If you’re familiar with the rich history of vacuum cleaners then you probably know that Dyson was the first brand that introduced bagless vacuum technology to the world.
More than 3 decades ago James Dyson believed in his invention so much that even if it took him over five thousand tries, it didn’t deter him from perfecting from what would be a revolutionary concept.
Related: You can also find the best Dyson deals here to get the best price possible on various Dyson products.
Today nearly all brands have a bagless vacuum in their product line. Oh, how times have changed.
Let’s focus right now with the cordless product line of Dyson.
It started with the DC35 all the way now to the V6 line and now the new V8 series.
What I’ll do here is compare the oldest model all the way to the latest product to help you get a feel how these are different and help you with your purchase.
Disclaimer: Please use the prices I will mention below only as a guide. As we all know, prices in Amazon and other online stores will change over time with new product releases and such.
DC35 vs DC44
The DC35 is similar to the DC30, 31 and 34 but it came with an updated V2 motor, an extension wand (that basically transforms this to a stick vacuum) and a 22.4 volt lithium ion battery.
A handheld version is also available. Dyson calls this the DC34 and it’s around 40% cheaper. But this variant doesn’t come with the extension wand and floor tool.
The only tools that come with it are the crevice and combination tool. Between the two, I’d go for the DC35 because it offers more flexibility.
Tools that come with the DC35 include the crevice, combination and floor tool plus an extension wand.
It uses a 22.4 lithium ion battery that runs for 15 minutes. A max function is also available that almost triples the power output but reduces run time down to 6 minutes.
The DC44 is a slight improvement over the DC35. Instead of the 15 minute run time, Dyson was able to eke out an additional 5 minutes from it. Run time in max mode is up to 8 minutes.
It comes with the same attachments and a mini motorized brush tool that will help you pick up pet hair and dirt on upholstery.
Price wise, both models are just a few dollars apart.
Surprisingly the DC35 is a bit more expensive.
If I had to choose between the two I’d pick the DC44 because it has a slightly longer run time. And it comes with an extra tool – a mini motorized brush that helps save time cleaning upholstery.
Comparing the DC35 and DC44’s Spec Sheet
DC44 vs DC59
The DC59 represents the first significant upgrade since Dyson introduced their cordless stick vacuum line.
Currently there are two variants available right now – the DC59 Animal and the DC59 MotorHead.
Update (April 12, 2017): The DC59 and V6 are exactly the same machine just different branding. Right now, the V6 has around 10 different variants with varying tool sets depending on the need of the consumer.
DC59 comes with the same V6 motor as the Dyson V6. It has more power compared to the older V2 motor found in the DC44. Dyson was able to max out the power all the way to 100 air watts or close which is around 40% more.
More power at max
Normal mode power is the same at 28 air watts.
It also has more cycles in it (15) which means better filtration. It will traps fine dust better and makes this machine less prone to power loss when dirt fills up.
Runs a little longer at normal mode
In terms of run time the DC59 Animal will get up to 26 minutes of run time but it drops down to 6 minutes on max mode.
The DC44 will get 2 more minutes in max mode. But you’ll have to remember the power difference between the two is significant. 100 air watts vs 65 air watts which eat up more juice from the 22.2 volt Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery.
Aside from the updated motor, the DC59 Animal has a new brush.
Let’s compare the two
Looking at the brushes of the DC59 Animal, it has more bristles more brushes means better agitation on carpet.
And will deep clean better than the DC44.
Like the DC44 it has a combination of soft carbon fiber filaments for hardwood and stiff nylon bristles for carpet.
Remember that the DC series does not have a brush roll on/off feature so there is a possibility that this will scratch hardwood surfaces.
With the Motorhead, it has the same motor, filtration and battery as the Animal. The difference is again is the floor tool – it is bigger which means it has more surface area for better agitation.
DC59 vs V6
With the all new Dyson V8 available in Amazon right now the V6 is no longer the latest but that means Dyson has lowered their prices for the V6 product line giving it even better value for the performance it brings.
What’s the difference between the DC59 and V6?
Basically they took the DC59 and rebranded it to the V6 because they used the new V6 motor in it. Main difference would be attachments.
