Dyson V10 Motorhead Review
- Details
Avg. consumer rating = 88/100
We just got our hands on the Dyson V10 Cyclone Motorhead cordless vacuum. Usually the Dyson stick vacs within a series (V6, V7, V8, V10) are very similar – therefore individual reviews of each model really aren’t necessary. However, in the case of the V10 Motorhead it is sufficiently different from the V10 Absolute and V10 Animal that it warrants a special look. During our analysis/testing we found that we really like this cordless vacuum – it packs most of the punch of the more expensive V10’s for less money. In fact, if you have certain cleaning needs this could be the best choice.
Quick Specs | |
Type | Stick Vac |
Bagged/Bagless | Bagless |
Best for... | Hard Floors & Carpet |
Pet Hair Features | No |
Approx. Weight | 5.5 lbs |
HEPA Level Filtration | Yes |
Power Cord Length | Cordless |
Motor Driven Brushbar | Yes |
Warranty | 2 Years |
CONSUMER RATINGS
A thorough analysis of owner ratings from popular online retail outlets has provided the data in the table below. We found over 1000 owner ratings, and when a weighted average was applied we got a score of 88/100. This is a good score. We also have a table of all the stick vacuum ratings on our site should you wish to make comparisons. In addition, you may want to check out our Vacuum Cleaner Finder application which shows all the vacuums we have looked at over the past 10+ years.Source | Consumer Rating | # Ratings |
Amazon.com | 4.3 stars out of 5 | 717 |
Best Buy | 4.7 stars out of 5 | 171 |
Bed Bath & Beyond | 4.4 stars out of 5 | 44 |
Home Depot | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 39 |
Walmart | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 27 |
Abt | 5 starsout of 5 | 5 |
DYSON V10 vs V8 vs V7 - KEY SPECIFICATIONS
The following table is designed to give you a quick snapshot of some of the key specifications of the more popular Dyson stick vacuum models (not every model is represented).Dyson V7 Motorhead | Dyson V8 Absolute | Dyson V10 Motorhead | |
LOW Power Suction | 21 Air Watts | 28 Air Watts | 15.8 Air Watts |
MEDIUM Power Suction | N/A | N/A | 33.8 Air Watts |
MAX Power Suction | 100 Air Watts | 115 Air Watts | 151 Air Watts |
Recharge Time | 3.5 hours | 5 hours | 3.5 hours |
Battery Life Indicator Lights | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Battery Pack | 21.6 V / 2100 mAh / 46Wh | 21.6 V / 2800 mAh / 65Wh | 25.2 V / 2600 mAh / 66Wh |
Vacuum Weight | 5.45 lbs | 5.75 lbs | 5.5 lbs |
Dust Canister Size | 0.14 gallons | 0.14 gallons | 0.14 gallons |
Hygienic Emptying System | Yes | Yes | Yes |
DYSON V10 vs V8 vs V7 - BATTERY LIFE
You will see advertisements and marketing materials stating the V10 has 60 minutes of run time. This is true – but only when run in a particular configuration. This is important, as many people buy the vacuum and are unhappy that it doesn’t provide 60 minutes of cleaning when using the direct drive cleaner head on their carpet (for example). We have created a table below which shows the run times you get in all the different vacuum configurations. These are the official run times. If you would like to see the tested run times check out our article where we test the battery life of all Dyson stick vacs.Dyson V7 Motorhead | Dyson V8 Absolute | Dyson V10 Motorhead | |
LOW Power, Motorized tool | 20 minutes | 25 minutes | 35 minutes |
LOW Power, Non-motorized tool | 30 minutes | 40 minutes | 60 minutes |
MEDIUM Power, Motorized tool | N/A | N/A | 20 minutes |
MEDIUM Power, Non-motorized tool | N/A | N/A | 30 minutes |
MAX Power, All tools | 6 minutes | 7 minutes | 5-6 minutes |
DYSON V10 MODELS
The following table shows how the Motorhead package differs from the Animal and the Absolute packages:
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WHAT ARE OWNERS SAYING?
We’ve read Motorhead owner comments from many different retailers and combined this information with our own analysis to produce the following insights.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
- Dyson Cyclone V10 Motorhead Vacuum (includes filter)- Combination tool
- Crevice tool
- Direct-drive cleaner head
- Charger
- Docking station
- Manual & Warranty Card

V10 TECHNOLOGY
The Motorhead, like the Animal and Absolute, uses Dyson’s digital motor with 14 concentric array cyclones. The big difference between the V10 and the earlier cordless models (V6, V7, V8) is that the V10 has the motor and dust canister inline (see image below). According to Dyson this new configuration results in 20% more power than the Dyson V8.
BATTERY & POWER MODES
The battery is the same across all V10 models (Motorhead, Animal, Absolute). All V10 battery packs have the following specifications:- 7-cell Lithium Ion Battery Pack
- 25.2 V
- 20.8 A
- 2600 mAh
- 66 Wh

RECHARGING
A depleted battery can be fully charged in around 3.5 hrs. This is down from the 5 hours it takes to recharge the V8, and it is on par with the charging times of the V6 and V7.TOOLS
The Motorhead has the least number of tools of all the V10’s (part of the reason for the lower price). You only get the following two tools non-powered tools:- Combination tool
- Crevice tool

WALL MOUNT
The wall mount allows you to hang the vacuum on the wall. The charger cable can also be run through the back of the wall mount and is designed such that the vacuum will be on charge when it is hanging in the wall mount. Both tools also store on the wall mount (they click into place).CLEANER HEAD
The V10 Motorhead comes with a direct drive cleaner head which is different from the torque drive cleaner head that comes with the V10 Animal and the V10 Absolute. The differences can be seen when looking at the two units (see images below).

