I’ve been a Dyson user for many years, living with the likes of the Gen5 Detect, the V12 Detect Slim before that, and various other models that have come my way as a home tech reviewer.
So when the V10 Konical landed on my doorstep last month alongside Dyson’s all-new Auto-empty Dok, I had a good idea of what to expect: the usual top-notch suction, decent battery life, and that satisfying build quality Dyson is known for.
A few weeks later, I can confirm some of that rings true, but a few things have surprised me – both good and not so good. Here are seven things you should know about Dyson’s latest vacuum cleaner.
1) It feels lighter, but also a bit cheaper
As a long-time Dyson user, the thing I noticed straight away with the V10 Konical was how it feels noticeably lighter than my old Gen5 Detect, which would often give me wrist ache after ten minutes of one-handed vacuuming. This proves very useful when lugging it between different rooms but, on the other hand, it does feel a bit more plasticky and less solidly built over other cordless Dysons I’ve used in the past.
I can’t help wondering if Dyson has tried cutting costs on materials to try get the V10 Konical to a more accessible price point (still at a wallet-busting $399/£450 without the Dok – more on that shortly). Saying that, it’s perfectly functional and nothing feels flimsy, but picking it up next to an older Dyson, there’s definitely a noticeable difference in finish and overall quality.
2) The conical brush head is brilliant, with one caveat
The V10 Konical’s All Floor Cones cleaner head is one the vacuum’s biggest selling points. It boasts two rotating conical brush bars that spin in opposite directions, ejecting hair as it’s picked up so it doesn’t wrap around the brushbar. After two weeks of use, I can confirm there’s not a single strand tangled up inside the head. If you’re like me and retch at the thought of cutting hair free from a vacuum head with kitchen scissors, this alone might justify the upgrade.
There is one small caveat, though, and that’s the head’s shape. Since it’s slightly angled rather than straight across, it doesn’t slip into tight corners quite as neatly as some other Dyson heads. On the other hand, I actually found it better at cleaning along oddly angled skirting boards and wall edges, so it’s a trade-off that works in some situations and not others.
3) Suction is as powerful as ever
At 150 air watts, the V10 Konical isn’t technically Dyson’s most powerful vacuum. But during use, it still feels super strong – gobbling up all the dust and debris I pushed it towards with ease. So much so that I didn’t notice any big difference between this and my Gen5 Detect, which sports a supposedly more powerful suction of 262 air watts. The V10 Konical still feels on the aggressive side, almost lifting my rugs off the floor as it glides over them. Switching to boost mode on my high-pile wool rug was even more impressive, pulling out dust and lint that I thought had already been sucked away.
4) No LCD screen is a bit of a letdown
If you’ve used one of Dyson’s newer models with the LCD screen, which shows battery percentage, suction mode and those cute little graphics, you’ll probably miss it here. The V10 Konical ditches the screen entirely, relying instead on LED indicator lights and physical buttons for mode selection. It works fine, but it does feel like a bit of a step backwards in terms of the premium experience. That said, the V10 Konical is ge generally priced a few hundred pounds below those screen-equipped models, so you could argue this is one of the places where the savings show up.
5) Dust illumination is still top notch
Having used the laser dust detection on my last few previous Dyson vacuums, I already knew how brilliant this feature is. The good news is that it’s just as effective here on the V10 Konical, with the laser-like light picking up every speck of dust and debris on hard floors that you’d otherwise stroll straight past. It’s one of those Dyson features that, once you’ve had the pleasure of using it, there’s just no going back.
6) The Auo-empty Dok is a game-changer
I’m happy to report that Dyson’s all-new Auto-empty Dok does exactly what it promises. Slot the vacuum into the dock after a clean, and it not only charges it in a slick upright stand, but it sucks the debris out of the cylinder within seconds, depositing everything into a sealed dust bag inside the base.
There are a couple of things worth noting here, though. First is that when you slot in the vacuum, it immediately begins to suck the dust from the bin, which is handy – but it is obnoxiously loud while doing so. Thankfully this only lasts a few seconds. Secondly, the dok itself feels a bit lightweight and plasticky for a Dyson product. It’s functional and looks sleek enough, but I’d have preferred something with a bit more heft to it. It’s also quite bulky, so make sure you’ve got plenty of free space to dedicate to it.
As for the dust bags, Dyson says they last around 60 days before needing a swap. You might think that using these traditional-style vacuum cleaner bags goes against Dyson’s whole bagless philosophy – but the way I see it – you can still empty the vacuum manually into a bin after every clean if you prefer. The dok just gives you the option not to, which means no more emptying the bin and having a cloud of dust puff up in your face.
7) It’s a great all-rounder for the price
At $649/£570 for both the vacuum and dok bundle, the V10 Konical isn’t cheap in the grand scheme of things, but by Dyson standards it’s surprisingly accessible. You’re getting powerful suction, excellent hair-detangling, decent battery life (up to 60 minutes, which I found easily covers my whole house), a mini motorised tool for upholstery and a crevice tool for tight gaps, HEPA filtration, and a self-emptying dock. That’s a lot of vacuum cleaner tech for your dosh, even if the build quality doesn’t quite live up to those pricier Dyson models.
Here’s what I think of the Dyson V10 Konical
The V10 Konical performs really well across carpets, rugs and hard floors, with the laser dust detection tech proving as effective as ever, illuminating dust and debris you’d otherwise never see.
If hard floors are your primary surface, Dyson’s models with dedicated fluffy heads might be better suited. But as a do-everything cordless machine for a household that has mixed floor types, this is a top choice. Just don’t expect it to feel quite as premium as Dyson’s flagship models. Sure, you might be paying less, and in places, that shows, but where it counts (on the floor with the motor running), it really delivers.
Also read: Jake Dyson on spaceship inspiration, falling asleep in his minibus and having Sir James Dyson as his dad
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