – the best results I’ve gotten from any air fryer.

Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

It’s also a near-perfect product. It’s sleek and beautiful; it’s well-built and doesn’t take up too much space; and its touch controls are so responsive that they feel luxe. It’s also effortless to use, thanks in large part to its very useful app.

I say near-perfect because there is the smaller matter of the price, which isn't small. All those features do come at a premium – not so high that the ChefMaker would be a luxury purchase, but definitely more than what a lot of people would expect to pay for an air fryer. However, I would say that it’s worth every penny and then some. If you’re thinking of buying an air fryer, you won’t regret getting this one. 

Dreo Chefmaker: price and availability

  • How much does it cost? $359 / £279 (about AU$540)
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US and the UK

The Dreo ChefMaker is much more expensive than regular air fryers of the same size and capacity, and it’s also pricier than most double-basket models. In fact, at $359 / £279 (about AU$540), it’ll cost you as much as some large-capacity air fryer ovens. Now you may think that’s too much for a combination cooker with a 6-quart / 5.7-liter basket capacity, but honestly, given its versatility and what it can do, I’m mildly surprised that it doesn’t cost more. 

Unfortunately for Australian customers, however, it doesn’t look like it’s available there at the time of writing. It is, however, readily available in the US and the UK.

  •  Value: 4 / 5 

Dreo ChefMaker: Specifications

Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Dreo ChefMaker: Design

  • Easy to set up and use
  • Beautiful and fairly compact design
  • Touch controls are a pleasure to use

Setting up the Dreo ChefMaker is just as easy as setting up a regular air fryer. You simply place the cooking tray at the bottom of the basket or the grilling rack at the top, slot in the basket, plug it in, and turn it out. The one thing to consider here is that the cord isn’t very long, so you will have to find a spot in your kitchen that’s close enough to the outlet, or have an extension cord handy.

Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

I’ve always found the design of most air fryers unappealing, even the ones from Ninja, but I adore the design of the ChefMaker. Trapezoidal in shape with a gentle tapering in the front, it’s got elegant rounded edges, a beautiful black-on-dark silver finish, and a long oval handle with a hollow middle.

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Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

At the top is a shallow square water tank for water, which the ChefMaker uses for cooking – it utilizes its water spray system for better results, and to ensure that the food doesn’t dry up – with a square lid that’s easy to pop off and replace. And at the front, just above the basket, is where you’ll find the control panel, which has touch buttons and a big 4.3-inch display with a fairly extensive menu, so you can easily navigate through and choose your cooking mode or function, adjust temperature, change cooking time, and more.

Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The touch buttons are incredibly responsive and work perfectly with just a light tap, and the display is bright enough so that everything is visible, even when it’s in a brightly-lit area. Thank goodness for its backlighting.

The ChefMaker is taller than many air fryers of the same capacity, and slightly heavier as well. But it really doesn’t take up too much space, and is light enough to take with you if you want to use it offsite. 

Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Just like regular air fryers, it has its hot air vent in the back. One thing I’ve noticed about this vent is that it blows a hot more hot air than other air fryers I’ve tested – so much so that it’s triggered my smoke and carbon monoxide detector that’s above the hallway next to my kitchen a few times. So be sure you’re leaving enough space for it to 'breathe.'

As far as cleaning, the trays and the basket are all dish-washer safe – though they are fairly-easy to hand wash, especially the basket since it is non-stick. The inside of the appliance can be cleaned the usual way.

  • Design: 5 / 5

Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Dreo ChefMaker: Performance

  • Air fryer produces crisp and moist results
  • Chef mode makes the best dishes
  • Vent produces a lot of hot air

If I could only keep one tabletop cooking appliance in my kitchen, I would probably go with the Dreo ChefMaker. It’s not ideal for making stews, soups and other dishes drenched in sauce or gravy – if you make a lot of those, you should probably go with one of the best multicookers – but while I do enjoy a good stew, those are easy to make using my good old stove, whereas the ChefMaker actually allows me to not just quickly whip up meals when I’m pressed for time, but also make dishes that I don’t usually make, like a good steak or a tender brisket.

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Foods made in the Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Foods made in the Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

It’s not just versatility and effortless cooking that the ChefMaker offers. All the dishes I’ve made in it, from the air fryer recipes I found online to the ones on the Dreo app, are cooked to perfection. I’m particularly impressed that its air fryer function delivers better results than other regular air fryers I’ve tested, producing gorgeously and evenly cooked results that are super crispy on the outside and mind-bogglingly moist on the inside.

Foods made in the Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Foods made in the Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

My favorite chicken wings recipe, Vietnamese chicken wings, came out even better when I made them with the ChefMaker, as did my favorite pork belly recipe. And I didn’t even need to fill up the water tank, or adjust the temperature or cooking time from the recipes, to get those results. 

Foods made in the Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The water tank does play a massive role when using the cooker’s Chef and Probe modes, however. The ChefMaker uses water atomization via its water spray system, and super convection heating, with the occasional assistance of the included dual-sensing probe, to cook dishes, and the combination works wonderfully. 

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Foods made in the Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Foods made in the Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Foods made in the Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

I tried several of the Chef mode recipes on the Dreo app, including the Perfect Steak and the Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedge recipes, and they were not only easy to make but also came out incredible, with the steak nicely seared but beautifully pink in the middle and very tender, and the potatoes coming out with a nice crisp. 

The best part about making the steak was it took the guesswork and a chunk of the work out of the whole thing – just what a steak-cooking novice like me needs. I’ve only really made steak three times in my life, so while two out of those three came out great, I’m not exactly a steak master. With the help of the ChefMaker, however, my fourth steak came out steakhouse-worthy. 

Foods made in the Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Fair warning, though: the Dreo ChefMaker seems to produce a lot more heat than regular air fryers, even when it’s on air fryer mode. Even when there’s a lot of space behind its rear vent, it still manages to set off my smoke and carbon monoxide detector which is a few feet away in the hallway next to my kitchen. This never happened with the similar-capacity air fryers I’ve tested. I did, however, find that turning on my range hood helps minimize that issue.

This also was not a deal-breaker for me, especially since my kitchen isn't the biggest, and the bigger air fryer ovens I've tested have done the same thing.

  • Performance:  / 5

Should I buy the Dreo ChefMaker?

Dreo ChefMaker during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Dreo ChefMaker: Also consider

How I tested the Dreo ChefMaker

  • I tested the Dreo ChefMaker for a couple of months
  • I used it as my main air fryer almost every day, cooking different recipes
  • I also tested its other cooking modes, especially Chef mode

I utilized the Dreo ChefMaker as my main air fryer and cooker almost every day for about two months, making sure to use different recipes I found on the Dreo app and from social media as well as my favorite recipes. I also made sure to test all three cooking modes available, documenting my process and the results.

As a regular air fryer user, TechRadar's Interim Homes Editor and someone who loves to cook, I've used and tested more than my share of cooking appliances, from air fryers to multicookers and the occasional baking implement.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2023

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ espresso machine review: take your espresso making craft to the next level
8:36 pm | December 18, 2023

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

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: One-minute review

Confession: ever since testing the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+’s predecessor, the Diletta Bello, earlier this year, it’s been a struggle having to go back to my old French press and my cheap milk frother. 

It's not that a French press doesn't have its advantages – it lets you brew rich, full-bodied coffee and has the lowest carbon footprint of all coffee makers – but as one of the best espresso machines on the market, the Bello has truly made a convert out of me, compelling me to appreciate the beauty of an even slower coffee morning routine.

There’s a touch of romanticism that comes with the craft of espresso- and latte-making, from the tamping of the grounds in the portafilter to the turn of the lever to produce that robust double shot of espresso to the surprisingly tricky way you have to steam your milk so that it produces the perfect foam. All of that takes time, patience, and an unhurried pace, and starting my day with that felt like an addictingly cozy break from my usual mad dash of life.

Naturally, when, after months of pining for the Bello, Seattle Coffee Gear asked me to test the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+, I had to jump at the chance. After all, it’s basically the Bello on steroids – at least in terms of features. It comes with a PID controller that moonlights as a shot timer, and programmable pre-infusion, both of which are supposed to, as Seattle Coffee Gear claims, “give home baristas the tools they need for improved shot quality.” It also comes with an eco mode for faster heat-up times and an even bigger-capacity drip tray.

Of course, more features typically mean a higher price tag, and that’s also the case here, contributing to the Bello+'s lofty price point. This makes it harder to recommend to a lot of people, even the most passionate coffee enthusiasts. That’s especially because I don’t find the extra features particularly necessary for most people – not when the slightly more affordable Bello is already near-perfect without them.

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: Price

  • List price: $1,899 (about £1,500, AU$2,800)
  • Unavailable outside the US

To be more specific, the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ is $200 more than the Bello. Taking this manual espresso machine home means shelling out $1,899 (about £1,500, AU$2,800) of your hard-earned money, and while those with deep pockets might not bat an eye at that, most people will balk at having to spend that much just for a daily cup of coffee, no matter how smooth it is.

One thing to learn here though, if you’re an espresso machine novice, is that most top-quality espresso machines are going to be expensive. A handful of manual espresso machines from the likes of Breville and Delonghi are more than $1,000 / £1,000, and you’ll find a handful from other brands that are even pricier than the Bello+.

That doesn’t change the fact that the Bello+ is a luxury purchase, even for those who take their caffeine fix very seriously. And I’m just not completely convinced that it’s worth paying that extra $200 for all those additional features – at least not for most people who would want to jump on the manual espresso machine bandwagon.

  • Value: 3.5 / 5

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: Specs

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: Design

  • Additional features missing from the Bello
  • Gorgeous, retro design and solid stainless steel build
  • Manual controls when brewing and steaming

Those extra features on the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ could be worth it for a handful of espresso enthusiasts, however. The PID controller does come in handy as it lets you do things like change your desired steam boiler temperature – note that the ideal brewing temp for espresso is around 194-205 degrees F (90-96 degrees C) – and adjust the pre-infusion time to up to 10 seconds (pre-infusion, to the uninitiated, is the process of soaking the tamped grounds in the portafilter before brewing to evenly extract coffee from the puck.) 

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

I’ll discuss those two features in detail later, but for now, just know that the PID controller is definitely useful if you really want to hone in on your daily dose/s of caffeine. It also lets you set things like turn on/off Standby Mode, set the Eco Mode Timer, change the Probe Sensor Height, and more. The PID display also moonlights as a shot timer, allowing you to monitor your brewing progress.

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Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

These are not available on the Diletta Bello, allowing it a more analog approach to espresso making, but the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ still offers the same manual controls for extraction, milk steaming, and hot water dispensing. There are now buttons for these. Both the steam wand and the hot water wand, located on either side of the group or brew head, work by turning their respective knobs. And for the group head start (and stop) brewing espresso, you have to lift (and lower) the brew lever yourself – not to mention monitor its progress.

Since I have experience with manual espresso machines, I prefer to simply look at the liquid pouring out and lower the lever when it “blonds” (turns light brown). However, you can use the Shot Timer on the PID display as well – although you still have to know how many seconds is ideal for your preferred brew, which takes some experimentation.

