Dyson V8 cordless vacuum review: This entry-level Dyson delivers on its promise of performance and value

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Dyson vacuums are synonymous with quality. They are also known for their high price points. Dyson originally released the V8 in 2016,  and it's the earliest model of cordless vacuum Dyson still sells, showcasing its enduring performance and value. Previously, the Dyson V8 had been available in variations, which have now been condensed into a single V8 model. I've tested newer models of Dysons, some of which have more rated power and bells and whistles like lasers and auto-adjusting suction power and longer battery life but the Dyson V8 holds its own at a significantly lower price than newer models. 

The Dyson V8 still gets the job done very well for most households, making it a great choice among the best cordless vacuums, if you want the best Dyson at a lower price point. The Dyson V15 Detect, for instance, holds a spot on our best vacuum cleaner guide but runs about $300 more than the V8. I find it hard to justify paying more when the Dyson V8 remains an excellent choice, where I'll discuss my experience using this popular cordless stick vacuum in my forthcoming review.

Setup

The V8 comes in a long box, but it's light, and I was able to pick it up with one arm. All of the pieces were secured and cushioned very well, so nothing was damaged during shipping. 

It's easy to assemble the vacuum. There are three main parts to the vacuum: a top piece containing the canister and a bottom piece resembling a long stick. These two pieces snap together easily. Finally, you need to snap the cleanerhead into place. After that, plug the V8 in and let it charge. The vacuum arrives partially charged, so I was able to try it out right away, but under regular conditions, it takes about five hours to charge fully.  

As an optional step, you can attach an included docking station to the wall. This is a great storage solution. When the V8 is placed in the docking station, it charges automatically, so you don't need to worry about plugging it in to charge. I didn't install the docking station for the V8, but I did install a docking station for another Dyson I tested. Installation is very easy, and it's convenient to have the vacuum stored off the ground. The docking station also includes space to attach two accessories. However, installing the wall mount does require drilling holes in the wall for screws, so it's not totally renter-friendly. 

The V8 comes with various accessories that enable the vacuum to be used in different ways. For example, you can snap off the brush and insert the crevice tool to use the vacuum to get into touch-to-reach corners or between sofa cushions. Or, unsnap the long stick and insert the combination brush to use the V8 as a handheld vacuum to clean your car.

Our review of the Dyson V8 vacuum

The Dyson V8 is very light and easy to maneuver. I tested a couple of newer models of Dyson stick vacuums and didn't notice significant differences in maneuverability. One of my favorite features of the V8 is its swivel head. It's very easy to get into narrow spaces, such as the small space between my bedroom dresser and the wall, without using an attachment. The V8 also does a great job of reaching other hard-to-reach spots. My larger, plug-in upright vacuum doesn't come close to cleaning the spot where my kitchen cabinets meet the floor. Crumbs tend to collect there, and the V8 cleans that area very well with the standard floorhead. It's nice not to have to bend down and remove a crevice tool or other cleaning supplies to get a clean floor.  

Overall Ease of Use

I really appreciate that the V8 is so light, weighing about 5.5 pounds. The V8 lacks some of the bells and whistles of newer models, but the trade-off is a lighter vacuum. I find myself reaching for the V8 often because it's so light and easy to maneuver. Since I have a busy (and messy) family of six, I appreciate anything that makes vacuuming a little bit easier, and a light vacuum is more convenient for me than more features. Even though I have also tested the Dyson V11 Torque Drive (now sold as the Dyson V11), I find myself reaching for the V8 more often because it is lighter and easier to use. I value this more than the V11's three power modes.

I've used the V8 daily for several weeks. I love having such a light and versatile vacuum around the house. It's very easy to clean up messes big and small and move between levels. I also used the handheld attachment to clean my car. Although the handheld head doesn't swivel, the vacuum was still efficient in cleaning up the mess left by my kids after a road trip. I used the crevice attachment to vacuum around the edges of the car. 

The V8 has two power settings: standard suction and boost mode. A simple switch on the front of the vacuum allows you to switch to boost or max power.

Cleaning Performance

I laid out coffee grounds, flour, sugar, rice, crushed cereal, and a wad of human hair on a rug and hardwood floors to see how the V8 performed. I used the regular setting for my testing because the battery life for boost setting is so low. 

On the rug, the V8 performed exceptionally well. It picked up almost everything I put in its way on the first pass. The V8 had the hardest time with flour and left a little behind after the first pass. However, it got all of the flour on the second pass.

The V8 did not perform as well on hardwood floors. It picked up all the sugar and coffee grounds and struggled a little more with flour, just as on the rug. However, the V8 picked up the remaining flour on the second pass. The V8 easily picked up the hair, but just as the hair I placed on the rug, some got caught around the floorhead and had to be removed manually.

