DeWalt DXV10P vs Ryobi PCL735B: Corded vs Cordless Shop Vac

The fundamental question: is cord freedom worth the trade-offs?

Comparing the DeWalt DXV10P and Ryobi PCL735B is really about a single decision: how much is complete cord freedom worth against the concrete advantages a corded machine brings in capacity, noise level, and cost per gallon? Both are well-built tools serving genuine use cases. The DeWalt represents the best a quiet, compact corded machine can do; the Ryobi represents the best a mainstream cordless vacuum can do on a proven residential battery platform.

For most buyers with outlet access, the math favors the DeWalt. For a specific subset — Ryobi 18V ONE+ owners who regularly vacuum in locations without outlets — the Ryobi earns its premium.

Capacity gap: real on renovation jobs

The 10-gallon DeWalt holds 67 percent more debris and liquid than the Ryobi's 6-gallon drum before requiring emptying. On a renovation cleanup — drywall chunks, tile fragments, wood chips from framing — a 6-gallon drum fills in roughly half the time. Each emptying trip interrupts the work, requires setting down the tool, walking to a dumpster or trash bag, and resetting. Over a four-hour renovation session, the compounded interruption is real.

For light, targeted cleanup tasks — clearing sawdust after a single router pass, cleaning a vehicle interior, sweeping a compact workshop floor after a project — 6 gallons is entirely adequate and the cordless convenience more than compensates for the smaller drum. The capacity argument matters most when the task is continuous cleanup over an extended session.

Suction and 2-stage motor: DeWalt's mechanical advantage

The DeWalt's 90 CFM at the hose tip is a real-world figure measured under operating load — an important distinction from drum-inlet measurements on most competing machines. The 1-7/8 inch hose is correctly sized for fine dust ports on circular saws, miter saws, and sanders, making the DXV10P effective for tool-side collection as well as general floor work.

The 2-stage motor is what separates the DeWalt acoustically from both the Ryobi and from the 16-gallon single-stage machines in this category. Compressing air in two stages reduces the sharp, high-frequency whine that makes standard shop vac motors fatiguing over long sessions in enclosed spaces. For contractors running a vacuum for four to six hours in a finished basement or garage, this noise reduction has a practical impact on both the operator and nearby occupants.

The Ryobi's brushless battery motor also avoids the worst characteristics of single-stage universal motors and is noticeably quieter than older-generation shop vac motors at comparable suction settings. On low speed, the PCL735B is a relatively quiet machine. It does not match the DeWalt's 2-stage design at sustained full output, but the gap is smaller than comparing either to a standard single-stage 16-gallon machine.

Battery economics: when the Ryobi makes sense

The Ryobi PCL735B's value proposition is specific: it serves the Ryobi 18V ONE+ owner who already has batteries in rotation from drills, circular saws, or outdoor equipment. For that buyer, the $149 tool-only price provides a genuinely capable cordless vacuum at a cost competitive with mid-range corded machines, with the added benefit of complete mobility. A 4Ah or 6Ah pack already charged from another Ryobi tool drops straight in — no additional battery investment required.

For the buyer with no existing ONE+ batteries, the calculus reverses. Adding a 4Ah battery and charger brings total entry cost to $199 or more. At that price point the DeWalt DXV10P delivers a quieter, higher-capacity machine with stronger suction from a wall outlet. The platform investment argument is what makes the Ryobi competitive, not the hardware comparison in isolation.

Weight and portability

The Ryobi is technically lighter as a bare tool — 25.2 lbs without battery versus the DeWalt's 27.78 lbs. Once a 4Ah battery is installed, the total weight roughly equals the DeWalt. The practical portability difference is actually the absence of a cord, not the weight. A cordless machine that needs no cord management moves more freely between locations even if the total weight is similar.

The Ryobi's 8-inch all-terrain wheels are a genuine advantage over the small hard casters typical of compact corded shop vacs — rolling the Ryobi over door thresholds, concrete cracks, and in and out of a vehicle cargo area is easier than maneuvering a typical corded machine with hard swivel casters.

Verdict by use case

Choose the DeWalt DXV10P for enclosed workshops and regular contractor work where noise accumulation matters, for tool-side dust collection at saws and sanders, or for any location with accessible outlets where 10-gallon capacity handles a full session without repeated emptying.

Choose the Ryobi PCL735B specifically when outlet access is genuinely limited — detached garages, outdoor work areas, vehicle interiors in a driveway, or construction sites without power yet — and when you already own Ryobi 18V ONE+ batteries. Its two-speed switch and cord-free mobility solve the specific problem it is built to address; do not buy it to solve a problem you do not have.