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. 

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: 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. 

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: 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. 

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. 

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.

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: 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”. 

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 

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: 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: 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: Specs

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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. 

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: 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 

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

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: 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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: 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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?

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

Two-minute review

The Eufy X9 Pro is designed to handle everything from mopping and vacuuming your floors to self-cleaning and intelligent home mapping. Accompanying all those features is a rather high price tag – and the question is, is it worth it? The answer to that really depends on what you’re looking for from this robot vacuum. 

Eufy is a smart home device and appliance brand owned by Anker. It’s known for creating some of the best home security cameras, best video doorbells, and more. There’s also a “Clean” branch with a focus on creating the best robot vacuums. The X9 Pro is the brand’s new, top-of-the-line robot vacuum, and the only one featuring an auto-cleaning base station. Eufy has other more economical vacuums, such as the L35 Hybrid+ with a mop feature or the RoboVac G20, which only vacuums. 

Following use of the Eufy Clean X9 Pro over the past few weeks, I’ve been impressed by its ability to travel around my two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with ease, vacuuming and mopping simultaneously. The device has rarely become stuck and has managed to avoid almost all obstacles thanks to an AI camera and sensors. I’ve even been able to hear the suction on the vacuum increase and see the mops lift every time it has made contact with a rug.  The device uses an app that successfully created an intelligent map of my space and has made it relatively simple to adjust the robot vacuum’s settings. 

The vacuum feature of the Eufy Clean X9 Pro did a decent job of picking up lighter debris, but larger messes – especially on rugs – proved too big a task for it. Note that there’s no auto-emptying dust box here, something you’ll often find on robovacs in a similar price category. 

Nevertheless, the Eufy Clean X9 Pro shines where mopping is concerned. Its two rotating, plush mopping cloths apply just enough pressure to clean almost every spot on the floor, including sticky syrup, coffee drips, and muddy footprints. The base even washes the mopping cloths during and after each clean, along with refilling the vacuum’s water tank and drying the mops to prevent smells. Its mopping ability is a big step above the vibrating mops I’ve seen on the majority of other robot vacuums on the market.

Anyone who wants a more hands-off cleaning experience could benefit from the Eufy Clean X9 Pro. It will have no problem handling your lighter vacuuming needs and is more than ready to tackle those bigger stains on your floors with its mops. You’ll appreciate being able to hand off some of the household chores to this device. 

Eufy X9 Pro: Price and availability

• List price: $899.99 / £899.99 / AU$1,499.95 
• Where is it available: Available in the US, UK and Australia

The Eufy Clean X9 Pro is available direct from Eufy Clean’s US, UK, and Australian websites. You can also find it on Amazon in the US and Amazon UK. 

This vacuum is Eufy’s top-of-the-line model, and the price reflects that; but for the money you get impressive dual rotating mops, an auto-cleaning base station, AI mapping, and 5,500Pa suction. However, the mopping features come at the cost of a self-emptying dust box, something that many robovacs in a similar price category include. 

You’ll also have to consider upkeep costs. The mops will need to be changed most often, and a single replacement for the two cloths will set you back $29. Other accessories such as brushes and filters come in around the $15-39 mark, but won’t need to be switched out as often.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Eufy Clean X9 Pro: Specifications

Eufy Clean X9 Pro: Design

• Sleek but large base station with mop auto cleaning 
• 13.9oz/410ml dust bin with no auto-empty feature 
• Liftable thick, plush mopping cloths 

The Eufy Clean X9 Pro arrived in a large, hefty box and was almost completely put together. All I needed to do was remove some tape, fill the clean water reservoir, and plug it in. Next, I downloaded the app, which offers guidance on connecting the robot vacuum to your Wi-Fi. In total, setup took about 10 minutes, and after a full charge, the vac was ready to set out on the first clean. 

The base station features nicely rounded edges, making it a bit more attractive than other vacuums I’ve tested, and the robot vacuum tucks neatly into it for charging and mop washing. However, it’s rather chunky, measuring 17.4 x 16.6.2 x 16.4in/44.3 x 42.2 x 41.6cm. As such, those with smaller spaces might want to consider a more compact option. 

