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Tineco S10 Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.3
Reviewed Mar 09, 2023 at 09:51 am
Latest change: Retest Aug 26, 2024 at 04:39 pm
Tineco S10 Picture
7.1
Bare Floor
7.2
Low-Pile Carpet
6.9
High-Pile Carpet
6.6
Pets
8.3
Stairs
7.9
Cars
5.4
Workshop

The Tineco S10 is a fairly basic cordless stick vacuum available only from Walmart. It's nearly identical to the related Tineco PURE ONE S11, with the same iLoop dirt sensor that enables it to automatically raise its suction power in the presence of large amounts of debris as well as an onboard HEPA filter. Unfortunately, its attachment set is limited, especially compared to the top-tier Tango variant of the Tineco PURE ONE S11, and it lacks the latter's unique Bluetooth integration that allows you to check things like battery life or filter status through your smartphone.

Our Verdict

7.1 Bare Floor

The Tineco S10 is decent for bare floors. While it doesn't come bundled with a soft-roller floorhead for avoiding micro-scratches to hard surfaces, it still does a good job of handling pet hair as well as most kinds of solid debris. However, since its head sits very close to the ground, it can struggle to pass over bulkier material. While it takes a little more effort to maneuver it in tight spaces compared to other vacuums of this weight and size, it's still decently maneuverable and very easy to grab and use wherever you may need it. Its automatic power adjustment system also works quite well when cleaning dirtier areas.

Pros
  • Lightweight construction.
  • Automatic power adjustment capability.
  • Good performance on bare floors.
  • Great pet hair pickup on floors.
  • Easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Cheap build quality.
  • Unwieldy floorhead sits too low to the ground.
  • Long recharge time and relatively average battery life.
7.2 Low-Pile Carpet

The Tineco S10 is satisfactory for low-pile carpet. It does struggle somewhat with solid debris embedded in this surface type, but it does a good job of dealing with pet hair. It's also very lightweight and decently maneuverable, though its floorhead doesn't pivot all that smoothly, which makes it a little tricky to make sharp turns. Its automatic power adjustment system also improves debris pickup in especially dirty areas. That said, build quality isn't especially impressive, and its battery life is on the shorter end of the scale.

Pros
  • Lightweight construction.
  • Automatic power adjustment capability.
  • Great pet hair pickup on floors.
  • Easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Cheap build quality.
  • Unwieldy floorhead sits too low to the ground.
  • Long recharge time and relatively average battery life.
6.9 High-Pile Carpet

The Tineco S10 is an okay option for high-pile carpet. While its floorhead sits very close to the ground and can get bogged down on really plush carpeting, the vacuum can still easily handle debris on medium to high-pile carpets. The vacuum's lightweight design makes it easy to pick up and carry, though its unwieldy floorhead can make it a challenge to navigate in cramped environments.

Pros
  • Lightweight construction.
  • Automatic power adjustment capability.
  • Great pet hair pickup on floors.
  • Easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Cheap build quality.
  • Unwieldy floorhead sits too low to the ground.
  • Long recharge time and relatively average battery life.
6.6 Pets

The Tineco S10 is alright for pet owners. It doesn't have too much trouble dealing with pet hair on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet, but it lacks a miniature turbo brush tool that would make it easier to clean pet hair on fabric surfaces. Thankfully, it has a four-stage filtration system that's at least somewhat effective in sealing in allergens like pet dander. It also makes very little noise while running, which is good if you have a pet that's sensitive to loud noises.

Pros
  • Great pet hair pickup on floors.
  • Quiet operation.
  • Good air filtration performance.
  • Easy to maintain.
Cons
  • Not designed for liquid spills.
  • Long recharge time and relatively average battery life.
  • No turbo brush.
  • Upholstery tool struggles with short strands of pet hair on fabric.
8.3 Stairs

The Tineco S10 is an great fit for cleaning staircases. Its cordless design ensures you won't trip over any power cables, while its lightweight construction makes it easy to carry around. It also can be quickly reconfigured into a handheld vacuum to clean tight spots. Performance on most surfaces is also fairly strong. Unfortunately, it does feel rather flimsy.

