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Dyson Omni-Glide Review

Derek Hales

Written By: Derek Hales

Updated on:

This review is going to look at the Dyson Onmi-Glide hard floor cleaner. Right off the bat, let me point out that the Omni-Glide is not designed for cleaning carpets, but if you’re looking for an exclusive cleaner for hardwood, vinyl, tile, and other indoor hard surface floors, keep reading.

Lightweight, Hard Surface Cleaner

Dyson Omni-Glide

Dyson Omni-Glide

The Dyson Omni-Glide is a lightweight, cordless vacuum that is specifically designed for floating around hard surface flooring, like hardwoods, vinyl, laminate, or tile floors. It has the ability to move in multiple directions without having to pick up the cleaning head and is user-friendly. It crushed our cleaning tests, removing 100% of all debris by weight.Check Price

Pros

  • Lightweight body and cordless design
  • Can move in any direction and has a head that rotates 360 degrees
  • Washable cleaning head and HEPA filter
  • Dual spinning fluffy soft cleaner heads

Cons

  • Relatively short run time (25:45 minutes in our test)
  • Not suited for carpet
  • Relatively high price

Scoring

A Multi-Directional, Hard Surface Cleaner
  • Design - 97%
    97%
  • Performance - 100%
    100%
  • Quality - 95%
    95%
  • Usability - 96%
    96%
  • Value - 93%
    93%
96%

Summary

The Dyson Omni-glide cleans using a 360 degree rotating head. The dual soft brushrolls allow it to easily glide along any hard surface flooring. It has a cordless design that can be used as a stick or handheld vacuum. In our cleaning tests it removed 100% of all debris by weight. Our run time tests confirmed a maximum run time up 25 minutes, 45 seconds. Overall, we were impressed with usability, performance, and form factor. It’s incredibly lightweight in hand and easily dances across the floor. The Omni-glide is a unique product that I didn’t realize I wanted until I started using it.

If you’d rather watch a video than read we’ve got our full Omni-glide video review below:

YouTube video

🧪 Performance

First things first, let’s talk about the performance of the Omni-Glide.

How do we test?

We typically test the vacuum on three different floor types for a multi-floor scoring system, but since the Omni-Glide specifically says that it is not designed for carpet, we’re only testing on hardwoods.

Dyson Omni-glide
Dyson Omni-glide

The Omni-Glide was tested on hardwood floors against a range of debris types, including:

  • Dry cereal
  • Rice
  • Kitty litter
  • Sugar
Cleaning performance test - dry debris
Cleaning performance test – dry debris

Cleaning Tests

Overall, the Omni-Glide was fantastic at cleaning hardwood floors, capturing 100% of all debris types we tested. The omnidirectional (360 degrees of rotation) cleaning head allows you to clean in any direction.

Cleaning with the Dyson Omni-glide
Cleaning with the Dyson Omni-glide

In addition, the dual spinning fluffy brushrolls allows it to easily glide along and clean extremely close to any edges and baseboards.

Cereal

100 %

Rice

100%

Kitty Litter

100%

Sugar

100%

Normally in this section we include an analysis of where the vacuum failed and why. However, we really don’t have any notes or complaints for the Omni-Glide.

Dyson Omni-glide cleaning tests
Dyson Omni-glide cleaning tests

It did exactly what it is designed to do. It easily and quickly cleaned up 100% of all debris without issue.

I was a bit worried that it might struggle with cereal, given the relatively small size of the dust bin and extension wand. However, even there it had no issues at removing the debris.

Cleaning in handheld mode
Cleaning in handheld mode

Bear in mind, a debris removal score of 100% is incredibly rare. Only a handful of vacuums have achieved this score since we began testing vacuum cleaners in 2017.

Hair Cleaning Test

We also tested how well the Omni-glide removes hair from hardwoods floors. For these tests, we use synthetic human hair that we spread on the floor and allow the Omni-glide to attempt to remove.