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The Bello+ comes in three colorways, including black and white, with its case, frame, and boiler made of stainless steel. It’s just as robust and as beautiful as the Bello, with the same elegant retro look that makes it a classy addition to any kitchen, no matter your aesthetic. It also has a pressure gauge, which helps guide you when the machine is ready to brew, as well as a cup warmer on top next to the water tank opening so you can warm your cup up.

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Unlike the Bello, however, the Bello+ comes with a larger drip tray so you don’t have to empty and clean it as often. During testing, I’ve only had to do so every 6-7 days, which means I don’t have to spend time I don’t have on weekdays to clean it out.

If you’re new to the world of manual espresso machines, the Bello+ can be intimidating. However, while it may take a bit of practice to get that perfect brew, it really won’t take you long to get comfortable with the controls. Plus, Diletta provides a quick start guide with the machine, which is all you need. Honestly, it’s all very simple, and pretty soon, it’ll start being fun to operate. 

  • Design: 4.5 / 5

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: Performance

  • Slow to reach thermal stability
  • Eco mode isn’t all the faster for heating up
  • Smooth results with pronounced crema, produces rich froth

If you’re not used to manual espresso machines and used to rushing through your morning coffee brewing, the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ may be a bit of an adjustment for you. After you turn on the machine, you have to wait at least 13 minutes and 30 seconds for it to reach your set temperature and the boiler pressure gauge reads between 1 and 1.5 bars. That’s not counting the actual extraction process – not to mention the milk steaming if you want a latte or a cappuccino.

To put that in perspective, regular drip coffee machines take an average of about 5-10 minutes to finish brewing while it takes me about 6 minutes to brew my coffee in my French press. If your mornings are almost always a rush, I recommend turning this machine on first thing before showering, making your breakfast, or feeding your pets.

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

There’s a minor disadvantage, here, unfortunately. I’m not sure if it’s just my review unit – since Seattle Coffee Gear only has a handful of units available for media reviewers, my unit is not new out of the box, and it’s possible that I got a slightly imperfect unit – but I have found that there were a handful of times, even when my machine had reached the set temperature and the gauge needle was between 1 and 1.5 bars, when water still wasn’t hot enough for proper infusion. I often found that I had to give it a bit more time to warm up, and when I didn’t, my resulting espresso was not only relatively cool in temperature but also not as smooth or rich as it should be. It didn’t happen every single time, but it happened often enough. 

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The great news is that when the temperature is right, it produces rich and incredibly smooth espresso with a nice crema on top. Even non-coffee aficionados will notice the difference between coffee made from this and coffee made in a French press or with a drip coffee machine.

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Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The steam wand also worked as expected, and it’s effective enough to produce thick foam even from oat milk, which is notoriously hard to froth. As is the case with the hot water wand, which is useful for making tea and such.

Eco mode is a fantastic feature as it lowers the machine’s power consumption when it’s still turned on but not in use but offers faster heat up times when you need another shot of espresso. While this is useful for energy-saving purposes, it still takes time to heat up – just a few minutes faster than when you’re turning the machine on for the first time. If you need a caffeine fix every couple of hours or so, it may be wise to turn this feature off.

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The 3L water tank will last you quite a while – it usually takes me around a week to refill it, and that includes me running the group head to rinse grounds that are stuck to it. Although, if you do drink a lot more than one or two double shots of espresso a day, you naturally will go through the reserve faster.

Overall, the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ is an impressive espresso machine that delivers delicious espresso shots or coffee drinks. And it's a fantastic appliance to have if you want a slower and more relaxing morning routine.

  • Performance: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+?

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ during testing

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+: Also consider

If the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ is not for you, here a couple of options to consider.

How I tested the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+

  • Tested daily for a month
  • Used both bottomless and double portafilters
  • Experimented with its basic and premium features

Testing the Seattle Coffee Gear Diletta Bello+ for a little over a month, I used the machine every day to make one or two coffee drinks a day. Lattes are my favorite coffee drinks, so I made a lot of those, with oat milk as my choice of cream.

I made espresso shots using both the bottomless and the double sprout portafilter Seattle Coffee Gear provided, and utilized the steam want often. I also made sure to test the machine's other features to see how useful they are to the espresso extraction process.

As an avid coffee drinker (and a bit of a coffee snob), I've owned, tested, and reviewed my share of coffee machines, from the drip types to the bean-to-cup models. I'm also the Interim Homes Editor here at TechRadar.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed February 2023
Samsung Bespoke Jet AI review: dynamic suction comes to an already-excellent vacuum
6:19 am | December 13, 2023

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

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI: Two-minute review

If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it, and that’s exactly what Samsung has done with its Bespoke Jet AI cordless vacuum cleaner. It’s a slightly improved version of Samsung’s previous Bespoke Jet cordless vacuum cleaner model, and I say “slightly improved” because everything I praised about the previous model is here, with just one main addition – AI smarts (aka some seriously good sensors) to help optimize suction power for each inch of floor space. Other than that, you can’t tell the two generations apart.

And that’s not a bad thing because the design remains modern and clean, plus Samsung’s Integrated Clean Station is still excellent at automatically emptying the cordless vacuum’s bin canister while also charging it up. You still get a plethora of additional tools to make vacuuming less of a chore, including a mop attachment, and they can all be set up on the Accessory Cradle that will need some extra space to store.

This time round, though, there’s no second charging dock for a spare battery on the Cradle, so you don’t need the spare power point. Instead, Samsung has used a bigger battery on its 280AW Bespoke Jet AI that promises a runtime of up to 100 minutes.

The two motorized cleaning heads for carpets and hard floors now come with LED lights, which don’t do as good a job of highlighting dust as Dyson’s Fluffy Optic does, but they’re still handy when you’re trying to clean under furniture or in dark spaces.

In my Samsung Bespoke Jet review, I said that it was “capable of putting [a Dyson] to shame in terms of functionality and power” and the Bespoke Jet AI carries on that tradition but with dynamic suction now available that wasn’t there before. That is what Samsung is pushing as the “AI” part of the product. While the sensors do an excellent job of managing suction power, there are several mid-tier vacuum cleaners that also offer the same thing at a lower price.

If you’re already part of Samsung’s SmartThings ecosystem, the vacuum can be paired with the app so you can set up auto-emptying durations, view cleaning records and run diagnostics. But you really don’t need this either.

This is not to say that the Bespoke Jet AI isn’t good, far from it – it’s a powerful vacuum with more suction power than a Dyson, but you are paying extra for the dynamic suction and I still think the older Bespoke Jet does remarkably well without that. This makes it a little hard to justify the higher price tag over the predecessor, which still retains its spot in our best cordless vacuum cleaner round-up.

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI in handheld mode used to clean a shelf

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI review: price, models and availability

  • Announced June 2023, available since July 2023
  • Some markets get two models
  • Prices start at $1,099 / £999 / AU$1,499

The Samsung Bespoke Jet AI has been available to purchase since July 2023, and most markets have just one model with a maximum suction power of 280AW and a battery life of up to 100 minutes. And this costs $1,099 / £999 / AU$1,599. This is the model that was sent to me for review.

Australia, however, gets two models – the 280AW one with all the bells and whistles, plus a slightly cheaper 250AW suction model with a maximum runtime of 60 minutes that costs AU$1,499.

The Bespoke Jet AI can be purchased directly from Samsung or from authorized retailers, but keep an eye out for discounts during major sales, as this cordless vacuum cleaner is definitely worth considering when it’s available for a cheaper price.

However, in comparison to the older Samsung Bespoke Jet cordless vacuum, this is a minor upgrade – dynamic suction is new here – and based on that I find it a little hard to justify the higher cost.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI docked in its Clean Station with the Accessory Cradle on the floor next to it

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI: specs

The below specifications are for the Australian model of the 280AW Samsung Bespoke Jet AI cordless vacuum cleaner.

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI review: Design

  • No obvious change in design from the older Bespoke Jet
  • Washable bin canister and filter
  • Accessory Cradle no longer has a second battery charging port

In terms of overall design, the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI is practically identical to the previous model, with only minor changes here and there that make a lot of sense. Firstly, the AI model now has a retractable wand that’s great if you’re a tall person.

The second tweak is to the Accessory Cradle that now has no second charging dock for the spare battery that ships with the older Bespoke Jet. That’s because the 280W AI model that’s available globally gets a bigger battery that lasts up to 100 minutes, which is quite generous compared to the 60 minutes maximum runtime you get from competing Dyson models.

Despite the bigger battery, the Bespoke Jet AI is lighter than the Dyson V15 Detect or the Dyson Gen5detect, weighing in at just 2.9kg (6.4 lbs) compared to 3.1kg (6.9 lbs) and 3.9kg (8.6 lbs) respectively for the two Dysons. In comparison, the older Bespoke Jet weighs in at 2.7kg (6 lbs).

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Samsung branding on the Bespoke Jet AI filter casing

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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Samsung Bespoke Jet AI's Accessory Cradle with tools

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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The display on the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI cordless vacuum cleaner

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

You’d think that would make the Bespoke Jet AI a lot easier to maneuver but the Active Dual Brush doesn’t swivel very well when trying to change angles – a problem I had with the original model’s Jet Dual Brush as well and thought it was an isolated issue – clearly not. However, the Slim LED Brush and the Spraying Spinner Sweeper are easier to handle, although the speed at which the mop plates rotate can make the latter a little difficult to handle.

Both the Actual Dual Brush and the Slim LED can light up a floor or carpet as you clean and, while the white light isn’t good at highlighting dust as Dyson’s Fluffy Optic’s green light is, it’s handy when you’re trying to clean in dark corners or under furniture.

The bin canister on the handstick remains at 0.5L capacity compared to 0.77L in the Dyson V15 and Gen5detect models, but then you can quickly clean it out by just placing it on the Clean Station, which triggers an automatic empty. 

I am still a massive fan of Samsung’s Clean Station, which continues to take a 2L dust bag that’s easy to replace. Strangely, if you don’t have a new dust bag to put in immediately, the panel enclosing the space won’t close – go figure.

While most of the physical aspects remain unchanged, I found that the White Greige Bespoke Jet AI I was sent for this review had a more plasticky feel compared to the older Bespoke Jet I tested in 2022. Overall construction feels lackluster for a vacuum cleaner with a premium price tag.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI's Dual Active Brush on a dirty tile floor

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI review: Performance

  • More suction than a Dyson – up to 280 air watts
  • A good mop
  • Excellent battery life

When it comes to vacuuming performance, I can’t fault the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI. With a maximum of 280 air watts of suction power, this cordless vacuum cleaner outdoes the latest from Dyson by some margin, and that also means it’s a better sucker (apologies for the pun) than its predecessor too. Whether it’s hard floors or the dirtiest of high-pile carpets, the Bespoke Jet AI does a very impressive job of cleaning up a lot of dust, dirt, hair, fur and fiber. 

I put grains and cereals in its path, plus talcum powder too. It had a little trouble with larger pieces of dry food and debris only because there’s not enough clearance between the brush casing and the roller in both the LED-lit attachments, but otherwise it does a remarkable job – just like its predecessor. The only difference here is I never once had to boost suction myself.

The new dynamic suction here is fantastic. Initially I found it very annoying because the suction, and thus the noise levels, would change every few seconds, indicating that the handstick was optimizing performance for potentially every inch of floor space. That also made me realize that it was working hard to make sure I got the best clean possible.

