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Powerful hand vacuum cleaner


The best handheld vacuums | CNN Underscored

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Reviews

Alex Rennie/CNN Underscored

It’s not practical to bust out a bulky, full-size vacuum for everyday small messes. Compact, cordless handheld vacuums are perfectly suited for light-duty cleaning tasks. Although their relatively small capacity and limited runtimes mean they’re unlikely to serve as your primary vacuum, they are extremely convenient for keeping up with everything from kitchen spills to car clutter to pet hair and dander.

We ran 16 of the top-rated options through our comprehensive testing process, evaluating their ability to tackle a range of debris sizes and types, from small spills to car floor mats and upholstery to pet hair. In the end, we found three great models that should help you keep things tidy around the house and garage.

Black + Decker Dustbuster

Best cordless handheld vacuum overall

Amazon

The Black + Decker Dustbuster is the easiest to use, charge and empty of all the handheld vacuums we tested, with a large capacity canister and convenient built-in attachments that make it convenient and versatile enough for any small cleanup.

$59.00 at The Home Depot $59.99 at Walmart $91.36 at Wayfair

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser

Best handheld vacuum for pet hair

Amazon

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser has a motorized brush that picks up more pet hair than any other option we tested, plus an upholstery brush and long crevice tool that let you take care of pet messes anywhere.

$79 at Amazon

Black + Decker Max Flex

Best handheld vacuum for the car

Amazon

The compact Black + Decker Max Flex features a 4-foot hose and an abundance of attachments — including a soft brush for delicate surfaces like your radio — making it perfect for detailing your car or truck.

$122.87 $107.44 at Walmart

Black + Decker Dustbuster

Alex Rennie/CNN Underscored

Unsurprisingly, since “Dustbuster” is synonymous with “handheld vacuum” for many people, this handy machine beat out the competition with a balanced combination of size, function and convenience. It was the easiest to use, charge and empty of all the models we tested.  Right out of the box, it had a comfortable, well-balanced feel, making it easy to orient it whichever way we wanted. The controls are extremely simple to figure out — just a slider to power it on and a single button to dislodge the canister when it’s ready to be emptied.

Our favorite feature of the Black + Decker Dustbuster is that all of its accessories and tools are built into the machine itself. The long crevice tool is integrated into the main nozzle, and easily extends out when you’re ready to use it. Similarly, the brush element flips up to cover the nozzle when you need to brush it over cushions or really get into those corners and stairs. Without any loose pieces to keep track of, you’ll never have to search for the tool you need. The Dustbuster’s only drawback was that it lacked a flat upholstery attachment, although that certainly wasn’t a dealbreaker.

Since it doesn’t have any loose tools to organize, the Dustbuster is also able to use an extremely small charging station. Measuring a little over 5 inches in diameter, this charging base takes up minimal room, and since the corresponding connector on the unit itself is a ring, it can be set onto the base in any orientation—other vacuums we tested were a lot more fiddly, sometimes requiring some time to line up their connections just right.

The Dustbuster’s motor provided the necessary power to successfully retrieve all of our test debris, and had no trouble sucking up all Cheerios without clogging issues. The dust canister was the easiest of all the tested vacuums to remove and dump out without a mess, and the filter was simple to remove and clean as well.

Its bulbous body is large enough to house a 20.6-ounce dust canister (only one other vacuum we tested had a larger one), and since the air vent is located on the rear of the unit, it never had the chance to inadvertently blow air into our work area. (The location of the air vent was a common issue we found with some of the vacuums we tested, with some units ending up blowing air into the exact spot we were trying to clean, which just added more time to our process.) When you take the affordable price into account, the Dustbuster is a no-brainer.

Bissel Pet Hair Eraser

Alex Rennie/CNN Underscored

Thanks to a motorized brush head and extra-large canister, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser (which is now sold in a lithium ion powered, purple colorway) is the best option we tested when it comes to wrangling pet hair from a variety of materials. It’s a hefty machine, weighing 3 pounds and measuring 17 inches long, but still has a balanced feel to it, and doesn’t feel unwieldy or uncomfortable to use at all.

