Dyson V10 vs. V11: Next Generation Cordless Vacuums Are Here (2024)

We will compare the Dyson V10 vs. the V11, representing the future of cord-free stick vacuums.

These products possess features you’d want in something without a cord – long run time, excellent power, and versatility to clean every part of your home.

Dyson says the V10 and V11 will run for up to 60 minutes. Real-world tests show that both vacuums will run past that threshold.

The V11 brings more convenience to the table, like the sensor in the main cleaning head that automatically adjusts the suction depending on the floor type.

There isn’t much of a difference when it comes to surface pick-up for both. The one advantage the Dyson V11 has is its ability to deep clean (30% better) for extended periods – up to 43 minutes.

So the question is, are you willing to pay extra for a cordless that deep cleans for an extended period?

Let’s find out.

An Overview of the Dyson V10 vs. V11

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Introduction to the Dyson V10 and V11

Update Mar 20, 2023: These models aren’t the latest and have been superseded by newer variants like the Outsize, V15 Detect, and V12 Detect. These models possess the latest battery technology, nozzles, and more. Click on the links to read the detailed review.

Update Sept 23, 2026: Dyson released a trio of new products: the Gen5 Detect, Get5 Outsize, and V15s Detect Submarine – its first with a wet/dry function. I’ll review these vacuums soon.

The V10 and V11 are two of Dyson’s latest cordless vacuums available.

Both vacuums utilize Dyson’s latest battery technology and the digital motor, enabling them to clean better and run longer than most cord-free stick vacuums.

The new torque drive attachment is one feature that separates the V10 and V11 from earlier models.

Unlike the older direct-drive head with a low profile that’s great for carpets, this upgraded tool works almost as well on bare floors thanks to the two adjustable gates at the bottom.

These two openings allow this tool to clean more significant bits of dirt.

At least in the United States, you’ll get three options for the V10 – the “Cyclone” Absolute, Animal, and Motorhead.

For the Dyson V11, there are only two options for the US – the Torque Drive and Animal. The Absolute is only available in the UK and perhaps in Asia.

Similarities and Differences of the Dyson V10 vs. V11

The Dyson V10 and V11 look similar, utilizing the same realigned dust container.

The difference would be the color-scheme options depending on the variant you choose.

The Dyson V10 Absolute has an orange wand, while the V11 Torque Drive’s rod is blue.

To summarize, here are the similarities.

• Trigger Switch: Helps extend battery life to the maximum.
• Removable Extension Wand: It provides versatility to these vacuums.
• HEPA filtration and seal: Keeps dust and allergen inside the bin.
• Digital Motor: It spins at around 125,000 rpm.
• Torque Drive: Upgraded cleaning head does better on bare floors.
• Interchangeable Tools: Both variants come with a variety of tools.

Despite the similarities, there are equally as many differences.

Dyson V10 vs. V11 Differences

To recap, here are the differences between the Dyson V10 and V11.

1. Power: The Dyson V11 has 8.38% more airflow at the main cleaning head and 10.2% more at the wand than the V10, which translates to better overall cleaning performance on carpets.
2. Intelligent suction: Inside the V11’s main cleaning head is a sensor that detects the floor type and selects the right setting. This feature is convenient if you don’t want the hassle of constantly flipping through the different settings whenever you encounter a transition. It helps extend the battery because you’re always using the proper setting.
3. Digital screen: The V11 (only available Absolute and Torque Drive) has a digital display that provides information about run time, cleaning mode, and when to clean the filters. This feature isn’t available with the V10.
4. Soft roller tool: Only the Dyson V10 (at least in the United States) has the Absolute option with the soft roller (or fluffy) tool.
5. Run time: The V11 will run for up to 74 minutes with the main cleaning head attached at the lowest setting, while the V10 only tops out at 61 minutes with the crevice tool.

The most significant difference between the V10 and V11 is the large display screen at the back with several functions.

• Battery Status: This tells you how much time is left. It’s smart enough to adjust depending on the setting.
• Power Mode: Using the button below the screen, you can toggle between low, medium, and high power settings. You can also set it to automatic if you want more convenience.
• Filter Status: Let you know when to change the filter.

