The best vacuum cleaners 2021
Mar 23rd, 2021
The best vacuum cleaners 2021
The best vacuum cleaners you can buy today offer powerful suction, large dust bins, and in some cases, long-lasting batteries, to ensure the clean your floors as efficiently as possible.
If you’re searching for the best hoover - the colloquial term often used for vacuum cleaners - there's a huge array of models on the market right now that go about sucking up the dust in varying ways. For example, do you want to go cordless, corded, hand-held, stick, robot, wet, or dry? With so many available and several different questions to ask yourself, it can be hard to keep up.
Hoover may have been one of the first manufacturers of vacuum cleaners, hence why the brand name has become a generic term to describe these electric cleaners, but now there are a plethora of brands making vacuum cleaners from well-known names such as Dyson, Vax, and Miele to unsung heroes such as Shark and Bosch.
But don’t worry. The team at TechRadar has been busy putting the best vacuum cleaner designs from the biggest and highest-performing brands to the test. We’ve selected the top models from our testing, all of which offer you great performance, reliability, and value regardless of which type of cleaner you choose. Many of our top-rated vacuum cleaners in this list are cordless. These highly-rated cleaners run on high-power, high-capacity lithium batteries. The best cordless vacuums enable you to dart around your home with (mostly) the same suction power as a corded model – sometimes even more.
Cordless options make cleaning your home easier than ever, and we've found they're smaller, stronger, and more efficient than ever before, too. Doing the dirty work doesn’t have to feel like a drag – some are even able to mop your floors for you.
However, there's still a place for corded vacuums. If you have a large home with plenty of carpeted areas, the wider floor heads found on upright vacuums will ensure your carpets are dust-free in just a few sweeps. We've even found models with extra-long hoses so you can clean the stairs without moving the vacuum. You don't have to deal with the worry of the battery running out mid-way through cleaning either, which can be a common occurrence with cordless vacuums.
What is Vacuum cleaner?
A vacuum cleaner is a household appliance that uses airflow to absorb dust and small debris. The fan inside the vacuum cleaner creates an air flow which sucks in loose material near the nozzle inside the vacuum cleaner. Solids and most of the dust remain inside the vacuum cleaner because the air flow is filtered. Finally, the filtered air is removed from the vacuum cleaner. Various nozzles can be attached to the end of the suction pipe, for example, for vacuuming bare floors, clothes or tight spaces.
Top 8 Best vacuum cleaners of 2021
1. Dyson V11 Absolute
2. Roidmi S1E
3. LG CordZero A9 Kompressor
4. Dyson V11 Outsize
5. Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal
6. Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away Upright
7. iRobot Roomba i7+
8. Swan Eureka Multiforce Pet
1. Dyson V11 Absolute
Adding another integer and two years of R&D to its V-series cordless range, Dyson’s V11 Absolute takes another giant leap forward for vacuum cleaner kind. It’s more potent than its best-in-class predecessor, cleans even better on all surfaces, is quieter, and has a properly marathon run-time of over 40 minutes on the seriously capable Auto power mode. The powered tools ooze design class and hard-earned experience in the field, with the mini motorized tool easily outperforming air-powered equivalents, and the adaptability of the vacuum when you pair the torque head with the Auto mode makes the V11 Absolute easy to use as well as powerful. It also has an LCD screen, a first for Dyson, which tells you the exact run-time remaining, where blockages are located and how to clear them. The V11 Absolute doesn't come cheap, but we think it’s worth the money if you want simply the best cordless vacuum cleaner available today.
- • Power supply: Cordless
- • Weight: 3.3kgBin
- • size: 0.76L
- • Run-time: Up to 60 minutes
2. Roidmi S1E
Roidmi has won no less than six design awards for its innovative S-series cleaners, and with a 270-degree handle they're as functional as they are good-looking. The Roidmi S1E is the entry-level vacuum in the S series, and while it can’t pack the suction punch of our top dust busters it comes in at fraction of the price of those. It’s lightweight, and easy to carry and use in both stick cleaner or handheld mode, and it comes with a good selection of tools, including a motorized mattress brush to make upholstery cleaning easy. The S1E excels noise-wise too, as even though its decibel levels are similar to other cordless vacuums, its softer tone feels less intrusive, and you can chat while cleaning without having to shout. The suction could be stronger, especially when it comes to deep-cleaning carpets, but with stylish looks, supreme ease of use, and a very useful run-time of 40 minutes, it’s a great everyday floorcare option.
