Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Review – Analysis of Battery Life, Price, Performance & Tools

The Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute is the premium version of the V10 series. Dyson updated the V10 in 2022 to include the new Motorbar floorhead, so we’ve re-reviewed it to see how it performs compared with other cordless vacuums.

To quickly summarise our test results, we found the V10 Absolute to be an excellent vacuum cleaner that provides strong cleaning performance on almost any surface.

For example, the V10 can easily pick up pet hair on carpets and dust from deep in the fibres. It also excels at removing pretty much any type of material on hard floors, although you’ll need to use the Soft Roller floorhead for larger debris.

The Absolute version comes with an impressive range of accessories. In particular, we found the Soft Roller head and mini motorised tool to be useful extras.

In fact, we found very little to complain about when testing this vacuum. It’s easy to use around the home, has an excellent emptying system, and provides strong suction. However, a couple of small downsides are that it doesn’t come with a hose attachment and it can be difficult to push on thick carpets.

Overview of the Dyson V10 Cyclone

• Powerful V10 motor provides excellent suction power compared with most other cordless vacuum cleaners
• Motorbar floorhead has a strong brush bar and a detangling feature
• Soft roller is great for hard floors
• Detachable stick design so you can convert the vacuum into a handheld
• 0.76 litre dust capacity
• Three power settings
• Up to 60-minutes run-time on low power mode
• Comes with a variety of tools, including a mini motorised tool, low reach adaptor and wall dock

What’s In The Box?

The Dyson V10 comes with an impressive set of parts and accessories. You’ll need to fully charge the battery when you first unpack it, but other than that it’s easy to assemble the various components. Here’s an overview of what’s included:

1. Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute. The main body of the vacuum, including the motor, dust cup, and filter.
2. Charger. The charger can be attached directly to the vacuum or via the docking station (not pictured).
3. Motorbar floorhead. Dyson’s new motorised floorhead with detangling hair removal vanes.
4. Soft Roller floorhead. An extra floorhead for cleaning hard floors.
5. Mini motorised tool (pet tool). Powered brush bar in a small tool for cleaning stairs, upholstery, and car interiors.
6. Stick (or wand). Can be removed for using the vacuum in handheld mode.
7. Crevice tool. For cleaning along edges or in tight locations.
8. Combination tool. A two-in-one tool with a dusting brush and wider nozzle.
9. Low reach adaptor. Bends for cleaning under furniture.

Note: There are several versions of the V10 Cyclone – Animal, Absolute and Total Clean. These are the same vacuum but with a different set of attachments. We’re reviewing the V10 Absolute in this article, but click here for a full comparison. We’ve also written an in-depth V10 Cyclone vs V8 article if you’re not sure which to choose.

In-Depth Look at the V10’s Features

Let’s take a closer look at how the V10 Absolute stick vacuum performs around the house. We’ll also compare it with cordless vacuums from brands such as Tineco and Shark, to help you make the right choice for your home.

Appearance, Features & Design

Features Rating: 4.5/5

The first thing you notice when you pick up the V10 is the lightweight design. Whether you’re cleaning under furniture or removing cobwebs from ceilings, we never found it weighty or difficult to hold.

However, we didn’t think it felt quite as balanced as the Dyson V7 and V8 series when in handheld mode. This is one of the few downsides of Dyson’s redesigned bin, which is parallel to the stick (more on that in a moment). Still, it’s a lot lighter and more convenient than corded vacuums.

The V10 Absolute is also easy to use. We found that the tools fit snugly onto the stick or directly to the vacuum body, and the slider for selecting power is easy to access. It looks slightly bulkier than previous Dyson cordless vacuums, mainly due to the dust container, but this hasn’t made it less convenient to use.

In many ways, the V10 is similar in design to the V8 and V7.  The dust canister is located near the handle, while the extension tube can be detached to convert it into a handheld vacuum.

There are some major differences though. Dyson has changed the form and overall design of the V10 in an attempt to streamline the airflow and make the vacuum even more convenient. It also has a new motor – with a maximum of 150,000 RPM – and a longer battery life.

While the V6, V7 and V8 all had similar bin sizes, the V10’s is 40% larger at 0.76L. This means fewer trips to the bin, which was one of our biggest complaints about previous Dyson cordless models.

