Tineco S10 ZT Smart Stick Vacuum review: A great starter vacuum for apartments and small spaces

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Living in a New York City studio apartment, I can't imagine lugging around or storing even the best upright vacuum. When looking for a vacuum, I needed something compact, capable of multiple floor surfaces, easy to maneuver in tight spaces, and cordless. The Tineco S10 ZT Smart Cordless Vacuum fit my needs on paper, and I was curious to see how it would perform among the best vacuums.  

The Tineco S10 ZT is a great starter vacuum for small homes and apartments. It automatically adjusts suction strength based on a dirt detector to easily move from carpet to bare floors and has a flexible brush head that swivels around corners. This exclusive-to-Walmart model costs under $200, making it an affordable option that doesn't compromise on power or features. Though it's a little awkward as a hand vacuum, I loved the versatility and attachments. 

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Setup and design

The vacuum comes with a wall mount for storage, which also functions as a charging station. I didn't use this setup because I didn't want to nail anything to my walls as a renter, but the installation instructions were simple: screw the mount into the wall with included nails, clip the accessory bracket to the dock, and feed the charging plug and cord through the back of the mount. 

The battery needs to be charged for four hours before use, so I left it plugged in overnight. It's simple to remove the battery to plug it in, but I can see that a mounted charging station would create a seamless routine. Use the vacuum, slot it into the charging mount, and forget about it until the next mess. For me, I plugged the charger into an available outlet and rest the battery on the floor. 

One thing I really like about the design is that the bin's back and handle are flat. I could easily prop it against the wall or in a corner, as opposed to vacuums with bulky, rounded handles. As a hand vacuum, it sits on the flat base of the handle instead of just lying on the floor. 

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Our review of the Tineco S10 ZT Smart Stick Vacuum

Ease of use

There is a trigger mechanism on the handle that turns on the vacuum, but to keep it running, you have to switch on a lever right underneath the trigger. Otherwise, you have to hold down the trigger or just get one quick burst of suction. I didn't love this element because it adds an unnecessary step; I'd rather have a simple on/off switch.

The LED lights on the brush head are like spotlights for dirt and dust. I'm a little embarrassed every time it reveals a neglected corner, but I'm more grateful that it helps me achieve a thorough clean. 

The attachments work with the full-size and hand vacuum setups, but since the base is so heavy (nearly 4 pounds), it feels unbalanced as a handheld vacuum. While this doesn't affect performance, it does speak to my main issue with this vacuum: the weight. It's much easier to maneuver than any upright vacuum, but my arm got tired pretty quickly while using it.

Cleaning performance

I had no complaints with the Tineco's performance. When it came to small particles, like flour, sugar, and salt, the S10 ZT  had no trouble on hardwood floors or carpets. I spilled a pile of kosher salt on the edge of my area rug, and in just two passes, the mess was gone from the carpeted and wood surfaces.

On my kitchen floor, cereal pieces and a larger sugar clump stymied the Tineco. Oddly enough, the vacuum had no problem with the same particles on the carpet. My theory is that the issue is not one of power but of height. There is barely any clearance between the brush head and the floor when it's flat, sort of like a seal, which makes it hard to pick up larger particles on a flat surface. On a carpet, the brush is slightly elevated by the pile, so it has more space to go over the larger pieces.

I have long hair that ends up everywhere, and it's a relief how easily the Tineco cleaned it up. I didn't notice any tangles around the brush roll, even after a month of testing. However, the hair did wrap around the pre-filter in the dust bin which means you either have to reach in and tug on it to release or remove the mesh filter and pre-filter to wash and dry.

Battery

The S10 ZT has "self-optimizing power," which means it automatically adjusts the strength of suction based on a sensor reading the surface type and amount of debris. The feature simplifies the task of moving from carpet to hardwood to tile. The AUTO/MAX button allows you to activate the more powerful suction manually, but the battery life drops to 10 minutes when in MAX mode.

Dust bin

The dust bin capacity is large enough to avoid frequent emptyings unless you're sweeping up major messes. It's well integrated into the handle, attached by one press-lock button. The lock is stiff; I love the security, but I found it a little surprising when it does swing the bin open, so just make sure you're already over the garbage when you press it.

The only issue I encountered with the dust bin was hair winding and tangling around the core that holds the pre-filter. I had to reach it and yank to get it off. 

Filter

The Tineco uses two filters: a pre-filter to catch larger particles and a HEPA filter to prevent dust and dirt particles from entering the air while cleaning. Both filters are washable. Tineco recommends wiping down the pre-filter with a damp cloth once a month and totally replacing it every six months. The HEPA filter lasts for a year and needs to be rinsed with cool water once every three months.

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Cons to consider

The Tineco S10 ZT is a top-heavy vacuum. It's easy to maneuver, and the attachments are lightweight, but the top half with the battery, LED screen, dustbin, and handle weighs almost 4 pounds, and the vacuum itself weighs over 10 pounds when fully assembled.

The 40-minute battery life is average in the world of cordless vacuums. For my 500-square-foot studio apartment, 40 minutes was enough, but I wouldn't recommend the S10 ZT for long-haul vacuuming. Plus, if you use the MAX suction mode, the runtime is only 10 minutes.

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What are your alternatives?

The Tineco GO Flex Stick Vacuum has similar specs to the Z10, but features a FlexTube design that allows you to vacuum further under low furniture without bending down. If you're looking for another cordless option, the Levoit LVAC-200 is at a similar price point to the Tineco S10 ZT. It is particularly lightweight and has three suction modes to handle pet hair, cereal pieces, and dust. It can also stand upright. It does not have automatic suction, and a shorter rated battery life, however.

We also like the Shark Vertex DuoClean Cordless Vacuum. During our testing for the best cordless vacuums, it was the top performer and the only one to pick up whole Cheerios. It has different settings for hardwood and carpet, though it's best for low- to medium-pile rugs. Our favorite feature is that it can bend at a flexible hose elbow, which allows you to get further under low furniture.

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The bottom line

As a $200 cordless vac, I'm satisfied with the Tineco S10 ZT. The suction power can handle the most common messes, from spilled sugar to general dust and debris. It's not as lightweight as I expected and feels unbalanced as a hand vac, but I can accept that con in the face of all the pros.