dyson v11 lcd screen not working in stock
If you’re here, you’re probably doing some research on a Dyson vacuum before deciding to drop some hard-earned cash. So today, I’m going to give my opinions on the Dyson V11 Torque Drive vacuum after owning and using it for 2 years.
The reason I’m writing this review is because of my current experience with the Dyson V11 Torque Drive vacuum. Dyson vacuums are not cheap and I want to share my situation so that you can make your own decision on making this substantial purchase for your home.
It’s currently March 7, 2022 and I’ve been using this vaccum for a little over 2 years (my 2 yr. warranty ran out on December 21, 2021) with no major issues. I purchased my Dyson directly from Dyson online and my vacuum is now turning on by itself when removed from the charging unit and sometimes will not turn off or on when I press on the trigger. Sometimes I have to hit the canister to get it to shut off, which isn’t ideal.
I immediately called Dyson’s customer service and explained my issue. During my call with the customer service agent, she informed me that my 2 year warranty had expired and that I had three options: drop off my vacuum at a certified Dyson service center, get 20% off a new machine, or buy the part online (agent diagnosed the issue). Buying another vacuum at $700+ was not an option. Also, driving 80 miles to the closest service center was a bit too far AND I would still be responsible for any repair costs. I opted to purchase the part since I have a dog and would rather have a malfunctioning vacuum than no vacuum at all. Thus, after a bit of back and forth, the agent offered me 30% off the part (she initially offered 20%), which I think covered the shipping fee.
Great, I ordered the part, but it won’t be in stock for a month (Update: it came in 2 weeks.)! I’m wondering if this is an issue that many other Dyson V11 Torque Drive owners are having? Hmmm…. Anyway, I’m currently using a malfunctioning vacuum that will turn on and off at will. I sometimes have to hold the trigger if I want it to stay on and sometimes it will just stay on. Regardless, I’d rather have a malfunctioning vacuum that cleans the carpets and floors while I wait for the new part.
Customer Service – It was easy to get into contact with a live person. My dealings with Dyson’s customer service agent(s) was pleasant. Customer service did their best to help me resolve the issue with my vaccum.
LCD screen – Convenient LCD screen that shows the suction strength and the amount of cleaning time. Makes it easy for me to know when to charge up the vacuum and how much clean time I have left.
Easy of cleaning the unit– I haven’t had a vacuum that I can easily take apart and clean. Dyson makes it easy to empty and clean the entire unit. I can remove the dust bin to thoroughly clean it. I can also go to the Dyson website to watch videos that will show me how to maintain all parts of my vacuum. Update 1/13/2023 – There is a part that broke on the dust bin, so it completely slides off when emptying it. I would have to purchase another dust bin or dust bin runner.
Attachments – There are various attachments that can be purchased for this model. If you can’t find the attachment on Dyson, you can probably find it elsewhere online. Just note that knock-off parts and attachments may not be the same quality and could potentially harm the machine.
Warranty – Cordless vacuums come with a limited 2 year warranty. If anything goes wrong with the unit within 2 years, Dyson will usually ship out a new unit or part. Unfortunately, my warranty expired right after the 2 year mark (isn’t that how it always goes?).
Auto Registration – Dyson makes it easy to register your vacuum. On select models bought directly on Dyson.com, you can receive up to $70 worth of free tools when you register your model. I purchased my vacuum during the holidays and received bonus attachments that are no longer availabe to purchase from the Dyson online store.
Price– Dyson vacuums are notorious for being expensive. This model costs about $700 and lasted only 2 years before the main body and cyclone unit gave out. I’m hoping it’s not the battery or that will cost me another $130. Overall, the vacuum and replacement parts are on the higher price points.
Repair centers – There aren’t a lot of repair centers. If you live near one, that’s great! But if you don’t and your warranty is expired, you’ll have to drop off your machine and pay out of pocket for repairs or purchase parts online. For me, the Dyson repair center is 80 miles away, which is a bit far to drop off my machine AND pay for repairs. I opted to purchase my part online and it cost me about $100 for the main body and cyclone unit.
Model discontinued – Since the Dyson V11 models are no longer being sold on Dyson’s website, I’m worried about buying parts in the future. Other older models are still being sold, so I’m not sure why this particular model has been discountinued.
Filter– If you buy this machine, buy a second filter. While it’s great that you can wash the filter, it takes 2-3 days to air dry the filter in normal weather. It may take longer to dry during winter or rainy seasons. I have placed it in my dryer on a dry shelf on low heat, but it still takes an entire day to completely dry. I want to purchase another filter, but it’s currently out of stock and I’m on a wait list. Update: 1/13/2023 – I was able to purchase another filter and will probably be purchasing a third one to replace the original filter that is worn out.
Hard floors – The torque drive head that comes with the unit does not clean hard floors well. It’s best to purchase the soft roller cleaner head (seen in the pros image), but it is no longer sold on Dyson. You will have to purchase this on Amazon or elsewhere.
Clean time– If you have a large house and need clean times of more than 25-30 minutes without recharging, a cordless might not be the best option. I can usually get the entire house vacuumed in less time, but it’s something to note if you need more vacuum time. Note: using the vacuum on Boost will usually only give you 5 minutes of intense clean time if used all at one time. It is possible to switch between modes and the vacuum will tell you how much clean time you have before needing to recharge.
