The 14 best cordless vacuums of 2024, tried and tested

We spent weeks home-testing light, bagless cleaners, sometimes called stick vacuums, to rate their suction power and usability

While still not as powerful as their mains-powered counterparts (especially the most powerful cylinder vacuum cleaners), new technology such as long-lasting lithium-ion batteries means that the best cordless vacuum cleaners from brands like Shark, Dyson and Vax now offer enough cleaning power for most homes, in a much lighter, more manoeuvrable and affordable format. 
Cordless vacuums use less electricity than traditional vacuum cleaners, since they have smaller motors and only draw power when they’re recharging. That becomes more and more appealing as the cost of energy rises. (Admittedly robot vacuum cleaners use even less, but those remain a niche proposition.) If you need a vacuum for pet hair removal, especially from sofas and beds, a light and handy cordless makes a lot of sense.
We’ve reviewed dozens and dozens of cordless vacuums over the years and can now recommend 14 models, each good in different ways. You can read our full reviews below, followed by answers to some frequently asked questions (such as how long the batteries last). If you’re in a rush, here’s a quick look at our top five:
There are three main factors to consider when shopping. The first is suction power. Cordless models are low on suction power compared to plug-ins, but some are more powerful than others. Most can tackle most dirt, grime and surface stains. For more persistent staining you may need a carpet cleaner or a steam cleaner.
The second factor is weight. Since they lack wheels, some cordless vacuum cleaners pose a challenge to those of us lacking body strength. Some are light enough for anyone to use.
The third is battery life. Don’t expect to get much more than quarter of an hour’s use out of a fully-charged cordless vacuum. It’s often far less when using power-hungry ‘boost’ modes. Many cordless vacuums come with a second, subsitute battery to double the run-time. Some charge extra for this.
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We tested each vacuum for several weeks at home, cleaning crevices and stairs as well as large open areas to test the suction power and battery life. We compared them for weight, ease of use and efficacy on on wooden floors, carpet, linoleum and tiles. We also conducted flour, breadcrumb and soil tests, spilling each on carpets and hard floors and then hoovering it up with each vacuum to test performance (you can see some results above). We also considered the bin capacities of each. 
We also took into account value for money, how loud each was, whether they converted into handheld cordless vacuums and any extra features that make them more useful. Here’s what we found, starting with our favourite…  
 
Currently £749.99, Dyson
Best cordless vacuum overall, 10/10
We like: it’s the most impressive cordless vacuum cleaner on the market
We don’t like: Dysons can be quite fragile compared to cheaper brands
To address the elephant in the room, the Dyson Gen5 Detect is a significant outlay – £200 more than Dyson’s former top of the range model, the Dyson V15. So what’s new?
It’s Dyson’s most powerful model yet with a suction power of 262 Air Watts on boost mode, compared to the V15’s 240. Air Watts measure the power of airflow per second in vacuum cleaners. The new HEPA filter supposedly means the vacuum can suck up viruses, although that’s obviously difficult to test.
The Gen5 Detect converts to a handheld simply by detaching the stick. A dusting and crevice tool is built into the handheld vacuum, which is very handy. It also uses an on and off switch like the Dyson V12, rather than the trigger favoured by every other Dyson vacuum.
Like previous models, the Gen5 Detect has three power modes: ‘Auto,’ which intelligently adapts to different floor types, ‘Eco,’ which saves power, and ‘Boost,’ for intensive cleaning. It also races ahead of competitors when it comes to battery life, with a maximum run time of 70 minutes. The battery is removable and spares are available to buy from Dyson, should you wish to double your run time. 
In practice, the Gen5 Detect is impressive. I have a long-haired tabby cat who moults so much it’s a wonder she has any fur left. It’s the kind of thick fur that seems to stick to everything. Nothing can budge it, except this vacuum. 
It’s noticeably heavier than previous models, however. Though only 0.5kg heavier than the V15, that weight is all in the top which makes it cumbersome as a handheld – unfortunate, given the upgrade Dyson has made on fitting the handheld inside the regular vacuum. 
That and the premium price tag would be my only two complaints. If you can afford it and have pets, or a big house, you won’t find a better clean. By the way, Dyson has just brought out its first vacuum and mop two in one model, the Dyson V15s submarine. You can read our review further down this article.
