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 that has come out over the last five years.

The first Tineco product I reviewed was the A10, and while it performed well in my cleaning tests, it wasn’t up to par with the Dyson when it came to fit and finish.

They’ve improved the quality with the subsequent A11 model, but the Pure One S12 is probably their best product regarding 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.

Pros

• Outstanding airflow which exceeds that of the Dyson V10
• The quick-release lock makes it easy to attach and remove any of the tools.
• iLoop system is ground-breaking in that it adjusts suction based on the amount of dirt and not on the surface type
• It comes with a lot of attachments for cleaning different areas
• The wall bracket can charge the two batteries simultaneously and has space for three storing three attachments
• It will run for up to 102 minutes combined from the two Li-ion batteries

Cons

• It does not have the hygienic system that makes disposing of dirt messy
• A small dust cup means you’ll have to empty it often
• Pricey– the top-of-the-line Pure One S12 Plus is quite expensive

Introduction to the Tineco Pure One S12

Tineco is a relatively new brand that has been around for just a handful of years. Their first product was the A10 Hero, and it performed decently in all cleaning tests I did.

However, it lacked several areas, particularly the little things 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 probably their best product when you combine 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 grabbed my attention when I first got this product was the giant LED screen on the box.

At first, I thought that it was a touch screen, but it was not. The screen scores high in legibility as Tineco used bright colors and a dark background, scoring high in 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 same trigger mechanism as a Dyson cord-free vacuum, it has a trigger lock that holds it in the “on” position. So, there’s no need to squeeze the trigger for long jobs constantly.

I like this feature as vacuuming floors is less tiring on the arm and finger. 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 for just a few milliseconds, but it isn’t that bad. The slider an industry first, and 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. But it allows you to increase or decrease suction in case the need arises.

Auto mode

Another option for people who don’t want to fiddle with the power setting is using the auto mode.

This mode turns on the iLoop sensor (right in front of the dust cup) that detects the amount of dirt that passes through and adjusts suction when it identifies an increase.

It differs from the Dyson V11’s sensor that 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 innovation that deserves mention.

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 it 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 and more than the Dyson V10 or V11.

These tools include the following:

1. Direct-drive LED power brush: This is 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 that work well at 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 a little more reach, this tool can be handy. It has a rubber insert that you can use to extend reach and flexibility for 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 having to remove it from the vacuum.

9. Pre-filter: A filter located in the middle of the dust cup traps fine allergens and keeps it from going back out 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 doubles 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 provides consumers the ability to clean areas high above without using a chair or ladder.

Dual Filtration

This vacuum comes with two filters – a pre-motor and a post-motor HEPA filter that provides 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 call this the automatic pre-filter cleaning tool. It’s a device that you attach to the vacuum unit that will suck out debris that accumulates on the pre-motor filter.

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

There are a total of four different variants with the Pure One S12 divided 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.

How much power does the Tineco Pure One S12 have?

To measure power, I used an anemometer to measure airflow from the wand and main cleaning head. Realize that there will be some margin for error in this test. The reason 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 a good reason 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 various areas. You can use it as a handheld or a stick vacuum, whatever the need may be.

However, this product was built for cleaning floors. The Plus version comes with 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 to do so, 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 held only by friction.

Cleaning Performance

To see how effective the Tineco Pure  One S12 performs, I put it through a series of tests on various surfaces such as hard floors, low pile, and mid pile carpets.

I used various debris to see how this cordless vacuum does, such as 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 how well it picks up debris.

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).

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 have any issues with clogging like the Roidmi F8 or the NEX had.

Some wedged behind the roller bar, around 4 to 5 pieces of Fruit loops, which was 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 pick up all 50 grams.

So aside from Cheerios-sized dirt, the direct drive power brush is an effective tool for small to medium stuff.

You don’t really need the soft roller attachment for most of the 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 does at cleaning sand, I scattered 50 grams worth and did one test 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, so it doubles as a crevice test.

Please check the before and after photo.

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

Carpet Cleaning Test

Next, let’s move to the carpet cleaning tests. For all the reviews done in Cordless Vacuum Guide, tests are done on low and medium-pile carpet.

A separate test is done on embedded fine coffee grounds on medium pile carpet to see how well the vacuum does 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 the V10, which I tested a few months back. 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 kicks 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 across the board.

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

Deep cleaning test

The last test I did is a deep cleaning test where I rubbed 100 grams of sand on medium-pile carpet to see how well a vacuum does at picking up embedded dirt.

Lastly, we’ll look at the deep cleaning tests where I rubbed 100 grams of sand on medium pile carpet to see how well this vacuum does at picking up embedded debris.

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 really shines when cleaning floors. It doesn’t matter if it’s hardwood or carpet – it gets the job done! If you want pro tips on cleaning hardwood surfaces, please click on this link 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.

How long will the Tineco Pure One S12 run?

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 if this claim is valid by running the vacuum to empty and using a digital timer to measure how long it runs.

Here are the results of the test with the primary floor tool and with 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 close to empty. But it didn’t affect how this vacuum performs as I did some of the cleaning tests with the battery at 15%.

The batteries are removable, which makes it easy to replace just in case it breaks down.

How noisy is the Tineco Pure One S12?

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

Take note that I measured it with the brush roll attached, so you’ll know what to expect since you’ll be using this vacuum a lot with this tool attached.

Dust cup capacity and 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 with 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 assistance from your fingers to remove.

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 it has the iLoop sensor and electronic pins that connect to the battery charger. The only part that is washable is the filter assembly.

Make sure that it is fully dry before putting it back in the vacuum.

Smartphone app

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

The app has several essential 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 in the comments section if you have any issues installing the app.

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 a 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, but at no additional cost to you, 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 also comes with special tools such as the hose and multi-angle attachment that helps clean hard to reach areas.

In my opinion, you really 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.

For me, 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 by the Tineco Pure One S12?

Based on the tests, the Tineco Pure One S12 exceeds the Dyson V10 Absolute when it comes to performance with 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. For me, 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 that are in the same price range.

6 Reasons why you should buy the Tineco Pure One S12