Here at Clean Up Home, we love a nice stick-style cleaner – they are convenient to use, cover a lot of space, and are very lightweight.
There’s no question that one of the leaders in this realm is the Dyson V7 and V8 series, and they actually have a wide range of wand vacuums to select when you need a reliable cleaner.
I’m a big fan of the Dyson V8 Animal, but another of my favorites is the Dyson V8 Absolute, but which is better?
In this guide, we’re going to take a compare the Dyson V8 Absolute vs Animal so that you can know which stands out.
Table of Contents
The Dyson V8 Absolute vs Animal – Comparing the Products
To start, let me say that, in my opinion, the Dyson V8 Absolute slightly edges out the competition, but let’s take a look at both so that you can decide which stacks up best.
The Absolute is definitely more powerful, has an equal range compared to the Animal, and has a max power mode that provides plenty of oomph when you need to clean deep into carpets.
In fact, the Absolute also has 40 minutes of fade-free suction, which means that you get some excellent performance out of the cordless handheld.
Still, let’s take a look at both of the products so that we can have a much clearer picture.
Keep in mind, I am a fan of both of these Dyson wand products, and if you need a good cleaner, you’re going to be happy with both.
I especially love how both convert into handhelds; this would have really helped me years ago when I had to use a separate Dustbuster to get into the carpet on my stairs!
Dyson V8 Absolute and Animal: In-Depth Review and Comparison
Dyson V8 Animal Review
In my estimation, one of the best features of the V8 Animal is its ability to be a Dyson V8 Animal cord-free vacuum but still provide you with between 30 and 40 minutes of cordless vacuuming.
The motor is the most powerful that Dyson had to go before the V10 series, especially when you compare it to other models like the Dyson V7.
Like its companion product, the V8 Animal can convert into a handheld, which makes it easy to take into the car or clean atop the surface of a sofa.
Pet hair, dirt, and debris can work its way deep into couches and commonly-used seating, but the V8 is definitely powerful enough to pull up the deep stuff.
The Animal also has “whole machine filtration,” which not only removes large particles like pet dander from the air but also gets finer airborne contaminants as well.
The radial cyclones also help with this; there are 15 of them arranged into two tiers that boost airflow and can pull up airborne and surface dust with ease.
The Dyson Animal Pro is also a great product to consider for larger jobs; it’s the ability to convert from cleaning carpets to cleaning floors, and then cleaning high-up surfaces is very useful.
So, what do you do when it’s time to clean the machine? The product has a hygienic dirt injector that’ll let you toss your dirt into a nearby bin.
Pros:
- This is a reasonably lightweight stick-style vacuum cleaner.
- It’s straightforward to dock the product when it’s done, and it’s dock station charges quickly.
- The max power mode is very useful for getting tough dirt.
Cons:
- The product doesn’t have the soft roller cleaning head of the V8 Absolute.
- It can get heavy.
Dyson V8 Absolute Review
Simply put, the V8 Absolute has a bit more power and longevity than the Animal.
For example, on max power mode, the Absolute will last for about seven minutes on a charge. This is about a full minute longer than the Animal.
Also, the Absolute has a 40-minute runtime, which means that you can cover more ground as you vacuum your home.
The Absolute also has whole-machine HEPA filtration, so finer particles will be able to be pulled into the filter, which means that allergens don’t really stand a chance.
The filter also lasts a lifetime, and it’s completely washable so that you can always have a good level of clean in your home.
The power system also uses a direct drive, so it’s easier to push it along, and the nylon bristles are stiff enough to work deep into carpets.
The soft roller is also designed specifically for hard floors, so for those with wood floors, you’ll get a good level of cleaning.
Like the Animal, the Absolute has the dirt ejector, which makes cleaning the device much easier.
The ejection method allows you to keep your hands clean so that no mess gets on you during the cleanup period.
Additionally, the suction is powerful so that larger and smaller particles are picked up with ease.
Pros:
- The product has true HEPA filtration.
- It has a 40-minute runtime, and it doesn’t take long to charge it.
- It converts into a handheld with ease.
- The docking station attaches easily to walls so that you can stow the product with ease.
Cons:
- The trigger on the vacuum should be fully lockable.
- The vacuum’s battery will gradually reduce runtime.
- It could be sturdier.
Performance
As you can no doubt see, these two products definitely have their similarities because they are both in the V8 series of Dyson products.
If you need a deep clean for both larger and small particle jobs, both will definitely provide you with the performance you seek.
Design
When it comes to design, both products definitely are easy to use from a handheld perspective. There are plenty of accessories with both vacuum that will help you clean carpet or hardwood floors, and the convertibility is also very useful.
Overall, from a design perspective, the Absolute wins out slightly due to the fact that it has a dedicated head for hard floors.
Runtime
For runtime, the Dyson V8 Absolute cord-free vacuum certainly edges out the competition thanks to its nearly 10-minute longer runtime.
Also, under max power settings, the Dyson V8 Absolute cordless stick vacuum cleaner has a minute more of high-power performance as compared to the Animal.
Convenience
When it comes to convenience, the smallest stats can make a huge difference.
For example, the Animal is slightly lighter than the Absolute, so while our Dyson V8 Animal review may have said that the Absolute was slightly better, for lightweight use, the Animal wins.
This slight shaving off of weight means that cleaning ceilings and vents are much easier with the Animal.
Attachments
When it comes to the completeness, the Dyson V8 Absolute attachments are more varied than the V8 Animal.
This is especially true when considering how the Absolute is just leaps and bounds better than the Animal on hard floors.
Still, both have convertible extra sticks and each has attachments that make cleaning narrower areas very easy.
Dyson V8 Absolute vs Animal: Comparison Chart
Product Name | Dyson V8 Absolute | Dyson V8 Animal |
|---|---|---|
Image |  |  |
Price | ||
Handheld Conversion | Yes | Yes |
Filtration | HEPA Filtration | Whole-Machine Filtration |
Run-time | 40 minutes | 30 minutes |
Max Power Mode Duration | 7 minutes | 6 minutes |
Soft Roller Cleaning Head | Yes | No |
Weight | 5.75 pounds | 5.64 pounds |
Final Thoughts
Overall, while the Dyson V8 Animal cord-free stick vacuum didn’t quite win out in our comparison, it definitely did well enough that you can consider it a great product for your home.
I particularly love it for its lightweight style and easy convertibility. Still, if I were to select a clear winner, as you know by now, it’s the Dyson V8 Absolute cord-free vacuum.
The product has so much versatility, and it has the soft roller cleaning head for extra cleaning. It also has a better runtime that can make a difference in your home as well.
