Dyson DC24 Ball upright vacuum

This lightweight upright excels on bare floors but not on carpeting

The DC24, $400, joins the Slim DC18 in Dyson’s lineup of lightweight, compact, high-tech-looking vacuums. The DC24, which is smaller and narrower than the rest of the company’s upright models, features Dyson’s Ball technology for added maneuverability. To keep the weight and size down, the motor is housed in the ball. (On a Dyson Ball model, the front wheels have been replaced by a barrel-shaped cylinder that allows a vacuum to pivot more easily than it would on wheels.)

In our tests, the DC24 excelled at cleaning bare floors. It also produced extremely low emissions when vacuuming, and did not redistribute any of the dust it collected back into the air. The manufacturer claims the lifetime HEPA filter is maintenance-free and backs the vacuum with a five-year warranty.

The DC24 has a removable wand and all of the functionality of the larger Dyson models but, at 12 pounds, is svelte for an upright. Its light weight and design make it easy to carry and use and allow it to take up less storage space than most other uprights (It isn’t much larger than a stick vacuum). It also has a powered brush roll that you can turn on and off with a switch, a feature we recommend.

But the DC24 proved only mediocre at cleaning carpets and provides less suction for its tools than the larger Dyson models do. What’s more, the collection bin is much smaller than those on the full-sized Dysons and fills very quickly. And as with all bagless vacuums, emptying the bin is a messy chore that can expose you to allergens.

The DC24 is a worthy choice if space is at a premium and you are willing to trade some cleaning ability for easy maneuverability and less weight. It has the functionality and tools of a full-sized upright, making it more versatile than a stick vacuum. But if you need a vacuum with outstanding cleaning power, there are better choices, especially considering the $400 price.

Essential information

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