Dyson V8 vs V7 Animal: Which is Better for Pet Owners?
By Naila Syifa
Updated August 2024
If you're a pet parent looking for an efficient vacuum to tackle pet hair and dander, you've likely come across the Dyson V7 Animal, a cordless stick vacuum designed specifically for pet owners. How does it compare to the Dyson V8, which is a more enhanced model in Dyson's cordless vacuum lineup?
Key Takeaways
While the Dyson V8 has a more powerful suction and a longer runtime, the V7 Animal charges faster and offers more versatile attachments for a range of cleaning tasks. However, the V8's attachments are more pet-friendly as they have hair de-tangling capabilities.
Dyson V8
Improved Cordless Vacuum
✓ Motorbar Cleaner Head
✓ 115 AW Suction
✓ Hair Screw Tool
✓ 40 Minutes Runtime
Dyson V7 Animal
Cordless Vacuum for Homes with Pets
✓ Direct Drive Cleaner Head
✓ 100 AW Suction
✓ HEPA Filtration
✓ 30 Minutes Runtime
#1 Design & Attachments
Dyson V7 Animal
Dyson V7 Animal and V8 look virtually identical, coming in the same sleek, ergonomic design that can easily be lifted to clean high areas and maneuver around furniture. The V8 is slightly heavier, but the difference is negligible.
They have the same 0.14 gallon (0.54 L) bin capacity, and both feature a hygienic dirt ejector for easy emptying. Simply pull the lever to release the bin contents directly into the trash.
Both vacuums can convert between a handheld and stick vacuum and offer a range of attachments to tackle different cleaning tasks. However, they differ in the type of attachments and tools included in the box.
Dyson V7 Animal comes with a Direct Drive Cleaner Head, a Combination Tool, a Crevice Tool, a Mini Soft Dusting Brush, and a Mini Motorized Tool. Meanwhile, the V8 model offers a Motorbar Cleaner Head, a Hair Screw Tool, a Combination Tool, and a Crevice Tool.
The V7 Animal's Direct Drive Cleaner Head excels at extracting deeply embedded dirt from carpets and capturing fine dust on hard floors. Meanwhile, the Motorbar Cleaner Head of the V8 comes with 43 hair removal vanes that specialize in de-tangling pet hair from the brush bar. This makes it more pet hair-friendly than the V7 Animal's Direct Drive Cleaner Head.
Hair Screw Tool of Dyson V8
The additional Hair Screw Tool included with the V8 is also a useful tool for homes with pets. This small, anti-tangle conical brush bar can effectively remove pet hair from small surfaces like pet beds, car seats, upholstery, or mattresses.
While the V7 Animal's Mini Motorized Tool is similar to the Hair Screw Tool in that it can remove debris and hair from small spaces, it is not equipped with de-tangling technology like the Hair Screw Tool. Another tool included with the V7 Animal, the Mini Soft Dusting Brush, isn't a pet-dedicated tool either. It is simply an additional attachment meant to be used on delicate objects and surfaces like electronics or furniture.
Therefore, while the V7 Animal comes with more attachments, the V8 is better equipped with pet-specific tools that make it more suitable for homes with pets.
#2 Features
Dyson V8
The Digital Motor V8 of the Dyson V8 is able to generate up to 115 AW suction power, which is 15% more powerful than the 100 AW suction generated by the Digital Motor V7 in the Dyson V7 Animal. A more powerful suction makes the V8 more effective at picking up pet hair and deep-seated dirt from carpets and upholstery.
Other than the motor, most other features between the Dyson V7 Animal and V8 are similar, including the 15 cyclones to capture fine dust, HEPA filtration system that traps allergens and pet dander (V8 Absolute), two power modes (Powerful mode for longer suction and MAX for stronger suction at the expense of reduced runtime.
#3 Battery
Dyson V7 Animal
Dyson V8 is powered by a six-cell energy-dense battery, which can last for up to 40 minutes in Powerful mode when used with non-motorized tools. Under Max mode or when used with motorized tools, the runtime is reduced even further. This short runtime is not ideal for larger homes or extensive cleaning sessions, but the Dyson V7 Animal has an even shorter battery life.
Dyson V7 Animal can last up to 30 minutes in Powerful mode with a non-motorized tool, 20 minutes with a motorized cleaner head, and 6 minutes in Max mode.
However, the V7 Animal charges quicker at around 3.5 hours, while the V8 can take around 5 hours to fully charge.
Dyson V8 vs V7 Animal
Final Thoughts
Dyson V8
Dyson V8's superior suction power and pet-specific attachments make it the better choice for pet owners who want a more thorough and efficient cleaning experience. It also provides a longer runtime, though recharging can take quite long.
Dyson V7 Animal, despite being the 'lite' version with less suction power and runtime, has a quick charging time that makes it appealing for smaller cleaning jobs or quick spot cleaning tasks. In addition, the V7 Animal also offers more versatile attachments/tools, though they are not as specialized for pet hair removal as the V8's accessories.
If you like to read more about Dyson cordless vacuums, check out our other relevant guides here:
Dyson V7 vs V8
Dyson V8 vs V10
Dyson V8 vs V11
Dyson V8 vs V12
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