Tineco Pure One S12 Review

In this review, we’ll be having a close look at the Tineco Pure One S12. It’s one of the more innovative cordless stick vacuums to have emerged over the last five years.

The first Tineco product I reviewed was the A10, and while it performed well in my cleaning tests, it fell short of the Dyson in terms of fit and finish.

They’ve improved the quality with the subsequent A11 model, but the Pure One S12 is likely their best product in terms of quality and performance.

I did a lot of tests to see how it does in several areas such as run time, noise, usability, cleaning performance, and I must say this product has exceeded my expectations. It isn’t perfect, but it brings some unique features to the table that you don’t see in other brands.

What to Expect From The Tineco Pure One S12

Tineco is a relatively new brand that has been in existence for a few years. Their first product was the A10 Hero, which performed decently in all the cleaning tests I conducted.

However, it lacked several key areas, particularly the small details, such as the quick-release latch that makes it easy to attach and remove tools from the vacuum.

The Tineco Pure One S12 addresses these issues and is likely their best product, combining quality and performance.

Unfortunately, it’s their most expensive offering and exceeds the price of the Dyson V10. It does have more power than the V10 (60.8 CFM vs. 44 CFM) in the highest setting. This stick vacuum is in the level of the Dyson V11 in terms of power and both are in the same price range.

LED screen

The first thing that caught my attention when I first received this product was the large LED screen on the box.

At first, I thought it was a touchscreen, but it wasn’t. The screen scores high in legibility, as Tineco used bright colors and a dark background, resulting in high contrast.

It provides information such as battery status, power level, WiFi, potential blockages, iLoop sensor status, and much more.

Not many other brands have an LED screen in their products. Another stick vacuum that comes to mind is the Dyson V11 Torque Drive.

Trigger-Lock

While the Pure One S12 has the exact trigger mechanism as a Dyson cord-free vacuum, it has a trigger lock that holds it in the “on” position. Therefore, there’s no need to squeeze the trigger for long jobs constantly.

I like this feature as vacuuming floors is less tiring on the arms and fingers. It’s a nice convenience addition that is a plus point to usability.

Slider for Adjusting Power

Another unique feature of the Pure One S12 is the power-adjusting slider behind the LED screen.

While other brands use a button or a slide switch with a fixed number of settings, the one found in this vacuum provides a range. It gives the user more precise control of how much power to use depending on the need.

There will be a slight delay of a few milliseconds, but it’s not that noticeable. The slider is an industry first; only time will tell if other brands will follow suit.

It’s like slapping an iPhone on a cordless vacuum.

I prefer leaving it in the Auto position in most cleaning tasks. However, it allows you to adjust the suction level as needed.

Auto mode

Another option for those who prefer not to adjust the power setting is to use auto mode.

This mode activates the iLoop sensor (located directly in front of the dust cup), which detects the amount of dirt passing through and adjusts suction when it identifies an increase.

It differs from the Dyson V11’s sensor, which detects the surface type.

This system is far more efficient and utilizes power better since there’s no need to use high airflow if there’s not much to clean, regardless of the surface.

Unique charging dock

The charging dock is another notable innovation.

It can charge two batteries at the same time and can store up to three extra suction only tools.

This feature is a space and time saver since there’s no need to wait for the battery to fully charge, since the dock will charge the extra battery even if the vacuum is in use.

Attachments and Tools

Tineco offers one of the more diverse sets of accessories available. You’ll get thirteen tools if you buy the flagship Pure One S12 Plus version.

The version that I bought is a notch below. It won’t have tools like the multi-angle adaptor and the flexible extension hose (I had to buy those separately, along with the soft roller power brush).

Even without these tools, it is still a lot more than the Dyson V10 or V11.

These tools include the following:

1. Direct-drive LED power brush: Tineco’s standard floor cleaning attachment with soft and stiff bristles that will work best on carpets. It’s got four bright LED headlights that will help with visibility.

2. LED soft roller power brush: A specialized tool for cleaning hard floors. Like the direct-drive attachment, it also has a row of LED lights. Take note that I bought this attachment separately.

