Ithere’s one name that springs to mind when you think of vacuum cleaners, it’s Dyson.
Just about the only prize this pioneering company won’t win is cheapest vacuum. But then cheapest is rarely the best.
Although they are pricey, Dysons offer superb value for money when you consider the performance and durability you’ll get along with that brand heritage and top-notch functionality.
There’s no single vacuum that claims the prize of best Dyson. That would like comparing apples and oranges. What we have tried to do today is present the results of our long term tests into 10 of the most popular Dysons so you can see which one would most suit your cleaning needs.
WHY BUY A DYSON?
BRAND HERITAGE
Most vacuums are designed as functional tools with no attention paid to the way they look. Dyson has steadily built a very characteristic brand where vacuums don’t compromise aesthetics for performance.
Responsible for about one-quarter of all vacuums sales, Dyson dominates the vacuum industry with a similar presence to Apple. This is largely based on the strength of its brand.
You know you will get a solid warranty and great customer service along with a product that hopefully makes these unnecessary!
In short, Dyson is a brand you can trust.
INNOVATION
From Cinetic science and Radial Root Technology through to the striking but highly effective Ball Technology, Dyson never rests on its laurels.
This constant quest for innovation goes a long way to explaining the stiff price tags. If you want the most bleeding-edge technology, it comes at a serious cost.
Dyson have always looked at problems and solved them in unexpected ways. Whether its maneuverability, suction or weight and balance, innovation is front and center with every Dyson product.
ADVANCED ENGINEERING
It’s pointless getting a vacuum that looks great if it doesn’t perform that way. With Dyson vacuums, you get the best of both worlds.
From whole machine HEPA filtration through to advanced cleaning heads and monstrous suction, everything on a Dyson is built to incredibly exacting standards.
If you want any old vacuum that will just about the do the job, buy any old vacuum and see how well it serves you.
If, on the other hand, you want a wonderful cleaning solution engineered to perfection, think seriously about a Dyson.
We’ll launch into our top rated Dyson vacuum reviews now so you can check out the scope of the entire product line.
TYPE OF DYS
UPRIGHT
Dyson are most famous for their full-bore uprights.
If you want the full Dyson experience, check out these 4 awesome upright below.
CORDLESS STICK
While you might immediately associate Dyson with intimidating and futuristic uprights, they make a fine range of cordless sticks as well.
Not everyone wants the restrictions of a large and heavy corded vac. If you live somewhere with lots of stairs or few power outlets, perhaps in an apartment, a smaller cordless often makes sense.
Maybe you want a secondary vacuum and a cordless gives you added flexibility.
CANISTER
Canisters might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of Dyson but if you want a maneuverable powerhouse from a brand you can rely on, it might be time to consider a canister…
HANDHELD
Realizing that everyone has different cleaning needs, Dyson have rolled out a few handhelds that give exceptional power in an ultra-compact unit.
Whether it’s cleaning up occasional spills or vacuuming inside your vehicle, sometimes you just can’t beat a handheld.
DYSON ROBOT: IS IT WORTH IT?
In a word, no.
If you check out the Dyson 360 Eye Robot vacuum, it comes with too much bad press and too high a price tag for us to recommend it as your best choice of robotic vacuum. This is why we did not review this product in our robotic vacuum guide.
For anyone looking to automate their cleaning, there are much better options at a fraction the price.
BEST DYSON VACUUM REVIEWS
1. DYSON BALL ANIMAL 2
Dyson make the bold claim that no other vacuum offers such powerful suction at the cleaner head.
The Animal is named for its ability to suck up all the mess and hair left behind by your pets. It also hints that this vacuum is rather a beast.
Although it’s bulky at 17 pounds, maneuvering the Animal is a breeze. Instead of traditional wheels, there’s a single large wheel housing. With a lower center of gravity, you’ll be able to zip around furniture with ease.
HEPA filtration throughout means the Animal is ideal for anyone with allergies. The incredibly efficient filter keeps bacteria and allergens safely tucked away.
If you have pets at home, this vacuum is tailor-made. The tangle-free turbine tool is like a mini vacuum with a spinning brush roll. You can pull up even stubborn hair without breaking a sweat.
You’ll get a stair tool and combination tool thrown in as well so you have all main bases covered when it comes to attachments.
