LG CordZero A9 [A916, A916BM]  Vacuum Review

This vacuum's performance on bare floors is decent. Its brushroll tends to scatter around medium-sized debris like rice, and its floorhead is too low to pass over larger debris like cereal, causing it to push it around instead of sucking it all up. Thankfully, it does a good job of clearing away finer material like sand.

Performance on high-pile carpet is decent. The vacuum is reasonably effective in clearing away large debris like cereal, medium-sized debris like rice, and finer material like sand, even if another pass might be required to clear away everything.

Debris pickup performance on low-pile carpet is satisfactory. The LG's floorhead provides enough surface agitation to remove finer material like sand that's been worked into carpet fibers, and it does an alright job of dealing with medium and large-sized debris like rice or sand.

This vacuum does a great job of handling pet hair on low-pile carpet. It'll clear away all but the most heavily embedded strands of hair within a single back-and-forth pass.

This vacuum does a great job of handling pet hair on furniture with its Pet Nozzle turbo brush tool. The attachment's silicone fins are highly effective in collecting pet hair without having it get tangled in the mechanism. While the vacuum's performance in this regard is quite good in its default power mode, it's more efficient to use it in its middleweight 'Power' setting, as you'll probably only need to make a single pass to clear away everything.

The LG CordZero A9 does a decent job of handling debris in crevices with its floorhead. It'll clear away debris in shallow cracks, like what you'd find on tile floors, but it doesn't generate quite as tight a seal as what's needed to draw out debris in deeper cracks. If you're vacuuming deeper crevices, use it in its 'Turbo' setting with the crevice tool.

The LG CordZero A9 has passable build quality. It has a mainly plastic body and a metal telescopic wand. The plastic used in its construction looks and feels premium for the most part, though the clear plastic used for its dustbin and top plate of its primary floorhead is a little fragile. You can adjust its suction power via controls on the handle, which you can see here. Assembling and disassembling the LG A9 for regular maintenance or reconfiguring it into a handheld vacuum is easy, but putting together its docking station isn't quite as intuitive and may require a look at the instruction manual.

• LG CordZero A9 Vacuum
• Vacuum body
• Dirt compartment
• 1x Pre-filter (2x filters included with A916BM, A908VMR, and A907GMS variants)
• Cyclone
• HEPA filter
• 2x Battery (1x Battery included with the A912PM, A900BM, and A913BM variants)
• Vacuum User Guide
• Various tools and brushes
  • 2-in-1 brush/upholstery attachment (not included with A900BM or A912PM models)
  • Universal Power Nozzle
  • Crevice tool
  • Telescopic wand
• Charging station
• Stand
• Base
• 2x Wall mount plate with screws

The following attachment is exclusive to the A916BM model:

• Power Mini Tool

The following attachment is exclusive to the A916BM model:

• Power Mini Tool

The following attachment is exclusive to the A907GM, A908VMR, and A927KVMS/A927KGMS models:

• Power Punch Nozzle

The following attachment is exclusive to the A926KSM model:

• Slim Power Floor Nozzle

The following attachment is exclusive to the A929KVM model:

• Power Mop Nozzle

The LG CordZero A9 is fairly easy to store. Its rack station isn't wall-mounted like that of the Dyson V11 and takes up a little more room on the ground, but it holds the vacuum upright and has room for two additional tools.

This vacuum's dirt compartment is alright. The upright configuration is reminiscent of older Dyson models like the Dyson V7, and it doesn't hold as much debris as newer stick vacuums like the Samsung Jet 75. As a result, it needs emptying frequently, but since it's made of clear plastic, you can tell how full it is at a glance. Kompressor models are equipped with an external lever that you can use to press down on debris inside the dustbin, giving a bit more room for any collected debris.

This vacuum has very good battery performance. The A916BM variant we tested comes with two batteries, allowing you to put one in the vacuum while the other charges on the vacuum's rack station. Each battery yields a maximum of one hour of continuous runtime if this vacuum is run in its default power mode without any power-draining attachments. Using it in its max-suction "Turbo" mode with its floorhead attached drains a single battery in just under eight minutes, which is only a little less than average for a vacuum of this type. The measured runtime marginally exceeds the manufacturer's claims, which state a total runtime of 12 to 100 minutes when using two fully charged batteries.