3. Soft dusting brush: It has soft bristles for cleaning delicate surfaces like lampshades or dusting furniture.

4. 2-in-1 dusting brush: This attachment combines an upholstery and brush tool. It is an excellent tool for cleaning upholstery inside the home or vehicle.

5. Crevice tool: Great for cleaning tight spots between cushion seats.

6. Flexible long crevice tool: If you need more reach, this tool can be handy. It features a rubber insert that allows for extended reach and flexibility when cleaning tight crevices.

7. Mini turbo brush: A smaller version of the main cleaning head that will provide enough agitation to clean embedded dirt on fabric upholstery (e.g., sofas, chairs, and even mattresses) and stairs.

8. Automatic pre-filter cleaning tool: Another innovation from Tineco. This tool automatically cleans the pre-motor filter for you, without requiring you to remove it from the vacuum.

9. Pre-filter: A filter located in the middle of the dust cup traps fine allergens and keeps them from going back out of the motor’s exhaust.

10. Dual charging wall-mounted dock: Perhaps my favorite tool of the bunch. It’s a wall-mountable charging dock that charges two batteries simultaneously! Not only that, it provides storage for three non-motorized attachments.

11. Two lithium-ion batteries: This variant also comes with two lithium-ion batteries that effectively double the run time to 100 minutes.

12. Flexible extension hose: Adds reach and flexibility to any non-motorized tool. A great tool to have for cleaning vehicle interiors.

13: Multi-angle folding adapter: A foldable tool that allows consumers to clean areas high above without using a chair or ladder.

Dual Filtration

This vacuum features two filters: a pre-motor filter and a post-motor HEPA filter, which provide a good seal. The primary filter is similar to the Dyson filter in that it is made from cloth and is easy to clean.

However, the cyclonic filtration isn’t as good as in a Dyson, as it soils faster.

Tineco has a tool that makes it easy to clean the filter. They refer to this as the automatic pre-filter cleaning tool. You attach it to the vacuum unit that will suck out debris accumulating on the pre-motor filter.

Different Pure One S12 Options: S12 vs. S12 Plus vs. S12 M vs. S12 Lite

There are four Pure One S12 variants split into two categories.

The Pure One S12 and the Plus version are the higher-end options that have the LED screen and power adjusting slider. These two products are the same except for the attachments. While the other two options – the S12 M and S12 Lite don’t have the LED screen but are much cheaper and have a bracket where you can attach a smartphone.

Please check the table below to see how these models are different and the attachments you’ll get.

Power

I used an anemometer to measure airflow from the wand and main cleaning head to measure power. Realize that there will be some margin for error in this test. I’m doing is to make it a point of reference to compare with other brands that we may see a correlation between it and cleaning performance, particularly carpet.

Here are the results

Airflow	Low	Max
Wand	34 CFM	61.72 CFM
Cleaning Head	27.95 CFM	50.71 CFM

It has more airflow than the Dyson V10 both in the wand and main cleaning head and almost at the Dyson V11 Torque Drive level, which is why it did so well in the cleaning tests (more on that below).

How does the Tineco Pure One S12 clean?

Thanks to the bevy of interchangeable tools and the extension wand, the Pure One S12 can clean a wide range of areas. You can use it as a handheld or a stick vacuum, whatever you need.

However, this product was built for cleaning floors. The Plus version features two primary floor cleaning tools: the soft roller and the direct-drive power brushes.

These tools are built for cleaning hard floors and carpets, respectively. One feature that I think this model has over any of the Dyson cordless vacuums (V6, V7, V8, V10, V11) is the row of bright LED lights that help illuminate the path in front of it.

If you have not used a vacuum with this feature, it’s beneficial for tracking dirt.

The beauty of this design is the option to attach the floor tool directly to the vacuum unit, making it easier to clean stairs.

I have with both tools the tube behind the rubber wheels, which sits at an angle so it won’t completely go flat under furniture. You’ll have to turn it sideways, which can be awkward.

Removing the tube transforms this vacuum into a handheld unit.

All the tools with the Pure One S12 have a quick-release latch that makes it easy to attach or remove, unlike the A10, where the suction-only tools don’t have this latch and are held only by friction.