Hair spread on the floor
Hair spread on the floor

In general, the Omni-glide did great. It removed all of the hair from the floor without any issues.

Cleaning hair from the floor
Cleaning hair from the floor

The vast majority of the hair went to the dust bin, however, a small portion tangled along the axel. Hair that was ran over closer to the edge of the brushroll had a higher chance of getting wrapped around the axel.

Hair wrapped around axel
Hair wrapped around axel

The hair wrapped around the axel was still a relatively small portion of the total hair we removed. So while this issue should be expected, I don’t think it’s reflective of a serious cleaning issue.

Run Time Test

We put the Dyson Omni-glide through our standard run time test. For this test, we fully charged the battery and then turned the machine on until the battery died.

  • Normal power, Omni cleaning head – 25:45
  • Max Power, Omni cleaning head – 9:15
  • Normal power, crevice tool – 28:05

Noise Tests

Our noise tests measures the volume of noise in decibels generated by the vacuum. The ambient room noise during this test measured 45 dB.

  • Normal power – 71 dB
  • Max Power – 75 dB

Both tests were conducted using the Omni cleaning head. At a range of 71 to 75 decibels, this is a pretty average level of noise for a vacuum.

🧬 Design

The Dyson Omni-Glide is a multi-directional cleaning tool for hard surface flooring. It is designed to be ultra-lightweight, easy to use, easy to maintain, and good for quick messes.

Can the Omni-Glide clean carpet?

No. It is not designed for carpet cleaning or rugs.

Dyson Omni-glide fluffy cleaning head
Dyson Omni-glide fluffy cleaning head

The Omni-glide is exclusively designed to clean indoor hard surfaces (ex. hardwoods, vinyl, laminate, tile, etc.)

How powerful is the Omni-Glide?

The motor allows the Omni-Glide to run at up to 105,000 RPM, creating strong suction and presumably better performance. For comparison, the Dyson V11 spins at up to 125,000 rpm.

Dyson Omni-glide motor body
Dyson Omni-glide motor body

This is more than enough power for cleaning hard surface flooring and our performance data further reinforces this idea.

Dyson Omni-glide buttons
Dyson Omni-glide buttons

There are also two cleaning modes—regular and max, which you can manually alternate between as needed.

Size & Dimensions

This cordless vacuum is lightweight, 4.2 pounds overall and quite streamlined. Its compact size makes it easy to maneuver and take on the go when needed.

Height

42.4″

Width

8.1″

Depth

3.6″

Weight

4.18 lbs

Honestly, the sizing feels surprisingly compact. I was expecting something closer to the size and weight of a V-series vacuum, but it’s a good bit lighter and shorter.

Dyson Omni-glide size
Dyson Omni-glide size

To that end, it’s right at the border of being too short for taller users. I am 6′, 1″ and personally found it fine, but I could easily see users in the 6′, 3″+ range that would find it too short.

Unfortunately, there is no extra-large extension wand or telescoping wand.

Tools & Accessories

The Dyson Omni-Glide can run as a full-sized stick or as a handheld so there are tools for both, but not really that many. Just the basics.

Accessories for the Dyson Omni-Glide
Accessories for the Dyson Omni-Glide

The attachments it does include are specialized designed just for this model.

What’s in the box?

  • Dyson Omni-Glide
  • Omnidirectional soft roller cleaner head
  • Combination tool (dusting brush and crevice tool)
  • Charging cradle or wall mount
  • Charger

Omni Cleaning Head

Dyson Omni-Glide fluffy cleaning head

Battery

Battery for the Dyson Omni-Glide

Crevice Tool

Dyson Omni-Glide crevice tool

Dusting Brush

Dyson Omni-Glide dusting brush

Despite the fact they have the red button click system, the wand diameter is extra small.

As a result, these attachments will only work with the Omni-glide and it won’t be able to accept other tools (unless you have an adapter, which surely a 3rd party will develop within the next year or so).