That larger form factor is necessary to house the clean and dirty water reservoirs, both of which hold about a gallon of water. Those reservoirs are made of sturdy plastic with a locking hinge to hold them closed and a built-in handle for carrying. There’s also a built-in heated drying mechanism to prevent the mop from becoming moldy and smelly; and I can attest that following a few weeks of use, there’s no smell. 

I particularly like the sleek, all-black color scheme of the base station and vacuum. Both components are mainly matte, helping prevent handprints and other smudges, with much of it built of a durable plastic. 

As for the actual robot vacuum, it’s of a similar size to most other robot vacuums. However, it branches away from the traditional circular design for a more squarish look with rounded edges. There are various sensors on the machine for obstacle avoidance and carpet detection, which add to its height, and which also mean it might struggle to clean under lower furniture. There are only a few buttons on the vacuum itself, since much of the control is via the app. A recharge button sends the vacuum back to the base station, a spot cleaning mode button cleans a 4.9 x 4.9ft/1.5 x 1.5m area, and a start/pause button is self-explanatory. 

Open up the hinged lid of the vacuum and you’ll find a good-sized dust box with a 13.9oz/410ml capacity, with a spare filter included in the box. Eufy claims this dust box should be emptied following every 10 hours of use, but whether or not you’ll have to do so will depend on how dirty your space is. I found it needed to be emptied more frequently. Luckily, the dust box is easy enough to remove – although even better would have been the inclusion of an auto-emptying feature on the base station. At least you won’t need to worry about purchasing extra dust bags down the road, keeping costs lower. 

Flip over the vacuum and you’ll find one side brush, a roller brush, and two heavy-duty rotating mopping cloths. I have to say the mopping cloths are much thicker and plusher than the pads on other machines, giving this vacuum an edge when it comes to mopping performance. Those cloths also auto-lift when the vacuum comes into contact with carpet. 

• Design score: 4 / 5 

Eufy X9 Pro: Performance

•  Excellent mopping ability 
•  Vacuum picks up lighter debris, but fails to clean larger messes 
•  Decent navigation and object detection 

The Eufy Clean X9 Pro was simple to get started. You can send it out on the first clean without even having to create a map. However, for mapping, Eufy recommends that you tidy up your space for greater accuracy, which includes picking up tassel rugs and getting any loose wires out of the way. That took less than a minute, and I was ready to send it out. 

The standard setting of the robovac on the first clean included vacuuming and mopping simultaneously. The water reservoir on the base station will fill up the vacuum with water, which is a quiet process hitting about 50db, and then the device will announce it’s heading out on a clean. It will also make you aware if it becomes stuck, and when it’s heading back to the base station. 

While roaming my two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment, it did a great job of getting as close to my walls as possible and skirting around furniture. Although the AI sensors on the vacuum did misjudge my record stand; it wedged itself under it and needed rescuing. During other cleans, the X9 Pro continued to become stuck, eventually freeing itself. Unfortunately, that sensor on top – when working properly – prevented the vacuum from fitting under a good deal of my shelving. I’d occasionally place objects in its path, and the device would usually lightly tap the object and go around it, so no complaints there. 

I found the robot vacuum would struggle with some of my rugs, but never actually got stuck. The machine also did this strange little dance around the edges of the rugs. When fully on a rug, the mopping cloths lifted every time without fail, lowering as soon as the vacuum hit a hard floor – none of the rugs in my home were left damp by the mops. 

Overall, the Eufy Clean X9 Pro did a decent job of picking up smaller debris in its path, and did so quietly at around 60-65db, depending on the flooring it was on. The sound wasn’t too distracting, with a consistent noise that matched a sound level similar to my window air conditioner.  

As I mentioned, the mop has been my favorite feature of this robot vacuum. It uses two plush mopping cloths that apply 2lbs/1kg of pressure, rotating three times per second, which is different to the typical vibrating pad.  In my opinion, they do a much better job of lifting dirt off the floors. The mops picked up all the coffee stains, food spills, and footprints on my floor without problem. I even spread yogurt and syrup on the floor to test the mop, and the mess was gone following just a single pass-through. I was blown away. Note that you can also adjust the level of water it uses, with noticeably more water on the floor at the higher setting. 

