Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs. Outsize

In this comparison, we’ll look at two of Dyson’s flagship models – the V11 Torque Drive and Outsize.

These two cordless vacuums are some of the most powerful deep cleaning machines capable of cleaning embedded dirt like an upright.

But which option is better? Is the Torque Drive enough, or must you spend more on the supersized Outsize?

I’ve put these vacuums through a series of tests to find out.

An Overview of the Dyson Outsize vs. V11 Torque Drive

Introduction to the Dyson V11 Torque Drive and Outsize

Few brands live up to their performance claim, especially for deep cleaning carpets. You’ll see adverts that claim such but fail to deliver in the real world.

That isn’t the case for these two cordless vacuums, as these are some of the best at cleaning embedded dirt I’ve tested.

On the contrary, the Torque Drive and Outsize have somewhat exceeded expectations. But these vacuums aren’t perfect.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive: Better Ergonomics, Excellent at Embedded Dirt

The V11 Torque Drive, being the smaller option, is ergonomically better than the two.

The lighter body, smaller dustbin, and battery make it less tiring. Don’t get me wrong. It’s still a heavy cord-free vacuum at 6.68 pounds and over 4 pounds at the handle.

However, it feels much lighter than the gargantuan Outsize, especially if you need to clean vertical areas.

Related: Dyson V10 vs. V11 Comparison

The Torque Drive’s high airflow and agitation make it an excellent option for deep cleaning carpets. Unlike other brands that can only do it for short stretches, this model can clean embedded stuff for nearly 20 minutes since it picks up 99.97% even in the middle setting.

Dyson Outsize: Upright Without a Cord

There’s not much difference between the Torque Drive and Outsize in design, but the latter dwarfs its sibling in nearly all aspects.

This model (more than) doubles the dirt capacity (0.5 vs. 0.2 gallons) and has a 25% wider nozzle.

The Outsize has the specs of an upright vacuum minus the cord.

However, one glaring issue with it is the weight. Since most of it is at the top, it can be tiring for stretches.

Are you cleaning areas above floors? I wouldn’t recommend the Outsize because of its weight. I tried using it to clean this vertical portion of our dining chair, and my arm was on fire after just a few minutes.

It’s more bearable cleaning floors but feels heavier than the Torque Drive.

Similarities between the Dyson V11 Torque Drive and Outsize

We’ll look at the similarities of the Torque Drive and Outsize here, and there are plenty.

1. Framework/Design: If you look at the overall design, these two vacuums are similar, with the same trigger, dustbin/filter placement, and adjustable gates on the nozzle. The Outsize is just massive.
2. Trombone-type lever: The Outsize retains the trombone-style lever to empty dirt despite the massive upsize.
3. Sealed system: Both vacuums have a sealed system and passed the five-micron fog test, where it didn’t leak.
4. Filter: The pre-motor and HEPA filters for the Outsize and Torque Drive are fused into one piece.
5. Adjustable gates: Thanks to the adjustable gates, you can use the nozzle of both vacuums on hard floors and carpets.
6. Interchangeable tools: You can use these products as a handheld or stick vacuum with their interchangeable tools. What you’ll get will vary depending on the variant.
7. Battery capacity: Each utilizes a 3600 mAh Li-ion battery, but the Outsize runs longer based on tests.
8. LCD screen: Behind the motor of each vacuum is a dynamic LCD screen that shows the current power setting, battery status (along with the time left), and error codes.

Differences between the V11 Outsize and Torque Drive

Next, look at the differences between these high-end Dyson stick vacuums.