- • Power supply: Cordless
- • Weight: 2.4kg
- • Bin size: 0.4LRun
- • time: Up to 40 minutes
3. LG CordZero A9 Kompressor
LG’s latest cordless vacuum cleaner can mop as well as suck and at the same time, so you’ll be able to get sparkling hard floors as well as dust-free carpets with ease. The LG CordZero A9 Kompressor certainly gives our top performing Dyson's a run for their money when it comes to suction power, although some attachments did struggle with larger debris like cereal. Currently only available in the US and Australia, LG says you’ll get up to 60 minutes runtime per battery in normal mode, but during testing, we got more than 70 minutes from each battery. Even on the most powerful mode, the vacuum cleaner lasted 27 minutes. The dustbin has a handy compress function that when the level is pulled will compact the dirt and debris in the bin, so you’ll actually be able to suck up to 2.4 times the bin’s 0.44-liter capacity before it needs emptying. However, we did find the vacuum cleaner felt heavy and unbalanced. We struggled to suck cobwebs from ceilings for more than a few minutes because all the weight appears to be in the main unit. The LG CordZero A9 Kompressor is expensive but offers good suction power and replaces two devices, so we think it's worth the investment.
- • Power supply: Cordless
- • Weight: 2.7kg
- • Bin size: 0.44LRun
- • time: Up to 60 minutes
4. Dyson V11 Outsize
If you’ve got a bigger home, a bigger dust bin is a necessity, and thankfully the Dyson V11 outsize offers just this - at 1.9-liters it can hold 150% more debris than the Dyson V11 Absolute (above). Combine this with a wider cleaning head and you’ll never have to abandon cleaning halfway through because the vacuum cleaner The same suction and cleaning performance as its smaller sibling meant during testing it whipped away discarded biscuit crumbs, ground-in dirt, and even cereal and cat biscuits, almost instantly. The High Torque cleaner head can automatically adjust the suction power needed based on the floor type, or you can opt to manually adjust it. The power settings, along with the remaining run time and any blockages and where they can be found, are displayed on the vacuum’s LCD screen. Considerably more expensive than the Dyson V11 Absolute, this vacuum could be worth the extra investment if it means your floor cleaning isn’t interrupted.
- • Power supply: Cordless
- • Weight: 3.5kg
- • Bin size: 1.9LRun
- • time: Up to 60 minutes
5. Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal
The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal is one of the predecessors to the Dyson V11 range, and even though it’s getting on for three years old now, the vacuum cleaner can hold its own when it comes to cleaning power. With a slightly more affordable price tag than its newer sibling, although not quite as competitive as other models on the market, it’s worth considering. From fine dust and pet hair to cereal and cat litter, the vacuum cleaner sucked up everything in its path with ease. It’s got a bin capacity to match the Dyson V11 and can equal Dyson’s newest vacuum when it comes to runtime - although this isn’t on the most powerful setting, unlike the V11. There’s no LCD display or High Torque cleaner head which adjusts the suction automatically based on the floor type, but it is lighter and as we’ve said already, a little cheaper too.
- • Power: Cordless
- • Weight: 2.6kg
- • Bin size: 0.75LRun
- • time: Up to 60 minutes
6. Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away Upright
Another great corded option, the Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away Upright is a limited-edition vacuum that's only available direct from Shark. It’s a powerful cleaner that picks up both pet and human hair with ease – and Shark’s Anti Hair Wrap tech means fewer hairs getting tangled around the brush. It comes with a quirky selection of tools including a car detailing kit, dolls-house sized mini tools for super-precise cleaning, and a long under-appliance tool that's ideal for getting the fluff out from under the fridge. Sharks’ regular tools are all present and correct too, including an air-powered turbo brush. The Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away Upright is a little on the heavy side, but it moves over all floor types easily, and in Lift-Away mode it's much lighter, and great for stair-cleaning. If you're looking for a corded machine that can tackle a wide array of vacuuming tasks, this Shark is a great bet.
