Not long ago, when you heard the term cordless vacuum cleaner you would think of a powerless ‘stick’ machine that could barely pick up dirt from your smooth floors. They were really only useful for hard flooring and the battery wouldn’t give you enough time for more than a normal sized room at a time. Sure it was nice not having to plug in and move a cord around while cleaning but the trade off in performance made it not worth the time or money for many households. Most people would instead just opt for a broom and dust pan.
Well that was then and certainly not the case now. Today’s technological advancements have made their way into the vacuum industry, providing improvements to many types, brands, and models. Perhaps the most notable is the overall improvement in performance for lightweight vacuums. Many have the same features as the larger and more expensive full sized uprights or canisters, but in a much more compact frame. They especially work best in homes with a variety of floors like hardwood, tile, laminate, and even carpeting.
1) Shark ION P50 Powered Lift-Away
The Shark ION P50 is an AMAZING full sized upright cordless vacuum cleaner that is built for ENTIRE household cleaning. That is quite a statement but it is absolutely true as Shark has raised the bar in terms of the overall performance of cord-free vacuums. The P50 is their first ever Powered Lift-Away™ model that does not come with an electric cord. If you have seen their other large vacuums then you likely already know, but if not you may be wondering ‘What exactly does Lift-Away mean?’
This is a unique technology that Shark developed to allow you to detach the main canister from the machine while still powering it with full suction. You can use it as a stick vacuum to reach under furniture and tables, or as a handheld vacuum for reaching above the floor surfaces. And since it is cordless you can do all of this wherever you need to, with no worries about outlets or long cords.
The removable lithium ion battery gives you up to 50 minutes of runtime, but this will be lower when used as a full sized upright. Figure on about 30 minutes or so when using it in this configuration to clean your entire household. This is more than adequate for the average home and for those larger homes you can always get an extra battery. This is a big plus of the P50 as the batteries are removable so you can charge one while still vacuuming with another.
For filtration you get full HEPA and what they call their Anti-Allergen Complete Seal™ technology. This basically traps 99.99% of the smallest of allergens like dust mites and pet dander from the air as it passes through, and seals it inside so it cannot escape. For a bagless vacuum this is a high rating as many of the cheaper brands will let the dust escape out but not the ION P50.
There is a lot more to it that we aren’t listing right here. We did publish a full review of the P50 where we go into further detail with a quick video demonstrating more about the Lift-Away features.
- Innovative DuoClean powerhead features two different brushrolls: one for hard floors and one for carpets. It can handle large debris and still pickup the smallest of dust particles.
- 3 different operating modes: upright, stick, and handheld. You can use any of these modes while still vacuuming at full power.
- Removable battery is easy to charge so you can keep the charger tucked out of the way.
- Battery life is quite good for a larger machine, even when using it as a full sized vacuum.
- The P50 will stand up by itself…no need to lean it against the wall when not in use.
- It is a bit heavier than other cordless vacuums, weighing around 12 pounds. Remember that this is a full sized machine though, it isn’t just a stick vac only.
- Doesn’t come standard with as many attachments as you would like.
Where can you learn more about it and check current pricing? Click here to visit our favorite eCommerce site for more information including customer reviews and detailed specifications.
2) Dyson V10
The Dyson V10 is their most powerful cordless vacuum in their rather large (and growing) lineup. Dyson was really the first manufacturer to embrace the cord-free revolution and prove that they could make these cordless vacuums perform just as good as their corded counterparts. They have largely succeeded and are a big reason why we have this list for you today. How does the V10 perform so well?
For starters the digital motor is their smallest, lightest, and most powerful that they have ever produced. It is constructed of a more durable ceramic material to hold up to the 125,000 RPMs that it spins at. The end result of all of these improvements is the suction power of a larger upright vacuum. This is how the V10 can deep clean carpets as well as handle all smooth floors.
