CNET tests 50 cordless vacuums: Shark Stratos is best overall

CNET's lab has tested more than 50 cordless vacuums, running controlled sand pickup tests on hardwood, low-pile carpet, and midpile carpet, plus battery rundown tests at medium suction. Their top pick overall is the Shark Stratos.

Shark Stratos: Best overall

The Shark Stratos costs $500 and often sells for less. CNET recorded 97.2% sand pickup on hardwood, 94% on low-pile carpet, and 94.4% on midpile. That average of 95% beat the previous best overall, the LG CordZero A949 (89.8%), but fell just short of the Eureka ReactiSense 440 (96%). Its battery lasted 80 minutes on medium, among the longest they've tested. It carries a five-year warranty, a HEPA filter, and a self-cleaning brush roll that didn't tangle with pet hair.

"The Stratos is definitely the standout," said Schylar Breitenstein, associate lab technician. "I use it to clean the floors in between pick-up tests because it picks up the most debris by far."

Our take: If you want one vacuum that does everything well on every floor type, this is it. The $500 price is high, but the performance and battery justify it, especially if you have pets and mixed flooring.

Dreame Z30: Longest battery life

CNET gave the Dreame Z30 a Lab Award for battery life and hardwood suction. It ran 110 minutes on medium, far ahead of the Shark Stratos (80 minutes) and Dyson V15 (60 minutes). On hardwood it removed 98.77% of sand. Carpet performance was decent (71% low-pile, 75% midpile) but not top-tier. It costs $500 and includes a HEPA filter and many attachments.

Our take: If you have a large home and hate recharging mid-clean, this is the one. But if you have mostly carpet, the Shark Stratos or Eureka ReactiSense will clean better for the same or less money.

Eureka ReactiSense 440: Best carpet suction, best value

At $180, the Eureka ReactiSense 440 earned CNET's Lab Award for carpet suction. It removed 98.53% of sand from low-pile carpet and 92.16% from midpile, the highest scores CNET has seen from a cordless vacuum. On hardwood it also scored well (96% average). It has smart sensors that adjust brush speed, a HEPA filter, and LED headlights. The trade-offs: battery life is only 33 minutes, the dustbin is small (0.5 liters), and it has no self-emptying dock.

"Eureka was amazing across all testing," said Breitenstein. "I just wish the runtime was a little longer, but the pickup was even better than the Shark Stratos, surprisingly."

Our take: This is the vacuum most people should buy. It costs less than half the Shark Stratos and outperforms it on carpet. The short battery is a real limitation for large homes, but for apartments and smaller houses it's fine. You don't need to spend more.

Dyson V15 Detect: Still good, but hard to justify

The Dyson V15 Detect costs $800 and scored 95% on hardwood, 95% on low-pile, and 88% on midpile. It has a 60-minute battery, a laser dust-revealing head, and seven attachments. But CNET notes it's been outperformed by cheaper competitors. The Eureka ReactiSense 440 gives similar carpet performance for $180. The V15's main advantages are the laser head and brand cachet.

Our take: Skip it unless you're a Dyson loyalist or really want that laser. The Shark Stratos or Eureka will save you money and clean as well or better.

Methodology

CNET tests each vacuum with a measured amount of sand on three surfaces, weighing the dustbin before and after. They run each test at least three times. Battery life is tested at medium suction, averaged over three runs. They also evaluate pet hair removal visually. The team has been testing vacuums for years and updates the list regularly.

The bottom line

You don't need to spend $800 to get a great cordless vacuum. The $180 Eureka ReactiSense 440 is CNET's best-value pick and performs among the best on carpet. If you need longer battery life and have mixed floors, the Shark Stratos at $500 is a solid investment. The Dreame Z30 is for large homes with mostly hard floors. Most other models are variations on these themes.

• CNET
• cordless vacuum
• Dreame Z30
• Dyson V15
• Eureka ReactiSense
• Shark Stratos