Geek Review: Dyson Omni-glide Vacuum Cleaner

Dyson vacuums, with their unique all-in-one, single-handed design form, have been a mainstay over the years, and have set the standard of cordless vacuums, even if they are slightly pricey.  But there’s no denying the superb performance and suction capabilities, especially when compared to the competitor’s more sucky (pun intended) offerings. 

The performance of Dyson vacuums usually measures up against the price, which has led to the competition following Dyson’s design language. Well, be prepared to see more clones in coming months, as Dyson looks set to revamp what its vacuums can do, with the Dyson Omni-glide.

Interestingly enough, the next leap in Dyson’s vacuum evolution is not bigger, but actually smaller and selvete. The British (or Singaporean depending on your tax preference) tech company has actually flirted with the idea with their Digital Slim designs in 2020, and with the Dyson Omni-glide, we have a much smaller vacuum which raises some eyebrows in terms of performance and cleaning ability, in a good way.

Measuring at 102cm (H) X 9cm (L) X 20cm (W), the Dyson Omni-glide is comparable to the Dyson Digital Slim which was released last year. Weight wise, it’s also the same weight as the Digital Slim weighing in at 1.9kg. While both vacuums are light, this might actually be an area of concern to some, as the weight is mainly due to the motor which works hard to suck up all that dirt on the floor. Just because the new vacuum is more manageable to wield does not mean it could do a better job, and this has always been the main argument for folks who prefer a corded vacuum, which comes with a bigger engine that can perform better.

In lieu of a beefier motor, the latest tweak to the Dyson Omni-glide comes in the form of its omnidirectional head, hence the name. Folks who had used the other cordless vacuums will be familiar with the limitations of the roller head – it’s fixed. With the new omnidirectional head, users can rotate 180° in two halves, making it easier to maneuver, especially around tight spaces such as under the couch or the corner of the room. The added magic here are two fluffy rollers which are ideal for use on hard floors that spin inwards to agitate all the dirt on the ground, up the tube, and into the bin. 

When it comes to debris and more solid dirt on the ground, the Dyson Omni-glide has no issues lifting them off the floor, and it works well on wood or tiled floors. The potential achilles heel here would be hair, which is found in every home, especially if you have pets.  As with other brush heads, there is a tendency for hair to get caught around the axles of the brush heads and would require some level of consistent maintenance to keep the vacuum operating in optimal conditions.  And living in a home with a cat and 2 ladies means a thorough cleaning twice a week is essential to keep the floor free of hair which, thankfully, the Omni-glide is more than up to the task. 

Being able to get around and into tight corners is really the boon of this vacuum, especially when compared to the existing V10, which has served the home well over the years but has trouble reaching under the bed. Instead of having to move the furniture around, the Dyson Omni-glide has no issue getting really low to the ground and reaching into the dark corners of the bed.

While its smaller frame does have its benefits, the real issue here is the removable battery paired along with the Dyson Omni-glide. Packing a run time of just 20 minutes on its regular setting, the vacuum is more than sufficient to cover the 1216 sq foot homespace, albeit needing some effort in moving quickly about the home. In that time, the bin for the Dyson Omni-glide actually filled up pretty quickly and there was a need to empty the bin once before resuming cleaning. If you do have a particularly big home, this might not be the ideal device for you given the possible low battery life and small bin capacity. Sadly on Max speed, the vacuum only lasts 4 minutes, which means you need to be careful which setting you turn it to. One concern here is the lack of a visual indicator how much charge the 2600mAh battery holds to give users an idea how much juice they can eke out of the device. Thankfully, given the improved head, there really is very little need to turn it up to the maximum speed. 

Cleaning out the bin and the cleaner head has always been one of Dyson’s plus points and compared to the aging V10, there are improvements when it comes to removing the brush head from the brackets. Gone are the plastic screw heads which were prone to wear and tear and the Dyson Omni-glide opts for latches to make cleaning a breeze.Pretty much every part is washable just as long as it does not have any electronic components and it’s straightforward to take and re-assemble as well. Overall, it’s nice to see Dyson having put the effort to make the maintenance process as fuss free as possible.

One small feature which doesn’t get sufficient attention, but should is the harmonics. Instead of a loud roar associated with other vacuums, the Dyson Omni-glide powers on with a gentle operating hum on regular speed, which does not rudely awaken the other residents in the home and is actually a bit more pleasant to be around.

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Packed into the base configuration (S$649) for the Dyson Omni-glide are the dual brush omnidirectional head, mini motorized brush head (more ideal for carpets), and a combination tool that has all the necessities to keep the home clean. But if you would like a light pipe crevice tool, last seen in the Dyson Digital Slim, that’s available in an upgraded package (S$699). Aside from the usual grey, the Dyson Omni-glide comes in gold as well.

Overall, the  Dyson Omni-glide’s omnidirectional head is a much-needed upgrade we could have used many models ago, and we do hope to see this feature in more vacuums moving forward. Sadly, given the overall size of the Dyson Omni-glide, this device might not be as ideal for use in bigger homes and in more intense cleaning situations. If anything, it might be wise to gain a better understanding of your own personal cleaning patterns and frequency to see if your home might be ideal to welcome the talents and drawbacks of the Dyson Omni-glide.