Wall Mount – Needs to be near an outlet to plug-in the charging cord AND has to be mounted in studs. I couldn’t find studs near my outlet and used wall anchors to hold the unit. Unfortunately, wall anchors aren’t enough to keep the unit in place with constant use and the wall mount pulled away from the wall. Dyson does sell floor stands separately, but those are an additional $150. Another issue is that the wall mount will only hold two other attachments. The Dyson vacuum can hold two, so if you have more than 4 attachments, those will need another storage area. Update 1/13/2023 – I moved my wall mount into a small coat closet and mounted it into the studs. I also use an over the door shoe pocket organizer to help hold the vacuum attachments.
Battery – Cordless battery life is about 4 years. Be prepared to spend at least another $150 on a new battery every 4 years. Hopefully, your Dyson V11 Torque Drive doesn’t have any other issues before that time and that the battery is the only additional item you’ll need to replace. Note: There are after-market batteries available for less on Amazon, but there have been stories of these catching on fire, so I would skip those. Saving a few dollars isn’t worth the risk of losing your home to a fire.
So, would I recommend buying this vacuum? The short answer is no. For the first 2 years, I thoroughly enjoyed this vaccum, which is why my current issue is somewhat disappointing. I feel like I could have purchased a less expensive cordless vacuum or a Dyson corded vacuum and it would probably still be working. To me, spending $800 on a vacuum in 2 years is too much. I’ve had less costly corded vacuums that have lasted over 5 years with no issues at all.
Seeing as the Dyson V11 models are no longer available from Dyson online, my feeling is that these models may have been discontinued due to design flaws and part issues. These models are now only available for purchase from QVC or Amazon while older Dyson cordless models are still being sold on Dyson online. So, if you’re still looking to buy a Dyson cordless vacuum, those models may be a better option. If this vacuum has any other issues, I’ll be sure to update this post.
Some people are always going to mock the idea of buying a Dyson cordless vacuum. When I told a friend of mine I’ve been testing out the company’s latest, top-tier V11 Torque Drive — and revealed its $700 price — she couldn’t contain her laughter and quickly said, “I’ll stick with my $80 Bissell.” The Verge isn’t in the habit of reviewing vacuums, and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon. But if you’re in the market for a Dyson and opt to buy the most expensive V11, there’s something unique about it compared to all past models: it has an LCD screen. Maybe that’s why the company thought it made sense to send us one. I’m not going to be the one to sell you on a Dyson, but I do use plenty of screens. Does a vacuum cleaner really need one?
The circular display on the V11 Torque Drive has three purposes: it shows which mode you’re in when vacuuming, how much time you’ve got left before the battery runs out, and instructions for what to do if the device detects a blockage or that the filter needs replacing. And that’s basically it. It’s not a touchscreen; you switch between modes by pressing the button below the LCD.
But something about the screen made the V11 feel at least slightly more gadget-y than a typical corded stand-up vacuum. You’d hope something would feel a little special about this $700 suction machine — aside from Dyson’s famous ability to gloriously over-engineer anything. I think most of all, I really came to appreciate the real-time estimate of remaining battery life. You won’t find yourself hurriedly vacuuming to make sure you finish before it turns off. Dyson says the vacuum monitors battery capacity four times every second, which seems like overkill, but is also a very Dyson thing to do.
Auto: This is one of the new tricks of Dyson’s latest vacuum. It can detect when you’re on different surfaces and automatically adjust the intensity of suction power as you move between them. The power will ramp up on carpets and ease back down on hardwood floors. Auto mode allows for a really nice balance of battery life, reaching up to 30 minutes or so on a charge in my experience. It only works with the main “high torque” cleaner head, as the other bundled extensions lack the Dynamic Load Sensor system required for the V11 to know what type of floor it’s on. That brush head measures resistance (“Am I on a carpet or flat ground?”) up to 360 times per second. When other attachments are used, this mode changes to medium suction.
Boost: Here’s where the V11 Torque Drive shows its, well, torque. If you’ve got a challenging rug or something else that’s going to need a serious amount of suction, this is the mode for you. When in Boost, the motor can rev up to 125,000 rpm and the brush bar spins 60 times each second. You really feel this thing grabbing onto the floor to a surprising, very powerful degree. But Boost should really only be used for those heavy-duty situations, as you’ll get barely over 10 minutes of battery (even after a full charge) when you run this vacuum nonstop at full throttle.
Eco: If you’re just doing an in-between clean or have a house or apartment that’s pretty easy on vacuums, Eco mode will ensure you get the most from the V11’s battery. You should be able to reach upward of an hour before it dies, which is considerably longer than older Dyson cordless vacuums.
There’s no on or off switch on a Dyson, in case you’re unfamiliar with them. Instead, you’ve got to hold down the trigger on the handle to run the vacuum motor. One of my absolute favorite things about the V11 is the sound that it makes when you release that trigger: it’s like something out of a Marvel movie, or what I’d imagine a ray gun powering down to sound like. I had The Verge’s resident audio wiz Andrew Marino record it:
Yes, Dyson vacuums pick up a surprising and often disgusting amount of dust, dirt, dog hair, and other household grime. I live in an apartment with two pugs — one of them nearly 15 and shedding without abandon — and this cordless stick vacuum can suck all of it up. When it comes time to empty the V11, you just press down on the red lever and it fires all of the muck right into your trash bin. The filter, which Dyson says “traps 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns,” should be cleaned monthly, which only requires washing it with water and leaving it to dry for 24 hours.
