In a hurry? Best Budget Choice: Dyson V8 | Best Overall Choice: Dyson V11
Dyson has long been the king of the cordless vacuum cleaner, ever since the release of the DC16 way back in 2006.
The DC16 was noisy, had a very narrow cleaning head, and the 6 minute run time meant that there was no way it could be used as your main vacuum cleaner.
Thankfully, cordless vacuums have improved greatly over the years, with Dyson leading the way when it comes to innovative technology.
In this article, we’re going to look at the three most recent additions to the Dyson cordless family: the V8, the V10, and the V11. Read on as we compare all of the features and benefits in this Dyson V8 vs V10 vs V11 guide.
Contents
- 1 Dyson V8 Overview
- 2 Dyson V10 Overview
- 3 Dyson V11 Overview
- 4 Dyson V8, V10 and V11 Models
- 5 Dyson V8 vs V10 vs V11: Let’s Start with Design
- 6 Size and Weight
- 7 Power and Performance
- 8 Dyson V8 vs V10 vs V11: Technology
- 9 Battery Life and Charging Time
- 10 Dust Capacity
- 11 Filtration System
- 12 Dyson V8 vs V10 vs V11: Which One Should I Buy?
Dyson V8 Overview
Dyson released the V8 cordless vacuum in 2016 as an upgraded version of the V6. It has a 40 minute run time, which is twice as long as the V6. It also has a larger dust capacity, more powerful suction, and quieter running operation.
Even with the release of the V10 and V11, the Dyson V8 is still an excellent vacuum cleaner that will handle all of your cleaning needs.
It works just as well on carpet as it does on hard floors, and it has a wide range of accessories that enable you to clean hard to reach areas, such as stairs, ceilings, and under low furniture.
The Dyson V8 is also cheaper than the later models, so it’s a great choice if you are looking for Dyson power and performance at an affordable price.
Dyson V10 Overview
With the release of the V10 in 2018, Dyson announced that they would no longer produce any new corded vacuum cleaners, instead, putting all of their resources into their cordless range. This is a move that looks like it has paid off, with the V10 much improved over its predecessor.
For starters, the run time is 50% longer than the V8, giving you around 60 minutes cleaning time. There are three different power settings on the V10 and you get 60 minutes of cleaning time on the low setting, 30 minutes on the medium setting, while the MAX setting only gives you around 10 minutes.
The MAX setting gives you a whopping 151 Air Watts of power, and should only need to be used in extremely messy situations. The run time will reduce if the motorised cleaning head is attached.
Other improvements include a larger dust bin, a single washable HEPA filter, and a streamlined design that allows for better suction. With the release of the V11, the price of the V10 has dropped so it’s a good time to get all of the Dyson power and technology at a more affordable price.
Dyson V11 Overview
The Dyson V11 was released in March 2020 and is the most powerful cordless vacuum ever produced. It is not cheap by any means, but the range of features and the improvements over previous models make the cost more than justified.
The main difference in the V11 compared to the V10 and V8 is the addition of an LCD screen at the top of the vacuum. The screen displays a countdown timer of how much battery life is left, as well as telling you which power mode is selected.
Perhaps the most useful function of the LCD display is that it tells you if there are any problems with the V11 vacuum, such as a filter needs to be cleaned or there is a blockage.
The screen will even display a handy little video telling you how to correct the problem.
Another improvement is the Torque Drive cleaning head, which contains sensors to monitor the resistance of the brush bar. This works in conjunction with the power management system to sense what type of surface is being cleaned, which leads to more efficient cleaning and reduced battery wastage.
The Dyson V11 is the most technologically advanced cordless vacuum on the market, with a price to match. If money is no option then this really is the best vacuum available, and if the price is a sticking point then you could look at the V11 as more of an investment.
All Dyson cordless stick vacuums come with a 2-year guarantee which can be extended to 5 years, which should give you enough piece of mind to take the plunge.
