Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: one-minute review

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

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

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

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

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: Specs

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: Price and availability

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

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

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

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

• Value: 4/5

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: Design

• Utilizes two-brushroll system
• Small dust canister
• Lightweight and modular

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: Performance

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

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

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

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

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

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight: Report card

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Shark Stratos Corded Ultralight

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

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

Read more about how we test

Tested December 2023

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

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

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

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

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

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Specs

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

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

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

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

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

Value: 4 / 5

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Design

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Design: 4.5 / 5

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Performance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System: Battery

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

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

Battery: 4 / 5

Shark Cordless Detect Pro Auto-Empty System: Report card

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested

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

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

Read more about how we test

Tested December 2023

Tineco Pure One Station: Two-minute review

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

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

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

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

Tineco Pure One Station: Price and availability

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

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

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

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

• Value: 4 / 5

Tineco Pure One Station: Specs

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

Tineco Pure One Station: Design and features

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Tineco Pure One Station: Performance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Tineco Pure One Station: Battery life

• Up to 60 minutes of battery life
• Battery is not swappable

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

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

• Battery: 4.5 / 5 

Should you buy the Tineco Pure One Station?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Tineco Pure One Station: Also consider

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

How I tested Tineco Pure One Station

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

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

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

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2024

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI: Two-minute review

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI review: price, models and availability

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

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

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

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

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

• Value score: 4 / 5

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI: specs

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

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI review: Design

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Design score: 4 / 5

Samsung Bespoke Jet AI review: Performance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Also consider

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

How I tested the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI

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

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

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

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

Read more about how we test

[First reviewed December 2023]

Ultenic T10 Elite: 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