At 6.68 pounds, the V11 is pretty comfortable to use in most cleaning scenarios, but your arm might get a little tired if you’re cleaning blinds or something overhead. Its maneuverability is excellent, allowing for tight turns, and you can hit those tough-to-reach spots using its collection of included attachments. The long aluminum cylinder can always be detached if it’s preventing you from getting somewhere, but it’s also an asset when reaching under beds since the V11 can basically lie flat.
I should mention that the cheaper $599 V11 Animal has all of the exact same functionality and cleaning power — including auto mode — as the pricier Torque Drive model. The only difference is that LCD screen. With the Animal, you get a less precise three-bar battery meter. You also lose out on one of the smaller cleaning brushes, but there are already plenty in the box as is.
So is the LCD worth an extra $100? It really depends on how much you care about a by-the-minute look at remaining battery runtime. It certainly helps alleviate the range anxiety that can happen with other Dyson vacuums, where you never really know when they are going to die on you. The videos for filter cleaning reminders or clearing out a blockage are also fairly convenient, as you’ll never have to worry about an instruction manual for your fancy vacuum. If you’re already committed to going in on a Dyson, maybe the extra cash won’t matter much to you.
But the V11’s introduction means that Dyson’s older cordless models are only going to get cheaper, and they’re plenty capable at sucking your floors clean — only without the screen.
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We nearly made the cheapest version of the LG CordZero the runner-up pick in this guide, and buying this vacuum instead of a Tineco S11 or a Dyson V8 is a reasonable choice. The LG CordZero isn’t as lightweight or smooth-steering as the Tineco S11, but it does have noticeably stronger suction. On the other hand, this LG model’s regular on/off power toggle is much more comfortable than the Dyson V8’s, but this vacuum doesn’t clean rugs quite as well. The low-end CordZero A9 is an in-betweener option, and a great fit for some people. The main weakness is that it snowplows more types of big debris on bare floors—even cat litter, to some extent—than most stick vacuums.
We had written off the CordZero in previous versions of this guide as an overpriced Dyson wannabe. But the price has fallen so sharply for the base model that it’s a much better choice now.
We still think the Triflex is a wonderful vacuum in a lot of important ways. Its best quality is the comfort—no other cordless vacuum beats the handling. You can convert it between two different body styles by rearranging the order in which the parts fit together (no tools needed). In its traditional upright configuration, the Triflex is the most balanced, comfortable, sturdy-feeling cordless vac we’ve ever used. (The modern stick-style configuration is fine, too, and it can also separate into a Dustbuster-like handheld vac.) It hugs the ground in a way we haven’t experienced with almost any other battery-powered machine. The cleaning performance was also excellent in our tests: It wasn’t quite as effective as the top-of-the-line Dyson models at digging fine dust out of thick carpets, but it was better than nearly all other models, and it did an excellent job on bare floors (without our having to switch to a specialty cleaning head as on most cordless vacuums). The only major downside we could glean from our initial testing was the small, hard-to-use dustbin.
The Lupe Pure Cordless is billed as a strong, long-lasting cordless vacuum that will allow you to continually replace parts over time instead of chucking the whole machine when a single part fails. (It began as a Kickstarter project by some former Dyson engineers, and it actually came to fruition—good for them.) We’ll have to wait and see whether that proves to be true. It certainly feels like a sturdy vacuum, but we don’t have any solid evidence that it’ll be longer-lasting than other expensive cordless vacuums we’ve tested.
As for the basics, the Lupe Pure Cordless is actually the most powerful bare-floor cleaner we’ve tested, thanks to very strong suction and an unusual dual-roller head design. We found that it’s excellent on carpets, as well, though not on the level of the (less expensive) Dyson V15. It can’t convert into a handheld vacuum, but it does have a flexible hose that mostly accomplishes the same thing. The big downside is the handling: It’s heavy and a little hard to steer compared with most cordless stick vacs, and it tends to jam on area rugs that other sticks have no problem with.
The Shark Rocket lineup was thoroughly mediocre in our testing, but the new Shark Vertex IZ462 is worth a look if you frequently need to suck up large debris (think yard waste or breakfast cereal) alongside your regular rug-cleaning routine. Its carpet performance is respectable for a vacuum with such magnet-like prowess on bare floors—a great compromise for people who really need both, in other words. We don’t recommend it for a wide audience because our analysis of customer reviews suggests that very few people really want this kind of floor-carpet balance in their vacuum’s cleaning performance. (Owners are much more likely to comment on a vacuum’s carpet-cleaning performance, we found.) The Vertex is also noticeably heavier than the Tineco or Dyson models we recommend, and the mechanism that locks the vacuum into the upright position didn’t always click into place for us, giving the vacuum a bit of a cheap feel. (For those who might be keeping track: This is an updated version of the Shark Ion F80, which we recommended in this guide a few years ago.)
I’d like to begin this section by taking a moment to remember the Hoover Linx, Wirecutter’s first ever pick for the best cordless vacuum in 2014 and a budget pick for many years until it finally disappeared from stores in fall 2021. Despite its modest suction and short battery life by the standards of the past few years, it was unusually sturdy for a battery-powered appliance. That alone is why we continued to recommend it for people who wanted something not too expensive for quick cleanups. Thanks for the memories!
