Dyson Cordless Vacuums Compared: V6 vs. V7 vs. V8 vs. V10 vs. V11 vs. V15

Dyson has been on the market since 1991. Since its establishment, the company has been producing one of the best products in the industry including cordless vacuum cleaners. Starting at 20 minutes in a row, the company releases new and improved old technologies and the newest models are capable of cleaning for more than 60 minutes before they need to recharge.

The Dyson's "V" Series stands for cordless stick vacuums. These are cordless-free and easy to use as they are always ready to go. Other cordless vacuum cleaners might provide good performance on max mode when the Dyson cleaners give enough power even in low settings.

Dyson V6 vs. V7 vs. V8 vs. V10 vs. V11 vs. V15 comparison chart

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Which Dyson is right for you?

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Cleaning heads: Motorized cleaner head vs. Direct-Drive cleaner head vs. Torque Drive

The oldest models have a motorized cleaner head. It is good for agitation but since it's old it is not as good as the newer upgraded heads. The newer Dyson cleaners have a direct-drive head. It has stiff bristles and a 75% bigger brush bar compared to the Dyson V6. The latest Dyson cordless vacuums are equipped with a Torque-drive head that offers 25% better cleaning performance compared to the direct-drive head (according to Dyson).

Those heads do the job on carpets and hard floors as well but on hard floors, they struggle with large debris and tend to scatter them around.

There is also a soft roller. The soft roller is the best solution for hard floors as it picks up even the largest debris on hard floors and is quieter than motorized heads. It is not made for carpets but is essential on hard floors.

If you mostly have a mixed surface, you probably would not switch between the two heads but for hard floors only, it is highly recommended to buy a modification with a soft roller or get one optionally.

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What Are The Differences between Motorhead, Animal, and Absolute models? 

In terms of features and specifications, the Dyson Motorhead, Animal, and Absolute are the same except for the Dyson V10 which has some differences between the modifications.

The Motorhead modification comes with one carpet brush and basic accessories.

The Animal normally has about the same accessory kit as the Absolute edition except for the soft roller cleaner head.

The Dyson Absolute has the biggest accessory kit and also includes a soft roller for hard floors.

There is also an Animal+ modification that has the accessories of the Animal modifications with an additional flexi crevice tool.

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Dyson V6: Motorhead vs. Slim vs. Fluffy vs. Animal vs. Absolute

The Dyson V6 model line has the most modifications.

None of the Dyson V6 is HEPA, except for the Absolute version that has a HEPA filter and is safe for allergy and asthma sufferers

• Dyson V6 Motorhead: it comes with a motorhead cleaning brush that has more agitation and is ideal for carpet cleaning. However, we wouldn't recommend using it on bare floor because you can not turn the head off. The Motorhead can be used on a small area of messes.
• Dyson V6 Slim: the V6 Slim comes with a mini motorized cleaning head. It is 4,5 lbs. This vac is equipped with a motorized cleaner head and a combination tool. Not suitable for carpets.
• Dyson V6 Fluffy: it comes with a roller head only, no brush with stiff bristles for carpet cleaning. Ideal for bare floors.
• Dyson V6 Animal: the V6 Animal is a Motorhead with more attachments. Both have the same direct-drive bristle brush, but the Animal has two extra tools – a mini-motorized head and a soft dusting brush.
• Dyson V6 Absolute: it comes with the big two cleaning heads, the soft roller, and a motorized cleaner head. Only the Absolute version comes with a HEPA filter.

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Dyson V7: Fluffy vs. Motorhead vs. HEPA vs. Animal/Animal Pro+

The V7 modifications have the same cleaning performance. They all come with a different accessory pack.

The Dyson V7 is not suitable for homes with hard floors only

The dustbin is highly recommended to be emptied after each use.

The Dyson V7 is not suitable for people with allergy or asthma

The Dyson V7 is the only model that does not have an Absolute version with a soft roller for solid floors.

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Dyson V8 model line comparison: V8 Animal/Animal+ vs. Absolute

All Dyson V8 modifications have a HEPA.

Dyson V8 is safe for allergy sufferers because of HEPA filtration

The Dyson V8 Absolute comes with a soft roller cleaner head, which is designed specifically for cleaning hard floors which makes it uitable for any surface.

The Dyson V8 Animal+ has an additional tool to the standard Animal version. It does not have a soft roller but has more additional accessories for different purposes.

