Household chores might be tedious and necessary, but if you invest in one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners, then at least one of those chores becomes a little less painful.
As with most appliances these days, vacuums now come in a wide array of brands and styles, each using different technologies and possessing various proficiencies with suction, automation, hair and fur removal, and plenty more. However, the popularity of the cordless vacuum cleaner is on the rise and they can rival any corded barrel model for power.
When shopping for a cordless stick vacuum cleaner, it's worth weighing up a few key considerations to find the best machine for your specific needs at the best price. Does your home have hard floors or wall-to-wall carpets? How large is the space? Do you have a pet? Would you like it to empty itself? And most importantly, what’s your budget?
To help you choose, we’ve narrowed down the choice to just one, listed below, but have also offered a few other options further down the page.
The best cordless vacuum cleaner in Australia
RRP: From $1,449
Release date: May 2021
Why we recommend the Dyson V15 Detect
It might be expensive but, given its age now, it's possible to pick up the Dyson V15 Detect at a significant discount directly from the brand itself or even on Amazon AU. Moreover, powerful suction, a cleaning head dedicated to hard floors, and the ability to graphically see how much you're cleaning up makes this an excellent choice for most users even fours years after its release.
Expert consensus
It seems to be every expert reviewer’s consensus that the Dyson V15 Detect is one of the best vacuum cleaners you can buy in Australia. The reasons are a combination of the appliance’s power, battery life, manoeuvrability and price.
Admittedly it’s not the cheapest vacuum cleaner on the market, but considering you’re getting a lot of features here, plus the option to purchase it at a discount (or by using a Dyson coupon code) during certain times of the year, it’s worth giving serious thought to if you want a really good cordless vacuum cleaner.
Compared to older Dyson models, like the V8, the V15 Detect is top heavy, weighing 3.1kg. However, it’s lighter than the newer Gen5Detect – which comes in at 3.5kg – making it easier to move along a floor and also use as a handheld unit without feeling too much arm fatigue.
And while the motor in the Gen5detect is more powerful, the V15 can hold its own. If you’re not convinced that the machine is doing its job, you just have to take a look at its display, which indicates how much of dust and dirt – in four size groups – it’s sucking up. Its powerful suction is still impressive and its Laser Optic hardfloor tool can highlight dust particles you wouldn’t normally see with your naked eye. Sure, the newer model has a better Fluffy Optic tool, but then you’re also paying more for the base model of the Gen5detect.
Most expert reviews also agree that the battery life of up to 60 minutes will do the job nicely for most homes, but some larger family homes might need to invest in an extra swappable battery (available to purchase directly from Dyson).
Sources: TechRadar (4.5/5) | T3 (5/5)
User reviews
Not convinced by expert reviews? Even users think that the Dyson V15 Detect is a good machine. It clocked up an average of 4.4 stars out of 5 from a total of 160 reviews on Product Review, Australia’s most popular consumer opinion site. Of these, 110 users rated the V15 Detect a full five stars.
How much should you pay for the Dyson V15 Detect?
The Dyson V15 Detect models – both Absolute and Complete – get discounted regularly directly from Dyson and other major retailers too, so we wouldn't recommend paying full price. The V15 Detect Absolute has dropped as low as $798 via Bing Lee in June 2023, and has averaged around that through 2024. The lowest price on Amazon has been $850, although the official Dyson store on the online retailer's platform is relatively new. If you shop during major sales, we would recommend not paying more than $800 or $850 for the Absolute model.
Live price check
You can find the top three prices for the Dyson V15 Detect below. Compare more Aussie prices for the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute and prices for the V15 Detect Complete here on Getprice.
