Dyson Omni Glide Review

Nearly all vacuum cleaners move in four different directions – forward, backward, left, and right. Dyson aims to break the mold with the Omni-Glide – one of their latest stick vacuums, with an industry-first 360-degree rotating nozzle and twin roller design.

When I first saw this product, I was intrigued, so I bought one to test, and I’ll share the results in this review.

Introduction to the Dyson Omni Glide

The Dyson brand is known for innovation. First is the bagless vacuum design, which has become so popular that other brands, such as Miele (known for their bagged vacuums), have followed suit and started manufacturing their own bagless versions.

Next is the green laser light found in the V15 Detect, which is superior to an LED in tracking invisible-to-the-naked-eye dust.

This time, it’s the Omnidirectional steering from the Omni-Glide with an industry-first side-to-side movement. No other vacuum can clean in this way right now.

Dyson recently launched the Micro 1.5KG, their lightest cordless stick vacuum to date. Learn more about it and how it differs from the Omni-Glide by clicking on the links.

Design

The Dyson Omni Glide is a slight departure from what we’ve seen from Dyson, which is hulking stick vacuums with lots of power and above-average capacity.

This vacuum resembles a mini handheld with its streamlined design and handle. Gone is the trigger; loyal Dyson customers have grown to love (or hate).

One advantage of this design is its lightweight frame, weighing just over two pounds. Despite the size decrease, this model still retains the cyclones and bin design, which we’ll examine in more detail below.

Omnidirectional Soft Roller

This twin-roller cleaning nozzle is another innovation that Dyson introduced with the Omni-Glide. The two roller bars are not just for show, but it has a functional purpose – for cleaning in both directions.

Underneath this tool are four wheels that pivot 360 degrees independently, allowing it to “float” and move around furniture effortlessly.

What I like is that each wheel has a rubber finish, thus minimizing the risk of surface scuffing.

Only one motor drives the roller, which is connected to a series of gears that move the second one.

Therefore, it won’t have as much torque as other twin brush stick vacuums, such as the Lupe Pure and Shark Vertex.

This lack of torque means the rollers won’t spin on carpet, rendering it useless on this surface.

It’s easy to clean this attachment with the detachable roller and bottom plate.

Push Button Switch

Another change in the Omni-Glide is the departure from the trigger to a push-button switch. I’m guessing Dyson did this out of necessity due to the handle’s design.

It’s actually a pro since users don’t have to squeeze a trigger for the motor to run.

Arm fatigue won’t be a factor in using this because of the light frame and steering.

Dustbin design and volume

Everything in the Omni has shrunk, including the dustbin. It still retains the V10, V11, and V15 dust container design, but at a much smaller scale, including the cyclones.

Dyson says this vacuum has eight cyclones with whole-machine filtration. It features the same filter design as the V11 and V15, but in a smaller dimension.

This model retains the hygienic system, and for a vacuum with such a low volume, it is a must-have feature.

The red lever also serves as a release latch to remove the dustbin’s outer shell if it requires a thorough cleaning.

I tested it with a fog machine, and there were no visible leaks during this experiment. So it has excellent seals all around.

Dirt capacity is meager at just 0.05 gallons (or 0.18 liters) – comparable to handheld devices. Expect frequent trips to the trash bin if you’re using this.

Tools out of the box

1. Combination crevice and brush attachment
2. Omni cleaning head (twin roller system)
3. Extension wand
4. Dyson Omni Glide vacuum
5. Charger

Users won’t get much. Aside from the Omni nozzle, it only comes with one other attachment – a 2-in-1 crevice and brush tool.

Handheld usability is mixed. The body length hampers its ability to clean cramped spaces. It’s light enough (weighing 2 pounds) to carry around for cleaning upholstery, but the lack of tools and its length aren’t ideal for handheld use.

Please note that the V-Series attachments won’t fit in the Omni since it has a smaller connector. Just a heads-up.

Run time and battery

Dyson says the Omni has four energy-dense cells, with up to 20 minutes of run time. I tested it independently by running it until the battery was empty, and here are the results.

• Default: 23:30 minutes
• Max: 8:25 minutes

These tests are conducted using the Omni roller attachment with the battery fully charged.

Consumers can extend the run time (actually double it) by purchasing an extra battery. The ability to charge the battery separately enhances the usability aspect, allowing for continued use while the second battery is charging.

Different configurations

The Dyson Omni does offer some level of versatility with its interchangeable tools.

Aside from its primary function as a stick vacuum, users can use it as a handheld with the comb tool attached.

For cleaning areas high up, users can use the wand for added reach.

One of my favorite configurations is this.

The soft roller is attached directly to the body for cleaning areas such as stairs. Its 360-degree steering makes the Omni the best at cleaning non-carpeted stairs.

How much power does the Dyson Omni Glide have?

To measure power, I used an anemometer to measure airflow and a vacuum water lift gauge to measure suction.

