In this comparison, we’ll be looking at two of the more popular Dyson cordless vacuum options available – the Dyson V6 vs. V8. Which of these two variants is better? Scroll down to find out!
Spec Comparison Between the Dyson V6 vs. V8
Dyson V6
When Dyson introduced the world to the DC series, it changed how the world viewed cordless vacuums.
It brought in suction and versatility never before seen in a cordless.
A lot has changed since the first Dyson DC35 entered the fray.
Which Dyson Cordless Is Better?
The Dyson V8 Is The Better Option
Even if the Dyson V6 is the cheaper option, it’s hard to ignore the improvements that the Dyson V8 has over it. The V8 has twice the run time, more power, and a hygienic bin that’s easier to empty. The clincher for me would be the price. If you look at the price, the difference between the Dyson V6 vs. V8 isn’t that significant. If you combine all the factors that go into choosing which one is better between these two, the choice is obvious for me.
Dyson has improved upon that original design with subsequent releases. And the V6 and V8 are currently the best in terms of performance and features.
We’re going to have a close look at these two closely, more specifically, its features, differences, and performance.
Oscar Wilde said that “imitation is the highest form of flattery.” And Dyson’s success has bred a lot of imitators.
The Shark Rocket and Hoover Cruise are two such products that come to mind.
Both brands utilize the Dyson blueprint, such as the removable wand, trigger switch, and interchangeable tools.
But none can still match Dyson’s combination of power and versatility.
Sure, a Shark Rocket may have more power, but that’s because it has a cord. A Hoover Cruise is cordless, but it doesn’t quite pack a punch.
Dyson V6 Overview
When Dyson first unveiled the V6 series, it changed the way people think about a cordless.
People could no longer say that a cordless has weak suction and useless. The V6 had better agitation and more power.
What’s To Like
- Reasonable Price: The Dyson V6 is the cheapest Dyson cordless available right now. If you don’t mind the limitations, this vacuum will perform quite decently on hard floors or carpets.
- Great Selection: Of all the Dyson cordless vacuums, the V6 has the most options available with around ten. It has something that will fit your need. Please check out our V6 comparison guide for more information.
- Lots of Attachments: If you opt for the V6 Absolute (the most expensive in the V6 line), you’ll get a total of six attachments at your cleaning disposal.
- Great for Bare Floor or Carpet: You’ll have the option to get a vacuum that will perform well on hard floors (V6 Fluffy) or carpet (V6 Animal or MotorHead).
What’s Not To Like
- Short Run Time: The Dyson V8 will only run for up to 20 minutes, and that’s with the non-motorized tools. Don’t expect this vacuum to be capable of cleaning a large home by itself.
- Non-Hygienic Dirt Bin: This variant uses the old bin design that does not have the hygienic system that pushes the dirt down for you. Emptying the dust cup will be messy.
Put this side by side against the 2nd generation DC44; the V6 has two times more power in max mode.
Regardless of power, the V6 had never-been-seen-before tools that aid it in cleaning floors.
The V6 Absolute was the first Dyson cordless that had the soft roller cleaning head.
This tool was the first of its kind and is a game-changer in many ways. If you look at the market right now, nearly all the cordless stick vacuums have some sort of fluffy attachment.
I’m sure that Shark won’t admit it, but this was their inspiration for the DuoClean brush design found in the Rocket and IONFlex series.
No longer will a stiff bristle risk scratching expensive hardwood flooring or create a bigger mess.
Both of these variants have this tool along with the bristled attachment for cleaning the carpet.
It’s this versatility that makes a Dyson unique. Forget about deep cleaning for a moment here; what I’m talking about is portability like no other product can provide.
Dyson V8 Overview
The Dyson V8 is a considerable upgrade over the V6. It has the larger V8 motor that bumps the power up to 115 air watts over the 100 air watts in the V6, which is a 20% improvement.
Not only did Dyson improve power but also lengthen the run time thanks to the larger capacity lithium-ion batteries.
What’s To Like?
- 40-minute Run Time: The Dyson V8’s new larger capacity lithium-ion batteries will run for up to 40 mins. That is a hundredfold increase from the V6’s 20-minute run time.
- Upgraded Dirt Bin: This variant also comes with a hygienic bin that empties quicker without getting your fingers dirty.
- Larger Bin Capacity: The new dirt bin is more substantial and can hold up to 0.54 liters of dry dirt.
- Better Option In Bigger Homes: If you live in a larger home, the V8 would be the better option if you don’t want to spend on the more expensive Dyson V10.
What’s Not To Like?
- More Expensive: The Dyson V8 will cost more than the V6, but that’s the price you pay for a better cleaning tool.
The V8 will run for up to 40 minutes without the motorized tool. That number will go down to around 25 minutes if you use any of the two motorized tools.
The longer run time and bump in power make this a better option if you live in a larger home. Suppose you have pets; make sure to choose the “Animal” or the “Absolute” option that has the mini-turbo brush.
What are the Improvements in the Dyson V8?