CLEANER HEAD (MOTORHEAD VS ABSOLUTE) – BARE FLOOR
Very little is written about the performance differences between these two types of cleaner heads. Some online sources say that the torque drive head is more an all-rounder and it is great on carpet and reasonable on bare floors. While the direct drive head is great on carpet but not so great on bare floors. We put this premise to the test.
Absolute pickup (torque drive set to middle) = 86.3%
Test Results - Bare Floor (Tile) | |
Motorhead pickup | 92.5% |
Absolute pickup (torque drive set to middle) | 86.3% |
Absolute pickup (torque drive set to max suction) | 87.0% |
Absolute pickup (soft roller cleaner head) | 99.6% |
CLEANER HEAD (MOTORHEAD VS ABSOLUTE) - CARPET
We performed a series of tests on low pile carpet which were similar to the tests done above on bare floors. All tests were performed in low power mode. We used the direct drive cleaner head with the V10 Motorhead and the torque drive cleaner head with the V10 Absolute.
Absolute pickup (torque drive set to middle) = 92.8%
Absolute pickup (1 forward pass + 1 backward pass, torque drive set to middle) = 95.7%
Test Results - Low Pile Carpet | |
Motorhead pickup | 94.1% |
Motorhead pickup (1 forward pass + 1 backward pass) | 97.1% |
Absolute pickup (torque drive set to middle) | 92.8% |
Absolute pickup (torque drive set to max suction) | 93.0% |
Absolute pickup (1 forward pass + 1 backward pass, torque drive set to middle) | 95.7% |
CLEANING VERSATILITY
Dyson stick vacuums are known for their versatility. They operate as a stick vacuum, but if you remove the cleaner head (keeping the wand in place) and replace it with one of the tools, the vacuum is great for overhead cleaning. It is also useful for getting in deep behind furniture or into nooks and crannies. If you remove the wand entirely you can place a tool on the end of the handheld component and you now have a handheld vacuum. This is a powerful handheld vacuum that works well.

WEIGHT
We have provided the weights of the popular Dyson stick vacuums in the table below. It is interesting to see that the Dyson V10 Motorhead is almost the same weight as the Dyson V7 Motorhead. If weight is an issue for you, the Motorhead may be a good fit. It is lighter than the V8’s and the other V10’s.V7 Motorhead | 5.45 lbs |
V7 Animal | 5.30 lbs |
V7 Absolute | 5.30 lbs |
V8 Animal | 5.75 lbs |
V8 Absolute | 5.75 lbs |
V10 Motorhead | 5.50 lbs |
V10 Animal | 5.90 lbs |
V10 Absolute | 5.90 lbs |
NOISE LEVEL

V7 Low Power Mode – 65.0 decibels
V6 Low Power Mode – 69.3 decibels
DUST CANISTER
The V10 motorhead has the same size dust canister as the Dyson V7 and the Dyson V8. But it is substantially smaller than the dust canisters of the V10 Absolute and the V10 Animal. The Absolute and Animal canisters are 43% larger than the Motohead canister. This could be an issue for some folks. If you do lots of vacuuming and have a fair bit of debris to deal with, you may find yourself emptying to dust canister frequently.
FILTRATION
Filtration is the same for all V10 models and the units have HEPA level filtration and a sealed body so no unfiltered air escapes prior to being exhausted. The HEPA filter resides on the back of the handheld component and comes off easily with a twist. The filter is designed to be rinsed in water so there is no need to buy a new one when it gets dirty. This and the bagless design keep consumables to a minimum.
WARRANTY
All V10’s carry a 2-year manufacturer’s parts and labor warrantyCOST
Presently we are seeing the following approximate pricing for the V10’s.V10 Motorhead - $399
V10 Animal - $499
V10 Absolute - $599
VERDICT
If you are getting a V10 and you have mostly carpetIf you don’t have lots of bare floors to clean and a slightly smaller dust canister is not an issue for you then we think the Dyson V10 Motorhead is the way to go. Performance on carpet is very good and we like the Direct Drive Cleaner Head that comes with the Motorhead. We also find it easier to empty the Motorhead than the Absolute. And, of course, the Motorhead is the less expensive option.
If you are getting a V10 and you have mostly bare floors
If you have lots of bare floors you will want the soft roller brush that comes with the Absolute. You can either buy the Absolute or buy the Motorhead and then pick up the Soft Roller Brush separately. You should cost this out. One solution is likely cheaper than the other. Also, remember that the dust canister on the Motorhead is smaller than the dust canister on the Absolute.