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2:01 am | May 21, 2021

Dyson V15 Detect: two-minute review

Product info

For this review, we tested a Dyson V15 Detect, and a Dyson V15 Detect Absolute. They are the same vacuum cleaner in different colorways.

The Dyson V15 Detect is a powerful, tech-packed cordless cleaner from perhaps most innovative vacuum brand in the world. The V15 (and the V15 Detect Absolute, which is the same vacuum in a different color) is able to sense the amount and size of particles it's sucking up, and adjust power in response. It'll even give you a real-time summary of this information, via the LCD screen on the main body of the vacuum. The other headline addition is a green laser on the hard floor floorhead, which illuminates dirt that might otherwise be missed. We're assuming that the new 'Detect' in the name is inspired by one or both of these additions.

Elsewhere, you'll find impressive suction power, even on the lowest 'Eco' setting. However, our favorite mode was Auto, which adjusts suction based on not only the floor type but also how dirty it is, to ensure a low-effort, efficient clean. In our tests, this vacuum sucked up everything we put in front of it, including handling tangled hair impressively well.

Both the regular V15 Detect and the V15 Detect Absolute (which is the same vacuum in a different colorway) ship with two floorheads: a Digital Motorbar head (the one that can be used with Auto mode) and a Fluffy Optic floorhead (the one with the laser, designed specifically for hard floors). There's also a selection of extra tools for different cleaning tasks. The exact tools included depends where you live and which iteration of the V15 you buy, but if you live with long-haired people or pets, it's worth seeking out the Hair Screw tool, which was new to this model, and great at getting hair out of furniture.

Runtimes are good – up to a full hour on one charge – although recharge is a little slow. If you need longer than that, you'll appreciate that the battery is removable, with additional batteries available to purchase separately.

It's not quite perfect. It's a little heavy, and especially so in handheld mode. It's also frustrating that it switches on via a trigger, which needs to be continually depressed, rather than the one-push button found on other Dyson vacuums. The jury's also out on whether the features like the laser illumination and real-time dust reports are genuinely useful, once the initial novelty factor has worn off.

As you might have guessed, it's also an expensive purchase. While the advanced features and meticulous engineering do help justify the price, there are plenty of cheaper options about with fewer bells and whistles, which will suffice for most people.

Dyson V15 Detect — (Image credit: TechRadar)

For this review, we tested a couple of V15 vacuums – one in Australia and the other in the UK – to see how they compare to the rest of the best cordless vacuums on the market.

A bit of context so you know where this model sits in the wider Dyson range. The V15 Detect launched in 2021, at the same time as the (non-flagship) V12 Detect Slim. The previous flagship cordless vacuum was the V11 (read our Dyson V11 review for more on that one). The model to follow was the Gen5detect (see our Dyson Gen5detect review). That one features several upgrades to the V15, and at time of updating this review is the best Dyson vacuum available, based on specs.

There's also a sister model in the V15 range: the V15s Submarine, launched in 2023. This is similar the regular V15, but has a wet roller head to enable it to wash hard floors as well as just vacuuming. We've tested that separately, in our Dyson V15s Detect Submarine review.

That's the short version. Read on for our full Dyson V15 Detect / Dyson V15 Detect Absolute review, and to learn if it's the best vacuum cleaner for your needs.

Dyson V15 Detect review: price & versions

List price: $749.99 / £649.99 / AU$1,449
Launched: 2021

As with most Dyson cordless vacuums, there are a few different versions of the V15 Detect, with an extra word added onto the end of the name. Generally, it's the same base model, but sometimes there are differences in the range of tools included. That can make examining the pricing a little difficult, but to give us an idea, we'll be looking at what's available to buy direct from Dyson at time of updating this review. There may be other versions and different pricing available at other retailers.

In the US there's the Dyson V15 Detect, with a list price of $749.99. There's also the Detect V15 Detect Absolute for the same price (reduced to $599.99 at time of update). They're the same vacuum in two different colorways, and in this case even the tools included are the same.

The UK just has the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute, at a list price of £649.99, reduced to £549.99 at time of update. It's the same in Australia – just the V15 Detect Absolute, this time with a list price of AU$1,449.

Regardless of which iteration you go for, it's going to fall into the premium price category. It's generally a bit cheaper than its successor, the Gen5Detect (from $949.99 / £769.99 / AU$1,549 at list price). If you're hoping to score a discount, Dyson promo codes are rare, but we do sometimes see Dyson deals, especially around events like the Black Friday sales.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Dyson V15 Detect review: design

Upgraded motor compared to previous flagship model
LCD display shows info about dust collected and remaining run time
Wand can be removed to turn into a handheld

True to Dyson aesthetics, the V15 Detect is a beautiful machine to look at. Under the hood, the motor has been upgraded from its predecessor's (and was improved again for its successor), and generates 230 air watts of suction power. Other than that, it looks similar to the other modern V-range vacuums, comprising the motor, cyclone array and dust canister, in an in-line arrangement. We might have preferred a bigger dustbin on this model, but it's just the standard 0.2-gallon / 0.75L canister that's used in the Cyclone V10.

Inherited from the V11 is the swappable battery pack. This can come in handy if you've got a large home and would prefer to get the vacuuming done in one go instead of recharging at the mains – that can take a few hours (more on that later).

Dyson V15 Detect – press pictures — The V15 Detect looks similar to other modern V-range Dyson vacuums (Image credit: Dyson)

That battery, though, makes the weight distribution of the V15 Detect quite uneven. It weighs in at 3kg, but feels top-heavy, and it's tiring to use for longer cleaning stints. Our testers found their arms getting tired after using it for about 30 minutes, and they needed to keep switching hands regularly if they wanted to clean for any longer than that.

While later models (and, actually, the V12 Detect Slim that launched alongside the V15) switch on and off via a single-press button, but the V15 still uses a trigger that you need to keep continuously depressed. That, combined with the uneven weight distribution, makes the V15 even more of a workout for your arms. We found it less of an issue with the smaller and lighter V7 and V8.

LCD screen on Dyson V15 Detect vacuum cleaner — The V15 can detect the size and amount of particles it's sucking up (Image credit: Dyson)

One headline upgrade on the V15 Detect and Detect Absolute is the addition of a tiny piezo sensor, housed within the vacuum's handheld unit, which can measure acoustic vibrations from microscopic particles as small as 10 microns. As dust and debris get sucked in, they reverberate off the sides of the vacuum, and the piezo sensor uses those changes in vibrations to measure not just the size of the particles, but also the number.

These are then graphically displayed on a one-inch circular digital screen. As you clean, you'll see the representation change in real time and, when it finally becomes static, you'll know there's nothing more for the vacuum to suck up.

Dyson V15 Detect Absolute — A countdown clock shows you how much cleaning time you have left (Image credit: TechRadar)

Displayed below the graph is a countdown clock representing the remaining runtime, and it also displays the power mode you've chosen. There are three power levels, which can be selected using a silver button on the circular panel. Eco is a lower-suction mode, Boost is a more powerful mode for ingrained dirt, and Auto mode will intelligently adjust suction based on the floor type and how dirty it is.

All versions ship with two floorheads: a Digital Motorbar head (previously called the High Torque head) and a Fluffy Optic head (previously called the Laser Slim Fluffy head, and currently referred to as the Illuminated Cleaner Head in the UK... possibly because they couldn't trademark the 'Fluffy' name there).

The Digital Motorbar is a motorized head that features a couple of rows of 'teeth' that cut hair and fur into smaller pieces that get sucked up easily and thus prevent tangling around the bristles of the brush. Perhaps most exciting is the fact that this floorhead can monitor brush bar resistance to enable the vacuum to increase or decrease suction based on floor type, when used in Auto mode.

Graphic showing how Digital Motorbar floorhead deals with hair — The Digital Motorbar head is designed to cut up hair and channel it straight into the bin (Image credit: Dyson)

The Fluffy Optic head is designed specifically for hard floors, and it has had a redesign from the one shipped with previous V-series models. The whole head has been slimmed down (although the footprint remains the same), but the major difference is that there's now an in-built laser diode (class 1, so it's safe for humans and pets). Thanks to a custom-designed lens (which is only marginally bigger than a grain of sugar), the laser emits light at an angle that reflects off solid particles to highlight them green. The light is activated via a small switch on the top of the floorhead, and the fluffy part is also washable, so you can keep it at peak performance.

Dyson V15 Detect Absolute in handheld mode — The V15 easily transforms into a handheld (Image credit: TechRadar)

Like other Dyson cordless vacuums, you can convert the V15 Detect Absolute into a handheld cleaner by removing the main wand and attaching any of the other tools. Exactly which tools are included will vary depending on where you live and which iteration of the V15 you buy, but all are well-designed and useful.

If you want to be able to deal with hair (human or pet) in upholstery or furniture, look out for the Hair Screw Tool. This uses the principle of an Archimedes screw, with a tapered design that directs strands of hair or fur (no matter how short or long) towards the narrow end. This is where the suction hole is, allowing whole locks to get sucked up into the bin. Even the bristles have been placed at an angle, to ensure there's no tangling at all. This tool was new with the V15, but is compatible with older models and available to purchase separately.

Design score: 4 out of 5

Dyson V15 Detect review: performance

Powerful suction; great on carpet and hard floors
Laser highlights dust that's invisible to the eye
Auto mode is an excellent, low-effort feature

Even though there are three power modes, the V15 Detect is just fine at its lowest setting. To see how it coped with different types of debris, our testers sprinkled fine dust, biscuit crumbs and cereal (separately) on both carpet and hard floor. We found that even in Eco mode, it sucked everything up with just one slow pass. It also did a pretty good job on a hair-entwined carpet in Eco mode.

During our testing, though, we found the Auto mode the best – it was like a set-and-forget option that handled hard floors and carpets alike. Additionally, when using the Digital Motorbar head, the suction changes reactively when surfaces change, increasing automatically when it senses a rug or carpet.

This graphical representation of what you're cleaning also works really well. All particles are divided into four categories, depending on their size, and as you clean a specific surface, you’ll find the bars rising. When they become static, you know that the area has been cleaned to the best of the V15 Detect’s ability. We're not sure this feature is strictly essential, especially after the initial novelty had worn off, although we did find it a good way to see when a floor had been cleaned properly.

The laser on the Slim Fluffy tool does exactly what it says on the tin, highlighting particles you normally wouldn’t see with your naked eye, either illuminating a bright green or creating visible shadows. One of our testers deliberately missed the edges of a room with hard floors, and then pushed the head towards these edges – with the green laser illuminated, they were shocked by just how much dust, which wasn’t previously visible, was on the floor.

