Dyson V8 cordless vacuum review – this classic Dyson is an entry-level cordless but remains a force to be reckoned with

The Dyson V8 is Dyson's most long-standing cordless vacuum model available. Debuting in 2016, the design is still a popular choice for pet owners and those looking for a small, quick, convenient cleaner.

While it doesn't have Dyson's latest technology, it's effective on carpets and hard floors alike, exhibiting many of the qualities that we look for in the best cordless vacuums. Currently listed at above $400, it's not cheap for a cordless vacuum, but it is one of the lowest prices you'll find for one of the best Dyson vacuums.

So, if you ever wanted a Dyson, you'd be remiss if you didn't find out if this model will suit your home. This is how we got on with the Dyson V8 after weeks of testing – and yes, pets were involved in the testing process.

Dyson V8: Specifications

Dyson V8: Price and availability

As the Dyson V8 is the oldest cordless vacuum still available from the brand (alongside the Dyson V7 that retails at $399.99). You can buy the Dyson V8 at full price for $469.99, but as it's an older model you can often find it discounted with up to 50% off.

Even at this entry-level price point, the V8 is more expensive than many similar cordless vacuums we've tested. Other vacuums in this range offer longer runtimes and bigger dustbins, but you're paying for the signature Dyson cyclone engineering that delivers consistently powerful airflow.

You can also get the Dyson V8 Absolute for $519.99 that comes with an extra 'Fluffly' floorhead that's great on hard floors, and HEPA filtration for more effective dust capture. At the time of writing, the Dyson V8 Absolute is available for $349.99 at Dyson.

Dyson V8: Design and features

Vacuum design
The Dyson V8 follows the design of the earlier V6 model, with a direct drive floor head, trigger operation, cyclone motor and whole-machine filtration. The V8 brushless motor spins at up to 107,000 rpm to generate the airflow.

To operate, hold down the red trigger and firmly grasp the handle. Above the Dyson logo, you have the ability to switch between two modes of suction power.

Battery
The battery offers up to 40 minutes of cleaning power. However, that does not necessarily mean you'll get 40 minutes of floor cleaning power but is the estimated time for the vacuum at its lowest setting. When using the floorhead, you get up to 25 minutes of battery, the mini-motorized tool up to 30 minutes, and the accessories like the crevice tool will enable the battery to last up to 40 minutes. On MAX mode, the vacuum will last 7 minutes. The battery isn't interchangeable between charges, but it can be replaced.

When charging and to identify battery life, three LED lights on each side of the battery indicate charge level so you can get an idea of how much charge is left.

Powerful Direct Drive Floor Head
Safe for use on both carpets and hard floors, Dyson's primary floorhead makes use of a hard shell body with a powered brushroll and utilizes stiff nylon bristles to remove pet hair and ground-in dirt (read over our vacuum jargon buster to identify any of these terms). The direct-drive cleaner has a mini “ball” joint to make it easier to manuever across the floor.

Modes
The Dyson V8 features two cleaning modes that you manually switch between: High Suction Extended Run and MAX suction. On High Suction it can run up to 40 minutes, but gets just 7 minutes on MAX suction.

Accessories
The V8 comes with several vacuum attachments including a mini soft dusting brush with nylon bristles to clean delicate surfaces and fabric, a combination tool (with a brush and wide nozzle), a crevice tool, a wall docking station, and a charger. It also has a mini motorized brush tool that's one of our favorite vacuum attachments for pet hair.

Filtration
The V8 offers Dyson’s advanced 5-stage filtration technologies, capturing 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, to expel cleaner air. Both of the vacuum filters are easily accessible and removable to clean. One pulls out from the center of the motor, while the purple head at the base offers additional purification.

What is the Dyson V8 like to use?

Set-Up
Set up is fairly easy as each piece clicks together. It comes with a partial charge, but you'll want to give it a full 5-hour charge before cleaning.

The V8 differs from more recent packaging in that accessories are wrapped in plastic (as opposed to simply cardboard) and a full instruction guide is included.

On Hard Floors
The Dyson V8 works well on hard floors and moves easily. Due to the hard plastic of the brushbar and maneuvering "wheel", I was cautious about it scratching my hard floors, but fortunately that was not the case and it could easily be a safe vacuum for hardwood floors. It was however louder on this floor than other vacuums I've used.

