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Buying guide

Most powerful cordless vacuums

Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick

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Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    Dyson V15 Detect Animal: High Torque head adapts power

    A piezo sensor sizes and counts dust and raises suction automatically, with the result shown on the LCD screen.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Best value

    Dreame Z20: 250 AW and 140,000 rpm

    Lighting on both brushes reveals hidden dust on hard floors, says the maker.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Most features

    Samsung Bespoke Jet Plus Pro Extra: 210 W, Clean Station

    The Clean Station uses Air Pulse to empty the bin and also charges the battery.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Suction figures are the first thing most listings shout about, but they are not measured the same way. Dyson and Dreame quote air watts, Samsung quotes suction power in watts, and some makers give pascals or nothing at all, so the numbers cannot be lined up directly. On deep carpet the floor head matters as much as the motor: a stiff, driven brush bar that opens the pile, a head that raises power when it feels resistance, and enough runtime in the higher modes to finish a room. This guide compares seven flagship and near flagship sticks on the suction and motor figures each maker states, the carpet head supplied, runtime and listed weight, and explains how each one is designed to get its power into the carpet.

All products compared

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

The products in detail

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 1 · Dyson

Dyson V15 Detect Animal: High Torque head adapts power

Dyson's sensor-led flagship stick, with a piezo dust sensor, an LCD particle readout and a High Torque head that adapts power to the floor. It suits larger homes with mixed floors and hair.

In its favour

  • A piezo sensor sizes and counts dust and raises suction automatically, with the result shown on the LCD screen.
  • The High Torque head checks brush bar resistance 360 times a second in Auto mode to adapt to carpet or hard floor.
  • A Hair screw tool with a conical brush bar is included for sofas, stairs and pet beds.

Good to know

  • At a listed 3 kg it is one of the heavier sticks here, which you notice when cleaning overhead.
  • The listing gives one maximum runtime and does not break it down by power mode or head.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Dyson V15 Detect Animal Cordless Stick Cleaner

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 2 · dreame

Dreame Z20: 250 AW and 140,000 rpm

A 2 kg Dreame with a lit soft roller and a lit multi-surface brush, so hidden dust on hard floors shows up. Long runtime makes it a strong pick for larger hard-floored homes.

In its favour

  • Lighting on both brushes reveals hidden dust on hard floors, says the maker.
  • Infrared dirt detection adjusts suction automatically.
  • Up to 90 minutes of runtime is listed by the maker.

Good to know

  • UK spare soft rollers are less widely stocked than Dyson parts.
  • The listing does not give a noise figure.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: dreame Z20 Aspirapolvere Senza Fili, Aspirazione da 250 AW, Tempo Mass...

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 3 · Samsung

Samsung Bespoke Jet Plus Pro Extra: 210 W, Clean Station

A Samsung stick with 210 W suction and an All-in-One Clean Station that empties the bin and charges the battery. It suits busy homes that want bin emptying handled at the dock.

In its favour

  • The Clean Station uses Air Pulse to empty the bin and also charges the battery.
  • Two floor heads are supplied: the Jet Dual Brush and a Slim Action LED brush for hard floors.
  • A Pet Tool+ with rubber nozzle and bristles is included, plus a 5 year warranty.

Good to know

  • The 0.5 L bin is the smallest among the full-size sticks here, though the dock offsets that.
  • Listed noise of 86 dB is the highest figure quoted in this guide.
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Listing title: Samsung Bespoke Jet PLUS Pro Extra Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Max ...

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 4 · dreame

Dreame Z30 Ultra: 330 AW from a 150,000 rpm motor

Dreame's high-suction stick, rated at up to 330 AW with a lit universal brush that detects floor type. It suits people who want long runtime and strong filtration specs at 2.2 kg.

In its favour

  • The maker quotes up to 330 AW of suction from a 150,000 rpm motor.
  • Up to 90 minutes of runtime is listed, the longest single-battery figure in this guide.
  • A motorised mini brush is supplied for upholstery and stairs, plus a soft dust brush.

Good to know

  • Spare parts and service support in the UK are less established than for Dyson or Shark.
  • The listing does not give a noise figure or the charge time.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Dreame Z30 Ultra cordless shaft vacuum cleaner with 330 AW suction pow...

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 5 · Samsung

Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra: 400 W suction

Samsung's top stick, with up to 400 W suction, an Active Dual LED brush for carpets and AI Cleaning Mode. Two batteries make it the best runtime pick for large carpeted homes.

In its favour

  • Samsung lists up to 400 W suction, the highest claim in this guide.
  • AI Cleaning Mode adjusts battery use and power to the floor automatically.
  • Two batteries give up to 100 plus 60 minutes, so boost on carpet is less of a worry.

Good to know

  • At 3.18 kg it is one of the heavier sticks here.
  • The listing does not state bin capacity, though the Clean Station empties it.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Samsung VS90F40EEM/WD Bespoke AI Jet Ultra Battery + CompleteClean Cor...

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 6 · Samsung

Samsung Bespoke AI Jet CompleteClean: 280 W suction

An AI Jet with the Slim LED+ brush for hard floors and AI Cleaning Mode that adjusts power to the surface. One battery keeps the cost below the Ultra.

In its favour

  • The Slim LED+ brush lights up fine dust on hard floors.
  • AI Cleaning Mode adapts battery use and power to the floor.
  • A 10-year warranty on the motor is listed.

Good to know

  • One battery limits runtime to 60 minutes.
  • The listing does not give a weight for the stick.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Samsung BESPOKE AI Jet CompleteClean VS80F28EFP/WD Cordless Handheld V...

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 7 · dreame

Dreame T20: 25,000 Pa and four power modes

A light Dreame stick with a colour screen and four power modes. The listed weight is the lowest here, and runtime reaches 70 minutes in standard mode, which covers a flat with charge to spare.

In its favour

  • At a listed 1.67 kg it is the lightest machine in this guide.
  • Dreame states up to 70 minutes in standard mode and 30 minutes in deep clean mode.
  • An HD colour screen shows the working status, and four modes are switched at a button.

Good to know

  • The listing does not describe the floor head or what tools are in the box.
  • No wall mount or charging stand is stated, so plan where it will live.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: dreame T20 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, HD Full Colour Screen, 25 kPa Stro...

More buying guides: Carpets and stairs

Wand and Floor chooses every product independently, based on what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission on purchases made through the affiliate links above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.