1. Size and weight: Put these side by side, and you’ll see a glaring difference. The Outsize dwarfs the Torque Drive, almost doubling the dustbin capacity. Unfortunately, this size increase makes the Outsize feel much heavier – close to 5 pounds at the handle.
2. More airflow: Dyson doesn’t specify power figures for the Outsize, but based on tests, it has as much as 10.47% more airflow at the wand. However, there isn’t much difference with airflow at the wand.
3. Larger dustbin: The Outsize more than doubles the Torque Drive’s capacity (0.5 gallons vs. 0.2 gallons).
4. Wide brush roll: Another part upsized with the Outsize is the nozzle at 12.6″ wide – close to 3″ wider than the Torque Drive.
5. Lengthier run time: Despite having the same capacity battery, the Outsize runs up to 85 minutes, more than 10 minutes longer than the Torque Drive’s 74 minutes.

Ergonomics Comparison

If there’s one downside with the Outsize’s size uptick, it would be in this aspect.

The humongous frame provides an upright-like volume but at the cost of ergonomics.

There isn’t much difference in weight, but the Outsize feels much heavier in vertical areas.

I wouldn’t recommend the Outsize for those looking to use it extensively as a handheld. As I’ve said in the video review, it’s possible but highly uncomfortable.

The Torque Drive isn’t light by cordless standards, but it feels that way compared to the Outsize. It’s the more versatile option of the two because of it.

The Outsize and Torque Drive use the same ball system on its main nozzle. Steering is light and responsive. Avoiding furniture shouldn’t be a concern.

The Outsize’s wide nozzle may night fit in tighter spaces. I’d recommend the Torque Drive for smaller homes with narrower spaces and the Outsize for bigger homes.

However, the weight of the Outsize is an issue for handheld use. Cleaning a vertical space will be challenging and straining on the arms.

The Torque Drive isn’t light but feels more lightweight in these areas.

Related: Dyson V15 Detect vs. V11 Outsize vs. V11 Torque Drive vs. V10

Interface comparison

There is little difference here as both have the same LCD screen with a single button. This screen informs users about the vacuum’s battery status, error codes, and run time left.

However, all Outsize variants have the same feature, whereas only the Torque Drive and Absolute variants for the smaller V11 get this feature.

Trigger comparison

All Dyson cordless products have the same trigger, and it’s the same case for the Outsize and Torque Drive. I like that these mechanisms require little pressure to activate.

However, I did notice a slight change with the Outsize trigger shape.

It’s curved inward with two protruding edges. Not a big deal, but it can cause discomfort if you grip it at those pointed areas.

The Torque Drive trigger is flat and more comfortable to use.

Battery and Run Time Comparison

I checked both; each uses the same 3600 mAh, 25.2-volt lithium-ion battery.

However, the Outsize runs longer, up to 85 minutes, with the main brush in eco mode. In comparison, the Torque Drive ran 10 minutes less at 74 minutes.

Both stick vacuums have lots of usable power even at the lowest setting picking up 90% and 94%, respectively, in the deep cleaning tests.

The Outsize almost doubled the Torque Drive’s run time at boost mode and ran over 12 minutes (vs. 7 minutes).

Airflow Comparison

Next, we’ll look at the airflow comparison between these two cord-free vacuums, and both excel in this category.

The Outsize has higher airflow across all the power settings – with up to 10.47% more at the cleaning nozzle. It’s a significant reason it did better in the cleaning tests across the board (more below).

Strangely, the Torque Drive has more airflow in the two lower settings at the wand and a little less at the max setting.

These vacuums have two of the highest airflow scores I’ve tested.

How does the Dyson V11 Outsize and Torque Drive clean?

There isn’t much of a difference between the two in this area. Both are primarily designed for cleaning floors but with enough versatility to tackle other areas.

However, I wouldn’t recommend either for cleaning areas above floors because of the top-heaviness.

Both are pretty heavy in their handheld configuration and will be challenging for vertical spaces.

The Outsize, in particular, won’t be practical for handheld use because of its bulk.

I tried using it to clean our dining room chair’s backrest, and my arm burned within 5 minutes.

Sure, it holds a lot of dirt, but it’s a workout to use if you have to carry it.

Cleaning nozzle comparison

The Outsize has a broader nozzle – close to 3 inches than the Torque Drive. It’s a similar width to most upright vacuums and will cover more ground.

