LG CordZero All-in-One review: The most versatile cordless vacuum I've ever tested

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Many cordless vacuum cleaners are only meant to be used as supplementary cleaning tools for quick tidying around the house, as they have limited runtime and modest suction power. However, if you want the convenience of a cordless vacuum with suction that rivals the best vacuum cleaners, the LG CordZero All-in-One Auto-Empty Cordless Vacuum is a worthwhile splurge.

I tested this vacuum for more than two months in my multi-pet home, and it quickly became one of my all-time favorite cordless vacuums. Not only does it have top-tier cleaning abilities, but it's also incredibly well-designed, with a self-emptying base, storage for all its attachments, and a surprisingly effective powered mopping module. It might be more pricey than other cordless vacuums, but I think it's worth every penny if you're looking for a versatile and powerful cleaning tool. Here's everything I love about it.

Setup and Design

The LG CordZero All-in-One arrives in a fairly large box, as its base doesn't break down like other vacuums. I had to consult the vacuum's manual while setting it up, as there were quite a few pieces included, and I wasn't sure where everything was supposed to go. However, once everything was assembled, I quickly came to appreciate this cordless vacuum's design, which has many useful features.

Weighing about seven pounds, it's not the lightest model I've ever used, but this cordless vacuum is one of the most well-balanced. It doesn't feel top-heavy at all, and I love that you can adjust the height of the stick to a comfortable length so you're not hunched over while cleaning. (Just keep in mind that you'll have to shrink it back down before putting it on the dock.) The power buttons are located on the back of the vacuum's handle, and there are + and – buttons to increase or decrease the suction power between the three available settings. The vacuum also comes with a variety of attachments, including a crevice tool, a combination tool, a powered pet tool for upholstery, and a powered mopping attachment.

The vacuum is also wifi-equipped to connect to LG's ThinQ app. It doesn't add much functionality, in my opinion. It essentially shows you usage data and the battery percentage, and it's not necessary to use it to operate the vacuum.

This vacuum comes with a freestanding base, and in my opinion, it's one of the biggest selling points of the product. The base has a sleek design, but it's actually packed full of useful features. If you lift the top lid, there's a compartment that stores and charges the vacuum's backup battery, and there are hidden doors on both sides of the base that house storage compartments for all the vacuum's attachments. There's even a hook on the side of the base where you can hang the mopping module for easy access. I absolutely love that the brand makes it easy to keep all the attachments together—a nice change from brands like Dyson, where you're often forced to find storage for the vacuum's different tools.

Our review of the LG CordZero All-in-One Auto Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum

I tested the LG CordZero All-in-One Vacuum at my home for more than two months, and it had its work cut out for it. Not only do I share my 2,000-square-foot home with two long-haired dogs and a rambunctious cat, but we live on a farm, meaning dirt, grass, and other debris are always tracked into the house. Only the most powerful vacuums can keep up with my cleaning needs, and cordless models often fall short of my expectations.

However, that wasn't the case with the LG CordZero. This vacuum impressed me with its overall design and cleaning performance, and it has several convenient features that I think make it worth the higher price point.

Cleaning Performance

I've personally tested more than a dozen different cordless vacuums, and the LG CordZero All-in-One is one of the best in terms of cleaning performance. It stands out from the rest thanks to its powerful suction, which maxes out at 265 air watts, and its well-designed floorhead. The main attachment, called the Dual Floor Max Nozzle, has two brushrolls — one with stiff bristles to dig into carpeting and a second fuzzy brushroll that captures fine particles and prevents debris from being shot across the floor.

The dual-brushroll design works amazingly on both carpeting and hard floors, and in testing, it was almost always able to pick up 100% of debris in just one or two passes, including everything from small particles like coffee grounds to larger pieces of cereal and clumps of dog hair. Plus, the brushroll doesn't get tangled with long strands of hair — useful if you have several pets like me.

Because I have so many pets, I particularly liked this vacuum's motorized pet attachment, which I used regularly to clean hair off my sofas. Its motorized brushroll picks up pet hair (and human hair) quickly, and the vacuum is lightweight and manageable when used as a handheld tool. The crevice and combination tools were also useful, but the pet tool definitely got the most mileage in my household.

But that's not all! This particular LG model comes with a powered mopping attachment that essentially turns the vacuum into a spray mop. The mop has a small reservoir that you fill up with water and cleaning solution, and when attached to the vacuum, its two circular mop pads rotate to scrub your floors. Plus, when you press the + button, the mop head sprays solution onto the floor for more powerful cleaning action.

I used the mopping attachment on a few occasions. First, I used it to clean up some cat vomit on my hardwood floors, then again to remove dirt left behind when a houseplant tipped over. While the mopping module does take a bit of effort to control — it tends to move across the floor on its own if not held steady — it was surprisingly effective for both tasks. It cleaned up both messes in just a few seconds, and it took less effort than using a regular spray mop.