Pros
  • Lightweight construction.
  • Automatic power adjustment capability.
  • Good performance on bare floors.
Cons
  • Cheap build quality.
  • Unwieldy floorhead sits too low to the ground.
7.9 Cars

The Tineco S10 is a very good option for car cleaning. Its cordless design means that you won't have to fiddle around with an extension cord to reach every part of your car's interior, and the vacuum's lightweight construction makes it a cinch to carry around. It comes with a crevice tool for tackling messes under and around seats, a soft-bristle tool for cleaning delicate surfaces like your car's center console, and an upholstery tool for cleaning fabric surfaces. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a turbo brush tool, which would further improve its performance on fabric surfaces.

Pros
  • Lightweight construction.
  • Easy to maintain.
Cons
  • No turbo brush.
5.4 Workshop

The Tineco S10 is ill-suited to cleaning workshops, though that isn't what it's designed for. While it can easily handle comparatively lightweight household debris, heavy-duty debris like wood or metal shavings are likely to damage its internals. It also can't handle liquid spills.

Pros
  • Good performance on bare floors.
Cons
  • Cheap build quality.
  • Not designed for liquid spills.
  • 7.1 Bare Floor
  • 7.2 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 6.9 High-Pile Carpet
  • 6.6 Pets
  • 8.3 Stairs
  • 7.9 Cars
  • 5.4 Workshop
  1. Updated Aug 26, 2024: We've updated the scores in the Hard Floor Pick-Up, High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up, Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up, and Pet-Hair Pick-Up tests to align with a broader data set. For more information about the reasoning for this update, you can look at our forum post.
  2. Updated Aug 15, 2024: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 1.2 and Test Bench 1.3.
  3. Updated Jul 30, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. We've overhauled our floor performance tests and added new 'Hard Floor Pick-Up,' 'High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' 'Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' and 'Pet-Hair Pick-Up' tests. You can see the full changelog here.
  4. Updated Dec 14, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
  5. Updated Mar 09, 2023: Review published.
  6. Updated Mar 06, 2023: Early access published.
  7. Updated Feb 28, 2023: Our testers have started testing this product.
  8. Updated Feb 24, 2023: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Feb 17, 2023: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

There's only one variant of the Tineco S10, 'White Blue', and you can see its label here.

Let us know in the discussions if you come across another version of this vacuum.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The Tineco S10 is almost identical to the Tineco PURE ONE S11, though with a slightly more limited attachment set, a simplified status display, and no Bluetooth connectivity to pair the vacuum with your smartphone. The manufacturer advertises the motor output as being fractionally lower, but that difference isn't especially noticeable in the real world, and the vacuum delivers decent performance, though it does fall short in terms of debris pickup compared to more expensive cordless stick models like the Shark Stratos Cordless.

If you're looking for an alternative, look at our lists for recommendations for the best lightweight vacuums, the best cordless stick vacuums, and the best cordless vacuums.

Tineco PWRHERO 11

The Tineco S10 and Tineco PWRHERO 11 are both pretty similar in terms of design and debris pickup performance. However, there is one big difference. Unlike the PWRHERO, the S10 has Tineco's iLoop dirt sensor, which lets it automatically increase its suction power when passing over an area with a lot of debris.

Tineco PURE ONE X

The Tineco S10 is a slightly better vacuum than the Tineco PURE ONE X. The S10 has fewer parts that need periodic cleaning, a dustbin that's roughly twice as spacious, and delivers noticeably better performance on carpets and crevices due to its more powerful motor. While it has a shorter battery life than the PURE ONE X, the S10's battery pack is removable and replaceable, so you can easily swap in a new pack if the current unit's performance degrades over time. On the other hand, there are a wide array of variants of the PURE ONE X, some of which come with a much wider array of attachments than the S10.

Tineco PURE ONE S11

The Tineco S10 is effectively a stripped-down version of the Tineco PURE ONE S11. The S10 has a simplified info display, a more limited set of attachments, and no Bluetooth connectivity, so you can't pair it with your smartphone in the same way you can with the S11 when using the Tineco Life app.  The S10 is marginally better on carpeted surfaces. On the other side, the PURE ONE S11 is better on bare floor and somewhat superior for pet hair.

