As for noise, the V11 is a tad louder than its predecessor, the V10. Using the same High Torque on both machines on the highest suction mode, the V11 reached 47dB on hard flooring and 48dB on short-pile carpet. The V10 measures 44dB and 41dB, respectively. That said, when the filter needs cleaning, a message will appear on the Dyson's LCD screen, so there's no danger of leaving it so long that you ruin the motor – something that Alison has unfortunately done in the past. The battery is designed to last for an hour in Eco mode, operating with or without a motorised brush. That’s the same as the V10, because the V11’s larger battery has the more powerful motor for increased suction. Nevertheless, the V11 Absolute is easy to empty and to clean. To empty, you simply push the bin lever to sweep everything out – and we mean everything. Dyson calls this ‘point and shoot’ emptying and that describes it exactly.

Dyson V11 Absolute Review | Trusted Reviews Dyson V11 Absolute Review | Trusted Reviews

Remove the extension pole and the V11 Absolute turns into a capable handheld unit. It’s a touch chunkier than some of its competition, but not to the point of being unusable. The motorised brush makes light work of each step, with standard mode our preferred choice of power mode. You can even use the main power heads for a bit more power. With the new High Torque head and the improved motor, the Dyson V11 produces the best performance we’ve ever seen from a cordless vacuum cleaner, impressively improving on the Dyson V10 in every way. It’s more powerful, lasts longer per charge and is more versatile and convenient, making the Dyson V11 Absolute the ultimate cordless vacuum.That’s not all, though. The Dyson V11’s vacuum motor is also more powerful, delivering 185 Air Watts of suction power in Boost mode, up from the V10’s 151 Air Watts of power in Max mode. We test a vacuum's capabilities by replicating three typical household cleaning scenarios: oats scattered on a tiled floor; carpet freshener and talc scattered on a carpet; and pet hairs on a rug and sofa. We also test maneuverability for cleaning around and under furniture and on stairs, ease of emptying the bin, and battery life.

|Dyson V11 Absolute Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, 760 milliliters, Blue Dyson V11 Absolute Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, 760 milliliters, Blue

There’s a slider on the top to adjust two gates at the front of the brush. Fully lowered, the High Torque head has more suction to the floor; opened up, it allows air through. There’s a mid-position that gives you something in-between, too. The instructions are in diagram form and our tester, Alison, found them clear and easy to follow despite not really needing them for set-up.

How loud is the Dyson V11 Absolute?

Switching to the Soft Roller head – which is really designed for this job – and everything was gone on Eco mode, showing the true power of this vacuum cleaner and its well-designed heads. Large debris (rice, spilled cereal and dried leaves) were whisked away in no time, and smaller debris (toast crumbs, washing powder and sugar) vanished in just a couple of swipes. Any way you cut it, this is an expensive vacuum cleaner and one that many people may find it hard to justify. A more significant change is the new V11 motor, which Dyson claims is 20% more powerful than the V10, delivering 185 air watts (that’s better than a lot of corded vacuum cleaners). The improvement in suction comes via the more powerful motor, but Dyson has made some improvements to airflow, too. These include a more efficient diffuser design that straightens airflow thus reducing turbulence, and a new impeller design. Once again, the battery has a handy rubber pad on it so that the V11 doesn’t fall over when you stand it up against a wall. It’s a small thing, but great for anyone who’s watched an older Dyson cordless cleaner fall to the ground.

V11 Absolute review | TechRadar Dyson V11 Absolute review | TechRadar

You can choose between eco mode (which gives maximum runtime), auto/medium mode (which automatically alters the suction power for carpets and hard floors), and boost mode for ingrained dirt. This is accomplished using the selection button on the display screen.In my view, though, it’s worth putting up with that extra weight for the extra power and convenience that the Dyson V11 Absolute delivers. It’s a simply brilliant vacuum cleaner.