So while I still think the "AI" part is market-speak, the sensors and algorithms that Samsung has used to automatically adjust suction and brush RPM are definitely top class.

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Hand holding the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI cordless vacuum as it begins its initial setup

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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Inside the Integrated Clean Station of the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

When it comes to mopping, the Bespoke Jet AI is good, but I think the wet roller attachment for the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine does a better job of cleaning up both wet and dry spills. And it does so a lot quicker than its Samsung counterpart.

I do like the fact that the Spray Spinning Sweeper allows me to spray some water over caked-in stains before mopping them, but it takes a bit of back and forth over the stain for it to disappear. However, given there’s no way for dirty mop water to spill in the Bespoke Jet AI (as there is with the Submarine), this could be the better option for people who just need a basic mop of hard floors.

I wonder if Samsung’s AI smarts can be harnessed better to improve mopping – I think that would make the price of the Bespoke Jet AI well worth every penny even at full price.

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An empty dust bag inside the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI's Integrated Clean Station

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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The bin canister of the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI cordless vacuum cleaner

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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The fine-dust filter inside the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Another aspect of a cordless vacuum cleaner’s performance is battery life and I’m glad to say that this lasts a while. Samsung promises a runtime of up to 100 minutes, which is really quite generous. I never once found the battery level dip below 50% after a full vacuum+mop session in my test space, which, to be honest, wasn’t too large – a 40sqm (430 sq ft) one-bedroom apartment. But even after two vacuum runs and a mop, I never got close to running out of battery.

And I have to talk about Samsung’s Integrated Clean Station here as well. Sure, it’s the charging dock, but it’s also got very powerful suction that pulls out every bit of dirt, dust and hair from within the handstick’s bin canister.

One of my pet peeves with Dyson’s bins are the tangled hairs around the inner metal grille filter and I have often had to stick my fingers in to get them out. That is not an issue here at all – no matter how much hair or fur you’ve cleaned up, the Clean Station’s suction removes it all. If there’s a lot and they don't all come out in go, you just press the button on the Clean Station for the auto-empty again and, voila! At most, there will be a thin layer of fine dust around the inner plastic of the bin, which can be taken apart completely and washed – filter included.

Long story short, I’m quite impressed with the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI’s performance.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI display and control buttons

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Should I buy the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Also consider

If you’d like alternatives to the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI, take a look at the below alternatives, or peruse our round-up of the best cordless vacuum cleaners for more options.

How I tested the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI

  • Used a couple of times a week for four weeks
  • Scattered dry materials to test various suction modes
  • Used the mopping head after each vacuum run

The Samsung Bespoke Jet AI's Dual Active Brush lighting up a small bit of a rug

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I was sent the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI for testing over a four-week period and, during that, I used it a couple of times a week in my own inner-city apartment. It has a mix of carpet and hard floors, so I was able to test out all the motorized cleaning tools. 

During my testing, I scattered grains like rice and cereal in the vacuum's path, plus tested its prowess by scattering fine talcum powder on a medium-pile carpet. I also dropped sauces and condiments on the kitchen floor, allowing them to dry to test the mopping capabilities.

During my time with the Bespoke Jet AI, the 2L dust bag didn’t fill up fully, but I did replace it to see how easy it is to do.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed December 2023]

Ultenic T10 Elite robot vacuum and mop review: is it powerful enough for both hard flooring and fitted carpet?
5:00 pm | December 6, 2023

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

Ultenic T10 Elite: Two-minute review

The reasonably priced Ultenic T10 Elite Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop is one to consider if you’re looking to buy one of the best robot vacuums. Launched in July 2023, the Ultenic T10 Elite is a fairly new kid on the robot vacuum block. It comes with three suction settings to vacuum hard floor and carpets, and maps out multiple layouts. You can control it using your voice, from the smart app,  or with its own remote control. While its mop feature won’t give you the full benefits of hand mopping can, it does come in useful for spills and cleaning hard floors.

As well as being able to vacuum hands free, you can make use of the built-in mop, which I found worked well for spot cleaning on hard flooring. I do, however, think it would struggle on larger jobs due to the size of the water tank and water temperature, so if mopping your floor is your priority, you may want to buy a dedicated mop.   

The Ultenic T10 Elite has LiDAR smart laser navigation, which allows it to map out multiple rooms in the home effectively and recognise partition walls and furniture. The maps can be saved in the Ultenic smart app on your smartphone and multiple maps can be created for different levels in the home – I created one for upstairs and one for downstairs, for example, and was amazed at how effectively the robot mapped out rooms. 

Ultenic T10 Elite during testing

(Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I could connect to the app over WiFi without any glitches too. It took a while for me to get to know how the app works, but I found the controls self-explanatory. Using the app, I could select areas to spot clean, highlight partition walls and obstacles and save multiple maps. 

I found the addition of a remote control useful too – especially when I wanted to turn my phone off or was low on phone battery life. The remote made it easy to steer the vacuum manually when I needed to, which came in useful when I thought it was taking a wrong turn. 

As well as being able to control the robot vacuum remotely, voice control is possible as the device is compatible with the likes of Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant, although this is something I didn’t try on this occasion.

The robot has a battery life of up to 160 minutes on a full charge. This did vary for me depending on which suction power I chose and how many obstacles the vacuum had to contend with. It had the capability to vacuum the entire ground floor before taking itself back to the dock to charge and empty, which worked well for me.

Pick-up performance was good too for both hard flooring, fitted carpet and rugs, and noise levels when vacuuming weren’t too offensive. It picked up fine dust and larger pieces of debris effectively although it did need a little intervention now and then. This was mainly when the side brush was trapped with too much hair or got tangled with carpet tassels, for example, or when the main bar brush got stuck on some Lego that I forgot to clear away, for example. This was nothing that couldn’t be easily fixed using the cleaning tool, however, which comes in the box. 

The robot did a good job of making its way back to the dock to automatically recharge and empty itself into its bin – albeit very loudly – so you may want to put it on night mode - which stops it self-emptying - if you’re scheduling it to come on at night. 

In short, I think its price compared to other robot vacuums with a mop makes it very attractive for anyone wanting to try one of the latest robot vacuum designs. Just don’t expect too much from its mop function.

Ultenic T10 Elite: Price and availability

  • List price:  $399.99 / £329.99 / AU £633.84  
  • When is it available: Available now
  • Where is it available: Available in the US, UK and Australia

Compared to some well-known competitor robot vacuums that feature a mop, the Ultenic T10 Elite Robot vacuum cleaner with mop is reasonably-priced. You can pick it up for around $399.99 / £329.99 / AU £633.84 on Amazon. It comes with two mopping pads, a remote control, a spare dust bag and side brush, and a cleaning tool.  

  • Value score: 4.5 / 5

Ultenic T10 Elite: Specifications

Ultenic T10 Elite during testing

(Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

Ultenic T10 Elite: Design

  • Mop pad, brush bar lid and side brush are easy to clip on and off
  • Slim body
  • Separate remote control included in the box

At 12.78 lbs (5.8 kg), and with a slim 3.7 in (95 cm) height body, this robot vacuum is not only easy to lift up, but also capable of getting under furniture and in hard-to-reach areas that bulkier robots may find difficult. Built into the design is LiDAR navigation, which means that the robot can scan rooms and easily get a good picture of where it needs to clean. This instantly gives it a heads up when manoeuvring around a room and trying not to bump into furniture and obstacles – such as toys and shoes - left laying around.

The robot comes compactly packaged, and I found it easy to take out of the box and set up against the wall. I found its charging dock conveniently small and unobtrusive as well. It surprised me to see that its dustbin can collect up to 3 litres and only needs to be changed every 45 days too. I was able to open the lid of the charging dock easily and insert a vacuum bag when setting it up. And when the robot vacuum was stuck anywhere in one of my rooms, its light weight body meant that I didn’t endure any back strain picking it up to untangle the brushes or return it to the dock. 

Ultenic T10 Elite during testing

(Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

It does, in fact, come with two brushes as part of the design, which I found were effective at cleaning hard floors, fitted carpets, and Persian carpet. It comes with an extra side brush and a cleaning tool in the box that can cut out any hair or dirt trapped in the brushes – or as I found out – any carpet tassels that I should have moved out of the way. 

The main brush is neatly hidden on the underside of the vacuum and can be easily accessed by clipping open the main brush bar cover. There’s an extra filter in the box and two mop pads too, and I found the mop pad easy to slip on the underside of the robot when I needed to use it in mop mode. The dustbin that clips out of the underside of the robot does, in fact, double up as a water tank. And while it's rather small, I found that it did hold enough to clean my living room and still had some water left inside for other rooms.    

The robot comes with cliff sensors to prevent it from falling down the stairs, and it seemed to stop on its tracks at the top of the stairs on my landing.  The manual states that reflective and dark-colored floors may affect the sensors’ effectiveness, however, which is something to consider. 

  • Design score: 4 / 5 

Ultenic T10 Elite during testing

(Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

Ultenic T10 Elite: Performance

  • 3 powerful suction settings
  • LiDAR technology makes for Impressive room mapping
  • Mop can leave a wet trail in its path that doesn’t necessarily clean

I was impressed at how quickly the LiDAR navigation worked to map out the ground floor in my home. Having this is a game changer as it makes it easier for the robot to vacuum around obstacles and avoid long floor-hanging curtains, for example. The app can save multiple maps for different levels and shows you exactly where the robot is in real time, which I found useful. You can also use the app to schedule cleaning. 

Unfortunately, the first few times I tried the vacuum, my young kids (both under 10) got in the way, stopping the robot in its tracks. It did do a good job at working around them however, but it wasn’t ideal, which is something to think about if you have kids. And while the vacuum can tackle pet hair, it’s not a vacuum that is going to avoid pet mess or wet spills, which can be an issue if you have a cat or dog. 

Ultenic T10 Elite during testing

(Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

On the days that my kids were out of the house and nothing could disturb the robot, it performed well. As with any robot vacuum, you need to make sure the floors are clear of toys, shoes, and other objects. On one occasion, I forgot to clean up the Lego and a few smaller pieces got stuck in the main brush bar. However, the robot does tell you when it needs help, both with voice alerts and via the app. 

Ultenic T10 Elite during testing

(Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

While the robot can climb over objects less than 0.67 in (17 mm) in height, it got stuck on my Persian rug tassels on a number of occasions. Ultenic does advise that you clear them out of the way, however, so it was my own fault. It’s necessary to avoid fireplaces too for obvious reasons, but luckily I have a raised hearth around my fireplace that meant the robot had to stop at the edge. 

There are three suction powers to choose from in the app and on the remote control, with the robot’s path line visible in the app. It seemed to vacuum all the edges of the room and furniture first and then go back for the middle. While this took a while, it was effective for properly cleaning rooms. While a robot vacuum is never going to give you the same effect as getting right up to the skirting by hand, I think its side brush did a good job at cleaning the edges and corners of my rooms. I could also use the app to ‘spot’ clean and direct the robot to the area that needed to be cleaned, which I found useful – although it did take me a while to identify the specific area I wanted to clean.