Before every clean that includes mopping, the X9 Pro will take about 3 minutes to get the mop ready. Then during the cleaning, every 10 minutes, the device will head back to the base station to wash the mops, taking another 3 minutes to clean. It is possible to adjust the time between washing via the app. I found that I’d go through almost the entire clean water reservoir with each full clean of my apartment, which is a good deal of water. However, I know the mops were doing a great job judging by the nasty water in the dirty water reservoir. Luckily, you’ll get a notification on when to change those reservoirs. 

As much as I love the mopping feature, I can’t say as much for vacuuming. It’s mediocre at best, and it doesn’t help that there’s no self-emptying dust box, which you’ll find in most other vacuums at this price point. The X9 Pro did a decent job of picking up lighter debris, but when I tested its ability using a more concentrated mess of oats and flour on hard floors, the side brush would end up spreading oats around while picking up most. It performed the same at all suction levels, including max. 

On my rug, performance was even more pathetic, leaving almost the entirety of the flour and oats behind. Several whole home cleanings later, the mess on my rug is still there. I wouldn’t rely on this vacuum to clean up any bigger, concentrated messes. A standup vacuum or broom would be better in these situations. 

As far as cleaning and maintenance is concerned, the X9 Pro offers easy upkeep. You’ll have to wipe down the sensors and empty the dust box occasionally, the clean water reservoir will need to be filled and the dirty water reservoir emptied; but both come out easily and latch shut, so you don’t need to worry about spilling everywhere. The mopping cloths are washed and dried by the base station, so you’ll just need to replace them once they look worn out, which is likely to be every couple of months or so. Beyond that, the app keeps track of when you’ll need to replace different components such as the brushes and filters.  Luckily, these parts should be good to go for 100+ hours. 

• Performance score: 4 / 5  

Eufy X9 Pro: App

• Creates an accurate map of your space 
• Easy to adjust vacuum/mopping settings 
• Voice assistant support 

As soon as you download the Eufy Clean app and open it, you’ll be prompted to create or log in to your profile. After that super simple process, it will guide you through the rest of the setup of the Eufy X9 Pro, including connecting it to Wi-Fi. All in all,  the process took about five minutes. From there, navigating the app is on a par with other robot vacuum apps I’ve used. When you open the app, your home screen will display your connected devices, and simply tapping on the Eufy X9 Pro will bring you to all the settings for the vacuum. 

A map of your space is created following the first clean, and it even sections off rooms, making notes of obstacles. I found the results mostly accurate, with every room in my two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment included. 

There were a few slight adjustments to the map needed, but this is easy through the app; you can change the room names, room cleaning sequence, and create no-go zones – which was handy for my pesky tassel rugs, and is also great for homes with stairs or other hazards.  However, unlike some maps on other robot vacuums I’ve used, this one only differentiates floor types and notes certain obstacles when in use, making it more difficult to determine which areas to block off. 

For cleaning, the app has an auto whole-home cleaning option, alongside the ability to select specific rooms or create zones for certain spots you may want to clean. It’s also possible to change the mode of cleaning from mopping and vacuuming to just one or the other. You can adjust the suction level of the vacuum and the water level of the mop. All these changes are achieved by selecting the mode button on the corner button of the map page. 

Further setting options can be found by selecting the icon in the top-right corner. There you can set schedules, including days of the week and times of cleans, and check when different components such as brushes need to be washed or cleaned. There’s even a remote control for moving the vacuum, similar to a remote-control car.  However, when you move the vacuum this way,  the map of your space disappears, and you’ll need to go back to your settings and reload your saved map – a slight inconvenience but nothing major. 

Beyond settings for the vacuum, in the profile section on the main homepage of the app, it’s possible to set up voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Amazon Alexa is slightly easier to connect than Google Assistant, but both work similarly. After setup, you can ask the vacuum to perform more basic functions like “clean” or “go home.” 

Overall, there are no standout settings on the Eufy X9 Pro’s app, but neither is it missing any important features. Most should be able to navigate the app with relative ease having used it a few times. 

• App score: 4 / 5 

Eufy X9 Pro: Battery life

• Battery lasted 150 minutes at the standard vacuum/mopping setting 
• Recharging in the base station takes four hours 
• Automatically goes out to complete cleaning task when the battery hits 75% 

When testing the battery, I sent the Eufy Clean X9 Pro out on a typical clean, which involved vacuuming at the standard setting and mopping at a medium water level. The vacuum would also go back to refill the mop every 10 minutes. It finished cleaning my space in just over 2 hours with 20% battery life remaining. I sent it back out on the same cleaning route, and after another 20 minutes of cleaning, the vacuum hit 9% battery life, automatically heading back to the base station. 

