Whether it’s a vacuum cleaner, a hand dryer, an air purifier, or a fan, Dyson products rarely look like anything else on the market — and that’s particularly apparent at the company’s campus in Malmesbury, southwest England, where images of recent launches decorate the walls like modern art. The sprawling complex, in a particularly beautiful patch of Wiltshire countryside, is home to Dyson’s global Research, Design and Development (RDD) center, and the Dyson Institute, where students from around the world study while working alongside engineers on live projects. I visited the center to meet the company’s Chief Engineer Jake Dyson — son of founder Sir James Dyson — and learn more about the company’s approach to design.

Jake Dyson didn’t join his father’s business immediately; instead he set up a workshop and made a name for himself in the world of industrial lighting. Sitting in his office, I asked whether his experience in that sector had contributed to his work at Dyson today.

“Yes, it comes down to identifying problems and solving them,” he explained. “When LEDs first entered the market, I realized people weren’t cooling them properly. The promise of LEDs is that they should last a lifetime, but in reality they were being treated like disposable lightbulbs. I visited Osram in Asia, and they explained that if you keep the diode temperature below about 50C [120F, you can maintain brightness, color quality, and lifespan. That became my goal.

“I looked at how satellites manage heat. In space, temperatures swing from extremely hot to extremely cold, so they need precise thermal control. I applied similar thinking by designing systems that passively dissipate heat. For example, the heat moves away from the chip and is cooled by airflow, maintaining a stable temperature even at high power. That process, spotting a problem and solving it, is what drives everything.”

That problem-solving approach has always been the driving force behind the Dyson brand, and explains its unusual portfolio of products; its engineers have never been afraid to venture into new areas when there’s a problem to be solved.

“Sometimes it comes from frustration," said Jake Dyson. "'This product is rubbish, how can we make it better?’ Other times it’s curiosity: ‘Why does this work the way it does?’”

Problem-first design

James Dyson’s book Invention: A Life of Learning Through Failure, describes how the problem-first process led to the creation of many of the company’s most iconic and recognizable products — starting with a humble wheelbarrow. Dyson and his wife Deidre were renovating a house in Gloucestershire, England, and wanted to create a garden, but the traditional tools proved frustrating.

“I used a navy barrow in anger and its limitations became increasingly clear,” writes Dyson. “Cement slopped out of it. Its tubular legs sunk into the ground. It was hard to steer. Its sharp edges damaged doorframes. The more I used it, the more I realized that nobody had really thought about these problems or bothered to fix them.”

After much experimentation with shapes, materials, and manufacturing processes, the result was the Ballbarrow: a molded plastic bucket on a steel frame, with the conventional wheel replaced by a pneumatic ball made from EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate). This spread the weight of the load more evenly on soft ground, and was easier to maneuver than a wheel — and in bright orange, it looked unlike anything else at the time.

The product itself was a success, but due to a series of poor business decisions, Dyson senior eventually lost control of the company he had founded around it, Kirk-Dyson, and was ultimately kicked out by the other shareholders.

“I had lost five years of work by not valuing my creation,” he wrote. “I had failed to protect the one thing that was most valuable to me.”

It was a painful experience, but one he learned from as he pressed on with identifying and solving problems — starting with the creation of the first cyclonic vacuum cleaner, which he designed after realizing that dust bags don’t just serve to collect dust — they also act as filters that block airflow, drastically reducing suction power.

“I remembered the same clogging problem on the calico cloth with the powder coating in the Ballbarrow factory and the giant cyclone we had made to solve it,” he wrote. “What if I could develop a much smaller version and replace the clogging bag in a vacuum cleaner?”

Thousands of prototypes later (5,127 to be precise), he had the world’s first bagless vacuum — and a vast collection of patents to protect it.

Dyson’s understanding of airflow and cyclonic technology has informed almost all of the company’s subsequent products; but like the vacuum, each one started with a problem. The Dyson Airblade hand dryer was created to reduce waste paper towels; the Airmultiplier fan solved the issue of ‘choppy’ air from conventional fan blades; the Pure Hot+Cool purifier was made to tackle indoor air pollution; and the Supersonic hairdryer solved the problem of heavy and uncomfortable hairdryers with weighty motors.

In every case, the form of the finished product was dictated by the problem it was designed to solve — even if the result looked totally unlike established versions of the device.

“That’s why Dyson products often look unusual; they’re built around their function,” said Jake Dyson in his Malmesbury office. “They’re also beautiful. A hair dryer has a hole through it because of how the airflow works. Fans and other products expose their engineering principles through the way they look — we’re not hiding how things work, we’re expressing it.”

Creative color

Those unusual designs are often set off by equally unusual color schemes, which tend to highlight buttons, switches, removable canisters, and other functional parts.

“We have a team here, CMF, which is colors, materials and finishes, that look into the appearance but also materials of our products," said Jake Dyson.

The CMF team doesn’t just draw on experience from successful projects, but also failed ones like the cancelled Dyson electric car, which provided finish and material ideas for many of the company’s health and beauty devices.

Most recently, CMF lent its expertise to Dyson's first hand-held fan — the Dyson HushHet Mini Cool — which launched just in time for a series of heatwaves in the UK. It sold out almost immediately, and after testing it myself, I can see why; it’s compact, much more powerful than its closest rival, the Shark ChillPill, and more affordable to boot.

“We’ve seen strong demand [for the HushHet Mini Cool], and it’s one of those products where people don’t initially realize they need it but once they try it, they understand the value,” said Jake Dyson. “It’s designed to be reusable, not disposable like cheaper alternatives. I've seen people with the cheap plastic fans that break very [easily], but we wanted ours to be well engineered, durable, quiet and efficient.

“We’re working on scaling production, but demand has been very strong, so availability can sometimes be limited. That said, it is coming back to market.”

So what does the future hold? The company is investigating ways to use AI where it will actually add value, helping machines interpret data and make better decisions, and Jake Dyson says that "vision systems and new product directions" are the most exciting areas for him.

"We’ve historically been very strong in mechanical engineering motors, airflow, performance. But now, adding cameras and vision systems allows machines to detect what they’re looking at, understand it and act accordingly.

"That opens up entirely new categories of products and capabilities, so we’re moving from purely mechanical devices to machines that can see, think, and respond, and that’s where the next wave of innovation is coming from."

It'll be fascinating to see which problems the company will be looking to solve with those new technologies, and there's no way of knowing what the next generation of Dyson products will look like as the company expands into new areas. We'll just have to wait and see — but it's definitely not going to be boring.

For two years, I was TechRadar's chief vacuum tester. That wasn't my actual job title (more's the pity) but that is mostly what I was doing. My main takeaway from those very housework-heavy times is that most people should ignore the flashy cordless stick vacuums and just buy a corded upright. And that's especially true for anyone with pets, lots of carpet, or a home with many people living in it.

I'll get into exactly why I've turned into such a corded upright evangelist below, but I'd like to flag up first that if you were going to convert, now would be a great time to do so. We're just nearing the end of the Amazon Prime Day sales and there are a ton of discounts on corded upright vacuums from Shark — if you're quick. (Want to see? Skip my waffle and jump straight to the deals.)

• View the full Amazon Prime Day sale

Why buy a corded upright?

Why are corded upright vacuums the superior type of vacuum? Three big reasons:

#1. The suction is better

The main reason to choose a corded upright is because, as a general rule of thumb, the suction is almost always better than on a cordless model. If you have carpet, hairy pets, or a high-traffic household, it's just going to be much more effective at keeping it clean.

#2. They last longer

Speaking generally, corded uprights are typically more robust and longer-lasting than cordless options — possibly because often, on a cordless vacuum, the first thing to expire will be the battery. A decent lifespan on a cordless stick vac might be 2-5 years, whereas many upright models can run and run... my mum has a corded upright that used to belong to my grandmother, and has been in use for maybe two decades. It's still going strong.

#3. You can clean, uninterrupted, for longer

With a corded vacuum, you're never going to run out of juice mid-clean. Perhaps even more significant is that the dust cups are much bigger — the cup on a cordless stick vacuum generally be 0.8L at the most (many are smaller), whereas it's common to see 2L cups on uprights. If you're dealing with pet hair in particular, it's such a blessing not to have to traipse to the bin every 10 minutes.

Shark cordless upright deals

Okay then, let's get into the deals. We're nearing the end of Amazon Prime Day, but there are still some bargains to be had, if you're speedy. These Shark corded uprights all have decent discounts that are well worth checking out.

Which should I buy?

How do I tell the difference between these vacuums, I hear you ask? Well, some of them are slightly older models, but that might not be immediately obvious. Most are designed around the same 'lift away' system, where you can remove and hold the canister while you use the floorhead on the wand attached to the flexible nozzle.

A key differentiator to pay attention to is the attachments included. Most will come with your standard narrow nozzle and 'multi-tool' but some might also have a mini motorized head that's designed for use on furniture, and is especially useful at getting hair off upholstery.

The fanciest models will also have some advanced 'detection' features — for instance, they might be able to sense carpet or room edges and increase suction in response. The PowerDetect Upright has a nifty trick where it will suck up (rather than showploughing) debris when it's being pulled backwards. That feature makes a surprisingly big difference to how fast you can clean.

Cordless alternatives

Not convinced? There are some situations where a cordless vacuum is still a better choice. For instance, if you have mostly hard flooring (so don't need a ton of suction power for effective cleaning), or your home has lots of stairs (which would require some awkward traversing with a bulky, heavy upright), or you're trying to navigate many nooks and crannies (in which case the cord and chunky form factor is going to get annoying).

Here are the Prime Day deals I'd recommend on Shark cordless stick vacuums:

More Amazon Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Fans: from £20
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

Prime Day isn't just about Amazon anymore. The same great discounts can be found at other retailers, and crucially, you don't have to be an Amazon Prime member to unlock these savings.

I've taken a look at some of the best deals for vacuums and coffee machines at Amazon, and found a bunch of the same savings at Argos. In fact, two are actually better priced than Amazon's own discounts.

• Browse the full Amazon Prime Day sale

You can get the Delonghi ECAM220.22.GB automatic coffee machine at Argos for £270 (was £320) and the Dyson V12 Detect Slim cordless vacuum for £429.99 (was £549.99). That's a larger 15% and 20% saving, respectively, compared to Amazon.

I've included both of these deals in the list below, alongside a few other great vacuum and coffee machine deals at Argos that match the same discounts at Amazon. Have you found better deals at Argos? Let me know in the comments below.

Today's best coffee machine deals at Argos

Today's best vacuum deals at Argos

More Prime Day deals in the UK

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £13.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £20
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Gaming: £90 off PlayStation 5
• Headphones: up to 50% off Beats & Sony
• Laptops: from £149
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £79.99
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Shark & Roborock
• Wearables: up to 30% off Garmin & Oura

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Price & release date

• List price: $1,299.99 / £999.99
• Released March 2026

The Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal comes in at $1,299.99 / £999.99 — while it’s far from cheap, it’s pretty good value for what it offers. That being said, there are other robot vacuum cleaners with equally impressive features and better software at a similar price point.

Plus, you’ll need to maintain some parts of the vacuum; in particular, refills for the multi-floor cleaner ($13.99 / £14.99) and the odor-neutralizing puck ($9.99 – $14.99 / £7.99 – £15.99), as well as the usual replacement for things like side brushes and mop pads. Over time, these can add up, but you’ll scarcely find a robovac that doesn’t come with added costs at similar prices these days.

• Value: 4/5

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Design

Out of the box, you’ll find the vacuum, base, power chord, an anti-odor puck, one refill bottle of Shark’s multi-floor cleaner, two side brushes, plus the usual array of instructions and warranty documents.

The base stands at 17 x 18 x 14 inches / 43.2 x 45.7 x 35.6 cm, and comes in either black or white — mine was the latter, and I think it looks a lot more premium than the tackier black colorway. Enclosed in the lid of the base are the 2.74-litre / 96.65oz clean and 1.18-litre / 41.62oz waste water tanks, which lift out easily thanks to the retractable handles, as well as the bagless dirt compartment — I really appreciate that Shark opted for this so there’s one less thing to routinely replace.

You can remove the container with the press of a button situated on the side of the dock, and it’s also HEPA-filtered. There’s also a set of two filters you’ll need to clean every 1-2 months, depending on how often you use your robot vacuum, and a slot for one of Shark’s anti-odor pucks should dusty smells be an issue for you.

The vacuum itself is a fairly standard, rounded 2-in-1 robot vacuum, but a little tall and hefty at 5.35 inches / 13.6cm tall. The top houses its raised puck for LiDAR sensing, which works in tandem with the front of the device, where the cameras and other sensors, including a camera as well as LED and UV lights, to navigate your home and spot messes ripe for cleaning.

If you’d rather not use the app, you can use the four touch-sensitive buttons to activate mop and vacuum modes, send the vacuum home and connect to the Wi-Fi. A soft bumper surrounds the edges of the vacuum to prevent damage from any collisions, which are remarkably rare thanks to its top-tier obstacle avoidance, and you can remove its dust bin and mop plate from the rear of the device.

On the underside, you’ll find the wheels, brush bar, side brush, and a singular, flat mop pad. These aren’t my favorite type — a rondel will typically offer a deeper clean, better post-clean drying and less water waste. However, Shark has designed the robot vacuum to wiggle this mop pad to agitate dirt, which goes some of the ways to make up the difference.

Of note is that the vacuum seems to be a total dust magnet. I have mine placed beneath a desk, where I wouldn’t expect excessive levels of dust — however it’s constantly lined with a thick layer of the stuff.

• Design: 4/5

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Performance

Setup for the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal is pretty simple; using the app, you’ll connect the vacuum to your Wi-Fi, give it a name (I loved some of the suggestions like Clean Latifah), and after that, the robot vacuum will run its first mapping pass. Broadly, mine was accurate; my apartment has a slightly tricky layout for robot vacuums, including a half-tiled, half-carpeted kitchen-living room, and lots of doors to dodge.

After this first pass, the app will offer you a second mapping run, this time to detect flooring types. If you plan to regularly mop hard floors and have carpets or rugs to avoid, make sure to get this out of the way during setup; I couldn’t find any way to update this map after the fact.

Cleaning tests

I performed my standard pickup tests using oats, cornflour and brown rice to compare performance to other robot vacuums I’ve tested, and the results were a mixed bag. When setting the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal off for a standard, vacuum-only clean, I was immediately impressed as it zig-zagged across my floors, leaving them visibly refreshed — plus, it’s pretty quiet in action.

On hard floors, it excels thanks to a combination of its side brush, solid suction and the jet of air it blasts at hard-to-reach debris, ensuring floors are spick and span post-clean. On carpet, it’s slightly less impressive, especially in the edge cleaning department, but it still does a decent enough job. Its pickup of larger debris was very impressive on carpet, leaving little to nothing behind, but there was a small amount of powdery debris left behind on my medium-pile rugs — hair, however, is no problem, be it human or pet.

Next up, I tried a regular combination clean with vacuum and mopping, and that’s where my experience with the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal became a bit more mixed. The robot vacuum first fills its water tank at the base, proceeding to concurrently vacuum and mop your floors rather than splitting out the tasks. This helps to save time and battery; however, it does increase the risk of soggy carpets.

To avoid this, the robovac will lift its hind to keep the mop pad from drenching carpets — this reduces its effectiveness on carpets, though, as it crushes the side brush, and sometimes, while navigating, it will spin round and spit water across the floor, too. However, once it reaches hard floors, the results are pretty impressive; the mop pad agitates spills and stains with a back-and-forth scrubbing motion, and will reach into corners to make sure every spot is well-cleaned.

It does use a lot of water, though, and especially if you’re cleaning up larger spills, that means the PowerDetect UV Reveal can leave a streaky mess in its wake. I noticed this even more so when there was lots of debris to vacuum up during the clean; the PowerDetect UV Reveal left a clump of soggy oats behind like an owl pellet as well as white streaky marks across the floor, but I wouldn’t typically recommend regularly using your robot vacuum to collect large volume spills anyway. I have especially reflective kitchen tiles, so I noticed this a lot; on my less shiny bathroom tiles, it wasn’t as much of a problem.

Powering up to a higher suction or mopping setting does result in a more thorough cleaning job, especially on carpets, but it’s worth noting that this seems to make the excess water usage more noticeable.

Object detection and navigation

When the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal works, it really works, but I encountered a fair few bugs and limitations that do impact its overall effectiveness — for example, when doing a combination clean, it sometimes skips cleaning certain areas and rooms, or neglects to clean areas I’ve specifically asked it to.

Its LiDAR scanner makes accurate room maps, though they’ll be a bit odd-looking if you have lots of furniture at floor level. That’s unavoidable, to a degree, but I wish it had investigated those areas more closely to find the real edges of the walls; that way if furniture moves around your home, you wouldn’t need to remap.

Its object detection is incredible — perhaps too good, as the robot vacuum avoided my low-hanging (but not floor-length) curtains like the plague, giving wide berth to even the most inconsequential of obstacles. Generally, it’s not too much of a problem, but improved smarts would mean there’s slightly less preparation required pre-clean to ensure your entire floor gets cleaned properly. I was also massively impressed by the ease with which it lifted itself over and cleared thresholds, chair legs, and the like, leading to quicker cleans.

UV detection

After its standard cleaning cycles, the robovac will return to its base, but the cleaning isn’t over quite yet. It’ll issue an ominous warning once it’s refreshed itself: "I detected stains. I'm heading back out to aggressively attack them."

Here’s where the magic of the PowerDetect UV Reveal is really on show; as it cleans, it flares a blue UV light, with which you can see for yourself the stubborn and sometimes invisible stains on your floor, which it will then return to after a standard cleaning run. It was pretty cringe-inducing to watch it navigate areas I hadn’t cleaned recently and see just how much grime was there.

Dock

After the job’s complete, it’ll return for a final time to the base and begin the mop pad maintenance process quietly in the background with just a low humming noise, washing it with hot water before drying it to reduce contamination. In my testing, the robovac lived up to its estimated 3-hour battery life; a 45-minute clean on standard settings dropped the battery by 25%. A full recharge takes roughly 4 hours, and the vacuum won’t perform new tasks when at less than 20%.

• Performance: 4/5

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Software and app

The app is quite restrictive when it comes to home and schedule customization; you can only have one map, so multi-floor cleaning isn’t possible, no-go zones are always rectangular and you can only create two schedules per day.

I also noticed that the robot vacuum would often get confused when it initiated a clean, forging straight to the corner of my living room and spinning there for a good few minutes before figuring out its path to the hallway. On closer inspection, this happened most frequently when I sent it to clean somewhere other than its home room; for some reason, it wanted to head straight through my wall instead of around and through the doorway.

I couldn’t find a quiet mode, either, meaning if you ever wanted to use the vacuum at night or when little ones are sleeping, they might awaken to an ominous threat from your robovac.

These issues, among other software quirks, make for the primary complaint I have surrounding the Shark PowerDetect UV reveal; its app and on-board smarts hold back an otherwise high-performance robot vacuum.

• Software: 2.5/5

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Specs

Should I buy Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal?

Buy it if…

You value well sanitized floors
With its UV detection, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal offers peace of mind and broadly great results, especially in the mopping department… if you can handle slow-drying floors.

You have pets
Again, the UV detection comes in clutch here for invisible pet messes, but it’s also a deft hand at hair collection.

You have a large home
With its great battery life and efficiency, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal is unlikely to run out of juice before finishing the job even in larger homes.

Don’t buy it if…

You have lots of wooden floors or shiny tiles

While it’ll clean these floor types within an inch of their life, the residual water and cleaning solution could warp or damage wooden floors and leave streaky marks on particularly reflective ones.

You have lots of carpet
Don’t get me wrong, this is an accomplished vacuum for carpets, but if you want to do combination cleans, you might end up with a few soggy spots left in its wake.

You want to vacuum multiple floors — or other smart features

I liken the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal to a power washer in the hands of a caveman; it’s only as good as the software allows it to be, and with frustrations like single-floor mapping, ignored instructions and

Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal review: Also consider

How I tested the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal

I tested the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal for two weeks in my home, completing my standardised pickup, edge cleaning and mopping tests in addition to simulating tests for features like UV detection. I used the app, making a map of my home and testing various features like scheduling and room-by-room cleaning tasks, closely observing the vacuum when in use to note any navigation or performance issues during testing.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed June 2026

Amazon Prime Day is imminent, but Argos has beaten Amazon to the punch with its catchily named 'Seize the sale' event, which includes offers on home tech, toys, garden essentials for the summer weather, and more. You can view the full Argos sale here.

• See all early Prime Day deals at Amazon UK

I have to say that Argos' sale is pretty light on tech deals, and sadly isn't even heavy on cooling options. However, there are a few nice deals in there, including the LG C5 55-inch OLED TV for a record-low £989 (down from £1,099) with free delivery, and the five-star Philips Baristina bean-to-cup coffee machine for a bargain £255 (down from £299), plus a Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool Fan for £289 (down from £399).

Argos 'Seize the sale' Quick Links

• See all Appliance deals
• See all Garden & DIY deals
• See all Health & Beauty deals
• See all Tech deals
• See all Toys & Games deals

My top 12 Argos 'Seize the sale' deals

More of the best Amazon Prime Day deals

• Amazon Prime: get a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire, Ring & Blink from £21.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: up to 33% off AirPods & Apple Watch
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja & Tefal
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from £5
• Fans: from £27.59
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

Full disclosure: I only went in for Aldi's Mohave Ghost perfume dupe (it's called 'Desert Spirit', it's excellent and only £6.99) and that nice coconut oil toilet roll you can get. Alas, I strayed too long in the middle aisle didn't I, buying things I never knew I needed. And here we are.…

Except that this little "was £24.99, now £19.99" bargain is so good, I'm using the tech publication that employs me to spread the word: I think you need it too.

I'm normally TR's audio editor, but that's not important right now. What's important is that these types of UV mattress vacs normally cost upwards of £55 — and as far as I can tell, there's very little difference between those expensive models and this little beauty, when we get down to brass tacks.

What you're looking at is the Ambiano UV Sanitising Mattress Vacuum. What exactly is a mattress vacuum, or more specifically, how is it different to any other small vacuum cleaner one might pick up in a middle aisle of a supermarket?

I also did not know these answers until last week, but mattress vacuums are very different beasts to the more general best vacuum cleaners on the market. These are specialised handheld cleaners designed to extract dust mites, dead skin, and allergens from deep within fabric using suction, UV-C light, and sometimes extra features such as heat drying and 'tapping'.

That last perk is a feature of the Ambiano you're reading about and — fair warning — it gets a bit gross from here on in.

New mantra: dead skin is part of life (and that's OK)

On the underside of the Ambiano Mattress Vacuum, the bit that looks like a plastic cushion for the horizontal NutriBullet-esque part to rest on, are two rubberised strips with little uniform protrusions on. Turn the power on and these strips start shaking-slash-oscillating very quickly, to 'strike' or agitate the fabric you're slowly rolling them over.

This tapping action is often called 'beating' and dislodges dust mites and their fecal matter, hair (human, although sadly dust mites do have hair and it's best not to dwell on that), dander, dead skin and allergens out of the fibres and into the removable dust canister, via the washable HEPA filter. Ew. (*Whispers to self) It's just a body, and dead skin is a part of life…

Thus, in this rock-bottom price mattress vac, you're getting a fairly sizeable UV light (or more specifically a UV-C light, for a shorter wavelength) to 'sanitise' your fabric, plus that tapping feature. These aren't selectable; the tapping motion fires up when you depress the power button on the handle and the UV light illuminates when the vacuum is in contact with surfaces. However, I've read reviews of pricier mattress vacs that complain it's a workout pushing the head hard enough into a mattress to make the light come on, and that certainly wasn't the case for me. A simple light touch and slow motion roll across my mattress was all it took.

What you're not getting on the Ambiano Mattress Vacuum is a cordless experience (although apparently most mattress vacuums are corded), a hot air function (meant to help prevent mould) or a 'smart dust' sensor. These feature on more expensive vacuums and apparently, said sensor goes from red to green when the vac thinks your mattress is clean. Unfortunately as a working journalist I decide when things are clean, in accordance with the limited time I have for cleaning.

Finally, with a maximum 300W of power, the Ambiano is OK rather than great for suction when pitted against pricier rivals — but check our vacuum cleaner wattage explainer for more information on how many watts of power is good for a vacuum cleaner, depending on its design. Again, more expensive options list 500W or even 700W ratings, but I maintain that for a £19 impulse buy, the Ambiano is great value and boasts several features I never knew I needed.

I couldn't find a kPa suction rating for the Ambiano (the box promised manual inside; alas, this had been half-inched during its time in the Aldi middle aisle cage) but it's no slouch. I could feel the power of it against the mattress and cushions and given how much it accumulated, it does a job.

Do you need a mattress vacuum?

Having used this inexpensive one, I'm going to say yes. And I thoroughly recommend it at its ultra-low price. This is all new for me too, but nearly two weeks in, I'm shocked at the difference it has made to the place.

I have a mattress topper on the mattress at all times, which should be good at keeping dust out of the mattress proper, right? Apparently not. I wash that fairly regularly and still give it, and the mattress, a once-over with my trusty Henry (using just the tube bit; no extra attachments) whenever I remember. But still, the Ambiano Mattress Vacuum managed to collect a lot of dust from my king-size bed, filling the canister easily a fifth full. It's really rewarding seeing said canister fill up… but also vaguely alarming.

I get now that the mattress is one of the most important places in our homes to clean, because I've not been sneezing in bed half as much lately. Also, my sinusitis headaches have gone. Coincidence? Maybe, but there was a lot of dust in that fairly new mattress…

I moved to the spare bed — got to give this thing a run for its £19. Next, the suede-effect headboard on our bed, the sofa and our cushions (I love a scatter cushion, so help me). Shockingly, when I'd finished, the canister was basically full. Again, I do hoover the sofa when I remember — although my social media portals have clearly been listening in on my team meetings with TechRadar editors concerning this article. Now, every other reel tells me "The one place you're overlooking when cleaning is making your house smell BAD", or "You MUST vacuum your couch at LEAST once a week". Cripes.

Look, I clean my flat (but I was still shocked at the dust in the canister)

Am I qualified to be recommending decent household cleaning products? Yes, I'd say so, because I have been a professional cleaner on many occasions. To clarify: I was paid to clean, although 'cleaner' was never my job title. People think the life of a professional dancer is glamorous, and it can be — while you're in the gig. The problem is that my former career involved freelance contractual work. And in between all the big glam shows (and the smaller un-glam ones you did for the soul), there are periods of unemployment during which bills still need to be paid.

I have worked as a private dental receptionist, market research lounge host, barista and retail sales assistant in Harrods and Selfridges, to name just a few in-between positions I've held. Every one of these jobs involved cleaning shop floors, waiting rooms, kitchens and toilets, whether or not it mentioned as much in the job description.

Which vacuum do I use myself? A Henry XL Xtra. Why? It's the industrial standard. Every big shop floor I cleaned had a Henry lurking behind the scenes. Yes, it's old school and it's got a bag, but it works and you can't break it.

I remember one day in the dental surgery, our practice manager proudly unveiled a very svelte — and at that time very new — Dyson V8 Absolute cordless stick vacuum. It lasted precisely one month. The problem was, its small bagless canister needed to be emptied after only half of the cleaning shift had been done, every single day. And when workers are in a rush at the top and tail of a shift, things get broken. What I'm saying is, it may well be an excellent vacuum for home use, but in surgeries with heavy footfall and a revolving door of patients coming in with muddy shoes, scratching their heads or picking at their clothes in nervous anticipation of the dentist's chair, it was not the one.

The Ambiano Mattress Vacuum a £19 bargain — and it might help you sleep

For me, the Ambiano is a no-brainer. I can't even find it online, (you'll need to go to your local Aldi and see if there are any left in the middle aisle) so I can't even furnish you with a 'click to buy' button I'm afraid.

But what I can tell you is that it's easy to use and store, it's very cheap and it has got a lot of dust out of the soft furnishings in my flat, not just the mattress.