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Dyson V10 model line: Motorhead vs. Animal vs. Absolute vs. Total Clean

The Dyson V10 is the only one in the lineup with a Motorhead modification that has a smaller dustbin than the others. According to Dyson, the torque drive cleaner head removes 25% more dust than the Dyson V8.

The Dyson V10 vacuums have HEPA filtration and are ideal for people with allergy

So what are the differences between the Dyson V10 Absolute vs. Animal vs. Motorhead?

They weigh about the same, and have the same dustbin size, except for the Motorhead version which has a smaller dirt box. The V10 modifications have different accessory kits.

The Dyson V10 Absolute includes the most accessories and has a larger than the Motorhead dustbin. Dyson V10 Absolute comes with a torque drive cleaner head, soft roller cleaner head, mini soft dusting brush, mini motorized tool, crevice tool, and combination tool.

The Dyson V10 Animal has about the same accessory kit but lacks a soft roller.

The Dyson V10 Motorhead has only basic accessories and a slightly smaller dust bin. It comes with a Direct Drive cleaner head instead of the Torque Drive which is more effective on both surfaces.

The Dyson V8 is a great device for the price, good for small and average homes with hard floors and carpets. It is not as powerful as the Dyson V10 which means you might need to do a few passes to achieve the same cleaning results you would do with the V10 after fewer attempts.

The Dyson V10 is when good becomes better. If you want more suction as if you have mostly high-pile carpets and pets and want the vacuum to suck it all, the V10 would be the best. Since it lasts longer, it is also more suitable for bigger homes & because of having a bigger dustbin, the V10 is essential for pet owners.

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Dyson V11 model line: Torque Drive vs. Animal vs. Absolute/Absolute+

The Dyson V11 has smart surface identification and a built-in display. Lasting up to 80 minutes on one charge, the Dyson V11 has one of the most efficient battery life in the business. The same Torque Drive head has a sensor that boosts suction into Max when recognizes carpets.

Automatically boosts suction on carpets

The display has a countdown timer that shows estimated cleaning time and maintenance information, allowing switching between cleaning modes.

When it comes to the Dyson V11, it has some differences between the models depending on different options. They all have the same suction power and battery life and overall perform similarly. Also, the same as with other older models, the Dyson V11 versions have a different accessory pack. The Torque Drive and Animal options are available to buy on the US market while the Animal and Absolute are on sale on the European market. There is also a special edition, the Dyson V11 Absolute+.

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive has many additional accessories but it lacks the soft roller. The Torque Drive Head, however, works great on bare floors, it only struggles with big particles such as cereals, but it just takes a bit more time to suck them up. The Torque Drive model has an LCD display with a countdown timer, cleaning modes, etc. If you live in a big house with carpets mostly, have pets and first of all, live in the US, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive is for you.

Keep in mind; you can always buy the Soft-Roller Head separately.

The Dyson V11 Animal is available to buy in every part of the world. It lacks a stubborn dirt brush which might not be a big deal and also does not have a soft-roller brush. It is equipped with a Direct Drive Cleaner Head instead of the Torque Drive Cleaner Head and has a different type of display. The LED screen does not have a countdown timer, but you still would be able to see estimated battery life through a battery level indicator. And the Dyson V11 Animal costs $100 less than the Torque Drive version.

The Dyson V11 Absolute, unfortunately, is not presented on the US market but Europeans can buy it on Amazon. Equipped with an LCD display that has all the same features as the LED screen; it shows estimated battery life through a countdown timer. The only model that includes a soft-roller head in the box and has the highest price tag. The vacuum cleaner is ideal for both surfaces: carpet and hard floors.

The Dyson V11 Absolute+ has the accessory pack of the Absolute original, lacks the quick-release mini stiff bristle brush but adds a floor dock that helps to store your vacuum in one place on the floor. The Absolute version is ideal if you mostly have hard floors.

Dyson V11 Outsize

The Dyson Outsize has a large dustbin and detachable batteries so you can swipe one with another if needed. Another thing is size and weight, it is bigger than the standard V11, and the cleaning head is wider which helps to get the deeds done faster. The Dyson V11 Outsize Origin has fewer accessories and also comes with one battery instead of two having up to 60 minutes of runtime.

The cleaner made for large houses

Read more about the difference between the standard Dyson V11 and Outsize.