The only real complaint we have about the design is that Dyson has stuck with their trigger system for the V10. This needs to be held down whenever you’re vacuuming, which some people may find tiring. It’s not a major problem, but we wish Dyson provided the option of continuous suction as an ergonomic alternative to the trigger system (which other brands have started to do).

It’s also not the quietest vacuum on the market. The powerful V10 motor makes a high-pitched whining noise and a bass “whoomph” when the trigger is released, so it’s probably not a good choice for a late-night cleaning session – especially when on maximum power.

Battery Life

The Dyson Cyclone V10 is powered by a nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) battery. This is an advanced type of lithium-ion battery that stores more energy and prevents loss of suction as the charge gets low.

There are three power modes. The lowest power mode provides up to 60-minutes of cleaning runtime, although this is only achieved when a non-motorised tool is used (such as the soft roller or crevice tools). Motorised tools, such as the direct-drive cleaner head, reduce the run-time.

Most “low power” modes on cordless vacuums are for marketing purposes, as they are too weak for proper cleaning. Fortunately, this isn’t the case with the V10, as we found that the low-power mode is still effective for many cleaning tasks.

A drawback is that the highest power mode dramatically reduces the battery run-time. You shouldn’t expect the vacuum to last more than 5-7 minutes in this mode, depending on whether you’re using a motorised tool. It also doesn’t come with a second battery, which would have been a great addition.

The good news is that we found the V10 provides plenty of suction power on its medium setting, which offers around 25-minutes run-time. We ended up using this mode most of the time, as we rarely needed the extra power provided by the “Max” suction setting.

It’s also relatively quick to charge, going from empty to full in around 3.5 hours. We like the addition of three charging lights, compared with the single LED on the Dyson V7.

Tools & Accessories

Tools Rating: 4.5/5

The Dyson V10 Absolute comes with an excellent range of tools and accessories. If you’re looking for an all-rounder for cleaning floors, stairs, and above-floor surfaces, then we highly recommend the V10.

Here’s a quick overview of the included tools:

• Combination tool. The combi tool has both a brush and a wide nozzle, which is useful when task switching. The dusting brush is great for cleaning delicate surfaces, such as tables or blinds.
• Crevice tool. This is a standalone crevice tool that’s useful for cleaning along the edge of skirting boards or stairs. We think it’s great that Dyson has included a proper crevice tool with the V10. Many cordless vacuums only have a combination crevice tool, which doesn’t provide the reach of a dedicated crevice attachment.
• Mini-motorised tool. This tool is for when you need to remove hair or dirt from upholstery, stairs, or other small surfaces. We found it to be powerful and brilliant for removing pet hair and fluff. There are no detangling combs included on the mini tool though, so you’ll need to cut tangled hair by hand.
• Low reach adaptor. The low reach adaptor has a flexible joint to make it easier to clean under furniture. We didn’t find it to be useful in many situations, but occasionally it can be handy to have.

As always, we found the Dyson quick-release tools to be easy to fit, as they can be removed with a single button push. We’re big fans of these tools, as the button eliminates the force needed to remove attachments from many other vacuums.

Like all Dyson cordless stick vacuums, the V10 Cyclone also has a docking station for storage and charging. The docking station can also store two tools, although there’s no onboard tool storage on the vacuum.

The V10 Absolute also comes with two floorheads – the Motorbar and Soft Roller. We’ll discuss these in detail during the next section.

Suction Power & Cleaning Performance

Cleaning Performance Rating: 4.3/5

During our reviews, we test vacuums using four different types of debris: small particles, rice, pasta, and pet hair. These materials are scattered on several types of floor, then we see how much the vacuum cleaner removes with a single forward-and-back pass. After the standardised tests, we then use the vacuum around a typical UK home to see how the vacuum performs on everyday tasks.

The Dyson V10 Absolute excelled on nearly all of these cleaning tests. It’s great for picking up everything from tiny particles to larger debris, while the Motorbar floorhead provided strong agitation for removing deeper material.

Let’s dive into the detail a bit more to see how it performed at various tasks.

Overview of the Dyson’s Technical Cleaning Specification

Before we get to the real-world tests, it’s important to understand the basics of how the V10 functions.