£219.99, Vax
Best value cordless vacuum, 8/10
We like: wide cleaning head, two batteries for longer run time
We don’t like: not quite as nippy as the previous model
The Vax Blade 5 Dual Pet & Car is the latest model from Vax’s Blade series and the most high tech to date. With current pricing, it’s more than £75 more than the previous Blade 4. So what do you get for the extra money? There’s a brand new floor head with two brush bars, it’s the first Blade with a digital display and it comes with two removable battery packs for double the run time.
Let’s focus on the head, for starters. Having two brushes means the size of the overall head is bigger, which has made it slightly harder to manoeuvre than previous version but far more efficient at picking up mess on its first swipe, on both floor and carpet. It’s especially efficient on the boost setting, though that setting is noisy and goes through the battery in around 12 minutes.
As for the digital display, which has become a staple of cordless vacuums these days (Dyson, Miele, Samsung and Shark all have one), you can use it to see how much run time you have left based on the mode you’re using. It also shows maintenance pop-ups, like whether you need to clean or replace the feature. It’s a handy upgrade, but isn’t as advanced as displays on the likes of Dyson, with some models telling you how much dust you’ve sucked up.
The Blade 5 sees Vax venturing into the luxury vacuum market but, although the price has gone up, it’s still affordable compared to its counterparts. 
In the same range:
We still rate the Vax Blade 4 (£142) highly, which is slightly lighter at 3.1kg and comes with an extra battery for double the run time.
£332.42, Amazon
also available for £229.99 at Shark
Best Shark vacuum cleaner, 9/10
We like: the hinge in the middle, for reaching under sofas and beds
We don’t like: it’s on the heavier side
So, this vacuum cleaner’s full name is: ‘Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro Cordless Vacuum (Single Battery)’. Slightly wordy, but don’t be put off. Shark is the favourite brand of celebrity cleanfluencer Mrs Hinch. So, if you want a home as clean as hers, it appears this Shark is the way to get it. 
I’ve previously used Shark’s Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum and I’d say this new Stratos model is definitely worth the upgrade. Why? Well, the DuoClean (essentially, two brush-rolls in one) floor head is now bigger and more powerful. There’s a new anti-odour feature, consisting of replaceable cartridges that slot into the floor head to prevent bad smells in the dust cup.
But the most noticeable difference was how much better the anti hair wrap function is. Both my flatmate and I have long hair which, previously, we’d have to cut out from the brush head every few uses. The Stratos sucked it up straight into the dust bucket with no issue. The Stratos picks up both short and long hair equally well, which will make it especially good for cleaning up pet hair. 
The LED headlights make it easier to see dust and there’s a feature called Clean Sense IQ, which claims to pick up 50 per cent more dirt by sensing the level of dust and self-adjusting the suction power – although it’s hard to say how much this helped.
It comes with a great range of attachments: a crevice tool, a multi surface dusting tool, a dedicated pet tool and an accessory bag. My favourite bit was the hinge in the middle, which allows you to bend the vacuum under sofas, cupboards and other harder to reach places, and also folds completely in half for storage. One battery lasts 60 minutes meaning I could comfortably vacuum my entire flat in one go, though if you have a bigger house you might consider investing in the double battery version. 
Overall I found the Shark very easy to set up and use, although emptying the dust bin was a bit fiddly. It’s also slightly more cumbersome than our top choice, the Dyson, as it weighs a reasonably hefty 4kg. 
Currently £299, Hoover
Best cordless vacuum for getting into corners, 10/10
We like: the Corner Genie head is brilliant for reaching nooks and crannies
We don’t like: it’s a little top heavy when using the Corner Genie head
A popular complaint I have when reviewing cordless vacuums is the lack of edge to edge cleaning, visible when you vacuum alongside sideboards or cupboards and find a thin trail of dust left behind. Hoover has combated that pretty spectacularly with its new vacuum, the Corner Genie.
Concealed within the head, which can be removed via a foot pedal, is a small, stout nozzle with a flexible hinge so that it can reach any corner possible – I tested it behind toilets, underneath beds and beneath cupboards. All those places for which you’re a bit embarrassed to admit when you last cleaned them. If I’m being picky, it’s a little top heavy, which makes it slightly cumbersome to manoeuvre the narrow Corner Genie head.
Thankfully, as needed for cleaning those long ignored areas, the vacuum has a large bin capacity of 1.19l. Instead of having one dust bin at the top of the vacuum, almost the entirety of the stick is a dust bin. It’s simple to empty, too, although you do need to remove the head.
