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When it comes to vacuums, Dyson certainly needs no introduction. Most of us have heard of their brand and know that they’re well-loved for the ergonomic design, ease of use, and brilliant suction power of their vacuums.
The real challenge comes when you have to toss-up between two Dyson models though. Well both Dyson V8 and Dyson V11 models are great vacuums, they do have different features and are carp priced differently. Which will best suit you?
Keep reading as we compare both vacuums and find out which one didn’t quite perform as well.
Dyson V8 Advantages
It’s true that the Dyson V11 does have some more powerful features than the V8, but it’s also true that the price of the V8 is less expensive. This means that it still has pretty good suction, can work for 40 minutes, and can be used as a handheld device just like the V8 without costing you too much out of pocket. That makes the V8 a great option if you just need a vacuum cleaner to go around your house.
Because the V8 is so small and can be detached to become a handheld vacuum, it’s easy to use this vacuum cleaner anywhere in your home or in your car. It’s an especially good option if you have a small apartment or if you don’t vacuum too much. The cleaner head comes with a soft roller.
Because of the way the extension wand connects to the motor and dustbin in the V8, this vacuum is lighter in weight and has a little more versatility in movement. This ensures that it’s easy to lift this vacuum high for cleaning the cobwebs up by your ceiling. Lenght- 49.2 inches
Dyson V8 Disadvantages
Hopefully, you’re not vacuuming for an hour, but if you like to do all of your vacuumings at once, you might wish that the V8 had a little bit of a longer run time. Forty minutes is still a long time though, but it’s not as long as the 60 minutes that you get when you buy the Dyson V11.
You do have less suction power with the V8. This doesn’t mean that it’s not a great vacuum, but you may not get absolutely everything that you try to pick up, even if you will get a great majority of it. The V8 maxes out at 115aw.
You have a few fewer features than there are in the Dyson V11, but that doesn’t mean the V8 doesn’t work well. It does mean, however, that it will take you a little more time to charge your V8, and you will be able to use it for less time too.
Dyson V11 Advantages
You can use your Dyson V11 torque drive cleaning head model for an entire hour, which makes this vacuum a great option if you have a large space to clean, or if you like to get all of your cleaning done at once. You won’t need to worry about your vacuum dying or losing suction right in the middle of your work.
Because the Dyson V11 is updated from the V8, you have a new digitized screen that can provide you with extra information about how your vacuum is running. This means that you don’t need to guess about battery life or the power mode since you’re able to adjust everything right from that little screen. The V11 also comes with a torque drive cleaning head model.
Part of what makes the V11 torque drive cleaning head unique is that it has so much suction. Compared to the 115aw of the V8, you have 185aw in the Dyson V11. The inline assembly provides this vacuum with a little more power and includes an adjustable suction mode for different floor types. This means that you can easily use this vacuum when you have a home with multiple floor types and it also comes with a washable HEPA filter.
Dyson V11 Disadvantages
Honestly, the V11 torque drive cleaning head is a great upgrade from the V8, but that’s just it: it’s an upgrade. It has some stronger features and can pick up a lot of dirt, although if you need to watch your wallet, you don’t necessarily need these features to clean your home well. The V8 will work well for a lower price point.
You can not swap out the battery of this Dyson v11 if you notice that the battery life is beginning to die. Ultimately, this means that in the long run, you will have to buy a completely new vacuum rather than just replacing the battery when it runs low.
You have lots of power with the Dyson V11 torque drive cleaning head model. Sometimes too much power maybe. There’s so much torque drive to the cleaning head in some of the low power modes that you may find that your large debris scattered around. This might not be the best for people with allergies.
Winner: Don’t want to read the full article? The editor’s choice is Dyson V11.
When it comes down to the details, we could really go into what separates the Dyson V8 vs the Dyson V11. However, they have just enough similarities and differences to make either a great buy, depending on the factors you value most in your vacuum.
