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Top 5 Cordless Vacuums

Great changes have taken place since I started writing this blog a few years ago.

Gone are days were cordless vacuums were thought as weak, overpriced, novelty tools that can’t clean a lick.

If you take a look at the latest products, these machines are more than capable than ever in tackling the tedious job of keeping homes clean.

Armed with larger batteries and better designed brushes, innovative companies like Dyson, Bissell, Shark and Hoover to name a few are leading the way with better performing products with more power and better run times that will not disappoint.

In this site, we’ll feature all types of vacuum cleaners (not just cordless) and we will help you choose the right one.

There’s also a review section that explains how each vacuum works, its strengths and weaknesses. How it’ll help clean different parts of the house, how it performs on different surfaces such as carpet, hard floor and rugs.

So, scroll away and see what’s in store for you!

Below is the comparison chart for the five best cordless vacuums available in the market today.

 

Do you need something more specific?

The list above includes a mix of handhelds and stick vacuums. If you want something more targeted click on any of the links below or click on this link to see the latest in-depth guides in this blog.

Keys in Comparing the Top Cordless Vacuums

• Battery – states the type of battery whether it uses an older ni-cad or a modern lithium ion plus how much voltage it cranks out. Take note that battery voltage will not accurately reflect on the power. It merely tells you how much volts the motor needs to function. Refer to the air watts for suction power
• Charge time – the time it takes to fully charge
• Run time – this represents the how long it will run continuously before power runs out
• Power (Air Watts) – It measures the suction power directly on the vacuum inlet and not from the motor. If you’re a gearhead think of it this way watts = bhp, air watts = wheel hp, bhp measures power from the crank, wheel horsepower measures power directly from the wheels
• Motorized brush – this is a powered brush that helps the vacuum pick up more stubborn dirt like pet hair off hard floor and carpet. A must have if you want to remove hair and dust
• Attachments – lets you know if it has any attachment included in the package such as a pet hair, crevice or brush tool, the type of charger included and if it has any extra batteries
• Cleaning Path – the overall width of the opening where all the dirt passes through – the wider the cleaning path, the more efficient it is
• Weight – how heavy the product is (in pounds)
• Price – Since prices in amazon change frequently because of promotions, availability and various other reasons, we will not list the prices. Refer to these instead – $ = below $50, $$ = $51 – $100, $$$ = $101 to $200, $$$$ = $201 and up

Do I really need a cordless when I already have a corded one?

A cordless isn’t meant to replace more powerful vacuums that have a cord because it lacks power.

Even brands with the longest run times will yield 45 minutes max per charge so you cannot realistically expect this to clean the whole house in a single charge.

Fully carpeted homes will need at least one upright or a canister that has enough power and agitation to deep clean.

A cordless only becomes a necessity if you need to spot clean an area in your home. It also comes in handy if you want to tidy up your car’s interior.

It is plausible to use a cordless as your primary vacuum inside small homes with no carpet since there is no need to deep clean anything.

What is the best cordless vacuum to buy?

There isn’t a one size fits all model that’s the best, you’ll have to look at your needs.

Are you primarily using it to clean floors?

What type of floor does your home have? carpet, tiled or wood?

A Dyson Fluffy would be great inside homes that do not have any carpet.

Editor’s note: Dyson has a new cordless vacuum – the V10. This next generation cordless is their most powerful to date, with a larger bin and better cleaning performance. If you’re looking for something that’ll replace an upright in your small home, please take a look at this.

If a Dyson is too expensive, a cheaper option would be a Hoover Linx Stick that performs almost as well but lacks versatility and has a shorter run time.

Do you have pets? Then you’ll need something that won’t clog up easily and has enough power to suck up pet hair.

To remove pet hair on upholstery, a vacuum equipped with a flexible hose like the Black & Decker BDH2000FL or something that has a mini-motorized brush like the Dyson V8 would good options.

Are you using this in your vehicle? Then look for something small and lightweight that’s easy to carry around, has a hose and can fit in tight areas, with enough tools to reach tight nooks and crannies.

What to look for?

Look at the list above and compare features such as power, battery life, charging time and weight.

We’ve gathered all these information from different sources so you don’t need to go back and forth between sites just to look for it.

Make sure to do due diligence and set a budget first then read reviews and compare features so that you can make an informed choice before making the final decision.

Setting a budge helps weed out options outside the price range and allows you to focus on variants you can afford.

