Simplicity S65 Cordless Multi-Use Review

Rarely does a budget to mid-priced cordless vacuum meet my high expectations.

Since I’ve been testing these products for the past several years, it’s not surprising that you could call me a cordless vacuum snob.

Doubts crept into my mind when I received the Simplicity S65S Cordless Multi-Use.

But as I tested this product, those doubts slowly dissipated. Don’t get me wrong. This product is not, by any means, perfect. There’s no one perfect cordless vacuum available.

Each product will have flaws, which we’ll discuss later, along with its strengths.

Introduction to the Simplicity S65S Cordless Multi-Use

Not many consumers may be familiar with Simplicity, but it’s one of the most underrated brands I’ve reviewed, thanks to its high-end performance at a more affordable price.

The S65S Cordless Multi-Use is one of two Simplicity cordless vacuums, and it is the more versatile option, featuring a traditional stick vacuum configuration.

We’ll examine its features, starting with the primary floor nozzles.

Before I continue, there are three different S65 variants.

• S65S or Standard
• S65D or Deluxe
• S65P or Premium

The option you’ll see here is the S65S (standard) with the fewest tools, but Simplicity was kind enough to send me the soft roller to test.

Floor Nozzles

The S65S cordless features two nozzles: the Multi-Floor LED (left) and soft roller (right) tools, designed for cleaning carpets and hard floors, respectively.

Please note that the soft roller nozzle is only available with the S65P or Premium option, their most expensive variant.

These tools are both usable on hard surfaces, but the soft roller is more efficient on this surface, while the multi-floor LED is better on carpets.

Both tools have seals around the rollers underneath, which is a significant reason they performed well despite the lack of airflow.

The blue felt material provides a seal that funnels debris toward the suction chamber, improving cleaning efficiency.

These tools rely on agitation versus airflow to pick up debris.

One surprising aspect is how well the multi-floor LED picks up on hard surfaces.

You’ll also notice it has three LEDs on both sides to help illuminate the path.

This efficiency isn’t typical for most standard nozzles and is a plus if you don’t want to spend a premium on the more expensive S65P variant.

Even with heavier pet litter, it made a clean pass even in the eco setting.

It didn’t leave anything behind the brush roll during the first forward pass, which is impressive, considering pet litter is somewhat heavy.

Additionally, both nozzles feature wheels covered with a rubber coating to protect the surface from unnecessary scratches.

Nonetheless, dust and debris will stick to the rubber components, so you must clean them periodically to keep them tidy.

Dustbin Design & Capacity

The S65’s dustbin looks like a standard one (0.5-liter capacity) with a drop-door design, but emptying it is easy.

There are two ways of emptying it. The first is to use the trap door by pushing the front release latch.

Once you push the lever, the trap door opens like this.

Another way of disposing of dirt is by removing the container by twisting it to unlock and detach it.

Once the solid arrow lines up with the outlined arrow, remove the container if you need to dispose of large quantities of dirt.

If you’re curious about the quantity, it was from this pile of dirt from my other vacuum.

It’s a mixture of sand, pet litter, coffee grounds, and other stuff gathered from my other vacuums.

I know it’s not something you’d clean daily, but the S65 handled this mess.

Filtration [+ Fog Test]

Simplicity states that the S65 utilizes a HEPA medium to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns.

So, I put it through a fog test to check if the dustbin and filtration system could hold the fog inside without leaking.

The fog test is a visual experiment to check if the vacuum’s seals and filtration are good enough to keep the fog inside the dustbin.

And with the S65, the answer is a resounding yes.

It’s one of the cheapest options with a fully sealed system I’ve reviewed.

Battery

This variant (S65S) features a single detachable 2000 mAh lithium-ion battery, boasting a claimed runtime of 25 minutes.

I tested the runtime claims by running the vacuum with the soft roller on a full charge until it was empty, and it lasted around 29 minutes and 31 seconds.

Even with its detachability, you can’t charge the battery separately, as the charging port is located on the vacuum itself.

The port connects directly to the plug, and the charging pins are used for the docking station (more below).

