Trusted Reviews Labs has performed a real-world vacuum cleaner test, comparing the performance of the 10 best-selling vacuum cleaners1 alongside the new Bosch Unlimited 10. Most vacuum cleaner performance tests rely on robots to push the cleaners, using the highest power setting to maximise results.
Trusted Reviews Labs devised its tests to measure how vacuum cleaners are (or should be) used in a real home, pushed by hand, with a particular focus on automatic modes that adjust power based on the level of dust detected. The test was sponsored by Bosch, but Bosch had no oversight over the tests, input into the results or control over what was published.
While many of the results were close, particularly for the more expensive models in the test, the Bosch Unlimited 10 won all three rounds of testing, making it the UK’s best premium cordless vacuum for dirt pick-up in our tests.
Test set-up
All tests were performed on a synthetic tufted carpet, chosen because it’s an example of a typical everyday carpet that’s installed in many homes throughout the UK.
On this carpet, we drew a box 15cm x 35cm (W x H). This gave us sufficient space for each cleaner to fully cover the test area in a single sweep, with a start and stop position outside of the dust area during a typical sweep (1m).
Inside the box, we added 20g of DMT Test Dust Type 8, which is simulated house dust in accordance with IEC 62885 (2016) / IEC 60312 (2010) / DIN EN 60312 (2014) Chapter 7.2.2.3, measured using a set of scales accurate to 1/100th of a gram.
This level of dust is our standard load-out for all reviews, and gives good coverage while allowing us to detect differences in dust collection between different vacuum cleaners. Test dust was sprinkled evenly by hand into the test box, keeping within the lines. At this level of dust, there’s a tough visible pile that needs to be collected, but sufficient amounts of smaller particles that fall between the fibres.
To measure dust collection, we weighed each vacuum cleaner’s handheld unit before and after a test, again using scales accurate to 1/100th gram.
Where speed consistency was required for each pass, we used a walking pad set to 1km/h, allowing us to move forward and backwards, while we held the vacuum cleaner. In this way, we could use a vacuum cleaner as it should be used, handheld by a human, only with the speed controlled.
Vacuum cleaners were used with a full charge for each test and given 10 seconds of warm-up time outside of the dust collection box to provide them with time to reach operating speed.
All vacuum cleaners were tested with an empty bin, as it’s generally recommended that bins are emptied once 50% full to maintain full suction.
Between each clean, we thoroughly vacuumed the carpet with a cleaner that exceeds the EU 900W motor limit, and tackled the carpet from all angles with multiple passes to remove all traces of leftover dust.
Vacuum cleaners tested
We bought shop-fresh versions of each vacuum cleaner and ran them all through the same tests in the same order. These are the top-selling vacuum cleaners in the UK (note that the cleaners marked with a star are variations of the same cleaner, with different tools):
- Bosch Unlimited 10
- Bosch Unlimited 7
- Dyson Gen5detect Absolute
- Dyson V11
- Dyson V11 Advanced
- Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute
- Dyson V15 Detect*
- Dyson V15 Detect Absolute*
- Dyson V15s Detect Submarine*
- Miele Triflex HX2
- Shark PowerDetect IP3251UKT
Full power testing
To see what each vacuum cleaner is capable of in Full Power Mode, we used a simple five-pass test (forwards and backwards), with each pass made at 1km/h. We measured the level of dust collection of each pass.
This test is similar to the industry standard test. It is used here merely as an initial benchmark of the cleaners, while we focus on the real-world tests, using vacuum cleaners in the modes that most people will use; full power mode is only ever used for short bursts, rather than being the standard go-to power mode.
Overall, after five passes, the Bosch Unlimited 10 collected the largest amount and removes 99.9% of dust.
Automatic mode testing
Most users will use a cordless vacuum cleaner in its standard power mode, so we wanted to replicate this option using the five-pass test as described above. For the vacuum cleaners that have an automatic mode, we used this mode, as it’s typically the default mode. That does give vacuum cleaners with an automatic mode an advantage in this test, as they can ramp up power as dust is detected, but the test provides a fair comparison between vacuum cleaners used in default power modes and shows the advantages of having a cleaner with a dust sensor.
Again, the Bosch Unlimited 10 topped the charts, with 99.85% dust collection.
Using the dust sensor to sense when the carpet is clean
For the vacuum cleaners with a dust sensor and an automatic mode, we devised a new test. These vacuum cleaners all have a form of display that shows when dust has been collected, and the area is clean.
To test, we slowly moved the vacuum cleaner into the dust box on the carpet and held it when the sensor indicated the presence of dirt. When the vacuum cleaner indicated that the area was clean, we moved on until dust was collected again, and so on until we reached the end of the box. We then repeated the test moving backwards.
In this way, we allowed the vacuum cleaner to tell us when the area was fully clean, using it in a structured way to collect dust, rather than quick forward and backwards movements.
We recorded the results for each pass, as a percentage of dust collected, and timed each pass. We repeated the test five times for each cleaner to get an average, measuring standard deviation to ensure that there weren’t significant fluctuations in the results.
At the end of the test, the Bosch Unlimited 10 had the highest dust collection result, collecting 97.67% of dirt, with the Dyson Gen5detect just behind at 97.24%.
1 Top 10 selling Multi-Use-Handsticks above £400 based on volume, within UK market from 1st Jan 2024 – 31st December 2024.