The first is the Hoover OnePwr Evolve Pet, which is sort of an updated version of the Linx available for a similar price ($150-ish). It had respectably strong suction in our tests and worked okay on rugs, but not nearly as well as the Black+Decker Powerseries Extreme that we recommend. And like the Black+Decker, this Hoover model is a snowplower on bare floors. The traditional self-standing design is easy to steer and store. Hoover has switched most of its lineup, including the Evolve, to a unified battery pack system, so finding replacement batteries should be easy for at least the next few years, and they’re reasonably priced, too. Unfortunately, the rate of battery pack failure is uncomfortably high, according to our AI-assisted analysis of customer reviews—about 10% of owners cited that as a problem, and the vacuum has been out for only about 18 months at this writing, so that isn’t a great sign.
What about all those cheap sticks on Amazon? You might be reasonably happy with one when it’s brand-new, but we’re confident that none of them will last, so we’ve decided not to waste any more of anybody’s time trying to figure out which $100 Dyson knockoff might pick up a few extra grains of sand before it heads to the landfill in a year.
Roborock (which makes some of our favorite robot vacuums) makes a strong, comfortable-to-use, somewhat overpriced cordless stick vacuum, the H7. (We also tested its predecessor, the H6, a couple of years ago.) It’s particularly great on rugs, landing between the Dyson V8 and V11 in our test results. The unusual part here is the battery: It’s a polymer “soft pack” that offers as much run time as on most competing models but is less bulky. And if you want, you can swap out the H7’s cyclonic filter and pop in a vacuum bag instead for easier dirt disposal. We found that using the bag chokes the suction a bit but otherwise seems to work well—you’ll just have to replace the tiny bags pretty frequently. We like the Roborock H7 vacuum a lot, but we’re not ready to recommend it because we have no idea how durable it will be: Soft-pack batteries do not have a track record in vacuum cleaners yet. A Roborock representative also told us that the company doesn’t yet have plans to sell replacement batteries and expects owners to move on to a new vacuum every three years or so.
Samsung isn’t known for its vacuums in North America, but it released a slew of new cordless stick vacs in 2021. We tested the Jet 70 and found that it was just okay, really nothing special among a crowded field. In our tests it was a decent carpet cleaner, though not quite as strong as the similarly priced Tineco S11 or Dyson V8. It was also the worst snowplower we tested on bare floors—it pushed around more types of debris without sucking the stuff up than the other models we tested. Spare parts for the Jet 70 and other Samsung Jet sticks are also more expensive than other brands’ spares—even Dyson’s. Samsung sells a few other variants of the Jet sticks, but the main differences are the suction levels and accessory kits. Of note, the Jet 90 will work with an optional accessory (usually $200) that empties the vacuum on its own, though we have not tested it.
Dyson makes a couple of models that aren’t very compelling. The Dyson Omni-glide is meant to be a nimble vacuum designed for cleaning bare floors. We cover it in greater depth in our guide to hard-floor vacuums, but in a nutshell, we just didn’t find it to be very comfortable to use or very good at cleaning bare floors.
We tried the Hoover OnePwr Blade+, which worked great on short rugs and did a solid job of getting heavy debris out of thicker rugs, especially considering the price. The main downside is that it snowplows big debris like nobody’s business. Also, the Blade+ is awkwardly top-heavy, and this vacuum (like the OnePwr Evolve, which we covered above) has a lot more negative reviews about battery failures than we expect to see. Hoover makes a bunch of other vacuums in the OnePwr series that we may test in the future, though nothing jumps off the page as an obvious challenger for any of our picks.
We tested the Bissell AirRam a few years ago. It has good ratings from several other publications that test and review vacuums, but we didn’t find it to be outstanding on either bare floors or carpets. It doesn’t convert to a handheld vacuum, and the handling is stiff—though not top-heavy, as with most other cordless sticks.
The expensive Bissell ICONpet Pro (now discontinued) was just okay on rugs and not great on bare floors. It also felt heavier in the hand than most models and was otherwise unremarkable. The regular ICONpet is much more affordable but still isn’t anything special for the price.
We like a lot of Eufy products, but not the HomeVac S11 Infinity. It’s priced like a Dyson but cleans like a cheap vacuum. It could be worth a look if Eufy cuts the price to $150.
Tacony makes cordless vacuums under its Simplicity and Riccar labels, but none of them are standouts. The most impressive is the Simplicity Cordless Freedom, at $700. But it can’t convert into a handheld vacuum, and it lacks a hose, offers less suction, has a less-aggressive brush roll, and is heavier and harder to steer than the Dyson V11 Torque Drive.
Let’s go pro-level deep and look at the features, tools, and maintenance of Dyson’s latest stick vacuum. This is a comprehensive review of the Dyson V11 stick vacuum.
We buy amazing tech but sometimes those next-level features never actualize for us because we don’t take the time to learn how to use the item to its maximum capabilities. When I got my Dyson V11, I sat down for an hour or so reading instructions and watching videos learning as much as I could. Not because I have tons of time or a passion for vacuums (in fact, it’s my least favorite cleaning task), but because I just want to be so efficient with it so I can get the best results in the least amount of time. Plus, it’s my job. But most people aren’t pro cleaners for a living like I am, which is why I’m going to take what I have learned and level you up really quickly. You’ll have your Ph.D. in Dyson V11-ology by the time I’m done with you. I have designed this post to teach you everything you’ll need to know about using it LIKE A PRO, all in layman’s terms.
