The Tineco S11 also uses a click-in, swappable battery pack, so the only limit on its run time is how much you’re willing to spend on spare batteries (though, as we’ve argued, extra battery life tends to be overrated). Realistically, you can probably expect 25 to 30 minutes of cleaning time on a single charge. Short battery life was the most common complaint we found in our analysis irobot vacuum cleaner of customer reviews, but that’s true of nearly every cordless vacuum. Across the reviews we analyzed, the battery prematurely stopped holding a charge for about 2% of reviewers, which is better than average—way better than the 10% early failure rate for the Dyson V8. For what it’s worth, specs and measurements of raw power do not reliably tell you how well a vacuum works.
A. Cordless vacuums aren’t always as powerful as corded models, but it’s still possible to replace a corded vacuum with a corded one. Rather than having built-in batteries, most cordless Shark vacuum cleaners have removable batteries. This lets you buy a spare to switch out with your main battery if it runs out mid-clean. The battery life of Shark vacuums ranges from around 40 minutes on the low end to 120 minutes on the high end.
And on board storage keeps all of the tools—a dusting brush, crevice tool and extension wand—in one place and close by when you need them. It has good ratings from several other publications that test and review vacuums, but we didn’t find it to be outstanding on either bare floors or carpets. It doesn’t convert to a handheld vacuum, and the handling is stiff—though not top-heavy, as with most other cordless sticks. Another useful feature on the V15 is Auto mode, which automatically adjusts the suction level depending on the situation to maximize the cleaning ability while preserving battery life when possible. For the V15, the suction automatically changes depending on the floor type, using a brush-resistance sensor, as well as on how dirty an area is, based on what the built-in particle counter finds .
Here are the best stick vacuum deals available ahead of the sales event. If you can find it for $300 or less, we still love the Dyson V7 Motorhead, which was our favorite cordless vacuum for several years and likely still would be if Dyson hadn’t removed it from the “core lineup” in 2021. (A representative tells us that the V7 will still be available from some retailers at times, but not consistently.) The new entry-level model that should be consistently available is the Dyson V8 Animal. Its standard price is $400, which is a little steep compared with many other solid options.
Shark don’t really talk much about this in their marketing, but the suction didn’t dissipate much when the battery was running low, so that’s a huge bonus. Unfortunately, this vacuum has a very short runtime of just over 10 minutes, so you’ll need to work fast when cleaning bigger messes. It also doesn’t have a HEPA filter and does a terrible job of sealing in fine particles, so it isn’t the best option if you suffer from allergies. If that’s a concern, you could consider the Shark ION W1 WANDVAC, which has an onboard HEPA filter to trap allergens like pet dander, making it one of the best Shark vacuums for pet hair that we’ve tested.
It did well in most of our carpet-cleaning tests when it was running at maximum battery-draining suction, picking up a similar amount of sand and baking soda as the Dyson V8. However, in real-world testing, it failed to dig up nearly as much embedded hair and dust as the V8—particularly on its default, battery-saving suction setting, where it was notably weak. Even when the S11 did grab pet hair off the floor, the hair seemed more likely to get wrapped around the brush or jammed somewhere in the intake than with many other models.
In our tests, we found it super easy to assemble and use and we like the top-mounted dust cup that helps it get closer to the floor to better reach under low furniture. Brian Bennett is a senior writer for the home and outdoor section at CNET. He reviews a wide range of household and smart-home products. These include everything from cordless and robot vacuum cleaners to fire pits, grills and coffee makers. An NYC native, Brian now resides in bucolic Louisville, Kentucky where he rides longboards downhill in his free time. When shopping for a vacuum, the decision between a corded and cordless model depends on your specific needs and priorities.
She’s contributed to Forbes and smart home blogs like Smart Home Solver and TechDigg. Obviously this is what you want from a vacuum, and the Shark delivers. A combination of good suction and a clever brush bars sees to it. The brush bar on the vacuum has 2 parts to it; a traditional brush bar and a fur roller. The bristles of the brush work with the roller to dislodge dirt from both the ground that is being cleaned but also from itself.
Even still, our tester gives this Navigator model a 4.5-star rating for maneuverability and comments positively on the swivel steering. This type of steering will give you easier access to corners, and makes this pick a bit more pleasurable to use. Capture dry debris and spiff up your hard floors with a multi-purpose vacuum like the Shark VACMOP. It is designed for use on sealed hardwood, tile, or laminate floors, and glides effortlessly on them all. A tank for Shark cleaning solution, which is included in your purchase, is built into its body. The floor head uses replaceable mop pads that include a unique chamber for collecting debris, and features an easy-release button so you don’t have to touch the dirty pad when your cleaning session is done, too. My toddler makes crumby messes, one day I gave in and bought this Shark, I am so glad I did.