That said, the design is very similar although there are key features that differ, which might end up making all the difference to you. As a starter, they both have different models available, which also ends up affecting some of the features they bring to the table.
Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s all about the extras though. When it comes down to it, both the V8 and Dyson V11 have different power, user interface, dust bin capacity, and efficiency. Not only that, but they also each have a different head design and added accessories.
However, in terms of overall functionality, size, and design, they’re both very similar. So, if you just need a stick vacuum, look at the other features you really want first.
At face value, one of the biggest differences is the price. The V8 Dyson cordless stick vacuums make a great vacuum for people looking to get a quality vacuum at a value price. However, the Dyson V11 comes with some features that make it worth the extra cost to some people.
Here’s what you need to know about the biggest differences between them, and how they stack up against one another.
Related Reading: Dyson V6 vs DC44 Comparison
Perhaps one of the biggest differences between each Dyson vacuum is the power it uses, and the suction it produces. However, it’s not just about raw suction power. It’s also about exactly how each vacuum uses the suction power it’s built with.
When we compare v8 vs v11 Dyson, to be fair, both the V8 and Dyson V11 use cyclonic suction to get large debris off your hard surfaces. It is more efficient than the suction technology vacuum cleaners used long ago. The digital motor in the Dyson V8 can spin at up to 108,000 rpm, while the Dyson V11 can spin at up to 125,000 rpm.
These canisters sit forward, rather than behind the motor. This allows for more efficient suction. While both perform very well in getting large debris off the floor, and both do have good suction, they aren’t exactly the same, except for the fact that they very well in getting large debris off the floor.
The newer vacuum, the Dyson V11, comes with a higher power which ultimately gives it more suction power. However, there is a slightly higher price tag to get that extra power. Likewise, the older vacuum, the V8, has slightly less suction power, but it comes at a more affordable price. The Dyson V8 has a maximum suction power of 115 AW, while the Dyson V11 maxes out at 185 AW
If you’re not dealing with heavy-duty messes, either choice is a solid addition to your home. However, if you’re dealing with a busy home, plenty of low-pile carpet, and messy high traffic areas, it might be worth investing a little more to get the extra suction of the V11 Dyson.
Of course, it’s worth mentioning that the V11 looks nearly identical to the V8, although in using it, you might notice some differences. While we consider it a small difference the higher powered motor of the V11 does add a little bulk to it.
Of course, this only comes down to an inch or so the difference in size, and around a pound of weight. However, we’ll discuss these details more in-depth in our overall design criteria section. Both models perform similarly when it comes to low-pile carpet and high-pile carpet cleaning.
Verdict: Both vacuums come with efficient, high powered suction. However, in terms of suction and power, the V8 runs at 115 AW. The V11 runs at 185 AW, making it our winner in this category.
Sometimes, the look of your vacuum is important. However, it’s hard to pick out many differences between each of these Dyson vacuums. As with the rest of the models in the Dyson V series, they have the same general profile, look, and functionality.
If you’re interested in how it looks, you won’t notice a difference.
One of the most popular ways to use them is as a stick vacuum. However, they all come with a handy 2 in 1 design. You can use them either as a handheld vacuum, or a stick vacuum.
Likewise, they all come apart and go together in the same way, so there’s really no difference in assembly. No matter how you want to use it, all the connection points are the same.
You connect the wand to the handheld part on one side and the cleaning head on the other if you want to use it as a stick vacuum. To use it as a handheld vacuum, just attach the handheld component to the special attachment piece.
When we compare Dyson v8 vs Dyson v11, both the V8 and V11 also allow you to use the vacuum as a handheld with extended reach, for cleaning in hard to reach spaces. If you need the extended reach, simply connect the handheld part to the wand, and then connect the wand to the cleaning head.
No matter which model you use, the connection pieces all snap-in and have a red button to release them. As we mentioned, their overall design is more or less the same. However, with a newer model, and a more powerful motor, also comes some minute changes.
