Dyson 214744-01 V8 Absolute Cordless Vacuum

Product Information

Let's be clear though: the V10 is an improvement over the V8 in some key areas. For starters, it has a longer battery life (60 minutes compared to 40 minutes), and it takes less time to charge (3.5 hours compared with 5 hours). It comes with a 0.77l dustbin, as opposed to the V8's 0.54l bin, and is hardly any heavier than the older model, weighing in at 2.67kg compared to 2.61kg for the V8. The latest models come with Dyson’s hair-detangling floor head, which combs the brushes of its rotating brush bar as the vacuum cleans, ensuring that hair doesn’t get tangled. Perhaps most importantly, every V8 came with the Direct Drive Cleaner Head, the model's marquee attraction. This head represented an improvement in every way on previous Dysons, delivering much-improved suction and dirt removal, while being easy to clean and versatile enough to deal with carpets and hard floors alike. The Dyson V8 Models: Dyson V8 Absolute Pro, Dyson V8 Animal, and Dyson V8 Total Clean The digital motor inside the V8 Absolute has more power. It now runs at 425W, whereas the V6 made do with 325W. The bin, too, is now higher capacity at 0.54 litres to the former’s 0.4 litres. Emptying the bin is a pleasingly simple affair and has also seen further refinements from the V6. You simply need to release the catch at the top and pull upwards, which in turn releases the lid at the bottom to eject the dirt. In the V6, you found that dirt would get trapped in the bin when emptying, typically along the sides due to static. Now, a rubber collar slides down the side of the bin, scraping excess dirt off like a squeegee. It’s a simple but effective change and means you don’t have to manually clean out the inside of the bin.

The V8 is drastically quieter than the previous V6, making vacuuming a less strenuous task. Dyson claims there’s a 50% reduction in noise, and while we’ll have to take Dyson’s word for it, it’s definitely noticeably easier on the ears. It’s a much lower-frequency sound, and while vacuuming is never a silent activity, it’s welcome to see the often excessive noise output has been reduced.

The Dyson V11 reigns supreme, but the V8 Absolute is still a great cordless vacuum cleaner

For a cordless vacuum as expensive as the V8, I would have liked it if the trigger grip was more comfortable. It’s made from hard plastic and the side of the motor rubs against the top of your thumb, which can become a little uncomfortable. A softer plastic or rubber coating wouldn’t have gone amiss and would help with grip, too. It also has two power modes. Switch between MAX mode for up to 7 minutes of high power, and Powerful mode for longer cleaning. In reality, cleaning your own house is one of the hardest chores that you need to do. It requires a lot of time and effort just to finish the chore but you can now have a companion while doing this. With Dyson V8 vacuum cleaner which is engineered for homes with hard floors. Your life would be easier.

Key specs – Dimensions (WDH): 280 x 390 x 1,065mm; Weight: 7.4kg; Bin capacity: 1.8l; Vacuum type: Upright; Bagless: Yes; Suction power – stated: 90AW The V8 Absolute proved adept at going from hard floors to carpeted areas without any issues, making it a very versatile cleaner and certainly capable of a full-house clean with its improved battery life.

The Dyson V8 range has been around for a few years, having debuted in 2016, so it's no surprise that the company has come up with a successor. The Dyson V10 collection appeared in 2018, and was intended to directly supersede the V8, so you might think that assessing the merits of the V8 is obsolete. After all, why opt for an older model if more powerful, more advanced alternatives exist? Actually, there are a few reasons to think about Dyson V8s, instead of upgrading to a V10. You could pay hundreds of pounds over the odds if you buy a Dyson vacuum at the wrong time or from the wrong place. There’s an increase in the suction, naturally, with this new vacuum’s stated suction power upgraded to 240 air watts, compared with 185 air watts in the equivalent V11. However, the headline innovations in this model are located in its motorised heads. It's also worth remembering that having multiple accessories can be more of a hindrance than a help, especially when storing them, which is another reason not to splash out on a model with expensive extras unless you're sure you need them.

It has the usual attachments for crevice cleaning and dusting, plus a small motorised head for mats and rugs, but is definitely not suitable if you’ve got more carpet than you’re prepared to vacuum on your hands and knees. As the years passed, Dyson added more cyclones, enhancing the ability of cleaners to remove dust or sand particles. Handheld models appeared, giving home owners new opportunities to clean hard to reach locations, and providing a great way to mop up small dirt deposits. However, while it doesn’t offer the extreme suction of Dyson’s cordless models on their Boost mode, the Ball Animal is more powerful than the standard modes of such machines. With the added benefit that it isn’t going to run out and require recharging, this makes it perfect for larger, more serious cleaning jobs. There’s another useful tweak here, where it comes to changing accessories. The release clip has now been moved to the accessory head, whereas it used to be on the extension tube and the main unit. Previously, it meant removing accessories became a juggling act but the operation is now swifter and far easier to complete with just your free hand.Unfortunately, we weren’t able to test the V8’s suction power using our standard test, which gives out a reading in kilopascals (kPa). This is because when you create a perfect seal with the V8’s nozzle the motor shuts down automatically after just a second, making it difficult to get an accurate reading of its full suction capabilities. This prevents undue strain on the motor should the pipe become clogged, but means we’ve had to rely on our more subjective tests.