Although the cordless V6 was (until recently) the undisputed king of wire-free vacuum cleaners, there were a few which always complained about the relatively “limited” operating time and the “small” size of the bin. For me, 20 minutes is more than enough time to vacuum my entire house, but for some, this wasn’t OK. Dyson pledged their ears to consumers and came up with the V8, their latest cordless vacuum cleaner. Several design twists mix together to create a machine like no other. Unlike its predecessors, the V8 can be successfully compared with some of the most common uprights on the market. The only difference is that is weights 15 lbs. less.
This unit was just released in UK in 2 series: Animal and Absolute. Why UK first?, you may ask. A legitimate question which demands an informed answer. I believe this is actually a smart strategy. Dyson is using smaller markets, like the way it did with the 360 Eye robot (which was released in Japan a while ago), and is evaluating the way consumers receive their creations, before plunging into bigger economies. Don’t despair! We expect these products to hit the US market by the end of this fall.
Today, not only I’m going to talk about the main specs of the most complete model, the Dyson V8 Absolute, I’m also going to compare it to the V6 Absolute which I’ve reviewed a while ago.
Looks
At first sight, not much seems to be improved since the V6. What strikes is the powerful orange color which suggests energy:
Specifications
| Suction power | Comes with the same fade-free suction technology, which means the suction will be consistent and will not degrade over time. It also uses a new motor, the V8 (whereas its name). The vacuum cleaner provides a suction of 115AW in boost mode, with 15AW more than the V6. |
| Input power | This cordless has almost twice as much stamina as its predecessors. It's powered by new lithium ion batteries which enable it to run up to 25 minutes (with a brushroll mounted), or 40 minutes with the combination or rigid crevice tools. A led indicator gives you a visual indication of the remaining cleaning time. In boost mode, the unit lasts 7 minutes. |
| Dust capacity | The bin capacity increased from 0.11 gallons to 0.15 gallons. It's still small, compared to a full sized upright, but it's enough for most vacuuming chores and the good thing is that you'll be emptying it less often than you would a V6. Dyson also deployed a new dirt releasing system which makes things easier. |
| Filtration system efficiency | It's not HEPA certified, if that is what you are seeking, which is odd since its V6 counterpart is. The whole machine is sealed and thanks to the 2 tiers of cyclones, more than 99.9% of the particles smaller than 0.3 microns are filtered. Most likely the V8 will get the HEPA by the time it reaches US. |
| Weight and Dimensions | Due to the recent additions (among which the battery matters the most), it's a bit heavier than the V6 (5.1 lbs.), weighting 5.7 lbs. The change seems minor to me. The dimensions are also similar to the previous cordless version: 9.8 x 49 x 8.8 inches. |
| Warranty | The company offers a 2-year warranty on all Dyson V8 vacuum cleaners. |
| Accessories | Besides the 2 brushrolls, the box contains 3 attachments: - the combination tool - the rigid crevice tool - the Mini Motorised Tool |
| Special features | 2-tier radial cyclones - As you may already know, cyclones and tiers usually work hand in hand to increase air flow and capture fine dust. The Dyson V8 has 15 cyclones arranged across two tiers that perfectly perform this duty. Convenient Docking Station - A complete docking station allows you to store, charge or hold any other additional attachments that come with the unit. This docking station is also convenient for anyone who values their time since storing it here makes it ready to use at any time. As soon as the battery gets filled, the docking station stops the charging process. |
| Usability | The V8 is easy to use, versatile and ergonomic. The suction remained trigger powered. The attachments can be easily swapped. A light clicking sound allows you to know when they are in their place. The unit can also be used as a handheld. The best part is that the V8 is 50% quieter than its predecessors, despite its added power, making the whole cleaning experience a little more pleasant. |
| Price |
The Dyson V8 comes with 2 brushrolls, designed to tackle different types of floors. The direct drive cleaner head that has the ability to dive its bristles deep into the carpet fibers. As presented by the producer itself, this brush has 150% more power, as compared to the one mounted on the V6 Animal. The soft roller head is specifically made for hard floors. This nozzle removes dirt remains and fine dust from bare floors.
The unit can be converted to clean high areas, as it is light and well balanced for both ceiling and floor cleaning. Moreover, it can be transformed into a handheld. You are able to quickly clean difficult to reach places (such as under car seats), perform spot cleaning and also quick clean ups.
Here’s my VGM (VacuumsGuide.com Mark):
Pros
- Light weight, obviously.
- Versatile and flexible.
- More powerful than its predecessors.
- Extended battery life and easy recharge option.
- Quieter than others (70db).
Cons
- Expensive, obviously.
- Needs frequent emptying.
Dyson V6 Absolute vs Dyson V8 Absolute
| Dyson V6 | Dyson V8 | |
 |  | |
| Max suction power | 100 AW | 115 AW |
| Weight | 5.1 lbs | 5.7 lbs |
| Dust capacity | 0.11 gallons | 0.15 gallons |
| Color | Purple Red | Gold Yellow |
| Filters | Whole-machine HEPA filtration | Whole-machine filtration |
| Noise level | 75db | 70db |
Conclusion
This cordless may not be a total steel, but its the best cordless money can buy at moment. I look forward to seeing this on the market. I think this unit truly is one of the best products ever created by Dyson. I am really glad they are improving their cordless line, and I hope you feel the same. As for the price, we are all waiting for that BF deals and prey that Dyson gets generous and throws some discounts every once in a while. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted.
Jason Roberts
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Solom says
UK prices normally include VAT, which is 20% on most goods.
https://www.gov.uk/vat-rates
Therefore, I would expect US prices to be 20% lower, since they don’t reflect sales tax.
Thanks for the informative reviews.
Irene Barrowman says
Hi Jason, Found your blog when looking for comparisons. I’m totally bamboozled with the choice of vaccuum’s. I have had my dyson dc04 absolute for over 10 years and am pleased with cleaning. Easy to dismantle as well as use, but it’s heavy and old now. I am looking for a new cleaner, was going for dyson but I have just seen an ad for shark. I was looking at the V8 absolute. Costly, but I know it will last for years.I am concerned about usage time and having to constantly empty it. The shark lift away looks very bulky. Is there a cordless version? Do I go cordless? Help me please!
Jason Roberts says
As far as cordless goes, the Dyson V8 is the absolute (literally). At the moment, I can’t think of a better cordless. As for the decision to change from corded to cordless models, it depends a lot on the type of home you have. You might want to opt for a corded model if you have a large house, with different types of surfaces.
Irene says
Thank you. I have upstairs and downstairs and not a lot of storage space. I just think there’s too many now to choose from. There is also another vacuum in the UK. The vetch ram. Have you heard of it. It’s cordless and gives you up to 1 Hour cleaning apparently.
Jason Roberts says
You mean the G-tech AirRam? I think the V8 is far more usable than the AirRam.
Paul says
It’s that time of year. I was searching for a fan, how did I find this vaccum? And I almost bought the v6 slim! Well, I’m going to miss my moms birthday because I will have to save up until next month for this. Over-priced like apple but if there is one pet peeve I have in life, is a vaccum that’s heavy and bulky and doesn’t work properly.
Everybody has one of those! I always ask if it doesn’t work why not through it away! People get so pissed about their vacuums. I come home from my roommates to my fathers and had another big bulky cheap I don’t know what era, but I am supposed to lug that thing up and down steps? Come on! I slammed it on the ground to break it as best I could. The next day it’s sitting up on his garage work bench. I smirked I know you’re not going to fix that dinosaur. Why not bring it to the burn pit!
I don’t understand people. There’s not a spec of carpet in this house. Thx for reading!