Dyson V8

The Dyson V8 and Tineco S10 each have strengths. The Dyson feels marginally better built, weighs slightly less, can be bundled with a wider array of attachments, and is easier to maneuver. Meanwhile, the Tineco has an automatic power adjustment system, a larger dustbin, and a quieter suction motor.

Wyze Cordless Vacuum

The Wyze Cordless Vacuum is better than the Tineco S10 in most respects, though only by small margins. It's a little lighter, has a floorhead that pivots more smoothly, and has a floorhead that's better at dealing with pet hair. Conversely, the Tineco vacuum's upholstery tool is more effective than that of the Wyze.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
6.5
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Stick/Handheld

Build quality is fair, as the Tineco S10 has a reasonably premium-looking plastic body. On closer inspection, however, the vacuum has a cheap and almost toy-like feel, with an abundance of thin plastic used in its construction. Like the Tineco PURE ONE S11, air that passes through the post-motor filter is then directed through the vacuum's exposed internals before exiting through the exhaust vent, which isn't common amongst other cordless stick vacuums. Similarly, the HEPA filter's location makes it easy to accidentally remove when quickly grabbing the vacuum.

Thankfully, it's pretty easy to set this vacuum up, as its parts clip together with minimal effort. You'll need to screw its charging station into the wall when setting it up.

7.5
Design
User Maintenance

The Tineco S10 has relatively few parts that need periodic cleaning.

  • Dirt Compartment: You can empty the dirt compartment by pressing the release latch at the front of the bin to open its bottom cover and unload its contents over a trash bin. Dust and debris can also get caught on the gasket around the dustbin door, creating a big dust cloud when opening it up. It can be wiped out with a damp cloth whenever necessary, but it can be a little tricky to fit your fingers around the center-mounted filter housing. Make sure not to wash the dustbin under running water, as there's a dirt sensor on the inside.
  • Cyclone Filter: The mesh filter is located inside the dustbin. You can remove it by opening the dustbin door and twisting it counterclockwise within its housing. You should clean it after every use with a damp cloth.
  • Pre-Filter: The pre-filter is inside a central housing in the middle of the dustbin, and you can remove it by pulling on the small release tab. Unlike the Tineco PURE ONE S11 and Tineco PURE ONE X, there's no dedicated filter cleaning tool included with the vacuum. Thankfully, you can still easily clean it under water every month.
  • HEPA Filter: The HEPA filter is found in a compartment above the vacuum handle and can be pulled free of its housing. You should wash it under running water every three months.
  • Multi-surface brushroll: You can pull out the floorhead's brushroll by unlocking its brushroll cover using a coin or a flat-headed screwdriver. The stiffer bristles running around the center of the brushroll tend to collect more hair than the outermost soft bristles, and you might need to cut away any long strands with a pair of scissors. A small amount of hair can also get wrapped around the bearings at the edges of the roller, though thankfully, you can remove the end caps to make it easier to clear away any tangled hair.
  • Dust Sensor: You can clean the dust sensor by removing any attachments fitted to the vacuum and then wiping the suction inlet at the top of the dirt compartment down with a damp cloth. No specific maintenance interval is given, but the manufacturer recommends doing this regularly to prevent debris buildup.

You must air dry any part that's washed with water or a damp cloth for at least 24 hours before using it again. The vacuum's companion app can also remind you when it's time to replace or clean its filters.

8.0
Design
Recurring Cost
Bag Part Number No bag
Filter Part Number Unidentified
HEPA Filter Part Number Unidentified

The Tineco S10 incurs low recurring costs.

  • HEPA Filter: You should replace the HEPA filter every year.
  • Pre-Filter: You should replace the pre-filter after six months of use.

This vacuum isn't currently listed on the manufacturer's website and doesn't list it as being compatible with any of the replacement parts for sale on its website. However, its HEPA filter and pre-filter are of an outwardly identical design to those used by the Tineco PURE ONE S11 and will have similar replacement intervals.

6.8
Design
Storing
Height
44.29" (112.5 cm)
Width
10.43" (26.5 cm)
Depth
9.84" (25.0 cm)
Cord Storing
Not Needed
On-Board Tool Storage
No
Vacuum Rack/Station
Yes

The Tineco S10 is fairly easy to store. It has a rack station to hold it upright, which also features a clip-on storage rack for two of its included attachments.

