The Dyson V16 Piston Animal is a great multi-tasker and handles messes well — but is it worth the premium price?

When it comes to some of the best vacuum cleaners, Dyson remains a top-tier contender. And since I test vacuums for a living, I've always been impressed by its unrivaled suction power, innovative features and eye-catching design.

The new Dyson V16 Animal cordless vacuum cleaner is one of the latest models in its arsenal and comes with a few notable upgrades. First of all, its signature trigger-power operation has been replaced with a simple on/off button (no more cramped fingers).

Additionally, it comes with a conical brush bar to adapt to different surfaces without damage, and an anti-hair-tangle mechanism, which is perfect for pet households.

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It also comes at a premium price, which, in a competitive market, begs the question of whether it’s truly worth the expensive tag.

I put the Dyson V16 Animal to the test in my home for a few months to find out. Here’s what happened.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A premium cordless vacuum cleaner with a Fluffy Cones floor head to tackle both carpets and hard flooring, and an anti-detangling feature for pet hair.
• Who is it for? People with pets or who prefer a non-trigger power operation for easy use
• How much does it cost? $979 / £749 at Amazon
• What do we like? The sturdy and lightweight build, power-on button, dust-detecting laser light, and the fact that it vacuums very well. Connectivity to the MyDyson app.
• What don’t we like? The edge-to-edge cleaning could be better, and the lack of extra accessories or a self-emptying dock makes the price seem overly dear

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless: Specs

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review: Price & availability

Priced at $979 at Amazon or £749 direct from Dyson UK, the V16 Animal sits at the higher end of the market. As one of the newest entries in the brand's arsenal, it commands a premium price that mirrors its top-tier standing.

It also comes at a premium price, which, in a competitive market, begs the question of whether it’s truly worth the expensive tag, especially since it lacks extra accessories or even a self-emptying dock (unlike the new Dyson Konical).

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review: Design

At first glance, the V16 resembles the Dyson Gen5Detect, but comes with a few notable upgrades. First, it has an All Floors ‘Fluffy Cones’ floor head, designed to auto-adapt from hard floors to carpets without the need to swap out heads.

Rather than the separate brush roller and fluffy heads, its conical-shaped swivel head combines two conical brush bars. It also comes with an anti-detangling mechanism and a dust-detection laser light, which is always handy for showing any hidden dustballs.

While the bin capacity might appear limited at first, it features a clever internal compressor. This mechanism compacts debris effectively, allowing for increased storage and far fewer interruptions to empty the trash.

Perhaps the more notable change is the absence of a trigger-button operation, which has been replaced with a tiny (yes, it really is tiny), on/off button at the top of the LCD screen. Underneath that is another button to set your cleaning modes — Eco, Auto and Boost.

I like that you simply press the button and it’s ready to go, which effectively eliminates the hand fatigue often caused by holding down the trigger on trigger-based models.

Included accessories are a combination brush and funnel for upholstery, crevice tool, and the Hair Screw Tool 2.0, which is ideal for pet hairs and tackling stairs.

Overall, the V16 looks sleek and premium with its eye-catching copper-and-Prussian-blue finish.

I also like the fact that it’s lightweight, at just 3.4 kg, which makes it easier to lift and carry around the home single-handedly.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review: Cleaning performance

Since I have different types of hard flooring, I’m constantly whizzing around my home with a vacuum to deal with the inevitable accumulation of daily dirt, stray crumbs, and household debris.

First, I passed the V16 across my living room's wooden flooring and through the kitchen and dining area tiles. Even when operating in Eco mode, I was impressed at the suction power to quickly pick up dust and loose particles. It even tackled those annoying bits of debris wedged deep within the narrow gaps of my floorboards.

Similarly, in Auto and Boost modes, the power ramps up to give it an even deeper clean.

Another favorite feature of mine is the dust-detection laser light that’s built into the floor head. I find this incredibly useful to spot where the hidden dust is lurking, especially under my sofa, bed (which is usually untouched and has tons of dust balls), and other low-rise furniture.

Plus, its "lightsaber" illumination adds a layer of contentment to the chore (it’s always good to know you haven’t missed any spots); even my son found himself eager to tackle the dust balls in his own bedroom. So that’s a win-win!

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Perhaps one slight frustration I encountered was its tendency to struggle with larger debris, like stray cereal or gravel. I often found myself needing several passes over the same area to ensure the floor was left entirely spotless.

Another disappointment is that it struggled with edge-to-edge cleaning, as I still observed the odd dust line along the skirting boards. However, this wasn't a major deal breaker and was easily resolved with another pass over.

Carpet cleaning

Although my home is mostly hard flooring, my carpeted staircase constantly highlights every bit of stray hair and accumulated debris.

Even though I’m not a pet owner (you would think I do), I’m constantly dealing with my own long hair shedding across the house, which tends to get stubbornly embedded in my beige carpeting.

In fact, it looked so dull that you wouldn’t be able to tell what color it originally was.

Set to Auto mode, I was equally impressed that the V16 could tackle these stubborn hair strands, thanks to its anti-detangling function. Moving on, I put the V16 to work on my carpeted staircase.

By switching to the handheld mode and attaching the hair screw tool, I was able to efficiently remove those deep-set particles and stubborn hair fibers that often cling to the treads. Impressive results. For that reason alone, I’d recommend this for pet parents, who would certainly benefit from the pick-up power.

Unlike the hard surface results, the V16 performed better when it came to tackling larger debris on carpet. And once the suction ramped up on Auto, my carpets were left spotless.

Battery

I was impressed with its long-lasting battery life. Given how often I grabbed it for a bi-daily sweep of my living spaces, I only needed to reach for the charger once every fortnight.

However, this longevity likely stems from my reliance on Eco mode, only shifting into Auto for more grimy spots.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review: Cleaning and storage

Since the compressor bin is designed to hold up to 30 days' worth of dirt (thanks to the innovative internal compressor), I found myself making far fewer trips to the trash can than expected. I found this handy, especially when I was in a rush and didn't always have the time to empty out immediately.

However, one minor caveat is the messy "dust cloud" that often erupts when you trigger the release mechanism — which can be a bit of a nuisance when emptying the bin.

Despite that, the V16 is easy to maintain, and its slender build means it won't take up too much space in your storage closet.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless review: Verdict

The V16 Animal Piston is a welcome upgrade to its predecessors and doesn’t disappoint in power. During my testing, it proved exceptionally capable, making light work of varied types of debris across both my hard floors and carpeted staircase. Plus, its power-on button and lightweight build make it easy to use and maneuver.

Although the unique 'Fluffy Cones' floor head took some getting used to, I grew to really appreciate the sheer versatility. To transition seamlessly between different floor surfaces without pausing to swap out tool attachments is a definite time-saver.

I also found the handy swivel feature and dust-detecting light useful when trying to get into those awkward spots. However, the edge-to-edge cleaning results could have been a little better.

Considering the V16 lacks extra add-ons like the Dyson Submarine’s mopping head or a convenient self-emptying base station, its premium price tag feels particularly steep.

However, if you simply want convenience and unrivaled power to tackle all floor surfaces with ease, the Dyson V16 certainly delivers on its promise.