Dyson V7 vs V8: Pros & Cons and Verdict

When you think of vacuum cleaners, there’s one brand that stands out ahead of the competition: Dyson. First founded in the UK by Sir James Dyson back in 1981, Dyson has gone on to become an industry leader in the household appliance space, particularly when it comes to vacuum cleaners.

Time and time again, Dyson has proven its status as the industry-leading force for vacuum cleaner development and evolution, pioneering the concept of cyclonic vacuum technology and inspiring many other vacuum manufacturers to do the same.

Dyson models may have a reputation for not being the cheapest, but they are regarded by industry experts and the general public to be among the strongest and most dependable of all, and anyone looking for a vacuum cleaner that really gets the job done often turns to Dyson as their brand of choice.

In recent years, the company has released some of its most powerful products yet, in the form of the V7 and V8 series models.

On the face of it, these two vacuum cleaner series seem to have a lot in common, so many people may struggle when trying to choose between them, but there are actually some big differences.

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at the Dyson V7 and Dyson V8 series of cordless vacuums, helping you learn more about the key differences and see what really separates a V7 from a V8.

How We Started

In order to provide a thorough assessment of Dyson V7 vs Dyson V8, we looked at several models from both series, as well as investigating a range of different features and aspects, including suction power, battery life, price, run time, noise level, cleaning power, and more.

Every home is different, with different surfaces and different factors that might influence vacuum cleaning, so the exact results you get in your home may vary, depending on whether you have carpets or hardwood floors, for example, as well as other factors, like whether or not you have pets.

Because of this, we can’t offer a definitive view on which model will be best for every single user, but we can tell you how the V7 and V8 perform and compare to one another in the areas that matter the most, helping you find a powerful, reliable, efficient vacuum cleaner for your home.

During the course of our reviews, we found that both the V7 and V8 series have their own unique advantages and both series can be classed among the best on the market, but there are still some sizable differences between them that are worth bearing in mind.

Similarities and Differences

At first glance, the Dyson V7 and Dyson V8 seem very similar, and they do have a lot in common, both incorporating hygienic dirt ejection systems, quick release red buttons for accessory changing, and impressive dust cap capacities.

However, there are also some big differences between these products. Let’s start by learning more about why and when they were made.

Given the names of these two series, you might assume that the V7 was released before the V8, but it was actually the V8 series that came out first, in 2016, with the V7 being released a year later, in 2017.

This can be quite confusing to many shoppers, with many people logically assuming that the higher number on the V8 models makes them newer. So why did Dyson choose to release their products in such an odd order?

Well, the V8 series was launched in 2016 as a vastly upgraded version of the V6 series, which had launched in 2015. The V8 models were able to offer much better battery life, bigger dust cap capacity, quieter operations, and other advantages too.

Since the V8 had so many improvements over the V6, it launched at quite a high price, that proved off-putting for some users.

In response, Dyson brought out the V7, which was based on the V8 series, but had some alterations in order to reduce the costs. Essentially, this means that the V7 models are more affordable and a little less powerful than the V8s.

Options

One of the first big differences to point out between the Dyson V7 and Dyson V8 series is the model options you get when choosing each one. The Dyson V7 series is more varied than the V8, with three main V7 options and just two main V8 options.

The Dyson V7 comes in the Motorhead, Animal, and Absolute varieties. The Motorhead is the entry-level option, with the Animal being the mid-range choice, and the Absolute being the most complete package. There’s also a fourth V7, called the V7 HEPA, which comes with a HEPA filter, but it’s much harder to find and not a common choice. In terms of tech specs and power, all of the V7 models are the same.

The key difference between them is the accessories included. The Dyson V7 Motorhead, for example, just comes with a crevice and combination tool, while the Absolute comes with all kinds of accessories like a soft roller head and motorized brushroll.

When it comes to the Dyson V8 series, Dyson simplified things, offering just two main models to choose from: The Animal and the Absolute. Again, the Animal is the simpler version, while the Absolute comes complete with all possible accessories, including the Direct Drive cleaning head and fluffy soft roller cleaning head.

The V7 offers more options here, giving you a wider range of products to choose from to suit your needs.

Suction Power

When you’re talking about vacuum cleaners, suction power is arguably the most important factor of all to consider. After all, the whole purpose of a vacuum cleaner is to suck up dirt, mess, and grime from your rugs, carpets, hardwood floors, and other surfaces.

The more powerful vacuum cleaners have stronger suction, allowing them to suck up more particles more quickly on each pass, and you can really notice the difference when using a strong vacuum cleaner compared to a weak one.