Here are the airflow results with the roller attached

• Default: 20.35 CFM
• Max: 26.28 CFM

And with the extension tube

• Default: 23.71 CFM
• Max: 31.94 CFM

It’s not high-end airflow, but it’s sufficient for its intended purpose, which is cleaning hard surfaces. The CFM numbers are slightly a notch below the likes of the Dyson V8 and Tineco A11, but the beauty of a soft roller is that it doesn’t rely so much on airflow to pick up debris.

Suction is also at the low end, with only 12 pounds of water lift – the lowest so far among all Dyson cordless vacuums.

Don’t expect it to do more than light-duty cleaning above floors.

Cleaning performance

Next, we’ll examine how well the Dyson Omni performs in cleaning various types of debris. Since the rollers won’t spin on carpet, I didn’t bother testing it on this surface, so the results you’ll see are strictly on hard floors.

• Overall: 99.42%
• Hard floor: 99.35%
• Sand: 99.5

Hard floor results

• Quaker oats: 100%
• Coffee grounds: 98.8%
• Quinoa: 99.6%
• Pet litter: 99%

Not perfect, but it still reached the high 90s. One thing to note with the roller is it kicked some debris forward, which could be a reason why it picked up less than 100%.

The velocity of the roller will propel some objects forward, but only when they are bunched up, as I did in the tests. For debris like dust, it shouldn’t be an issue.

Sand on hard floor

I also tested the Dyson Omni on sand – one of the toughest to clean on this surface using 50 grams worth, and it picked up an average of 99.5%. It’s one of the better scores of all cordless stick vacuums.

You could use this to easily clean sand underneath the bed for those living near the beach.

Hair wrap test

Next, we’ll look at how well the Dyson Omni did on hair. I used 1.18 grams of five-inch human hair to test whether the dual rollers can resist tangles for the experiment.

It wasn’t pretty, picking up only 26%, with nearly all the strands wrapping around the axles.

It’s a good thing these rollers are detachable, or it would be a pain to remove.

This test shows that the Dyson Omni isn’t suitable for pet owners. I’d go with the Dyson V8 over this if you have any four-legged friends roaming around, at least for cleaning floors.

Edge cleaning and crevice test

Lastly, we’ll examine how well the Dyson Omni performed in cleaning edges and crevices for this section.

First, here’s a before-and-after photo of the edge cleaning experiment.

It took around five passes in total to pick up all the coffee grounds in this corner.

Despite the low airflow, it did pretty well on this quarter-inch crevice.

The Omni didn’t pick up every crumb of quinoa, but it got the majority.

How noisy is the Dyson Omni Glide?

Even with the low-end airflow, the Omni Glide is loud, breaching the 70-decibel mark on both settings. So it isn’t advisable to use this early in the morning or late at night.

• Default: 72 dB
• Max: 76 dB

I used a sound meter to measure noise levels. Please note that these are not official results, but rather the numbers I obtained from the experiment.

Availability of Parts

As a new product, don’t expect much in terms of product availability outside of Dyson. However, history shows us that third-party manufacturers will eventually sell Dyson parts if the product is popular. Even older variants like the Dyson V6 have an abundant supply of parts, such as the battery. So I expect the Omni to follow suit if it sells well, and the early returns are promising.

Product Specifications

Where can I buy the Dyson Omni?

This product is available for purchase on online marketplaces like eBay. Please check the link below for the latest pricing information.

• Dyson Omni on Amazon

Disclaimer: I will earn a commission if you purchase through the link above, but at no additional cost to you, so it’s a win-win for both of us.

Does the Dyson Omni Glide offer good value?

With the current prices at Dyson V8 levels and the lack of carpet cleanability, the Omni-Glide seems to be overpriced.

Consumers are paying for the Omnidirectional steering and the twin roller system. And the technology does work. This vacuum is easily the best stick vacuum for steering around furniture, and it’s not even close. The clincher for me is its ability to clean under furniture with the same side-to-side movement.

If you value its agility and don’t mind paying the premium for it, then the Omni-Glide is an excellent tool to have at your disposal.

5 Reasons to buy the Dyson Omni Glide

1. Multidirectional steering: This model is the best steering vacuum I’ve tested, and it’s not even close.
2. Hold it like a broom: The lightweight design and four independently spinning wheels enable users to hold it like an old-fashioned broom.
3. Excellent on hard floors: Though not perfect, it picks up a high percentage of hard floors.
4. Fully-sealed system: It didn’t leak during the fog test.
5. Detachable battery: The removable battery makes it easy to extend run time – by purchasing an extra.

The Verdict: Cleaning Hard Floors Will Never Be The Same

While I think the Dyson Omni Glide is a bit overpriced, there’s nothing like it in the market right now. Its ability to turn 360 degrees is potentially game-changing and changes how consumers clean hard floors.

Before I got the Omni, the only other vacuum I could use to clean low-clearance furniture was the Shark Vertex cordless, which had a multi-flex feature, but at the cost of steering feel. Using it in flex mode hampers its ability to turn significantly.

The Omni doesn’t have this issue and easily goes side to side, even under furniture. This feature translates well when cleaning stairs and tight spaces around furniture.

If this is of high importance to you, consider it if your home has hard floors and no pets.