Dyson V6 Handheld Vacuum Review

This Dyson V6 Trigger handheld vacuum review is going to take a closer look at one of the smallest vacuums in the Dyson lineup.

The V6 Trigger, although not the latest handheld vacuum in the Dyson collection, the V6 Trigger offers cordless power with the quality and performance you’d expect from a Dyson.

Continue reading below to discover if the Dyson V6 Trigger is the best handheld vacuum for you.

Pros

• Cordless convenience
• Powerful suction during cleaning tests

Cons

• Limited accessories included
• High price tag

Table of Contents

• Design
• Cleaning Tests
• Usability
• Value
• Specifications
• Who Should Buy

Design

The Dyson V6 Trigger cordless handheld vacuum takes the classic look of the Dyson, but in a compact, cord-free design.

If you think you’ve heard of the Dyson V6, chance are that you have. Dyson released the following vacuums under the V6 collection:

• V6 Trigger
• V6 Baby + Child
• V6 Top Dog
• V6 Mattress
• V6 Car + Boat

While the colors for the other V6 models vary, the Trigger handheld vacuum uses the signature gunmetal gray with royal purple accents. The purple is used to highlight the suction and filtration system.

This handheld vacuum has a large handle on one side with easy access to the power trigger that controls the unit.

The Dyson V6 has a max suction power of 100 AW and runs off of a lithium-ion battery.

Features

1. Handle
2. Trigger On / Off
3. Dust bin
4. Attachment release

How It Cleans

The technology behind the Dyson V6 Trigger is similar to other Dyson models. This handheld uses two tiers of radial cyclones that use the power of centrifuge to filter the small particles and provide suction.

The handheld nozzle can be used for small spot cleaning, upholstery, vehicles, or hard-to-reach nooks and crevices.

The Dyson V6 handheld uses suction power to lift dirt, dust, and debris from surfaces; filters it using the radial cyclones; and stores the debris in the dust cup.

When the cleaning cycle is done, you can empty the cup with the push of one button, and a hatch opens at the bottom of the dust cup, releasing the debris.

Max Clean

The V6 Trigger has a MAX Clean button, which allows this vacuum to run at a higher power for 6 minutes.

This stronger suction can be useful for high pile carpet or surfaces with ground-in dirt and debris.

Size & Dimensions

The Dyson V6 cordless handheld is approximately 16.3″ long and 6.1″ tall. It weighs 3.4 pounds. Compared to other handheld vacuums, the Dyson V6 is quite lightweight and portable.

The majority of the V6’s mass is centralized in the middle (with the filtration and cyclone system), which helps prevent this vacuum from feeling top-heavy or unstable.

Personally, I was a fan of how the Dyson handled during use. The suction was strong, but not overpowering by any means. Therefore, I was able to easily control the vacuum at a variety of angles and positions.

Accessories & Parts

This handheld vacuum includes all the parts and accessories for a pretty basic setup. The V6 Trigger includes:

• Crevice tool
• Combination tool
• Filter (wash every month – minimum)
• Lithium-ion battery

Additional accessories that are sold separately include:

• Mini motorized brush

1. Crevice tool
2. Charger
3. Combination tool

Cleaning Tests

The following vacuum cleaner tests are designed to show how the Dyson V6 Trigger handheld performs on different surfaces, picking up a variety of debris types.

Note: The Dyson V6 Trigger handheld consistently struggled with cleaning cereal across all floor types, which drastically lowered the vacuum’s average across the board. If you don’t plan on cleaning up large debris, then take these results with a grain of salt. Detailed results below show the performance of the V6 with smaller debris.

We test on three different floor types, including hardwood floors, low pile carpet, and high pile carpet. For each floor type we test the vacuum cleaner against:

• Rice – 3 ounces
• Dry Cereal – 1 ounce
• Kitty Litter – 3 ounces
• Sugar – 3 ounces

Each of the aforementioned debris types was spread across our testing lane. The base surface of our testing lane is an engineered hardwood floor. For our carpet tests, we slide in a low pile and high pile carpet insert on top of the hardwood floor.

Our vacuum cleaning process strives to be as consistent, fair, and true to real world use as possible. Our tests utilize the following procedure:

1. Measure the weight of the testing debris and the weight of the empty vacuum debris container.
2. Spread the respective debris type evenly across the central portion of the testing lane.
3. Run the vacuum cleaner over the testing lane.
4. Measure the weight of the now filled container and take notes on the cleaning performance.

Hardwood Floor

The Dyson V6 Trigger performed well throughout our hardwood floor tests. The only issue came from the cereal. The handheld vacuum was able to suck up the cereal pieces at first, but eventually clogged and stopped functioning. Once the vacuum realized it was clogged with cereal, it shut itself off.

Rice, kitty litter, and sugar were all cleaned up with ease by the V6 Trigger.

Low Pile Carpet

The low pile carpet test was similar to the hardwood floor test. With the exception of cereal, each of the debris fields was cleaned up at a level of 94% or higher. The Dyson V6 Trigger handheld was able to reach some of the debris outside the width of its nozzle, helping to minimize the number of passes needed to clean up the mess.

High Pile Carpet

Last but not least, we tested the V6 on high pile carpet. There was an improvement to the level of cereal cleaned up, but sugar did cause more of an issue. That said, the Dyson V6 Trigger has a “Max” clean mode, which was powerful enough to remove the remaining 17% of sugar granules left in the high pile carpet.

