Stick vacuum cleaners have gained their reputation and today we can find devices sold at very competitive prices. The Tineco A30S is one of them since this stick model was launched at €200.
However, despite this low price, it is equipped with multicyclonic filtration, generally intended for much more expensive products, and a particle counter (iLoop technology). Obviously, the latter is far from being as advanced as the one that equips the Dyson Gen5 Detect, but at least it has the merit of existing.
The rest of the characteristics are a little more reasonable and the manufacturer announces an autonomy of 60 minutes at minimum power and without an electrobrush connected. The waste tray reaches a comfortable volume of 1 l and the anti-tangle brush, branded ZeroTangle, should free the user from the chore of cleaning the roller. What is there to regret about the acquisition of your very recent Dyson purchased at a high price? This is what we are going to see.
Convenience of use
Despite its price, the Tineco A30S stick vacuum cleaner makes a very good impression out of the box. The materials used appear solid and the construction does not suffer from any defects such as rough plastic cutouts or imprecise unmolding marks. The different parts fit together well and the mechanical elements play without flinching. We manipulate the latches without them resisting too much or not enough.
Mathieu handles the Tineco A30S brilliantly.
© Les Numériques
What is also striking is the weight of the Tineco A30S. It weighs only 1.87 kg in handheld vacuum mode, but reaches 3.07 kg when the tube and suction head are attached. Therefore, it ranks among the heaviest models in our comparison and weighs at the end of the arm as long as the cleaning session continues.
Fortunately, the head joints are quite flexible and the A30S moves on all surfaces, without uncontrolled skidding, even during the most abrupt turns. Still regarding maneuverability, the special handle of the A30S allows it to be passed under furniture more easily than with a classic handle, by taking it from above. This doesn't allow you to go as far as the articulated tube system of the Rowenta X-Force Flex, but we appreciate the effort. This handle is in any case the ideal ally of the LED strip on the front of the suction head, which illuminates dark floors and the underside of furniture to effortlessly spot the slightest dust particles.
The lights on the facade.
© Les Numériques
Tineco abandons the trigger that is very often found on stick vacuum cleaners for a general switch. In factthe A30S only works with continuous suction: a perfect method for wrist comfort, but which reduces the autonomy of the machine since you do not necessarily turn it off to move a piece of furniture or an ornament. The other button allows you to modify the suction power: Eco, Auto, Max. In Auto mode, the vacuum cleaner adapts the suction power according to the dust collected using iLoop particle counter technology. In short, we master everything in no time. Between these two keys, a tiny light bar, always associated with iLoop technology, indicates to the user whether the floor is well dusted. Red is still dirty; blue, it's clear.
The color of the diodes varies depending on how dirty the floor is.
© Les Numériques
Still, we would have appreciated a little more information. Without going as far as the number of particles sucked up, classified according to their size from the Dyson Gen5 Detect, a slightly larger cleanliness indicator would have been more practical. In addition, the chosen power level is not displayed and it is not always easy to know exactly which mode the A30S is set to.
Finally, and this is perhaps the least forgivable, no indicator informs the user about the remaining autonomy, not even the least evolved of the diode trios. So we vacuum a little blindly, crossing our fingers so that the vacuum cleaner doesn't run out of steam in the middle of dusting a room.
Like the vast majority of stick vacuum cleaners, the Tineco A30S requires a wall base to be stored and charged, a base which will require a little DIY since it must be fixed to the wall using screws and dowels . Fortunately, the less gifted among us with a drill in hand will be delighted to learn that it is entirely possible to do without this operation, the Tineco A30S battery can be connected directly to a charger. In addition, this accumulator is removable and can be completely separated from the main body of the vacuum cleaner during the process.
Equipped with the nozzle, the Tineco A30S measures more than 75 cm long.
© Les Numériques
In addition to the vacuum cleaner itself, the charger and the wall base, the A30S box contains a long nozzle with a retractable brush and… that's it! We forget the electric minibrush so practical for cleaning sofas or seats, as well as the soft brush for upholstery textiles. Yes, it's a bit naughty.
Aspiration
The suction performance of the Tineco A30S surprised us a lot, not only because they are very similar in auto mode and in max mode due to the adaptation of the power depending on the dirt on the floor, but also (and above all) because they are very good.
On long-pile carpet (the most difficult surface to clean), the A30S manages to collect 89% of waste in 30 seconds in Max mode and 87% in Auto mode. In 2 minutes of effort in Max mode, our carpet is immaculate and only 1% of the spilled rice remains if we use Auto mode.
Fine carpet is undoubtedly the A30S's preferred surface since 97% of waste is collected in 30 seconds, in Auto or Max mode. Of course, the floor is immaculate in 60 seconds regardless of the mode engaged. We also notice that the brush does not reject waste backwards, as often happens.
Finally, on hard ground, and despite grains of rice which sometimes get stuck in the small wheels of the suction head, we collect 98% of waste in Auto mode and 99% in Max mode, with an efficiency rate from 100% for both powers in 1 min.
Interview
Maintaining the Tineco A30S couldn't be much simpler. First of all, emptying the waste bin only requires the press of a button: the hinged bottom then pivots and lets the rubbish fall into the bin. Not all stick vacuum cleaners with a horizontally placed collector are as well designed and require removing this element from the main body to empty it.
The Tineco A30S filtration system exposed.
© Les Numériques
This collector contains the multicyclonic filtration system and the foam filter, positioned just behind. The HEPA filter, responsible for retaining the finest particles, is located just in front of the engine, on the main body. We remove each element for a thorough cleaning without difficulty. However, multicyclonic filtration is very effective. After swallowing 20 g of chocolate powder with a vacuum cleaner, we found only 0.008 g in the foam filter, using a precision balance. The HEPA filter was completely immaculate: the pores will not become clogged so easily and the A30S will maintain its suction power without too much maintenance.
We can clearly see the ZeroTangle comb.
© Les Numériques
Finally, the vacuum head brush can be removed without tools to remove any hair or long hair that may have gotten stuck there. But once again, Tineco has provided an effective system to avoid this: a short comb along the entire length of the roller to retain debris likely to get tangled.
Points forts
-
Good suction capabilities.
-
Easy to maintain.
-
Well-designed handle for vacuuming under furniture.
Weak points
-
Insufficient autonomy.
-
A little heavy in floor suction mode.
-
Few accessories.
Conclusion
How does the rating work?
Competition is tough in the stick vacuum cleaner market and the slightest misstep is unforgiving. Obviously, the very limited autonomy of the Tineco A30S really does not speak in its favor, especially in the total absence of an autonomy indicator, however limited it may be. Too bad, because this very affordable, but somewhat under-equipped model offers remarkable efficiency and is very easy to maintain.