Our other reviewer wasn't quite as sold on this feature, ultimately deciding it was a little superfluous. They found that dust tended to settle on the inside plastic of the tool, diminishing its ability to, well, shine a light. They had to repeatedly wipe down the inside of the Laser Slim Fluffy to get the best results, and after a while found themselves leaving it switched off, and relying on the display as an indicator of when there was nothing more for the V15 to suck up.

Our second tester also found the floorhead a little tricky to swivel around. Because the Digital Motorhead can swivel a lot more, they found themselves using that one on hard floors as well – especially since it’s the only cleaning head that works with Auto mode.

(It's worth noting that the newer Gen5detect has a brighter laser, which is more visible in well-lit rooms, and the same tester was far more impressed with the upgraded version.)

Converting the vacuum to handheld mode and back again is simple – just remove the telescopic tube, clip on your desired attachment and you’re ready to go. However, the click-in battery pack does make the barrel feel heavier than older models like the V7, V8 and V10. Both of our testers found that holding aloft the V15 for more than a minute or two was quite difficult. The Gen5detect simplifies the process further by hiding a tool inside the wand, but that model is even heavier.

We can't fault the V15 Detect's cleaning power in handheld mode, though. One tester used it to clean their car, and it sucked up all of the dirt and debris such as small stones and even a few leaves, along with human hair that had collected on the driver’s seat, with ease.

Unlike today's best car vacuums, which are designed specifically for this task, converted floor vacs like this one are typically quite bulky when used in handheld mode. Our reviewer struggled to fully clean under the driver and passenger front seats, as well in the storage areas on the center console, which frequently attract dust and debris.

The exact tools that are included with the V15 Detect and Detect Absolute varies by country and version, but you'll typically get a Crevice tool and a Combination tool, which we found were good for edges and narrow spaces.

Both of our review models came with a new-to-this-model Hair Screw tool. This works best as part of the handheld unit to remove pet and human hair off smaller surfaces like sofas, car seats or pet beds. It is possible to also use it on carpeted floors, but given it's small footprint, it's far more efficient to use the much larger Digtial Motorbar head for this task.

Either way, the Hair Screw Tool is a marvelous piece of engineering. When testing it, we removed a clump of hair from a brush and placed it on a sofa – the anti-tangle tool sucked it all up without a single strand getting caught anywhere. It all curled up and got sucked right into the canister. However, we did find this tool could be a little less effective at collecting dust and dander from upholstery, when compared to the Mini Motorized head included with previous models.

Emptying the V15 Detect’s bin is easy. Once the wand and any cleaning attachments are removed, the red lever on the canister pushes open the lid and all that dirt comes right out in a single move.

One final performance element to discuss is noisiness. We were impressed with how much quieter the V15 Detect is in low-power settings as compared to some of the older V-series models. However, bump the suction mode to Boost and it hits 81 decibels – as loud as a truck trundling down a highway at 65kph.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Dyson V15 Detect review: battery

Up to a full hour's cleaning on Eco mode; 18 minutes in Boost
Battery takes up to 5 hours to fully recharge
Swappable battery reduces interruptions to cleaning

On the lowest-powered, Eco setting Dyson claims the battery will last up to 60 minutes. That's the same as the V11, although because the suction power has been improved over that model, you should be able to clean more efficiently with the newer V15. On test, the claims were accurate – one of our review models managed a respectable 59 minutes, and the other clocked up nearly 61 minutes.

If you prefer the Auto mode, you'll get about 40 minutes of runtime per charge, which is enough for the general upkeep of a small two-bedroom house. However, because of the intelligent nature of this mode, runtimes will vary depending on the types of floors you have, and how dirty they are. Bump up to Boost and you'll only get about 18 minutes of power.

The Auto mode suited our testers best, but even the Eco setting has plenty of suction power to clean up a small mess. So the latter is your best bet to maximize on battery life. A countdown of how long you have left is handily available on the digital display.

If you want to be able to clean for longer than 60 minutes, then you’re going to need an additional battery pack. This would be handy in large family homes, because recharge times are long – our testers found a full recharge took between four and five hours.

Battery score: 4 out of 5

Should I buy the Dyson V15 Detect?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: May 2021

Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 review

3:56 pm | December 28, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Air Fryers Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Looking for a cooking appliance to enhance your existing lineup? Ninja’s versatile offering may just be for you. Lavishing us with choice, the Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 joins Ninja’s fast-growing kitchen appliance collection.

Best known for its range of blenders and food processors that rival the likes of Nutribullet in terms of style and functionality, Ninja designs appliances to ‘fit the lifestyles of busy people all over the world’. As well as blenders and food processors, the company offers an intuitive range of choppers, multi-cookers and health grills, all designed to create great tasting food, fast.

Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK — (Image credit: Emily Peck / Future)

The AF300 is the latest model to join Ninja’s range of dedicated air fryers and multi-cookers, boasting the most sleek finish and convenient features to date. It’s unique in that it provides the ability to produce two separate dishes in record time. This is possible as a result of its Sync mode, which does the hard work for you by ensuring that the food you place inside – meat in one compartment and veg in the other, for example – are both ready at the same time.

The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 offers all the health benefits of a decent air fryer in that it can cook up to 75% faster than a fan oven, with little to no oil required. What’s more, it has the ability to carry out five other tasks, including max crisp for cooking frozen foods such as nuggets and chips; roast, for vegetables and meats; reheat, which is great for leftovers; dehydrate, for making veggie crisps; and bake, for when you fancy something sweet.

This is now one of Ninja's older models. If you're looking for something with good cooking capacity that will take up less space on your kitchen counter, check out the Ninja Double Stack, which has a two-tiered design with minimal transfer of heat between the two drawers, making it ideal for cooking two dishes at once. It's so good, it took the prize for best air fryer in the 2024 TechRadar Choice Awards.

If you like the flavor of barbecued food but not the hassle of scrubbing everything afterwards, take a look at the Ninja Woodfire, which uses wood chips to create an authentically smoky flavor.

Price and availability

You can buy the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300UK for £179.99 from the Ninja website if you're in the UK.

Australian shoppers can also pick one up directly from Ninja Kitchen for an RRP of AU$399. It's also available in Australia from other major retailers, including Myer and Amazon, and is frequently discounted.

Design and key features

Ninja’s Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 is unlike any other air fryer we’ve tried. As well as the ability to create healthy air-fried foods using little to no oil, it comes with a unique offering in that it can cook two separate foods at the same time and ensure they’re ready to serve together.

Measuring an ample H31.5 x D35cm, it’s quite a large appliance as countertop gadgets go, but its design is sleek and attractive, as well as functional. A sophisticated black and chrome finish means it’s the kind of gadget you won’t mind keeping out on your worktop – provided you have the room for it.

The appliance feels ergonomic in hand and is luxuriously made. It features two independent cooking drawers that slide out easily to give you an overall capacity of 7.6 litres. Each compartment is deep enough to cook a decent amount of food – be it a 500g batch of sweet potato fries, 1kg of chicken or up to 12 cupcakes, for example. The drawer handles feel comfortable and are easy to insert and take out.

Within each compartment is a crisper plate that helps to brown the food when you air-fry; it ensures that air can circulate around the food to remove excess moisture and ensure a crispy, golden finish. They also stop the food sticking to the base of each compartment. We found them easy to take out for simple cleaning, either by hand or in the dishwasher.

As well as air frying, the device has the ability to max crisp, roast, reheat, dehydrate and bake, too, and all these features are clearly marked on the digital control panel. The countdown timer also makes it easy for you to see how much cooking time remains in each section.

Performance

At 8.2 kg, lifting the Ninja’s Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 out of the box and positioning it on the worktop is the hardest part of handling the machine. It features clearly marked controls that light up stylishly as soon as you plug in the appliance and turn it on.

The appliance comes with a quick-start guide book, which features recipes for inspirational meals you can cook inside covering chicken, pork, fish, vegetarian dishes and desserts. There are things listed that you wouldn’t necessarily consider air frying – browse between ‘Hunters BBQ Chicken and Chips’ to ‘Sweet and Sour Tofu and Asian Style Vegetables’.

To get a feel for the six-in-one appliance, we used it to perform a number of tasks. Firstly, we air-fried some fresh pork sausages and frozen sweet potatoes. While each zone automatically suggests a set time and temperature, you can easily adjust these to your preference. The guide suggests cooking sausages for around 9 mins at 200 degrees, and the sweet potato fries for around 20 minutes at 190 degrees. Once you’ve programmed your zone, you can then press Sync to ensure the foods finish cooking at the same time, which is a feature we’re most impressed by.

It’s recommended that you check food mid-way through the cook, giving it a shake to ensure food is being cooked evenly – but this almost defeats the whole USP of such a machine, whereby you’re meant to be able to set it and wait for the end to work its magic. That said, trying to get the perfect finish takes some experimentation.

The Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 is a powerful machine. Our sausages cooked in super-quick time; in fact, following the suggested time, they were a little overcooked. As mentioned, this will improve as you become familiar with the machine and cooking times, and you’ll soon be creating flavoursome dishes in super-quick time.

We particularly like the fact that you can choose different settings for each compartment. For example, you can roast meat on one side, and bake on the other side. We tested its dual functionality by roasting chopped courgettes in one compartment and reheating lamb cutlets in the other. We were suitably happy with the results.

We also attempted to make a batch of halloumi fries – and were impressed at how well the fries kept their structure while they cooked. We were able to enjoy crispy, melt-in-the-mouth halloumi fries in under five minutes.

Should I buy the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300?

Buy it if…

You’re looking for inspiration. Bored of meal times? The Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer may just make dinner more interesting. Use it to create recipes from the dedicated recipe booklet such as ‘Coconut-lime Cod and Cauliflower Rice’ or ‘Chicken Fajitas with Spicy Roast potatoes’.

You want flexibility in the kitchen. This device will give you six cooking settings in one, which you can access easily – use it to cook roast chicken on one side, and dessert on the other.

You want to avoid deep-fat frying but love the taste. Use this and choose a healthier air-fry option to limit the amount of oil you serve on your food.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re not a fan of fried food. The best thing about this device is its ability to crisp foods in under 20 minutes. If you prefer the taste of saucy slow-cooked dishes, this appliance probably isn’t for you.

You expect the reheat function to act as a microwave. While it does revive leftovers, it doesn’t replace a standard microwave, which can cook ready meals or warm and melt liquids, for example.

You have a lot of mouths to feed. While the 7.5-litre capacity is large, you won’t be able to roast a whole chicken in this device. If you’re looking for something that can cook large batches, it’s worth considering a multi-cooker such as the Ninja Foodi Max Multi Cooker instead.

