Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs Animal: Is There Any Difference?

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The Dyson V11 line includes three versions: Animal, Torque Drive, and Outsize. They all have differences that you need to know to select the one that is best or most appropriate for you. Today, I’ll contrast the two versions that resemble one another the most: Animal vs. Dyson V11 Torque Drive

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive is slightly more expensive than the Dyson V11 Animal. But I highly recommend spending a few extra bucks for the first one to get the soft dusting brush and benefit from a useful LCD display. Of course, if those features are superfluous and unnecessary to you, you can save a few bucks by going with the “Animal” version.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs Animal: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Blue
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Purple
Model
Dyson V11 Torque Drive
Dyson V11 Animal
Max Suction Power
185 AW
185 AW
Dimensions
49.6 x 10.3 x 9.8 inches
49.6 x 10.3 x 9.8 inches
Weight
6.7 lbs
6.7 lbs
Corded/ Cordless
Cordless
Cordless
Battery life Min/Max
9 min/76 min
9 min/76 min
Charging Time
242 min
242 min
Headlight
Self Standing
Dust Cup Capacity
0.75 liters
0.75 liters
Handheld Vacuum
LCD Screen
Self-Cleaning System
Swivel Head
HEPA Filter
Washable Filter
Controller Type
Handle Control
Handle Control
Attachments
THE WINNER (#1)
Image
Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Blue
Model
Dyson V11 Torque Drive
Max Suction Power
185 AW
Dimensions
49.6 x 10.3 x 9.8 inches
Weight
6.7 lbs
Corded/ Cordless
Cordless
Battery life Min/Max
9 min/76 min
Charging Time
242 min
Headlight
Self Standing
Dust Cup Capacity
0.75 liters
Handheld Vacuum
LCD Screen
Self-Cleaning System
Swivel Head
HEPA Filter
Washable Filter
Controller Type
Handle Control
Attachments
More Info
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Image
Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Purple
Model
Dyson V11 Animal
Max Suction Power
185 AW
Dimensions
49.6 x 10.3 x 9.8 inches
Weight
6.7 lbs
Corded/ Cordless
Cordless
Battery life Min/Max
9 min/76 min
Charging Time
242 min
Headlight
Self Standing
Dust Cup Capacity
0.75 liters
Handheld Vacuum
LCD Screen
Self-Cleaning System
Swivel Head
HEPA Filter
Washable Filter
Controller Type
Handle Control
Attachments
More Info

Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs Animal: Differences

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive wins the Animal with a score of 2-0. This is obvious since the Torque Drive is an upgraded version of the Animal. By spending extra dollars, you get a mini dusting brush and an extremely useful LCD screen.

Attachments

Winner: Dyson V11 Torque Drive

The most obvious difference between products in the same Dyson stick vacuum line that can be noticed at first glance is the number of included attachments/on-add tools. 

Dyson V11 Torque DriveDyson V11 Animal
Clickable Battery.
Extension Wand.
Torque Drive floorhead.
Mini motorized brushroll.
Combination tool.
Crevice tool.
Mini dusting brush.
Stubborn dirt brush.
Docking station.
Charger.
Clickable Battery.
Extension Wand.
Torque Drive floorhead.
Mini motorized brushroll.
Combination tool.
Crevice tool.
Stubborn dirt brush.
Docking station.
Charger.

As you can see, one thing that the Torque Drive version has over the Animal is the mini dusting brush/soft dusting brush. As its name suggests, this tool is meant to clean both hard surfaces and things that are more fragile. I typically use it to dust the furniture in my living room.

The mini dusting brush
The mini dusting brush

Display Screen

Winner: Dyson V11 Torque Drive

The last distinction between the Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs Animal is the display screen. The back of the Torque Drive version’s handle has an LCD control panel, and here are all the things it can do:

  • Allows you to select a language.
  • Warns you of any blockages.
  • Notifies you every time the filter needs to be washed.
  • Reminds you if the filter isn’t fit properly.
  • Shows the current cleaning mode and estimated remaining run time
  • Enables you to change cleaning modes.
  • Indicates when you need to charge the battery.

The V11 Animal, on the other hand, features a LED control panel, including three bars for battery life, a display of the current vacuuming mode, and some indicator lights for vacuum blockages and filter maintenance.

One thing that these two versions have in common is a button on the control panel that allows you to switch between vacuuming settings.

dyson v11 torque drive vs animal's display screen
Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs Animal’s display screen

Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs Animal: Similarities

Cleaning Performance

With the Eco and  Boost settings on, both the Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs Animal produce suction powers of 26 AW and 185 AW, respectively. It is tricky to measure the suction power in the Auto mode as it can be continuously changed to fit the floor type. Their suction powers are generally quite good in all modes.

