Sorry, Shark and Dyson! I tested a new cordless vacuum cleaner that’s given the big brands a serious run for their money

I’ve spent over 400 hours (and counting) testing vacuum cleaners of all shapes and sizes over the past couple of years. And a huge portion of those have been the best cordless vacuums, as I love the cord-free convenience these models offer.

However, I'll happily admit that cordless vacuum cleaners aren't perfect, and one thing I’ve always struggled with is the mess that comes with emptying them - and how often I have to do it. So, when I learned that Halo Appliances had launched a brand-new, ultra-lightweight, large-capacity cordless bagged vacuum, I knew I had to test it out.

In a nutshell

Testing the Halo Capsule XR was somewhat of a trip down memory lane for me. Its predecessor, the Halo Capsule X, was the first-ever vacuum I tested as part of the Ideal Home team - and you know what they say, you always remember your first. But what I love about this new iteration is that it offers everything I loved about the Capsule X… just better.

Super lightweight at just 2.7kg but offering a mammoth 2L capacity, this stylish cordless vacuum really does offer the best of both worlds. The 70-minute runtime and quick 2.5-hour charging time are also what you’d expect from bigger brands like Dyson and Shark. But it’s the bagged nature that really wins me over.

Not only is the bagged capacity extremely large for such a lightweight cordless, but it also offers mess-free emptying, which is particularly handy if you struggle with allergies or are worried about your air quality. In fact, this model is equipped with the brand’s best-ever H14 HEPA filtration, which captures 99.995% of particles.

However, it’s not without a few quirks. It's a no-frills vacuum without any screens or on-board information. The wheels on the main floorhead can be a bit sticky, switching floorheads could be considered a little annoying for some, and you’ll need to commit to buying extra bags in the future. But for convenience, cleanliness and cleaning power, it really is impressive.

Specifications

• Weight: 2.7kg
• Bin volume: 2L
• Run time: 70 minutes
• Charge time: 2.5 hours
• Modes: 3 (Eco, Performance, Boost)
• Noise level (tested by us): 68dB - 86dB
• In the box: Main vacuum, main floorhead, roller floorhead, stretch hose, crevice tool, combi brush, upholstery combination tool, mini power brush, battery, wall dock, 10 dust bags

Unboxing, setting up and first impressions

As the Halo Capsule XR weighs just 2.7kg, the box that arrived at my door was just as lightweight. I could easily carry it from one room to the next, and I didn’t need any helping hands by my side.

I was also impressed to see that almost everything was packaged in an eco-friendly manner, and the outer cardboard box was fully recyclable. The smaller components inside the box were then encased in LDPE 4 plastic, which can be recycled - but only in certain drop-off points. For me, that’s my local supermarket.

This was slightly annoying as I prefer to pop all of my packaging straight into my recycling bin, but I can’t knock Halo for trying. And I must admit that I was very impressed with how full the box was.

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As I unpacked, I was greeted by the main vacuum, main floorhead, roller floorhead, stretch hose, crevice tool, combi brush, upholstery combination tool, mini power brush, battery, wall dock, and some dust bags.

Then, to assemble the Halo XR, all I had to do was click the battery into the top of the main unit, click the extension pole into place, and attach the floorhead of my choice (either the hard floor roller or the main floorhead, which is better for carpets and rugs).

The dust bag was already inserted, but I did take a look inside by pressing the button on the top cover - just so I knew how to open it when the time came to remove and replace it later down the line. I then popped it onto charge, as I always like to start my testing with a full tank of juice.

But while I was waiting to take it for its first spin, I took a step back to look at the new cordless vacuum in front of me - and I must admit that I loved the new look. The Halo Capsule X I tested a few years ago had a nice blue colourway, but the sleek black look of the XR is a significant upgrade in my books.

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I’ve also always been a huge fan of the carbon fibre capsule, which not only looks stylish but also contributes to the vacuum's lightweight nature. But despite all of this, it still looks high-quality, and even the tools and wall dock seemed on par with the quality of both Shark and Dyson vacuums.