Dyson V8 review

3:52 am | December 11, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Comments: Off

Dyson V8 vacuum cleaner: two-minute review

The Dyson V8 first launched back in 2016, but at time of updating this review, it's still available to buy, both direct from Dyson and via third-party retailers. Although it's not as high-performing or tech-packed as its successors, it's still a very capable cleaner, and compares well against today's best cordless vacuums from other brands. It's also significantly cheaper than many newer models (but more on that in a sec).

Like all the other Dyson stick vacuums, there are a few different versions of the V8 available. They all share the same motor and battery – the only real difference between them all is the number of extra tools they ship with, so do double-check exactly what's included before you buy.

As you'd expect from Dyson, the design is slick and smart, and everything feels high-quality and well-engineered. Although it lacks the super-efficient in-line configuration of later models, the suction here is good. There are two modes – Standard and Max – operated via a toggle switch. We found it could pick up most debris on the lower setting with an occasional blast on the higher setting doing a good job of collecting anything left over. Battery life is decent on standard suction mode, although the seven minutes in Max mode is a touch short, and the recharge time is far longer than modern Dyson vacuums.

You won't get things like sensors that adjust suction based on dirt levels and floor type, nor is there an LCD screen to provide you with usage information, but the design is still perfectly functional and will suit most people's needs.

There's a wide range of compatible tools, which can attach to the vacuum wand or directly onto the motor unit for use as a handheld. All the tools are well designed and very effective – most are essentially the same designs as you'll find with newer Dysons. These tools mean the Dyson V8 isn’t just for floors; it can shapeshift to tackle a range of other cleaning tasks, such as getting hair off upholstery, sprucing up the interior of your car, and even getting into ceiling corners.

In terms of price, the V8 regularly attracts deals and at list price it's usually the cheapest Dyson cordless vacuum on the market. However, prices vary by retailer and version, and sometimes the newer (and better) Dyson Cyclone V10 and even the Dyson V11 aren't hugely more expensive, making the V8 worse value by comparison. It's worth checking what deals are available on those models before buying a V8. That's the short version: read on for my full Dyson V8 review.

Dyson V8 vacuum cleaner in use — (Image credit: Future)

Dyson V8 review: price & availability

Various versions with different tools and different prices
Available direct from Dyson in US / UK / AU, as well as third-party retailers
Cheapest option $349.99 / £329 / AU$397

As is the case with most Dyson vacuums, there are a few different versions available, with different words added on to the end of the name (Animal, Origin, Absolute, and so on). These are almost always the same vacuum but with a slightly different selection of accessories. Because the V8 is an older vacuum, there are plenty of deals available, and prices will vary depending on where and when you buy.

At time of update, in the US there's the V8 available direct from Dyson for $469.99. Alternatively, there's the V8 Absolute (with an additional floorhead specifically for hard floors) for $519.99 but reduced to $349.99. Finally, there's a V8 Origin Plus (with different tools again) for $419.99.

In the UK, if you shop direct at Dyson it's just the regular V8, and it costs £329. Australian shoppers can choose between the V8 Absolute (AU$999 reduced to AU$549), the V8 Extra (AU$799 down to AU$499) or the V8 Origin Extra (AU$649, reduced to $397).

Based on TechRadar's price brackets, most of those are in the mid-range price bracket. The V8 is about the cheapest Dyson vacuum you can buy, and certainly far more affordable than the top-of-the-range models. If you don't have your heart set on a Dyson, there are cheaper options available from rival brands. Furthermore, depending on what deal you manage to find, it might not be much cheaper than a Dyson Cyclone V10 or even Dyson V11, and either of those would be a better pick for most people.

The Amazon Prime Day deals and Black Friday sales can be an especially good time to snap up a bargain, and it's worth checking our Dyson promo codes page to check you're not missing any extra savings.

Dyson V8 specs

Dyson V8 review: design

Versatile design can be used as a floor vacuum or a handheld
Reasonably lightweight, and easy to maneuver
Two power modes, controlled by a button

Dyson is known for its slick-looking products, and the V8 is included in that. The transparent 0.54L dustbin makes up the bulk of the handheld unit, with 15 small cyclone cones arranged in a two-tier flower shape in front of it. While the motor is powerful and well-designed, it's an older configuration that's not quite as efficient as later models, which place the motor, bin and cyclone array in a straight line to maximise suction.

The V8 weighs 3.5lbs/1.6kg with no attachments, and at its heaviest (with the wand and main cleaning head attached), it weighs 5.6lbs/2.6kg. For a household vac, that’s pretty lightweight, but it’s a little on the heavier side when considering comparable handheld vacuums for car cleaning.

The handle is broad and comfortable, even for people with small hands, and the power button – which resembles a trigger – is ergonomically placed just where your forefinger should be. You will need to keep your finger on the power trigger for the entire duration of your clean for the vacuum to run continuously, which can be annoying.

There's a HEPA filter encased in blue/purple plastic, with air vents on the sides. Below the filter and air vents is a toggle switch to change suction power – there are just standard and max settings to choose from on the V8.

All later models have at least three suction modes, and the newest models even have a mode that responds to things like the floor type and how dirty it is, and adjust accordingly. The toggle switch is also replaced by a button on newer models, and from the Dyson V11 onwards there's an LCD screen to give information. However, in use, the more basic V8 methods of operation are perfectly functional.

When the dustbin needs emptying, you pull a large red tab on the handheld unit with a bin icon (a new feature on the V8, but redesigned again on later models). This pushes the cyclone part of the main unit to rise while forcing the base flap to open simultaneously. Lo and behold, dust, debris and hair fall out, with only a very thin layer of fine particles sticking to the interior of the bin.

The V8 comes with a bunch of accessories, although exactly which ones will depend on the version you buy and where you live, so do double check when making your purchase. The floorhead attaches via a telescopic tube that’s perfect for general use, and each tool can also be attached directly to the main handheld unit for use in handheld mode. However, there are no clips on the vacuum for storing spare accessories when they're not in use (this is a feature on later models).

The standard direct-drive head is great on pretty much any surface, but if you buy the V8 Absolute, you’ll get a Soft Roller cleaning head that’s the best option for hard floors. Using soft fibers and carbon bristles on a rotating bar, the Soft Roller is designed to glide directly over floors, and this means that if you have larger debris (like kitchen spills) that need cleaning up, they’re not scattered willy nilly.

And, depending on which V8 model you opt for, you might get a low-reach adaptor that you can fit onto the end of the telescopic tube to get under couches and low tables (this is similar to the flexi-wand feature included on today's best Shark vacuum cleaners).

When using it as a car vac, we loved the crevice tool for getting into narrow spaces and mini motorhead tool for collecting bigger messes in the boot space.

Dyson V8 review: performance

Still powerful, although not as powerful as the newest models
Up to 40 minutes battery life
On the loud side for cordless vacs when on Max suction

Dyson tends to improve suction on its stick vacuums with each generation, so while the V8 isn't as powerful as newer models, it'll still be plenty strong enough for most people's needs. And while it's one of the noisier cordless home vacuums we have tested (at 80dB on max setting and 75dB on standard), it's not offensively loud.

No matter which cleaning tool you use, the V8 remains well balanced and, thanks to swiveling heads, moving the vacuum along hard floors and carpets is a breeze.

On carpets, the motorized direct-drive head does a fantastic job. It’s pretty good on hard floors as well, but if you can get the Soft Roller (or Fluffy) tool, there’s nothing like it on wood and tiles. Alternatively, you can use the mini motorized tool on hard floors, but its footprint is small, and you’ll need to go over the floor several times to finish a room. And that eats into the V8’s limited battery life.

We found it to be great at picking up both large and finer dirt in our in-car tests, using the mini motorhead tool which was a great size for most debris on carpet and upholstery. The crevice tool also worked great for getting into tighter areas, like into door bins, behind pedals and in-seat folds, and is long enough to counteract the V8’s larger body than most other handheld vacs.

Back to home use, and as with the other Dyson stick vacuums, the V8’s edge-cleaning prowess is pretty darn impressive. The cleaner head designs means it can handle the 90-degree angle along the edges of rooms and in most corners as well. This is also helped by how well most of the cleaning heads swivel on their own axes.

Dyson V8 vacuum in handheld mode — (Image credit: TechRadar)

Dyson V8 review: battery life

There’s up to 40 minutes of fade-free power available with the V8 on a single charge, and that holds true even when using the motorized cleaning tools (like the direct-drive and soft roller heads) – which is not something we were expecting.

When the battery has drained, the motor just switches off, with no reduction in suction prior to that, so you get consistent power and performance for the full 40 minutes.

On the max setting, though, the V8 lasts for much less time – you’ll get no more than seven minutes of use. This renders the Max setting good for only spot deep cleans and great for quick car cleanups, but thankfully the V8's standard setting is more than enough for most debris.

40 minutes of battery life is usually enough for an average-sized one-bedroom apartment, but if you live in a larger space, you'll need to charge the V8 again, which is along process – a full recharge can take about five hours.

Should you buy the Dyson V8?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

GHD Helios review

5:03 pm | March 13, 2020

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

• Original review date: July 2021
• Still the latest hair dryer from GHD
• Launch price: $279.00 / £159 / AU$280
• Official price now: The same

Updated: February 2024. Rejoice, the GHD Helios is now available in the US and Australia, and remains the best hair dryer we've tested. That should come as no surprise to those familiar with the brand; in the UK, certainly, GHD has long been the champion of haircare. However, next-generation hair technology is getting better, with many companies opting for the Dyson Supersonic-esque technology, utilizing far faster and more powerful motors. The jury's out on if that technology is really worth the lofty price tag; in our opinion, the still relatively expensive GHD Helios offers better value for money. The rest of this review remains as previously published.

It’s been eight years since GHD first entered the hair dryer game – one of the original brands to bring a salon-style, professional hair dryer to the masses with the GHD Air – and a lot has changed.

There are now dozens of professional dryers from both traditional hair companies and non-traditional firms, which are more well known for vacuums than styling products (Dyson, we’re looking at you). In our GHD Air review, we explained that despite a rise in competition and an improvement in drying technology, GHD’s original hair dryer still more than holds its own and is one of best hair dryers you can buy. Yet, it was starting to show its age. A point that appears to have not gone unnoticed at GHD.

Taking what we loved about the GHD Air and fixing a number of the points we didn't, the hair giant has launched the GHD Helios. We’ve been using the £159 hair dryer exclusively for the past fortnight and we’d be as bold to say that we have a new favorite hair dryer – it's high price tag notwithstanding.

Design

Hair dryers have largely moved away from the black (read: boring) designs that are popular in hairdressers. They have become an accessory, rather than just a tool, and come in a range of colors from bright red to “Fuschia” and beyond. The Helios follows suit, but in a classy, elegant way that we’ve come to expect from GHD.

