We used the mattress tool to slow-vacuum our mattress. We tested the stiff bristle brush, which we found helpful to agitate sand on carpet or in the trunk area of a car. The Dyson also has attachments available for purchase. If you’re a pet owner, the mini motorized tool is a helpful addition to your pet cleaning arsenal. With the V6, we resorted to the stiff brush attachment to remove pet hair, and hair tended to catch in the brush rather than actually reach the waste canister. The beater bar of this tool unlocks so you can easily clear obstructions. The mini motorized tool effectively removes pet hair from furniture and upholstery. In addition to the tools offered with the V6, the V7 also includes a mini motorized tool for pet hair. Similar to the V6, the V7 comes with a crevice tool and a combination tool that was soft enough to vacuum dust on a keyboard. The V7 has been acoustically engineered to reduce volume and improve sound quality, which we verified with a lowered decibel level of 89.3 dB. The V7 improves upon its predecessor with a longer run time (a total of 30 minutes) and reduced noise. We verified this in our testing, with the V7 giving us the same results as the V6 on MAX power mode.
However, on MAX mode the performance is the same: 100W. The Dyson V7 has slightly less power than the V6 on normal mode, with 28W suction power on the V6 versus 21W suction power on the V7. Also, the V6 model gave you the option to lock the trigger for continuous suction, but the redesigned V7 trigger must be compressed at all times. One downside we did notice in tight spots (such as a car seat) is that because of the angle of the nozzle, you sometimes had to turn your arm around to get the correct angle. Rather than pushing downward with two thumbs, you pull the lever upwards to drive out trapped dirt and debris without getting messy. The canister of the V6 model tended to stick, but they improved this feature with the V7 release. The Dyson doesn’t have this problem because it empties out downward with the pull of a lever.
With the models that require you to twist off the waste bin lid, the pressure of releasing it could sometimes cause dust to scatter over your hand and the container you’re emptying it into. One of the features that makes the Dyson so convenient to grab and go is its hygienic one-touch bin emptying. When vacuuming a car interior and moving from area to area, we found this a great tactic for conserving enough battery to get the entire job done in one go.
The trigger releases instantly, so you aren’t fussing with an on/off switch, and battery power is only used for vacuuming. In addition to strong suction, the Dyson’s point and shoot design made it the most comfortable to handle. It's pricier than the others, but worth it. The V7 Trigger lives up to Dyson's reputation for innovation, power and design. Incredible suction power combined with easy handling makes it the most effective handheld vacuum at handling, quick but messy cleanup jobs. The dust was so fine on these surfaces that it wasn’t visible on the surfaces themselves, but you could clearly see material in the collection container after the job was done. This allows it to capture more fine dust, which was clearly evident when we vacuumed a mattress, window blinds and a computer keyboard. Radial cyclones are arranged in two tiers to increase airflow and create a vortex that spins at an incredibly high speed, then spins it out into the filter. The second, tucked inside the first, creates a cyclone that can reach 900 mph, which can spin out and collect even the smallest dust particles.ĭespite a high price point, we felt it was worth every penny. The first creates a vortex that spins at about 200 mph and flings large particles out of the air into a dust-collecting cup. Dyson invented the first cyclonic vacuum cleaner, and its increasing popularity has spawned several imitators. With a reputation that precedes it, the Dyson – V7 Trigger does not disappoint. In fact, it was Sir James Dyson who invented the concept. The Dyson brand is famous for its digital motor and cyclonic action.
Runner-up: Black + Decker – 20V MAX FLEX.While priced significantly higher than its counterparts, the Dyson’s long-lasting lithium battery, V7 digital motor and two tiers of radial cyclones give it a leg-up on our other finalists. After 30 hours of research and four months of in-house testing with eight top products, we feel confident recommending the Dyson – V7 Trigger as the best handheld vacuum.