Dyson V10 Review [Absolute vs. Animal vs. Motorhead]

Dyson V10 Review

The Dyson V10 Absolute is one of the most expensive stick vacuums available on the market. Can it replace a full-sized upright? Is it worth the high price tag?

I’ve put this cord-free stick vacuum to a series of grueling tests to see how it performs and if it will live up to the hype, and you’ll see all of the results in this review.

James Dyson says that Dyson is no longer releasing new upright vacuums and will focus their efforts on cordless stick vacuums. The release of the Dyson V11 less than a year after the V10 proves that they are serious.

Can the Dyson V10 Absolute replace an upright?
  • Ergonomics - 92%
    92%
  • Surface Cleaning - 98.62%
    99%
  • Deep Cleaning - 97.03%
    97%
  • Quality - 93%
    93%
  • Design - 94%
    94%
  • Value - 94%
    94%
95%

Summary

The V10 Absolute is one of the most potent cordless vacuums available and can now clean embedded dirt on short bursts. One thing limiting it is the battery. It won’t run as long on its higher power settings, which makes it a viable alternative to an upright for truly deep cleaning carpets in the whole home. But it can do the job in high-traffic areas. The V11 somewhat addresses these issues, but this newer version is even more costly. One advantage it has over a full-sized upright is its portability with its interchangeable tools and its ability to clean under furniture.

Pros

  • Outstanding run time of up to 61 minutes based on our tests
  • It has a larger dust cup size of 0.76 liters
  • The fully-sealed system keeps fine dust particles and allergens in the bin
  • Excellent pick up on bare floor and carpet
  • Can clean embedded dirt on medium pile carpet

Cons

  • Costly option
  • More top-heavy design
  • Some complaints about quality control
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Introduction to the Dyson V10 Absolute

The V10 is a complete redesign from the previous Dyson V8. Gone is the dust cup that is aligned vertically and now replaced with a horizontally aligned bin that provides better airflow.

This change makes it possible to make the dust cup size larger – up to 0.76 liters of dry dirt, which is almost double the V8’s capacity of 0.54 liters.

Having the larger bin means you don’t need to empty as often as the V8, but it’s still smaller compared to the Shark ION P50.

Like all Dyson cordless vacuums, the V10 has a bevy of interchangeable tools (more on that below) that give it the ability to clean the whole home.

It can be used in different configurations – from handheld to a stick vacuum configuration for cleaning floors, upholstery, stairs, and much more.

What are the improvements that the Dyson V10 has over the V8?

Here’s a quick overview of the improvements that V10 has over the V8. If you want a more detailed comparison, please click on this link that compares these two models in detail.

  1. Larger dust cup: The Dyson V10 has a larger dust cup with a 0.76-liter capacity while the V8 can hold up to 0.54 liters of dry dirt.
  2. Runs longer: This vacuum will run longer (up to 61 minutes) thanks to the larger cell Li-ion batteries, while the V8 will run up to 42 minutes.
  3. Better airflow: The new configuration of the V10 gives it better airflow with up to 59.71 CFM at the wand. It is an improvement over the Dyson V8 that produces 54.23 CFM.
  4. Deep cleans well: In the max setting, the Dyson V10 picked up 97.03% of sand on mid pile carpet. It’s a slightly lower score than the V8 that picked up 97.7%, but when you factor in the middle setting in the V10, it will run further and pick up more than the V8.
  5. Torque Drive tool has adjustable gates: The new torque drive head has adjustable gates that allow it to clean larger debris such as Fruit loops.

Most Versatile: Dyson V10 Absolute

The Dyson V10 Absolute is this line’s most versatile option. It has the most tools that come in the package but also is the most expensive.

It is the variant you’d want to have if you live in a medium or large home with a mix of hardwood, tile, and carpet because it has both the soft roller and direct drive tools for the task.

On a side note, please check this link if you want to learn how to clean hardwood floors.

If you don’t mind spending on something versatile and efficient, it’s an excellent option.

Great for Carpet: Dyson V10 Animal

The Dyson V10 Animal comes with the same toolset as the V10 Absolute except for one thing – the soft roller head, which makes it a great option if your home has a lot of carpets.