We tested the white and rose gold model and it’s absolutely stunning. It also comes in maroon and gold, black and silver, and navy and black. The different colored versions of GHD Helios’ plastic shell are additionally covered in a thin coating that feels almost like silicone to the touch and this gives the dryer a smooth, luxurious feel.

Weight-wise, the Helios is lighter than the Air tipping the scales at 780g compared to its predecessor’s 1.54kg. What’s more, where – on paper – it’s heavier than other dryers we’ve tested, the Helios is incredibly well-balanced so it doesn’t feel any more bulky and it isn’t any more difficult to use. There is a downside to this, however. The extra weight on the GHD Air made it feel expensive and sturdy, which helped us to rationalise its high price. The Helios’ light weight, by contrast, feels just like many of the other cheaper hair dryers on the market. A feeling that even its elegant colorways and smooth shell can’t quite counteract.

Everything else, including the placement of the two-speed and dual-temperature switches, the cold shot button and the branded grille are almost an exact copy and paste from the Air.

Performance

GHD claims its Helios is “faster, lighter and quieter” than the Air. We’ve already confirmed it’s lighter, but does it live up to the other claims? Yes – very much so! Its motor is marginally more powerful – up from 2,100w on the Air to 2,200w – and the holes in its grille have apparently been redesigned to reduce noise. It is noticeably less loud in real-world use, and when measured with a decibel meter, it’s a whole two decibels quieter than the Air.

When it comes to speed, the Helios similarly smashed it out of the park. Not just in comparison to the Air, but when pitted against the drying speeds of every hair dryer we’ve ever tested. Until the Helios, the Dyson Supersonic was the fastest dryer – taking our hair from wet from a shower to completely dry in 2 minutes 6 seconds. The Helios took an entire minute off this time. This meant our hair was rough dried in 1 minute and 6 seconds and is an absolute game changer.

The Helios was similarly a minute and eight seconds faster than the Supersonic at drying our hair after a swim, offering a total dry time of 1 minute and 50 seconds. With the concentrator nozzle attached to the Helios – a nozzle which has been made thinner with a curved edge designed to reduce turbulence – it took us just two minutes and 20 seconds to style our hair. Again, a minute faster than the Dyson Supersonic.

We didn’t even have to sacrifice hair quality and shine for this improved speed, either. After every use, our hair was almost frizz-free with only minimal flyaways and we never once had to resort to running straighteners over it to complete the look. Two weeks into testing and our hair definitely feels stronger and we’re seeing fewer breakages and less hair loss in the shower.

There is a but, though. Helios’ lightning speed and precision, which made our hair so smooth and shiny, left it lacking volume. It’s almost as if the flow of air is so powerful, it beats the hair into submission. This was disappointing, particularly when everything else was going so well.

Verdict

Just as cheaper rivals were starting to catch up on, and overtake, the power and performance of the original Air hair dryer, GHD has come out swinging with the Helios. A dryer that surpassed most of our, already high, expectations and one that we’ve found ourselves gravitating towards over every other hair dryer in our collection. Until the release of the GHD Helios, our go-to dryer was the Dyson Supersonic. This is now in second place.

Sadly, £159 for a hair dryer will be out of the reach of many people meaning its superior performance is out of reach, too. As a result, the Helios is unlikely to be an impulse buy and will be considered an investment. An investment we highly recommend you make.

Best hair dryer: luscious locks in seconds with these great hair dryers

Dyson AirWrap review

8:02 pm | November 20, 2019

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Dyson Airwrap: two-minute review

The Dyson Airwrap is a high-end multi-styler that can be used to create curls, waves, and bouncy blow drys. Tapping into the current vogue for 'healthy' hair styling, the Airwrap avoids extreme heat, instead employing something called the Coanda effect to bend and shape the hair as it dries it into place.

The Airwrap blew the beauty world away when it launched in 2018, and combined with the success of the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer (now updated to become the Dyson Supersonic Nural) to cement this brand as a force to be reckoned with in the haircare world.

The original Airwrap had a few flaws, but most of these were addressed in a revised version released in 2022. The current Airwrap comes bundled with more accessories to enable it to create a wider range of hairstyles, as well as new bi-directional barrels. The original Airwrap was good, but this now feels like a fully realized product – albeit still a frighteningly expensive one.

I've been using mine for a year now, and, as someone who doesn't take much joy in hairstyling, it's been a real game-changer. It's not quite perfect, but overall it delivers on what it promises: a swift, less damaging and easier way to achieve salon results from the comfort of your home. Its more recent attachments have diversified the range of hair types it can effectively work with, but there's still room for improvement if you've got Type 4 hair.

Product photo of the Dyson Airwrap with attachments — Note, different versions of the Airwrap come with different attachments (Image credit: Dyson)

Using traditional curling tongs can be time-consuming and damaging to your hair, but the Dyson Airwrap makes curling your hair a breeze (literally), and over time has left my hair looking far healthier than when I've previously used ceramic stylers. It dries your hair quickly (rivaling the best hair dryers on the market), it's incredibly light, and the design looks and feels luxurious.

But (and it's a big but), the Airwrap styler is incredibly expensive, at around five times the price of many other hair curlers on the market. If you want the best of the best, you'll have to spend big, and it's a testament to how good it is that the Airwrap remains incredibly popular despite its exorbitant price tag. Since its release, many Airwrap dupes have popped up on the market, but none quite compete in terms of build quality, design and raw power. That's the short version; read on for my full Dyson Airwrap review.

Dyson Airwrap review: price & availability

Dyson Airwrap Complete: $599.99 / £479.99 / AU$849.99
Dyson Airwrap Origin: £399.99 / AU$749.99
Launched: Original 2018; updated version 2022

There are two main configurations in which you can buy the Dyson Airwrap; the Complete (which comes with a broader array of attachments) or the Origin (which comes with fewer and isn't available in the US.)

The Dyson Airwrap Complete is available to buy for $599.99 / £479.99 / AU$849.99, and offers a selection of variants depending on your hair type. In the US, the variants are Straight+Wavy or Curly+Coily, in the UK it's Long Volumise and Short and Coarse, and Australia simply has the Long Complete and the Origin in circulation as of writing.

Such a lofty list price is going to put it out of the reach of many, and even the cheaper variants are an investment. For comparison, most other hair curlers on the market cost between $50 / £30 / AU$75 and $200 / £150 / AU$300.

You can also buy further attachments through Dyson, priced at $40 / £30 / AU$99 each, and these will all be backwards-compatible with the original Airwrap as well as existing models in circulation.

Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Dyson Airwrap review: design

As you would expect from a device of this price, the design and presentation of the Airwrap is pretty much impeccable. It comes in a leather-effect storage case in a variety of colors, depending on which model you choose, and looks attractive enough to make you want to leave it out instead of tucking it away in your cupboard when not in use.

The Styler itself consists of a cylinder, around 10 inches long, with a band around the top where the different attachments slot in. At the bottom you have a removable filter and a power cable to connect it to the mains. Towards the top of the Styler you'll find the control buttons; an on/off button, heat controls, and buttons that control the speed of the airflow. On the rear is the lock switch, which you'll toggle to release attachments.

Dyson Airwrap (2022 version) in reviewer's home — It's controlled via sliding switches on the handle (Image credit: Future)

The Dyson Airwrap Complete package comes with a number of different attachments, which vary depending on which configuration you get. My review model has a soft smoothing brush, firm smoothing brush, round volumizing brush, Coanda smoothing dryer and both the 30mm and 40mm barrels.

Now onto the Airwrap barrels themselves. The first iteration of the Airwrap came with four of these, and you'd have to manually swap over barrels to create curls going in different directions. The 2022 Airwrap was engineered so that the same barrel can be used to create clockwise or counterclockwise curls – a significant upgrade that drastically improves the user experience and has storage benefits too. On each of the barrels, you'll find an arrow that indicates which direction the hair will wrap around it when the styler is on.

How it works

While the blow dryer and brush attachments are pretty self explanatory, the Airwrap barrels and smoothing dryer use an interesting natural phenomenon called the 'Coanda' effect to curl your hair. The Coanda effect causes high speed air to follow the contours of a surface in a similar manner to a liquid – a phenomenon also used to high effect in motor racing.

This effect "attracts, wraps, and curls the hair around the barrel", which means you need only hold your hair close to the styler for the air to whip it around the barrel and create a curl. Aside from making it easier to curl your hair without having to manually wrap your hair around the barrel, it means your hair doesn't come into contact with a very hot surface like it would with a traditional curling iron.

Heat styling can often leave your hair feeling frizzy and dry, and can even lead to breakage if you use heat regularly, particularly if you have fine hair or tightly coiled Type 4 hair.

Dyson says that the Airwrap Styler "measures airflow temperature over 40 times a second and regulates heat, to ensure it always stays below 150C / 302F.” For comparison, it's not unusual for traditional curlers to reach 200C / 392F.

A quick note if you have a particularly jet-setting lifestyle: the Airwrap is not the best for travel overseas, because you can only use it in countries with the same electrical voltage as the country you purchased your device in. A particularly rude awakening for me when I lugged mine to the US from the UK and it refused to turn on.

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dyson Airwrap review: performance

It's important to note that the Airwrap will have different effects on different types of hair. My hair is thick, porous and just below shoulder length, but I've also tried it on more wiry hair as well as type 2A wavy hair. I don't generally use any styling products or hairspray, but I do shield my hair with a heat-protecting spray to help lessen any damage.

One of the first things I noticed about the Airwrap was how light it is; if you regularly use hair dryers you'll probably be well acquainted with the arm ache that occurs even after using them for short periods of time. Dyson advises that you use the Airwrap on damp rather than soaking wet locks (that's actually the 'official' advice for any hair dryer), but as I've got pretty porous hair that can take an absolute age to dry, I tend to rough-dry my hair using a combination of the round brush and the soft smoothing brush to help it along.

It takes a little practice to get the hang of using the Airwrap, but overall, I'm very impressed by how quickly it dries my hair, and I'm frequently pleased with how much volume I'm able to achieve. The process is quite simple, but the styler can feel a little unwieldy at first as it's so different from using a normal hairdryer. While working on one section of hair, the hot air can sometimes blow the rest of your hair into a frizzy mess, so it's worth taking the time to get the rest of your hair out of the way, and section properly.

When it comes to the Airwrap barrels, it's impressively easy to achieve bouncy curls thanks to the Coanda effect. As mentioned earlier, it does take a little practice to get the technique right, and Dyson has some helpful demo videos on its YouTube channel if you need some guidance.

