Shark has been trying to implement automatic dock emptying since at least 2023, but I think 2026 could be the year they finally take action. If you're not sure what exactly I mean by “auto-empty dock,” it's exactly what it sounds like: a base that has a large dust bag or container on it that automatically dumps the contents of the vacuum's small built-in container when it's docked.
Automatic dock emptying has already become commonplace in robot vacuum cleaner market where they seem natural – built-in trash bins are necessarily tiny, the bot still needs to dock to charge, and the main benefit of all this is that it's a hands-free solution.
They are less common among handheld vacuum cleaners, where an automatically emptying dock seems more like a luxury than a necessity. But still there are many advantages of automatic emptying docks For handheld vacuum cleaners, it requires less effort from users, the ability to use smaller and lighter on-board containers, and minimal chance of ending up in a cloud of just-vacuumed dust as a result of mistakenly releasing dirt.
I'm seeing more and more examples of handheld vacuum cleaners with auto-emptying docks hitting the market. As a TechRadar contributor best cordless vacuum cleaner management, I've been keeping up with all the major new releases, and it seems like more of them now have auto-emptying docks than not.
Who started it?
As far as I can tell, the brand that released the handbrake on the auto-empty running board was Samsung. Samsung aircraft to order was released in 2022 and was the first of many self-cleaning Bespoke Jet vacuum cleaners with increasingly longer names and increasingly higher prices (the latest being Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra).
However, Samsung is still a minor brand in the vacuum cleaner market, so I think Shark's efforts have played a big role in pushing this trend forward with popular models like Detection Pro And PowerDetect wireless Available in Clean and Empty (US) / Automatic Empty (UK) versions. More recently, Shark has introduced some cheaper, simpler auto-emptying options that seem aimed at cementing this as an option for everyone rather than a premium choice.
This year, Roborock also attempted to gain a foothold in the handheld vacuum market by introducing a line that included several auto-emptying docks (I tested Robororock H60 Ultra Hub). But what really convinced me that they are here to stay is Dyson statement that it will be releasing compatible docking stations for its latest vacuum cleaners.
I say “announcement” – it was a single line hidden in a much larger press release detailing the brand's multiple September 2025 launches. No images, no prices, no fanfare. For this reason, I remain cautiously cautious about when (and perhaps if) these docks will actually hit the market. If they do, it could be serious.
Shark and Dyson These are arguably the two biggest names in the handheld vacuum cleaner market right now, and if both of these brands are actively working on auto-emptying docks, you can imagine they'll make a big difference.
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