I've got two dogs and even a horse — but this Miele Duoflex HX1 vacuum left my home hair-free

Miele has a long and strong reputation in the vacuum cleaning world, but the high-end German brand only threw its hat into the cordless ring in 2020. Launched to huge acclaim, the top-end Triflex cordless series (one of which I tested and adored), was worth waiting for. Offering amazing power, suction and build quality, the only thing about the Triflex HX1 that raised eyebrows was its price. So now we have the all-new Duoflex HX1 cordless range, which is pitched as a more affordable (but not cheap) alternative for those seeking a handy ‘grab-and-go’ stick vacuum for day-to-day use. 

Launched in the UK earlier this year and making its US debut in July 2024, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the Miele Duoflex HX1 and, with two hairy hounds in residence, naturally I plumped for the souped-up Total Care model. Add two pony-mad girls to the mix, constantly trailing horsehair and dirt through our family home, and the Duoflex HX1 seriously had its work cut out during my two-week trial. 

Although it doesn’t have quite the same battery life or flexibility as the Triflex HX2 (the Pro model I tested came with an extra battery and charger), the Duoflex HX1 is no second-rate slouch. I was seriously impressed by its cleaning power, as well as a few cool upgrades that made it easier to use and maintain. In fact, the Duoflex HX1 soon became my BFF in the constant battle to keep our crazy house under control. I’d even go so far as to say it’s one of the best vacuum cleaners – certainly in the cordless arena – I’ve ever had the pleasure to test. 

Duoflex HX1 Total Care: $699 @ Miele
I tested the Total Care model from Miele, but you can also buy the regular DuoFlex HX1 for $549 at Miele, with fewer attachments. 

MIELE DUOFLEX HX1: Price and Availability

There are a number of models in the line-up, and the only real difference is the number and type of attachments and available colours. The one I tested is called the Cat & Dog, but the HX1 Total Care is the closest available model in the US. It comes with all the same attachments, as well as an extra couple of nozzles for cleaning corners and cars. 

In the US, you can buy the regular HX1 in Nordic Blue for $549. For an extra $150 you can buy the Duoflex HX1 Total Care, $699, which comes with an additional wall bracket, Electro Compact Brush that's ideal for pets, a flexible suction hose and flexible long crevice nozzle, and a universal brush designed to pick up dust. 

There are a few more models currently available in the UK. The most affordable model is just called HX1 and costs £369, which comes with three basic attachments. You gain a Universal Brush attachment for scratch-free cleaning with the HX1 Extra, £399, and the HX1 CarCare, £419, has a flexible suction hose to extend the reach of the three attachments included, as well as a long, flexible crevice nozzle. Next is the £449 Cat & Dog, which has three basic nozzles plus the (epic) Electro Compact brush and, finally, the top-spec HX1 TotalCare, £499 has it all.

In the US, you can find Miele appliances at Amazon, and in the UK they're sold through the likes of John Lewis and Marks Electrical.

MIELE DUOFLEX HX1: DESIGN

Weighing a mere 6.8lbs, the first thing I noticed about the design of the Duoflex HX1 was its lightness. At the same time, it doesn’t look or feel light in terms of materials quality and build. There’s nothing plasticky or flimsy going on. Unboxing was a dream, too, with no excessive plastic or polystyrene packaging and nothing complicated to assemble. 

Instructions-wise, it comes with a proper guide rather than just a QR code, which is nice for us oldies who still prefer following instructions on paper. There’s also a Quick Start Guide for impatient people (also me) that explains how to connect the hose and floor head and how to screw the mounting bracket into the wall. It comes with a little bit of juice in the battery but recommends a full 3.5-hour charge before first use. 

The model I tested is in a smart Obsidian Black but there are other colour options available on the different models. I rather like the look of the Rose Gold on the HX1 TotalCare. They all have a stylish diamond textured finish on the main vacuum unit, and they all benefit from Miele’s clever new SpeedLock feature. This is a push-down ring at the top and bottom of the long tube that’s designed to make connecting and disconnecting nozzles and attachments quick and easy. It may sound like a small detail, but I’ve broken many fingernails grappling with nozzle clips, and I can assure you SpeedLock is game-changing. Or at least a manicure savior.

I also appreciated that two attachments can be clipped onto the vacuum, so I didn’t have to try and stuff a nozzle or two in my back pocket before heading upstairs. I chose to attach the crevice nozzle and small upholstery head as I guessed they’d be my most frequently used. The Electro Compact brush doesn’t fit on the accessory holder, it’s a bit too big. 

Unlike the Triflex HX2, the battery on the Duoflex HX1 doesn’t slide out so you can’t have a second charged battery on standby to double your vacuuming time. The charging situation has some room for improvement. The wall-mount bracket it comes with is great for hanging the vacuum neatly on the wall, but I’d prefer it if the charger was connected so that it starts charging automatically when you mount it on the wall. Instead, you have to locate the tiny hole at the base of the battery and plug the power adapter in yourself, which is no big deal, just takes a little longer. 

The controls couldn’t be simpler to use, there’s one on/off button that’s starts you on the standard auto-power mode, and another button below to manually boost it into high power. It’s also worth noting that the handle is really well designed and feels comfortable to grip, which you’d assume would be a given but, I’ve found, it rarely is. 

MIELE DUOFLEX HX1: PERFORMANCE

After such a strong start, I wasn’t terribly surprised to discover the Miele Duoflex HX1 performed admirably on all floor types. We have engineered oak, carpet, terracotta, laminate flooring, porcelain and even encaustic tiles in various volumes through our home, and this lightweight vacuum glided over everything, gobbling up dirt, dust and dander with ease. The floorhead is pretty flat and hinges well, which means it easily tucked deep under furniture and cabinet plinths and it also got right into the corners where all those dog fur dust bunnies love to hide.