We’ve created a guide to help you understand the features listed and how to use that information to narrow down which one to buy.

Remember to always look at the facts first before believing in all the hype that you see on TV.

Here’s a short review of the top 5 cordless vacs

A glance at the features, strengths, weaknesses and why they rank as such:

Our Pick: Dyson V8 Absolute

Dyson really has been really active in launching new products.

Along with their newest robotic vacuum the 360 Eye, James Dyson also has unveiled a brand new cordless vacuum called the V8 Absolute. If you ask me that name fits this product because the performance is absolutely amazing.

More power and run time

According to Dyson the new V8 has around 20% more suction power and 150% more brush bar power compared to any V6 variant.

Another area of improvement is the battery.

Dyson says that they’ve “improved the Dyson DC16 Vacuum Battery chemistry” which means longer run time of up to 40 minutes. If you use this as a handheld but with any of the motorized floor tools attached that number drops down to 25 minutes.

When you turn-on the Max button, that number drops down to 7 minutes but it increases power up to 115 air watts (around 15 air watts higher than the V6).

This allows it to clean thicker pile carpet and dig deeper than any cordless vacuum in the market right now.

But wait there’s more…

Dyson also address two of the biggest issues.

First was how mess it was to clean the bin and second, the max button behind the HEPA filter that needed some force to turn on.

With the previous V6 emptying the bin was a messy proposition even though their advertorials say otherwise that’s because of the narrow space of the filter and outer shell.

Improved dirt bin

The V6 relied on gravity for emptying the bin. To empty it, you had to push a lever to release a hinge that held a door in place.

Without any device to push dirt down, stuff like dust clung on which made emptying a messy chore.

This was a universal problem across the V6 product line.

With the new V8 that is no longer an issue because it has a rubber mechanism that pushed it down for you

It doesn’t push all of it out but it is a much better design.

New max switch

The V6 had another flaw, it’s max button placement was at the back of the HEPA filter housing.

This made it awkward when trying to engage the max function because you had to press on it hard.

The design isn’t bad per se. I’d say the designed is flawed because it lacked precision.

Dyson has improved the design. The new switch ditches the push button functionality and replaced it with a more traditional looking slide switch.

The Best HandHeld – Black & Decker Platinum BDH2000FL

At first glance, the BDH2000FL doesn’t look anything like a cordless vacuum but the weird design has a purpose – portable cleaning!

It has a 4-foot hose that you can pop out and use to clean up your car’s interior or the creases around your sofa bed.

The 20-volt lithium BLACK & DECKER HPB18 Cordless Drill Battery gives you roughly 15 to 20 minutes of run time that will take 5 hours to recharge.

Update (September 19, 2014) – Black and Decker has released a updated version of this vacuum – the BDH2020FLFH. It has virtually the same features. This includes a 4 foot flex hose, crevice, combination brush/nozzle and pet hair tool but this newer version is slightly more powerful (25 air watts v.s. 22 air watts) and it has a floor tool / wand attachment that allows you to use this as a stick vacuum. Read the full review here.

Features at a glance:

• 20-volt lithium ion battery
• 5 hour charge time
• 4 foot flexible hose
• Pet hair attachment

Why did this make it to this list?

The unique design of the hose is clever and adds to the versatility.

Pop it back in if you’re cleaning wide open areas like your floors or tables but if you need to get in tight spots like your car’s interior the flexible hose comes in handy.

It also has a pet hair tool that helps you clean pet hair off upholstery.

Are there any potential issues?

Biggest issue at least for the long term is the built-in battery.

As with most battery powered tools – this can be the weak link if it breaks pre-maturely.

Fortunately the B&D Platinum series comes with a 3-year warranty so you’re guaranteed at least 3 years of service life.

Cheaper Dyson: Shark IONFlex 2X

I thought I’d never see a product that would come close to a Dyson in terms of performance and features but we one in our midst.

Before this product came along there was no product that matched the Dyson V6 or V8 that had the same type of cleaning tools for both bare floor and carpet.

With the IONFlex cordless series, Shark has narrowed the gap between Dyson and has features that not even found in a James Dyson product.

Features I like

First it’s one of the few cordless stick vacuums that come with the soft roller cleaning head that transforms how this machine cleans on bare floor. Second it’s got LED headlights to help with visibility.

Lastly the extension wand is bendable that makes it even more maneuverable under furniture. This feature also makes this one of the very few 2-in-1 stick vacuums that can stand on its own.