Does the UV-C light actually do anything? I'm not really sure; it reminds me of LG's Tone Free T90 earbuds that also squirrelled a UV light into the case. Again, the promise was all to do with 'sanitising' your buds while charging, before you pop them back into your ear. Then again, for this money the UV-C light in the Ambiano is certainly not going to hurt your mattress — and I think it's well worth the nominal fee. For me, Aldi's done it again here. Happy spring cleaning all!

Dyson is making big strides in the world of robot vacuums, and its latest robovac — the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai — uses a camera combined with artificial intelligence to tackle tough stains that other robot vacuums tend to miss, and get your floors as clean as possible. But why did Dyson choose to tackle that particular problem, and what does the future hold when it comes to household robots?

I visited Dyson's UK Innovation Campus in Wiltshire, where many of the company's advanced engineering teams work on new products and technologies, using rapid prototyping to develop and test ideas. The campus is also the home of the Dyson Institute, where undergraduate students from around the world come to learn, and work on real-life projects.

There, I sat down with Jake Dyson, the company's Chief Engineer, to learn more about his own experience, and Dyson's approach to AI and robotics.

Despite being the son of founder James Dyson, Jake hasn't always worked for the company. After a brief spell at Dyson at the age of 22, he left to pursue an independent career in industrial design. He built his own workshop and began to specialize in lighting, separately from the family business, before returning, bringing that experience with him. I asked him how that early work translated into his current endeavors.

"It comes down to identifying problems and solving them," he explained. "When LEDs first entered the market, I realized people weren’t cooling them properly. The promise of LEDs is that they should last a lifetime, but in reality they were being treated like disposable lightbulbs. I visited Osram in Asia, and they explained that if you keep the diode temperature below about 50C, you can maintain brightness, color quality, and lifespan. That became my goal."

"I looked at how satellites manage heat. In space, temperatures swing from extremely hot to extremely cold, so they need precise thermal control. I applied similar thinking by designing systems that passively dissipate heat. For example, the heat moves away from the chip and is cooled by airflow, maintaining a stable temperature even at high power.

"That process, spotting a problem and solving it, is what drives everything."

Stairs and arms

Dyson's latest robot vacuum has been designed to tackle the specific problem of tricky stains on hard floors, which other wet-and-dry cleaners fail to tackle. The Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai uses a high-definition camera and an LLM that includes over 190 different household objects and stains.

I asked Jake why Dyson had chosen to tackle such a (literally) ground-level problem when other companies are debuting robot vacuums that can climb stairs and lift objects with mechanical arms. He explained that Dyson has been tackling those more advanced problems for about 10 years already, but the solutions aren't yet genuinely useful and reliable.

Having seen some other companies' ambitious robots, I can see what he means. The Roborock Saros Z70, for example, has a pincer arm that can lift lightweight objects out of the way, but in our tests it failed to identify and move them independently, instead relying on you to control the pincer remotely. It also has a lower success rate on carpet due to what Roborock calls a "hardware limitation".

Stairs are also a major challenge. My colleague Ruth Hamilton saw two stair-climbing robovacs in action at last year's IFA tech show, but explained that the legs/treads used to navigate stairs aren't actually attached to the robots themselves (they are more like a cradle that holds the bot), which means they can't clean the stairs as they go. Only one robot managed to tackle the first step with confidence as well. According to Ruth, the other "approached this initial challenge at the speed of a geriatric turtle".

They're interesting concepts, but neither looked ready for the mainstream — and as Jake explains, they're attempting to solve a very difficult problem.

"Every staircase is different height, spacing, materials and then you add in pets, children, and people moving around. It becomes a very complex and potentially unsafe problem," he said. "Something going up and down stairs autonomously needs to be extremely reliable. It’s actually more complex than autonomous driving in some respects."

"So while it’s an interesting challenge, and being able to clean an entire home, including all floors, with one machine would be ideal, it has to meet a very high bar for safety and usefulness. Until it does, we focus on delivering products that work reliably in real homes today."

Safer decision-making

Dyson has never been shy about dropping products that don't work out (such as the CR01 Contrarotator washing machine and the Dyson car), but its work on cordless vacuums continues apace. We recently reviewed the super-compact Dyson Pencilvac Fluffycones, and just a few weeks ago the company debuted its first self-emptying cordless vacuum. I asked Jake whether he thinks robots will eventually handle all your cleaning tasks, or whether there will always be a place for stick vacuums.

"No, I don’t see that happening, at least not completely," he said. "Right now, robot vacuums are very good at regular maintenance, keeping floors tidy day-to-day. But people still want a to clean with a cordless vacuum when they do a deeper clean, as well as being able to clean surfaces other than the floor."

However, he added that the world of robotics is advancing incredibly quickly, especially when it comes to AI.

"Previously, robots could see and navigate, but they struggled when they encountered something unfamiliar. Now, with reasoning, they can make safer, more informed decisions.

"We’re also seeing rapid development globally, the US is leading in AI and ‘brains’, and China is producing robots at scale and more affordably.

"In the future robots will learn from each other via the cloud,; one robot’s experience will instantly improve others, and one robot will be able to repair a fault on another robot. That will massively accelerate development.

"However, regulation and safety will slow adoption. These technologies may be ready soon, but it could take around 10 years before they’re widely allowed in homes. Elon Musk said he thinks humanoid robots will be in many homes in three years, and I agree with him. Though they use up a lot of energy to walk for example, so a robot vacuum cleaner is much more energy efficient than a humanoid [robot] using a vacuum cleaner.

"So yes, robots will become more capable, but I think traditional tools will still exist alongside them."

Although you might like the idea of handing over all your household chores to a robot, it seems cordless and handheld vacuums will be around for a while yet — and you'll still need to climb the stairs and pick up socks yourself for now.

• Shark has launched a new Luxe Collection of robot and cordless vacuums
• The range features muted colors, satin finishes, and metallic accents
• It was designed in partnership with designer and TV personality Jeremiah Brent

Robovacs are perfect for keeping your home tidy between deep cleans, but they're not very attractive. Even the best robot vacuum is usually a piece of black or white plastic that sits in a matching dock, and is something you'd probably prefer to hide away if possible — some owners even build miniature garages to keep their bots out of sight. Now, Shark has come to the rescue with a robot vacuum that looks more like artwork than an appliance.

The company has teamed up with interior designer Jeremiah Brent of design studio AD100, who you might remember as the interior design expert on seasons 9 and 10 of Queer Eye. He's used his expertise to help develop a new version of the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-In-1 Vac & Mop that looks much more appealing than the original, while cleaning just as well.

We awarded the PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-In-1 Vac & Mop four stars out of five in our review, and were particularly impressed by its obstacle avoidance, edge cleaning with extending mop pads, and its ability to lift itself over thresholds. It's not much to look at though, which is unfortunate for such a conspicuous appliance.

Now, however, the same vacuum is available in four subtle new colors — Evergreen, Ivory, Espresso, and Deep Harbor (navy blue) — all of which have co-ordinating satin-finished metallic trim.

These new Luxe Collection robot vacuum is available for the same list price as the original black model ($1,299.99, which works out at about £970 / AU$1,820), though it's worth noting that the black version is currently discounted to $949.99 (about £710 / AU$1,330) in Shark's online store.

At the time of writing, the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-In-1 Vac & Mop Luxe Collection is only available in the US, but I'm hopeful it will be ready to clean homes globally very soon.

Cordless and chic

If you're fed up with an ugly cordless vacuum occupying space on your wall, the Shark Luxe Collection also includes a more stylish version of the Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean & Empty. This lightweight vacuum with its flexible head now comes in four extra colors (Oatstone, Harbor Slate, Sagewood, and Walnut), which are again finished with muted metallic accents.

Each vacuum has a list price of $499.99 in the US, or £499.99 in the UK (about AU$700). They're not currently available in Australia, but will hopefully roll out there before long.

Our tester Tim Gee gave the Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean & Empty four and a half stars in his review, saying: "It did a great job picking up fine dust and larger debris in our tests on carpet and hard floors, has good edge cleaning, and can easily be moved around the house making it an ideal occasional cleaner."

Shark PowerDetect Speed: one-minute review

The Shark PowerDetect Speed is a very capable cordless stick vacuum with a great auto empty base, but like other high-powered cordless vacuums a lack of battery life means it can’t replace a main vacuum.

It did a great job picking up fine dust and larger debris in our tests on carpet and hard floors, has good edge cleaning, and can easily be moved around the house making it an ideal occasional cleaner.

It's a premium product from an established vacuum brand, but when compared with Dyson it's significantly more affordable, making it a good choice if you want top, reliable performance without the high price.

Battery life is a major concern though, as it didn’t last 11 minutes on the highest power setting and took over five hours to recharge the battery, limiting its practicality.

Shark PowerDetect Speed: price and availability

The PowerDetect Speed launched in the US and UK in April 2026 costing US$499.99 and £499.99 for the Clean & Empty version that comes with an auto empty charging dock (although it is worth noting the US version comes with an extra Pet Multi tool that the UK version doesn’t). It was released in Australia in early June 2026 for a retail price of AU$799.

This places it at the premium end of the scale for vacuums, although it is significantly cheaper than the Dyson Gen5detect models it is competing with, making it feel very good value for money when comparing spec with spec.

The build quality is good, it feels capable of handling the rough and tumble of everyday cleaning and it has a good set of features you would expect of a top of the line vacuum including floor and dirt detection. The addition of a dock that empties and charges the vacuum is a godsend and real standout at this price point.

The PowerDetect Speed is also available without the auto empty dock for $429.99 or £429.99, which come with an extra upholstery tool in the US or pet tool in the UK. This version hasn't been released to Australia at the time of writing.

• Value score: 4/5

Shark PowerDetect Speed: specs

Shark PowerDetect Speed: design

• Simple, functional design
• Place to store accessories
• Dirt detect feature not shown on the floorhead

While a vacuum cleaner is very much a practical product rather than a statement piece it is nice for it to look at least smart in a subtle way if you do have to have it visible and Shark has done a decent job with the PowerDetect Speed. The grey and blue metallic finish feels mostly focused on blending into the background and any out-there accents have thankfully been limited to the orange roller in the floorhead.

The auto empty dock is also unfussy but does include one of my favorite features of this entire product in the shape of two small notches at the back of the dock for storing the included accessories. This is such a small thing, but after years of trying to find where in the house the kids have hidden the crevice tool this time, it is hugely appreciated.

The body of the vacuum is similar to the older PowerDetect model but it is slightly smaller, lighter and they have swapped the trigger button for a second button on the back of body. This is a definite improvement as it was easy to accidentally change modes with the trigger button, especially if vacuuming at different heights such as cleaning the stairs.

The PowerDetect Speed does lose 0.5kg on the previous version and comes in under Dyson’s Gen5 Detect by around 300g, but that said, this is still a bit of a chunky vacuum cleaner and may feel like a bit of a workout to push around for some, Rivals like the Dreame R20 weigh in almost a whole kilo lighter so if lightweight is top of your priority list it may be worth looking elsewhere.

It's controlled using two buttons on the back of the body, which also has a screen to show you what mode you are in, how much battery you have left and whether the vacuum is currently detecting dirt where you are cleaning. This is done through a color coded arc around the top of the screen with a dark purple color indicating it is picking up a lot of dirt which then progressively goes paler until it goes white indicating the floor is now clean.

I will go into more detail about the PowerDetect feature later but I do have a gripe about how this is presented. In the previous PowerDetect model this color-coding was also shown in lights at the back of the floorhead so you could see cleaning performance as you cleaned without taking your eyes off where you were moving the floorhead. With it only on the back of the body of the vacuum you now have to keep moving your eyes from one to the other which is definitely a step backwards.

The floorhead uses one roller with anti-wrap elements and a light that switches from regular white light on carpet to a blue UV light on hard floors for highlighting dirt. This works well although I’m not sure the UV light really provides a significant improvement over a regular light.

Depending where you are you will get different accessories with US customers getting a crevice tool and pet multi tool and those in the UK only getting a crevice tool, but the slightly better version that includes a sliding duster to it. The pet multi tool did OK at picking up cat hair, although no better than the regular floorhead and generally just caught them in the bristles rather than picking them up directly. Where it was most useful was as a wider cleaning path than the crevice tool when vacuuming a car.

• Design score: 4/5

Shark PowerDetect Speed: performance

• Dirt Detect works well
• Excellent fine detail and debris pick up
• Handles pet and long hair well without tangling

It is straightforward to use with only the two buttons for one and off or to change mode — which unless you are trying to maximize battery runtime, you shouldn’t need. The attachments are easy to snap into place or detach using the large buttons and the whole vacuum can fold in half for storage away from the charging dock.

It maneuvers well and while it might not be quite as smooth as the Dyson equivalent or as light as some other rivals it is easy to steer around furniture. It also is able to bend the wand so you can run the cleaner under low furniture reaching hard to clean spots. This is a nice bonus and may be ideal for some homes but I personally didn’t find myself using it day to day.

Emptying the vacuum is one area where it really stands out, you simply pop it back on top of the charging dock when you are done — or more likely when it has run out of battery but more on that later — and the base sucks all the dust out into its own larger two-liter bin. This obviously will need emptying itself, but the shape (and the fact you will have to do it less often) makes it much easier to do this without making a mess.

The detect part of PowerDetect comes from the four ways it adjusts suction power to optimize cleaning by detecting the floor type, amount of dirt being sucked up, whether it is close to the edge of a room and what direction it is traveling. This means all you need to do is move the vacuum around and it will change its cleaning modes, with the dirt detection also letting you know whether certain sections are worth some more attention through the color coding display on the handle.

When I first used this dirt detection I was a bit skeptical that it was still picking up debris where it claimed it was but the dust bin would time and again prove me wrong. At first this felt like an amazing feature, but later when combined with the battery life, having to go back and forth over the same bits of floor made me start to wonder if ignorance was bliss.

In the cleaning tests the Speed struggled a bit in low suction mode with one pass leaving quite a bit of fine dust and larger debris on both carpet and hard floors. Moving it up to full suction did much better with it picking up almost all the fine dust on the hard floor and, aside from some scattering of the rice, most of the debris on the next pass.

Edge cleaning was a similar story at both low and high power, with it doing very well on high for hard floors. It still needed the crevice tool to get the finest material but it did as well as I have seen from a stick vacuum.

Hair pickup was also excellent handling long and pet hair well without any sign of tangling on the floorhead brush.

It’s not quiet but at around 70-75 dbs (somewhere between traffic and a busy restaurant) on maximum power it's not the loudest either. The auto empty base creates a similar level of noise as it flushes the dust from the cleaner, but this is a pretty quick process.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Shark PowerDetect Speed: battery life

• Less than 11 minutes on boost mode
• Long recharge time
• Spare batteries not yet available

My sticking point with the PowerDetect Speed is the battery life as, when testing on full power, it only managed a paltry 10 minutes and 38 seconds. While the variable speed in dirt detect mode will allow you to get a bit more cleaning out of a charge, I often found it would last less than half an hour. Couple this with a recharge time of 5 hours and 19 minutes and it severely limits its practicality as a main vacuum for anything but a small apartment.

This is a common problem for high powered stick vacuums as they try to keep the weight of the batteries down, but it is one of the shortest run times and longest charge times I have tested making it a bit of a challenge even thoroughly vacuuming the car on a single charge.

While you can switch out the battery, I wasn’t able to find a way of buying a spare battery online with the cordless vacuum battery available through Shark’s website only compatible with older models. If one is made available expect this to come with a hefty price tag, the older model batteries cost an additional $87.99 in the US.

• Battery life score: 3/5

Should you buy the Shark Poweretect Speed?

The answer is going to depend heavily on the size of your home and how you plan to use the cleaner. If this is going to be your only vacuum it’s barely going to get through a studio apartment before it needs a recharge. If you are looking for a convenient cleaner for spot cleaning it is superb both in terms of performance and ease of emptying, all while being a step cheaper than the Dyson equivalent.

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

How I tested the Shark PowerDetect Speed

I tested the PowerDetect Speed for over a week in day-to-day use as well as specific tests picking up fine dust (tea) and larger debris (rice) on hard floors, carpet and around room edges. Battery life was tested on the highest power setting and lowest, as well as checking the time it took to fully charge from empty.

I tested the Speed in different cleaning scenarios including vacuuming stairs, a car and a variety of floor types.

First reviewed May 2026

Hoover HF3 DynamicClean: one-minute review

DynamicClean is Hoover’s latest crack at the mid-range tier of cordless stick vacuum cleaners, and for the most part it's a great effort.

Weighing in at just 5.6lbs / 2.54kg, it's one of the lightest cordless sticks you can buy, which makes it pretty easy to push around and carry between floors. The 150 AW motor delivers good suction across carpet and hard floors, and Hoover's Anti-Twist brushbar technology keeps hair from wrapping itself around the roller, which means easier maintenance in the long run.

You also get HEPA filtration built in, which is a top selling point for anyone with allergies or pets, alongside LED headlights on the floorhead, three power modes, and a wall-mounted charging dock. It's a well-featured package for the money, and on carpet in particular it delivers surprisingly good cleaning results for the money.

Where the HF3 shows its mid-range roots is in the build quality and the battery. The whole thing feels a bit cheap in places, the bin is narrow enough to make getting your hand inside a challenge, and the headline 60-minute runtime only applies if you stick exclusively to Eco mode. Switch to standard or turbo and that number drops fast. It’s worth being aware this probably won't cover a whole house in one charge for most people.

Still, at its current price, the HF3 DynamicClean offers a lot of vacuum for not a lot of money, and the cleaning performance itself is hard to fault at this level.

Hoover HF3 DynamicClean: price and availability

• List price £179.99 (about $250 / AU$340) from Hoover Direct
• Currently on sale at around £129 from Hoover Direct and Argos
• Pet variant available with mini turbo brush

The HF3 DynamicClean is available now across UK retailers, though at the time of writing it's not sold in the US or Australia. Its list price sits at £179.99 (about $250 / AU$340), but you'll almost certainly find it cheaper. At the time of writing, both Hoover Direct and Argos had it listed in the sale for £149.99, which is a really good deal for what you're getting.

That's significantly cheaper than a comparable Shark cordless, which will typically set you back £200 or more for similar features, and it's a fraction of what you'd pay for a Dyson. If the anti-hair wrap tech is the thing that appeals, the Shark equivalent costs nearly double.

The Pet variant, which adds a mini turbo tool for upholstery, is also available for a bit more (£199.99) if you have furry housemates.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Hoover HF3 DynamicClean: Design

• Extremely lightweight and easy to handle
• Inoffensive colorway that blends in
• Feels a bit cheap and has nowhere to store attachments

The HF3 is a slim, upright stick vacuum that's harmless looking but doesn't exactly scream style. It's got a slightly boxy, utilitarian look, but the minimal light grey and black colourway should at least go with any house deco style. Sure, it's not the sleekest-looking machine out there, but at least it doesn't take up much room. And while it's not that premium feeling, it's perfectly fine looking and won't embarrass you if it's wall-mounted in plain sight.

At 2.54kg, this vacuum is feather-light in the hand. Pushing it around open floor space takes virtually no effort, and carrying it upstairs is a one-handed job. That weight is a plus if you've got multiple levels to cover or if you're buying for someone who finds heavier vacuums a struggle.

That said, while it's nimble enough on open stretches, I found it can feel a bit stiff when you're trying to get into trickier spots, like around chair legs or into the gap between the sofa and the wall. It doesn't have the same fluid manoeuvrability as some pricier cordless sticks I've used.

Despite not being quite as nimble as the likes of a cordless Dyson or Shark, the floorhead steers around reasonably well, and the double-edge cleaning design means it can pick up dust along both its left and right sides, so it cleans along skirting boards and wall edges regardless of which direction you're pushing it.

There are also LED headlights on the front to light up dust under furniture, and the self-standing feature lets you park it upright mid-clean without it toppling over, though I did see some online reviews mention the head can lock into position when using it at odd angles on stairs, triggering an auto-shutoff. I didn't experience this myself, but it's probably something you should be aware of.

Where the budget price of this device really shows is in the build quality. I'll be honest, it feels a bit cheap in hand. The integrated dusting brush and crevice tool have that thin, hollow plastic quality that doesn't inspire long-term confidence, and there's nowhere on the unit to store the latter either. It just has to live in a drawer somewhere until you need it, which is minor but still annoying.

As for the bin, its 0.7-litre volume is a decent enough size, but the opening is narrow, so getting your hand in to clean around the central filter cone can be a fiddle if you don't have particularly small fingers.

• Design score: 3/5

Hoover HF3 DynamicClean: features and performance

• Strong suction, though not quite Dyson-level
• Anti-Twist tech delivers on its promise
• Battery life and noise are the weak spots

The HF3's brushless motor does an all-round good job for a vacuum at this price. On carpet, it pulls up dust, crumbs and fine debris with a good level of suction. Hard floors are handled well too, with the floorhead transitioning smoothly between surfaces without needing you to manually adjust anything.

I must add that while the suction is great for the price, it isn't quite on the level of some cordless Dyson vacuums I've used. It does leave the odd bit behind here and there, particularly on higher-pile rugs, where a Dyson would have performed much better. For the price difference, that's expected, and the HF3 is still perfectly good for everyday cleaning. Just don't expect it to compete with something two or three times the price.

Hoover's Anti-Twist technology is the headline feature here, and it works well. Over my testing period, I didn't find a single strand of hair wrapped around the brushbar, which — if you've ever owned a vacuum without this — is worth the entry price alone. The brushbar itself also pops out easily for cleaning, keeping maintenance to a minimum

The HF3’s three power modes (Eco, Standard and Turbo) give you some flexibility in how you use the battery. Eco mode is gentle but best for lighter cleaning and will get you closest to that 60-minute runtime claim. Standard mode, which is what you'll likely use most of the time, is rated for around 30 minutes and delivers a decent clean.

As for Turbo mode, this cranks things up a notch, being ideal for stubborn patches. However, this mode burns through the battery fast, offering around 15 minutes of use at best, in my experience. This is the HF3's biggest limitation. That 60-minute figure Hoover promises is only really achievable in Eco mode with the handheld configuration, which isn't how most people are going to use a stick vacuum day to day. On Standard mode with the floorhead attached, you're realistically looking at 25 to 30 minutes, which probably won't cover a whole house in one go unless you live in a one or two bedroom flat.

Another niggle is the vacuum’s noise. For something this compact and lightweight, the HF3 is surprisingly loud. It's not unbearable, but it's noticeably louder than I was expecting — you certainly won't be using it while someone's on a call in the next room. Nevertheless, there are plenty of other positives to help negate this.

The HF3’s LED display on the handle, for example, works well – showing you the current battery percentage and which mode you're in at a glance. It's not a touchscreen, just a simple readout, but it's handy for knowing exactly how much juice you've got left.

The HEPA filtration is another of the vacuum’s strong point. Hoover claims it captures 99.9% of dust and allergens, and while I can't exactly verify that figure in my kitchen, it's a reassuring spec for anyone with allergies or asthma. The filter is washable too, which should save you money on replacements over time.

• Features and performance score: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Hoover HF3 DynamicClean?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Hoover HF3 DynamicClean: also consider

How I tested the Hoover HF3 DynamicClean

I used the Hoover HF3 DynamicClean as my main vacuum cleaner for several weeks across carpet, rugs and hard floors. I tested all three power modes, used the handheld conversion for stairs and upholstery, and assessed the build quality, bin emptying, wall dock, battery life and day-to-day usability throughout.

First reviewed: April 2026

Hoover HL2 TurboStyle: one-minute review

The Hoover HL2 TurboStyle is a budget corded upright that's clearly been designed for people who don't want to think too hard about their vacuum cleaner. It’s one of the best upright vacuum cleaners for those that just want something that picks stuff up, doesn't cost much, and won't break their back carrying it upstairs. At under 5kg it's one of the lighter corded uprights you can buy, and the 850W motor delivers consistent suction that doesn't fade the way a cordless stick does when the battery starts dropping off.

Hoover's Anti-Twist brushbar technology works well in practice, keeping hair from wrapping around the roller in a way that genuinely saves you the grim job of cutting it free every few weeks, and the dual-speed setting means you can dial the brushbar back for hard floors without it scattering debris everywhere. The LED headlights are also a nice touch for spotting dust under furniture, and the push-and-lift handheld mode makes it easy enough to get at stairs and upholstery without detaching half the machine.

Where the budget shows is in the build quality and the finer details. The plastic has that slightly hollow feel that makes you handle it a bit more carefully than you probably should have to. There's no app, no sensors, no clever features – which is fine if you don't want any of that, but it does mean you're paying purely for cleaning performance and not much else.

For the price, the HL2 TurboStyle does the fundamentals well and the suction holds up across carpets and hard floors without any complaints. It's not that exciting to look at but it does what it promises as a sensible, no-frills upright. If that's all you're after, look no further.

Hoover HL2 TurboStyle: price and release date

• Available now in the UK priced at £169.99 RRP, currently on sale at £129
• Also available from retailers such as Currys
• Colours: Pastel Pink, Teal

The HL2 TurboStyle is only available in the UK, where it sits at a very accessible price point. The standard Home model is available in pastel pink or teal colourways and has an RRP of £169.99 (about $230 / AU$320). However, at the time of writing, it’s currently priced at £129 (about $180 / AU$240) either direct from Hoover or Currys. The Pet variant (which adds a mini turbo brush for upholstery) can be picked up for £179.99 (about $240 / AU$340).

For context, that's significantly cheaper than a cordless Dyson, which will set you back at least £300 / $400 / AU$600 for something entry-level, and around the same price as a lot of budget cordless sticks that'll give you 20 minutes of runtime before needing a charge. If you're happy being tethered to a plug, the HL2's price is hard to argue with.

• Value score: 4/5

Hoover HL2 TurboStyle: design

• Lightweight and nimble for a corded upright
• Bin release button is far too sensitive
• Color choices could do with a rethink

The HL2 is a compact, slim upright that doesn't look like much out of the box, and that's OK. It's not trying to be anything it’s not – it's a mid-range vacuum cleaner that gets the job done with very little faff. At under 5kg, it's noticeably light for a corded machine, and the swivelling floorhead makes it easy to steer around furniture without needing to do that awkward three-point-turn you get with bulkier uprights.

The eight-meter working radius is generous, too. I was able to do most of a room without having to unplug and move to a different socket, which takes the annoying part out of a corded setup. The cable itself is long enough that I stopped thinking about it after a while (apart from needing to move it out of the way to change direction).

Build quality is where you start to see why this machine has the price point it does. The main body is fine, sturdy and sensibly laid out, but the attachments feel a bit cheap. The crevice tool and dusting brush have that thin, hollow plastic feel and while nothing broke during testing, I’m not sure if it would survive being bashed around over time.

The bin is a good size at 2.5 liters, and the one-click emptying is supposed to make disposal straightforward but in reality I found the release button to be a little too trigger happy. On one occasion, when I was carrying the bin across to the kitchen, the button rested gently on my hand and the hatch popped open spilling the entire contents across the floor. It's a design quirk that will likely catch you out at least once.

As for the colours, I tested the teal version, which is inoffensive enough. The pastel pink is clearly aimed at a specific buyer, and fair play. But I do think a simple black, dark grey or more neutral option would go better with any home, and it feels like Hoover missed a trick not offering one.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Hoover HL2 TurboStyle: features and performance

• Impressive pickup, especially on carpet
• Anti-Twist tech works well with hair
• Push-and-lift handheld mode is useful but basic

After trying it across multiple floor types, I found the HL2's 850W motor does a genuinely good job. When running it over a high-pile wool rug that I'd already gone over with my Dyson cordless, the Hoover pulled up a surprising amount of extra lint, dust and general debris that the Dyson had clearly missed. There's something to be said for the raw, consistent power of a corded motor, and the HL2 reminded me why uprights still exist.

There are two brush bar speeds, controlled by a rocker switch on the floorhead: one for hard floors and one for carpet. The carpet mode is pretty aggressive, digging into the pile with enough energy that you can see it lifting as the vac passes over it. Meanwhile, hard floor mode dials things back so you're not flinging dust around. It's a simple setup that works well, but it’s worth flagging how a lot of modern, premium models have sensors which can detect a change in floor type and switch between these modes automatically. This is definitely missed here.

