The BISSELL Adapt Ion is a uniquely designed hybrid upright/handheld vacuum. You can use its center motor as a lightweight handheld vacuum for difficult-to-reach places or, when attached to its upright vacuum body, you can use it to clean up floors and furniture around the house. It also has a cordless design, which gives it an unlimited range, and because it's lightweight, it's highly maneuverable. Going for the pricier XRT model nets you a higher-capacity battery and adjustable suction control, though the overall design of the two vacuums is otherwise very similar.
Our Verdict
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is mediocre for bare floors. While it's able to pick up pet hair without an issue, it struggles a bit to capture small debris. It also has significant difficulty picking up large debris like cereal, as its head may not be high enough to let this size of debris in. Large debris can also get stuck within the vacuum's tunnel just before the dirt compartment. It also has a plasticky build but at least it's fairly easy to maintain, and there are virtually no recurring costs to worry about.
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Easily cleans pet hair on all surface types.
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Handheld configuration for even better maneuverability.
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Fairly easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
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Struggles significantly to pick up large debris on bare floors.
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Disappointing battery life.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is decent for low-pile carpet. It picks up all pet hair and is able to get most large debris. However, it struggles a lot more with small debris and it may require several passes to fully clean an area. On the upside, it has a simple design that can easily be configured into a handheld vacuum if you need more maneuverability. Its parts are also fairly easy to maintain and as long as you take care of them, there are virtually no recurring costs.
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Easily cleans pet hair on all surface types.
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Handheld configuration for even better maneuverability.
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Fairly easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
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Has a hard time picking up small debris.
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Disappointing battery life.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is okay for high-pile carpet. It can easily clean pet hair but it has a hard time with both small and large debris, and you may need to do multiple passes in order to clean an area. If you need more maneuverability, you can also turn it into a handheld vacuum. While it's fairly easy to maintain, as long as each part is taken care of there are virtually no recurring costs, which is nice.
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Easily cleans pet hair on all surface types.
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Handheld configuration for even better maneuverability.
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Fairly easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
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Struggles to pick up large debris.
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Has a hard time picking up small debris.
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Disappointing battery life.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is exceptional for pets. It picks up pet hair from all surface types, which is especially nice if your pets tend to shed a lot. If you want to clean pet beds, the vacuum also has a handheld form so you can easily get into each and every crevice. It's fairly easy to maintain its parts, and there are virtually no recurring costs as long as you take care of each part.
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Easily cleans pet hair on all surface types.
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Handheld configuration for even better maneuverability.
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Fairly easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
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Disappointing battery life.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is excellent for cleaning stairs. It's a very portable vacuum as it's lightweight and cordless. You can even configure it into its handheld form if you have particularly difficult-to-vacuum stairs. However, it has a lot of trouble picking up large debris on bare floors. It fares better cleaning small and large debris from both low and high-pile carpets. It can even pick up pet hair on all surface types.
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Handheld configuration for even better maneuverability.
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Fairly easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
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Disappointing battery life.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is great for cleaning cars. As it can be used as a small, handheld vacuum in addition to its upright form, you can get into small crevices with relative ease, and it's quite portable, especially as it has a cordless design. That being said, its battery life doesn't last very long and it also takes a long time to charge.
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Handheld configuration for even better maneuverability.
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Fairly easy to maintain and virtually no recurring costs.
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Disappointing battery life.
- 6.0 Bare Floor
- 7.3 Low-Pile Carpet
- 6.5 High-Pile Carpet
- 8.9 Pets
- 8.7 Stairs
- 8.0 Cars
- Updated May 05, 2023: We've changed the product name to 'BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet/XRT' in order for the review to encompass all model variants and updated the 'Introduction', 'Battery', and 'Quality Of Life Features' sections to outline the differences between models.
- Updated Nov 18, 2022: We've changed the full product name to 'BISSELL Adapt Ion' in order for the review to encompass all model variants.
- Updated Aug 10, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Aug 03, 2020: Early access published.
- Updated Jul 21, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jul 20, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jul 07, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The BISSELL Adapt Ion has two distinct variants that use a different batteries.
| Model Name | Model Number | Tools and Brushes | Notes |
| BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet | 2286A | Crevice tool, upholstery tool | Uses a 10.8V lithium ion battery |
| BISSELL Adapt XRT | 2387 | Crevice tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush | Uses a 14.4V lithium ion battery and has variable suction control |
If someone comes across a BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet that's different from ours, let us know in the discussions and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is an upright vacuum that also doubles as a handheld vacuum. Its center motor powers both its upright and its handheld configurations, and it can be easily assembled to fit your cleaning needs. However, its battery performance is one of the lowest we've tested so far, and it doesn't do as good of a job on any surface type when compared to other hybrid upright/handheld vacuums like the Shark APEX Upright or Shark Navigator Lift-Away Speed.
