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Vacuuming the house used to be a much-loathed chore, often delegated to sulky teenagers in exchange for a little pocket money.
It would involve lugging a piece of pretty hefty material, while trying to work out which plug socket could help you to reach the furthest.
Inevitably there would be moments where you would be trying to reach some dirt or clean a stain, when the wire would tug and either you couldn’t reach or the plug would come out and the power would stop. But those days feel a long way behind us with these vacuums.
The Dyson v6 and Dyson v10 are both light-weight, cordless stick vacuum cleaners that don’t involve a sack of dirt being dragged along with you. The Dyson v10 is a newer version, and more expensive too, but is it worth the price difference?
And what should you really be looking for in a new vacuum? Well don’t worry, we’ve got you covered on both of these questions.
We’re going to take a look at the designs and features of the two vacuums, how much power they have, what their run-times and dustbins are like, and most importantly, how well they work. So take a look below at Dyson v6 and v10 comparison so you can find the answer to all your doubts.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty detail of these two vacuums, let’s take a quick look at the key differences between these two series.
Dyson v6 Advantages:
Dyson v6 Disadvantages:
Dyson v10 Advantages:
Dyson v10 Disadvantages:
Winner: Don’t want to read the full article? The editor’s choice is the Dyson v10.
Okay, so we’ve taken a look at the more obvious distinguishing features of these two vacuum cleaners, but now it’s time for us to explore the differences at a deeper level. After reading this, you’ll know for sure whether you should get the Dyson v6 or go for the Dyson v10.
The Dyson “V” series of vacuums are all cordless stick vacuums. This means that they don’t have any wires that can get tangled or limit where you can reach. It also means that there is a certain run-time for each one, rather than an unlimited cleaning potential.
As it is such an important factor in these vacuums, it is something that we will cover in more detail in its own section below. Both the Dyson v6 and the Dyson v10 come in three parts.
These three parts are the cleaning head, which sits on the floor, the vacuum body, which is where the hand grips, and the extension wand that links the two. The cleaning head has two main options, which are either the torque drive cleaner head or the fluffy head.
The direct-drive cleaner head is the main choice for carpet cleaning, while the fluffy roller head is better for hardwood floors. The vacuum body is the part with the battery, the digital motor, the cyclone system, and the on/off trigger.
Both models come with a docking station which can be attached to the wall. This docking station makes it super easy to grab and go if there is a sudden spillage. But don’t worry, you don’t have to mount it if there’s no space. It is also possible to charge into a standard wall outlet.
Both the Dyson v6 vacuum and the v10 vacuum are designed to be used either as a stick vacuum or as a hand-held vacuum. They also both come with various accessories, and the v10 has slightly more options when it comes to this.
Some are included with certain models, while others are available for purchase online. The Dyson v6 Fluffy comes with a fluffy roller cleaner head, while the Dyson v6 Absolute comes with a direct drive cleaner head as well as a fluffy roller head.
There are three options for the v10 vacuum. Again, it is the heads and accessories that make it different, rather than the digital motor or dust/ dirt bin etc. The v10 Absolute comes with both the torque drive cleaner head and the fluffy cleaning head.
The v10 Animal comes with just the torque drive cleaner head, but includes some extra accessories for the removal of pet hair. The Dyson v10 Motorhead only has the direct drive cleaner head.
Related Reading: Dyson Animal vs Animal 2 Ultimate Comparison
Verdict:
In terms of the general features of the two vacuums, they are both very similar. This isn’t where their main differences lie. If we had to pick a winner, it would be the Dyson v10 as it has a few more options, but that’s the only real difference between these two here.
As we mentioned above, these two Dyson vacuums are both cordless. This means that they are a bit different to the vacuums you might remember from your youth. Gone are the big, heavy vehicles that get lugged behind to collect the dirt and power the suction. Instead, these two options are both designed to be lightweight.
This means that they don’t have to be near a power source, but also that they come with much smaller dust cups than the big vacuum bags of the past. As a result, they do have to be emptied more frequently.
This is easier in the Dyson v10, due to the new switch to open it on the side. Again, we’ll look into this in more detail in the dust/ dirt bin section below.
The two vacuums both have the same easy trigger function to start and stop. The premise is very simple- the vacuum cleaner is on while your finger is on the trigger, and off when it is not. The downside is that it can make your finger a little tired, and the grip is more important than it used to be.
However, it also means that it should save a lot of battery time, which is what these vacuums are all about really. But whereas the Dyson v6 only has one setting, the v10 has three different power settings, depending on your vacuuming needs.
This is a neat little way to extend the life of the battery as well as to ensure the most effective excellent cleaning. In terms of size, the Dyson v6 and the Dyson v10 are fairly similar. The Dyson v6 is 47.5 inches high, while the v10 is 49.2 inches high.