Hoover's Anti-Twist technology does a good job, too, as I didn't end up with any hair wrapped around the brush bar during my testing period. The LED headlights on the floorhead are a nice touch as well, lighting up darker areas under the sofa and bed where dust loves to hide.

The push-and-lift conversion to a handheld is perfectly functional, too. You press the button, lift the main unit off the base, and you've got a handheld vac for stairs and above-floor work. It's fine for quick jobs, but the unit is a bit unwieldy for extended handheld use, and the stretch hose, while reaching two metres, doesn't give you quite as much flexibility as a proper dedicated handheld.

For day-to-day use, the HL2 is pleasingly smooth to push around. There's very little effort needed to glide it up and down, and the swivel head handles corners and furniture legs without too much fuss. Suction is consistent throughout, which is the benefit of being plugged in, and I didn't run into any blockages, overheating or performance dips during testing.

If there's a complaint about performance, it's that the HL2 doesn't really do anything beyond the basics. There's no auto-adjust for floor types, no dirt sensors, no display showing you anything useful. That's expected at this price, but it does mean you're relying entirely on your own eyes and judgement, which, after using smarter vacuums, can feel a little old-school.

• Features and performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Hoover HL2 TurboStyle?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Hoover HL2 TurboStyle: also consider

How I tested the Hoover HL2 TurboStyle

I used the Hoover HL2 TurboStyle as my main vacuum cleaner for several weeks across carpet, rugs and hard floors in a multi-level home. I tested it alongside my regular Dyson cordless to compare pickup, used the handheld mode on stairs and upholstery, and assessed the build quality, bin emptying, storage and day-to-day usability throughout.

First reviewed: April 2026

In my previous role as a TechRadar Homes Editor, I spent many, many hours testing vacuum cleaners. And of those, a good chunk were Dyson. I've used almost every vacuum in the brand's current lineup. As a result, I'm surprisingly invested in this brand's floorcare moves, even though now it is no longer my job to care about them.

So when I got wind that a new Dyson vacuum was being unveiled, alongside the self-empty dock the brand has been promising since September, I was very excited to see what was in store.

The new addition is the Dyson V10 Konical. It's not a flagship (we're on V16 now; keep up) but rather a cheaper, less tech-crammed option, without the useful information screen that marks out the brand's V11-and-up models. It's also, confusingly, one of a number of V10 vacuums — the Cyclone V10 launched in 2018 and remains widely available, and there's also now a Cyclone V10 Submarine, which is one of a few models to come bundled with a mopping floorhead that can be swapped for the vacuuming one.

The V10 Konical hasn't made it to the US yet, but the vacuum (without the dock — more on that in a sec) is available to buy now in the UK for £449.99 and in Australia for AU$799.

An unwelcome return

The V10 Konical lacks a number of Dyson's newest, fanciest features, but — to my dismay — the one recent innovation that has made its way into this new addition is the All Floors Cones Sense floorhead. This inventive floorhead made its debut on the Dyson V16 Animal, and features two conical rollers rather than a regular, tube-shaped one, the idea being that it's better for avoiding hair wrap (the cones should funnel long hair towards the suction inlet).

On the V16, I found the floorhead very frustrating. The fact the casing comes to a slight point, to mirror the shape of the cones, means it's very tricky to effectively clean the edges of rooms. Furthermore, the strip that connects the two rollers creates a barrier in the middle of the floorhead where no cleaning is happening.

All of that means this floorhead just isn't that good at cleaning. It was no less annoying in its fluffy iteration on the Dyson PencilVac FluffyCones, although at least they didn't spell it FluffyKones.

An unexpected surprise

I was doubly disappointed to discover Dyson's interesting new vacuum is kitted out with my least-favorite feature, because the self-empty dock the brand announced alongside the V10 Konical is something I'm interested in. During my vacuum reviewing years I became an unexpected self-empty evangelist, and I'm especially invested in Dyson's efforts.

Then I spotted a bit of small-print in the press release: "The Auto-empty Dok is backward compatible, so existing Dyson V8 Cyclone owners can upgrade without replacing their entire system." Hurrah.

The Dyson V8 Cyclone is a vacuum that I am fully on board with. It's one of the cheapest options in the range, coming in at £349.99 / AU$649 (no US availability yet). For that relatively affordable price, it delivers simple but effective cleaning — with a regular, not-annoying floorhead, and the same 150AW of suction as the pricier V10 Konical.

The fact that I could pick up an Auto-empty Dok to use with my existing V8 Cyclone is very welcome news. It's also unexpected; the other auto-empty docks I'm aware of are all tied to one, specially adapted machine, which is frustrating if you have a perfectly good vacuum but want to try the auto-empty functionality.

Currently, the Auto-empty Dok isn't yet available to actually buy anywhere. It's due to land in the UK on 8 July, where a V10 Konical-plus-Dok will cost £569.99. In Australia, we only know it'll arrive some time "later this year", and the Dok its own will be AU$299. That would be equivalent to around $210 / £160. I'll be watching with interest...

• Dyson has just launched its first self-emptying vacuum cleaner
• The Dyson V10 Konical has HEPA filtration and a floor head designed for hair
• It empties into the Auto-empty Dok, which can store up to 60 days of dirt

Dyson has launched an updated V10 vacuum cleaner, with a self-emptying dock that store up to 60 days of dirt. The Dyson V10 Konical and Auto-empty Dok work together to make cleaning your floors a much less messy process, with no need to open the vacuum's dust cup yourself and risk accidentally releasing a cloud of dirt in the process.

The updated V10 Konical should be a particularly good choice for allergy-sufferers thanks to a fully-sealed HEPA filtration system, which Dyson says can remove up to 99.99% of particulars as small as 0.1 microns — including pollen, and even bacteria and viruses.

The new V10 is equipped with an All Floor Cones cleaner head, which has a pair of conical brushes that are designed to detangle long hair, so you don't need to spend time cutting or pulling it out of a roller. It appears to be the same head used by the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, and features a bright green light to illuminate dirt that you might otherwise miss.

The Auto-empty Dok has its own sealed HEPA filtration system, and has on-board storage for your most commonly used cleaning tools.

This is the first self-emptying system from Dyson, but the idea has been around for a while. In fact, we've already seen several self-emptying systems from rival brands, including the Shark PowerDetect Cordless and the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra.

One of the key differences between these and Dyson's Auto-empty Dok is their size. Dyson's dock is much taller, and therefore capable of holding a lot more accumulated dirt before it needs emptying.

If you already own a Dyson V8 Cyclone, you'll be pleased to learn that the Auto-empty Dok is backwards-compatible, so you can use it with your existing vacuum. Cleaning tools are also cross-compatible between the Dyson V8, V8 Cyclone, and V10 Konical.

The new Dyson V10 Konical is available from today, April 29, for £449.99. You'll need to wait a little longer for the Auto-empty Dok though. It will be on sale from July 8, and will cost £569.99 bundled with the V10 Konical.

We'll be testing the vacuum and dock together very soon, and will bring you a full review so you can see how this auto-emptying model compares to its rivals.

Although allergies are often associated with the outdoors, there are things inside our homes that trigger them too. Carpets and rugs trap dust mites, dander, pet hair, mold spores, and pollen. Even that thin layer of dust on your hardwood and tile floors can affect your allergies. If you want to prevent sneezing, a stuffy nose, and watery eyes, you’ll need a high-quality vacuum.

Some vacuums are better than others at preventing or lessening allergy issues. A vacuum with a high suction capability can make a huge difference, but only if they’re outfitted with HEPA filters that prevent dust and dirt that’s been suctioned from being released back in your home.

We searched through our reviews and found four vacuums that will do a great job at combating your allergies. Keep reading to see why.

Shark PowerDetect Upright Vacuum

The Shark PowerDetect Upright vacuum may be bulky, but as an upright vacuum, it has a stronger suction power than stick vacuums. I experienced this firsthand on thick carpets, medium-pile rugs, hardwood floors, and laminate floors. I was astounded by how much dirt, debris, and hair it picked up from my parents’ carpets.

What sets this vacuum apart is the Detect mode which adjusts the suction based on the floor type and how dirty it is and informs you when the floor is clean by turning the lights on the vacuum head from purple to white. The dust bin is quite large and has an Anti-Allergen Complete Seal with HEPA filtration which means it seals and traps 99.99% of dust, dander, and allergens. You can also break down the Shark PowerDetect Upright vacuum and use the different attachments to clean your furniture, ceiling, and tight corners, where allergy-inducing particles sit.

Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Pro

If you’re really sensitive to allergies, consider supplementing your regular vacuum with a robot vacuum and schedule it to clean your home once a day. Our pick is the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Pro because it does a superb job cleaning carpets and has mopping capabilities which can assist in picking up dust and pollen from your hard floors. The washable filter in the dust bin traps dust, dirt, and pollen inside the robot as it cleans.

When it's finished cleaning, the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Pro returns to a dock where it automatically removes the dirt and debris into a sealed dust bag and cleans the mop pads with hot water. Whenever the dust bag is full, it seals completely when removed so that dirt, dust, pollen, and debris doesn’t escape into your home before you throw it in the trash. If you can’t justify the high price tag of the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Pro, you might consider the eufy x10 Pro Omni.

Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum

Stick vacuums are convenient, but they typically don’t have the kind of suction power you need to battle allergies. That said, the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum will be more helpful than others in removing dust and pollen. In my testing, I found it could pick up small and large particles on various floor types, thanks to its ability to automatically adjust the suction when it detects unseen dirt, dust, and pollen.

The lights on the vacuum head turn from purple to white to indicate the floor is clean. With a bendable wand, you can more easily reach allergy-inducing particles under furniture. Not only is the vacuum outfitted with felt and washable foam filters, but it also has a HEPA filter.

You can order the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum with or without the AutoEmpty Dock, but I would highly recommend the dock for those with allergies. When cleaning is complete, you set the vacuum on the dock, and it automatically removes dust, dirt, and debris into a sealed dust bag.

Miele Guard L1 Comfort XL

Bagless vacuums are quickly becoming the norm, but unfortunately, when you empty the dustbins in the trash, dust and pollen that you just suctioned up tends to escape back into your home. That’s why bagged vacuums like the Miele Guard L1 series may be a better option. All suctioned materials make their way to the Miele Guard L1 Comfort XL’s sealed HyClean Air TU vacuum bag, which has a filter performance of 99.99%. Once the bag is full and you’re ready to throw it away, it seals as it's removed, preventing allergy-inducing materials from going into the air.

Although you’ll have to move the Miele Guard L1 Comfort XL from one spot to the next while also being mindful of the cord, its suction power is like that of an upright vacuum (i.e. super powerful). With automatic floor detection, it changes the suction level depending on whether the floor is hardwood or carpet. The various attachments can also be used to deep clean furniture which might be trapping allergens.

One of the best investments you can make for your home is a humble but powerful vacuum cleaner. When you can clean up your home faster and better than before, it really makes a difference. Today, you can buy the Shark PowerPro at Amazon for £169.99 (was £249), which is a record-low price for the already very well-priced vacuum cleaner.

It’s hit this record-low price a couple of times in the past, but it’s an all-or-nothing scenario. It’s either full price or discounted with big gaps in between, so you don’t want to miss out.

Considered to be one of the best value options around and from a much-loved brand, the Shark PowerPro has a multi-surface floorhead which can handle carpets and hard floors equally well. It also has anti-hair wrap tech for trapping allergens and handling hair dropping on your floor. It’s an excellent all-rounder.

Today’s best vacuum cleaner deal

Shark is a name you’ll see feature prominently when we talk about the best cordless vacuums. In our review of the Shark PowerPro, our tester gave it 4.5 stars and called it “the best-value vacuum cleaner I've tested.” It “delivers solid cordless suction across different surfaces” with its flexible wand and LED headlamps proving useful.

It can feel a little plasticky and cheap, and its floorhead misses edges, but for the price, it’s a great deal. Its anti-hair tangle technology should prove useful if you can’t afford the absolute best vacuums for pet hair, too.

I’ve used Shark vacuum cleaners for several years and found them better value than the best Dyson vacuum cleaners — and the Shark PowerPro demonstrates that well. It comes with a crevice tool and an upholstery tool for added convenience.

If your heart is set on another brand, there are many Dyson vacuum deals around. For a low effort option, check out the robot vacuum deals available today too.

Narwal Flow 2: two-minute review

I’ll be the first to tell you that I have had a hate-love relationship with robot vacuums. However, over the years, I’ve watched as the technology has improved, resulting in better mapping, improved object avoidance, and exciting features. This is why I was all too glad to test the Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum.

Narwal introduced its 2026 flagship robot vacuum in January, which resulted in a lot of buzz. It’s not the first robot vacuum to have dual cameras, but the way they work with the LM OmniVision AI Model feels like a big leap forward.

During testing, I observed the Narwal Flow 2 robot vacuum recognizing the dirtiness of a floor and adjusting the suction and mopping capabilities. Plus, its ability to 'smart clean', or recognize which areas of your house need deeper cleans, and avoid and identify obstacles is next to none. Although I don’t have pets or babies, the Pet Care Mode and Baby Care Mode are quite cool because they let the Flow 2 find your pet (and play with it), switch to quiet mode near cribs, and avoid crawling zones.

Overall, I found the Narwal Flow 2 ’s smart capabilities very impressive, and its customization capabilities within the app particularly convenient. Its mopping capabilities are its best feature, and when paired with vacuuming, it does a great job of cleaning all floor types — though it doesn't fare as well with edge or corner cleaning. The suction capability wasn’t strong enough to pull super-fine materials like flour from a thick rug, but it did better than other robot vacuums I’ve tested. I would have also liked it to be half an inch shorter so it could fit under my kitchen cabinets.

The Narwal Flow 2 stands out in other ways too, such as its ability to climb over high thresholds, app and voice controls, and video feeds. The dock automatically empties the dust cup, and washes and dries the roller mop with hot water and hot air. I still think you’ll need a vacuum and a wet-dry vacuum on hand for deeper cleans or to reach spaces the robot vacuum can’t go, but the Flow 2 will do a stand-up job at keeping your home pristine between deep cleans.

The Narwal Flow 2 launched in the US in April 2026, with a premium price tag to match its high-end cleaning features. There are plenty of other great robot vacuums that are more affordable (even ones with cameras), but most don’t have the AI capabilities of this model, which really set it apart from the competition.

Narwal Flow 2: price and availability

• Price: $1,499 / AU$2,999 (about £1,100)
• Special price at launch: $1,099 (about £810 / AU$1,500)
• Launch date: April 2026
• Availability: US; from June 2026 in Australia

The Narwal Flow 2 launched in the US on April 13, 2026, with a UK release expected at a later date. Australian availability is from late June 2026. Although the list price for the robot vacuum and the base is $1,499, those who buy it during the launch can snag this combo for $1,099. It’s available directly from Narwal and Amazon, but may expand to other third-party retailers later.

The robovac will set you back AU$2,999 in Australia.

The price makes sense considering that the Flow 2 is outfitted with high resolution cameras, a roller mop, and superb AI capabilities that lets it recognize shoes, cords, pets, and toys, and adjust the cleaning settings depending on the type of dirt, debris, or spill. The dock also has hot water and hot air-drying capabilities — something that lesser models lack. We consider the Narwal Flow 2 to be a premium buy since it costs more than $800 / £650 / AU$1,000.

Our review model came with cleaning solution and one extra dust bag. Accessory replacements are available from Narwal.

Now the question remains, is this model worth $1,499 / AU$2,999? Considering all the features and control users have through the app, I would say yes. I just wish the edge and corner cleaning had matched my expectations. Perhaps an update will improve both settings soon.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Narwal Flow 2: design

• Circular robot vacuum and a self-emptying and self-cleaning base
• Anti-tangle mopping roller brush
• Dual high-definition cameras with a wide view

The Narwal Flow 2 is a black, circular robot vacuum that’s about 13.5 / 35cm inches in diameter and has the capability to lift over thresholds. At 3.7 inches / 9cm, the robot vacuum is relatively tall, and even though it can fit under my couch and baker’s rack, it doesn’t fit under my cabinets.

It has a small rotating brush along the bottom edge that sweeps debris toward the zero-tangling floating brush, where the robot vacuum uses 30,000Pa to suck up debris. The Flow 2 uses a crawler mop for edges; think of it like a roller map that has been flattened so that it’s wide, long, and rotates, using 12N downward pressure to clean floors. The crawler mop can extend 1.8 inches / 5cm from the side.

The robot vacuum comes with a black base that’s 20.5 / 36cm inches tall, 14 inches / 36cm wide, and 17 / 43cm inches deep, and a cord that is 4.8 feet / 1.5m long. Separate clean water and dirty water tanks sit on top of a tank that holds the cleaning solution. Both the robot vacuum and the dock have filters.

The dock also features a dust bag that can last up to 120 days, and colored ambient lighting, which can indicate different things like when there is problem with the robot (eg flashing red lights).I

n addition to LED lights on the robot vacuum itself, the Narwal Flow 2 has dual 1080p cameras with a 136-degree field of view. The robot vacuum uses cameras and AI to recognize objects or pets and either avoid them or note them on the map, captures video and photographs, and provides deeper cleanings.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Narwal Flow 2: performance

• Climbs tall thresholds and avoids objects well
• Solid job at vacuuming and mopping
• Truly hands-free experience and easy-to-use app

I had no issue connecting the Narwal Flow 2 to Wi-Fi or the app. The robot mapped my house in 35 minutes. I had to split and merge a few rooms, but that was simple enough.

As part of my testing, I utilized the robot vacuum like anyone else might – letting it clean my entire house multiple times, directing it to specific rooms (like the kitchen after dinner), or to an area where I’d made a mess (like near my sewing machine). In doing this, I found that the vacuuming and mopping capabilities of the Narwal Flow 2 were solid. The water output was perfect, and by that, I mean my floors weren’t too wet and they dried very quickly.

One of my favorite aspects of this robot vacuum is the roller mop. Some brands opt for circular mop pads that spin, however, I always thought such pads just moved wet dirt and other materials around the floor before the robot had a chance to return to the base to wash the pads.

The Narwal Flow 2 has a roller map that’s wide (almost flattened), and as it rotates, the robot sends clean hot water to the mop so that it’s cleaning the mop as it cleans your floors. A 12N downward pressure of the roller mop also aids in removing stubborn or heavy messes. If the robot vacuum recognizes a significant spill, it will also return to the base to clean the roller before returning to clean the floor again.

The robot easily climbed my thresholds – some of which are two inches / 5cm high – and avoided a lot of objects. In fact, I felt like it stayed too far from objects and edges at first, so I adjusted the cleaning to 'meticulous' within the app and was happier with the results.

I also watched it avoid low overhanging areas like my kitchen cabinets. At least the robot vacuum had the ability to extend the roller mop 1.8 inches / 4.6cm under the cabinet. Still, it wasn’t far enough to clean fully under the cabinet, so I had to use a vacuum to reach under there.

The robot vacuum got stuck once on my bath rug, which has fringe, but that was the only object that it ever has any issue with. it avoided cords and shoes, and even noted them on the map.

While I could customize the suction power of the vacuum, I liked to keep it on Smart so that the suction adjusted based on the floor type and whether the robot sensed dirt or a mess. I liked that the robot vacuum used the LED light in low light areas to clean better. The Narwal Flow 2 didn’t do well with suctioning large objects like medium-sized leaves from my poinsettia plants. This isn’t that big of a deal as most robot vacuums (or vacuums) don’t do well with suctioning larger items.

Although I used the app most of the time to direct the robot vacuum, occasionally, I used one of the 34 voice commands. Sometimes I had to use the app because the commands are limited. For instance, I could tell it to clean my living room, but I couldn’t say, “Clean up the living room and the hallway.” Combining commands wasn’t possible.

The robot vacuum took three hours to clean my entire 1,600-square-foot house, dropping to 31 percent in terms of the battery. In fact, the battery was only at 50% at the 2-hour cleaning mark. It took four hours to fully charge the robot vacuum, which is quick in my opinion.

Overall, I was very happy with how well Narwal Flow 2 kept my house clean of dirt, debris, and kitchen scraps. That said, after running some cleaning tests, there are some areas where it could improve.

Cleaning tests

To begin my testing, I placed ground coffee, flour, and dried flower petals on my kitchen laminate floor and on my living room rug and utilized the vacuum-only feature to see how well the robot could suction different materials. I even made sure to sprinkle ground coffee under my kitchen cabinets, along the edges of my kitchen, and in the corners. Here’s what I observed.

In the kitchen, the robot vacuum increased suction automatically when it went over the flour and the dried flowers, but not over the coffee. It suctioned all of the coffee, all but one flower petal, and most of the flour. Unfortunately, the wheels of the robot vacuum moved a thin film of the flour around on the floor. Where it didn’t succeed was suctioning coffee from the corners, edges, and under the kitchen cabinet.

To be fair, the robot couldn’t fit under the kitchen cabinet. When it came to corners, the robot vacuum suctioned coffee completely in one corner, but not the other. It failed quite miserably with suctioning coffee grounds along the edges.

As for the suction test on the rug, the robot vacuum automatically increased the suction to 'super powerful' when it recognized the material. On the first pass, the robot vacuum picked up some coffee grounds and flour but all of the dried flower petals. I also placed slightly damp poinsettia leaves on the carpet, and the robot vacuum did not pick them up but unintentionally moved them off the rug.

I was disappointed at first, until the robot vacuum went over the coffee and flour three more times – without me instructing it to do so. By the end, 98 percent of coffee grounds had been suctioned. A lot of the flour had been picked up, minus a small amount that had been pushed into the rug. In the end, I thought the suctioning capability on rugs was better than most robot vacuums.

For the final test, I used the vacuum and mop features on my laminate floor. I covered the floor with flour, coffee grounds, a spilled glass of water, chocolate sauce, soy sauce, wing sauce, and creamer. The Narwal Flow 2 cleaned up the wing sauce, soy sauce, water spill, coffee grounds, and flour in a single pass. I was surprised by how smoothly it picked up the chocolate sauce since it’s a tough substance that dries quickly. (I test wet-dry vacuums and even many of them have issues with cleaning slightly dried chocolate sauce in two passes or more.)

When it came to the creamer, the robot vacuum recognized it as a 'spill', which meant it cleaned it up in a single pass then returned to the dock to clean the mop. It then repeated this two more times — cleaning that area and returning to the dock to clean the mop — before it moved on. The floor was not sticky by the time the robot vacuum had finished.

I also placed coffee grounds under the cabinet, in the corners, and along the edges to see if the mop and vacuum combo would result in better cleaning capabilities. When the robot vacuum passed near the cabinets, it extended the mop to the side, and while it picked up a bit, unfortunately, the roller mop couldn’t extend far enough to pick up half of the coffee grounds under the cabinet

When it came to corners, the robot vacuum had the same results using the vacuum and mop as it did during the suction only test. It cleaned edges better with the mop than without it, but the results weren’t as good as I’d hoped. One edge was cleaned very well but a lot of coffee grounds were left along another edge.

To sum it all up, I’d advise utilizing the vacuum and mop features on hard flooring to maximize the cleaning process. The Narwal Flow 2 does an average job edge and corner cleaning. When it comes to carpets, it can pick up a lot of debris, though for the finest materials like flour, you’ll probably need a more powerful vacuum.

Maintenance

When it comes to the Narwal Flow 2 , there isn’t much maintenance you’ll need to do daily or weekly. It took 16 uses of the robot vacuum before I was informed to refill the water tank and empty the dirty water tank.

I would suggest going through the app when you first start using the Narwal Flow 2 to set up the maintenance how you see fit. Head to the “Dock” section and choose what kind of mop drying intensity you prefer (silent, strong, or smart), as well as how often you want the dust bin to be emptied (every time of execution or when the robot determines it needs to be emptied). You can even choose the noise level of the dust emptying.

The base cleans the roller with 140-degree hot water and dries it completely with hot air. The dust bag holds up to 120 days’ worth of debris. In the future, Narwal may roll out a reusable dust bag. The debris filter is washable and should be cleaned once a month. You’ll need to remove the bottom tray of the base and clean it out once or twice a month as lots of debris and dirt accumulates there.

Within the app, you can keep an eye on which accessories need to be replaced and/or how much longer they will last. For instance, the zero-tangling floating brush on my testing robot is still good for another 144 hours of use.

• Performance score: 4/ 5

Narwal Flow 2: app

• Easy app with fantastic 2D and 3D mapping and insights
• Cleaning customization options (AI clean, vacuum and mop, vacuum then mop, vacuum, mop, and room customization)
• Video features and control through app

I had an easy time using the Narwal app to set up the Narwal Flow 2 . Although there is a 3D mapping option, I preferred using the 2D option and had an easy time labeling the rooms and seeing things like rugs on the map. I ran into some issues trying to split my living room and study on the map. The rooms have a wide doorway with pocket doors, so I understand the robot thinking they are the same room, but when trying to split them, the map says in doing so the rooms are “too small.” This is odd considering that my bathroom is about a sixth the size of each of those rooms and it was considered its own room on the map.

I tried to set up my corridor as a no-go zone (the floors are not sealed and can’t be mopped), but unfortunately, when I did this, the robot vacuum wouldn’t pass the corridor to clean the bathroom. Thankfully I was able to go around this with the room customization feature which allows me to customize the type of cleaning I want for each room. Therefore, I designed the corridor to be a vacuum-only space so that the robot vacuum would be able to reach the bathroom where I have it designated to be vacuumed and mopped.

Within the app, I can choose to clean the whole house, certain rooms, or even specific zones within those rooms. I can also customize this further by informing the robot vacuum to vacuum and mop, vacuum then mop, vacuum only, or mop only.

One of my favorite features is the Navo assistant that sits below the map offering insight on the cleaning or information that’s relevant, like if the vacuum has gotten stuck. If you click it, the assistant shows you the voice commands that you can use with the robot vacuum and lets you adjust the language and voice tone.

The Dock button informs users of the dust bag status and touch-on-demand features like dock dust emptying, dust bag dry and disinfecting, mop washing, mop drying, and adjusting the ambient lighting effects.

Users can watch a live video from the cameras on the Narwal Flow 2 . You can record or take videos, control the direction of the robot, and direct the robot to clean. There is also a Cruise feature that takes photos on a specific route through your house and stores them in the app.

On top of scheduling cleanings and monitoring the cleaning history, you can also adjust the cleaning settings, from the suction power to the mopping humidity, coverage precision (smart, standard, and meticulous), and set things like intensive corner cleaning, priority cleaning for carpet, intensive carpet cleaning, intelligent room splitting and rewashing of the mop, high altitude mode, child lock, do not disturb feature, obstacle avoidance strategy, and smart object detection. It’s also here where you can set up your Narwal Flow 2 with Alexa, Google Home, or Matter.

The Pet-friendly Mode section is very extensive. Users choose which pets they have (cats, dogs, or both) and designate either easy cleaning in specific pet areas or enhanced cleaning in areas that were missed because pets were present. It also allows you to find your pet and/or “play” with your pet by attracting the pet to the robot with a specific sound.

• App score: 4.5/5

Narwal Flow 2: specs

Narwal Flow 2: should you buy it?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Narwal Flow 2: also consider

If you're not sure whether the Narwal Flow 2 is the right robot vacuum for you, here are two other options to think about.

How I tested the Narwal Flow 2

I tested the Narwal Flow 2 for two weeks on my laminate and historic wood floors and medium-to-large pile rugs. To review all the vacuuming and mopping capabilities, I conducted several tests with various materials (water, chocolate syrup, soy sauce, coffee grounds, and flour) on different types of flooring to see how well the robot suctioned and cleaned the floor. This included testing different features like spot cleaning, video capabilities, mapping, voice commands, and so much more.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2026

There's a worrying trend in modern stick vacuums: they just seem to be getting heavier and heavier. I spent two years reviewing vacuums as one of TechRadar's Homes Editors, and during that time I tested plenty of stick vacs that gave me arm- or back ache.