Battery Life

LG claims that the All-in-One offers "up to 200 minutes of fade-free power," but there's fine print you have to consider. This runtime estimation is on the lowest power setting without the Dual Floor Max Nozzle attached. As soon as you increase the suction or attach the motorized floorhead, the battery life drops quite a bit.

When we tested out the vacuum's battery life on the medium suction setting using the floorhead, it ran for around 15 minutes per battery. The vacuum comes with two interchangeable batteries, giving you around 30 minutes of total cleaning time — pretty average for stick vacuums, but also a far cry from the 200 minutes the brand advertises.

Dust bin

This vacuum's onboard dust bin can hold up to 13.5 ounces of debris, and it has a handy "Kompressor" lever that lets you pack down the contents to make more room, allowing you to clean for longer. This is particularly useful when vacuuming pet hair, which tends to take up a lot of space in the dust bin.

While you can empty this vacuum's dustbin manually — there's a little button that hinges open the container — I typically use its self-emptying base instead. All you have to do is place the vacuum back on its dock, and after playing a little chime sound, it will suck all the debris out of the vacuum and into the base. The base contains a disposable vacuum bag that holds 33.8 ounces of debris, and when it fills up, there's an indicator light on top of the dock that lets you know a new bag is needed. The vacuum comes with four bags, and a three-pack of additional replacement bags costs $19.99.

In addition to being convenient, I found that this self-emptying system is great for keeping dirt and dust out of my home. When emptying other cordless vacuums into the trash can, debris often puffs up, allowing the particles to float back out into the room. With this system, all the dust and allergens are sucked right into the base and trapped in the vacuum bag, so the particles never have a chance to escape.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Because of its self-emptying design, which does a great job pulling the vast majority of dirt out of the dust bin, this cordless vacuum doesn't require nearly as much cleaning as other models. Even after several weeks of use, its dust bin was mostly dust-free. The mopping pads are really the only component that needs regular cleaning, and while hand-washing is recommended, I put them through the washing machine on a delicate cycle, and they came out as good as new.

The brand recommends a few maintenance steps to keep the vacuum working properly, specifically washing the vacuum's pre-filter and exhaust filters once a month. The brand also provides detailed instructions for cleaning each of the vacuum's attachments in case they ever get clogged or overly dirty.

Cons to consider

After several weeks of testing, the biggest downside of this cordless vacuum is definitely its battery life. I often went through both batteries while cleaning my home, and comparatively, other vacuums at this price point deliver longer runtimes. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend this model to anyone with a larger home.

The All-in-One also has a surprisingly short warranty period considering its price point. LG only offers a one-year warranty on the vacuum, though you can upgrade to a two- or three-year protection program if you purchase it directly from LG. However, these extended warranties cost $60.99 or $72.99, respectively. Considering the vacuum is pricey to begin with, I think a longer warranty should be included.

What are your alternatives?

The LG CordZero All-in-One (A949KTMS) is the brand's top-of-the-line model, boasting the highest suction power and most features of all its cordless vacuums. If you don't want the mopping module but still want the auto-emptying base, you can opt for the next model down, the A937KGMS. However, keep in mind that it has less suction power and typically costs just as much as the higher-end option.

If you like the idea of a cordless vacuum that can also mop, another option is the Dyson V15s Submarine. It comes with all the brand's usual attachments, such as the Fluffy Optic cleaner head with laser dirt detection, as well as the new Submarine Wet Roller Head. This new attachment has a roller that uses water to mop your floors, picking up spills and removing stains, but the wet brushroll must be hand-washed after use. Plus, the vacuum also has a longer battery life and a countdown timer that lets you know just how much runtime is left. However, it's similarly priced to the LG. Read more about it in our Dyson V15s Submarine review.

Or, for something much simpler, the Shark Stratos is our top-recommended cordless vacuum. It doesn't have a fancy dock or mopping attachment, but it offers powerful cleaning abilities at a lower price point. Read more about it in our Shark Stratos cordless vacuum review.

The bottom line

If you live in a small or medium-sized home, the LG CordZero All-in-One could definitely serve as your primary cleaning tool. Its suction power and unique brushroll make quick work of debris on carpets, hard flooring, and furniture, and the mopping attachment is great for scrubbing off stains or dirt. Plus, the vacuum is ergonomic and well-balanced, and the self-emptying base is especially convenient, making it lower maintenance than other cordless models and offering storage for all its attachments.

My only major complaint about this cordless vacuum is its battery life, which generally tops out at around 15 to 20 minutes per battery, depending on what attachment and suction setting you're using. If you have a larger home, you might not be able to clean everywhere before you need to stop and recharge.