Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsBetter than most. Design, cleaning, and longevity issues.
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2019
If you don't want to read, here's the summary :
It was an excellent vacuum for the first month, although there were some issues with the way the vacuum was designed. After about 2 months, the battery started going. Now, after having the vacuum for 3 months, it lasts for about half as long as it used to, the crevice tool is broken, and the vacuum's suction is only strong for about 10 minutes.
Three months ago when I bought this, it was a great vacuum.
Here were the perks :
- Excellent suction
- Doesn't blow dust out of the back
- Easy to empty
- Lightweight
- Built-in crevice tool means you don't lose it, and it's easy to use (and clean). Great for getting underneath stuff
Initial drawbacks :
- The vents in the dust cup get clogged with dust immediately and are difficult to clean
- The connection the vacuum makes with the charging station is precarious. You have to be careful to make sure it turns on and that it doesn't get jostled while charging.
- The vacuum doesn't seem to last as long as it should (maybe about 30 minutes). When it starts to lose power, it takes about 5-10 minutes to fully die, but during that time it becomes increasingly useless, depositing anything larger than dust if you tilt it slightly while cleaning. Other vacuums I've had in the past remained powerful for a longer period of time before completely dying.
- This vacuum doesn't have quite as much suction as the best handheld I've had, but it also doesn't blow half of the dirt and dust it collects out of the back of the vacuum while you're using it. It WILL, however, blow some dust out of the back, so don't put your face behind it.
- Like every other handheld vacuum I've found, the crevice tool and nozzle will easily scratch a lot of soft surfaces like the top of large plastic bins and soft wood floors, desks, and countertops. You have to be careful with what you use it on.
How I used this vacuum for the past 3 months :
- Vacuum was used, on average, probably about once every week and a half to two weeks
- When used, vacuum would sometimes be used for two sessions in one day, with about 3-5 hours of charging in-between.
- Emptied vacuum when 1/2 to 3/4ths full
- Tapped out dust cap each time
- Scraped dust out of clogged vents in dust cap
- About half the time, I allowed the vacuum to die fully before charging it fully.
- Vacuum was constantly kept on the charger and usually plugged in.
- Vacuum was used for light pickup - dust, dirt, flour, crumbs, small amounts of pet hair on upholstery, mouse poo...you get the point
Here's my review after 3 months :
- The crevice tool started to not click into place and the problem got progressively worse. Now it barely clicks, comes loose, and starts to slide into the vacuum during use. It seems to happen as a result of the crevice tool bumping into things. The connection just isn't very strong to begin with. The crevice tool only works well if you hold it so it's nearly flat against the surface. Otherwise, there isn't enough suction.
- The amount of time the vacuum can be used for has decreased from about 30 minutes to about 15 minutes
- The is only at its highest suction for maybe 10 minutes
How this vacuum compares to handhelds I've used in the past :
What's better :
- Suction was almost as good as the best handheld I've had
- Blew out far less dust than most, including the best handheld I've had
- Easier to use than most
- Better at getting into nooks and under things
- Easier to tell when the vacuum is full
- The curvature of the design makes the vacuum more maneuverable
- The crevice tool makes the vacuum incredibly versatile
- The vacuum is effective on upholstery and mattresses, unlike many
What's worse :
- The suction stayed powerful for a much shorter period of time, with a longer stretch of "sub par" vacuuming ability
- The battery seemed less and less effective starting at two months, and now appears to be half as effective as it was when I purchased the vacuum
- The vents on the dust cup clog almost immediately, causing unnecessary stress on the unit
- The charging port does not make as firm of a connection with the device as other handhelds do
- If the vacuum is bumped or jostled slightly while charging it will misalign with the connection. You'll come back hours later and it will still be dead.
- The "click into place" aspect of the crevice tool wears down very quickly when the crevice tool bumps against things, and will eventually stop working
- The hard plastic crevice tool scratches soft surfaces easily, and the brush attachment does very little. It's also very easy to accidentally angle the vacuum wrong when using the brush attachment, causing the bottom of the crevice tool to scrape against the surface.
- The crevice tool does not have much suction or power, so you need to hold it almost flat against the surface you're vacuuming to get it to have suction, which makes it far less versatile.
- After 3 months, this vacuum is no longer appropriate for cleaning upholstery
Changes I would like to see :
- Better connection with the charging station
- Flexible rubber crevice tool OR a removable rubber cover for the top of the crevice tool
- Multi-layered venting system for dust cup that can be easily disassembled for cleaning
- UV light for inside of dust cup to kill dust mites and dust mite eggs
- Removable and replaceable dust-filter attachment specifically designed for vacuuming dust.
- Ability to use corded, or cordless
- Longer-lasting battery
- Suction that has more staying power (can probably be achieved by redesigning dust cup)
- Free, cheap, or DIY battery replacement
If you're anything like me, you wouldn't mind paying more for at least ONE handheld that had the POTENTIAL for some of these features, even if it doesn't necessarily come with them. I don't mind paying extra for my toppings, as long as toppings are possible. This could be a great product that really sets itself apart.