Ultenic T10 Elite during testing

(Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

To mimic large debris, I sprinkled oats on the floor, and the robot managed to pick up the majority of these without fail – both on carpet upstairs and hard floor downstairs. To mimic finer dust, I sprinkled finely ground digestive biscuits and flour onto the floor. The robot picked this all up, even if it went a bit round the house to do it. 

The robot vacuum and mop combo allows for simultaneous vacuuming and mopping hard floors and carpets. To give the mop a try, I filled up the water tank, switched to mop mode, and directed the vacuum to a specific area using the map so that it could clean the remaining residue left by the flour. 

While it worked well to clear away the mess, the mopping pad was also very soggy and needed a good wash after cleaning. However, as the water container for the mop is small, the water is cold, and there is no detergent inside, it didn’t provide the same satisfying clean that I would get mopping by hand. It also mopped over my Persian carpet making it unnecessarily wet, which in hindsight I wish I had rolled up. 

The beauty of having a robot vacuum is that you can schedule it to come on at any time of the day. But while in use the robot isn’t too loud, it does ramp up some noise when self-emptying. I monitored the noise level in use on the highest suction power at 70dB and the lowest suction at 64.9dB. You can use the Do Not Disturb feature on the app, which you can implement to stop the vacuum turning on automatically, self-emptying, or playing voice prompts. 

  • Performance score: 4 / 5  

Ultenic T10 Elite during testing

(Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

Ultenic T10 Elite: App

  • Easy to connect over Wi-Fi
  • Create and personalise multiple maps
  • Spot cleaning is useful but a little tricky to pinpoint a specific area

I really enjoyed using the app on this device as it was so easy to use. Connecting the robot over Wi-Fi was very straightforward, with voice prompts from the robot on what to do and when it had set up.

As soon as I’d downloaded the app and created an account, the app then sent me a notification to upgrade the firmware – this took a few minutes before the robot said: “‘Upgrade successful’. Welcome to your robot cleaner”. 

Ultenic T10 Elite during testing

(Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

The app was also very good at giving me live information when needed – when the ‘map acquisition failed’ and I needed to check my network settings, for example, or when the main brush was tangled or stuck.

As well as the option for smart app and voice control, there’s also a remote control in the box. It looks much like a Sky TV remote, and I could use the main dial to start, stop, and steer the vacuum. The remote - and the app - also have settings to change the suction power on the robot and put it into night mode. This stops it coming on automatically, giving voice alerts and self-emptying, which at 88dB can be loud.  

  • App score: 4.5 / 5 

Ultenic T10 Elite: Battery life

  • Up to 160 minutes on a full charge
  • Always charging in the background when left plugged in
  • Battery life varies depending on suction power

The vacuum comes with a powerful 3200mAh battery that can provide up to 160 minutes coverage before returning to the dock. Battery life was good, but I found it varied depending on how many obstacles the robot had to navigate, how much dirt the robot had to contend with, and which suction power it was on. 

The charging dock ensures you don’t really need to think about recharging the robot yourself as it will take itself back to the dock when it needs some juice. If you have it plugged in all the time you won’t notice it charging silently, but it does take five hours to charge fully. 

  • Battery life score: 4 / 5 

Ultenic T10 Elite during testing

(Image credit: Future / Emily Peck)

Should I buy the Ultenic T10 Elite?

Buy it if...

Don't buy if...

Ultenic T10 Elite: Also consider

The Ultenic T10 Elite Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Mop is excellent value for what it is, but how does it compare to other latest models out there?  

First reviewed December 2023

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro review: keeping my apartment dirt, litter, and pet hair free
4:21 am | November 12, 2023

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

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro: One-minute review

When I tell you that the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro has saved my sanity, I’m not exaggerating. Being a pet mom to two needy and high-strung boy cats has its moments, and while it’s not the same as having children, it has more than its share of struggles – one of which is trying (and failing) to keep your home clean. With me being a busy person, it’s already hard to find time to vacuum my floors regularly, let alone have the energy to mop them too.

So when I agreed to test and review the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro, it wasn’t so much me doing my job as it was finally finding some semblance of order and relief in my personal life.

With its ability to vacuum, mop, deodorize, and even disinfect hard floors all at once, this cordless vacuum and washer from Tineco is already one of the best smart appliances you can own right now. It’s such a massive time- and energy-saver (more on that bit later) that I actually look forward to vacuuming and mopping my floors now, instead of needing to force myself to because my darn cats tracked litter or puked all over my floor again.

It’s pretty smart too – well, as smart as the best cordless vacuums can get since they can’t actually do the work without human assistance. It’s got features like self-propulsion, self-cleaning, dirt detection, and several modes for different uses. It's also a no-brainer to set up and get familiar with. Plus, it just looks so good doing its job, with its modern yet nostalgically Jetsons-like design. 

Is it one of the best vacuum cleaners right now? Let’s just say it’s got my vote.  

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro: Price and availability

  • How much does it cost? $799.99 (likely £669 / AU$999) 
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US now, UK and Australia next year 

At $799.99 in the US, the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro may be one of the more expensive cordless vacuum mops on the market. There aren’t a lot of options out there – it turns out vacuum-and-mop cleaners aren’t that popular yet – but you will find under-$200 and under-$400 options. That includes its non-pro version, the Tineco Floor ONE S3.

Despite its steeper price, however, the Floor One S7 Pro sits at the top of the pile, thanks to its excellent performance and robust feature set. It’s also a better-value proposition than the much pricier Dyson V15s Detect Submarine, especially since the Dyson has a few niggles.

Note that at the time of writing, the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro is only available in the US. Tineco tells me they’re working on making it available in the UK and Australia in 2024, though there’s no specific date of release yet.

  • Value: 4 / 5

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro: Specs

The  Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with a robot vacuum and base station.

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro: Design and features

  • Sleek and modern design with a touch of nostalgia
  • Fairly compact, lightweight, and space-saving
  • Clean water tank is small

The Tineco Floor One S7 Pro may look a little intimidating at first because it looks different from other cordless vacuums out there but don’t fret. Assembly is surprisingly effortless – the main unit already comes pre-assembled, so you need only attach the stem and handle. Then you just plug the charging base in, slot the accessory holder and the dry filter holder into it, and you’re done. It’s really simple.

Learning your way around the Floor One S7 Pro is just as easy, and you have two options to do so. You can go through the quick start guide that the vacuum mop will walk you through itself, or you can do the interactive tutorial that’s been programmed into it. I went through both and prefer the latter as it gives you a proper hands-on experience, which makes things much easier to remember. 

It’s a nifty feature that’s a nice introduction to the vacuum and that you’d be hard-pressed to find in most vacuum cleaners. All you need to do is follow its voice and visual instructions, and it won’t take up too much of your time.

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

I also adore the Floor One S7 Pro’s design. It’s sleek with rounded corners and edges, as well as a cylindrical main body, and has a lot of modern touches including its nifty LED display that sits at the top of the main body and premium physical buttons. That makes it look very futuristic, like something you might see in sci-fi movies. Yet, it’s got a touch of nostalgia as well, as something about it reminds me of one of those Hoover units from the 60s.

It’s also relatively lightweight – light enough to pick up with one hand easily – and compact. When it’s resting on the charging base, the whole thing takes up just as much space as other cordless vacuum cleaners with their own self-emptying bin.

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Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The LED screen doesn’t have touch capabilities, but it’s incredibly bright and vibrant, and displays just about everything you need to interact with the vacuum, from giving you visual step-by-step instructions when going through the interactive tutorial to showing visual representations of the different modes and self-cleaning options. Although, since it’s not a touch screen, you still have to use the physical buttons to do so. This screen also offers alerts and prompts like the Smart Sensor indicator turning from blue to pink to red depending on the amount of dust or dirt the vacuum is “sensing”, and telling you when it’s time for self-cleaning or charging.

If you’re more of an auditory learner, you’ll be pleased to know that Tineco threw in voice prompts as well. You can turn it off, if you’d like, or change the language – mine has five: English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian, using the WiFi/Mute/Language switch button located at the rear of the handle. But I quite like having the vacuum telling me when it’s time to charge or self-clean so I left it on.

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The only thing about the switch button though is that its placement makes it prone to accidental presses. It’s a concave button so it doesn’t happen that often, but I did so twice during my two-week testing.

The other buttons are safely out of the accidental press zone, however. There’s the self-cleaning button located at the crown of the handle as well as the four-way menu button and the power button at the front of the handle. The latter two are nicely accessible when you’re operating the vacuum so you can change modes or settings easily while you’re vacuuming/mopping.

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Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

There’s no dust bin included since this doesn’t have a vacuum-only function, and the base, which is a sturdy plastic, is purely for storage and charging. But the vacuum does have a clean water tank where you also pour in the included cleaning solution and a dirty water tank. The clean water tank is in the rear while the dirty water tank slots in the front, and they’re both easy to remove, clean, and snap back in place. 

And, unlike the Dyson rival, you don’t have to worry about leaky tanks as both are nicely sealed to prevent spills. I only wish the clean water tank had a bigger capacity; right now, it only holds enough water for one and a half cleaning of my one-bedroom apartment. This means I have to refill after every clean.

Speaking of cleaning, you must take it seriously when the Floor One S7 Pro tells you to empty and rinse the dirty water tank, which is basically after every use. I once forgot to do so after one cleaning, and it reeked after a couple of days. I don’t recommend leaving it.

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The self-cleaning system, which the vacuum also reminds you to run after each use, is pretty darn effective, managing to remove every hair and bit of debris off the brush roller after every run. And if your space is particularly dirty, you can select the six-minute Super Self-Cleaning option for a deeper clean. Tineco also makes it easy to remove that brush roller and replace it with the extra one that comes in the box if you want to manually clean it yourself or it’s worn out.

The Floor One S7 Pro does have app support, but the Tineco app doesn’t really add functionality apart from tweaking the parameter settings of each mode. So it feel necessary to use it.

  • Design: 5 / 5

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro: Performance

  • Special features work very well
  • Great suctioning
  • Effective self-cleaning

Vacuuming isn’t really something most people enjoy doing, which is probably why the best robot vacuums have proven to be so appealing, but I have to say that vacuuming with the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro has put the joy back in the task. At least for me. 

It mops and vacuums at the same time and does so incredibly well, with powerful suctioning and effective mopping action that not only sucks up all the pet hair, dirt, and litter that my cats track everywhere but also makes my floors barefoot-worthy. The second part is just as important to me as the first, as I live in Los Angeles where one’s apartment can't go one day without getting covered in dust.

After each clean with the Floor One S7 Pro, my floors get so clean it feels glorious kicking off my slippers and walking barefoot for a little while – though, unfortunately, as every pet owner knows, they never really stay clean for long.

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Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

What’s more, the fact that it doesn’t kick out debris when you’re vacuuming means it saves you even more time since you don’t have to go back and do a second run. It also means you can do another quick run later in the day if it gets dirty again.

Too tired to vacuum? That’s where Floor One S7 Pro’s SmoothPower bi-directional self-propulsion system comes in handy. That feature may be a mouthful to say, but it makes vacuuming a tad more effortless as it propels itself forward and backward – with still some assistance from you, of course – taking some of that responsibility off your arm and shoulder as well as minimizing the energy you’re putting into the task. 

I have found that I still need to direct where to go and use some effort, especially if there’s a stain that’s particularly difficult to remove. But, for the most part, my arm muscles are doing around half the usual work. 

