Dyson V8 Absolute vs Animal [A Complete Comparison Guide]

As mentioned before, both the Absolute and Animal version comes with the same Dyson V8 with the only exception being an additional accessory for the Absolute series.

Design of the Dyson V8

This Vacuum has a similar design to their predecessors which is upright and slim with the canister being on top, close to the handle instead of being hung in the middle of the vacuum cleaner. They always make sure their vacuum cleaners are compact and lightweight. The handle is also part of a detachable wand that can turn into a handheld vacuum cleaner.

Both V8 Absolute and V8 animal are cordless, and battery powered. The cord-free design makes it easy to clean since you are not restricted to a power outlet. On top of being cordless, both models support stick and handheld operation. The stick operation is great when vacuuming the floor and carpets while the handheld is great when vacuuming sofa, car seats, and tight areas.

The long wand makes it easy to vacuum when standing. The long wand also comes in handy when vacuuming high areas such as the ceiling and walls. The V8 quickly converts to a handheld setup for quick cleanups in the house or the car.

The docking station is installed on the wall which is the home for your vacuum cleaner when not in use. It is also the charging station for your vacuum cleaner, so you can be totally cordless with your vacuum cleaner.

Digital V8 Motor

The secret to the success of the V8 models is largely because of the motor. Dyson knew the secret to a good vacuum cleaner is a powerful motor.

Both the V8 Absolute and V8 Animal are powered by the Digital V8 Motor. This motor spins up to 110,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) (x5 faster than an F1 race car) creating a very powerful suction power of up to 115 Air Watts.  This is sufficient to handle most dirt on all types of floor and surfaces.

Compared to the latest models, there hasn’t been a big change on the rpm for the motors. The V15, V11, V12, and V10 have a motor with 125,000 rpm.

What is Air Watt in a vacuum cleaner?

Air Watt is a measure of the output or suction power of a vacuum cleaner.  While 115AW is not the highest rating among the top upright vacuums, it’s sufficient to clean most dirt from most surfaces.

The latest Dyson models have a higher suction power than the V8 models. For instance,

• Dyson Ball Animal 2 has 270 AW
• Dyson V11 has 185AW
• Dyson V10 Absolute has 150 AW
• Dyson V11 Torque Drive has 185AW
• Dyson V15 has 230 AW

From this you can see where the V8 models sit in terms of suction power. Remember, the V8 models were released in 2016, that’s almost 6 years ago. All these other models were released after V8 with improved suction power.

While the 115 AW suction power is not the highest among other stick vacuums, both V8 Absolute and Animal are strong enough for most dirt in a regular household.

Shopping Tip

Generally, an upright vacuum cleaner should have at least 100 AW and at least 220 AW for canisters. Canister vacuum cleaners require more suction power because dirt must travel through a hose. The same with vacuums with HEPA filtration systems since the air will have to travel through the filtration system.

The Suction power of the Dyson V8

The Dyson V8 claims 150% stronger suction than their V6 and comes with standard as well as maximum mode. It is powered by Dyson digital  V8 motor.

It manages to pick up fine dust on max mode and many more on carpeted floors. You will understand what it does when you look at the results and it’s pretty safe to say you don’t have to go over the same area too many times. The suction power of the Dyson V8, comparable to many other vacuum cleaners.

In fact, for daily home use, the normal suction is good enough with this vacuum cleaner, considering how lightweight and versatile it is. At max mode, the vacuum cleaner runs at 115 AW, however, this mode can be used at the exchange of battery life. It runs for 7 minutes at max mode.

Both the Absolute and Animal Dyson V8 do well on all types of floors with both versions doing well on carpeted floors. The Absolute version gains the upper hand when dealing with hard floors thanks to its soft roller cleaner head.

 

Battery Life of a Dyson V8

With all those powers, you might think that there is a drawback to what this vacuum cleaner can do. Unfortunately, it’s true that Dyson V8 can run for 40 minutes at normal or low mode. If you want to use the maximum mode, which means sucking all that fine dust, you only have 7 minutes. Not very good if you have a lot of cleaning to do.

However, you don’t always need to run the vacuum cleaner at max mode. For example, not all areas have high traffic and you can always run your vacuum at low mode.

Max mode can be used for the main bedroom or living room where kids like to play a lot. The vacuum cleaner’s battery life could be better, but it is enough for most users.

Additionally, you can do your cleaning intermittently since docking the vacuum cleaner is the same as charging it.

Remember to charge the vacuum cleaner for 4 hours before initial use. At the full battery, you will see 3 bars light up on the side of the handheld. When it runs out, the vacuum cleaner immediately stops in its tracks. For the next use, it takes 5 hours to charge the battery.

The battery tends to get weaker with time and you’ll have to replace it after some time. Dyson indicates a vacuum battery should last for at least 2 years. One thing to note is that if you will be mostly using the vacuum on the Max Power mode the battery lifespan will be lower.

What Types of Filter do they use?

These vacuums uses a HEPA filter which means cleaner air out of the vacuum cleaner. The HEPA filter captures allergens and dust which means less sneezing on your side.

Both models have a conical filter that is surrounded by cyclones. This HEPA filter is strategically positioned for easy removal and insertion. Remove both filters and wash them under a running tap. For the prefilter, run water on the outside several times and rinse the excess water when done. For the post-filter shake or tap to remove dirt and run water into the open side until it’s clean.