Note that the screen is only available with the Torque Drive and Absolute versions. Unfortunately, it’s not available in the V11 Animal. The V11 Absolute is only available in the United Kingdom.

Automatically Adjusts Suction

Another upgrade in the V11 is hidden within the Torque Drive head.

It has a sensor inside the tool that detects the type of surfaces it cleans. If it detects hard floors, it reduces suction and increases it when it detects carpets.

This feature optimizes battery life without you having to stop and change settings when transitioning from carpet to bare floor.

Power Comparison

One upgrade that helps boost the performance of the V11 is suction power.

The V11 has 185 air watts, 32 more than the V10.

This uptick in power is confirmed in the airflow tests. The V11 has 49 cfm at the nozzle and 59 cfm at the wand.

Compared to the V10’s output of 39 and 41 CFM at the head and wand, respectively, the V11 is better.

More airflow means better performance on carpets.

Deep cleaning tests on carpets show that (more on that in detail below) the V11 picks up 7% better than the V10.

There’s no question that Dyson vacuums are excellent products that will clean the home.

Are you willing to pay top dollar for the conveniences it brings? If not, check out these Shark vacuums that aren’t as expensive but provide almost as much versatility and performance.

Tools Comparison

You’ll get similar tool options with the V10 and V11. Which accessories you’ll get will depend on the option you choose.

Let’s quickly look at the table below to see the different options.

Please remember that V10 MotorHead, the cheapest option, has the fewest tools.

It only comes with the basic crevice, combination tool, and direct-drive head.

To summarize, here are the tools that you’ll get and their functions:

1. Crevice tool: It has a narrow nozzle with an angled tip that reaches areas between sofa cushions or tight spaces under and between car seats.
2. Combination tool: Basically, two tools in one – a pseudo upholstery/crevice and brush tool for fabric upholstery or vents. I use this to clean inside my vehicle.
3. Mini soft dusting brush: Soft bristles are great for cleaning more delicate items like lampshades.
4. Mini turbo brush: A miniature version of the floor tools with a motorized brush for cleaning hair and dirt on upholstery or carpet stairs.
5. Direct drive head: This is the same tool found in the Dyson V7 and V8. It does not have adjustable gates and won’t do as well on hard floors. Only found in the V10 MotorHead.
6. Torque drive: This is an upgrade over the direct-drive head with two adjustable gates that dramatically improve debris pick-up on hard surfaces. This tool is available with the V10 Animal and V11 Torque Drive.
7. Soft roller (of Fluffy): Dyson developed a unique tool for hard floors. It has a soft roller bar that can capture even large dirt. Only available with the Absolute option.
8. Extension wand: This attachment allows the Dyson to be used as a stick or a hand vacuum.
9. Wall mountable dock: An optional tool for storing and charging the vacuum and some attachments. It will require drilling a few holes in the wall. Third-party, self-standing docking stations are available at different prices for people who don’t want to drill holes. Dyson also sells its version they call the DOK. One advantage these products have is the ability to store all the attachments in one place.

Floor Nozzles

The cyclonic system that generates a lot of suction makes these vacuums efficient at cleaning.

To increase power over the V8, Dyson engineers realigned the dust cup, starting with the V10, to improve airflow.

In the V11, power is further increased to improve suction and cleaning performance.

Behind the motors are washable HEPA filters that keep allergens inside the bin.

A closer look at the cleaning heads

You’ll get two types of cleaning heads for the V10 and V11.

Fluffy (or Soft Roller) Cleaning Head

The fluffy head is an innovation from Dyson for cleaning hard floors.

I like this tool because it can clean debris of different sizes – fine or large dirt particles thanks to the ample clearance.

You’ll only find this tool with the V10 Absolute. Unfortunately, the V11 Torque Drive does not include it.

The V11 Absolute is available but only in Dyson UK.

Honestly, I don’t think it’s a big deal since the torque drive is a capable hard floor cleaner.

