Five cordless vacuums that show the main choices, from an exchangeable-battery stick to a bagged battery cylinder, researched from manufacturer pages, with plain explanations of what the runtime and capacity figures mean.
A cordless vacuum cleaner promises to be the one you pick up without thinking, and whether it keeps that promise comes down to details a headline number hides. How long does the battery last, in which power mode and with which brush? Can you take the battery out? How much does the bin hold, and how heavy is the machine at the top of the stairs? Those questions matter more than the colour or the name on the box.
This guide takes five cordless vacuums as worked examples: a stick with an exchangeable battery and a flexible tube, a stick whose runtime comes with a stated test condition, a compact 2-in-1 for a small flat, a cordless upright with a single power setting and a bagged battery cylinder. They were chosen because the manufacturers’ own pages are clear and each one matches an exact Amazon.co.uk listing, not because they are the best of their kind. They are not a ranking. Our Cordless Vacuums listing covers ten models, with a short card for each.
Shopicks has not tested any of them. Everything here comes from manufacturer pages and data sheets read on 23 October 2026, plus UK consumer and safety advice, and the guide says where a figure is missing or contested rather than guessing.
Exchangeable battery
Bosch
A bagless stick with one exchangeable 18 V battery, a flexible extension hose and a docking station. It is a clear example of a runtime printed with no conditions beside it, which is the most common way the figure appears.
Research-based assessment
Our assessment is based on product specifications, manufacturer information, market research and comparison with competing products. We have not physically tested this product.
People who want a replaceable battery pack and a flexible tube for low furniture, and who will check the runtime against the power mode they plan to use.
Bosch UK’s page prints the battery, runtime, charge time, weight, bin size and a full accessory list in one specification, and the Amazon.co.uk listing carries the BCS711PGB model number in its title and Model Number row. It represents the exchangeable-battery choice. Amazon’s weight row (3.6 kg) disagrees with Bosch’s 2.9 kg, so we use only Bosch’s. We have not tested its runtime or how it cleans.
Runtime with a stated test
Vax
A stick with a removable ONEPWR battery and a Mini Motorised Pet Tool. Vax prints the condition behind its 45 minutes, which shows what a runtime claim does and does not cover.
Research-based assessment
Our assessment is based on product specifications, manufacturer information, market research and comparison with competing products. We have not physically tested this product.
People with pets who want a motorised pet tool and a runtime whose test condition is printed.
Vax UK’s page for the CLSV-B4KP prints the runtime together with the footnote that explains it, and the Amazon.co.uk listing carries CLSV-B4KP in its title and Model Number row. It represents a stick whose runtime can be read against a stated test. Amazon’s weight row (2.5 kg) disagrees with Vax’s 3.1 kg, so we use only Vax’s. A different Blade 4 model, the CLSV-B4KS, was left out because no Vax page for it could be found. We have not tested how it handles pet hair.
Compact 2-in-1
Bosch
A light 2-in-1 that works as a handstick and as a handheld, and stands up by itself. It is a useful example for a small flat, where storage and weight matter more than capacity.
Research-based assessment
Our assessment is based on product specifications, manufacturer information, market research and comparison with competing products. We have not physically tested this product.
A small flat, or a second vacuum for stairs and quick clean-ups, where weight and storage matter more than capacity.
Bosch UK’s page prints the weight measured ready for operation, the 2in1 design and the freestanding function, and the Amazon.co.uk listing carries BCHF216GB in its title and Model Number row. It represents the compact choice. Amazon’s weight row (2.8 kg) disagrees with Bosch’s 2.4 kg, so we use only Bosch’s. We have not tested how it cleans or how long it runs.
Cordless upright, one setting
Gtech
A cordless upright with a removable battery and no selectable power modes. It shows that a stated runtime is easier to read when the machine has one setting, and what you give up for that.
Research-based assessment
Our assessment is based on product specifications, manufacturer information, market research and comparison with competing products. We have not physically tested this product.
Smaller homes where a full-height upright is preferred and stairs and furniture are cleaned with something else.