These days, the big brands are in a battle to offer the most suction power and longest runtimes, and sacrificing on weight and compactness to deliver it. Given that cordless stick vacuums we were developed as a lighter, smaller, more maneuverable alternative to clunky corded uprights, this new trend is as illogical as it is annoying.

For some, the extra weight is not just inconvenient, but can make using the vacuum impossible. Luckily, during my testing years I also tried some excellent lightweight vacuums. Below, I've rounded up my favorites — the lightest of which clocks in at just 4lbs / 1.8kg. All of these models deliver capable cleaning in a streamlined package that doesn't require biceps of steel to maneuver.

My top-rated lightweight vacuums

Which lightweight vacuum should I pick?

The standout lightweight option is the Dreame R20, which is the best cordless vacuum I've used. In my tests, it delivered capable cleaning on carpet and hard floor, and I was impressed with the advanced features such as automatic suction adjustment, as well as the value for money. It's not the lightest vacuum in this roundup, but it's the best all-rounder. A close runner up is the Shark Detect Pro Cordless, which is smaller and lighter than the R20, but with slightly less suction clout — this one's best for hard floors and light cleans.

If you're just dealing with hard flooring, you'd struggle to beat the Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones, a broom-shaped cordless vac that I praised for being 'incredibly nimble'. For shoppers in the US, I'd recommend going for the PencilVac Fluffy, which replaces the slightly annoying cone-shaped floorhead with a more practical parallel one. (I've also included the mopping sister model, the PencilWash, which is similarly petite but powerful.)

Finally, there are couple of more specialized Shark models to consider. The unusual FreeStyle Max is an ultra-maneuverable cordless upright that stands up on its own, so might be a more practical choice for those with mobility issues. The suction is powerful but the runtimes are short. The WandVac System is essentially a handheld vacuum with a compatible wand and floorhead. It's very light and versatile, but beware the suction is relatively weak and the battery very short.

Dyson PencilWash: one-minute review

The Dyson PencilWash is a wet floor cleaner that’s a counterpart to the PencilVac launched last year. Unlike the PencilVac, the PencilWash isn't a vacuum. Instead, it’s essentially an electric mop with a soft roller that spins as water is dispensed onto it along eight points, and a squeegee that forces dirty water out of the roller into a storage tank.

It’s extremely slim and lightweight, with a long, slim handle and a full-size floorhead that’s almost identical to the one found on one of Dyson’s best wet-dry floor cleaners. It can soak up wet spills, wash away dried-on dirt, and pick up dust and dry debris in one sweep.

The PencilWash’s simple controls, lightweight and highly articulated head make it extremely easy to use, and almost effortless to maneuver around even tight corners, though its roller can’t reach right to the very edge of your baseboards.

It’s very effective when used with plain water, collecting an impressive amount of dirt from surfaces that looked reasonably clean at first glance, though you can also use it with a cleaning fluid to help break down more stubborn and sticky stains.

It can be messy to empty because the dirty water tank doesn’t have a spout for clean pouring, and any debris that has accumulated on the squeegee and roller will need to be rinsed off or removed by hand. I found that the roller takes a long time to dry - even when I left it in a room with a dehumidifier running, it wasn’t completely dry for over a day.

For me, the PencilWash’s biggest drawback is the price; the PencilWash only does wet cleaning, but costs almost as much as a good quality wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner like the Shark HydroVac Cordless WD201 / WD210 or the Bissell Crosswave HydroScrub. It does its job very well, but it’s tough to justify the expense for what is essentially a motorized mop unless you have no carpets or rugs to clean at all.

Dyson PencilWash: specs

Dyson PencilWash: price and availability

• Available globally
• List price: $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549

The Dyson PencilWash is available globally for $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549, which is rather expensive for a wet floor cleaner without a vacuum. For comparison, the Bissell Crosswave HydroScrub wet/dry floor cleaner is $369.99 (about £280 / AU$540), while the Shark HydroVac Cordless WD201 / WD210 is $359.99 / £329.99 / AU$399.99.

It’s the most affordable Dyson floor cleaner you can buy right now, and you’re getting a great quality appliance that’s compact but powerful, so it’s a question of whether you have enough hard flooring in your home to justify the cost, or whether you’d be better served by a two-in-one cleaner.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Dyson PencilWash: design

• Super slim and lightweight
• Full-size, fully articulated floorhead
• Easy to operate

The PencilWash is a partner to Dyson’s super-slim vacuum cleaner, the PencilVac, with a similarly lean build. It consists of a slender copper-colored pole (which contains the rechargeable battery, controls, and a small LED display) and a full-size floorhead. This appears to be the same as the Submarine Wet Roller Head, which you'll also find on the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine.

The floorhead contains a large, fluffy microfiber roller, a refillable water tank, a ‘squeegee’ that forces dirty water out of the roller, and a tray that collects it. It’s easy to disassemble and slot back together, with all removable components colored red to make things as simple as possible. Unlike the PencilVac, however, the PencilWash has no LEDs to illuminate dirt on your floors.

The head is fully articulated and moves freely. It can be flattened to almost 180 degrees for cleaning under low pieces of furniture, and swivels smoothly to reach into awkward areas like behind furniture legs.

The PencilWash weighs 4.85lbs / 2.2kg without water, and feels nicely balanced with just 13.4oz / 380g in the hand. The water tank is in the floorhead, keeping the center of mass close to the ground.

The controls are simple and intuitive, too, with a power button and two boost options that dispense extra water for a certain period of time (five seconds or 30 seconds) if you need to tackle a particularly grimy area. The screen shows the current cleaning mode and power status.

The PencilWash comes with a charging stand, which holds the pole, and a tray to hold the floorhead when it’s not in use. Both are discrete and take up the bare minimum of space in small homes.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Dyson PencilWash: performance

• Cleans wet and dry dirt with ease
• Can reach under low furniture and into tight spaces
• Dirty water tank must be emptied with care

I tested the Dyson PencilWash in my apartment, which has black laminate flooring throughout the kitchen, hallway, and bathroom, which shows every water mark, crumb, and speck of dust.

Preparing the Pencilwash for use is simple; just remove the water tank and roller from the floorhead, fill the tank to the maximum line and twist it back into place, then dampen the roller with clean water and slide it onto its mount.

When switched on, the PencilWash’s roller propels it forward, and the highly articulated head and lightweight handle make it effortless to push across your floors. Because the water tank is in the floorhead, most of the weight is kept close to the ground, keeping it stable and leaving the handle light and comfortable.

During my tests, I found that the PencilWash made light work of spills and dried-on dirt, such as spilled juice in the kitchen, and footprints in the hallway. Although you can use the PencilWash with a floor cleaner (such as Dyson’s own 02 Probiotic hard floor cleaning solution), I was impressed by how well it cleaned using nothing but plain water and agitation from the spinning roller, which is ideal if you have allergies that are exacerbated by cleaning products.

Although the clean water tank appears small (it has a capacity of just 10.6oz / 300ml), the PencilWash is frugal with its use of water. A little goes a long way, and I was able to clean all my hard floors with the tank still mostly full at the end. If you’re cleaning a large home with hard flooring throughout, you’ll need to refill it partway through, but I was surprised by just how little water was required for thorough cleaning.

The floorhead’s articulation made it possible to clean even around the legs of my bathroom cabinet, which are particularly awkward. The head isn’t small, so I was surprised it was able to reach into such tight nooks and crannies. It’s a shame that the roller doesn’t get right up to the edge of baseboards, though. There’s a gap of around half an inch that goes unmopped, which is unfortunate since this area can be quite dusty.

I was also surprised by how well the microfiber roller picks up hair, dust, crumbs, and other dry debris, so you don’t need to vacuum before mopping. The downside is that dirt can accumulate on the roller and squeegee, and will have to be cleaned off by hand when you disassemble the head to empty the dirty water tray.

You need to be very careful when emptying out the dirty water, which involves disassembling the floor head and gently pouring the waste away. The tray isn't enclosed, so it's quite easy to accidentally spill.

All the wet components can be cleaned with a mild antibacterial cleaner, after which you must leave them to dry out. I found that the roller took a particularly long time to dry, and even in a room with a dehumidifier running, it took over a day to dry out completely.

Overall, the PencilWash is very easy, and even fun to use — which is a surprising thing to say about a mop. It’s great for quickly refreshing hard floors mid-week, and for more thorough cleaning when necessary, thanks to its boost mode. If it could reach all the way up to my baseboards and was a little less messy to empty, it would have earned an extra half star.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Dyson PencilWash: should you buy it?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Dyson PencilWash: also consider

If you're not sure whether the Dyson PencilWash is the right floor cleaner for you, here are two other options to consider:

How I tested the Dyson PencilWash

I tested the Dyson PencilWash for a week on laminate flooring, using the regular and boost modes. I tested it on ordinary everyday dust and dirt, as well as muddy footprints, dried-on juice, and milk. I cleaned it after each use, following Dyson's instructions, and allowed it to dry fully. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed April 2026.

• The Deebot X12 OmniCyclone from Ecovacs tackles particularly tough stains
• It identifies dried-on dirt and pre-treats it using high-pressure water jets
• Once the dirt is softened, the OmniCyclone's extra-long mop scrubs it away

Ecovacs, maker of some of the best robot vacuums we've tested here at TechRadar, has just launched a new flagship model designed to tackle particularly tough dried-on stains that most robovacs would fail to clean.

The Ecovacs Deebot X12 OmniCyclone uses infrared and camera-based detection to identify particularly tough stains like muddy pawprints and spilled juice that you may not have even noticed before they dried. It pre-treats them using high-pressure water jets to soften them, then uses its roller mop to scrub them away.

The extra-long mop is rinsed with fresh water throughout cleaning to avoid spreading dirt or creating streaks. It won't make your carpets wet either; when moving off a hard floor, the OmniCyclone automatically raises and covers its mop head to keep everything dry.

The OmniCyclone cleans particularly close to baseboards, while also staying a safe distance from obstacles like pets and charging cables, and furniture.

After it's finished cleaning, the OmniCyclone's dock will handle messy jobs including washing and drying the mop, emptying debris, and managing cleaning solution automatically. It also has a fast-charging system called PowerBoost, which means it's ready to start cleaning again faster than other wet-dry robovacs.

The OmniCyclone is on sale now for $1,499 (about £1,100 / AU$2,100) direct from Ecovacs and from Amazon. We'll be testing it soon to see how it compares with rivals from the likes of Roborock and Dreame, so stick with TechRadar to find out whether the OmniCyclone can scrub its way to first place.

I’d never have guessed that consumer and industrial drone manufacturer DJI would ever consider bringing a robot vac to the dining table, but I was wrong. And when you think about, why shouldn’t they? After all, the company’s amazing squadron of drones are capable of following users through difficult terrain, even through woodland with tree branches everywhere, with breath-taking accuracy and speed.

Given that navigation and obstacle avoidance are prerequisites of any successful robot vac, it makes perfect sense to use established drone navigation tech in a robot vac, or even a robot lawn mower. And since DJI would presumably never dream of sharing its navigation technology with anyone else, they may as well make their own robot vac. And that it did.

I’ve already given the new transparent DJI Romo P a very favourable review after putting it through its paces and watching it work over the course of a week. I also spent a lot of time analyzing its cleaning power on both hard floor and carpet. However, one facet of this new upstart has truly amazed me and that’s its extremely good obstacle avoidance.

In fact, I think that the DJI Romo P’s obstacle avoidance represents one of the most technologically sophisticated navigation systems yet deployed in a consumer robot vacuum cleaner. Unlike cheap and simple robot vacuums that rely on bumper switches or basic infrared sensors, the Romo P combines dual fisheye vision sensors with three solid-state LiDAR units that, according to DJI, bring ‘millimeter-level obstacle sensing’ into the home.

When combined, this multi-sensor data allows the Romo P to identify not just large, basic obstacles like furniture legs and walls, but also extremely thin obstacles as narrow as 2mm in thickness. And this means it is also a dab hand at dodging thin phone cables of any length, a myriad of toys including Lego bricks and, if approached head on, even flat objects like train tickets and playing cards. This level of discrimination is quite significant because credit-card thin items are among the hardest for robot vacuums to detect.

Navigation and obstacle sensing hardware in itself only gathers data but making intelligent decisions from that data is equally important. Hence, DJI and, it must be said, other big players like Roborock and Dreame, also incorporate onboard machine learning algorithms — including AI-assisted learning — in their premium bots that interpret the combined sensors’ inputs. These algorithms enable the robot to recognize different types of obstacles and choose the most appropriate course of action.

Sometimes it will weave close to narrow legs of furniture to clean nearby, while other times it will give a wide berth to most smaller objects. This contextual awareness apparently helps minimize cleaning interruptions and prevents the bot from getting stuck or inadvertently spreading messes, which is something I observed when the Romo P actively avoided a large dollop of tomato ketchup in my review’s mopping test.

I’ve also noticed the logical routes the Romo P takes every time it performs a task, and I can only assume that this is also down to its spatial awareness and ability to perform almost human-like movement through a maze of obstacles.

For my review test I tried to prove this and set up an assault course using a variety of items both large and small. I was frankly amazed at the speed with which the Romo P navigated its way around the obstacles without stopping for a breath or knocking anything over. In fact, it was like watching an Olympic slalom skier in action.

Anyway, this got me thinking. So for this article I set up another two, even more extreme tests and not only focussed on the Romo P, but enlisted the help of my trusty Roborock Saros 10R, another robot vac with very decent obstacle avoidance.

By the way, the Romo P offers three levels of obstacle avoidance in the DJI Home app: Obstacle Avoidance Priority, Standard and Cleaning Priority. For the following tests I selected the Standard mode because it better balances the gap between cleaning and avoidance.

Roborock Saros 10R vs DJI Romo P obstacle tests

I’ve been using the Roborock Saros 10R since April 2025 and, along with its stablemate the Saros 10, it is one of the best bots I’ve ever had the pleasure of reviewing. So I thought I’d see how well it faired against DJI’s new Romo P when it comes to negotiating a challenging obstacle course.

For this comparison test I carefully positioned a wide range of obstacles including dog toys of various sizes, phone cables of different lengths, three titchy diffuser oil bottles, a small leaflet of stamps, a mock train ticket, a packet of cigarette papers, two thin black lids, a silver spanner, a small screwdriver and a sock.

I created two different tests because I wanted to see if either bot had learned from previous mistakes. However, I can’t categorically say if they learned anything from Test 1 because I’ve never seen any robot do exactly the same thing twice. They’re robots, after all, and they quite literally have minds of their own.

Anyway, back to the two tests which started with the Saros 10R followed by the Romo P. Both models were commanded to go from their dock positions (the Saros in the hall and Romo in the lounge) and head to the kitchen over a patterned rug. They were then commanded to return to the dock.

Although they were both coming from different areas, I made sure that both bots were given equally challenging tasks, or as close as I could get it. Setting both robots to leave from the same area would have entailed remapping the whole home on one of the bots and I simply didn’t have the time or, for that matter, the inclination. However, as the video demonstrates, both bots faced equally complex assault courses.

Test 1

Roborock Saros 10R

The Saros 10R happily jaunted into the room and simply headed straight over the cigarette papers and one phone cable but then made a very good fist of reaching its goal without causing any chaos in about one minute. Its return trip was more haphazard and it rode over a small cable and the stamps and, after having a good think with it’s camera facing the cigarette papers, it decided, what the heck, and continued onwards, carrying the packet into the hall before depositing it as it approached its base station. Its return trip took 35 seconds.

DJI Romo P

Now it was the Romo P’s turn, and for this I selected its ‘Standard’ obstacle avoidance mode which is the best option for better cleaning performance. Straight away it turned towards the spanner and, rather disappointingly, rode right over it. Typical! It also rode over the book of stamps before continuing with a weird detour around a small phone cable. However, it still completed the task in just 48 seconds.

Its return trip was also a bit wayward and took exactly one minute though it did glance the small screwdriver (understandable) and rode over the stamps. But this time it stopped at the spanner before detouring around a hair scrunch before returning to dock.

I have to say that both of them performed extremely well in this test and I was especially surprised by how adeptly the Saros 10R handled the course. However, the Romo P was clearly a lot quicker to complete the task.

Test 2

Roborock Saros 10R

The Saros 10R approached the cigarette paper packet and pushed it aside before heading over the black phone cable. It then carefully worked its way between the two diffuser bottles before noticing it had run over the short cable and reversing. It then continued, glancing a small black plastic cap before running over the second one, completing the task in 45 seconds.

Its return trip was less successful. It immediately rode over the black cap and, after some time thinking at the small bottles, ran headlong over the black cable, which it dragged most of the way home. Time: 38 seconds

DJI Romo P

A perfect gold-medal run. This time the Romo avoided everything, including the spanner, the cigarette paper packet, the stamps and both black caps. An amazing achievement in 48 seconds flat.

However, Rom(e)o got very cocky on its 50-second trip home and rode over the screwdriver, stamps and cigarette packet (twice) as if it had had enough testing for one day and just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. You’ve got to laugh.

Test 3

DJI Romo P

For this final test I used just the Romo P and selected it’s ‘Obstacle Avoidance Priority’ mode which further enhances its navigation capabilities for ultra-cluttered homes. I even added some smaller obstacles like a thin piece of cardboard, along with the black caps and stamp booklet from the previous tests. While the Romo P did a bit more thinking and a couple of detours, it nailed the run with no major issues to report other than its side brush tampering with the thin slice of cardboard. Another gold-medal result.

While these tests in no way represent the real world (at least I’d like to hope so), they just go to show how refined the navigation is on both of these models. Yet while the Saros 10R’s obstacle avoidance can be considered perfectly acceptable for everyday scenarios, I have to give the winning rosette to the Romo P for a more accurate and speedy approach when it comes to overall navigation and the perfected art of obstacle dodging.

Vacuuming isn't especially fun, and having to shell out your hard-earned cash for a vacuum cleaner might be even more painful. I was in charge of TechRadar's vacuum cleaner coverage for two full years, during which time I tested out all kinds of vacuums at all kinds of prices. I've put together this article to help out anyone who's in need of a new vacuum for their spring cleaning kick, but doesn't want to pay over the over the odds for it.

Most of these picks come in just under £250 (although deals crop up on all of these models fairly regularly), which is generally enough to get you a very capable cleaner. My top recommendation is probably the Dreame R20, which is perhaps the best cordless vacuum cleaner I've tested all-round, serving up good vacuuming, a lightweight build and some advanced special features for that affordable price.

I'm also a big fan of the Dyson V8 Cyclone; a refreshed version of the iconic V8. It's relatively basic in features, but really shines when it comes to outright cleaning clout — this is the option I'd recommend to owners of shedding pets.

A wild card is the Shark Freestyle Max. It's unusual in that it's an upright model, but it's cordless. On test it delivered nimble maneuvering and superb suction — albeit over very short runtimes. It's the cheapest of the bunch, at around £100. Happy spring cleaning!

My favorite cheap vacuums — UK

Dreame Z20 Station two-minute review

The Dreame Z20 Station has completely changed my home cleaning habits, thanks to a combination of terrific suction power, useful cleaning modes and a self-empty docking station that makes vacuuming an absolute breeze.

While its 250AW of suction power can be beaten by some newer models from Dyson and even Dreame itself, it’s still impressive and utilizes a well-designed floorhead that ensures dust and debris is effectively collected from both hard floors and carpets.

Called the Illumination Omni-Brush, this floorhead features a built-in LED light beam to help reveal dust that’s otherwise invisible to the eye. It’s a similar feature to Dyson’s Detect technology which, it must be said, is a bit more effective than Dreame’s implementation, but only in the sense that Dyson’s version is brighter and covers a slightly broader area of the floor. Dreame’s CelesTect technology, as it’s known, does still show up dust on hard floors and after the initial shock of realizing just how much was on mine, I found it to be an invaluable feature.

Unlike the top-of-the-line Dreame Z50, whose floorhead can automatically detect floor types and adjust its inlet to maintain good suction and reduce damage to carpets, the Omni-Brush requires the user to manually flick a front-mounted switch as you move from hard floor to carpet and vice versa for the optimal clean.

Speaking of cleaning, I found the Auto mode to be the best of the three suction settings on offer — the other two being Eco and Turbo — as it’s the only mode that dynamic suction comes into play and the Z20 would function perfectly well if you never changed settings. Whether that was to clean up dirty floorboards or remove hair from my carpet, it handled it in one pass quite effectively.

The LCD display on the top of the handheld unit shows a graph of dirt sizes that the vacuum detects during cleaning, much like on a Dyson, but it’s a lot more animated than its competitor. I initially found this feature a bit superfluous and an excuse to use up the display real estate, but it ultimately enabled me to carry out a more thorough cleaning of my home, as it shows when all dust and debris under the floorhead has been vacuumed.

Using the Dreame Z20 day to day is a simple process, with the power and mode select buttons falling nicely under the thumb. There’s decent manoeuvrability in the Illumination Omni-Brush cleaning head too, but the vacuum is top heavy, which makes it tiring to use for longer cleaning sessions. The wand is also a bit too short for my liking, which caused some lower back pain from having to bend slightly during every clean, and it’s sadly not extendable like in the Z50.

The Z20 comes with a few additional attachments, although the exact number and type varies by country, with the US getting a broader set compared to Australia. Changing attachments is easy thanks to large press-in buttons.

The main feature that differentiates the Z20 Station from the standalone Z20 available in the UK is the former coming with an auto-empty docking station. This is a freestanding charging base for the vacuum that automatically empties the dust cup into a 3L bag every time you place it on the stand. The dust bag is accessed via a magnetically attached side plate. Dreame says the bag is big enough for up to 100 days of dust and debris, although that will depend on the amount of dirt that’s collected each cleaning run and how often you clean, but a spare is supplied in the box to help save on initial costs of buying extras.

Other than its weight and height, there’s really not a lot to complain about here — with excellent suction and performance, plus the ease of having a self-emptying feature, the Dreame Z20 Station represents good value for money, especially if you can pick it up during a sale.

Dreame Z20 Station: Price & availability

• Announced at CES 2025, available since early-2025 in US, mid-2025 in Australia
• Station model not currently available in UK
• List price: $799.99 / AU$799 (standalone vacuum costs $299.99 / £299)

The Dreame Z20 Station was announced at CES 2025, so it’s not exactly ‘new’, but it then had a staggered rollout worldwide, arriving in the US first, followed by an Australian launch in July of that year.

With a list price of $799.99 / AU$799.99 — and with it seemingly never far from a big discount — the Dreame Z20 Station is well priced, especially when compared against direct competitors. There is arguably greater value in the US, as the Dreame Z20 Station is supplied with a few extra attachments compared to the Australian variant. These include a rotating soft dusting brush and a flexible adapter that allows the vacuum cleaner to get underneath chairs and tables for example, without you having to bend down.

The Station model on review here, which includes the auto-empty dock, isn’t currently available in the UK. A standalone Z20 cordless model (so without the dock), is available in the US and UK at a lower price point of $299.99 / £299 — and again, never far from a discount — but isn’t available in Australia at the time of writing. The vacuum itself is the same no matter which version you get.

Perhaps the closest competitor to the Z20 Station would be the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Lite, which offers 280W of suction power compared to the Dreame’s 250AW, along with an auto-empty docking station. However, this Samsung model costs $899.99 in the US, and nearly double that of the Dreame in Australia at AU$1,499. The Dyson Gen5detect also offers 280AW of suction power, but can’t self-empty, and will set you back $1,049.99 / £799 / AU$1,599.

While Shark has a few auto-empty options in its vacuum range at a similar price point to the Z20 Station that don’t incur the ongoing cost of purchasing replacement dust bags, the Dreame manages to outdo them in terms of pure power.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Dreame Z20 Station: Specs

Dreame Z20 Station review: Design

• Sleek, premium look for vacuum and dock
• Can feel heavy after long periods
• Separate stand for attachments

The Dreame Z20 Station is made up of two components: a cordless vacuum cleaner and a docking station that’s used to both automatically empty the vacuum’s dust canister and to recharge its battery. The standalone Z20 cordless vacuum looks (and performs) identical to the Station model reviewed here.

It’s part of a wider Z-series of cordless vacuums in Dreame’s lineup — with up to five sold depending on where you live — and is positioned as the mid-range option. The highest-spec variant available in most territories is the Z30, while the even more powerful Z50 Station is currently only available in Australia.

Other than the white Dreame Z10, the other Z-series models are mostly all-grey affairs, but with subtle differences to tell them apart. In the case of the Z20, Dreame has given the predominantly gray color of the vacuum and the docking station some copper/brass accents that are a lot more prominent than on the Z50. In my opinion, this is the best-looking Z-series Dreame vacuum as the copper/brass color gives off an added sense of luxury.

The Dreame Z20 ships with one main floorhead called the Illumination Omni-Brush. As the name implies, this floorhead features a built-in illuminating LED light to help reveal dust and debris on floors that are invisible to the naked eye. It’s a similar feature to Dyson’s ‘Detect’ floorhead and shines out over 140º. I haven’t used a Dyson myself, but my colleague and vacuum expert Sharm has. She confirms that the green beam used by Dyson is brighter and has a broader beam, but adds the Dreame’s interpretation of the technology is still incredibly beneficial.

A small comb is integrated into the floorhead to prevent hair from tangling, and there’s a small switch on the front that adjusts a movable lip on the brushroll housing — you’ll need to flip it when moving from hard floors (lowered for close suction) to soft floors or carpets (raised to maintain optimal clearance between the roller and fibers, preventing carpet damage).

The tube connecting the handheld unit to the main floorhead isn’t telescopic, which may put taller people off. Indeed, I felt some pain in my lower back as I had to bend ever so slightly to ensure the cleaning head remained in contact with the floor, and I’m roughly 177cm tall.

With the main vacuum unit, the tube and floorhead combined, the total weight is 3.3kg, making it one of the heavir cleaners we’ve tested at TechRadar. As a result it did cause my arm to become tired, even during shorter cleaning stints of around 10 minutes.

There are two buttons on the main vacuum body — one for power and one to switch between cleaning modes. Both are placed where your thumb naturally falls, resulting in easy control. Above the buttons is a color display that shows which cleaning mode you’ve selected, both via a temporary image that shows up when you select a mode, and then a color theme to indicate the mode you’re in. The default automatic mode is yellow, Eco is green while Turbo is red.

When particularly dirty areas are detected, a graphical representation is shown on the LCD display. Particles are divided into four categories depending on their size, with a rising bar for each indicating the number of particles detected. While Dyson also offers a similar feature, I much prefer Dreame's design.

At first I thought it was a bit gimmicky, but the more I used the Dreame Z20, the more I found the graph to be beneficial when cleaning. Before I would usually pass the vacuum over my floors quickly, but thanks to the graphical display, I spent more time moving around my home to ensure the graph levels returned to 0 before moving to the next spot of floor.

Like many of the best cordless vacuum cleaners, the Dreame Z20 can be converted into a handheld cleaner by removing the main wand and attaching any of the other tools. Exactly which tools you have at your disposal will vary depending on where you live and which version of the Z20 you get.

As already mentioned, the Z20 Station ships with a single main floorhead, along with a motorized mini brush and a combination crevice tool. The US version adds a flexible adapter and an extra extension piece for the main rod.

The standard Z20, available in the US and UK, includes two main floorheads — a multi-surface brush and a soft roller brush for hard floors, both are illuminated — along with a motorized mini brush, rotating soft brush and some extension pieces.

No matter which variant you choose, the extra attachments all store on a separate docking station that sits on the floor. It’s not particularly big and each attachment has a dedicated spot, but it is an extra thing you’ll need to make space for.

The onboard dust canister is rather a standard 0.6L, and given the fact it’s automatically emptied every time the Z20 is returned to the docking station — which itself utilizes a three liter dust bag — it’s unlikely you’ll ever actually fill it!

Speaking of the auto-empty docking station, it looks just as sleek as the Z20 vacuum cleaner, decked out in a matching grey color finish. You’re able to adjust the orientation how you see fit and depending on where the nearest power point is, as there are four available outputs for the cable in the base. A magnetically attached side panel conceals the 3L dust bag inside, and requires just a small amount of pressure to remove.