I am so excited to be partnering with Dyson Canada on this post; it has been a longtime dream of mine to work with Dyson since I’ve been using their tools for so many years and can vouch for how top-notch they are. So three cheers for realizing your dreams!
The design is simple – the red buttons you see can be pressed to release the attached object or tool, and that’s where to match the snap-in connector. I find that a lot of people struggle with the mechanics of attaching and detaching attachments on vacuums which leads to rattling, shaking and unnecessary ‘vacuum aggression’ (which I’ve been known to have myself). A tip I always share is, if you are working too hard or feel you might break something while attaching or removing a tool, that’s not how the mechanism was intended to be operated. If you are doing this properly, it should be very easy. If it’s not easy, re-strategize until you figure it out.
The wall mount isn’t just there to look pretty, it charges your vacuum when not in use and stores tools. Plus, let’s be honest, it looks RAD. Hang it up. Just do it. Trust me.
Dyson has allowed users to select power modes for several iterations now. With the V11, three options are offered to help maximize up to approximately 60 minutes of fade-free cleaning (I’ll explain this concept shortly!) on a single charge. The three settings are:
You can easily select the mode by tapping the silver button and remember, the less power the vacuum uses, the longer the battery can last. A feature I really like that the LCD screen displays a run-time countdown to the secondwhile the vacuum is in use. This allows you to make better power mode decisions and maximize your cleaning time. Interestingly, a lot of people think they have to clean in max mode to get the best clean – a common mistake that drains the battery – but remember, the vacuum can perform really well in all three modes. Engage the right mode at the right time and you’ll always get great results. Also, a quick reminder this is a dry vacuum only, so please don’t use this on anything damp or wet – let all surfaces dry before using.
One of the criticisms that cordless vacuums receive is that they compromise on suction. They’re so small, they have no corded power source, how can it really…clean? I hear this all the time. In fact, when tested, the V11 twice the suction of any cord-free vacuum on the market (!!!!). Further, it offers up to 60 minutes of fade-free cleaning. When you read the term ‘fade-free’ battery, this means that toward the end of the clean when the charge is just about gone, the vacuum will still work as well as it did when it just finished charging. I have noticed that time and again, when I use it on debris both large and small, it does a great job with suction. Yes, I’m a fan if it wasn’t already obvious.
This is a very handy addition to the V11 model. Not only does it display power modes and has that run-time countdown that I mentioned earlier, but it also helps troubleshoot blockages and common problems. If it detects a blockage, it’ll display a message on the screen and show you where to look for the blockage. Dyson told me that about 80% of their help center calls were for easily solvable challenges which is why they created this handy feature. I also like it because rather than scheduling or guessing, the screen will tell you when to clean the filter (it even reminds you how to twist it off!). Honestly, when I first heard about the screen I wasn’t overly moved by it but once trying it out and comparing it to previous Dyson models and other brands, I understood just how helpful this feature was. It allowed me to be smarter with my vacuuming.
This is where we can go really deep on technology, but I am not going to do that here because I need you to stay with me. What you need to know is this: Dyson has over 300 engineers working in the motors team alone, and you can clearly see how well dirt is being sucked up by just looking in the bin. It’s hard technology to replicate and they do it really well, arguably, best in the category.
I find this can be one of the more confusing things to understand when we are being ‘told’ about a vacuum, so I want to take the time to explain this. A vacuum’s job is to remove allergens and dirt from the surface it covers, filter out these particles – large and small – from the air, it sucks up and expels clean air via the exhaust – thus improving indoor air quality all the while not clogging, overheating and looking sleek. It’s a BIG ask. A lot has to go right for this to work properly and many vacuums simply fall short. While admittedly geeky, I think this should be a major consideration factor when thinking about vacuums because this is what vacuums are all about, improving indoor air quality by removing dust, debris, and allergens.
When air and debris end up in a vacuum’s bin/canister, we hope everything filters out by the time the exhaust air blows out. With a Dyson vacuum, the design is such that a lot happens right IN THE BIN before air ever hits the filters at the back/top of the vacuum thanks to cyclone technology and the digital motor (this is called full machine filtration). Let me explain: when dirt and air are sucked into the bin, the motor activates that cyclone technology to spin super fast and separate out dirt and allergens from the air. By the time the air has been shot out of the bin and into the top filtration system, much of it has already been cleaned, leaving those filters to do less work. In fact, the filtration system is so powerful that it captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, making sure only clean air is expelled – so that exhaust air hitting you is ????CLEAN????. As an aside, I am told the V11 filtration and sealing system took three engineers and six months to perfect! Plus, the V11 filters are hand washable, reusable, and the LCD screen will indicate when the filter needs cleaning. I should also mention that Dyson vacuums are allergy and asthma certified. If you have pets, kids, or allergy and asthma sufferers at home, effective filtration is non-negotiable. Comprehensive, yes. Geeky, yes. Important, yes.
This is the head you’ll want to use for all soft surfaces, but know that it can transition and be used on hard floor surfaces, too. This head features Dyson’s Dynamic Load Sensor technology which means the tool knows how much suction is required for a job based on the floor type, ensuring you get more out of your battery life – all by kicking the vacuum into auto mode when the cleaner head is clicked in. What’s cool is that when it transitions from hard to soft surfaces, you’ll hear the suction level adjust.