The unit itself felt nice and sturdy, and neither the canister nor filter felt like they were flimsy or unstable in any way. The motorized pet hair brush slides securely into the nozzle and tested extremely well in our pet hair test — especially getting at dog hair embedded deep in our test Jeep Wrangler’s carpeting. It easily pulled dog hair from home carpeting, rugs and couches as well, and the extra-large 23.6-ounce canister — the largest among all the options we tested — could hold an impressive amount of hair before needing to be emptied. The long crevice tool and flat upholstery brush make it even more versatile when it comes to pet-hair cleanup.

It’s worth noting that the high number of attachments could easily allow the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser to easily function as your primary handheld vacuum as well. It was also convenient to use in the car, although its bulky size might be less convenient to maneuver within a smaller vehicle. The only possible downside we found in our testing was the fact that the nozzle was too narrow to suck up Cheerios, which makes it a little less versatile and perhaps not the best option for those with small children (or who just tend to get messy themselves). Other than that, it handled the other small debris — flour and kitty litter — just fine.

The 17-minute battery life was on the higher end among our test group — the longest-running options topped out at 20 minutes — and should be sufficient for most quick tasks. It doesn’t have a charging base, however, which we found less convenient. You’ll have to just plug in its wall-wart style power adapter when you want to charge it, so you’ll have to find your own solution to keeping accessories organized and dedicate some floor or shelf space to storing the unit itself.

Black + Decker Max Flex

Alex Rennie/CNN Underscored

If cleaning the dust, crumbs, dirt and pet hair that build up in the seats, dashboard crevices and floor mats of your car is your priority, look no further than the Black + Decker Max Flex. This compact vacuum was a breeze to use during the car cleaning portion of our testing, thanks to its small size and wide variety of attachments and tools that made it easy to reach anywhere in our test vehicles.

The 4-foot hose is what really separated this vacuum from the rest of the pack, and when combined with the long crevice tool, brush head nozzle and pet hair attachment, we were able to easily clean tiny nooks as well as upholstery. We were most impressed with the pet hair attachment, which utilizes a round, rubber head to grab and pull hair even from challenging surfaces like the thick, nearly velcro-like carpeting in the Jeep Wrangler. The long brush head was also convenient when cleaning areas that required a gentle touch, like across the dashboard and radio controls, that could otherwise get scratched from a standard plastic nozzle. The 17-ounce canister was large enough to capture a decent amount of debris and hair, and was simple to dump out when it became full.

We absolutely recommend this vacuum for use inside the home as well. The long hose makes it easy to carry the vacuum in one hand and an attachment in the other, allowing you to reach elevated shelves and surfaces, like kitchen cabinets. It’s almost like a miniature canister vacuum.

The Black + Decker Max Flex even includes the pieces necessary to create a long-handled stick vacuum, making it useful as a full-length floor vac — the only option to do so. This versatility could conceivably make this a primary vacuum for a very small space or studio apartment. All of these attachments and accessories will require you to get creative with storage and organization, but if you have the need for them, this hassle could be worth the effort.

Alex Rennie/CNN Underscored

If you’ve ever let dust and dirt build up because it was too much of a hassle to pull out a bulky vacuum, or just find it overkill to turn to a full-size machine to take care of a relatively small spill, you’ll probably benefit from a handheld vacuum.

Handheld vacuums are the smaller, cordless siblings of larger upright vacuums and cordless stick vacuums. Handhelds are more portable and maneuverable than their bigger cousins — they can easily get inside kitchen drawers and cabinets, up on shelving or underneath car seats — and since they’re small and cordless, they are much more convenient to use in a pinch.

It’s important to keep in mind that a handheld vacuum is going to be less powerful than a canister or stick vac though, and their compact canisters mean you’ll need to empty them much more frequently. Along with limited run times — usually only 10-20 minutes — that means they are impractical for use in large spaces or long cleaning jobs.

A handheld vacuum is part of an overall vacuuming strategy, not a be-all end-all solution. Rather, when it comes to keeping your house clean, it’s a great complement to a full-size model, in the same way a toaster oven complements a full-size convection oven. This way you’ll have your handheld unit handy for small spills, car cleaning and quick upholstery jobs, a robot vacuum or cordless stick vacuum for daily maintenance and the full-size upright vacuum or canister vacuum for bigger jobs and weekly house cleaning.

