The Dyson V8 has an impressive 40-minute run time, HEPA filtration, hygienic dustbin emptying, and top-tier performance on hard floors and carpet.
We think the Dyson V8 is still the best bang for your buck even after the release of the V10 and V11.
Pros- 40 minutes of run time when using a non-motorized tool; 30 minutes when using the soft roller cleaner head
- HEPA Filtration
- Lightweight with strong performance on bare floors and low to high-pile carpet
- Versatile cleaning with the handheld
- Attach the cleaner head directly to the handheld for vacuuming stairs and vehicle interiors
- The most hygienic dustbin emptying mechanism on the market
- Washable Filter
- You can’t swap out the battery for longer run time
- Doesn’t stand up on its own
- Relatively Expensive
There are a lot of things that Dyson got right with the V8 and that’s why it still sits in a sweetspot when it comes to performance and price. The most compelling reasons to buy the V10 or V11 over the V8 is, in our opinion, longer battery life and 40% larger dustbin.
Here’s a quick glance at the maximum runtime for each Dyson cordless stick model.
| Dyson V6 | Dyson V8 | Dyson V10 | Dyson V11 | |
| Max Run Time | 20 minutes | 40 minutes | 60 minutes | 60 minutes |
Now, when you see these numbers remember this is the max run time when not using a motorized tool. For the V8, using the soft roller cleaner head reduces the runtime to about 30 minutes, while the V10 gets about 40 minutes with the same cleaner head.
It’s a clear improvement, but whether or not it’s worth the cost difference is up to you.
Design
The design of the Dyson V8 is most similar to the Dyson V6 as they both have the bottom hatch release dustbin and overall are mostly indistinguishable at a glance. The newer Dyson V10 and V11 have a very different dustbin that requires you to detach the handheld from the wand and cleaner head to open the dustbin for emptying.
While this different dustbin design on the V10 allowed Dyson to add 40% more capacity for holding dirt, it made the dustbin a bit awkward to open. Many reviewers feel the same way about the dustbin changes and tend to favor the Dyson V8 when it comes to this feature. For example, Modern Castle has an extensive review of the Dyson V8 and V10 and demonstrate this in their video review.
About the Dyson V8 Dustbin
No matter what the manufacturers seem to say, it’s never as easy as just pushing a button and everything falling in the trash. You end up digging around to get tangled up hair and fibers free from the filter and wall of the dustbin.
This is not the case with the Dyson V8 Absolute.
The entire handheld body lifts out of the dustbin and effortlessly releases all the debris. If you allow the dustbin to get over full, it may not be this easy, but it’s way ahead of any other easy-release mechanism in other bagless vacuums.
The other great features listed above are a minimum for what you would expect for the price of the Dyson V8 Absolute. On top of all that, you want reliability.
According to Dyson, all the components in the Dyson V8 and V6 vacuum cleaners are designed to last 10 years. However, they only offer a warranty for 2 years.
Read our suggestions below for regular maintenance to help take care of your Dyson V8.
Performance
The Dyson V8 Absolute has impressive suction power and has about 150% more brush bar power than the Dyson V6.
Dyson goes an extra step to maximize the runtime of their 2-in-1’s by using a trigger mechanism to power the vacuum instead of a simple on/off button. This somewhat forces the user to focus on spot cleaning with the vacuum since holding the trigger can be tedious if you’re vacuuming a large area.
The main idea is that while the vacuum is being powered it is cleaning with purpose. There also is no warm-up time, so when you pull the trigger, the vacuum is ready to go.
Now:
The thing that makes a 2-in-1 great is being able to clean more than just the floor. The mini motorized brush attachment is absolutely necessary for cleaning upholstery. Just like carpet, and agitating brush frees up debris caught in fibers so much easier than trying to use just a static brush attachment.
Removing the pipe from between the cleaner head and handheld and directly attaching the two is also an option. This is great for stairs since the width of the cleaner head is close to that of a typical stair step.
Carpet Performance
Dyson claims that the V8 Absolute has a 150% increase in brush roll power over the Dyson V6 Cord-free.
Since the brush roll performance mainly impacts carpet, this is one more reason to favor the V8 Absolute over the other V6 series vacuums if the majority of your home is carpeted.
The Dyson V8 Absolute is excellent on carpet.
Bare Floor Performance
The additional soft roller cleaner head was invented for hard floors, and removes fine dust as well as large debris.
You don’t want a brush spinning when vacuuming hard floors, but suction alone isn’t enough to pick up fine dust that clings to hard floors. Dyson did a great job designing a brush that solves this problem.
So while the added power of the V8 doesn’t improve much for bare floor cleaning, the specially designed brush roll is the best 2-in-1 vacuum tool for bare floors.
Attachments
The Dyson 2-in-1’s can also be considered a handheld with 2 attachments that turn it into a stick vacuum. The pipe that extends from the handheld to the cleaner head can be removed and the cleaner head simply attached to the handheld.
The V8 Absolute also comes with the mini motorized brush, which is also included with the V6 Animal and V6 Absolute.
- Crevice Tool
- Combo Brush and Crevice Tool
- You have the option of attaching the cleaner head directly to the handheld.