The LG CordZero A9 has some parts that need regular cleaning, but each part is easy to access.

• Dirt compartment: To empty the dustbin, you just need to hit the release button at the bottom of the bin, which you can see here. Since the dustbin is small, it needs regular emptying. You'll need to use the combination tool to clear any stuck-on dust or debris since you can't wash it under water. Make sure to remove the battery before cleaning it out.
• Cyclone filter: The cyclone filter is found inside the dustbin. You can remove it from its housing by rotating it counter-clockwise inside its housing. You should clean it under water, then allow it to dry.
• Exhaust filter: You can remove this part by turning it counter-clockwise. You should clean it with a brush or running water at least once a month before being left to dry out of direct sunlight.
• Pre-filter: Once you've removed the exhaust filter, you can pull out the pre-filter. You can clean it by using a brush or running it under water at least once a month, but let it dry out of direct sunlight.
• Universal Power Nozzle: To remove the floorhead's brushroll, you need to use a flat-blade screwdriver or coin to open the single cover lock, which allows you to flip up the brush cover and pull the brushroll out. You should check it before each use and clean it if needed. You can use the crevice tool to clean it. You can also wipe the remaining debris off with a wet cloth.

You must fully air dry any part that's washed with water before using it again.

This vacuum incurs low recurring costs.

• Exhaust filter: While the filter won't need replacing if well-maintained, you can purchase a replacement from the manufacturer's website if necessary.
• Pre-filter: Even though the pre-filter is washable, it's still considered a consumable part that you'll need to replace periodically. However, the manufacturer doesn't specify an exact service life. Regardless, you can buy a replacement from the manufacturer's website.

The LG A9 has a few quality-of-life features. The "-" and "+" buttons on its handle allow you to change its suction power level depending on your needs. There's the default "Standard/Normal" mode, the higher-output "Power" mode, and the max-suction "Turbo" mode. Activating the latter requires a three-second press on the "+" button, though this delay can sometimes extend to as long as approximately five seconds. However, unlike the Shark Detect Pro, it's incapable of automatically adjusting its own suction power setting depending on debris quantities and surface type.

This vacuum is very portable. At just under six pounds, it's on the lighter end of the scale for a conventional stick vacuum, weighing far less than heavier alternatives like the Shark Cordless Pet Plus. Its rubber-lined handle makes it easy to pick up and carry.

The LG CordZero A9 has good maneuverability. It's lightweight and has an articulating head, making it easy to clean around furniture. It's also easy to adjust the telescopic wand's height and attach or remove different tools. However, the wand isn't flexible, like on the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight, so you have to crouch pretty deeply to clean under sofas and low-lying tables. The floorhead's brushroll can get caught in rug tassels or especially dense carpets, requiring you to turn the vacuum off and remove the obstruction. Also, while its storage rack has room for two accessories, accessing whichever tool is mounted at the back can be a little tricky.

It's a cordless vacuum, so its range is limited only by the room left in its dustbin and the remaining battery life. Its telescopic wand has a reasonably wide range of adjustments, so you can find a height that suits your preferences.

This vacuum's real-world suction power is unremarkable. While it isn't underpowered for a vacuum of this type, its multi-surface floorhead doesn't generate quite as tight a seal against the ground as similar vacuums like the Dyson V11. In terms of raw suction measured from its wand, however, it delivers great sealing performance.

The LG CordZero A9 has decent airflow. It doesn't pack as big a punch as some newer, pricier models on the market, but it still performs quite well for a cordless model and will have little trouble clearing away heavier debris. If you want a more potent cordless stick vacuum, consider the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine.

The LG CordZero A9 doesn't make that much noise. In its default power setting, it's quieter than alternatives like the Samsung Jet 70. However, ramping up to the 'Power' and 'Turbo' settings, it does get noticeably louder. Regardless, you can still hear what someone nearby is saying with the vacuum running, though they'll have to speak somewhat loudly.

This vacuum doesn't significantly impact stains when used with its default floorhead. However, the A929KVM variant comes with LG's Power Drive Mop attachment, which uses tap water and a pair of rating mop pads to scrub away dried-on stains.