The 5 Best Cordless Vacuums - Spring 2023 Reviews

The Dyson V15 Detect is the best cordless vacuum we've tested. This vacuum has a 230AW suction motor, which is remarkably potent for a vacuum of this type and allows it to clear away a wide range of debris on different surfaces. Its built-in piezo sensor measures and counts debris being sucked into the vacuum so that you can keep an eye on allergen levels inside your home. Also, its surface detection system lets it automatically adjust its suction power to match the floor type you're on. At about six and a half pounds, it's reasonably lightweight and fairly easy to pick up, carry, or maneuver around obstacles. Unfortunately, its strong suction force can cause it to get bogged down on thicker rugs.

If you're looking for a cordless vacuum that's even better suited for those with allergies, the Samsung Bespoke Jet is a solid option, as it comes with a charging rack that doubles as a self-emptying station; with the press of a button, debris is sucked from the vacuum's dustbin through an airtight seal into a dirtbag. However, the Samsung vacuum lacks Dyson's automatic power adjustment feature, and its twin roller floorhead is bulkier and makes it less maneuverable.

If you're shopping at an upper mid-range price point, the Shark Stratos Cordless is a great choice. Its bulkier twin-roller floorhead and relatively heavy body make it less portable than the Dyson V15 Detect, and its suction motor isn't quite as potent. Nevertheless, besides its lower price tag, it has its fair share of advantages. Its Clean Sense IQ function allows the vacuum to automatically increase its suction power when passing over an area with a significant concentration of debris. It also has an odor-neutralization system, which works through a replaceable cartridge that emits a laundry-detergent-like scent as you clean. Its max battery life of about an hour is lengthy too, but note that this vacuum takes a very long time to recharge, which is inconvenient during longer cleaning sessions.

This vacuum's hinged wand makes it simple to clean under most tables and chairs without bending too much. Unfortunately, its floorhead can easily get bogged down in thick-pile rugs. If that's a problem, the Miele Triflex HX1 is a good alternative that's easier to maneuver on plush carpeting, though it has a shorter battery life and a much smaller dustbin that'll need frequent emptying.

The Samsung Jet 75 is a great option if you're looking at the affordable end of the scale. It feels a little less sturdy than the Shark Stratos Cordless, but it does offer quite a bit of bang for the buck. Its 200AW suction motor is very powerful for a cordless vacuum in this price range, enabling it to easily clear away small and heavy debris on different surface types. The Pet variant of this vacuum comes with a miniature turbo brush tool, which is effective in collecting pet hair on upholstered surfaces. Still, it's also rather bulky and can be unwieldy to use on furniture. At under six pounds, it's lightweight, making it easy to pick up and carry from room to room.

Unfortunately, you can't completely detach this vacuum's dustbin from its main body, which can make it a hassle to clean or empty manually. It also lacks an automatic power adjustment feature like the Clean Sense IQ system on the Shark Stratos Cordless. If that's a feature you want in a similarly-priced cordless vacuum, check out the Tineco PURE ONE S11. However, the Tineco falls short of the Samsung in debris pickup performance, feels flimsier, and has a shorter battery life.

The best budget cordless vacuum we've tested is the JASHEN V16. While its thin plasticky body feels less durable than the Samsung Jet 75, it's much cheaper and comes with many attachments. It's bundled with a pair of interchangeable brushrolls, one being a soft roller meant to avoid creating scratches on bare floors and the other being a bristled multi-surface roller for improved debris pickup on a wider array of surface types. Unusually for a cordless vacuum in this price range, there's also a miniature turbo brush tool for cleaning pet hair or other debris from fabric-lined furniture. Another feature that's rare for a vacuum in this price range is its HEPA exhaust filter, which helps the vacuum seal in a fair amount of allergens.

Unfortunately, while this vacuum excels at clearing away pet hair and any other lightweight debris on hard floors, bulky debris can easily clog the entry to its dustbin. Its suction motor isn't as powerful as some pricier alternatives, so you'll need to make an extra pass to fully deal with debris embedded in carpet fibers. As you might expect from a vacuum in this price range, build quality isn't a strong point either.

If you want a cordless vacuum with a higher capacity dustbin than most stick models, the Shark Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away is a good option. Compared to the similarly-priced Samsung Jet 75, it exchanges maneuverability for a larger internal dustbin that won't need emptying as often. Besides, it's still more maneuverable and easier to store than the average corded upright, like the Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV. Its 'Lift-Away' design lets you pick up and carry its canister body separately from its floorhead while cleaning awkward spots with its wand. It has a solid range of attachments, including an upholstery tool that cleans pet hair on fabric surfaces and a fine-bristle dusting brush for delicate surfaces.

Performance is strong, with good debris pickup on bare floors and high-pile carpet. Unfortunately, while it offers two different levels of surface adjustment, these settings only affect the speed of its primary brushroll, not its height, so the vacuum can sometimes get stuck on dense shag-pile carpeting. Need a more portable cordless upright? The Hoover ONEPWR Evolve Pet is worth considering. However, it feels considerably less robust and offers terrible air filtration performance.