If you live in a small space and don’t have room for multiple units, you might want to consider a cordless stick vacuum instead of a handheld vacuum altogether. Many models will allow you to detach the stick and use the vacuum unit similarly to a handheld vacuum, although you do lose some of the convenience of not having to worry about a bunch of extra parts to keep track of.

Alex Rennie/CNN Underscored

After researching and sourcing the most popular handheld vacuums on the market — making sure to include a wide range of sizes, types and specialties — we landed on a group of 16 options. We then ran each model through a range of tests, evaluating their ability to effectively vacuum and contain a variety of debris types, as well as the overall build and quality of their construction, how easy they were to use and ease of cleanup. Once completed, we compared and contrasted our results, and used this information to confidently declare our top three options.

Handheld vacuums should be simple and easy to use, and we paid close attention to how straightforward the controls were and whether they utilized any confusing or frustrating components. The action of disconnecting and emptying the dust canister and filter varied on nearly all the vacuums, so we made sure to carefully review and evaluate how easy or difficult this process was, and whether doing so was likely to make a mess or not. A larger canister will reduce the amount of times you’ll need to empty it out. We noted each vacuum’s canister capacity and used that data to compare them against similar models, which tended to help tie-breakers.

We used and evaluated any and all attachments, tools and accessories that came with each unit, judging them not just on quantity, but on how well they actually worked. We also paid close attention to whether or not the size and shape of the vacuum affected its ability to handle a wide range of tasks, and carefully assessed the usefulness of any specialized attachments like pet hair brushes and wet/dry tools.

Noise, power and suction were all taken into account, as well as the location of the air exhaust vent. The location and orientation of this vent can play a big part in the overall operation of a handheld vacuum, and when it blows downwards to towards the floor, it can blow dust and debris around as you work.

Alex Rennie/CNN Underscored

To assess each vacuum’s ability to pick up small debris, we dropped a tablespoon of three different types of debris (flour, kitty litter and Cheerios) on the kitchen floor and set a 10-second timer as we attempted to clean up as much as we could. We then weighed each vacuum’s canister after each debris type to see how much it actually picked up. This process gave us a good evaluation of power, suction and storage capacity across the board.

We then used each vacuum to clean two vehicles (a compact Jeep Wrangler and more spacious Subaru Forester) and utilized all of their tools and attachments. We paid close attention to charging capabilities — a USB charger would allow you to keep the vacuum in your car at all times, for example — as well as canister size and each vacuum’s overall ability to maneuver into awkward spaces like underneath seats and into tight crevices.

And to make sure these vacuums could handle pet messes, we used each one to clean up dog hair on a couch and indoor rugs, as well as carpeting inside of the two vehicles. In addition to the ability to pull up and remove hair, we also noted how much hair the canister could contain without needing to be emptied. Although we paid close attention to the models that are specifically designed and advertised for pet hair removal, we performed the same tests on all the other options as well.

Finally, we noted the length and specifics of each vacuum’s warranty and the type of coverage it offers.

The compact size of this vacuum makes it ideal for light-duty work, and since it charges over USB, it is perfect for keeping in your car full time (or almost anywhere you might need it). For its small size, the vacuum is powerful; it was easily able to suck up Cheerios, a task some of the larger units sometimes struggled with, and contained them in the canister without any falling out. We were impressed with the number of attachments that came with the Wyze Handheld — although the extension hose felt a bit cheap — as well as the handy storage bag that they can be stored in. The main drawback to the Wyze is the fact that you had to press the power button down for a couple seconds to turn it on — and the same to power it off — which was just a bit inconvenient.

The Shark Wandvac has a modern, sleek look, and enough attachments to be useful for a range of jobs.The 16.5-inch length also allows you to reach the ground without bending over too much, although the Wandvac is large enough that it does make it difficult to reach into tight or awkward areas. The nozzle head was able to form a nice tight seal on the floor, making it really useful for sucking up flour and other soft debris from between tile cracks. The main drawback to this vacuum was its relatively small 2. 56-ounce canister, which filled up quickly and was a bit inconvenient to dump out cleanly.