If you’ve followed how Shark has designed their products you’ll know how these guys are innovative.

Instead of using separate tools for bare floor and carpet, Shark has integrated it into one tool called the DuoClean technology.

This is the same cleaning head found in their upright and corded stick vacuums that has gotten great reviews because it truly performs.

Pros

• Almost $100 cheaper than a Dyson V8
• It comes with two batteries so it’ll provide at least twice the run time of a Dyson
• Duo Clean head will work great on carpet and bare floor
• LED headlights helps in terms of visibility
• MultiFlex technology provides more maneuverability under furniture
• Interchangeable tools make this as versatile as a Dyson cordless

Cons

• It’s a bit top heavy so it’ll strain your wrist if you clean areas above the floor
• Swivel isn’t as smooth as a Dyson
• Small dirt bin

The two lithium ion batteries will run for about 20 to 30 minutes each so combining them will give you as much as a 1 hour run time which is plenty.

Other tools include a mini turbo brush tool for cleaning pet hair off upholstery, crevice tool and brush tool.

More Than A Stick Vac: Hoover Air Cordless Lift

Out of the 5 vacuums in this list, I’m sure you’ll agree that the Dyson V6 Absolute is hands down the most versatile and feature rich however it’s crazy expensive.

There’s another product in the market that aims to challenge Dyson in terms of cleaning performance and versatility.

Did I mention that it’s cheaper?

Let me introduce the Hoover Air Cordless Lift.

No won’t match the Dyson in terms of compact versatility but it has one feature that separates it from other stick vacuums.

Hoover calls this the “Lift” feature.

With a push of a button you can separate the canister from the body. It basically transforms this stick into a canister vacuum. Pretty neat huh?

Why did this make it to this list?

Most cordless cleaners in the market will run for roughly 15 minutes. This perhaps is its biggest chink in the armour.

The Air Cordless Lift changes all of that. Combine the two lithium ion batteries included and you’ll get a whopping 50 minutes of run time.

Another reason is the lift feature that you saw earlier. I don’t think you’ll find this feature in any of the stick vacuums in the market right now.

This feature is a game changer because it allows users to use this above the floor on areas like upholstery and stairs.

So essentially you are buying two products for the price.

What are the potential issues?

The biggest issue for me would be the price. At nearly $200 bucks it is a whole lot of dough to fork out for a cordless but for what you’ll get I think it is a bargain.

But it is still cheaper than the V6 Absolute and if you don’t mind it not having the type of maneuverability the Dyson has then this would be a cheaper alternative that will help you keep a small home clean.

Old Reliable – Hoover Linx Stick

Before Hoover released the Hoover Air Cordless and the Air Cordless Lift, they already had a stick vacuum that consumers loved and still continue to do so because it simply works.

This is the Hoover Linx Stick vacuum. The other half of the Linx platinum series vacuum cleaner that also includes the handheld version.

Both of these products use the same 18 volt lithium ion battery that will last for around 10 to 15 minutes depending on what surface you are cleaning.

With over 8,000 reviews in Amazon and counting, a lot of them giving high marks.

This cordless stick is one of the best-selling vacuums they have anywhere, better than the newer Air cordless series.

Why do consumers love this vacuum?

One of the best attributes of this machine is its carpet cleaning abilities that beat out even a Dyson DC59 in CNet’s controlled tests.

Consumers who’ve used this agree that this machine though not a deep cleaner, is a great tool to have for small in-between cleanups on high traffic areas.

Even when you try and clean larger items like a cheerios or crackers, the Linx Stick has a small opening in the middle that funnels all the larger debris inside.

This prevents the dreaded snowplowing effect that you see in other vacuums (like the Dyson) that don’t have this feature.

It also has a brushroll on and off switch which means you can turn off the motorized brush just in case you need to clean your hard floors.

This is a great feature if you have easy to scratch hardwood flooring at home.

What are the potential issues?

The biggest Achilles’ heel in the Linx’s armor would be that small mounting point between the handle and body.

A single screw holds these two sections together. The issue is the material used in the mounting point which is plastic.

Over time as this product begins to age and wear there is a chance this part breaking.

If you accidentally drop this then a roll of duck tape may come in handy.

And yes, consumers have resorted to duct tape to hold these two parts together.

But they didn’t seem to mind because it cleaned well enough to ignore this issue but it is something to consider.

Another issue is the run time

Unlike the newer Air Cordless Lift that has nearly a one hour run time, this cordless only has maximum run time of 15 minutes minus the brush roll.

