A Consumer Council test of 16 cordless upright vacuum cleaners, including models from Dyson, Bosch and Xiaomi, found significant differences in cleaning performance and battery life among the products.
The tested models ranged in price from HK$599 to HK$7,490. The top five performers each scored 4 out of 5 points: the Miele Triflex HX2 Cashmere Grey 125 Edition (HK$4,288), Dyson V15 Detect Fluffy (HK$5,990), Dyson V16 Piston Animal (HK$7,490), Dyson V12 Origin (HK$4,690) and Bosch BCS932BGB Unlimited 9 (HK$5,980).
The lowest-scoring model was the Honiture X7, priced at HK$1,780, which received an overall rating of 2.5 points. While it scored 3.5 points for floor cleaning, it managed only 1 point for carpet cleaning and 2 points overall for suction performance, the lowest among the samples.
The Council said its suction retention was unsatisfactory, affecting its cleaning performance. Its noise level was also rated poorly.
In contrast, the cheapest model in the test, the Xiaomi G20 Lite (HK$599), scored 3.5 points for floor cleaning and 3 points for carpet cleaning. However, it performed poorly in dust leakage, with fine dust emissions exceeding 0.5 percent.
Some highly rated models showed noticeable differences in performance across surfaces. For example, both the Dyson V15 Detect Fluffy and Dyson V12 Origin scored full marks of 5 for floor cleaning but only 1.5 points for carpet cleaning.
The Miele Triflex HX2 Cashmere Grey 125 Edition demonstrated more balanced results, scoring 4 points for both floor and carpet cleaning. However, its battery life on the lowest suction setting lasted only about 24 minutes, the shortest among the tested models.
The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department advised consumers to operate and maintain vacuum cleaners and chargers according to the instruction manual.
If abnormalities occur, such as unusual noise, odor or liquid leakage, users should stop using the appliance immediately and arrange inspection by a qualified technician.
The test, coordinated by International Consumer Research & Testing (ICRT), involved products purchased in Europe and examined in local laboratories in accordance with standard EN 60312-1. The assessment covered suction power, energy efficiency, dust leakage, noise level and ease of use.
All tested models were powered by lithium-ion batteries and could not be operated while charging.
In terms of scoring weightings, suction power accounted for 57.1 percent of the total score, ease of use 19 percent, energy efficiency 9.5 percent, dust leakage 9.5 percent and noise level 4.8 percent.
Within the suction power category, floor cleaning made up 60 percent of the score, carpet cleaning 30 percent and nozzle efficiency 10 percent.
The floor cleaning assessment measured the removal of dust, bread crumbs and debris from floor gaps. Carpet cleaning evaluated the removal of dust and fibers, while nozzle efficiency assessed cleaning width and edge performance, including the width of dust removed and the amount left near walls.
