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Dyson is a British manufacturer that makes everything from air purifiers to hair dryers. They're best known for their sleek, lightweight cordless stick vacuums, which are low maintenance due to Dyson's proprietary cyclone technology, which eliminates the need for a dirtbag and, in some cases, traditional filters.
These cordless stick vacuums are so popular that virtually every other manufacturer offers their own spin on that formula. While that's the type of vacuum they're best known for, the brand also provides a range of upright and canister models that use derivatives of the same bagless design.
The best Dyson vacuum we've tested is the Dyson V15 Detect. This high-end stick vacuum is one of the most powerful cordless vacuums on the market, with a 230 AW suction motor to help it clear away debris on everything from bare floors to carpets (keep in mind that its strong suction can cause it to drag around some lighter rugs). One of its other headlining features is its built-in dirt sensor, which counts and measures the size of particles sucked into the vacuum. It then displays this information on a compact LED screen at the back of its body. It isn't a must-have feature, but it can be very handy if you suffer from allergies and want a rough estimate of allergen quantities within your home. It also has a surface detection system, which automatically increases its suction power setting on carpeted surfaces.
Battery life maxes out at over an hour, though in real-world use, with its powered floorhead attached, you can expect somewhere closer to 40 minutes—even less if you have a lot of carpeting in your home and need a little more power. Thankfully, the battery pack is easily removable, so you can quickly swap in a new one. Even the basic variant of the V15 comes with a multi-surface cleaning head and a secondary floorhead with a soft brushroll and a laser light to help you see small debris on bare floors.
Dyson vacuums are expensive. Still, you can find deals if you don't need the latest from the company's lineup. The Dyson V8 is a great example of this. Unlike the newer, pricier models in the company's lineup, it doesn't have an automatic power adjustment feature or an onboard dirt sensor. If you don't need those add-ons, this is a solid option that executes very well on the fundamentals. It's very easy to use, lightweight, and delivers strong performance on most surfaces.
Unsurprisingly, battery performance lags behind newer models with higher-capacity batteries. You can only expect a maximum of 40 minutes of runtime in its default power mode, and it takes quite a while to recharge. Running it in its 'MAX' mode drains its battery in under 10 minutes, so you must be quick when dealing with stubborn messes. In addition, build quality is a tad fragile. Its vertically-oriented dustbin is a little less spacious than the horizontally-mounted dirt compartments found on the newer models, so you'll need to empty it more frequently, too.
The Dyson Omni-glide is the best Dyson stick vacuum we've tested if you want something highly portable. Right off the bat, it's crucial to mention that this vacuum's compact, streamlined design comes with compromises; it has a tiny dirt compartment that you'll have to empty often and a small battery pack that only allows you to run it for about half an hour in its most power efficient configuration. Its unique twin-roller, fully articulated floorhead is only intended for cleaning hard floors: the twin soft rollers can't dig into carpet fibres to remove debris. With all that said, these compromises result in a vacuum weighing just under four and a half pounds, making it remarkably easy to pick up and carry. Its uniquely designed pivoting floorhead allows you to maneuver around obstacles like table legs and coat racks easily, too.
Its five-stage filtration system, which includes an onboard HEPA filter, does a great job of sealing in allergens like pet dander. While there's no miniature turbo brush or even a straight-suction upholstery tool for cleaning fabric surfaces, it comes with a soft-bristle dusting brush for dealing with debris on delicate surfaces and a crevice tool for cleaning tight spots.
If you'd prefer not to deal with the hassle of keeping your vacuum's battery charged and want a corded model for longer cleaning jobs, you should consider the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball. It carries over a lot of Dyson design hallmarks, just packaged differently, with a highly reconfigurable plastic construction that allows you to quickly swap out attachments and a bagless design that incurs minimal ownership costs since there's no need to swap in a new dirtbag or even replace conventional filters. Performance is okay overall, though its floorhead sits close to the ground and tends to push around larger debris rather than pass over it.
Despite its mainly plastic construction, this vacuum is rather heavy, making it a hassle to pick up and carry around. Thankfully, most of its weight is concentrated low in its body, so you don't need to worry about flipping it over when maneuvering on uneven surfaces. Unfortunately, its power cord is short, so you'll need to swap outlets when cleaning larger rooms or faraway areas.
While Dyson vacuums tend to be a little pricier than offerings from other brands, they offer enough variety in their lineup to suit various needs and intended uses. Our recommendations aren't only based on the best fit for your needs but also on general feedback and regional availability.
Written by Evan Jakab, RTINGS.com
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.