Dyson V11 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner – Torque Drive and Animal Models

Dyson is one of those brands that is instantly recognizable. They always bring out the best models of everything they manufacture. They constantly are improving their models too.

The brand is probably best known for their vacuum cleaners. They’re reliable and you know they’re worth the investment. However, there are so many models available. How do you know which vacuum cleaner is right for you?

Well, that’s where we come in! Today, we will be comparing two vacuum cleaners from Dyson. They’re both from the V11 Cordless range - Torque Drive and Animal.

Dyson V11: Specifications and Features

When Dyson released the V11 vacuum cleaners, there were a lot of improvements made in comparison to the V10. If you already have the V10, should you be upgrading to the V11?

That is a good question to ask yourself. We hope that we can help you out today by pinpointing the pros and cons of each vacuum cleaner. 

Let’s start by taking a look at the best features of the Dyson V11 vacuum cleaners.

Display

The V11 models have a dynamic digital display. What is fantastic about this type of display is the updated information it shows to the user. We love how the display shows the battery life countdown. 

This information allows the user to understand easily how much time left they have before the need to charge the vacuum cleaner. The battery countdown adjusts automatically depending on which cleaning mode you use.

So, whether you’re using the standard mode or boost mode, you will never be left without a low battery warning. 

When it comes to both the Torque Drive and Animal V11 models, they have different types of screen display. The Torque Drive has an LCD screen which has better visuals in our opinion.

The information is displayed more clear and can show the cleaning mode, the battery status, any potential issues and the battery countdown.

On the other hand, the Animal V11 has an LED screen. This still displays information in a clear visual however there are less display options.

The LED screen shows three battery bars and all three will light up when fully charged, two will light up for medium battery remaining and for low battery, the LED screen will display one battery light on. 

Depending on what you look for in the display screen of a vacuum cleaner, you will prefer one from the other. We like how both models show the status of the battery.

However, the fact that the Torque Drive shows any issues with the vacuum cleaner is a real winner for us.

Battery & Suction Power

When the previous V10 models came out, people were in awe of the 60 minute run time. However, Dyson obviously wanted to up their game when they started designing the V11 vacuum cleaners.

That’s how they designed a power-optimizing battery that saves its energy by only using power when you need it to. This is such a game changer in the vacuum cleaner world as not many companies were looking to add this feature to their models. 

Included in both the V11 Torque Drive and Animal models are the three different operating modes. These modes help to prolong the life of a single charge of your V11 battery. 

1. Eco mode

This mode has the lowest suction power but is still great at cleaning your surfaces. Using this mode will keep your battery going for over 60 minutes! This power saving battery mode is ideal if you are doing a spot clean instead of a weekly deep cleaning session. 

During this mode, you can also use any non-motorized cleaning attachments to get into any awkward crevices. The vacuum can also be used as a handheld vacuum cleaner in this mode.

2. Auto mode

The next mode that features on the Dyson V11 Torque Drive and Animal models is auto mode. This pretty much does what it says on the tin. It automatically senses the type of floor surface you are vacuuming and adapts its operation. 

Basically, this mode is magic. Whether you’re vacuuming a large shaggy rug or a wooden surface, it will adapt its suction and way of operating. This makes using the V11 vacuum cleaners so much easier than previous models. 

One thing to note is that if you use any attachment tools when in auto mode, the suction automatically changes to medium. The battery life when using this mode will differ depending on the type of surface you are cleaning. It does have a shorter battery life than eco mode.

3. Boost mode

The last mode included on your Dyson V11 vacuum cleaners is the boost mode. Now this will produce a high suction of 185 Air Watts.

If you have no idea how impressive this is for a cordless vacuum cleaner, we’ll just say that corded vacuums still struggle to get to this level.

The boost mode is ideal for any tough and stubborn messes. However, you should only use this mode for short periods of time. If you use this mode constantly, the battery life is reduced to 12 minutes.

From 60 minutes of battery to 12 minutes? Yes, that's just how powerful the boost mode can get on the V11 vacuum cleaners. It’s great if you have any stubborn pet hair stuck in your carpets.

Filter System

Another amazing feature included in the Dyson V11 Torque Drive and Animal vacuum cleaners is the improved filter system. The filter is washable, which helped to maintain the vacuum cleaner for even longer. 

The air filtration system is able to suction up to 99.97% of 0.3 microns or larger particles. This makes it one of the most efficient vacuum cleaners Dyson has produced. 

The debris is collected into a transparent dirt cup. This is so helpful to the user as you will be able to identify exactly when you need to empty your vacuum cleaner. The point and shoot design of the bin means that emptying your vacuum just got hassle free and hygienic. 

Both the Torque Drive and Animal V11 vacuum cleaners have a 0.2 gal dirt cup. To put this into perspective, this is big enough for a large home clean. Whatever model you go for, when it comes to filtration systems they both are equally as good.

Included Accessories

You’re not just getting the vacuum cleaner when you purchase a Dyson V11 Torque Drive or Animal model.

You also get several handy accessories. Each attachment helps to clean certain things in your home. 

Both models include every attachment apart from the Dyson V11 Animal not including the mini soft dusting brush.

If you don’t have many hard surfaces that scuff easily, then this model will suit you just fine. If not, then we recommend going for the Dyson V11 Torque Drive vacuum cleaner.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive Vs. Dyson V11 Animal

To make it easier for you to understand, we have put the basic features into a chart below.

This chart also includes any additional features such as a crevice tool. 

As you can see from the above comparison table, there aren’t many differences between the Dyson V11 Torque Drive and the Animal models.

However, the Animal vacuum cleaner is a little bit smaller in size, has an LED display and doesn’t come with a mini soft dusting brush. 

How do these compare to previous Dyson Cordless Vacuums?

As Dyson is such a popular brand, you may already have another model in your home. How do the Dyson V11 Torque Drive and Animal models compare to the rest?

Take a look below at our comparison chart for more information!

Summary

Both the Dyson V11 Torque Drive and Animal vacuum cleaners have improved vastly from the previous models.

Dyson have included new features like the battery life countdown to help their users operate their vacuums correctly. 

If you still don’t know which model is best for you, think of it like this:

• Torque Drive is a great all rounder and includes everything you need in a vacuum cleaner. It is ideal for both soft and hard surfaces.
• Animal is also a fantastic vacuum cleaner but comes without the mini soft dusting brush and has an LED display, rather than LCD. It is suitable for soft and hard surfaces but if you have flooring that is easily scuffed, this may not be the vacuum for you.