It’s also worth noting that I was lucky enough to receive a press sample, which included a lot of spare dust bags and a spare battery. If you buy through Amazon, however, you’ll get a set of 10 and just one battery. But if you buy directly through Halo, you can choose to buy one with 20 spare dust bags - and even one that comes with a spare battery so you can have up to 140 minutes of run time.

However, the prices are significantly higher when purchased directly through Halo, so I’d say Amazon is your best bet for the main vacuum, and then you can buy any extras separately - either through Amazon or Halo directly.

Using the Halo Capsule XR Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Before I use any vacuum cleaner for regular cleaning, I like to put its paces and see how it fares with how we test vacuum cleaners at Ideal Home. To do this, I perform the debris test, which involves throwing various sizes of debris on the floor and seeing how quickly and effectively the vacuum picks it up. So, I threw porridge oats, flour and rice on my hard flooring first, with the intention of trying the hard floor roller first.

However, as I turned the Halo Capsule XR on for the first time, I was left a little confused when I spotted that the roller itself wasn’t actually rolling. This was rectified by a quick skim of the instruction manual, as one of this vacuum’s quirks is that you need to press the rectangular button beneath the power button to turn on the roller.

This is the case with both floorheads, as this allows you to use the main floorhead on hard flooring without causing any damage. And while I don’t see this as a negative, I would advise you to read the instructions before you get started (so you don’t suffer the same confusion as I did!)

With the soft floor roller finally rolling, I put it to work and was instantly impressed. The roller picked up every grain of rice, every spot of flour and every porridge oat on the first forward pass, without any need for a backward stroke. I then repeated the process on a carpet sample with the main multi-floor head, and it was exactly the same with the larger debris (porridge oats and rice).

The flour took an extra forward and backward stroke to be picked up, but this isn’t unusual for a cordless vacuum, as the flour is always the most difficult test. But, overall, it passed the debris test with flying colours.

I then used the Halo Capsule XR as my main vacuum cleaner for the next two weeks, using it in place of my regular vacuum cleaner and using it for all kinds of cleaning tasks - from general floor cleaning to more targeted cleaning with the tools.

For the most part, the lightweight cordless was incredibly easy to use and manoeuvre. One thing I will say is that, unlike other brands like Shark and Dyson, there’s no LCD screen or information available while cleaning, and the suction power doesn’t auto-adjust depending on the debris it's facing. This could be a downside for those used to these modern additions, but I didn’t find that it affected the cleaning power, which remained consistent throughout.

It tackled hard flooring and carpets with ease, but a slight niggle I faced was the ‘sticky’ wheels on the main floorhead. This is something I’ve experienced with other cordless vacuums with wheels, and it isn’t unusual, but it does create a little squeakiness when cleaning and can often feel a bit stiff, requiring you to put a little more force into your push.

I did find that it loosened up the more I used it, though, so it could be that with further use, this niggle would disappear. And while I’m used to testing vacuums where you need to change the floorhead depending on the floor you’re cleaning, I can understand that some people may find this irritating if they’re not used to it.

Run time was also as advertised, offering up to 70 minutes of run time in Eco mode and just 9 minutes in Boost mode - something I didn’t really find myself needing, as both Eco and Performance mode were more than enough for everyday cleaning. It’s also easy to check the battery status thanks to the lights on the battery itself.

All in all, there are no real ‘frills’ when it comes to the performance and the features offered with the Halo Capsule XR, but I actually found that refreshing in a world of vacuums that often offer way more than is needed. This vacuum’s main job is to clean, and it cleans well.

Using the attachments

I’ve noticed more and more vacuum brands have started reducing the number of accessories included with their cordless models, but the Halo Capsule XR isn’t one of them. In addition to the two floorheads, the XR comes with a crevice tool, combi brush, mini power brush, and a stretch hose.

All of these accessories are handy in their own right - although I would say that, personally, I don't have much use for the stretch hose outside of car cleaning - and I didn’t have to reach for any other vacuum during my two-week testing period.

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I particularly loved the mini power brush, which comes in really handy as someone who shares a home with a dog who not only sheds but also brings mud, dirt and dander into the house. I used the mini power brush on my stairs, my sofa, and my dog’s bed, and it was extremely effective in the lightweight handheld mode for more targeted cleaning.