This variant is also capable of cleaning bare floors thanks to the adjustable gates. It does need a little coaxing to fit larger bits of debris to either gate. I believe this option is better since the torque drive head is very decent on hard surfaces.

Cheapest Option: Dyson V10 MotorHead

The Dyson V10 MotorHead is the cheapest option of all the variants in the V10 line. It has the same motor and battery as the other models but with a smaller dust cup – almost half less.

This option also has the least amount of tools of all the V10 variants, so it does not have as much versatility.

It does have a direct-drive cleaning head that works well on carpet. This vacuum will be suitable inside smaller homes with carpet.

Other big-name brands like Shark and Bissell have blatantly copied the design from Dyson.

What I’m talking about is a vacuum where the motor and bin sits on top, with a removable wand and the primary cleaning tool that will clean floors.

Dyson was the first to come up with this idea, and the V10 still uses this design with some minor tweaks.

How does the Dyson V10 Absolute Clean?

DysonV10AbsoluteFloorTools

The Dyson V10 Absolute comes with two attachments for cleaning floors. On the left is the soft roller cleaning head that works great on hard floors, and on the right is the torque drive head that is an excellent tool on carpets.

Like earlier model Dyson vacuums, the V10 is built on the concept of adaptability. Its biggest strength is the ability to clean different parts of the home with efficiency.

V10 does it with a myriad of tools that help it vacuum different surfaces.

First, we’ll look at the two primary floor cleaning tools that make it one of the most effective cleaning tools on the carpet and different types of hard floors.

The soft roller cleaning head

DysonV10SoftRoller

Here’s a close look at the soft roller cleaning head of the V10 Absolute. Notice the ample clearance in front that allows this tool to pick up larger bits of dirt.

Dyson was the first brand to utilize this type of brush roll.

Unlike a traditional brush that uses bristles, a soft roller has a cloth-like covering with grooves spiraling around that help grab dirt of various sizes.

The big clearance in front of this tool allows it to gobble up larger bits of dirt.

It is one of the best innovations that any manufacturer came up with and has changed how vacuum cleaners deal with hard surfaces.

This tool does things that a traditional nozzle cannot do, such as cleaning up huge piles of dirt.

Torque drive attachment

DysonV10TorqueDrive

The torque drive head has two gates (green arrows pointing at it) that give it enough space for large debris such as Cheerios to fit. However, it cannot clean a big pile of it the way the soft roller attachment can.

Another improvement in the Dyson V10 over the V8 is the torque drive head that has Dyson claims has better agitation and comes with two adjustable gates. These gates make it possible for this tool to pick up large piles of dirt without plowing it forward.

The additional power and gates do two things. First, it makes the Dyson V10 better at cleaning embedded dirt on the carpet.

Second, the gates allow the torque drive tool to pick up large debris such as cheerios.

It won’t do better than the Shark’s Duo Clean head at extra-large debris pick up, but it’s a significant improvement over the Dyson V8.

Other tools

Aside from the two main cleaning heads, the V10 also comes with other attachments that allow you to use it in different configurations.

DysonV10MiniTurboBrush

Mini-turbo brush: This tool is a miniature version of the torque drive that comes with a motorized turbo brush. It is a handy device for cleaning flat surfaces such as stairs and sofas. The stiff bristles also will come in handy for dealing with pet hair on upholstery in the home or vehicle.

DysonV10CreviceTool

Crevice tool: This is very useful at picking up dirt on tight areas such as spaces between the cushions and around the seats inside the vehicle.

DysonV10CombinationTool

Combination tool: It is a combination of a brush and upholstery tool for cleaning areas such as the vents or keyboards. Pulling the brush tool portion back reveals an upholstery tool that’s useful for picking pet litter any large bits of dirt that may not fit on the crevice tool.

DysonV10SoftDustingBrush

Soft dusting brush: It is an excellent tool for cleaning more delicate furniture such as lampshades or Venetian blinds. I like using this tool inside the car’s dash with the flexible hose attachment that you can purchase separately.

Extension wand: This tool is what gives the V10 the flexibility to be used as a stick vacuum or handheld vacuum. All of the attachments are usable with this aluminum tube if there’s the need for the extra reach.