Each has a similar brush design and adjustable gates that users can open or close depending on their needs.

With the gates open, larger debris will fit, but the seal is compromised, so it can’t clean embedded dirt.

Close the gates if there’s a need to deep clean.

I’d leave it in the middle to get the best of both worlds. It’s a good compromise between cleaning performance and usability.

Cleaning Comparison

Which of these high-end Dyson products cleans better? We’ll find out in this section.

I’ve put both vacuums through a grueling series of tests on various debris types to see how they hold up.

Here are the results.

You can see how a slight uptick in airflow in the results. The Outsize picked up 100% in all the surface debris tests, a first of all the cordless vacuums I’ve tested. The combination of high airflow and excellent agitation made this possible.

Though I’m not a big fan of the lack of seal behind the brush, it does the job.

The Torque Drive also scored well in the high 90s – close to 100%.

Which is better at cleaning hard floors?

If you look at the test results, the Outsize is better, with a 100% score, versus the 99.72% score of the Torque Drive. However, the difference is minimal, to be honest. One advantage of the Outsize is its wider cleaning path, which covers more ground.

Regardless, I wouldn’t recommend either for such. The lack of padding increases the risk of scuffing surfaces, and it struggles to pick up heavy debris like sand on the first pass at the middle setting.

While both could pick up a higher percentage of sand, it left a noticeable trail after the initial pass.

You’d have to use the max setting to pick up everything, and I don’t think that’s optimal for battery longevity.

Adjustable gates help somewhat, but it’s not as efficient as a roller design as other vacuums like the Shark ION P50, Dyson V8 Absolute, and Lupe Pure implement.

Sand on hard floor test

Both the Outsize and Torque Drive can clean sand on hard surfaces.

• V11 Outsize: 100%
• V11 Torque Drive: 99.4%

Surprisingly, the Outsize picked up a perfect 100% score on average after two tests.

A before and after shot of how the V11 Outsize did on sand.

But it left a trail after the initial pass when I used the middle setting. It’s the same issue with the Torque Drive. You’d have to use the max setting to pick up most of it.

Again, the risk of scuffing is high for any of these vacuums because of the amount of plastic exposure.

Sand could stick on the wheels and grind the surface.

Please check my recommendations for hard floors if you live in a sandy area.

Edge Cleaning

Another strength of both stick vacuums is their efficiency at cleaning edges.

The Outsize did very well cleaning debris from the edges.

With its wider nozzle, the Outsize is much more proficient in this area, needing fewer passes to finish the task. The Torque Drive is also good, but completing the job requires more passes.

Hair Wrap Comparison [on Hard Floors]

Usually, I would use five and seven-inch strands to test how well a vacuum resists tangles.

However, I had to use longer strands for the Outsize and Torque Drive as both resisted tangles from both tests very well.

Here are the results for the V11 Outsize

• 5-inch strands: 100% inside the dustbin, 0% on the brush
• 7-inch strands: 99% inside the dustbin, 1% on the brush
• 9-inch strands: 100% inside the dustbin, 0% on the brush
• 13-inch strands: 13% inside the dustbin, 87% on the brush

And the results for the V11 Torque Drive

• 5-inch strands: 100% inside the dustbin, 0% on the brush
• 7-inch strands: 100% inside the dustbin, 1% on the brush
• 9-inch strands: 80% inside the dustbin, 20% on the brush
• 13-inch strands: 19% inside the dustbin, 81% on the brush

The Outsize resisted everything up to the 9-inch test but not so well with 13-inch strands, picking up only 13%.

In contrast, the Torque Drive had noticeable hair strands wrapping after the 9-inch test but was slightly better with the 13-inch test.

A higher threshold allows each one to clean pet hair well with a slight edge to the Outsize because of the larger dustbin.

Which is better on carpet?

These cordless stick vacuums excel on carpets, as evidenced by the high carpet test scores. The Torque Drive picked up 99.26% of surface debris, while the Outsized aced all the tests (100%).