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

I love cleaning corners and other hard-to-reach areas with it as well, thanks to the upgraded brush head that only has the tiniest 1cm gap on both ends, which means spaces along baseboards are cleaned properly.

The Floor One S7 Pro defaults to Auto Mode, which uses Tineco's iLoop Smart Sensor technology that automatically adjusts suction power depending on the amount of debris being detected, but you should experiment with the different modes to find what works best for your daily cleaning needs. I found that the Ultra Mode works best for me as it deep cleans and deodorizes my floors – living with two cats means dealing with unpleasant odors. There’s also the Max Mode for stubborn stains and the Suction Mode for just absorbing spills.

It does get a little louder on Ultra Mode. On Auto, the vacuum averages around 62 dB, but on Ultra, it spikes up to 65 dB. In fairness, compared with other vacuum cleaners, that really isn’t loud.

  • Performance: 4.5 / 5

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro: Battery life

  • Ultra mode cuts that battery life considerably
  • Enough juice for smaller homes on Auto

Compared with regular non-mopping cordless vacuums, the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro may not have the longest battery life, with Tineco promising up to 40 hours of use. However, for what it does and all the features it has to power, including that bright LED display, that's actually not too bad. 

On Auto mode, I could get two full cleanings of my one-bedroom apartment on one full charge. However, the way this vacuum works is that you really have no choice but to recharge it since its charging base also serves are the dripping and cleaning tray. 

Ultra mode is when things get a little dicey, battery-wise. During testing, I found that just five minutes of use on Ultra knocked 11% off that battery life, which means it has just enough juice to deep clean my apartment before it demands to go back to base for charging. And charging this to full takes about 4 hours.

So, while its battery life is impressive, this is much better suited for smaller homes and apartments. 

  • Battery: 4 / 5 

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Should you buy the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Tineco Floor One S7 Pro: Also consider

If the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro isn't for you, why not consider other cordless vacuums?

How I tested Tineco Floor One S7 Pro

  • I tested the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro for two weeks
  • I used it almost every day to clean my floors
  • I carefully tested all of its special features as well

Appointing the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro as my main cleaning tool, I used it to clean my floors almost every day and every time one of my cats threw up a hairball. I made sure to put all its special features through their paces to see how effective they are.

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 November 2023

Gozney Roccbox review: restaurant-quality pizza at home or on the go
2:00 am | November 4, 2023

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

Gozney Roccbox: Two-minute preview

If you’re the kind of cook that finds a sourdough pizza recipe exciting and you’re thrilled by the pursuit of the food innovation seen on shows like Chef’s Table: Pizza or The Bear, then the Gozney Roccbox is the portable pizza oven for you.

This is in part because the recipes available on Gozney’s website are more likely to lean into a mixture of traditional-style Neapolitan, white-base or experimental pizzas rather than how to whip up a ham-and-pineapple pie, but it’s also because all of the design choices are geared to making the best quality pizza on a portable device. 

Pizzas made in the Roccbox

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)

At 44 pounds (20kg), the Gozney Roccbox is heavier than many of its competitors, but that extra weight is used to add insulation that works to retain heat so the oven can make a series of pizzas quickly. It’s not designed to handle larger 14-inch pizzas or make multiple pizzas at once, but it’s able to retain enough heat to cook up back-to-back 12-inch pizzas with no down time, so you can cook for large groups if you’re well prepped.

In addition to minimizing the recharge time, this added insulation keeps the cooking temperature even, allowing for more control and predictability, and it also means the outside of the oven isn’t going to scorch you if you bump it. Both of these features more than make up for the additional weight.

Roccbox pizza oven cooking pizza and bread

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)

The Gozney Roccbox might seem more expensive than some competitors, but it actually comes with a gas attachment by default, so when you add the cost of gas attachments to other systems the Roccbox actually offers exceptionally good value. Gas is easier to control and is less work to maintain temperature, so it’s more manageable than trying to create wood-fired pizza. This makes it the best solution for people starting their pizza-making journey or for anyone hoping to take the oven on the road.

Presentation is critical to people that take their food seriously and, if all the other features weren’t enough, the Gozney range of pizza ovens and Gozney accessories are the best-looking options of anything available on the market in my opinion. The Brad Leone Limited Edition that I was sent for this review my favorite color – the more subdued grey, olive or black options will be more appealing to most people I reckon – but even this more vibrant coloring fits in nicely with the overall theme.

The Roccbox folds away into a compact package that’s easy to transport with the carry cover accessory, making it an excellent device for gourmet cooking on the go. It’s got a built-in thermometer that’ll display the temperature of the cooking stone and it’s simple gas temperature gauge is easy to master. The Roccbox has everything you need to make the perfect pizza at home or when out in the wilderness.

Roccbox pizza oven cooking pizza and bread

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)

Gozney Roccbox review: Price and availability

  • Priced at $499 / £399.00 / AU$799 
  • Lots of reasonably priced accessories

The Gozney Roccbox, Brad Leone Limited Edition and Tom Gozney Signature Edition Roccboxes are all available for $499 / £399.00 / AU$799 directly from the Gozney website. The portable ovens come with a professional-grade pizza peel, detachable gas burner and a bottle opener (except on the Tom Gozney Signature Edition). This is all you really need to get going, but there are a wide range of accessories available that’ll help you make better pizza. 

Some of the essentials you might want to consider include a Turning Peel ($65 / £49 / AU$89), the Roccbox Cover ($50 / £39.99 / AU$69) and the Mantel ($59 / £59 / AU$79). These three will really help you when it comes to rotating pizzas for an even cook and allowing you to take the device with you when you travel.

If you want to up your game, then the next set of accessories that work really well are the Infrared Thermometer ($49 / £39 / AU$69) which allows you to see how hot each part of the stone is, since it can vary by approximately 212ºF / 100ºC from the front entrance to the rear. The Pizza Rocker ($39 / £35 / AU$49) is excellent for efficiently cutting pizza and the fiber board Pizza Server ($49 / £39 / AU$59) is the perfect clean and lightweight platform for displaying your creations. 

Value score: 5/5

Roccbox pizza oven acccessories

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)

Gozney Roccbox review: Specs

Roccbox pizza oven cooking pizza and bread

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)

Gozney Roccbox review: Design and features

  • Gas burner
  • Foldable legs 
  • In-built thermometer 

It’s hard to deny the consistent and appealing overall aesthetic of the Gozney brand. Of course it helps having a show stopper like the ultra-premium Dome oven in your lineup, but the brand’s understated style extends down through the Roccbox, all the way to the accessories that the company sells. But the Roccbox doesn’t just look good, the clever design extends to details that genuinely enhance the performance of the oven as well. 

The Roccbox features a detachable gas burner and foldable legs that make the package particularly compact and easy to pack away. The device is heavier than some portable pizza ovens, which might deter some users who are particularly keen on an on-the-go device, but the added weight can easily be accommodated and the added effort in moving it pays off massively in efficiency and performance. 

Roccbox pizza oven cooking pizza and bread

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)

Unlike some other pizza ovens, the Roccbox comes with the gas burner by default – a clever design choice that will appeal to the vast majority of DIY pizza makers. If you do want to test your skills at wood-fired pizza, you can buy a Wood Burner attachment for $100 / £100 / AU$199 without needing to invest in a different design. I didn’t test Gozney’s Wood Burner functionality for this review, but controlling the temperature in wood-fired ovens is a more finicky process, so I'm working on the assumption that the added insulation will be very useful for experimenting with traditional wood-fired flavors.

The other major design feature is an in-built thermometer, meaning you can get a consistent read on when the oven is ready to go. This is a particularly handy feature if you want to travel light as it gives you a reliable gauge to cook different foods all in the one package. The added insulation combines with a silicone jacket to make the oven safe to touch when running – an important added safety feature if you’re cooking close to other people or pets that might accidentally bump the oven.

The included Pizza Peel means you have everything you need to create impressive pizzas straight out of the box.

Design score: 5/5 

Roccbox pizza oven cooking pizza and bread

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)

Gozney Roccbox review: Performance

  • 10-minute heat time
  • 750º-950ºF (400º-500ºC)  cooking temperature range
  • 19mm cordierite stone floor 

The oven features a 19mm cordierite stone floor that is able to hit temperatures of 750º - 950ºF (400º - 500ºC) in around 10 minutes. This temperature is more than double of what your average home oven can achieve and it allows the pizza base to cook quickly with any topping of your choice. Even with a pizza stone, the results you’ll get from a regular pizza oven are incomparable to what you’ll be able to achieve in the Roccbox.

The quick start time of the Gozney Roccbox is complimented by a generous helping of calcium silicate insulation that allows the oven to retain heat much better than any other portable pizza oven I’ve tested. As a result, the Gozney Roccbox is able to cook pizzas more evenly and, when you reduce the gas to slow any top-down cooking, the pizza stone base retains its temperature better than any other portable oven. 

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Making pizza and bread on the Roccbox

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)
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Making pizza and bread on the Roccbox

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)
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Making pizza and bread on the Roccbox

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)
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Making pizza and bread on the Roccbox

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)
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Making pizza and bread on the Roccbox

(Image credit: Future - Joel Burgess)

This gives you better control to cook pizzas more precisely and dramatically reduces the recharge time to allow you to do make back-to-back pizzas quickly. Obviously the compact Roccbox doesn’t have the thermal mass of its bigger Dome siblings but, during my testing, the insulation was good enough to make at least two pizzas back-to-back when the stone was already at a temperature above 850ºF (450ºC). This makes it capable of cooking for groups as you can prep more pizzas and cook them all within a quicker timeframe, something that you won’t be able to do on lighter, less insulated portable pizza ovens.

This makes it uniquely competent as a home pizza oven since it's more than capable of creating a larger volume of pizzas when entertaining, something I've found other portable pizza ovens weren’t great at.

Performance score: 5/5

Should I buy the Gozney Roccbox?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Gozney Roccbox

  • Test pizzas = 12
  • Used a range of Gozney accessories 

I tested the Gozney Roccbox at home over a 6-week period, trying out multiple pizza and bread recipes. This included hosting 8 people and making enough pizza for everyone all the way down to smaller lunch pizzas for one. 

I also tested all the accessories listed alongside the oven to ensure each works well and whether they add to the usability of the device. I wasn't sent the wood-fired burner accessory to test how the Roccbox performs using a wood-based fire, so the test pizzas were made exclusively with gas. 

The Roccbox was also packed away in the cover and was moved to the car in order to ensure portability.

Gozney has a good selection of recipes on its website and comes with a small pamphlet of 6 essential recipes to get you started, each of which I followed for impressive results.  

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed November 2023]

Tineco Pure One S11 smart vacuum review: an effective and robust cordless vacuum with some niggles
6:00 pm | October 31, 2023

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

Tineco Pure One S11: Two-minute review

The Tineco Pure One S11 may not be as advanced as the pricier Tineco Pure One S15 Pro (one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners on our list), but it’s a very efficient option for those looking for an affordable model with powerful suctioning. And one that gives Shark’s more popular vacuum cleaners a good run for their money.

