Dyson’s new Animal cordless continues the objectification of devices that suck

By Matt Davis June 14, 2013

Dyson continues to make the mundane job of floor cleaning sexy with the DC44 Animal cordless vacuum; even the most housework-averse among us will want a turn. The DC44 runs exclusively on its internal rechargeable batteries, so your cleaning sessions are limited to 20 minutes between recharges; significantly less, if you make much use of the Boost feature that trades battery life for increased suction. All Dyson’s cordless vacs are powered by their Digital Motor technology (essentially some clever tweaks to the brushless motor you’ll find cooling your computer), which makes for a much quieter machine than its larger plug-in cousins. At five pounds, it’s less backache-inducing than hauling a plug-in vacuum around, but don’t expect the same kitty-threatening suction of Dyson’s upright models. Like many recent Dyson vacuums, the brush bar is electric (no belt to maintain) and easily removed for the occasional required de-furring when your home has long-haired inhabitants. The DC44 only ships in the Animal variant, which includes the improved motorized mini-tool for spot cleaning tight areas, along with the standard crevice and retractable brush tools. Dyson’s DC44 is a far cry from the wimpy cordless vacuums we all grew up with.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Appliances

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Matt Davis is a tech wonk, musician, home hacker and family man. He is driven by a love for trivia and an obsessive need to…

Smart Home

The best cordless vacuums for pet hair, wood, and more

Old-school corded vacuums are great because they can run for longer and generally deal with more dust, but they can be bulky and hard to move around, and if you don't have a lot of outlets, it becomes a fight to find one. That's where cordless vacuums come in because they not only let you move about freely but can also be much lighter than a corded vacuum. Of course, there are some downsides, too, such as having a limited run time or a smaller dustbin, but those aren't necessarily dealbreakers, especially if you have a smaller home or are willing to buy a second battery to run a bit longer.
The Best Cordless Vacuums

Best overall cordless vacuum:
Best versatile cordless vacuum:
Best lightweight cordless vacuum:
Best mid-range cordless vacuum:
Best budget cordless vacuum:

Smart Home

Cordless vs. robot vacuums: which one should you buy?

iRobot Roomba i3+ (3550) Robot Vacuum and Braava jet m6 (6113) Robot Mop bundle showing all three major elements in a hallway.

When it comes to keeping your floors clean, robot vacuums and cordless vacuums are among the best products you can buy. Robot vacuums have become increasingly popular over the past few years -- thanks to premium models like the Ecovacs X2 Omni and Roborock S8 Pro Ultra -- but cordless vacuums offer plenty of advantages over their robotic counterparts.

Deciding between the two isn't easy, and thankfully, it's hard to make a wrong decision. Both are well-equipped to clean your floors, but there are some big trade-offs you'll have to make for each class. So, which is better? Robot vacuums or cordless vacuums?

Smart Home

The best Dyson vacuums (cordless and upright options)

dyson vacuum cleaner deals on amazon cyclone v10 absolute lightweight cordless stick 8

If you're familiar with Dyson, then you know that it makes everything from hair dryers to bladeless fans, and it uses that same tech to make high-end vacuums. To that end, Dyson vacuums have become some of the most sought-after vacuums, although being so packed with features does mean that they cost a pretty penny. So, before spending a bunch of money buying a Dyson vacuum, check out our guide and top picks for various categories below, whether you want a high-end Dyson vacuum or something that's just light and slim.
The best Dyson vacuums

Best overall Dyson vacuum:
Best upright Dyson vacuum:
Best Dyson vacuum for pet hair:
Best Dyson Vacuum for hardwood floors:
Best lightweight Dyson Vacuum:
Best budget Dyson vacuum: