Dyson Ball Animal 3 - Pros & Cons

So what did we like and what did we not like about our Dyson Ball Animal 3? Let’s look at the pros and cons.

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 is Dyson’s latest upright for pets. It comes with some very interesting technology and there are several different models to choose from. The base model is the Dyson Ball Animal 3 and this one has the least number of tools and accessories (2 tools, 1 accessory). One level up is the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra which has 4 tools and 1 accessory. The model we have has 9 tools and 2 accessories and it is the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Complete. The vacuums are the same between all three models but there are different color schemes.

PROS
- This is a very powerful vacuum. The figures on the Dyson website have it at 290 air watts of suction. Also on the Dyson website you can see the older Dyson Ball Animal 2 at 227 air watts of suction.
- In our cleaning tests the pickup of fine/small/medium size debris on low pile carpet was excellent.
- In our cleaning tests the pickup of fine/small/medium size debris on hard flooring (tile) was excellent.
- The unit has both a HEPA filter and a sealed system. This combination ensures that all the air entering the vacuum is properly filtered before being exhausted from the machine. HEPA level filtration is good for homes with pets and/or those suffering from asthma or allergies.
- Very long cleaning reach. The vacuum sports a 35 foot power cord as well as a 13+ foot long hose.
- There are brushroll on/off controls. In some instances, like vacuuming delicate hard flooring, you may not want the brushroll on. With some floors and debris a spinning brushroll may also cause scatter.
- The cleaner head has anti-tangle technology. Our tests on long black human hair and short white pet hair showed that this technology was very effective which reduces the need to frequently cut/remove hair from the brushroll.
- An edge cleaning test showed that the vacuum is capable of cleaning right up tight along an edge or wall.
- The dust canister is a good size. This is important as you will not have to stop vacuuming too frequently to empty it. It is also easy to detach from the vacuum, easy to empty, and easy to reattach.
- The filters – both pre-motor and post-motor – are rinsable in water. This reduces costs and the need to shop for new filters (takes time).
- The front of the cleaner head has suction settings. These allow optimal suction under the cleaner head for different cleaning situations. You don’t always want max suction as it may make movement difficult or it may pull up floor mats, etc.
- The “Complete” model has tools that cover almost every cleaning situation including a grooming tool for your pet.
- While not really a quiet vacuum, our test using a digital noise level meter showed the Dyson Ball Animal 3 to be quieter than the Dyson Ball Animal 2.
- It carries a lengthy 5-year manufacturer’s parts and labor warranty.

CONS
- The vacuum is a bit on the heavy side at 17.3 lbs. This is heavier than most upright vacuums we have reviewed but is fairly typical for a Dyson upright (although some such as the Dyson Ball Multi-Floor 2 are lighter).
- The flexible stretch hose can be difficult to extend. It constantly pulls back on you while you are trying to use it.
- The cleaner head is fairly narrow for an upright (it is about 11 inches wide compared to the Dyson Ball Animal 2 cleaner head which is 13.25 inches wide). A narrow cleaner head will require more passes to cover a given area, although admittedly it will be able to get into more cramped spaces.
- Movement is sluggish. The vacuum requires more effort to move and turn than the Dyson Ball Animal 2 despite being a little lighter and having a narrower cleaner head. This seems counterintuitive but this is indeed the case and may be related to the very different cleaner head on the Dyson Ball Animal 3.
- On carpet the unit has a tendency to push larger debris along in front of the cleaner head (our test was with fruit loops). This is due to the low front of the cleaner head and also the strong suction which pulls the cleaner head into the carpet.
- This is a fairly expensive vacuum cleaner and (at the time of this writing) will set you back about $600 USD.

We created a very detailed video review of the Dyson Ball Animal 3. The review shows all the vacuum features and we also undertake a host of tests including carpet, hard floor, hair, edges, noise level, large debris, deep pile carpet, etc. You can watch the video below:

You may also want to read our detailed Dyson Ball Animal 3 review.