Dyson has just announced an update version of its v8 wireless vacuum. The V8 is one of the oldest models in the brand’s range, but remains its bestseller, despite the launch in 2016.
I discussed with Steph Parker, a Dyson engineer who was part of the team who worked on the new launch, on the way they decided what to keep and what to lose.
What most visible to me – and what marks the V8 as different from the rest of the Dyson wireless vacuum range – is the fact that the cyclones, the trash can and the engine are arranged at right angles compared to the baguette. From the V11, these are all stacked in a straight line, an update introduced to improve suction efficiency.
I asked Steph why the online configuration was not introduced on the V8 Cyclone. “It’s a very good question. I think if you change the format, you change a huge amount of products,” she said. “If you think about where the filter is put on the product and how your air flow goes through the product …”
“We always try to be this versatile vacuum cleaner with a V8, but without this kind of improvement to design, be it the format or the engine.”
She explained that without bringing this kind of major changes, you limit the amount of energy you can withdraw from the product. “We do not get the same amount of air watts with our V8 almost equivalent to Gen5detect or a Piston Dyson V16,” she continued. “I think it’s compromise, fundamentally.”
The Piston Dyson V16 is the brand new flagship product, and Gen5detect is the previous lighthouse. The two are much more advanced and much more expensive than the V8 Cyclone.
Steph then explained that the V8 is designed to fill a specific niche in the range. Although this is not the best Dyson vacuum cleaner according to the specifications, this does not mean that it will not be the perfect choice for some people.
“The V8 is an excellent model. It satisfies a lot of customers, but it is not our most powerful machine. This is not our most hygienic. The Dyson V16 piston is definitely our leading product, but [the V8 Cyclone is] Another great interpreter in the range of products in the industry. “It should also be noted that the V8 Cyclone has more power than the original V8 – in particular, 30% more aspiration in addition.
Other features
This does not mean that there have been no significant improvements in other areas. One of the most important updates to introduce with the V8 Cyclone is the battery. The old V8 had a fixed battery which provided up to 40 minutes of cleaning on a single load. It is not competitive on the current market.
The new version has up to one hour of cleaning by load, which is in accordance with what I expected from the rest of the best wireless vacuums on the market these days – including those at similar prices of the Cyclone V8.
The fact that the battery is now removable and swappable means that you can buy a backup and integrate it hot to extend the execution times. It also means that if and when the battery wears out, you can replace it.
Another major change is that the V8 Cyclone works via a button rather than a trigger. This is good news if you are going to vacuum the longer periods and want to avoid a painful finger, although it means that you will have to have a spare part to activate and turn it off.
I had practical time with the V8 Cyclone, and I will have a live review as soon as I can get an exam model to test correctly. So far, however, I think it is an intelligent Dyson decision. The brand was busy publishing increasingly expensive flagship models, but I think that the much more affordable and updated V8 is the void that most people really wanted.