👍 Usability

I was really happy with the usability of the Omni-Glide. It can’t do everything that a cordless stick vac can do, but if you are specifically looking for a cleaner for hard surfaces in your home, the Omni-Glide is a product specifically designed for that.

Omni-glide cleaning under sofa
Omni-glide cleaning under sofa

Some of the most impressive features that improve usability include:

Dust Bin Capacity

0.75 cup

Run Time

~20 mins

Charge Time

3.5 hours

Setup / Use

Easy

Maneuverability

Easy

Maintenance

Easy

Getting Set Up

Out of the box, the Omni-Glide sets up like most other V Series Dysons. It has the in-hand portion, which includes the dust bin, motor, and power on / off controls.

  • To use as a handheld, simply snap on a cleaning tool like the combination brush, and you’re good to go.
  • To use as a stick vacuum, snap on the extension wand and the Omnidirectional cleaning head.

You can also use the wand with the combination brush for cleaning high, hard-to-reach areas.

Some factors that will impact daily use of the Dyson Omni-Glide include:

#1. Small Dust Bin Capacity

Although not entirely unexpected, the dust bin on this unit is fairly small—it holds less than a cup of debris.

That being said, dust and debris pulled from hard surfaces isn’t typically going to be as voluminous as carpets.

Full dust bin capacity on the Dyson Omni-Glide
Full dust bin capacity on the Dyson Omni-Glide

Despite the size (and the fact that debris went well beyond the “MAX” line, it still held all 2 oz of our testing debris during our tests, including the bulky cheerios. 

#2. Run Time

The Omni-Glide is only designed to run for about 20 minutes.

Initially, I was not happy about the 20 minute run time, however, the trade-off is that you get a more compact battery that fits in the handle itself. No battery hanging off the end adding extra weight.

Dyson Omni-Glide battery fits into the handheld
Dyson Omni-Glide battery fits into the handheld

The battery in the handle helps to balance the machine’s weight, so it has a good feel in hand.

The charger can act as a cradle, like in the photo below, or also as a wall mount. I’ve never been a big fan of wall mounts due to the permanency of it all.

Charging the Dyson Omni-Glide
Charging the Dyson Omni-Glide

Not to mention, we test a lot of vacuums so it’s nice to see models that allows a vacuum to charge by just plugging it in and sitting it on the counter, table, etc.

Can you buy an extra battery?

Right now, the answer is no. But according to Dyson a charger and battery pack will soon be available for 179.99 + tax. They have not currently released a date when this will be available so we’re estimating Summer 2021.

I think I would have been less bothered by the shorter run time if they included an extra battery. I appreciate that one will be coming soon, but the price point they are targeting feels way over the top.

I would expect 3rd parties on be selling these batteries for much less soon enough.

#3. Maneuverability

The maneuverability of the Omni-Glide really depends on how you’re using the vacuum.

As a stick vacuum, the maneuverability of the Omni-Glide is fantastic and the design allows the cleaner to float across the floor.

Dyson Omni-gliding laying flat
Dyson Omni-gliding laying flat

You can change direction without lifting the cleaning head and the brushroll will automatically adjust as needed.

Using the Dyson Omni-Glide as a handheld vacuum

As a handheld, it’s definitely on the long side, which some users may like, while others will really find it a bit unwieldy.

Since you’re mostly dry dusting with this vacuum the extra length probably will be either moot or advantageous for many consumers.

The Omni-glide really does glide around on the floors. Because it has spinning soft brush rollers on the front and the back it easily slides along the floor in any direction…front, back, side to side.

Dyson Omni-glide maneuverability
Dyson Omni-glide maneuverability

The head allows for 360 degrees of rotation, further enhancing maneuverability.

🔧 Maintenance

Maintenance on the Dyson Omni-Glide is simple. Part of that is thanks to its lightweight, compact design and part of it is thanks to the washable nature of the core parts.