In short, though, you simply lift up a section of your damp hair about one inch wide (and here it really must be damp, not wet, otherwise it won't work properly), and hold the Airwrap curling barrel a few inches up from the end of the strand. Then, watch in amazement as the hair begins to coil itself up and around the barrel, moving it towards your head to encourage the whole strand to curl.

Press pics of models using the Dyson Airwrap — The Coanda effect causes the hair to wrap around the barrels as it dries (Image credit: Dyson)

From there, it's just a case of holding the curl until the hair is dry, and then pushing the temperature switch up to deliver a 'cold shot' to the hair – this helps to set the style and can make the curl look shinier.

The most difficult thing to get your head (or hair, as the case may be) around is the direction you need to curl your hair in. This arrow should be pointing away from your face when you look into your mirror, for face-framing curls.

One of the calling cards of the Airwrap is that is uses a relatively low heat to style your hair, and I definitely noticed the difference between using the styler (which Dyson says won't go over 150C / 302F) and traditional curling tongs that typically reach 200C / 392F or more. (Since the launch of the Airwrap, Dyson has tried to create lower-heat straightener options in the form of the Airstrait and Coralle.)

My hair looks shiny and healthy, and after a year of using it I've genuinely noticed an overall improvement in my hair health – and I've never encountered the burning smells that often come with using heated styler tools on the hair. Using a lower heat to style your hair also has the added benefit of preserving your hair's color if it's dyed, meaning you won't need to dye it as often to maintain a rich, vibrant hue.

Even though I've been impressed with the results, I definitely feel the Airwrap is better suited to longer hairstyles, particularly when it comes to the curling barrels – but that's why most regions now stock a version with shorter barrels, to help those with hair shorter than shoulder-length encourage their hair to wrap around effectively.

Reviews from those with tightly coiled Type 4 hair have been mixed as well, but with the release of new attachments this has improved somewhat. While some users were impressed with how quickly the Airwrap dried their hair, others noted that they would still need to use straighteners or curling tongs afterwards to achieve their desired style.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy a Dyson Airwrap?

Buy it if...

You care about heat damage
The Airwrap's USP is that it creates curls and waves without the extreme heat used on most stylers, which means healthier, less frazzled locks in the long run. View Deal

You regularly style your hair
The Airwrap isn't cheap, so it might only be worth the investment if you really care about hair styling, and regularly make the effort. Here's where the lower-heat benefits will make a difference, too. View Deal

You have long, wavy/straight hair
My own experiences, and other customer reviews, suggest you'll get the best results with the Airwrap if you have long, straight or wavy hair.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You have coily or short hair
Other customer reviews suggest that the Airwrap isn't well suited for use on tight curls, while those with short hair will struggle to make the most of the curl barrels.View Deal

You need something for travel
My own Airwrap refused to switch on when I took it overseas, so jet-setters might need to rethink.View Deal

You're on a budget
The sky-high price tag will put the Airwrap out of reach of many people. There are a number of Airwrap alternatives on the market, but be aware that none can really match up to the real thing. View Deal

Updated to reflect new version: September 2024
Original review: November 2019

Amazon Echo Spot review

3:22 pm | November 19, 2019

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Speakers | Tags: AU, FREE, UK, US | Comments: Off

Editor's note

There's a new Echo Spot in town! Following the quiet discontinuation of the original Echo Spot from 2019, Amazon has rejuvinated the product with an all-new design, some clever features and improved hardware.

- Josephine Watson, Managing Editor of Lifestyle, 27/12/2024

Amazon first launched the original Echo smart speaker in 2014, but since then its Echo range has expanded to include the high-end Echo Plus, the screen-packing Echo Show and the teeny, tiny Echo Dot. There are now Echo devices to suit every mood, every room and every budget. But one of our firm favorites is still the Echo Spot.

That's because it has everything we could want from a smart speaker: cute looks, portable design and a video screen, which means it looks just as at home on your desk, your kitchen counter and your bedside table.

The Spot doesn't quite have the monopoly on compact smart displays as it used to, though. The new Echo Show 5 apes the rectangular shape of the larger Echo Show, but with a 5.5-inch screen around the size of a smartphone. At a lower price tag, too, it can be hard to justify the Spot in its stead – though if you're sold on its cute and quirky appearance, this is likely the model you'll want.

Alexa speakers: Echo | Echo Dot | Echo Plus | Echo Show | Echo Spot

The best things about the Amazon Echo range in general apply to the Echo Spot too, including a decent price tag, heaps of functionality, and a voice interface easy enough for complete tech beginners to get a hold of. With that in mind, it’s no wonder the Echos have become essentials in a smart home setup over the last five years.

The new Echo Studio may be best suited to audiophiles who want to blast their tunes, and the Echo Show is probably best in the kitchen, allowing cooks to watch recipe videos on YouTube – but the Amazon Echo Spot is the sort of device that can fit in just about anywhere.

Of course this is all subjective, and depends on how your home is set up, but if you do want our styling as well as our tech recommendations, then the Echo Spot is ideal for sticking next to your bed, much like the recently launched Echo Dot with Clock.

But enough about its looks. Let's explore how the Echo Spot is to use, whether its circular screen is useful day-to-day and how well its audio quality shapes up against its rivals.

Echo Show 5 vs Echo Spot: has Amazon's new smart display made the Spot redundant?

Amazon Echo Spot: design

With features and performance, Amazon's Echo Spot is much, more more than a smart alarm clock – even if that's the impression it gives off. For a lot of Echo Spot owners, chunky alarm clock may become the device's default use, but you'll find it's a lot more versatile than that.

In fact, the Amazon Echo Spot carves out its own niche in the Echo line up, and that's to its credit. The gadget's neatly curved shell does more than enough to make up for some of the design failings of its siblings.

So where the big, bulky and brash Amazon Echo Show tends to take over any area you put it in, for example, thanks to its black slab look and large screen, the Echo Spot is much more refined in its compact, circular design.

Try Amazon Music Unlimited with a FREE trial: US | UK | AU

The Echo Spot is proof that the best way to do a desk-based video device is to forgo the TV-lite look, and just go with something that's compact and well designed instead. Tech companies, please take note.

If you had to place this in context in the Echo line-up, it's a cross between an Echo Dot and a smaller version of the Amazon Echo Show – the rectangular video-driven gadget that looks a lot like a miniature TV.

This is no Echo Dot replacement, though: the price puts it out of contention for that, and it's also a lot more versatile. To say it's a Dot with a screen would be doing it a disservice (sorry, Dot, we love you really).

Size-wise, it's about the equivalent of a mango. Sure, mangoes may not be the most scientific way to measure things, but at least it gives you an indication that it’s a pretty compact device with a curved back and screen that's angled up, making it easy to view.

The Amazon Echo Spot is a great-looking device, certainly something you won't mind having on show in your home... unlike the, er, original Show, which we always felt like tucking away on the kitchen counter.

Amazon Echo Spot: features and setup

The Echo Spot unit we reviewed was black but there's also a white one available. The screen is relatively small at 2.5 inches, with a 480 x 480 pixel resolution.

On the top of the screen there's space for a camera and on the top of the Echo Spot as a whole there are three buttons, which all sit flush against the surface for a really streamlined look.

Anyone familiar with the Echo range will know what they are: volume up, volume down, and a mic mute button – that last one disables the camera too, so it's the button to press for a little added privacy.

Plus, there are four small pin-prick holes too, housing the four-array mics that listen out for the wake word and for you barking commands at Alexa.

On the back of the Echo Spot you have the standard Amazon branding, a slot for power and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The speaker grill for the Echo Spot is right at the base of the device, which makes it invisible when viewing the device face-on. Bluetooth functionality is also available for streaming audio to or from another device.

Setup is similar to other Echo devices, except for this one you can type in your Wi-Fi details straight on the screen instead of going through the Alexa app, thanks to that handy built-in display.

Admittedly, it's a little bit fiddly putting in your details that way (it asks for your Amazon account password too) but the whole process should take less than five minutes. Then your Amazon Echo Spot is really ready to go.

Once your Echo Spot is up and running, you have the option to watch Amazon's promo video, which tells you what you can do with the device and gets you started. It's not a masterpiece, but it's worth sitting through so you get an idea about what you've just bought.

Then you get that warm chime sound, which means Alexa is online and ready to take orders. Once this appears it's a good time to read our best Amazon Alexa skills article, as well as follow the prompts that come up on the screen to find out what your new Echo Spot can do.

Swipe right on the screen at any time to bring up a whole load of Alexa commands you can use, which is a really nice way to learn what to do with the digital assistant. If you're looking for some fun and silly extras, give our Alexa Easter Eggs list a try, too.

These prompts can be turned off in the Spot's settings, and it's here in the settings where you can toggle home cards on and off as well (little blurbs of information that come up on the home screen).

You can have the home screen include your messages, weather, notifications, upcoming events, reminders, drop ins and trending topics.

Amazon Echo Spot: performance

What you get from the Amazon Echo Spot in terms of performance depends on what you actually use it for. Like the rest of the Echo range, the smart Echo Spot is extremely versatile – in fact it may be the most versatile of the lot.

If you do use it as an alarm clock, then it's got everything you need. There are a myriad of clock faces to choose from on the Echo Spot, both analog and digital, and they're mainly color-based – so you have the choice of things like Tangerine, Onyx, Bold Teal, Modern Fuschia and Copper (there are a couple of themed ones thrown in too).

We really liked the Record face, so give that a whirl, and there's an owl one available as well if you prefer something a bit more natural.

The Echo Spot also has a night mode, which is really handy and works well: put this on and it will dim the screen for the hours that you choose.

The Echo Spot can wake you with a song or a radio station. For the latter, made possible by the TuneIn skill, you need to say "Alexa, wake me up to [radio station] at [time]."

You can also read your messages on the screen and make calls. This is a new-ish addition to the Alexa smart commands in the UK that's been in the US for some time now.

When we used the Echo Spot on our desk, it made us veer more towards the video functionality of the device. You can use the Amazon smart speaker to get your daily briefings, so BBC News (for example) will show you its briefing in video form.

At first, trying to watch a 16:9 video on a small, round screen looks a little strange, but Amazon has given the Echo Spot the option to 'zoom' the picture to fit the round shape. This probably wouldn't work on a larger display but we preferred using this mode on the Echo Spot.

The round screen is also perfect for room-to-room calling. This is functionality that Alexa has been able to do for a while and it works really well, turning the Spot smart speaker into an intercom of sorts.

Ask Alexa to drop into another Echo Spot speaker, and a face pops up on the screen so you can have a chat, much like FaceTime.

You can also 'drop in' on people in your phone book (if you and they allow it). This works really well on the Echo Spot – there's a blurred image for 10 seconds or so, just in case you need to make yourself decent, and then the screen appears clear.

