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Photo: Molly Higgins
Tineco Go Mini Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner for $130: This lightweight vacuum cleaner is fairly simple and charges via the end of the handle that plugs directly into the wall. Before first use, you need to charge it for five to six hours, which will give you 10 to 20 minutes of use time. The main things I wanted to focus on in my daily life were kitty litter and pet hair. This vacuum spit out about 80 percent of the waste I tried to suck up, and pet hair just rolled around on the carpet instead of being sucked back into the vacuum. (I’m not sure if it was the angle or shape of the mouth that helped with either problem.) The suction wasn’t as powerful as others tested, and tended to work best on hard surfaces. This vacuum wasn’t bad per se, but others on this list at similar prices worked much more effectively on many more different surfaces (with multiple attachments) than this was apparently capable of.
Bissell AeroSlim handheld vacuum for $45: This sleek, lightweight (1.37-pound) handheld vacuum isn’t the most powerful I’ve tested, but it’s lightweight and super easy to maneuver. It comes with a multi-accessory that combines a long, slim crevice tool with a movable brush (the brush moves up and down on the tool depending on need), but you can also simply use the vacuum without the slim attachment for more general surface cleaning. The small 0.1 liter front of the vacuum cleaner can be rotated for emptying, and a small double filter can also be removed for cleaning/replacement. During testing, I couldn’t successfully pick up larger objects like wood shards or trash, and only picked up a fraction of pet hair like some of the more powerful roller brush models, but I wasn’t expecting this – that’s not this baby’s job. It’s light, simple and easy to use, making it a great lightweight portable option (just don’t expect it to handle bigger messes).
Photo: Molly Higgins
Hoto AutoCare air duster and vacuum cleaner for $63: This super-light vacuum cleaner (0.78 pounds) can also blow away dirt/dust, inflate and deflate, and vacuum seal. It has numerous attachments: a pointed crevice nozzle, a dusting brush, a dust cup nozzle, an air nozzle, and a swim ring nozzle. It holds just over 3 ounces, has a suction power of 20,000 Pa and each attachment can be easily taken on and off. I found that the brush head had a tendency to push the fur/hair around instead of sucking it up. Like many gadgets we test here at WIRED, this one fell into the trap of trying to do a lot of things, rather than doing one thing really well. This is a great deal for a device with so many features (if that’s what you need), but if you’re just looking for a really great handheld vacuum, there are others that are more effective.
Black and Decker Dustbuster Flex for $124: WIRED reviewer Nena Farrell found this cordless handheld vacuum great for cars and hard-to-reach areas because of its four-foot hose. It has a crevice tool and pet hair brush heads for all kinds of messes, and runs on a 20-volt lithium-ion battery that delivers high suction. Moreover, it has a handy charging cradle into which the accessories can be clicked. However, we are not fans of the short battery life of 15 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
I’ve taken charge time and actual power time into account in the overall value and ranking, factoring in a four-hour charge time and less than half an hour’s run time – that just won’t be practical for certain people. Since most of these come with attachments for specific needs, I made sure to test each one on a variety of surfaces, including rugs, carpet, hardwood, stairs, counters, crevices, in my car, on furniture, and even between vents and blinds. I also tested different types of messes (not liquids), mainly focusing on my personal biggest complaints about messes: kitty litter and pet hair.
Again, be sure to pay attention to specifications such as charging and usage time, as well as the power (such as voltage) and included attachments. If you work in construction and need a handheld vacuum for dirt, I’d recommend something like a Ryobi, while if you’re looking for a portable lightweight travel vacuum, the AeroSlim might be a better fit for you. It’s also important to consider charging versus usage time. Some of these take less than 15 minutes and have a very small waste capacity, so if you have a larger project you should take that into account.
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