I Tried a $1,100 Stick Vacuum That’s Designed For Pet Hair

My Dyson Cyclone V10 vacuum served me faithfully for more than six years before the filter started acting up and the battery life declined. I really enjoyed that lightweight cordless stick model and I was excited when I received the opportunity to test the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Absolute vacuum. (Dyson sent me a free unit for testing purposes.)

My initial impression is that the V16 felt straight out of the future. An LED light, an LCD screen, serious motor power, the works. The caveat? It's got a hefty price tag, ringing in at $1,170 for the vacuum and freestanding charging dock (without the dock, it costs $1,100). Since it's one of the higher-end vacuums in the Dyson lineup, I was curious if it actually makes cleaning easier and better than my older, cheaper Dyson V10. (The newest iteration of the V10, the Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal+ Stick Vacuum, retails for around $700.)

What Is the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Absolute?

The Dyson V16 vacuum and dock.

The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Absolute is a cordless stick vacuum. Released in September 2025, it's one of the newest vacuums in the Dyson line-up. The brand's cordless vacuums range in price from $500 to $1,300, with the V16 sitting near the upper range.

It's designed for all floor types with pet owners in mind, which suits me—my long, wavy hair and my cat's fur entangle to create the most epic of dust bunnies in my Toronto condo. I also prefer cordless vacuums, since they're easier to maneuver in compact spaces and typically require less storage space.

The key differentiators of this model are its power, smart display and HEPA filtration. The 900-watt motor is Dyson's most powerful, delivering up to 315 air watts of suction power compared to the V10's 150 air watts. The LCD screen shows the debris it's removing in real time (more on this later), aided by a five-stage filtration system that captures 99.99% of particles down to 0.1 microns in size, roughly equivalent to one-thousandth the width of a human hair.

Three suction modes—Eco, Standard and Turbo—let you prioritize battery life or cleaning power. Eco is best for light dust and longer sessions, Standard handles everyday cleaning and Turbo provides maximum suction for deeply embedded dirt and larger messes.

First Impressions And Setup

Dyson delivered my vacuum promptly within a week of ordering it. The unboxing experience was pleasant, especially since the packaging wasn't excessive. I unboxed the vacuum in under five minutes, and assembled it in about the same amount of time.

I was initially surprised by just how lightweight the vacuum is. For such a powerful unit, it only weighs 7.5 pounds—a mere 1.5 pounds more than my V10. I barely felt the additional weight.

The sleekness of the vacuum is on par with other Dyson tech. It also comes with three specialized cleaning attachments: a hair screw tool for removing hair from upholstery, a combination tool for dusting and everyday cleaning, and a crevice tool for narrow gaps and corners.

Sleek, Smart And Surprisingly Fun To Use

A close-up of the vacuum's LCD screen, which shows particles as they're being cleaned.

This Dyson vacuum has a modern, borderline sci-fi aesthetic. It comes in a black/copper colourway with contrasting red and purple accents in the motorbar. The V16 has clean lines, a streamlined stick form and exposed components for a function-first look. It's built to last for years, made with sturdy plastic and metal parts.

The LCD screen threw me off at first. It shows multicoloured bars moving up and down, and I had to clarify their purpose with a Dyson rep. As it turns out, each bar tracks a different particle size—for example, the 500-micron bar represents sugar-grain-sized debris—and the taller a bar grows, the more debris of that size the vacuum is picking up. The more I used the vacuum, the more satisfied I felt when it picked up a noticeably large amount of debris.

Initially, I was also skeptical about the green light emitted by the cleaner head, which reveals microscopic dust and dirt. At first, it seemed unnecessary, but then I realized that it helped compensate for the fact that my new apartment has less natural light than my previous one. With this feature, you can vacuum in low light, and the V16 won't miss a thing.

How It Performs On Pet Hair, Dust And Everyday Mess

The Dyson V16 can also be used as a handheld vacuum (shown here with the crevice tool).

I've tested the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Absolute across hardwood and tile flooring, as well as a low-pile shag rug in my apartment. When it comes to small messes like dust bunnies and stray food crumbs, the Dyson does the job quickly, regardless of the surface. For larger debris such as cat litter and dry cereal, it sometimes needs multiple passes on the Standard setting. The Turbo setting is much more effective for these messes, though it drains the battery faster.

I found the V16 particularly effective at catching fur and human hair, as advertised. I mostly stick with the standard cleaner head, but I do use the crevice tool for accessing tight spots, like between couch cushions. I've also used the crevice tool for cleaning debris out of kitchen drawers.

Compared to my Dyson V10, this model appears to be slightly worse at edge cleaning. I suspect this is because the cleaner head of this vacuum is curved—compared to the rectangular design of the V8—meaning it doesn't fit into corners as well.

What It’s Like To Use Regularly

The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Absolute is lightweight and incredibly easy to maneuver. Switching between attachments is seamless: you simply press a button, pull out the one you want, push the new one into place and wait for the click. While it's not a quiet vacuum—the suction is too powerful for that—I don't find the noise excessive.

The dustbin is easier to empty than on my older Dyson. Pressing down on the red lever opens the bin and pushes a collar through the canister, forcing most of the dust and debris out in one motion. While some dirt occasionally gets caught near the opening, I rarely have to reach inside the bin to loosen stubborn clumps of debris.

I also appreciate the docking station, which lets me store my vacuum neatly out of sight in the entryway closet.

Battery Life And Charging

The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Absolute runs for up to 70 minutes on Eco mode—more than sufficient for my 600-square-foot living space. I'm really thorough and take my time while vacuuming, yet I can still clean my place twice in that mode before the battery runs out. On the Standard setting, I can clean my unit about 1.5 times, whereas in Turbo mode, the battery lasts for just under one cleaning session.

It takes about four hours for the battery to charge fully, and the battery life indicator shows how far along it is in the charging process. The lithium-ion battery is removable and swappable, which extends the life of the vacuum. You can charge the battery with or without the docking station, and Dyson recommends leaving it plugged in when not in use for optimal performance.

Pros

• Powerful suction, especially in turbo mode
• Highly effective at picking up pet hair
• Works on multiple floor types
• Mess-free dustbin emptying
• Weighs only 7.5 pounds
• Decent battery life (70 minutes on Eco mode)
• Advanced features, including a light and an LCD screen
• Comes with or without a docking station

Cons

• One of Dyson's pricier vacuums
• Edge cleaning is just okay
• May be too high-tech for some users

Final Verdict

While this vacuum took some getting used to—the light, LCD screen and upgraded dustbin were an adjustment from my V10—I think it's a solid luxury model. If you're looking for a no-frills vacuum or want the reputation of Dyson without such a steep price tag, this is *not* the model for you. On the other hand, for those who are partial to stick vacuums and live with pets, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Absolute is worthwhile if you're willing to splurge.

Curious about other stick vacuum options? Our editor-in-chief put three different models to the test to see which one stood up best to her filthy golden retriever.