Then the Dyson v6 is 9.8 inches wide, compared to 10.1 inches wide for the Dyson v10. Needless to say, these slight size differences also translate into weight differences. The Dyson v6 weighs 5.1 lbs, while the v10 weights 5.9 lbs.
As you can see, the size differences aren’t huge, but if you’re looking for the lightest vacuum, particularly if you will primarily be using it as a hand-held vacuum, the v6 is probably a better option for you.
Verdict:
Both the v6 and the v10 have similar designs, but the v10 is an up-graded version. If it were purely by size, the Dyson v6 would be the winner. But the larger dust cup and the three different settings make the v10 a more attractive design overall.
When it comes to vacuuming, we all know that power makes a big difference. We’ve all tried those really old vacuums that seem to brush light dust from one side to the other, without being able to pick up any actual dirt. However, these vacuums are a far cry from those old days.
You may read that they are not ideal for a really deep clean (you know the type- the one where you’ve been meaning to vacuum cleaner for over a month and there are bits of food and dirt that have been trodden in and you’ve been trying to ignore it, but just can’t leave it any longer….).
But the main reason why these vacuums are less suitable for that type of cleaning is actually to do with the size of its dust cup and the limited battery life. They are not a problem when it comes to power.
Whether you are looking to pick up light, large debris or larger pieces of dirt, pet hair or food, both of these vacuums work really well. However, it is in the power levels that we start to see a real difference between the two vacuums.
The Dyson v6, as the more basic vacuum cleaner in the Dyson cordless range, has a suction power of 100 watts. In contrast, the Dyson v10 has 50% more power, with 150 watts. While the v11 has now surpassed that with a whopping 185 watts, the Dyson v10 will not come across many dirty patches that it can’t handle.
Verdict:
There is no doubt about the winner for this section. At 150 watts, the suction power of the Dyson v10 far outstrips the Dyson v6.
When it comes to cleaning, you want to make sure that your vacuum is actually picking up all the dirt, dust, and debris around, rather than just moving it around. These two models are both effective at this part.
In fact, the v10 boasts that it captures 99.9% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, leaving you with cleaner air than when you started. But once the dirt has been picked up, you need your vacuum to still work, rather than just get clogged and need cleaning out.
This is of course especially important when it comes with a smaller dust cup, like these cordless models. That’s where Dyson has introduced some great technology to help solve your cleaning needs.
The Dyson cordless vacuums have a cyclone system in the middle of the vacuum body to help keep the vacuum working while it fills. They work by spinning the dirt and dust around the filters, so that it doesn’t clog up the primary filter.
That way the suction power can stay at its most effective. The v6 uses a 15-cyclone design, and the Dyson v10 uses one less in a 14-cyclone design, which leaves it looking just that bit sleeker.
Verdict:
The two vacuums have the same premise for their filtration systems, but the v10 just edges this round for its sleeker design and more emphasised capture of tiny particles.
All the features we have been through so far in terms of getting to know the small differences between the vacuums, but of course one of the key features of a cordless vacuum is its battery power.
This is another aspect that really highlights the good progress that Dyson has made over the years with their upgrades. The Dyson v6 has a battery power of 2,200 mAh, compared to 2,600 mAh for the Dyson v10, although this translates into a much bigger difference when it comes to running time.
The v6 has a run time of 20 minutes, and that’s at low power. On high power, this vacuum can only last for 6 minutes. The v10 also has a considerably shorter battery life on max power, lasting for 8 minutes.
However, on low power mode the v10 can last for up to 60 minutes. As the vacuum is only switched on when you’re actually pulling the trigger on a stain, it is very unlikely that you would be on maximum power for an extended run time of 8 minutes, so it should last for much longer for your general vacuuming.
For both vacuums it takes around three and a half hours to be fully charged. It is worth highlighting that for many people, particularly those with bigger houses, the cordless vacuum is used in addition to a more heavy-duty vacuum that doesn’t need to be re-charged.
For this reason, a lot of people use the cordless vacuum for the hard-to-reach places, their vehicles, or to grab quickly for a recent spillage. However, if you have a smaller flat then the battery life of these cordless vacuums should be plenty.
Even if it’s on the larger size, with the progress that has been made by Dyson, the v10 could cover all your vacuuming needs.
Verdict:
This is an easy round for picking the winner, and really highlights how technology has advanced over the last few years. With triple the run-time, the Dyson v10 is the clear winner when it comes to the battery.
We mentioned the dustbin earlier in this article, and strange as it might seem, it is actually one of the key aspects that is different between these two vacuums. The first difference that needs to be addressed is the capacity of the dustbins.