Like the Echo Dot there's an integrated speaker and we were surprised with how good it sounds, considering the speaker's compact size.

Unlike the Echo Dot, which is only really passable for things like voice, the Amazon Echo Spot had a nice sound to it. You will probably want to hook it up to a better speaker system via Bluetooth or aux if you're an audiophile, but if it's on your bedside table, then you won't complain about the sound.

If you listen to something with Amazon Music, then you also get the added bonus of having lyrics come up on the screen.

This can get addictive, watching the lyrics flow – and when it comes to swear words, we can confirm that Alexa kindly stars them out so your eyes aren't unduly offended.

Another way Amazon wants you to use the Echo Spot is as a smart cam monitor.

We saw a demo where you could get a smart cam video link up on the screen – from a compatible smart cam – where it was streaming from a nursery. The stream on the demo was clear and bright.

Unfortunately, our current setup at home is Hive and at the time of this review, the Hive View wasn't compatible (but might be soon).

In theory, this is a fantastic idea, especially if you have the camera set up in a nursery as we do. It will also work with a number of smart home brands, including Netgear Arlo, Logitech, Nest and smart doorbell manufacturer Ring (now owned by Amazon of course).

When it came to using the Echo Spot in the kitchen, we found it great to watch something on Amazon Prime while cooking our food. It synced really well with our Prime Video account and knew which episode of Red Oaks we were watching.

Having the ability to call up recipes and times and actually see them on the screen was a real boon, too – the ability to have multiple timers running at once really helped when cooking a roast dinner.

Again, this is functionality you can have on other Echo devices but having it at-a-glance on the screen is great and means you don't have to whip your phone out for this sort of stuff.

The Alexa digital assistant continues to get smarter across all these Echo devices too, including the Echo Spot. Vague requests can now be directed to the appropriate skill, so you don't have to remember the exact wording every time.

Another recent update means Alexa can more naturally understand what you're blabbing on about. It can also now keep listening and keep responding to questions even if you don't say "Alexa" each time.

Amazon Echo Spot: final verdict

The Amazon Echo Spot does everything the Echo Show does, but it all feels better in this smaller form factor. The design is great – it's available in black and white – and we can easily see the Spot being used in the bedroom, kitchen or even on a desk. In fact, you may want it in all of these places.

That's the thing with the Amazon Echo Spot – much like other Echo smart speakers, Amazon wants you to have a multitude of them in your home so you always have access to video chat and Alexa no matter where you are.

But the added screen enhances the look of the Spot and opens up the possibilities for it being much more than just a smart speaker – even if it Amazon hasn't nailed the video capability as of yet. The lower price of the Echo Show 5, too, makes the Spot harder to justify, but it has enough design charms to keep it in the runnings.

Still not sure whether you want a Spot or a Dot? Check out our guide to which Amazon Echo device is best for you?

Revlon Pro Collection One Step Dryer and Volumiser review: a budget-friendly and very effective brush dryer

3:20 pm | October 7, 2019

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Revlon Pro 2-in-1 styler: two-minute review

The Revlon Pro Collection One Step Dryer and Volumiser is a brush dryer that disappoints in terms of looks but delivers when it comes to performance. If you want something purely to create a voluminous blow-dry look, this could well be the best hair styler for you.

This brush dries your hair, smooths and shapes it all in one go, meaning you don't need a separate hair dryer, and can style one-handed if you want to eat your toast or (for the ambitious) do your makeup at the same time. The oval shape makes it easy to create extra lift at the root, while the large size means you can tackle bigger sections of hair one go.

It's rather heavy and not especially well balanced, but it's so efficient that you hopefully won't need to use it for long enough to get arm-ache. For drying, you have a choice of two settings: lower powered and less hot, or higher powered and hotter. The latter is irritatingly noisy, but since the former dried my hair plenty fast enough, I just stuck with that setting.

While there are a few compromises in terms of design, I had absolutely complaints about the results. This styler consistently left my hair bouncy, smooth and voluminous. If you want more versatility, there are plenty of multi-stylers that enable you to create different looks. Be aware, though, adding more options will also bump up the price; this dedicated brush dryer is extremely budget-friendly. Read on for my full Revlon Pro Collection One Step Dryer and Volumiser review.

Revlon Pro One Step review: price & availability

List price: $48.88 / £49.99 (regularly discounted)

The Revlon Pro One Step is available at a range of third-party retailers, including the likes of Amazon, Boots in the UK and Walmart in the US. List price seems to vary depending on where you look, but it's typically in the region of $48.88 / £49.99. This brush styler has been out for a while now, and it's rare to see it sold at full price these days.

That's great value for what you're getting here. While this tool lacks the versatility of a multi-styler, those can end up being a false economy if you end up just using one or two of the functions. If you just want to create bouncy blow-dry styles, it's a great buy.

Revlon has now brought out a slightly more premium version called the One-Step Volumizer Plus. This has a different-sized, detachable brush, and 'charcoal-infused nylon pins', but Revlon is not entirely clear on what these are meant to do.

Value for money score: 5 out of 5

Revlon Pro Collection One Step review: design

Traditional looking brush dryer with oval-shaped
Rotating switch controls temperature and windspeed
Rather heavy and not particularly well balanced

The Revlon Pro resembles an oversized barrel brush with a chunky handle. At the bottom of this handle – where it meets the 2.5-meter cord – is a single switch that you rotate to select a temperature and speed setting. One rotation enables the cold shot function. A second rotation switches to the lower of the two speed settings, while a final rotation switches to the faster of the two. The heat increases between the speed settings, too.

Instead of having a perfectly rounded barrel, the cylinder is oval, with two slightly flatter, longer sides. This shape helps help lift the hair from the roots and give it more volume.

Revlon Pro on reviewer's dressing table — (Image credit: Vicky Woollaston)

In a market filled with ever-more stylish hair tools, the Pro Collection One Step isn't much to look at. Revlon’s bright pink color scheme feels like an unwelcome throwback to the original models. It’s also heavy at 850g, with the long brush design preventing the weight from feeling evenly distributed.

This design choice, however, does make it more compact than a traditional barreled dryer, while saving the hassle of having to take a separate brush when traveling. Plus, its performance soon helps you forget the Revlon Pro’s weight and style shortcomings.

Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Revlon Pro Collection One Step review: performance

Dries and styles hair impressively quickly, even on low-power mode
High-power mode is annoyingly loud
Left my hair smooth, voluminous and shiny

Even on the lowest of the two speed/temperature settings, the Revlon Pro dried my medium-length fine hair in an impressive three minutes and four seconds. That goes some way to negating its heavy, bulky design – you won’t need to be using it for long. The large size also means you can dry and style big sections of hair in one go. What’s more, because it styles as it dries, my arms didn’t ache from holding a brush and separate dryer at awkward angles – as is the case with some of its rivals – and I didn’t have to do anything to finish my style once it was dry, saving even more time.

This latter point is in part due to the Revlon Pro’s ionic technology, and partly because the temperature remains constant throughout. Unlike with traditional dryers, the Revlon Pro is always at the same distance from the head because the hair is wrapped around it; you can’t accidentally place it too close on one section and too far away on another. This means it dries the hair evenly and gently.

The ionic technology then smoothes the hair and the rounded design shapes it. Throughout my testing, I was consistently impressed with just how voluminous, shiny and smooth my hair looked after using the Revlon Pro.

Close up of brush part of Revlon Pro — (Image credit: Vicky Woollaston)

I didn’t see a noticeable difference in drying times on the hotter, faster setting, and would often dry on the slower mode to help prevent causing unnecessary heat damage. The faster setting is also incredibly, annoyingly loud, annoyingly. In terms of decibels, it’s not drastically different to rivals but the tone of the sound is sharp and grating.

Finally, what I feel is the most significant benefit of the Revlon Pro is the fact you can use it one-handed. When time is tight in the morning, or you just fancy an extra few minutes in bed, you can apply make-up at the same time as drying your hair. Believe me, I do this regularly. If that’s a little too ambitious, you can enjoy a cup of tea or eat toast at the same time. This, for me, is a game-changer.

Performance score: 4 out of 5

First reviewed: October 2019

I re-tested the Dyson V11 for 2025, and while it lacks cutting-edge features, its cleaning powers are still absolutely superb

7:40 am | August 12, 2019

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: Australia, UK, US | Comments: Off

Dyson V11 vacuum cleaner: two-minute review

The Dyson V11 launched in 2019 and sits around the middle of the brand's stick vacuum lineup. It's not the most hi-tech model in the range, but when it comes to cleaning powers it's one of the best cordless vacuums I've tested.

One of my favorite features is the LCD screen, which provides a ton of useful information. It'll tell you which mode you're using and exactly how much cleaning time you have left in that mode, and it'll flag up issues like blockages and show you how to fix them.

The design looks and feels premium, but is rather top-heavy, which makes it a little awkward to use in handheld mode in particular. From a usability perspective, it would benefit from a lock for continual running, so you don't need to keep the trigger pressed at all times. It's also lacking an air intake slider on the main floorhead, which could be opened up to make the vacuum easier to push on deep-pile carpet.

Where the V11 shines is in its cleaning powers. In my group test of various cordless vacuums, it was one of the most effective at cleaning on carpet, and handled pet hair incredibly well, too. Despite being top-heavy, it maneuvers very well, and the battery life is excellent.

Price-wise, the Dyson V11 sits the in premium bracket. For some people, it'll be worth investing a bit more to unlock the special features that come with Dyson's best vacuums – I missed having automatic suction adjustment based on floor type, and a soft floorhead with a dirt-illuminating laser for hard flooring.

However, it's still an excellent vacuum when it comes to cleaning powers and battery life, and an especially strong recommendation if you spot it on sale. Read on for my full Dyson V11 review, including the results of my in-depth tests.

Dyson V11 vacuum being used on carpet — (Image credit: Future)

Dyson V11 review: price & availability

List price: from $629.99 / £429.99 / AU$1,199
Availability: worldwide, including US, UK and Australia
Launched: March 2019

The Dyson V11 launched in March 2019 and remains a key model in the brand's lineup. It's available widely around the world, including in the US, UK and Australia. At time of writing the list prices were from $629.99 in the US, £429.99 in the UK, and AU$1,199 in Australia. That puts it in the premium price bracket for vacuums.

There are various bundle options for the V11, with different tools included. There are also two different iterations of the main machine – one with 200AW of power, and another with 185AW of power. The more powerful option is usually called the V11 Advanced, but I have seen lots of inconsistency with Dyson vacuum names, so do check before you buy.

In the wider lineup of flagship Dyson vacuums, the V11 sits above the Dyson V8 (see how the two compare in my Dyson V11 vs V8 article). There's a bit of a step down in price between the two – the V8 is around $589.99 / £329.99 / AU$999, but is regularly heavily discounted.

