Dyson Ball Animal 3 vs Kirby Avalir 2: Through this post, I will help you choose which is better or at least more suitable for you.
The Kirby Avalir 2 is truly a beast with insanely strong suction. It’s very heavy, but the self-propelled capability makes up for that. It is equipped with the most advanced features in the industry, and on top of that, it can be used as 10 different tools!
The Dyson Ball Animal 3, the runner-up, is also one of the most powerful vacuum cleaners and the flagship of Dyson. This model lacks special features like LED headlights and self-propulsion, but it is still ideal for those looking for a workhorse to complete their daily cleaning chores well.
Dyson Ball Animal 3 vs Kirby Avalir 2: Comparison Chart
Dyson Ball Animal 3 vs Kirby Avalir 2: Differences
The Kirby Avalir 2 wins 3-2 and draws one against the Dyson Ball Animal 3. There is no denying that the former is the most superior vacuum cleaner on the market, with powerful suction and lots of bells and whistles. What impressed me most about this machine is that it can be used in almost ten different configurations with the proper attachment.
CLEANING PERFORMANCE
Winner: Tie
Dyson always prides itself on how powerful their vacuum cleaners are, and I don’t think they exaggerate.
The Dyson Ball Animal 3’s airflow at the floorhead is 84 CFM, which is more than enough to suck up dirt and debris of many sizes on both the floor and the carpet. Better yet, its cyclonic suction system ensures the unit maintains performance as its dirt cup fills, which gives the Kirby Avalir 2 a run for its money.
The airflow on the Kirby Avalir 2’s nozzle, which is 132 CFM, is one of its selling points. It has more airflow at the floor head compared to the Dyson Ball Animal 3 since the fan is placed only several inches away from the surface you’re cleaning.
As for the Dyson Ball Animal 3, the fan is located after the dust cup, much further away from the floorhead, resulting in a reduction in airflow. But, when talking about the suction at the hose, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 will perform better for the same reason.
Filtration
Winner: Kirby Avalir 2
Both the Dyson Ball Animal 3 and Kirby Avalir 2 share HEPA filtration, the best standard of filtration. It is renowned for capturing 99.97% of particles measuring as minor as 0.3 microns.
The Dyson Ball Animal 3 is a bagless vacuum, which means it comes equipped with a dust cup instead of a dirtbag that needs to be replaced every time it is full of dirt and debris. Its large dirt cup can hold up to 0.32 gallons of dirt and debris, so you can expect not to empty it too often. Note that you are prone to exposure to allergens when emptying it, so be careful.
If you’re a guy with severe allergies, you’ll need a bagged vacuum like the Kirby Avalir 2. It uses a dirtbag that has a capacity of 2 gallons, which means it can hold a lot of debris. Once the bag is full, just throw it away without the risk of exposure to allergens. The Avalir 2 also has tight seals, which ensures no dust particles can escape back into the air, and allergy and asthma sufferers will be grateful for this.
Generally, each has its own pros and cons. But I believe the Kirby Avalir 2 is better for allergy sufferers, which is why I give the nod to it this round.
Weight and Maneuverability
Winner: Dyson Ball Animal 3
The Kirby Avalir 2 comes in at approximately 24 pounds, making it the heaviest upright vacuum I have ever touched. It has a swiveling head, but that doesn’t make it light in the hand. So I would not recommend this model to anyone who lives in a house with lots of stairs.
The Dyson Ball Animal 3 weighs around 17.4 pounds, almost 7 pounds lighter than its rival. It’s still heavier than most uprights I’ve tested, but maneuvering it isn’t a kind of pain, thanks to the ball-shaped mechanism.
Cord Length
Winner: Dyson Ball Animal 3
The Kirby Avalir 2 has a 29-foot cord, which is long enough to make cleaning a typical home a breeze. The Dyson Ball Animal II, on the other hand, takes the lead with a 35-foot power cord, so you don’t have to spend extra time looking for the outlet too often.
