Bosch is a household name for higher-end appliances, ranging from dishwashers to refrigerators, but it’s not so well known for cordless vacuums. The brand recently showed me the new Bosch Unlimited 9 and Unlimited 10, its new cordless vacuums, in advance of CES 2026. These new models are packed with features that could make them formidable competition for Dyson and Shark, the two companies that have dominated the industry for years now.
I spent about an hour testing out both models in the Bosch, Thermador and Gaggenau Experience and Design Center in New York. Here are my thoughts on the Unlimited 9 ($499 to $579) and Unlimited 10 ($599 to $699), which should be available starting in January during CES.
I spent some time testing both the Unlimited 9 and 10 and the automatic sensor seemed to work pretty well at detecting the mess.
A premium Dyson competitor?
The feature that immediately caught my eye on the Unlimited 9 and Unlimited 10 was the same one that impressed me when I tried out the Dyson V16 Piston Animal — a dust-compressing dustbin lever that allows you to compact the debris and more easily eject it into the trash. This feature is available on both models, and the implementation is essentially the same as the one I tested on the Dyson Piston Animal.
I was able to suction up a wide range of dirt and debris in the Bosch showroom, off the sample carpet tiles and hardwood floor. I could then quickly and effectively empty everything into the trash with a push of the lever, minus the usual shaking and clouds of dust. You can also compress the dustbin while vacuuming to create more space as it fills up. I recommend doing so, because it improves airflow and pickup efficiency.
Both the Unlimited 10 and 9 have a lever that compresses the dustbin for easy ejection and space saving.
Another notable feature on both models is the automatic suction adjustment, also known as Auto mode. This is a common feature, available on many vacuums today. You’ll find it on the Piston Animal and more affordable cordless vacuums such as the Eureka ReactiSense 440, our best overall pick for cordless vacuums. The idea behind it is simple and time-saving: Rather than having to toggle your suction up and down to clean different surfaces, such as hardwood, tile and carpet, the vacuum manages that chore for you.
I found both of the Unlimited 9 and 10 models to be fairly responsive at recognizing new surfaces, automatically increasing suction when transitioning from hardwood floors to carpet or when detecting a messier area. You can still manually change the models using the controls and display with Eco mode, Auto mode and Turbo mode, which will have the expected impact on battery life.
The one downside I did notice for both models is that they don’t appear to stand up on their own, which is a simple but often overlooked feature I find convenient on cordless vacuums. There’s also no self-emptying charging station, which is another feature I’ve enjoyed on models I’ve tested, such as the Levoit Aero.
The Unlimited 10 comes with a HEPA filter and anti-tangle brushroll.
Microscopic dust-busting
The Unlimited 9 and Unlimited 10 both come with the “Micro Clean Sensor” ring, which is an LED ring around the vacuum display that lights up different colors to tell you how clean your floors are.
Gray or dark indicates a very dirty surface, while white signifies a somewhat clean surface, and blue indicates a surface that’s microscopically clean. Bosch says the vacuum is capable of removing even microscopic dust particles. I’ll be reserving judgment on that until our lab team in Louisville has had a chance to test it.
As a simple quality-of-life feature, it’s a nice touch. Assuming the sensor is accurate, you should be able to tell at a glance if your floors are clean.
The Unlimited 10 has a TFT display and sensor ring that can detect how clean your floors are.
Unlimited 9 vs. Unlimited 10: Battery life and attachments
Bosch is differentiating between the Unlimited 9 and 10 in a few ways. The biggest differences between the two models come down to battery life.
The Unlimited 10 comes with a 4-amp-hour (Ah) battery that Bosch says should last for 80 minutes in handheld mode, 65 minutes in Eco mode, 25 minutes in Auto mode and 11 minutes in Turbo mode.
With the Unlimited 9, you’re looking at a smaller 3Ah battery that should last for 60 minutes in handheld, 50 minutes in Eco, 17 minutes in Auto and 10 minutes in Tubo.
I tend to take these self-reported battery life times with a grain of salt, since they’re measuring with just the nozzle rather than the brushhead. I’ve seen dramatic differences between the battery life a company claims and what I’ve tested in real life, as one of our recent lab reports revealed.
On the plus side, Bosch says there’ll be a Quick Charger to allow for faster charging times of between 50 and 60 minutes, depending on the model. It’ll also offer bundles with an additional battery pack.
Both models come with plenty of accessories, but only the Unlimited 10 has the flex attachment.
Other differences between the models are minor. The Unlimited 10 has a nicer TFT display that provides more functional information, while the Unlimited 9 has a standard LCD. The Unlimited 10 also comes with a flex tube that allows it to bend to get under couches and low furniture, an attachment we’ve seen on many Shark vacuum models. Both models have an anti-tangle brushroll and HEPA filter.
Now, can Bosch give Dyson and Shark a run for its money? The remains to be seen, but at $599, with features that match the V16 Piston Animal, it’s certainly priced right to do it. And the $499 Unlimited 9 is on par with the Shark Stratos. We’ll be testing both models in CNET’s vacuum testing lab when they’re available, so we expect to have more comprehensive test results soon.