Gtech’s page for the AirRAM 2 K9 prints the battery, runtime and its footnote, the bin, the weight and the box contents, and the Amazon.co.uk listing carries the same AR30 model number in its Model Number row. It represents the cordless upright. Gtech’s separate AirRAM 2 page is a different model (AR29) and is not used. We have not tested how it cleans carpet or hard floor.
Bagged battery cylinder
Henry
A cordless version of Henry’s bagged cylinder. It is the example for capacity and weight: the largest container of the five, and the heaviest machine.
Research-based assessment
Our assessment is based on product specifications, manufacturer information, market research and comparison with competing products. We have not physically tested this product.
Someone who wants Henry’s bagged cylinder without a mains cable, can carry the weight and values a large bag.
Numatic’s page and data sheet agree on the drum, run times and charge time, and the Amazon.co.uk address carries reference 907226, which the data sheet gives as the version with one battery. It represents the bagged battery cylinder. Amazon says the battery is lithium polymer where Numatic says lithium, so we say only lithium. We have not tested its runtime.
| Bosch Unlimited 7 | Vax Blade 4 Pet | Bosch Readyy’y | Gtech AirRAM 2 K9 | Henry HVB160 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Stick with flexible tube | Stick with pet tool | 2in1 handheld and handstick | Cordless upright | Bagged cylinder |
| Runtime claim | Up to 40 min | Up to 45 min | Up to 40 min | Up to 40 min | 30 min low, 20 min high |
| Condition printed | None | Standard mode, hard floor, brush off | None | May vary with floor surfaces | None |
| Battery | Exchangeable, 18 V 3.0 Ah | Removable, ONEPWR 4.0 Ah | 14.4 V 2.0 Ah, removable not stated | Removable, 22 V | 36 V lithium |
| Charge time | 5 hours | 3 hours | 5 hours | 4 hours | 3.5 hours |
| Dust container | 0.3 l bagless | 0.6 L bagless | 0.4 l bagless | 0.8 L bagless | 6.0 L bagged |
| Weight | 2.9 kg | 3.1 kg | 2.4 kg | 3.3 kg | 6.88 kg |
| May suit | A replaceable battery and low furniture | Pet owners who want a stated test | A small flat or stairs | A smaller home that wants an upright | A large bag and a cylinder format |
Which? says cordless sticks suit smaller homes with less carpet, quick cleans and people who find heavier machines hard work, and that corded models are the better choice for whole-house cleaning and carpet-heavy homes. A flat with hard floors and a cupboard by the door is the easiest case for a cordless vacuum. A three-storey house with deep carpets is the hardest.
If you are unsure, time a typical clean at the power level you would use and compare it with the runtimes in the next section. A cordless vacuum that stops before the job is done is a nuisance whichever model it is, and our comparison of cordless and corded vacuums sets out how the two types differ.
A runtime on a box or a listing title is a maximum measured under a condition. Vax’s 45 minutes was measured in standard power mode on a hard floor with the floor brush switched off. The 60 minutes Shark gives for the Stratos IZ400UKT in our listing is in ECO power mode with a non-motorised tool, and Kärcher gives about 30 minutes in standard mode without an electric floor nozzle and up to 18 minutes at its highest power level. Bosch’s 40 minutes for the Unlimited 7 and Readyy’y, Beko’s 60 minutes and Numatic’s 70 minutes for the Henry Quick come with no conditions on the pages we read.
Which? says minimum-power runtime should be at least 30 minutes and more likely around an hour, that around 15 to 16 minutes on maximum power is decent, and that it has found models that overstate battery life by as much as a third. When a maker prints no condition, neither we nor you can tell which mode the figure describes, so treat it as a ceiling.
Motorised heads and tools draw on the battery too. Vax’s footnote says the floor brush is off, and Shark’s says the tool is non-motorised, which is a reminder that a motorised head uses the battery and that neither maker gives a runtime for it. The Gtech AirRAM 2 K9 has one power setting, so its 40 minutes is easier to read, though Gtech adds that runtimes may vary with the floor surfaces cleaned.
