Dyson V8 vs. V10: Much Closer Than You Think

After spending the past few days testing the Dyson V8 vs. V10, the results are in – it’s much closer than you think.

These two cordless vacuums are the most popular cord-free options available, with the Dyson V10 having as much power as some upright vacuums in their highest setting.

We’ll be going in-depth, looking at the similarities and differences to help you decide whether to splurge on the more expensive V10 or if, the cheaper V8 is good enough.

An Overview of the Dyson V8 and V10

Run time is measured using my phone’s stopwatch. I turned on the vacuum, ran it until it shut off, and recorded the time.

Introduction to the Dyson V8 and V10

The Dyson V8 and V10 are two of the more popular cordless vacuums in their product line.

Update March 31, 2023: Since this article has been published, Dyson has introduced several new models in its lineup, including the V11, Outsize, V12 Detect, V15 Detect, Omni-Glide, Micro 1.5KG, and the (soon to be released) Gen5 Detect.

This article will focus on the similarities and differences between the V8 and V10.

The Dyson V10 being the newer option, is more potent thanks to the new digital motor that bumps up the power by around 33%.

Despite having less power, the V8 is still a capable vacuum and performed as well as the V10 in all the cleaning tests I did.

However, one advantage that the V10 has is it runs longer – better for cleaning larger areas.

Design

The dustbin alignment is the first thing you’ll notice between the V8 and V10.

The Dyson V10 is not just an upgrade over the V8. It’s a redesign, all of which are aimed to improve cleaning performance.

These two models have many differences, but first, let’s focus on their similarities.

One feature that I don’t think will change is the trigger switch.

Despite complaints, Dyson still uses the same type of switch across the product line.

They say it’s necessary to extend battery capacity to its maximum.

Both vacuums have interchangeable tools that help them toggle between handheld and stick modes.

The V10 retains the slide switch found in the V8, but the orientation is different since it has three different power settings.

Here’s a close look at the power setting buttons of the Dyson V8 and V10

One noticeable difference between the Dyson V8 vs. V10 is the dirt bin.

To be more specific,  the angle.  Dyson shifts the alignment from vertical to horizontal to improve airflow, allowing for better airflow, efficiency, and more power.

It seems to be a minor tweak, but the simple change gives it better performance and more capacity.

To summarize, the difference between the V8 and V10 include the following:

1. Dust cup size: The realigned and new design has allowed Dyson engineers to put in a larger capacity dust cup (0.77 liters vs. 0.54)
2. Power: The airflow test revealed that the Dyson V10 has up to 33% more power at the highest setting.
3. Run time: The V10 will run for up to 61 minutes, while the V8 runs for 41 minutes.
4. How it empties: Even if both options use the hygienic design, emptying the V10 requires removing the tube, while the V8 does not.
5. Price: The top-spec V8 Absolute will cost less than the V10 Absolute or Animal.

How do the Dyson V8 and V10 clean?

On the left are the two main nozzles for the Dyson V10, and on the right are the Dyson V8 vacuum heads.

Let’s look closely at how these vacuums clean.

Central to Dyson’s impressive cleaning performance is the cyclone system, a staple in all their vacuum cleaners.

This system ensures that finer dust stays away from the filter to maintain suction even as the bin fills up.

These cyclones also help keep the main pre-motor filter clean longer than any brand I’ve tested.

The cyclones on the V8 and V10 have two levels. However, the alignment is different.

On the Dyson V8, the alignment is perpendicular to the motor, whereas the V10 is straight.

Dyson V8 Cleaning Heads

Depending on the V8 variant you select, what comes in the box will vary.

For the “Absolute” version, there are two attachments for cleaning floors.

The Dyson V8 Absolute comes with these two cleaning tools for tackling dirt on hard floors and carpets. Dyson was actually the first brand to introduce a fluffy tool (on the left) to the market.

On the left is the soft roller or fluffy tool and on the right is the direct drive tool for cleaning hard floors and carpet, respectively.

So the Absolute option is ideal for homes with a mixture of bare floor and carpet, while the Animal is the better option inside homes that only has carpet.

