Between Eureka NEC380 vs NEC480, I notice no big difference in the performance. However, the NEC480 is relatively better than the NEC380.
The reason I chose the Eureka NEC480 is the better because it has a complete seal HEPA filtration system and a bigger dust cup. Meanwhile, though having a HEPA filter, the Eureka NEC380 filtration is not well sealed, so it may lead to dust odors in the expelled air.
Besides, the cleaning performances of NEC380 and NEC480 are comparable. Their suction is okay at the high mode, allowing them to collect small to medium debris particles. They can also pull up pet hair but easily get clogged, and the brush rolls stop rotating owing to the hair-wrap issue. Thus, both Eureka NEC380 and NEC480 are not good options for pet owners but are suitable for daily light and quick cleaning.
Eureka NEC380 vs NEC480: Comparison Chart
Eureka NEC380 vs NEC480: Differences
The Eureka NEC480 wins 1-0 against the NEC380 in this comparison. The NEC480 is better owing to its larger dust cup and greater filtration. Apart from that, their performances in other categories are comparable.
Cleaning performance
Tie!
At this price range, I do not expect much about their suction power and pick-up efficiency. The suction of Eureka NEC380 and NEC480 is just okay, not really impressive to me. Though on paper, it seems that the NEC380 possesses stronger suction than the NEC480, I noticed that these two vacuums’ suction power is quite the same in the tests.
Specifically, their suction is good at high mode but bad at low mode. In the low mode, they barely pick up heavy debris like sand but light and small stuff like grass, sugar, and hairs on bare floors. Moreover, with the low-mode setting, the NEC 380 and NEC480 are likely doing nothing on carpets as the amount of debris staying on the carpets is significant after several passes.
With high suction mode, the pick-up performance is relatively better as they can collect sand on the bare floor. With larger debris like cereals, the NEC480 and NEC380 can pick up after several passes. Additionally, in this suction mode, they can collect cat litter on medium carpets but still need more passes to collect all.
However, with the debris larger than a size of a coffee bean like cheerios, either NEC380 or NEC480 pushes the debris forward rather than picking them up. Besides, I noticed that these two vacuums only collect dirt when I push them forward, not when pulling back.
If you are a pet owner, I don’t think the Eureka NEC380 and NEC480 are good picks. For me, there are two major reasons for that. One is that their suction is not strong enough to pull up short, heavy pet hair. The other reason is that their brush roll stop rolling quickly as the hair gets stuck on the rollers after several minutes of vacuuming.
So, if you want to get an affordable vacuum for cleaning up pet hair, I think the Tineco A11 Pet is a good pick.
Dust bin & Filtration
Winner: Eureka NEC480
I decided that the NEC480 is the winner of this round because it has a larger dust cup and a better filtration system.
Specifically, the NEC480’s dirt bin capacity is 0.7 liters, while that of the NEC380 is just 0.3 liters. With that 0.4 liters larger, the NEC480 offers more room to spare, allowing you to vacuum more with less emptying.
Besides, though both of them have HEPA filters, the NEC480 filtration has a complete seal, meaning that it can filter and trap more microdust inside the vacuum, expelling fresher air. The filtration of NEC380 is not sealed, so I can smell the dust odors during the cleaning.
Design & Convenience
Tie!
The Eureka NEC380 is lighter than the NEC480, which is about 0.7 lbs lighter. The lighter vacuum will place less stress on your arm, giving a more comfortable gripping experience, especially in long cleaning duration. However, my experiences when holding NEC380 and NEC480 are not too different, so I will give them a tie.
Besides, for the battery life, they provide a max runtime of about 30-40 mins in the low mode and a min runtime of about 10 mins in the high mode, which are kind of average for the stick vacuums. The charging time often takes around 4 hours for a fully charged battery. Well, this is somehow inappropriate charging duration regarding such short runtimes.
One difference I found between these two vacuums is that the NEC480 Elevate has a removable battery while the NEC380 doesn’t. This means you can buy an extra battery to extend the cleaning time of the Eureka NEC480.
Apart from that, one thing I really like about the Eureka NEC480 and NEC380 is that they all have LED headlights, which are essential for spotting hidden dirt on the floor. Besides, they all have the standard attachment set with the crevice tool and dusting brush.
Quick Rundown of Eureka NEC480 Elevate
- Whole Home Cleaning: Cleans everything from hard floor to carpet as well as tackling above floor surfaces like upholstery, curtains and stairs.Specific uses:hard floor,carpet,dual action
- XL Dust Cup: 1L easy-to-remove dust cup allows for convenient, interrupted cleaning with a two-way, easy-empty design for efficient cleaning.
- Removable Battery: Up to 30 minutes runtime of fade-free powerful consistent suction with the easy-to-charge removable and replaceable battery.
- Lightweight Convertible Design: At only 7.15 lbs, you can easily convert to a handvac for above floor cleaning or tackle hard to reach areas comfortably from any angle.
- LED Headlights: Bright beams light the way so you can see dust and debris that might otherwise have been missed and make cleaning under furniture much easier
Quick Rundown of Eureka NEC380 Stylus
- 350W Highly Efficient Powerful BLDC Motor: designed around increased suction, making cleaning extremely efficient and effective on both hard floors and carpet..Wattage : 350 watts. Noise Level : 80.5 decibels. Handle Material-Metal (Wand)
- Long Lasting Runtime: 3 different modes provide 10 minutes, 20 minutes and 45 minutes of different runtime. Easily switch to MAX power on fingertip controls for effective cleaning on carpet and rugs
- Lightweight: At only 6.4 lbs. , you can easily use this stick vacuum throughout your whole home, both to clean your floors and to reach high into corners, Tackle jobs big and small with 3 power modes
- Lay Flat Design: We moved the dust cup to the front so you can lay the vacuum completely flat to reach under beds and furniture with ease
- LED Headlights: Bright beams light the way so you can see dust and debris that might otherwise have been missed and make cleaning under furniture much easier
Product Videos
References:
- Eureka NEC480 Elevate: https://www.eureka.com/us/vacuums/stick/nec480
- Eureka NEC380 Stylus: https://www.eureka.com/us/vacuums/stick/nec380
Victor K. Giles is a leading consultant and expert in vacuum cleaner technology with over a decade of experience. As a mechanical engineering graduate in the University of Michigan, he specializes in product development, design optimization, and performance analysis. Victor collaborates with manufacturers and educates consumers, making her a sought-after guest speaker at industry events. His work has been featured in renowned publications, and he shares his expertise on his blog, “The Vacuum Teria”. Victor’s passion for cleaner, healthier living spaces drives his to help clients choose the best vacuum solutions for their needs.