Dyson is one of the biggest, best, and most trusted brand names for vacuum cleaners out there right now. These guys know what they are doing and they really never fail to deliver a durable, high quality, and functional product. What is so great about Dyson is that they have a plethora of vacuum cleaners and lines of vacuum cleaners to choose from. Some of the most popular Dyson vacuum lines include the Dyson V6 and the Dyson V8 lines, with the V8 being the more recent release. This is going to be an epic showdown, the Dyson V6 vs V8 showdown.
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Now, both of these lines, the V6 and the V8, have different vacuums included in them, with many in the V8 line just being created and not yet for sale. To be fair, the main differences in between the vacuums within the specific lines, such as V6 lineup, don’t really differ in terms of power, shape, or other factors, but they do differ in terms of the accessories they come in (and a couple of other features), but we aren’t just talking about V6s.
One of the most popular versions, yet also the most expensive, is the Dyson Absolute. Once again, the V6 “Absolute” does not really differ from other V6 models except for the accessories it comes with (and a couple other features). The same can be said for the differences between the Dyson V8 Absolute and other Dyson V8 models (soon to come). Now, both the V8 and V6 lines have an Absolute model.
There have been many improvements made from the V6 lineup to the V8 lineup. The real differences to be looked at lie in between the V6 models and V8 models, not within the specific product lines, but between them. Here we are comparing vacuums across product lines, not within them, such as comparing the V6 Animal to the V6 Absolute. For the purposes of this comparison, we’re going to be taking closer looks at the Dyson V6 Absolute and the Dyson V8 Absolute. We’re here to do a straight up Dyson V6 vs V8 comparison, so let’s get on with it!
A QUICK WORD ON THE DYSON V6 AND V8 LINES
Something that does need to be noted is that the Dyson V6 lineup of vacuums has many different options to go with. The Dyson V6 line has several different options including the V6 Motorhead, V6 Animal, V6 Trigger, V6 Trigger, V6 Car and Boat, V6 Top Dog, V6 Baby and Child, and a few others too. The most expensive, popular, and effective of all Dyson V6 vacuums is the Dyson V6 Absolute, which includes pretty everything you need to clean your home from top to bottom.
On the other hand, the V8 lineup is just getting started, and thus it only includes the Dyson V8 absolute at this point (but not for long). Just like the V6 Absolute, the V8 comes with pretty much everything you could possible need. Seeing as both lines have the Absolute, we thought it would be appropriate to compare them to one another. Keep in mind that the V8 line is going to get larger as there are more vacuums on the way.
The Dyson V6 Absolute
So you can get a better idea of what you are getting into, let’s first take a look at the Dyson V6 Absolute.
The Dyson V6 absolute is the most expensive out of all of the V6 vacuums, which is because it comes with the most accessories and functionality out of all of them. Let’s take a closer look in terms of what the Dyson V6 Absolute is all about.
When it comes to cleaner heads, the Dyson V6 Absolute comes with more heads than any other vacuum in the V6 line. Most of the vacuums in this line only come with the direct drive cleaner head, which uses turning stiff bristles to take in dirt, which is mainly intended for soft floors like carpets.
However, the V6 Absolute also introduced the soft roller cleaning head into the equation. This soft roller head still uses power to turn the bristles, but they are soft bristles intended for hard floors such as hardwood which can be easily scratched.
The Dyson V6 Absolute is a very well balanced vacuum cleaner that is light enough to lift over your head with one arm to get ceilings and other high up areas. At the same time, you can also disconnect the wand and use it as a very small handheld vacuum for tables and other areas where a small vacuum is needed.
The Dyson V6 comes with a post motor HEPA filtration unit. This means that the V6 Absolute actively cleans the air, removes particles, and removes bacteria and allergens from the air before releasing the air back into the room.
The Dyson V6 features a lithium ion battery with a runtime of just 20 minutes. In its maximum power mode, the V6 can only last for 6 minutes. It comes with a docking station for charging and it requires 3.5 hours to fully charge.