Not long enough to clean an entire room but good enough for spot cleaning.

With the brush roll spinning, run time goes down to around 10 minutes.

Also this vacuum cannot clean anything above the floor since it lacks a hose or tools that you can use to clean upholstery.

How about budget options?

If spending $150 or more isn’t an option for you I’ve got some recommendations that will hopefully fit your home cleaning needs.

I’ve also published two guides – one for vacuums below $100 and below $200.

Shark Navigator FreeStyle

This Shark Navigator FreeStyle is a good performer on both low to medium pile carpet and bare floor surfaces. The great part about this is the price.

It only costs a shade under $100, roughly $50 cheaper than other stick vacuums.

For the price you’ll get a light vacuum that swivels.

This is a must have because if your home has lots of furniture.

Turning on this vacuum wouldn’t require you to bend down because the power switch is at the base.

Run time is slightly below average between 12 to 17 minutes though some consumers claimed to have stretched the run time to 30 minutes.

Charging time would be around 3 to 7 hours.

The short one year warranty is a turn off but it’s cheap enough to ignore it.

Buying from a reputable store like Amazon alleviates some of these concerns because it has a solid return policy.

Black & Decker BDH2000PL Pivot

The Black & Decker BDH2000PL may be just what the doctor ordered if you need a lightweight and highly maneuverable handheld to for cleaning small spills that can complement an upright.

If you look at sheer suction power, it outclasses a Dyson DC44 and DC59 (in normal mode).

This little dynamite has 35 air watts as compared to just 28 for the former.

Perhaps the best feature would be the fold-able nozzle. It comes in handy when cleaning different heights.

Fold the nozzle all the way and you’ll have a powerful handheld capable of cleaning loose debris on upholstery.

The beauty of this design is it allows you to set it at different angles to clean areas high up there. Areas like the tops of cabinets or ceiling fans.

It lacks a hose and a pet hair cleaning attachment that would benefit pet owners.

To Wrap It Up

The reality is choosing the best cordless vacuum is all about making the right compromise.

You either pony up enough cash and buy something that performs well or be thrifty and get something that doesn’t clean as well.

Why the Dyson V6?

The Dyson V6 Absolute is as close as a perfect compromise you can make when choosing something cordless.

It has just enough power to clean high traffic area in homes with carpet. In homes without carpet you can use it as the primary vacuum because it has enough versatility.

If money is not an issue

If money isn’t an issue then I’d recommend the V8 without hesitation because feature-wise it is the best. The improvements Dyson made in this product is substantial but it comes at a cost. Dyson also has the latest V10 cordless, it’s much more expensive than the V8 but it’s more powerful, with a larger bin and better performance.

Other options

The other options listed here are cheaper just in case you’re not willing to spend $$$ on a Dyson. Nonetheless these are great options.

Don’t sleep on the Black & Decker handhelds listed here because these are small, yet powerful tools that will clean up small messes efficiently.

Choosing between the two will boil down to need and priorities so make sure to list those down before purchasing.

Hoover is another great alternative to the Dyson. Not as versatile but it offers comparable cleaning performance for less.

If you think we’ve missed out anything in the list, let us know by posting it in the comments section below. We want to be as objective as possible and appreciate your input.

Tips for roomba replacement battery

If you don’t want to buy some Roomba batteries every year, you’d better use it correctly. In fact, one of the most common complaints I saw on the commentary website is the APS battery life of the iRoomba vacuum robot. So when I got my 1 year old robot, I rushed to the network to find out how to make it last for the longest time.

Actually, the manual gives very few tips about that, and it was quite hard to find the information on iRobot’s website. But I finally got it and I want to share it with you all.

I will also explain how to put your additional iRobot Roomba 500 Vacuum Battery in your robot floor cleaner when you receive it.

