Dyson Omni-glide cordless vacuum review: a compact vac built to dance on hard floors
And’s it remarkably simple, with an emphasis on its lightweight and compact design. As the Omni-glide doesn’t need to pull up dirt and dust from carpet, it doesn’t have, nor need, the same power to leave your floors smooth and dust-free. But the real charm of Dyson’s most compact vacuum yet is how it moves. In any direction, like a dance, with a flick of the wrist. It almost feels like there is no limit to what the boxy floorhead can reach.
We’ve had the opportunity to take the Dyson Omni-glide for a spin, where in the following review, we breakdown who we think will enjoy this specialty vacuum.
Who will love the Dyson Omni-glide?
The Dyson Omni-glide is ideal for homes with lots of hard floors like wood, vinyl flooring, or tiles. Its small footprint makes it easy to maneuver and is extremely lightweight.
It’s a delightful vacuum to have on hand to clean up quick messes and spot cleaning, perhaps any dirt tracked into your entryway or a small kitchen spill.
(Image credit: Future)
Dyson Omni-glide: Specifications
- Maximum power: 18V
- Dust capacity: .05 gal
- Cordless: Yes
- Runtime: 20 minutes
- Charge time: 3.5 hours
- Noise: 71dBA
- Dimensions: 3.6″ x 8.1″ x 42.4″
- Weight: 4.18 lb.
- Filter: Advanced, whole-machine HEPA filtration
- Warranty: 2 years
- Attachments: Combi-crevice tool, charger, docking station
Dyson Omni-glide: design
(Image credit: Dyson)
The Dyson Omni-Glide finally introduces a push-button operation. The signature trigger did not make the cut for Dyson’s slimmest, most compact design. And we’re not complaining about it.
The rectangualr-shaped omnidirectional cleaning head features a dual brush bar system, featuring soft nylon to capture large debris, while black anti-static carbon fiber filaments simultaneously remove fine dust – both when moving forward and backward. The soft rollers only work on hard floors as there are no bristles in the roller to dig up dirt from carpets. Whatever angle you twist to maneuver the vacuum in, four 360° castors make it effortless to maneuver the Dyson Omni-glide vacuum around all obstacles.
All the mechanical and electrical parts were rearranged so that the Omni-glide could store and operate flat. Each component of the handheld is stacked on top of each other, almost resembling a wand, starting with the small .05 gallon dust bin, motor, and handle. The slim 18V battery lives in the handle, and is removable. A back-up one can be purchased if you desire extra battery life to have on hand. In fact, it charges through a small wall dock that grasps on to the handle, and can be affixed to the wall with nails or sticky tape, both included.
Dyson does not disclose the power of its vacuums, but we found the battery and to be more than enough to power through cleaning hard floors. Its use also contributes to the lightweight nature, and shorter runtime. The battery powers the Dyson Hyperdymium motor spins at up to 105,000rpm to create strong suction on hard floors. It’s spins slightly slower than the larger models, but is still effective at suctioning up the dust in its path.
The tiny .05 gallon dust bin slides open and shut with the same one push, ‘point and shoot’ mechanism that ejects dust and debris straight into the bin. However, the size didn’t bother me so much since it only cleans hard floors, and I find that less dirt accumulates on hard floors than what these vacuums pull out of carpets.
Dyson Omni-glide: features and functions
Omnidirectional soft roller cleaner head
This all-new design features two motorized soft roller brushrolls that can move in any direction: front, back, side to side. The movement is made possible by an articulating neck and four stabilizing castors that glide across hard floors. The dual brushrolls are powered by a single motor with a double epicyclic gear box, and spins the brush bars at the same speed for pick up in both directions. The compact cleaner head is perfect for reaching into tight spaces, cleaning sideways, and can even get so low to the ground, its almost flat.
Modes
The Dyson Omni-glide features two cleaning modes: Eco and Max mode. The battery life ranges from up to 20 minutes on Eco, which was sufficient for my cleaning tests, or as low as five minutes on Max.
Accessories
Keeping up with its compact nature, the Omni-glide nixes the abundance of tools in favor of a combination tool that functions as both a wide nozzle and brush, for quick switching between cleaning and dusting tasks.
Filtration
You’ll only find the best with Dyson. The Omni-glide offers Dyson’s most-advanced 5-stage filtration technologies, capturing 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, to expel cleaner air.
What is the Dyson Omni-glide like to use?
(Image credit: Future)
Set-Up
On first look, I noticed just how very small the vacuum is. Seriously, the box is smaller than a shoebox for a new pair of boots. Each part and accessory comes neatly packaged in fully, recyclable cardboard. To get started, a small pamphlet shows how to click each piece together. You’ll want to charge to full capacity before using. For more in-depth instructions and details on maintenance, a QR code, or this Dyson link, will lead you to a setup page as well as a manual you can download.
On Hard Floors
Of course, the Omni-glide is going to be a superstar on hard floors! Wooden, tile, vinyl surfaces are no match for the soft rollers that just propel across the floor, suctioning up everything in its 360-degree reach. It easily gets into tight corners, under narrow clearances, and can be maneuvered around chairs tucked under the dinner table without having to pull them out.
On Carpets
The Dyson Omni-glide is not designed for carpets. In fact, I tried it over an area rug, and the brush bar stops spinning.
Other Surfaces
The Dyson Omni-glide comes with a crevice /dusting brush attachment for above-floor cleaning. The handheld unit is so light, it’s like whisking a wand around the house.