This sleek, stylish vacuum has solid build quality and well-constructed attachments, and was simple to use right out of the box. Its charging base is nice and sturdy, and the attachments — a long crevice tool with brush and flat upholstery tool — were great at their jobs and made this vacuum very versatile. The vent on the sides of the unit blew air out and up, which reduced the chances of our debris piles blowing around. “Eco” and “Max” power modes let you choose whether to sacrifice a bit of power to extend the battery life. This vacuum handled most of our tests well, except for the Cheerios portion. Unfortunately, the flap that prevents debris from falling back out of the canister was too sturdy to allow the Cheerios inside, and it wasn’t able to suck them up. Removing the canister and filter was a bit of a hassle, and the quantity of plastic and rubber components made us a little concerned that one could snap or wear down with frequent use.

The straightforward controls and convenient storage base of this vacuum make it easy to use and handy for light-duty cleaning. The retractable extra-wide nozzle was interesting, but the unit itself didn’t seem to have the power for it to be particularly effective, and it had trouble picking up the kitty litter during our testing. The crevice tool and brush attachment worked well though, and the removable canister was one of the easiest models to clean out. The 11-minute run time is pretty short compared to our other options, but fine for the occasional cleanup.

The powerful 20-volt battery and heavy weight of this Dirt Devil vacuum gave it a nice, sturdy feel, and its motorized pet hair brush also made it nearly as good as our top pet hair pick, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser. But the lack of additional attachments — particularly a soft brush tool — made it noticeably less versatile for other cleaning tasks. That said, we did appreciate that the long crevice tool was permanently attached to the canister, which reduces the chances of it being lost — always a big plus in our book. We did experience some frustration while testing soft debris like flour, which was frequently blown around due to the downward orientation of the air vent. Its nozzle was too small for Cheerios, so keep that in mind if you plan on using it for larger debris. The lack of a dedicated charging base was also a drawback, although depending on your storage situation, that might not be a dealbreaker.

The Hoover Onepwr’s long length was uniquely suited for reaching cobwebs and dust in ceiling corners, though it is inconvenient for storage and fitting into tight areas. Disappointingly, its dust canister was inexplicably small and filled up almost immediately during our testing. The Hoover’s power-tool-style battery pack needs to be charged on an external charger, which was inconvenient, and since the charger lacked storage for the vacuum itself as well as the accessories, there were a lot of pieces to organize and keep track of. This vacuum — and its battery pack — could be a useful addition, however, if you are already the owner of other Hoover Onepwr tools (which include carpet cleaners, upright vacuums, leaf blowers and sprayers).

If a small footprint is what you’re after, the Bissell AeroSlim could be the perfect fit. It was one of the top ultra-compact models we tested, and was surprisingly powerful compared to the bigger models. We really appreciated the fact that the crevice tool featured an integrated brush attachment, making it versatile enough for lots of jobs without making you keep track of extra accessories. This single attachment, combined with the compact size and USB charging capability, made the AeroSlim really convenient for cleaning out the car. Its brush made it possible to quickly run it over the dashboard and instrument panel without worrying about scratches, and the primary nozzle was wide enough to pick up sand, dirt and other debris on our floorboards. This vacuum was also extremely easy to clean, with an easily detachable canister and a filter cover that was simple to wash under the faucet. The main drawback was the fact that Cheerios were unable to fit through the primary nozzle, and the limited 3.3-ounce canister capacity was just a little too small.

The addition of a unique squeegee attachment makes this option well-suited for anyone who needs to clean up wet spills quickly. Unfortunately, the orientation of the air vent was extremely frustrating, and if you turn the vacuum even a few degrees, your dust and debris will be blown around, creating an even bigger mess. Build-wise, this vacuum was nice and sturdy, and we never felt like it was flimsy or in danger of being damaged if we dropped or accidentally banged it into anything. It also featured a 2-year limited warranty — most others advertised a 1-year warranty — and a large 17-ounce canister that was both simple to detach and convenient to clean out after we were finished. In addition to the squeegee, it also features an integrated long crevice tool that you won’t have to worry about misplacing.

Overall, this Hoover vacuum was easy to use, and thanks to a 20-volt battery, was one of the most powerful options we tested. Just like the Hoover Onepwr Dust Chaser, this model uses an external battery pack — like a power drill — which made it a bit less convenient than vacs that used an internal battery. Though if used as part of a larger Hoover Onepwr tool collection, that extra battery could be a benefit. This powerful battery allowed the Hoover Onepwr to power through all our debris tests with ease, and since the crevice tool is stored on the unit itself, it was always easy to find and install when we needed it. If you’ve got the room to store it and the battery charger easily, and the need for the raw power it provides, this could be a great choice.

