Cordless Vacuum Reviews | Vacuum Wars

Vacuum Wars is reader supported. When you make a purchase using links on our site we may earn a commission. Details.

Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum Review: Lighter Weight, Strong Pickup

Vacuum Wars Shark PowerDetect Speed Review

The Shark PowerDetect Speed Clean & Empty is a newer cordless vacuum similar to the flagship Clean & Empty, but with a few key differences, all of which we cover in this full review. As usual, we bought this cordless vacuum with our own money and put it through a series of evaluations to see how well it held up against the flagship PowerDetect. We found that there were some clear advantages to the lighter design, along with a few trade-offs.

Best Cordless Vacuums for Carpets 2026

Collage of cordless vacuum testing at Vacuum Wars

After independently testing more than 125 cordless vacuums, we ranked the best models specifically for carpets and rugs. See our top five picks based on carpet debris pickup, deep-cleaning performance, auto suction, and overall cordless vacuum performance.

Best Cordless Vacuums for Hard Floors 2026

Vacuum Wars testing cordless vacuums for hard-floor debris pickup, crevice cleaning, maneuverability, and dual-roller floorhead design.

After independently testing more than 100 cordless vacuums, we ranked the best models for hard floors based on debris pickup, crevice cleaning, unsealed suction, roller design, and floorhead lighting. See which cordless vacuums performed best on hardwood, tile, laminate, vinyl, and other hard surfaces.

How Vacuum Wars Tests and Scores Cordless Vacuums

All of our cordless vacuums at the Vacuum Wars studio.

Vacuum Wars evaluates cordless vacuums using a combination of standardized studio tests, manufacturer specifications, customer-review data, and feature assessments. Each metric is designed to measure a specific aspect of performance, usability, durability, or convenience, and the results are incorporated into our overall scoring and ranking system.

Best Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair 2026

Vacuum Wars studio display featuring cordless vacuums behind a red carpet, with dogs and cats posed in front beneath the Vacuum Wars sign.

We independently tested more than 125 cordless vacuums to identify the best options for pet hair. These top picks stand out for hair pickup, tangle resistance, filtration, dustbin capacity, and overall cordless vacuum performance.

Bissell PowerClean DualBrush Review: A Breakthrough Cordless for Bissell

Blue Bissell handheld vacuum on a dark wooden floor with bold orange text reading 'DUALBRUSH?' overlaid.

The Bissell PowerClean DualBrush delivers excellent mixed-floor pickup, strong filtration, and above-average battery efficiency. Its small bin, heavy handheld design, and high noise level make it best for shoppers focused primarily on floor cleaning.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine Review: The New Cordless Vacuum to Beat

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine Review Vacuum Wars

The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is Dyson’s new flagship cordless vacuum, adding a redesigned All Floor Cones cleaner head, strong carpet and hard floor performance, sealed HEPA filtration, long battery life, and the Submarine wet-cleaning head. After our independent studio evaluations, it earned the top spot in our cordless vacuum rankings.

Bissell PowerClean Cordless Vacuum Review: Strong Cleaning, But Some Concerns

Bissell PowerClean Cordless Vacuum Vacuum Wars Review

The Bissell PowerClean 4173 impressed us with excellent pickup performance, a perfect 100% carpet deep-cleaning score, strong filtration, and quiet operation. However, concerns about handle weight, convenience features, and long-term reliability kept it out of our Top 10 Cordless Vacuums rankings.

Dyson V9 Motorbar Cordless Vacuum Review: Dyson’s New Budget Sweet Spot?

Dyson V9 Motorbar Vacuum Wars Review

Dyson recently introduced the V9 as a new entry in its cordless lineup, slotting it between the V8 and the V11 in terms of both price and features. It adopts the in-line body style Dyson popularized with the V10 and V11, comes in lighter than the V8, and is currently selling for significantly less than its original list price. In this review, we’ll cover the strengths and weaknesses of the Dyson V9 Motorbar and see how it stacks up against other cordless vacuums we’ve tested.

Shark PowerPro Flex Pet Plus Review: Excellent Cleaning, Hard to Recommend

Shark PowerPro Flex Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum Review

The Shark PowerPro Flex Pet Plus impressed us with excellent debris pickup, strong carpet deep-cleaning performance, and useful features like FloorDetect and the MultiFLEX wand. However, below-average power metrics, poor crevice cleaning, and a failed filtration test make it difficult to recommend at its current price.

Our Top Picks

Current Vacuum Wars product rankings:

Best Cordless Vacuums

Best Robot Vacuums

Best Upright Vacuums

Best Carpet Cleaners

Best Air Purifiers

Best Spot Cleaners