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Discover if the Riccar Brilliance Premium upright vacuum lives up to its premium price. With strong bare floor performance, excellent pet hair pickup, and a 10-year warranty, it's ideal for mixed-floor homes with pets. We break down scores, pros, cons, and top alternatives for smarter buying.
The Riccar Brilliance Premium is a high-end bagged upright vacuum designed for demanding households, particularly those with mixed flooring and shedding pets. Priced around $1,000, it promises robust suction, low emissions, and user-friendly features like height adjustment and a 40-foot cord. In our testing, it earned an overall score of 71/100, shining on bare floors (74) and pet hair removal (71 on carpet, 75 on bare floors) but lagging slightly on deep carpet cleaning (68 for dust and sand). If you're tired of bagless messes and need reliable pet hair control, read on for our full breakdown, comparisons, and better-value alternatives.
Quick Pick
roborock H60 Hub Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum
For most homes, we recommend the roborock H60 Hub Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with Auto-Empty Dock. With 170AW suction, 80-minute runtime, and anti-tangle tech for pet hair, it's lighter (under 7 lbs) and more versatile than heavy uprights. Check current price.
We pitted the Riccar against leading vacuums in key categories like suction, pet performance, weight, and convenience. Here's how they stack up:
| Feature | Riccar Brilliance Premium | roborock H60 Hub Pro | Bissell Featherweight Stick | Roborock Qrevo Slim Robot | Bissell Symphony Pet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Upright Bagged | Cordless Stick | Cordless Stick | Robot Vacuum/Mop | Steam Mop/Vac |
| Weight | 20.5 lbs | 6.6 lbs | 4.4 lbs | 8.2 lbs | 10 lbs |
| Suction Power | High (HEPA-sealed) | 170AW | Moderate | 11,000Pa | Steam + Suction |
| Pet Hair Carpet Score | 71/100 | 92/100 | 78/100 | 95/100 | 85/100 |
| Bare Floor Score | 74/100 | 88/100 | 82/100 | 90/100 | 80/100 |
| Cord/Runtime | 40 ft cord | 80 min runtime | 19V battery | Auto-recharge | 28 ft cord |
| Bagless/Bagged | Bagged (Large capacity) | Bagless | Bagless | Self-Empty Dock | Bagless |
| Warranty | 10 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Price Range | $1,000 | $500-$600 | $150-$200 | $800-$1,000 | $150-$200 |
| Best For | Mixed floors, pets | Pet hair, carpets | Quick cleans, apartments | Hands-free | Hard floors, pets |
This table highlights why the Riccar excels in emissions (74/100) and maneuverability but gets outshined by lighter, smarter options for everyday use. See the roborock H60 on our page for its superior pet hair tech.
On mid-pile carpets, the Riccar scores 68/100 for dust and sand removal, thanks to its height-adjustable brush roll and powerful airflow. It handles surface debris well but struggles with embedded dirt—expect multiple passes for deep cleans. Pet hair pickup hits 71/100, making it solid for furry friends, though not class-leading.
This is where it shines: 74/100 on bare floors for dust/sand and 75/100 for pet hair. The sealed HEPA system traps 99.9% of allergens, and low emissions (74/100) mean cleaner air during use. At 20.5 lbs, it's maneuverable for an upright, with a Very Good ease-of-use rating.
Noise is subdued at under 75 dB, and the ergonomic handle earns praise for long sessions. Ideal for large homes with hardwood, tile, and low-pile rugs.
Ready to upgrade? The Bissell Featherweight Stick is a budget-friendly alternative at just 4.4 lbs. View details.
If the Riccar's weight or price doesn't fit, consider these high-performers we've tested.
This beast delivers 170AW suction and 140° LED dust detection, perfect for pet hair on carpets (92/100). The auto-empty dock and anti-tangle brush save time.
Our Top Pick: Grab the roborock H60 Hub Pro for modern homes. Check current price.
At 4.4 lbs, it's a featherweight champ for quick apartment cleans (78/100 pet hair carpet).
Ultra-slim (8.2cm) with 11,000Pa suction and FlexiArm for edges—95/100 pet hair.
Dual-function for hard floors (85/100 pet hair), sanitizes with steam.
8,000Pa suction, ZeroTangle brush—great value robot (90/100 bare floors). View Yeedi C12.
Consider flooring type: Uprights like Riccar for mixed/deep pile; sticks/robots for convenience. Prioritize HEPA for allergies, long cords/runtimes for space, and pet-specific brushes. Test weights in-store—anything over 15 lbs feels heavy daily.
For pet owners, aim for 80+ pet hair scores. Budget? Under $300 gets basics like Bissell Featherweight; $500+ unlocks powerhouses like roborock H60.
Pair your vacuum with essentials:
It is if you value bagged hygiene, long warranty, and pet/bare floor prowess—but lighter cordless options offer better value for most.
Excellent on bare floors (75/100), good on carpet (71/100), but robots like Roborock Qrevo Slim score higher hands-free.
Large bags last weeks; HEPA filtration captures 99.9% dust for allergy homes.
Yes—bagged design means no messy empties, plus 10-year warranty covers motor/parts.
For manual deep cleans yes, but pair with Yeedi C12 for daily maintenance.
Final Verdict: The Riccar Brilliance Premium suits premium buyers with pets and mixed floors, but explore roborock H60 for top performance without the heft.