DysonV10ChargingDock

Charging dock: Dyson adds this contraption for storage purpose since the Dyson can’t stand on its own. It has slots that can hold two other attachments. However, you’ll need to drill holes on the wall. If that’s not ideal, there are storage pods available on Amazon that does not require any drilling.

Charger: This plug can be directly plugged on the vacuum or the dock to charge the vacuum.

How much power does the Dyson V10 have?

To measure power, I used an anemometer to check the amount of airflow that flows through the extension tube and main cleaning nozzle, and here are the results.

AirflowLowMidMax
Wand28.57 CFM36 CFM59.71 CFM
Cleaning Head26 CFM31.37 CFM49.27 CFM

The V10 produces decent airflow on both areas and one of the best amount all cordless stick vacuums available. It isn’t as powerful as the top-spec V11, but

How long will the V10 battery run?

The official number by Dyson is 60 minutes. In my tests, it exceeded those numbers a little bit at 61 minutes and 59 seconds, but that’s using the crevice tool in the lowest setting. On the highest power setting, the V10 will run for 5:07 using suction-only tools, 5:42 with the torque drive, and 9:22 with the soft roller attachment.

Please refer to the table below to see the test results.

Power settingLowMediumHigh
Non-motorized tools (e.g. crevice tool)61:5931:335:07
Mini turbo brush52:3627:389:08
Torque drive46:4525:375:42

These figures are impressive, considering the amount of power the motor has.

Cleaning Test

Before I go through all the details, please watch this video where I share most of the cleaning tests I did with the V10 on hard floors and carpets.

One of the biggest strengths of the V10 Absolute is its ability to clean dirt from different types of surfaces. It does not matter if its carpet or hard floor, this vacuum will do the job.

Let’s look at how this model will perform on each surface in detail, but first, the test results.

  • Overall: 97.21%
  • Hard Floor: 98.84%
  • Carpet (Surface Pick Up): 98.4%
  • Carpet (Deep Cleaning): 97.03%

Hard floor Results

  • Quaker Oats: 98%
  • Coffee: 98.2%
  • Quinoa: 100%
  • Pet Litter: 100%

I tested the V10 on several types of debris on hard floors, to be more specific, laminate hard flooring, and it did a fantastic job at picking up surface debris. Let’s look at the before and after photos to see how the soft roller tool did on cleaning hard floors.

Dyson V10 cleaning test on hard floor cleaning Quaker oats

The soft roller job of the V10 did a fantastic job at cleaning Quaker oats on hard floor.

Dyson V10 cleaning test using coffee on hard floor

The soft roller was also outstanding at picking up fine coffee grounds.

Dyson V10 cleaning test using quinoa on hard floor

One of the toughest to clean on hard floors is quinoa because of its solid texture that’s similar to rice, but the V10 was able to pick up all of it.

Dyson V10 cleaning test using pet litter on hard floor

For the cleaning test, I used three different debris – coffee grounds, quinoa, and quaker oats. The V10 Absolute’s soft roller brush didn’t have any issues with cleaning these types of debris.

It was child’s play for this cordless stick vacuum. If there’s one issue for the V10, it would be cleaning a big pile of Fruit loops as the size of it will clog the nozzle.

Sand on hard floor test

This is a new test that I implement on all cordless stick vacuums I review to check how well it picks up sand on hard surfaces. For the Dyson V10, I experimented using the soft roller and torque drive attachments.

The results were impressive as the V10 was able to pick up an average of 100% of sand using the soft roller and the torque drive tools.

Dyson V10 sand on hard floor test using the soft roller

Sand on hard floor test using the soft roller attachment.

Dyson V10 sand on hard floor test using the torque drive attachment

Here’s the second test – using the torque drive for cleaning sand.

Please note that while the torque drive tool can do an excellent job at picking up sand, it left a trail in the forward pass.

Dyson V10 torque drive tool leaving a trail of sand

The good news is that it was able to pick up the trail of sand on the backward pass. But I would recommend people looking for a vacuum that can clean sand on hard floors; I would opt for the V10 Fluffy if it is available in your area.

Hair wrap test

Next, we’ll look at how the V10 handles pet hair on hard floors using the soft roller attachment. For this test, I scattered one gram of 5 to 7 inch human hair.