Dyson V8, V10 and V11 Models
V8: Total Clean, Absolute, or Animal
The Dyson V8 is available in three different models – Total Clean, Absolute, and Animal. They all come with similar tools and attachments, but there are some differences you need to be aware of.
All three models come with the following tools and accessories – direct drive cleaner head, quick-release mini motorhead tool, combination tool, crevice tool, docking station and charger.
Read More: Dyson V8 Animal review
The Animal version is best for homes that have pets, although this model comes with the least amount of extras. There is no soft roller cleaner head supplied with the Animal, although this can be purchased separately if required. The soft roller head is included with the Total Clean and the Absolute models.
The Absolute and Animal models come with the quick-release mini soft dusting brush, while the Total Clean does not. However, the Total Clean comes with the quick-release up-top adaptor, the quick-release flexi crevice tool, and a handy tool bag to store all of your attachments.
All of Dyson’s tools and attachments can be purchased separately.
V10: Total Clean, Absolute, or Animal
The Dyson V10 is available in three different models – Total Clean, Absolute, and Animal. They all come with similar tools to their V8 counterparts, but there are a few differences we will go through.
All three of these Dyson V10 models come with the following tools and accessories – direct drive cleaner head, mini motorised tool, combination tool, crevice tool, docking station and charger.
Read More: Dyson V10 Absolute review
The Animal version is best for homes that have pets, and once again this is the model with the least amount of extra tools. The Animal doesn’t come with the soft roller cleaner head that the Total Clean and Absolute do, but this can be purchased directly from Dyson if required.
The Absolute and Animal models come with the quick-release mini soft dusting brush, while the Total Clean version does not.
The Total Clean does come with three extra tools that the Animal and Absolute models don’t have – the quick-release wide nozzle tool, the quick-release up-top adaptor, and the quick-release extension hose.
All of the Dyson tools and attachments can be purchased separately.
V11: Absolute or Animal
The Dyson V11 comes in a choice of two models – Absolute and Animal. There is no Total Clean version of the V11, although this may be released in the future. The two models come with similar tools and accessories, with the only difference being the main cleaning heads.
The Absolute and Animal models both come with the following tools and accessories – mini motorised tool, combination tool, crevice tool, quick-release mini soft dusting brush, wand storage clip, docking station and charger.
Read More: Dyson V11 Absolute review
The V11 Animal comes with the direct drive cleaner head, while the V11 Absolute comes with the Torque Drive Motorhead and the soft roller cleaner head.
Once again all of the tools and attachments can be purchased separately. The Dyson V11 Absolute also comes with a choice of two colours – the traditional nickel/blue or a new gold colour.
Dyson V8 vs V10 vs V11: Let’s Start with Design
The design of all three vacuums is fairly similar, and they are all roughly the same size and weight. The V8 is the lightest and the V11 is the heaviest, but we’re only talking about a difference of a few hundred grams.
The main design difference in the V8 compared to the later models is that the dust bin sits at a right angle to the vacuum wand and sticks out. In the V10 and V11, the dust bin is streamlined and sits vertically above the vacuum wand.
This allows for a larger dust bin and also helps increase suction and power thanks to the improved airflow.
All three vacuums have a trigger to operate them, and this is a really great feature that saves battery life. As soon as you let go of the trigger the vacuum stops running, which is handy for moving between rooms or going up and down stairs.
The Dyson V8, V10 and V11 all have a quick release function, which makes it easier and faster to change between tool s and accessories. Previous Dyson cordless stick vacuums, such as the Dyson V6, don’t have this feature.
Size and Weight
There’s not much difference in the size and weight of each Dyson model. The V8 is the shortest at 1.24 metres, and the V11 is the longest at 1.28 metres. The V10 measures up at 1.25 metres, meaning there is a difference of only 40 millimetres between the three.
The weight of the three vacuums follows the same pattern. The V8 is the lightest at 2.61kgs, the V11 is the heaviest at 2.97kgs, and the V10 is in the middle at 2.68kgs. There is a difference of less than half a kilo between all three models, which should make much of a difference when cleaning.