Torque Drive Cleaning Head

This tool is the more traditional option with a spinning brush.

In my opinion, it is a better tool than the direct drive cleaning head, thanks to the adjustable gates.

These gates enable it to clean larger debris.

It won’t clean the extra-large debris but will do the job well for daily tasks.

Perhaps the most significant benefit is not carrying an extra tool if your home has a mixture of floor types.

Direct Drive Cleaning Head

You’ll find this tool in the V10 MotorHead. It’s a similar tool found in the V8 and V7 that doesn’t have the gates.

The absence of gates means it will not clean large and extra-large debris.

Dyson says it will perform 25% worse than the torque drive attachment.

Cleaning Comparison

Next, we’ll examine how the V10 and V11 will clean on various surfaces. Most of these tests will focus on how these vacuumsperform on hardwood and carpets.

I also did a deep cleaning test to see how much sand the V10 and V11 would pick up.

Hard floor results

When cleaning surface dirt, there isn’t much difference between the Dyson V10 and V11.

First, let me share the results of the cleaning tests on four different types of debris on hard floors.

The difference is too close to declare a clear winner. However, I like the soft roller on hard floors since it picks up even at the lowest setting. Also, it has better padding underneath that protects the floors from scuffing.

The V11’s torque drive also works well on hard floors, but it didn’t pick up everything in the forward pass when cleaning sand. It was able to clean everything in the subsequent passes.

One issue with the torque drive is the plastic wheels that can scratch hardwood. And it’ll wear faster than the soft roller and hard floors. So it’s something to consider before making a decision.

Dyson V10 Results

The fluffy (or soft roller) tool is good at picking up debris on hard surfaces. You can say that this is the future of hard floor cleaning, as other manufacturers have copied this design.

The high clearance makes it possible to clean large bits of dirt. It doesn’t matter if you’re cleaning cereal, cheerios, dust, pet hair, or rice; it will inhale this debris.

Even the torque drive attachment of the V10 can pick up debris on hard surfaces, even large piles of dirt, thanks to the two adjustable gates.

Surprisingly, this tool performs almost as well on hard surfaces. It can handle dirt as big as Cheerios, but you’ll need to do a little zigzag so that it fits in one of the gates.

Dyson V11 Results

Even if the V11 does not have the torque drive (at least in the US market), it still does very well on hard surfaces. This is a good indicator of the excellent design features of this tool.

It can clean large debris like Cheerios when the gates are open.

The V11 had similar results as the V10 on hardwood – the difference is almost negligible.

Here’s the deal: even if the Absolute isn’t available in the United States, the Torque Drive head is good enough for cleaning on hardwood even with large and extra-large debris.

If you look at the cleaning tests, the V11 scored close to 100% on hard surfaces, even without the Fluffy attachment.

Carpet Results

I did many tests to test how well each vacuum cleans two carpets – low and mid pile.

Again, I used the same debris types on this surface to check how much each model would pick up.

Low Pile Results

On a low-pile carpet, the results are very close. Both scored high marks on this surface, with the V11 with a slightly better score in three of the four tests.

One advantage that the V11 has over the V10 is it runs longer in the middle setting. So between the two, I would get the V11 if your home has lots of carpet.

Mid Pile Results

Lastly, we’ll examine how well the V10 and V11 do on mid-pile carpet. I also included the deep cleaning test results in the chart.

The V11 scored higher in 4 out of the five tests and did much better in the deep cleaning test because it could pick up more than 100%. Even in the middle (or auto) setting, the V11 picked up 99.97%, which is impressive for a cordless vacuum.

Size Difference

The size difference isn’t very much, with both vacuums having the same design.

The V11 is slightly longer at 50.6″ versus the 49.2″ of the V10.

Having a larger motor and battery cells increases the weight of the V11. It weighs around 6.68 pounds, with most of it at the handle — the V10 weighs about 5.9 pounds.

Is it Easy to Use the Dyson V10 and V11?

Both vacuums are easy to use. In typical Dyson fashion, all the components come neatly packed in separate plastic containers.

Assembly is easy thanks to the quick-release latches that make attaching and removing accessories easy.

