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Vacuum cleaners are a strange crossover between tech and appliances. From stick vacuums to robot vacuums, the minification of high-speed motors and improvements to battery life make vacuums one of the most exciting categories here at BTTR.
Since launching BTTR.reviews three years ago, I've put over 25 vacuum cleaners through their paces in my own home, and I can tell you with confidence: there's never been a better time to buy a vacuum cleaner.
Suction and battery life keep getting better, while the introduction of docks and mopping robots make keeping your home clean easier than ever.
While I haven't tested every brand and model on the market, these are my recommendations based on the testing I've done over the past few years.
And if you're after something else, I've also picked out some of the things you should consider when picking out the best vacuum cleaner for your needs.
My favourite vacuum cleaners right now:
Best vacuum for most people: Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra
While Samsung's marketing focuses heavily on the 400 W of suction power, that's not really why you should consider this vacuum. You only get that level of suction on the Jet setting, which gives you about 14 minutes of battery life.
What makes the Bespoke AI Jet Ultra special is the complete package. At $1,699, it's expensive, but you get one of the better-looking base stations on the market, a dedicated pet tool, a slimline hard floor brush, a spray spinning mop head, and the standard Active Dual Brush.
The vacuum has the capacity to clean your home well, though you may need to move away from AI mode to get the best results. The 400 W power is there when you need it, but the 30-40 minutes of battery life in AI mode is more than enough for most homes.
My biggest issue during testing was that the AI mode often felt underpowered for hard floors with larger debris, and could be difficult to push on low-pile carpets. But these are minor complaints for what is otherwise an excellent all-rounder.
The base station automatically empties the dustbin (though you need to press a button rather than it happening automatically when you dock), and the 2 L dust bags should last about three months.
Nick Broughall
Other vacuums worth consideration:
Best stick vacuum: Dyson PencilVac FluffyCones
The Dyson PencilVac FluffyCones is, frankly, the epitome of vacuum cleaner design to date. It's a complete reworking of what you expect a vacuum cleaner to look like.
At just 1.8 kg and shaped more like a broom than a traditional vacuum, the PencilVac is a marvel of engineering. Dyson has managed to pack its digital motor, battery, and a two-stage linear compression system into a design that's 116 cm tall and just 3.8 cm wide.
The FluffyCones themselves are designed with a conical shape to avoid hair tangling, while the green laser light illumination shows you dust on your floor so you don't miss a spot. The head pivots and spins easily, letting you quickly vacuum hard floors.
Battery life is the main compromise here. You'll get up to 25 minutes on eco mode, about 18 minutes on medium, and less than 10 minutes at full suction. But for hard floors in smaller to medium homes, it's more than adequate.
Where this vacuum won't serve you is on carpets. The FluffyCones head is specifically designed for hard floors, so if your home is predominantly carpeted, this isn't the right choice.
At $949, it's not cheap, but there's nothing else like it on the market. It's the future of household cleaning.
For more stick vacuum options, check out our dedicated guide to the best cordless vacuum cleaners.
Nick Broughall
Best robot vacuum: Narwal Flow
The Narwal Flow has given me the best mopping performance of any robot vacuum I've tested. Combined with intelligent mapping, and impressive obstacle avoidance, it's a standout choice.
The Flow uses a track-style mopping pad with 45°C heated water and 12 N of downward force to scrub stubborn stains. After the Flow has cleaned my home, the floors look and feel better than any other robot vacuum has left them.
On the vacuum front, 22,000 Pa of suction is up there with other flagships, and the base station's 2.5 L dustbin means you can go months without emptying it. The mapping is probably the best I've experienced, accurately breaking apart rooms without needing extensive customisation.
My biggest complaint is a tendency to randomly beep when docked, even without any app notifications or errors. It's annoying, but the cleaning performance is arguably worth it.
It's also worth pointing out that while the dock does a good job of cleaning the vacuum, you still need to clean the dock, and that can get a bit gross.
At $2,999, this is a flagship product for people who want the absolute best mopping and vacuuming combination.
For more robot vacuum options, check out our dedicated guide to the best robot vacuums in Australia.
Nick Broughall
Best wet/dry vacuum: Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch
The Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch excels at everyday spills and reaching under furniture with its impressive 180° lay-flat design. At just 13 cm high when flat, it can get under furniture that previous models couldn't reach.
With 21,000 Pa of suction and up to 50 minutes of runtime, the S7 Stretch can handle whole-house cleans. The FlashDry self-cleaning system uses 85°C hot air to prevent odours, and the DualBlock anti-tangle brush design works well with long hair.
The main limitation is that it struggles with sticky residues and dried-on messes without steam. If your floors regularly have dried, sticky spills, you might want to consider the steam version or be prepared for some manual pre-cleaning.
Like all wet/dry vacuums, emptying the dirty water tank is unpleasant, but the S7 Stretch does a better job of separating solid and dirty liquid than previous models.
At $999, it's excellent value for a combo floor cleaner that can reach places other models can't.
Nick Broughall
How I chose the best vacuum cleaners in Australia
I've reviewed dozens of vacuum cleaners in my career, and 27 models since I started BTTR. In that time I learned that review sites – including this one – are subjective by nature. Everybody has a different opinion of what is best.
So for this guide, I've recommended my top vacuum choices only from the models I have tested hands-on.
That's a limited pool of products, but it means it's an accurate reflection of my expertise. As I review more vacuums, I'll keep this guide updated.