Compared to the Dyson V11 Standard, the Dyson V11 Outsize is made for big homes with a large cleaning area, and also homes with high-pile carpets mostly.

Dyson V15 Detect

The Dyson V15 Detect has more power compared to the standard V11 and comes with lots of attachments including a roller brush that wasn't an option for the previous V11 (or at least in the US). Unlike the V11 which boosts suction on carpet, the V15 increases power in dusty areas. A roller brush has LED lights that help to track dust and debris.

Overall, the Dyson V15 puts lots of value on the price considering its features and an attachment set.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim

The Dyson Detect Slim is a smaller version of the V15. It does not perform as well on carpets as the V15 but is still pretty useful for all surfaces. It also has LED light on the soft roller and is very good on hard floors. If you want a lighter version for some carpet areas and mostly hard floors, the Dyson V12 is a perfect option.

Dyson Omni-Glide vs. Micro

The Dyson Omni-Glide, as well as Micro, are not available to buy right now. However, those are two very different from the V series models. Those two are made for hard floors only and do not include a standard roller. The Omni-Glide is made to be very maneuverable; the Micro is the most lightweight on the market. However, with the small size, it has reduced the dustbin size too which means it is not meant to be for big or heavy jobs.

Both cleaners do the job of picking up even the largest debris on hard floors but are not made for carpets.

They show the same cleaning results on hard floors and the same power numbers which is lower than average but taking into account that for hard floor cleaning, the vacuum does not have to be very powerful, as the models do perfectly fine picking up everything.

The Dyson Omni-Glide and Micro are good for homes with hard floors only but since they have a small battery, they are rather good for small cleaning areas.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to hold the trigger as I vacuum?

Yes, the Dyson does not have a trigger lock.

2. I have a parrot, two dogs, and a cat. Which model do I need to buy to stop stressing about pet hair?

The Dyson V11 Outsize has the biggest container but worth it if you have a big house. Otherwise, the V10 and V11 would be good for your scenario as you need a big container that holds pet hair.

3. My house is two levels with about 1,100 sqft each. The second floor is all carpets. Do I need to buy the most expensive Dyson?

The Dyson V10 would be suitable as it lasts up to 60 minutes. Should be enough for such area. It is also good for carpets. If you want smart features such as a display and carpet boost, consider getting the V11.

4. I live in a small apartment with some rugs and mostly thin carpets. Would the Dyson V7 be good for my place?

The Dyson V7 is really good for homes with carpets. It does the job on hard floors too so if you have a small area of solid floors and mostly carpets, the V7 is a good buy.

5. I already have the Dyson V10. Is the V11 worth upgrading?

If you want a display and carpet identification then yes. If you are satisfied with the cleaning results of your V10 then probably no.

6. Does a Dyson stand on its own?

No, it does not. It can be hanged on the wall tho.

7. I have a shaggy carpet in my bedroom. Other carpets are thick too but this one is the shaggiest. Which one would do deep cleaning?

Have a look at the Dyson V10 or V11. Those have the strongest suction and would be able to deep clean even a shaggy carpet. Can be tough to move on one tho as the suction is strong but totally worth it if you need deep clean.

8. I want a Dyson with a floor attachment for wood floors.

Any Dyson Absolute modification comes with a floor attachment for wood floors (soft roller).

9. Does it adapt to carpets? I don't want to switch between the cleaning modes as I vacuum.

The Dyson V11 adapts suction power to a carpeted surface.

10. Can I use it on wet spills?

It might damage the vacuum's motor so we do not recommend using it on wet spills.

11. What is the difference between the Dyson V10 and V11?

The Dyson V11 has stronger suction, an LCD display, and smart carpet identification. In the US the V11 lacks a modification with a soft roller tho.

The Dyson V11 Outsize has swappable batteries and is ideal for big houses. Also comes with a wider cleaning head and is the most powerful in the industry.

12. I have mostly hard floors, would it be better if I get the Dyson V11 Torque Drive or go for the Dyson V10 Absolute? Price is about the same.

For hard floors, we recommend getting one with a soft roller in the box. This would be the Dyson V10 Absolute. If you want a display, consider getting the V11 and buy the soft roller separately.

13. The Dyson V10 Motorhead costs the same as the V8 Absolute. Any reason to buy the V8 over the V10?

The Dyson V10 Motorhead is good to buy if your place is mostly covered with carpets.

The V8 Absolute is great if you have 50/50 hard floors and carpets.

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