1) THE 6 TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BATTERY

1. The first one is a tricky one: charge your Roomba aps battery one night before the first time use. I say it’s tricky because when you receive your Roomba vacuum robot, the first thing you want to do is trying it. It’s actually written in the Quick Start Guide, so if you are serious with manuals, you should have seen it.
2. Always leave your robot on charge. When your Roomba is not working, it should wait at its charging station. Roomba’s battery should always be full when it’s starting the next cleaning cycle.
3. Use your Roomba regularly. That means more than once a week. Your Roomba vacuum cleaner needs some exercise to keep its batteries fit. So use it twice a week or everyday. A good idea is also to make rotations so that it cleans different rooms each time. It keeps it in use regularly when not every room needs to be cleaned every day.
4. Every few months, empty the battery. Every 2-3 months, run it again and again until its battery is over (4-beep tone). Just let it clean and unplug its charging station. Come every 15 minutes to start it again. Then, let it charge overnight until it’s full. It will help keeping it in great shape.
5. Clean the brushes from hair and other debris regularly (1/week or 1/month). That way there will be less resistance, making your Roomba vacuum cleaner more efficient both for the battery and the cleaning.
6. Finally, stock your battery during vacations. I quote iRobot website on this: “Blue and black batteries should be stored after the Roomba has been used. Yellow batteries should be stored after being fully charged.” So before leaving your Roomba for more that 2 weeks, don’t remember to take the batteries off and store them in a safe place.

2) HOW TO USE YOUR ROOMBA REPLACEMENT BATTERY?

The Roomba battery is under your robot, hidden under the big green cover. You will need a screw driver to open your robot’s belly.

To open your Roomba vacuum robot, you should first take out the side spinning brush. Just unscrew the middle screw and then pull quite hard on several of the plastic branches, near the center. You may be afraid of tearing it apart the first time, but the branches are resistant enough.

Next, unscrew the big screws indicated by the arrows on your robot. Note that you don’t need to take them out this time. They are screwed both in the robot’s base and in the cover. So when the screw starts moving, you still can’t get it out but it’s enough to open it.

Finally, just take the big yellow thing out and put your additional iRobot Roomba  537 replacement Battery in. It can only get in in one way, so you shouldn’t have any problems.

Now I think you have everything you need to know to take care of your Roomba batteries. Take care of them, and you will never need a Roomba replacement battery.

How to rebuild a cordless drill battery

The cordless power tool is very convenient for both the professional and the hands-on owner. Unfortunately, the rechargeable battery pack, which is powered by these tools, usually fails in 18 to 24 months. What many tool owners do not know is that in these battery packs, there is a simple arrangement to recharge the size of C batteries, and they can rebuild themselves.

Open the battery pack. This is very simply done if the pack has screws that hold the case together. If the pack is a solid, one-piece molded unit, you will need to cut it open.

Attach a chisel tip to the soldering iron, and heat it up. Use the tip to cut an outline along the top of the base of the battery pack. Pull off the top and set it aside. Inside will be a group of C-size rechargeable batteries in a generic cardboard casing. Read the text on them, which will indicate whether the cells are Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cad) or Nickel Metal-Hydride (Ni-Mh).

Make sure that you purchase the same type of rechargeable battery cells unless you are sure that your charger and tool will operate with the other type. If so, use Ni-Mh batteries — they are superior to Ni-Cad cells in that they do not develop a “memory” when charged to less than full capacity.

Take notes regarding the way the batteries are connected and arranged so that you can put the new cells in the same way. Heat up the connector to each battery in the pack and remove it.

Use a rotary tool with a wire brush attachment to clean off any oxidation on the contacts and connecting wires left in the pack. Refer to your notes and install the new DEWALT DC9096 Power Tool Batteries the same way as the previous arrangement. Solder the new connections securely.

Put the top of the battery case back on and fasten the screws, or for the molded pack that has been cut open, use a liberal amount of an epoxy adhesive to glue the pieces back together. Be sure to let the pack charge fully (overnight) before using it for the first time.

Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners of 2018

If you want to cut off the wire of your vacuum cleaner, you have reached the right place. We have tested all the best cordless vacuum cleaners in the market, which are our favorite ten kinds of vacuum cleaners after deep testing.

Half the faff of doing the vacuuming is down to the constant plugging and unplugging of of the vacuum cleaner to get it to where you need to.

Cordless vacs from all the leading brands, including Dyson, Vax and Bosch, make it into our list. Each page features a summary review of the model, but click the links to read our full in-depth reviews.

In the full reviews you can see before and after examples of cleaning performance on carpets and hard floors, and how well they clean right up to the edge of skirting boards.

We also test what they’re like to use on stairs and how well they clean up pet hair.

Click the dropdown list above or hit the ‘Next’ arrow to see our mini reviews of the best cordless vacuums, or see the names at a glance below.

Why buy a cordless vacuum cleaner?

Cordless vacuum cleaners are a great idea. While most aren’t as powerful as corded vacuum cleaners, cutting the wire is hugely useful and convenient. They let you clean in a completely different way. Instead of doing a big clean every week or so, it’s easy to get a cordless machine out to do quick spot cleans whenever you need.