The fact that the V8 is the shortest and lightest and the V11 is the heaviest and longest makes sense. There is more technology bundled into each new version, so increasing the size and weight is inevitable.
Power and Performance
Dyson cordless vacuums are powered by the Dyson digital motor, and each new vacuum version has its own motor. The Dyson digital motor V8 powers the V8, and then there is the digital motor V10 and the digital motor V11.
Each new motor brings more power to the vacuum and combined with better design and improved battery technology, each new model is a huge improvement over the last.
For example, the Air Watts produced by the Dyson V8 is 115 when used in MAX mode. This increases to 150 Air Watts in the Dyson V10, and 185 Air Watts in the Dyson V11. This is a huge increase over the Dyson V6 which produces 100 Air Watts and is still a powerful vacuum in its own right.
Read More: Which is the best Dyson vacuum cleaner?
To put that into context, the most powerful corded vacuum that Dyson produces is the Dyson Light Ball, which produces 245 Air Watts. For a cordless stick vacuum to come even close to that is a feat of great engineering, and I’ll bet it’s not long before they produce a cordless model even more powerful.
Dyson’s cyclonic technology is what sets it apart from its competitors, with the centrifugal force literally throwing the dirt from the floor and into the dust bin.
The V8 has fifteen cyclones arranged in two tiers, while the V10 and V11 and fourteen cyclones. Fewer cyclones are needed in the later models thanks to the streamlined design and more powerful motor.
Dyson V8 vs V10 vs V11: Technology
All three of these Dyson cordless vacuums feature some of the same technology. The trigger switch is a function that they all share, along with whole machine HEPA filtration. They can all be transformed into a handheld vacuum, and the accessories and tools are easily interchangeable.
The Dyson V10 has a number of improvements over the V8, such as a smaller and longer running battery, three power modes instead of two, and a streamlined design which increases the efficiency and suction power. It is also easier to empty the dirt bin with a simple point and shoot mechanism.
Compared to the V8 and the V10, the Dyson V11 is in a different league when it comes to technological advancement. The new features are all designed to increase suction power and preserve battery life.
V11 LCD Screen
One of the biggest and most obvious changes in the V11 is the addition of an LCD screen that sits at the top of the vacuum.
While the V10 has a battery level indicator to alert you when the battery is running low, the screen on the V11 takes it a step further. There is a countdown timer, to the second, so you know exactly how much cleaning time you have left. The timer will change depending on the power mode selected.
The screen also lets you know what mode is selected. This is handy as sometimes you may change the power mode by accident, wasting precious battery life. As with the V10, there are 3 power modes in the V11. These have been renamed to Eco, Medium, and Boost, with Boost replacing the MAX mode on previous versions.
One of the best features of the new display is the fault reporting feature. The V11 has a real-time system performance monitor that actively monitors system performance up to 8,000 times per second.
If it finds any issues it will display them on the screen. This could be a blockage or a filter needing to be changed. The screen will even show you a handy video on how to correct the problem.
Torque Drive Cleaner Head
Two new pieces of technology in the V11 that work together are the Torque Drive cleaner head and the power management system. When the Torque drive head is attached, the Medium mode setting becomes Auto mode.
When this mode has been selected the sensors in the cleaning head monitor the resistance of the brush bar and adjusts the power depending on the floor surface.
This all seems a bit complicated, but it simply means that if you are cleaning a carpet the vacuum will automatically increase power, and if you are cleaning a hard surface it will decrease the power. All of this is designed to increase the battery life, and protect your floor surfaces.
Battery Life and Charging Time
The Dyson V8 and V10, as well as the V11 all have a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery. The battery in the V10 and V11 is a seven-cell nickel-cobalt-aluminium battery, which is basically a better performing and longer-lasting Lithium-Ion battery.