The V11 sits below the V15 Detect, which has a list price of around $849.99 / £649.99 / AU$1,449. See how the two match up in my Dyson V11 vs V15 Detect comparison.

Is it good value for money? Kind of. It looks and feels premium, features like the LCD screen are very useful, and the cleaning is generally excellent. However, I'd expect an Auto mode for this kind of money. Dyson promo codes are rare, but Dyson deals do crop up semi-regularly, and especially around major sales events like Black Friday.

Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5

Dyson V11 specs

Weight (no attachments):	4.5lbs / 2.06kg
Weight (with wand and main floorhead):	6.6lbs / 3kg
Bin size:	0.77L / 0.2 gallon
Max runtime:	60 mins
Charge time:	4hrs 30
Size (H x W x L):	49.7 x 10.5 x 9.8 in / 126.2 x 26.7 x 25cm
Filter:	Whole-machine filtration
Max suction:	185AW / 200AW
Modes:	Eco, Med, Boost
Submarine option:	No
Floorheads:	Motorbar

Dyson V11 review: design

Useful, intuitive screen provides information
Easily maneuverable but a little top-heavy and not that comfortable to use
Trigger-operated, with no lock for continual running

The V11 was the first of Dyson's cordless stick vacuums to have its motor, cyclones, dust cup and wand all arranged in a straight line. This in-line configuration is designed to improve suction efficiency compared to the previous setup.

There are three power modes – Eco, Med and Boost – and you cycle between them by pressing a round button. There's a useful screen that spells out which mode you're in, as well as how long you have left on the battery in the current mode and with the current attachment. This screen will also flag any issues and help you fix them – for example, it'll tell you if there's a blockage, and where the blockage is.

Testing alongside vacuums that used various symbols, LEDs and color-coding to convey information made me all the more appreciative of the V11's straightforward setup. It's intuitive to use and easy to understand, with minimal potential for confusion.

Close up of control screen on Dyson V11 stick vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

To switch the V11 on and off you use a trigger. In newer models, Dyson has swapped this for a one-press button. The trigger means you don't have to have a free hand to switch the machine on and off, although it can be annoying to have to keep it compressed during longer cleaning sessions – it's frustrating that there's no lock for continual running.

Thanks to the in-line configuration, you'll now need to remove the wand to empty the bin, which is a bit of a hassle. Once removed, you push down the big red lever open the bottom hatch and to shoot out the contents of the bin. This works well, although I did on occasion have to go in with my fingers to pull out clumps of hair or dirt.

Dyson V11 stick vacuum with bin emptying slider being demonstrated — (Image credit: Future)

There's one main floorhead – the Motorbar floorhead – which is suitable for use on either hard floor or carpet. The version that came with my test model did not have a slider to adjust how much air can get in, but other V11 models we've tested in the past have included one of these. A slider can be extremely useful on deep-pile carpet, to release some of the pressure and make the vacuum easier to push around.

Newer Dyson stick vacuums (the V15, Gen5detect and V16 Piston Animal) have the ability to sense how dirty your floor is and bump up or low suction as required, but that's not included here. If you want to maximize battery life, you'll need to switch modes manually.

(Note: it looks like a previous version of the V11 did have an Auto mode. Our original V11 review mentioned sensors in the floorhead that measure brush resistance as an indicator of floor type, and the ability to increase suction for carpet and lower it for hard floors. I've also spotted some press photos that show the vacuum with 'Auto' on screen. However, my review model has no such capability, and I can't see any mention of it on the various international Dyson sites.)

Main floorhead for Dyson V11 stick vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

Like pretty much every modern stick vacuum, you can reconfigure the V11 to turn it into a handheld. Exactly which detail tools are included will depend on which bundle you go for, but expect a Mini motorized tool, Combi tool and Crevice tool at a minimum. I found the tools easy to add and remove, and everything felt secure once clipped on.

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Combo tool and Crevice tool for Dyson V11 stick vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

In terms of comfort, the V11 isn't the best. The main body of the vacuum is rather heavy, and the in-line configuration means this part is rather elongated. So while the overall weight is acceptable, it doesn't feel that balanced and is especially unwieldy in handheld mode. (This issue is worse in newer Dyson vacuums.) There's no padding or shaping on the handle to improve comfort or grip. However, the floorhead maneuvers well and pivots easily, and can lie nice and low to the ground for cleaning under furniture.

Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Dyson V11 review: performance

Excellent cleaning on carpet, but would benefit from an air intake slider
Strong cleaning on hard floor but other models more specialized for this
Superb at clearing of pet hair

During general use, I was very impressed with the V11's cleaning powers. I missed having an Auto mode, though – these are now fairly common amongst the vacuums I test, and it's reassuring to hear the suction amping up and down as I move around the house. I tended to default to Med mode, which probably means I was wasting battery life when cleaning my hard floors, as these don't really need much suction.

To gain a more objective view of the V11's cleaning performance, I ran a series of standardized cleaning tests. For these, I used a mix of dry rice and lentils to represent chunky debris, and dry, loose tea to represent fine particles. I also used dog hair from a friendly local dog groomer. I tested all the particle types on medium-pile carpet, deep-pile carpet, and a lino floor.

Carpet

The V11 performed extremely well on medium-pile carpet. It cleared every speck of tea in one forward pass in Med mode, earning a perfect score in this test. It handled the chunky rice and lentils almost as well – a few stragglers were left in the fibers, but the vast majority disappeared in one forward pass.

This vacuum is not quite as well suited to deep-pile carpet, but not because of a lack of suction. The V11 picked up both fine and chunky particles very efficiently on my deep-pile test carpet, but it was just a bit hard to push, and there's no air intake slider to lessen the strain.

Switching to Eco mode did help, and pickup was still very effective in this mode. If you have mostly medium-pile carpet or are happy to manually switch modes as you move onto deeper-pile carpet, the V11 is still a very solid choice. (For other options, head to my guide to the best vacuums for carpet.)

Hard floor

The Dyson V11 performed well in my hard floor suction tests. It cleared most chunky and fine debris with a single pass in Med mode, but did cause debris to pool when the floorhead was pulled backwards over the spillage. This is a common issue with vacuum cleaners, although Shark has come up with a solution that improves things considerably (the Shark PowerDetect Cordless features this pull-back technology).

The V11 is a solid choice for hard floors, but there are other models that are more specialized for this floor type. The best vacuums for hard floor have a separate, soft floorhead that's equipped with a laser to illuminate dirt that might otherwise be missed (examples include the V15 Detect and Dreame R20).

Pet hair

The Dyson V11 is one of the best vacuums for pet hair that I've tested. It cleared all the hair from the medium-pile carpet with a single pass in Med mode, and was very effective on deep-pile carpet too – I had to shift down to Eco mode to make the vacuum easier to push, but it cleared almost everything in one pass, leaving only a few rogue hairs.

Dyson V11 vacuum being used to clear dog hair from carpet — (Image credit: Future)

My review sample didn't come with a small motorized tool, which is what you'd usually use on upholstery (there are two options in the Dyson range: the older Mini motorized tool or newer Hair screw tool). I used the Combi tool to remove pet hair from a velvet cushion, and it was incredibly effective, clearing everything in a single pass in Med mode.

The down-side of the Combi tool is that it has a relatively small suction area, so it'd take you a while to cover, for example, a whole sofa. Mini motorized tools are included with some V11 bundles, and available to purchase separately if not. However, note that I ran the same test using Dyson's Mini motorized tool with the Gen5detect, and it was decent but not as effective as the Combi tool.

Performance score: 4 out of 5

Dyson V11 review: battery life

15 mins in Boost mode, 33 in Med mode, 65 mins in Eco
4 hours and 30 mins to recharge
Battery removable and swappable

Officially, the Dyson V11 will last 60 minutes in Eco mode, but on test I managed 65 minutes. That's an excellent maximum runtime. As ever, more powerful modes will drain the battery much more quickly, but the V11 is much better than most on this front.

I think it's more important one to pay attention to is the runtime in 'medium' mode, because that's the one most people will be using most often. In my test, Med mode lasted 33 minutes of cleaning. As a rule of thumb, anything 30 minutes or longer is good.

In the most powerful Boost mode I managed 15 minutes of cleaning, which is very good. This mode is designed to be used only occasionally, for the toughest dirt. It's not meant for general cleaning.

The battery is removable and swappable, which is good news because this is often the first thing to fail on a cordless vacuum. Recharge is slow at 4 hours and 30 minutes.

You're unlikely to run out of juice unexpectedly because the V11 will spell out on its screen exactly how much cleaning time you have left – and it'll adjust timings depending on which tool you have attached and which mode you're in. (Interestingly, the timer doesn't just count down, but can jump about a bit.) If you press the mode button while the vacuum is plugged in, you can also see how much charge it is, as a percentage.

Battery life score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy a Dyson V11?

Attribute	Notes	Rating
Value	Premium price partly justified by high-end, user-friendly design and strong cleaning. At this price, I'd expect auto adjustment, though.	3.5 / 5
Design	Very maneuverable but a little top-heavy, and lack of lock for continual running is annoying. LCD screen very useful and intuitive.	3.5 / 5
Performance	Excellent on mid-pile carpet and superb at dealing with pet hair. Good on hard floor and would benefit from an air intake slider for deep-pile carpet.	4 / 5
Battery life	Long runtimes in Eco, Med and Boost, although lacks an Auto mode to maximize battery life.	4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You have a hairy pet

On test, the V11 proved absolutely excellent at clearing dog hair from carpet. The Combi tool also removed hair from a velvet cushion incredibly efficiently.

You have lots of mid-pile carpet

The V11 performed especially well in my cleaning tests on medium-pile carpet, clearing fine and chunky particles with ease.

You want long runtimes

Sometimes, cordless vacs will have a long runtime in their lowest suction mode, but not it'll drop dramatically for the other modes. The V11 has a generous runtime in all three modes.

Don't buy it if...

You want maximum value for money

While far from the priciest Dyson, I think the V11 is a tad overpriced. The simpler, cheaper V8 delivers better bang-for-buck. Or, arguably if you're spending this much, you'd be better splashing a bit more cash and going for a V15 with its far longer feature list.

You have mostly hard floor

While the V11 performed well in my hard floor tests, there are other models that are more specialized for this. Look for a vacuum that has an extra, soft floorhead, and laser illumination to highlight hidden dirt.

You want something that's comfy in handheld mode

The V11 is a little top-heavy and difficult to wield in handheld mode, plus you'll need to keep the trigger compressed at all times.

