The GTech Air Fox Platinum has been launched
Is It Worth The Price?
The Product: The GTech AirFOX Platinum is an upright cordless stick vacuum produced by the British brand GTech.
Price: It costs around £420
Where to Buy: directly from GTech, often with a discount code like the one below
Why buy it: It’s powerful (450Watts) when needed but can also run for a long time (80 mins) when used on eco mode
In this review, I bought the AirFox and tested it out. I have used most of their other vacuums, especially the GTech Pro 2 which I have used in my home for years now. Check out this unboxing and testing video I created, then read the full review below.
GTech AirFox Platinum Discount Code
Before we dive into the details, here is an exclusive discount code for you to use to get a decent discount on the AirFox. Click the image, and then apply the code the checkout.
Lets’ Get to The Full Review
What I’ll Cover…
- GTech AirFOX key features and what it’s all about
- 4 x main highlights
- What users think to it
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Is it right for you
- The bottom line and where to buy
KEY FEATURES AT A GLANCE
- Powerful 450 Watt motor
- Up to 80 min run time (in eco mode)
- 3 power modes to choose from
- GTech’s (arguably) best looking vacuum cleaner
Enhanced Battery
In other models, such as the GTech Pro 2, the battery was a 22 Volt one. With the AirFOX, it’s now got a 37 Volt one. So you’re getting a significant amount more power delivery. One downside is that it takes longer to charge, but the difference is only from 4 to 5 hours. Most people aren’t going to notice the extra hour required so it’s not really an issue as I see it.
The power output now is around 450 Watts which is pretty powerful. But do you need more power?
The truth is, power doesn’t equate to pick-up…Meaning, just because you have more power output, it doesn’t mean the vacuum will suck up more dust from your floors. It depends on a lot of other factors, too. Obviously power is one, but so is efficiency of the machine, how it’s been designed, etc.
Back in 2017 there was a ban on vacuum cleaners being over 900 Watts.
From personal use, it certainly feels more powerful when using it compared to the GTech Pro 2 which I use almost daily. You can clearly see the amount of dust and debris that it picks up from carpets inside of the bagless cylinder. Granted, it’s not possible to see inside the bag of the GTech Pro 2 but when I empty it out there doesn’t appear to be the same level of dust from relatively clean carpets.
3 Power Modes = 80 Min Run Time
The AirFOX has three modes
- Eco
- Auto
- Max
Eco – As is implied by the name, should be the most economical in terms of power usage so will last the longest. If you have mainly hard floors and nothing too major to pick-up then this mode should be sufficient for most of your needs
Auto – This mode will automatically adjust the suction power based on what the machine thinks it needs. If you are going on carpet, the suction and power will increase. On hard floors, it will be lower. This is the middle ground setting for using as much as is needed. You’ll get less runtime, but the power will boost when required for those harder parts to clean.
Max – If you have some stubborn hair or dust squashed into your carpet or chair, this mode can help you. It’s also good when you have dust and debris sitting awkwardly down behind a radiator pipe or in a crack which won’t come out on the lower power setting modes. As you’d expect, the battery will not last anywhere near as long in this mode. They say around 15 minutes from a full charge.
Bags, Accessories & Looks…
This particular model is a bagless machine, so no need to worry about bag replacements. It’s easy to empty the cylinder out, but also clean the filters. Check out the video below on exactly how to do that.
In terms of accessories, you get a whole host of them with this machine. Apart from the kind of obvious and ubiquitous crevice tool and upholstery head, there are two key ones I’d like to mention.
1 – Powered Brush Head
This is a really handy extra head that is perfect for cleaning the stairs and your car seats. It has a powered brush bar, just like the main head unit but it’s smaller so easy to use on smaller items and in smaller spaces.
You can attach it straight onto the main unit itself, too, so it’s nice and easy to use. Check out the main video at the top of the page so you can see how to attach it and how it compares in size to the main head unit.
2 – Flexible Hose
Sometimes you find you need to get into harder to each places with the crevice tool, like down the sides of sofas or your car seats. That’s where the flexible hose comes in. What makes it nice is that the hose is super lightweight so you’re not having to try and hold 3kg above your head. You can easily place the vacuum down and then extend the hose into the place you need to get to.
How to Empty and Clean the GTech AirFOX Platinum
Here are the highlights…
Quality
- Strong, sleek unit
- A host of accessories
Usability
- Feels good and easy to use
- Detachable battery for effortless charging
Trustworthiness
- Reputable brand
- Many years experience building vacuums
Performance
- Powerful 450 Watt motor
- Up to 80 mins runtime
What are People Saying…?
Overall, people are very pleased with the AirFOX so far, achieving a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on GTech.co.uk.
Features people love are how quiet it is and that it’s very easy very portable. The build quality is also noted by some users, especially those who were previous GTech AirRam purchasers.
What’s the Downside…?
One downside noted is how it’s not the best to balance it when not in use. The battery, waste cylinder and main unit are sitting right at the top so leaning it against the wall it very easily can slide down. I mention this in my video. To be honest, it’s the same story with some of the other machines such as the GTech Pro 2 which I also have. I’ve lost count the number of times that the machine has slipped down after standing it up against something.
Now, I don’t lean it against the wall. I put it down on the floor, sofa, bed or lean it right over against a chair so it can’t fall down.
Advantages
- Longer run time
- 3 power modes
- More power when needed
Disadvantages
- Expensive
Is it Suitable for You..?
If you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner which works well on both hard floors and carpets, this is a good choice. It looks good, it’s compact and portable. You don’t need to plug it in anywhere, and you can adjust the power so it runs for a long time or goes all out for maximum cleaning effectiveness with a shorter run time.
If you have a massive house, you might run out of charge before you’ve finished vacuuming but for most of us it’s more than adequate to finish the whole house or apartment. The key thing to remember is to get it charged between uses. You have the handy digital display which shows you how much charge you have left so it’s easy to know when you need to plug it in.
Alternatives Options
GTech have a full range of options available, such as the GTech Pro 2 or the GTech Pro 2 K9 (specifically designed for those with pets).
Why Listen to Me?
I’ve been reviewing all kinds of home and garden equipment for a number of years now. Having bought and used pretty much every GTech vacuum, and using them at home and work almost every day, I would say that I have become an expert at knowing how well they work, their good and bad points.
Verdict
- Noise
- Power
- Economy
- Weight
- Value
- Features