The most important maintenance tasks include:

  1. Emptying the dust bin and clean out as needed.
  2. Washing the filter each month (cold water, air dry for 24 hours)
  3. Charging the battery as needed.
  4. Washing the cleaning head as needed.

Emptying the Dust Bin

As mentioned above, the dust bin capacity of the Omni-Glide is not much, less than 1 cup of debris, but it is easy to empty and easy to maintain.

Dust bin for the Dyson Omni-Glide
Dust bin for the Dyson Omni-Glide

To empty, you simply use the same “point and shoot” approach that other Dysons employ. It is easy and takes one click.

Emptying Dyson Omni-glide
Emptying Dyson Omni-glide

The dust bin is also entirely washable so you can clean out built-up debris or fibers.

Washing the Parts

The Omni-Glide is user-friendly when it comes to washing a lot of the parts.

To remove dust build-up, you can wash the bin, filter, soft roller cleaner head, and any tools without electronic components.

It’s easy to remove the rollers from the body of the machine.

Removing the rollers to wash for the Dyson Omni-Glide

Just use cool water, rinse well, and set out to try for 24 hours before reinstalling.

Charging the Vacuum

When it’s time to charge the Omni-Glide, you can place the entire body (with or without the extension wand / attachment) onto the cradle for charging.

Battery for the Dyson Omni-Glide
Battery for the Dyson Omni-Glide

If you prefer, you can also pop the battery out to charge it by itself. Though I will say, it balances better on the charger when it’s in the Omni-glide body.

📰 Dyson Omni-Glide Specifications

Below is a complete list of important specifications and features included on the Dyson Omni-Glide:

Specifications
TypeStick
ManufacturerDyson
ModelOmni-Glide
Length42.4"
Width8.1"
Depth3.6"
Weight4.18 lbs.
Floor TypeHard Surface Only
Dust Bin Capacity0.8 cups / 0.05 gal
CordlessYes
BaglessYes
ReturnsVaries by retailer
Warranty2-Year limited
PriceCheck Price

🥇 Summary

Overall, I was really impressed with the design. Again, I was expecting a V-series with a special cleaning head, but this is a totally unique and different product. It’s smaller, more compact, and super lightweight.

The whole thing just feels diminutive in-hand, which makes sliding and gliding it along the floor that much more satisfying. It just sort of dances along the floor.

If you’re looking for a lightweight unit that doesn’t take up a lot of space and is easy to care for, the Omni-Glide may be right for you.

Should You Buy the Dyson Omni-Glide?

The Dyson Omni-Glide is a product designed for hard surface cleaning, quick pick-ups, and good maneuverability.

I would recommend the Dyson Omni-Glide if you’re looking for the following features in a cordless stick vacuum:

  • Exclusive hard floor cleaning: The Omni-Glide is only made to clean hard surface flooring like hardwoods, tile, vinyl plank, sealed concrete, etc. The Omni-glide isn’t designed for cleaning carpets. If you need something to clean both consider a Dyson V-series.
  • Shorter run cycles: There is also a ~20 minute run time on this unit (though it went 25 minutes in our tests). While not long, it does charge up in 3.5 hours. It also has a limited dust bin capacity (less than 1 cup), but for sort cycles, it should still be sufficient.
  • Multi-directional maneuverability: The way that the Omni-Glide moves is a little unusual and definitely user-friendly. It can clean front to back or side to side without having to lift the cleaning head. It easily cleans tight up to edges and gets into smaller spaces due to the relatively compact head.

Want more information on the Dyson Omni-Glide? Check it out here.

Have a question? Drop us a comment below. We’re always here to help.

ChangeLog

  • May 6, 2021 – Added hair cleaning tests.
  • April 7, 2021 – Initial version of the review was published.

About Derek Hales

Derek HalesDerek Hales is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ModernCastle.com. He has been featured in Fast Company, Reader's Digest, Business Insider, Realtor.com, She Knows, and other major publications. Derek has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University. Hales has been testing and reviewing products for the home since 2014.