The Best Cordless Vacuums available in Canada
If you want to cut the cord, these vacs clean up.
Credit:
Reviewed / Jonathan Chan
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
Cordless vacuums give you the freedom to track down messes in your home, regardless of how close they are to an outlet, fitting into spaces and under furniture that an upright vacuum can't reach. However, relying on a battery can lead to weaker suction and a smaller selection of features compared to upright vacuums. Cordless vacuums are undeniably useful but are best viewed as supplementary cleaning tools to be used in between regular cleans and in situations where a full-sized vacuum is too cumbersome.
So, we gathered a group of cordless vacuums that we think cover every corner of the market and see how they performed in our U.S. lab. We tried to create standardized tests that focus on the elements you care about. We tested the battery life, cleaning performance, and overall handling to find which cordless vacuum can deal with big messes.
These are the best cordless vacuums we tested that are available in Canada.
1. Dyson V15 Detect
The Dyson V15 Detect is an all-around great cordless vacuum.
The Dyson V15 Detect is the latest in a storied lineup of cordless vacuums. This time around, we found two huge upgrades: a dust-illuminating laser and a more powerful battery. Many companies often add gadgets and attachments to their vacuums to compensate for lack of performance. However, after testing the V15 in our labs, we think that these new bits of technology enhance the cleaning experience.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, we should talk about cleaning performance. During our dirt pickup test, the V15 suctioned up about an average of 92% of the detritus we left out on our testing carpet. Those cleaning performance numbers place the V15 in second place, behind the previous generation’s Dyson V11.
However, the V15 has a significantly longer battery life—15 minutes on its max setting compared to the V11’s nine minutes. So, while our testing shows that the V11 is slightly more powerful per minute, the V15 cleans better per charge.
Based on battery life and cleaning prowess, we are comfortable crowning the V15 as a top contender. What gives it an edge are its unique laser and sensor. During testing, we found that the laser, which can be turned on and off, illuminates dirt under furniture and on floors way better than standard LED headlights. The V15 also has a sensor that gives you a readout of the particle sizes that the vacuum is picking up.
People who have used a Dyson cordless before will find the same smooth glide, sensitive trigger, and light-weight design. If you’re considering getting a Dyson, know that the V15 is the best of what the company has to offer, but getting the best comes at a steep price. However, the Dyson V15’s test results mean we can’t deny it the top spot.
Get the Dyson V15 Detect at Bed Bath & Beyond Canada for $949.99
2. Tineco A10 Hero
We named the Tineco A10 Hero our “best value” vacuum because of its affordability and endurance.
The Tineco A10 Hero comes from the same people that brought us the Ecovacs robot vacuum series. It has a lot to live up to—iLifes are known for being affordable workhorses. The A10 does its robot vacuum cousins proud. And if you're worried about delving into a new brand, the A10 is covered by a two-year warranty.
We liked that this vacuum picked up 47 percent of the dirt we laid out for it; for the going rate, the performance is more than impressive. Plus, the A10 has the endurance to match our top pick, around 7 minutes on the max settings and 14 minutes on the regular. Unlike the Dyson, you can buy additional batteries and swap them in for even more cleaning time.
The A10 comes with the standard assortment of attachments, including a crevice tool, a mini-powered brush, and an upholstery brush. While none of these wowed us, we like that the default brush head has bright LED lights to help us spot dirt and debris under furniture.
When you combine these aspects, we consider this cordless a great value pick.
Get the Tineco A10 Hero at Amazon Canada
3. Dyson V8 Absolute
You can use the Dyson V8 Absolute on a variety of surfaces, from carpets to stairs to even car floors.
The Dyson V8 Absolute is near the pinnacle of cordless vacuum technology. It's one heck of a vacuum.
The V8 almost overwhelms with a number of attachments: a powered brush head designed for hardwood floors, a motorized upholstery brush, a soft brush for hardwood, a combination upholstery/bare floor tool, a crevice tool, and a soft dusting brush. As a hallmark of Dyson’s design, the handheld unit only weighs 2.5 kilograms.
The brush head is made from carbon fibre and nylon. It's softer than a puppy—and infinitely more gentle on floors, and better at picking up dirt. The V8 picked up 88 percent of the dirt we put down for our tests in our labs.
On the low setting, the battery lasted an amazing 40 minutes. (The max suction setting will drain the battery in 7 minutes, though.) When you're done, its dustbin empties dirt with the pull of a single lever on top of the machine.
If you want the V10's sleek design for less, the V8 is a viable option. However, the V8 still costs twice as much as most of the vacuums on our list. For everyone else, our Best Value pick works almost as well but costs a quarter as much.
Get the Dyson V8 Absolute at Dyson Canada
4. Tineco Pure One S12
The Tineco Pure One S12 cordless vacuum places technology at the forefront.
The Tineco Pure One S12 is one of the most unique cordless vacuums we've ever tested. It has a user interface that lets you know how much battery life you have left, the amount of suction, and how clean your floor is.
While testing, we found that the S12 was pretty good at estimating how much dirt was on our carpet. It declared a clean surface when 80% of the testing dirt was suctioned up. Overall, the cleaning performance lagged behind other cordless vacuums in the Pure One's price range, but not so much so that it's a deal-breaker.
If you want the coolest tech in your home, the Tineco Pure One S12 is a solid choice.
Get the Tineco Pure One S12 at Amazon Canada
5. Tineco A11 Master
The A11 Master is a great offering from Tineco.
The Tineco A11 Master stands as the best of what the company has to offer. It’s like an affordable Dyson V8—like the V8, it has two different brush heads, one for carpet and one for hardwood. So if you ever find dust sticking to the floor, its specialized brush head may be just the ticket. Beyond the floor, the A11 has tools for cleaning under and around furniture, which we appreciated.
Aside from having more tools, the A11 also comes with two batteries. During testing, the two batteries gave us about 14 minutes of cleaning power on the highest setting.
Get the Tineco A11 Master at Amazon Canada
6. Kenmore Elite 10441 Complete
The Kenmore Elite 10441 is a versatile if slightly underpowered option.
When it comes to vacuums, Kenmore makes some of our favourite models. This time around, the storied company wowed us with its new cordless duo: the Kenmore Elite 10441 Complete and the 10440 Quick Clean. The Complete comes with an additional brush head for carpets, while the Quick Clean should only be used on bare floors. We also found that the Complete has a telescopic arm to give you that extra reach, should you need it.
We liked its 13-minute battery life and that it picked up around 45 percent of the dirt we laid out for it. The Quick Clean was in strong contention for the best value model, but it has a relatively high price, and it’s heavier than most of the models in this roundup. However, if you like the vibe of Kenmore's canister vacuums, you'll love these two Elite vacuums.