Battery life is rated at up to 90 minutes of runtime in the Eco power mode, which should be plenty even if you have a large home. Switching modes does have an effect on battery life and recharging to full can take a few hours (more on that later). The battery on the Z20 is swappable, but is naturally an extra added expense.

• Design score: 4/5

Dreame Z20 Station review: Performance

• Good suction on carpet and hard floors
• LED light beam reveals dust that’s invisible to the eye
• Auto mode is a great set-and-forget option

The Dreame Z20 Station offers an impressive 250AW of suction power. However, compared to the likes of the Dyson V16 Piston Animal with its 315AW and Dreame’s own Z50 Station which offers a staggering 330AW of suction, the Dreame Z20 could look underpowered but don't let that put you off.

I think Dreame has done a great job optimally harnessing that power with a floorhead design that cleans with both front and back movements. As you'll read below, I found that I could clean the majority of messes in one pass on any kind of flooring.

The Dreame Z20 has three power modes, and to test them all, I sprinkled flour, rice and hair (separately) on both carpet and hard floor.

Hard floor performance

Hard floors are objectively easier to keep clean compared to carpet and most cordless vacuums will be able to keep them dust-free even with low suction power.

To test how well the Dreame Z20 Station could handle different sizes of dirt and debris, I concocted a mixture of cacao powder, long-grain rice and coffee beans. I sprinkled this mixture on wooden floorboards and it took one forward movement in Auto mode to clean up the mess. There was a small amount of the mixture left in front of the floorhead that had been pushed forward, but this was easy to clean up with a second going over. And, as expected, the vacuum did boost its suction power automatically when it detected this mixture on the floor.

I was just as impressed with the performance in Eco mode, as even with the lower suction, my mixture was removed off the floor without any issues. I did need to switch to the Turbo setting however, as a few of the coffee beans did become stuck within it.

I don’t have a pet, but for the purposes of this review, I was prepared to take some clippers to my own hair. With a decent chunk of hair available to sprinkle on my floor, the Dreame Z20 Station once again proved it had no trouble cleaning it up on both Auto and Eco modes.

The laser on the Illumination Omni-Brush tool does a good job of highlighting dust and debris on hard floors that is invisible to the naked eye, either illuminating a bright aquamarine or creating visible shadows. It’s not as bright as the light on Dyson’s Fluffy floorhead, nor is the beam as broad.

Indeed, when using the Z20 during the day when my home was filled with natural light, it was a little tricky to see the effects of the CelesTect technology. When ambient light levels are lower, it naturally performs far better. And, unlike the Dyson Fluffy Optic tool, the Dreame beam can’t be switched off, making it superfluous when cleaning carpets.

Still, l ultimately found it to be invaluable when cleaning my home. In fact, my partner messaged me from home one day when using the vacuum, claiming he was experiencing “trauma” from the amount of dust that was now visible on the floor.

Carpet performance

I used the same mixture of cacao powder, long-grain rice and coffee beans on a relatively low-pile carpet and found that performance wasn’t quite as effective as it was on hard floors.

By this I mean that in both Auto and Eco modes, I needed to pass over the mess with two front and back movements to ensure everything was cleaned up. Given the fact it took these two passes in Auto mode, which automatically kicked into Turbo mode when it first detected the spill, I expected Eco mode to either require more passes, or just not succeed at all. However, as you’ll see from the images above, both modes only required a double pass (forward and backwards twice), which I found impressive.

It was a similar story with hair. The Z20 Station did effectively remove my trodden hair trimmings from the carpet, but needed a couple of passes in order to do so, which is still pretty darn good compared to other cordless vacuums we’ve tested here at TechRadar.

Handheld and accessories

As I’ve already mentioned in this review, the Z20 Station comes with a varying number of tools depending on where you live, and a separate cradle to store them. US customers receive a few more tools compared to Australia — these being a Rotating Soft Dusting Brush, a Flexible Adapter and an Extension Hose — and since I’m based in Sydney, Australia, I was unable to test them.

However, my colleague Sharm has recently reviewed the Dreame Z50 Station (an Australia-only model at the time of writing) which comes with these attachments, and found the rotating soft dusting brush did an admirable job of keeping shelves dust-free.

The set of attachments that come with the Z20 Station in both countries include a motorized mini brush, a combination tool and a soft brush tool.

Converting the vacuum to handheld mode and back again is a simple process as the buttons to disengage pieces are large and work as intended. Simply remove the extension rod, clip on your desired attachment and you’re away. However, given the main unit is quite large and the battery makes it relatively heavy, I found myself using two hands to hold onto it when vacuuming upholstery, for example.

Cleaning performance when in handheld mode is just as good as its regular mode and I was pleasantly surprised to find the dynamic suction adjustment carries over too. However the graphical display doesn’t function, i.e. when the vacuum applies some boost to the suction power, the bars don’t indicate what type and how much of a particular particle type has been detected.

Dock performance

Emptying the Z20’s dust canister is easy thanks to the free-standing charging dock. Just place the unit on the dock to trigger the auto-empty function. Whether you have the vacuum in handheld mode or the full unit, the function will trigger, although the additional weight of the wand and floorhead makes for a more seamless experience by providing the right amount of pressure inside the dock to force the self-empty to take place. You can also manually get this feature to come on by pressing a button on the dock.

While auto-empty works well, I should note that some dust and debris could occasionally remain stuck towards the handle end of the canister. I found that I needed to knock these around with my palm to dislodge them and trigger the auto-empty functionality again.

One final performance metric worth mentioning are the noise levels. I used the decibelX app on my iPhone to measure sound levels in each mode. Eco returned a result of around 63dB, similar to a washing machine, and Turbo mode saw it increase to 79dB, similar to heavy traffic. That’s quite standard for a vacuum of this caliber.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Dreame Z20 Station review: Battery

• Up to 90 minutes on Eco mode; 10 minutes in Boost
• Battery takes up to 5 hours to fully recharge
• Swappable battery reduces interruptions and life cycle

When using the lowest-powered Eco setting, Dreame claims the battery will last up to 90 minutes. That’s impressive and puts the Z20 up there with some of the longest-lasting runtimes and on par with our current-favorite cordless vacuum cleaner, the Dreame R20 — clearly Dreame knows how to eke the most out of its vacuum power units.

On test, with the crevice tool attached, I managed 1 hour 38 minutes, which is in line with Dreame’s claims. However, with the Omni-Brush cleaning head attached, which is motorized, the battery life in Eco mode dropped considerably to 42 minutes.

Using a vacuum cleaner’s Boost mode comes with the expectation that battery life will take a considerable hit and that is indeed the case for the Z20, as I managed just 10 minutes before it completely died.

I got around 60 minutes of runtime when in Auto mode, but given the fact that suction power is dynamically adjusted in this mode, runtime will depend a lot on the area being cleaned and how dirty it might be. A countdown displaying the remaining battery percentage is shown on the digital display, which changes to just “Lo” when it drops below 10%.

If you want to be able to clean for longer, or to ensure you maximize the runtime of your Dreame Z20, then you’ll need an additional battery pack. An official power unit is available from the Dreame store in the US for $69.90, but at the time of writing I am unable to find one on either the UK or Australian stores. Third-party power packs are available from the likes of Amazon, but these should be used with caution as they can void your machine’s warranty or damage the unit if overheated.

• Battery score: 4/5

Should I buy the Dreame Z20 Station?

Scorecard

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Alternatives

How I tested the Dreame Z50 Station

I used the Dreame Z20 Station in my own two-bedroom apartment as the test space, which includes a variety of flooring — carpet in the bedrooms, tiles in the bathrooms and hardwood floors in the kitchen and living areas.

While I used it mainly for regular cleans, I also decided to cut my own hair (to mixed result) so that I could tread it into the carpet to determine how well the vacuum would perform.

I also created a mixture of pantry items to test cleaning of different dirt sizes — this included cacao powder, rice and coffee beans — which I sprinkled over both carpet and hard floor.

I also used all three attachments to see how well they work with the handheld unit, including using the motorized miniature brush on my bed head and sofas, while the crevice and brush tools were used to clean drawers and skirting boards.

To measure battery life, I used a stopwatch to time when the machine powered down on its own during different suction settings and with different attachments. I also ensured that I only tested the battery on mixed flooring when it was particularly dirty and with the main floorhead, to see how long it would run with dynamic suction.

Read more about how we test vacuums at TechRadar

[First reviewed April 2026]

Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub: one-minute review

The Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub All-in-One-Multi-Surface Cleaner is a cordless vacuum and mop in one. It effectively picks up dirt from bare floors as well as certain kinds of rugs. A single charge is probably enough to vacuum and mop an average-sized home, though you might need to refill the cleaner if you have a lot of carpets or rugs. It's lightweight, easy to use, and not too loud. A headlight really shines a light on dirt so you can be sure to get it all. However, it lacks some features that may be a dealbreaker for some.

It's great on bare floors and hard carpets and rugs. But the Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub is not intended for flimsy or fluffy carpets. It lacks a wand or hose of any kind, which means you can't use it on furniture. Also, don't expect any miracles in the stain-removal department.

For the day-to-day cleaning of a typical home with hard floors, either bare floors or dense rugs, the Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub All-in-One-Multi-Surface Cleaner excels. For specialty carpeted surfaces or deeply ingrained carpet stains, it may not be enough.

Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub: price and availability

• List price: $369.99 (about £280 / AU$540)
• Available on BISSELL's website and Walmart

As of this writing, the Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub All-in-One-Multi-Surface Cleaner is available on Bissell's own website and at Walmart. The price is the same at both places, $369.99 (about £280 / AU$537). It's fairly expensive for this type of cleaner but might be worthwhile if it fits your needs.

• Value score: 4/5

Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub: specifications

BISSELL CrossWave HydroScrub: design and features

• Cordless
• Wet and dry cleaning modes
• Cleans bare floors and rugs

The cordless Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub All-in-One-Multi-Surface Cleaner takes about five hours to charge fully, and then will clean for about 45 minutes on a single charge. Vacuum your floors and rugs with the PowerVac Mode, and then switch to Power Mop Mode for wet cleaning. A headlight comes on automatically as you clean, and makes it easier to find and clean any dirt.

It's relatively lightweight, weighing in at under 11 pounds. The front of the handle has three buttons: Power, Cleaning Mode button, and a Turbo Mode button for extra suction. The inside of the handle has a Scrub Mode trigger for extra scrubbing in mopping mode. On top of the handle, you'll find the Clean-Out Cycle button.

A lit display on the front of the body indicates which cleaning mode you're in and how much power you have left. This display informs you of any issues, such as clogs, an empty clean tank, or a stuck brush roll, among other things.

The size and shape allow you to get close to walls and in corners to clean. There are no hoses or attachments that would allow you to clean sofas or other furniture.

The back of the unit houses the clean water tank. You fill it with warm tap water up to the water fill line, and then add cleaning formula to the formula fill line. This gives you the right concentration of cleaner to water. Empty out the dirty tank as needed; you'll have to disassemble all of the parts and give them a good clean by hand.

If you wish to run the Clean-Out Cycle, you need to empty the dirty tank first. Add cleaning solution up to the Clean-Out Cycle line on the clean water tank, then put the machine in the docking station and press the Clean-Out Cycle button. It takes just 45 seconds to clean out the machine. Then you'll need to clean out the dirty tank again.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub: performance

The Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub All-in-One-Multi-Surface Cleaner made quick work of food crumbs on my kitchen floor. I also threw down some salt and that was easily vacuumed up as well. I ran it over some dried-on mess in Power Mop Mode and that was easily cleaned up as well. I did need a few passes in the same spots, especially near walls. One odd thing I noticed was that the wheels got dirty very quickly, and there's no easy way to clean those.

I vacuumed and then wet-cleaned three good-sized area rugs plus two carpeted bedroom on a single tank of cleaner and a single charge. I also attempted to clean a thin, flimsy, washable area rug and unsurprisingly that didn't work at all; it just got sucked up into the CrossWave HydroScrub.

It never gets particularly loud. My dog usually barks at vacuums because she hates the loud noise; she didn't bark at this one until I'd been using it for a while (and I got into her space.)

The pulling back motion on rugs feels a bit rough sometimes. Forward motion is consistently smooth. It took several passes to vacuum up a single hair on an area rug, but it did get up eventually.

My area rugs had actually been shampooed rather recently, but not the bedroom carpets. I didn't realize how dirty they were, but wow: the dirty tank was filthy after my cleaning session. I mean, really gross.

After wet cleaning, the rugs were slightly damp but not soaked. They dried pretty quickly after cleaning. I did have some old, set-in stains and those did not come up. It's worth noting that my rugs and carpets are all very dense; the Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub All-in-One-Multi-Surface Cleaner is not designed for plush or fluffy rugs.

I cleaned out the dirty tank after I was done with this cleaning session, and then I added more cleaner and ran the 45-second Clean-Out Cycle. Again, the dirty tank was filthy, so I cleaned it out again and then hand-washed all of the parts.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub: also consider

If the Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub All-in-One-Multi-Surface Cleaner isn't exactly what you're looking for, you might consider the following:

How I tested the Bissell CrossWave HydroScrub

• I tested both wet and dry modes and Scrub Mode
• I ran a Clean-Out Cycle
• I took apart the dirty tank and washed all of the parts

I vacuumed up crumbs and food from my kitchen floor. I ran a mop cycle on some dried-up mess on the floor. I vacuumed several area rugs. I did a wet-cleaning cycle on three area rugs and two bedrooms. I attempted to clean some set-in stains on carpet. I ran a Clean-Out Cycle when I was done cleaning. I took apart the dirty tank and hand-washed all of the parts.

Read more about how we test.

• Dyson has announced the availability of its newest cordless vacuum, the V10 Konical
• Available in Australia initially, it's compatible with Dyson's first ever self-emptying dock
• The Auto-empty Dok will be sold separately and will also work with the Dyson V8

Dyson has today (March 19) made the surprise announcement of a brand-new cordless vacuum cleaner — and it's the cheapest yet to feature its newer conical floorhead. The Dyson V10 Konical has first been released in Australia, where it will set prospective buyers back AU$799 (US and UK pricing and availability are TBC, but that's around $560 / £420), and shares the same 150AW of suction as the Dyson V8 Cyclone released last year.

Its headline act, however, is a welcome feature that Dyson has been rather late to embrace — self-emptying.

That's right, the Dyson V10 Konical will pair with the new freestanding Auto-empty Dok, which will also charge the vacuum while providing storage for attachments. Dyson hasn't specified the size of the dust bag the Auto-empty Dok will use, but the company claims it will hold "up to 60 days of dirt".

That Dok will also need to be purchased separately, though it isn't yet available to buy, even in Australia. Dyson hasn't provided a firm date for its release, only saying that it will come "later this year" and cost AU$299 (around $210 / £160).

The good news is that the new Dok is also compatible with the V8 Cyclone, so users who've already purchased that older budget model won't need to upgrade to the V10 Konical to get the auto-empty feature.

When tools matter

In the meantime, the V10 Konical, as the name suggests, uses the same conical floorhead as the V16 Piston Animal, which Dyson says is suitable for use on any floor type. While I haven't tried the V16 myself, my colleague found that the new design wasn't as good as Dyson's Digital Motorbar on the Gen5detect in cleaning up dirt and debris in a single pass.

With that in mind, if I had to choose between the V10 Konical and the V8 Cyclone, I'd probably opt for the latter, as it comes with the Digital Motorbar head instead.

Like the V8 Cyclone, the V10 Konical also ships with just two other attachments in the box, though a mini motorized tool replaces the V8's Hair Screw Tool on the new model. Given they share similar specs elsewhere — including total suction power and up to 60 minutes to runtime — I'm a little disappointed that the V10 Konical costs AU$100 more than the V8 Cyclone in Australia.

That said, Dyson has stated that "accessories across Dyson V8, V8 Cyclone, and the new V10 Konical are interchangeable", which means if you already have the Hair Screw Tool — which I personally love to clean mattresses and sofas — you won't need to replace your entire system when opting for the latest Dyson vacuum.

While it's easy for me to find fault with the V10 Konical based on specs comparisons with other Dyson models, it still remains to be seen how well it performs in real-world testing. However, it's the Auto-empty Dok that has captured my attention — after having tested self-emptying docks from Samsung, Dreame and Shark, I'm very curious to find out how the Dyson Dok compares.

Years ago, I switched from my old and inconvenient corded vacuum to a cordless one, and I loved it. Just grab and go! No setup, no tangling! I'm a tech journalist after all, and the promise of solving inconveniences using the power of lithium-ion is catnip to me. And it worked great for me for years, making it really easy to stay on top of floor cleaning.

But last year, I found the shine wearing off. When I first got my cordless vacuum, I lived somewhere with all hard floors downstairs, and only carpets upstairs. My Vax vacuum had two levels of suction power, and the lower level was fine for doing the hard floors, with plenty of battery life to get around the whole level, and then some.

Doing the carpeted areas required the higher power level, and this drained the battery way faster, to the point that I could only just do it all in one go (even ignoring the hard floor). Still, no problem — they needed doing less often than the hard floors in general, being in less-used areas of the house.

Since then, I've moved house to somewhere that's almost entirely carpeted, and pretty quickly my cordless vac started feeling in inadequate. Yes, it still had the convenience of being able to just grab it out of the cupboard and instantly start cleaning, but because I now needed to have it on maximum power all the time, I was barely getting through even half the house, with zero chance of doing the whole thing — it felt like it was extending the chore instead of making it more accessible.

On top of that, even at maximum power, I wasn't happy with the quality of the cleaning, now that all the highest-trafficked parts of my house were carpeted. I was wanting to clean more often, which then made the inability to do it all at once feel more frustrating.

Around that time, we were working on our Shark Stratos Pet Pro Upright Vacuum review, and so I ended up switching to that model — and I've stuck with it ever since.

It's bigger and heavier (we noted in our review that it's particularly bulky), and more of A Thing to get out and use when you combine its size with it being corded, but I feel far more proud of the cleaning results afterwards. I could instantly see the difference in the amount of cat hair in particular being picked up, too.

This model has Shark's 'Lift-Away' design, meaning I can separate the vacuum part from the main head and tube, connect a smaller attachment to the nozzle, and just use that for doing the stairs, which is essential, in my experience — the main unit itself is just too bulky to move around well on steps, and doesn't get into the corners at all.

Between the size, sorting out the cord and using the Lift-Away system, it does feel like the vacuuming job takes a long time in some ways — but I'd say it's been more economical with my time overall, because I'm doing the whole house in one go and it's cleaner afterwards, with each room taking less time to feel like it's been done well.

I also want to note something that isn't a cordless versus corded thing, but because I live with someone who has a lot of long, thick hair, the Anti Hair Wrap design of the rollers in the Shark cleaner is also miracle in its own right.

There are lots of reasons why you might still prefer to go with one of the best cordless vacs over a corded one, and it's true that many will be able to offer stronger suction or swappable battery packs that would've helped solve my issues — but on balance, I'm happier with the reliability and power I've had from the Shark corded vac.

(And just to prove that I learned my lesson from this change, when I got a new car recently, I chose the ThisWorx Corded Car Vacuum for cleaning it, because as my colleague Cesci said in her review, 'I can just clean as deeply as I want, at my leisure, with no worries about running out of battery before I'm done'.)

If you're thinking of grabbing a new vacuum cleaner for your spring cleaning, and want to join me in going old-school and corded, I've worked with our resident vacuum testing expert Ruth Hamilton and Homes Editor Cat Ellis to pick out four top deals from the Amazon Spring Sale.

Today's best corded vacuum deals at Amazon

More of today's best Amazon Spring Deal Days deals

• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Blink & Echo from £13.99
• Apple: AirPods & Apple Watch from £139
• Appliances: up to 30% off Ninja & De'Longhi
• Clothing: up to 50% off Sketchers & Crocs
• Essentials: from £5
• Gaming: up to 50% off PS5 & Switch games
• Headphones: Sony & Shokz from £59
• Health & Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Smart home: up to 50% off cameras & doorbells
• Smartwatches: Apple, Samsung & Huawei from £99
• Tablets: Fire & Galaxy Tabs from £59.99
• Toys: up to 30% off Lego
• TVs: from £139.99
• Vacuums: up to 30% off Shark & Vax

If you’re looking to spruce up how you clean your home, there’s a great offer right now in the spring sale at Amazon. Today, you can buy the Shark Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum Cleaner at Amazon for £189.99 (was £252.07), which is just £20 more than it was during last year's Black Friday sales.

The Shark Clean & Empty has some great features and it comes from a very reliable brand. It has an auto-empty system, anti-wrap technology, and it can handle both carpets and hard floors. It’s particularly good for a small flat or apartment, but its 40-minute battery life should have you all set for most living spaces. It even looks pretty stylish, as you don’t always find sleek-looking white vacuum cleaners.

Today’s best cordless vacuum cleaner deal

Our Shark Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review called it “the most convenient vacuum I’ve ever tested” and described it as the “perfect everyday cleaner.” It’s “lightweight, balanced and agile” with useful automation features and a handy auto-empty dock.

We found it isn’t “the most high-powered vac” and its battery life is “good [but] not great”, but it’s a great choice at this price. It’s sure to be one of the best cordless vacuums for many situations, and I really love how it looks.

Its anti-hair tangle makes it a good option for the best vacuum for pet hair, too, while being much cheaper than the best Dyson vacuum. If you’re keen to keep on top of dust and dander around your home, this is a convenient way to do so, plus you have the benefit of it looking pretty nice too.

If you want to spend a little more, take a look at the Dyson vacuum deals available right now. To save you even more afford, don’t overlook the robot vacuum deals going on too. They’re ideal if you prefer the hands-off approach.

• The Shark EveryMess 3-in-1 can vacuum wet and dry spills, and act like a spot cleaner
• It's impressively compact and comes with a range of attachments
• Available to buy now for $149.99 / £199

Shark has expanded its spot cleaner lineup with a multitalented new machine. The Shark EveryMess can vacuum liquid and solid messes, or work as a spot cleaner on upholstery. I saw one in action at Shark's HQ, where it sucked up a Coke spill from a cream carpet with not so much as a trace of sticky soda left behind.

This 3-in-1 combination is pretty unusual — in this corner of the market, you typically get wet-and-dry vacuums or spot cleaners, but it's rare for an appliance to do both. It's available to buy now from $149.99 in the US, and £199.99 in the UK (scroll down to check out the best prices at a range of retailers).

What's more, it's impressively compact. The US and UK versions have slightly different proportions, but either would fit into an average-sized kitchen/utility room cupboard. (The US version is 10.5 x 16.5 x 13.5in / 26.7 x 41.9 x 34.3cm L x W x H. The UK version is 22.7 x 36.9 x 36.4cm / 8.9 x 14.5 x 14.3in.)

There are multiple compatible attachments for tackling different kinds of messes: an extending Crevice tool for tight corners, a wider Squeegee tool for covering larger spaces, and a dedicated Stain Eliminator attachment for tough, set-in stains.

Although it's marketed as a 3-in-1, this doesn't look like a sensible replacement for a full-sized wet floor cleaner, because none of the attachments are especially big. However, for smaller, trickier cleanups of any kind, it seems ideal — Shark lists broken glass and permanent marker as examples of awkward cleanups this appliance can happily tackle.

Another obvious market for such multipurpose cleaners is pet owners. Not only is the EveryMess suitable for cleaning everything from muddy pawprints on your soft furnishings to the occasional toilet-training accident, but Shark says it's especially good at picking up pet hair at the same time.

Shark boasts about a 'Rinse & Ready' self-clean function, but it's a little more rudimentary than it sounds: to rinse out the tubing, you can simply vacuum up a pitcher of fresh water. For especially disgusting messes, Shark recommends lining the main bin with a 15-50L plastic bag so you don't need to get your hands dirty when it comes to disposal.

The EveryMess is designed for use with Shark's 'StainForce' two-part cleaning solution, and the brand suggests you'll only get that kind of extreme, stain-busting performance with that specific formula. The spray nozzle part clips straight onto the cleaner cartridges, replacements of which can be purchased separately at a cost of $24.99 / £24.99 for two, or $14.99 / £14.99 for one.

Dyson is spoiling us. Towards the end of last year the brand launched an ultra-compact new vacuum, the PencilVac, and a nimble new hard-floor cleaner, the Clean+Wash Hygiene. Now it's combined the best features of both cleaners to create the Dyson PencilWash.

This new hard-floor cleaner has the PencilVac's streamlined build and shrunk-down motor, and takes its mopping cues from the efficient Clean+Wash Hygiene. Here's a run-down of this innovative new cleaner's most exciting features…

1. It's so compact

The (baby) elephant in the room is the size. Many of today's best wet-and-dry vacuums are chunky and heavy, but the PencilWash is almost impossibly svelte. It uses a tiny motor, which is small enough to fit inside the 1.5in / 38mm handle. The battery is equally compact, and clips on to form the top section of the handle. The water tanks are then integrated into the floorhead.

That means the whole unit is not much bigger than a regular-sized broom. It's also light, at 4.9lbs / 2.2kg. Now, designing the water tanks to fit into the floorhead does mean that they're pretty small, but thanks to some meticulous water distribution, Dyson says they should be good for up to 100 square meters of cleaning per tank.

2. There's no filter

The knock-on effect of the waste water tank being positioned inside the floorhead is that the dirty liquid barely needs to travel at all. As a result, there's no risk of any tubing to become blocked, or start emitting unpleasant smells. In fact, Dyson boasts that there's no filter here at all.

3. It's extremely maneuverable

As well as sporting a streamlined design, the PencilWash is built for maneuverability. This is an area where Dyson excels – most of today's best Dyson vacuums are ultra-maneuverable. This one has the benefit of that broom-shaped handle, too, which means there's no bulk around the top section either.

Dyson says the PencilWash will pivot smoothly at the twist of a wrist, and based on my experience with the PencilVac, I can believe that. It can also drop near-flat (170 degrees), in which mode it's just 5.9 inches / 15cm tall, and can slide easily under low furniture.

The Dyson PencilWash goes on sale in the US on 17 March and in the UK on 23 February, with a list price of $349 / £299.99. It goes on sale in Australia on 5 March for AU$549.

Dyson just announced the PencilWash, a motorized wet floor cleaner that's roughly the same size as a regular, manual mop. This isn't the first time Dyson has shrunk down a traditionally bulky appliance: the PencilWash is a sister product to the Dyson PencilVac FluffyCones, an almost impossibly compact cordless vacuum.

The downsizing trend began life in a less immediately eye-catching way, in Dyson's haircare department. The brand had already shaken up the haircare market with its original Supersonic hair dryer, but for its professional-only Supersonic r it redesigned its inner workings to be far more streamlined and 'power-dense'.

That meant all the mechanics could be fitted into a tubular design that looks odd, but turned out to be excellent for extended, meticulous hair styling. Dyson recognized that it was onto a good thing, and in March last year it made the Supersonic r available to consumers, too.

Dyson then decided that if it could make a hair dryer that was 1.5 inches / 3.8cm in diameter, it could surely make a vacuum that was 1.5 inches / 3.8cm in diameter, too. Unbelievably, it was successful: all the inner workings of the PencilVac have been squeezed into a handle that's the same width as the Supersonic r. To make it happen, the brand had to engineer a Hyperdymium 140k motor that's a minuscule 1.1 inches / 2.8cm wide.

The same tech powers the PencilWash. And who knows where it'll come in next — Dyson is clearly on a shrinking spree, and it would be silly to stop there.

“We’re keen on making machines smaller and lighter while dramatically improving performance," says Dyson CTO John Churchill. "The PencilWash… brings the simplicity of a broom together with the precision and power from Dyson engineering.”

Small size; big win

The benefits of downsizing a floorcare appliance are obvious. It makes it more maneuverable, more comfortable to use for longer periods, and able to get into tighter spaces. However, some may quibble with the "improved performance" claim, because there are knock-on effects that can't entirely be glossed over.

One is battery life. The PencilVac can only manage 30 minutes of cleaning per charge, whereas the best Dyson vacuums of the flagship line can run for over an hour before needing to juice up.