All the tools attach in a specific direction, so it’s an idiot-proof setup. You don’t need any special tools to put it together.

Ergonomics

Both these vacuums share similar components, and this includes the trigger. You’ll need to squeeze this trigger to turn on the motor.

One downside is the strain it puts on your fingers and wrist, but the trigger requires only a light touch.

The V11, being heavier, is a bit tougher when cleaning areas above floors. With the motor and dust bin on top, it will put more strain on your wrist.

Emptying the dustbin

The process of dumping the bin contents is the same for both vacuums. It employs a point-and-shoot system due to the new alignment of the dust cup.

Unlike the V6, which can get messy, the V10 and V11 bins have a hygienic system that pushes the dirt down.

Point the vacuum downward towards the trash bin and push the red latch. This will open the container, and all the contents will drop.

Maneuverability Comparison

One of the strong suits of any Dyson cordless vacuum is the ability to swivel.

It can turn on the dime, making it great for moving around furniture.

If there is one issue, it would be the top-heaviness of both vacuums.

Note that the motor and dirt bin are on top, putting a lot of strain on your arms when cleaning floors.

Maintenance Costs

The filters are the primary part of maintaining the V10 and V11.

Unlike the Dyson V8 and earlier models, the V10 and V11 have only one filter.

These filters are lifetime washable, so technically, buying extra is unnecessary.

Dyson V10 Replacement Filters

Dyson V11 Replacement Filter

However, the post-motor HEPA filter must be washed once a month or more, depending on how dusty the area you’re cleaning is.

There are many options (original and OEM replacements) when buying filters that aren’t expensive.

I suggest buying a few extra for folks relying on this as their primary vacuum, so there’s no downtime.

Battery

The battery is one of the most expensive things to replace in a cordless vacuum.

Fortunately, the V10 and V11 will last 15 years, at least if you believe James Dyson’s words.

Only time will tell if this is true. If so, you’ll be looking at an annual cost of zero dollars to maintain.

Even if it doesn’t last the full 15 years, you can remove the battery of the V10, so it’s only a matter of time for a replacement battery to come out.

Other Dyson cordless vacuum comparisons

Learn more about how each Dyson cordless compares against each variant.

• Comparing all Dyson cordless vacuums
• Dyson V6 vs. V7
• Dyson V6 vs. V8
• Dyson V6 vs. V10
• Dyson V7 vs. V8
• Dyson V7 vs. V10
• Dyson V7 vs. V11
• Dyson V7 vs. V12
• Dyson V7 vs. Outsize
• Dyson V8 vs. V10
• Dyson V8 vs. V11
• Dyson V8 vs. V12
• Dyson V12 vs V15

How long will the Dyson V10 and V11 run?

Dyson’s official number for both is 60 minutes max, without any powered tools.

Here are the results of my tests.

However, the similarities end there. Despite the uptick in power, the V11 will run longer than the V10 if you look at tests.

Using the soft roller tool in the lowest power mode, the V11 will run for 81 minutes. For the V10, the number is 61 minutes using the crevice tool in the lowest setting.

The 81-minute number is plain crazy for a cord-free vacuum.

Take note that you can use the V10 soft roller attachment on the V11 used in the test.

Another upgrade in the V11 that helps with efficiency is the intelligent suction control.

It is a sensor in the primary tool that detects the surface and adjusts power accordingly.

Tests show that this technology works, and it’s best to leave it on to get the most out of it.

Noise Comparison?

The Dyson V11 is the noisier option between the two, maxing out at 78.9 decibels at the highest setting.

Please check the table below for the noise test results using a sound meter.

I expected these results because the V11 uses a more powerful motor that cleans carpets better.

Which Offers Better Value?

One of the more important factors when choosing between these two is value for money.

Both offer unique advantages and disadvantages, and we’ll look at them one by one below.

Better value for cleaning performance

Despite the power advantage of the V11, cleaning performance on surface dirt is almost identical.

Based on cleaning tests, the difference between the two is just one percent. It’s minuscule, considering the price difference.