On Carpets
I prefer using the Dyson V8 as a vacuum for carpet, and within minutes I had a full dust cup. It's a little inconvenient having to run to empty the vacuum after just one room, but I was very satisfied with how much it sucked up. I noticed a distinct difference on MAX mode, but battery life here is substantially shorter.

Other Surfaces
As expected, the Dyson V8 is an excellent handheld companion for cleaning in between the seats of the car or sofa, dusting up high along the crown molding, or taking to cleaning pet beds with the mini-motorized tool.

How others got on with the Dyson V8
A contributor to our team got on quite well with her V8 Absolute, summarizing that 'it’s a nifty machine that makes doing the cleaning a whole lot less work.'

Dyson V8: Pantry test

I trialed the Dyson V8 through our pantry test, where we use common pantry staples to test the suction capabilities of our vacuums. We use debris of smaller sizes to assess the performance, as well as large pieces and fine powders, which make great proxies for dust.

I arranged a quarter cup of cereal, a quarter cup of rice and a tablespoon of sugar to see how the vacuum fared.

Hardwood floors
It had no issues vacuuming the sugar in seconds but vacuuming the larger debris got messy. The cereal was pushed into the rice then the rice was flung across the floors – everywhere but the vacuum. Eventually, the Dyson V8 got the larger grains of food in, but it wasn't an easy task. I'd recommend removing the floorhead when vacuuming debris of this size, it's better to rely on the suction than the spinning brushroll.

Carpets
All pieces, along with the other dirt on my carpet was suctioned up in a matter of seconds. In my experience, the Motorbar floorhead is much better suited to vacuuming carpets, and the FluffyOptic floorhead found in the Dyson V12 Detect Slim and Dyson V15 Detect is what you need when tackling hard floors.

Dyson V8: Cleaning and maintenance

The 0.14 gallon dust bin pulls open with a one-touch lever that ejects debris straight into the garbage. The V8 was the first Dyson with this feature. The bin pushes up and the lid pops open to empty its contents.

Both filters can be removed and rinsed with water, and you can then wait 24 hours for them to dry before putting them back into the vacuum. Usually you'd clean your vacuum filter once or twice a year, but Dyson recommends doing this on a monthly basis.

It's also easy to take apart each component when you need to fully clean the vacuum. As long strands of hair will wrap around the brushroll, both the floorhead and mini-motorized tool unlock so you can remove and clean the bristles. The clear dust bin can also be removed for cleaning, though it's easiest to wipe clean with a damp cloth.

How does the Dyson V8 compare to newer models?

The Dyson V7, which was released a year after the V8 and follows the same body styling, is sold as an affordable alternative to the V8 with a shorter 30-minute runtime. A step up will lead you to the Dyson V10 Cyclone, which we've tested and found more powerful suction across three different modes.

For a similar price however, we absolutely loved the Shark Cordless PowerDetect. It has a longer 70-minute runtime, its suction power is consistently great across all floor types, and it has a flexible wand for reaching under furniture without straining your back. You also have the option of a cleaning base that self-cleans, charges and stores the vacuum between uses.

Or if you're looking for the best-of-the-best, the Dyson V15 Detect and Dyson Gen5detect has the strongest cleaning performance of any vacuum we've tested. They also detect what's on your floors to maintain the right suction power. They'll cost you a few hundred dollars more, but they're worth it if you want immaculate floors.

Dyson V8: My verdict

The Dyson V8 is truly a great cleaning machine, and could replace your standard corded model. The V8 is essentially Dyson's base model, but that surely does not make it feel like a compromise.

If it's your first Dyson and you want to test the waters, this is a great option. If this is a secondary vacuum, and you don't need it to last for more than 30 to 40 minutes to get you through your cleaning, another great option. And if you have pets, the Dyson V8 literally drew out pet hair I couldn't see.

How I tested the Dyson V8

I tested the Dyson V8 in my home over three weeks. My home features a mix of hardwood floors, carpets, and area rugs. A small dog lives in the house who also manages to track in his fair share of dirt.

Learn more about how we test vacuums at our dedicated page.

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