The Dyson Animal works well in homes with mixed flooring. Whether it’s gliding across carpet or tiles, wooden or vinyl floors, the Animal has a self-adjusting cleaner head. The plate will lower and rise to seal in suction whatever the floor type.
A quick-release wand lets you take care of all your above-floor cleaning needs.
Bagless like all Dyson vacuums, you simply push a button to empty the dust bin without getting your hands dirty.
There’s a fantastic 5-year parts and labor warranty as with all upright vacuums so you can buy with complete confidence.
If you want a powerhouse vacuum that’s easy on anyone with allergies, zaps up pet hair and takes even heavy-duty cleaning in its stride, check out the Dyson Ball Animal 2.
2. DYSON BALL MULTI-FLOOR 2
At just over 15 pounds, the Dyson Ball Multi-Floor 2 is not quite as heavy as the Animal 2 but it’s still a solid unit.
That innovative ball mechanism leads to a first-rate steering experience. Even though it’s a powerful upright with superb suction, you can dart about the room with ease thanks to this ball.
The detachable wand is a boon for cleaning underneath your furniture or up higher. You get the flexibility of a handheld but the power of an upright in one appealing package.
Handling is equally good on carpets or hard floors. So many homes these days have a combination of surfaces and it’s often not practical to buy two vacuums. With the Multi-Floor 2, as the name suggests, you can get by just fine with one
It should be noted that you might find some resistance on very deep-pile carpet. The exceptional suction can also a bit much for some rugs and carpets. Exercise caution and see how you feel.
With their patented Radial Root Cyclone Technology, Dyson make sure that even the tiniest debris is sucked up. If you’re sensitive, suffer from asthma or any other any other allergies, you’re in safe hands with the Multi-Floor 2.
While the Dyson Ball Multi-Floor 2 isn’t exactly cheap, you’ll have no ongoing running costs due to its bagless nature.
The standard stair tool and combination tool are bundled with this upright.
The standard 5-year Dyson warranty is one of the most solid in the industry. If you run into any problems, you’ll be well taken care of.
For a powerful upright that can swivel on a dime and handle residential or commercial cleaning, the Dyson Ball Multi-Floor 2 is a strong contender for the best Dyson upright.
3. DYSON CINETIC BIG BALL ANIMAL + ALLERGY
Cinetic tips spin around at high velocity. This stops any tiny particles of dust blocking the air flow. This technology took 6 years and more than $200 million in R&D but the result is well worth the time and money.
Nudging 20 pounds, the Big Ball is no lightweight. That familiar single ball ensures that maneuverability is not sacrificed for size and power.
The Cinetic is not only bagless but also filter-free. Dyson continue to push technology as far as they can and the result is stress-free cleaning with no running costs or inconvenience.
As you’d expect from a heavy-duty vacuum, it’s quite noisy. When you use the detachable wand, you can experience a high-pitched wailing so be aware that this is not a vacuum for the light-hearted.
The Cinetic is a flagship model and it comes with a corresponding array of accessories. A reach-under tool is perfect for accessing tight or awkward spots. Suck up any dust and mites from your mattress with a substantial attachment. The multi-angle brush can be twisted into different positions to make light work of above-floor cleaning. The soft dusting brush is great for hard surfaces. There’s a bag provided to keep these extras safe.
Pet owners are in for a treat. The highly capable turbine tool helps you to dispatch any animal hair, dander and mess with absolute ease.
With whole machine HEPA-filtration but no filter to clog up and drag down suction, you get the best of all worlds with the Cinetic.
Moving between surfaces is a cinch thanks to Dyson’s outstanding cleaner head that adjusts automatically to most efficiently clean any kind of flooring.
Emptying the dust containers on bagless vacuums can be irritating. With the Cinetic, there’s no need to get your hands dirty. Hit the button and the dust is history. This is a particularly valuable feature if you suffer from allergies.
The warranty is 5 years for both parts and labor as with all Dyson upright vacuums.
For an extremely capable upright great for households with pets, allergy sufferers and homes with mixed flooring, the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal + Allergy does exactly what it claims in very fine style.
4. DYSON CINETIC BIG BALL ANIMAL
We’ve included this for the sake of completing the range and clearing up any confusion between the models.
This version without the Allergy tagline comes with 4 less cleaning tools. You won’t get the dusting brush, multi-angle brush, mattress tool or reach-under tool.
