Articles by Ruth Hamilton, Homes Editor

Ruth is TechRadar's Homes Editor specializing in air (vacuum cleaners, robovacs, fans and air purifiers), and hair (hair dryers, straighteners and stylers). She has been in consumer journalism since 2020, reviewing and writing about everything from outdoor kit to mattresses and wellness gadgets, with stints on Tom's Guide and T3 before joining TechRadar. Before that, she worked on various design titles, in print and online.

Articles by: Ruth Hamilton

Person holding Dyson V16 and Gen5detect vacuums

Dyson V16 Piston Animal vs Gen5detect: which of Dyson's most expensive vacuums is better?

By Ruth Hamilton published 18 September 25

Here's how the Dyson V16 Piston Animal and Gen5detect compare for cleaning power, ease of use and value for money.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal cordless stick vacuum

Dyson is about to unveil auto-empty docks for its stick vacs – here's why it could be a game changer

By Ruth Hamilton published 17 September 25

Dyson is hopping on the auto-empty bandwagon, and I'm not mad about it.

Dyson V15 Detect vs Gen5detect vacuum cleaners

Dyson V15 Detect vs Gen5detect: which is the better vacuum?

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 17 September 25

I tested two of Dyson's most capable, expensive cordless vacuums side by side – here's what I learned.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal cordless stick vacuum being used on a rug in a living room

Dyson V16 Piston Animal review: a powerful vacuum let down by a poorly designed floorhead

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 17 September 25

The V16 Piston Animal boasts tons of useful features, but the new floorhead isn't one of them.

Close up of screen on Dyson V16 Piston Animal cordless stick vacuum, showing that it's in Auto mode

Dyson's new flagship vacuum knows exactly what kind of floor it's on and adapts to save you battery – here's how it works

By Ruth Hamilton published 16 September 25

The V16 Piston Animal delivers more thorough cleaning without wasting any battery.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal, Gen5detect and V15 Detect on a sofa

I tested the cleaning powers of Dyson's new flagship vacuum against two older models, and I couldn't believe the results

By Ruth Hamilton published 16 September 25

The V16 Piston Animal has the more impressive suction specs, but the test results tell a different story.

"If you change the format, you change a huge amount": Dyson engineer on why the revamped V8 vacuum has an old-school design

By Ruth Hamilton published 16 September 25

I chatted to an engineer about how they chose what got updated, and what didn't, for the new V8 Cyclone.

This robovac uses agentic AI to make its own cleaning decisions, and I'm not sure whether to be excited or terrified

By Ruth Hamilton published 15 September 25

The new Ecovacs Deebot robot vacuum knows when you've made poor setting decisions, and can correct your mistakes.

Eufy's new robot vacuum will make your home smell like a spa, and it's the cleaning appliance-fragrance plugin crossover I've been waiting for

By Ruth Hamilton published 15 September 25

The Omni S2 sucks up your dust and leaves a fresh scent in its wake.

Dyson's new smart fan heater looks so cosy, I'm almost excited for the cold weather to arrive

By Ruth Hamilton published 13 September 25

Summer is over, but I have my eye on the new Dyson smart heater to warm my cockles when temperatures start to drop.

Close up of screen on Submarine version of Dyson V16 Pistol vacuum

There's a new Dyson vacuum-mop combo – and I can't believe this big problem hasn't been fixed

By Ruth Hamilton published 12 September 25

The V16 Piston Animal Submarine could be great, but I'm worried it's going to fail in the same way as its predecessor.

Tineco Floor One S9 Scientist wet-and-dry vacuum

Tineco’s new wet-dry vac has a built-in squeegee so your floors won’t end up slippery

By Ruth Hamilton published 11 September 25

Wave goodbye to too-wet floors.

Confused by Dyson's vacuum names? Me too – so I asked a Dyson engineer to explain

By Ruth Hamilton published 11 September 25

"Relevant towards the technology but sometimes not the most coherent."

This robovac has an ingenious feature that makes it perfect for big homes

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 11 September 25

The Ecovacs Deebot X11 speed-charges its battery while it's cleaning its mop pads, so it never runs out of juice.

I've tested dozens of vacuums – these are the best cheap vacuums I'd recommend

By Ruth Hamilton last updated 11 September 25

No one wants to spend a fortune on a vacuum – these are the best budget buys we've tested.

LUBA mini AWD LiDAR robot mower on a demo lawn

This new robot mower switches between LiDAR, RTK and cameras to make sure it never gets lost

By Ruth Hamilton published 10 September 25

Mammotion's latest lawnbot can handle shade, poor satellite signal, and yards filled with obstructions.

Best of IFA 2025 awards – our 15 favorite tech reveals at the show, from next-gen TVs to stair-climbing robo-vacs

By Matt Bolton published 5 September 25

From hybrid gaming laptops to AI home robots to elite turntables, IFA in Berlin saw tech innovations of all kinds.

Dreame Cyber10 Ultra robot vacuum with mechanical arm

I just watched a robot vacuum pick up a brush and sweep in a corner, and this might be the future of cleaning

By Ruth Hamilton published 5 September 25

Right now, Dreame's bot cleans with all the enthusiasm of a sleep-deprived teen, but the idea has tons of potential.

I've seen two game-changing stair-climbing robot vacs in action – there's one clear winner in the race to the top

By Ruth Hamilton published 5 September 25

The Eufy MarsWalker and Dreame Cyber X both have modules that enable them to move between floors.