Cordless Vacuums · Guide
How to Choose a Cordless Stick Vacuum
A cordless stick vacuum is three trade-offs in a stick: how hard it pulls, how long it runs, and how much it fights your arm. Marketing sells you a single big number — Air Watts or kPa — but those don't compare across brands, and the headline runtime is an eco-mode fantasy. This guide walks the three axes we score, then filtration, pet tools, docks, and what each budget tier actually buys.
Suction: Why the Big Number Lies
Two suction standards exist and they don't convert. Dyson quotes Air Watts (the Gen5detect: 280 AW); most rivals quote kPa (the Levoit LVAC-300: 30 kPa). A vacuum measured in kPa is not weaker or stronger than one in AW — the units describe different things, so any '30 kPa beats 280 AW' claim is noise. Worse, LG publishes no suction figure at all, yet the A925 still earns a 7/10 in our tested suction score. Shop the measured result, not the spec sheet. On our scale, the Gen5detect's 9/10 is the catalog's real suction ceiling.
Runtime: The Advertised Minutes Aren't Yours
Every headline runtime — the A925's 120 minutes, the Gen5detect's 70 — is measured in the lowest eco setting with a non-motorized tool. Switch to a motorized floor head on Boost or Max, where actual carpet cleaning happens, and you keep a fraction of that. This is why the Gen5detect scores only 5/10 for runtime despite '70 minutes': on max it drains fast. The A925 earns 9/10 because its larger reserve leaves genuinely usable high-power time, and its dock keeps it charged between runs. Judge the eco number as a ceiling you'll rarely touch, then discount hard.
Handling: Weight Is the Spec Nobody Reads
Suction wins reviews; weight wins the daily use. A heavy stick punishes you on stairs and above your head — curtains, ceiling corners, car interiors — where the motor sits in your hand. The Gen5detect's 9/10 suction comes attached to 7.7 pounds, which is why it lands just 4/10 on handling; Dyson's own Gen5outsize (8.3 lb) drops to 3/10, and Shark's Stratos (8.9 lb) to 2/10. The A925, at 5.9 pounds, keeps a 7/10 for handling without surrendering suction (also 7/10). If your home has stairs or you clean overhead often, weight should outrank the suction number.
Filtration, Pet Tools, and Docks
Three practical filters narrow the field fast. Sealed HEPA matters if anyone in the house has allergies — it means fine dust exits through the filter, not the seams; the A925, Gen5detect, and LVAC-300 all seal, but budget rivals like the Levoit LVAC-200 don't. A dedicated pet tool (a mini motorized brush) plus an anti-tangle main brush is what actually clears hair from carpet and upholstery — all three of our picks carry both. Docks range from none, to charge-only (the A925), to auto-empty (the LG A937). Auto-empty adds cost and a bulkier base; decide whether emptying a small bin yourself is really a chore.
What Each Budget Tier Actually Buys
Spending more isn't linear. Our budget pick, the Levoit LVAC-300 ($170), is notable for carrying sealed HEPA and a pet tool at a price where rivals drop one or both — a 5/10 overall that punches above its cost. The mid-tier LG CordZero A925 ($400) posts the catalog's top overall score, 7.7/10: light, long-running, sealed, docked. The premium Dyson Gen5detect ($950) buys the top suction score (9/10) and little else — its 6/10 overall trails the far cheaper LG because weight and real runtime drag it down. Pay up only if raw suction is your priority.
Our picks for this
Two swappable batteries: 120 minutes of real runtime
$400
7.7/10
The most powerful Dyson: 280 AW, laser dust reveal, HEPA
$950
6/10
HEPA filtration and a pet mini-brush for around $170
$170
5/10
FAQ
Is a higher kPa or Air Watts number better?
Neither, because they're not the same measurement. kPa gauges sealed pressure and Air Watts gauges airflow-plus-pressure, so a 30 kPa vacuum and a 280 AW vacuum can't be ranked by those figures alone. Compare vacuums within one unit if you must, but weigh tested performance and floor-head design over the headline spec.
How much runtime do I really need?
Less than the box claims, but plan around real use, not the eco-mode maximum. A 120-minute rating like the LG A925's collapses to a fraction on Boost with a motorized head, so a stated hour-plus is a safer floor for a whole apartment. If you have a larger home, prioritize a charging dock or a removable battery over a big advertised number.
Do I need sealed HEPA filtration?
If anyone in your home has allergies or asthma, yes. Sealed HEPA means the air leaves through the filter instead of escaping through gaps in the body, so fine dust and dander are actually captured. All three of our picks — the LVAC-300, A925, and Gen5detect — are sealed; several cheaper models, like the Levoit LVAC-200, are not.
Is the $950 Dyson worth it over a $400 LG?
Only if suction is the one axis you care about most. The Gen5detect posts the catalog's best suction score (9/10) but a 6/10 overall, held back by its 7.7-pound weight and short real-world runtime. The $400 LG A925 scores 7.7/10 overall by being lighter and longer-running, so for most buyers it's the better whole-package vacuum.
Are auto-empty docks worth it?
They're a convenience, not a cleaning upgrade. An auto-empty base (like the LG A937's) empties the bin for you but adds cost and takes more floor space, and you'll still replace or clean its bag or chamber. If emptying a small bin by hand doesn't bother you, a charge-only dock like the A925's saves money and space.
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