The Realme TechLife Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner: A Budget-Friendly Option That Can Hold Its Own
Handheld vacuum cleaners are a staple in many households, offering convenience and maneuverability for quick cleanups. While the market features high-end models from brands like Dyson, finding an affordable cordless vacuum cleaner that delivers on performance can be a challenge. Realme, known for its budget-friendly smartphones and smart home devices, has entered this segment with its Realme TechLife Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, promising a powerful cleaning experience at an attractive price point of Rs. 7,999. But does this vacuum cleaner live up to its claims, and is it a worthy contender in the crowded market? Let’s delve into its design, features, performance, and verdict to see if it’s the right choice for you.
Design and Features: Familiar Looks, Practical Approach
The Realme TechLife Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner draws inspiration from the popular Dyson V-series, adopting a similar design with the handle located at the back. This configuration allows for a comfortable grip and weight distribution, making it easy to maneuver even during extended cleaning sessions.
While the design shares similarities, the Realme vacuum cleaner distinguishes itself with its own unique features. Instead of a trigger-based power control system, it employs a slider switch to seamlessly toggle between Normal and High power modes. The device boasts indicator lights on the top to display the battery level, and a convenient button on the side allows you to effortlessly detach the dustbin for quick cleaning.
A simple mechanical button located at the bottom of the dustbin enables you to empty its contents without removing the entire component. However, this button is surprisingly easy to press and accidentally emptied the dustbin on several occasions, a minor inconvenience requiring a quick sweep-up.
The charging socket is positioned near the bottom, conveniently accepting the included charger that can be either directly attached or used with the wall-mounted dock accessory for hassle-free charging. With a weight of approximately 2.4Kg, the even weight distribution ensures comfortable handling despite the handle’s location at the back.
The vacuum cleaner features a rated suction power of 9.5KPa and a single cyclone suction motor capable of spinning at a remarkable 10,500rpm. The presence of a HEPA filter guarantees efficient dust and allergen capture, and many key components can be disassembled and washed with water for maintaining hygiene and optimal performance.
Accessories: Essential Tools for Diverse Cleaning Needs
While high-end cordless vacuum cleaners lavishly offer an extensive array of fittings, the Realme TechLife Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner prioritizes practicality by including four essential accessories:
Extension pipe: Offers extended reach for floor cleaning and accessing hard-to-reach areas.
Auto-rotating roller brush: The workhorse for floor cleaning, employing a rapidly spinning soft roller to effectively dislodge and gather dirt. Its flexibility allows for swift maneuvering across floors. This brush spins at up to 2,200rpm and can be disassembled for cleaning or washing when clogged.
Two-in-one brush fitting: Equipped with bristles for cleaning tables, countertops, and other surfaces, it also doubles as a standard opening for basic surface cleaning.
- Crevice tool: Its narrow opening is ideal for tackling small gaps such as between sofa cushions or car seat crevices.
All accessories can be conveniently attached either directly to the vacuum cleaner or to the extension pipe before being connected to the main unit.
Performance and Battery Life: Delivering on Budget Expectations
The Realme TechLife Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner may share a similar design aesthetic with the premium Dyson V-series, but its performance differs. While not quite reaching the heights of its more expensive counterparts, this budget-friendly option performs admirably, delivering on its promise of convenient cleaning.
The Realme TechLife vacuum cleaner is less powerful than the Dyson Omni-glide, the most affordable handheld model in Dyson’s Indian lineup, given its single cyclone motor and 10,500rpm spin rate. However, for Rs. 7,999, it proves to be a capable device for tackling floor dust and debris.
The Realme TechLife delivers ample suction to effectively lift light dust, small debris particles, and even small food spills. It effectively vacuumed dirt, leaves, and pebbles from car seats and the cabin floor, demonstrating its capabilities for cleaning vehicles. However, it often required multiple passes over the same area to ensure complete removal of all debris.
When encountering larger messes such as large spills or larger pieces of debris, the Realme TechLife struggled to effectively lift them. Consequently, resorting to traditional methods like a broom or brush was necessary for tackling more significant messes. The Realme TechLife proved effective for everyday clutter and dust removal, but not for heavier cleaning tasks.
The large floor cleaning fitting provides reasonable maneuverability and facilitates swift movement across surfaces, but falls short of the exceptional agility offered by the omni-directional roller head featured in the Dyson Omni-glide.
The Realme TechLife offers two power modes: Normal and High. Normal mode provides a basic level of suction, best suited for light dust accumulation. While it requires several passes for a satisfactory cleaning experience, it produces a low hum that is less intrusive. High mode, which proves more effective for everyday cleaning and some more demanding tasks, is noticeably louder.
The Realme TechLife boasts decent battery life for its price and form factor, powered by a 2,200mAh battery. In our experience, it delivered around 35-40 minutes of run time in Normal mode and approximately 20 minutes in High mode, enough for cleaning a compact house in a single charge, even with the High power mode engaged. It’s also sufficient for completing quick cleaning tasks or individual rooms at a time.
Verdict: A Value-Oriented Option with Room for Improvement
Realme continues to explore new territories with its product offerings, making a bold move into the handheld cordless vacuum cleaner market. While this segment might lack the excitement of other categories, Realme’s entry has the potential to stimulate growth. The Realme TechLife Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is an intriguing option for its price, showcasing a well-designed and user-friendly interface. However, it falls short of expectations regarding overall power, especially when compared to higher-end models.
Despite its limitations, the Realme TechLife provides adequate performance for regular everyday cleaning, boasts an acceptable battery life, and includes fittings that offer versatility and flexibility. If you’re on a tight budget and live in an area with relatively low dust accumulation, or if you already own a robot vacuum cleaner to handle the heavier lifting, this vacuum cleaner could be a suitable option.
However, if you can stretch your budget, the Dyson Omni-glide offers a more powerful and capable device that could justify the additional investment.
Price: Rs. 7,999
Rating: 6/10
Pros:
- Lightweight and easy to use.
- Three fittings for versatile cleaning.
- Up to 40 minutes of run time per charge.
- Decent cleaning performance for its price.
Cons:
- Not powerful enough to clean big messes.
