With over a decade of experience at Which?, Tom covers everything from tech advice to money-saving tips, and highlights the best deals during major sales events.
Every fortnight, Which? free account owners are given an exclusive glimpse behind the curtain at some of our members-only product reviews.
This week, we've compared handheld vacuum cleaners to see which models make light work of dust and debris. Our experts have assessed how well these grab-and-go cleaners cope with tricky tasks such as car cleaning and frustratingly clingy pet hair, plus how easy they are to use around your home.
One of our top picks is a Which? Best Buy and Great Value model. Not only does it leave hard floors looking noticeably cleaner, but it's also on offer at a temptingly low price. However, a premium rival from a well-known brand couldn't compete, as it struggled with fine dust.
| Vax Gator | Shark WV200UK | |
|---|---|---|
| Which? test score | 80% (Best Buy, Great Value) | 63% |
| Price | SQUIRREL_TEXT_12881690 | SQUIRREL_TEXT_12862850 |
| Hard-floor cleaning | ||
| Carpet cleaning | ||
| Car cleaning | ||
| Ease of emptying |
Date tested: September 2024. We're not able to show every retailer, and cheaper prices may be available. Carpet cleaning rating includes how well each handheld vacuum cleaner performed in our pet hair test.
We like: Excellent performance on hard floors, good on carpets
Watch out for: Struggles with pet hair
If you simply want a handheld vacuum that gets the job done, we recommend this model from Vax.
During our rigorous tests, it performed particularly well when tackling fine dust on hard floors and carpets – a task many small vacs find challenging. It’s also a breeze to use, with straightforward controls and easy-release buttons for removing the bin and filter.
Our experts found that the cleaning head picked up debris efficiently without needing repeated passes. Also, to sweeten the deal, battery life is better than on many rival models we tested, giving you around 17 minutes of cleaning time from a full charge.
While this vacuum isn’t the best option if you regularly clean up pet hair, particularly in cars, it's still excellent value for money and worthy of Best Buy and Great Value status.
For Which? members only: see our full Vax Gator Cordless Handheld Vacuum review.
We like: Excellent at removing pet hair and small debris
Watch out for: Dust clogs the filter quickly
This sleek handheld vacuum from Shark is reasonably effective at dealing with pet hair and other small debris, but fine dust quickly clogged the filter during our tests, meaning performance dropped sharply on both hard floors and carpets.
Battery life is disappointingly short. In fact, you'll get just eight minutes of run time from a full charge, which means you'll have to move frantically around the house if you want to make the most of it. Emptying the filter can be messy, too, as dust tends to stick inside the small canister.
While this Shark handheld is lightweight and comes bundled with some handy attachments (including a crevice tool and dusting tool), its overall cleaning performance and limited battery life mean there are better options available for the money. Go for the Vax Gator instead.
For Which? members only: see our full Shark WV200UK review.
‘Handheld vacuum cleaners can be incredibly useful for quick clean-ups, but our tests show that performance varies hugely between models. Some struggle with fine dust or lose suction quickly as filters clog, which can make them frustrating to use.
‘In our tests, the Vax Gator stood out because it deals with everyday debris far more effectively than many rivals, while also offering good battery life.
'For a full rundown of the models we recommend, see our guide to the best handheld vacuum cleaners.'
Danny Dougan, Which? handheld vacuum cleaners expert
Get an annual Digital subscription for only £29 for the first year and save £60.
Join Which?Includes access to all product reviews, the Which? app featuring digital editions of Which? magazine, access to Ask Which? and more. Subscription auto-renews at £89. To get the offer, you must purchase through the link supplied. Once purchased, you will have access to content immediately. T&Cs apply.*