Cleaning Performance

To assess the effectiveness of the Tineco Pure One S12, I tested it on various surfaces, including hard floors, low-pile, and mid-pile carpets.

I used various debris to test how this cordless vacuum performs, including Quaker oats, coffee grounds, pet litter, and Fruit Loops.

I weigh the dust cup empty for all the tests, then weigh it full afterward to get the most accurate measurement possible in all the cleaning tests I do.

Here are the official scores of the cleaning test.

• Overall: 99.17%
• Hard Floor: 99.88%
• Carpet (Surface Pick Up): 99.34%
• Carpet (Deep Cleaning): 98.3%

I’m really surprised by the results, to be honest. One of the most impressive features of the Pure One S12 is its ability to pick up debris effectively.

You can feel the iLoop sensor work when it detects an increase of dirt volume that passes through it. In all the cleaning tests that I did, the vacuum motor revved up as it picked up the debris scattered then went back to its default setting afterward.

Hard Floor Results

• Quaker Oats: 99.9%
• Coffee: 100%
• Quinoa: 99.93%
• Pet Litter: 99.7%

For testing how this vacuum does on hard surfaces, I primarily used the soft roller power brush.

It was superb at picking up Quaker oats (first photo), coffee (second photo), pet litter (third photo), and Quinoa (fourth photo).

There were no issues with the soft roller attachment in the cleaning tests. I also tested how the direct drive power brush does on Quaker oats, and it did an excellent job picking up nearly 100% of it on the hard floor.

I also tested the soft roller tool on Fruit Loops, and it didn’t experience any issues with clogging, unlike the Roidmi F8 or the NEX.

Some wedged behind the roller bar, around 4 to 5 pieces of Fruit Loops, which were eventually picked up.

However, the standard brush tool didn’t do well with the Fruit Loops test as it didn’t have enough clearance. It just pushed it forward.

Regardless of the surface, the direct drive tool won’t be able to clean debris this big.

I also tested the direct drive tool on quinoa to see how effective it is at small and hard debris and picking up all 50 grams.

Aside from Cheerios-sized dirt, the direct drive power brush is an effective tool for cleaning small to medium-sized items.

You don’t need the soft roller attachment for most tasks on hard surfaces.

Sand on Hard Floor Test

Another test I did on hard floor was a sand test. To see how well the Pure One S12 cleans sand, I scattered 50 grams of it and conducted two tests: one using the soft roller and another using the standard brush roll.

It was able to pick up an average of 99.9% on two tests, almost a perfect score. The score was perfect using the soft roller attachment so it’s another viable alternative if you live near the beach or a sandy area.

Edge Cleaning

I also tested the Tineco Pure One S12 cleaning edges by scattering pet litter on a test area. It also has a quarter-inch crevice, doubling as a crevice test.

Please review the before-and-after photos.

The Tineco S12 excels in edge cleaning, with the standard brush roll proving more efficient than the soft roller. It has a broader and larger brush, so it covers more area. There was a small amount of debris kicked behind the brush.

Carpet Results

Next, let’s move to the carpet cleaning tests. Tests are conducted on low- and medium-pile carpets for all reviews on this website.

A separate test is conducted on embedded fine coffee grounds on a medium-pile carpet to assess how well the vacuum performs at deep cleaning.

Low pile results

• Quaker Oats: 99.1%
• Coffee: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet Litter: 100%

The scores of the Pure One S12 were slightly higher than those of the V10, which I tested a few months ago. It could be the increase in airflow or brush roll design, but I’m really impressed by the results.

I like the seal of the direct-drive power brush in that it picked up nearly everything in the forward pass.

I noticed when the iLoop sensor kicked in that it was a bit hard to push because of the increase in suction, but at least the technology works!

Mid pile results

• Quaker Oats: 96.7%
• Coffee: 96.7%
• Quinoa: 99.9%
• Pet Litter: 99.6%

Despite the slightly lower scores on medium-pile carpet, this vacuum still scores in the high 90s.