With four attachments and an alternative dust bin to use in handheld mode, the vacuum is completely modular and, in a slightly nerdy way, quite fun to play around with. In terms of actual vacuuming, it also performs well. I tested this vacuum in a bedroom particularly loved by my long-haired tabby cat, whose thick fur could probably withstand the pull of a black hole. Yet after a few passes, the Hoover managed to suck up the matted mess and, best of all, none of it was left on the brush thanks to the anti-twist technology (Hoover’s equivalent to Shark’s anti hair-wrap).
When not in use, the vacuum stands upright of its own accord and can also be folded in half for smaller storage. That said, it’s by no means an ugly vacuum if you don’t have the space for storing it away, I love the rose gold accents and the slimline design. The LED screen shows you how much charge time you have left and lets you toggle between hard floor, carpet or turbo mode.
Bundles available from £249.99, Halo
Best robust cordless vacuum, 10/10
We like: it’s remarkably lightweight, at 2.6kg
We don’t like: bags need rebuying
Like the Henry Quick below, the Halo Capsule X uses bags instead of a dust container for holding the dirt, which are concealed inside a carbon fibre container. When the dust pouch indicator shows red, just detach it and pop the compostable pouch straight in the bin, to be replaced by another bag. You do have to repurchase bags as you go, so you’ll end up paying more than just the outright cost of the vacuum – but they hold 2l of dirt, which is a lot for a cordless. So you won’t have to replace the bag too regularly.
I tested the Halo Capsule X in a friend’s flat which is home to three long-haired women and I’m pleased to say it picked up hair superbly well. There’s no special hair detangling technology, but after several sessions there wasn’t too much hair stuck around the brush roll. It takes seconds to detach anyway.
The steering is good and the swivel hits the sweet spot between being flexible enough to reach the brush head into nooks and crannies and controlled enough that you can still easily steer. The LED light at the end of the head helps for seeing what you’re cleaning. Weighing just 2.6kg, it’s also the lightest vacuum I tried, making it an excellent option for anyone lacking arm or shoulder strength.
As with most cordless vacuums, what it lacks is battery life. Halo claims it can last up to 60 minutes, although I found it didn’t last that long. However, the recharge time is an impressively short two hours, much less than most cordless batteries and Halo has introduced interchangeable batteries so you can continue vacuuming even after the first battery runs out. 
All in all the vacuum feels sturdy and, although I’ll have to report back on this front, feels like it will last a long time.
£799.99, Dyson
Best vacuum and mop, 9/10
We like: the convenience of having two appliances in one
We don’t like: the mop head is annoying to empty
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is almost identical to its predecessor, the Dyson V15, except for the fact it comes with a brand new mop attachment. You may be thinking, why can’t I just buy the attachment and put it on my V15? Sadly they’re not compatible, so you will have to get this new model.
As a cordless vacuum it’s good, sharing the old V15’s suction power of 240 Air Watts and battery life of up to an hour, but switch to the submarine head and it becomes futuristic. The head contains two tanks, one for clean water and one for dirty water. It’s all self-contained – no water enters the vacuum. Instead the clean water is distributed across the soft roller as you pull the trigger, hoovering and mopping as you go, with the dirty water deposited into the second tank.
I’ve tested a lot of vacuums in my time on The Telegraph’s Recommended channel and while others triumph in terms of robustness, usability and storage, nothing beats Dyson when it comes to suction power. The story with the mop head is no different. I like that I don’t have to vacuum before mopping, since the submarine head does both. 
The motor in the head propels the vacuum, pulling slightly but not enough that you lose control. It’s a little awkward to get into corners, but not enough to be an issue. The difference it made to my grubby kitchen floor was seriously impressive. My flatmate commented on it unprompted.
Emptying the mop head is a bit of a faff, however. You have to empty the waste extraction tray of debris and dirty water. I’ve emptied it upwards of 10 times now and got dirty water over my hands each time. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it. If that’s my only complaint (apart from maybe the price), then I’d mark the Detect Submarine as a success for Dyson.
£199.97, Amazon
Best cordless stick vacuum, 9/10
We like: the best hair detangling tech on the market
We don’t like: it’s heavy for a cordless vacuum
If you liked the look of the Shark Stratos above but want something a little cheaper, this Cordless Stick Vacuum is an excellent option. The battery didn’t last quite as long on test, the suction wasn’t quite as good and it doesn’t have anti-odour technology but it still out-performed so many other cordless vacuums I tried. It’s also worth keeping an eye on the price, as you can often find it on sale.
I tested this in a house with two moulting labradors and a cat. The previous vacuum had struggled with the amount of fur and eventually given up suction, while this Shark vacuum cleared the space beneath the vacuum in one swipe, leaving the carpet visibly whiter. Better still, the brush head roller came away clean, meaning the anti hair wrap really does work. 