Both picked up 100% in deep cleaning tests at the Max setting. But the Outsize did better in the middle setting (100% vs. 99.97%). And the Torque Drive did better in eco mode (94% vs. 90%).

The results show the capability of each vacuum for cleaning embedded dirt.

The Outsize is better because of the wider nozzle and longer run time.

Hair Wrap Comparison [on carpets]

I wanted to check how well these vacuums would resist tangles on carpets, so I tested both on hair strands between five and eleven inches.

Here are the results for the V11 Outsize

• 5-inch strands: 100% inside the dustbin, 0% on the brush
• 7-inch strands: 100% inside the dustbin, 0% on the brush
• 9-inch strands: 98% inside the dustbin, 2% on the brush
• 11-inch strands: 84% inside the dustbin, 16% on the brush

And V11 Torque Drive

• 5-inch strands: 100% inside the dustbin, 0% on the brush
• 7-inch strands: 100% inside the dustbin, 0% on the brush
• 9-inch strands: 85% inside the dustbin, 2% on the brush
• 11-inch strands: 61% inside the dustbin, 16% on the brush

The Torque Drive and Outsize had identical 100% pick-up with five and seven inches, but the Outsize was better with longer strands.

The wider brush role could be why it picked up more than the Torque Drive.

I used more than one gram of hair in these experiments, so it’s like a torture test.

Regardless, both will pick up hair strands (even long ones) without tangling on the roller, which is good enough for cleaning pet hair.

Large debris comparison

While these vacuums can clean large debris, it isn’t optimal. The adjustable gates help to a degree, but if you’re using this to pick up a massive pile of spilled Fruit loops, it will clog the opening into the dustbin.

Smaller messes shouldn’t be an issue since the gates have enough clearance up to Cheerios-sized debris.

Dustbin Comparison

The Outsize doubles the Torque Drive’s capacity (0.2 gallons) with its 0.5-gallon dustbin. So this means fewer trips to the trash bin.

Both retain the same trombone-type lever – emptying will be the same.

Filter Comparison

These vacuums also have the same filter with the pre and post-motor portions fused as one piece.

Dyson says the whole component is washable, but I’d pay close attention to the HEPA filter part (with the folds). This part has a paper component. It can degrade over time after repeated washings.

I used a fog machine to test both for leaks, and there weren’t any. So this confirms that these two vacuums have a sealed system.

Noise Comparison

One negative side effect of having more power is noise. And both these vacuums are noisy.

First, let’s look at the results of the sound meter test.

The noise difference is felt most at the eco and middle settings, but the max setting difference is minimal.

Maintenance comparison

All Dyson cord-free products need TLC to function at their peak for years. Here is the list of components you need to maintain.

1. Filter: The Outsize and Torque Drive have a single filter behind the motor. Check this for debris build-up, and wash with cool water when it soils. Avoid using dish soap since it degrades the HEPA filter faster. Buy an extra filter or two to have something to use should you clean it.
2. Dustbin: Empty the dustbin after every use. Occasionally, remove the outer shell and wipe the inner components with a clean, dry microfiber towel.
3. Brush roll: While both variants resist tangles well, it’s better to check these components occasionally for any hair or dust bunnies wrapping on them. The Outsize has an updated design, with a release latch that users pull to unlock and pull out the brush.
4. Cyclones: Not a regular maintenance task, but if you’re planning on keeping this vacuum for the long haul, it’s something to consider doing as dust will accumulate in these areas. This process takes several steps and will require Torx tools to do it correctly.

Parts availability for the Outsize and Torque Drive shouldn’t be a concern as Dyson is a famous brand. Users will have the option to buy OEM or a less expensive replacement brand.

Tools Out of the Box

You’ll get similar tools from these variants – mini turbo brush, crevice tool, combination tool, charging dock, and soft dusting brush.

However, specialty tools will vary depending on where you buy these vacuums.