- The Dyson V6 Absolute weighs approximately 5.1 pounds and is 9.8 x 47.5 x 8.2 inches
- With the Dyson V6 absolute you get various accessories including a mini motorized tool, a tool for crevices, a combo tool, and a soft dusting tool as well
- The Dyson V6 Absolute uses cyclone tech with 15 cyclones split up over a two tier radial cyclone system. The 350 watt motor spins at 110,000 rounds per minute and can create up to 100 air watts of sucking power
- The Dyson V6 Absolute features a dust bin of 0.11 gallons that can be emptied using the trigger to open the door. Gravity will cause the dirt to fall out. The filter in this unit is actually washable, which is a big bonus no doubt.
This vacuum also features a “Max Switch”, which is a switch you can use to greatly increase the suction power of the Dyson V6 Absolute for a certain amount of time.
Now that we have taken a look at the older Dyson V6 Absolute, let’s move on and talk about the newer Dyson V8 Absolute. It is a truly great vacuum that has made quite a bit of improvements when compared to the older V6 models.
The Dyson V8 Absolute features a 425 watt motor that can produce up to 115 air watts of suction power. This particular vacuum also uses the two tier radial cyclone system with 15 cyclones that such up dirt, hair, and fine particles.
The Dyson V8 comes with two different power heads. It comes with the normal power head with stiff bristles, which is ideal for soft floors such as carpeted floors. The Dyson V8 Absolute also comes with a special soft brush cleaning tool for hard floors. This means you can easily and safely clean all kinds of floor types in your home.
- The Dyson V8 Absolute weighs 5.75 pounds and its dimensions are 9.8 x 49 x 8.8 inches
- The Dyson V8 Absolute features a long wand that can be utilized to easily clean your ceiling, curtains, and many other hard to reach areas. At the same time, you can disconnect the wand in order to convert it into a small handheld vacuum that is ideal for small jobs and tight areas
- The Dyson V8 Absolute has a great lithium ion battery that can run for up to 40 minutes at a time, or 7 minutes in the max power mode. It comes with a docking and charging station, which requires a full 5 hours for the V8 absolute to fully charge
- The dust collection bin on the Dyson V8 Absolute is 0.14 gallons in size, which is a fair amount of room no doubt. It features a conveniently placed trigger to open the lid of the bin, with a special mechanism that actually pushes the dirt out physically. This particular Dyson Vacuum also features a HEPA filter to remove dust, particulates, allergens, and bacteria from the air.
Just like with the V6 Absolute, the V8 Absolute comes with a convenient “Max Switch” so you can temporarily increase the suction power for hard to suck up dirt.
The Dyson V8 Absolute comes with various attachments so you can clean a multitude of areas and surfaces. It comes with a small motorized tool, a combo tool, a tool for cracks and crevices, and a soft brush for dusting too. It comes with all of the tools and accessories you could possible need to clean everything in your home with ease and speed.
IMPROVEMENTS MADE FROM THE V6 LINE TO THE V8 LINE
The fact of the matter is that while both the V6 and the V8 Absolute still have many of the same qualities and features, there are certain improvements that have been made for the V8 lineup of Dyson vacuums which were not present in the V6 line. Let’s take a closer look at the main improvements made.
The Dyson V8 Absolute has a dust collection bin of 0.14 gallons in size. While this is not huge, it’s pretty good for a small cordless vacuum cleaner. The Dyson V6 Absolute only has a 0.11 gallon dust collection bin. Using the Dyson V8 Absolute means that you will not clear the dust bin nearly as much as with the V6 Absolute.
Another improvement which was made from the V6 Absolute is that the V8 Absolute has a better dust and dirt ejection mechanism. The V6 Absolute featured a button that was in a fairly awkward place. Moreover, gravity had to do all of the work, because the lid to the bin simply opened up and you had to pour out the dirt, often having to shake it to get loose materials out.
This is not so for the Dyson V8 Absolute, because first off, the trigger is placed in a more convenient and ergonomically friendly place. Second, the Dyson V8 Absolute comes with a special ejection mechanism which actively pushes the dirt out, thus saving you time and effort.
Another big improvement made is the placement of the Max switch. With the V6 Absolute, the max switch used to be on the back of the filter. This made it somewhat hard and awkward to get to. The new lineup of Dyson V8 vacuums has this switch placed in a much more ergonomically friendly and convenient place. The switch has also been turned from a button into a sliding switch, making it easier to use.
