Dyson V8 Absolute: Dyson’s New Stick Vacuum

Innovative home cleaning (and now, hair care) brand Dyson has released a new model in its stick vacuum lineup, and it has a battery life that’s double that of the brand’s existing sticks.

The Dyson V8 Absolute is a bright yellow vacuum that pledges a cord-free and hassle-free experience — plus 40 minutes of battery power. Longer battery life makes this model ideal for people with more floor to cover.

But is the nearly $600 Dyson V8 worth the splurge?

What is it?

The Dyson V8 Absolute is a 5.75-pound stick vacuum. Easily recognizable by its yellow, red and purple color scheme, the cord-free vacuum is equipped with a 0.14-gallon bin and a washable lifetime filter.

It’s configured as a standard upright stick, but this vacuum also transforms into a handheld device for multipurpose cleaning. Just remove the stick for close spot-cleaning jobs. Reattach the stick when you want the vacuum to reach high corners.

This vacuum is battery-powered. That means there’s no cord to hassle with. Users can enjoy up to 40 minutes of suction with the Dyson V8, thanks to the lithium-ion battery. Note this time is reduced to 25 minutes when the motorized floor tool is attached.

Users can initiate max power mode to provide a boost of seven minutes of higher suction. When it’s time for a recharge, place the vacuum into its hanging docking station.

Here’s what’s on the inside of this Dyson vacuum:

• Direct-drive cleaner head. One of two cleaner heads, the V8’s direct-drive head is lined with bristles that remove dirt from carpeting.
• Soft roller cleaner head. The second head — a soft roller cleaner — makes floor transitions simple. This one tackles dust and debris on hard floors.
• HEPA filtration. Allergy sufferers, this is for you. Beyond just dirt, the V8 also captures allergens through its whole-machine HEPA filtration system.
• Dirt ejector. Dyson released a new cleaning mechanism with this machine, the hygienic dirt ejector. After using the stick, simply pull up on the device’s lid to clear the bin in one motion.

» MORE: The best Dyson vacuums

How much is it?

The V8 retails for $599.99 from Dyson. It also qualifies for free expedited shipping. As of July 2016, the V8 is not carried by many third-party retailers, so your best bet is to buy directly from the manufacturer.

When you purchase from Dyson, you’ll receive the Dyson V8 Absolute with its two cleaner heads, a mini motorized tool, a combination tool, a crevice tool and a soft dusting brush.

» MORE: Dyson V6 Absolute vs. Dyson V6 Motorhead

What makes it different?

The Dyson V8 sounds superior, but with so many other Dyson sticks for sale for less, many consumers will be left wondering which one is truly best. We took a look at how the V8 stacks up to the other sticks from Dyson to bring clarity to this potentially messy situation.

Here’s what the V8’s predecessors offer. (Note they all lack the dirt ejector feature, and they all have a battery time that’s half that of the V8.)

Dyson V6 Absolute: Sold for $599.99, the V6 version of the Absolute features a soft roller cleaner head, direct-drive cleaner head, a 20-minute run time, push-button bin emptying, mini motorized tool, mini soft dusting brush, combination tool and crevice tool. It weighs 5.1 pounds. Aside from the cleaning mechanism and battery life, it’s the closest model to the V8.

Dyson V6 Animal: Sold for $499.99, this model has a direct-drive cleaner head (no soft roller cleaner head), 20-minute battery run time, push-button bin emptying, mini motorized tool, mini soft dusting brush, combination tool and crevice tool. It weighs 5 pounds. Other than lacking the dual cleaning heads, this one shares many of the same features of the V8 for $100 less.

Dyson V6 Motorhead: Sold for $399.99, this stick includes the direct-drive cleaner head (no soft roller cleaner head), a 20-minute battery run time, push-button bin emptying, combination tool and crevice tool. It weighs 5 pounds. It’s less advanced than the V8, but $200 more affordable.

Dyson V6: Sold for $299.99, this vacuum has a motorized cleaner head for all floor types (no direct-drive or soft roller head), 20-minute battery run time, push-button bin emptying and combination tool. It weighs 4.5 pounds. This is the most basic V6 model.

Ready for your home?

If convenience is one of your top cleaning priorities, we recommend the Dyson V8 Absolute. The vacuum’s 40-minute battery power means you won’t have to worry about a cord, and you won’t have to stop for a constant recharge between rooms. It also features easy cleaning and plenty of accessories.

But for those with smaller living spaces such as apartment dwellers, it makes sense to stick to the more affordable Dyson V6. While the V8 is suitable for regular use on both carpet and hardwood, you can get by with a less advanced model (without the soft roller cleaner head) if your home is mostly carpeted and compact enough to get by on 20 minutes of battery time.

Courtney Jespersen is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: courtney@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @courtneynerd.

from NerdWallet
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