- • Power supply: Corded
- • Weight: 6.5kg
- • Bin size: 0.71L
- • Cord length: 8m
7. iRobot Roomba i7+
Want to leave the vacuuming to someone else? The Roomba i7+ is the best robot vacuum you can buy in our eyes. The dust pick-up on floorboards, tiles and other hard surfaces as well as carpet is some of the best we’ve seen from a robovac. In fact, it’s so automated it can even empty it’s own dust bin, too. The dock will suck up and store any debris from the vacuum every time it returns to its home, storing it in a disposable bag. These bags need changing every 30 days depending upon how often the vacuum is cleaning your floors. When the bag needs replacing, you’ll get an alert on the app. This does mean there’s an on-going cost with this robot vacuum. The bags will set you back $14.99 / £21.95 / AU$59 for three. It’s circular design and rotating body means it has no problems manoeuvring through narrow areas. It’s even got Alexa and Google Assistant integration so you get the cleaning started just by uttering a few words. It’ll also store maps of every room in your home in a secure area online, speeding up cleaning time too.
- • Power supply: Cordless
- • Weight: 3.4kg
- • Bin size: 0.3L
- • Run-time: Up to 60 minutes
8. Swan Eureka Multiforce Pet
If you're alarmed at the high prices some of the latest vacuums can command, Swan’s Eureka range aims to deliver on value, if not looks. The Eureka MultiForce Pet is an affordable mains-powered, bagless cylinder cleaner that offers decent cleaning power and good-sized bin. The short cable, noisy motor and plastic build are all forgivable at the price, and if you can see past those foibles the MultiForce Pet cleans well on carpets and takes pet hair in its stride. Its bin is simply huge at two liters, the filters are HEPA-class and washable, and the turbo tool is great for pet beds and stairs. While the design and build quality are about as basic as modern cleaners get, Swan’s Eureka MultiForce Pet makes it into our top 10 by offering great value if you're on a budget.
- • Power supply: Corded
- • Weight: 5kg
- • Bin size: 2L
- • Cord length: 5m
Buyer's Guide: Vacuum Cleaners
Checklist for vacuum cleaner selection
- • connection power : indicates power consumption, not suction power or motor power.
- • exhaust air quality and filters : the engine filter and exhaust air filter are either microfilters or Hepa filters.
- • nozzles : the wider the area the nozzle sucks, the faster the vacuuming.
- • weight : vacuum cleaners weigh about 4 kg to 9 kg.
- • wire : there may be several meters of wire length differences between models.
- • tube : the telescope can be adjusted to the length of the vacuum cleaner.
- • movement : the vacuum cleaner should also move agilely over thresholds and on carpets.
- • dust bag: check the size of the dust bag used in the vacuum cleaner and the size of the space in the vacuum cleaner for the dust bags.
- • convenience : try the vacuum cleaner already in the store.
- • noise : listen to the noise of the shop, as the noise level varies by model.
- • bagged or bagless ? emptying a bagless vacuum cleaner is laborious, on the other hand, dust bags cost money.
Connection power and suction power different things
When advertising the efficiency of vacuum cleaners, the connection power, for example 700 watts, is multiplied. The connection power indicates the power requirement of the vacuum cleaner.
Although the impression is often given that a high connection power means a good vacuuming result, the figure has little to do with the suction power.
The design of the nozzle also has a significant effect on the dust absorbency. The suction power may also decrease as the dust bag fills.
Exhaust air quality and filters
The vacuum cleaner filters the exhaust air in several places:
- • The dust bag filters out the most debris and dust, most of which remains in the bag.
- • After the dust bag, the air is filtered by a motor filter , which at the same time protects the motor.
- • The last filter is an exhaust air filter, which aims to release as few particles as possible back into the room air.
The exhaust air filter is either a microfilter or a Hepa filter. If there is no allergy in the family, a microfilter is a suitable choice.
For the allergy family, you should buy a vacuum cleaner with a Hepa filter. For some vacuum cleaners, the Hepa filter must be purchased separately.
The Hepa (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter prevents even the smallest particles from returning to the room air. These are the most harmful for people with allergies or asthma.
There are several different categories of Hepa filters, such as Hepa 11, Hepa 12, and Hepa 13. The higher the number, the greater the amount of room air dust, pollen, fungal spores, bacteria, and other particles the filter filters.
Allergy-marked vacuum cleaners have a very high fine particle filtration efficiency (min. 99.95%) and a high-quality washable filter.
However, even the best filter is of no use if exhaust air can pass through the filter. Potential leaks are often between the filter and its frame or machine body. If the vacuum cleaner is not built tightly, impure exhaust air may enter the room from the connection points of the filter housing, despite the Hepa filter.
Some Hepa filters are washable. It is a good idea to read the washing instructions in the user manual before buying the appliance or filter. No study results are available on the effect of washing on filtration capacity. You can also buy a combined activated carbon - Hepa filter for some vacuum cleaners, where the activated carbon filter removes odors. Many cheaper vacuum cleaners do not allow the use of a Hepa filter.
