I have a Dyson cordless and it is a disappointment. As the other poster stated, battery life is very short. I gave it to my son and bought a Shark.

I'll provide a different perspective. I like mine. Battery lasts ~20 minutes maybe? I've run it dead a couple of times, but 95% of the time I'm using it for 5 minutes or less, so battery isn't even remotely an issue. Suction/power seem good--better than any of the other small handheld type vacs that I've had.

Is it worth the money? I don't know. I would probably replace mine if it died, though.

I have that exact vacuum and love it! I can vacuum our 1400 square foot home without running out of battery. I got mine $200 off on Black Friday though, so look for a sale! Its lightweight and easy to maneuver.

It is not worth paying alot for a hand held. Just buy any inexpensive hand held. They basically are all the same.

Jane

I have the cordless Animal that is about 3 years old. I use it without the "stick" as a handheld more than anything. The battery charges quickly and allows me to use it for 2-3 good runs most charges. I can run it down on a single use, but I generally don't.

If you are willing to pay Dyson's price then you are not overpaying.

You have decided the vacuum is worth the money.

If you decide it is not worth the money and buy something cheaper then you believe Dyson's customers are overpaying.

I love my Dyson handheld. The battery lasts 11-15 minutes. I've only run it out a few times. Mine is maybe 4 years old. I bought my daughter one a year after mine. She uses it all the time.

We have three Dysons. My wife wanted them. I believe that they are a waste of money, but it makes her happy. We have one of the battery ones. My impression is that it will truly run for 20 minutes, but we don't usually need it for that long. I often use it in the hand held mode and it is convenient. It is good for a quick clean of stairs in regular mode due to lightness and smaller brush foot print. At least with our model, one must maintain trigger press to keep it running. It certainly prevents wasting battery life but it can be annoying.

I would look at Consumer Reports and get something cheaper.

I LOVE my Dyson Animal cordless. In my experience, no other cordless compares in power. Its true that the battery doesn't last long but because it is so quick and easy to use, I vacuum more often therefor it's not as dirty therefor it's much faster to do a good job. I just saw the same model on sale for $399 CAN at Canadian Tire (I paid $599 for mine at Sears last year) so I"m going to go get a second one for upstairs. My house is very large (4000+ sq feet) with a mix of floor surfaces along with three small kids, a dog, and two messy guinea pigs. I can do an excellent job of vacuuming one floor of the house on a charge. Having one unit upstairs and one downstairs means I won't have to wait to charge or carry it around. Honestly, I haven't used my central vac or full size canister vac a single time since having the Dyson cordless stick.

If you don't mind a cord, I also have a little brown Shark and it is fantastic. Cleans just as well as the Dyson or a full size vacuum for a fraction of the cost (under $200) but it has a cord. Like the Dyson, it also has a power head (beater brush) which to me is essential if you really want to get your money's worth.

We have the V6 motorhead and love the thing. It's not a 'vacuum the whole house' vacuum - that's what our Miele is for. The Dyson handheld (with short or long attachments) is great for a quick touchup before guests come over, a spot clean, or a vac of hard to reach places with a full size. It's also a critical component to twice a month coffee roasting & cleanup - the flat nozzle is a perfect fit into tight spaces. Bought one for mom, always skeptical of fancy expensive things, and she loves it.

I don't get the battery life complaint, unless folks are trying to use the thing as a full-size vac replacement, which it isn't. It cleans great for its size and portability. The wall storage rig is convenient and leaves it always charged and easy to swap attachments. And yes, it is certainly expensive.

mandy_elaine, which shark cordless do you have? i am looking at the rotator freestyle for in between dusting.

I have the Shark Rotator stick vac. It isn't cordless but it has a very long cord and I like it much better than the cordless Dyson we had (which is why I have the Dyson to my son). I use it on hardwoods and tile between "big sweeps" with the fullsize Shark.

The Dyson handheld v8 model supposed to have double v6 model battery life. My Roomba is the main vacuum and I use my v6 Dyson handheld for quick clean and vacuuming hard to reach area. I love it for what I use it for!

I've had the Dyson V8 Absolute for about 3 months and love it! I'm living in a 1200 sqft carpeted condo and can vacuum it without battery issues. I'm not very good at housekeeping, so maybe someone vacuuming more thoroughly would have issues with the battery. For me the cordless is so light and easy to get out and put away, I vacuum much more often.

I had a Hoover cordless stick vacuum, and it just wasn't powerful enough for the dog hair (see handsome fellow in my profile pic).

I bought my vacuum at Bed Bath and Beyond with a 20% off coupon. Coupon says no Dyson and it didn't work online, but they gave me the discount in the store.

Just purchase the V8 Absolute and pretty nice! On standard setting run for around 25 minutes with mechanical head attached. Very nice to use and I think it like an iPhone in that it a luxury purchase. Order some more attachments that total $240. So far, I spent close to $1,000 on this vacuum. I remember my mom save for six year to buy a Kirby vacuum!

I have a DC41 for the heavy vacuuming chores. Now that workout every two weeks.