The vacuum cleaner world is dominated by bagless options, and it’s long been thought that bagged offerings are the older, less-cool versions of these modern (often cordless) machines. But when the Halo Capsule X burst onto the scene in 2020, the brand flipped the script to bring a cool, unique, and cordless bagged vacuum to the market. And while it has style, I wanted to test whether it also has substance.
Throughout my career, I’ve tested some of the best vacuum cleaners on the market and come to realise that the best cordless vacuum cleaners are more my style. The ease of movement is second to none and practicality is at the forefront of their design. However, the Halo Capsule X is different to anything I have ever tested before. Aiming to merge the ease of a cordless with the practicality and dust-free nature of a bagged vacuum cleaner, it has the potential to fill a gap I didn’t realise was there.
So, I put this vacuum to the test in my three-bedroom house, testing everything from the suction power to the accessories, and the bit I was most excited about – removing the dust bags. And while it was certainly a new experience for me, you can colour me impressed.
Halo Capsule X product specs
- Weight: 2.6kg
- Max. run time: 60 mins
- Bin volume: 2L
- Charge time: 2 hours
- Modes: Eco Mode, Performance Mode, Boost
- In the box: Capsule X main unit, motor brush head, hard floor roller, crevice tool, brush and upholstery tool, extension tube, charger, dust pouches, accessory clip, 32V battery (as I tested the bigger bundle, I also received a spare battery, 10 dust pouches, 150cm stretch hose, mini power brush, and wall dock)
- RRP: From £249.99 and up to £641.91
Unboxing, setting up and first impressions
The Halo Capsule X came in a relatively small, extremely lightweight box that was easy to lift into my house. And as someone who appreciates storage and organisation, I was also impressed to see how neatly they had packed everything into the box – especially considering there was a lot in there.
The user guide, which has everything you need to know about the machine, from safety information to the set-up process and troubleshooting tips, was laid on top of it all. Underneath that sat all the different components.
Although some of these components were encased in cardboard, I was surprised to see how many were wrapped in plastic. However, after a little research, I discovered that the plastic packaging used for the Halo Capsule X is, in fact, recyclable.
I would have liked this to be more apparent on the packaging to save me 10 minutes of Googling and to prevent me from inadvertently popping it into my general waste bin instead.
For this review, Halo sent me The Capsule X Ultimate 2-Battery Bundle with extra accessories and attachments, which is much more expensive than the basic Halo Capsule X Pets Cordless Vacuum Cleaner bundle. But as I laid all of the components out on the floor, I realised that the hard floor roller was missing. However, two days after I contacted the brand about the issue, a replacement part turned up on my doorstep. I’d definitely advise anyone buying this to check the box contains what it’s meant to.
When everything was back on track, I could finally give the Halo Capsule X my full attention. As I live with a car-obsessed husband who constantly raves about the beauty of carbon fibre, I must admit that I was instantly drawn to the main unit and its carbon fibre frontage. It looked sleek and smart and contrasted nicely with the bright blue accents on the rest of the machine and accessories.
In fact, I can quite safely say that it’s unlike any other vacuum cleaner I’ve either tested or bought myself. It looked almost alien-like… and I liked it.
Assembling the Capsule Halo X was relatively easy, too. As per the instructions, I first fitted the fully compostable dust pouch. At first glance, these pouches looked rather small, but the specs assured me they could fit 2L of dust and debris, so I was eager to test this out.
Then, it was just a case of attaching the battery to the top of the machine and fitting the extension tube to start the cleaning process. The user guide did inform me that this isn’t the only way to attach the accessories, though, as you can also use the accessory clip when needed.
For my first cleaning session, I attached the motor brush head. With this in place, I could finally appreciate just how lightweight this bagged cordless vacuum cleaner is. Not only that, but it’s incredibly easy to manoeuvre.
My only niggle was that it feels (and looks) slightly top-heavy – especially with the black dust pouch cavity. From an aesthetic point of view, I wonder if that’s because I’m used to vacuum cleaners with clear dust bins that seem to blend into the machine a bit more.
Using the Halo Capsule X
For reference, I reviewed the Halo Capsule X in my small three-bedroom terraced house, which has a mixture of carpet (the whole upstairs), hard flooring (the whole downstairs), and the odd rug.
To start, I tested the vacuum on the hard flooring, learning from the user guide that you’re only supposed to use Halo Capsule X in eco mode on this kind of floor – I assume to protect your hard flooring from the rotating blades of the motor brush head.
And while it picked up the odd speck of dirt and blade of grass from where I’d mowed the lawn the day before, the result wasn’t as effective as I’d hoped. So, I switched it out for the hard floor roller, in the hope it would offer a better clean (more on that later).
One of the things I loved about the Halo Capsule X, though, was the seamless transition between the hard flooring and the rugs downstairs. It didn’t seem too much trouble for the machine, and unlike other cordless vacuum cleaners – like the Shark ICZ300UKT Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, which I used to own – I didn’t have to press any buttons to switch between the two.