The S65S (Standard) and S65D (Deluxe) models come with only one battery, whereas the S65P (Premium) model comes with two batteries, effectively doubling the run time.

Consumers can purchase extra batteries through the Simplicity website if they need more run time.

Handheld Configuration

The Simplicity S65 can also be used as a handheld vacuum, but the standard variant only comes with one attachment for cleaning upholstery—the combo crevice and dusting brush.

One issue with the non-powered tools is the lack of a latch to secure them.

It relies solely on friction, which can cause issues like the tool dislodging during use.

Docking Station

Another notable feature of the S65 is its docking station, which features slots for all tools in one convenient location.

It helps organize all the accessories, so there’s little risk of misplacing them.

Additionally, it serves as a charging dock, further enhancing its utility.

Tools out of the box

Here’s what you’ll get from the S65S.

Please note that the soft roller attachment is included only in the premium variants, not the standard or deluxe variants.

Simplicity sent me the soft roller to test for this review.

1. Soft Roller
2. Multi-Floor LED cleaning nozzle
3. Combo crevice and dusting brush
4. Docking station
5. Extension wand
6. Wall mount
7. Charger

Ergonomics

The Simplicity S65 features a traditional stick vacuum configuration, with the motor and dustbin positioned on top, and interchangeable tools for added versatility.

Since it uses a smaller motor and battery, it’s reasonably lightweight, weighing a little over six pounds (6 lbs and 1.4 ounces, to be exact).

Its handheld configuration is lightweight at 3 pounds and 7.1 ounces with the combination tool attached.

One plus is the trigger lock, which holds the switch in the on position so you don’t have to squeeze it continually.

Additionally, its handle position is most optimal for use with a stick vacuum.

Another advantage of the S65 is its responsive steering. I did side-by-side tests against other popular brands, and it had a sharper turning radius.

Here’s an overhead shot versus the Shark Vertex.

And LG CordZero.

You could see the difference in these overhead shots. The Simplicity S65 nozzle can turn a 90-degree angle effortlessly, while the Shark and LG cannot.

How much power does the Simplicity S65 have?

Next, we’ll examine power figures, and I employed a multi-faceted approach for evaluation.

I first used an anemometer to check airflow at the wand and cleaning head.

Airflow is an excellent metric for determining cleaning performance, especially on carpet, since high-airflow cordless vacuums pick up well on this surface.

Here’s the result for the S65 at the wand.

• Low: 29.98 CFM
• Max: 44.55 CFM

And cleaning head.

• Low: 26.63 CFM
• Max: 37.92 CFM

The S65 airflow isn’t as good compared to premium options like Dyson.

It’s slightly below the Tineco A10 and A11 levels but with better cleaning results, which was surprising.

My next test was using a Y-gauge and a water lift gauge to check suction at the max setting.

The Y-gauge is commonly used to check central vacuums for clogging issues.

It’s one of the more accurate tools for measuring power because there’s minimal variability, unlike attaching a water lift gauge to a vacuum (using a PVC pipe as a bridge).

Using the latter can yield inconsistent readings.

Compared to the consistent results using the Y-gauge, the difference is night and day.

There are two sub-tests for the Y-gauge: the sealed test (see the photo above), where you cover the open end with your palm to obtain the maximum available power, and the unsealed test.

Here are the Y-gauge results for the Simplicity S65.

• Unsealed: 18 inches of water lift
• Sealed: 60 inches of water lift

These results are slightly better than those of the Dyson V8 Absolute but slightly short of the high-end V10 Absolute.

This cordless vacuum is in good company with its impressive suction levels.

The unsealed test is the most accurate since it represents the working suction of the vacuum.

Cleaning Performance

One of the most surprising aspects of the testing phase is the S65’s outstanding cleaning performance, particularly in removing surface debris.

I tested the S65 on debris such as sand, Quaker Oats, quinoa, pet litter, coffee grounds, and hair.

First, here are the overall results.

• Overall: 99.3%
• Hard floor: 100%
• Sand on hard floor: 99.8%
• Carpet: 99.92%
• Deep cleaning: 97.5%

Please note that the deep cleaning test uses the max setting, which is standard in my testing process.