Not being tethered to a socket means cleaning takes less time, too. That means less back bending, plus cordless vacuums are lighter too, so they’re a good option if you have a bad back. They’re typically easier to use on stairs and most are great to use in cars, making them even more versatile.

What are the weaknesses?

A good cordless vacuum cleaner doesn’t come cheap. You can buy cordless vacuums for around £100 or so, but we don’t recommend any of them. They don’t clean well enough to justify the expense. That means the cheapest machines in our round-up cost upwards of £200.

All of the vacuums in this round-up clean well, but with one or two exceptions, they don’t clean as well as corded machines. For example, few can collect dirt trapped up against skirting boards, so you’ll need to go around with a crevice tool to get right into the corners.

Battery life varies, too. The most powerful of Dyson DC16 Vacuum Battery that last around 20 minutes, while the less powerful of ones go for 30 to 40 minutes. You’ll be amazed how much you can get done in 20 minutes, but it’s a trade-off between cleaning performance and cleaning time.

The best Chromebooks of 2018

They are lighter, more portable, and usually have better battery life than their big counterparts. These notebooks are designed for students, professionals and anyone who needs a laptop. These notebooks are designed to spend more time on the trip, rather than on the desk. However, low price tags are the most attractive place, because Chromebooks often sold at a price of hundreds less than the Windows operating system.

Nearly every major manufacturer offers their own spin on the Chromebook, and the market has never been more crowded. There’s a lot of options available that look similar at a glance, so we’ve narrowed things down for you by sorting through them all to pick four of the best Chromebooks.

Our pick

Samsung Chromebook Pro

Why should you buy this: You want a Chromebook prepared for the future of Chrome OS

Who’s it for: Students, professionals, and anyone in between.

How much will it cost: $550+

Why we picked the Samsung Chromebook Pro:

Between the powerful, efficient Intel Core M processor and the gorgeous 2,400 x 1600 display, the Samsung Chromebook Pro isn’t just an impressive Chromebook. It’s an impressive ultralight laptop.

Building on the legacy of the Chromebooks that came before, Samsung has elevated the design and capabilities of its latest offering, rolling in support for Google Play apps alongside a versatile touch-screen display and a stylus. Fold it back and it becomes an Android tablet, set it upright and it’s a mobile workstation.

The Samsung Chromebook Pro is like a Swiss Army knife, capable of filling a variety of roles throughout your day. It’s still a little expensive for a Chromebook, but it’s well under what you’d pay for a comparable Windows 10 notebook — and it’s certainly cheaper than its relatively comparable Google counterpart, the Pixelbook. Plus, Samsung now offers a version with a backlit keyboard, a feature missing from the initial launch of the laptop.

The best 15-inch Chromebook

Acer Chromebook 15

Why should you buy this: If you need an affordable Chromebook with a large display.

How long should I charge my notebook battery

Below are some general guidelines that should be followed when charging your laptop computer battery. Keep in mind these are general suggestions. Consult your laptop or battery documentation for precise information. If your documentation states something different, those directions should be followed.

New battery or first use

After purchasing a new laptop computer or battery for your laptop, we recommend that the battery be charged for no less than 24-hours. A 24-hour charge makes sure the Dell latitude d620 laptop battery is fully charged and helps with the battery’s life expectancy. Once it is fully charged, you should not discharge it fully, if possible. Lithium-ion batteries (the type used in modern laptop computers) are strained, and may be weakened, when they are fully discharged. Doing so frequently can shorten the battery’s lifespan.

Don’t worry about overcharging the battery. Modern laptops will stop charging the battery when it is fully charged and switch over to AC power while the laptop is plugged into an outlet.

If you are excited to use your new laptop, it can still be used while it is plugged into an outlet. However, we suggest not unplugging it until it’s been charged for that length of time.

All other charges

After the computer battery has gone through it’s initial charge, all other battery charging should go until the laptop has reached its capacity. Often this will be after a few hours of charging.

Note: Even when the computer is off, as long as it’s plugged in, it will continue to charge.

Can I Change My Own Laptop Battery?

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Our laptop must eventually come back to the great assembly line in the sky. (or, if you have the responsibility, you can recycle it). But this week, readers oscarandmuley tried to keep their machines running.

The reader wrote that after using their machine for 10 minutes, it turns off. So the question is: After seven years, do they need a new laptop?