7.3
Design
Dirt Compartment
Bagless
Yes
Volume
0.13 gal (0.50 L)
Full Indicator
Yes
Bag Included
No Bag Needed

The dirt compartment is relatively spacious. Its bottom-opening design is similar to older cordless stick vacuums like the Dyson V8 or LG CordZero A9, but at about half a liter in size, it can hold more than either. Since it's clear plastic, you can check to see how full it is.

Design
In The Box

  • Tineco S10 cordless stick vacuum
    • Vacuum body
    • Dirt compartment
    • Wand
    • Battery
    • Pre-filter cleaning tool
    • 1x Pre-filter
    • 1x HEPA filter
    • 1x Cyclone filter
    • User Guide
  • Various tools and brushes
    • Full-size LED Multi-tasker power brush floorhead with brushroll
    • Combination upholstery tool/dusting brush
    • Crevice tool
  • Charging station
    • Dock station
    • Extra tool adapter
    • Power supply
    • 2x screws
    • 2x anchors

10
Design
Range
Cordless
Yes
Cord Length
N/A
Hose Length
N/A
Minimum Wand Length
1.18 ft (0.36 m)
Maximum Wand Length
3.28 ft (1.00 m)
Total Range
N/A

The range is limited only by the remaining battery life and the room left within the vacuum's dustbin.

8.2
Design
Portability
Total Weight
5.73 lbs (2.60 kg)
Weight In Hand
3.46 lbs (1.57 kg)
Carrying handle
Yes

The Tineco S10 is impressively portable. At under six pounds, it's on the lighter end of the scale for a cordless vacuum, making it very easy to pick up and carry from room to room.

7.4
Design
Battery
Minimum Battery Life
13 min
Maximum Battery Life
49 min
Recharge Time
280 min
Recharge Dock
Yes
Battery Life Indicator
Yes
Removable Batteries
Yes

Battery performance is decent, with a few caveats. It can run for almost an hour in its default 'Auto' power mode, which is fairly lengthy, though it's important to note that since the vacuum modulates its suction power automatically in this mode, real-world runtime will likely be shorter. Its battery life drops to just under 15 minutes in its high-power 'MAX' mode, so it's recommended that you use this setting sparingly. Worse yet, the vacuum takes over four and a half hours to recharge, which leaves you with a lot of downtime between cleaning sessions if you don't have a second battery that's fully charged.

Design
Quality Of Life Features
Rotating Head
Yes
Power Adjustment
Yes
Self-Propelled
No
Headlights
Yes
Easy On/Off
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
None

This vacuum has a few quality-of-life features. Like the Tineco PURE ONE S11, it's got a trigger lock to keep the vacuum running without having you keep your finger depressed, which makes it more comfortable to use during longer cleaning sessions. The onboard iLoop dirt sensor enables it to automatically increase its suction power when it detects high amounts of debris if you run it in its 'Auto' mode, though you can also select the 'Max' suction setting manually by pressing the power adjustment button on the vacuum. The circular display on top of the dustbin will alert you if the brushroll is stuck or if there's a blockage somewhere inside the vacuum. The main multi-surface floorhead also has an LED headlight to help you see what you're cleaning in darker areas. Unlike the S11, however, it doesn't have Bluetooth pairing, so you can't connect the vacuum to your smartphone to check battery life or adjust its suction power setting in real time.

Design
Tools And Brushes
Brushroll
Yes
Brushroll On/Off
No
Removable Brushroll
Yes
Turbo Brush
No
Crevice Tool
Yes
Upholstery Tool
No
Soft Bristle Brush
Yes
Hard Bristle Brush
No
Extension Wand
Yes
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No

The attachment set is rather limited. Unlike the top-range Tango variant of the Tineco PURE ONE X, this vacuum only comes with a single multi-surface floorhead, with no secondary soft roller intended for use on hard floors. There's also no miniature turbo brush tool and no dedicated pre-filter cleaning tool, though the utility of the latter on other Tineco vacuums was limited at best. This vacuum comes with a combination upholstery nozzle/dusting brush as well as a crevice tool.

Design
Alternative Configuration
Blower Mode
No

You can use the Tineco S10 as a handheld vacuum by removing its wand and floorhead.