In all other respects, these Cinetics are the same vacuum.
Think about the difference in price and analyze how important those 4 accessories are you to. Maybe if you suffer from any kind of allergy and you have the cash to spare, the more expensive model makes sense. If you are operating on a stricter budget, this Big Ball Animal more than makes the cut.
5. DYSON V6
If you want to invest in a Dyson without the eye-watering price tag of a large upright, think hard about getting a cordless stick like the V6. A revamped version of the previous DC34, the V6 marries the performance of a much bigger vacuum with the convenience and portability of a cordless.
This base model V6 comes with a motorized cleaning head that helps you get all surfaces sparkling. Whether you’re cleaning carpets, hard flooring, tiles or rugs, the V6 makes light work of everything in its path.
With no cord, you won’t be tethered to a power outlet and you can enjoy much more freedom when cleaning. Fade-free suction will give you around 20 minutes of action on each charge. Battery power is reserved for cleaning so you won’t run out of steam before the job’s done.
The only downside of this battery conservation is the mechanism you’ll need to use. Rather than an on/off switch, you use a trigger instead. This might take some getting used to.
If you need handheld cleaning for the house or car, the detachable wand is a winner.
Dust capacity is limited at 0.4 liters. That said, you should empty bagless vacuums frequently anyway so this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker. As a trade-off, you get an extremely lightweight and well-balanced unit that makes cleaning (almost!) fun.
Dyson tweaked the center of gravity so it’s nearer the grip. This helps you to clean from floor to ceiling without the unit toppling or causing you to strain yourself.
The wall-mounted docking station screws into the wall and stores the vacuum neatly while charging it up. It also holds 2 cleaning attachments. Not only is the V6 small when it’s in use, stashing away is made easier even if you have a small apartment or limited storage space.
For a secondary vacuum or something suitable for smaller homes, the Dyson V6 is a tried and tested classic. Give one a try and free yourself from the tyranny of cords!
6. DYSON V6 ABSOLUTE
With Dyson’s V6 Absolute, the price creeps back up to the expected level.
The direct drive cleaning head offers more performance than the standard V6. Dyson claims it delivers 75% more brush bar power without being so aggressive it will ruin your flooring. This head will force the bristles deep down into the carpet so you can blitz even stubborn or ingrained dirt.
You’ll get a second soft roller cleaner that’s ideal for hard flooring. Suck up both fine dust and bigger debris without any scratching or damage.
As with most Dyson vacuums, you’ll get whole machine HEPA filtration. With radial cyclones and a post-motor filter in a fully sealed system, you won’t find dirty air belching back into the atmosphere. This is excellent news for anyone sensitive or suffering from allergies.
You’ll get the same 20 minute run time and battery expectations with the Absolute which should be adequate for most standard cleaning requirements. Bear in mind that if you slip on the motorized brush heads, this drops to perhaps 15 minutes. Fire up Max mode and you’ll be lucky to get 5 or 6 minutes of juice. There’s no power indicator to let you know the Dyson needs charging. It takes around 4 hours to deliver a full charge.
There are plenty of accessories thrown in. While the V6 Absolute is not cheap, the whole package represents sound value for money. As well as the docking station and additional cleaner heads, you’ll also get a mini motorized tool, combination tool, crevice tool and soft dusting brush. This should be sufficient for pretty much all cleaning applications.
If you want the raw power of a more substantial vacuum without the hassle of a cord or the heavy weight, the V6 Absolute is extremely hard to beat. Road test one today!
7. DYSON V6 ANIMAL
Rounding out our trio of Dyson V6s is the famous Animal. Whether or not you have pets at home, this makes a wise choice for a powerful and capable cordless that’s built to last and able to deal with the messiest clean-ups.
Even though the V8 has now entered the fray, the V6 range remains the best selling cordless on Amazon. You get a slight drop on the usual Dyson prices without compromising quality. It’s no surprise this vacuum continues to fly off the shelves.
In most respects, this vacuum is identical to the cheaper V6. The motor and filtration system are the same. Run time is also 20 minutes and you can switch between 2 speeds just like on the base model.
As far as attachments go, you’ll get the same as the package available with the V6 Absolute so you’re spoiled for choice.
For a super-powerful cordless that is equally at home on carpets or hard flooring, the Dyson V6 Animal will not disappoint.
