The Dyson V8 Absolute Review (UK)

In order to evaluate the suction power of all cordless vacuum cleaners, we have standardised our testing procedures.

First we spread sand, then lentils and in the end we spread oat flakes on different floor types and then vacuum it all up again at the highest level.

After we put the Dyson V8 Absolute through the wringer, we can say that the result is quite respectable. The device was definitely ahead of its time, and the test revealed its strengths and weaknesses.

Dyson V8 Absolute hard floor cleaning test

At first, the Dyson V8 only pushed the lentils and oat flakes in front of it on the hard floor. But in the end, this didn’t reduce the cleaning performance of the oat flakes.

However, the Dyson V8 could suck up only 80% of the lentils. We think that’s due to the slot on the standard brush - it’s too narrow. That’s why the vacuum can’t pick up enough of the coarse dirt.

However, if you use the included soft roller (instead of the standard electric brush), the result is much better. So if you don’t have a problem with changing the brush with a few simple moves, you’ll get a perfectly clean floor without any problems. By using the soft roller, the dirt will be pressed in first and therefore can’t move away that easily anymore.

Cleaning test Dyson V8 Absolute on short carpet

On short carpets, the Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner had no difficulties at all and achieved a brilliant result of 97%.

Dyson V8 Absolute cleaning test on long carpets

The Dyson V8 hit the bull’s eye on the soft carpet with longer fibres, too. It achieved a result of 97%.

Overall, the Dyson V8 achieved a very good result in the cleaning test.

How well does the V8 perform in everyday life?

The battery-powered vacuum also performed well in our everyday test. We were able to clean all our carpets and hard floors without any problems.

The more accessories included, the better?

We at Smart-Home-Fox don’t think that’s entirely true..

Many manufacturers in the UK include countless useless gadgets in the scope of delivery of their cordless vacuum cleaners to set themselves apart from the competition. Things that no one really needs so at the end of the day, it’ll be relegated to a distant corner and will only take up space in our homes.

This is not the case with the Dyson V8 Absolute. Every accessory is justified and has its special area of application.

The scope of delivery of the Dyson V8 Absolute

• Combo accessory nozzle

• Crevice nozzle

• Electric brush with direct drive

• Soft roller with direct drive

• Mini electric brush

• Extra soft brush

• Charger

• Wall bracket

Which attachment is used for what?

The Standard Electric Brush

You can use the standard brush for vacuuming both hard and soft surfaces.

The Fluffy Brush

This one comes in very handy when removing dirt from hard floors such as laminate or parquet.

The Combination Tool

It’s a useful extra that you can use to vacuum objects. For delicate surfaces, you use the soft bristles and if you don’t want to go too easy on the surface, you can pull back the bristles with the push of a button.

The Crevice Nozzle

The crevice nozzle is an evergreen among vacuum accessories. With this attachment, you can get into narrow crevices and slots where other attachments won’t fit in. It’s perfect for vacuuming the car or between upholstery.

The Wall Bracket

It's very useful for storing the cordless vacuum cleaner on the wall to save space and charge it at the same time.

The Mini Electric Brush

It's a game changer when vacuuming pet hair from upholstery.

Extra Soft Brush

This one comes in very handy when cleaning furniture and sensitive objects.

Which model of the Dyson V8 works best for me?

When the V8 was launched, there was a range of different models to choose from: the V8 Absolute, the V8 Motorhead, Fluffy and so on.

That’s how Dyson UK differentiates the prices and the main difference between these models are the included accessories.

Nowadays, there are only two different V8 models left to choose from:

• Dyson V8 Absolute; and

• Dyson V8 Total Clean

The only difference between these two models, which are available at the same price, is one accessory.

The Absolute includes a super soft brush, whereas the Total Clean comes with a flex hose.

It’s therefore just a matter of whether you prefer a soft brush or a flexible hose. Once you’ve made up your mind about that, the decision is quite easy to make.

It’s really just a matter of taste!

Getting Started

It all starts with unpacking the new device.

Dyson UK makes sure that the packaging is as plastic-free as possible. This is good for the environment and comes in quite handy.

The commissioning is self-explanatory. It takes about 5 hours to charge it completely. After the loading time you simply have to choose a suitable attachment and off you go.

Battery Performance - How long can I vacuum with the Dyson V8?

When the Dyson V8 first came out, the battery runtime of about 40 minutes in normal mode was on top of the line. Today, a few years after the launch of the V8, a battery runtime of 40 minutes is pretty average and is kind of the minimum standard.

All in all, 40 minutes should be more than sufficient for cleaning most homes.

In turbo mode, you can vacuum for only 7 minutes, which is pretty short. However, turbo mode is not really necessary for normal cleaning.

Battery performance of the Dyson V8 at a glance

Volume - How loud is the Dyson V8 Absolute?

When it comes to the volume of a vacuum, the following definitely applies: the quieter the better.

In our test, we measured how loud the Dyson V8 Absolute really is. With a volume of 72 dB, the Dyson is quite tolerable and is one of the quieter cordless vacuum cleaners on the market.

Manoeuvrability

Manoeuvrability is one of the Dyson V8's main strengths. Thanks to the low weight and the mobile cleaning brushes you can go from room to room without any problems.

The joint on the brush makes it very easy to vacuum around furniture and objects.

The Dyson V8 has many strengths: it has a very good suction power and well designed accessories.

The appearance is chic and the workmanship is good.

Back in the days, it was a truly revolutionary product on the cordless vacuum cleaner market.

From today's perspective, however, it also shows some room for improvement. For example, it couldn’t handle coarse dirt on hard surfaces and the battery runtime can’t really compete with today's standards anymore.

Altogether, the advantages still led to a great result in the cleaning test.

With the cheaper price nowadys, you can say that the Dyson V8 is a good deal and you get a powerful cordless vacuum cleaner that is better than many competing products.

However, if you're looking for perfection and want to be on the cutting edge of technology, you'll have to dig a little deeper into your pockets. One of the newer models might be a good choice for you.

You may also be interested in the comparison of the Dyson v10 vs Dyson v8 in this context...