In fact, the suction was so impressive on my rug that I thought the tassels would be ripped entirely into the roller. Thankfully, I managed to turn it off and save the tassels before it was too late. But the 185AW (air watt, the unit of measurement used across the board for vacuum suction) of suction was ideal for my home, often covered in dog and human hair.
The Halo Capsule X also has impressive edge pickup. Although the brand doesn’t disclose whether the Capsule X has specific edge cleaning technology, it certainly seems like it. It could pick up the smallest crumbs in my kitchen’s crevices and fit underneath the TV unit in my living room perfectly.
Next, I headed upstairs to see how the motor brush head would fare on carpet and quickly realised that this is where this vacuum thrives. Not only could I visibly see how much cleaner my carpets were after one quick pass, but I could also hear the debris being sucked up by the roller.
And while I’ve usually been able to give or take LED headlights on a vacuum cleaner, I must admit that they did prove to be helpful in darker areas of my house and on darker rugs where dust and debris aren’t as obvious to the naked eye.
Upstairs, I also tried out the different suction levels. Although eco mode was enough for a quick whip-around and boost was ideal for areas of carpet that needed that extra oompf, I found myself sticking with performance mode for most of my cleaning.
Using the attachments
The Halo Capsule X attachments differ depending on the bundle you buy, but no matter whether you opt for the bigger bundle or the basic bundle, you’ll still receive the crevice tool, dusting brush/upholstery combo tool, power brush, and hard floor roller. As I received the bigger bundle, I also tested out the extendable hose.
Hard floor roller head
After the slightly disappointing result of the normal motor brush head on hard flooring, I was anxious to see whether the dedicated hard floor roller would be any better. After all, half of my home consists of hard flooring, and finding a vacuum that can tackle it is key.
Thankfully, I needn’t have worried as the hard floor roller is perfectly designed for the job. Not only was the roller perfectly soft and ideal for gliding over my floors, but its rotating design meant that it made light work of both the laminate and the tiled floors in my house.
I barely had to put any welly into it, either, as it often seemed as though the lightweight machine was moving of its own accord to find the next speck of dust.
Crevice tool
Understanding which vacuum tools are right for the job can be difficult, but crevice tools are easy enough to understand. They get into the little nooks and crannies of your home, and I personally love to use them in the nooks and crannies of my sofa.
So, I attached the crevice tool to the Halo Capsule X without the extension tube, so it was more like a handheld vacuum, and got to work down the sides of the sofa cushions. As expected, it did what it needed to do, and I didn’t have any complaints.
Brush and upholstery tool
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To test the brush and upholstery tool, I decided to use it on the bane of my life: the sofa bed. Although the green velvet sofa bed looks good, it also doubles up as my dog’s lounging spot – and anyone who has ever tried to get small dog hairs out of velvet will know it’s not easy.
This tool did a stellar job and cleaned the sofa bed up a treat. I actually hadn’t expected it to be so impressive, so this was the tool that had the biggest impact on me and as such, I’d say it even rivals some of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair.
Mini power brush
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I used the mini power brush on my living room footstool – our dog’s nighttime bed (although he has a perfectly good dog bed, which he chooses not to use). Although a blanket normally covers the footstool, dirt and mud often make their way onto the fabric underneath. So, I used the mini power brush to suck it all up.
Although it is slightly annoying having to double-click the buttons to turn the motorised attachments on, it does make a big difference, and the brush sucked up every last speck of dirt in seconds.
Extendable hose
I must admit that this attachment was the one I was least looking forward to using. The Halo Capsule X can be used as either a full-size cordless vacuum or a handheld, so I just didn’t understand why you’d also want (or need) an extendable hose.
While I understand the need to reach high corners and into small crevices, I didn’t feel the extendable hose was necessary for my personal cleaning efforts. However, some users might appreciate it.
Cleaning and maintenance
The user guide’s battery life information was pretty accurate (60 minutes for eco mode, 25 minutes for performance mode, and 9 minutes in boost mode). So, this is something to consider if you regularly vacuum high-traffic areas or have a large home.
As I tended to stick with performance mode, the battery lasted 20-25 minutes for each cleaning session, which was enough for me to quickly sweep through my home. For a more thorough cleaning session, though, I did find that it ran out before I finished.
Of course, this wasn’t an issue as I had a spare battery that I could use, but this is something to consider if you buy the basic bundle with just one battery. If this is the case, you just need to keep an eye on the lights on the side of the battery to indicate battery life.
To charge the battery/batteries, plug it in and wait for all the lights to glow white. I liked that you can charge the battery away from the vacuum or while it’s still attached. And if you buy the bundle with the charging dock, you can also go one step further and charge and store your vacuum cleaner simultaneously.
When emptying the Halo Capsule X, I only had to replace the bag once during my rigorous two-week testing process. And while I knew the 2L capacity was extremely large for a cordless vacuum cleaner, I wasn’t expecting it to hold out for as long as it did. This was a nice perk for me, as the idea of replacing (and paying for) bags regularly has always put me off bagged vacuums.