I tried it on the hard kitchen floor as well – the vacuum simply requires you to toggle the mode from carpet to hard floor which is convenient, lots of other vacuums require a change of brush head. It delivered an impressive clean wherever I tried it, including in handheld mode, a true testament to its suction power.
Design wise, it’s smart looking with a bend in the middle both for storage and for reaching under beds or coffee tables, accessible via a button on the back. It’s also kept up with the market by introducing an LED light in the head so you can really see the dirt and dust before vacuuming it up (sometimes a little better than you’d like). 
My one niggle with the vacuum is that it’s quite hefty for a cordless vacuum at 4.58kg, making it slightly more cumbersome others. It’s only really noticeable in handheld mode but there nonetheless.
In the same range: 
Shark’s Detect Pro Cordless Vacuum (£299) might better suit anyone who enjoys Shark’s technologies but wants something a little more lightweight.
Currently £301.87, Amazon
Best vacuum for large houses, 9/10
We like: suction power automatically adjusts to floor type
We don’t like: it’s top-heavy
Best known for their frying pans, this is Tefal’s first venture into the world of vacuum cleaners. The range is named after the hinge in the middle which bends to help you reach under tables and cupboards. Clever, but no longer a novelty, with Shark, Bosch and Beldray vacuums all doing something very similar.
Another technology that’s both useful but not unique is the ‘Auto Surface Floor Detection’ which does what it says on the tin. Essentially, the vacuum cleaner detects whether you’re vacuuming hard floor or carpet and adapts the suction power. The benefit of this – something Tefal has over Dyson – is that one brush does both floors, so you don’t have to keep switching if you have a mix of carpet and hard floors.
Having said that you do still get a range of attachments, including an animal turbo brush, a crevice tool, an upholstery brush and a mini flexible tool that’s great for cars. There are also built-in dust brushes beneath the floor head brush and the stick which is convenient. I particularly like the dust brush on the end of the stick which is great for reaching pesky ceiling cobwebs.
I did find, in this configuration, that the vacuum is heavy in hand. It’s quite top heavy so not the best for anyone with weak wrists.
However, it’s convenient in that it has a long battery life of one hour and 20 minutes, it’s powerful at 230 Air Watts (the Dyson Gen5 Detect in first place is only just more powerful, at 262 Air Watts) and has a large bin capacity of 0.9l. I’d say it’s best suited to large houses and big families.
£350, John Lewis
Best cordless vacuum for ease of use, 8/10
We like: decent battery life
We don’t like: no hair detangling technology
Bosch is know for making robust tools and appliances that work and last for a long time. That certainly describes the Unlimited 7, a workhorse that lacks bells and whistles but has an impressive battery life (I actually managed an hour).
Ease of use is at its core, with a four-way sliding switch in the handle for selecting Off, Eco, Turbo or Auto modes. The Auto mode adjusts the suction depending on the floor type detected, much like the Dyson and Tefal above. 
The benefit of this is that you only need one core brush head. In Bosch’s case, this is a fairly basic attachment with two spiral brush heads inside. There are LED lights at the front, but it lacks hair detangling technology, which should really be a given in 2024.
Other attachments include a two-in-one furniture and upholstery brush, a crevice nozzle and a long flexible crevice brush, which I found particularly useful for cleaning my car – a job I usually put off.
The suction isn’t quite as impressive as many others on this list, which is worth bearing in mind if you have pets, long hair or deep carpets. I found this most effective on hard floors.
£349.99, Gtech
Best cordless vacuum, 8/10
We like: it’s lightweight and has a great battery life
We don’t like: the handheld feature doesn’t come as standard
Reviewed by Luke Anderson
The latest addition to Gtech’s family of cordless vacuums is the AirRAM Platinum. This lightweight, upgraded model is their flagship product, coming in at £120 more than the base AirRAM model. 
I have to admit, I was slightly dubious before the Platinum arrived after hearing some stories from close friends who struggled with older models losing suction, but I was pleasantly surprised. I have been using the Platinum for a few months and it’s still as good as the day I took it out of the box. 
My favourite feature is the anti-hair wrap technology. Teamed with AirLOC, which targets larger debris, this a godsend in my household. My two previous vacuums broke when they got entangled with my partner’s long hair. The AirRam makes light work of picking it off the carpet. A Forward Inertia Drive makes it easy to push around.
