Get the dirt on the best cordless vacuums

The best cordless stick vacuums are maneuverable and lightweight without sacrificing the cleaning power of a corded model (and without costing too much). Tineco Pure One S11, which offers top-tier cordless cleaning power, a lightweight design and a lower asking price than comparable models from the likes of Dyson, Samsung and other top manufacturers, is probably the best value out there. 

That said, there are plenty of other perfectly capable cordless vacuums to recommend.

WHAT Tineco Pure One S11

THE COST $299.99

AVAILABLE FROM store.tineco.com

The reasonably priced Tineco Pure One S11 performs as if it costs a lot more, with outstanding results in each test it was put through. The vacuum sucked up 99% of the sand that was scattered to simulate dust and other fine particles, and 100% of the black rice used as an analog for crumbs and other larger bits of debris.

On low-pile carpet, it has a sand score of 93% and another perfect 100% with the black rice. It's a strong performer on plushier, midpile carpets, too, gathering up 78% of the sand and, once again, 100% of the black rice. Crumbs don't stand a chance against this thing.

WHAT Dyson V15 Detect

THE COST $649.99

AVAILABLE FROM dyson.com

Say hello to the best Dyson cordless vacuum, the Dyson V15 Detect. As the company's flagship cordless vacuum, it's expensive, but it cleans with ruthless competence.

The trick up this Dyson's sleeve is the impressive 230 air watts of suction power from the cleaning head, which is 100 air watts more than any Tineco vacuum, and more than you'll get from even costlier Samsung vacuums. That suction translates into performance. The V15 Detect was able to remove 88% of the sand in the midpile carpet challenge, as well as 95% from low-pile carpet. The V15 is a great cordless vacuum for pet hair, too.

WHAT Tineco A11 Hero

THE COST $329.99

AVAILABLE FROM store.tineco.com

Apart from being a strong performer in the pet hair tests, the A11 Hero was near flawless on hardwood floors, vacuuming up 97% of sand and 98% of black rice. It also removed a respectable 83% of sand and a near-perfect 99% of black rice in low-pile carpet tests. With all of those extra fibers for dirt to cling to, midpile carpet was more of a struggle, as the A11 Hero's sand score fell to 73%, but it still nailed the black rice test, sucking up 98% of the stuff.