Lightweight body: The handheld device weighs just 0.6kg, making it the lightest Shark model you can get. It’s perfect for those with mobility problems who might not be able to lift heavy objects. Slimline design: There’s no bulky motor here. Instead, you have a 2ft (61cm) long wand-style vacuum that measures 2.5in (6cm) at its widest point. It's great for getting into those narrow gaps, tight corners and reaching up to clear away cobwebs. Shark has an eject system for the bin: press the button and the bin swings open downwards. It sounds like a good idea, but my sample was a little energetic and the rice I use for testing was pinged outside of the bin. A hand underneath to more gently open the bin is recommended. Inside the bin is the filter housing, which can be popped open so that the filter can be removed for cleaning.

Competition is tough, though. The Hoover H-Handy 700 is cheaper, offers similar levels of power and comfort, and runs for 12 minutes from its single battery. This cleaner has neater storage, although Hoover’s accessories have smaller heads than those of Shark, so it can take a little longer to clean.Double battery: You get two batteries with this design so when one runs out, you can easily switch to the other and continue your clean. Each one has a run time of 8 minutes.

Small handheld vacs are a great way to clean up small messes, but some can struggle to deal with more sizeable debris or larger areas. Not so with the Shark Premium Handheld Vacuum WV270UK, the new version of Shark’s classic handheld. Delivering more power, via two selectable modes, and a decent 15-minute runtime, this is a compact vacuum cleaner with the power to compete with a full-sized model. Design and Features Designed to be convenient and easy to use, the Shark WV251UK is a small and lightweight vacuum cleaner. Measuring 420 x 60 x 55mm, and with a weight of 0.69kg, it’s incredibly light in the hand; it’s well balanced, allowing you to direct it at the mess you need to clean up. Two accessories: The crevice cleaning tool is designed to get into tight spots and has a flip-out brush head for sweeping up any dust bunnies. There’s a separate pet multi-tool with ultra-short bristles that will brush clean upholstery. Is that a problem? Well, not necessarily. The battery life of the WV270UK is more than sufficient for its intended purpose, so I didn’t feel the need for a second battery. It’s a bit of a shame, then, that the charging stand only has room to accommodate one of these accessories. You’ll need to find space to store the other tools. The single-battery variant offers space for two accessories.I started out by testing the vacuum cleaner’s suction performance, using a water-lift gauge and an anemometer for air velocity. Using these two figures, I can approximate the AirWatts (AW) of the vacuum, which came in at 42.36AW. That’s pretty much par for the course for a handheld spot vacuum cleaner, and is around the same level of power you’d see from the mid setting of a regular cordless cleaner. I found this vacuum cleaner quite noisy, peaking at 81.9dB on ION mode and 82.3dB on Boost mode. That’s a bit louder than most regular cordless cleaners, although the high-pitched motor here isn’t particularly annoying. Conclusion The Shark cordless is a simple vacuum cleaner with no variable power modes: it’s either on or off. Above the power button, ever so slightly out of reach of my thumb, is the bin release mechanism. The Shark can’t go long without being emptied but, fortunately, it’s a hassle-free experience. Simply hold the machine horizontally over the bin and release the catch. The bin flips outward and hurls its contents with remarkable force, so be careful where you aim.

It’s a light machine, which means you can keep it aloft for quite some time without feeling the weight: this makes it an ideal candidate for removing dust or cobwebs from bookshelves, curtain rails and ceiling corners (if you can reach that high). You can remove the HEPA filter and bin separately to give both a regular clean, before leaving to dry and reinserting. READ NEXT: Our Dyson V11 Absolute review Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: Price and competition The Shark WV251UK has plenty of features that make it super handy to have around at home. These include: I measured the noise of the Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner (Twin Battery) WV251UK at 82.3dB, which is loud for a vacuum cleaner – but in line with other handheld models. Given that this cleaner will be used for short bursts, the sound levels aren’t too much of a problem. Should you buy the Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner (Twin Battery) WV251UK?When faced with the cramped spaces of my Ford Fiesta, the Shark didn’t bat an eyelid, taking on dried mud and ingrained dust with equal vigour. The soft bristles of the crevice tool proved particularly useful for vacuuming dashboards and cupholders. A bigger vacuum might have done a better job of removing particularly tough bits of gravel but the Shark wins that particular contest by virtue of its size and manoeuvrability. Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum review: Verdict On the standard ION mode, the cleaner came in at 62.78AW, which is around average for a cordless vacuum cleaner in regular power mode. With Boost mode, I measured the vacuum at 124.65AW, which is around the same as the larger Shark IZ251UK. That’s impressive going.

Charging/storage base: The charging base - measuring 8.5in (22cm) long by 4in (10cm) at its widest point - doubles as a compact storage stand for the Shark WV251UK and its accessories so you can find everything in one place. I then used the dusting brush on the rim around the bi-fold doors, which often collect cat hair and – because these are in a kitchen – slightly dirty grease. The WV251UK managed to rid most of the surface dirt, but small traces remained. I’ve seen more powerful vacuum cleaners do better – so for some jobs you’ll need to whip out your full-sized vacuum. The crevice tool can help in really tight spaces but for most jobs the regular head will suffice. This intelligent design is aided by a powerful vacuum motor that has no real use for a “boost” mode; carpet or linoleum, the Shark handheld powered through my cleaning tests without breaking a sweat.

Small, powerful and convenient, the Shark WV251UK is a useful grab-and-go cleaner. Thanks to its selection of attachments, it can clean up most spills with the ease and power of a larger vacuum cleaner.