Dyson V10 Cleaning Heads

For the Dyson V10, you’ll get the upgraded torque drive head and the soft roller tool.

Like its V8 counterpart, the V10 Absolute also has two attachments for cleaning floors.

The fluffy tool isn’t a requirement with the V10 as it would be in the V8 because the torque drive cleaning head has adjustable gates that enable it to clean bigger stuff like Fruit Loops or Cheerios.

The V10 Torque Drive tool has adjustable gates that allow larger debris like Fruit Loops to fit through.

The V8 direct drive head does not have adjustable gates and will have issues cleaning large dirt.

In several tests, the torque drive tool did extremely well at picking up large dirt piles. Cleaning large debris won’t be an issue as long as it fits through the gates.

You can save some money by opting for the less expensive V10 Animal that has the same set of tools as the Absolute minus the fluffy tool.

Cleaning Comparison

Before the cleaning tests, I expected the Dyson V10 to do much better than the V8. But after several rounds of tests, the V8 held its ground, and the results were closer than expected.

Check out these scores.

Surprisingly, the Dyson V8 did slightly better overall than the V10 regarding cleaning performance. It also picked up slightly more embedded sand on mid-pile carpet.

But note that the V8 does not have the middle power setting, so it doesn’t run as long as the V10, so the V10 is better when you factor in the run time.

Hard Floor Cleaning

Now, let’s break down how I got the overall scores above. First, we’ll look at how well these products cleaned hard floors.

The scores of the V8 and V10 are almost identical on hard floors: 99.66% for the V8 and 99.84% for the V10.

These two vacuums have the soft roller attachment (available with the Absolute model) that works well on this surface type.

One advantage that the V10 Torque Drive has over the V8 Direct Drive attachment is the adjustable gates giving it more clearance for cleaning large dirt piles.

The V8’s version does not have these gates, so it’ll plow dirt forward.

I wouldn’t suggest using the direct drive tool on bare floors as it won’t be as efficient. In one of the tests, it did not do so well at cleaning quaker oats.

So if your home has many hard floors, the V8 Fluffy, which only has the soft roller attachment, is the best option.

This tool does an excellent job of picking up debris even at the lowest setting.

It also doesn’t have enough clearance to clean stuff like Cheerios, but the soft roller has no issues.

Like the V8, the V10’s Fluffy tool is superb at cleaning any debris on bare floor. It picks up everything, from coffee grounds, Quaker oats, pet litter, and fruit loops.

One potential issue is cleaning a large quality of Fruit loops or Cheerios as it can clog up the suction port of the soft roller brush. It’s really a non-issue since rarely will you need to clean a large mess.

Sand on hard floor comparison

Both have soft roller attachments, so cleaning sand on hard floors won’t be a problem.

Here are the scores:

• Dyson V8: 99.5%
• Dyson V10: 100%

The results were very close, and I wouldn’t put too much weight on the 0.5% difference as it’s very minimal.

Carpet

These experiments have three parts: surface dirt pick-up on low and mid-pile carpets and a deep cleaning experiment on mid-pile carpet.

The first test tests how these vacuums clean surface dirt.

This test is simple, sprinkle dirt over the carpet and do a few forward and backward passes.

The Dyson V8 and V10 did well with varying debris sizes, picking up a high percentage of what I scattered on the surface.

The V8 direct drive attachment did well on cleaning carpets. It scored in the high 90s in all the tests.

One glaring weakness would be cleaning fruit loops as large debris will not clear the low profile head, even carpets.

To test how well the V8 will do at deep cleaning carpet, I rubbed 50 grams of coffee grounds on medium-pile carpets.

The V8 was able to pick up a very decent 97.7% (average for two tests) which isn’t far off from the Dyson V10 that scored 97.03%.

The V10 torque drive performs almost perfectly on carpets, scoring almost 100% on surface pickup tests.

Whether you’re cleaning a low pile or mid-pile carpets does not matter. It will pick up surface dirt on either surface.

The V10 picked up 94.4% of fine coffee grounds on medium-pile carpet in a deep cleaning I did. Again, it’s average from the two tests I did.

How much power do the Dyson V8 and V10 have?