It’s not without its flaws. Firstly, the large bezel makes it impossible to clean in tight corners and up to, or on top of, skirting boards (which is actually where most of the dust collects). Secondly, it doesn’t feature a handheld section as standard. It’s included as a bundle for £599.98.
Overall, though, the Gtech AirRam Platinum has exceeded my expectations for its impressive cleaning performance, lightweight design and excellent battery life.
£129, Amazon
Best budget cordless vacuum, 8/10
We like: great performance on all types of floor covering
We don’t like: doesn’t fold so tricky to store, unless you employ the wall mount
This bagless Pace is one of the lighter machines that we’ve tested, certainly the lightest one at this price. Pushing it around on my floors, the Pace is unavoidably top-heavy but still feels surprisingly nimble, thanks to the combination of a well-designed swivel mechanism and compact sized, LED-equipped brush head.  
Power comes from a single, detachable, rechargeable 4.0Ah VAX ONEPWR battery module. VAX’s quoted 40 minutes run-time is very optimistic – use the brush bar and you’ll be lucky to see half of that – but it’s plenty long-lasting enough to take care of most quick clean-ups.
Given the price, it’s no surprise you don’t get the nifty LCD display of the VAX Blade 5 (above), but the Pace does have easily reached, handle-mounted controls to activate the brush bar and boost suction power. Underneath those, there’s a red LED that flashes to tell you when you’re down to less than 20 per cent charge, a useful touch.
The crevice tool/dusting brush (it’s the only supplied attachment) is a practical one, though you may wonder why the included wall mount, needed to store the machine upright (the Pace can’t fold in half), doesn’t also have a clip for it. 
The cleaning performance more than compensates: the Pace is genuinely impressive, especially for what’s a relatively budget-priced cordless stick. Small, light debris, like rice, on hard flooring is sucked up instantly. Carpet’s harder going but, after a return pass, it still scooped up every bit of flour on our short-pile sample. Hairs were gathered up well, too, but with the proviso you’ll be stopping regularly to remove them from the brush bar (there’s no hair detangling tech with this model, or indeed the step-up Pace Pet version, £129). 
Be warned, though, hair also gets regularly gets wrapped around the separator. It doesn’t drop out when you empty the dirt container so removing it requires either pushing fingers up into the tight space surrounding it, or the complete removal of the filter and separator assembly to clean it out. A little messier than it should be, then, but nowhere serious enough a niggle to dampen our enthusiasm: the VAX Pace puts up a decent show.
£119.99, Amazon
Best cordless vacuum under £100, 8/10
We like: it’s very quiet
We don’t like: it’s hard to empty, you’ll find yourself sticking your hand into the dust bin to clear
The Beldray Smartflex doesn’t look quite as premium as other models, with chunky plastic joints and a basic LED screen. But if it’s a budget vacuum you’re after, you won’t find much better for the price. Despite weighing 4.4kg, it was actually one of the most comfortable vacuums to use thanks to the weight distribution.
It’s comparable to costlier models in terms of features; there’s a Shark-style hinge in the middle of the stick for reaching underneath furniture and smart blockage sensors which alert you via the digital display if there’s an obstruction. It also has an LED light, so you can see what you’re vacuuming.
I did find the brush head a little too flexible, verging on the wobbly. The hinge could do with being a little stiffer. A couple of other complaints would be that the dust bin is difficult to empty. It’s easy enough to open – simply remove the handle from the stick and flick the switch to release the lid over a bin – but you’ll find yourself reaching inside to remove the excessive hair and dust wrapped around the filter, which is always a bit gross. 
Finally, although you probably wouldn’t expect it at this price, there’s no hair detangling function, meaning the brush head will need regular cleaning. It’s probably not the best vacuum for a household filled with pets.
£300, Argos
Best for bin capacity, 8/10
We like: the disposable bin pods: no dust when you empty it into the bin
We don’t like: slightly taxing on the wrist
The Henry Quick is everything the UK loves about the smiley-faced cylinder vacuum, transformed into a cordless design which comes in Henry red, Hetty pink, or graphite. It’s reliable, sturdy and considerably more powerful than most, but for many the standout feature will be the removable dust pod which gives dust-free emptying. 
With one click, you release it directly into a bin and then fit another one. Each standard purchase of the vacuum comes with 26 Henry pods which are made of up to 65 per cent recycled material and are carbon offset, so you can go through them relatively guilt-free.