The DC59 and V6 are the same under the hood
Before I continue I’d like to stress that all V6 variants use the same V6 motor and battery.
This means all models will have the same cleaning performance and run time.
Variants that don’t have motorized tools will run a little bit longer because these tools eat up more juice.
Lots of tools
Their top of the line variant, the V6 Absolute has all the tools you need from a cordless. It has two floor attachments, one for hardwood and one for carpet.
Also it comes with a mini-motorized tool, mini-soft dusting brush, combination tool and crevice tool.
So in total that’s 6 tools in the package. This makes this one of the most complete and versatile stick vacuums we have right now in the market.
More expensive
Right now the V6 Absolute is more than $100 more expensive than the DC59 Animal which is a huge difference.
But when you consider that the DC59 does not have the fluffy tool or the other above the floor attachments. You are paying for versatility.
If you’re willing to fork out just a little bit more then you have to seriously have a close look at the V8 Absolute which I will talk about in just a little bit.
The biggest reason to buy this over the DC59 is this tool
Check out the fluffy tool in action below. The fluffy design works even picking up debris on cracks…
As you can see in the video review, this fluffy tool really does a good job picking up pet hair, fine dust and rice grains.
The reality is when cleaning hard floor, most of the stuff you’re looking to clean up are dust, dust bunnies and hair so this tool is a real winner in my opinion.
Both the DC59 Motorhead and the V6 Absolute have the same tool for carpet.
How are the V6 series different from one another?
Currently there are ten different V6 options depending on your need and the floor type in your home.
All these variants use the same powerful and efficient V6 motor and lithium battery that will run for 20 minutes (without the motorize floor tool).
Difference will be tools and filtration. Some variants will have HEPA filtration, others will not.
Warranty will also be the same at 2 years across all variants.
V6 Cord Free
Currently this bare bones V6 is the best selling variant in Amazon selling for just around $240 which is a great deal.
It only comes with the bristled motorized floor tool and combination tool for above the floor cleaning. Dyson did not include the mini motorized tool or crevice tool.
If you’re looking for a no-frills carpet cleaning tool to clean high traffic areas and cannot afford the more expensive variants, this is your best option.
V6 Absolute
Going over to the other end of the spectrum the V6 Absolute is the most feature-rich variant of the ten with six tools that will help you clean a variety of surfaces from bare floor, carpet and upholstery.
If you live in a small apartment or condo unit, this is a great investment because you wouldn’t need to buy a separate handheld.
Right now, the V6 Absolute is the most expensive but it has the most attachments. It comes with the fluffy tool, direct drive cleaner head, mini motorized tool, mini soft dusting brush, combination and crevice tool.
This is great for homes with both bare floor and carpet thanks to the specialized tools for these surfaces.
V6 Animal
Speaking of which the V6 Animal is the next most feature-rich product here with a total of 5 cleaning tools (this does not have the fluffy tool).
The absence of the fluffy tool does not mean you cannot use this on bare floor. You’ll just have to careful cleaning up larger bits of dirt because the bristles can throw them around if you aren’t careful. One workaround for this would be using the crevice tool instead when cleaning large chunks of dirt.
Currently this is one of the cheaper V6 variants and in my opinion one of the better value-for-money buys.
V6 MotorHead
The MotorHead is currently around $80 cheaper than the V6 Animal in Amazon. it has a total of three tools in the toolbox – the direct drive cleaner head, crevice and combination tool.
This is very similar to the Animal minus the soft dusting brush and mini-motorized tool so you won’t be able to use this to deep clean upholstery efficiently.
V6 Fluffy
This variant is purpose built to clean any bare floor surface.
If you buy the Fluffy version you’ll get the soft roller cleaning head, the articulating hard floor tool and a stiff brush plus mini motorized brush that you can use in handheld mode to clean pet hair off upholstery.
If you have a home without any carpet and you have pets, this makes a lot of sense.
These next variants are all handhelds that don’t have the extension wand. Again the differences between these are the tools that come along with it.
V6 Mattress
Like the name implies, the V6 Mattress is designed for cleaning beds. Mattresses to be more specific. Dyson included a mini motorized tool to help it pick up dead skin cells that bed bugs like to feast on.
It also comes with 3 other tools – soft dusting brush, crevice and combination tool for your other cleaning needs.