While the normal cleaning mode on this handheld was not powerful enough to really dig deep and remove all of the sugar, the “Max” power mode was impressive with how easily it was able to lift up the remaining debris from the carpet.

Usability

The setup and usability for the Dyson V6 Trigger handheld is quite simple. The unit comes pre-assembled and ready to use.

Before using, I’d recommend giving the battery a good charge. The V6 lithium-ion battery takes approximately 3.5 hours for a full charge.

With a full battery, this handheld can run for about 20 minutes on regular mode or 6 minutes on max power mode. 

Once you’re ready to vacuum, you simply “click” a nozzle attachment into the hose. Dyson makes quite a few different attachments, but only the crevice tool comes with the standard V6 Trigger and the rest are sold separately.

Just select your attachment, press one button to release and click into place.

Maneuverability

Overall, the Dyson V6 Trigger handheld vacuum performed quite well with respect to maneuverability. The body is lightweight, so it was not difficult to move it up or down stairs or in and out of tight spaces.

In addition, the V6 Trigger is cordless which also makes it easy to transport, whether you’re using inside or outside or for your vehicle’s interior.

Do not use outdoors or on wet surfaces or to vacuum water or other liquids.

Between the two nozzle attachments, the crevice tool offers a good length, adding 8.5″ to the length of the unit and making it easier to get into those hard-to-reach crevices.

The smaller, but wider, brush tool did a great job of lifting debris, allowing the V6 Trigger to suck up the media with ease.

• Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Power: Lithium-ion battery
• Height: 6.1″
• Length: 16.3″

Maintenance

Charge the battery, empty the dust cup, and wash the filter once a month. These three task are just about all you need to remember to properly maintain the Dyson V6 Trigger handheld vacuum.

The washable filter can be rinsed with cold water and air dried (for 24 hours), which helps keep maintenance costs down.

With normal use, the battery that comes with this handheld vacuum should last 1-3 years before needing to be replaced.

Avoid using the appliance with the battery flush to a surface. This will help it run cooler and prolong battery run time and life.

Overall, assuming normal use, this handheld has an annual maintenance cost around $11 per year, which would account for one new filter per year.

Noise

All vacuum cleaner reviews on Modern Castle are put through our standard noise test. For this test, we use a sound meter to measure noise in terms of decibel level approximately 3′ away from the vacuum.

At 3′ away, the Dyson V6 Trigger (handheld) emits 81 dB of sound.

Battery

All battery powered vacuum reviews on Modern Castle are put through a standard assessment of battery size, run time, life, and replacement cost.

When it comes to replacing the battery in the V6 Trigger, Dyson makes it quite simple. If you’re within your 2-year warranty period and the battery dies, the company will replace it at no charge.

If you are outside of the warranty period, you have the option to purchase Dyson’s battery, or a generic model. You can find a generic replacement battery here.

Value

This is a pretty pricey handheld vacuum. That said, the performance you get at that price point is no joke. Between the standard power cleaning mode and “Max” power cleaning mode, dirt and debris hardly stand a chance against the V6 Trigger.

Additionally, the two nozzles included with the purchase of this Dyson handheld vacuum (crevice tool and brush tool), offer a nice level of versatility for different cleaning jobs.

The crevice tool is 8.5″ inches long, which gives the vacuum a total length of more than 20″. Therefore, you have the ability to clean deeply in the corners and smaller crevices, as the tool is also quite thin, measuring just over 0.5″.

The brush tool is able to lift and remove dirt and debris, giving the Dyson V6 Trigger the best chance to completely vacuum up the debris.

Costs to maintain this vacuum are relatively low, the actual labor that goes into maintaining the V6 Trigger is simple, and the performance is top notch. Overall, this Dyson handheld vacuum offers a good value.

Within its warranty, Dyson states the following:

 This warranty provides, at no cost to you, all labor and parts necessary to ensure your machine is in proper operating condition during the warranty period.

With regards to warranty and return period, Dyson offers a 2-year limited warranty and a 30-day return policy, via Amazon. The 2-year warranty is certainly a plus, as most other handheld vacuums we have tested and reviews only offered a 1-year warranty.

Specifications

Below is a complete list of important specifications and features included on the Dyson V6 Trigger handheld vacuum.

Who Should Buy the Dyson V6 Trigger Handheld Vacuum?

The Dyson V6 Trigger is a handheld vacuum combining powerful suction with lightweight maneuverability. As a higher end handheld vacuum, the V6 Trigger may not be for everyone; but if you feel comfortable paying a bit more, this Dyson could be a great choice.

I would recommend the Dyson V6 Trigger if you’re looking for the following features in a handheld vacuum.

• Want a handheld vacuum – As a handheld vacuum, the Dyson V6 Trigger makes cleaning smaller messes more convenient. Additionally, this vacuum is able to reach corners and crevices that some upright and stick vacuums cannot reach.
• Want multiple cleaning power modes – The V6 Trigger is equipped with a standard cleaning mode and a “Max” power mode. The standard cleaning mode is good for more hard surface types whereas the max power mode increases the suction power for thicker carpets and rugs.
• Don’t mind spending a little extra money – Priced in the mid to high rier, this vacuum is a bit more costly than most other handheld vacuums. The performance is above average, but be sure you’re okay with spending the extra money before purchasing.

For more information on the Dyson V6 Trigger visit here.