The Quick comes with three detachable heads for the floor and carpet, upholstery and crevices and a power boost for the more trying messes. The pack does only come with one battery, which takes two and a half hours to fully charge and only lasts between 14 and 60 minutes, depending on the mode. That being said, during my testing, I found the standard mode picked up everything I needed it to on carpet, so the battery life will usually be nearer to the 60 minutes.
The Henry is not the heaviest we tested, but the weight distribution means it is quite taxing on your wrist, especially in handheld mode. That’s justified by the high suction power and the dust capacity of one litre. It definitely packs a punch in what is a compact design. Considering the traditional Henry vacuum is pretty substantial, this new Henry Quick is versatile, powerful and easy to use.
Currently £899, John Lewis
Best looking cordless vacuum cleaner, 7/10
We like: much greater suction than the power rating suggests
We don’t like: the price
What first struck me about this vacuum cleaner was its looks: all grey pearlised body and metallic accents. I wouldn’t spend nearly £750 on a vacuum for looks alone, but luckily it has impressive performance credentials too.
Its main point of difference is the three-in-one design. The dust bin can either fix onto the top as shown above, which allows greater flexibility for harder-to-reach nooks and crannies (such as under the bed), or on the bottom, directly above the floor head, for a more comfortable vacuum. The third configuration is to remove the long stick and attach the head directly to the handle, using it as a handheld.
I was surprised how much the weight distribution affected the ease of use. With the dust bin at the bottom of the vacuum, manoeuvring was light and easy. It also stood up on its own, a rarity among cordless vacuums. Fitted to the top, it felt bulky and awkward, which unfortunately extended to the handheld mode. This is not a light machine. 
In its defence, the HX2 is extremely powerful and definitely punches above its 322W rating. I’d say its suction power was equivalent to the Dyson Gen5 Detect at the top of this list.
It comes with a great range of attachments including an upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, dusting brush and floorhead with light. An extra battery is also included, which doubles the cleaning time to an incredibly impressive 120 minutes. What’s not so impressive is the four hours it takes to recharge. 
It doesn’t have a digital display: instead you mechanically switch between eco, min and max mode. This will suit those of us more comfortable with older tech, but I’d expect more modernity from Miele. 
In the same range:
Miele’s £369  Duoflex HX1 is equally robust and easy to use and is half the price. You really are paying quite a premium here for 50 Watts more power. At this price level, the competition is our top pick, the Dyson Gen5 Detect. I would say the Miele is likely to last longer (Dysons can be fragile), but it’s a tough call.
 
When cordless vacuum cleaners first came out, they weren’t very good: they had a low run time and poor suction. These days, you can get suction around two-thirds as strong as a corded device and battery life of up to an hour.
However, the biggest benefit is convenience – a cordless vacuum cleaner allows you to clean little and often, rather than doing one weekly deep clean, and to easily spot-clean dust or spillages without the faff of dust bags and cables.  
There’s quite a big range in battery life. While some last under 10 minutes on the maximum setting, others go for much longer. The Dyson Gen5 Detect, for example, will function for just over an hour on the lowest setting, without losing power as the battery life diminishes. And, for what it’s worth, the lowest setting on the best devices was more than enough: I didn’t really find the need to use any on the max setting. 
Charging the batteries is straightforward. You’ll get a plug to charge wherever you like, but you can also connect it to a wall mount (which has to be attached to your wall, and will become your charging station). 
You’ll also get useful lights on the handheld section of the machine, to tell you how long you’ve got left. If you’re worried about the battery life, unless you have a huge home which you want to clean in one go, you should be fine. Never did I run out of battery, albeit in a small three-bed flat. 
One litre is the most you should expect from a cordless vacuum and some can hold as little as 30cl. (Compare this to cylinder vacuums which hold anything from two to six litres.) They do need emptying regularly.
Aside from the Henry Quick and Halo Capsule X, the machines we tested are all bagless. Instead, they have dust canisters. A smaller canister can fill up quickly if you’re cleaning your whole house, but emptying is as simple as flicking a switch or clicking a button. 
A bagged option might be better for dust allergy sufferers, or asthmatics, as there is a danger of breathing in particles when emptying the canister. It is also important to maintain your device properly by taking the pre-filter out and cleaning it to prevent blockages and a decline in performance. It’s as simple as running it under the tap and leaving it to dry.
Like their plug-in counterparts, many cordless vacuums these days have a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, capable of trapping 99.97 percent of particles measuring 0.3 microns or more. That includes dust, smoke, pollen, bacteria and even some viruses. HEPA filters are made from interlaced and twisted glass microfibres. They should not be washed. Instead, regularly wash the sponge pre-filter that sits above it.
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