There’s a lever on the back for the compression mechanism that you manually press down, plus a separate button to open the dustbin at the bottom. You can use the compression lever whether the bin is closed or open. It helps compress hair and dust while vacuuming, allowing you to see if the bin is really full. However, after a certain point, it doesn’t compress much more. It also helps push debris out if needed, unlike times when I had to dig my hand into both the Dyson and Shark to free stuck hair and dust. Dyson has a similar feature on the Piston Animal V16, which is set to release this year, so I’m curious to see how the engineering compares.
Bendable Winner: Shark
Photograph: Nena FarrellIf you need a vacuum that bends to reach under furniture, I prefer the Shark over the Bosch. Both have a similar mechanism, but the Bosch tends to push debris around when in active bend mode. The Shark, on the other hand, successfully vacuums up debris I might miss with Bosch without having to lift it, like stray cat kibble.
Accessory Winner: Dyson
Dyson stands out because the Dyson Gen5 Detect comes with three attachments and two heads. You’ll receive a Motorbar head, a Fluffy Optic head, a hair tool, a combination tool, and a built-in dusting and crevice tool housed within the stick tube. I appreciate this built-in feature since it eliminates the need to carry around an extra attachment, making me more inclined to use it. Bosch also performs well in this area, offering an upholstery nozzle, a furniture brush, and a crevice nozzle—one more attachment than Shark. Plus, Bosch includes a wall mount with wiring for the charging cord and space for two attachments. However, I like that Shark provides a simple tote bag for storing the attachments. My other attachments are typically in separate plastic bags for each vacuum, and keeping track of them is the most frustrating part of owning a cordless vacuum.
Build Winner: Tie
Photograph: Nena FarrellAll three vacuums have good build quality, but they each focus on different aspects. Bosch feels the lightest of the three and stands up easily on its own, but all need something to lean against to stay upright. The Dyson struggles the most in this regard; it often requires a ledge or table to prevent it from rolling forward and tipping over. Bosch boasts a sleek black design and a colorful LED screen that displays an image of carpet or hardwood depending on the mode it’s set to. However, the vacuum head feels like the lightest plastic of the bunch.