We had high hopes for the unique pet brush attachment of this unit, but were ultimately let down by its low productivity. The rubber flaps — as opposed to the brush head used by other pet hair attachments — just weren’t able to pull up as much hair as any other pet-focused option we tested. The large size of the unit also made it a challenge to use inside the car and took up a lot of room to store, especially since it lacked a charging base. We did appreciate how sturdy and robust the unit felt overall, and the canister and filter were easy to remove and clean when we were finished.

We loved the convenience of this unit, particularly the fact that all the attachments were built into the unit itself. With no extra pieces to organize or keep track of, this was a breeze to use and store, and the minimal charging base made it easy to keep out of the way. It did a fine job during flour and kitty litter testing, although the Cheerios did clog up the nozzle and it ultimately failed at containing them inside the canister. Other than that, the power and wide nozzle of this vacuum made it really fun to use, especially in the car. The pivoting nozzle is also useful when accessing overhead cabinetry, though its durability remains to be seen.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed price at the time of publication.

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The 4 Best Handheld Vacuums - Black Friday 2022: Reviews

  1. Table of Contents
  2. Intro
  3. Best Vacuum
    1. Best Mid-Range
      1. Best Budget
        1. Best For Allergies
          1. Notable Mentions
          2. Recent Updates
          3. All Reviews
          4. Discussions

          Updated Nov 11, 2022 at 09:37 am

          By Evan Jakab

          Handheld vacuums are a great option if you're looking to clean small spills around the home. They're lightweight and portable, and due to their small size, they're handy when tackling more difficult or uneven terrain, like inside your car or on your stairs. Some stick or canister vacuums also have a handheld configuration, making them even more versatile if you need to clean larger areas. Unfortunately, handheld vacuums tend to have small dirt compartments. If they're cordless, they may also have a shorter continuous battery life than non-handheld vacuums.

          We've tested over 130 vacuum cleaners, and below are our recommendations for the best portable vacuums with a handheld design to buy. These picks are selected based on their performance on different surfaces and their feature set, battery life, and price. For more options, see our lists of the best lightweight vacuums, the best vacuums for stairs, the best car vacuums, the best Dyson vacuums, and the best cordless vacuums.


          1. Best Handheld Vacuum

            Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+

            SEE PRICE

            Amazon.de

            Unavailable

            Missing store

            Bare Floor

            8. 1

            Low-Pile Carpet

            8.2

            High-Pile Carpet

            8.2

            Pets

            7.0

            Stairs

            9.2

            Cars

            8.3

            Workshop

            6.0

            Vacuum Type

            Handheld

            Bagless

            Yes

            Cordless

            Yes

            Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)

            No

            Wet Compatible

            No

            See all our test results

            The best handheld vacuum we've tested is the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+. This compact vacuum does an excellent job cleaning carpets and rugs and performs very well on bare surfaces. Its lightweight construction makes it easy to bring wherever you may need it, and it's also fairly compact. It has a fairly large dirt compartment for a handheld vacuum, so it doesn't need emptying as often as some alternatives. It feels well-built and has an easy-to-maintain design that incurs few recurring costs. In terms of attachments, it comes with a crevice tool, a hard-bristle brush, as well as a miniature turbo brush with a self-cleaning brushroll, though the latter isn't very effective in removing pet hair from upholstery.

            Unfortunately, this vacuum can only run for about 10 minutes of runtime on a single charge, so you'll need to work quickly when cleaning larger messes. There's no way of adjusting its suction power, which would help conserve battery life when sucking up very lightweight debris. It also does a terrible job of sealing in particles like pet dander or fine dust, so it isn't the best option if you suffer from allergies.

