Affordable cordless vacuum with bend-and-mop function: Proscenic P20 OnePass hands-on test

The Proscenic P20 OnePass is a practical cordless vacuum. In our test, it delivered good cleaning performance, especially on hard floors and low-pile carpets, but as pile height increases, it reaches the familiar limits seen with many cordless vacuums. The hinged suction tube is a useful feature that makes it easier to clean under furniture. That said, many competing models offer the same feature.

The package includes a generous range of accessories, although there is still room for improvement in a few areas. The P20 OnePass’s mopping function is very basic and, in our view, should not be a key reason to buy it. Overall, this is a solid cordless vacuum at a reasonable price.

The Proscenic P20 OnePass has a suggested retail price of €189.99 (approx. $220). However, it is already available for significantly less from retailers such as Geekbuying (Germany).

Translator's note: The Proscenic P20 OnePass is already available online in North America, but it has not reached most physical stores yet.

The Proscenic P20 OnePass is more than just a standard cordless vacuum, a category already crowded with competitors. In addition to vacuuming, it also offers a mopping function. However, it is not a true wet/dry vacuum or dedicated hard-floor washer. Our Proscenic P20 OnePass review shows what buyers can expect and how well the appliance performed in everyday use.

The Proscenic P20 OnePass comes in a surprisingly compact 45 x 33 x 20 cm box. In addition to the cordless vacuum itself, which includes a large floor brush, LED light, and bendable tube, the package also contains a range of accessories. These include a 2-in-1 dusting brush, a slim crevice tool, and the charger with a basic wall mount. Also included are a water tank and two mop pads for the mopping function, a spare HEPA filter, a user manual, and a few small miscellaneous items.

The vacuum is powered by a 680 W motor rated at up to 70 kPa of suction. More important than that figure, however, is how much of it actually reaches the floor. We address that in more detail later in this review of the Proscenic P20 OnePass. Three modes with different suction levels are available: Eco, Standard, and Max.

The battery clicks into place at the bottom of the unit and can be charged either while attached or separately. Proscenic rates the P20 OnePass for up to 70 minutes of battery life, although that figure naturally applies to the lowest setting. In our hands-on test, battery life on the middle setting came to just under 30 minutes.

That should be sufficient for typical apartment and house sizes. Battery life also depends on the auto mode, which is designed to increase suction automatically when it detects heavier dirt buildup, although it did not work especially reliably in our test. Charging the battery, which uses 8 x 2,200 mAh cells, takes relatively long at well over four hours.

Back to day-to-day use: the three modes are selected using a small button on the top of the unit. It is reasonably accessible only for users with large hands, so switching modes one-handed is rather difficult. Above it sits a very basic display that shows the selected suction level and the remaining battery life in different colors depending on the mode.

The large, flexible floor head uses a combination roller designed to reduce hair tangling. In our test, however, this worked only with limited reliability. Green light from six LEDs helps make dirt on the floor more visible. That is practical, but it is also a feature found on many other cordless vacuums.

Another feature that is fairly common, but still very useful on the P20 OnePass, is the joint in the middle of the suction tube. It allows the tube to bend by up to 90 degrees, making it easier to vacuum under furniture and similar areas. The vacuum can also be parked freestanding when needed and remains reasonably stable despite its high center of gravity.

That brings us to weight. The complete cordless vacuum with the long tube and floor head weighs less than 3 kg. That makes it fairly light and helps with handling. The weight is even lower when the alternative attachments for cleaning upholstery and similar surfaces are fitted to the 1.8 kg main unit. This also makes the vacuum suitable for tasks such as cleaning a car. Overall, handling during vacuuming is good, but it does not stand out from the competition.

Ultimately, the mopping function is only a very simple solution and cannot compete in any meaningful way with a modern wet/dry vacuum. You also have to be careful that, with the vacuum switched on, too much moisture from the floor does not get into the dustbin. For that reason, separate use is generally the better option.

The mopping function should not be a reason to buy the Proscenic P20 OnePass. It is simply too rudimentary, and its mopping performance is too limited. It is a nice extra feature with modest practical value. It can pick up light, loose dirt, but when faced with more stubborn messes, the device quickly reaches its limits.

Much more important is suction performance, and with it the cordless vacuum’s ability to clean carpets and similar surfaces. Here, the P20 OnePass made a solid impression in our test despite its relatively low price.

In our test, the cordless vacuum cleaned hard floors and low-pile carpets reliably. Anything less would have been disappointing. On medium-pile carpets, however, the device gradually reaches its limits. It still picked up most of the test dirt, but even at the highest power setting, a fair number of sand grains were left behind in the pile.

The various attachments are practical, although many competing products include similar ones. They can be used to clean joints and crevices, for example, as well as upholstered furniture such as sofas. That said, we would have liked to see a small upholstery nozzle included, even if it is available as an optional extra. The same applies to a second battery.