Dyson recommends washing the filters once a month and placing them in a cool dry place for up to 24 hours before putting them back. The vacuum will recognize if the filter is not completely dry.

The Cyclone technology that Dyson V8 employs is patented and has 15 sets of 15 radial cyclones set under two tiers. This gives the vacuum cleaner its suction power like no other and separates dirt and dust accordingly.

How much do they Cost to Buy

No matter what a product offers, price is always an important determining factor. Dyson absolute costs more than Dyson animal. Check the current prices below

Are they Bagged or Bagless

Both versions are bagless and have a considerably bigger capacity for their canister compared to V6. Which means you can empty the canister fewer times and fewer times for the dust to fly around during emptying. Being bagless is also the feature that many users desire, to improve the convenience of their vacuum cleaner. You also save from having to buy new bags for your vacuum cleaner.

The canister for Dyson V8 holds up to 540 ml or 0.14 gallons of dust and dirt and is equipped with the new ejection system to make it easier to empty. You don’t have to be close to the mouth of the canister which can potentially get dust on your hands. Simply pull up the lever that is on the upper side and push it back in place to lock the cyclone in place.

There is no full indicator on the canister, so you have to manually see and judge if the canister is full.

Dyson’s Versatility to Clean All Areas of your Home

The Dyson V8 comes with a range of tools that allows you to work on various surfaces. Its functionality allows it to clean from the ground up to the ceiling without leaving anything in between. Being an upright vacuum cleaner, they come with a roller brush that works well on both thin and thick carpet. Thanks to being lightweight, it’s possible to lift it up to clean the ceiling and air vents with the motorized brush.

For everything in between, you can detach the wand and turn your Dyson into a handheld vacuum cleaner. The tool range allows you to clean crevices on furniture as well as vacuuming your carpeted stairs. Both Absolute and Animal versions come with a mini motorized brush for pet hairs (which takes up more battery life).

What about hard surfaces? That is where Dyson V8 Absolute comes in as the better candidate. This version comes with a soft roller cleaner head that works best on surfaces like hardwood, which highlights the main difference between the two versions.

Dimension and weight Of the Dyson V8

This Vacuum cleaner is known to be a portable and light weight vacuum cleaner, making it a great choice for cleaning many different surfaces. The weight of the vacuum cleaner comes in at a low 5.75 lbs. This feature also makes it user friendly for anyone who struggles with a bad back or other disabilities.

This particular vacuum cleaner is 49 inches tall. For most users, this is tall enough to allow you to do the vacuuming one handed. Combined with the light weight design, operators will have no problems using this machine for extended periods of time.

There are no differences between Dyson V8 Animal and Absolute in terms of dimension and weight.

Colors of the Dyson Absolute and Animal

The Absolute has a gold extension hose while the Animal model has red and purple options.

Warranty of the Dyson V8

Both Dyson V8 Absolute and Dyson V8 Animal models come with a 2-year limited warranty when used for household cleaning. The warranty is only valid if you bought the vacuum from an authorized dealer.

Inside the box of Dyson V8 Absolute vs Animal

Dyson V8 was the hype when it came out, boasting 150% suction power compared to the V6 and runs for 40 minutes, twice the run time of V6. Let’s start with what you get from the box at opening the packaging of a Dyson V8 Absolute or Animal.

Inside the box of the Dyson V8 and Animal:

• Detachable wand to turn the vacuum cleaner into a handheld mode.
• Crevice tool:The crevice tool is designed for cleaning hard-to-reach areas such as narrow spaces and below objects. This tool can access areas as small as 0.5” wide and will go deep up to 7” inside. This is what you should use on areas such as between cushions, baseboards, and between car seats.
• Motorized brush bar
• Combination dusting tool:The combination tool is a combination of brush and wide nozzle. This tool switches easily from cleaning to dusting using a simple switch. For dusting, push the button and the nylon bristles will move forward. When cleaning, the brushes retract back exposing the wide nozzle.
• Mini motorized brush bar for pet hairs:The mini motorized tool uses stiff nylon bristles and comes in handy when cleaning pet hair, human hair, lint, and other dirt from sofas, car seats, mattresses, upholstery, and other tight spaces. This tool maintains a strong suction even when placed on tight angles.
• Mattress tool
• Docking and charging station that can be installed on the wall:You also get a docking station and charger. The docking station is supposed to be fixed on the wall using holes. There is also a charger if you don’t want to use the docking station.
• Hose extension

V8 Animal and V8 Absolute are basically twins. Not only do they have the same specs they also come with the same attachments. The only major difference is that the Absolute comes with an additional cleaner head.

Soft roller cleaner head that comes with the Dyson Absolute

The soft roller cleaner head is made for vacuuming hard floors. It vacuums dirt of all sizes including the finest dust while remaining gentle on the floor. This cleaner utilizes a roller instead of a brush. This design makes it possible to vacuum both debris and dust simultaneously. Detaching the soft roller is easy and does not require tools.

 

Dyson also seems to have a special interest in the Absolute. That’s why there is a lot of hype around it. There is now a V8 Absolute with the latest technology. It comes with unique attachments that include:

• Motorbar cleaner head
• Fluffy cleaner head
• Hair screw tool
• Fabric and mattress tool
• Stubborn dirt brush
• Up-top adaptor