Dyson V8 Absolute Vs. V8 Animal Cordless Vacuum

Dyson has become synonymous with powerful, convenient cordless vacuums. Two of their most popular models are the Dyson V8 Absolute and the Dyson V8 Animal. But what exactly is the difference between these two stick vacuums?

And how do you know which is better for your cleaning needs?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the Dyson V8 Absolute and V8 Animal across all the key factors: price, design, features, performance, maintenance, and more.

By the end, you’ll have all the details you need to decide which Dyson V8 model is right for your home.

A Brief Comparison Table

Feature	Dyson V8 Absolute	Dyson V8 Animal
Price	$499.99	$449.99
Floor Heads	Soft roller head for hard floors, Direct drive for carpets	Direct drive head only
Accessories Included	Soft dusting brush, docking station
Total Accessories	7 tools	4 tools
Suction Power	Same V8 digital motor, up to 115AW	Same V8 digital motor, up to 115AW
Battery Life	40 min run time	40 min run time
Filtration	Whole machine filtration, washable filter	Same
Noise Level	77dB normal mode	Same
Warranty	2 year limited	Same

Overview of the Dyson V8 Absolute and V8 Animal

The Dyson V8 Absolute and V8 Animal are very similar cordless stick vacuums. They share the same motor, battery, filtration system and cleaning heads. However, there are some differences:

• Price: The V8 Absolute is more expensive.
• Accessories: The Absolute comes with more tools and accessories.
• Cleaning heads: The Absolute has the soft roller cleaner head for hard floors, which the Animal lacks.

So in essence, the Dyson V8 Absolute is the higher-end, more versatile model. The V8 Animal is a more affordable alternative for people with mostly carpets.

Key Differences Between Dyson V8 Absolute and V8 Animal

Below we’ll explore the designs, features, performance and other details of each vacuum in more depth.

Design and Build Quality

The Dyson V8 Absolute and Animal share the same lightweight, stick-like design. Here are some of the core design elements:

• Weight: 5.75 lbs for both models.
• Dimensions: 49″ H x 9.9″ W x 9.8″ D.
• Cordless: Up to 40 minutes of run time per charge.
• Bagless: 0.14 gal dustbin.
• Stick vacuum: Easily converts to a handheld.
• Wand: Aluminum single-tube with instant release.
• LCD screen: Displays power mode and remaining run time.

The stick format makes the V8 incredibly easy to maneuver and store. You can reach under furniture, clean stairs, and vacuum up high all without lugging around a heavy appliance.

Both models feel very durable and high-end.

The wand, cleaner heads and accessories all lock securely into place. And the plastic feels thick and rigid.

Many users mention how the V8 feels lighter and more balanced than older Dyson stick vacuums like the V6.

The improved ergonomics make it comfortable to use in handheld mode.

Overall, the Dyson V8 Absolute and Animal are essentially identical when it comes to design and construction. The build quality lives up to Dyson’s reputation.

Features and Accessories

Here’s where we start to see some key differences between the V8 Absolute and Animal models:

The Dyson V8 Absolute comes with 7 tools:

• Soft roller cleaner head
• Direct drive cleaner head
• Mini motorized tool
• Combination tool
• Crevice tool
• Soft dusting brush
• Docking station

The Dyson V8 Animal includes 4 accessories:

• Direct drive cleaner head
• Mini motorized tool
• Combination tool
• Crevice tool

So the Absolute model comes with 3 extra accessories: the soft roller head, soft dusting brush and docking station.

This gives the V8 Absolute a bit more versatility for whole-home cleaning:

• Soft roller head: Engineered for hard floors. Softer bristles and rubber paddles grab fine dust.
• Soft dusting brush: For delicate surfaces like window blinds or furniture.
• Docking station: Mount on wall for easy storage and charging.

However, the V8 Animal still covers all the basics for thorough whole-home cleaning:

• Direct drive head: Motorized brush bar for carpets.
• Mini motorized tool: For upholstery and tight spaces.
• Crevice tool: For narrow gaps and edges.
• Combination tool: Retractable brush for small debris.

While the Absolute model does offer a few more specialized tools, the V8 Animal includes the core essentials.

Cleaning Performance

When it comes to suction power, the Dyson V8 Absolute and V8 Animal are identical. They share the same:

• Digital V8 motor: Up to 115 air watts of suction.
• Whole-machine filtration: Fully sealed to trap allergens.
• 15 cyclones: Radially arranged for consistent airflow.

This powerful motor generates enough suction to deep clean carpets and lift debris from hard floors. The whole-unit filtration traps microscopic particles, making the V8 great for allergy sufferers.

The key difference in cleaning performance lies in the roller heads:

The Dyson V8 Absolute has two specialized floor heads:

• Soft roller cleaner: For fine dust on hard floors.
• Direct drive cleaner: For ground-in dirt on carpets.

The V8 Animal only includes the direct drive cleaner head.

So the Absolute model provides greater versatility to tackle floors of all types. The soft roller head uses carbon fiber filaments and anti-static rubber to attract dust and grit. This makes the V8 Absolute better suited for hard floors.