Nozzles
Vacuum cleaners come with a carpet / floor nozzle and often a textile, dust and slit nozzle. Some vacuum cleaners are sold separately with special nozzles as accessories, such as a turbo nozzle, a parquet nozzle or a motorized carpet nozzle.
The shape of the carpet / floor nozzle is especially important. Even a vacuum cleaner with good suction power will not perform its function properly unless the nozzle is properly shaped in all respects. The nozzle bristles should be taken evenly into the floor and should be as close to the floor as possible. In addition, the suction ducts must be properly shaped.
According to Consumer magazine tests, the width of the nozzle does not always tell how wide an area of the floor is cleaned with a single stroke. The wider the nozzle sucks, the faster the space becomes vacuumed. The cleaning range in ordinary vacuum cleaners is usually wider than the nozzle, but the so-called in vacuum cleaners often narrower. The nozzles of stem vacuum cleaners often do not usually absorb dust well but rather crumbs and shards of glass.
According to tests, vacuum cleaners usually absorb dust from both sides of the nozzle excellently, but clearly less well in front of the nozzle. The device as a device leaves an untreated area between the front of the nozzle and the wall. It is therefore advisable to vacuum next to the wall so that the side part of the nozzle is against the wall. It is advisable to vacuum from the corners in two directions.
The shape of the nozzles is also important when you want to vacuum under a bookshelf, for example. The nozzle should be low enough to fit in a low space.
It is convenient to store the various nozzles in the nozzle housing in the body of the vacuum cleaner. In some vacuum cleaners, the nozzles are placed in a holder that attaches to the extension tube.
Weight
The weight of the vacuum cleaners varies from less than four kilograms to about nine kilograms. Weight is important e.g. when the vacuum cleaner is raised to storage or when stairs are vacuumed.
If you need to carry the vacuum cleaner from one layer to another, you should try how it feels to carry the vacuum cleaner. Even a heavier device is easy to carry if the handle is ergonomically shaped.
Management
The cord must be long enough and must be wound easily. In the store, you should try management; how easily it comes out and how effortlessly it rewinds.
The length of the line together with the suction hose and the pipe form the operating radius, i.e. how far the vacuum cleaner extends. The operating range can vary from 7 meters to 15 meters.
Tube
The telescopic tube, or adjustable extension tube, is convenient because it can be adjusted to suit each vacuum cleaner.
In the shop, it is worthwhile to test whether the telescopic tube is easy to adjust and whether the tube parts fit firmly in place. It is also a good idea to check how long the pipe can be adjusted if the vacuum cleaner is used by a tall person.
Movement of the vacuum cleaner
The vacuum cleaner must move agilely and must not stick to thresholds or carpets. In consumer tests, there were large differences in the movement of the vacuum cleaners on the mat.
Dust bag
You need to buy a specific type of dust bag for each vacuum cleaner. In all vacuum cleaners, the dustbag will not be able to open to its full size because the dustbag is larger than the dustbag space. The closing flap of the dust bag prevents the dust from spreading back into the room air when the bag is removed from the vacuum cleaner. Every year, the consumer tests numerous vacuum cleaner bags .
Vacuum cleaner comfort
You should research the vacuum cleaner in the store and see how sturdy it seems.
It is good if as many functions as possible can be done on foot. Some vacuum cleaners have a remote control for the suction power conveniently in the handle.
When choosing a vacuum cleaner, you should also try the ease of use of the vacuum cleaner in the store: whether the vacuum cleaner runs agilely, how well the nozzle goes in the desired direction, how well the cord winds and how easy it is to carry the device. Especially if there are a lot of vacuum stairs in the apartment, it is good if the exhaust air comes out from the top of the vacuum cleaner. In this case, the vacuum cleaner can be parked in the crabs if necessary and the vacuum cleaner does not have to be carried all the time.
Noise
You can also try the sound of the vacuum cleaner in the shop. Before listening to the sound, it is a good idea to attach a floor / carpet nozzle to the pipe, as the nozzle affects the volume.
Bagged or bagless vacuum cleaner?
The advantage of a bagless vacuum cleaner is saving money when you do not have to buy dust bags. On the other hand, emptying and washing the tank of a bagless vacuum cleaner is often cumbersome and unhygienic, and the dust floats back into the room air. This is a problem especially for allergy sufferers.
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