In total, the battery lasted about 150 minutes – a very acceptable amount of time. Of course, this number will fluctuate depending on the robot vacuum’s cleaning settings.  I couldn’t find the manufacturer’s battery life claims. 

Recharging from 9% back to 100% took four hours, but when the battery hits 75%, the vacuum will go out and complete any cleaning task that it didn’t finish – unless you turn off this feature in the app. I didn’t encounter any issues while charging the battery. Every time a clean was complete, the Eufy X9 Pro would head back to the base and begin charging.

• Battery life score: 4.5 / 5 

Should I buy the Eufy X9 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy if...

Eufy X9 Pro: Also consider

If a robot vacuum isn't for you, why not consider these other vacuum options?

How I tested Eufy X9 Pro

• Used over the course of three weeks to test the majority of settings.  
• Flooring consists of hard floors and rugs  

I tested the Eufy Clean X9 Pro in my two-bedroom, two-bathroom over three weeks. I would send it out to perform cleans many times throughout the week, using almost all the different settings on the robot vacuum.  I placed it in the center of my main living space for easier access to all the rooms. The flooring in my home consists of a hard laminate throughout, with a few rugs, including some tassel options scattered about. Unfortunately, I don’t have any carpets to test on. 

Before using the robot vacuum, I ensured my floors were free of clothes and other possible obstructions, just as I would when vacuuming with an upright vacuum. I picked up smaller tassel rugs and cables. In total, I may have spent one minute of my time doing this before each clean, but that tiny bit of effort was worth it for optimal results. 

First reviewed September 2023

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine: two-minute review

The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine (try saying that quickly a few times!) is the brand’s first and only two-in-one vacuum cleaner and mop. It's essentially a Dyson stick vacuum with an extra attachment for mopping, and it's designed as an all-in-one option for people with both hard floor and carpet in their homes.

The vacuum is essentially 2021's Dyson V15 Detect – one down from the best Dyson vacuums in terms of specs, and one of the best cordless vacuums around overall. For this review, I tested a slightly upgraded, Australia-only version, which borrows a few features from the 2022 Dyson Gen5detect, including an integrated crevice tool and upgraded vacuum floorheads. Either way, the vacuuming is excellent, with advanced features like automatic suction adjustment based on dirt levels, and a Fluffy floorhead with a laser to illuminate hidden dirt.

The real star of the show, however, is the Submarine wet roller head for mopping. In my tests, this performed extremely well, handling everyday cleans as well as more specific tasks such as clearing a thick, almost-dry food spill, and muddy boot prints. The small water tanks mean it's better suited to relatively small mopping tasks, but overall I was very impressed with its cleaning performance.

That said, it suffers from one significant design flaw – the dirty water tank is not fully sealed and, as it gets full, it can spill. The stick vacuum’s LED display shows the clean water level only, meaning there’s no way to know how much dirty water is collecting. (The brand has addressed this flaw with its dedicated wet cleaner, which has fully sealed, transparent water tanks – read our full Dyson WashG1 review for more on that one.)

Moreover, as the wet roller continues cleaning, at some point it can start to leave dirty streaks, particularly when you’ve paused at a spot. As long as you keep moving, it’s fine. But when you do stop to remove the Submarine cleaning head to give it a wash, not only will the saturated roller leave a streak, you'll get some dirty water spilling out too which even its drip tray – yes, Dyson has thoughtfully included one – can't prevent.

If you can figure out how to avoid those spills – I sure couldn’t in the few weeks I was testing the V15s Detect Submarine – then Dyson’s cordless vacuum mop could be a great, space-saving buy. And considering it’s a Dyson with dual functionality, it’s priced rather well too. That's the short version; read on for my full Dyson V15s Detect Submarine review.

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine review: price & availability

• Launched July 2023
• List price: from $949.99 / £599.99 / AU$949

The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine was announced in July 2023, and came out in Australia first before hitting the US and UK markets.