Manufacturers are vague when it comes to disclosing power figures. For instance, Dyson only states air watts – the computation of airflow plus the amount of power (or watts) the vacuum produces.

To simplify things, I used an anemometer to measure the airflow at the wand and then multiplied it by 0.026099 to get the final numbers.

I did the tests several times at each power setting to get a baseline figure and ensure the test was as accurate as possible.

Here are the results of the tests.

One thing glaring in this chart is the lack of the middle setting in the V8, while the V10 has this setting, which helps it run longer.

Size and Weight Comparison Between the Dyson V8 vs. V10?

Despite the V10 looking much bigger, there isn’t much size difference.

The V10 is slightly longer at 49.2” versus the 49” of the V8. The cleaning path is similar at 9.8”.

Lastly, the V10 is slightly heavier at 5.9 pounds, 0.15 pounds heavier than the V8.

The top-heaviness won’t be an issue on floors, but you’ll feel it in handheld mode.

Tools and accessories that come with the V8 and V10

Attachments are essential to consider when buying a Dyson cordless vacuum. The tools will depend on the variant chosen.

You’ll get the same set of tools if you choose the comparable variant, such as the Animal or Absolute.

Please check the list and photos below to see what tools are available for the V8 and V10.

Remember that the list will refer to the tools you get from the Absolute variant.

Dyson V8 Attachments & Tools

Dyson V10 Attachments & Tools

Let’s look at the tools that come with the V8 and V10. Depending on the variant, the V10 and V8 have the same set of tools with a few exceptions.

1. Direct Drive cleaning head: This tool is available with the Dyson V8. The low profile design makes this more suitable on carpet than hard surfaces cleaning small to medium-sized debris. It has both soft and stiff bristles that make it capable of deep cleaning even on medium-pile carpet.
2. Torque Drive cleaning head: An upgrade over the direct-drive head. Not only will this tool have more agitation, but it also has adjustable gates that, in my opinion, render the soft roller tool a luxury rather than a necessity.
3. Soft Roller head: Great tool to have if your home only has hard surfaces. It specializes in cleaning large bits of dirt. However, it will not do as well on carpets.
4. Combination tool: This attachment serves as a brush tool for cleaning vents or the keyboard when fully extended. With the brush tool pulled back, it is usable as an upholstery tool.
5. Crevice tool: A long tool with an angled head for cleaning crevices.
6. Mini soft dusting brush: The soft bristles make them suitable for delicate surfaces like curtains or lampshades.
7. Mini motorized tool: A smaller version of the main cleaning head with a motorized brush. Great for cleaning pet hair and dirt from fabric upholstery. It also works well on low pile carpet.
8. Extension wand: Extends the reach of the vacuum above the floor. It also doubles as a tool you can connect to the main cleaning head to vacuum floors effortlessly.
9. Docking station: Storage and charging base that neatly stores the vacuum and a few attachments.
10. Charger: Plugs into a wall outlet to charge the vacuum.

Is it easy to use the Dyson V8 and V10?

The vacuum itself is assembled out of the box. You don’t need any special tools to put the parts together.

All the tools with these vacuums are held in place by a locking mechanism with a quick-release latch, meaning removing it will be as simple as pushing a button.

Setup

Setting up either of the two vacuums is straightforward. While there is some charge in the batteries when you take them out of the box, it would be best to charge them for a few hours.

It comes with a wall-mountable docking station that requires drilling a few holes.

This is the only part where you’ll need to use tools. It is not a requirement to use since you can plug the power cord directly into the vacuum. You’ll only need it if you want to store the vacuum vertically.

If you don’t want to drill holes on the wall, look at third-party accessories like the Masterpart Docking Station for storing the vacuum and tools in a space-saving fashion.

Usability

One advantage of using a cord-free stick vacuum is that you don’t have to deal with cords. Just pick up the vacuum and clean the area that needs cleaning, then store it afterward.

Ergonomics is a strong point because using the V8 or V10 is like a giant water gun pulling the trigger; the motor fires and cleans. Dyson does this to maximize battery life.