Probably. Seven years is a long time for a notebook, and there’s newer, better technology out there. Displays are better, CPUs are more powerful, and, heck, you’re probably a few operating systems out of date.

But OK, you like your current one, so let’s take it to its logical extreme. In theory, you may be able to replace the battery, especially on a laptop that’s 7 years old. While more and more laptop vendors are making it increasingly difficult to replace parts, older and larger machines often make it easy to swap out parts.

Oscarandmutley didn’t tell us which laptop they currently own, so we can’t tell them if their battery is replaceable. While third-party companies might sell Hp 484170-001 batteryies, I’d recommend finding one from the laptop’s company, if you can. Some vendors sell parts online – both HP and Dell have battery stores, for example. If you can’t find yours online, you can also try calling the company to see if they sell it.

Some machines also come with maintenance manuals, and if they do, be sure to follow it to the letter. Even though you probably don’t have a warranty 7 years later, you still don’t want to break anything (or hurt yourself). Chances are you’re going to need a couple of screwdrivers to get into your laptop, but it’s cheaper and less wasteful than getting a new computer.

But if you can’t replace the battery, well, you had a nice run.

Seven years is a long time. Oscarandmutley also asked if a desktop would be better suited for them. But without knowing what they use the machine for, I’d say that’s only the case if they never want to take their computer with them anywhere.

The Best Dell Deals 2018

Dell makes a slew of outstanding products, from the near-perfect XPS 13 – we love most consumers to a staggering 13 OLED Alienware.

For a limited time, gamers can take $200 off all Alienware desktops and laptops priced $1,599 or more via coupon code “200OFF1599”. That coupon can also be used to lower the price of Alienware’s new Core i9-based systems.

If you want to spend the least amount of money possible, your best bet is the Alienware 13 with GTX 1060 graphics. Coupon “200OFF1599” drops the price of this laptop from $1,599.99 to $1,399.99. The laptop packs a 13.3-inch 1080p IPS LCD, 2.8GHz Core i7-7700HQ quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD, and a 6GB GTX 1060 graphics card.

Serious gamers can use the coupon on the new Alienware 17 R5 with Intel’s just-released Core i9 processor. The Core i9-8950K can boost gaming frames per second by up to 41 percent over a machine running a 7th generation Core i7 CPU. All this performance comes with a whopping $3,699.99 price tag. After coupon, you’re looking at $3,499.99. The rig houses a 17.3-inch QHD (2560 x 1440) LCD with G-Sync, 2.9GHz Core i9-8950K six-core CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD with 1TB 7200 RPM HDD, and a GTX 1080 OC graphics card with 8GB of RAM.

The coupon expires April 12 at 7am ET.

If the Alienware systems are too rich for your blood, Dell currently has its Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Laptop with GTX 1060 for $849.99. That’s $250 off this powerful configuration. It features a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS LCD, 2.5GHz Core i5-7300HQ quad-core CPU, 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD with 1TB HDD, and a 6GB GTX 1060 graphics card.

Dell has another epic deal on our all-time favorite laptop. Via Dell’s eBay storefront, you can get the XPS 13 9360 for $899.99. That’s $400 off its normal price.

Performance-wise, this XPS won’t disappoint as it houses a 1.8GHz Core i7-8550U quad-core processor. In our tests, the XPS 13 scored an impressive 14,158 on Geekbench 4, which is more than double the category average for 13-inch ultraportables. The laptop also endured an epic 16 hours and 5 minutes in our Dell xps m1330 laptop battery test.

It’s worth noting that Dell has a newer XPS 13 (9370), which is currently on sale too. You can take $100 off select configurations of the newer laptop via coupon code “100OFF999”. However, a similarly configured XPS 9370 would cost you $1,099.99 after coupon. Moreover, the base model only has 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD for $999.99.

Dell Outlet Deals

If you’re willing to consider a refurbished laptop (and there’s no reason you shouldn’t), Dell Oultet has a great promo on its refurb laptops.

Coupon “PCM999150” takes an extra $150 off laptops priced $999 or more, whereas coupon code “PCM1499200” can be used to take an extra $200 off laptops priced $1,99 or more.

There are many different configurations of each laptop with very limited quantities of each.

How to maximize the battery life of Roomba

If you are smart and considerate Roomba has a heart, you will find it adjacent to its brush, behind a screwed plastic box: battery.