Strong cleaners are able to suck up large amounts of dirt so much more quickly and efficiently, while weaker models need to be run over and over the same patch of floor several times in order to suck up the same amounts.

The Dyson V7 has two different power modes: Low and Max. There’s a switch at the top you can easily slide to one side or the other to choose the mode you need, and even though the Low mode is good enough in most cases, the Max mode massively increases the suction power.

The power for the Low mode is measured at 21 air watts, while the Max mode rises up to 100 air watts.

The Dyson V8 also offers a Low and Max mode, with a similar switch to the V7 that lets you choose which mode you want to use at any given time. As with the V7, the Max mode is several times more powerful than the Low mode.

On the V8, the Low mode reaches a total of 28 air watts of suction power, while the Max mode boosts the strength of the vacuum right up to 115 air watts in total.

Overall, the Dyson V8 is able to generate around 30% more suction power in Low mode than the V7 and around 15% more power in Max mode. It’s a stronger model, able to suck up more dirt and provide more efficient cleaning performance overall, so it’s clear to see that the V8 wins this round.

Floor Performance

Suction power is key when looking at the quality of any vacuum cleaner, but you also need to actually put each model into action to see how well its suction power on paper translates into effective cleaning around the home.

Sometimes, vacuum cleaners can boast of impressive levels of suction power, but have designs that let them down on certain surfaces like hardwood floors or kitchen tiles, and models that might seem weaker actually turn out to be really effective in use.

In cleaning tests, the Dyson V7 performs brilliantly on both low pile and high pile carpet, tackling everything from spilled rice to kitty litter with ease and sucking up close to 100% of all messes on the first pass, without any issues.

The V7 does, however, have a few issues when it comes to hardwood floors. Test results and user reviews show that the V7’s Direct Drive cleaning head tends to push items around on hardwood floors rather than sucking them up completely, which might be an issue for those who have a lot of wooden flooring in their homes.

When it comes to the Dyson V8, this model also performed very admirably on low and high kinds of carpet, having no issues sucking up things like flour, sugar, cat litter, and more, proving to have a hugely impressive level of suction power.

The big difference between the two models comes on hardwood floors, where the V8 shows much stronger levels of performance. Its Direct Drive head seems to be better-adapted for these kinds of surfaces than the head on the V7, resulting in stronger performance.

Since the V8 is able to tackle cleaning jobs across carpet and hardwood floors more efficiently than the V7, it gets the nod from us in this aspect.

Battery Power and Run Time

When it comes to cordless vacuums, battery power can make a real difference. Most people appreciate the convenience of cordless models, but don’t want to have to keep charging them up again and again, as well as running out of runtime in a matter of minutes, preventing them from being able to give their home a thorough clean on a single charge.

This is one area in which the Dyson V7 and Dyson V8 series exhibit quite a big difference, which can have a real impact on your buying decision.

The Dyson V7 battery is a 6-cell lithium ion battery pack with 2,100 mAh of power. It’s capable of 25-30 minutes of run time on the Low Power mode or six minutes on the Max Power mode.

The Dyson V8, meanwhile, is also fitted out with a 6-cell lithium ion battery pack, but this one can boast of 2,800 mAh of power, resulting in longer run times of up to 40 minutes on Low Power and seven minutes on Max Power.

Thanks to the fact that the Dyson V8 has the stronger battery and better run time, it clearly stands out as the top option in this category.

Those extra minutes of cleaning could make all the difference, especially to people who have used the V7 in the past and found that it just can’t quite suffice to thoroughly clean their homes on a single charge.

Charging Times

Of course, as well as looking at the capacity of each battery and how long they last in action, we also have to think about how long it takes to charge them up in between uses.

As cordless vacuums, the Dyson V7 and V8 models need to be charged up before being used, and many people appreciate a cordless vacuum that can be charged up relatively quickly, helping to reduce downtime in between cleans.

You never know when you might need to vacuum your home, so it helps to have a model with a speedy charge time, so you can place it in the docking station and have it ready to go, later in the day, if needed. Again this is an area where the Dyson V7 and V8 series differ, but not in the way you might expect.

The Dyson V7, despite being the more affordable and simpler series, has a total estimated recharge time of 3.5 hours. It comes with one battery charging indicator light too, letting you know when the battery is still charging and when it’s fully charged up.

The Dyson V8, meanwhile, may be the more advanced model in terms of suction power, but it actually has a significantly longer battery recharge time of up to five hours.

It comes with three battery charging lights that help you to see how far along the charging process has gotten, as well as showing you how much charge you have left while vacuuming, which is a nice extra feature.

