I’ve become a fan of Dyson since I started reviewing their vacuums 4 years ago. I’ve seen their great efforts to improve product quality over the years, therefore, I always get excited to try new Dyson products. Although Dyson has expanded their product portfolio, vacuum cleaners are still what they are doing best.
The Dyson V8 is the new generation of cordless vacuums and it comes with some notable improvements over its predecessor, the Dyson V6. Is the Dyson V8 Absolute a good upgrade over Dyson V6? Let’s find out in the review.
Video Review
Design & Features
As I expected, the Dyson V8 Absolute comes with all kinds of accessories. Inside the box, you will have the vacuum body, a soft roller cleaner head, a direct-drive cleaner head, a mini motorized tool, a combination tool, a crevice tool, an extension hose, a soft dusting brush, and the docking station.
The variety of attachments makes it the most versatile handheld vacuum but it also causes the storage problem. This is the concern of many consumers, fortunately, you can mount the docking station on the wall to keep the vacuum with the attached extension hose and cleaner head, along with the combination tool and crevice tool. That means I just need to keep away 2 attachments. In real-life usage, I hardly use the direct-drive head because I don’t have any carpet while the mini motorized tool is used occasionally when I clean my sofa or mattress. So, this is actually a very clean setup.
Dyson brings the same design philosophy to the new V8 Absolute. The minimal design and solid build will make it something you can proudly hang on the wall of your living room. We are seeing a similar design with 2-tier radial cyclones, HEPA filters, a red trigger, a big dustbin, and the same plastic exterior.
There are actually some notable changes here. I really love the cordless vacuum because it’s much more portable and I don’t have to deal with the mess of long power cord. I can easily move the vacuum and clean different places in my house. I can also transform it from a full vacuum to a handheld one in seconds. Just press a button and slide the attachment out, then snap another attachment in. The system feels easier and more robust than any other handheld vacuum out there.
The total weight of the vacuum body is 5.75 lbs and I really appreciate that some heads have the brush bar motor, so it feels more balanced when you use the vacuum. In fact, you don’t have to carry that weight, so the vacuum is actually very lightweight and easy to maneuver.
The biggest concern of Dyson vacuums is battery life. Dyson stated that the battery life could last up to 40 minutes, however, it only could last that long with non-motorized attachments in normal mode. When you use the direct-drive or soft roller cleaner head, the battery life is just 25 – 30 minutes in normal mode or 7 minutes in max mode. I find the battery life is good enough for me because the vacuum is powered on only when I press the trigger. So, I can clean the floor in all 4 rooms of my apartment before the battery is drained out.
Another minor but highly-appreciated change is the LED indicator showing the current battery level. There are 3 lights and they will help you know when you need to return it to the charging dock. A full charge will take around 5 hours and all the lights will turn off when the battery is full.
Performance
I tested the Dyson V8 mostly in the max mode because I want to see how it compares to the full-sized upright vacuums. In terms of specs, the handheld cleaner can’t compete with its bigger brother. The V8 has the suction power of 115 Air Watts while bigger vacuums often reach at least twice that power. However, it’s notable that the new motor is significantly more powerful than the one on V6.
Most of the time, I use the vacuum with the wand and soft roller head to clean hard floor. Of course, you can use the direct-drive head but the soft roller head is much more efficient on the wood floor. The head is covered in soft woven nylon and carbon fiber filaments. Even in normal mode, the head can pick up fine dust and large debris very well. When I turn on the max mode, the rolling speed of the head is the same but the suction is a lot more powerful. The vacuum basically sucks everything, including fine dust, cereal, or snacks in one drag, so I’m totally satisfied with its performance. You can see it in action in the video review above.
I tested the vacuum just an hour after I cleaned and mopped the floor. I was very surprised that I still ended up with a lot of dust and hairs inside the dustbin. Emptying the bin is also easier than ever, you’ll just need to pull up the red lever on top, then the bottom trapdoor will open automatically and all the dust will come out.
Conclusion
Pros
- Improved battery life
- Powerful suction
- Full of attachments for different purposes
- Portable
Cons
- Really expensive
The Dyson V8 Absolute has become the new king in the handheld vacuum world. This is a premium product with a hefty price tag, many consumers won’t be able to justify the price, especially if they’ve already owned the V6 vacuum. However, the improvements in battery and suction power are totally worth the upgrade. We at TechWalls strongly recommend the product.