A removable battery can be charged off the machine and, in principle, replaced when it wears out. The Vax, Gtech, Henry Quick and Shark pages in our listing say the battery is removable, Bosch calls the Unlimited 7 pack exchangeable, and Numatic’s data sheet for the HVB160 lists a quick and easy battery change. The Bosch Readyy’y and Flexxo pages, Beko’s and Kärcher’s do not say. Which? says swappable batteries usually cost extra, so ask whether a spare is sold before you count on one to double the runtime.
Charge times quoted by the makers run from 150 minutes for the Henry Quick to 345 minutes for the Kärcher, and the five examples here take 3 to 5 hours. A long charge is not a fault, but it matters if you clean in short bursts through the week and the battery is flat when you want it.
Which? puts the average cordless dust capacity at about 0.7 litres, against about 2.3 litres for a corded vacuum. In the five examples the bins are 0.3 l, 0.4 l, 0.6 L and 0.8 L, and Numatic’s bagged HVB160 holds 6 L. A small bin means more trips to the outdoor bin. The Henry Quick takes a different route and empties into disposable pods that Numatic says keep emptying dust-free.
Weight shows up at the top of the stairs. The makers’ figures run from 2.4 kg for the Bosch Readyy’y to 3.3 kg for the Gtech among the sticks and uprights here, against 6.88 kg for the HVB160, and Which? puts the average cordless at about 3 kg. The figures are not measured the same way: Bosch’s are measured ready for operation, Kärcher’s are without accessories and Gtech gives a headline weight, so use them as a guide and not to the gram.
Check the tool list against the jobs you have. The Bosch Unlimited 7 lists a flexible extension hose, a long crevice nozzle, a mini power brush and a furniture brush with upholstery nozzle. The Vax Blade 4 Pet lists a Mini Motorised Pet Tool, crevice tool and dusting brush. The Gtech box list has a Hair Removal Tool but no crevice or upholstery tool, and Numatic’s HVB160 page lists no tools, though its data sheet names a kit.
Handheld mode matters for stairs, sofas and the car. Which? says many cordless vacuums have one but some, including some Gtech models, do not. Bosch describes the Readyy’y as a 2in1 that works as a handheld and a handstick, and the Gtech page for the K9 mentions no handheld mode.
Which? found that, on average, the cordless vacuums it tested picked up 41% of carpet dust and the corded ones 70%, with the best cordless scoring 83% and the best corded 86%. Averages hide wide differences between models, and we have not tested these, so nothing here says a cordless vacuum cleans carpet well. What the makers do document is the floor head. Bosch describes the Unlimited 7’s brush as tackling deep, fluffy carpets, and Gtech lists carpets, hard floor and homes with pets for the K9.
For pet hair, look for a pet tool and a way to deal with hair on the brush. The Vax Blade 4 Pet lists a Mini Motorised Pet Tool and Gtech a Hair Removal Tool. What those do to real pet hair is something only testing can show, and this guide makes no claim about it.
A cordless vacuum needs a plug point wherever it charges and a place to stand. Bosch lists a docking station with the Unlimited 7, Vax a wall mount with the Blade 4 Pet and the Bosch Readyy’y stands up by itself. The Gtech upright is full height and the HVB160 is a cylinder, so both need floor space. Measure the spot before you choose, and check that the dock does not block the way you walk.
None of the five examples is described as HEPA by its maker’s page. Bosch’s pages name no filter type for the Unlimited 7 or Readyy’y, Vax and Gtech call theirs washable, and Numatic lists a Tritex filter with HepaFlo bags, where HepaFlo is the name of the bag. A washable filter is not the same as a HEPA filter.
Allergy UK recommends a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter that does not blow out dust, and says that measures against house dust mite lower but do not remove the allergens. We make no claim that any of these vacuums removes allergens, bacteria or viruses.
Electrical Safety First says that many modern floor cleaners use lithium-ion batteries, so take care when charging, use only the original charger or one sourced from or approved by the manufacturer, and unplug when the cleaner is not in use or being charged. Charge it where you would be comfortable to leave a charging device, not on a pile of soft furnishings.
When a battery wears out, do not put it in the household bin. Electrical Safety First says rechargeable batteries, and cordless appliances with them, should go to a local recycling centre, or you can check your local council’s website.
