Unfortunately, the battery doesn't last forever. It is rated to operate for just 50 minutes on a single charge, and my testing found that to be pretty accurate. Although this meant I couldn't get through all three stories of my townhouse at once, it was easy enough to recharge the battery and keep going. Cleanup and Maintenance

The most important factors to look at when choosing a cordless vacuum are weight, battery life, disposal system, attachments, and whether the vacuum is best for pet hair or [specific] floor types,” says Samson.Keep in mind that battery life can vary depending on the settings and attachments that you use, so it might not always be exactly what the manufacturers list. Of the vacuums we tested, the median runtime on low was 33 minutes and 15 seconds, while the median runtime on high was just 9 minutes and 43 seconds. (Generally, most models did not last as long as their advertised runtime.) DO NOT twist your wrist or raise your shoulder/arm excessively to vacuum at an awkward angle. This may cause injury to your muscles/­ joints And since hair is notoriously difficult to clean even with some of the top vacuums, we also sprinkled wig hair—including short strands to resemble pet hair and long strands to resemble human hair—on those same surfaces. For carpeted surfaces, we made sure to press down so that the hair became embedded in the carpet. Testers then evaluated how much hair each cordless vacuum could remove from the various surfaces in a minute. Once completed, they inspected the brushroll for tangled hair—and if there was, they removed the hair and took note of how easy it was to clear with their hands, scissors, or an included tool (if applicable). One unique feature of this vacuum is its customizable configuration. While many cordless vacuums can transform into a handheld model, this one takes it a step further by allowing you to choose where you want the base of the unit: either on top for better reach under low-lying furniture or at the bottom so the vacuum is less top-heavy. Just keep in mind that at 8 pounds, this Miele cordless vacuum is heavier than most of the other models on our list—but we still found it fairly lightweight. And while the advertised battery life for this vacuum is 60 minutes, our tests found that it only lasted 33 minutes on the lowest setting before running out of power. In my opinion, the Belife S11's performance speaks for itself. However, I also found the cleanup and maintenance outstanding. Cleanup

Unlike most traditional vacuums, the Belife S11 is designed to be a multipurpose vacuum. The parts easily attach and detach to transform it from a standard vacuum for cleaning floors into a handheld vacuum like a Dust Buster. It's a pretty genius design concept. Traditional Vacuum

BVR Rating

When shopping for cordless vacuums, one of the most important factors to consider is battery life. “For an apartment or a small house, you want to choose a vacuum with a battery life of at least 30 [minutes],” says Samson. “Some vacuums go up to over an hour in run time and these are great for larger homes, but for most of us, 30 minutes of run time should be plenty to clean the floors in our home.”

During our tests, we did find that we frequently had to lift the vacuum and place it directly on the mess to prevent it from just pushing the debris around. Our tester also had to empty the dustbin several times during the testing process, and they found it quite difficult to do so. It’s also worth noting that hair got tangled in the brushroll quite easily, and since it’s not removable, you’d have to use your fingers or scissors to cut the hair out. For this reason, pet owners should probably look elsewhere. The stiff nylon bristle brush works well for messes on countertops, doormats, and other surfaces with larger debris.If you have a large home and like to clean it all at once, then we suggest choosing a cordless vacuum with a removable battery so that you can buy an extra, keep it charged, and swap it as needed.