The combination of V10 motor, 14 cyclones and redesigned airflow means the V10 provides exceptional cleaning power. We found that Dyson isn’t exaggerating when they boast it can compete with their upright vacs for suction – it really is that powerful when set to maximum power mode.

Of course, this “Max” mode has a very short 7-minute battery run-time. Fortunately, we found that even the lowest power mode provides relatively strong suction, while the medium setting is enough for the vast majority of cleaning tasks.

What makes it such an effective vac though?

The V10 motor is the smallest Dyson has ever produced, which is why the Cyclone remains a lightweight vacuum. Despite the size, the motor is also the most powerful in the Dyson range, and can generate more suction than the already excellent V8 series.

Strong cleaning performance isn’t just dependent on suction power though. This is why Dyson has redesigned the V10 so that the cyclone, bin and motor are all aligned. The resulting 20% boost in suction power, compared to the V8. We really noticed this extra suction power when using The V10 Absolute around the home.

There are two floorheads included. The Motorbar has a powered brush bar and is great for carpets, while the Soft Roller is specifically designed for hard floors.

The Motorbar cleaner head (replacing the previous direct-drive head) is the quality we’ve come to expect from Dyson floorheads. It’s built with a nearly full-length brush bar, which we found cleans almost up to the edge.

A new addition is a detangling technology that’s designed to prevent hair from getting caught around the brush. We found this to be effective for most pet hair and a welcome addition to the Motorbar floorhead, although thicker strands of a shag rug still got caught (see the image above).

Carpets

During our tests, the Dyson V10 Absolute (with the Motorbar head) excelled at cleaning both short and long pile carpets. We found it to be great at removing everything from fine dust to long pet hair, due to the powerful brush bar and efficient cleaning design.

Both small particles and pasta were removed in a single pass on short-pile carpet, with the vacuum set to “Medium” mode. Nearly all of the rice was also removed in one pass. A few grains were scattered, but the vast majority of the test material was picked up.

However, we did find the Motorbar floorhead becomes difficult to push on thicker carpets. We had to drop the suction to “Low” when cleaning a large room, as it quickly became tiring on the “Medium” setting. This reduces suction power and cleaning performance, which is why we don’t recommend the V10 as a primary vacuum if you have lots of deep pile carpets.

We were also impressed by the Motorbar cleaner head’s edge-cleaning ability. During our edge test, it removed small particles up to around 1cm away from the skirting board, which is better than most cordless vacuums.

You’ll probably want to use the medium power mode when cleaning carpets. The vacuum is surprisingly effective even on its lowest power setting though – especially for quick cleans. In fact, the only time we needed “Max” mode was to remove hair that was caught in a front doormat.

Hard Floors

The Dyson V10 Absolute’s cleaning performance on hard floors depends on whether you’re using the Soft Roller cleaner head (this tool is not included with all versions of the V10).

Like previous Dyson cordless vacs, we found the Soft Roller cleaning head does a brilliant job at picking up both small dust particles and larger debris on hard floors (including hardwood floors.)

For example, the V10 Absolute with the Soft Roller had no trouble picking up pasta during our testing. Larger debris such as this is often “snow-ploughed” by other vacs, but it wasn’t a problem for the Soft Roller head. It can also pickup hair and fine particles in a single pass.

The Motorbar cleaner head also does a great job at removing smaller debris on hard floors, but it can’t match the Soft Roller when cleaning larger debris. In fact, during our pasta test, the Motorbar barely picked up any of the debris. It also scattered some of the test material during our rice test. So, if you want to clean larger debris on hard floors, you’ll need to switch the floorhead.

One of the great things about the V10 is that we found the low power suction mode is enough for most hard floor cleaning jobs, so you can get close to the 60-minute run-time if needed. This is partly due to the excellent floor head, but is also a testament to Dyson’s battery and motor technology.

Stairs

Detaching the stick converts the V10 into a handheld vacuum, so it’s great for cleaning stairs and cars. You can either attach the floorheads directly to the body of the vacuum, or use the mini-motorised tool.

With the mini-motorised tool attached and power set to “Max”, we found the V10 provides stunning cleaning performance on carpeted stairs. It’s also convenient and easy to use on stairs, especially compared with corded uprights.

Pet Hair

The powerful suction and excellent Motorbar floorhead make the V10 an strong option for cleaning pet hair.