It does get tiring if you’re pulling the trigger for long stretches. If this is an issue, options like the Tineco Pure One S12 have a trigger lock that keeps it at the “on” position.

Emptying the Dust Bin

Both these variants have a hygienic system, meaning it has a mechanism that helps dislodge dirt from the metal filter.

One of the essential factors you should consider when buying a cordless vacuum is how easy it is to empty it.

Both of these vacuums score fairly high because of the hygienic system it uses.

For the Dyson V8, it’s the red lever behind the cyclones on top of the vacuum. Pull this lever up, and the dust cup and dirt go down.

In the V10, the lever’s location is at the bottom of the bin, so it’s more of a point-and-shoot approach when emptying.

Dyson V8 vs. V10 Maneuverability Comparison

Both these vacuums can swivel, so you won’t have trouble vacuuming around furniture and under it.

The weight difference isn’t much when cleaning floors. But the V8 scores higher here because the smaller motor and bin make it less top-heavy, but not much.

How long will the battery last?

Dyson says the V8’s battery will run for up to 40 minutes. The V10 has a listed run time of up to 60 minutes. Take note that those numbers are only applicable to non-powered tools.

To test if these claims are accurate, I did several tests with and without the main brush roll, and the results are listed in the table below.

Noise Comparison

Surprisingly, the Dyson V10, with its larger motor, is only slightly louder than the V8 in normal mode.

In low power mode, the V10 only produces 63.2 decibels while the V8 is at 62.2.

Please check the table below for the results of the noise tests.

Better Value for Money

Dyson V8

With performance, the Dyson V8 performs close to the V10, with a few exceptions.

It has the same versatility as similar tools (the V10 will have more options) but at a lower price.

What the V10 can clean, the V8 will be able to handle as well. These vacuums are really close to the cleaning tests, too insignificant to declare a winner.

The downside with the V8 is if you’re transitioning from hard floor to carpet or rugs, you’ll have to carry another tool with you at all times since the fluffy tool isn’t good on carpet.

Being lighter, the V8 has better maneuverability and less straining on the wrists cleaning above floors.

However, there are only a few reasons why the V10 is more appealing than the V8.

First is the run time. The V10 will run longer (up to 61 mins) than the V8 and cover more area.

The second is the torque drive cleaner head. This tool is a huge improvement from the direct-drive head of the V8 when cleaning bare floors.

It can clean even large piles of dirt using a zigzag motion.

This means you don’t have to change tools regardless of surface, rendering the soft roller tool a luxury.

With that said, the V8 still provides excellent value since it cleans and the V10, even in the deep cleaning tests I did.

Dyson V10

With the Dyson V11 present, the prices of the V10 have gone down significantly, which is good news for us consumers.

You can check my latest comparison, where I compare the V8 and V11. Please make sure to check it.

Don’t let the higher cost of this vacuum dissuade you from giving it a look because some of the upgrades are helpful in the long term.

It’s one of the better performing vacuums and capable of deep cleaning carpet.

If your home has many carpets, the V10 is the better option because of the uptick in power, the bigger dirt capacity, and runs longer.

Consumers have been happy with the performance of the V10 and actually prefer it over the V11 because of the price difference.

Cleaning Performance

Even if the V10 has more power, the V8 matches it for cleaning. Even in the deep cleaning tests, the V8 could almost clean embedded coffee grounds as well as the V10.

The V8 scored 94.3% versus 94.4% of the V10, which is as close as possible.

The biggest difference between the two is how long it runs. While the V8 cleans as well as the V10, it won’t run as long. Go with the Dyson V10 if your home is bigger. Otherwise, go with the V8.

Factoring in the price, I’d say that the V8 provides better value being the cheaper option.

Winner: Dyson V8

Dirt Capacity

The V10 bin is almost double the size of the V8 – 0.77 liters vs. 0.54.
Winner: Dyson V10

Run Time

The V10 will run for around 61 minutes using suction-only tools, while the V8 will run for up to 41 minutes.

That number goes down to 27 minutes at the middle setting with the main cleaning head attached, while the V8 lasts up to 31 minutes in the lowest setting.

However, the V10 has a higher airflow when comparing both settings, which offsets the advantage the V8 has.