Performance
5.0
Performance
Hard Floor Pick-Up

This vacuum's performance on hard floors is disappointing. It does a great job clearing away fine, lightweight debris like sand, but its floorhead is too low to the ground to pass over large quantities of bigger material, like rice or sand. This causes the floorhead to push and sweep around this kind of debris.

6.0
Performance
High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up

Debris pickup performance on low-pile carpet is middling. Its floorhead doesn't provide enough surface agitation to lift away fine debris left in carpet fibers, and you'll likely have to make another pass to clear away larger material, especially along walls and in corners.

6.5
Performance
Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up

The Tineco S10's performance on low-pile carpet is okay. Unlike its performance on high-pile carpet, it's somewhat effective at dealing with finer debris like sand, but it does tend to leave behind bulkier debris like rice or cereal.

7.0
Performance
Pet-Hair Pick-Up

This vacuum's pet hair cleaning capability is decent. It can deal with longer strands of hair within a single back-and-forth pass, but you'll need to go over the same area more than once to clean up strands that are worked a little more deeply into carpet fibers.

7.4
Performance
Suction
Maximum Hose Suction
91.5 inH₂O (22.80 kPa)
Maximum Head Suction
4.5 inH₂O (1.13 kPa)
Normal Head Suction
1.7 inH₂O (0.43 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal "AUTO", (Multi-tasker Power Brush)
Hose Diameter
1.6" (4.0 cm)

The Tineco S10 has decent suction power. Its maximum advertised output of 120 W is a little less than the advertised 130 W of suction generated by the Tineco PURE ONE S11. However, the difference isn't especially noticeable in the real world, as both vacuums perform pretty similarly when it comes to cleaning carpets or cracks and crevices.

7.1
Performance
Airflow
Maximum Hose Airflow
55.8 CFM (1.6 m³/min)

This vacuum has satisfactory airflow performance. It won't deal with heavier debris as effortlessly as higher-end models like the Dyson V15 Detect, but it also isn't completely useless in this regard, being on similar footing to a lot of other comparable models like the Samsung Jet 60.

9.2
Performance
Noise
Bare Floor
63.1 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
62.3 dBA

This vacuum is amazingly quiet. It's considerably quieter than similarly-priced options like the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless, making it an ideal option for discreet cleaning. You'll hear what people nearby are saying, even with the vacuum running in the same room.

7.0
Performance
Maneuverability

The Tineco S10 is decently maneuverable. It shares a lot of attributes with the Tineco PURE ONE S11 and Tineco PURE ONE X, with a highly portable and quickly reconfigurable body. It also shares the common downside of having a somewhat unwieldy floorhead; despite the vacuum's lightweight design, it can be hard to make sharp turns or make other tight maneuvers. The floorhead also sits low to the ground and gets wrapped up or bogged down in plush carpeting.

6.5
Performance
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test

This vacuum does an okay job of handling pet hair on furniture. The standard straight-suction upholstery tool is of sufficient size so that it's pretty easy to clean larger upholstered areas. However, it doesn't provide the necessary level of surface agitation to collect shorter strands of hair. Check out the Tango variant of the Tineco PURE ONE X if you want an alternative that does have a miniature turbo brush tool.

It's worth noting that the vacuum's automatic power adjustment system works when the vacuum is in its handheld configuration, though the system can also cause the vacuum to shut off automatically, as it may register a brief moment of full contact between the suction inlet and an upholstered surface to be a blockage.

Performance
Air Quality
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes

This vacuum does a good job of sealing in particles. Like most other Tineco vacuums, it has a four-stage filtration system, comprised of its cyclone, mesh, pre-motor, and HEPA exhaust filter that the manufacturer advertises to trap 99.97% of allergens.

8.0
Performance
Cracks
Wood Cracks Post Test

The Tineco S10 does a great job dealing with debris in cracks and crevices when used with its multi-surface floorhead. Its dirt detection system lets the vacuum automatically ramp up its suction power when passing over long cracks filled with debris.

1.0
Performance
Stains
Stain Pickup Post Test

This vacuum has a minimal impact on dried-on stains. The stiffer bristles at the center of the vacuum's brushroll can chip away slightly at stains, but not enough to make a significant difference.

0
Performance
Water
Wet Compatible
No
Water Pickup Post Test