These machines only have a Torque Drive cleaning head, which is designed for multi-surface cleaning, but I found that it is more effective for deep cleaning carpets. 

the torque drive cleaning head
The Torque Drive cleaning head

On my hard floor, these boys still did the job, with about 96.0% of the debris collected (with the Boost setting enabled). The Dyson V11 Outsize version has a soft roller brush floorhead that is specially designed to remove debris of all sizes from this type of surface. So if your house has a lot of hard floors, you should consider this premium version.

On my carpet, I used the “Auto” setting, and these machines captured up to 99% of debris. Using them with the “Boost” setting turned on gave the same results, but I had to do a little tweaking with the suction slider on the front. Note that this Torque Drive floorhead is not designed for anti-tangle, so checking and untangling it at the end of the day is essential.

Noise

These models may produce different levels of noise depending on which cleaning mode is turned on. Here are my test results:

Cleaning ModeNoise (dB)
Eco Mode≈ 62.9 
Auto Mode≈ 69.7 
Boost Mode≈ 72. 5 

These machines are generally on the quiet side. I think it’s okay to use one of these in the early morning hours without waking up your entire family.

Design And Usability

Weight And Maneuverability

Both versions weigh around 6.7 lbs, and they are among the heaviest Dyson cordless sticks. Like their siblings, these models are top-heavy and can cause hand fatigue if used for long periods of time. Of course, this depends largely on your wrist/hand/arm strength. For me, they are like toys in my hands. They will even weigh just approximately 4.5 pounds if reconfigured as handheld vacuums.

Cleaning Settings And Battery Life

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs Animal share a 7-cell Lithium Ion battery, which is larger than the batteries of other Dyson stick vacuums. In fact, many factors can affect how long a cordless can run between charges, but the vacuuming mode is the most significant one.

As mentioned above, there are three cleaning settings:

  • Eco mode provides the lowest suction level but has the longest run time.
  • Auto (or Med) mode provides a medium suction level and an average run time 
  • Boost mode has the shortest run time since it provides maximum suction.

You may be wondering what the difference is between Auto mode and Med mode. Let me explain!

The Torque Drive cleaning head of both is equipped with advanced floor sensor technology that can automatically adjust the suction to fit the type of floor you are vacuuming. So if you replace the floorhead with any attachment, the Auto mode will be replaced by the Med mode.

three vacuuming settings: eco, auto, boost
Three vacuuming settings: Eco, Auto, Boost

 I measured the battery life of the duo, and here are the approximate results.

Cleaning ModeBattery Life
Eco≈ 76 mins
Auto (Or Med)≈ 35- 38 mins
Boost≈ 9 mins

Both the Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs Animal have a 7-cell Lithium Ion Battery which is removable and can be charged independently.

Dust Canister and Filtration

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs Animal share a 0.75-liter dust cup, a sealed system, and a washable HEPA filter, which is helpful for those suffering from allergies or asthma.

This HEPA-level filter is located on top of the handle, and it can remove 99.97% of all dust particles measuring 0.3 microns or larger. It is removable and washable, and the brand recommends rinsing it once a month or whenever the control panel shows a filter maintenance alert.

The sealed system ensures that vacuumed air isn’t exhausted from the machine before it goes through the filter. That means no air can escape from cracks and poor seals.

Quick Rundown Of Dyson V11 Torque Drive

Sale
Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Blue
  • Dyson's most intelligent, powerful cordless vacuum. Twice the suction of any cordless vacuum.
  • Dyson technology helps create a cleaner, healthier home - Our vacuums and purifiers are scientifically proven to capture particles as small as allergens and bacteria.
  • Engineered for whole-home, deep cleaning. Suction power, run time and tools designed to deep clean your whole home.
  • Intelligently optimizes suction and run time across all floor types. The right balance of power and run time when you need it.
  • Up to 60 minutes of run time. Engineered for larger homes with pets. Actual run time will vary based on power mode, floor type and/or attachments used.
Pros
    Cons

      Quick Rundown Of Dyson V11 Animal

      Sale
      Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, Purple
      • Dyson's most intelligent, powerful cordless vacuum. Twice the suction of any cordless vacuum.
      • Dyson technology helps create a cleaner, healthier home - Our vacuums and purifiers are scientifically proven to capture particles as small as allergens and bacteria.
      • Engineered for whole-home, deep cleaning. Suction power, run time and tools designed to deep clean your whole home.
      • Intelligently optimizes suction and run time across all floor types. The right balance of power and run time when you need it.
      • Up to 60 minutes of run time. Engineered for larger homes with pets. Actual run time will vary based on power mode, floor type and/or attachments used.

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