Aside from the noticeable improvements in power and run time, here are two significant improvements that make the V8 a better product compared to the V6.
Improved Bin
The V6 had two design flaws that held it back. It was from consumer feedback.
The first flaw would be the bin design. And Dyson said it as easy to empty.
When you look at advertorials, it shows dirt dropping down easy. But the reality is that isn’t always the case.
In the real world, you’ll be cleaning a lot of dust, dander, hair, and maybe some breadcrumbs.
This dirt has what you call static electricity and don’t drop quickly when the trap door is open.
What do I mean?
According to Wikipedia, statically charged dust likes to cling to other objects because of static electricity. In the case of the V6, dust sticks on the plastic shell and inner filter of the bin.
And when you empty it, these types of dirt don’t just drop down without a fight.
It stays inside the bin. And you’ll need to use your fingers to dislodge it or disassemble the container to clean it thoroughly.
See what I mean?
Dyson has improved the design in the V8. Instead of just relying on just a trap door and gravity, the new design pushes dirt out, at least most of it.
Even with all the muck and hair inside, it has a mechanism that pushes stuff out. Another area of improvement would be the placement of the lever.
The V6’s lever is in front of the trigger.
It is a pretty awkward position when you’re trying to empty it.
The V8’s lever is on top just behind the cyclones. To empty, all you need to do is pull =the lever up.
I feel that this is a better design because it is less messy and dirt (at least most of it) will go to the trash bin.
New Max Switch
Another improvement would be the max button. In previous models before the V8, turning on the max involves pressing a button at the back of the post-motor filter.
Nothing wrong with the placement, but getting it to tun on can be tricky. You’ll have to apply a bit of pressure to get it to work.
There will be instances where pushing the switch does nothing, so you’ll have to push it again – that is annoying.
The new design eliminates that nuance. It uses a slide switch that makes the process much easier.
Power
The Dyson V6 has the V6 motor that pumps out 24 air watts in normal mode. In the max mode, that number goes up to 100 air watts.
To give perspective on this, a full-sized Dyson upright will have around 270 air watts on tap.
A hundred is pretty darn good considering this machine does not have any cords. It nearly produces more than a third the power a Dyson Ball Animal 2 would.
Dyson V8 has a new motor and more power.
The Dyson V8 comes with the latest V8 digital motor that produces almost 20% more power than the V6 motor. It has the same 2-tier radial cyclones that capture fine dust and allergens. And a post-motor HEPA filter keeps those allergens inside the bin.
Winner: Dyson V8
Cleaning Performance
Cleaning on flat surfaces does not only require sheer power, but you will need some agitation to pull up dirt. It is especially true when cleaning dusty areas.
The Dyson V6 and V8 have tools specifically designed for bare floor and carpet. You’ll see in these videos the cleaning performance of both.
V6 demo on tile and carpet…
You’ll notice at the carpet test that the V6 still used the older cleaning head that had less agitation.
The new brush in the V6 Animal and V6 Absolute has better performance because it has more power and better agitation.
And here’s a demo for the upgraded cleaner head on pet hair (a lot of pet hair!).
Here’s a demo of the soft roller cleaner head (or fluffy tool) on the hardwood.
This video proves that agitation plays a vital role in cleaning on both surfaces. It’s not just raw power. The agitation is good enough to pick up even dust in the cracks.
Now let’s move over to the V8.
The Dyson V8’s soft roller is an excellent tool for cleaning large piles of dirt. Just look at these clips.
The V8’s direct-drive cleaner head is perhaps the best in the industry.
Here’s how it compares with the Shark ION P50 which is one of the best stick vacuums at cleaning hard floors.
You can clearly see how well it performs at picking up surface dirt of varying sizes.
It also can clean carpets well. Please check the clip below.
Here’s a side by side comparison with a Dyson V10.
It almost does as well as the Dyson V10 when it cleans surface dirt, and surprisingly, it did better in the deep cleaning test, where it picked up 97.7% versus the 97.03% score of the V10. You can check the V8 and V10 comparison here to see all the details.
Winner: Even
Battery
Both of these models come with a fade-free lithium-ion battery. But the V8 has a much longer run time of 40 minutes compared to 20 minutes of the V6.
The 40 minutes run time can only be achieved minus the motorized tools attached. If you connect any of the powered devices (e.g., soft roller cleaner head), that run time goes down to 25 minutes, which is still plenty for spot cleaning.
Winner: V8
Can you replace the battery on the Dyson V6 and V8?
Yes, the good news is, the batteries in the Dyson V6 and the V8 are replaceable. This is fantastic news in terms of the longer-term viability of this product. Replacement batteries will cost in the $30 to $60 range in Amazon, but take note that these batteries aren’t original Dyson parts.
Please check the instructions here on how to replace the battery in the Dyson V6 and here for the V8. What’s good about these replacement batteries is that you can get something with a larger mAh, so it’ll give you a longer run time.
These replacement batteries usually come with a one-year warranty and a 30-day replacement guarantee. Make sure to check the fine print carefully before buying one.