It scored higher than the Dyson V10 in cleaning coffee grounds, but picked up less with the Quaker Oats test. However, the difference is just a few percentage points, so I wouldn’t put too much weight on it.

Deep cleaning test

The last test I conducted was a deep cleaning test, where I applied 100 grams of sand to a medium-pile carpet to assess how well a vacuum picks up embedded dirt.

Lastly, we’ll examine the deep cleaning tests, where I applied 100 grams of sand to a medium-pile carpet to assess how well this vacuum removes embedded sand.

There are two parts to this test. In the first test, I left it on auto to how well the iLoop system does and it did quite well picking up 96.3% of sand. With the second test, I put it on max and it was able to pick up 99.3% on average from the two tests.

Bottom Line

The Pure One S12 shines when cleaning floors. It doesn’t matter if it’s hardwood or carpet – it gets the job done! For expert tips on cleaning hardwood surfaces, click here for more information.

You can save money by going with the cheaper Pure One S12 (that’s without the plus) because the torque drive power brush is capable of cleaning hard floors well.

The only issue I found with it is its inability to clean large debris like Fruit Loops. Besides that, cleaning stuff like dust, coffee grounds, or even Quinoa won’t be a problem.

Run Time

Out of the box, you’ll get two 2,500 mAh Li-ion batteries that Tineco claims will run for up to 100 minutes combined.

I tested whether this claim was valid by running the vacuum to empty and using a digital timer to measure the runtime.

Here are the test results with the primary floor and suction-only tools.

Power setting	Eco	Max
Non-motorized tools (e.g. crevice tool)	51:21 mins. x 2	10:47 mins. x 2
Torque drive power brush	37:35 mins. x 2	10:10 mins. x 2

Even with the main cleaning head attached, this vacuum could run for up to 37 minutes and 35 seconds at the lowest power setting and up to 10 minutes at the highest setting. Using suction-only tools, it will run for up to 51 minutes and 21 seconds on eco and 10 minutes and 47 seconds at max.

Multiplying these figures by two – the Pure One S12 will run for up to 74 minutes at the lowest setting and 20 minutes at the max setting with the main cleaning head attached. And up to 102 minutes in the low setting and 21 minutes at the max setting using a non-powered tool.

However, I noticed a slight drop in airflow as the battery was nearly empty. But it didn’t affect how this vacuum performs, as I did some cleaning tests with the battery at 15%.

The batteries are removable, making it easy to replace them if they fail.

Noise Levels

I used a standard sound meter to measure the noise level of the Pure One S12 from approximately two feet away, and here are the results.

• Eco: 65.5 to 67.2 dB
• Max: 67.5 to 70.4 dB

Please note that I measured it with the brush roll attached, so you’ll know what to expect when using this vacuum with the tool attached frequently.

Dustbin Design

According to the manual, the Pure One S12 can hold up to 0.6 liters of dry dirt, which is up to the Max fill line.

It has a higher capacity than the Dyson V8 at 0.54 liters but lower than the Dyson V10 with a 0.77-liter capacity.

One downside of the Tineco dust cup is the lack of a hygienic system. This vacuum only has a trap door that relies on gravity.

If you’re cleaning a lot of dust and pet hair, they will stick on the plastic parts of this vacuum and require your fingers’ assistance.

The good news is that the dust cup disassembles easily. Just push a lever in front of the trigger (just below it) to remove the dust cup.

Press the release latch to open the trap door, then twist the black plastic part to remove the filter assembly.

The dust cup assembly isn’t washable since the iLoop sensor and electronic pins connect to the battery charger. The only part that is washable is the filter assembly.

Ensure it is fully dry before putting it back in the vacuum.

Smartphone App

One of the unique features of the Pure One S12 is the app. It’s probably the only cordless stick vacuum with this feature.

The app has several functions:

Here are some screenshots of the app.

It’s a pretty cool feature, but if you’ve purchased any of the two Pure One S12 series vacuums with the LED screen, the information on there is redundant since the LED screen will provide the same data. But it’s a must-have for those who plan on purchasing any of the two lower-end options – the Pure One S12 M or S12 M Lite as both of these variants have the phone holder.