In the US, the V15s Detect Submarine has a list price of $949.99, and in the UK it's £799.99.

Australian shopper have the choice of two V15s models. The standard one is called the V15s Detect Absolute, and costs AU$1,549, and then there's a Complete version (which I tested for this review) for AU$1,649. The Complete model has features taken from the Gen5detect stick vacuum, along with a freestanding floor dock.

While it's obviously still expensive, I think you're getting decent value for money here, because the package includes not only an advanced Dyson stick vacuum, but a mop too. (Prices for the V15 on its own start from $749.99 / £649.99 / AU$1,449.)

If you already have a different Dyson vacuum, you can't just purchase a Submarine floorhead and pop it on – it's not compatible with any other stick vacuums, even the standard V15, because the software has been rewired in the V15s to support vacuuming and mopping.

• Value score: 4 / 5

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine: Specs

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine review: Design

• Base model is a Dyson stick vacuum, with an extra mop floorhead
• Advanced vacuuming, with automatic suction adjustment
• Relatively small water tanks on mop head

If you looked at the V15s Detect Submarine stick vacuum, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was just the V15 Detect vacuum. And that's essentially exactly what it is – the 'Submarine' part is entirely in the extra mopping floorhead.

The model I tested for this review (the Complete model, available in Australia only) borrows some features from the newer Gen5detect vacuum. For example, it has an integrated crevice tool hidden in the main wand (see exactly how the two vacuums compare in our Dyson Gen5detect vs V15 Detect feature).

Unfortunately, whichever version you go for, it'll be powered by a trigger, which needs to be continually pressed for use. That saddens me – Dyson swapped it for a single-press button on the Gen5detect; a big upgrade in my opinion.

That minor annoyance aside, you're getting an impressive vacuum here. On the main machine you'll find a powerful motor, cylone array, and washable filter. There are three power modes, which you swap using a button. One of these modes will automatically adjust suction based on how dirty the floor is. In fact, it'll even report exactly what it's sucking up as it does so, on the LDC screen on the main machine.

This screen is also used to provide other useful information, such as how long you have left on the battery in the current suction mode. In mopping mode (which I'll get into in a second) it'll tell you how much clean water you have left.

The bin-empty mechanism is straightforward and effective, although you will still need to watch out for the hair that gets tangled around the bin’s inner metal cylinder – these can be hard to remove and, as before, not the most hygienic cleaning method as Dyson would have us believe.

Submarine floorhead

The big news, though, is the mop floorhead. It took Dyson a while time to get there but it’s finally competing with the likes of the Samsung Bespoke Jet and the LG CordZero A9 Kompressor Aqua. With typical Dyson aesthetic, the new Submarine wet roller head has clean lines, a velvet roller, a small clean water ‘bottle’ (yes, it does resemble a water bottle) and, somewhere behind it all, a small compartment for the dirty mop water to collect. The entire Submarine wet roller is washable.

This is where someone at Dyson didn’t think things through as the compartment isn’t well sealed. That means that after you finish mopping and you want to remove the head to clean it, you will be dripping water on the floor as it sloshes around due to the movement.

The only way that I found to avoid this is to make sure the drip tray – a grey plastic tray that fits under the Submarine head – is placed by the sink you’re going to be cleaning the head at before you start to mop. The moment you finish, place the drip tray under the head and then detach it. It’s not foolproof though and you might just need the head again to mop up the spill you just created.

Just going by the size, I thought the Submarine roller head would be heavy, but it’s surprisingly not. Even with water filled, the roller’s movement begins to pull the vacuum as soon as you press the power trigger, so moving it along a hard floor is very easy.

Maintaining the Submarine is easy as the velvet roller comes off and is fully washable, and you can rinse out the entire cleaning head – press a marked red button and the two parts slide apart.

Vacuum tools

In terms of vacuuming floorheads, there are two. The Digital Motorbar head is suitable for use on both hard floor and carpet, and is the head that needs to be attached if you want to use the automatic suction adjustment mode.

There's also a Fluffy Optic floorhead especially for use on hard floors. This has an integrated laser to highlight dirt that otherwise might go missed. The design was upgraded for the Gen5detect to be broader, brighter and (I found) much more useful. (Head to our Dyson vacuum tools guide for more on this.) The roller itself is washable.

