Dyson has launched its biggest-capacity cordless vacuum cleaner yet in an attempt to extend the appeal of cordless cleaning to owners of larger homes, but can a big cordless cleaner still make light work of vacuuming?
According to Dyson, the V11 Outsize can hold a litre more dust than its predecessor, the V11 Absolute, with increased suction power and a wider floor head to boot.
The V11 Outsize, which launched in the US last March, is available in the UK from today. It costs £650; about £50 more than the V11 Absolute.
Sales of cordless vacuums have surged in recent years, with consumers embracing the convenience of cord-free cleaning. But their limited battery life and reduced dust capacity – the average dust capacity of a cordless vacuum is 0.7 litres, compared with 2.3 litres for corded vacuum – makes them a trickier sell for those with more floorspace to cover.
Read on to see what else is new with the V11 Outsize, and how it compares with rivals, or head to the full Dyson V11 Outsize first look review for our first impressions.
Dyson V11 Outsize: what’s new?
Larger floor head and improved suction
Dyson says the V11 Outsize cleans deeper over a larger surface area than its predecessor, thanks to the improved suction and larger 32cm floor head (25% wider than the existing V11 one).
This should mean you don’t have to spend quite as long going back and forth over larger floor areas, though you might struggle to squeeze it into smaller areas such as between chair legs.
Larger dust capacity for less frequent emptying
The biggest difference with the V11 Outsize is the dust capacity. This may not sound very exciting or groundbreaking, but it could mean considerably fewer trips to the bin, saving you time and effort.
While the V11 Absolute holds a respectable (for a cordless vac) 0.9 litres, the V11 Outsize can hold 1.7 litres of dust. This is much closer to what a traditional upright vacuum can hold, and means you shouldn’t have to empty the dust container anywhere near as often.
For context, we found that cleaning a four-bed home with a typical cordless vacuum capacity of less than a litre can mean emptying the dust container almost every time you clean, which is a bit of a chore, especially if you are keen to avoid contact with the dust.
Weight and battery life could be an issue
Like its predecessor, the V11 Outsize comes with a digital display, which gives you a to-the-second battery life countdown and reminds you when (and how) to clean the filters. We really liked this feature.
All in all it sounds like a promising solution for those with bigger homes, but it’s worth bearing in mind the larger bin and floor head does impact on weight. The V11 Outsize is heavier than its predecessors, which could get tiring when it comes to cleaning up high, or covering large amounts of floor space.
We’ll putting the V11 Outsize to the test in our labs as soon as possible to see how it measures up against rivals. In the meantime, check our Dyson cordless vacuum reviews to see how previous Dyson vacs have fared in our tough tests, and get our first impressions of the Outsize.
Dyson V11 Outsize vs rivals
If you’re in the market for a larger-capacity cordless cleaner, there are a few options to consider.
Bagged cordless models, such as those from Halo and Numatic, tend to squeeze in more dust, while upright-style cordless models from brands such as Shark and Lupe (not slim stick versions) also offer more big-home functionality.
We’ve picked out some other models suitable for larger homes so you can see how they compare:
Model |
Dust capacity |
Weight |
Run time (minimum power) |
Charging time |
Price |
| Dyson V11 Outsize | 1.7 litres* | 3.5kg* | 1 hr* | 4 hr 40 min* | £650 |
| Lupe Pure Cordless PC01-L | 1.6 litres | 4.9kg | 1 hr 2 min | 8 hr 30 min | £600 |
| Numatic Henry HVB160 | 2.3 litres | 8.5kg | 1 hr | 2 hr 47 min | £170 |
| Shark DuoClean Anti Hair Wrap with Powered Lift-Away and TruePet ICZ160UKT | 1.6 litres | 5.7kg | 33 min | 2 hr 58 min | £429 |
| Halo Capsule | 1.3 litres | 2.7kg | 1 hr 6 min | 4 hrs 4 min | £250 |
*Manufacturer claim, values for other vacuums based on our own tests.
For those looking for larger capacity on a budget, the Halo could be a good compromise – the disposable bags fit in more dust than average, but it’s still quite light and under £300. Check the full Halo Capsule review to get our verdict on its cleaning power.
Other cordless options with big capacities tend to be heavier than the Outsize, though the Henry, Lupe and Shark are all either cylinder or upright-style vacuums, so you don’t have to shoulder the weight in your hands as the weighty bits of the machine are in the base unit, not at the handle.
Get straight to our top picks in our round-up of the best cordless vacuums you can buy.
Dyson deals guide – we reveal how to get the best price on a Dyson vacuum cleaner
Are Dyson vacuum cleaners reliable?
Dyson cordless vacuums are top of many a wish list, but with prices topping £600 for the latest tech, you’ll want to know how well they last, as well as how effectively they clean compared to rivals.
To see how Dyson cordless cleaners last, and the most common problems people experience, take a look at our guide to the best and most reliable cordless vacuum cleaner brands.
- Prices correct as of 26 February 2021
- Story originally published on 20 January 2021, but updated to include our first look review of the Outsize
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/02/dyson-launches-v11-outsize-cordless-vacuum-for-larger-homes/