Filtration
Both the V6 and V8 have HEPA filtration. Its filters are washable and will last the lifetime of the vacuum, so you don’t have to worry about running costs.
Winner: Even
Weight
The V8 is slightly heavier at 5.8 pounds. The V6 is lighter at 5.1 pounds.
Winner: V6
Bin Volume
With the new bin design of the V8, Dyson was able to increase capacity to 0.14 gallons. It is around 0.03 gallons bigger than the V6.
Winner: V8
Warranty
All Dyson cordless vacuums come with a 2-year warranty.
Winner: Even
Tools and Attachments
If you check out Amazon, the V6 has a total of 10 variants, each with its own set of tools for a specific purpose.
As an example, the V6 Mattress was created for mattress cleaning. It comes with a mini motorized brush for the job.
Other tools in the package include a crevice, combination, and soft dusting brush tools.
The first two are pretty standard in all variants.
At Dyson.com, the V6 has four variants – Total Clean, MotorHead, Cord-Free, and HEPA.
Not as diverse as the Amazon selection but still gives you options.
Better agitation
The first two have an improved direct-drive motorized brush. It provides 75% more agitation compared to the older cleaner head found in the Cord-Free and HEPA variants.
So far, the V8 has only one variant in Amazon – the Absolute. It has the full set of tools that include the direct-drive cleaner head, soft roller brush, crevice tool, combination tool, mini motorized tool, and soft dusting brush.
Comparing the top-end options, both come with the same number of tools. The most significant difference would be the motorized tools of the V8 that has more agitation.
Winner: V8 (slightly)
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 V7
- Dyson V6 vs V10
- Dyson V7 vs V10
- Dyson V7 vs V11
- Dyson V8 vs V10
- Dyson V8 vs V11
- Dyson V10 vs V11
Dyson versus other brands
Where can I buy these?
Currently, there are four different V8 options on Amazon. The V8 Absolute is the most expensive. And it is an excellent option if you have both bare floors and carpet.
If you don’t need the bare floor cleaning soft roller head, then opt for the cheaper V8 MotorHead with only the direct-drive head.
Dyson V6 has around ten different variants in Amazon. Read this article to get a detailed overview of how these differ from each other.
Please check the links below to see the latest prices. Please note that if you make a purchase with any of these links, I will earn a commission, but at no additional cost to you, so it’s a win-win for both of us.
If you live in the United Kingdom, you can buy the V8 Absolute from Amazon’s UK site.
The Dyson V6 is also available from Amazon’s UK site, and the options include the Animal, Flexi, Top Dog, Fluffy, and Total Clean.
The verdict
You can’t go wrong with either of these two products. Both offer a level of versatility and power I’ve yet to see in another cordless vacuum.
Some reasons why you should buy the Dyson V6
With the V8 and V10 in the market, the V6 is the most affordable Dyson cordless vacuum available. The top-spec V6 Absolute costs less than $250, which is a bargain in my book considering the number of tools that come with it. It will provide almost the same performance as the V8 but with a much shorter run time.
I’d recommend the Dyson V6 for people who
- Don’t mind getting their hands dirt emptying the bin: The dust cup of the V6 can be hard to empty if you’re cleaning a lot of dust or hair because some of it will stick to the mesh filter in the middle. You’ll have to disassemble the bin to clean it thoroughly.
- Want a cheaper cordless vacuum: The current price point makes the V6 a bargain in my book.
- Don’t mind the small bin: You’ll have to empty this vacuum more often than the V8.
I’d recommend the Dyson V8 for people who
- Have homes with carpet: The more powerful V8 would suit homes that have carpet. The direct-drive cleaning head in the V8 has more and agitation that would do a better job on carpets.
- Want a vacuum that’s easy to empty: The redesigned dust cup in the V8 is easier to dispose of thanks to the mechanism that pushes dirt down.
- Don’t mind spending more: Yes, the V8 is more expensive, but I believe that the two key improvements (with the larger/easy to empty dust cup and power) are worth it.
The Dyson V8 is no doubt head and shoulders above every cordless vacuum (except for the V10) when it comes to versatility, power, and features.
No other cordless touches it in sheer power and agitation it brings to the table with the two motorized tools in its toolset.
However, all that high-tech gadgetry comes at a premium.
The V6 is a good option if you don’t want to spend over $500 for a cordless.
The top of the line variant will cost a few hundred dollars less. It has a total of 10 different options in Amazon that comes with a specific toolset, each designed for a particular need.
Comments on this entry are closed.
Nice write up. Dyson is not as clear. Why doesn’t this have a publishing date?
So can you put the higher AH battery of the V8 in a V6? There are 3 different batteries AH sizes that I have found.
I think the weights are wrong in your table. V6 is the lightest according to your written section.
Also you say the V6 generates 100AW with the V8 20% more. Thats not what’s in your table.
So do the handhelds (without the stick) have power contacts for the motorized heads? Can you just add the stick?
Are the sticks any different between models?