Dyson V11 Absolute 268700-01, Blue, Nickel, 38.6 W, 0.76 liters, 84 Decibeles

Product Information

For starters, it’s easier to choose the mode you want to use, especially now that Dyson has renamed them so that they make more sense. Low, Medium and Max are replaced with Eco for better battery life, Medium for general use and Boost for those times you need a short burst of extra power. As for noise, the V11 is a tad louder than its predecessor, the V10. Using the same High Torque on both machines on the highest suction mode, the V11 reached 47dB on hard flooring and 48dB on short-pile carpet. The V10 measures 44dB and 41dB, respectively. For most uses on the lower power modes, you can actually hear other people over the V11’s powerful motor – and it isn’t a distracting noise. You'll still get a 20% increase in suction over the V10 series, along with a battery that will last up to 60 minutes on its lowest setting despite the aforementioned suction surge. Elsewhere around the house, the long extension pole and range of accessories make cleaning of all sorts simple, whether that’s high-up cobwebs, or simply cleaning up a spill on a counter.

Alison found the mini motorised tool useful for pet bedding, the dusting brush great for blinds, curtain poles, light fittings and skirting boards, and the crevice tool a must for upholstery, for reaching the spaces between kitchen appliances and for other hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. It’s easy to get to the filter to remove and replace it for cleaning, but you do need to rinse it thoroughly before leaving it to air dry, which could potentially leave you without the use of a vacuum for up to a day. Finally, the V15 Detect also ships with an improved cleaning head and a completely new tool. The High Torque cleaning head, which is also found on the V11 range and will automatically adjust the suction level based of the floop type you’re cleaning, now comes with 56 polycarbonate teeth that shred hair into small sections, so they won’t get tangled around the bristles of the cleaning head. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{

What's the V11 Absolute like to use day-to-day?

Australian customers have even more choice, with three different models of the V11 up for grabs. All three come with the Torque Drive cleaner head and LED display screen, differing only in the number of included cleaning accessories. Just like the other V11 models before it, the Outsize is a dream to use. Despite the extra power afforded by the V11 Outsize's supercharged Hyperdymium motor (which is able to spin at up to 125,000 revolutions per minute) the vacuum itself feels totally under control at all times, with a pleasing hum that only really gets loud on the highest Boost setting. 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. At this point, you may as well buy a slightly cheaper companion cordless cleaner to go with your main vacuum. With around an hour of run-time, you should have enough power to whizz round an entire house. After all, with the trigger action, you’re only using battery power while physically vacuuming. Those with larger houses may find that the run-time isn’t quite enough. With 4.5 hours for charging, some people may need to change their cleaning schedule a little to get a full clean.

Once again, the battery has a handy rubber pad on it so that the V11 doesn’t fall over when you stand it up against a wall. It’s a small thing, but great for anyone who’s watched an older Dyson cordless cleaner fall to the ground.We test a vacuum's capabilities by replicating three typical household cleaning scenarios: oats scattered on a tiled floor; carpet freshener and talc scattered on a carpet; and pet hairs on a rug and sofa. We also test maneuverability for cleaning around and under furniture and on stairs, ease of emptying the bin, and battery life. The V15 Detect’s laser dust detection feature is one area where the vacuum cleaner has had a hefty upgrade over the V11 Absolute. Both vacuums come with two cleaner heads, one of which is best-suited to hard floors because it has a soft roller brush that won’t damage the flooring.

Switching to the Soft Roller head – which is really designed for this job – and everything was gone on Eco mode, showing the true power of this vacuum cleaner and its well-designed heads. The UK and Australia also have the choice of a model with the moniker V11 Absolute, although in Australia it’s called the V11 Absolute Extra because, presumably, Dyson wants to make our lives impossibly hard when explaining this to you.The V15 Detect is also fitted with an acoustic piezo sensor that can count and identify the size of the dust particles it collects, displaying the information on the LCD screen - not something the V11 range offers but a handy feature if you want evidence just how thorough your clean has been. The runtimes of each vacuum are evenly matched too - with both offering up to 60 minutes on the lowest power setting. During testing, the V15 Detect lasted a respectable 59 minutes between charges, while the V11 Absolute lasted the full 60 minutes. If last year’s model signalled the death of corded models, the V11 gives them that final push over the edge. In addition, the cordless vacuum cleaner is also available as the cheaper V11 Animal.

Below this sits a 0.2 gallon / 0.75-liter dust canister, although the V11 Outsize has a larger 0.5 gallon / 1.7-liter canister. The heads are both extremely manoeuvrable, letting you sweep the V11 under sofas and navigate with ease. All vacuum cleaners should be this easy to use.

Versatile and cordless for whole home deep cleaning​

The High Torque head has another significant benefit, too. On either edge of the cleaner’s head, there are grooves that allow for dust to filter in from the sides, giving the head a wider cleaning path than its direct drive counterpart.