Another is outright power. Here, there's an even bigger gulf between the PencilVac and the rest of the lineup: even the decade-old V8 has twice the suction power of the PencilVac (115AW versus 55AW).

Finally, there's the unavoidable lack of space. The PencilVac has to have a tiny dust cup that needs emptying regularly, and the PencilWash has to have small clean and dirty water tanks.

For me, though, to focus on these things is to miss the point. The PencilVac and PencilWash aren't meant to be the perfect choice for everyone, but they will be the perfect choice for some people. Plus, they offer something that you currently can't really find anywhere else.

For example, the cordless vacuum market is awash with vacuums that offer massive amounts of power and ever-longer runtimes, but which are heavy and bulky as a result. If you have mostly hard flooring, a small home, and awkward corners to get into, super-suction and a never-ending battery isn't going to be of any benefit to you. What you need is a small, nimble, compact vacuum with just enough power to whip the dust off your floor. The PencilVac provides just that.

Similarly, the PencilWash won't guzzle up massive spillages like a suction-based wet-and-dry vacuum, but there are many homeowners that rarely have to deal with that kind of mess, and just want something that will get their hard floors mopped in an efficient and hygienic way.

What Dyson is doing is broadening out the market to cater to a wider range of customers — and I'm excited to see what will get the shrinking treatment next.

Dyson is still the king of vacuums, but recently it has been busy growing its range of wet-floor cleaners. For a long time, we had just the WashG1, but now there's also the Clean+Wash Hygiene, and Dyson has just announced a third addition to the lineup: the Dyson PencilWash. That's not to mention the recently expanded fleet of 2-in-1 Submarine vacuums.

If you're wondering which of Dyson's wet cleaners to invest in, I'm here to help. I've tested both the WashG1 and Clean+Wash Hygiene, and crunched the specs for the new model, too, to figure out the key differences between them. Below, you can learn which Dyson mop I'd recommend for a range of priorities.

However, note that right now the WashG1 is attracting some major discounts in both the US and the UK, taking it down to around half price. That alone makes it a very compelling proposition – I think it's a little overpriced at list price, but with that kind of discount you're getting a lot of bang for your buck.

If your priority is maneuverability...

The PencilWash looks like the clear winner in this category. It's specifically built to be ultra-maneuverable, with the motor and battery reduced in size to fit in the handle, and compact water tanks tucked into the floorhead.

It's a sister model to the Dyson PencilVac, which is very similar but swaps the mopping floorhead for a vacuuming one. I've used the PencilVac, and it pivots and maneuvers like a dream, which bodes well for the PencilWash.

Where the Clean+Wash Hygiene might have the edge is in the fact it can lie completely flat to the ground – there's even a mini wheel on the rear of the handle that lets you guide it smoothly along the floor. In this mode it's 4.44 inches / 11.3cm tall, and perfect for cleaning under low furniture. The PencilWash can also get pretty close to the ground, dropping to 170 degrees and a height of 5.9in / 15cm, but it won't go as low as the Clean+Wash.

Don't write off the WashG1, though, because as wet cleaners go, I found this one super nimble and easy to maneuver. Due to the positioning of the water tanks, the handle here is more bulky, while the floorhead is more streamlined. In use, I found it pivoted more smoothly than the Clean+Wash Hygiene.

If your priority is minimal maintenance...

Both the WashG1 and Clean+Wash Hygiene have a self-clean cycle that can be activated when the machine is docked. It runs clean water through the system to flush out any lingering dirt and freshen up the roller.

Where the Clean+Wash has the edge is that it also has a self-dry mode, where the dock will blast the roller with hot air to ensure it's dry. In contrast, it's probably best to remove the WashG1's rollers and pop them out to dry somewhere, or they'll start to smell musty pretty quickly.

The PencilWash doesn't have any kind of self-clean cycle, so you'll need to rinse and dry the roller after every mopping session.

What about longer-term maintenance? Well, Dyson asserts that one of the biggest problems with wet-dry vacuums is that they suck solid and liquid waste through small tubes to reach a waste water tank mounted on the handle. As a result, the tubes are prone to becoming clogged, which leads to bad smells.

All three of Dyson's hard-floor cleaners seek to offer a solution to this issue, but in different ways. With the WashG1, solid waste is filtered and stored in a tray in the floorhead, so it's only the dirty liquid that travels through the pipes.

In the Clean+Wash Hygiene, too, any solids are filtered out, but all the waste is contained within the floorhead, so nothing has to travel anywhere. In the PencilWash, everything again remains in the floorhead, but solids and liquids aren't separated.

You'll need to decide for yourself how concerned you are about potentially gunky pipes. The one thing that stood out to me during testing was that the WashG1's waste tank proved really easy to clean. It's wide enough to get your hand inside, and there are no crevices in which grime can collect. In contrast, the tanks on the Clean+Wash are impossible to get into, and the PencilWash looks the same.

If your priority is price...

At list price, the WashG1 costs $769.99 / £599.99 / AU$999, the Clean+Wash Hygiene comes in at £429.99 (not yet available in the US or Australia), and the PencilWash will have a list price of $349 / £299.99 (no AU pricing yet).

However, where things get interesting is that the WashG1 is very heavily discounted in both the US and UK. In fact, it's easy to pick up for around half price in both territories – you'll find the best current deals below. While the following is just speculation, I'd associate those kinds of discounts with a product that's about to be discontinued.

In the case of the PencilWash, you're paying a premium for the compact form factor. If you live in a smaller home and need something super-nimble, it might be reason enough to make it worth the spend. However, if you want maximum bang for your buck, at current prices I think the WashG1 is your best option, in the US and UK at least.

If your priority is more versatility...

In the pantheon of hard-floor cleaners, none of Dyson's models are especially feature-rich. Both the WashG1 and Clean+Wash Hygiene have three hydration modes and a Boost mode for extra water, whereas the PencilWash is simpler, with just two hydration options and no Boost. If you're seeking advanced modes such as steam-cleaning or automatic adjustment, as well as suction, my guide to the best wet-and-dry vacuums has plenty more complex options to explore.

Of course, if you want the most versatility in a single Dyson machine, an argument could be made for choosing the Submarine model over all of them. These take one of Dyson's flagship vacuums and bundle in a mopping floorhead (this bit looks a lot like the bottom of the PencilWash to me). You can then swap them over to turn the appliance into a mop or vacuum as required.

Another thing to consider is the size of the water tank. The PencilWash's tanks are super-small, which rules that model out for homes with lots of floors in need of mopping. For bigger areas, a WashG1 or Clean+Wash Hygiene are better. Dyson suggests that due to better water control, the latter will actually deliver more cleaning per tank, despite said tanks being smaller than those of the WashG1.

Specs compared

The Dyson PencilWash is a wet cleaner designed specifically for use on hard flooring, and it differs from most of today's best wet-and-dry vacuums in a couple of significant ways. First, it's ridiculously compact and lightweight — the motor and battery have been shrunk down and fitted into the handle, and the water tanks tuck inside the floorhead. Second, it doesn't use suction, but instead harnesses a combination of hydration and agitation to buff away dirt, soak up spills, and generally get your hard floors sparkling.

It has only just been announced, and is a sister product to the Dyson PencilVac, which is also relatively new to the party. The PencilWash joins the WashG1 and Clean+Wash Hygiene in Dyson's lineup of wet cleaners. So what do we know so far about the Dyson PencilWash? Let's take a look...

Dyson PencilWash: price & availability

The Dyson PencilWash was announced on 19 February 2026. It will go on sale in the UK on 23 February and in the US on 17 March in the US. At list price, it will cost $349 / £299.99. If you're in Australia, it will be available from 5 March for AU$549.

Dyson PencilWash: design

Let's break the design down into three parts: the handle, the floorhead, and the dock. The handle is 1.5in / 38mm in diameter and contains a shrunk-down motor. The top section of the broom handle is the battery, and it's removable and swappable. On the front of the handle you'll find the control buttons, plus a screen to show you which of the two modes you're in and how much battery you have left.

Moving on to the floorhead. This contains two small water tanks — one for clean water, one for dirty — and a microfiber roller that's densely packed with 64,000 filaments per square centimeter. You can use the PencilWash with just water, or mix in some Dyson's-own, non-foaming 02 Probiotic hard floor cleaning solution.

The roller spins at speed, and is fed evenly with fresh water from eight inlets. The waste water is directed straight into the dirty tank — there's apparently no filter here. (Although Dyson did say that about the Clean+Wash Hygiene and it turned out there was one — just the kind built for chunky rather than fine debris.)

Finally, the dock. This is just for charging the machine, and looks like a little cone. To dock, you remove the mopping floorhead and slot it into the top. There's a drip tray provided to pop the damp floorhead on.

Dyson PencilWash specs

Dyson PencilWash: usability

I haven't had any hands-on time with PencilWash yet, so you'll need to sit tight for my full performance review. What I do know is that this cleaner is designed to be very easy to maneuver, and able to glide smoothly into tight spots and around awkward corners. It can lie near-flat to 170 degrees, and in this mode it's just 15cm high.

It's really very lightweight in general, coming in at 4.9lbs / 2.2kg. Even more notable is that most of the weight is in the floorhead. Dyson says the weight 'in hand', with the PencilVac resting on the floor, will be around 0.8lbs / 0.38kg.

Dyson says the machine will pivot by just twisting the handle. That's certainly true of the Dyson PencilVac, which is the nimblest vacuum I've ever tested, by some margin. I expect this model to be slightly more cumbersome because the floorhead is (necessarily) chunkier and heavier, but I still have high hopes on the maneuverability front.

The water tanks are really rather small, so it likely won't be well suited to big homes. A 30-minute runtime is on the shorter side for an appliance like this, but should still allow for a decent amount of cleaning per charge.

It's very simple in terms of modes and features: there are two moisture modes, and that's about it. Other wet cleaners offer a wider range of modes, and even things like automatic setting adjustment and steam or foam modes — as well as suction, for pulling up solid messes with more oomph. Another common feature that's missing here is a self-clean mode, which would take care of some of the maintenance for you.

The real USP here, and the reason to choose the PencilWash over competitors' models, is the ultra-compact size. There are some streamlined wet-dry vacuums on the market — the Tineco FLOOR ONE i7 Fold is a recent example — but as far as I'm aware, there's nothing quite as shrunk-down as the PencilWash available from any other brand.

• Dyson has unveiled the PencilWash wet floor cleaner
• Uses the same ultra-slim, light build as the PencilVac vacuum
• It has two hydration modes, with water tanks hidden in the floorhead

Dyson has announced a new wet floor cleaner that's incredibly compact and lightweight. In fact, the new PencilWash is about the size and shape of an old-school, manual mop. All the mechanics have been shrunk down and squeezed into the handle, while the water tanks are tucked into the floorhead.

Announcing the PencilWash, John Churchill, Dyson's Chief Technology Officer, said: "We’re keen on making machines smaller and lighter while dramatically improving performance. PencilWash applies that thinking to wet cleaning: our slimmest, ultra‑light format that glides effortlessly and reaches where others can’t. It brings the simplicity of a broom together with the precision and power from Dyson engineering."

The handle itself is 1.5 inches / 38mm in diameter — just a little wider than a regular broom handle. It's designed so you can steer the whole thing effortlessly, simply by twisting the handle.

The PencilWash weighs 4.9lbs / 2.2kg, but most of that (minimal) weight is concentrated in the floorhead, so Dyson says the weight in your hand will be more like 0.8lbs / 0.38kg. It's designed to be able to sneak under furniture — it lies flat to 170 degrees, and in this mode it's just 15cm tall. It's built for use on hard floors, and can handle wet and dry spills.

The 300ml clean-water tank is apparently capable of cleaning up to 100m² of flooring. The cordless design has a maximum 30-minute runtime, and you can pick up a backup battery to swap in if you want to extend that.

As is the case with the whole Dyson wet-cleaner range, there's no suction — instead, the PencilWash uses hydration and agitation to get your floors clean. The roller is covered with densely-packed microfiber, to absorb liquid spills and buff off dirt. It's continuously fed with clean water as it rolls around, while the dirty stuff is extracted, so you're not just smearing the dirt around your floors. You can choose from two hydration modes.

Unusually, there's no filter. The press release suggests filters simply "trap dirt, breed bacteria, emit odors, and [are] difficult and unpleasant to clean" whereas this filter-free design "removes the risk of sludge, blockages, or drop in performance". I won't quibble with the idea that filters are nasty to clean, and if this design can avoid blockages and grime buildup without one, that's excellent news.

Where does it sit in the wider range?

I haven't had any hands-on time with this new cleaner yet, but I have been testing the PencilVac, which is the sister model, unveiled in June 2025. It has a similar, broom-shaped build, but swaps the mopping floorhead for a vacuuming one. That cleaner is supremely maneuverable and incredibly nimble — I'm hopeful Dyson has recreated that same magic with the PencilWash.

The PencilWash is the third dedicated wet cleaner in Dyson's range, sitting alongside the WashG1 (which went on sale August 2024) and the Clean+Wash Hygiene (just launched at time of writing). However, in some ways the design is more similar to the Submarine floorhead on the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine, with the tanks all contained within the floorhead.

The Dyson PencilWash goes on sale on 17 March in the US, and 23 February in the UK and 5 March in Australia, at a list price of $349 / £299.99 / AU$549.

• The Halo Capsule XR is a cordless, bagged vacuum
• Uses compostable, sustainably-sourced, large-capacity bags
• Also boasts HEPA-14 filtration and an anti-tangle floorhead

These days, bagged vacuums can seem a little bit old-fashioned. Certainly, most manufacturers seem to be focusing on bagless designs that put the grimy contents of your carpets proudly on display.

As a vacuum tester, I'm a little sad to see this — mainly because bagged vacuums have a ton of hidden benefits. Keeping everything neatly contained in a bag means you won't be enveloped in a plume of escaped dust, dirt, and allergens every time you need to empty the bin. The filters need far less frequent cleaning than they would on a bagless vacuum, and they're generally hardier and more reliable, too.

One of the few brands to continue to produce bagged vacuums is Halo — it's the brand behind the Capsule X vacuum that earned a perfect five stars in our review. So when news reached my ears that there was a new model coming out, I was excited.

The new Halo Capsule XR looks even better than its predecessor, with more powerful suction, increased airflow, and an upgraded filter. Because it's bagged, you're getting all those benefits I mentioned earlier. Allergy-sufferers are particularly well catered for: as well as the efficient dust containment offered by the bag, Halo has added HEPA 14 filtration. This is a specialized, medical-grade filter that can capture even smaller particles than your standard HEPA.

Halo has gone some way to negating the downsides of bagged vacuums, too. The bags can hold up to 2 liters of dirt, which means they can handle plenty of cleaning before you'll need to swap a new one in. They're also made from FSC-certified sustainable sources and are compostable at the end of their life, to minimize their environmental impact.

The design is slightly unusual and boasts some useful touches. It can stand upright on its own, for one, and there's a flexible tube provided for getting right into nooks and crannies where hair and dust can lurk.

The other specs are up there with the best cordless vacuums I've tested, too. Thanks to an innovative carbon fiber build, the Capsule XR clocks in at 2.8kg, which is impressively light. It can manage up to 70 minutes of cleaning per charge, and recharge is speedy at two-and-a-half hours. Halo has also added anti-wrap features to the brushroll, so pet/human hair shouldn't get tangled.

At list price, the Halo Capsule XR is really rather expensive: £672 for the standard bundle or £757 for the two-battery option. However, based on the price history of the previous model, I'd expect regular discounts. Right now, there's an 'introductory offer' that takes the price down to a far more reasonable £299.99 for one battery, or £339.99 for two.

Dyson has just brought out a new wet floor cleaner, but (as you can read in my Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene review) I'm not 100% sold on the design. In fact, testing that new model made me appreciate the old version even more. The WashG1 is ultra-nimble, with an effective, full-coverage floorhead design and easy-to-clean water tanks.

The main issue I had with the WashG1 was that I felt it didn't quite offer enough for the price — at $769.99 / £599.99, it's officially one of the most expensive wet floor cleaners on the market. Except it has just plummeted in price: right now, the Dyson WashG1 is $399.99 at Amazon (or direct from Dyson if you prefer) in the US, and just £299 at Very in the UK.

At that price it's a no-brainer. It's a far cry from the bulky, heavy, noisy machine you might be imagining when you picture a wet-and-dry vacuum — it feels light and nimble to move, and because there's no suction involved, it's relatively quiet in operation too. It clears dirt and liquid-solid spills with ease, and comes with a self-wash cycle that keeps the roller fresh.

I suspect the reason for this mega-discount is that Dyson is phasing out the WashG1 to make room for the new model — but as I think I've made clear, I actually prefer the WashG1 to the Clean+Wash Hygiene anyway. Read on for more info on the deal, plus some alternatives from other brands, if you'd like to compare your options.

Alternatives to consider

Not sure the WashG1 is right for you, even with that massive discount? There are plenty more hard floor cleaners around that are worth considering. The options below come from brands that pop up time and time again in TechRadar's best wet-dry vacuum ranking, and all have steep discounts in the Presidents' Day sales.

More of today's best Presidents' Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Best Buy: $1,000 off TVs, laptops & headphones
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lenovo: 45% off laptops & tablets
• Lowe's: up to 40% off appliances, furniture & tools
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off appliances, TVs & phones
• Target: 40% off clothing, tech & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs from $69
• Wayfair: 54% off furniture, rugs & decor

• Dyson has launched the PencilVac Fluffy, following the Fluffycones version
• It features a parallel roller rather than cone-shaped, otherwise the same ultra-compact vacuum design
• Currently available in the US only, it's significantly cheaper than the original

Recently, Dyson launched an almost impossibly compact new vacuum: the Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones. It looks nothing like a regular cordless vacuum, because all of the main components have been shrunk right down and hidden within the handle, which itself is about the size of a broom handle.

I tested one out and declared it a true feat of engineering and innovation. In fact, I was completely sold on this new design... save for one niggling issue. Dyson has used cone-shaped rollers on the floorhead, rather than standard parallel ones. The plastic casing then follows the shape of the cones, which means the floorhead comes to a slight point at the front.

The knock-on effect is that the PencilVac Fluffycones can't sit flush to a wall, unless you approach side-on, which isn't always possible. It makes vacuuming the edges of rooms unnecessarily tricky, and tasks like cleaning the stairs – which this lightweight, nimble vacuum would otherwise be perfect for – become a major hassle. It's a problem I also had with the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, which has a similar cone-based floorhead.

Imagine my joy when I spotted an alternative on the dyson.com website, launched without any fuss or fanfare: the Dyson Fluffy. It looks to be exactly the same as the PencilVac Fluffycones, except for the floorhead. The cone-based head has been swapped for one with a parallel roller.

The new floorhead looks similar to the Fluffy / Fluffy Optic floorhead that is bundled in with the Dyson V15 Detect and Gen5detect vacuums, but is possibly slightly more streamlined, as implied by the name: the Micro Fluffy cleaner head. Just like the Fluffycones head, the roller is entirely covered in soft, dense fibers that are designed to get right up close to your hard floors, sweeping away dust and buffing the surface clean, without risking any scratches.

Potential down-sides

For me, the Micro Fluffy cleaner head looks like a clear winner of the two floorhead options. It solves the room edges problem, and based on the specs it's lighter too.

The only thing I'm slightly sad about is that there doesn't appear to be any laser headlamps on this new version – in contrast, the FluffyCones has two, one mounted to the front and another to the back. These help illuminate lingering dust on hard surfaces, to ensure you don't miss any. They also make cleaning that much more satisfying.

The original idea behind using cones is that any long hair the vacuum encounters will make its way down to the small ends of the cones, to be easily sucked up. This works well, but then again I've never had issues with hair-wrap on the standard Fluffy floorhead on my V15 or Gen5detect, either. If you have Rapunzel-like locks, it might still be worth considering the FluffyCones version, but otherwise I'd say you'll be fine with the Micro Fluffy option.

The Dyson PencilVac Fluffy is currently available to buy in the US direct from Dyson, but it's not yet an option on the UK or Australian sites. It costs $449.99 – significantly cheaper than the Fluffycones version, which is listed at $599.99.

Shark Stratos IZ400: two-minute review

It might be looking a little long in the tooth now, but there's a reason the Stratos IZ400 is still part of Shark's vacuum cleaning lineup. This model packs a punch for cleaning power, and comes with a handful of special additions that help elevate it above the competition.

Standout features include dirt-based automatic suction adjustment and a forward-bending wand that makes it easy to clean under furniture, not to mention enabling the entire unit to fold in half for freestanding storage. But maybe my most favorite thing about this vacuum is that you can actually reach the on-off and mode buttons with your holding hand – something that's ridiculously rare on modern vacuums.

While the Stratos IZ400 isn't quite as efficient as the newer and pricier Shark PowerDetect, it still performed impressively well in my cleaning tests, proving equally capable on vinyl flooring, plus mid-pile and deep-pile carpet. Score-wise, it's up there with the best cordless vacuums on the market right now.

It won't be the best vacuum for everyone, however. The main downside is that it's rather heavy and bulky, and the PowerDetect pips it to the post when it comes to both special features and outright cleaning power. However, because it's older, this vacuum attracts plenty of discounts, with which it can represent incredible value for money.

Read on for my full Shark Stratos 1Z400 cordless vacuum review.

Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless review: price & availability

• List price: £429.99 / AU$799.99 (discounts common)
• Available: UK and Australia

The Stratos IZ400 has been out for a few years now, launching in 2022. Shark has released several newer models to its lineup since, including the Shark Detect Pro and PowerDetect Cordless.

In the UK, the list price for the Stratos Cordless IZ400 is £429.99, but it isn't difficult to find it at far less than this – at time of writing, it was available for £249.99 from Shark direct. This model is also available in Australia, where it costs AU$799.99 (reduced to AU$599.99 at time of writing).

At full price it's no doubt a premium model, but those discounts take it into mid-range territory. For what you're getting, it's excellent value for money.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless specs

Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless review: design

• Heavy and bulky for a stick vacuum
• Controls are simple and effective
• Auto-suction adjustment and a forward-bending wand

Features include auto-suction adjustment based on how dusty the floor is, and enhanced anti-hair wrap design on the floorhead, an anti-odor capsule for keeping everything smelling fresh, and a wand that can be released to bend forwards to make it easier to clean under furniture. That last feature is also handy for storage, since it means you can fold the vacuum in half and it will stand on its own.

Like almost all cordless stick vacuums, the wand can be removed and the unit can be used as a handheld.

The main floorhead is Shark's older-style unit, featuring two separate rollers: a soft one for hard flooring, and another with rubbery fins for carpet. The front-mounted headlamps here are pretty dim, and won't illuminate dirt as effectively as those that feature on Dyson's laser floorheads. The Shark also lacks the "suction in reverse" feature included on the PowerDetect vacuums – this would prevent chunky debris from pooling up when the vacuum is pulled back over it.

Not too, that the IZ400 is one of the heaviest cordless stick vacuums I've used, weighing in at nearly 4kg with the wand and main floorhead attached. In handheld mode, however, it's fairly light – much of the weight is in the wand and floorhead, both of which are rather chunky.

Although the size and weight make it a little unwieldy, the IZ400 still feels decently easy to maneuver. Shark has added shaping and padding to the handle, which means it's easy to get a solid grip, yet it remains comfortable to use.

There are three modes to choose from: Eco (low suction), Boost (maximum suction), and Clean Sense IQ. That last one is the auto mode, where the machine will automatically adjust suction based on the level of dirt detected.

There are two control buttons: one switches the machine on and off, and the other lets you toggle modes. I was thrilled to discover that these are within easy reach of the handle – something that is bewilderingly rare on modern vacuums. It means you don't have to keep a spare hand free when cleaning, which is great.

Information is delivered via a screen above the handle. This is refreshingly uncomplicated – it tells you which mode you're in and how much battery remains, as a percentage.

Emptying the vacuum is simple, although you will need to remove the floorhead to activate the open-bin switch. Unlike on newer Shark vacuums, there's no compatible auto-empty dock.

The model I tested came with two attachments: a Crevice tool and a Multi-Surface tool, which is a wider brush tool for upholstery. Note, the one I tested here didn't have a motorized roller, as some upholstery tools do.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless review: performance

• Strong cleaning on hard floor and carpet
• Auto-suction adjustment works well and saves effort
• Not quite as efficient as the Shark PowerDetect

During general use, I was impressed with the cleaning on offer here. I could hear the suction ramping up and down as I encountered patches of dust – and, despite the weight the vacuum, it felt relatively easy to maneuver and comfortable to use.

The forward-bending wand is great for cleaning under furniture. I was concerned the vacuum would be wobbly in this mode, but I needn't have worried – it felt sturdy and was easy to direct.

One thing I noticed is that the vacuum seemed to take a second to switch on each time. That's true of all Shark cordless vacuums I've tested, and although it isn't a deal-breaker, it is a bit irritating.

To gain a more objective view of the Stratos IZ400's cleaning powers, I ran a series of standard tests using fine debris (loose, dry tea) and chunky debris (a dry rice and lentil mix) on vinyl flooring, mid-pile carpet and deep-pile carpet.

Carpet

The Stratos IZ400 did a very good job on carpet, pulling the vast majority of tea from both mid-pile and deep-pile carpet in a single swipe. However, there was still a light sprinkling remaining – this model isn't quite as powerful as the Shark PowerDetect, although it is up there with other premium vacuums I've tested.

Chunky particle pickup was excellent, with very little debris pinged around the room. It should also be noted that the Stratos was easy to push in Auto mode, even on thick carpet. Some vacuums are ultra-powerful but are too sucky to actually push; I think Shark strikes a good balance here.

Hard floor

On hard floor, the Stratos cordless cleared the tea easily in a single forward pass in Auto mode. However, it caused the tea to pool up behind the floorhead when approached in reverse. This issue is widespread among such cleaners, but Shark has managed to fix it in its PowerDetect range, which has a newer floorhead design than the one found here.

Handheld mode and accessories

I also tested the Stratos in handheld mode, using the Multi-Surface tool to remove dry tea from an upholstered chair, in Auto mode. It did a decent job, although I found it worked better when the bristle part of the tool was removed. Some Stratos bundles come with a Motorized Mini tool – that's worth prioritizing if you have pet hair to deal with, for example.

Although this vacuum is actually relatively light in this mode, it's still a little unwieldy. The body of the motor section is quite long, and I found myself using two hands to keep things stable as I cleaned.

Battery

In Eco mode, Shark says this vacuum will last up to a full hour per charge. I timed it at 10 minutes in Boost, which is good. In Auto mode, runtimes will vary depending on the kind of cleaning you're doing.

The battery is removable and swappable. In fact, some bundles come with a spare, effectively doubling your cleaning time. One minor complaint I have is that it's really tricky to see how full the battery is during charging – there's a blinking battery icon on the side that switches off when the battery is fully charged, but it isn't displayed as a percentage, nor is there any kind of level indicator. The percentage on the screen also jumps down in 10% increments, rather than being precise.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless: scorecard

How I tested the Shark Stratos IZ400 cordless

I ran a series of trials in TechRadar's vacuum testing lab. These included seeing how well the vacuum could clear large (dry rice and lentils) and fine (dry, loose tea) particles from vinyl floor, mid-pile carpet and deep-pile carpet. I also assessed its general usability, flagging any pain points I encountered and shouting out any unexpected benefits. I compared my findings to other vacuums I've tested, and weighted all that up against the price, to gauge if this vacuum is a good buy or not.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed January 2025

Dyson recently launched three new home appliances: a wet floor cleaner, the Clean+Wash Hygiene, a robot vacuum, the Spot+Scrub Ai, and a regular vacuum, the PencilVac Fluffycones. Of the three, the manual vacuum stands head-and-shoulders above the others.

It makes sense: Dyson has long been considered the vacuum king. There are decades of expertise to draw on there. The other products? Not so much.

It's further convinced me of something I've been thinking about for some time: that brands should lean into what they're good at, rather than trying to be everything to everyone. I don't mean just making one type of product, but I do mean focusing on the expertise you have in your business and looking to maximize it.

