Dyson V7 vs V8 – Detailed Comparison

From the “vs” you see in the title: Dyson V7 vs V8, you can easily guess that we’re pitting these two heavyweight cordless vacuums together.

If you’re wondering why we are calling them heavyweights, the reason is pretty much straightforward. They are Dysons!

Dyson V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Fuchsia (227591-01)

Dyson vacuums are some of the most sought after vacuums in the market in whatever category they sell in. They do their jobs and do it well.

Dyson designs its vacuum cleaners using some of the most advanced technologies and engineering techniques. That’s not all, they also use durable materials and the aesthetics is second to none.

If you think we are just bragging on behalf of Dyson, just look around and see for yourself. A random search for vacuum cleaners will pop up the name quite fast.

That’s enough about Dyson, now let us talk about the products we are here to compare. The V7 and V8 are both cordless vacuums from the stables of Dyson.

They have been available for a while now but they are still somewhere up there on the pecking order. Yes, both of them.

These vacuums are advanced, easy to use, and offer superb performance. Oh! Before we forget, they are expensive too.

The Dyson V7 and V8 belong to a pretty long line of Dyson cordless vacuums. This line started from the DC series (certainly not the cartoon). Then it introduced the V6, V8, V7, and then currently the latest V10.

We are not bad at numbering; the V8 came before the V7 because we arranged them chronologically. If you are wondering why the V9 is missing, you might have to send a mail to Dyson headquarters because it beats us too.

 

 

Comparison Overview – Dyson V7 vs V8

Alright, stop for a moment. Before we go any further, there are some things you need to wrap your minds around up front.

Having this at the back of your minds will certainly make this journey a lot easier.

If you have known Dyson for a while, they often come up with different variants of one model. You need to pay attention to these differences so you can choose which is best suitable for your particular needs.

The difference between the available models under the Dyson V7 and V8 is often the attachment tools that come with them. So, please pay close attention.

There are certain similarities between the V7 and V8. In cases where one is slightly different from the other, we will indicate it.

There are also differences that tell them apart which we have also made clear for easier understanding.

For all these to come together well, it is critical that you are clear on exactly what needs to you need to fulfill and how you intend to use the vacuum. If you have all that covered, let’s get right into it. Shall we?

 

Dyson V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Fuchsia (227591-01) Dyson (214730-01) V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Yellow
To get the V7, click here
To get the V8, click here

 

Comparison Table – Dyson V7 vs V8

Dyson V7 Dyson V8
Available Models Motorhead, Animal, Absolute, and HEPA Absolute and Animal. Check out our review of the Dyson V8 Animal to learn more about it.
Battery Life Up to 30 minutes Up to 40 minutes
Charge Time 3 hours 30minutes 5 hours
Power 75% more powerful than the V6 150% more powerful than the V6
Filtration System Cyclonic and Washable Whole machine
Weight 5.45 lbs 5.75 lbs
Dimension 8.2 x 9.8 x 49 inches 9.8 x 8.8 x 49 inches
Dust Cup Capacity 0.4 liters 0.54 liters

 

 

 

 

Which Should I Go For Between Dyson V7 and V8?

The main difference between the Dyson V7 and V8 is the suction power and runtime. In a deep cleaning experiment, the V8 performed better than the V7. So, if you have medium to high pile carpets, the V8 is right for you. The Dyson V8 has 40 minutes runtime while the V7 has 30. Depending on the size of your home, the 10 minutes difference might be important.

However, if you consider how long the vacuums take to recharge, the V7 needs 1 hour 30 minutes less time than the V8 to become fully charged. To get more details on how they compare, keep reading.

 

Dyson V7 Dyson V8
This vacuum does great on hard floors and carpets but not on plush rugs. If you have high pile carpets in your home, the V8 is the best option for you as it performs better on such floors.
Though this is a good vacuum by every right, but if you want the versatility that comes with lots of attachment tools, you won’t be getting that. This one, however, is your best choice for versatility. It comes with lots of attachment tools that allow you to use the vacuum in many different ways.
The V7 is quite powerful in its own right to clean your floors and easily pick up dirt and pet hairs. If you have heavily trafficked floors that need deep cleaning often, you are better off with this one.

It has a powerful suction that will lift embedded dirt even from high pile carpets. This is all thanks to Dyson’s supercharged V8 engine.

How much runtime you can squeeze out of your cordless vacuum is quite important. On the V7, you can get a maximum time of 30 minutes. Using it with a motorized tool or in the boost mode will reduce the time. If 10 extra minutes of vacuuming time is important to you, then you might want to consider this V8 instead.