The Dyson V8 is better overall than the BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet/XRT. While the BISSELL is more lightweight and maneuverable, the Dyson has a bigger dirt compartment, longer battery life with a shorter recharge time, performs better on all surface types, and comes with more tools and accessories.
The BISSELL CleanView/CleanView Swivel Pet Rewind and the BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet/XRT are, for the most part, similarly performing vacuums, but the Adapt Ion Pet is a better choice if you need more mobility. The Adapt Ion Pet has a better build quality and virtually no recurring costs, and it's cordless, so it has an unlimited range. It's also very portable, especially as it can be reconfigured into a handheld vacuum if you want to clean your car or hard-to-reach places. While it's significantly more maneuverable, it doesn't perform as well picking up small and large debris as the CleanView. The CleanView is also corded, which some users may prefer.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet/XRT is a better vacuum for cleaning pet hair than the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away. The BISSELL is easier to maintain, it's cordless, so it has an unlimited range, and it's much more portable. If you have shedding pets, this vacuum can easily pick up pet hair, and it can be used as a small and lightweight vacuum, too. It also has significantly better maneuverability. However, the Shark is a better choice if you need to clean small and large debris as it outperforms the BISSELL on all surface types in this regard. It also has a larger dirt compartment, and you don't have to worry about recharging it as it's a corded vacuum.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet/XRT is a better vacuum for cleaning pet hair than the Shark APEX Upright. The BISSELL has no problem picking up pet hair from any surface type, and it can be reconfigured into a smaller, lightweight handheld vacuum for cleaning harder-to-reach places. It's easier to maintain and has virtually no recurring costs. It also has an unlimited range, and its maneuverability is better too. That said, the Shark is better if you clean up a lot of non-pet hair debris, especially as it has a better overall performance on all surface types when compared to the BISSELL. Some users may even prefer its corded design as it means you don't have to worry about battery life. Unlike the BISSELL, it also comes with a turbo brush.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet/XRT and the BISSELL Featherweight Stick are upright/handheld vacuums with different advantages. The Featherweight performs better on bare floors, has a bigger dirt compartment, is easier to maintain, and feels lighter in your hand. Conversely, the better-built Adapt Ion Pet is substantially more maneuverable and versatile thanks to its cordless design and included selection of brushes and cleaning heads.
The Shark WANDVAC System is a better vacuum for most uses than the BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet/XRT. The Shark does a much better job of clearing debris from all surface types and comes with more tools and brushes. On the other hand, the BISSELL picks up marginally more pet hair from carpets and has a more spacious dirt compartment.
The Samsung Jet 90 is a better vacuum than the BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet/XRT. The Samsung has a better overall performance on both bare floors and carpets. It also has a bigger dirt compartment and a longer maximum battery life. On the other hand, the BISSELL is similarly good at clearing pet hair from all surface types and is more maneuverable.
The Samsung Jet 60 is better than the BISSELL Adapt Ion Pet/XRT. The Samsung takes up less room, has a larger dustbin, weighs less, has a much longer battery life, and comes with more tools. It also delivers better performance across all surface types. Conversely, the BISSELL is a little more maneuverable.
Test Results
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is reasonably well-built. Although it's entirely made from plastic, the handheld vacuum feels sturdy, and it even seems a bit more premium than its larger upright vacuum body. The vacuum has a simple design, making it quick to assemble or switch into a different configuration. The upright vacuum body even has a unique two-way folding handle, which makes it easier to store or reach under tables and chairs. On the downside, the plastic dirt compartment looks fragile and could crack if dropped. The filters also look like they can rip or break.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is fairly easy to maintain. While it has a simple design, several parts need ongoing maintenance. You may want to consider the BISSELL Featherweight Stick if you want something with less demanding maintenance requirements.
- Dirt compartment: To release the dirt compartment, you have to first remove the smaller vacuum body by pressing the button on the handheld body's handle. After that, you press the black release button above the power button and remove the filters before you can empty this compartment. Since it's very small, the dirt compartment needs to be emptied quite frequently and its entry cover needs to be properly closed; otherwise, debris can fall out.