Now, Tineco isn’t exactly a household name – at least not yet – but it is a good lesson in product diversification. This lesser-known company offers great-quality alternatives to big-name-brand products that may have fallen behind in terms of quality due to complacency and lack of competition. And, speaking as someone who has owned and used her share of subpar models from bigger brands, I am absolutely here for it.

Sitting in the same price range as many of the best Shark vacuum cleaners and a couple of Dyson’s 'budget' offerings, the Pure One S11 is more of a mid-range purchase, one that’s not cheap but won't burn a massive hole in your bank account either. However, there are many things it does better than the most popular Shark models that make it an easy recommendation to consumers who want the convenience of cable-free cleaning.

Is it one of the best vacuum cleaners on the market? It does come with its share of niggles that might make some doubt its eligibility to that exclusive list. However, it does follow in its more premium brother’s footsteps in the world of cordless vacuums.

Tineco Pure One S11: Price and availability

  • How much does it cost? $399.99 / £269 / AU$699
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

On par with many vacuum cleaners from Shark and Samsung Jet, the Tineco Pure One S11 has an entry price of $399.99 / £269 / AU$699. That isn’t what many would call cheap – there are a lot of cordless vacuums out there that are about half that price.

However, it’s what I would expect a more robust and powerful model to cost. My own Samsung Jet 70 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum bears the same price tag, and is actually a little more rudimentary in features – though it has proven to be a powerful option robust enough to be your long-term cleaning companion. 

It costs about $100 / £100 less than both the Shark Stratos Cordless (which claims the top spot on our cordless vacuum list at the time of writing and is lauded for its smart Clean Sense IQ feature and powerful suctioning) and the Dyson V15 Detect

  • Value: 4 / 5

Tineco Pure One S11: Specs

The  Roborock S8 Pro Ultra comes with a robot vacuum and base station.

Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Tineco Pure One S11: Design and features

  • Solid build and great design but top-heavy
  • Squeaky wheels on the power brush
  • Controls aren’t the most convenient

If the Tineco Pure One S11 looks familiar, it’s probably because it has the same rounded architecture as Dyson’s offerings – so much so, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that Tineco is coming after the popular premium brand. It even comes with an LCD display and power brush illumination, two things the Dyson V15 Detect has that most of its competitors don’t. 

And, honestly, hats off to Tineco for the valiant attempt because while Dyson’s products should be lauded for their thoughtful features, they’re also known to be overpriced and overrated when it comes to performance. But, I digress.

The Pure One S11 is solidly built, with parts that feel robust and premium, and its Dyson-inspired design not only sets it apart from others but also makes it look like a luxurious item. That’s especially true with its black, white, and dark gray colorway.

Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

I especially appreciate that its LCD display is at the front so it’s easy to look at when the vacuum is in use. However, while the one on the V15 Detect or the Pure One S15 Pro offers a lot of information, this one just displays battery life and lets you know if there are any device errors. The light ring around the display, called the Dust Monitoring Loop, also alerts you to the amount of dust in a specific area by changing colors from solid blue to pink to magenta.

Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

While this cordless vacuum is slightly more lightweight than the V15 Detect, it is a little heavier than my Samsung Jet 70. While that isn’t a big deal – there are, after all, even heavier vacuums out there – it's also top-heavy. The top part that houses the motor, battery, filtration system, LED display, and dust bin bears most of its weight, making its weight distribution a lot more uneven than my Samsung and easier for users to experience hand, wrist, and shoulder fatigue. That’s despite the fact that the handle is spacious and comfortable to hold.

That’s not the only gripe I have about its design. The controls on the Pure One S11 aren’t the most convenient. Instead of pressing a button to turn on the vacuum, you pull a trigger, which starts the motor when pressure is exerted and stops it when that pressure is taken away. I get the energy-saving aspect here – if you have to do something else like move things out of the way, the vacuum stops running when you take your finger off the trigger. However, it also means that you have to keep up that pressure while you’re vacuuming.

There is a trigger lock you can use to give your finger a rest, but accessing that lock, located to the side of the trigger, means overextending one of your other fingers or using your other hand instead. I found this to be a little inconvenient, especially when I’m also picking up stuff off the floor.

While this vacuum is one of the quietest I’ve ever used (more on that later), the two wheels on its power brush are squeaky. I’m not sure if this is true on all units or just mine, however, I have to mention it as it is a point of annoyance when I’m vacuuming.

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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Still, there’s a lot to like about the Pure One S11’s design and features. I love that all its removable parts snap in place as well as come off easily, making it convenient to do things like swap out the removable battery (another plus as you can purchase an extra one if you’re covering a large area), empty the trash bin, clean out the filters, and swap out the tools. 

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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

One tool I like in particular is the pre-filter cleaning tool, which most cordless vacuums do not have. It also comes with an extra pre-filter inside. Though you do have to manually turn it, it lets you clean a dirty pre-filter without the mess as it attaches to the vacuum. This lets you suck all that dust straight into the dustbin. It’s another thoughtful addition to a vacuum full of thoughtful details.

  • Design: 4 / 5

Tineco Pure One S11 on the author's floor

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Tineco Pure One S11: Performance

  • Efficient suction that can tackle particles small and large
  • Very effective smart dust sensor that adjusts suction power automatically
  • Great tools for versatile cleaning

Tineco advertises the Tineco Pure One S11 as having “whisper-quiet” operation, though that's not quite accurate. However, I do have to give it credit for being one of the quietest vacuums I’ve ever tested. Comparing it to some of the cordless vacuums I have at home, it scored a quiet 60 dB – Tineco rates it at 72 dB(A) – on average on the decibel meter I was using. That’s impressive considering my Samsung Jet 70 Pet Cordless scored an average of 68 dB, while the Shark Wandvac scored an average of 70 dB on the same test.

Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The Pure One S11 also shines in suction prowess, often only requiring a single run of a section to suck up all the tiny particles, including the smallest pieces of litter and the finest pet hair. It also does a good job of sucking up pieces of cat food or kibble, something the Jet 70 Pet Cordless ironically struggles with. Kudos to the motor for being that powerful and making it all look – and sound – effortless.

Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

And its iLoop Smart Dust Sensor does a fantastic job of sensing when there’s more dirt in the area, alerting the vacuum to automatically adjust suction power to Max for even stronger suctioning. 

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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
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Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

This capability isn’t just limited to the multi-tasker power brush, which by the way has LED lights that highlight the area directly in front so you can see the finest dust particles better. It works effectively with all the other tools too, including the mini power brush, which I use to clean litter track and cat hair off my couch, and the dusting brush, which I use to clean hard surfaces in my apartment.

What’s more, it does a fantastic job of minimizing dirt and particle kickback – definitely better than the Jet 70 Pet Cordless. This is a massive time-saver as I don’t have to go back and clean areas I’ve already vacuumed.

Tineco Pure One S11 in use by author

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

The Pure One S11 also has great maneuverability, despite the annoying squeaky wheels on the power brush. I would say that my Jet 70 Pet Cordless is better at accessing crevices, rounding at tight corners, and ducking under furniture – the Pure One S11’s power brush has an attachment that angles down so that when I’m trying to reach under my coffee table or TV console, it lifts the brush up when the vacuum hits that 20-degree angle with the floor – however, that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s easy to maneuver.

  • Performance: 4.5 / 5

Tineco Pure One S11: Battery life

  • Up to 40 minutes of battery life
  • Trigger helps save energy
  • Battery is swappable

The Tineco Pure One S11 may not have fast-charging capabilities or the longest battery life. But at full charge, it does offer up to 40 minutes of runtime on auto. During my time using it, I could clean the floor of my entire one-bedroom apartment and still have some juice left over for dusting some furniture and vacuuming the debris on my couch.

Both its auto mode and trigger help save energy so that it’s not using up that battery life unnecessarily. Meanwhile, its removable battery means you can purchase another one so you can have up to 80 minutes of juice – just the ticket if you have an entire house to cover.

  • Battery: 4 / 5 

Should you buy the Tineco Pure One S11?

Tineco Pure One S11 on the author's floor

(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Tineco Pure One S11: Also consider

If the Tineco Pure One S11 isn't for you, why not consider other cordless vacuums?

How I tested Tineco Pure One S11

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

Giving the Tineco Pure One S11 the temporary role of being my main vacuum cleaner for a week, I ran it through its paces by using it to clean my one-bedroom apartment, carefully observing how effective it is at picking up different-sized debris like cat litter, which my cats track around every time they use their litter box, and pieces of dry cat food, which are much bigger and something my trusty Samsung Jet 70 Pet Cordless has trouble picking up.

It comes with many of the tools I need for keeping my furniture and appliances cat hair free, an almost impossible task with my two boy cats running rowdy all day, so I was able to test all those. I also made sure to use its nifty pre-filter cleaner to see how easy it is to use and how effective it is at cleaning the pre-filter.

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 October 2023

Levoit 600S air purifier review: floor-standing air purifier that efficiently extracts whiffs
4:00 pm |

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

Levoit 600S: two-minute review

Air purifiers are designed to remove dust, dander and dodgy odours, leaving you with a fresher smelling and healthier home. In the height of summer, or faced with an overly-heated home you soon start to notice the whiff of other people and pets. 

They differ from fans, which waft the air around at speed, creating a cooling effect, instead extracting impurities and particulates that cause smells and cause germs. An electrostatic or fabric filter captures these as they are blown towards them by the air purifier’s gentle fan mechanism and, as with the Levoit 600S model, are collected in a disposable bag at the bottom of the device. Once cleansed, the air is sent back out into the room, leading to a fresher atmosphere. 

The Levoit 600S promises to filter as much as 99.97% of PM2.5 particles (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometre diameter). This covers the fine dust, pollen and pet hair as well as road traffic pollution and pollen. These can all irritate and, in the longer term, damage the lungs and impact respiratory function. Levels of less than 12μg/m3 should pose no health issues, and we were pleased to find that the existing levels in the first of the two properties in which we tested out the air purifier were already below this figure. 

When things get whiffy or lingering sprays have been applied, the Levoit 600S is capable of changing the air in a 147m sq room twice an hour. This is a lower rate of air change than the best air purifiers TechRadar reviewed recently but is plenty for all but larger rooms or the most persistent smells and pollutants. 

Although the 600S can be operated directly using the on/off button on the top, the VeSync app provides far more control, showing current PMS levels and the air quality steadily improving as its four-speed fan whips everything through its HEPA and carbon filters to remove airborne nasties. Both the LED on top of the unit and the app give real-time PMS readings and offer one-touch fan adjustments. The app adds scheduling and light-sensing options, making it ideal for use in a bedroom where the fan will automatically reduce in power so you can drop off to sleep. 

Levoit 600S: price and availability

  • How much does it cost? £299.99 (about $360, AU$574)
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the UK

The Levoit 600S is available from Amazon UK for £299 (about $360, AU$574). A £50 discount voucher is currently active, bringing the price down to £249). Although you won’t need a replacement filter immediately, if you like to be organised you can get ahead by adding this £69.99 consumable or a pet allergy version for £101 to your online shopping cart.

This model launched last year in the US, but Amazon notes the current unavailability of the Levoit 600S model (although both branded and third party replacement HEPA filters are for sale there), while Australia has only the filters for sale.