The first mistake is buying on the headline minutes. The second is assuming the battery can be replaced without asking the maker. The third is forgetting the bin: a 0.3 l container suits a quick tidy and is tiresome for a whole house. A fourth is trusting the title. The Amazon.co.uk title for the Henry Quick says up to 60 minutes, where Numatic’s own table gives 70 minutes on low and 14 minutes on high.
The last is treating a manufacturer’s feature as a result. Anti-hair-wrap, ‘powerful’ and ‘up to 3x the power’ are claims, and none of the pages we read backs them with a measurement we can use.
Our assessment is based on product specifications, manufacturer information, market research and comparison with competing products. The products on this page have not been physically tested by Shopicks.
Which? says to look for at least 30 minutes on minimum power, more likely around an hour, and around 15 to 16 minutes on maximum power. The makers’ figures for the five examples run from 30 to 45 minutes and were measured under different conditions, or none, so compare them at the power level you will use.
On some models. The Vax, Gtech, Henry Quick and Shark pages in our listing say the battery is removable, and Bosch calls the Unlimited 7 pack exchangeable. Other pages do not say. Ask the maker whether a spare is sold and what it costs, because Which? says swappable batteries usually cost extra.
Which? says cordless sticks suit homes with less carpet, and its tests found an average of 41% of carpet dust picked up by cordless models against 70% by corded ones. The spread between models is wide, and Shopicks has not tested these vacuums, so we make no carpet claim for any of them.
By the makers’ own figures, the Bosch Readyy’y at 2.4 kg measured ready for operation and the Kärcher VC 4 Cordless at 2.4 kg without accessories. They are not measured the same way, Beko prints no weight and we have not weighed any of them.
Check for a handheld mode and the tools. The Bosch Readyy’y and Flexxo pages describe a 2in1 that works as a handheld and a handstick, while Gtech’s K9 page mentions no handheld mode. A lighter machine is also easier to carry up, but we have not tried any of them on stairs.
None of the five examples is described as HEPA by its maker’s page. Only Beko’s table in our wider listing uses the word, as ‘Hepa 12’ without an explanation. A washable filter is not the same as a HEPA filter, and we make no claim that any of these removes allergens.
No. This guide is based on manufacturer pages and data sheets and says so on every pick. Shopicks does not describe results it has not seen.
Minimum and maximum power runtimes, overstated battery life, spare batteries, handheld mode, typical dust capacity and weight. Test results are behind a paywall and are not used.
Where cordless sticks suit, average carpet dust pick-up across tested cordless and corded vacuums, and typical dust capacity and weight.
Lithium-ion batteries in modern cleaners, the original or manufacturer-approved charger and unplugging when not in use or charging. The page is about floor cleaners, and we apply it to rechargeable vacuum cleaners as general charging advice.
Rechargeable batteries and cordless appliances with rechargeable batteries go to a local recycling centre.
Its recommendation of vacuum cleaners with a HEPA filter that do not blow out dust.
That measures against house dust mite lower but do not totally remove the allergens.
Battery, runtime, charge time, weight, bin, accessories and guarantee. The runtime has no conditions and two claims have footnote markers without text.
Runtime and its test footnote, battery, bin, weight, tools and guarantee.
Battery, runtime, charge time, weight, size, bin, 2in1 design and freestanding function.
Model AR30, removable battery, runtime and its footnote, bin, weight, box contents, absence of power modes and guarantee.
Run times, charge time, drum, bags and filter. The page lists no weight or tools; the HBV160 data sheet gives the references, weight and kit.
A PDF whose text was extracted locally. Reference numbers for the one-battery version, weight ready to work and Kit AS29E.
Used only to confirm the title, manufacturer and model number behind each ASIN. No Amazon prices, ratings, images or descriptions are used.
Cleaning & Vacuums
How cordless and corded vacuum cleaners differ in convenience, power supply, battery limits, cleaning reach, storage, maintenance, capacity and suitability for different UK homes, using manufacturer figures and Which? advice.
Cleaning & Vacuums
A research-based UK guide to corded vacuum cleaners covering upright versus cylinder, bagged versus bagless, cable and hose reach, floor heads, pet tools and filters, with five examples checked against manufacturer pages.