This was how much hair that wrapped around the fluffy tool.

Dyson V10 soft roller hair wrap test

There was a little hair that wrapped around the soft roller, which was a surprise for me. Most of it went inside the dust cup.

Dyson V10 hair in dust cup

Carpet cleaning test

To test how effective the new torque drive head is, I tested its performance on coffee grounds, quaker oats, and quinoa.

Here are some photos I’d like to share on how the V10 did on the tests.

Low pile results

  • Quaker Oats: 98.4%
  • Coffee: 98.5%
  • Quinoa: 100%
  • Pet Litter: 98.8%
Dyson V10 cleaning tests using Quaker oats on low pile carpet

The V10 did an excellent job at cleaning quaker oats on a low pile carpet.

Dyson V10 cleaning test using quinoa on low pile carpet

Dyson cleaning test using pet litter on low pile carpet

Dyson V10 cleaning test using coffee grounds on mid pile carpet

Even on med pile carpet, the V10 picked up most of the fine coffee grounds.

Mid pile results

  • Quaker Oats: 98%
  • Coffee: 96%
  • Quinoa: 100%
  • Pet Litter: 98%

Dyson V10 cleaning test using quinoa on medium pile carpet

Dyson V10 cleaning test using pet litter on medium pile carpet

For most of the tests, V10’s torque drive head was outstanding at picking up surface dirt. Though I noticed on a few occasions that the brush kicked some of the debris backward, but it was picked up on subsequent passes.

One issue with the low profile head is its tendency to snowplow large piles of dirt, but it will eventually pick everything up as you push forward.

Dyson V10 snowplow effect

The adjustable gates did help at minimizing this issue to some extent, providing a pathway for dirt to pass through.

It did leave a nasty stain since the carpet I’m using is beige, but most of the dirt ended up inside the dust cup.

Deep Cleaning Test

Dyson V10 deep cleaning test

To check how the V10 cleans embedded dirt, I rubbed 100 grams of sand on medium-pile carpets. This test has two parts. The first was in the middle setting, which I think is the best compromise between run time and power.

The Dyson V10 picked up an average of 81.35% (two tests) in the middle setting and 97.03% (three tests) at the max. So the average for the V10 in the mid and high setting is 89.19%.

Regarding outright carpet deep cleaning, the V10 won’t be as good as the V11, but considering the price difference, the V10 is still decent.

Hair wrap test

Another test I did with the Dyson V10 is the hair wrap test using one gram of five-inch long human hair. This test aims to see how well the torque drive brush can handle reasonably long strands of hair.

Dyson V10 hair wrap test subject

I used a digital weighing scale to weigh 1 inch of human hair.

Take note that there is a margin for error for these tests, but it’s a good baseline on how well vacuums can handle hair.

I then spread the strands of hair on medium pile carpet to see if it will wrap around the brush.

Dyson V10 hair wrap test

The torque drive attachment did an excellent job at resisting tangles, at least from five-inch long human hair. One factor is the large-diameter brush that resists tangles better than smaller brushes even without the anti-wrap contraption.

There were only minimal tangles, if any, after several passes.

Dyson V10 hair wrap test results

There were just a few strands that barely wrapped around the brush. The rest of the hair went inside the dust cup.

Dyson V10 hair inside the dust cup

I didn’t weigh the few strands of hair left because it wouldn’t register on the scale. So, for this test, the Dyson V10 passes with flying colors.

How easy is it to use the Dyson V10?

Next, let’s look at how easy it is to use the V10, to be more specific, we’ll look at its ergonomics.

Ergonomics

The Dyson V8 and V10 don’t differ much in weight with just a 0.1 difference.

However, the new design of the V10 shifts some of the weight to the upper part of the vacuum, making it more top-heavy.

Using this to clean above the floor will be more tiring on the arm than using the smaller V8, but it isn’t as bad as the Roidmi NEX’s looping handle.

Trigger switch

Dyson V10 ergonomics and switch

The V10 uses the same trigger switch as the earlier generation Dyson vacuums. Squeezing it for extended periods can be tiring on the wrist and arm.

Whether or not this is a useful feature will depend on your preference.