Another perk was that it was completely mess-free. Unlike bagless cordless vacuum cleaners, you don’t have to come into contact with dust or debris, which is ideal for those who suffer from allergies and one of the main reasons why many people think vacuums with bags are better.
However, the only way to decipher whether the dust bag is full is to put it in boost mode. If full, the indicator will turn red. This means you must periodically switch to boost mode when using eco or performance mode to see whether you need to change it. This seems like an oversight, and I wish the indicator light flashed when in these other modes, too.
Then, you can either tip the vacuum on its head to drop the bag into the bin or lift it out with your hands. You can even pop it on the compost heap if you want – a perk that excited my extremely eco-conscious mum when I told her.
According to the user guide, you should also clean the dust pouch filter ‘after sustained periods of heavy use.’ To do this, you just need to remove the filter from the pouch and rinse it under the tap before allowing it to dry fully and replacing it.
How does it rate online?
Unfortunately, the Halo website doesn’t allow you to explore the reviews of the Halo Capsule X in detail. From what little information is there, though, they state that their product has over 3,700 reviews with an average rating of 4.57.
The only public information available at the time of writing is the Amazon reviews – and there aren’t a lot. As I write this, there have only been 34 reviews with an average rating of 4.1 stars. Customers praise just how lightweight this vacuum cleaner is and find that the suction power is impressive for such a small machine.
However, others have criticised the company for sending out their package with missing components (which, incidentally, is also what happened to me), and another found that their hard floor attachment started to fail after a few months. It’s worth noting that Halo does offer a two-year warranty with their products, though.
How does it compare to similar models?
When comparing the Halo Capsule X with other vacuum cleaners on the market, you have to start with the original Halo Capsule, which was released a few years before its successor. Although Ideal Home hasn’t tested the original vacuum that started it all, one look at the Halo website will tell you that the Capsule X is both bigger and better.
The Capsule X has an extra 0.4L of space in the dust bags, a new and improved battery, and a quicker charging time. Its look is also more striking (compared to the grey and black of the original). However, the older version is noticeably cheaper. You can buy the Halo Capsule for just £199 on Amazon, which makes it one of the cheapest cordless vacuums on the market.
Of course, we can’t talk about a bagged vacuum cleaner without comparing the Halo Capsule X to the most iconic bagged vacuum brand of them all: Henry.
Although the majority of the Henry Hoovers are corded, the brand has expanded its range over the years, and the Numatic Henry Quick is the most similar to the Halo Capsule X. In fact, the Numatic Henry Quick currently takes the top spot as Ideal Home’s ‘best bagged cordless vacuum cleaner’ and was given a stellar 4-star review.
In her review, Molly Cleary celebrated the vacuum cleaner’s nostalgic design and praised the suction power synonymous with this brand. However, when you look at the specs, the Halo Capsule X outperforms the Henry on dust bag capacity, weight, and power modes.
The Henry is a lot cheaper than the Halo Capsule X, though. It costs £299, so if you’re looking for something a bit cheaper but simpler, it might be worth venturing over to the Henry side.
Should you buy the Halo Capsule X?
To answer this, I need to separate it into two questions: 1) Is the Halo Capsule X big bundle worth it? 2) Is the Halo Capsule X basic bundle worth it? When looking at it this way, my answers are: 1) no and 2) yes.
While the accessories make a great addition to the Halo Capsule X, the price difference between the basic bundle and the big bundle is, in my opinion, not warranted. Yes, you may receive a few extra accessories and a charging dock, but I don’t believe these are necessary attachments or tools that make up for the almost-£400 price difference.
However, I do think that it’s well worth having a spare battery on hand – especially if you live in a larger house. So, I’d suggest opting for the basic bundle and buying another battery separately.
Overall, I was impressed with this bagged cordless vacuum cleaner. It’s extremely lightweight but powerful, and in its cheapest form, it’s priced extremely competitively. Because of this, I believe it would suit those with mobility issues looking for a lightweight vacuum that gets the job done or younger homeowners or renters who want something a little sleeker and sophisticated.
About this review, and the reviewer
You can find more information on how we review products at Ideal Home here. For this review, the Halo Capsule X was tested by Lauren, a freelance contributor who lives in a small Victorian terraced house in Kent with her husband and dog.
Over the course of two weeks, she swapped her usual vacuum cleaner (a Dyson V8 Absolute) for the Halo Capsule X. She used it to pick up everyday dirt and debris as well as the dog hair that covers her 3-bedroom home. She also made sure to test all of the attachments and accessories to determine whether this specific vacuum cleaner is worth the price tag.
The Halo Capsule X was sent to Lauren for this review, but this in no way impacted her fair and impartial testing process. So, everything written in the above review is true to Lauren’s own experience of using the vacuum and her knowledge of vacuum cleaners.
Read the full article here