James Dyson has stated that he expects the new batteries in the V10 and V11 to last up to fifteen years, while the battery in the V8 is designed to last only two years.
The battery can’t be removed from the vacuum, and it is charged by placing the vacuum in the charging dock. The charging dock can be wall mounted to save space and can be placed in a cupboard so it is out of sight.
The Dyson V8 battery lasts up to 40 minutes when used in Standard mode, reducing to 7 minutes when used in MAX mode. The battery takes 5 hours to fully charge from empty.
Read More: Dyson V8 vs Gtech AirRam MK2: which is better?
The V10 battery takes the shortest amount of time to recharge fully from empty. It only takes 3.5 hours, which is a big difference. You also get an increased cleaning time of up to 60 minutes when used in Low mode, 30 minutes when used in Medium mode, and around 8 minutes of cleaning time when used in MAX mode.
The V11 has similar running times to the V10. The battery gives you up to 60 minutes of cleaning time in Eco mode, around 40 minutes of cleaning time in Medium mode, and an improved 12 minutes when used in Boost mode.
The cleaning time will vary when the V11 is used in Auto mode. Some users have claimed to have achieved a cleaning time of longer than 60 minutes in Auto mode, this may be due to the power management features.
The V11 takes 4.5 hours to fully charge from empty.
Dust Capacity
The dust capacity of the Dyson V8 is 0.54 Litres, while the V10 and V11 both have an increased dust capacity of 0.76 Litres. This increase is due to the more streamlined design of the later models.
The differing design is also a factor in how the dust bins are emptied. To empty the V8, you have to pull the latch on top of the vacuum and slide up the top part of the cyclones. This releases the dust canister and allows the dirt and debris to fall into the bin.
The V10 and V11 take a different approach when it comes to emptying the dirt bin. All you have to do is hold the vacuum over the bin, slide the catch at the side and the dirt will fall into the bin. The sliding catch actually pushes the dirt to the top of the canister, so you never have to touch the dirt that has been sucked up.
Filtration System
The Dyson V8, V10 and V11 all have whole machine HEPA filtration, meaning it will capture 99.97% of all particles smaller than 0.3 microns. This includes dust, pet dander, and even cold and flu bacteria.
All three vacuums also have a sealed filtration system, which means none of the dirt and dust will escape back into the room. This is especially important if you or anyone in your home suffers from allergies. A lot of vacuum cleaners will aggravate allergy symptoms because they are releasing dirty air back into the room.
The V8 has a central filter as well as HEPA filter. These are both washable and are designed to last the lifetime of the machine. The V10 and V11 have a single HEPA filter which is also washable and will last the full life span of the vacuum.
Dyson V8 vs V10 vs V11: Which One Should I Buy?
When it comes down to it, the main decision on whether to buy the Dyson V8, V10, or V11 will come down to price. All three of these cordless stick vacuum cleaners are capable of being your main vacuum cleaner and will give your floors a thorough clean.
If money is no object to you, then go for the Dyson V11. The power management features, LCD display, and the Torque drive cleaning head all combine to make this the best cordless vacuum on the market today.
The technology in this vacuum is ground-breaking, but more importantly, it actually helps to clean your home more efficiently.
The Dyson V10 is a good choice if you want the latest technology, but want to save a bit of cash. At the time of writing the V10 is over £100 cheaper than the V11. While you don’t get all the latest technology, you still get up to 60 minutes of cleaning time, powerful suction, and a range of feature not included in the V8.
The Dyson V8 does not have the technology and features of the later models, and the cleaning time is also shorter. But it still has that great Dyson suction along with a whole host of accessories and tools.
The V8 is over £100 cheaper than the V10 and is around half the price of the latest V11. This makes it a decent choice if you are on a bit of a budget.
This Dyson V8 vs V10 vs V11 overview should give you an idea of what model to choose. Whatever model you go for, you can be sure that you will be getting a cordless vacuum that meets your needs and keeps your house clean.
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