If you really want to deep clean your mattress, I suggest buying the Rainbow Vacuum but buying these from a dealer will easily set you back $3,000 and that’s a lot of money, this variant can is a budget alternative that can at least keep bed bugs and dead skin from piling up and causing eczema.
V6 Car + Boat
One of my pet peeves with the V6 Mattress I bought last year was the lack of a hose tool. This tool will allow me to reach in the hard to reach areas inside the vehicle
The V6 Car + Boat solves this issue.
Make no mistake, the Mattress is a capable vacuum cleaner inside vehicles but this variant comes with a rubber hose that takes it to a whole other level.
Most of the tools included (with the exception of the mini motorized brush) can be attached on the hose. This gives it great reach and maneuverability to reach even the tightest crevices.
V6 Top Dog
Ask any pet owner and the biggest problem have will be the amount of pet hair shed by their pets.
These four legged creatures love to hang around sofas and beds. A weak hand vacuum will have a difficult time cleaning pet hair off these surfaces.
The Top Dog gives pet owners a cordless vacuum option that will help them keep pet hair from piling up on upholstery.
Aside from the mini-motorized tool that is your main weapon against pet hair, it has a stiff bristle brush that you can use inside your vehicle along with the standard crevice and combination tool for cleaning pet litter.
V6 Baby + Child
As a parent I know the importance of keeping your child’s room clean. This can be the difference between a healthy and sickly child that always has to go to the doctor.
Dyson had us young parents in mind when they designed the Baby + Child variant. It comes with 4 different tools that will help keep your baby’s room clean and free from allergens.
This variant is not fitted with a HEPA filter so if you want the extra protection you can buy it separately or go with the V6 Mattress.
V6 Trigger
If all you need is just a handheld with the basic crevice and brush tools for all your above the floor cleaning needs then the V6 Trigger is your choice.
This is a great combo for an upright vacuum if you feel you don’t need any of the other tools that the other variants have.
It is the cheapest of all the variants costing under $200.
Middle Ground – Dyson V7
I was just looking around the web for the latest news about cordless vacuums when I noticed Dyson has a new product. Well, not really a new product but new variant of an already existing product line.
I’m talking about the Dyson V7 and variant comes in fuchsia! It’s a middle-of-the-road variant priced between the V6 and V8.
Same power as the V6
Dyson did not specify what motor they put in the V7 but it has the same power output as the V6 which is 100 air watts. This leads me to believe that the Dyson V7 has the same motor as the V6. It’s just speculation.
Better agitation than the V6
The bigger news is the upgrade in agitation, around 75% more according to Dyson. It has some of the features found in the V8 most notably the improved dirt bin plus it has a longer run time compared to the V6 – around 30 minutes.
Currently there are two variants – the V7 MotorHead and Absolute.
A V6 on Steroids – Dyson V8
If you think the Dyson V6 is a beast then wait till you see this cordless vacuum.
They’ve taken an already good product plus constructive criticism from consumers and made something even better.
Dyson calls this the V8 Absolute. It has an upgraded motor called the V8 that has 20% more power compared to the V6.
Improvements
Two notable improvements are tweaks with the dirt bin and max button designs.
The biggest complaint against the V6 was the bin design. Statically charge dirt like hair and dust get stuck between the filter and outer shell.
Easier to empty bin
Emptying it isn’t as mess-free as it is in the advertorials and Dyson address this issue with the V8 by changing the mechanism that empties the dirt bin.
Instead of utilizing a door that swings open downwards, with the new design you pull a lever upwards and it lifts up the whole cyclonic assembly forcing the dirt downwards.
New max switch
The max button also has a make over, instead of the round button that you push at the back, Dyson revised this design and turned it to a toggle like switch that you slide from side to side.
It makes it easier to access the max feature.
More power
Other improvements include a revised V8 motor that increases power by around 20% at normal and max mode.
This power improvement trickles all the way down to both beater bars – the soft roller and direct driver cleaner head, as much as a 150% improvement according to the manufacturer.
All these improvements does come with a cost – around a $450 investment but you’ll get arguably the best performing cordless vacuum in the market right now bar none.
Save on refurbished
Refurbished units are also available if you want to save a few bucks.