The lithium ion battery pack consists of 7 cells (up from 6 on their prior models) so you get a constant amount of power delivered to the motor. They can achieve this with no additional weight because the cathodes inside are slightly smaller yet more efficient. It’s amazing to see how these batteries have improved in such a small time.
Other features include their improved Torque Drive head for multiple surfaces, cyclone technology to separate the dust from the air and keep clogging down, and 3 different suction modes from normal to max (boost). It also transforms into a handheld vacuum that you can use with a variety of attachments to clean just about any surface around your home.
- The power is tremendous for a cordless vacuum, comparable to larger corded models. You can clean carpeting in addition to your hard floors.
- HEPA filtration is standard on this and is essential when vacuuming carpets. Dyson is among the best rated in the industry there.
- Hygienic emptying means no dust will touch your skin during the process.
- Built and tested to last for 10 years or more.
- Removable batteries would be the biggest improvement they could make. This would allow you to charge one while using the other.
- Battery runtime could be better, especially on the faster settings.
Where can you find a good price online? Click here to visit our recommended supplier to compare the capable V10 to other models and read reviews from other consumers.
3) Oreck POD
The POD is the latest cordless vacuum from Oreck and it comes with some distinct differences from other brands on this list. For starters it is not bagless like virtually all other cord-free vacuums, but instead comes with their PODs that are similar to bags. These small collection units go into the main body but will slowly fill as you are vacuuming. As this happens the POD will expand until completely full, just like a standard dust bag. The biggest difference is it is fully compressed when empty (when you first put it in).
The POD will fully seal up upon removal so no dust particles can escape out. This is nice for a couple reasons. First, if you suffer from allergies or asthma there is almost no chance for your skin to contact the dirt when you empty the machine. Not only is the air cleaner but the debris stays in the collection pod. Also, there is no residue collecting on the outside of the vacuum like you see with some of the cheaper bagless brands. You will sometimes notice with them that over time you get a layer of dust all around the collection chamber, but this not the case with this lightweight Oreck.
The newly designed AirPower™ floor nozzle seals close to the floor surface to create a powerful flow of air from the carpet up into the vacuum. This allows the relatively light brush roll to still do its’ job on embedded dust mites. Most lightweight stick vacuums struggle with carpeting but the Oreck POD can handle low to medium pile without much difficulty. As long as you don’t have plush carpets you should be able to use it on all of your floor types. The brushroll is also dual purpose with both hard and soft brushes, allowing you to go from one surface to the next.
Other highlights include an easy to read LED indicator to let you know when to empty the POD, a couple of smaller tools for furniture and other surfaces, a wall mount charger, and a functional tool rack to keep everything together when not in use. Lithium ion batteries also give you over 30 minutes of fade-free runtime, and can re-charge in about 2.5 hours. This is pretty comparable to other high-end models in this category.
- The PODs work really nice, almost like a dustbag but better. They are easy to install and take up almost no space when empty.
- The power is pretty good, even by Oreck’s standards. The battery is strong throughout and lasts as long as they claim which is definitely a positive.
- The construction is quite solid for a vacuum that is this light in weight. It seems like it will hold up to as much use as their larger upright offerings.
- The POD can be harder to move across higher pile carpets as the suction keeps the head to the floor. While this helps it deep clean as needed, it can make it more difficult to pull on thicker materials.
- The soft bristles are not that durable and can become deformed when using on rougher surfaces.
Where is the best place to shop for the Oreck POD online? Click here for our ‘go to’ web store for current pricing and shipping options. Order and have it shipped right to your door.
4) Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX
The Shark ION F80 MultiFLEX is a lightweight cordless vacuum from one of the leaders in current cleaning technology. It is the lighter, smaller cousin to the P50 mentioned above but it has a few features that make it stand on its’ own. For starters it comes with 2 ION battery packs so you don’t have to spend extra money on batteries. They encourage you to always have one charged and then charge the other while vacuuming. The result is about 80 minutes of runtime when using these lithium ion battery packs consecutively (in handheld mode). This is the best in the industry out of the box.