It will give you up to 40 minutes if you don’t use it with a motorized tool or in the boost mode.

The filtration system of a vacuum cleaner is quite important. This is not something an allergy sufferer wants to skip on. This vacuum uses the cyclonic system to handle dust and has a washable filter. However, there is a V7 model that has a HEPA filter. If you truly want to protect yourself from allergies and dust from your vacuum cleaner. The advanced whole machine filtration system of the V8 is your best bet.

 

 

Dyson V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Fuchsia (227591-01) Dyson (214730-01) V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Yellow
To get the V7, click here
To get the V8, click here

 

What Are Some Common Features Between the Dyson V7 and V8?

Since the Dyson V7 and V8 are from the same manufacturer and belong to the same line, it only makes sense that they share some things in common. The following are highlights of the common features:

  • Technology
  • Dust cup
  • Brush head
  • Filter
  • Power button

 

Appearance

Mere looking at these two cordless vacuums, you will have a hard time telling the difference. They are structurally the same, at least the outlook.

They both consist of a brush head, a wand, and the base which doubles as the handle.

They also feature the same 2 Tier Radial Cyclone technology which is carved the same way on both vacuums.

On the versatility side, you can also transform both stick vacuums into a handheld for a closer reach.

Using attachment tools on both vacuums works essentially the same way. However, there are more tools for the V8 than the V7.

 

Aesthetics

Considering this, a vacuum cleaner is not exactly something you can call beautiful. However, that is not the case with these ones.

You will hardly find a cordless vacuum that beats the V7 in appearance. How would you like your vacuum cleaner in Fuchsia with a matte finish? Are the ladies getting starry eyes yet?

Even the V8 refuses to take the back seat in this battle for the fairest. It comes in a gold-chrome design that will make you want to use it all the time.

 

Dust Cup

In this Dyson V7 vs V8 comparison, one of the most noticeable similarities is the dust cup. They have the same capacity and the same design.

These two vacuums have dust cups that open at the base to let the dirt fall out. That’s not all, there is an additional mechanism that pushes out any dirt that did not respond to the pull of gravity.

 

Power Button

Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners do not use a switch or press button to get it started. Instead, they use a trigger that you have to hold down.

The reason for this approach is to save power. For every distraction you respond to and take your finger off the trigger, the vacuum shuts off.

In all honesty, this design serves its purpose. However, over time, you will begin to feel the strain on your finger. This is because you will subconsciously exert more than necessary pressure on the button.

Furthermore, both vacuums can switch to Max Mode. This is a high-level power mode where suction power is increased. The increase in power is quite significant at 5 times and 4 times in the V7 and V8 respectively.

The max mode is ideal for cleaning carpets and highly trafficked areas. The switch buttons on both vacuums are located in the same position. This is directly above the handle.

 

Battery

Both of these vacuums have 21.6 volts, 6-cell Lithium-ion battery. You must be wondering why their runtime is different if their batteries are the same on paper.

Well, one simple explanation is that if you put both vacuums side by side, the V8 battery is larger. For the sake of not sounding too nerdy, let’s just say it has more space to hold the juice.

Before we move on, let us tell you why the lithium-ion battery type is ideal for these vacuums.

Lithium-ion batteries are good at holding power and they have a decent shelf life. Furthermore, they release energy to the vacuum steadily such that the vacuum’s power remains relatively the same until it goes flat.

 

Washable Filter

It cannot be overstated how important the filtration system is in a vacuum cleaner. Both vacuums use the Radial Cyclone technology to handle the fine particles the vacuum sucks up.

They both have a pre-motor filter which is located and accessible from the top of the radial cyclone compartment.

It traps in a significantly high amount of allergens and dust preventing them from seeping back into the atmosphere in your home.

All models of the V8 have a post-motor HEPA filter which does a second level purification of the air that passes through it. However, it is only the V7 Animal and, of course, the HEPA models that have this post-Motor HEPA filter.

Another thing the filter(s) in these vacuums have going for it is that it is washable. This allows you use them repeatedly.

The benefit that comes with this is that you will not need to buy filters as often as you would if it were not reusable.  What this interprets to is the fact that you will be saving a lot of money in the long run.

 

Unique Features – Dyson V7 vs V8

Features Unique To Dyson V7

Brush Head

We already made it clear that the V8 has a lot more power than the V7. Under normal circumstances, the V8 should be able to pick up dirt better.

