Halo Capsule: is this unusual cordless vacuum a game-changer?

Update for 28 April 2020: We've now fully tested this vacuum. Read our full Halo Capsule cordless vacuum review to find out if it's one we recommend.

Halo says its Capsule cordless vacuum, which has been developed by a vacuum industry veteran, has the power and capacity of a full-size upright vacuum without the weight.

Made of light carbon fibre, and with disposable dust bags enclosed in the pill-shaped canister, this minimalist stick vacuum is intended to give you the best of both worlds.

It costs £249 from Capsuleclean.com and has a 1.6-litre dust capacity, up to 60 minutes claimed run time, and there's a two-year supply of replacement dust bags (52 in total) thrown in too. On the face of it, that's pretty good value compared with big-name rivals such as Dyson.

Read the full Halo Capsule review to get our verdict on it's cleaning abilities.

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Halo Capsule: what makes it different?

Where rivals such as Dyson, Shark and Samsung opt for high-tech wizardry, and often look like they've fallen straight out of a passing spaceship, the Capsule stands out for its simple, no-frills design.

You'll find no multi-tier cyclones or LED headlights here. In fact, it's quite like a traditional Numatic Henry on a stick. Dust is sucked straight up the tube into the bag, and the battery and motor sit neatly behind it, protected by a filter.

You get a crevice tool, combination floorhead and mini dusting brush in the box, along with all those spare dust bags.

Controls are simple, too: there are three power settings, a toggle to turn the brush bar on and off (on for carpets, off for hard floors), and indicators to help you keep track of battery life and when to replace the dust bag.

Simplicity isn't necessarily a bad thing, though. We've seen plenty of vacuums that have fancy extras but fall down on the fundamentals of cleaning.

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Halo Capsule vs Dyson, Gtech and Vax cordless vacuums

The Capsule is unusual as it uses dust bags, rather than a reusable dust canister.

This means there's an ongoing cost (once the initial supply runs out), but does mean you can go longer before you have to empty it. We've found that some bagless cordless vacuums need emptying pretty much every time you use them.

It's also good if you don't like having contact with the dust. The only other bagged cordless model is theHenry Cordless.

Here's how the Halo compares on spec with key rivals:

It does beat rival stick models on dust capacity (although the cordless Henry cylinder vacuum has a larger capacity).

The battery life is also promising, but bear in mind that this is based on using the lowest setting, and you'll get significantly less cleaning time on higher settings.

You don't get any kind of stand (other models have a wall mount) so you'll have to dismantle it for storage.

Check our cordless vacuum reviews to see how it measures up to rivals on cleaning and ease of use in our tough independent tests.

Choosing the best cordless vacuum for you

Healthy competition means there's plenty of choice these days if you're keen on a cordless vacuum. Here are some key features to consider when choosing, to help you find the best option for your home:

• Capacity - if you have a larger home, look for a model with a bigger canister. Canisters are typically around 0.7 litres, but some models are 1.0 litres or more.
• Battery life - you'll have to pay more if you want more cleaning time to play with, but it's worth considering this, or models with swappable batteries, to avoid getting caught short.
• Accessories - tools for handheld cleaning can make doing a whole home clean easier, and can be good for the car too. Some vacs come with loads, but don't go overboard as they'll just clutter up your home. A crevice tool, upholstery brush and mini turbo tool are helpful basics.
• Features - check whether the power button has to be held on permanently; if you have lots of floorspace to cover, this could be tiring. How easy it is to clean things like the brush bar and filters is also important, as looking after these helps keep suction strong.
• Dust emptying - even among bagless vacuums some are better than others. Look for easy-empty bins, to avoid contact with dust.

While there are some things you can check before you buy, only our cordless vacuum reviews will tell you which vacuums are best.

We test every vacuum in exactly the same way, and our tests are designed to uncover the vacs that will really do the job when you get them home, tackling various types of household grime and being easy to use and look after.

Find out more about how we test cordless vacuum cleaners.

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