If you're shopping for a new vacuum cleaner and have narrowed it down to the Dyson V10 and V8, this article is here to outline the differences so you can pick the right one for you. Both are slightly older models, so you won't get the fancy features you'll find in today's very best Dyson vacuums. However, not everyone needs the most high-tech vac (or has quite the budget to afford one), and both the V10 and V8 are still very capable machines that are worth considering.
The Cyclone V10 (as it is officially called) launched in 2018 and was the machine that made Dyson decide to bid farewell to cables altogether and focus solely on creating the best cordless vacuums on the market. You can read about in detail in our Dyson Cyclone V10 review.
Contrary to what basic numeracy skills might lead you to believe, the V8 is the model that came out directly before the V10. It launched in 2016 and at time of writing is the oldest Dyson vac still included in the brand's current lineup. Get the full low-down in our Dyson V8 review.
Overall, the Dyson V10 will be the better vacuum for most people. It has a more efficient design, a more powerful motor, more suction modes, and longer maximum runtime. However, the V8 is still a perfectly good vacuum, and will often be cheaper, too. It's lighter and has a smaller dust cup, and might be a better fit if you have a smaller home. Read on for our full Dyson V8 vs V10 showdown...
Dyson V8 vs V10: price & value for money
Comparing the price of the Dyson V8 vs V10 is complicated by the fact that there are quite a few different versions of each, with the same actual vacuum but different sets of tools. Because they're both older models, you're also more likely to find discounts, which will vary by country and retailer. We'll focus just on what's available direct from Dyson though, to give a rough picture.
US
In the US there's a Dyson Cyclone V10 Motorhead, with a list price of US$500, but at time of writing it's out of stock, and it doesn't look like it'll be returning. A V8 is available direct from Dyson for $469.99, or there's the Absolute version (with an extra floorhead) for $519.99, reduced to $349.99. There's also a V8 Origin Plus (again, with different tools) at $419.99.
UK
In the UK it's the Cyclone V10 Total Clean at a list price of £449.99, or the V8 for £329.
Australia
Shoppers in Australia can choose between the regular Cyclone V10 (AU$1,099 down to AU$694), or a Cyclone V10 Absolute, which comes with two different floorheads (list price AU$1,299, reduced to AU$744).
The Dyson AU shop also has a V8 Absolute (AU$999, down to AU$549), a V8 Extra (AU$799, reduced to AU$499) and a V8 Origin Extra (AU$649, down to $397).
As you can see, the variety of prices is pretty wide, they all fall somewhere in the mid-range bracket based on TechRadar price bands. Generally, you're going to be able to pick up a V8 for a lower price (which is why we rate it as one of the best cheap vacuums), but not always – so it's always worth double checking V10 prices before you hit the buy button on a V8.
Big sales events are often good for appliances discounts, so if it suits when you need to buy, it's worth shopping in the Amazon Prime Day deals and Black Friday sales. It's also worth checking our Dyson promo codes page to make sure you're not missing any extra savings.
- Winner: V8 – this will usually be cheaper, but it is worth checking prices on the V10 before you buy, as both regularly attract deals
Dyson V8 vs V10: design
There are quite a few design differences, both external and internal, when comparing the Dyson V10 and V8 vacuums.
A big change that was brought in with the V10 was that all the elements are arranged in a straight line, in order to maximize suction efficiency. Both have 14 cyclones, but the V10 boasts a new digital motor that's half the size of the V8's, but much smarter and more powerful. It's capable of 125,000 rpm, compared to 110,000 rpm with the V8. The V10 has a front-facing barrel, onto which all attachments can connect directly.
If weight is a factor, it's worth noting that the newer model is a fair bit heavier – the V10 weighs in at 2.6kg while the V8 is significantly lighter at 1.58kg.
The filter is slightly better on the V10, too; capable of capturing 99.99 per cent of allergens in the air, compared to 99.97 per cent on the V8. It's a very marginal difference though. Both will capture particles as small as 0.3 microns in size.
On both, the power level is changed using a switch, but the V10 has three power options, while the V8 only has two.
Those with larger homes will appreciate the much larger dust cup on the V10. At 0.77L it's 40 per cent larger than than V8's 0.54L cup. The newer model also has a simplified emptying mechanism, designed to minimize the amount of dust that escapes back into the air. However, on test, we found the V8's mechanism perfectly effective – and the V10's design does mean you'll have to take the wand/attachments off to empty the bin, although you were probably doing this anyway.
The tools you'll get will depend on which version of the V8 or V10 you go for, but these look largely the same between the two models. On both, you can remove the wand and clip a cleaner head directly onto the main unit for use as a handheld vacuum.
- Winner: V10 – the V10 has a more efficient design with a larger bin, although it is heavier than the V8
Dyson V8 vs V10 specs
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Dyson V10 | Dyson V8 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 2.6kg | 1.58kg |
| Dimensions (L x W x H): | 24.2 x 25 x 123.8cm | 22.1 x 25 x 125.6cm |
| Bin volume: | 0.77L | 0.54L |
| Max runtime: | 60 mins | 40 mins |
| Battery life: | 60 mins in Low, around 30 mins on Medium, around 5 mins on high | 40 mins on Standard, ~7 on Max |
| Power settings: | Low, Medium, High | Standard, Max |
| Charge time: | 3hrs 30 | 5hrs |
| LED headlights: | No | No |
Dyson V8 vs V10: performance
The introduction of the in-line design means the V10 apparently offers 20 per cent more suction power than the V8. It's also smarter – it has the ability to detect things such as surface type, altitude, air pressure and temperature, and adjust accordingly to maximize efficiency. (This feature is developed further in newer models – for example, the V11 will explicitly change suction when it knows it's on a hard floor or carpet). You also get an extra suction mode with the V10 – you can choose between Low, Medium and High, while the V8 just has Standard and Max.
On test, our reviewers found that both performed very well, handling all our cleaning tests with no issues. That suggests that in terms of suction power, either would be fine for most people's needs.
Battery life is better, generally speaking, on the newer model too... although it does depend on which mode you'll be using. You'll get up to 60 minutes of cleaning time in Low power mode and around 30 mins on Medium with the V10, compared to 40 minutes on Standard with the V8. In High mode there's only 5 minutes of juice on the V10, though, while the V8 gives you around 7. In either case, you'll want to be reserving that mode for only occasional use.
Recharge is significantly longer on the V8. It'll take around 5 hours to take it from a flat battery to full charge, while the V10 takes 3 hours 30 mins.
- Winner: V10 – more outright suction, an extra power mode, longer runtime and shorter recharge give the newer model the win here