A couple of other things to note, the velvet strip bordering the frame helps to protect the vacuum head from nicking a piece of furniture or a wall if it bumps into it, and the red +/- adjuster on the front allows you to manually adjust for high (+) or low (-) pile carpet. You’ll find once you make that adjustment, your vacuum glides easily on carpet. I leave it on (-) because I have low pile rugs and hard floors.
This offers up two in one for cleaning tight spaces around the house. Admittedly, when I first started vacuuming with a Dyson I had no clue what this tool was for but I’ve since seen the light: it provides extra cleaning oomph to tight areas where a bit of brushing is needed before anything can be vacuumed up. For example, I have a sliding glass door leading to a deck. The tracks get dusty and dirty when the door is used a lot in the summer. This tool is perfect for cleaning that sliding door track – it sweeps the tight corners and tiny edges that collect dust and leaves the tight area clean. So the next time you find yourself vacuuming and tight corner and wish you could just sweep some debris out before vacuuming, that’s when you’ll reach for this combo tool. It’s also great for car interiors and when snapped into the extension pole, it’s perfect for high dusting. Remember, if you don’t need the bristles, just pull them back and use the larger crevice tool.
Here’s another tool I wasn’t quite sold on for a while until I figured it out and started using it. Tsk tsk, just another classic example of how something so brilliant can be underutilized. The oval-shaped brush with soft bristles is used for delicate surface cleaning or – and this is a thing – vacuum-assisted dusting. Never heard of it? That’s OK. For all the years you wished you could have used a vacuum to get the dust out of those terribly tricky areas such as piles of computer wires, your crumb-laden keyboard, artwork, dusty light fixtures, mantles, brick or textured walls, tops of books on a bookshelf, planters, woven baskets, door frames and door panels, lampshades.. you get the idea! Problem now solved! You just needed vacuum-assisted dusting in your life. And here it is! The soft bristles gently sweep the dust away and are flexible enough to clean surfaces that have a lot of texture or are quite delicate.
And now, cleaning the vacuum cleaner. As the famous meme goes, when you clean the vacuum cleaner, you become the vacuum cleaner. The Dyson V11 is simple to maintain *but* maintenance is crucial. Since these aren’t exactly a drop in the bucket, I want to show you how to take proper care of yours. If you take care of it, it will last you for a long, long time.
The V11 has an easy to use and hygienic ‘point and shoot’ design, meaning that your face is far, far away from the bin/canister as it empties out. I’ve spent years vacuuming with various vacuums and I can’t tell you how many times a poorly-designed vacuum has literally blown dirt in my face upon emptying. When ready to empty (please, don’t be one of those people who lets the vacuum debris go over the max fill line!), remove all tools and hold the vacuum, bin facing down, over a garbage bin. Place your finger and thumb on the red tab and push downward. The bin will pop down, releasing the debris. Give it a good shake and then manually close the lid and pop the bin back up until you hear an audible click.
I know this was a bit long, but listen, if I am going to teach you how to use a Dyson V11 stick vacuum, I am going to teach you the RIGHT way to use it. And now that you know what you know, I can assure you that you’ll use it to its maximum capacity and get much more utility and enjoyment out of it. And that’s saying a lot from someone who hatesto vacuum!
Again, a special thanks to Dyson Canada for partnering with us on this article. If you want to learn more about the vacuum you can visit Dyson Canada.
The V11 brings more convenience to the table, like the sensor in the main cleaning head that automatically adjusts the suction depending on the floor type.
There isn’t much of a difference when it comes to surface pick-up for both. Theone advantage the Dyson V11 has is its ability to deep clean (30% better) for extended periods – up to 43 minutes.
Both vacuums utilize Dyson’s latest battery technology and the digital motor, enabling them to clean better and run longer than most cord-free stick vacuums.
Power: The Dyson V11 has 8.38% more airflow at the main cleaning head and 10.2% more at the wand than the V10, which translates to better overall cleaning performance on carpets.
Intelligent suction: Inside the V11’s main cleaning head is a sensor that detects the floor type and selects the right setting. This feature is there for convenience if you don’t want the hassle of constantly flipping through the different settings every time you encounter a transition. It helps extend the battery because you’re always using the proper setting.
Digital screen: The V11 (only available Absolute and Torque Drive) has a digital display that provides information about run time, cleaning mode, and when to clean the filters. This feature isn’t available with the V10.
Run time: The V11 will run for up to 74 minutes with the main cleaning head attached at the lowest setting, while the V10 only tops out at 61 minutes with the crevice tool.
Power Mode: Using the button below the screen, you can toggle between low, medium, and high power settings. You can also set it to automatic if you want more convenience.
Note that the screen is only available with the Torque Drive and Absolute versions. Unfortunately, it’s not available in the V11 Animal. The V11 Absolute is only available in the United Kingdom.
There’s no question that Dyson vacuums are excellent products that will clean the home. Are you willing to pay top dollar for the conveniences it brings to the table? If not, check out these Shark vacuums that aren’t as expensive but provide almost as much versatility and performance.
Direct drive head: This is the same tool found in the Dyson V7 and V8. It does not have adjustable gates and won’t do as well on hard floors. Only found in the V10 MotorHead.