Dyson V11 review: alternatives to consider

Model:	V11	V8 Cyclone	Dyson V15 Detect
Weight (stated):	6.6lbs / 3kg	6 lbs / 2.7kg	4.57 lbs / 2.07kg
Bin size:	0.77L / 0.2 gallon	0.54L	0.77L / 0.2 gallon
Max runtime:	60 mins	60 mins (check)	60 mins
Charge time:	4hrs 30	4 hrs (check)	4hrs 30
Size (H x W x L):	49.7 x 10.5 x 9.8 in / 126.2 x 26.7 x 25cm	45.7 x 8.3 x 9.8in / 116 x 21 x 25cm	49.6 x 10.5 x 9.8in / 126 x 26.6 x 25cm
Filter:	Whole-machine filtration	99.99% to 0.3 micron	Whole-machine filtration
Max suction:	185AW (200AW for Absolute)	150AW	240AW
Modes:	Eco, Med, Boost	Low, Med, Max	Eco, Auto, Boost
Submarine option:	No	No	Yes
Floorheads:	Motorbar	Motorbar	Digital Motorbar, Fluffy Optic

Dyson V8 Cyclone

The V8 Cyclone is an updated version of the bestselling V8. It's simpler than the V11, with no info screen and a less premium build. However, on test it still proved excellent at cleaning, and it's much cheaper than the V11.

Read TechRadar's Dyson V8 Cyclone review View Deal

Dyson V15 Detect

The model that sits above the V11 is the V15 Detect. It's pricier and heavier, but adds a slew of extra features, including automatic suction adjustment and a separate, soft floorhead with a laser, designed specifically for hard flooring.

Read TechRadar's Dyson V15 Detect review View Deal

How I tested the Dyson V11

For two weeks, I used the Dyson V11 as my main vacuum cleaner. I used it regularly, in both handheld and floor mode, in a four-story home with a mixture of carpet, tiled and engineered wood floors. During this period I focused on usability, assessing how intuitive and comfortable it is to use. I also got a general feel for its cleaning performance on different floor types, as well as how effectively it handles hair (my own, armpit-length hair and that of my black Cocker spaniel).

To get a more objective view of this vacuum's cleaning powers, I also ran a series of tests in our testing studio. For these, I used loose dry tea to represent fine particles, and a mixture of dried rice and lentils to represent chunky debris, as well as dog hair from my local groomer. I tested the V11's pickup on medium-pile carpet, deep-pile carpet and lino. I also used the detail tool to clear hair from a velvet cushion.

These tests formed part of a wider group test, where I compared multiple cordless stick vacuums side by side. This group test included the Dyson V8 Cyclone, the Roborock H60 Ultra, the Dreame R20, the Dyson Gen5detect, Dyson V16 Piston Animal, Shark Detect Pro and Shark PowerDetect.

Re-reviewed: October 2025
First reviewed: 2019

Dyson Cyclone V10 review

5:50 pm | November 12, 2018

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: LCD | Comments: Off

Dyson Cyclone V10: two-minute review

When Dyson launched the Cyclone V10 in 2018, it represented a compete rethink of its cordless form factor, and the point at which the brand waved goodbye to corded vacuum cleaners for good. It's now widely considered to be the brand behind the best cordless vacuums on the market – at least when it comes to innovation.

Compared to its predecessors, the V10 boasts refined cyclone technology for stronger suction, and a new V10 digital motor that's capable of 125,000 rpm (that's over 2,000 revolutions per second).

At time of updating this review – June 2024 – the V10 is one of the oldest models still included in the current Dyson lineup, and as such, these specs have been overshadowed a little by newer, fancier models. Its immediate successor is 2019's V11 (read about that one in our Dyson V11 review). There's now a V15 (read our Dyson V15 review), while the Gen5Detect offers even more advanced features (see our Dyson Gen5 Detect review for more on that). So is the Dyson Cyclone V10 still worth your attention?

On test, we were very impressed. It offers powerful suction, even on the lowest of the three settings, and is well designed and easy to use. The tools we tested are also excellent, although do note that the included attachments vary depending on which configuration you opt for (for this review, we tested the Absolute+ model, which has a wide range of tools).

The real issue is that the V11 seems to be available for a similar price, and is slightly better in almost every way (exactly how the two compare in our Dyson V10 vs V11 explainer). That makes the V10 hard to recommend outright, unless you spot a major deal. That's the short version; read on for our full Dyson V10 review.

Dyson Cyclone V10 vacuum cleaner — (Image credit: Dyson)

Dyson Cyclone V10 review: price & availability

Price varies by configuration, but generally in the mid/premium bracket
V11 available for a similar price
Not widely available direct from Dyson any more

As with most Dyson vacuums, there are a few different variations. An extra word is added to the name (e.g. Animal) but in the vast majority of cases, the base model is the same, but there is a different selection of tools included. We'll be focusing on the models available direct from Dyson here, but there will likely be more options available via third party retailers.

At time of update, a Cyclone V10 Motorhead, with a ticket price of of US$500, is listed on the Dyson US site, but it's out of stock. In the UK, it's the Cyclone V10 Total Clean for £449.99, but again that's out of stock. In Australia, there's the regular Cyclone V10 (AU$1,099 down to AU$694 at time of update), or the Cyclone V10 Absolute (AU$1,299, reduced to AU$744).

At those prices, the Cyclone V10 is at the top of the mid-range price bracket or into premium. Interestingly, the newer and more advanced V11 is actually available for cheaper in a few cases (although it's worth doing a compare and contrast on included tools to make sure you actually are getting a better deal). As you'd expect, it's pricier than the much older Dyson V8. Today's newest and highest-specced Dyson cordless vacs are far more expensive – the Gen5Detect is $950 / £750, for example.

Because it's a slightly older model, and based on the fact that it looks like Dyson might be phasing it out, it is worth keeping an eye out for Dyson deals – around major shopping events like the Black Friday sales in particular.

Dyson Cyclone V10 review: design

Powerful digital motor, but not as powerful as newer models
Operated via manual switch and indicator lights rather than an LCD screen
Array of useful accessories (vary by configuration and region)

The Dyson V10 looks very similar to most of the brand's cordless vacuums. It was the first Dyson cordless to organize all its various components in an in-line format, to achieve a more direct airflow path, and as a result, greater suction efficiency.

There's a front-facing barrel onto which all attachments connect directly. Behind the barrel sits the device's cyclone array (with 14 chambers in total), followed by a digital motor – at time of release, the smallest, and smartest, the company had engineered, and capable of 125,000 rpm (that's over 2,000 revolutions per second).

It's capable of 20 per cent more suction than its predecessor's motor (read TechRadar's full Dyson V8 review for a closer look at that one), despite being half the size, weighing only 125g (0.27lbs). In fact, it's said to be so intelligent that it can detect variables like altitude, air pressure and temperature and to adjust itself accordingly for increased efficiency. Dyson says it even knows the difference between a table and a floor.

Of course, when the V11 arrived, the motor had been improved again. But it's worth reiterating that even quite-old Dyson engineering is still very good engineering.

At the back end, you'll find the V10's filter, which you can remove with one simple counter-clockwise twisting motion. An LED indicator on the base of the unit will let you know when it's time for a wash (later models have an LCD screen that displays information like this, amongst other things). This filter is said to be capable of capturing 99.97 per cent of allergens in the air – even ones as small as 0.3 microns in size.

The front-facing bin is 0.77L, the same size as the V11 but significantly bigger than the V8. It has a 'point and shoot' emptying mechanism that makes it easier to transfer dust and rubbish directly into a trash receptacle or plastic bag.

The one downside to having a front-facing bin is that you'll now have to remove any attachments whenever you want to empty the device – although chances are you were already doing that anyway and never realized.

Opening the bin is as simple as pushing down the red release valve under the unit, which slides the whole bin down in the process and expels any contents within. Admittedly, this plastic flap feels a little delicate, so we're hoping that it stands up to repeated use. A flexible rubber lip on the inside of the bin prevents almost all dust and debris from getting into the back of the bin, but we've found that even when dirt does slip past, it still gets pushed out during the emptying process.

Following the trend it started with the V8, Dyson has banished attachment release buttons from the V10, opting to place them on the accessories themselves. This makes it much easier to detach vacuum heads and extension tubes in one swift movement, though it does mean that all accessories released prior to the V8 will be incompatible.

Dyson Cyclone V10 specs

Dyson V10 review: performance

Powerful even on the lowest setting
Lasts 30 minutes on medium, or up to an hour on low power
Tools are well designed and easy to use

Thanks to its digital motor and 14-cyclone array, the Dyson Cyclone V10 sucks big time. We don't mean that in a negative sense – it's actually a huge compliment in the vacuum world. In the weeks we've had to put V10 through its paces, it has performed incredibly well in pretty much every dry vacuuming scenario.

There are three power settings available on the V10: low, medium and maximum. Your usage of each will probably be governed by the surface (or spillage) you're cleaning, and how much charge your unit is holding. You can gauge this using the LED indicator lights when the vacuum is in use. (From the V11 onwards, this system is replaced by an informative LCD screen.)

You can vacuum continuously for up to 60 minutes on the lowest setting. We found that setting was generally more than strong enough to lift any dirt we put in front of it.

Dyson Cyclone V10 switch on vacuum body — (Image credit: Dyson)

Maximum power offers incredible suction (this tester put their fingers up to the vacuum head and was amazed by how strong it was – enough so that we'd firmly suggest not trying this yourself). Unfortunately, this setting will completely drain the battery after roughly five minutes of usage... but it's still useful to have in an emergency.

It's our opinion that the V10's medium power setting, which will give you around 30 minutes of continuous usage, is the one you'll be using most of the time. During our reviewing time, we found that we only really needed to unleash the maximum setting for small vacuuming sessions and those occasions where we had really stubborn dirt trapped in our carpets or rugs.

In terms of recharge, it takes roughly 3.5 hours to go from a completely flat battery to a full charge.

The Direct Drive attachment is is the standard vacuum head that you'll likely get the most everyday use out of, though our favorite tool has to be the Soft Roller Cleaner Head, which is capable of picking up bigger pieces of debris like pet kibble, cereal, cat litter and more.

Other notable attachments include the Mini Motorized Tool, which is great for vacuuming on stairs or upholstery, the pointed Rigid Crevice Tool, which lets you vacuum deep into corners and crevices, and the Flexi Crevice Tool, which features and extendable hose. This one's particularly useful for when you want to vacuum inside confined spaces, like the interior of a car. (Do note, different configurations of the V10 come with different tools, so make sure your model has the ones you need before purchasing.)

As is seemingly unavoidable with stick vacuums, we did experience a few blockages on occasion. We found that tissues and wrappers would frequently cause the V10 to jam up, with the only solution being the immediate removal of said obstruction.

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