We test every vacuum cleaner we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use industry standard tests to compare features properly. To see how the dyson robot vacuum figures translated into performance, I ran the vacuum through my real-world tests. Starting on the carpet, I sprinkled a teaspoon of flour onto the floor.
It did well in most of our carpet-cleaning tests when it was running at maximum battery-draining suction, picking up a similar amount of sand and baking soda as the Dyson V8. However, in real-world testing, it failed to dig up nearly as much embedded hair and dust as the V8—particularly on its default, battery-saving suction setting, where it was notably weak. Even when the S11 did grab pet hair off the floor, the hair seemed more likely to get wrapped around the brush or jammed somewhere in the intake than with many other models.
They only docked it for its bulkier design, which made it difficult to reach under lower furniture, and poor transfer from a flat surface to a rugged one. (They ultimately gave it 3 stars for maneuverability for these reasons.) In terms of effectiveness, it captured all the materials in fewer than five passes and was pretty straightforward. But Dyson sticks aren’t our top pick because we don’t think their rug-cleaning power is so superior that it offsets their disadvantages compared with other cordless vacuums.
Our aim here is to cut through the noise, give you the key facts about each variant of vacuum, and then our recommendation for the best model to go for. I almoat splurged on the Dyson bc the greeter said they were the only vacuums Best Buy sold. So happy that a few feet to the right were an array of Sharks. I cannot believe the overwhelming sense of disgust and happiness when I dump the dust canister.
However, despite its size, it offers powerful suction for small messes. While we didn’t test this pick in The Lab, The Spruce’s home product tester put the vacuum through real-world testing, trying it out on pet hair, crumbs, dust, and debris. “I was actually startled by how loud it was ,” says our home product tester. “But the suction was really powerful, so it was a welcome trade-off.” In addition, although assembly was simple, this handheld pick needed to be charged fully before use, which took about two and a half hours. I was using a corded upright Dyson for about five years before getting this unit.
From the old machine, there’s Flexology, which is Shark’s name for the hinged wand. This can be split in half for cleaning under sofas and the like without bending down, or folded over quickly so that the vacuum cleaner can stand upright without support. I found that great for storage and useful shark cordless for those times I had to pause in the middle of a cleaning session. On eco mode, the battery life lasted for over an hour, while on multiple speeds it gave us 21 minutes of use. Its quick charger will give you more juice in an hour’s time – although the first charge took us over four hours.
Ultimately, it’s the better overall choice if you value raw performance and lots of included extras. On the other hand, if your goal is to save as much cash as possible without sacrificing too much cleaning ability, the Shark Rocket Pet Pro is a compelling alternative. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Great review, just two corrections, firstly, the Dyson v11 has 220aw of suction . I have the Dyson V10 but don’t want to spend the same money for our summer house, which is smaller, but still has to vacuum up 4 animals’ worth of hair! I was going to look into a Shark, and now you’ve done all the work for me.