8. DYSON V8 ABSOLUTE
After an initial 4-hour charge, you’ll get increased run time over the V6 range. The battery will run for a full 40 minutes under normal conditions. If you attach the motorized floor tool, that drops to 25 minutes which is still more than enough for most requirements.
Whole machine HEPA filtration keeps all allergens and contaminant safely sealed away rather than expelled back into the air through the exhaust. If you have asthma or allergies, this is great news.
When compared to the V6, the V8 delivers 150% more brush bar power. This really is a cordless vac like you’ve never experienced.
As with all Dyson cordless vacuums, it rapidly converts to a handheld if you need to take care of any impromptu spills.
15 cyclones, arranged over 2 tiers, work together so that air flow gets a boost while the finest dust is sucked up.
For anyone with limited storage, the docking station can be wall-mounted for a space-saving charging solution.
You get the full range of attachments just like with the V6 Absolute. There’s even a bag supplied so you won’t end up misplacing these nifty accessories.
If you run into any particular tough spots, get 6 or 7 minutes of super-strong suction by hitting Max Power Mode.
Although it’s extremely expensive, if you can stretch to the Dyson V8 Absolute, you’ll be rewarded with a cordless vacuum offering all the performance of a conventional upright without the drawbacks.
9. DYSON BIG BALL ANIMAL
Canisters continue to evolve. Dyson has eliminated the washable filter and this new model harnesses Cinetic science to sidestep the need for any filter. It’s these kind of developments that go some way to explaining the high prices of Dyson vacuums. This kind of technology doesn’t come cheaply.
The design has also been tweaked on this new Big Ball canister. The bin is pushed further back against the ball resulting in an even more compact unit.
One of the inbuilt problems with canisters is their tendency to topple over. The Dyson will right itself rather than tumbling so you can clean without worrying about your vacuum crashing to the ground.
The head is air-powered rather than motorized. With stiff bristles and carbon fiber filaments, you’ll suck up both fine particles and ingrained dirt with ease.
Another improvement over earlier models is an uprated method of dust removal. Rather than a trap door opening, the entire casing moves downwards so cleaning up doesn’t end up causing more mess.
The large single ball means that you can move this canister around like a dream.
An extra-long wand will allow you up to 4 feet more reach so you can take care of all your above-floor cleaning without straining yourself.
You can rotate the articulating handle in 3 directions for maximum flexibility. This also folds down for super-simple storage.
Attachments are generous with a carbon fiber turbine head, a tangle-free turbine tool, a stiff bristle brush, stair tool and awesome combination tool. No stone is left unturned.
For a maintenance-free canister vacuum with no ongoing running costs, the Dyson Big Ball Animal is well worth popping on your shortlist.
10. DYSON V6 TRIGGER
This top-tier handheld, the V6 Trigger, offers triple the suction power of any other handheld on the market thanks to the nimble and powerful motor.
In the interests of accuracy, this is one of the few Dysons that looks great but fails to live fully up to expectations.
The Trigger is designed for both carpets and hard flooring but it really isn’t the most efficient when it comes to sucking up bigger messes. Anything like sawdust or pet hair, and this V6 will start struggling.
With 15 cyclones arranged in 2 tiers, air flow is enhanced and fine dust captured with absolute ease.
Unlike many handhelds, there’s no loss of suction as you clean. The V6 Trigger just keeps on delivering. You can hold it neatly in one hand and the optimized center of gravity means it feels comfortable and easy to maneuver.
The lithium-ion battery yields up to 20 minutes of run time which should be adequate for a handheld. Hit Max Power Mode for a highly concentrated 5 minute burst of power.
Emptying the bin is a slick and clean operation. A one-touch quick release and all debris is ejected into the trash can.
There are 5 models in this range. The other options are:
- V6 Baby + Child
- V6 Top Dog
- V6 Car + Boat
- V6 Mattress
As with many variants of Dyson models, the difference is in the attachments. The base model we tested, the V6 Trigger, comes with nothing but a crevice tool.
If you want a superlight handheld vacuum from an industry giant that doesn’t cost a fortune, think long and hard about the Dyson V6 Trigger. It’s a highly functional piece of kit.
CONCLUSION
We hope that you’ve found this comprehensive guide to the Dyson vacuums has given you plenty of food for thought.
Whether you want to buy your first Dyson or upgrade your existing model, there really is something for everyone in this magnificent range.