Dyson V10 vs V11 [In-Depth UK Comparison in 9 Categories] (2024)

Not sure which Dyson cordless to buy? Read our full Dyson V10 vs V11 comparison to find out which is better for your needs.

The Dyson V10 is an outstanding cordless vacuum cleaner, so it’s natural to wonder whether the Dyson V11 can really justify the higher price tag.

Does it perform better than the V10? Or are the new features just gimmicks? And, most importantly, which should you buy?

Read our Dyson V10 vs V11 comparison to find out!

Comparison of the Dyson V10 Vs Dyson V11

A Quick Overview

There are many similarities between the Dyson V10 and V11 cord-free vacuums.

They are cordless stick vacuums with quick-release tools and a handheld mode. Both have strong suction, digital motor, a powered cleaner head, lithium-ion battery, 60 minute maximum run-time (although this is deceiving – more on that later,) and Dyson’s redesigned bin alignment to maximise airflow. They also both have HEPA filters and Dyson’s hygienic bin emptying system.

Not to mention they are both pricey vacuum cleaners!

There are also some major differences though. Aside from the price difference, which can be around £150 or more depending on the version, the V11 adds an LCD digital display, increased maximum suction (185 Air Watts compared with 150 Air Watts) and longer run-time on higher power settings. The V11 Torque Drive and V11 Absolute versions also have automatic suction adjustment and the new High Torque floorhead.

Let’s take a closer look at how these two excellent cordless vacuum cleaners compare.

In this Dyson V10 vs V11 comparison, we’re going to be focusing on the Absolute versions of both vacuum cleaners, as these provide the full experience.

Design and Weight

At first glance, the V10 and V11 look similar. There are a few design differences though.

As the V11 has a larger battery, it’s a slightly heavier vacuum cleaner. The V11 weighs 3.05kg, compared to the V10’s weight of 2.67kg. This might not sound like a huge difference – and both vacuums are still lightweight – but the V11 does feel noticeably heavier in the hand.

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.

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.

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.

It’s worth noting that the V10 and V11 also both use Dyson’s “Trigger” system. This conserves battery runtime, but means you need to hold down the trigger whenever you’re vacuuming, which can become tiring during longer cleaning sessions.

Cleaning Performance and Suction Power

The Dyson V10 and V11 both provide outstanding cleaning performance on almost any type of flooring. They have high-quality floorheads, powerful suction that can rival many corded vacuums, and three power modes. Like the V7 and V8, the V10 and V11 also use Dyson’s two tiers of radial cyclones to prevent loss of suction as the bin fills up.

Considering the V11 is more expensive, however, you would expect there to be a performance difference – and there’s no doubt that the V11 is the superior vacuum cleaner.

The first improvement is the higher capacity battery, which Dyson claims delivers 20% more suction than the V10. This manifests as a 185 Air Watts when on the highest power mode, compared to 150 Air Watts for the Dyson V10 Cyclone.

Additionally, the V11 has Dyson’s new Torque Drive floorhead. This is more powerful than the direct-drive floorhead included with the V10, which means the stiff bristles can remove dirt more effectively.

With that said, the V10’s floorhead is still one of the best of any cordless vacuum. While the V11 provides an improvement in brush bar power, the V10 is still an excellent performer on all surfaces.

One of the key new features of the V11 is that it includes Dyson’s new “Dynamic Load Sensor” technology.

What this means is that the main floorhead (High Torque) can detect the type of flooring and adjust the vacuum’s suction automatically when the V11 is in “Auto” cleaning mode (which replaces the “Medium” cleaning mode.)

It’s a useful feature, especially if you have lots of different floor types in your home. It also conserves battery life. The V10 doesn’t have this “smart” feature – you need to adjust the cleaning mode manually.

Floor Cleaning

Both the Dyson V10 and Dyson V11 provide excellent performance on carpets, hard floors, and laminate. They also both have side suction for better edge cleaning and a standard floorhead that can handle all types of floor.

Despite the similarities, we think the V11 is the better vacuum for carpet cleaning. It does a great job at cleaning both low-pile carpet and long pile carpet, and has plenty of brush bar power for agitating carpet fibres. The V10 is also excellent at cleaning carpets, but the lower brush bar power and suction mean it’s not quite as effective.

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.

We recommend getting a version with the “Fluffy” Soft Roller floorhead if you have lots of hard floors, as it’s brilliant at picking up both small particles and large debris. Even with the regular floorheads, however, the V10 and V11 are great for cleaning hard floors.

In terms of manoeuvrability, the V10 and V11 feel similar when cleaning. They are both equally comfortable to steer, while the flexible floorhead joint makes it easy to clean under low furniture.

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 vacuums are almost identical when it comes to above-floor cleaning performance. Combining the strong suction with a detachable floorhead, handheld mode, and wand for high locations makes them both excellent at tackling dirt and dust almost anywhere in the home.

If we have to choose a winner in this category, however, then the V10’s lighter design makes it more convenient to use.

Pet Hair

Again, there’s not much difference in performance when it comes to cleaning pet hair. Both vacuums are amongst the best cordless vacuums for cleaning pet hair, making them great choices if you have a dog or cat.

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.

The V11 edges this category due to its ability to clean deeper in carpets though.

Battery Life, Runtime and Charging

At first glance, this category in our Dyson V10 vs V11 comparison might look like a draw, as both vacuums have the same 60 minute maximum 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.