            See our review

          2. Best Mid-Range Handheld Vacuum

            Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum

            SEARCH

            Amazon.de

            Unavailable

            Missing store

            Bare Floor

            8.1

            Low-Pile Carpet

            7.3

            High-Pile Carpet

            7.4

            Pets

            6.6

            Stairs

            8. 7

            Cars

            8.1

            Workshop

            5.9

            Vacuum Type

            Handheld

            Bagless

            Yes

            Cordless

            Yes

            Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)

            No

            Wet Compatible

            No

            See all our test results

            The best cordless handheld vacuum at a mid-range price point that we've tested is the Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum. It's bulkier than the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ and isn't effective at clearing away debris on carpeted floors, but it does have a few advantages aside from its lower price. It has a larger dustbin that won't need emptying as often and uses less expensive filters, resulting in lower ownership costs. It excels when clearing away debris on hard surfaces like countertops or hardwood floors and does a good job of dealing with debris in cracks and crevices, thanks to a built-in crevice tool.

            Unfortunately, its selection of attachments is very limited, with only the aforementioned slide-out crevice tool and a flip-out hard-bristle brush; there's no straight-suction upholstery tool or miniature turbo brush to make cleaning fabric furniture easier. It can only run for a little over 10 minutes on a single charge and takes over three hours to recharge. The battery isn't removable either, so you can't swap in a new one once you deplete the original pack.

            See our review

          3. Best Budget Handheld Vacuum

            Wyze Handheld Vacuum

            SEE PRICE

            Amazon. de

            Unavailable

            Missing store

            Bare Floor

            7.6

            Low-Pile Carpet

            7.6

            High-Pile Carpet

            7.9

            Pets

            7.3

            Stairs

            9.0

            Cars

            8.7

            Workshop

            5. 5

            Vacuum Type

            Handheld

            Bagless

            Yes

            Cordless

            Yes

            Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)

            Yes

            Wet Compatible

            No

            See all our test results

            The best cordless handheld vacuum at a budget-friendly price that we've tested is the Wyze Handheld Vacuum. Given its cheaper purchase price than the Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum and Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+, you have to put up with a few compromises, namely the tiny dirt compartment and its poor performance in clearing bulky debris. That said, it offers a wide variety of features that are rare for a vacuum at this price point, including an onboard HEPA filter and a fairly long battery life of up to 30 minutes.

            There are a few attachments included with the vacuum, like a flexible extension hose to help clean hard-to-reach areas and a straight-suction upholstery tool. Unfortunately, there's no miniature turbo brush attachment included in the box, which would make it a little easier to spot-clean carpets or rugs.

            See our review

          4. Best Handheld Vacuum For Allergies

            Shark WANDVAC

            SEE PRICE

            Amazon. de

            Unavailable

            Missing store

            Bare Floor

            7.7

            Low-Pile Carpet

            7.9

            High-Pile Carpet

            7.3

            Pets

            7.4

            Stairs

            9.0

            Cars

            8.7

            Workshop

            5. 5

            Vacuum Type

            Handheld

            Bagless

            Yes

            Cordless

            Yes

            Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)

            No

            Wet Compatible

            No

            See all our test results

            If you suffer from allergies and want a vacuum that's effective in sealing in allergens, check out the Shark ION W1 WANDVAC. While it's pricier than the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ and doesn't perform as well on bare floors or carpeting, it does a much better job sealing in fine particles, like dust or pet dander, even with the standard non-HEPA-rated filter. If you want to increase its filtration performance by an even greater degree, several third-party manufacturers sell compatible HEPA-rated filters. It's also smaller than the UltraCyclone, making it even easier to stow away when not in use.

            Unfortunately, there's no miniature turbo brush for cleaning carpeted or fabric surfaces. However, it's still pretty effective in dealing with messes on furniture when used with its straight-suction upholstery attachment. Like the Wyze Handheld Vacuum, its dirt compartment is tiny. The Shark's battery performance is also noticeably worse than the Wyze, as it can only run for about 10 minutes on a charge. However, the Wyze's debris pickup performance falls short of the Shark.

            See our review

          Notable Mentions

          • Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet: The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is a cordless handheld vacuum that offers superior battery performance to the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ and has a larger dirt compartment. It feels less well-built and doesn't perform as well on any surface type. See our review
          • iRobot h2: The iRobot h2 is a premium handheld vacuum with a two-stage filtration system. While it has a considerably larger dirt compartment than the Shark ION W1 WANDVAC and a longer battery life, it's also significantly heavier and a lot pricier. See our review
          • BISSELL AeroSlim: The BISSELL AeroSlim is a compact, budget-friendly handheld vacuum that's a little easier to maintain than the Wyze Handheld Vacuum. However, unlike the latter, it lacks a HEPA filter, has a smaller dirt compartment, and doesn't last as long on a single charge. See our review

          Recent Updates

          1. Nov 11, 2022: Ensured all main picks are still available and represent the best option for user needs.

          2. Oct 14, 2022: Removed less relevant product recommendation categories. Removed less relevant Notable Mentions picks. Added iRobot h2 and BISSELL AeroSlim to Notable Mentions.