- Mesh screen: This part is found in the dirt compartment and can be removed when rotated counter-clockwise. To clean it, you just need to tap it against the side of your garbage can to dislodge any debris left behind. You can even rinse it with water for a deeper clean.
- Dirt cup filter: Also located in the dirt compartment, this filter can be removed after taking out both the dirt compartment and mesh screen. It can also be tapped against the garbage can and washed with water.
- Pre-motor mesh filter: This part is located at the bottom of the vacuum motor and can be removed once the dirt compartment is removed. Depending on your usage, you can remove any debris stuck to it when possible.
- Brushroll: The brushroll can be removed by using a coin, You also need to unclip the bottom side cover of the vacuum to fully access it. Depending on your usage, you can remove debris and hair with your hands or scissors when necessary.
You must air dry any part that's washed with water for 24 hours before using it again.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion has virtually no recurring costs, as long as each part is well-maintained. If you need to replace the mesh filter screen, dirt cup filter, or pre-motor mesh filter, you can purchase them directly from the BISSELL website.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is fairly easy to store away. If you pull the lever on the handle, you can fold this part backward, which is nice if you want to store it below shelves in your closet. On the downside, it doesn't have any onboard tool storage so you need to find a separate place to put them.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion has a disappointing dirt compartment. While it doesn't hold a lot of debris, there's at least an indicator to let you know when the dirt compartment is full. There's also a small plastic cover at the compartment's entrance to keep dirt from falling out. If you'd prefer a vacuum with a larger dirt compartment, consider the Eureka FloorRover.
- BISSELL Adapt Ion vacuum body with two-way folding handle
- Handheld vacuum body
- Dirt cup filter and mesh filter screen
- Crevice tool
- Upholstery tool
- Dirt compartment
- Charging cable
- User guide
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is a cordless vacuum, and it has an unlimited range, as long as there's room in the dirt compartment and battery life left.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is amazingly portable. It doesn't feel heavy in the hand at all, and it has a carrying handle to make it easier to take with you around the house. As long as you don't mind using a handheld vacuum, you may also want to consider the eufy HomeVac H11 as an even easier to carry around alternative.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion's battery performance is disappointing. It doesn't last long when configured into an upright vacuum and lasts only a few minutes more when used as a handheld vacuum. Worse still, the vacuum can only recharge when connected to its upright body, and it takes almost five hours to fully recharge. That said, your experience should be better if you opt for the XRT variant, which has a higher capacity 14.4V lithium-ion battery as opposed to the 10.8V lithium-ion pack in the standard model. That said, we haven't tested the XRT and can't confirm how much of an improvement to runtime this battery provides.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion has two power buttons: one on the folding vacuum handle and one on the handle of the handheld vacuum. On the handle of the vacuum's body, there's an on/off brushroll button as well as a release clip so that you can fold the handle to better clean under furniture or store it away. If you spring for the pricier XRT variant, you can also adjust its suction power on the fly.
This vacuum only has a couple of tools and brushes. There's a crevice tool as well as an upholstery tool that can be used in the vacuum's handheld configuration.
This vacuum can be reconfigured into a lightweight handheld vacuum.
This vacuum has poor performance on bare floors. While it manages to pick up all pet hair and most small debris, it struggles more with large debris like cereal. This kind of debris gets stuck in the tunnel just before the dirt compartment since the entry cover isn't large enough. The vacuum head also may not be high enough for large debris to enter.
If you're looking for a vacuum that can pick up bulky debris as well as pet hair from bare surfaces, take a look at the Shark WANDVAC System.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion is decent on low-pile carpet. It's able to pick up all pet hair and clean up most large debris. However, it struggles a lot more with small debris like baking soda and it can take several passes for an area to get fully cleaned.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion isn't bad for high-pile carpet as it's able to easily pick up pet hair, which is great for pet owners. However, it struggles a lot with large debris and it has a very hard time with small debris like baking soda. If you need something that's better at cleaning debris, consider the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away.
The BISSELL Adapt Ion has amazing maneuverability. It has both an upright configuration that can help you clean large swaths of flooring as well as a handheld configuration for cleaning more hard-to-reach places. The upright body handle can also fold so you can clean underneath a couch or table without having to crouch or bend over, but the dirt compartment may still get in the way. That being said, if you want to use this vacuum on carpet, you need to lift it on top of this surface in order to clean it.