The MultiFLEX™ feature is quite unique and really sets it apart from other brands. The wand actually has a hinge in the middle that lets you bend it as much as 90 degrees while vacuuming. This allows you to reach under furniture, tables, and other objects without bending over much or really exerting much energy. No longer do you have to move heavy items to be able to get the dust bunnies out from underneath them.
Their DuoClean™ head is another innovative feature that lets you move from smooth floors to carpets without changing anything on the vacuum. The soft brush is located in front and has a couple of purposes. It’s designed to pull fine dirt particles up from hard floors while also compressing to pull in larger items like pebbles or food droppings. The material will attract just about anything it comes into contact with.
And the harder brushes will work like a standard brushroll that you would find on a full sized upright vacuum. They agitate embedded dust from your carpets so the powerful suction can pull them up. The DuoClean is truly a dual purpose power head, making this cordless vacuum cleaner one of the most versatile in the business. The Shark F80 is the next generation improvment over their very popular IONFlex 2X model.
- Really lightweight and balanced feel during long cleaning sessions. You can quickly vacuum your stairs and move from room to room.
- The floor head is not too wide that it won’t fit into tighter spaces. The design lends itself well to not only vacuuming open areas but also fitting between the many things around the average home.
- The second battery comes standard with your purchase and is a great addition. It essentially doubles the runtime of the vacuum.
- Powerful suction for a battery powered cleaner. It doesn’t struggle at all with carpeting or bigger pieces of debris.
- Dust collection bin is not as big as some of the competition. It will require frequent trips to the garbage to empty.
- Using it on medium to high pile carpets drains the batteries much quicker. You can cut your runtime in half if using it on mostly carpeting.
Where can you learn more about it (including additional manufacturer specs)? Click here to visit our recommended supplier for online consumer reviews and today’s pricing.
5) Dyson Absolute V8
The Dyson Absolute V8 is designed to work as well on carpet as it is on smoother flooring, quickly pulling dirt up into the collection bin. With no cords and a normal runtime of around 40 minutes on a full charge, the V8 is a great choice for the modern household.
Highlighting the list of features is the unique digital motor with remapped electronics to generate more power than prior models. Anyone familiar with Dyson knows about their internal cyclones that redirect air with such force that dust cannot clog anywhere inside. The Absolute comes with a 2 Tier Radial™ cyclone design that is just like those found on their larger cleaners, and when combined with full HEPA filtration the air coming out is free from virtually all allergens.
The battery is a 6 cell lithium ion unit that does not lose suction power as it is running. This gives it a very similar feel to one that is corded, allowing you to move around the house from room to room. There is also a “Max Mode” button to give even more suction for those deep, higher piled carpets though this does drain the battery at a faster rate than the standard mode.
Click here for pricing at Amazon.com, our recommended eCommerce store.
The Absolute V8 comes with 2 different heads to handle different floor types. The soft roller head is perfect for hard floors as it is equipped with soft woven nylon for bigger chunks of debris and anti static carbon fiber to attract fine dust particles. You can quickly remove it and replace it with their direct drive head when vacuuming over carpeting. This option works similar to a standard vacuum, with a motor residing in the brush roll to spin the brushes at a high rate of speed. You also get the standard attachments like a crevice tool, combination tool, and mini motorized head to tackle those ‘above the floor’ surfaces.
It’s not easy describing how well it works so here is a quick video that demonstrates the versatility that makes it one of the best choices you will find in a growing cordless vacuum industry:
- A lot of power, ability to deep clean carpets as well as picking up dust from smooth floor surfaces.
- HEPA filtration works extremely well on the smallest of allergens inside your home.
- Hand vac mode is among the best in its’ class, a combination of power and agility.
- Battery life is lowered quite a bit when using Max Power setting, especially on carpeting.
- Come on Dyson, give us REMOVABLE batteries so they are easier to charge and we can quickly replace them to keep going.
Where can you learn more about it (including additional manufacturer specs)? Click here to visit our recommended supplier for online consumer reviews and today’s pricing.