Winner: Dyson V10

Ergonomics

The V8 is the lighter alternative but not by much (0.1-pound difference).

However, the V10 feels heavier at the forearm when you use it above floors because of the larger bin, motor, and battery. The V8 also feels nimbler around furniture.

Winner: Dyson V8

Both the V8 and V10 easily cost over $300, and if the thought of spending that kind of money makes you cringe, then look at these options that cost under $100.

Other Dyson cordless vacuum comparisons

Learn more about how each Dyson cordless compares against each variant, where I’ll explain in detail the pros and cons and which variant is the better option for certain circumstances.

• Comparing all Dyson cordless vacuums
• Dyson V6 vs. V8
• Dyson V6 vs. V10
• Dyson V7 vs. V10
• Dyson V7 vs. V8 Comparison
• Dyson V7 vs. V11
• Dyson V8 vs. V11
• Dyson V10 vs. V11
• Dyson V12 Detect vs. V10

Dyson versus other brands

• Tineco vs. Dyson

Spec Comparison

Which Option is Better?

The technology in the Dyson V10 looks very promising with the extra power, larger bin, and longer run time. But I feel that the price is too steep (at least for the  V10 Absolute) for the performance improvements.

Even if Dyson says that the brush roll provides 25% better agitation, I feel that this isn’t reflected in the real world, as you’ve seen in the tests I did earlier.

However, the V10 runs much longer, thus will have more range, and the torque drive attachment is better on hard surfaces, so you can actually purchase the V10 Animal at roughly the same price as the V8 Absolute.

The important thing for consumers is to select the right variant because the attachments will vary.

The Verdict: The Dyson V10 Offers Better Value for the Price

Comparing the Dyson V8 and V10, I noticed that Dyson puts a lot of work into the tiniest details.

This is evident with the Dyson V10. The V8 is already an excellent product that trumps other cordless vacuums in terms of performance, but they still feel room for improvement hence the release of the V10.

Yes, it is expensive, but it is a useful tool to keep your homes clean without carrying a heavy upright for those who can afford this product.

Should you buy the Dyson V8?

The Dyson V8 is an excellent option if you don’t want to spend the extra $$$ for the V10.

It will run twice as long as the V6 with a hygienic system, making it easier to dispose of dirt.

Regarding performance, the difference between V8 and V10 is negligible. The results of cleaning tests are too close to declare one a winner over the other.

4 Reasons to Choose the Dyson V8

1. Lower priced option: The V8 is the cheaper option and the release of the V11 pushes the V8’s price down, further making it a more attractive option considering it cleans almost as well as the V10.
2. Excellent cleaning performance: The V8 scored high marks in nearly all the cleaning tests. However, the direct drive attachment struggles at cleaning Fruit loops on either surface. It also did not do so well on hard floors.
3. Want something better than the V6: Make no mistake that the V6 is a good product, but the V8 resolves the issues of the V6, including the short 20-minute run time and dust cup that can be messy to empty.
4. Versatility: The V8 has a bevy of attachments at your disposal for cleaning different areas inside the home.

Should you buy the Dyson V10?

The Dyson V10 represents the future of cordless vacuums with extended run times and power comparable to uprights.

One reason to opt for the more expensive V10 is the longer range.

Based on my tests, this option will run for as much as 61 minutes, and it has a better brush roll that works equally well on hard surfaces.

So you can opt for the less expensive Animal variant since it has the same tools as the Absolute minus the soft roller attachment.

4 Reasons to Choose the Dyson V10

1. Excellent torque drive tool: The V10 torque drive is better than the V8’s direct-drive attachment on hard floors. It could pick up large piles of dirt, even Fruit loops.
2. Long run time: Even with the powered tools, the Dyson V10 can run for up to 40 minutes in low power, with plenty of cleaning floors in an apartment.
3. Don’t want to change tools constantly: One significant advantage of the torque drive head is its ability to clean larger bits of dirt, thanks to the two gates upfront. Having this feature negates the advantage of the soft roller head.
4. Large dirt bin: The large capacity dirt bin means you won’t need to empty it as often.