Yet another huge improvement made to the V8s is that they have more suction power and a more powerful motor. The Dyson V6 Absolute has 100 air watts of suction power, whereas the Dyson V8 Absolute has 115 air watts of suction. Simply put, the V8 is stronger and better suited to deal with heavy messes and lots of dirt.
The next improvement made with the new Dyson V8 lineup is in terms of battery life. The Dyson V6 Absolute only had a measly 20 minutes of battery life, which can make it nearly impossible to vacuum your whole home before the power runs out. On the other hand, the Dyson V8 Absolute doubles the batter life, being able to last for up to 40 minutes.
The same can be said when comparing the battery life in max power mode, which is 6 minutes for the Dyson V6 Absolute and 7 minutes for the Dyson V8 Absolute. This runtime also applies to motorized tools. The V6 Absolute can only run for 17 minutes when using motorized tools, whereas the Dyson V8 Absolute stay alive for a full 25 minutes when using a motorized head.
Yet another improvement has to do with the agitation caused by the power heads. When compared to older models, the power head on the V6 Absolute creates 75% more agitation. Now, compare the V8 Absolute to that, and you will see that it has 75% more agitation than the V6 Absolute. This means that it has the ability to stir up a whole lot of dirt to suck it up, much more agitation power than the V6 Absolute, and drastically increased agitation when compare to even older models.
SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE V6&V8 ABSOLUTE
Essentially, both of these vacuums have many of the same features with quite a few similarities, but as you can see from the above section, there are some key differences between the Dyson V6 Absolute and the Dyson V8 Absolute. So, what is the same about them and what is different?
Similarities
- Both vacuums comes with a direct drive head for hard surfaces as well as a soft brush motorized head for hardwood and other hard floors that can get scratched.
- Both vacuums are low in weight and quite easy to maneuver, making it simple to lift them above your head.
- Both vacuums feature a removable want that turns them into small handheld vacuums.
- Both vacuums use 15 cyclone split across a 2 tier radical cyclone system to provide you with great suction power.
- Both vacuums feature HEPA filters to assist in cleaning the air of allergens, dust, bacteria, and other contaminants.
- Both the Dyson V6 Absolute and the Dyson V8 Absolute packages include a mini motor brush tool, a soft dusting tool, a tool for crevices, and a combo tool. This means that both vacuums are well-equipped to clean your whole home from top to bottom.
- Both vacuums use a lithium ion battery.
Differences
- The Dyson V8 Absolute is a little heavier and bigger than the V6 Absolute, but it is barely noticeable.
- The Dyson V8 has 15 more air watts of sucking power, making it more powerful and better able to deal with messes.
- The Dyson V8 Absolute has a more advanced dirt and dust ejection system than the V6, plus the container also has a larger capacity, and the button is placed in a better spot too.
- The Dyson V8 Absolute has a much better battery life when compared to V6 Absolute, also with a better run times in max power mode and when using the various accessories. However, the Dyson V8 Absolute does take substantially longer to charge.
- The Dyson V8 Absolute comes in at a much higher price level than the Dyson V6 Absolute.
- The Dyson V8 Absolute has double the dirt agitation ability when compared to the Dyson V6 Absolute.
END OF THE DYSON V6 AND V8 SHOWDOWN
The bottom line is that both vacuums are high quality piece of equipment. When it comes to the Dyson V6 vs V8 debate, the obvious victor is the V8, specifically the Dyson V8 Absolute. There have been many improvements made from the V6 lineup of vacuums. The V8 Absolute has more suction power, more dirt aggravation, a bigger dust bin with a better ejection feature, a much longer run time, and more.
The Dyson V8 Absolute comes with a plethora of useful accessories that can be used to clean your car, curtains, sofas, carpets, hardwood floors, and pretty much everything in between. Sure, the Dyson V8 Absolute does have a higher price tag than any other cordless Dyson vacuums at this time, but it is definitely worth the investment. All in all, both the V6 and V8 are good options to go with, but the V8 is undoubtedly better.