Torque drive: This is an upgrade over the direct-drive head with two adjustable gates that dramatically improve debris pick-up on hard surfaces. This tool is available with the V10 Animal and V11 Torque Drive.
Soft roller (of Fluffy): Dyson developed a unique tool for hard floors. It has a soft roller bar that can capture even large dirt. Only available with the Absolute option.
Wall mountable dock: An optional tool for storing and charging the vacuum and some attachments. It will require drilling a few holes in the wall. There are third-party, self-standing docking stations available at different prices for people who don’t want to drill holes. Dyson also sells its version they call the DOK. One advantage these products have is the ability to store all the attachments in one place.
Next, we’ll look at how the V10 and V11 will clean on various surfaces. Most of these tests will focus on how these vacuumsperform on hardwood and carpets.
The V11’s torque drive also works well on hard floors, but it didn’t pick up everything in the forward pass when cleaning sand. It was able to clean everything in the subsequent passes.
Even if the V11 does not have the torque drive (at least in the US market), it still does very well on hard surfaces. This is a good indicator of the excellent design features of this tool.
On a low-pile carpet, the results are very close. Both scored high marks on this surface, with the V11 with a slighter better score in three of the four tests.
One advantage that the V11 has over the V10 is it runs longer in the middle setting. So between the two, I would get the V11 if your home has lots of carpet.
The V11 scored higher in 4 out of the five tests and did much better in the deep cleaning test because it could pick up more than 100%. Even in the middle (or auto) setting, the V11 picked up 99.97%, which is impressive for a cordless vacuum.
Having a larger motor and battery cells increases the weight of the V11. It weighs around 6.68 pounds, with most of it at the handle — the V10 weighs about 5.9 pounds.
It’s pretty simple to empty the Dyson V10 bin, just point, then push the lever down to empty contents. This system is much easier than the V6’s non-hygienic system; that’s pretty messy.
In the lowest power mode using the soft roller tool, the V11 will run for 81 minutes. For the V10, the number is 61 minutes using the crevice tool in the lowest setting.
One significant advantage the V11 has over the V10 is in deep cleaning. In the medium setting, which, in my opinion, is the most optimal setting for both on carpets, the difference is 10%.
Here’s the kicker: using the torque drive tool in the auto (or mid) setting, the V11 will still run for 73 minutes, while the V10 will run for more than 25 minutes.
V11 has lots of convenience features that will help make your life easier. One significant upgrade over the V10 is the motor’s digital display at the back.
The Dyson V11 has more power across all the power settings. Please check the chart below for the figures in CFM. I used an anemometer at the wand and main cleaning head to measure airflow.
Regarding ergonomics, the Dyson V10 would be the better option. It is lighter, thus less straining to use areas above floors. The difference between the two is less than a pound, but those extra ounces can wear on your arm and wrist.
Costs less: Dollar for dollar, the Dyson V10 provides exception value, the cheaper option than the V11. Cleaning tests show that the V10 has almost the same performance, at least on picking up surface dirt, with just a minuscule 1% difference.
Runs for an hour: Dyson says that the V10 will run for 60 minutes, and tests show that it exceeds this figure at 61 minutes. But that’s using non-motorized attachments. Even with the cleaning heads, it will run close to 29 minutes, which is a great number for a cordless.
You want the fluffy tool: This tool works wonders on bare floors, capable of picking up small and dirt pieces. Unfortunately, the V11 Absolute is only available in the UK. So if you need this tool, go for the V10 Absolute.
Better deep cleaning tool: The V11’s higher airflow is felt most in deep cleaning carpet, which is where it shines. It could still pick up 99% even in the middle power setting.
Cleans for more than an hour: Both options have a listed run time of 60 minutes. However, tests show that the V11 will run significantly longer – up to 80 minutes (40 minutes using the torque drive tool in the medium setting)!
Digital screen display: This screen tells you the battery status, cleaning mode, and when to clean the filter. It is a feature unique to the V11 Torque Drive (and Absolute in the UK).
Automatically adjusts suction:It has a sensor that detects the floor type (carpet or hard floor) and automatically adjusts suction to fit the surface. Dyson calls it the Dynamic Load Sensor that will detect resistance and change motor speed accordingly.
However, the V11’s cleaner head also has a dynamic load sensor (DLS). Dyson says the DLS checks resistance to the brush head approximately 360 times per second and communicates this information to both the motor and the battery’s microprocessors to calibrate the suction power and estimate battery life.
It’s incredibly sensitive and effective. It was fun to vacuum my rug and see the screen toggle between battery times and suction power depending on which parts of my 10- by 10-foot rug needed more cleaning (10 minutes! 30 minutes! 10 minutes again!).
It also allows the battery to be much more efficient. I vacuumed my house for 30 minutes, toggling intermittently between Boost and medium power modes, and had plenty of battery life left. Dyson says that the battery is meant to be continuously recharged. Over time, the microprocessors will more accurately gauge how much run time you have while cleaning different surfaces in your home.
A pressure sensor will also send you an alert on the screen if the tube is blocked; the V11 will also alert you if the filter needs to be washed or cleaned. I couldn"t test this because I couldn"t find anything that would block the vacuum tube. So far, Legos and quarters haven’t worked.