Clearly, the Dyson V7 is the winner here, as it can charge up way faster than the V8. People who leave their vacuum to charge up overnight probably won’t notice the difference too much, but there may be a time when you want the cleaner to charge quickly, and in that case, the V7 is the right choice for you.

Noise Level

Many people get frustrated by how noisy vacuum cleaners can be, and it’s certainly true that a lot of vacuums can make quite a lot of noise when running.

Dyson, over the years, has established a reputation for excelling in this area, being able to produce some relatively silent models, when compared to other brands. So how do the V7 and V8 series stack up in this regard?

Well, in our tests, we found that even though the V8 has higher suction power, it’s actually the quieter option of the two. Noise levels recorded for the V8 averaged out at around 62-63 decibels.  

While recording the noise levels from the V7, meanwhile, we found that it produced around 65-66 decibels of noise, while in use. This is despite the fact that the V7 technically has weaker suction than the V8, so it’s quite surprising to see that it makes more noise.

Even though there isn’t a huge difference between the two, it’s clear to see that the V8 is the winner in this department.

Size and Weight

Other factors that need to be taken into account when comparing different vacuum cleaners are size and weight. These days, vacuums can be found in a range of different sizes, from simple handheld models to much bigger, bulkier units that almost need to be dragged around the home.

Both the Dyson V7 and V8 series are 2-in-1 cordless vacuums, meaning that they can be operated in standing mode, or converted down into small, handheld units, but their exact sizes and weights are slightly different. 

The Dyson V7 stands at a height of 49″ in total, measuring 9.8″ in width and 8.2″ in depth. It weighs a total of 5.45 lbs. 

The Dyson V8, meanwhile is just a little bit taller at 49.2″ in height and 9.8″ in width. It’s a little larger in terms of depth, measuring up at 8.8″, and it’s heavier too, at 5.75 lbs.

Clearly, the differences in size and weight with the Dyson V7 and V8 aren’t huge, so won’t make a huge difference when it comes to storing them away or maneuvering them around the home. However, there is still a notable difference between the two units, and the V7 comes out as the winner, being the smaller and lighter model of the two.

Prices

When buying a vacuum cleaner, a lot of people think about how much it’s going to cost and try to stick to a set budget. Vacuums can be found at quite a wide range of prices, from budget-friendly models to high-end cleaners with superior suction and features.

In general, Dyson as a brand is known for producing more of the high-end models, rather than affordable options to appeal to the widest possible audience, but price is one area in which the V7 and V8 series have some big differences, as the V8 series was designed purely with power in mind, while the V7 cleaners were created to offer a more affordable choice.

Dyson V8 models are the more expensive, with both the Animal and the Absolute being among the more expensive cleaners in the Dyson lineup.

It also will probably cost more to maintain a Dyson V8 than a Dyson V7, as you’ll need to spend more energy on the lengthier charge times, as well as more money to possibly replace the battery if you ever need to.

Dyson V7 series vacuum cleaners, meanwhile, are cheaper overall, with the barebones Dyson V7 Motorhead being the cheapest of the whole set.

The V7 makes a few compromises here and there in terms of battery power and suction power, but it’s still a very dependable machine, so could appeal to those who want to save a little cash and still get a great all-round vacuum.

Overall, the V7 wins this round for being cheaper on average.

Who Should Get This?

Dyson V7

The Dyson V7 is still one of the best vacuum cleaners on the market right now. It’s great to see that Dyson listened to customer feedback from the V6 and V8 series and produced a good compromise between the two in terms of price and power.

The V7 can more than match the V8 in most categories, bearing the same basic design, being a little smaller and lighter, and having much of the same technology and functionality too. The only area where it lacks a little are hardwood performance and run time.

So, if your home is mostly filled with carpeted floors, the V7 should be fine for you, and it’s also a good choice for those in smaller homes who don’t necessarily need the extra minutes of run time.

Dyson V8

The Dyson V8 is a real powerhouse of a vacuum cleaner. It builds on the solid foundations Dyson established in the past, excelling in the key areas that matter the most like suction power, run time, and cleaning performance, working well across carpets and wooden floors alike.

It does cost a little more than the V7, and there are fewer options to choose from. Plus, the charging times are considerably longer, which could be an inconvenience to many owners.

However, in spite of these flaws, the V8 is the better choice for users in bigger homes, those with hardwood floors, and anyone looking for the most powerful vacuum they can be.

Our Pick

Both the V7 and V8 series have their advantages and recommended audiences, and it’s hard to say that either one is necessarily better than the other. However, when it comes to pure value for money, we have to err on the side of the Dyson V8.

Our Pick: Dyson V8

The V8 has a serious power advantage over the V7, translating to better performance on wooden floors and a more reliable machine overall.