I've spent over 200 hours testing vacuums and the best budget Dyson is now even cheaper with $170 off – it's small, nimble and tackles pet hair on all surfaces brilliantly

The V8 has remained one of my favorite Dyson vacuums since its launch back in 2016. We re-tested it years later and loved how well it held up compared to the countless cordless vacuums that have since been released.

Now, it's even more affordable with a whopping $170 discount direct from Dyson, dropping the price down to just $349.99. That's hundreds of dollars less than you'd expect to pay for other Dyson models.

It's our top pick as the best Dyson vacuum if you're on a budget. It doesn't have the flashier features of their latest and greatest, but it's one of the only Dyson vacuums with this accessible price point, and features that make cleaning dust, debris, and pet dander effortless at home.

Best-on-test budget Dyson

at Dyson Inc.

Dyson V8 Absolute | was $519.99, now $349.99 at Dyson (save $170)

The V8 is a small, nimble and powerful vacuum, and as it's the 'Absolute' model, it features one of the best floorheads we've ever tested: the Motorbar. It cleans all surfaces thoroughly and avoids hair wrap at all costs.

Our full Dyson V8 review sheds more light on its performance.

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Why the Dyson V8 is worth every cent at this discounted price

The Dyson V8 is one of the best cordless vacuums we've tested at this price point, thanks to powerful suction and a straightforward, easy-to-use design.

When running it through our pantry test, an essential part of how we test vacuums to evaluate its performance on small and large debris, it performed great on carpets. Tester Jaclyn Turner wrote, 'All pieces, along with the other dirt on my carpet was suctioned up in a matter of seconds.'

The suction was so strong that, when using it as a vacuum for carpet more generally, its dustbin filled up in minutes. While it's a little inconvenient having to empty it mid-clean, it's reassuring to know that such a small and affordable Dyson can pick up so much.

This is largely thanks to the Dyson Motorbar floorhead that's still used in Dyson's newer, flagship vacuums the Dyson V15 Detect and Dyson V12 Detect Slim. It's genuinely one of the best vacuum attachments for pet hair that you can invest in; as someone who's used this floorhead weekly for months, I've never once had to remove tangled hair from the brushroll.

What the V8 is lacking however is the FluffyOptic floorhead with its soft roller and green laser that reveals invisible dust on hard floors. It's what makes the more expensive Dyson laser vacuums so worth it, and they retail for $650 to $1,050 at full price.

The Dyson V8 instead has the Fluffy floorhead, which is still incredible at picking up super-fine dust and common household allergens from hard floors, it just can't illuminate dust that the naked eye can't see. For that privilege, you have to pay a few hundred dollars more.

'The Dyson V8 works well on hard floors and moves easily,' Jaclyn wrote during their retesting. She noted that the hard plastic on the floorhead and wheels didn't pose a scratching risk for her home's floors, making it a strong choice as a vacuum for hardwood floors. And, as with all Dyson vacuums that come with two floorheads, it's naturally one of the best multi-surface vacuums you can choose, offering specialized cleaning on carpets or hard floors.

Reliable cleaning aside, the V8 is super easy to empty, and as somebody who's taken Dyson vacuums apart to deep clean them, I can confirm that the V8's design means it's no different. If you clean the vacuum often and look after its parts, this cordless Dyson could be your home's trusty cleaner for years to come.

The Dyson V8 Absolute is available for $349.99 at Dyson.

Next, browse our picks of the best Dyson alternatives for more tried-and-tested vacuum excellence that won't break the bank.