However, the direct drive head excels at cleaning carpets. The nylon bristles drive deep into carpet fiber to remove embedded dirt.

So if you have mostly hard floors, the soft roller head on the Absolute model would be beneficial. But the Animal version will still clean carpets thoroughly with the direct drive cleaner.

For above-floor cleaning, both models have the same suite of tools. The mini-motorized and crevice tools allow you to clean furniture, ceilings, tiles and more. Overall suction power remains strong in handheld mode too. Here is a little demo of the Absolute vacuum.

https://youtu.be/8TzXfzHaYHY

Battery Life and Charging

The Dyson V8 Absolute and V8 Animal have identical lithium-ion batteries:

• 40 minute run time: On normal suction mode.
• 7 minute max mode: For heavy duty cleaning.
• 4 hour charge time: From empty to full battery.

This battery performance is quite good for a cordless vacuum. 40 minutes is long enough to clean most homes on a single charge. And when you need maximum suction, the 7 minute max mode provides a thorough boost.

The charging time of 3-4 hours is average for the category. One minor gripe some users have is the lack of a battery life indicator – besides a blinking red light when it’s very low. It would be useful to see the exact battery percentage remaining.

When it comes to battery life and charging, there are no major differences between the Absolute and Animal models.

Filtration System

The Dyson V8 Absolute and V8 Animal share the same advanced filtration system:

• Whole-machine filtration: Fully sealed cyclone chambers.
• 0.14 gallon bin: Easy to empty debris.
• Post-motor filter: Captures microscopic particles.

This system uses a radial cyclone pattern and centrifugal forces to fling debris into the bin. The cyclone chambers and filters all seal tightly to prevent dirty air from escaping.

The high-grade post-motor filter captures allergens and other irritants. Dyson claims it traps 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, making it highly effective for allergy sufferers.

There are no differences in the filtration systems between the V8 Absolute and Animal. Both keep emitted air clean and hygienic.

Noise Levels

Due to the shared motor and cyclones, the noise output is virtually identical between the Dyson V8 models:

• Normal mode: 77 dB quieter than the V6.
• Max mode: Louder but cleans faster.
• Quiet Mark approval: Less disruptive sound.

At normal power, the V8 produces a muted hum that fades into background noise. Users mention it sounding much less obtrusive than older Dyson stick vacs. The max suction mode predictably increases noise, but only for short burst cleaning.

For a powerful cordless vacuum, the V8 is reasonably quiet. And the more mellow tone led to Quiet Mark certification. This makes the V8 a good option if you’re sensitive to vacuum noise.

Maintenance and Care

The Dyson V8 models are equally easy to maintain:

• Washable filters: Rinse under tap to clean.
• Point and shoot: Hygienic dirt ejector.
• Detachable head: Removes debris easily.

The washable post-motor filter keeps maintenance costs down. You don’t need to buy replacement filters.

Emptying the bin is very sanitary thanks to the bottom release button and sliding collar. With a simple point downward, the bottom door opens to drop debris neatly into the trash.

Taking off the cleaning heads also gives full access to clear blockages. Overall, the V8 is one of the most user-friendly vacuums to maintain.

Warranty and Support

Dyson provides the same 2-year limited warranty for both V8 models. This covers any defects in materials or workmanship. As with all Dyson vacuums, you can also try it risk-free for up to 30 days.

Many users mention fantastic customer service support from Dyson. Their team is very responsive via phone, email or online chat. And they’ll quickly replace any faulty parts under warranty.

When it comes to support and assurances, the V8 Absolute and Animal are backed by the same Dyson policies.

Price and Value

Here’s a look at the latest pricing:

Dyson V8 Absolute

• $499.99 at Dyson.com
• ~$430 on Amazon

Dyson V8 Animal

• $449.99 at Dyson.com
• ~$380 on Amazon

The V8 Animal is clearly the more budget-friendly option. But the V8 Absolute packs more value at around $70 more:

• The soft roller head improves hard floor cleaning.
• The docking station makes storage neater.
• Extra tools like the soft dusting brush add utility.

Considering the V8 Absolute comes with 50% more tools, the price difference seems very reasonable. Unless you have mostly carpets, the Absolute model provides better cleaning versatility for the money.

Which Model Is Better For You?

So in the battle of Dyson V8 Absolute vs V8 Animal, which vacuum reigns supreme?

The Dyson V8 Absolute is the better all-around cleaner for most homes:

• The soft roller head excels at handling hard floors.
• More tools and accessories add cleaning versatility.
• Easy wall-mounted storage with the docking station.

But the V8 Animal is ideal if carpets are your main concern:

• Direct drive head cleans carpets thoroughly.
• Cheaper price tag makes it better value for carpet cleaning.
• Comes with the main tools you need for whole-home cleaning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Final Thoughts

Overall, the minor price difference makes the V8 Absolute worth it for most owners. The extra accessories provide more functionality to clean floors, furniture, ceilings and more.

However, the V8 Animal still delivers on carpet cleaning – Dyson’s core strength. Unless you need to meticulously clean large hard floor areas, the Animal gets the job done for less.

So consider your flooring type, budget and desired accessories. This will point you towards the best Dyson V8 model for your cleaning needs.