Finally, the Torque Drive comes with a bewildering variety of different brush heads. You can clip some into the wall hanger, and there"s a bracket to put two tools on the wand itself, but you"ll still probably have to find a bin somewhere. Because I never saw it, I completely forgot the mini motorized head existed. I found that the crevice tool and combination tool, which lets you slide a brush up and down, were all that I needed.Dyson
For 25 years, Dyson’s raison d’etre has been to make leaps in product design, charge you out the nose for it, and then watch it become the industry standard (bladeless fans! bagless vacs!). It’s impossible to talk about the V11 without mentioning its extravagant price, which is a whopping $700.
The V11 does come in a cheaper Animal version for $600, which gets you most of the same amenities. It has the same intelligent monitoring system, light weight, and large, 0.2-gallon dust bin. It doesn"t have a run time counter, and it has an LED screen instead of an LCD. You also get one less tool. But that"s still a lot of money.
It"s even more money when you consider that, earlier this year, Consumer Reports removed Dyson’s stick vacuums from its list of recommended products because nearly half of the customers who’d bought one discovered problems within the first five years of operation. Dyson sells it with a two-year warranty.
If the price really throws you, you can find previous iterations of the Dyson stick vacs, like the V10, for a few hundred dollars less right now. I have two Dyson vacuums, one of which is nine years old, and I haven"t had any problems with either. As always, the future is always in motion, but so far the V11 Torque Drive is a good vac to bet on.
Enter the Shark Rocket Pet Pro. Available for $330, it delivers cleaning power that closely matches the V11, but it costs much less than Dyson"s luxury appliance. How do these two modern vacuum cleaners really measure up against each other? Let"s take a deep dive into the particular strengths and weaknesses of each model.
With a steep sticker price of $600, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive is one of the most expensive cordless vacuum cleaners on the market. It"s also the best performing stick vac we"ve tested to date. The V11 scoured our lab floors virtually spotless, picking up numerous types of dirt and debris in the process. It"s simple to operate, too, and it comes with lots of extra attachments in the box.
At $300, the Shark Rocket Pet Pro sure costs a lot less than Dyson"s flagship stick vac. But that doesn"t mean it isn"t a worthy challenger. In fact, in many areas, the Rocket matched the Dyson V11"s uncanny ability to clean our test floors. It"s also a breeze to operate, which is yet another reason to consider buying this machine.
The primary mission of any vacuum is to remove as much dirt and debris from your floors as possible. In this department, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive does not disappoint. On our most difficult vacuum test -- sand -- the V11 showcased its prowess and picked up the highest percentage of grit we tossed across our test flooring. That covers three types of floor surfaces, too; hardwood (99.59%), low-pile carpet (78.53%) and mid-pile carpet (71.57%).
The Shark Rocket Pet Pro was no slouch here either, vacuuming up almost as much sand from our lab floors as the Dyson V11. It managed 67.59% pickup on low-pile carpeting, which is about 10% less than the V11 -- but on thicker, plushier mid-pile carpeting, it picked up 72.41%, which beats Dyson by a nose.
Both vacuums had little difficulty pulling sand away from hardwood floors, where there aren"t any carpet fibers for particles to cling to and hide beneath. The Shark came in at a perfect 100% while the Dyson V11 picked up 99.59% of the debris.Percentage of sand removed
Pet hair isn"t a problem either. The V11 removed all traces of dander from mid-pile and low-pile carpets without any issues. On hardwood, however, the Dyson missed a stray clump, and a few stands became wrapped around the brush roll, too.
Outfitted with a handy LCD screen, the Dyson V11 displays relevant information such as battery level and its predicted runtime. It"s a good design, with the LCD sitting above the handle on the back of the machine, so it"s always within sight while you"re using it. Emptying the V11"s dustbin is a cinch too. Just point the vacuum into the trash, push its release tab away from you, then pull it back. It"s the simplest procedure on a stick vac that I"ve seen.The Dyson V11 has a handy LCD screen that displays how much vacuum time left in its battery.Dyson
With the most cleaning tools in the box, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive is the clear winner in terms of extras. Apart from the main High Torque cleaner head, you get five additional attachments. Here"s a quick rundown:Mini motorized tool
At half the price of the Dyson V11, the Shark Rocket Pet Pro is the hands-down best choice if your objective is to save money. That"s not to say you can"t snag a
With a score of 3 to 1, it isn"t quite a clean sweep, but the Dyson V11 Torque Drive comes out on top. Ultimately, it"s the better overall choice if you value raw performance and lots of included extras. On the other hand, if your goal is to save as much cash as possible without sacrificing too much cleaning ability, the Shark Rocket Pet Pro is a compelling alternative.
I could say this is the best vacuum I’ve ever used other than my 19 year old Miele Silver Moon canister vacuum. What keeps me from it? I can quickly answer that. # 1) Dyson needs to add an LED headlight on both the power nozzle and the handle of this vacuum. That way you can see where to clean, what not to accidentally vacuum up! I hate not having a headlight on a vacuum. I like one on the handle as well so if you’re using as a hand held vac you can see to do that as well ( vacuuming in your car for example). 2) I think Dyson needs to come up with a way to make this vacuum stand on its own without having to attach it to the wall! I don’t like vacuums hanging on my walls ( I find that unattractive)- they need to make the handle fold or come up with something creative to allow their vacuums to be free standing. If Dyson would listen and do these things then I would agree that it’s the best vacuum out there other than the Miele. Until then, I think they have room for improvements!!!!