          3. Aug 10, 2022: Removed 'Best Stick/Handheld Vacuum' pick category and removed Dyson Humdinger due to current availability. Added iRobot h2 as 'Best Premium Handheld Vacuum'. Added BISSELL Featherweight Stick 2033 as 'Best Corded Handheld Vacuum' pick.

          4. Jun 15, 2022: Article restructuring to better align with user expectations. Recategorized Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ as 'Best Handheld Vacuum' pick. Recategorized Wyze Handheld Vacuum as 'Best Budget Handheld Vacuum' pick. Moved Black+Decker dustbuster CHV1410L and Shark ION W1 WANDVAC to Notable Mentions. Removed Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless, Miele Triflex HX1, Dyson V15 Detect, and Shark Rocket Pet Pro with MultiFlex IZ163H from Notable Mentions.

          5. May 12, 2022: Replaced Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Hand Vacuum with Black+Decker dustbuster CHV1410L as 'Best Handheld Vacuum For Bare Floors' pick.

          All Reviews

          Our recommendations are based on what we think are currently the best portable vacuums to buy. We don't just base our results on overall performance, but also factors like availability, price, and reader feedback.

          If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our handheld vacuum reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no vacuum is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.

          Discussions

          7 best mini vacuum cleaners for home

          Handheld mini vacuum cleaner is an excellent choice if you need to urgently clean a small area in the apartment, clean the corners of upholstered furniture from accumulated debris or collect crumbs of crumbled cookies. With it, you can keep your house clean without having to drag a noisy and bulky stationary unit with you every time. Having decided to buy this handy gadget, don't forget to read our review, where we have collected 7 of the best mini vacuum cleaners for the home.

          Electrolux ZB 5112 is one of the most popular models of this brand in the line of hand-held mini vacuum cleaners for home and car. Thanks to its compact size, it is convenient to carry the device with you in the car or simply store it in the kitchen drawer for immediate use when needed. The device is powered by a rechargeable battery that needs to be recharged after each cleaning.

          + Pros Electrolux ZB 5112

          1. stylish design;
          2. compact;
          3. sufficient power - the unit easily copes with small debris, sucks up crumbs, hair and wool
          4. animals from any surfaces;
          5. cyclone filter with a capacity of 0. 5 l;
          6. low noise level;
          7. two nozzles included.

          - Cons Electrolux ZB 5112

          1. long recharging time - for full readiness, the battery needs to be recharged for at least 12 hours;
          2. cannot be used to suck up liquids;
          3. the filter clogs quickly.

          The Airline CYCLONE-3 bagless portable vacuum cleaner cleans every corner of your home quickly and efficiently. Thanks to its narrow nozzles, the device will penetrate into the most inaccessible places of the apartment, collect dust from the heating radiator, and a special brush will help keep your wardrobe in order.

          + Pros Airline CYCLONE-3

          1. quality assembly and durability of the materials used;
          2. convenient filter design - dust settles on the inside, from where it can be easily removed;
          3. high suction power;
          4. has a fine filter;
          5. comes with storage bag;
          6. democratic value.

          - Cons of Airline CYCLONE-3

          1. in some cases, nozzles are attached to the adapter not quite tightly and tightly, which reduces the cleaning efficiency;
          2. does not cope with large debris and caked dirt;
          3. requires frequent recharging.

          This model is perhaps one of the best in the category of compact cleaning equipment. Powerful, manoeuvrable and with a long battery life, this cordless handheld vacuum cleaner will help you keep your home clean effortlessly. The design can rightfully be called a full-fledged vacuum cleaner, always ready for work, but much lighter and more compact.

          + Pros Tefal TY8875RO

          1. excellent design, ergonomics;
          2. power consumption - 110 W;
          3. battery life is 50 minutes, which is significantly higher than most
          4. mini vacuum cleaners for the home;
          5. battery charging period - 6 hours;
          6. "Soft start" function;
          7. dust collector - cyclone system;
          8. has a power regulator on the handle of the device;
          9. nozzles included - including a turbo brush and a triangular nozzle with bright LED light;
          10. there is an operating time indicator.