Here’s what I got from the V11 Torque Drive variant.

1. Mini turbo brush
2. Soft dusting brush
3. Crevice tool
4. Combination tool
5. Stubborn brush tool: It has stiffer bristles than the combination and the soft dusting brush, making it great for cleaning pet hair.
6. Wand storage clip
7. Docking station

And the V11 Outsize (Gold)

1. Cleaning head
2. Mini turbo brush
3. Crevice tool
4. Combination tool
5. Upholstery tool
6. Soft dusting brush
7. Wand
8. Wall mountable dock
9. Charger

Are the Dyson V11 Outsize and V11 Torque Drive attachments interchangeable?

Yes, all the tools for both variants are interchangeable – attachments and nozzles. All Dyson cordless vacuums from the V7 onwards all have the same sized latch, so all the tools are forward and backward-compatible.

You can use the fluffy attachment of the V8 on either of these models.

Can you replace the Dyson V11 Outsize and V11 Torque Drive battery?

Again, the short answer is yes. It’s possible to replace a Dyson battery. The difference is earlier versions of the V11 Torque Drive don’t have a detachable battery. So this means you’ll have to loosen three screws to remove it. More recent versions have a detachable battery.

All Outsize models have a detachable battery, and the Red version comes with two (plus two chargers).

Replacement batteries for the V11 are also available from Dyson and third-party brands. Since these two models are more recent, there aren’t many replacement options available, but I’d expect these alternatives to be available eventually.

Product Specifications

Where Can I Buy the Dyson V11 Outsize and V11 Torque Drive?

These models are available on sites like Amazon. Check the links below for the latest pricing.

• Dyson V11 Outsize on Amazon
• Dyson V11 Torque Drive on Amazon

Disclaimer: I’ll earn a commission if you purchase through any of the links above, but at no extra cost, so it’s a win-win for us!

Which Offers the Better Value?

The V11 Outsize and Torque Drive are capable floor cleaners on the surface or under carpet fibers.

However, the issue for both is the high cost. These vacuums are some of the most expensive options available.

It is more costly than high-end upright vacuums with more suction.

I’ll help you by enumerating why you should go for the Outsize or Torque Drive.

4 Reasons to Choose the Dyson V11 Outsize

1. Need to clean a bigger space: The larger dustbin, wider nozzle, and lengthier run time make the Outsize the better alternative for cleaning larger homes. Its bulkier frame is less of a concern on floors thanks to the responsive steering.
2. Cleans embedded dirt for extended periods: I tested how much embedded sand it picks up in the middle setting and got 100%. Slightly better than the Torque Drive’s 99.97%. This setting runs a few minutes further at around 22 minutes.
3. Wide nozzle: The Outsize’s 12.6″ nozzle is close to an upright and means more coverage from a single pass.
4. XXL Dustbin: It can hold up to 0.5 gallons (1.89 liters) of dry dirt – more than twice the Torque Drive’s capacity.

4 Reasons to Choose the Dyson V11 Torque Drive

• Lighter weight: Even if the difference on paper isn’t big, the Torque Drive feels much lighter than the gargantuan Outsize.
• Better handheld option: The lighter frame makes this option easier to use as a handheld.
• Excellent for small to mid-sized homes: This is the better option if you live in a smaller space but still need a powerful carpet-cleaning vacuum.
• Great for embedded dirt: It picked up 99.97% of embedded sand in the middle setting – still better than most cordless vacuums in the max setting.

The Verdict: Both are Great for Carpet, But Are You Willing To Deal With The Outsize’s Massive Frame?

These vacuums are excellent options for homes with carpets. Each scored high marks on surface and embedded dirt, so there’s no question about their effectiveness.

The deciding factor would be two-fold – are you willing to deal with the V11 Outsize’s bulky frame and higher cost?

If not, then the Torque Drive would suffice. But the Outsize’s two detachable batteries and wide nozzle make it an enticing option inside larger homes with enough oomph for deep cleaning for longer stretches.