In contrast, the V11 Animal is the cheapest version. It only includes Dyson’s direct-drive floorhead, not the High Torque floorhead. Behind the barrel you’ll find the V11’s cyclone array, which consists of 14 cyclones in total. Dyson says that they generate “forces of more than 79,000g to fling microscopic particles into the bin”, including pollen and bacteria. When it comes to hard floors, there’s not much between the two vacuums, as they both provide strong cleaning performance. The V11’s increased suction helps remove dust and dirt from between floorboards, but the V10 is almost as good at this task. The same is true for laminate flooring and tiles. Aside from the heavier design and addition of a screen, the Dyson V11 and Dyson V10 share many of the same design features. They both have 0.76 litre dustbin capacities, which is relatively large for a cordless vacuum. They also have Dyson’s “Point and Shoot” dust bin emptying system, which makes it easier to release dirt and prevents dust getting caught, and a bagless design. The fully-sealed filtration system traps 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns – expelling cleaner air.³

Three suction modes. The V11 has three suction modes: Eco, Medium/Auto, and Boost. While all versions of the V11 have three modes, only models with the High Torque floorhead can use the vacuum’s automatic suction adjustment system. The “Auto” mode just becomes “Medium” when you’re not using the High Torque tool. At a basic level, all versions of the Dyson V11 are really the same cordless vacuum cleaner. They have the same motor, design, battery, and canister – the only difference is the included floorheads. The Dyson V11 Torque Drive model comes with an LCD screen that displays performance in a run time countdown in real time. The Dyson V11 generated between 70-78 decibels of noise, depending on the mode. Here are the exact results, by cleaning mode:

New larger and improved battery

As you can tell from the list above, most features of the V11 are common to all versions. There are a few key differences though, so let’s take a look at the unique features of each model. Mini motorised pet tool. All versions of the Dyson V11 include a mini motorised pet tool. This is brilliant for cleaning stairs, upholstery, and car interiors. All models also come with a dusting brush, combination floor nozzle, and crevice tool. For the complete V11 experience, we recommend the Dyson V11 Absolute. This is the only model that comes with both the High Torque and Soft Roller floorheads, so it’s brilliant for cleaning any type of floor. This is also the model to buy if your home has lots of hard floors, as the Soft Roller is superior to the High Torque for cleaning hard surfaces. Dyson's battery technology and battery-saving trigger help to provide Dyson's longest run time by only using power when you need it. Dyson V11 Torque Drive– The Torque Drive is the cheapest model to include the new High Torque floorhead (and hence the Dynamic Load Sensor technology.) It also comes with a mini motorised tool and several non-motorised accessories.

Currently, the Dyson V11 Animal, V11 Outsize, and V11 Torque Drive are the only versions available in the U.S. How easy is the V11 to use? A downside is that Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners can sometimes feel top-heavy – and this is slightly worse for the V11 due to the heavier design. Above-Floor Cleaning The Dyson V10 battery is supposed to last up to 15 years, according to Dyson’s founder, James Dyson. We haven’t seen a statement from Dyson on V11 battery life, but we expect it to be at least as good as the V10. The Dyson V11 looks very similar to its predecessor the V10, with a sleek futuristic design that isn't an eyesore if you forget to stow it away in the cupboard. LCD Screen. The V11 has an LCD screen showing remaining battery life (this is updated whenever you change tools or cleaning modes.) It also shows the current power mode and the status of the filter.

For whatever reason, Dyson decided to not make a V11 Absolute version…at least not for most countries. It is available in some countries, including Canada and the UK. However, it’s not available in the US. There is no question, the V11 Outsize is a notable improvement over the V11 Torque Drive & Animal. However, it’s also more expensive. The most important new design feature of the V11 is that it has an LCD display. You can use the screen to view various metrics, including maintenance alerts and the remaining battery run-time in minutes and seconds. This run-time updates depending on the power mode and tool you’re using, which is a useful addition. Dyson V10 Absolute– Adds Dyson’s Soft Roller head for hard floors, although doesn’t have all the non-motorised tools included with the Animal Extra. The V11 is an excellent cordless vacuum cleaner. Regardless of which version you choose, the vacuum will provide powerful suction, a versatile design, and up to 60-minutes run-time.

Up to 60 minutes battery life with a 4.5 hour charge time. All versions of the V11 provide up to an hour of run-time, although this is only on the lowest power setting and without a motorised tool. We found that the V11 still provides decent battery life even when in its “Medium/Auto” mode though. One of the key new features of the V11 is that it includes Dyson’s new “Dynamic Load Sensor” technology. The powerful brush bars do a great job at removing hair from carpets, while the mini motorised tool is excellent for getting hair out of upholstery and car interiors. Dyson V11 Animal– The basic version of the V11. It comes with Dyson’s direct-drive head and a motorised tool. As it doesn’t include the High Torque floorhead, the Animal cannot make use of the V11’s Dynamic Load Sensor technology to automatically adjust suction. Like the V10, the new Dyson V11 features an “in-line configuration” where the motor, bin, and cyclone array are all aligned, meaning “air is drawn into the cyclones in a straight line”– which helps maintain inertia and increases the suction power.Even so, the vast majority of features are shared by the Absolute, Animal, and Torque Drive. Some features that are common to all versions of the V11 include: The battery on the Dyson V11 can last up to 60 minutes, depending on the type of cleaning that you’re doing. In the US, you can get two different models of the new cordless vacuum. Both come with the new High Torque cleaner head (more on that later) and a range of additional cleaning accessories. In contrast, the V10 only has a low battery indicator to show how much cleaning time is remaining. It also doesn’t have a screen. Want automatically adjusting suction based on floor type: The V11 also has the advanced feature of automatically adjusting suction for different floor types. This can help to save battery power and further extend the V11 run time.

This is the maximum battery life when on the eco mode and using non-motorised tools though. The V11 actually has up to 50% bigger battery cells than the V10. It also has a 29.4V battery, compared with the V10’s 25.2V. Combination tool. The combination tool has both stiff brush and smaller head, making it a good option for cleaning in cars. It’s worth noting that the Soft Roller can’t take advantage of the V11’s automatic suction adjustment though. If your home is mainly hard floors, then you won’t be able to make full use of one of the key V11 upgrades when using this tool. The motor, bin and cyclone are aligned, so air is drawn into the cyclones in a straight line – helping to create powerful Dyson suction.March 11, 2020– Update our review to reflect the new Dyson V11 Outsize model that recently launched. Added comparison info.