          - Cons Tefal TY8875RO

          1. is heavy compared to other mini vacuum cleaners - the weight of the device is about 3.5 kg;
          2. no dust bag - regular filter cleaning required;
          3. is quite noisy.

          Dyson V6 Animal Pro + combines all the advantages of a handheld and stationary upright vacuum cleaner. The device is powered by a battery, which means that your movements will not be hindered by the wires coming from the body. At the same time, the suction power of this equipment is quite high, and is quite comparable with conventional models of dry vacuum cleaners.

          + Pros Dyson V6 Animal Pro +

          1. 2-in-1 design - hand-held upright;
          2. battery life - 20 minutes;
          3. suction power - at least 100 W;
          4. is excellent for cleaning all types of surfaces;
          5. for better cleaning, an electric brush connection is provided;
          6. wall-mountable – significantly saves storage space.

          - Cons Dyson V6 Animal Pro +

          1. does not have a charge level indicator, which sometimes makes it difficult to calculate the remaining operating time;
          2. there is no blocking of the “Power on” mode button;
          3. small volume dust container;
          4. expensive model.

          PUPPYOO WP-3006 is one of the most powerful mini vacuum cleaners for the home. The length of the power cord of the device is at least 5 m, and the value of the noise produced during operation is only 65 dB, which allows you to comfortably carry out effective cleaning of the premises. A feature of this model is the ability to change its design - you can use the unit as a regular mini handheld vacuum cleaner, and by attaching a cane handle if necessary, you will get a vertical model.

          + Pluses PUPPYOO WP-3006

          1. mobility, maneuverability, compactness;
          2. simplicity and ease of use;
          3. high suction power;
          4. ultra-silent operation;
          5. voluminous waste container;
          6. set of nozzles, and the large brush is equipped with a rubber pad, which minimizes the risk of scratches on plastic surfaces.

          - Cons PUPPYOO WP-3006

          1. the vacuum cleaner is not available in all household appliance stores;
          2. does not have the possibility of hanging to the wall - you can store the equipment either in a disassembled state, or simply by placing it in a corner.

          Compact, lightweight and affordable, the Smile HVC 831 vacuum cleaner has become one of the most popular models of mini handheld vacuum cleaners. Low cost, ease of use and versatility make this model a very attractive option for cleaning the house, car and office equipment. The vacuum cleaner works from the mains, for the convenience of users it is equipped with a shoulder strap.
          Reviews

          + Pros Smile HVC 831

          1. elegant design, durable plastic body;
          2. power consumption - 700 W;
          3. does not require much storage space;
          4. light - the weight of the device is a little more than 1500 gr;
          5. has a button to lock the dust container;
          6. is equipped with nozzles - there are two nozzle brushes (large and small) and a hose with a narrow neck;
          7. handle control;
          8. low price.

          - Cons Smile HVC 831

          1. no power regulator;
          2. noisy;
          3. Some customers complain about the strong smell of plastic;
          4. may become warm during extended use.

          Hard DC57 is an innovative development of the well-known company Dyson, a world leader in modern home appliances. The model is a great hybrid of a portable mini vacuum cleaner and a regular mop. With this handy gadget, you can not only collect dust, but also carry out a full-fledged wet cleaning of ceramic floor tiles, laminate, parquet, linoleum and other hard surfaces. Dyson Hard DC57 belongs to the class of rechargeable wireless technology, which greatly increases the comfort of its use.

          + Pros Dyson Hard DC57

          1. ease of operation, operation and maintenance;
          2. small size and weight - when assembled, the size of the unit is 1120 x 201 x 250 (mm), and the weight with all
          3. accessories does not exceed 2. 5 kg;
          4. intuitive control mechanism;
          5. high suction power;
          6. the ability not only to carry out wet cleaning, but also to take care of the coating with wipes soaked in
          7. with special protective equipment.

          - Cons Dyson Hard DC57

          1. high price;
          2. model is not intended for cleaning fleecy surfaces, upholstered furniture and textiles;
          3. You can order equipment only on the manufacturer's website.

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