Disclaimer:

This is an authentic review done after 2 months of regular use. This review should not substitute the readers’ personal assessment of the equipment.

How good is the V11? We test and rate.

At first glance there doesn’t seem to be much difference between the Dyson V10 and the brand new Dyson V11 Absolute.  But experience it and you’ll notice some seemingly small but significant changes.

Revolutionary features:

The V11 boasts of some new and revolutionary features, including:

• The intelligent DLS (Dynamic Load Sensor) that adjusts the suction power automatically to suit different floor surface for deep and effective vacuuming.
• LCD panel: An LCD panel that clearly displays the mode and the battery run time by time and not percentage or a bar graph. No second guessing battery run time here.
• High Torgue vacuum cleaning head that digs deep and spins at 360 cycles per second to capture fine dust and particles in hard to reach flooring.
• New motor: The V11’s motor generates 20% more suction power than the V10, and quieter too!
• Battery: A larger and longer running battery.

Here we share , from a layman’s view, our test and we rate the features of the new Dyson V11 Absolute. The review is based on the following attributes: Effectiveness in cleaning, Efficiency, Ergonomics and Ease of Use, Portability and Noise.

Also read our comparison of the Dyson cordless vacuum to other cordless vacuum cleaners brands.  Click here

Effectiveness  – Cleaning and Filtration:

DLS: ‘AI’ at work: The V11’s new motor is impressive. Coupled with the V11’s new Dynamic Load Sensor (DLS) and new High Torque cleaner head that adjusts the suction power according to the different floor type, it is like AI (Artificial Intelligence) at work and takes the thinking out from the user.  With traditional vacuum cleaners, we would just maintain one suction power and have it do the entire home but here the V11 takes over the ‘thinking’ and adjusts the power automatically to ensure optimal suction. It’s so effective, it’s almost like AI (Artificial Intelligence) at work!

This is very useful if your home has significantly different surface area such as marble flooring, tiles, rugs and wood flooring. The V11 switches effortlessly back and forth on the ‘Auto’ mode to ensure proper and seamless cleaning.  Impressive.

We had an episode at home when the hubby came back from the playground with the kids.  Fine sand from the playground spilled out from within the socks and were stuck to the floor rug. Fluffing it would be a nightmare for myself and the kids as we have sensitive noses and putting a rug with sand into the washing machine may just make things worse.  Fortunately the V11 came to our rescue and was able to give the rug a deep vacuum before we threw it into the wash.

Filter: Worthy of mention is the filter and the dirt chamber. The HEPA grade filter, a hospital-grade filter that filters 99% of bacteria and allergens, has always assured us that the dust that is sucked in, stays in. This is the same for the dirt chamber which has a solid seal which keeps these particles in without leakage.  As someone who has a very sensitive nose (and the kids have the same), I don’t need some lab test to tell me if the dust filtration is effective. Since using Dyson years ago, our noses do not act up everytime we vacuum. That’s testament enough for me.

Rating: 5/5 – The DLS and the High Torque cleaning head is a god-sent, allowing effective and seamless vacuuming across different floor types. Note: The soft roller head (Fluffy) is not designed to be used with the DLS as it is only for hard floors. Hence for homes with varied flooring, the High Torque cleaning head is robust enough to clean these variety of surface well.

Efficiency: 

Run Time: The V11 boasts a slightly bigger but longer-lasting battery.  With a full charge taking about 4.5 hours, the Eco mode gives 60 minutes of use. Switch to Boost mode and the battery life lasts less than 10 minutes with a motorised head and so the LCD screen says.

In reality, very few of us would, under normal home environment, use any vacuum cleaner at a full boost /max mode for its entire cleaning duration. Hence, with the DLS and a effective suction power switching back and forth, vacuuming a 5-room apartment like ours took well under 60 minutes with sufficient run time left in the battery. Neat!

Rating: 4/5 – However, having said that, interchangeable batteries may prove useful especially during major spring cleaning season where cleaning time is extended or alternated between the home and the car or other parts of the house etc…it would be nice if we didn’t have to stop to recharge the unit.

Ergonomics and Ease of use:  

Smart – Using the new LCD panel is really a hoot! Not only does it show the battery run time remaining in ‘time’ rather than percentage or through a bar graph, the screen will alert once the filter is dislodged and even provides simple direction how to clean the filter or to rectify simple faults e.g. filter not properly installed. Clever!

Weight – Although on paper the V11 at 3kg is slightly heavier than the V10, the weight difference is hardly noticeable. All thanks to the ergonomic design of the unit which shares the same design as the V10.

By designing the handle right below the mid-section of the motor (read: center of gravity), lifting the unit is easy and feels like an extension of our arm. After nearly 30 minutes of vacuuming, I could hardly feel any strain on the wrist.

Smoothness – Noteworthy is the silky smooth feel of the brushes on the floor.  Testament to Dyson’s high quality design and attention to details, the brushes glides rather effortlessly across smooth surfaces even while flexing and switching angles. Very nice.

Cleaning – Cleaning the brushes has always been intuitively easy with Dyson machines. With a simple twist at the clearly marked designated spots, either with a small coin or with hand, the brushes come out easily. Wash, rinse and drying of the brushes is simple and straight forward.

The ‘Clip’ – Aside from the LCD screen, the other ‘prized’ addition for me would be the simple clear plastic clip that holds two additional heads to the wand.  This saves me from walking back and forth to change cleaning heads.

Dirt Chamber – Emptying the dirt chamber is similar to the V10 where the wand or the brush has to be removed from the motor unit before pointing the chamber straight at the bin and emptying it. Although one has to remove the wand or brush to dispose the dust, it does make the head aim directly at the bin where the dirt then can be properly disposed off without risk of dirt straying out of the bin.

Rating: 5/5 – Smooth and easy to use.

Portability:

It’s really quite hard to imagine that this device weighs 3 kg when it feels like an extension of one’s own arm when vacuuming. The ergonomic design with its well-made accessories really makes vacuuming a breeze.  No wonder my tweenager looks forward to doing this part of the housework – vacuuming!

Rating: 5/5

Noise:

Although spotting a new, improved and larger motor, the V11 is actually significantly quieter than the V10! Particularly comparing  the Max (V10) mode and the Boost (V11) mode in the V11 – one has a significantly louder whine (V10) while the V11’s motor noise is more like a soft (but fast!) whirl making this perfect for homes with babies and very young children. 

Rating: 5/5

Verdict:

Dyson, the brand that revolutionised vacuum cleaners and a name synonymous with quality cordless vacuums has just raised the benchmark again with the Dyson V11 Absolute. With its new and intelligent features plus a 2-year warranty, it is definitely an asset for Singapore families staying in a dense urban residential area where needful cleaning is done regularly to rid the home of allergens and dust.

Features:

To know more about the technical specs and features of the Dyson V11 Absolute, go to: https://www.dyson.com.sg/products/vacuum-cleaners/dyson-v11/overview