Other brands, like Tineco, utilize the same trigger switch, but these vacuums come with a lock that holds it at the on position without having to be squeezed.

Dyson has not made the change in the V10 or the V11.

Power settings

DysonV10PowerSettings

On top of the trigger is a slide switch that toggles between the three power settings – low, medium, and MAX. Dyson started to use this type of switch, starting with the V8. It’s much easier to use than the button design in the V6.

The addition of the middle setting is something that I like very much because it provides an excellent balance between power and duration.

Maneuverability

Dyson is one of the best when it comes to how their product swivels, and the V10 works excellent at maneuvering around and underneath furniture.

The ball machinery that they use is genius in that it’s easy to clean without having to spend a lot of time digging through nooks and crannies.

The soft roller tool has a smaller “roller” at the back and two tiny wheels up front. Mobility won’t be an issue since the main roller bar helps propel this tool forward.

If you’re having difficulty using the torque drive tool on rugs, this is a good alternative, at least for cleaning surface dirt.

The torque drive head has two tiny wheels underneath that will require periodic cleaning, but since this tool is used mostly on the carpet, this is a non-issue when it comes to maneuverability.

Is it easy to empty the dust cup?

DysonV10DustCup

One issue with the Dyson V6 variants is the lack of a hygienic system. This makes disposing of dirt a messy chore.

Dyson improved the V8’s design and developed a mechanism that pushes the dirt down when you pull the lever.

The V10 retains the same principles as the V10, but the change in orientation changes a few things.

Unlike the V8, where the bin is aligned vertically, the horizontal direction of the V10 dust cup means you’ll have to remove the wand before emptying the bin.

It has a “point and shoot” approach where you point the vacuum on the bin before pushing down the lever.

giphy

Yes, it has an extra step, but most of the contents come out of the bin, which is what matters, in my opinion.

Cleaning muck that stays inside won’t be an issue because the bin is detachable.

Dyson V10 Maintenance Costs

The good news is the filter inside the Dyson V10 is what you call a “lifetime” filter, which means it does not need to be replaced during the duration of ownership.

Part of upkeep is washing the filter to keep it clean and maintain the vacuum’s performance.

Dyson V10 replacement filters

DysonV10Filter

Dyson recommends washing it once every 30 days. But if you live in an area with a lot of dust or sand, it is a good idea to clean more often.

There are replacement filters available just in case you want to buy something extra and minimize the downtime while waiting for the filter to dry.

Replacement batteries

Replacement batteries are available now for the Dyson V10 at varying costs. You can opt for an original Dyson replacement, but pay a premium or opt for OEM replacements at just a fraction of the cost. The good thing is there are options.

Replacing the V10 batteries isn’t difficult – you only need to loosen three screws.

James Dyson said that new Li-ion batteries in the V10 will last at least 15 years. Whether that is true or not, only time will tell.

Brush roll maintenance

Another area that needs upkeep is the two cleaning heads. The more you use these tools, hair and dust bunnies stick on the bristles and the axles of these tools.

Fortunately, removing the brush is easy on the torque drive head, but the soft roller bar isn’t detachable, so you’ll have to clean it as is.

Noise levels

To measure noise, I used an anemometer to measure the decibel level from about three feet away.

Here are the results of different power settings:

  • Low: 62.1 to 64.1 dB
  • Medium: 69.2 to 71.6 dB
  • Max: 74.5 to 76.7 dB

The torque drive tool attached will be noisiest because of the vibrations from the spinning brush, while the soft roller tool will be less noisy.

How big is the Dyson V10 Absolute?

The V10 Absolute has a substantial length of over 49″ long and 9.8″ wide.

  • Weight: 5.9 pounds
  • Length: 49.2″
  • Width: 9.8″

Any long term concerns?

I’ve had this Dyson for over five years and had no issues with it except for the dustbin seal.

It’s not an issue limited to the V10 model since other models I’ve owned have this issue.

Another concern is the battery, but the V10 battery is replaceable, and aftermarket options are available, as are previous generation V6 and V8 options, which had many replacement batteries available.