Because I was testing the upgraded version of the V15s, my model also had an integrated crevice tool. While useful, I prefer it as a separate attachment – the integrated version needs to fit inside the tube of the handstick, resulting in it being short and the opening too round and broad.

The cutaway for the opening is angled too acutely, so you don’t necessarily create a seal when vacuuming a corner or skirting boards, and no dust gets sucked up. With the separate attachment, which comes with the standard version of the Submarine, the slim opening is more efficient and it can be attached to the end of the tube, giving you more reach.

Another thing I have to talk about is the dock. The standard model comes with a wall dock similar to that you'll find with most Dyson vacuums.

However, the model I tested came with a freestanding 'Free Dok Multi'. This dock is far from what I expect from Dyson. The plastic feels flimsy, the parts aren’t easy to fit together and feel like they’ll break if I apply too much force, and the white plastic clashes really badly with the rest of the Dyson color aesthetic.

Moreover, if you do get the Free Dok Multi, you can’t stick it into a corner or against a wall. There is only one spot to hang one of the three large attachments that come with the machine, so at least one is going to be hanging off the side slots, and you have to account for its length. So the space the Free Dok Multi takes is more than its slimline look would suggest.

Unlike both the Gen5detect and the V15 Detect, I find the V15s Detect Submarine a lot easier to move around, no matter which cleaning head I’m using. According to Dyson’s spec sheet, the Complete model weighs 3.8kg, compared to the V15 Detect at 3.1kg and the Gen5detect at 3.5kg. I think that’s a mistake as it feels lighter than the V15 Detect in the hand, and the Submarine roller just makes it super easy to drag along a floor. I’ve tried measuring the machine myself on a weighing scale, but because I have to hold it in place, the measurements aren’t accurate and come in at just under 3kg, which can’t be right either.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine review: Performance

• Excellent mopping capabilities
• Unsealed dirty water tank leaks easily
• Vacuuming is excellent

Considering the V15s Detect Submarine is Dyson’s first vacuum mop, I think the company has done quite well. The appliance’s vacuuming skills are, as before, very good. It’s the same vacuuming performance we saw from the V15 Detect, just quieter. So carpets are well taken care of, as are hard floors. The dynamic suction we’ve seen in the last few Dyson models is here, so most users will only need to leave the machine in Auto mode and it will do its thing.

The Digital Motorbar is the catch-all tool for any kind of floor. However, if it’s mostly fine dust in your home and you don’t have pets, then you might prefer the Fluffy Optic floorhead, which has an integrated laser to illuminate hidden dirt. My review model shipped with the upgraded version introduced with the Gen5detect, with a wider, brighter and far more useful laser. Unfortunately, you might find your V15s has the older version from the V15, which I didn't rate that highly.

So let’s talk mopping here in more detail. The Submarine wet roller cleaning attachment is pretty impressive when it comes to cleaning spills. Tracked muddy shoes through the house? The Submarine will take care of that and do an impressive job of cleaning up the mud – whether dried or wet – and the stains on the floor. Spilt water on the floor? The Submarine roller will mop that dry too. I used it in the bathroom of my test space (aka my own apartment), not just to mop the floor but also dry out the shower stall and I was very impressed indeed. Some stubborn food stains may need a few passes over them, but the Submarine is perfectly capable of handling that.

There's no suction when in mop mode, and this machine isn't really set up for tackling spillages that combine liquids and solids. If you need to clean up breakfast cereal, for example, you can mop up the milk, but deal with the cereal separately. Spills with smaller bits of food, like rice, can be cleared up easily by the Submarine, but you will need to give it a good wash and allow it to dry fully before using it again. In general, for wet-and-dry spills, you'd be much better off with the Dyson WashG1, which is designed specifically for that kind of thing.

Even more impressive is the fact that the roller seems to pick up a heck of a lot of fine dust that the Fluffy Optic misses and doesn’t even illuminate, leaving your floors spotless and a lot cleaner than just vacuuming. I’m basing this on the color of the mop water and how dirty the roller gets after just a few passes on an already-vacuumed floor.

What was not so impressive was the subsequent dirty water spills I had as I walked from said bathroom to the laundry room sink where I was going to wash the Submarine roller head. So I had to empty the dirty water and use the Submarine to mop up the spills anyway.

