GTech Pro 2 review: vacuum with bag and battery pack
23.2.2023
Translation: Julia Graham
The GTech Pro 2 is an exotic beast amongst battery vacuum cleaners, as it collects dirt in a dust bag. In environmental terms, it’s absolute baloney, but it’s more hygienic than bagless vacuums.
There are devices that leave me baffled for a moment. The GTech Pro 2 is one such example. While Dyson inspired dozens of manufacturers to emulate their bagless vacuum cleaner concept, GTech has seemingly taken a step backwards with its use of bags. This makes vacuuming more hygienic, something that will appeal to people with allergies. But it does raise some questions about the environmental side of things.
What’s in the box and features
The only things GTech includes are a floor head, an extension pole and the vacuum unit itself. Accessories for cleaning your car or upholstery are sold separately. I’m glad, as I don’t need them anyway. Depending on which you decide to buy, you have to factor in the additional components. My special edition, which goes by «K9», also comes with a charging cable, a replacement bag, scented cartridges and a knife to remove any pet hair that gets wrapped around the device. This vacuum cleaner is made with furry friend environments in mind. More on that later.
Source: Simon Balissat
You plug the charging cable straight into the battery, and it’s easy to remove. Replacement batteries let you extend the GTech Pro 2’s runtime for as long as you like. What’s more, you don’t need to plug in the whole vacuum cleaner in order to charge it up, which saves on space.
The floor head with brush is suitable for all surfaces, and it lights up the ground. You remove the brush via a handle, and the included knife means entangled hairs come away in a jiffy. Not only that, attaching the replacement bag is done in a matter of motions. You just pull it over the pipe and then get straight to work. Other bagged vacuum cleaners feature more laborious attachment methods.
Plastic bag
To ensure the vacuum is absolutely leakproof and all the particles can filter out, the bags are three-layer and comprised of artificial fibres. You shut it with a plastic fastener, which is attached to each bag and therefore ends up in the bin along with it. That’s a bit old-fashioned now and means deductions have to be made for its environmental footprint. Other manufacturers have been using recycled paper and cardboard for a while now. But at least the bags are 1.5 l, meaning they provide sufficient capacity to easily last me for three months.
Source: Simon Balissat
The Pro 2 is a breeze to vacuum with, despite its 2.8 kg weight. In terms of design, the handle sits comfortably in your hand, and you have the ability to twist it about in order to reach under furniture. However, the light at the front of the vacuum is more of a gimmick and of little to no help. If you’ve ever used the Dyson V15 Detect, you know what potential this light has.
The version I put to the test was designed specifically with pet households in mind. That’s what the K9 accessory indicates. A scented stick for killing any odours is installed in the vacuum itself. Fortunately, it doesn’t smell too strong. After all, I don’t want my flat smelling of Magic Tree air freshener once I’ve finished vacuuming.
Huge suction power when the bag is empty
The vacuum cleaner passed the test for what I need in my flat. It easily handles standard amounts of household dust as well as coarser dirt. To back up this claim, I used my test protocol from the stick vacuum comparison.
The Pro 2 fared extremely well on carpets as well as hard floors. Admittedly, I carried out my tests using an empty vacuum bag. The fuller the latter is, the less suction power the device harnesses.
Suction power on carpet
Suction power on hard floors
This considerable result would’ve earned GTech a leading position in bagless vacuum cleaners. But its environmental credentials – or lack thereof – have to be taken into account.
Verdict – good vacuum with a poor environmental footprint
The GTech Pro 2 impresses with its suction power. For people with allergies in particular, this battery-powered, bagged vacuum cleaner is a good buy. But once you get to the bag, that’s where you encounter problems. The fact it’s made of plastic and comes with a plastic fastener is borderline when it comes to eco-friendly credentials. Neither does it help that GTech doesn’t include additional nozzles in the basic version that can sit in the cupboard gathering dust. Having said that, this does make the vacuum cleaner appealing from a price point of view. If you also buy the set with extra nozzles for the car, you’ll have ended up forking out the same as for a higher-end vacuum.
Simon Balissat
Teamleader Editorial
Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.
Home + Kitchen
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