Our Best Cordless vacuum cleaner for 2021 Recommendations

Instead of a heavy and unwieldy cylinder vacuum cleaner, more and more households are looking for light and compact cordless vacuum cleaners. The range on offer is correspondingly large. But not all models are recommended.

The cheap models in particular often offer a low, insufficient suction power. But there are also real pearls at bargain prices, some of which can compete with the competition that costs several hundred euros. We list product recommendations from cordless vacuum cleaner tests as well as general recommendations relating to cordless vacuum cleaners.

The best cordless vacuum cleaner in the test

Xiaomi Dreame V9 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

We have had very good experiences with the Dreame V9, which in some places is considered a “China insider tip”. The model is sold by the Chinese corporation Xiaomi and, like its very similar sister model Dreame V9P, is usually available for $180.

The device is well made, light, vacuumed well and has various brushes included, including for corners and upholstery. The charging cable can be plugged into the wall bracket so that the device is also charged there. When vacuuming at the highest level, a battery charge is enough for just under 15 minutes. For some users, it might take some getting used to, that you have to keep the key pressed continuously to vacuum.

The Dreame V9 offers solid performance and a wide range of functions at a very good price. When buying, we recommend that you make sure that you buy the EU version from a reputable dealer.

Benefits

• Flat and light
• Attractively priced

Disadvantage

• Keep pressing to suck
• Focus high up
• Attachment for long pile carpet very narrow

The test winner: Dyson V11 Absolute

Dyson pioneered bagless vacuum cleaners and cordless vacuum cleaners. So it is not surprising that with the Dyson V11 Absolute for around $699, the latest prank by the British with a grade of 2.4 “good” earned the test victory at Stiftung Warentest. Deserved, but not unchallenged, because the competing models and are close.

The Dyson is top in almost all disciplines, especially when vacuuming carpets. There are only difficulties with vacuuming in corners. Not everyone likes that you have to hold down a button to vacuum on the Dyson, most other devices today have an on / off switch that can be pressed with a single push. Nonetheless, the Dyson device has a lot of accessories and good performance.

Benefits

• Good suction power
• Lots of accessories

Disadvantage

• Loud on hard floor
• Keep pressing to suck
• Difficulty in corners

The cheapest among the best: Bosch BBH7SIL Athlete

The Bosch model came off the Stiftung Warentest with a grade of “good” (2.5) hardly worse than the test winner, but costs significantly less with a price of around $426. In contrast to the Dyson, it has the suction mechanism at the bottom, so it can also be put down when not in use. The suction power is convincing, even with carpets and upholstery; on hard floors it is not as strong as the Dyson. However, it cannot be used as a handheld vacuum cleaner and therefore cannot be used for vacuuming a car interior. The battery takes a comparatively long time to charge – you have to wait almost 6 hours from 0 to 100 percent capacity.

Benefits

• Very good suction power
• Also good for upholstery and long-haired carpets

Disadvantage

• Cannot be used as a hand vacuum cleaner
• Long battery charging time

The price-performance winner: Dirt Devil DD788-1 Blade 2 Max

With a price of around $243 – if you can get it, because the vacuum cleaner is currently sold out almost everywhere – the Dirt Devil model offers a lot of performance at an affordable price. The upright vacuum cleaner received an overall rating of 3.3 “satisfactory” from Stiftung Warentest – it is good for carpets and hard floors and when vacuuming cracks, textiles and upholstery less well.

At 80 db, the device is relatively loud, even for a device in the noisy device category of cordless vacuum cleaners. In terms of suction properties and handling, it came off mediocre, the battery power was only sufficient – the vacuum cleaner is therefore particularly suitable as a supplement to other vacuum variants (conventional vacuum cleaners or vacuum robots) or for small apartments.

Benefits

• Solid suction on hard or short-haired floors
• Inexpensive

Disadvantage

• Difficulty with upholstery and other textiles
• According to

The best cordless vacuum cleaners 2021: This is how we chose

In our product recommendations on the subject of cordless vacuum cleaners, we refer to the test results of the Stiftung Warentest , especially in the 08/2020 issue. The test institute is one of the most renowned worldwide and is known for its objective and expert tests. We have added our own experiences, research and product tips to the overview.

Buying a cordless vacuum cleaner: What should I look out for when buying?

Now that we have presented the best cordless vacuum cleaners for various requirements, we would like to give you a few general tips about buying a new cordless vacuum cleaner. When making a purchase decision, you should pay particular attention to these criteria:

• Suction power: The suction power should of course be as high as possible so that the device can also suck the dirt out of long-haired carpets and uneven surfaces.
• Battery: The longer the battery life per charge, the longer the device can be cleaned in one go. This is especially important for extensive house cleaning, if it should not be interrupted by constant charging breaks. The charging time of the battery should also be taken into account – the greatest cordless vacuum cleaner is of no use if the device is not ready for use. More expensive cordless vacuum cleaners offer replacement batteries that can be changed quickly, but most have the battery permanently installed.
• Weight: In contrast to a classic cylinder vacuum cleaner that stands on the floor, with cordless vacuum cleaners the device and thus the weight are held in the hand. A cordless vacuum cleaner should therefore weigh as little as possible. We recommend models around 3 kg or less.
• Dust container: This is where the dirt is collected. Cordless vacuum cleaners usually do not have a bag, so the container should not only be as large as possible so that it does not have to be emptied too often. The disposal of the dirt should also be as simple as possible and without contact – especially for allergy sufferers.
• Filters: The filters should provide effective protection against fine dust and should be easy to remove and replace or clean.
• Scope of delivery: Most manufacturers include various nozzles with the cordless vacuum cleaner. The more of them are included, the more versatile the device can be, e.g. B. for vacuuming upholstery, furniture and Co. Pay attention to the supplied range of brushes when buying and that they correspond to your application.
• Weight distribution: Most cordless vacuum cleaners have a suction part and battery on top of the device. Most of the time they have included a device for hanging them on the wall because they do not stand by themselves. For this, the devices with a suction unit are usually flatter at the top and can therefore be maneuvered better under the cracks of furniture, beds and the like.

Of course, there are other criteria, such as volume and handling. Ultimately, however, it is these points that decisively decide whether a cordless vacuum cleaner is good or bad.

What are the pros and cons of cordless vacuum cleaners?

Thanks to the battery, this type of vacuum cleaner is particularly mobile. They do not require a power socket nearby to operate, nor do they cause a trip hazard with their cables and the limitation caused by the cable length. In addition, they are usually much lighter than the large cylinder vacuum cleaners, which is noticeable, among other things, when transporting from one floor to another. In fact, they are so light that the stairs can also be quickly vacuumed, which is a rather difficult matter with a cylinder vacuum cleaner.

The biggest advantage is also more or less the biggest disadvantage. Because a vacuum cleaner needs a lot of energy. Since the batteries can only be of a limited size so that the device does not become too bulky and heavy, the working time is limited. Most devices don’t last 20 minutes at the highest level. Most models run between 40 and 60 minutes at the lowest operating level, which is usually only sufficient for smooth surfaces and less for carpets. In a large house this may well be too short for extensive house cleaning. However, the devices are ideally suited for smaller apartments and quick vacuuming in between.

However, the prerequisite is that the battery is always charged. As a result, they have to be reconnected to the charger after use. Some manufacturers offer a practical wall bracket or a charging stand that automatically starts charging when you reset the device. A replacement battery is also practical, with which the operating time can be doubled with one movement.

In addition, some cordless vacuum cleaners can be converted from floor to handheld vacuum cleaners. This is particularly useful for vacuuming upholstered furniture, but also for many other things. So z. For example, you can easily remove crumbs and dirt from the interior of a car with a handheld vacuum cleaner. It should be noted, however, that – as our cordless vacuum cleaner test overview shows – not all models can keep up with the large cylinder vacuum cleaners in terms of suction power and thus the thoroughness of vacuuming.

Do you prefer a cordless vacuum cleaner or a vacuum robot?

The cordless vacuum cleaner is generally regarded as a replacement for the classic cylinder vacuum cleaner. But does the purchase still make sense today or should it be a vacuum robot that is finding its way into more and more households?

A vacuum robot alone cannot replace a “real” vacuum cleaner. The automatic robots are practical household helpers that ensure that the floors in the house are cleaned regularly. They absolutely have their right to exist, as they save time and ensure more cleanliness. But a vacuum robot cannot replace manual vacuuming in the area. In a house with several floors in particular, they quickly reach their limits if several devices are not purchased at the same time or if it is constantly being carried from floor to floor. Because the cleaning process of a vacuum cleaner robot stops at every staircase. Due to their design, however, they are not well suited to vacuuming into the furthest corner or under furniture.

Hence our tip: A vacuum robot is a good choice, but should be used as a partner with a good cordless vacuum cleaner – then you can save yourself the classic wired vacuum cleaner. The robot ensures regular cleanliness in the area. With the cordless vacuum cleaner corners, stairs and carpets are thoroughly reworked during weekly house cleaning. In large, winding and / or multi-storey houses and apartments, you still need a classic vacuum cleaner, but a cordless vacuum cleaner can still be a useful addition to clean quickly and selectively.

Does it have to be a Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner?

Through a lot of advertising, but also a long tradition, Dyson has developed into something like the figurehead among the manufacturers of cordless vacuum cleaners. The brand has been selling cordless vacuum cleaners for many years, which are constantly being developed and impress with their powerful motors, large batteries and high suction power. This is also proven by the good placement of the V11 in the cordless vacuum cleaner test.

But there are also many other manufacturers of cordless vacuum cleaners. These include the Miele vacuum cleaners with batteries. Vorwerk, Bosch, Philips, AEG, Rowenta and other more or less well-known brands offer wireless floor cleaning devices. They are usually cheaper, but not all of them can compete with the market leader Dyson. In addition, more and more Asian manufacturers are flooding the market, and their products are not always recommended. A very good product are the models from the Dreame brand sold by Xiaomi, which are an insider tip with good performance and equipment at a low price.