However, I tried it using the eco setting, and it got a decent percentage: 84.4%.

Overall, I’m impressed by its cleaning performance for a stick vacuum in this price range.

It exceeded expectations (at least mine).

Hard floor results

• Quaker oats: 100%
• Coffee grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

With the soft roller, the S65 scored perfectly in all the hard floor experiments with the four different debris types.

However, only the S65P includes this tool as a premium feature. If you don’t mind the added cost, this variant is an excellent option for homes with mixed surfaces.

As I mentioned earlier, the multi-floor LED tool is also suitable for vacuuming small debris, such as dust.

It can handle pet litter, but it won’t be as efficient.

Sand on hard floor results

Another barometer for hard floor cleaning is sand.

It’s one of the challenging items to clean on this surface, but the S65 makes quick work of it with its soft roller tool.

You can see the clean back-and-forth pass in the photo above.

Again, this is proof of the soft roller’s efficiency, as it only required a few passes to pick up 50 grams of sand.

It got an average of 99.8% after two tests.

Edge cleaning

The following experiment we’ll examine is the edge cleaning results. The S65 was excellent, using both the soft roller and multi-floor LED nozzles.

Here’s the before-and-after shot with the multi-floor LED.

And the soft roller.

There isn’t much variance between the soft roller and multi-floor LED tools for cleaning this area.

Carpet results

Next, we’ll examine how the S65 performed on low- and mid-pile carpets using the same debris.

Aside from the usual experiments, I tried this cordless stick vacuum on my mom’s large carpets.

Two were in their home – a plush reddish variety not cleaned for years.

I know the S65 isn’t designed for thick carpets like this, but it was worth trying and did not disappoint.

It picked up this much only after less than ten minutes of vacuuming.

The carpet looked clean, but it wasn’t with this much sticking to it.

One issue with using a lightweight stick vacuum on plush carpets is that it’s harder to push forward and steer.

It was bumpy, and you’ll have to use extra force to plow through the thicker fibers, but it’s doable.

I also tried it on a thinner pile carpet, but (nonetheless) it is still plush versus my test rugs at home.

And here’s how much it picked up after a few minutes of vacuuming.

Again, this carpet isn’t regularly cleaned, so it serves as a good indicator of how well this vacuum can pick up surface debris in a practical sense.

It wasn’t bad after a few minutes of work, and it could have been better had I vacuumed longer.

Now to the test results.

Low pile

• Quaker oats: 99.8%
• Coffee grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 99.6%

There’s nothing much to write about here except for telling you how good it is in these experiments, picking up a nearly perfect score.

One quirk with this tool is the low clearance, so there will be some snowplowing issues for large piles of debris.

Here’s another example.

But it didn’t stop the nozzle from picking up these in the succeeding passes.

I doubt you’ll need to clean this much debris in your daily cleaning tasks, but it’s good to know that this vacuum is capable of doing so.

Mid pile

• Quaker oats: 100%
• Coffee grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

Similar to hard floors, the S65 achieved 100% in all mid-pile experiments – an impressive result, given its price level.

It left zero remnants in the before and after photos above.

Please note that I used the max setting for the closing passes, which helped it pick up every crumb.

Deep cleaning results

Another impressive aspect of the Simplicity S65 is its deep cleaning performance, which is excellent (again) for a (close to a) budget-level cordless stick vacuum.

It achieved an average of 97.5% in two tests at the maximum setting.

I also tried it in the eco (or default) power setting, and it picked up a robust 84.4% – an excellent score, given its lower airflow figures.

Hair wrap results

Lastly, in the cleaning experiments, we’ll examine the hair wrap tests, where I assess how well a vacuum’s brush roll resists tangles from varying hair strand lengths.

I conducted the tests on both hard floors and carpets to provide a more detailed overview of what to expect.

I want to point out that this vacuum does not have an active anti-tangle system, so keep your expectations in check.