Here is where things get strange. From certain cleaning tests on carpets, the V7 happens to be more efficient than the V8!

With further investigations, it was realized that the brush head of the V8 is slightly larger than that of the V7. Normally, that should even make it pick up dirt better.

To prove the point, the brush head of the V7 was mounted on the V8 vacuum and the efficiency increased!

What this proves is that the V7’s brush head is actually more efficient at picking up dirt on carpet than the V8. Although, the difference was a bit marginal. If you want to know more, you can read our review of the Dyson V7.

 

 

 

 

Features Unique To Dyson V8

Motor

The motor in the V8 is not only an improvement to that in the V7, but it is also completely different.

The motor is Dyson’s exclusive V8 engine (that’s what they call it). If the motor in the V7 is 75% stronger than that in the V6, this one is 150% stronger than the V6. Let’s leave you to do the math here.

What this interprets to in terms of performance is a standout suction power. Very few cordless vacuums in its rank can boast of suction that matches this.

With this kind of power, you can vacuum on all floor type and pick up all sorts of dust and debris. Your high pile carpets and shag rugs are not left out.

 

Battery Indicator

There is a battery indicator on the V8 with 3 lights as against the one on the V7. This allows you to monitor the battery usage.

This is a good feature because it lets you know how much power you have left which can influence how you work.

The light indicator also lets you know how the battery is charging. If two of the lights are on, for instance, you can tell that it has charged up to two-thirds of the way.

You can read our review of the Dyson V8 Cordless if you want to know more about it.

 

 

 

 

Dyson V7 vs V8 – Unique Pros

Dyson V7

i. The brush head is slightly more efficient than the one on the V8 on low to medium pile carpets.

ii. It is less expensive.

iii. It is slightly quieter.

 

Dyson V8

i. It has a stronger motor, hence more powerful suction.

ii. The V8 comes with more attachment tools.

iii. All V8 models have 2 filters one of which is HEPA.

 

 

Dyson V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Fuchsia (227591-01) Dyson (214730-01) V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Yellow
To get the V7, click here
To get the V8, click here

 

Dyson V7 vs V8 – Unique Cons

Dyson V7

i. The Absolute and Motorhead models have only one filter and it is not HEPA.

ii. The motor of the V7 is not as powerful as the V8.

iii. It has a lower runtime than the V8.

 

Dyson V8

i. It is a bit noisier.

ii. It is slightly heavier than the V7.

iii. The V8 takes longer to recharge.

iv. It is quite expensive.

 

 

Dyson V7 vs V8 – Pros Common To Both Products

Dyson V7 Dyson V8
If you want power, you will get it in this vacuum. It has quite a significant upgrade to the V6. The V8 is even powerful.
Useful accessories accompany this vacuum cleaner. However, you need to pay attention to which model of the V7 you go for as they come with different attachment tools. Same as the V7
You will get a decent 30 minutes battery runtime from this vacuum which is great by the standards of cordless vacuum cleaners. The V8 has a whopping 40 minutes.
It has a touch-free dirt release system. Same as the V7
It is lightweight and easy to maneuver. Same as the V7
It has a good filter that is washable. However, with certain models, you can get double and washable filters. All models come with double filters and are both washable.
The continuous cost on the V7 is quite low or even nonexistent. What might have cost you is replacing the filter. In this case, the filter(s) are reusable and offer lifetime durability. Same as the V7

 

Dyson V7 vs V8 – Cons Common to both products

Dyson V7 Dyson V8
You will have to wait a while before you can resume cleaning once the battery runs out. A 3.5 hours wait to be precise. The wait for the Dyson V8 is even significantly longer. This one will keep you for a whopping 5 hours.
This vacuum is quite a performer but you will have to pay for every value you get. The Dyson V8 is even more expensive.

 

The following are other vacuum cleaner comparisons you might find useful:

 

 

 

Dyson V7 vs V8 – General Feeling Among Users

Dyson V7 Dyson V8
A lot of users like how easy it is setting up this vacuum. They love that all you have to do is snap the parts together and you are good to go. Some users did not fail to notice the quality of the materials used for making the vacuum. They say that it will definitely last for a long time, the body parts at least.
Users were generally okay with the battery life. Some mentioned that it lasts as long as the manufacturer claimed while others think otherwise.

In truth, some people do not know how to manage batteries to get the best out of them and have them last longer. Therefore, don’t be quick to judge the battery.