When it came to larger debris like rice and crushed cereal, the V8 did not perform nearly as well. On hardwood, the V8 could only get about half of each on the first pass. On the second pass, the vacuum picked up the remaining rice. The V8 had the hardest time with the cereal. It took several more passes to get all of it, and even then, the V8 struggled. The vacuum pushed some of the cereal forward rather than picking it up, so I had to lift the vacuum and put it down again to get it all. This was more work than just moving the vacuum back and forth. Then, when I picked up the vacuum to put it away, some cereal fell out of the brush, and I needed to vacuum it a second time. Other dust and debris went straight to the dustbin as intended.

Because the V8 did not perform well picking up larger debris on hardwood floors using the regular mode, I tried vacuuming crushed cereal on boost mode. The V8 did not perform any better. It only picked up about half of the cereal and pushed the other half forward. Using boost mode I also experienced the same issue with pieces of debris falling out of the brush head when I lifted the vacuum from the floor.

Battery Life

In my tests, the vacuum ran for just under seven minutes using boost power. At regular power with the cleaner head attached, it ran for just under 29 minutes.

Dust Bin

The dustbin on the V8 is extremely easy to use. I like that the dustbin is clear so I can see when it's close to being full, and I know the vacuum is doing its job when I see it filling up with dust, crumbs, and debris. Moreover, emptying the dustbin is easy and, more importantly, very hygienic. There is a lever on the outside of the dustbin that you simply pull forward to empty the bin directly into the trash can. I also appreciate that I never need to worry about running out of bags. 

Filtration

 The V8 utilizes a whole-machine filtration system that traps 99.99% of microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns, such as dust mites and allergens. Versions, like the Absolute, feature a HEPA filtration system that captures 99.99% of microscopic particles down to 0.1 microns. 

The filter is easy to clean by brushing off any loose dirt and then running the filter under water. It's very nice that the filter is reusable, but it takes about 24 hours to dry. The first time this happened to me I was annoyed that I couldn't use the vacuum when I wanted to and then needed to wait a full day until the vacuum was operational again. However, this problem can easily be remedied by washing the filter after a few uses and letting it dry when you know you won't need it. 

The V8 requires little maintenance other than periodically cleaning the filter and pulling out hair that might get caught in the brush.

Cons to consider

If your sole reason for buying the V8 is boost mode, look elsewhere. Although boost mode packs a lot of power, it doesn't last long enough to be very useful in most situations. It works well for a small mess in a confined area, but since the battery lasts under seven minutes at full power, it can't be used for whole house cleaning or even to clean a small apartment. The battery takes five hours to fully charge, so once the charge is gone, it's gone for a while. Fortunately, the regular mode was satisfactory for most cleaning needs. 

The vacuum also struggles with larger debris on hardwood. The V8 did perform well on my other tests, so depending on your needs, that may not be a deal-breaker. If you usually vacuum dust and crumbs, that might not be a big deal. However, if you need to vacuum larger debris like kibble often, this probably isn't the vacuum for you. 

The brush that comes with the V8 is on the smaller side. If you have a large house, this might be frustrating. You will probably need to make several more passes with the V8 than you would with a traditional vacuum or stick vacuum with a larger brush. However, that's not a dealbreaker for me because the lower price point for the V8 still remains a good value for such a powerful and easy-to-use machine. Additionally, with another, less powerful vacuum I find myself making additional passes over the same parts of my floor.

What are your alternatives?

Dyson has discontinued the other vacuum in the V8 line, the V8 Animal, which spec-wise is identical, and has repurposed the Dyson V8 Absolute into a Dyson exclusive with HEPA filtration and an additional soft cleaner head built for hard floors. When it's on sale, the upgrades are a no-brainer to pick up, but you can also find newer technology and longer battery life like the Dyson Outsize, Dyson V15 Detect, or the Dyson V12 Detect Slim for a little bit more than the Dyson V8 Absolute.

At a similar price point, one of Shark's most premium cordless vacuum cleaners, the Shark Stratos, has a retail price of $499, with auto-adjusting suction, up to an hour of battery life, HEPA filtration, and a unique bending design to clean under low surfaces easier.

The bottom line

The V8 holds its own among Dyson's more recent models. Even though newer Dyson models have more bells and whistles, the V8 is a powerful stick vacuum with adequate battery life, good power, functional accessories, convenient handheld abilities, and a good storage option. The battery on regular mode lasts long enough to clean a medium-sized house. Plus, the ability to use the V8 as a handheld is a fantastic feature that I have used to vacuum my car and sofa for extra versatility beyond cleaning just my floors.