Vacuums I've reviewed for this guide
- Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch
- Roborock H60 Hub Ultra
- Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra
- Narwal Flow
- Dyson PencilVac FluffyCones
- Electrolux UltimateHome 800
- Tineco Floor One S9 Artist pro
- Tineco Floor One S6 FlashDry
- Ecovacs Deebot T50 Pro Omni
- Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni
- Ecovacs Deebot X5 Pro Omni
- Samsung Jet Bot Combo AI
- Ecovacs T30S Combo
- Ecovacs Deebot N20 Pro Plus
- Tineco Floor One S6 Pro Extreme
- Dreame L10s Pro Ultra Heat
- Dreame L20 Ultra
- Shark Cordless Detect Pro
- Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni
- Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus
- Tineco Floor One S7 Pro
- Tineco iFloor 2
- Tineco Carpet One Pro
- Tineco Floor One S5 Pro
- Samsung Bespoke Jet Elite Extra
- Ecovacs Deebot X1 Plus
- Ecovacs Deebot N8
What to look for when choosing the best vacuum cleaners in Australia
A vacuum cleaner is one of those appliances that everybody needs. But these days there are so many options that choosing the best solution for your home.
Whether you own your home or are renting, having a good quality vacuum cleaner is essential for keeping your space clean and liveable.
Even if you're after something completely different to the options above, these are the most important things to consider.
Form factor
Vacuum cleaners come in several different shapes and sizes. Understanding which type is best for your needs is the first decision you should make.
Stick vacuums: Today's most popular style is the battery-operated stick vacuum with a longer stick to help you vacuum floors and hard-to-reach areas. Because they run on battery power, suction is typically a bit weaker than plugged-in models, and you need to consider battery life. Modern stick vacuums have solid battery sizes, but if you have a really large house, you may need to charge mid-vacuum. The lack of a power cord means you can use them anywhere, including vacuuming the car or stairs.
Barrel vacuums: The more traditional form factor features a barrel design housing the core vacuum components. Barrel vacs are fairly compact but require plugging into a power outlet. They typically have smaller dustbins or bags than upright models, requiring more frequent emptying.
Upright vacuums: Much less common today than 30 years ago, upright vacuums stand upright and typically require mains power. They can be difficult to manoeuvre around the house, but have good-sized dustbins and plenty of suction.
Robot Vacuums: Small, compact vacuum cleaners that vacuum your home independently. Because of their compact size, they have small dust bins and weaker suction than other types. However, they're designed to vacuum more regularly, preventing dust build-up. Some models come with an empty station that collects dirt after each vacuum.
Wet/Dry vacuums: Also called floor cleaners, these devices vacuum and mop simultaneously. They're only suitable for hard floors but excel at keeping those surfaces clean with minimal effort.
Bag or bagless
James Dyson famously spent five years building over 5,000 prototypes to create a bagless vacuum cleaner that didn't lose suction power. Today, bagless models are probably more common than those with bags.
Both have strengths and weaknesses. Bagless models don't lose suction power, and you don't have to keep buying disposable bags. You do need to be more diligent with maintenance, regularly cleaning and emptying the bins.
Bagged vacuums tend to keep dust more contained, especially when emptying, but can be difficult to change over.
Types of floors
Consider the types of floors you need to keep clean before buying. If your home has many carpeted areas, a vacuum with powerful suction will help a lot – consider a barrel vacuum or a powerful stick vacuum. Hard floors are easier to clean at lower power, making them better suited to a stick or robot vacuum cleaner.
Suction power
As a general rule, vacuum cleaners you plug in will have more suction than battery-powered models, but that isn't always true. You can check the vacuum's power specifications, measured in Watts or Pascals (Pa).
However, specifications don't tell the whole story. Things like whether the vacuum is bagged, if filters are clean, and the quality of the brush head can all impact suction power.
Battery life (for cordless models)
If you're buying a cordless vacuum, pay attention to the quoted battery life. Manufacturers often quote maximum battery life using the lowest power setting with non-motorised attachments.
In reality, you'll get significantly less – typically 30-40 minutes for stick vacuums in normal use. Make sure this is enough to clean your entire home, or be prepared to clean in sessions.
Dust capacity
Emptying the vacuum cleaner is one of the worst parts of the job. Having a vacuum with larger dust capacity means you can get away with emptying less frequently. Stick vacuums typically have smaller bins than barrel or upright models.
Filter type
If you have pets or suffer from allergies, consider getting a vacuum with a HEPA air filter. These filters capture microscopic particles during cleaning, helping reduce odours and easing allergy symptoms.
Also consider whether filters can be washed or how often they need replacing, as this affects ongoing costs.
Attachments
Before spending your money, check out the included attachments. While you'll mostly use the standard head or powerhead for floors and carpets, having attachments for narrow spaces or upholstery helps keep your home cleaner.
Also look at how attachments are stored. The last thing you want is a cupboard filled with random vacuum attachments you never use.
Price
Vacuum cleaners are a serious investment, particularly at the premium end. You can expect to pay a few hundred dollars at least for a new vacuum, though premium models can cost upward of $1,500.
A good vacuum cleaner is an investment that should last for years. Consider your budget and look to buy the best vacuum cleaner you can afford.
TVs and vacuums regularly go on sale, so never pay full price. Even if it means waiting a bit longer to buy the model of your choice, the savings can be significant.