There was fairly the same response to the battery of the V8 as the V7.
Some users mentioned that the vacuum works great on hard floors. A particular user even said that he or she would recommend the vacuum if you have more hard floors than carpets. Users applaud the V8 for how well it deals with pet hairs. A particular user who has pets in her house mentioned how much hair the V8 still picked off her carpet after a robot vacuum had already gone over it. She is quite excited about the result she is getting.
Without any surprise, a lot of the users loved how powerful the suction is. They love how well it picks up dirt on both hard floors and carpets. A user that had seen the V7 in action agreed that the V8 is obviously more powerful. He mentioned how the suction power of the V8 even picks up dirt on the side of the brush head. He also said that the V8 can pick up fine dust deep inside a crevice just by passing the brush head over it.
Some users agree that the V7 is not noisy. A lot of them even expressed surprise at how quietly it works considering its suction power. There were also a few people who claimed to like the trigger power button and agree with Dyson that it saves power. Even though the V8 has much more power than the V7 it is only 3 decibels louder than it. Few users also mentioned how quietly the V8 too works.

 

Dyson V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Fuchsia (227591-01) Dyson (214730-01) V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Yellow
To get the V7, click here
To get the V8, click here

 

Dyson V7 vs V8 – Some Complaints

Dyson V7 Dyson V8
The trigger power button is featuring here as a complaint. This only goes to show that people have different preferences. Some complained about it because it causes strain on their fingers as a result of holding it down for long. There are few similar complaints about the same thing for the V8. It only makes sense since they feature the same design.
The direct drive cleaning head does not do well at all with debris such as cereal on hard floors. However, if you change the head to the one with a soft brush roll, it works great. So, if you have mainly hard floors, do make sure the model you go for includes the brush head with the soft brush roll. Same as the V7

 

 

Dyson V7 vs V8 – Our Verdict

Dyson V7 Dyson V8
From all you have read about the Dyson V7, you would agree that the vacuum surely offers value for its price tag. This is exactly why we love it. So, if you feel the same way, why wait? Go get yours now! The Dyson V8 is obviously an upgrade to the V7. It has more power, more battery life, and all its models have two washable filters.

We love this one too but it’s quite pricey. However, if it won’t hurt your pocket or you are sure it is worth its price, why not? Go for it!

 

Dyson V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Fuchsia (227591-01) Dyson (214730-01) V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Yellow
To get the V7, click here To get the V8, click here

 

 

Dyson V7 vs V8 — FAQs

Does the Dyson cordless vacuum come with all the available accessories?

Only the Absolute version of any Dyson cordless comes with all the available accessories. The Animal version is the closest which all other attachment tools except the soft roller brush head. How do you know which variant is best for you? The answer lies in your needs.

If you have kids and lots of hard floors, the soft roller brush is best suited to clean cereal off the floor. But if your floor is mostly covered in carpet and you have pets that shed hair, the Animal variant that has only the Direct Drive brush head might be sufficient.

 

Must I use the mounting base or I can just plug the charging cord into the vacuum?

You don’t need the wall mount if you don’t to. You can connect the cord directly to the battery to charge it. The wall mount is meant for convenience and easy access as well as storage. You could also detach the stick of the vacuum and sit the handheld part on a flat surface while it charges.

 

Can I turn off the brush roller of the Dyson V7 or V8?

Neither of the vacuums were designed with that feature. However, you don’t need to worry about the spinning brush leaving marks on your hardwood floor because it won’t. If you have more of hard floors in your home, you can use the soft roller brush head which is more suited for that and does not risk scratching your floor.

 

How often do I need to clean the filter of the Dyson V7 and V8?

The frequency at which you clean the filters of a Dyson cordless vacuum largely depends on how often you use it and how much dirt you clean with it. A best practice is to clean the filters once every month. It is an convenient process as the filter(s) are easy to access.

Pull out the tube-like filter by lifting the blue lid in the middle of the crown like dome above the dust cup. If you have a Dyson V8, the post-motor filter is the blue base behind the handle. Wash both under cold running water and gently rub off any stuck-on dirt. Leave them to air for 24 hours as they must be completely dry before inserting them back in the vacuum.

 

Can I use Dyson cordless vacuum with 220V?

Dyson vacuum’s charging adapter says 110 to 240V. So, ideally, you don’t need a transformer to charge it if you’re outside America. However, some users have complained that their Dyson vacuum didn’t charge correctly until they used a transformer. Kindly note that if you buy a Dyson vacuum and you take it outside of the USA, Dyson will not honor the warranty.