Other vacuum cleaners to consider
Shark Cordless Vacuum with Self-Cleaning Brushroll (IZ102)
RRP: $399
Best budget cordless vacuum cleaner
It might have a rather unwieldy name, but the Shark IZ102 – as it's known for short – is arguably the best budget cordless vacuum in Australia. Even at full price it's absolutely worth buying if you live in a small apartment or need something for the quick daily cleanups, but you can pick it up for as low as AU$240 on Amazon quite often. Its short runtime and small bin canister might not suit all users, but its bang for buck is unrivalled. There's enough suction power here to handle even pet hair. It might struggle on carpets a little, but if you have mostly hard floors and are on a tight budget, this Shark has you covered. It even converts into a handheld unit for cleaning upholstery, so there really is good value here.
- Compare Shark IZ102 prices on Getprice
Shark Cordless Detect Pro with Auto-empty System
RRP: $999
Best value-for-money cordless vacuum cleaner
When it comes to value for money, we think the Shark Cordless Detect Pro with Auto-empty System nails it. Not only does it come in under the one-grand mark, you also can often find it at a discount at retailers. It might not have a mop attachment or a plethora of tools, but it self-empties into a chamber that doesn't use replaceable dust bags. So there's really no ongoing costs here. And it's probably better for the environment too, cutting down plastic use. In fact, there's no trace of plastic in the packaging this vacuum comes in – the whole thing is recyclable. Another fantastic feature about this Shark cordless vacuum is its dirt- and edge-detecting technologies. Not only does it dynamically increase suction when it detects different amounts of dirt and floor types, it also doubles suction as soon as it senses walls at a room's edge. That's all-round cleaning for you! The only issue is that the bin canister on the handstick itself is quite small.
Samsung Bespoke Jet
RRP: from $1,299
Best auto-emptying cordless vacuum cleaner
The Samsung Bespoke Jet might be a pricey vacuum cleaner, but that cost includes an auto-empty station that’s so powerful, it pulls out hair entangled around the inner grill of the handstick’s bin canister remarkably well. That's hygienic bin cleaning! Depending on which model of the Bespoke Jet you buy, you also get several attachments, one of which is a mopping head. Yes, it can mop too although it's not the most effective mop. Samsung also supplies a second battery in the box, so you get a lot of battery life – up to 120 minutes – and there’s an Accessory Cradle to store your attachments. It also provides a spot to charge the second battery, so needs its own power point. If you have that, this would be a great alternative to the Dyson V15 Detect.
- Compare Samsung Bespoke Jet prices on Getprice
Tineco Floor One Switch S6
RRP: $999
Best for hard floors
Designed specifically for hard floors, the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 even comes with a separate standalone vacuum attachment in case you need to just clean up a quick dry mess. While the suction power of the vacuum attachment isn't much to write home about, its floor washing efficacy is excellent. Our colleagues over at TechRadar loved how well it mopped hard floors, but said it wasn't the best vacuum. But it wasn't really designed to be a vacuum – it's just a handy thing to have. And that might just add to the appliance's value. It's lighter than a lot of other similar floor washers, but it doesn't offer more than 35 minutes of runtime when using it as a mop. If that doesn't bother you, this could be a good investment for keeping hard floors clean.
- Compare Tineco Floor One Switch S6 prices on Getprice
Dyson V15s Detect Submarine
RRP: $1,549
Best for any kind of floor
It might cost a lot of money, but if you have a mix of hard floors and carpets and require both a powerful vacuum and a good mop, consider the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine. It gets discounted quite often now and, at a lower price, represents very good value. It has the same power as the standard V15 Detect (listed above), but adds in a mopping roller head too. While the design of the mopping attachment means taking it to a sink to clean out might result in a spill or two, it's arguably a really a good mop. Note that the mop doesn't have any suction at all, so you will be vacuuming and mopping as separate chores. Still, all that money gets you a really effective appliance that also comes with the Hair Screw Tool and, if you buy the Complete model directly from Dyson, you'll also get the Fluffy Optic for hard floors. Otherwise, the Absolute model will get you the Digital Motorbar that's good for all kinds of floors, and the Submarine roller head with three other attachments besides.
- Compare Dyson V15s Detect Submarine prices at Getprice