What this means is that the V11 can run for longer at higher powers than the V10. This is particularly noticeable when using the V11’s “Auto” mode, as the vacuum intelligently adapts to the floor surface to avoid wasting battery. Instead of getting around 25-30 minutes on “Normal” mode with the V10, the V11 is capable of getting 25-45 minutes of run-time when using the “Auto” function.

Additionally, the V11 lasts around 12 minutes when on the max suction setting, which is 50% longer than the V10’s 8 minutes on the highest mode. These modes (also called max mode or boost mode) are useful when you need extra power, but should be used sparingly to conserve run-time.

A downside of the V11’s longer run-time is that it takes around an hour extra to fully charge (4.5 hours compared to the V10’s 3.5 hours.)

Filtration

This category is a draw, as both the Dyson V10 and Dyson V11 are built with the company’s whole-machine filtration and a HEPA filter. This combination ensures that the vacuums retain more allergens than models with basic foam filters.

The Dyson HEPA filter is also designed to be used throughout the lifetime of the vacuum, so you shouldn’t need to spend money on replacements (assuming that you care for it correctly.)

Note: The V10 and V11 are both certified as asthma and allergy friendly by Allergy Standards Limited.

Tools and Accessories

Again, this category is a draw, as both Dyson cordless vacuums have high-quality tools with a quick-release design. They also come with a docking station that acts as both a storage tool and charger.

Aside from the primary floorhead, the V10 and V11 have the same available accessories. The Soft Roller, which is designed to improve hard floor pickup, is included with both the Absolute versions.

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 vacuums also have a mini turbo tool for pet hair and various non-motorised accessories. These include:

• Extension wand – When attached, the extension wand turns the model into a stick vacuum for floor cleaning (with the floorhead attached.) You can also detach the floorhead and use the wand for vacuuming ceilings. Like all Dyson cordless vacuums, detaching the stick converts both the V10 and V11 into a powerful handheld vacuum.
• Mini soft dusting brush. For cleaning dust from delicate surfaces.
• Combination tool. The combination tool has both stiff brush and smaller head, making it a good option for cleaning in cars.
• Crevice tool. A long and thin tool that’s great for cleaning tight locations.

Note: The included accessories vary depending on which version of the V10 and V11 you buy. You can also purchase tools like the stubborn dirt brush and mattress tool separately.

Price and Value Comparison

There’s little doubt that the Dyson V10 and V11 are amongst the best cordless vacuums available at the moment. They are both powerful, provide excellent cleaning performance, and are packed with useful features.

Does the Dyson V11’s new features justify the extra cost though?

If you just want the best vacuum, then we think the V11 is worth the extra cost. It generates stronger raw suction power, has a longer battery life in the modes you’ll be using most of the time, and an upgraded High Torque floorhead, so it edges the V10 in terms of cleaning performance.

The V11 is also more advanced than the V10. The addition of an LCD screen showing remaining battery life makes it more convenient to use. We’re also big fans of the adaptive suction technology, as this maximises battery run-time without sacrificing performance.

If you’re only interested in cleaning performance, however, then the V10 probably provides better value for money. It’s almost as good as the V11 on all surfaces, but is available for around £100 less (depending on which version you buy.)

Tip: Make sure you shop around when buying any new vacuum cleaner. It’s worth checking online stores such as Amazon, Argos, Currys, Very, and others to find the best price – although typically Dyson vacuum prices are fairly consistent across retailers.

Comparison Table

Tip: Want to learn more about other Dyson cordless vacuums? Check out our Dyson V7 vs V8 comparison, Dyson V8 Vs V10 comparison and Dyson V10 model comparison. We’ve also written a Shark vs Dyson comparison.

Dyson V10 vs V11 Summary and Key Differences

To recap, here are the main differences between the Dyson V10 and Dyson V11 cordless vacuums:

• Suction Power. The V11 has a larger battery that can generate around 20% more suction power.
• Floorhead. The V11 has the new High Torque floorhead, which generates more brush bar power than the V10’s direct-drive cleaning head. This makes the V11 more effective at cleaning deep pile carpets.
• Battery Life. The V11 has the same 60-minute maximum run-time as the V10 when in the lowest power mode, but the bigger battery can last longer in “High” or “Auto/Medium” modes than the V10.
• Recharge Time. The V11 takes 4.5 hours to fully recharge, compared with the V10 which only takes 3.5 hours.
• Weight. The V11 is around 0.5kg heavier than the V10.
• Automatic Suction Adjustment. The V11 has several advanced features not found on the V10, including automatically adjusting suction (when in “Auto” mode and using the High Torque floorhead.) This conserves battery life and makes the vacuum more efficient.
• 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.
• Price. Both vacuums are expensive, but the V11 is around £100 more for comparable versions (at the time of writing.)

Is the Dyson V11 Better Than the V10 (And Which Should You Buy?)

The short answer is that the Dyson V11 is the better vacuum cleaner. It improves on the V10’s already strong cleaning performance with enhanced suction power and a redesigned floorhead. It excels at cleaning all types of floor, and is noticeably better at vacuuming deep pile carpets than the V10.

The V11 also has a longer battery life, automatic suction adjustment to improve run-time, and an LCD screen.

As the V10 Cyclone still provides excellent cleaning performance that almost matches the V11, however, you should probably only buy the V11 if you want the intelligent suction control system and LCD screen. It’s also worth paying more for the V11 if your home has lots of deep pile carpets.

We hope this Dyson V10 vs V11 comparison has helped you decide which model to buy. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments section below.