Miele's Tryflex HX1 Pro Stick Vacuum on the Test - 20 Minutes

  • While sales of battery-operated stick vacuums explode in France, Miele inaugurates its first model with its Triflex HX1 Pro.
  • Available from 499 euros to 699 euros, this vacuum cleaner plays originality with a modularity which, although practical, can be restrictive.
  • Its ease of maintenance and the quality of its suction remain real assets, however.

A stone's throw from the start of the school year, it's time for a big cleaning! To brighten up its interior which is sometimes a little neglected this summer, broom vacuum cleaners are on the rise. Faced with the recent Dyson V11 Absolute Extra, a true master stallion in this area (sold for 649 euros), the competition is active. Miele is responding with its Triflex HX1, its very first stick vacuum cleaner. Available in three models sold from 499 euros to 699 euros, the device is a very serious rival that "20 Minutes" was able to test.

The Miele Triflex HX1 plays the card of modularity. - HONEY

Strength but heavy weight

Let's say it: for an aspi, it has the mouth. Miele (a family business that has been in existence since 1899) has put its designers down. Result: under its different black plastics alternating textures and finishes (smooth, grainy, honeycomb ...), its Triflex HX1 has the appearance of a high-end device. At the time of the famous unboxing (unpacking), we find ourselves facing a kind of Lego that we have to assemble.

Everything clicks and unclips and the different elements (mounting brackets, hose, brushes, nozzles - that's what we call some end pieces! -) give a real feeling of solidity. First observation nevertheless: with 3.66 kg, the device that will have to be handled with one hand weighs its weight. By way of comparison, the Dyson V11 Absolute Extra that we already found quite heavy “weighs” only 3 kg.

A modular vacuum cleaner

Originality: Miele proposes to use the vacuum cleaner by modifying the assembly. In "Comfort" mode, the engine block and the battery are located at the bottom. Thus constituted, the Triflex HX1 offers to the test a feeling of greater lightness and is handled with great ease.

The Tryflex HX1 assembled in Comfort mode. - CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

Another advantage: the vacuum cleaner can thus be placed in the “parking” position, while standing alone. In use, this is a real advantage, both for storing it and when you have to take a break when cleaning. But problem: impossible to slide it under our sofa or TV cabinet when the HX1 is thus constituted ...

After a little disassembly / reassembly, the second option is to install the motor and battery at the top of the pipe, just under the handle. More tiring to use (all the weight is in the hand), the device becomes more adventurous and flexible in its use.

The Tryflex HX1 in Stick mode, easier to handle in difficult areas. - CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

We instantly see that it is also much easier to move forward in places less convenient to access. Its center of gravity offset towards the hand also makes it more agile. And thus configured, the device becomes a veritable armed wing to wage war against cobwebs on the ceiling, for example. But the “parking” position is over, the Triflex HX1 can no longer stand up on its own.

The Triflex HX1 in its hand-held vacuum configuration. - HONEY

Finally, the vacuum cleaner can be used as a simple hand vacuum cleaner. Relieved of its main pipe, we can graft its small accessories for cat and dog hair (on the so-called “Cat & Dog” model), or for vacuuming in more difficult to access places, or even on fabrics.

Dyson brush gets more excited

For its part, the main brush of the Triflex HX1 can attack hard floors or carpets. Not really at ease on thick pile carpets, it is nevertheless satisfactory in most cases. Incorporating LED lighting on the two most expensive models of the Triflex HX1 like the one we tested, it quickly draws the user's attention to the pills that are hiding here and there, and small dirt that he wouldn't necessarily discern at a glance.

The rotating brush adapts its speed to the nature of the soil. - CHRISTOPHE SEFRIN / 20 MINUTES

Another positive point: the brush modulates its intensity of rotation on its own depending on the nature of the soil. The thicker they are, the more needy it is. The system is quite effective, however much less than that of the "High Torque" brush of Dyson V11 which, for its part, gets excited like crazy as soon as a ground opposes it any resistance.

Cleanliness at a high price

Observation after several major cleanings: the dust dies. The announced autonomy (60 minutes) remains less than that observed (approximately 45 minutes). In this area, the Dyson V11 Absolute Extra has an undeniable advantage with its screen which continuously indicates the remaining battery life of the device.

On the principle of cyclonic filtration (smaller particles and dust are separated in two different collectors), the Triflex HX1 is a dedicated maintenance partner. What is more, it is very easy to clean, its collector can be extracted in a jiffy to be emptied into a trash can. Among the three models offered by Miele (HX1 sold for 499 euros; HX1 "Cats & Dog" sold for 649 euros and HX1 Pro with two batteries sold for 699 euros), the most affordable will give satisfaction. But beware: it does not have a HEPA filter (top filtration which retains 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles). For their part, the two top-of-the-range models seem very expensive in the face of more affordable competition. Finally, we are ultimately skeptical about the modular aspect of the vacuum cleaner which, in use, still requires somewhat restrictive handling.

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