During our testing, nearly all hair was removed in a single sweep, which is something cordless vacuums traditionally struggle with. We didn’t even need the maximum power mode for most pet hair, with the exception being when the hair was ground into a thick rug or deep in carpet fibres.

For removing hair from sofas and curtains, the mini-motorised tool is almost as effective as the Motorbar head.

Filtration

Dyson vacuums usually have excellent filtration, and the V10 is no exception. It’s capable of removing 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size, such as dust, pollen and other allergens, so it’s much less likely to trigger allergies than vacs with less effective filters.

The first line of defence is the column of 14 cyclones. These generate a large amount of force to push allergens into the bin, rather than allowing them to escape into the air.

There’s also a post-motor filter located at the rear of the motor. This is a backup for catching any particles that managed to escape the cyclones, and needs to be regularly cleaned to maintain performance. Fortunately, we found the filter easy to remove and clean when needed.

However, we also still don’t recommend this vacuum to allergy sufferers, even with the redesigned bin. Bagless vacuums allow dust and other allergens to escape when you empty them. Bagged vacuums are more hygienic.

Emptying & Cleaning

One of the complaints we had about the original Dyson V6 cord-free was that it was difficult to empty without dust and dirt getting stuck. This was addressed in the V8 by adding an inner collar to push dirt out of the bin.

The V10 has a similar design, called the “Point and Shoot” system. We actually think it’s even more effective at pushing out clumps of debris and hair than the V8 – and it’s much better at doing so than most cordless vacuums we’ve tested.

The bottom of the vacuum has a slider that simultaneously opens the bin flap and forces out dust and debris, so you shouldn’t need to pull it out by hand. It’s a simple system that’s improved by the design of the V10, which allows you to point the vacuum deep into the bin, rather than the V8’s “right angle” design.

A minor downside is that you need to detach the stick and tools before you can empty the V10 dustbin. The previous V8 design allowed you to empty the bin with tools still attached. We think this is a worthwhile trade-off for reducing the need to pull out the dirt by hand though.

Price & Competitor Comparison

Price and Value Rating: 4/5

The biggest downside to the Dyson Cyclone V10 is the price. With prices starting at £400, depending on the version, it’s likely to be outside many people’s budget for a vacuum cleaner.

Does it justify the cost though? There are a number of innovations included with the V10, such as the lighter (yet more powerful) motor, detangling feature, and redesigned body. We also found that it provides powerful cleaning performance on all surfaces, without needing to worry about a cord.

If you can afford it, this is one of the most advanced and effective cordless stick vacuums available at the moment. It’s also worth shopping around for deals and discounts, as the best price varies by retailer and season (check Amazon, Argos, Currys and John Lewis).

Dyson V10 Absolute Specification

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does the Dyson V10 Weigh?

The V10 weighs approximately 2.6kg, although this depends on which tools you’re using. It’s not the lightest cordless on the market, but it’s pretty close!

What is the Dyson Floor Dok?

The Dyson Floor Dok is a freestanding docking station for charging your V10. Unlike the regular docking station, you don’t need to attach the Dok to a wall, as it has a weighted base. There are different Doks depending on which Dyson cordless you own, so make sure you choose the right option for a V10.

Can The Height of the Motorbar Cleaner Head be Adjusted?

No, the head is not adjustable. If you’re worried about scratching hard floors, use the Soft Roller floorhead which is included with the Dyson V10 Absolute.

Verdict

The Dyson V10 Cyclone is an outstanding cordless vacuum cleaner. Dyson has refined and improved the stick design, and we think it can match many corded vacuums for cleaning performance. We also found it to be lightweight, easy to use and highly versatile – plus the low-power mode is surprisingly powerful.

There are a few downsides though. The most obvious is the price, as the Cyclone V10 is one of the priciest vacuums on the market. It also only lasts around 5-7 minutes on its highest power mode – although the medium suction mode is nearly always enough for most cleaning tasks.

If you’re looking for the best cordless vacuum on the market – and arguably one of the best all-round vacuum cleaners – the V10 Cyclone is definitely a contender. For comparison, it’s cheaper than the Dyson V11, yet provides similar performance and features. The addition of the Motorbar floorhead has also improved the V10 by adding detangling technology.