Dyson V11 Torque Drive Extra Vs Absolute: What Makes the Difference?

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The Dyson V11 Torque Drive Extra vs Absolute are both in the Dyson V11 line. They are almost identical, except that the second version is equipped with a Soft Roller cleaner head, which is specially designed for hard floors.

Both machines do a great job on carpets, but the Absolute version does a little better job on hard floors than the Torque Drive Extra version.

Sadly, the V11 Absolute version is unavailable in most countries, including the US, for some reason. That means it is less common at retailers, making it harder to find and buy this version.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive Extra Vs Absolute: Comparison Chart

Image
THE WINNER (#1)
THE RUNNER-UP (#2)
Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cord-Free Vacuum Cleaner + Extra Tool Bundle
Model
Dyson V11 Absolute
Dyson V11 Torque Drive
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
Floorhead
Soft Roller floorhead, High Torque floorhead
High Torque floorhead
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
Model
Dyson V11 Absolute
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
Floorhead
Soft Roller floorhead, High Torque floorhead
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 Torque Drive Cord-Free Vacuum Cleaner + Extra Tool Bundle
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
Floorhead
High Torque floorhead
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 Extra Vs Absolute: Differences

The Dyson V11 Absolute wins 1-0 against the Torque Drive Extra because it is equipped with a Soft Roller floorhead, allowing it to perform better on bare floors. Except for this floorhead, they share all of the features, parts, and accessories.

Cleaning Performance On Hard Floors

dyson v11 absolute’s soft roller floorhead
Dyson V11 Absolute’s Soft Roller floorhead

Both the Dyson V11 Torque Drive Extra vs Absolute share a High Torque floorhead that can be used on both bare floors and carpets, but the second one takes the lead with a soft roller nozzle that handles everything on hard floors without marring or scratching them.

My testing showed that, with the Boost setting enabled, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive version removed about 96% of the debris, while the Dyson V11 Absolute version could pick up everything with the soft roller.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive Extra Vs Absolute: Similarities

Cleaning Performance On Carpets

On my low-pile carpets, both offer excellent performance with maximum suction. They leave almost nothing behind after a single pass (about 99% of the debris was picked up, I guess).

But on high carpets, I found it more difficult to push these machines. I tried adjusting the gate on the High Torque cleaner head, and the machine ended up moving more freely. Another way was to switch to the Auto setting, which automatically adjusted the suction power of the machine to suit my type of carpet best, thanks to advanced floor sensor technology.

the gate on the high torque cleaner head
The gate on the High Torque cleaner head

Design And Usability

Weight And Maneuverability

These cordless vacuums bring 6.7 pounds to the scale, and I don’t feel uncomfortable holding them for a long time. However, keep in mind that they are top-heavy due to the engine and dust cup assembly, which can quickly induce hand strain for people with weak wrists.

Maneuvering them is easy, thanks to the rotating head, even easier than with Shark cordless models. I easily slid them further under the furniture and turned on a dime.

both can be used as handheld vacuums
Both can be used as handheld vacuums

Cleaning Settings 

These machines have three vacuuming modes, including:

  • Eco: It produces the weakest suction level but provides a longer run time.
  • Auto or Med: This mode offers an average run time with medium suction levels. While the machine is in Auto mode, the suction power will be automatically adjusted to best suit the type of surface you are cleaning.
  • Boost: This cleaning setting provides maximum suction power, resulting in the shortest run time.

So what is the difference between the Auto mode and Med mode? The High Torque floorhead is equipped with a sensor that can help the vacuum adjust its own suction. But if you replace this floor head with an add-on tool, the Auto mode will turn into the Med mode.

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

Battery Life

Eco Mode≈ 76 mins
Auto or Med Mode≈ 35- 38 mins
Boost Mode≈ 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. Therefore, it is wise to buy an extra battery ($180) so you can double the runtime.

According to the manufacturer, the battery provides something called “Fade-free power.” In simple terms, this battery provides the same level of power until it is exhausted. Thanks to that, the vacuum’s suction power won’t degrade as the battery is drawn down.

Dust Canister and Filtration

All the Dyson V11 versions have a 0.75-liter dust tank, which is a pretty good capacity for a cordless stick vacuum. Emptying them is child’s play, thanks to the “point and shoot” mechanism. All you need to do is grab a red lever and push it down to remove any debris and tangled hair inside the dust cup.

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive Extra vs Absolute also share a Whole-Machine filtration system, including a sealed system and a washable HEPA filter. A sealed system ensures that unfiltered air must pass through the HEPA filter before escaping into the air. The lack of this system will not allow the filter to do its job well.

The filter is located on top of the handle, which can be removed and washed. You should wash it in water monthly or whenever the LCD screen alerts you. You need to let it dry completely, usually for 24 hours, before attaching it to the unit. I recommend purchasing an additional filter to minimize downtime.

Utilities

LCD Screen

Another thing that these machines have in common is an LCD display that shows:

  • Filter alerts (when it needs to be washed or is not installed properly).
  • Blockage alerts.
  • The current vacuuming mode.
  • Estimated remaining run time.
  • Notification when the battery needs to be charged.

I like how this LCD screen shows a run-time countdown in real-time, and I think this is more useful than showing battery life as a percentage like many other models do. The screen also shows you videos on how to maintain the vacuum properly. It is also easy to switch between the three cleaning modes (Eco, Auto, or Boost) with the push of a button.

Attachments

As mentioned above, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive Extra vs Absolute share a set of attachments:

  • Clickable Battery.
  • Extension Wand.
  • Mini motorized brushroll.
  • Combination tool.
  • Crevice tool.
  • Mini dusting brush.
  • Stubborn dirt brush.
  • Docking station.
  • Charger.

Quick Rundown Of Dyson V11 Absolute

Quick Rundown Of Dyson V11 Torque Drive Extra

Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cord-Free Vacuum Cleaner + Extra Tool Bundle
  • Twice the suction of any cord-free vacuum. Up to 60 minute run time in Eco mode with full charge.
  • High Torque cleaner head intelligently adapts to different floor types in Auto mode
  • LCD screen displays run time countdown and machine performance in real time
  • Dyson Digital motor V11 helps deliver 40% more suction power than the Dyson V8 cord-free
  • Whole-machine filtration captures 99.97% of microscopic dust particles as small as 0.3 microns
Pros
    Cons

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