I tried the new Bosch cordless stick vacuum, which is a real powerhouse, but heavy — 3 things I liked and 1 I didn’t

Bosch Unlimited 10 on wooden floor
(Image credit: Future)

When it comes to floor care, having one of the best vacuum cleaners is essential. And since I test vacuum cleaners for a living, the one essential is that it has enough power to quickly suck up dirt, debris, and dust in no time. However, not all vacuums are created equal.

The Bosch Unlimited 10, one of the company's first cordless vacuums to hit the U.S. market, makes a pretty appealing option. Boasting powerful performance, this vacuum is designed to pick up dirt in both directions, ensuring no rogue debris is left behind, and it promises an 8-hour battery. It also includes handy features like a MicroClean Ring, a wide anti-tangle brush, and a convenient bendable design.

Sounds good on paper? I decided to put the Unlimited 10 cordless to the test on my floors and upholstery at home, to see if it really was the ultimate dust-buster. Here are the three things I liked and the one I didn’t.

Bosch Unlimited 10 Cordless Stick Vacuum
Bosch Unlimited 10 Cordless Stick Vacuum: $699 at Amazon

If you’re after a powerful cordless stick vacuum with a long-lasting battery, the Unlimited 10 does the job. With its flexible tube design, it’s easy to maneuver under the sofa and low-rise furniture. The MicroClean ring displays when your floors are dirty or clean, and the wide anti-tangle brush will tackle stubborn hair.

3 things I liked

MicroClean LED ring

Bosch Unlimited 10 blue ring light

Bosch Unlimited 10 blue ring light (Image credit: Future)

Set-up was easy, although the battery was a little tricky to fit into the back of the handle.

Once powered on, the LED MicroClean ring will indicate when your floors have gone from dirty (white) to clean (light blue) to extremely clean (dark blue).

Since I have a mixture of hardwood, tiles, and carpets, it was interesting to see the color spectrum go up and down as I cleaned. Fortunately, my LED ring didn’t stay in the white for too long; I found this to be a useful feature for confirming when my floors were finally spotless.

More importantly, the Unlimited 10 is a real powerhouse. It quickly tackled dirt and carpet debris in no time. I also liked its wide anti-tangle brush roller that handled my long hair strands on surfaces with ease.

While the Unlimited 10 may not have the eye-catching design appeal of, let’s say, a Dyson or Shark cordless, it’s functional and does what it says on the box. Which is ultimately all that you need.

Ergonomic bendable tube

Bosch Unlimited 10 bendable arm

Bosch Unlimited 10 bendable arm (Image credit: Future)

Perhaps the most notable feature is its 90-degree 'Flex' tube, a bendable design that makes cleaning under furniture effortless. I simply pressed the button at the back to allow the arm to 'lay flat' before cleaning under my low-rise sofa, chairs, and tables.

Not only did this solve my biggest (back-breaking) problem of bending down all the time, but I also didn't need to worry about accidentally marking or damaging the sofa legs.

Another thing that I’m a sucker for (no pun intended) is bright LED lights on the floor head. I particularly found this useful to illuminate those dark corners and awkward spaces, especially in rooms that lack natural lighting.

And while it doesn’t come close to my favorite dust-busting, detector laser on my Dyson Piston Animal, these headlights were still bright enough to spot hidden dust and make cleaning a breeze.

Compression Slider

Bosch Unlimited 10 dust canister

Bosch Unlimited 10 dust canister (Image credit: Future)

Another thing I liked was its dustbin compression slider, which squeezes the waste to increase capacity. Essentially, this reduces the number of trips to empty into the trash can. Plus, emptying the vacuum is a simple, one-touch process: press a button to release the lid, and the waste easily tumbles out.

With my other cordless vacuums, I’d have to empty their bins after a few cleaning sessions, especially if I wanted to get rid of huge dustballs and hair strands. However, I was impressed that the Unlimited 10 really cuts down on that task — they claim "50% less often" — and honestly, my week with it confirmed that. The bin barely had anything in it (to empty), and was nowhere near half full.

1 thing I didn't like

Too heavy

Bosch Unlimited 10 as handheld

Bosch Unlimited 10 as handheld (Image credit: Future)

While I could overlook the Unlimited 10's lackluster design and standard aesthetic, its excessive weight and handling were definite drawbacks for me.

Despite it being convenient to easily convert from a standard vacuum to a handheld unit, cleaning my sofa and stairs quickly became a tiresome task. Plus, with its long-lasting yet heavy-duty battery attached, it contributes to the weighty feel.

If you are after something more lightweight, however, you can opt for the Shark Clean & Empty cordless, which is ideal if you have flights of stairs or need to carry around the home frequently.

In any case, if you’re after a cordless vacuum with impressive power, versatility and efficiency, the Unlimited 10 will certainly get the job done in less time.

More from Tom's Guide

Cynthia Lawrence
Content Editor, Homes

As the Homes Content Editor, Cynthia Lawrence covers all things homes, interior decorating, and garden-related. She has a wealth of editorial experience testing the latest, ‘must-have’ home appliances, writing buying guides and the handy ‘how to’ features. 


Her work has been published in various titles including, T3, Top Ten Reviews, Ideal Home, Real Homes, Livingetc. and House Beautiful, amongst many.


With a rather unhealthy obsession for all things homes and interiors, she also has an interior design blog for style inspiration and savvy storage solutions (get rid of that clutter!). When she’s not testing cool products, she’ll be searching online for more decor ideas to spruce up her family home or looking for a great bargain!


You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.