Installing the app is straightforward, and I’ve summarized everything in this video just in case you need a reference.

It’s a simple and easy-to-use app that’s responsive with basic features. Please let me know if you have any issues installing the app in the comments section.

Product Specification

Model	Tineco Pure One S12
Brush roll on/off	No
Battery	2,500 mAH Li-ion (X 2)
Charging time	N/A
Battery life	up to 102 mins.
Net weight	6.6 pounds
Width	10"
Overall length	47"
Battery indicator	Yes
Filter type	Lifetime washable
Dust capacity	0.6 li
Power	up to 60.8 CFM
Cordless	Yes
Bagless	Yes
Warranty	2 years
Price	Check Price

Availability of Parts

One issue with buying a vacuum from an unknown or lesser-known brand would be the availability of parts. So far, for Tineco, this doesn’t seem to be an issue—consumables such as the filter. Battery, attachments, and floor tools are available on Amazon.

However, like the battery, some of these parts can be expensive, but the replacement filters are reasonably priced.

Where can I buy the Tineco Pure One S12?

The Tineco S12 is available in online stores like Amazon and Walmart. Please check the links below to see the latest price.

• Tineco Pure One S12 on Amazon and Walmart

Please note that if you purchase through any of the links above, I will earn a commission at no additional cost, so it’s a win-win for us!

Does the Tineco Pure One S12 Provide Good Value?

While the Tineco Pure One S12 isn’t cheap, you’ll get a lot of value from it.

All variants come with two Li-ion batteries that will run for up to 102 minutes which is longer than any Dyson cordless vacuum to date including their flagship V10 and V11 variants. Since the battery comes off without the need for special tools, replacing it won’t be an issue. However, the current price of a replacement battery is quite expensive.

The top-of-the-line Pure One S12 Plus also comes with two attachments for cleaning bare floor and carpet, respectively, and special tools such as the hose and multi-angle attachment that helps clean hard-to-reach areas.

I thinkyou don’t need the soft roller power brush, as the standard brush roll will do the job adequately on hard floors and carpets. The only thing it won’t clean would be debris, the size of Fruit loops, or Cheerios.

Tineco has more tools than other brands, such as the Shark and Dyson. It has more airflow than the Dyson V10 Absolute, so it wasn’t surprising that it scored very high on most cleaning tests.

The LED screen is unique and an excellent tool that provides critical information to the user.

Usability is another strong point, as all the tools have a quick-release latch, making it easy to attach and remove.

The only question left is which variant is best suited for your needs. That would depend on your preference.

I’d go with any of the two options with the LED screen because I don’t want to fiddle with a smartphone while vacuuming.

The Verdict: Who should buy the Tineco Pure One S12?

Based on the tests, the Tineco Pure One S12 outperforms the Dyson V10 Absolute in terms of performance, offering more attachments at your disposal.

It has more power than the V10 and almost matches the Dyson V11. Cleaning performance is a strong point thanks to the solidly designed direct-drive and soft roller brush that gobbles up dirt in its path. The torque drive attachment is enough for most cleaning tasks, so there’s no need to buy the top-of-the-line S12 Plus.

The LED lights on both tools help boost visibility and are not found in the Dyson V10 and V11 or the LG CordZero. This feature gives it a leg up over these three models in the same price range.

6 Reasons why you should buy the Tineco Pure One S12

1. Excellent cleaning performance: The Pure One S12 features excellent airflow, resulting in outstanding dirt pickup on both bare floors and carpets.
2. Lots of tools: The top-spec option will provide users with 14 attachments (including the extension wand) that will help them clean different parts of their home.
3. Two batteries: Two Li-ion batteries will run for up to 102 minutes (more than the claimed 100 minutes).
4. LED headlights: Both the soft roller and direct drive tools feature LED lights that help illuminate the path and track dirt.
5. Excellent build quality: This variant is the best of all Tineco stick vacuums in terms of the quality of plastics used and how easily it attaches or removes tools.
6. Deep cleans carpet: The 99% score of the Pure One S12 in the deep cleaning tests surprised me.