In my parcel, I also received an accessory clip that holds one tool onboard the stick itself, which was a nice touch for storage and convenience. Overall, all the tools and accessories offer everything you need for a thorough clean.

Cleaning and maintenance

It’s important to clean the things that clean for you, and keeping on top of vacuum cleaner cleaning is key. Thankfully, the Halo Capsule XR makes this very easy. This is in part due to the bagged design, which means that you don’t have to empty the vacuum directly into the bin or face a plume of dust.

The 2L dust bag offers oodles of space, and after two weeks of testing, I’ve yet to fill it up to the point where it needs to be replaced. However, I know that the vacuum will tell me when this happens with a warning light, and then all I need to do is follow what I've dubbed the ‘drop and plop’ technique - where you simply hold the handheld over the bin, open up the chamber, and let the bag drop into the bin before plopping a new, fresh bag in its place.

It’s worth noting that you will need to replace the bags when you run out, though. These are an extra cost you need to factor into your purchase, and the replacement bags for the Capsule X can be bought from Amazon for £11.99 for a 10-pack. From the looks of the capacity, these can also be used in the XR.

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As this model has an anti-tangle floorhead, I didn’t find that any hair got caught in the floorhead, which was a major plus (especially as I regularly vacuum pet hair). But I will say that the roller floorhead did get a little dirty during testing - particularly when I did the flour test - which is something to be aware of. This was tackled by a quick brush of the hand over the roller, though.

Halo also recommends cleaning the dust pouch filter periodically, depending on use. All you need to do is rinse it under a tap and allow it to dry before putting it back. I also found that the 2.5-hour advertised charge time was accurate, which is surprisingly rapid compared to the usual 4-5 hour charge time you’d get with the likes of Shark or Dyson.

And while the Halo Capsule XR offers a freestanding design, I checked the instruction manual and spotted that Halo only recommends standing it upright for temporary breaks in cleaning rather than permanent storage. Thankfully, they have provided a wall dock for those instances.

How does it compare to similar models?

I’ve tested all manner of vacuums over the years, and there are three models that the Halo Capsule XR reminds me of, from Shark, Dyson and Miele.

The first is the Shark Stratos, which currently sits at the top of our best cordless guide. This is a slightly older model, but it is also £150 more expensive than the XR. And while I’d say they offer very similar cleaning results, they do have some differences that may affect your choice - namely, in terms of convenience.

If you prefer a vacuum that’ll fold down for easy storage and bend under furniture, the Shark will suit you better. But if you want a larger dust capacity and greater hygiene, the XR is your best bet. Aside from that, they’re very similar.

The Halo Capsule XR also reminds me of the Dyson V12, which offers a similar weight, run time and swappable floorheads for hard and soft flooring. And while the Dyson is far more advanced in terms of suction power and the onboard feedback through the LCD screen, you do have to sacrifice a large dust capacity for this premium brand, as the V12 only offers 0.35L compared to the XR’s 2L.

Lastly, there’s the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog, which I’ve crowned one of the best vacuums for pet hair thanks to its anti-tangle technology, pet accessories and high filtration power.

These two models look alike, and once again, the cleaning power is very similar, but they offer different perks. The Miele offers tools targeted for pet owners, which are extremely effective, but it has a small 0.3L dust capacity. On the other hand, the XR ensures you don’t need to empty it as regularly.

However, all three of these models are more expensive than the Halo XR, so if you don’t mind whether your new vacuum comes with a big brand name, I do think the Halo is an affordable option for what you get.

Verdict: Should you buy the Halo Capsule XR Cordless Vacuum Cleaner?

The Halo Capsule XR is everything you’d want from a vacuum cleaner. While some cordless models require you to make sacrifices in terms of dust capacity, run time and charge time, Halo has designed a model that offers handy solutions - without compromising on cleaning quality.

And if you can get over the fact that you’ll need to buy spare bags as the months go by, you’ll be able to enjoy the impressively large (and allergy-friendly) dust capacity, the lightweight design, and the myriad of floorheads and tools to customise your cleaning.

All in all, it’s really impressed me, and I think it offers everything most people will want from a cordless vacuum cleaner.