The Dyson has fewer parts that require regular maintenance, is equipped with a larger dustbin, has a suction power adjustment feature, and comes with a motorized turbo brush. It also performs better on bare floors and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Shark is a little lighter, feels better built, and does a better job clearing pet hair and fine debris like baking soda from low-pile carpet. The Shark WANDVAC is a better-performing handheld vacuum than the BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim.
Though it was great at picking up larger debris, it did not excel at picking up baking soda from a medium-pile carpet (possibly because the filter got clogged). Otherwise, it continues to perform better than many competitors. It has a good run time, and it charges impressively quickly. Most vacuums we tested ran out of juice within just a few minutes in boost mode; this Ryobi model, in contrast, ran for 18 minutes.
For effortless cleaning, there’s a washable filter as well as a one-touch, easy-empty dust cup that makes it quick – and hygienic – to dispose of any hair, dust, dirt and crumbs. If you like the idea of a cordless stick vacuum cleaner but want something a little more substantial, consider a cordless stick vacuum from Shark. These cleaners offer rapid, lightweight maneuverability beneath furniture and in other tight areas.
The 2-in-1 Combi-crevice tool has a wide nozzle and a brush for quickly switching between cleaning and dusting tasks around your home or car. Advanced whole-machine filtration traps particles and expels cleaner air. Eliminate dirt that’s out of reach, but not out of sight. Extend your reach with our longest built-in crevice tool. The versatile BLACK+DECKER™ 20-volt MAX dustbuster® AdvancedClean+™ Cordless Pet Hand Vacuum cleans hard to reach areas with less effort.
For a limited time only, shoppers can buy it for just $100—that’s $30 off the original price. Just like the Stratos, the Shark Cordless Pro easily converts to a handheld vacuum. This is super handy for tackling shelving and eliminating debris from couches and crevices. A manual boost function bolsters its performance shark stick vacuum when faced with especially high carpet or big pieces of debris. Overall, it’s a bit of a bust on extremely hairy floors (hair tends to collect and wrap in the brush roll), but for households without pets its a solid pick. When it’s time to look for a new vacuum, the options are almost overwhelming.
We don’t recommend any mini handheld vacs because our picks are better performers, similarly priced (or less expensive), and more versatile. However, if you have hand or wrist issues, one of these lighter hand vacs might be a good alternative. The Ryobi 18V One+ Performance Hand Vacuum Kit’s battery is replaceable, as are most of the parts and accessories. It is compatible with many other cordless Ryobi tools, so if you own several such tools (like a Ryobi Pruning Shear), this may be an added perk. Handheld vacuums can go where bigger vacuums can’t, making it easy to ferret out crumbs between cushions, dirt from car seats, and fur from couches. Its small suction motor struggles to move large quantities of air, and it’ll have difficulty lifting heavier debris.
But they can’t easily pick up and properly filter dust and other fine particles, and bigger debris fills up the small dustbin too quickly. In addition, these models are effective only on hard surfaces. As much as we adore our furry little friends, there’s no denying that pets can create a lot of mess around the house. From stray hairs that just won’t seem to budge, to sawdust and cat litter spillages, there’s always something to tidy up. With powerful suction and three clever attachments to target hard-to-reach areas and remove embedded hair, Shark’s HandVac Pet Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is designed for homes with pets. And of course, even if you don’t have pets, it’s great for all those little cleaning jobs around the home where you don’t want to drag a big heavy vacuum cleaner back and forth.
The Shark Wandvac Cordless Handheld Vacuum and the Shark Wandvac Power Pet look snazzy and have decent suction, but we found their tiny bins frustrating. And the positioning of each model’s power button right below the bin-emptying button led to more than one instance of our testers accidentally emptying the bin. What the Ryobi 18V One+ Performance Hand Vacuum Kit lacks in appearance it makes up for in suction power, bin size, and versatility. Its three-year warranty is one of the strongest among the vacuums we tested. Keeping her multi-pet home clean is one of her more acceptable obsessions. Its relatively flat suction nozzle lets it seal pretty tightly against the ground.