  • Value: 4 / 5

Levoit 600S: Specs

Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Levoit 600S: Design

  • Large but lightweight unit
  • Useful status indicator lights
  • Whisper-quiet fan

The imposing but elegant Levoit 600S seems to take up more room than its stated 60cm height suggests. While its 300S stablemate sits happily and fairly unobtrusively on a kitchen countertop, the 600S model is a real presence. Placed alongside our microwave, it dwarfed it. If space is at a premium, you will probably want to store it out of sight and bring it out for specific use rather than keeping it on standby. We found this particularly true when we were in the more cramped environment of our terraced home. 

However, the curved design and off-white finish are stylish, and the materials sturdy.  And, while it weighs 6.2kg, it feels far lighter. The well-positioned recessed handles on either side of the upper section also make it easy to move around. 

Looks-wise, the Levoit 600S is smart with a sleek curved body and large fan blades covering the top. In the centre of the fan are the Levoit 600S’ controls and options to change the fan speed, set a timer, check on the filter and current air quality, and determine whether it is connected to Wi-Fi or using Bluetooth for the associated VeSync app. The lower half of the purifier features a fretwork effect, and contains the filter and the bag into which particles sucked in by the fan are deposited. 

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Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)
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Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Setup involves twisting apart the top and bottom halves of the air purifier’s body, extracting the filter that it comes with from inside, and removing its packaging before popping it back in place. There is a bright yellow sticker on the top of the unit that prompts you to do this before use. The two halves of the unit then click to lock together. It doesn’t matter which way round the top half faces, but the corners need to align with the corresponding corners on the bottom half, a simple enough process. 

Although the Levoit 600S is a freestanding unit with no external moving parts, it needs space to operate so it doesn’t overheat. It should, therefore, be placed around 40cm away from the nearest walls. The power cable is more than a metre long, which is ample to accommodate this requirement. 

Once switched on, the Levoit 600S can be used either manually using the controls on top, or via the VeSync app. Each of the on-device controls lights up when you touch them, with multiple presses used to increase or reduce the fan speed.

  • Design: 4.5 / 5

Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Levoit 600S: Performance

  • Effective dust and dander removal
  • Quickly gets rid of aerosol particulates
  • Less effective on kitchen odours

I tested the Levoit 600S in both an open plan 1960s detached house and a 1930s terraced house, the latter home to two asthmatics and a cat who is less than impressed at the ongoing renovations. The contrasting challenges were larger rooms with carpets, lots of upholstered furniture, and the odours associated with the older generation versus the renovation dust and the pet dander of our London home, which has wooden floors and tiles throughout. 

Both have open plan kitchens where food is often oven-baked or prepared on a hob. I tested the changing air quality while sauteing a variety of vegetables as well as frying fish and meat, and noted whether having the window adjacent to the cooker made much difference to the rate at which the air purifier cleaned the air. 

To set up the Levoit 600S air purifier, I first installed the VeSync app (iOS and Android versions are available). Next, I switched on the device and pressed the on/off switch on top until the Wi-Fi icon flashed blue. It was then recognised by the app and the two paired over Bluetooth. Next, the app searched for my home Wi-Fi network and prompted me for a login and password. 

Although it accepted my previously registered email address, it doesn’t actually want you to provide the password for your VeSync app at this stage and is really after your Wi-Fi password. This tiny misunderstanding took moments to correct. Once connected, you will need to keep the VeSync app open as the firmware is updated. However, the 600S will start operating as soon as it’s connected to Wi-Fi, with its internal fan working at its level 4 maximum rotation speed. 

Once the app has updated the firmware, you will be able to adjust the duration and schedules. You will also be shown the current air quality status based on the level of PM2.5 particulates it detects. What is not quite as apparent is that this screen also gives you the option to change the fan speed. 

Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Sitting across the room, I found the Levoit 600S giving off a gentle rhythmic hum that was noticeable but unlikely to upset all but the most sound-sensitive family member. It hums along gently, with an unobtrusive decibel rating of less than 40 on the slowest speed setting and no more than 64dB when it kicks into its top speed rating and then settles at around 52dB. The ambient background noise in the room prior to switching on the air purifier was 38dB, so it barely disturbs the tranquillity. 

Even my sound-sensitive mum was untroubled by its operation at the lower fan settings, but pleased with the improved room freshness after 30 minutes of use. Blasting Febreze at the fan itself for a sustained 10 seconds filled the room with choking levels of air freshener, but the purifier removed the lot in 12 minutes at setting 3 (of 4), while our comparison on opening the patio doors and other windows wide had no discernible effect after the same period. 

I also found the Levoit 600S effective in removing dust from the air after a weekend of DIY, taking less than 20 minutes to clear the hallway and landing of visible particles. Sharing a home with a cat, I also appreciated it filtering stray hairs and slight odours. 

However, it impressed me less when it came to removing cooking smells and signs of domesticity: the kitchen levels were modest before I began frying and sautéing, and the purifier was not much better than the overhead fan and an open window for this use. Given the 600S’ larger dimensions, we would no doubt choose its smaller sibling for this room in any case. 

  • Performance: 4 / 5

Levoit 600S: App

  • Provides full control over the 600S
  • Alexa and Google Assistant voice controls
  • Strong scheduling and light sensing features

The VeSync app is well-designed with attractive graphics in calming shades of blue and turquoise. It provides a visual guide when setting up the Levoit device and has a user manual that you can access from its side menu. 

You can control every aspect of the air purifier once installed, with options to adjust the fan speed, schedule days and times for it to operate, change air quality levels that will trigger it automatically switching on and on, and activate a light sensing feature that seems aimed at use in a bedroom. The rationale here is that the gentle hum of the fan helps promote sleep, especially once the air is duly freshened, so you can nod off without the interruptions from an asthmatic or cat-allergy wheeze. 

The VeSync app is free to install and also works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant. This gives access to voice control options should you want to prompt your air purifier to go about its business without having to reach for your smartphone. I tried each of these without issue, finding the option to turn the fan off using a voice command useful when the phone rang while the 600S was clearing the air in the kitchen after cooking and I wanted to settle in for a chat. 

Levoit 600S in use in the author's home

(Image credit: Future / Rosie Hattersley)

Should I buy the Levoit 600S?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Levoit 600S

  • I used the Levoit Core 600S air purifier and the VueSync app for 10 days
  • Trialed it in two homes: one open plan; one a terraced house
  • Substances purified included pet odour, cooking smells and air freshener

I used the Levoit 600S air purifier in a number of different rooms, finding it particularly efficient at clearing the odours from a downstairs room that doubles as an elderly person’s bedroom. Being able to effectively cleanse this room of telltale odours associated with ageing, as well as Febreze and other masking sprays that disguise them was a good test since we had lots of visitors during the week in which the 600S was installed there. I react badly to perfumes and sprays due to asthma, so quickly clearing these smells was critical to me too. I continuously sprayed the aerosol contents at the purifier fan until the PM levels rose above 150 before switching on the unit to begin clearing the particulates.

With one family member being particularly sound-sensitive, being able to instantly dial down the fan setting such that she was undisturbed by the fan was vital. I also tested the unit while frying food and after making toast, as well as setting the Levoit 600S to automatically purify the landing of my own home during and after stripping paint from the stairs and sanding them down. I used a decibel meter app on my phone to measure how loud the fan was at various settings.

I compared the effects of simply allowing the air to clear naturally by opening windows either side of the room with the performance of the 600S, timing both to see how long it took for the PM level to drop below 12.

To test the air purification monitoring and speed, I sprayed heavy particulate aerosols (dry shampoo and deodorant) while the purifier was in Auto mode. This mode detects changes in the room and sets the fan speed accordingly.  

I lit a scented candle next to the purifier and also positioned it in the kitchen while frying and grilling different meat and vegetables. I measured the volume with a mobile phone decibel meter. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2023

Ikea Starkvind table review: an air purifier masquerading as a table
2:30 pm | October 27, 2023

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

One-minute review

Ikea is a brand most often associated with flat-pack furniture, meatballs, and the occasional viral plush, it’s not the first name you think of when it comes to innovation. However, its smart home line is certainly home to some whacky, creative ideas, including the Ikea Starkvind table, an air-purifying table that’ll freshen up any living space.

Available for $199.99 / £199 / AU$249 directly from Ikea, the Starkvind table joins other novel creations like the Symfonisk lamp speaker and Symfonisk picture frame speaker.

While it’s no show-stopper, the Starkvind table is fairly stylish in a modest, minimal sense, and the 55cm / 21.7-inch tall table has a fair amount of surface area to play with thanks to its 54cm / 21.3-inch diameter.

It’s not the most impressive and capable air purifier I’ve ever used, and it lacks a true HEPA filter. However, if you’re looking for a space-saving device, it’s a great option - albeit a slightly pricey one, for what it is. 

Ikea Starkvind table

(Image credit: Future)

Ikea Starkvind table review: Price

The Ikea Starkvind table is available for $199.99 / £199 / AU$249 directly from Ikea. It’s a little overpriced for what it is, considering that some of our all-time favorite air purifiers, like the Blueair Blue Pure 411 Auto, sit at the $150 / £100 / AU$150 mark, and offer superior performance and specs compared to Ikea’s Starkvind table.

Added to that is the fact you’ll have to buy the Ikea Dirigera smart device hub for $69.99 / £60 / $AU99 if you want to use the app, which provides smart features like air analysis, timers, and scenes. The app also enables you to bring the device into wider smart home ecosystems, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. There’s also an activated carbon filter for gaseous pollutants like formaldehyde which can be bought separately for $26 / £15 / AU$20. Both this filter and the included particle filter, which costs $20 / £7 / AU$25, need to be replaced every six months or so, depending on your level of usage, meaning that all-in-all, the table’s ongoing costs do add up.

In saying that, it’s robust, well-designed, offers decent performance, and is also a table, so it’s far from terribly priced. 

Price: 4/5

Ikea Starkvind table grooves under the tabletop

(Image credit: Future)

Ikea Starkvind table review: Setup and design

As is to be expected from the Swedish furnishing behemoth, the Ikea Starkvind table is a piece of flatpack furniture that comes in a surprisingly compact box.

It’s incredibly easy to assemble. Simply turn the main console upside down, screw in the legs, remove the filter’s packaging, connect the power supply, click the tabletop into place, and voila; one air purifying table ready to go. If you have the Dirigera smart home hub, pairing is just as easy - simply press the pairing button under the tabletop and follow the in-app instructions. Once in the app, you can check out the air analysis, timers and cutscenes. You can also easily integrate the Starkvind table into your Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, or Google Assistant ecosystem here.

The tabletop is pretty simple, but still stylish, offering decent real estate with its 54cm / 21.3-inch diameter and 55cm / 21.7-inch height. Under the hood lies a standard Ikea Starkvind air purifier, its plastic casing designed to seamlessly blend in with the rest of the table’s design. At the front of the table is a dial to switch between the automatic detection mode and five power settings. If you hold this dial down, it triggers the lock function. There are also two indicator lights; one for the lock toggle and the other for when it’s time to replace the filter inside.

There’s some great attention to detail in the table, despite its simplicity. For example, one of the legs has an indent, in which the cable can be fed to keep the underside looking neat and tidy. The underside of the tabletop also features a set of anti-drip grooves, which prevent spilled liquids from reaching the purifier underneath. 

