Dyson just released the vacuum we actually wanted – an upgraded V8 that costs basically the same as the original

The Dyson V8 Cyclone is an upgraded version of the best-selling V8 stick vac
Offers 30% more suction and 50% longer runtime than the original V8
In the UK, pricing is roughly the same as the original, too: £349.99 (US pricing TBC)

Dyson just launched a brand new flagship vacuum. It looks great, and has tons of cool and useful features. But realistically, I don’t think it’s the vacuum that most of us have been waiting for, because it comes with an absurd price tag.

In shock ‘reading the room’ news, this round of launches sees Dyson innovating not just at the top end of its range, but at the bottom end, where the normal people shop. Behold: the V8 Cyclone – an upgraded V8 stick vacuum with 30% more suction and 50% longer runtime, but (crucially) pretty much the same price tag.

Despite having launched waaaay back in 2016, the V8 remains Dyson’s best-selling vacuum. But because it’s nearly a decade old, its specs are pretty shoddy compared to what you’d get with the best cordless vacuums on the market, making it hard to recommend to anyone other than die-hard Dyson fans on a budget. (The V8 has actually had a refresh before, in the form of the V8 Advanced, which offered slightly more suction than the original, but never entirely replaced the less-powerful model in the Dyson lineup.)

Main floorhead for Dyson V8 Cyclone vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

The V8 Cyclone addresses many of the V8’s shortcomings, making it a genuinely strong, affordable option – something the brand’s vacuum range has been sorely missing. It lacks the fancy features of the best Dyson vacuums, but prioritizes the important bits and, based on my hands-on time with it, is still an extremely capable cleaner.

The Dyson V8 Cyclone is capable of a maximum of 150 air watts of suction, compared to 115AW on the original V8. The main floorhead has been upgraded to one that actively detangles hair, so you don’t end up having to manually de-fuzz it after every use.

The battery has had a boost and can now last up to a full hour on a single charge, which is in line with what you get with many modern cordless vacs. I’m also pleased to see that the battery is now removable, meaning you’ll be able to replace it if it starts to wear out, or even buy a backup to hot-swap if you want longer cleaning sessions.

On button on Dyson V8 Cyclone vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

I’m even more pleased to see what the V8 Cyclone does away with one of my biggest bug-bears with Dyson vacs: the trigger operation. Because the trigger operation is predominantly to extend runtimes, and that’s not so much of an issue with the new, updated battery, the V8 Cyclone switches on and off with a one-press button.

In that way, it’s actually superior to the likes of the far pricier, otherwise much more advanced V15 Detect. It’s also much lighter than Dyson’s newer vacuums, and more comfortable to use for long periods and in handheld mode. I’m less bowled over with the new ‘scummy pond’ (not the official name) color scheme, but you can’t have everything.

What are you missing?

Aside from the color scheme, there are a few more compromises you’ll make for the lower price. There’s no Auto mode where the suction intelligently ramps up and down depending on things like floor type or dirt detected.

The V8 Cyclone is also not as powerful as newer models – it has 150AW of suction, compared to 200AW on the V11 (the model up) and 315AW on the all-new, range-topping V16 Piston Animal. However, it seemed plenty sucky during my hands-on time with it (I’ll report back more definitively once I’ve had a chance to do some proper, real-world testing).

Dyson V8 Cyclone vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Part of that is to do with the fact the configuration. Here, the dust cup, motor and cyclones are at a right angle to the wand, whereas with all the new Dyson stick vacuums they’re in a line. I asked Dyson Engineer Steph Parker why they decided not to introduce the in-line design with this upgrade, and she explained that it was just too big a change.

“If you change the format, you change a huge amount of product,” she explained. “If you think about where the filter is put on the product, and how your airflow goes through the product….” She also told me that the V8 Cyclone is designed to be an all-rounder vacuum, but more geared towards smaller homes with less foot traffic.

Price & availability

In the UK, the Dyson V8 Cyclone will be available from 17 September 2025, at a list price of £349.99 – only slightly more than the V8 Advanced, at £329.99. I’ve requested pricing and launch info for the US and Australia, and will update this article when I hear back.