Reviewing the best alternatives to Dyson cordless vacuums in the UK

When browsing online vacuum retailers, you will find an almost endless range of cordless hoovers: expensive, cheap, 2-in-1 cordless vacuums, cordless upright hoovers, stick vacuums, with bag, bagless and much more... 😱

Checking out independent review portals is definitely worth doing.

Most devices don't come close to Dyson's standards and you'll probably be sorely disappointed if you're not careful when buying.

But which affordable cordless hoovers are comparable to Dyson?

Strictly speaking, budget cordless vacuums don’t compare to the latest Dyson models.

Our tests have shown that: They are usually worlds apart. 🌎

But don't worry, a few devices we have reviewed have given us hope.

Even with the best budget cordless vacuum cleaners, you will still have to make some sacrifices and forgo top quality.

But depending on your needs, that might not be a problem either!

Here are our cheap Dyson vacuum alternatives in the UK. 👇

A cordless hoover has to meet certain criteria to be good, regardless of whether it's a Dyson or otherwise.

If a cordless vacuum cleaner meets these criteria, then it is comparable to Dysons...

… because Dyson vacuums usually score highly in all of these categories. 🤩

Cleaning performance

Cleaning performance is the most important factor, and suction power plays a massive role here.

Dyson has so far been the undisputed winner in terms of Airwatts.

The best Dyson cordless vacuums we’ve reviewed cracked the 200 Airwatt mark! 🚀

But does a vacuum cleaner need that many airwatts?

It depends, because powerful suction isn’t everything. Of course, good suction power is important, but so are fine-tuning and the interaction of the individual elements (brush head, dirt pick-up etc.).

And this is where other brands can make up for the lack of performance.

Versatility: What can I use the device for?

An important question, because this is where opinions differ.

2-in-1 devices tcan be used as a floor hoover as well as a handheld vacuum. Then there are upright vacuum cleaners that can only be used for hoovering floors.

Some cordless vacuum cleaners can only clean hardwood floors properly, and others are also good for carpet cleaning.

Dysons are suitable for all surfaces, and that should also be the benchmark for a Dyson vacuum dupe.

We test cordless hoovers on a variety of floor types to see how they stack up.

You can find the results here:

→ The best cordless hoovers on carpets

→ The best cordless hoovers on hard floors

How can I tell how versatile a vacuum cleaner is?

The only thing that helps is reading reviews (for example, on Smart Home Fox 🦊) or trying it out yourself.

We recommend the former to save you time and money, and are happy to support you as much as we can. 😉

How decisive are the package contents?

The accessories that are included in your order also play an important role. The various attachments usually make your hoover much more versatile.

Here are two examples of all the accessories that come with the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute and the Tineco Pure One s12 Pro Ex.

While the current standard for included accessories tends to be:

• the floorhead (motorised brush bar),
• a vacuum wand, of course 😀,
• a crevice tool for the cracks and corners,
• a multi-surface dusting brush,
• and a wall mount / charger.

The imagination of manufacturers seems to have no limit when it comes to the possible attachments. There are, for example:

• Cleaner heads especially for hard floors
• Brush rolls especially for carpets
• Attachments for mattresses
• Hinged attachments for easily cleaning under sofas and around corners
• Flexible joint nozzles
• Motorised tools
• Filter cleaning attachments and
• much more 🚂

With the right accessories, your hoover can enter handheld mode in a flash.

As you can see, it's worth taking a closer look. 👀

Battery performance, removable battery, charging time...

These factors are also important to consider when testing cordless vacuum cleaners. And when it comes to the batteries, the wheat is often separated from the chaff.

Normally, the devices are equipped with a lithium-ion battery.

But here too:

Not all batteries are created equal. 💁

Cordless vacuums with good battery life have a runtime starting from 45 minutes up to 90 minutes. The 90-minute runtime, however, tends to be recorded in eco-mode. And, of course, surface, suction power and how it’s used will always have an impact.

For example, vacuum cleaners run out of power more quickly when you vacuum a thick carpet or use a high power mode, like turbo. On laminate, on the other hand, devices have a longer battery life...

...either way, you'll probably end up having to recharge. 😇

So having sufficiently long battery life, short charging times and, ideally, a battery that can be changed are all extremely practical features to look out for when choosing your Dyson alternative.

Filters for cordless vacuums

The best cordless vacuums available today use HEPA filters.

HEPA filters ensure that the air that is sucked in comes out clean. HEPA filters vary in performance, and the best ones filter up to 99.9 percent of tiny dust particles and allergens (0.3 microns).

This filtration is a real benefit, especially for allergy sufferers. 🚂

By the way, we’ve also tested the best cordless hoovers for allergy sufferers.

Manoeuvrability and ease of use

Handling should be as simple and self-explanatory as possible. The top brands do this very well.

The quality has to be right, the joints and connections must work smoothly, and the device should be well thought-out.

Most cordless hoovers do not need a dust bag, which saves time, protects the environment and your wallet.

The dust canister is simply emptied directly above the bin, and dirt should not make its way back into your home while doing so.

So bagless is the way to go! 💃

But that doesn't mean there aren't good alternatives with bags. Vorwerk, for example, has a cordless vacuum cleaner with a bag. The Vorwerk Kobold VB100 is interesting in this regard.

The topic of cordless vacuum-mop combos has become increasingly popular in recent years!

And for good reason - after all, you can cut out an extra chore with one device.

But which cordless vacs have this ability?

Clearly, Dyson's can't do this yet. But there are some good alternatives, for example from Tineco and Philips.

Mop attachments for Dyson cordless vacuums are only produced by third-party sellers. You have to be very careful if you decide to buy a Dyson mop attachment. Unfortunately, there is a lot of rubbish doing the rounds...

Another option you may find interesting:

A modern cordless floor cleaner! It can vacuum and mop at the same time, but it’s geared more towards mopping. It has water tanks for clean and dirty water and you can even vacuum up liquids.