Setup and design: 4.5/5

Close-up of the Ikea Starkvind table controls

(Image credit: Future)

Ikea Starkvind table review: Performance

The Starkvind table’s filter can remove roughly 99.5% of smaller airborne particles, including PM2.5 particles, dust and pollen. On its least powerful setting, the Starkvind table is impressively quiet, registering just 25dB on test. However, the volume amps up pretty quickly once you get to its third, medium-strength setting. 

By the time you get to the most powerful setting, it’s fairly noisy at 55dB, which is just a little quieter than a normal conversation. I had to raise my voice above the sound to be heard. While it’s unlikely you’d need to use this highest setting too often, I’d definitely have appreciated a slightly quieter performance. 

I kept the Starkvind table with air purifier running on its auto mode for much of my testing, and put it through its paces by lighting candles and spraying aerosols in the nearby vicinity. It has a two or three-stage filtration system depending on whether you purchase the gas filter. Air travels through a prefilter to remove larger debris and particles before heading through the main filter and the optional gas filter. The main filter is capable of removing 99.5% of PM2.5, meaning dust, pollen, industrial emissions and smoke are all covered. It’s worth bearing in mind that more sophisticated purifiers can handle a wider range of particulate matter to give your airways the utmost protection, however, PM2.5 tends to carry the greatest risk.

The air sensor in the purifier was very responsive to pollutants, quickly amping up the power to clear out the harassing particles. While it’s hard to assess how good it is at actually filtering out the particles, I did notice the air quality swiftly climbing to a healthy level on my air quality monitor when I did my aerosol and candle tests.

Maintenance is pretty simple with the Starkvind table - simply lift the tabletop off to check the filters and vacuum off any grub regularly, and replace the filters every 6 months or when the LED indicator on the front of the table notifies you to do so. 

While the table works as promised, the inability to take advantage of its smart features without Ikea’s smart home hub plus its fairly basic purification technology means it doesn’t land as well as other air purifiers I’ve researched and reviewed, like the Dyson Hot + Cool Formaldehyde.

Performance: 3.5/5

Ikea Starkvind table review: Specs table

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if... 

Also consider

Ikea Starkvind table

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Ikea Starkvind table with air purifier

  •  I used the Ikea Starkvind table with air purifier for one month 
  •  I tested its auto mode using candles and aerosols 
  •  I measured its success with an air quality monitor 

I built the Ikea Starkvind and tested it in my living room for one month, mostly keeping it on its automatic detection mode to test its reactiveness and efficiency. 

I kept my air quality monitor nearby to compare results, lighting candles and spraying aerosols in the vicinity of the table to see how quickly and effectively it cleared the particles from the air. 

Lastly, I compared the results to my go-to purifier, the Dyson Hot + Cool Formaldehyde HP09 as a benchmark. 

Breville the InFizz Fusion review: a fizzing fantastic way to carbonate all things
6:25 am | October 16, 2023

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

Breville the InFizz Fusion: Two-minute review

The Breville InFizz Fusion – which would be the Sage InFizz Fusion when it makes its way to the UK – is a SodaStream alternative that can do more than just make sparkling water. It one-ups its popular competitor by allowing you to carbonate any drinkable liquid… as long as it’s not a hot beverage. Whether it’s a juice you want to add some fizz to or prepare a big batch of sparkling sangria, the InFizz Fusion can handle it.

There is a risk of overflow when you’ve mistakenly over-carbonated a particular beverage and are about to open the bottle, but the InFizz Fusion has an unique solution for that. Breville calls it the FusionCap and it’s essentially the gas delivery system as well as the cap that holds the carbonation inside the bottle till you’re ready to serve. It’s a solidly built screw cap that features a tube that’s just about long enough to dip into a minimum of 600ml of liquid and a locking mechanism on the top.

Breville the InFizz Fusion sparkling beverage maker in Brushed Steel

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The FusionCap fits into the InFizz Fusion via a simple tilt-and-twist action – you just align the two arrowheads (one on the cap, the other on the machine) and twist a little. When you’re done fizzing your beverage, move the tilt head up and twist the bottle to release it.

If you’re worried about over-carbonating a drink, listen carefully for a slight popping sound when you press the lever – that’s an indication that ideal fizz levels have been reached. Anything more and you’ll see froth build up inside the bottle.

To serve your drink, simply move the red switch on top of the cap to the center position before opening – this releases any extra pressure from within the bottle and prevents overflows by reducing the foam inside. When the hissing has stopped, move it all the way to the right to unlock the FusionCap. There’s a failsafe here if the foam rises too quickly to the top when you’re releasing the pressure – you just move the red switch back to the left position to lock the FusionCap in place again to prevent mishaps.

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Breville the InFizz Fusion sparkling beverage maker in Brushed Steel

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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Breville the InFizz Fusion sparkling beverage maker in Brushed Steel

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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Breville the InFizz Fusion sparkling beverage maker in Brushed Steel

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The FusionCap – as good as it is – takes a little getting used to. It’s not always clear whether you’ve locked the cap in place correctly when screwing onto the bottle, and occasionally the fit into the machine may not be accurate either. The bottle doesn’t fall when it’s not locked into the machine, so there’s no visual indication you’ve done it correctly. I learnt this the hard way when I was re-fizzing some flat Coke and half the bottle overflowed the moment I pressed the carbonation lever.

There is a pictorial user guide in the box but, like a lot of manuals, it doesn’t always make things clear. Once you get your head around using the FusionCap – which for me was largely experimentation than help from the user manual – you’ll be fizzing up drinks in no time at all!

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Breville the InFizz Fusion sparkling beverage maker in Brushed Steel

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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Breville the InFizz Fusion sparkling beverage maker in Brushed Steel

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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Breville the InFizz Fusion sparkling beverage maker in Brushed Steel

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

During my testing, I fizzed up orange juice (which isn’t very nice I have to say), some apple, pear and watermelon juice (all three of which I would highly recommend), coconut water (the jury is still out on whether this is good or not) and some wine. I carbonated bottles (700ml) of rosé and an Italian Lambrusco.

The former was a light carbonation to make sparkling wine and I was able to save the remaining in the Breville’s bottle with the FusionCap on to save some of that carbonation after serving myself a glass. It stayed in the fridge for a couple of days. The Lambrusco, on the other hand, was already lightly carbonated, and adding more fizz brought out the flavours and made it a little sweeter.

There aren't specific fizz levels on the InFizz Fusion – you can repeatedly press the carbonating lever till you hear the pop sound and go beyond too, but watch out for the foam getting too much inside the bottle. For light carbonation, a single push on the lever can suffice, but it's all up to you.

Carbonating a drink – alcoholic or non-alcoholic – drops the overall pH of the beverage and makes them sweeter. It’s exactly why sodas are so sweet and addictive.

Breville has opted to use any standard screw-type 60L gas canister for the InFizz Fusion (and the InFizz Aqua, its sparkling water maker; see the price section for more information). While the machine itself doesn’t ship with a gas cylinder when you purchase it, you can get a 60L screw-type SodaStream canister to use with the Breville. These are easy to refill or exchange for a new one at several stores in most markets.

Breville the InFizz Fusion sparkling beverage maker in Brushed Steel

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

As well as being a good beverage maker, the InFizz Fusion is also a good-looking appliance. It’s available in three finishes – I was sent this Brushed Stainless Steel version for this review – and, at first glance, you’d be forgiven for wondering why a kitchen faucet handle is on top of a beverage maker. But that’s the carbonation lever and, honestly, it’s a design aesthetic that easily grows on you. There’s a drip tray carved into the base and is hidden under a filigreed magnetic cover. It’s not boxy, like a lot of SodaStream models, and would look good on any kitchen countertop or home bar.

As with any Breville or Sage kitchen appliance, the InFizz Fusion isn’t cheap. It’s a lot more expensive than a SodaStream alternative, but I think it’s worth the extra cost considering it’s more versatile than being just a sparkling water maker.

Breville the InFizz Fusion review: price and availability

  • Announced October 2023, first in Australia
  • US and UK availability and pricing TBA
  • Australian RRP of AU$299

The Breville InFizz Fusion was first released in Australia on October 15, 2023, just in time for summer Down Under. It hasn't yet been launched in the US or the UK, but it’s possible that it might be available to purchase in other markets by June or July next year when summer comes calling in the Northern Hemisphere. We'll update this review when we know more about global availability.

There are two models in Breville’s InFizz range – the InFizz Aqua that makes only sparkling water like a SodaStream, and the InFizz Fusion that has been reviewed here. The former is cheaper at AU$249 (US and UK price TBA, but that converts to about $160 / £130), while the InFizz Fusion will set you back AU$299 (around $190 / £155).

The InFizz Fusion ships with a 1L plastic bottle that is not dishwasher safe, plus a long-handled bottle cleaning brush, a strainer (or sieve) and a funnel.

Additional bottles can also be purchased – a 2-pack of 600ml bottles is priced at $39.95 (about $25 / £20) and a 2-pack of 1L bottles is $49.95 (about $32 / £26).

It’s important to note that the Breville InFizz machines do not come with a gas cylinder. This will need to be purchased separately and will cost $14.99 / £12.99 / AU$35. The good news is these can easily be refilled at several stores or petrol/gas stations and you just pay for the gas.

Breville the InFizz Fusion sparkling beverage maker in Brushed Steel

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Should I buy the Breville InFizz Fusion?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

There aren’t too many big brands making sparkling beverage makers, but SodaStream is the closest and most popular competitor. There are quite a few SodaStream models to choose from, and they’re all priced quite reasonably. We have done the SodaStream Spirit One Touch review here at TechRadar but are yet to try other options, but considering we gave it four stars, we think most SodaStreams are a good purchase.

Another alternative would be the Twenty39 Qarbo, that’s available from Amazon US, Amazon UK and Amazon Australia. We haven’t tested this brand for ourselves, but we have seen it in action and tasted a beverage at an Amazon event in Sydney in July 2023.

Note that both brands are specifically only sparkling water makers, so you will need to purchase flavourings to get creative.

How I tested the Breville InFizz Fusion

Breville the InFizz Fusion sparkling beverage maker in Brushed Steel

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
  • Used it for a few days each week for three weeks
  • Carbonated different types of cold beverages
  • Purchased flavourings to make my own beverages

When I heard that the Breville InFizz Fusion could be used to fizz up any kind of drinkable liquid, I decided to put that to the test as much as I could. While I did make sparkling water for highball cocktails quite often, I also carbonated different store-bought fruit juices. These were specifically orange, apple, pear and watermelon. I also fizzed coconut water once.

I also carbonated a bottle of rosé wine lightly, then was able to store it in the fridge for a couple of days with the FusionCap to seal in the fizz. I did the same for an already-sparkling Italian Lambrusco wine. I think a lot of non-dry whites and moscatos would be great with a touch of carbonation for summer, while some chilled reds can be fizzed up to make refreshing sangrias.

I usually have a batch of homemade cold-brew iced tea at home when it gets hot, and I fizzed about 600ml of this as well. 

While I had to handwash the bottle each time I made a drink, it was good to know that the smell from the previous drink does not get absorbed by the plastic as it is wont to do on some food storage containers.

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed October 2023]

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