- Mini motorized brush
- Soft dusting brush
- Additional cleaner head for bare floors
Stairs
This is where you will want to consider attaching the cleaner head directly to the handheld.
The width of the cleaner head is almost the width of a typical stair step, so it’s a piece of cake to knock out a staircase with this 2-in-1.
Battery & Runtime
- 40 minutes (with the handheld)
- Lithium Ion Battery
- 3.5 Hour charge time
The runtime of the Dyson 2-in-1’s have been a sore spot, but the V8 Absolute sets itself apart with a 40-minute runtime.
You won’t get 40 minutes in its stick vacuum form with the motorized cleaner head running, but Dyson guarantees 25 minutes. The 40 minutes is with just the handheld. Driving the motorized brush eats a lot of battery life.
A lot of 2-in-1’s have 5 to 9 hour charge times, which when you only get 15-20 minutes of use, is horrendous. Dyson hits a sweet spot of compromise with the V6 series.
Battery Replacement: The battery is built into the unit, but it is possible to take the unit apart and remove it. This is best done by a certified technician to preserve your warranty, but if it’s over 2 years old, then there’s no harm in doing it yourself if you have the tools and know-how.
Dyson even has a video demonstrating how to remove the battery. This video is of the Dyson V6 Cord-free, but the process in similar for all of the Dyson 2-in-1’s.
Filtration
There are two filters in the Dyson V8 Absolute. The first is the same as those in the V6 Models, which is in the center of the handheld body and is easily removed from the top.
The second filter is a HEPA filter located on the back of the handheld at the air exhaust. It is also washable.
Dyson recommends washing the filters once a month, then letting it dry for 24 hours.
Pet Hair
As you can see from the video below, pet hair gets taken care of very well on carpet. Due to the size of the dustbin, you will want to keep an eye on the max fill line.
Again, the problem isn’t picking it up it’s where to put it. These 2-in-1 cordless vacuums are just not meant for heavy duty cleaning. If you deal with lots of pet hair, then you’re going to be disappointed.
If you want to use a vacuum like this, but also have lots of pet hair to deal with, then just vacuum more often. That’s what’s great about cordless vacuums: there is much less work to do to get started. So you will likely find yourself cleaning more often and dealing with much less pet hair at once.
Regular Maintenance & Clog Removal
The Dyson V8 Absolute has an improved release mechanism for the dustbin. Most bagless vacuums, despite manufacturers claims, are just not as simple as pushing a button to release the dustbin. Dyson’s improvement is to actually use the release of the dustbin to pull debris away from the filter intake.
After each use, make sure any strings or hair wrapped around the brush roll are removed. Clean the filter cup and shake out the filter.
If you noticed reduced suction, check for clogs around the entrance to the pipe at the vacuum head and the dustbin. Remove clogs as early as possible to prevent damage to the motor.
Dyson recommends:
- Wipe out the dustbin with a damp cloth
- Wash the filter once a month and let dry for 24 hours
Check this out:
This video shows how easy it is to release the dustbin, and you can see how it’s possibly the best release mechanism of any bagless vacuum.
Customer Reviews
The V8 Absolute has longer battery life, 27% larger dustbin, and a truly easy-release dustbin.
These are definitely upgrades that are focused on the problem areas than many users have with the V6 series vacuums.
Most users agree that this vacuum is the pinnacle of cordless vacuums.
Still, the dustbin is quite small. Users don’t see a huge increase in performance over the higher end V6 vacuums, such as the V6 Absolute or V6 Animal.
So while the leap in suction power isn’t huge, the added battery life and slightly larger dustbin help correct some of the issues with the V6 series.
The question is really whether or not the additional cost is worth it to you.
Warranty & Customer Service
Problems with batteries are so common with any appliance that relies on them.
Some users report their battery failing after the 30 day return period, but still within the 2-year warranty. We asked Dyson the following,
“… I would like to know if Dyson replaces the battery if it doesn’t hold a charge within the 2-year warranty period.”
and their response,
“…The cordless vacuum and all of its parts are engineered to last at least 10 years. The 2-year manufacturer warranty covers parts and labor for manufacturer defect from the date of purchase when used for private household purposes in accordance with the Operating Manual.”
So they expect the unit to last at least 10 years, but as everyone knows some defects occur in manufacturing. Dyson responds very well to these issues and offers to fix the problem. Dyson has great support and responsiveness to customer inquiries. You shouldn’t have any issues getting Dyson to honor their warranty if an issue occurs with your unit.
Similar Products
- Dyson V6 Motor Head Cord-free Vacuum
- Dyson V6 Animal Cord-free Vacuum
- Dyson V6 Absolute Cord-free Vacuum
Specifications
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Form Factor | 2-in-1, Stick |
| Bagless | Yes |
| Cordless | Yes |
| Brush Height Adjustment | No |
| Battery Type | Lithium Ion |
| Multi-Floor Option | Yes |
| Charge Indicator | Yes |
| Weight | 5.75 lbs |
| Runtime | 40 minutes (25 minutes with motorized brush attached) |
| Filter | HEPA |
| Charge Time | 3.5 Hours |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Model | V8 Absolute |