The Dyson v6 was one of the earlier models of the Dyson cordless vacuums, and it is now the most basic option on sale. The dust/ dirt bin capacity of the v6 is 400ml. This means that it needs to be changed fairly frequently.
Unfortunately, the way to release the dustbin of the v6 requires opening it at the bottom, which often leads to dirt and dust getting on the fingers. It is also messier for emptying out into a bin. Luckily, this is a design flaw which has been fixed in the v10.
Instead of having to open the dustbin up at the bottom, there is instead a latch at the side which releases the dirt downwards. This system is further improved by the redesign of the vacuum body. It has been re-aligned so that the motor, dustbin and filter are all in a straight line.
This not only makes the vacuum more effective, but it also helps to better let the dirt and dust out.
Verdict:
The v6 has a slight design flaw when it comes to hygienic bin emptying dust, although it is nothing too serious. However, the realignment and new latch make the Dyson v10 vacuum the definite winner for this round.
Both the v6 and the v10 can be used both as stick vacuums or as hand-held vacuums. The benefit of the hand-held vacuum can best be felt when trying to clean vehicles, stairs, or other tricky spots.
In contrast, as a stick, there is better grip and it can feel more comfortable for working at tougher dirt patches. This difference is felt particularly keenly due to the on/off trigger. Although this trigger is better for run-time, it can feel a bit uncomfortable if you’re having to vacuum for a while.
When it is on the stick, both vacuum options are pretty good at maneuvering and can turn without too many issues. Of course, the fact that they can both be turned into hand-held vacuums means that it is really easy to use them for reaching the trickier or smaller spots.
As the v6 is a bit lighter and smaller than the v10, it tends to be a bit easier to handle. However, the realignment of the v10 means that all its weight is up by the hand, which does make it quite easy to lift and maneuver.
Verdict:
Overall, we’re going to have to give this round to the v6. They are very similar, but the heavier weight of the v10 does make it a bit more cumbersome.
If you’re getting a vacuum, then of course one of the key aspects you want to know about is the actual cleaning performance of each one. It’s no good getting a vacuum with all the mod-cons if it can’t pick up some spilled cereal or bits of dirt.
Nor do you want to get one that only works on hardwood floors when you’ve got carpets. Luckily for you, neither of these vacuums have those problems, although there is a notable difference in cleaning performance levels between the two series.
On hard floors it is probably best to use the fluffy head, so that you don’t leave scratch marks. The v6 struggles a little with some of the larger debris on the hard surfaces, but it’s mostly fine. And the v10 can handle hardwood floors and carpets perfectly.
When it comes to carpets, it’s important to distinguish between low and high pile. So many vacuums work wondrously on low pile carpets, but then when it comes to high-pile, they pull the threads out of the carpet or rug, rather than cleaning them.
The v6 is actually probably a little better at cleaning low-pile carpets than it is at hard surfaces, as it is able to get more traction.
And it handles high-pile carpets only a little less well than low-pile. In contrast, the v10 seems to not have a problem picking up the dirt and large debris, regardless of what type of floor it is on. It is pretty much equally good regardless.
Verdict:
Although the v6 vacuum can handle dirt and large debris better than many other vacuums on the market, it is no competition for the v10, which can handle any type of flooring and offers a great cleaning performance.
When it comes down to it, the price is often the real determining factor. The question is, does spending more buy you a vacuum that is worth that extra cash? And does buying a cheaper model end up being worth it, or does it have too many deficiencies?
When it comes to these two models, the price range is fairly substantial. The v6 model is around $250-300, while the v10 is more like $500. The v6 has a very similar design to the v10 and still does the same job.
However, for that extra price for the v10, you’re getting a battery life that gives a run-time that is three times longer, as well as three different power settings. You also get a dustbin that’s nearly twice as big and much easier to empty, as well as a sleeker design that is easier to carry.
The question is whether or not your budget can stretch to it.
Verdict:
At nearly half the price, the v6 is the clear winner for this round. As the most basic option, its price keeps coming down with each new model. But, it doesn’t have the same features as the new ones which have been up-graded, so it’s your choice for whether or not it’s worth it.
Both vacuums are great options for anyone looking to buy a cordless vacuum. The v6 is a really good choice for anyone looking to buy their first cordless vacuum and just wants to try it, or for anyone on more of a budget.
It is a cheaper option and a very competitive price for what it offers. However, the v10 is better than it in almost every round. It has a bigger dustbin, it can be emptied more easily, it can vacuum for longer, and is better on every surface.
So if you have the cash, there is no doubt that the v10 is the better option. Whether or not you want to spend it on this vacuum is up to you, but at least now you have all the information you need to make that choice.
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