This is far from ideal and clearly something Dyson didn’t think through. There’s no way to know how much mop water is filling up in the compartment behind the roller as the display only shows how much clean water you have left to work with. If it was the other way around, perhaps the unsealed compartment wouldn’t have been such a bother and I could empty the dirty water after mopping each room (which, again, is not ideal). Not everyone is going to lug the drip tray around as they mop or remember to place it exactly where you finish. And while this design flaw might seem like a small one, it ends up being a bigger issue for the end consumer to deal with.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Submarine attachment doesn’t hold a lot of clean water. You’ll be able to do a large living room only before you’ll need to refill the little bottle in the cleaning head. So if your multi-room home is all hard floors, you’ll need to fill it often and empty the dirty water just as often, which may not be ideal for everyone.

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine review: Battery life

• Up to 60 minutes of fade-free power
• Average of 42 minutes with motorized cleaning heads
• Replaceable battery pack

With the V15s Detect Submarine, Dyson’s gone back to the 60-minute battery pack it uses in the V15 Detect. That, I think, is a good move because the 70-minute battery used in the Gen5detect made the machine quite heavy and hard to move around or used as a handheld unit.

While it’s possible to get a full 60 minutes of runtime from the V15s Detect Submarine, that will only work with the non-motorized tools like the Hair Screw Tool and the Combination Tool or achievable in Eco mode. You’ll also get almost the whole 60 minutes with the Submarine roller head as the suction is switched off with it attached, however you'll run out of clean water long before you'll need to recharge the machine.

With the motorized tools – namely the Digital Motorhead and the Fluffy Optic – you can get anywhere between 40 to 45 minutes in Auto mode, depending on how often the dynamic suction comes into play. If your home is particularly dirty and the suction changes often, you may get less than 40 minutes, but you can also get up to 50 minutes if there isn't a lot of dust.

During my testing, I managed to get 62 minutes in Eco mode, but I wasn’t quite enthused by the clean I got in this mode. On the other hand, Boost is great for carpets but you can expect to run out of juice in about 8 minutes.

Topping up the battery, according to Dyson, should take 4.5 hours, but my test unit went from 20% to full in a smidge over 3 hours, so I expect empty to full shouldn’t take more than 3.5 hours.

• Battery score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

If you’re not sold on the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine, then take a look at the below alternatives as solid competitors instead.

How I tested the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine

• Used up to three times a week as main vacuum cleaner
• Spilt milky cereal, water and sauces on the floor to test mopping capabilities
• Avoided using detergents

I’ve used the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine two to three times a week for four weeks as my main vacuum, while also running the Dyson V15 Detect to compare suction during vacuuming. I allowed hair and dust to accumulate on the carpet in one room before the first test run.

I also scattered different-sized grain on the floor to test vacuuming, including sugar, rice, Cheerios and tapioca pearls. I then used the Digital Motorbar and the Fluffy Optic to vacuum to determine which one does best on such debris.

To test the mopping prowess, I poured cereal and milk on the floor, allowing it to dry. I first vacuumed up the cereal, then used the Submarine wet roller head to mop the dried, sticky milk. I also poured water on a patch of floor to mop up to see how well the patch dries. Dusty shoe prints and dried food on the floor were also mopped during different tests.

I’ve actively been testing and reviewing vacuum cleaners of all kinds for the last six years and have learnt what to look for when choosing a machine that’s best for different kinds of homes. I also place high importance on value for money in any appliance I test.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2023; updated Feb 2025

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum: two-minute review

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

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

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

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

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

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum review: price & availability

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

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

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

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

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

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Miele Boost CX1 specs

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

18lbs / 7.8kg

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum review: design

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Miele Boost CX1 vacuum review: performance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Miele Boost CX1 vacuum?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Miele CX1 vacuum

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shark CZ500UKT review: design

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shark CZ500UKT review: performance

• Delivers a thorough clean on carpet
• Quiet
• Maneuvers well

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Buy it if… 

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: July 2022

• Check out these great robot vacuum deals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shark CZ500UKT review: design

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shark CZ500UKT review: performance

• Delivers a thorough clean on carpet
• Quiet
• Maneuvers well

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Buy it if… 

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: July 2022

• Check out these great robot vacuum deals