Best Handheld Vacuums in the UK

The Black & Decker Dustbuster is a real finding for those who value high suction power and a user-friendly design united in a handheld vacuum cleaner; this model does have something to offer.

The first feature that many cordless vacs miss is high suction power. With some models, cleaning even the slightest mess becomes frustrating. But this one proves that using a battery-operating compact handheld cleaner can be effective and pleasant. The Dustbuster can remove almost any spill from hard floors, carpets, furniture, and textile surfaces even in its default mode. And when you double press the on/off button, the Intelligent Boost mode turns on. It offers some extra suction power and helps you clean very fine dust from carpets and textiles with ease. Also, the suction power is so high due to the cyclonic suction that spins dust away from the filter, thus improving the cleaning process.

As for usability, the manufacturer has equipped the DVJ325BF-AMGB model with SmartTech sensors that detect and then inform you about the condition of your vacuum cleaner. There is a sensor that monitors the level of the battery charge and a filter sensor that informs you when the filter is clogged and needs replacement or a cleanup. All this information is arranged on the LED screen right next to the on/off button.

The Shark WV200UK has performance and utility going its way but, before anything else, this vac is as sleek and streamlined as they come.

More often than not, handheld vacuum cleaners look cheap and uninspired, sometimes even bulky and inconvenient. That's not the case here.

As you can probably tell, this thing looks smooth and elegant. The unit's silver housing adds massive aesthetics points and the concealed profile makes this vac look less cluttered than most high-tech devices.

You can put the charging base anywhere you want without worrying about this unit ruining the space's flow/aesthetic.

Some believe that the handle is pretty fat though, so people with small hands might find this vac relatively impractical.

On the upside, the unit (without the base) measures 22 x 9.5 x 38.5 centimetres and 0.6 kilograms, which is ridiculously compact and lightweight even by handheld vacuum standards.

The charging base is pretty streamlined too, so you can place this thing even onto most countertops without sacrificing that precious 'top space that you usually want to converse.

The vac takes very little time to recharge. Also, the fully recharged battery will provide around 8-minute runtime, so you'll have enough time to quickly clean up various spots and places.

Right off the bat, the Vax Gator Cordless H85-GA-B10 works off a 0.8V electric motor which despite a seemingly modest rating generates plenty of power to let the device cope with most typical cleaning jobs, including collecting fine dust, scattered breadcrumbs, pet hair and other small debris which you would otherwise have to pick by hand. The main nozzle is positioned at the optimal angle to easily edge through upholstered cushions and clean dirt from carpets and around the stairs. This nozzle has a rather wide opening which allows the vac to catch more debris per one go, setting it aside from many other models within its price range.

The only complaint that we have with this vacuum cleaner is that it doesn't have a motorised brush tool, meaning the device won't be able to increase the suction power and as a result, might struggle to pick up all dander and hair from carpets.

When it comes to the run time, the device provides the average 15 minutes of operation. Though it needs about 12 hours to recharge, so it is best to leave it to recharge overnight.

There are a lot of things we love about the Laresar 11.1V handheld vacuum cordless cleaner. First things first, it's the humanised front LED light design. Equipped with a bright LED light, it makes it easier to clean in the darkness, ensuring you see every corner of your space and never miss a spot.

Another thing we love about this vacuum cleaner is its packaging. Not a lot of devices from its class come with so many accessories right out of the box and give you so many cleaning options. Thus, along with the hoover itself, the box contains four accessories, such as a flat nozzle, a sofa brush, an extension tube, and a 2-in-1 flat nozzle. Thanks to this, the Laresar 11.1 V does a great job of cleaning virtually any surfaces, delivering amazing performance on hardwood and carpeted floors, ceilings, upholstery, soft furniture, and car seats, and cleaning all nooks and crannies of your living space.

Obviously, accessories alone wouldn't be enough of a reason to give it a leg up on other similar hoovers. It's also the motor with its effective power suction output of 17000pa and two levels of suction power that makes its performance outstanding. Consequently, you can customise the unit depending on what you need to do and achieve brilliant results on all types of floors and surfaces without having to bend down. Moreover, the device stands out for its ultra-quiet operation, producing no more than 69dB. This makes it twice less noisy than a traditional vacuum cleaner (check how loud it is here).

Whereas most handheld cleaners are not that capable, designed to complement standard vacuums but not replace them, the BLACK+DECKER 18 V Lithium-Ion Compact Pivot Vacuum is a different story. This portable appliance is huge, allegedly outputting 980 watts to capture anything from the tiniest dust particles to sizable debris.

Despite that, the model's almost as compact and lightweight as most handheld vacuums, measuring 17.8 x 15.5 x 29.2 centimetres and 1.38 kilogrammes. This is not the sleekest package we've looked at but easily the sleekest package at its output level.

Where the unit's size proves too much, you can use the integrated extendable nose to access awkward places, easily cleaning between car seats, sofa cushions, beneath the couch, and more. The on-board cleaning brush will let you capture dirt and debris from soft furnishings without breaking any sweat.

But even where the extendable nose cannot reach, this unit does not retreat. Instead, the vacuum offers its biggest standout feature - the patented nozzle that pivots 200 degrees so that even the most awkward, hard-to-reach spaces become easily accessible from any angle, letting you clean underneath different furniture pieces and reach high shelves without any support structures.