Vacuuming ability: We tested the vacuums on carpeting, hardwood, and tile, picking up flour, ground coffee, cat litter, Cheerios, and fur. We assessed how well each vacuum picked up the materials and weighed the dust bins to evaluate how much was picked up. If a vacuum came with attachments, we tested them on the appropriate surfaces, like baseboards and furniture. We also tested the obstacle avoidance and corner cleaning capabilities of robot vacuums.

Battery runtime: We timed how long cordless vacuums ran until their batteries died and how long it took to recharge them.

Ease of use and comfort: We assessed the experience of powering the tineco vacuum , its maneuverability, and how tiring it is to hold, and even the noise emitted. We noted if it could fit under low-profile furniture and if it had additional features that improved functionality, such as a headlight.

Debris disposal: After cleaning sessions, we evaluated how easy and clean emptying the dust bin was. The vacuum lost points if we came in contact with the debris when disposing of it or if it was otherwise messy.

Storage: We looked at how easy it was to store the vacuum, including if it broke down into a smaller footprint or if it came with a docking station or wall mount.