Actually, the Roomba’s battery is essentially 12 NiMH batteries strung together to create one ginormous nickel-based battery. iRobot promises that the battery can run for up to 2 hours, and based on our estimates, will last about 400 charges.

That’s all fine and good, but depending on how the robot’s battery is taken care of, you could find yourself replacing it sooner than you’d like. And for the same reasons, you might find your Roomba getting tired before that 2-hour mark.

Save yourself the expense of a new iRobot Roomba 500 Battery and keep it vacuuming longer with these tips.

Clean those brushes

Each time your Roomba cleans up, debris like dust, hair, and fur get caught in its brushes. Of course they do — that’s the Roomba’s job. However, when that debris builds up, your robot works harder to spin the brushes, draining away its precious battery life.

At least once weekly, remove your Roomba’s brushes and get them clean.

Keep it charged and use it often

For the Roomba’s nickel-based (not lithium ion like smartphones) batteries, it’s best to keep the unit charging whenever you’re not using it. However, don’t leave it in its dock for days at a time — lots of vacuuming will keep its battery healthy.

Exhaust the battery

To maintain the battery’s capacity, it’s important to drain it every so often. To do this, simply run the vacuum until the battery dies, then charge it to full. For best results, repeat this process a few times.

Keep it cool

This advice is applicable to devices well beyond your Roomba — computers and smartphones should adhere to this policy, too.

To increase the battery’s longevity, store your robot in a cool, dry place. The unit should stay out of direct sunlight, where heat could damage the battery. Likewise, be sure to give the unit plenty of breathing room, away from other heat-producing appliances and electronics.

Put it in vacation mode

If you’re going away on vacation, put your Roomba in what could be called “vacation mode.” Doing so will ensure the battery remains healthy when it’s not being used for weeks at a time. (Alternatively, you could schedule your Roomba to continue vacuuming, even when you’re away.)

To put your robot in vacation mode, charge the iRobot Roomba 537 battery completely. Then, remove it by flipping the Roomba over and removing the two screws that secure the battery door. Check out the video above for a more visual guide.

Once the battery is out, store it in a cool dry place, separate from the unit.

When you return from vacation, recharge the unit to full, then run it until it dies. Then, you’re free to go back to your regular routine.

Dell XPS 15 Upgraded Coffee Lake CPU

The best 15- inch consumer laptop is going to be better. Intel (Intel) today (April 3rd) unveiled its new generation of CoffeeLake processors, and Dell announced a new version of XPS 15 based on the new chip.

The laptop retains the same design and luxurious carbon-fiber deck as previous models, but throws in a more-colorful 4K panel.

Starting at $999 and due out in May, the Dell XPS 15 9570 will come with your choice of Core i5, Core i7 or Core i9 Intel H series CPUs. These new processors have six cores and twelve threads, 50 percent more than the 7th Gen Core processors in the previous XPS 15 model (9560).

In addition to its new processors, the XPS 15 9570 will be available with a new GPU option: the Nvidia GTX 1050Ti. You’ll also be able to get it with Intel integrated graphics or the slightly-slower GTX 1050 chip.

We had a chance to spend a few minutes with the new XPS 15 at a recent Dell press event. The laptop looks and feels just like last year’s model, but we were struck by the colorful display.

The new laptop will be available with both a 1080p non-touch and a 4K touch screen. Both panels will operate at a luminous 400 nits of brightness, but the Ultra HD display is designed to reproduce 100 percent of the Adobe RGB color gamut. Meanwhile, the lower-resolution model can only hit 100 percent of the more-restrive sRGB gamut.

The XPS 15 starts at a mere 4 pounds, with a 1080p screen and a 56 Whr Dell xps m1530 laptop battery. However, with a larger, 97 Whr battery and the 4K display, that weight jumps to 4.5 pounds. Dell claims that the laptop can last up to 21.5 hours on a charge. Last year’s model lasted 8 hours and 23 minutes on our Laptop Mag Battery Test 1.0 (surfing the web at 100 nits of brightness) so we’re taking that claim with a grain of salt.

The new model has two USB Type-A 3.1 connections, HDMI  out, an audio jack, an SD card reader and a Thunderbolt 3 port, which will work with eGPUs. There’s a fingerprint reader for Windows Hello logins built into the power button. Unfortunately, the XPS 15 9570 still has Dell’s infamous nosecam which points up at you from the bottom bezel.

We look forward to testing the XPS 15 9570 closer to the time when it ships in May.

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