Like many modern cordless vacuums, the Miele Duoflex HX1 has automatic suction adjustment. This uses sensors to detect the floor type and automatically adjusts the power accordingly, and, unlike many modern cordless vacuums with this tech, the Duoflex HX1 made the changes quickly and only for as long as necessary. I could hear and feel the power ramp up I moved from the kitchen (wood) to living room (carpet) and back down again the second I crossed the threshold to the hallway (terracotta).  

While the auto suction was great because it meant I didn’t need to think about what I was doing, it was also nice to have the option to dial up the power manually (with the boost button) if I hit a particularly messy spillage or just wanted to get the job done quicker. Another great feature that I put to a lot of use was the totally genius SpeedLock connection that meant I could switch from full vacuum to handheld in seconds. With other cordless vacuums I’ve often just lifted the floorhead onto sofas and other upholstery (like our ottomans) rather than bother with the faff of changing attachments. But it is undoubtedly easier to tackle upholstery and the staircase with the handheld, so I really appreciated how effortless it was to switch between the two.  

During the testing fortnight I conducted a couple of controlled tests – one with flour and one with oats (to mimic bigger debris), on both hard flooring and carpet. The results were good on the whole, the Miele sucked everything up on the first pass, with the exception of the oats on carpet, which took a little more time. The brush head seemed to ping them about, and it would have been helpful if I'd had the option to turn the brush off.

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Flour on hard floors

Oats on hard floor

Flour on carpet

First pass of oats on carpet

Second pass of oats on carpet

I was a particular fan of using the Compact Electrobrush in handheld mode. This vacuums overall max base power is 210W but the Compact Electrobrush generates an extra 50W that really makes the difference when trying to get dog hair out of upholstery. Our kitchen couch can be particularly hard to clean as it has a weird boucle-like texture that dog hairs bury into, but the little Electrobrush effortlessly snaffled them up without me having to go over the same area multiple times. The speed the waste container filled up the first time I tackled that sofa was rather alarming but also very satisfying.

Most cordless models tend to carry the motor and waste container at the top, making them top-heavy compared to a cylinder vacuum where you’re only lifting/pushing the handle and tube around. I often notice my arm start to get tired when testing cordless vacuums but the Duoflex HX1 truly makes lightwork of vacuuming. It is very comfortable to maneuver and reaching up high to get cobwebs and the curtain headers (using the dusting brush or crevice nozzle attachment) didn’t make my arms ache at all. I noted the crevice nozzle has a rubbery end, which makes it less scratchy on cornicing and plinths. This level of attention to detail is what makes the Duoflex HX1 feel high-end.

The only fault I can find with this vacuum is that the battery duration could be better. At full charge, and in auto mode, I could manage about 15-20 minutes of vacuuming downstairs, which is mostly hard flooring. Upstairs is mostly carpet, and I barely made it to 10 minutes on a full battery because the power automatically ramped up. This isn't an unusual battery life for a cordless vacuum. We recently reviewed the Ultenic V12 Vesla, which lasted 15 minutes before needing to be re-charged, but it could prove limiting without the ability to switch in a new charger if you're cleaning your entire home. Things are better in handheld mode. Miele says you can get 55 minutes if you only use the handheld (in normal power mode), but who uses a handheld for nearly an hour? Not me. 

Cleaning and maintaining the Duoflex HX1 is incredibly easy, and a vast improvement on the Triflex HX2, which I had awful troubles with when it came to emptying the waste container and cleaning the filter. Clearly there were complaints, and Miele has done an excellent job of solving them. First up the waste container. Yes, it’s small, but it is so easy to empty you won’t mind. It unclips at the bottom and there’s a clever little onboard brush tucked close-by to scoop out any blockages. I often go to the wire on the max fill line, by which I mean I totally ignore it, but if the waste was really chock full, I could pull out the inner filter and release everything.

Then there’s the main filter, which sits in the top of the handheld unit – just pinch in at two points to release. Once out, and held over the trash or sink, twist a dial in the top and it rattles all the dust out of the filter. No washing required, which means no waiting for the filter to dry either. Brilliant.

MIELE DUOFLEX HX1: How it Compares

This vacuum may have been launched as a more affordable Miele cordless option to the Triflex but it’s far from cheap. I think it punches above its weight and could easily hold its own against other prestige-brand players with bigger price tags, like the Dyson V12 Detect. Sure, you’ll get a lot more tech from Dyson, and space-age lights so you can eyeball that dirt before it’s sucked up, but the Miele is a clear match on cleaning and its filter is far easier to keep clean. Everyone knows clean filters are the key to powerful suction.

Another similarly priced cordless worth considering is the Shark Cordless Detect Pro, particularly if the Duoflex’s small container concerns you. Not only does the Shark have a bigger waste container onboard, it also dumps into an extra 2L waste container in the docking station. Clever. Both models offer auto suction adjustment according to flooring type and they are both excellent when it comes to getting right up close to edges and into corners.

Should you buy the Miele Duoflex HX1?

I really enjoyed using the Miele Duoflex HX1 and my sofas have never been so fur-free. It’s light enough to not cause arm ache, but solid enough to feel like it will last a long time. Converting into handheld mode and switching out nozzles is seamless, and, above all, it does a really decent job on all floor types. 

Sadly, the battery doesn’t last long enough for it to be your only vacuum (unless you have a small home of course). But if you have a corded model for that weekly bedrooms blitz, I’m pretty confident the Duoflex HX1 will be the only vacuum you reach for every other day of the week. 

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