Product Specifications

ModelDyson V10 Absolute
Brush roll on/offNo
Battery2,600 mAH Li-ion
Charging time3.5 hours
Battery lifeup to 61 mins.
Net weight5.9 pounds
Width9.8"
Overall length49.2"
Battery indicatorYes
Filter typeLifetime washable
Dust capacity0.76 li
Powerup to 50.3 cfm
CordlessYes
BaglessYes
Warranty2 years
PriceCheck Price

Does the Dyson V10 offer exceptional value?

The Dyson V10’s price tag may scare off some people, but don’t let it dissuade you from considering this option.

With the V11 out in the market, the V10’s prices have decreased, which is good news for consumers.

This vacuum offers outstanding performance regardless of surface and can be a viable standalone vacuum inside small homes.

The soft roller and torque drive cleaning head do an excellent job of picking up surface debris and deep cleaning carpet.

It won’t last as long as the V11, but it’s less expensive.

Considering this product can be used as a handheld, there’s no need to buy a separate unit to clean areas above floors.

Dyson backs all of their cordless vacuums with a 2-year warranty. Extended warranties are also available on Amazon.

5 Reasons why you should buy the Dyson V10 Absolute:

  1. Runs for over an hour: In the lowest setting, using suction-only tools, it will run for up to 61 minutes – more than enough time for daily vacuuming tasks.
  2. Capable of cleaning embedded dirt: The upgrade in power and agitation enables the V10 to clean embedded dirt even on medium-pile carpets. However, it can only do it for 5-minute bursts.
  3. Large dust cup than the V8: It can hold up to 0.76 liters of dirt, almost doubling that of the V8.
  4. Fully sealed system: The V10 has a fully sealed system that can block up to 0.3 microns of dirt. This feature was proven in a fog test, keeping the fog from seeping through the exhaust.
  5. Powerful motor: The new V10 motor is more powerful and efficient thanks to the new dust bin configuration.

The Dyson V10 Absolute is a huge step forward in James Dyson’s vision of cord-free stick vacuums replacing bulky uprights.

This product has the power, versatility, and portability you’d want from a cord-free stick vacuum.

The attachments that come with this are varied and capable of cleaning almost all dry areas inside the home and vehicle.

It has enough power to deep clean small sections at a time. This variant does not have the extended deep cleaning performance of the Dyson V11, but it’s considerably cheaper, so if that is a deciding factor, then this may be a good alternative.

Purchasing replacement filters and batteries won’t be an issue in the long run since it is a popular item; there will be a bevy of aftermarket options.

Change log:

  • March 27, 2024: Tweaked the format of the review. Highlighted on potential issue with the dustbin.

About the author: Garrick, the visionary behind Cordless Vacuum Guide, brings over a decade of hands-on expertise in cordless vacuum testing to his insightful reviews showcased on this platform. Beyond his passion for empowering consumers with informed choices, he cherishes precious moments with his family, exploring global cuisines and exploring different horizons with his beloved wife and son. Follow him on Youtube, Tiktok, Facebook, and Instagram.

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Taner Aydin Jul 10, 2018 @ 15:59

    Is not it enough to sweep the ceramic floor and laminate floor with the V10 Motorhead?
    What’s the difference between Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute (Copper) and Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal (Purple)?
    I know the difference accessory.
    What are the technical differences beyond this?

    • Garrick Dee Jul 17, 2018 @ 0:10

      Spec wise both are the same. The only difference are the tools that come with it.

  • David C Nov 23, 2018 @ 17:38

    Different strokes for different comes. Taner doesn’t understand the need for
    the Absolute. I wish they sold an Animal variant that just had the soft roller head. I have no carpets whatsoever in my house. Just hardwood floors and ceramic tile. We use a Motorhead on the oak floor downstairs, as it’s cheaper and more durable. But we only use a Roomba with soft rollers upstairs, since it’s Brazilian Cherry (very hard, but easily scratched).

    So Dyson forces me to choose between V8 Absolute (too-small bin) and V10 Absolute (too expensive, useless direct drive head).

    Thank you for your comparison though, Garrick.

  • Judy Feb 15, 2019 @ 1:54

    What am I missing? I did not see any information on the Cyclone V10. Isn’t that the fourth V10?

    • Garrick Dee Feb 15, 2019 @ 4:02

      Judy,

      The Cyclone V10 is the same as the V10 Animal