Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean Upright Vacuum

Yes, and that's its strongest point. Carpet that looked clean often gives up a surprising amount of hidden dirt on the first pass, and even those who dislike the rest of the Ball Animal Total Clean rate its suction. The cleaner head adjusts itself between carpet and hard floors, so you don't switch settings by hand.

Yes. The Ball Animal Total Clean handles shed fur, feathers and scattered seed in homes with cats, dogs and birds, and the brush bar doesn't need constant detangling. For sofas and pet beds, the tangle-free turbine tool pulls hair off upholstery without it winding around the bristles.

The hose comes up again and again. It's short and stiff, several of the tools feel fiddly, and there's nowhere on the Ball Animal Total Clean to keep them, so they end up in a cupboard. You do get eight tools in the box, but above-floor cleaning takes more effort than the floors.

It's mixed. Some find the ball steering easy once they get the wrist-turn motion, but others call the Ball Animal Total Clean heavy, hard to turn and awkward to keep standing upright when they let go. At 17.4 lb it's a full-size upright, so carrying it up the stairs is a real job.

Push the button and the dirt drops out of the 1.7-liter bin, so there's no reaching in or picking out clumps by hand. There are no bags to buy. Dyson includes whole-machine filtration and a 5-year warranty.