Emptying the Dust Bin
The Dyson Omni-glide has one of the easiest bins to empty. It’s just really, really tiny (.05 gal), calling for multiple trips to the trash, depending on how dirty your floors are, or how large your space is. To remove, simply detach from the wand, angle over the garbage, and slide the red handlebar down and most of the contents will just roll out. However, I did find that lingering dust bunnies and hair clumps that clung to the mesh filters were difficult to fish out.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning is relatively straightforward. The most attention probably belongs to the filter, which is accessed by screwing off the purple cap. Tap off any excess debris before rinsing under warm water, and wait 24 hours before re-inserting into the vacuum. One of the easiest filter cleaning experiences, yet. Even better, all of the parts that are non-electrical, including the bin, filter, soft roller cleaner heads, and any tools can be rinsed with water. In case of hair wrap, the brush bars can easily be removed from the cleaner head.
How others got on with the OmniGlide
Another member of our team, Millie Fender, got her chance with the Omni-Glide, whose thoughts and feedback essentially echoed mine. “It’s a good and innovative vacuum but it’s not suitable to be someone’s only vacuum cleaner unless they live in a small space without much carpet,” Millie noted.
Luckily, she lives in an apartment with just wooden floors and found it easy to get into little corners and compact spaces thanks to the dual rollers. However, she also noted how the dustbin was still really tiny for her 2-bedroom space, and she found herself having to ignore the MAX line or to empty the dust bin multiple times to complete cleaning in one go.
The Pantry Test
I trialed the Dyson Omni-glide through our Pantry Test, the unscientific test that uses common pantry staples to test the suction capabilities of our vacuums. I arranged a quarter cup of cereal, a quarter cup of rice, and a tablespoon of sugar to see how the vacuum handled food particles large and small.
The Pantry Test on hardwood floors
Being such a compact vacuum, I wasn’t really sure what to expect in this test. It definitely exceeded my expectations here. It crunched through the cereal, suctioned up the rice, but also spewed it across the floor, and powered through the sugar. However, this little bit, just over a half-cup of debris, filled up past the MAX line on the dust bin. In the video below, you’ll also get a sense of how the cordless moves.
How does the Dyson Omni-glide rate online?
The Dyson Omni-Glide just launched in March 2021, so reviews are pretty scarce. Early reviews are extremely positive on Dyson and Best Buy, with many citing its maneuverability, lightweight design, and cleaning power as strengths.
How does the Dyson Omni-glide compare to other models?
When Dyson released the Omni-glide in March 2021, it entered a league of its own, as Dyson’s only vacuum designed solely for hard-floors. It’s undoubtedly Dyson’s slimmest and most compact model.
It’s most comparable to the Dyson Micro 1.5kg that launched at the end of May 2021. It’s remarkably light, at just 3.3 pounds, offering an identically sized dust bin, run time, and also designated use for hard-floors. Both carry a $399 price point, which is still on the high end for a vacuum but are both among Dyson’s lowest price models.
Compared to the identically priced V8, which features older technology, the Dyson V8 motor, works on both hard floors and carpets with a 40 minute runtime.
The Dyson Omni-glide was launched alongside the Dyson V15 Detect, which incorporated a laser into its design, and a rebrand of the Dyson Outsize (formerly the V11 Outsize), Dyson’s longest-running and largest vacuum with a .5 gallon dust bin and 120-minutes of run time.
(Image credit: Dyson)
Dyson Omni-glide: Final Thoughts
As a relatively new vacuum category, the Dyson Omni-Glide is fun to use. It’s almost like a game as you push, spin, and glide it around your floors.
Of course, this new vacuum does have its limitations, which you will seriously need to consider before adding one to your household. It only works on hard floors so, if your home has lots of carpeting or area rugs, the Dyson Omni-glide would most likely serve as your secondary vacuum. Personally, I imagine the Omni-glide being right at home in a beachfront condo or urban escape… places where tile, marble vinyl, or wood floors reign supreme.
It’s great for quick pick-ups. However, due to the small dustbin and the 20-minute battery life, which was more than enough to cover the hard floors in my home, you’ll want to consider if this is the right unit for larger homes.
But let’s re-examine the pros as to what makes the Dyson Omni-glide a winner: It’s incredibly lightweight, and so easy to move. The ability to glide in any direction and get into tight spaces without having to move around furniture brings a new experience to vacuuming. Its compact footprint takes up minimal space. Heck, even the attachments are multi-functional. Plus, for a Dyson, it offers the latest Dyson tech and power, at a fraction of the price. But, perhaps of most importance for a specialty vacuum, it does a great job of what it’s supposed to do, suctioning up dust and debris from hard floors with finesse.
The truth, the Dyson Omni-glide will not be for every home, but those who do end up taking it for a spin may never want to put it down.
Dyson Omni-glide: where to buy
About this review and the reviewer
Jaclyn is the US eCommerce editor across the homes titles at Future, including Homes & Gardens, where she specializes in a variety of topics ranging from vacuums to mattresses. She spends her days tracking the latest buzzworthy releases and testing a variety of products to determine whether they are worth bringing into your home.
As with all our reviews the Dyson Omni-glide has been tested first-hand in our home, using it just as you would so you know exactly what you are buying. Jaclyn’s home features a mix of hardwood floors, carpets, and area rugs. A small non-shedding dog lives in the house but still manages to track in his fair share of dirt. The device was tested over a period of several weeks.
The products are given to us free of charge and we test them for as long as possible before forming our reviews. In this particular case, we are able to keep the vacuum, which will enable us to continue to use the product and gives us the opportunity to return to our reviews for updating, so you can keep up-to-date with how it’s fared over a period of time.
Published at Sun, 20 Jun 2021 16:00:34 +0000