That said, we find it worth mentioning simply because it’s the only real, noticeable difference between the design of the V8 and V11. The V8 is slightly slimmer, and a little lighter. It’s about 49 inches tall, and about 8.8 inches deep. It weighs in at 5.75 pounds, which is very lightweight for a vacuum of any size.
The V11 on the other hand comes with a weight-6.68 lbs. If you struggle to move a vacuum around or have back problems, the added weight might deter you from the V11.
It’s also a little bigger than the V8, at 50.6 inches tall and 10.3 inches deep. However, both the V8 and V11 are 9.8 inches long. If weight or storage is a big concern for you, these are the only things that will make much of a difference in your decision.
Verdict: In terms of the overall design, both the V8 and V11 are extremely similar. Unless you’re comparing the two side by side, chances are you’ll never notice a difference. The V11 is slightly larger and heavier, but these are very small differences. In short, this round is a tie.
There’s more to these vacuums than a 2 in 1 design. In fact, some of the biggest differences between the V8 and V11 (suction power aside, of course) come down to the accessories they come with, and their cleaning heads.
With that in mind, let’s look at the different parts each comes with, and what difference it makes:
When we compare Dyson v8 vs Dyson v11, first, the V11 comes with everything you’d expect from a newer Dyson vacuum cleaner. It comes with a special Torque drive cleaning head, the extension wand, soft roller, charger, and docking station. However, it also includes some other nice pieces that can make a tough cleaning job a lot easier. You also get a crevice tool, to get into tough areas.
The V11 also comes with some special brushes, a soft roller, and tools that you don’t get with most vacuums. For example, you get the mini motorized tool, which is great for getting up pet hair, and the mini soft dusting brush for soft surfaces and upholstery. It also includes a special dusting brush, ‘the stubborn dirt brush,’ for hard surfaces, a soft roller that can get caked on messes up.
Next, let’s talk about the V8 and everything that comes with it. This vacuum cleaner actually comes with two different direct-drive cleaning heads, so you can use the right one for any cleaning job. There’s the soft roller, fluffy cleaning head for light messes, and the direct-drive cleaning head, which you’d use like any other vacuum cleaning head. It is also perfect for hardwood floors.
Like the V11, you also get an extension wand, charger, and docking station. Of course, the V8 also includes a crevice tool like most Dyson V series models. As with the V11 torque drive model, the V8 also comes with a mini soft brush, which serves the same function although it’s designed a little differently.
The tools that come with the V8 and not the V11 torque drive model includes a combination tool and a mini motorized brush tool.
All in all, both the V8 and V11 torque drive model comes with plenty of accessories. Likewise, both sets of accessories are designed to let you clean a variety of messes with minimal effort.
However, depending on what kind of flooring and furnishings you have in your home, either the V8 or V11 will suit you better.
We do like that both v8 Dyson and v11 Dyson come with motorized tools, crevice tools, and soft brush tools for fabric and upholstery. The biggest difference is really in the cleaning heads and the stubborn dirt brush tool for hardwood floors.
Verdict: This is another tough call since both the V8 and V11 come with plenty of accessories. While many are similar, and in fact, some are the same, some tools are different enough to sway your choice. The V8 wins for having two different direct-drive cleaning heads with a soft roller, although the V11 would win if it came down to only accessories since it includes a motorized mini brush as well as the stubborn dirt brush.
We have two great vacuums here: the V8 and the V11. Both of them have solid suction power, protect you from too many airborne particles, and can clean your home fairly quickly.
The difference between v8 and v11 is that the V11 is an upgraded version of the V8, and therefore has some better features than the V8, including improved suction and air filtration. The V11 is the superior cordless vacuum cleaner, but if you’re trying to save some money, you’ll still get a great vacuum cleaner if you pick up the V8 instead which comes with a soft roller. Dyson v11 animal also includes similar features.
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