Whether you should get a robot vacuum or a stick vacuum depends on one question: How finicky are you when it comes to cleaning?
Everyone can probably appreciate the appeal of not having to lift a finger to clean their floors. But for some people, this convenience may not be worth the frustration caused by watching the robot vacuum ignore a crumb or eat a phone charger. Despite smart mapping and notable upgrades in cleaning performance over the past half decade, even the best robot vacuum of 2025 can’t match the accuracy of, you know, the best cordless stick vacuum operated by an actual human with a brain.
Cordless vacuums also have only physical advantages in many tricky places. If you want to avoid getting into couch cushions, car seats, stairs, or the dusty mess that lies behind every door, a stick vacuum that can be hand-held (and taken out) is the only option with that flexibility.
What’s the best way to make your Dyson stick vacuum last? Clean it regularly.
But to be real, your Desire Doing all the cleaning yourself also makes sense – if you’re so intimidated by hand vacuuming that you’ll put off doing it, your floors might actually be cleaner with a robot vacuum. I personally keep both ready at all times and can argue for the value and practicality of both sides depending on the situation. And while I wouldn’t entirely want to live without the convenience that a robot vacuum provides when I’m tired, I can’t shake the reflex to reach for a cordless vacuum in most cases.
Not sure if purchasing both types of vacuums is in your budget? Black Friday could change that. With tons of Black Friday robot vacuum deals, expect cordless stick vacuums from brands like Dyson, Shark, LG, Roborock, and Tineco to be heavily discounted — this is your chance to save $100 (or many Hundred) on the vacuum of your dreams. For Black Friday Dyson deals, your best bet is Walmart or Dyson’s own websiteAs for other top brands, Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy will all have competitive selections,
Other cordless vacuums I’ve tested
I’ve tested several other vacuum cleaners that didn’t make the cut for this latest list. Some, like the Shark Detect Pro with Auto-Empty Station and the LG all-in-one Cord Zero with Auto-Empty Station, were once top recommendations, but have since been overtaken by newer, more powerful models that are better choices for your money.
There are also some Dyson vacuums from years past that still generate enough search interest, but I don’t think they’re worth your money compared to what’s out there now. The Dyson V8 and (seemingly discontinued) Dyson V10 that my parents have lying around have a tendency to push around large debris like cat food and rocks, and leave a layer of pet hair on many dark rugs. Although these Dysons may have been powerhouses in the late 2010s, $300 can get you a more powerful option — maybe even automatic vacuuming, as with the Shark Detect Pro I just mentioned. The only benefit would be that Dyson includes a motorized hair screw tool with the V8 and V10.
I also left the Dyson V15 Detect Submariner off the list. The Roborock 2-in-1 cordless mop that replaced it offers a more seamless mopping system all around. The swappable wet roller head that turns the V15 Detect into a “mop” completely cuts off air flow into the vacuum’s dust bin, meaning there’s no actual wet suction going on. During my testing, it pushed spills around rather than absorbing them, making the subsequent manual cleanup process a wet one, with the risk of leakage and strange odors. Compared to the self-cleaning features of the Roborock F25 Ace Combo, it required a lot more maintenance by hand.
I also test robot vacuums. Are they just as powerful?
I also test a lot of robot vacuums at home. While I think the convenience of a robot vacuum is appropriate considering the layer of dust and crumbs that accumulates during the work week, I’ve found that cordless vacuums are consistently tough on elusive debris like pet hair or fine powder. This is especially the case if they are pressed into the carpet fibers or tucked into corners.
Cordless stick vacuums are generally more powerful than robot vacuums. The straight design is optimal for air flow and has the ability to house larger motors and more complex cyclone systems that create additional force on top of the suction power alone. A robot vacuum’s motor cannot exceed the three or four inches of clearance that is necessary for the vacuum to run its entire body under the furniture. The motor of an upright vacuum usually remains completely separate from the vacuum head and roller brushes and thus is subject to fewer interruptions.
Physics aside, you could argue that cordless vacuums are less likely to leave debris behind because a person is actively assessing where suction needs to be focused. This includes tricky spots that aren’t even on the radar of robot vacuums, like stairs or cars.
There are some one-to-one comparisons where a robot vacuum can be as powerful or more powerful than a stick vacuum. For example, I’ve tested both the Roborock Saros 10R robot vacuum and the Roborock F25 Ace cordless vacuum, and both offer 20,000 Pa of suction power. But robot vacuums with that kind of power typically fall into the $1,000+ range, while getting up to that number with a stick vacuum is more affordable. Even with similar figures on paper, the cordless vacuum will likely have a higher pickup rate over time, because the person operating it can see when more passes are needed.