I was a bit disappointed that these expensive machines lacked automatic cord management. Wrapping such long power cords manually is quite tedious and annoying, and I bet you will see eye to eye with me.
Special Features
Winner: Kirby Avalir 2
Brush Roll On and Off
Both the Dyson Ball Animal 2 vs Kirby Avalir 2 allow you to turn off the brush roll when needed. This feature is essential when cleaning a sensitive carpet or bare floor since the bristles of the brush roll can damage the delicate fibers or scratch the surface of the bare floor.
As for the Kirby Avalir 2, you need to press a lever to disengage the belt that connects the motor to the brush roll, which is a bit clumsy. Meanwhile, Dyson Ball Animal 2 allows you to turn off its brush roll with just the press of a button.
LED Headlights
The Kirby Avalir 2 is fitted with a powerful and energy-efficient LED light to make dust and dirt more visible. You’ll realize how much you love this feature when cleaning in areas where ceiling lights don’t reach.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 left me very disappointed by the lack of this nice-to-have feature that can be found in many cheaper models.
Self-Propulsion
As mentioned above, the Kirby Avalir 2 is insanely heavy, but the self-propelled feature makes up for that somewhat. After activating this feature by stepping on a lever at the rear of the machine, much less effort is required to pull and push it. The good thing is that you can decide when to use this nifty feature and when not to.
Alternate Configuration
The Dyson Ball Animal 3 does not have any alternate configurations. Meanwhile, the Kirby Avalir 2, with the right attachments, can be transformed into various tools, including:
- A canister vacuum.
- A carpet and furniture shampooer.
- A hard floor polishing machine.
- A blower.
- A paint sprayer.
- A handheld vacuum.
- A mop.
- A tile and grout cleaner.
- And probably more.
Honestly, the number of alternative configurations of the Avalir 2 raised my eyebrows. Before testing it, the upright vacuum with the most alternative configurations I used to know was the Shark NV752 (4 in 1).
Accessories
Winner: Kirby Avalir 2
The Kirby Avalir 2 also completely outshines its competitor in the number of included accessories:
| Kirby Avalir 2 | Dyson Ball Animal 3 |
| A portable sprayer A shampooer Extension tubes An inflator A replacement belt A utility tool A crevice A duster brush A wall/ceiling brush An air intake guard The upholstery nozzle | A tangle-free turbine tool. A reach-under tool. A multi-angle brush. An articulating hard floor tool. A fabric and mattress tool. A quick-release carbon fiber soft dusting brush. |
Once again, it’s the upright vacuum that comes with the most accessories I’ve come across.
Quick Rundown Of Kirby Avalir 2
Quick Rundown Of Dyson Ball Animal 3
- The best cleaning performance of any upright de-tangling vacuum¹
- De-tangling technology. Automatically clears wrapped hair from the brush bar as you clean.
- Ball technology. Navigate around obstacles with a simple turn of the wrist. For easy, precise maneuvering around your home.
- 3 cleaning modes. Select the right cleaning mode for the right task. Optimized for a variety of tasks, for complete control over your clean.
- Engineered for larger homes with pets. Removes dirt and pet hair around your home. Easily tackles big messes.
Product Video
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Reference
- Kirby Avalir 2: https://www.kirbyservice.eu/en/kirby-avalir-nieuw/
- Dyson Ball Animal 3: https://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/uprights/ball-animal-3
Victor K. Giles is a leading consultant and expert in vacuum cleaner technology with over a decade of experience. As a mechanical engineering graduate in the University of Michigan, he specializes in product development, design optimization, and performance analysis. Victor collaborates with manufacturers and educates consumers, making her a sought-after guest speaker at industry events. His work has been featured in renowned publications, and he shares his expertise on his blog, “The Vacuum Teria”. Victor’s passion for cleaner, healthier living spaces drives his to help clients choose the best vacuum solutions for their needs.