Even if you buy the top-of-the-line V10 Absolute, you still spend less than the V11.

One significant advantage the V11 has over the V10 is in deep cleaning. In the medium setting, which, in my opinion, is the most optimal setting for both carpets, the difference is 10%.

If there’s one reason to opt for the V11, it would be to deep clean carpets.
Winner: Dyson V10

Better value for run time

Aside from deep cleaning carpets, run time is another significant advantage that the V11 has.

Dyson says both will run for 60 minutes, but real-world tests show otherwise.

The V11 will run for 81 minutes, and the V10 for 61 minutes.

Here’s the kicker: using the torque drive tool in the auto (or mid) setting, the V11 will still run for 73 minutes, while the V10 will run for more than 25 minutes.

That’s almost a 12-minute difference in a configuration you’ll use most often.

If you’re looking for a whole home cleaner inside a home with lots of carpets, the V11 would be the better option.
Winner: Dyson V11

Better value for technology

V11 has lots of convenience features that will help make your life easier. One significant upgrade over the V10 is the motor’s digital display at the back.

It informs you of essential data such as power mode, battery life, and when you need to clean the filter.

The V11 also lets the vacuum decide the correct power setting.

If it’s a convenience you’re after, the V11 is a better option.
Winner: Dyson V11

Better value for power

The Dyson V11 has more power across all the power settings. Please check the chart below for the figures in CFM. I measured airflow using an anemometer at the wand and main cleaning head.

I like using this tool as it measures airflow directly from the entry point. The higher the airflow, the better the vacuum does when cleaning embedded dirt on carpets.

Factors like brush roll design are also crucial, but airflow is essential.

The V11 is the clear winner regarding airflow, and when you combine it with the better run time, it’s a better option for larger homes.
Winner: Dyson V11

Better value for ergonomics

Regarding ergonomics, the Dyson V10 would be the better option. It is lighter, thus less straining to use areas above floors. The difference between the two is less than a pound, but those extra ounces can wear on your arm and wrist.
Winner: Dyson V10

Product Specification

Where can you buy these vacuums?

The Dyson V10 and V11 are available in online stores like Amazon and Walmart. Please check the links below for the latest prices.

• Dyson V10 on Amazon.
• Dyson V11 on Amazon.

Please note that if you buy through the links above, I will earn a commission at no additional cost, so it’s a win-win for both of us!

The Verdict: Is Dyson V11 Better Than V10?

There’s no question that these two vacuums are the best-performing cord-free cleaners money can buy.

But which of the two should you choose?

3 Reasons to Consider the Dyson V10

1. Costs less: Dollar for dollar, the Dyson V10 provides exceptional value, the cheaper option than the V11. Cleaning tests show that the V10 performs almost the same, at least on picking up surface dirt, with just a minuscule 1% difference.
2. Runs for an hour: Dyson says that the V10 will run for 60 minutes, and tests show that it exceeds this figure at 61 minutes. But that’s using non-motorized attachments. Even with the cleaning heads, it will run close to 29 minutes, an excellent number for a cordless.
3. You want the fluffy tool: This tool works wonders on bare floors and can pick up small dirt pieces. Unfortunately, the V11 Absolute is only available in the UK. So, if you need this tool, go for the V10 Absolute.

4 Reasons to Consider the Dyson V11

1. Better deep cleaning tool: The V11’s higher airflow is felt most in deep cleaning carpet, which is where it shines. It could still pick up 99% even in the middle power setting.
2. Cleans for more than an hour: Both options have a listed run time of 60 minutes. However, tests show that the V11 will run significantly longer – up to 80 minutes (40 minutes using the torque drive tool in the medium setting)!
3. Digital screen display: This screen tells you the battery status, cleaning mode, and when to clean the filter. It is a feature unique to the V11 Torque Drive (and Absolute in the UK).
4. Automatically adjusts suction: It has a sensor that detects the floor type (carpet or hard floor) and automatically adjusts suction to fit the surface. Dyson calls it the Dynamic Load Sensor that will detect resistance and change motor speed accordingly.