Hard floor

• 5-inch strands: 100%
• 7-inch strands: 100%
• 9-inch strands: 100%
• 11-inch strands: 94%
• 13-inch strands: 53%

The Simplicity S65 was excellent, with strands up to eleven inches long, but it struggled with hair that was thirteen inches long.

Nonetheless, these are excellent results, given that it doesn’t have a comb system to untangle hair from the roller.

The dustbin design is sufficient to prevent hair strands from falling onto the mesh filter.

However, there were instances where it wrapped around the middle filter piece.

This isn’t a Simplicity issue; other brands will have the same problem when cleaning long hair strands.

Carpet

• 5-inch strands: 94%
• 7-inch strands: 53%

Unfortunately, the Simplicity S65 wasn’t as good on carpet, which isn’t surprising given its lowish airflow levels, thin brush roll, and lack of an anti-tangle system.

I wouldn’t recommend this for cleaning large quantities of hair, or you’ll have to use scissors to dislodge them.

Fortunately, the brush roll is detachable, making this task more straightforward.

How noisy is the Simplicity S65S Cordless Multi-Surface?

I used a sound meter to measure the noise levels of the Simplicity S65, and here are the results.

• Low: 73 dB
• Max: 78.6 dB

It exceeded 70 decibels in both power settings, so it isn’t exactly quiet, but most stick vacuums will have this same issue.

How long will the Simplicity S65 Cordless Multi-Surface run?

Simplicity states that the S65 will run for up to 25 minutes in the lowest setting, but it exceeded this figure in the runtime test with the soft roller attached (a little over 29 minutes).

It was slightly above average in the max setting, running for just over 8 minutes (8:13, to be exact).

I tested the low setting with the soft roller tool and the max setting with the multi-floor LED to simulate real-world usage better, since consumers will use these nozzles for the respective surfaces.

You can purchase an extra battery from the Simplicity website or opt for the S65P, which has two batteries.

Availability of Parts

Consumers can purchase spare parts directly from the Simplicity website, including batteries, filters, and more.

However, don’t expect a Dyson-like flood of options, as Simplicity isn’t as popular.

Product Specifications

Where can I buy the Simplicity S65 Cordless Multi-Use?

This cordless stick vacuum is available on the Simplicity website. Please refer to the links below for the latest pricing information.

• Simplicity S65 on the Simplicity web store

Disclaimer: I will earn a commission if you purchase through any of the links above, but at no extra cost, so it’s a win-win for us!

Does the Simplicity S65 Cordless Multi-Floor offer good value?

Yes! Its superb cleaning performance and fully sealed system make it a compelling option at its price point.

The S65 may not have the bells and whistles of a Dyson or Tineco, but it cleans debris well, which matters most.

Sure, there are issues with the lack of tools (at least for the Standard variant), but the floor cleaning makes up for it.

It has one of the best cleaning test scores for surface and embedded debris and is easily one of the best in its price range.

5 Reasons to purchase the Simplicity S65 Cordless Multi-Floor

1. Outstanding cleaning performance: It got a nearly perfect score in surface cleaning tests on both surfaces!
2. Fully sealed system: The S65 didn’t leak during the fog test – a rarity for a cordless vacuum in this price range.
3. Excellent deep cleaning: It achieved above 97% in deep cleaning tests on mid-pile carpet – an exceptional score, regardless of price. Even at the low setting, it still picked up over 84%.
4. Steers well: Another surprise for me during the testing phase is the responsive steering that helps it maneuver around furniture.
5. Reasonable price: The S65S and S65D are priced close to the budget level, bringing up their value-for-money proposition.

The Verdict: Excellent Budget Friendly Cordless Stick Vacuum Alternative

Again, I had my doubts before putting this vacuum through its paces, but after exhaustive tests, I was impressed with its cleaning performance, steering, and filtration.

The Simplicity S65 is an excellent option for a reasonably priced stick vacuum on hard floors or carpets.

It performed well in nearly all the cleaning tests and aced the surface debris experiments with a (nearly) perfect score.

Yes, there are some issues, mainly with its limited run time and performance from its suction-only handheld tools.

But its floor cleaning performance, filtration, and steering make up for these deficiencies.