Getting experimental

On the surface of it, branching from vacuum to robot vacuum seems pretty logical. Except it's not. Suction – which Dyson does know about – is only a tiny piece of it. Arguably, the software side is much more important. A great cleaning algorithm and reliable navigation are crucial, and none of Dyson's handful of robot vacuum attempts have shone in these areas.

Dyson has also ported in manual vacuum features. I'm not sure whether this is an attempt to connect it to the rest of its products or because it thinks these features make sense in a robot vacuum, but to me, they're not a good fit. Dirt-illuminating laser LEDs are unnecessary here, and the transparent dock dust cup is unwanted.

The Clean+Wash Hygiene is similarly slightly underwhelming. There's no suction (which is fine, although again, it feels like it's not playing to Dyson's strengths), but instead uses a well-designed roller and even water flow to remove solid and/or liquid dirt from your hard floors.

It works fine, but in terms of features, it's notably behind the folks that have been doing wet cleaners for a while – Tineco and Bissell, to name a few. Unfortunately, Dyson's pricing doesn't reflect the short featurelist.

Pencil me in

Then we come to the PencilVac Fluffycones. This is Dyson's area of expertise, and boy does it show. We don't just have a passably good product; we have one that outshines all the competition and introduces something genuinely new to the market.

For the PencilVac, Dyson shrunk all the component parts of a vacuum cleaner down and stuck them in a broom-shaped handle. The result is a machine that's ultra-streamlined, lightweight, and a dream to use. I think it might truly change the vacuum market.

Another area where Dyson has successfully transferred its expertise is haircare. Although on the surface, it seemed like quite the pivot when the brand first announced its Supersonic dryer, it actually makes a lot of sense.

Dyson is skilled at moving air – it's what makes it so prevalent in the vacuum cleaner and fan/purifier spaces – so it follows that it could make a great hair dryer.

Staying in your lane

Dyson isn't the only brand interested in expanding its horizons. At the start of the year, Dreame announced it its entry into... well, just about every home category I can think of. I expressed my concerns that it'd be able to maintain the high standards I've seen so far in its robot vacuums and hair stylers.

I'm all for pushing boundaries, but I also think it's worth playing to your strengths. Not all home brands can offer everything under one roof, and that's fine.

The best cordless vacuums are fantastically portable, but their slim size often means they need emptying far too regularly. If that's a problem for you, then you'll want a self-emptying vac, and I can recommend the four-star Shark Detect Clean & Empty Vacuum Cleaner, which is on sale at Amazon for £199.99 (was £252.07).

Thanks to automatic self-emptying technology, the Detect Clean & Empty automatically releases its debris into the bagless base unit. This dock is capable of holding up to 30 days of debris, which is longer than most wired vacs would manage.

All you have to do is whizz the vacuum around your house, put it in the dock, and the machine will take care of the rest. Sounds good, doesn't it? Now at its best price since Black Friday, the Detect Clean & Empty is a premium-featured vacuum cleaner at a new, affordably low price.

Today's best vacuum cleaner deal

In our four-star Shark Detect Clean & Empty review, we loved the vacuum's auto-empty dock, automation features, and agile feel, as well as the mini motorised tool, which was particularly effective for getting up pet hair.

The highlight of this Shark Detect vacuum is the 2L base, which automatically sucks the contents of the vacuum’s bin out into a larger container when you drop it on the dock. The vac will also recharge while in the dock, which is a bonus.

As well as these automated and innovative features, the Shark Detect Clean & Empty is also very capable of doing what vacuums should do: picking up debris and dust. Thanks to its special brushroll, it makes light work of both carpets and hardwood floors.

This is a fantastic deal that is well worth considering, but there are plenty of other options available. Take a browse of our dedicated guides to the best vacuum cleaners, best cordless vacuums, and best wet-dry vacuums.

Dyson is known for its vacuum cleaners, but recently it has been getting more into wet hard-floor cleaners. Its first attempt launched in August 2024, and you can read all about it in my Dyson WashG1 review. Now there's a new model on the block: the Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene.

Unlike the best wet-and-dry vacuums on the market, neither use suction, but instead harness a combination of hydration, agitation and separation to clean your hard floors. To put it another way, they add water, dislodge dirt using cleverly designed rollers, and then separate solid and liquid waste for easy disposal.

Beyond that, though, there are a couple of key differences between the Dyson WashG1 and Clean+Wash Hygiene. The first is that the dock will dry the roller with hot air once it's finished its self-washing cycle. This is a solid improvement; no notes.

The second is that the Clean+Wash stores all the waste water in its floorhead, rather than on a tank mounted to the handle. The idea behind this is that because the liquid's not traveling anywhere, there are no tubes to get gunked up. This design shift makes sense in theory, but has several knock-on effects I'm not such a fan of. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that in making this one change, Dyson has sacrificed most of the WashG1's best features.

Here's why I actually prefer the older Dyson WashG1 over the new and shiny Clean+Wash Hygiene...

1. It's fiddly and messy to empty

The WashG1 has its dirty-water tank mounted to its handle, and this is easy to remove and empty. The solid waste tray slots into the floorhead, and is slightly more complex to fit, but still fairly straightforward.

In contrast, the Clean+Wash Hygiene has its dirty-water tank mounted into the top of the floorhead, with a two-part solid waste tray integrated in. Separating the three components is fiddly, and putting it back together again even more so – and I say this as someone who's pretty good at jigsaws.

The knock-on effect of having a more complicated floorhead, with lots of connecting components, is that it's a lot leakier than the nice, simple WashG1. Now, all the wet floor cleaners I've used are a little bit drippy – it feels like an unavoidable problem – but the Clean+Wash Hygiene seems especially bad. It felt like every time I went to empty the dirty-water tank something would dribble out onto me or the floor.

2. There's only one roller

The WashG1's floorhead has two large microfiber rollers and a bristled roller for solid messes, and delivers efficient cleaning. In contrast, the Clean+Wash Hygiene only has space for one roller on its more complicated floorhead.

I will say I do prefer the microfiber roller design on the Clean+Wash. The scrubbing action is slightly improved, thanks to the addition of wiry, longer fibers that extend a bit from the roller. My ideal scenario? The upgraded microfiber roller design, mounted in the old floorhead.

3. The water tanks are too small

The WashG1 has a 1L clean-water tank, and a 0.8L dirty tank, whereas the Clean+Wash Hygiene equivalents are 0.75L and 0.52L respectively, and the difference was noticeable on test; not so much during the actual mopping – Dyson has tweaked the water delivery so there's only a fine sheen of liquid applied to floors, eking out the clean water as much as possible – but during the self-clean cycle.

Each self-clean cycle uses more than half a tank of clean water, which means for the first few times I ran one of these I had to stop twice per cycle: once to refill the clean water tank and again to empty the dirty tank. Eventually I learned to do this before each self-clean cycle to avoid annoying interruptions.

The benefit of smaller tanks is a more streamlined and lighter machine, so I can see why Dyson was keen to keep things compact here – you'll need to decide your priorities when making your choice.

4. Cleaning the dirty-water tank is tricky

One of the things I liked about the design of the dirty-water tank on the WashG1 – and something Dyson highlighted as a big benefit when I was first shown that machine – was that the waste water tank was designed to be easy to clean.

It's wide enough that you can get your hand in and wipe everything out, and there are no awkward corners where grime can collect. I've tested a number of wet-dry vacuums now, and I've never seen anything like it – dirty water tanks are always too small to get your hand in, and always have sharp edges that get grubby almost instantly.

The setup on the Clean+Wash is especially bad, though. It opens with a screw cap, and there's no access to the inside at all. It's not the worst thing for a dirty water tank to be dirty, but this feels like an oversight in terms of long-term maintenance.

Dyson WashG1 vs Clean+Wash Hygiene: specs compared

Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene: two-minute review

The Clean+Wash Hygiene is the second in Dyson's hard floor cleaner line. Like its range-mate, the Dyson WashG1, it stands out for not using suction at all, but instead harnessing a mixture of 'agitation, hydration and separation' to get your hard floors squeaky clean.

The absence of suction means this cleaner is significantly lighter than most true wet-dry vacuums, and it also means it can operate relatively quietly. On test, I couldn't see a compromise in performance, either: I was very impressed with how effectively the Clean+Wash Hygiene picked up all kinds of messes, including chunky particles like oats, using just its cleverly designed roller.

Liquid waste is separated from solid, and one USP here is that all the waste is stored in the floorhead itself. Dyson says this is good news for longevity, because there are no pipes to get grimy or blocked up. I did find the emptying process a little fiddly, and the floorhead was drippier than other hard floor cleaners I've used.

There's a self-clean cycle that runs fresh water through the system. It will likely require you to empty the dirty water tank and refill the clean one mid-cycle, but otherwise it's effective at removing dirt from the roller. Dyson has also added hot air drying here – it's noisy but again, effective. Even after the muckiest of cleaning task, my roller looked good-as-new afterwards.

Bar some minor quibbles, I was impressed with this cleaner. Whether it's worth the asking price is another thing – I've tested some of the best wet-and-dry vacuums on the market, and there's little that stands out as truly exceptional here, unfortunately.

That's the short version; read on for my full Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene review.

Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene review: price & availability

• List price: £429.99 / AU$799
• Available: Now in the UK and AU, US to follow
• Launched: December 2025 (UK), March 2026 (AU)

The Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene went on sale in the UK in December 2025, at a list price of £429.99. An Australian launched followed after in March 2026, when it went on sale for AU$799. It's due to become available in the US at a later date in 2026, but I don't have any specifics or pricing yet – based on UK pricing, it might be around $600.

That's in the premium band for a hard floor cleaner, and although the build quality is excellent and plenty of thought has clearly gone into the design, I don't think it does quite enough to justify the price tag. For that kind of money I'd expect to see the option of suction, and special features like dirt detection, automatic adjustment, and even foam / steam functions.

• Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene specs

Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene review: design

• Streamlined and relatively lightweight, and can lie flat
• Waste is stored in the floorhead, and separated into solids and liquids
• Self-clean function and hot air drying on the dock

The Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene is a lightweight hard floor cleaner with a handful of interesting design features. Rather surprisingly given this brand's heritage, there's no suction here – instead, it uses hydration and agitation to remove dirt from hard flooring.

The roller spins at speed, and is continually fed with fresh water, as the dirty stuff is scraped off. It can handle mixed solid-and-liquid spills, and to a certain extent also dust and other dry debris (although it won't be as effective as a regular stick vacuum here).

The roller is densely packed with fibers to make it as absorbent as possible, and Dyson has added wiry bristles that stick out a bit, for extra scrubbing power. There's also an anti-tangle comb behind the roller to prevent hair wrap. On one side the roller goes right up close to the edge of the floorhead, but on the other there's a decent chunk of casing. The roller can be removed for rinsing as required.

One of the areas where Dyson tends to shine in its floorcare range is maneuverability, but I didn't find the Clean+Wash Hygiene quite as nimble as I expected. Don't get me wrong, it's far from cumbersome – it's streamlined in design and pivots smoothly, but it felt a little less agile than something like the Dyson WashG1. I was impressed that it could lie completely flat to the ground, until the whole thing is just 4.44 inches / 11.3cm tall. A small wheel on the back of the handle helps it maneuver smoothly in this mode.

The dirty water compartment is integrated into the floorhead itself – similar to the mopping floorhead on the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine. The thinking is that because the dirt has nowhere to really travel, there's no tubing to get clogged up. Liquid ends up in a dirty water tank, and solid waste is filtered out into a separate tray. The two compartments are removed as one, but getting them apart and then back together again is a little fiddly compared to other wet-dry vacuums I've tested... not to mention messier.

There are three hydration modes to choose from, and a Boost mode to add extra water for tackling dried-on dirt. Dyson proudly claims the 750ml clean water tank will cover an area of 350 sqm, leaving such a fine sheen of moisture that your floors will be dry within 60 seconds. There are no other special modes, such as automated setting adjustment.

One major upgrade on the Clean+Wash Hygiene compared to the WashG1 is that Dyson has introduced hot air drying on the dock. So after mopping, you run a self-clean cycle which runs fresh water over the roller. Then it's dried using wafts of warm (185F / 85C) air, saving you from having to remove it and put it out somewhere to dry.

• Design score: 4 out of 5

Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene review: performance

• Efficient, relatively quiet cleaning of liquid and solid spills
• Floorhead a little drippy, and self-clean cycle uses a lot of water
• Mop drying rather noisy but effective

I started by filling up the clean water and embarking on a whole-floor clean. The roller saturated fairly quickly without any pre-wetting, and left a very light, even sheen of water on my vinyl flooring. It's easy to toggle modes, and the screen spells out remaining cleaning time so you'll never unexpectedly run out of battery.

Because there's no suction, it's relatively quiet in operation, and the runtimes are long too. The Clean+Wash Hygiene can last up to 45 minutes per charge.

Cleaning

To assess its capabilities more closely, I tested how the Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene handled a range of tricky cleaning challenges. I started with soy sauce mixed with oats. It gobbled up all the oats in one forward and backward pass in Med mode – impressive, given there's no suction here.

Then I decided it was time to bring out the big guns. I smeared maple syrup, crunchy peanut butter and Marmite (a super-sticky, viscous spread) on a vinyl floor. This time it struggled a bit. I unleashed Boost mode, and it took about 20 seconds of back-and-forth to clear the mess. That's a decent result – this test is purposefully very tricky. Plus, there was no sticky residue left behind.

Like every wet-and-dry cleaner I'm aware of, this machine is only suitable for perfectly flat floors. It can't deal with uneven surfaces such as flagstones, and it won't get into the cracks between tiles either – although it does do a better job of this than some, thanks to those bristles in the roller.

Maintenance

After my mopping session, it was time to clean out the waste. Although I see the logic in separating liquid from solid waste, and I acknowledge the potential long-term maintenance benefits, the emptying process does feel fiddlier than usual.

Unlike on the WashG1, you can't get your hand inside the dirty water tank to clean it out. The design of the tank also makes it very difficult to see when it's filling up, although it will inform you on screen.

I also found the floorhead had a tendency to drip or leak dirty water when handled. No wet-dry vacuum is perfect in this respect, but this Dyson machine seems especially bad for it, perhaps because the waste compartments are relatively complicated in design, with lots of separate elements.

Next, I embarked on a self-clean cycle. This starts by flushing the system with fresh water to get rid of lingering dirt. Almost immediately, the machine paused and asked me to refill the clean water tank. After relaunching, it paused again and asked me to empty the dirty water.

I'd recommend doing both these things before launching a self-clean cycle, and again afterwards, to avoid annoying disruptions. The process uses more than half a tank of fresh water, so it'll almost certainly be required.

Flushing complete, the dock then begins to dry the roller with hot air. This part is surprisingly noisy too, although it only lasts around half an hour. (On other machines I've used, the drying lasts longer but is much quieter, and on some advanced models you have the option of short-and-noisy or long-and-quiet.) Afterwards, I inspected the roller and it was almost completely dry, with no dirt to speak of.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene: Scorecard

How I tested the Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene

I used the Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene for a couple of weeks on my hard floors. Aside from day-to-day use, I ran a series of dedicated cleaning tests to see how it coped with different kinds of messes, including liquid-solid spills, sticky and viscous substances. I compared my findings with other hard floor cleaners, and assessed if this model offered strong value for money.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed January 2026

Dyson PencilVac: two-minute review

The Dyson PencilVac looks nothing like any vacuum I've seen before. All the mechanisms – the motor, filters, battery, and even the dust cup – are hidden within the handle, which measures just 1.5 inches / 3.8cm in diameter. That isn't the only unique thing about the PencilVac: the floorhead is also very quirky, with its four, fluffy, conical rollers rotating in opposite directions to lift dirt and buff your floors clean.

In use, it's the most nimble vacuum I've tested. The head appears to hover across the floor; it can be used forwards or backwards, and lie completely flat to the ground. With a bit of practice, you can make the floorhead do figure eights.

Those fluffy rollers are specifically meant for use on hard flooring – there's nothing to agitate carpet fibers to release trapped dirt. The suction power is in line with what I'd expect for a hard floor-specific vacuum, too: a relatively low 55AW of power, when most of the best Dyson vacuums have at least double that.

That power proved plenty to whisk away dog hair and dust from my hard floors, however. I could see it was doing a good job, because lasers installed in the front and back of the floorhead do a stellar job of illuminating any lingering dirt.

There are a couple more compromises for that ultra-streamlined, super-light build. The battery life is rather limited, topping out at 30 minutes per charge. The dust bin is small, too, although air compression helps maximize the amount you can fit into the physical space.

The only issue I think is a genuine mistake on Dyson's part is that the floorhead comes to a slight point, which means it can't sit flush to a wall. This makes it really tricky to get a thorough edge clean. It's extra-annoying here given the emphasis on maneuverability and thoroughness of coverage. This shape is dictated by the tapering rollers, which are designed to prevent hair wrap, but I've found Dyson's Motorbar and Fluffy floorheads do this perfectly well without the need for a tapering roller.

It's a relatively minor complaint in what is a genuinely impressive feat of engineering – and a useful one at that. If you have mostly hard floors and want a nimble, lightweight vacuum that will and highlight hidden dust as you clean, you'll struggle to find something better than this. Read on for my full Dyson PencilVac review.

Dyson PencilVac review: price & availability

• List price: US TBC / £429.99 / AU$949
• Available: US TBC / UK 10 Dec / Australia August 2025
• Launched: Summer 2025

The PencilVac was announced in June 2025 and went on sale in Australia in August. A UK launch followed in December 2025. At time of writing, it isn't yet available in the US. At the list price it costs £429.99 / AU$949 (discounted to AU$798 at time of writing). That's equivalent to around $590 in the US, although actual pricing is unknown.

That puts the PencilVac in the premium price bracket for vacuums. You're paying extra for the unique design here (and a little bit for the Dyson name). In terms of specs such as suction power, runtime, and even special features and accessories, it doesn't compare favorably to other models on the market. However, if you want something ultra-light and maneuverable, there's nothing else like it (for now, at least...). The build quality is excellent, as I'd expect from Dyson.

• Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Dyson PencilVac specs

Dyson PencilVac review: design

• Lightweight, compact build, with all mechanisms hidden in handle
• Extremely maneuverable, can be used either way around
• Small dust cup, but uses air compression to maximize space

The design here is unique. There's no visible battery, motor, filter, or dust cup section. Instead, all that is packed within the wand, which measures 1.5 inches / 3.8cm in diameter. To achieve that, Dyson has had to re-engineer its motor to one that's incredibly compact – the Hyperdymium 140k motor is just 1.1 inches / 2.8cm wide, and hidden entirely within the handle.

The PencilVac in general is very lightweight, at 4lbs / 1.8kg (by comparison, the V8 is 5.5 lbs / 2.5kg with wand and floorhead attached), and extremely nimble.

The battery forms the top section of the wand, and can be removed and swapped. Moving down you'll find the controls – there are just two buttons: an On/Off, and a second button to switch modes (Eco, Med and Boost; there's no auto-adjustment here). A small screen displays the mode you're using and how much time you have left on the clock.

Move down further and you'll find the dust cup behind a transparent casing; this allows you a view as it fills up. Rather unusually, the dust collects at the top of the bin section. Not surprisingly, the capacity is rather limited, at 0.08L (most of Dyson's stick vacuums have a 0.8L bin). However, the PencilVac apparently uses air to squish down the particles, so that they take up as little room as possible. As such, Dyson says that this cup will hold up to five times its physical volume.

To empty the bin, you remove the floorhead and slide the whole casing down. The dust and dirt then shoots out of the bottom. This process is straightforward and works well, although I did find particles got stuck in and around the bin casing.

At the end of the wand you'll find the new Fluffycones floorhead – another unique part of the PencilVac. This a kind of hybrid between the All Floors Cones Sense floorhead introduced with the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, and the Fluffy cleaner head that made its debut with the Dyson V15 Detect.

Instead of having one or two tube-shaped rollers, the Fluffycones head has four conical ones. The tapering shape is designed specifically as a way to deal with long hair: rather than becoming tangled around the brush roll, the strands should make their way down to the small end of the cone where they drop off in a clump, and can be vacuumed up in a single pass. It's an idea that Dyson first used in its Hair screw tool.

However, unlike the All Floors Cones Sense head, the rollers here are entirely covered with soft, fluffy fabric. This is perfect for use on hard floors, where it can get right up close to the flat surface without risking scratches. It isn't well-suited to carpet, though, because there's nothing to agitate the fibers and release embedded dirt.

Dyson has also added a green laser to both the front and back of the Fluffycones floorhead. This is designed to highlight specks of dirt that might otherwise be missed.

The cones extend a little way past the hard plastic casing, and rotate in opposite directions, which means the PencilVac can pick up debris when pushed forwards and when pulled backwards. In fact, because it's basically symmetrical, you can use it either way around.

Since the "wand" contains all the inner mechanisms, the PencilVac isn't quite as versatile as a traditional stick vacuum. You can't remove the wand part and use it like a hand vacuum. However, you can swap out the floorhead for a detail tool. There was one included with my review model: a "Rotating combi-crevice tool" that can be used like a traditional Crevice tool, or with the brush section engaged to sweep up dirt (NB: it doesn't actually rotate).

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dyson PencilVac review: performance

• Excellent and very efficient pickup on hard floor, even in Eco mode
• Not designed for use on carpet, and not sucky enough for ingrained dirt
• Laser light is effective and useful

So how does the Dyson PencilVac perform in practice? The first thing to emphasize is how comfortable it is to use. Although it takes a moment to get used to the different grip – you hold this cleaner like a broom, rather than like a traditional stick vacuum – it's very light in the hand and maneuvers incredibly well. You can use it forwards or backwards, and the floorhead pivots with ease. With the detail tool attached, it's also super easy to clean up high or in tight spaces.

Unfortunately, the design of the floorhead isn't quite as impressive. Since it comes to a slight point at the front, it can't sit flush to a wall. This was one of my main complaints with the similarly shaped All Floors Cones Sense floorhead, and it's no less annoying here. If you can't approach an edge side-on, it's tricky to achieve a thorough clean. This kind of vacuum should be perfect for the stairs, say... except the reality is that using the PencilVac to clean along all those straight edges is a nightmare.

This isn't the most powerful Dyson vacuum – you're getting a maximum 55AW of suction, where most Dyson stick vacs have double that. Also, the design of the floorhead doesn't lend itself to being ultra-sucky, either. Usually, the casing around the edges would descend to the floor around all four edges, creating a "vacuum" (in the original sense of the word) underneath. That isn't the case here. And because the rollers are soft all over, there's nothing to agitate embedded dust.

None of that is an issue if you're just using the PencilVac on hard flooring, which is its intended use. You don't need a ton of suction to clean hard floors, because all the dust and dirt is sat right there on the surface. But if you're seeking something for carpet, or even a vacuum that will pull the dirt from the cracks and crevices in your floorboards, this isn't it.

To get a more objective view of how well the PencilVac cleans, I ran a series of tests using dry, loose tea (to represent fine particles) and a dry couscous/oat mix (to represent chunky debris) on the large tiles of my kitchen floor. The results were very impressive: the vacuum picked up everything in a single pass, even on the lowest Eco mode. There was minimal pinging of large particles, and the fact that the head cleans from both sides meant I could clear the spillage in half the time.

In general use, the PencilVac was a dream to use in my kitchen. The Fluffycones head seemed to hover across floors, moving smoothly and with minimal effort on my part, whisking away dirt and pet hair as it went. The lasers did a great job of illuminating dust in dingy areas, and I could easily direct the vacuum into tight corners – down the side of a sofa, for example. The only annoyance was that awkwardly angled floorhead.

Although this vacuum isn't really built for carpets, I still ran my standard carpet tests to see how it would cope. It pulled up a decent amount of chunky debris in a single forward pass in Medium mode, although it did flick other bits about.

Medium mode wasn't enough to pull many of the flecks of fine dry tea from my mid-pile carpet, and even after several passes I could still see a shadow where the tea had been sprinkled.

I also decided to try the PencilVac on the canvas-style mat in my kitchen. It pulled up a good amount of debris, and there was less pinging than there had been on the carpet. It's certainly capable of pulling surface dirt from this kind of flooring, and perfectly fine for everyday cleaning.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Dyson PencilVac review: battery life

• Promises 30 mins in Eco, 20 in Medium, and 5 in Boost
• 2 hours recharge time
• Battery removable and swappable

The main compromise you're making for the lightweight, compact build is a smaller battery. Larger, heavier Dyson vacuums last over an hour in their lowest-powered mode, but the runtimes on the PencilVac are much shorter. Dyson promises 30 minutes in Eco mode, 20 in Medium and 5 in the most powerful Boost mode. The battery recharges in a relatively speedy 2 hours.

Medium mode is the one I'd typically default to, and it lasted for 18 minutes at the power (less than Dyson's listed specs). That's really quite short for a middle mode, although it did give me enough time to clean three bathrooms, a large kitchen and utility room, so maybe it isn't too much of an issue. I'd also say that for hard flooring, Eco mode will actually usually be sucky enough for most situations.

I've been testing vacuums for a while now, and with the PencilVac I missed having a dirt-detecting Auto mode, although I can see why it wasn't included here. I'm pleased to see that despite the battery taking a different format, it's still removable and replaceable, which should help with the longevity of the PencilVac overall.

• Battery life score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dyson PencilVac?

How I tested the Dyson PencilVac

I used the Dyson PencilVac regularly for a couple of months, to get a general feel for its performance and usefulness. I also ran specific cleaning tests including chunky particles (dry couscous/oat mix) and fine particles (dry, loose tea) on my hard floor, thin mats and carpet. I compared my findings with other vacuums I've tested, and assessed if it offered strong value for money.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed November 2025

Philips OneUp: two-minute review

The Philips OneUp is described as an 'electric mop', and it sits somewhere between a traditional mop and a wet-and-dry vacuum. Water mixed with detergent is dispensed through the flat mop pad, and the dirty stuff is simultaneously sucked away into a waste water tank.

It's lightweight and streamlined in design, operates quietly, and the battery lasts a long time. On test the Philips OneUp cleaned my large kitchen quickly, and was surprisingly effective at clearing a sticky ketchup smear from a tiled floor.

There are some limitations to this kind of design. It can't handle solid particles, so you'll need to vacuum first if you want a really thorough clean, and any wet-dry spills will need to be tackled with a cloth. And although the dirty water is removed as you clean, it's being sucked through the mop pad, which means there's more chance of messy spills being smeared around. (In contrast, today's best wet-and-dry vacuums tend to have rollers that are scraped clean as you go.).

However, my main issue is around the reusability of the mop pad. The fabric part can't be separated from the foam, and although Philips says the whole thing is machine-washable, it was ripped apart after a single cycle in my machine. It might fare better on a gentle cycle, but I'd be hesitant to put it in a washing machine again at all. That's a problem, because there are limits to how thoroughly you can clean it by hand – it can't be wrung out, for example. It's an unfortunate misstep for what is otherwise a clever and potentially very useful product.

That's the short version; read on for my full Philips OneUp review.

Philips OneUp review: price & availability

• List price: £149 / AU$299
• Available: UK / Australia
• Launched: September 2025

The Philips OneUp launched in September 2025, and is priced at £149 / AU$299. It went on sale alongside the OneUp 3000, which is cheaper and has shorter runtimes (50 minutes as opposed to 70 for the 5000 version).

Replacement cleaning fluid isn't especially cheap (£16.99 for two), and because the bottle connects directly into the cleaner, you won't be able to sub in a different, cheaper brand. Replacement mop pads cost £35.99 for two via the Philips UK accessories store. Officially, they need to be replaced every six months, but you'll need to be very gentle with them to make them last that long. At time of writing, there are no spares listed at Philips AU.

The wet cleaner market spans a wide range of price points, but I'd say this model is a little expensive considering it won't clear solid particles, and requires you to vacuum those up first. For a slightly higher price, you can pick up a model that will suck up solid and liquid mess – examples include the Hoover HW3, which can often be found for around £180 in the UK.

• Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Philips OneUp specs

Philips OneUp review: design

• Adds water / cleaning fluid, and removes dirty water as it goes
• Lightweight and pivots well, but quite long and wide
• Long runtimes and quiet operation

The Philips OneUp sits is streamlined and lightweight, with small clean and dirty water tanks mounted on the main wand. A neat design feature is that a tiny bottle of ultra-concentrated cleaning fluid connects directly into the clean water tank, and you press a rubbery button to dispense as required.

The mop section consists of a toweling-style mop pad mounted on a chunky foam base. Clean water and detergent is dispensed through the pad (there are two moisture settings to choose from) and the dirty stuff is simultaneously sucked back into a waste water tank. This process is extremely quiet, and Philips promises up to 70 minutes' cleaning per charge, which is generous.

My main misgiving is around ongoing costs and sustainability. Given that the cleaner head is listed as 'machine washable', I was surprised to discover the fabric part can't be disconnected from the foam. It felt like the foam would not fare well in a washing machine, and that assumption turned out to be correct (more on this in the Performance section). And although I like the integrated cleaning fluid, it does lock you into that specific brand.

• Design score: 3 out of 5

Philips OneUp review: performance

• Clears sticky stains efficiently; distributes water evenly and doesn't leave floors too wet
• Cleaner head is too delicate to be machine-washed
• Doesn't seem as hygienic as a roller-style mop

In use, I found the OneUp unnecessarily long (I'm 5ft 8, and I found the handle just got in the way). And while the mop pad section pivots very nimbly, it too is rather wide and feels a bit unwieldy – it covers large spaces efficiently, but is tricky to get into tight corners. It is, however, lightweight and far more comfortable to use than a traditional, bulky wet-and-dry vacuum.

The OneUp also did a great job of distributing liquid evenly. In the lower wetness setting, it left behind just a light sheen of water on my tiled kitchen floor, which dried in under five minutes. To me, this setting will be perfect for most people's needs. However, there's also the option to bump up to a higher setting, with noticeably wetter results.

I was also pleasantly surprised by how effective the OneUp was at cleaning. It removed a sticky, dried ketchup smear in just a few swipes. However, the small dirty water tank fills up quickly – it was almost full after cleaning my medium-sized kitchen.

There are limits to what the Philips OneUp can achieve. The fact the OneUp is not suitable for clearing solid waste (again due to the mop pad style) is a limiting factor – you'll need to vacuum up first, and tackle liquid-solid spills with a cloth.

I also felt the flat mop pad wasn't quite as effective as a roller mop. Although dirty water is removed as you clean, it's sucked up though the pad, rather than being scraped off. That means that to a certain extent, the worst of any spillage will stay on the mop pad until you wash it off manually.

That brings me to my main complaint about the OneUp – the fact the fabric part of the mop can't be removed from the foam and plastic part. That makes it very tricky to clean the fabric bit properly. As per Philips' instructions, I popped the whole thing in my washing machine (on a 40-degree Eco cycle) and it was ripped apart. I'd be hesitant to try machine-washing again, even on a gentler, cooler cycle. That's a major issue for this type of product, and means I'm hesitant to recommend it.

• Performance score: 3 out of 5

Should you buy the Philips OneUp?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Philips OneUp

I used the Philips OneUp 5000 on all the hard floors in my home. I tried out both water modes, and ran tests to see how efficiently it cleared spills including dried, sticky ketchup and soy sauce. I compared my experience to other wet-dry vacuums I've tested, to gauge who it might suit and if it offers good value for money.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed January 2026

I've been writing about vacuums for a long time now, and every new cordless vacuum that comes out seems to offer more suction and longer runtimes. Dyson has bucked that trend with its new launch. The Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones has suction and runtime specs that, if I was being polite, I'd describe as 'underwhelming'. Despite that, it's one of the best cordless vacuums I've tested in a long time, and I truly think it's going to shake up the vacuum market.

In its PencilVac, Dyson has embraced a completely new form factor. It looks more like a broom than a cordless vacuum, with all the main mechanical components (motor, filter, dust cup, battery) shrunk down and hidden within the handle. It's incredibly streamlined and impressively lightweight.

It's designed for use on hard floors, and for that it's absolutely perfect. I've been testing it out for several weeks (read my full Dyson PencilVac review) and it has no trouble clearing every last speck of dust from my tiled kitchen floor. I can see how much of a good job it's doing, because there are lasers mounted to the front and back of the floorhead that light up the tiniest specks of dirt like a beacon.

The reason the lasers are on the front and the back is because this cleaner works from both directions, which cuts cleaning times in half. It's ultra-nimble and incredibly low-effort to use – I loved flinging it around my kitchen and watching the laser-illuminated dust disappearing before my very eyes.

A forgotten market

This kind of vacuum will be perfect for anyone who struggles with lifting or maneuvering a traditional stick vacuum. It's a chunk of the market that has been somewhat forgotten about lately. Generally, in their quest for ever-more suction and ever-longer battery life, brands have been compromising on weight. Dyson is particularly guilty of this. Its newest models, the V16 Piston Animal and Gen5detect vacuum, both weigh a hefty 7.5 lbs / 3.4kg. The PencilVac, in contrast, weighs 4 lbs / 1.8kg.

This kind of compact, easily maneuverable vacuum will also suit anyone with awkward corners to clean. What's more, the lightweight build is perfect for cleaning up high, with the detail tool attached.

Sure, it won't suit everyone. The design is specifically for hard floors and perhaps the occasional canvas-style rug – the floorhead design and suction level won't work for carpet. That's fine; those with carpets to clean have plenty of alternatives to choose from.

The relatively short runtimes (you'll get around 30 minutes' cleaning in Eco mode and 20 in Med, whereas most modern vacuums offer an hour or more in the lowest mode) aren't going to be a problem for everyone either. I found that a. Eco mode was sucky enough to clean my hard floors efficiently, and b. 30 minutes was plenty of time to clean my large kitchen and three bathrooms, partly thanks to the efficient design and smooth maneuvering.

The Dyson PencilVac is proof that there's space for different kinds of vacuum cleaners on the market. By (to some extent) ignoring suction power and battery life, Dyson has freed the PencilVac up to shine in different areas. I've already seen my first dupe, and I'm confident it won't be the last.

As one of TechRadar's Homes Editors, I test dozens of gadgets and appliances each year. And 2025 was an especially strong year. So many products really impressed me that I wanted to showcase them in their own article.

What's that you say? We're way too far into January to still be looking back on last year? You might have a point, but I'm doing it anyway. And the good news is that because these picks aren't brand-spanking new any more, I'm starting to see price drops on many of them.

There were too many great products to list here. Particular shout-outs should go to the Dyson Airwrap i.d. (which is clever enough to turn even me into a capable hair stylist) and the Hoover HW3 wet floor cleaner (which proves products don't need to be ultra-flashy or expensive to make your life tons easier). But I've brutally narrowed down all the products I tried out last year to just my absolute favorites. Read on for the top 3 gadgets that truly blew me away...

#1. Dyson V8 Cyclone

What is it?

An updated version of Dyson's iconic V8 cordless vacuum, which came out almost a decade ago now but remains a bestseller. Dyson has kept the essence of that design, but added some key upgrades (longer runtimes, a removable battery, stronger suction) to turn it into a cordless vac that's fit for modern times.

Why do I love it?

It's not the fanciest vacuum around, but the V8 Cyclone is one mean cleaner. In my group test to find the best cordless vacuums around, this model sailed through my cleaning trials, performing way better than I'd expect for the price. Speaking of which – I love that Dyson has kept the cost relatively affordable here. It's only slightly pricier than the original V8, even though it's a way better vacuum all round.

Read my full Dyson V8 Cyclone review

#2. Roborock Saros 10

What is it?

One of Roborock's 2025 flagship robot vacuums. The headline feature is a streamlined design that can get beneath low furniture, partly thanks to a LiDAR puck that can descend when the robot senses it's entering a low-height space.

Why do I love it?

Firstly, it can clean the space under my sofa, which otherwise would be getting a twice-yearly vacuum at most. Otherwise, it's just a super-capable robot vacuum. Even though dozens of robovacs make their way through my doors each year, this is the one that's earned a permanent spot in my home – it vacuums and mops extremely well, it's reliable and very user-friendly. Oh, and I love the swish, glossy dock, despite it being a fingerprint magnet. Because there's a newer version out now (the Roborock Saros 20 Sonic), I've spotted some big discounts on this older model, too.

Read my full Roborock Saros 10 review

#3. Segway Navimow X3 Series

What is it?

A robot lawn mower from a sister brand of the guys that make the self-balancing, two-wheeled transporters so beloved by tourists and hen dos. This model is designed for massive lawns. It's built to mow quickly, efficiently and precisely, leaving large yards looking smart with minimal effort.

Why do I love it?

After testing a few robot mowers that caused me big headaches, this Segway bot was a breath of fresh air. It was easy to set up, the app was nicely designed and actually made sense, and it did the job it was designed to do. It mowed my sister's massive garden quickly and with no fuss, taking tree coverage and awkward perimeters in its stride. The brand has announced its 2026 lineup now and it packs some cool-looking upgrades, but the X3 is still an outstanding product.

Read my full Segway Navimow X3 Series review

• Find out where to buy a Segway Navimow X3 Series

No one wants to spend a fortune on something as mundane as a vacuum cleaner, but choosing a cheap vacuum is a risky process – pick the wrong one and you'll be wasting your money on a model that won't clean properly and needs replacing before its time.

I've tested dozens of vacuums at different price points, and I have good news: there are affordable vacuums about that do a sterling cleaning job, without breaking the bank. Below, I've rounded up the best cheap vacuums to buy, and found the best deal on each to save you from having to shop around.

I've tested two of the three personally, and all come from reliable, respected brands that have considerable expertise in this area. In fact, the #1 pick also sits right at the top of my best cordless vacuum ranking. Read on for my favorite cheap vacuums...

1. Dreame R20

The Dreame R20 is just a really solid all-rounder for a very affordable price. It's relatively easy to find around the £200 mark, and you're getting features and extras that usually command a much higher price. There's automatic suction adjustment based on dirt detected, generous runtimes, and a separate soft floorhead designed for hard flooring (it'll get right up close to the surface and buff it clean without risking scratches). There's also a mini motorized upholstery tool that's amongst the best I've used at removing pet hair from furniture.

In my review the Dreame R20 achieved solid scores across the board when it came to cleaning, performing especially well in my deep carpet and pet hair tests. It's not the suckiest cleaner I've used (the V8 below is a better choice if outright power is your priority) but it'll be more than adequate for most people's needs.

2. Dyson V8 Advanced

If your priority is suction power, this is the affordable vacuum I'd go for. It's simpler than the Dreame – there's no automatic suction adjustment, and just two power modes to toggle between – and it comes with fewer attachments. However, what it lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in outright power. If you have lots of carpet or shedding pets to clean up after, this is the vacuum to go for.

The V8 is the oldest model in the current Dyson cordless lineup, and there is a very slightly updated version with 130AW of power rather than the original 115AW. Slightly confusingly, there's also an even more updated option, called the Dyson V8 Cyclone – it's better all round, but deals are rare so expect to pay more if you opt for that version.

3. Shark Corded Stick vacuum HZ500UKT

Opting for a corded vacuum rather than a cordless one is a great way to maximize your bang for buck, and this one from Shark is excellent value for money. As a general rule of thumb, corded vacuums tend to deliver better suction than cordless, and last longer overall too.

While I haven't tested this exact model, we have reviewed other, similar corded stick vacuums from Shark and they've impressed us (here's an example review). In fact, Shark is one of my favorite vacuum brands, and consistently earns high scores. The features look good too – there's no automatic suction adjustment, as you'll find on the Dreame (#1), but this vacuum has a handy forward-bending wand for cleaning under furniture, an anti hair-wrap floorhead and comes with three detail tools including a mini motorized head for upholstery.

Dyson is one of the most respected appliance brands around, and has a reputation for invention. In my role as a TechRadar Homes Editor, I've had a chance to try out almost all of this brand's gadgets and appliances (as well as plenty of competitor products, for added context). I'm consistently impressed with Dyson's creativity and innovation... but not all of its inventions are quite as good as others.

Below, I've listed Dyson's big innovations, ranked from best to worst. To narrow things down a bit, I've focused on the brand's vacuum cleaners and haircare gadgets, though, of course, it also has significant stakes in the air purifier and fan markets. Read on for the Dyson features that truly blew me away, and those that turned out to be downgrades in disguise.

#1. A teeny tiny motor

Any handheld gadget typically benefits from being as compact and light as possible. For its Supersonic r hair dryer, Dyson shrunk the motor right down and put it in an incredibly compact shell. It looks weird, but it's a dream to use, with the pipe-like shape directing air with precision – plus, it blasts out air with serious force for such a small gadget.

Perhaps even more impressive is the new Dyson PencilVac. This is a cordless stick vacuum, except all the internal mechanics have been shrunk down and tucked into the handle, which is 1.5 inches / under 4cm in diameter.

It looks like a broom handle, except inside there's a tiny little motor, alongside filters, a battery, and even a dust cup. It almost defies belief. I've been busy testing this gadget at home, and it's ultra-nimble and light.

#2. Lasers on vacuums

Want to be disgusted by exactly how dusty your floors are? Now you can! Dyson was the brand that first put dirt-illuminating laser headlamps on its vacuum floorheads. They're ultra-bright and positioned at precisely the right angle to cast big shadows on the tiniest particles and finest hairs on your hard flooring.

They're genuinely useful in making sure you get every last speck of dust cleared away. They're also just generally really satisfying to use and helpful in highlighting (literally) the dirt-hotspots that are getting neglected.

These were first introduced on the Dyson V15 Detect, but appear on most of Dyson's newest vacuums, including the Dyson Gen5detect and V16 Piston Animal. Lots of brands have copycat versions these days. I've tested plenty of headlamp-equipped vacuums from different brands, but very few come close to Dyson's version in terms of effectiveness.

#3. Curl automation

Dyson deserves credit for pioneering a new way of curling hair with its OG Airwrap. Now my bathroom is full of Airwrap dupes, and the auto-wrapping, air-powered curling feels like old news, but Dyson has managed to capture my attention once again with a major upgrade to its iconic multi-styler.

The newest models – the Airwrap i.d. and Airwrap Co-anda 2x – have a little spring-loaded switch on the front that automates the curl sequence for you. Flick it upwards, and it kicks off a wrap – curl – cool shot process, so all you need to do is hold the styler in place while it works its magic.

The timings of each part are specific to your hair and determined by a quiz you complete in the companion app. Normally, I'm pretty opposed to apps for things that shouldn't really need one, but here, Dyson gets a pass.

Now, this upgrade isn't essential. I could achieve the same results on my own with some focus and clock-watching. It's just that it makes styling so effortless. And because I invariably get bored or distracted when trying to curl without the automated sequence, the results on me always look more polished and last longer when the machine times it all out for me.

#4. Ultra-precise dust detection

Dyson's newer flagship vacuums (from the V15 onwards) have the ability to detect exactly the size and number of particles they're sucking up at any time, and report back on a screen mounted above the handle. They do this in real-time, via a colorful, moving bar graph, and a summary is provided at the end of the cleaning session. The vacuums also use the information to adjust suction to clean away the particles efficiently.

Let's be clear: I do really like this feature. The reason it's further down my list is that I'm not convinced all of it is strictly necessary. The particle detection and automatic suction adjustment is super-useful. I also enjoy watching the bars shift as I clean, and to some extent, it helps me do a more thorough job, as I can see where the floor is especially dirty.

However, the real-time reports are limited in their practical usefulness, and there's certainly no need for them to be broken up by particle size. I have a sneaking suspicion the bar graph is mainly there for the gratification of the engineers who really, really wanted us to know what was going on under the hood and how much work it took to make it.

#5. Submarine floorheads

Another innovation I'm on the fence about is Submarine floorheads – mopping heads that can be swapped onto certain vacuums to enable them to wet-clean as well as vacuum. In fact, it might be more accurate to say I'm not sure Dyson has really found its way when it comes to wet cleaners in general.

I haven't been blown away by any of the mopping gadgets I've tested from Dyson so far. The V15s Detect Submarine suffered from a poorly designed Submarine head that had an unfortunate tendency to leak dirty water when disconnected from the machine for emptying. And while the Dyson WashG1 is a very good cleaner, it doesn't do enough to justify its sky-high price tag. There are similarly priced (and cheaper) models in my best wet-and-dry vacuum roundup that do more, and better.

I have a new Clean+Wash Hygiene on its way for testing, so Dyson may still redeem itself on the mopping front.

#6. Conical floorheads

My final entry in this list is one that I genuinely think is a downgrade. On its latest flagship – the V16 Piston Animal – Dyson decided to shake things up on the floorhead front. Instead of having one parallel brushroll, the new-look head has two cone-shaped rollers connected in the center. The idea is that any long strands of hair will make their way to the narrow end of the cone and away into the bin, rather than staying tangled around the roller.

The knock-on effect is that the front of the floorhead becomes slightly pointed. This is a major pain when it comes to cleaning the edges of rooms, because the head won't sit flush to the wall. Getting the perimeter of a room clean now requires a load of awkward maneuvering, whereas before it was straightforward as anything.

What's more, there's a barrier in the center of the floorhead where the two rollers connect, and below which nothing gets sucked up.

While the new design does work on an anti-hair tangle front, here's the thing: I never had any real issues with hair wrap on Dyson's previous (parallel) floorhead, either. It might make a noticeable difference if you have Rapunzel-like locks, but for most households, the issues it creates will far outweigh any benefits.

Head to Amazon right now and you'll find the Roborock Saros 10 robot vacuum for £799.98 (was £1,199.99). That's a ridiculously strong deal on one of my very favorite robot vacuums.

I test dozens of robovacs each year, and it's the Saros 10 that has earned a permanent spot in my home. It heads out every other night to take care of the clouds of dog hair, pawprints, crumbs and dust that has built up over the past 48 hours. I've been using it very regularly for the past 10 months and it has never let me down – the cleaning is excellent, it's easy to use, and it's ultra-reliable too.

I suspect the reason for the big price drop is that Roborock has announced a newer version of this bot – it's called the Roborock Saros 20 Sonic, and while that bot has some unique upgrades, the Saros 10 is still an absolutely outstanding robot vacuum. And it's a steal with this current discount.

The Roborock Saros 10 is one of two sister models – it sits alongside the Saros 10R, which is also excellent, but doesn't have the discount. The main differences are that the Saros 10 has a LiDAR puck that can retract when the robot is entering a low-height space (this guy has no trouble cleaning under my sofa) and a D-shaped mop pad that vibrates, whereas the 10R has a newer navigation system that doesn't require a LiDAR puck, and two, disc-shaped pads that spin.

Both are superb (in fact, in our Roborock Saros 10R vs Saros 10 comparison, we struggled to choose a winner), but it's the Saros 10 that's attracting the big discounts right now. It's still an investment, but if you're able to splurge, it's worth it.

A mere eight months ago, Dyson announced an ultra-innovative new vacuum cleaner. It was called the PencilVac, and the USP was that all of its major components, from its motor to its battery to its dust cup, had been shrunk down to fit into its broom-shaped handle.

The design was – I was informed – the result of much meticulous work from the Dyson, and required the engineers to create a teeny-tiny new motor just 1.1 inches / 2.8cm in diameter. It would be worth it though: there was nothing else remotely like it.

Except now, there is. The PencilVac went on sale in the UK in December 2025 (it launched a little earlier in Australia and is yet to become available in the US), and in January 2026 I saw my first PencilVac dupe at CES. It's just at prototype stage at the moment, but there are a number of features that could be causing Dyson some concern.

As you'll learn in my Dyson PencilVac review, I'm a big fan of the Dyson version. Now, Narwal's version is clearly not finalized yet – it doesn't yet have a name, there's very minimal information available, and I was only able to look at the prototype, but not touch it.

Let's take a look at what we know so far about Narwal's upcoming PencilVac dupe, and whether it poses a real threat to Dyson...

Double take

In terms of the design, the two look unmistakably similar – it's clear what Narwal based its design on. There's the same streamlined build, with mechanics squeezed into the handle; Narwal's handle is oblong rather than round, but otherwise it looks pretty much the same, with a Power switch, small info screen, battery at the top and dust cup at the bottom.

I wasn't able to pick it up, so I couldn't comment on the maneuverability or weight, but I will say the PencilVac excels in these areas, based on my tests so far. The Narwal version is described as having '360-degree swivel', and a brand rep told me its version would be lighter than the PencilVac, although no specs were supplied, so I'm hesitant to take that as given.

Dyson's PencilVac has an unusual floorhead, with soft, cone-shaped rollers designed to prevent hair wrap. Narwal's prototype version is more standard – the roller is still soft (which suggests this model, like Dyson's, is meant for hard floors rather than carpet) but it has just one parallel roller. Dyson has mounted dirt-illuminating lasers on both sides of its floorhead, and Narwal also mentions "a dirt-detection headlight" on its feature list.

Dyson deviations

One big area where Narwal has deviated from Dyson's design is in the inclusion of an auto-empty dock. This is essentially a base that houses a larger dust cup/bag, into which the vacuum's smaller onboard bin automatically empties when the vacuum is docked. These are becoming increasingly common on regular stick vacuums, and are even scheduled to be added to Dyson's lineup. However, there isn't one on the PencilVac.

An auto-empty dock is a logical addition, because the whole concept of this type of vacuum means there's not much room for a large dust cup. Dyson has included air-powered compression on its PencilVac dust cup to maximize the space, but there's still only 0.8L available – I have a shedding pet, and I find the dust cup fills up with hair rather quickly. An auto-empty dock, which takes the mess and effort out of emptying the bin, makes a lot of sense.

Other things that might well be causing Dyson some headaches are the listed specs for battery life and suction power. Narwal promises 140AW of suction on its dupe, compared to 55AW for the PencilVac. And while the PencilVac can manage up to 30 minutes of cleaning per charge, Narwal says its version will last either 50 minutes (as per the press release) or 45 (as per the specs displayed at CES). That's a significant difference in both cases.

Of course, the big caveat here is that the Narwal vacuum is still at prototype stage, so I won't be taking any of those specs as a given just yet – the inconsistency in runtime information is telling. While Narwal has brought out some very good robot vacuums, its report card is a little patchier than Dyson's, and for me it's not up there in terms of quality or reliability either.

That said, I'll still be watching with interest to see what happens when this interloper makes its way to market.

A vacuum cleaner is a pretty straightforward concept. You switch it on, it sucks up dust and dirt, and then you switch it off again. But after spending my days testing most of the best vacuum cleaners on the market, there's one useful feature I've found can make a big difference to the cleaning experience – and I'd wager that most people aren't aware of it.

Here it is: an air intake adjustor on the floorhead. This usually takes the form of a small manual sider, and it does exactly as the name suggests: it changes the amount of air that can get into the main suction area underneath.

Vacuums rely on there being a 'vacuum' (in the original sense of the word) underneath the floorhead. The head needs to connect to the floor around its entire perimeter in order to maximize the cleaning power – if it were open, the motor would be wasting energy sucking air from the surrounding area rather than being concentrated on its main task of pulling dust from the floor beneath it.

However, if there's too much of a vacuum created underneath the floorhead, it can become impossible to push. That can be a particular issue on thick carpet, where the long fibers help form more of a seal around the floorhead. That's where the air intake slider comes in.

The trick is to find the setting that makes maneuvering comfortable while still creating enough of a seal for efficient cleaning. So you'll probably want to open up the sider just a little bit on thick carpet, to can make the vacuum easier to push (when I was running my group test to find the best cordless vacuum, I found on the models that had the most power, I often had to open the slider when cleaning carpet in order to make maneuvering possible). Conversely, on a hard floor, you might want to close it down to maximize pickup power.

The good news is that this isn't a particularly advanced feature – a large proportion of vacuums have it already, you just might not have noticed it. If you're struggling with maneuvering on carpet, or want to maximize your vacuum's cleaning power on hard flooring, it's well worth checking around on your floorhead to see if there's a slider you might have missed.

Today's best Dyson vacuums have powerful batteries – some can last up to 70 minutes on a single charge. But taking care of your battery is important for longevity of your vacuum, and the best way to extend its lifespan overall.

Often with cordless vacuums, the battery will be the first thing to expire (cordless vacuums tend to last less long than corded ones in any case). Although all of Dyson's current models have batteries that can be removed and swapped over, and spare batteries purchased, it's still worth treating your vacuum's battery with care to prevent you from having to replace it before its time.

Below are five things that can damage or speed up the aging process on your vacuum's battery, and which you should avoid if you want it to last as long as possible. These tips are pulled from the Battery Care page on Dyson's own site, and while they're specific to Dyson vacuums, most of these tips will be relevant whichever brand's cordless vacuum you're using.

1. Using Boost too much

All of Dyson's cordless vacuums have a Boost / Max mode that offers more suction power than the other modes. This will drain the battery life quickly, but what you might not realize is that using it too frequently will also speed up how fast the battery degrades. Dyson says that its vacuums are "designed to be used in Auto or Normal mode for everyday cleaning" and that "Max or Boost modes are meant for powerful, intensive bursts of spot cleaning."

The newest Dyson vacuums have three suction modes: Eco, Auto, and Boost. In Auto mode, the suction will ramp up or down depending on the kind of floor it's on, and how dirty that floor is. This is a great way of ensuring a thorough clean without taxing the battery too much, or running it down unnecessarily quickly.

2. Plugging it in straight away

Most people will pop their vacuum back on its charge dock, or plug it into the mains, as soon as they're done using it it, so it can start juicing up ready for the next cleaning session. Dyson says that you can preserve the life of the battery by pausing to let it cool down first before plugging it in to charge.

I asked Amit Gupta, Head of Electrical Power Systems at Dyson, why this is the case. "Allowing battery cells to cool after high-power discharge promotes lithium-ion redistribution and electrode relaxation, reducing stress from high currents and temperatures," he explains. "This process increases usable capacity for the next discharge."

He also explains that charging the battery at cooler temperatures minimizes unwanted side effects and internal pressure, which helps keep the battery healthy. Dyson vacuums have a built-in intelligent Battery Management System (BMS), designed to protect and optimize battery performance.

"When you dock your machine after use, the BMS continuously monitors the battery’s temperature and will only initiate charging once it has cooled to the recommended level," he adds. "This prevents thermal stress, safeguards internal components, and ensures long-term battery health."

3. Not draining it completely

If you're the kind of person who can't let an appliance drop below 50% battery life without breaking out in a cold sweat, I have bad news for you. Dyson recommends letting your vacuum's battery drain to completely empty at least once a month, to help prolong its life.

If you've picked up a backup battery, the brand suggests switching between the two batteries every once in a while. That gives each one a chance to discharge naturally.

Want the technical explanation? "Occasional running a lithium-ion battery flat (also known as 'deep discharging') can recalibrate remaining capacity, depending on usage history," says Gupta. "A deep discharge and rest enables a small, short-lived 'capacity rebound' as lithium ions redistribute, recovering some reversible capacity loss."

However, he advises that while this can slightly extend runtimes, as well as making your estimated runtimes (as displayed on your vacuum screen) more accurate, it's not a fix-all cure, and won't restore permanently lost battery capacity.

4. Letting it get too warm

As I touched on in point #2, your vacuum's battery does not like to be too warm. So if you're storing it in a boiler cupboard or next to a radiator, or even in a place that regularly gets direct sunlight, Dyson recommends moving it to a new spot, pronto. Oh, and if you have the Dyson Car+Boat, it's not a good idea to leave it in your car either.

"Hot environments speed up battery aging," says Dyson. "Heat sources, such as radiators, can damage the battery." The ideal storage temperature is between 64.4F / 18C and 82.4F / 28C.

5. ... or too cold

Turns out your vacuum is a bit of a Goldilocks when it comes to temperature, because just as it doesn't like things too hot, it's not fond of the cold either. ("Batteries contain complex chemical structures that react to their environment," explains Dyson.) The brand warns against storing your vacuum in your garage or a cold porchway in the winter months. In fact, to protect the motor and the battery, your vacuum won't charge or operate if the temperature is below 37F / 3C.