These products come from returned items that Dyson did not want to simply throw away.
Refurbished refers to an item that’s been restored to a brand new state (well, almost). This is one way for manufacturers to recover costs incurred by returned items.
V8 Animal
By the way Dyson also has released another V8 variant called the Animal (this one comes in blue) that only comes with the bristled direct drive cleaning attachment.
This is a great alternative to the Absolute if your home has mostly carpet or you feel the soft roller tool is redundant.
Next Generation Cordless – The V10
But wait there’s more!
Dyson is by no means done with their product development, in fact I think their just starting.
Their new product, the Dyson V10 is right now the most powerful and versatile cordless vacuum to date. But all this technology will set you back roughly $700!
Is it worth it?
The Dyson V10 is a completely new design. It only retains the trigger mechanism found in all their cordless vacuums. But the other parts of the vacuum are new.
Larger bin
One of the biggest complains that Dyson V8 and V6 owners have is the smallish dirt bin. Both variants can hold only 0.53 liters. The new bin of the V10 now comes with a 0.77 liter bin which is almost a 50% increase in capacity.
This will allow you to clean a larger room with less trips to the trash bin. However, the change in capacity means a more top heavy design with the bin moving from a vertical to a horizontal orientation.
Bigger V10 motor
James Dyson says that because of the V10 they will stop developing uprights. I’m not sure if he’s serious with that statement but it is a bold one. The new V10 motor has better airflow that results in a 20% increase in power.
This vacuum now has around 150 air watts of suction which narrows the gap between and upright.
Longer run time
To replace an upright, a cordless vacuum must run long enough to minimize downtime charging. Dyson addresses this issue by using 7 nickel-cobalt-aluminum batteries that will help this run for up to 60 minutes!
One downside however is you won’t be able to replace the batteries. If something goes wrong, you’d have to send this back to Dyson for repairs or replacement.
Three power modes
Previous generation Dyson cordless vacuums up to the V8 variant all had two power modes. This one now comes with three – normal, max and super max. The third mode I presume is for cleaning deeper pile carpet.
Three Variants
Currently there are three variants – the V10 Absolute, Animal and MotorHead.
Absolute
The Absolute is top-of-the-line and has all the tools and attachments so it has the most versatility.
It comes with the soft roller head for bare floor and bristle brush (or the torque drive head) for carpet.
Aside from the two motorized tools, it also comes with a mini turbo brush that works well in cleaning pet hair off upholstery or stairs.
Other tools include the combination tool, crevice tool and mini soft dusting brush.
Animal
The Animal has the same tool set as the Absolute with the exception of the soft roller head. So this variant is great for homes with minimal bare floor surfaces as the torque drive head works best on carpet.
MotorHead
Last but not least is the MotorHead. This variant comes with the least amount of tools of the three but it’s the cheapest.
And it retains the same bin design as the V8 and earlier variants so it won’t hold as much dirt.
Aside from the torque drive head attachment, you’ll also get the combination brush tool and crevice tool.
To wrap up
Obviously spending close to $300 to $600 on a cordless vacuum is a HUGE investment.
Why the V6?
But out of all of these vacuums the no-brainer choice would be the V6 Absolute because it comes with all the bells and whistles.
It’ll be able to handle spot cleaning on carpet and hardwood with equal ease and with few passes because of the tools that’ll you’ll get.
Value for Money
In terms of value for money, I’d go with the V6 MotorHead. This will fit in homes with mostly carpet flooring because of the direct drive cleaner head that has very good agitation. You’ll save a few hundred dollars with this.
The standard brush roll that comes with it is FULLY capable of cleaning bare floors. But expect a few scratches here and there because of the stiff bristles. It also does not include the mini-motorized tool so it’ll take a bit longer to clean upholstery.
Middle of the Road Option
A good middle ground option at around $90 more than the V6 MotorHead I mentioned above would be the DC59 MotorHead. It doesn’t have the soft-roller cleaner head but it comes with the mini motorized brush roll for cleaning upholstery.
If you don’t want to deal with the messy bin clean up that plagues the V6 then I suggest you invest a little bin on the V8 Absolute and enjoy the extended run time and power upgrades that it brings to the table.
