The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal is a corded canister vacuum. It's exceptionally easy to maintain, and thanks to its plastic dirt compartment, you can also easily empty dirt directly into the garbage. It's fairly heavy, though, and while it feels lightweight in your hand, the actual canister body is pretty heavy. It also has trouble vacuuming large debris on all surfaces, which is disappointing, especially compared to other Dyson vacuums.
While there are multiple variants, they only differ in color and accessories. Further details on the differences between models are outlined in the Differences Between Variants section of the review.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball is good for bare floors. It does an excellent job of picking up pet hair and fine debris, but it struggles to suck large debris like cereal as it pushes it around or clogs the vacuum. Maintaining the vacuum is easy, though, and there aren't any recurring costs, which is nice.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball is good for cleaning low-pile carpet. It has some trouble sucking up larger debris, but it does a much better job with finer debris, like baking soda and pet hair. It's very easy to maintain this vacuum, but if hair gets caught in its brushroll, you must manually remove it.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball is a good choice for cleaning high-pile carpet. While it struggles to pick up larger debris like sand, it does a much better job handling finer debris, like baking soda. There are no recurring costs, and it also has excellent maneuverability.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball is great for cleaning pet hair. It can tackle hair on any surface, and you can easily switch out brushes since they clip in. However, if hair gets wrapped around the brushroll, you need to take it out and remove it manually.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball is good for cleaning stairs. Although it's a bit heavy, it has a handle to make it easier to carry up the stairs. A Tangle Free Turbine Tool is also included, so you can better clean your stairs if they're carpeted. However, this vacuum has a bit of trouble with larger debris on any surface, so it may take many passes to fully clean up a mess.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball is good for cleaning cars. It's fairly portable and has a carrying handle to make it easier to move around. It also has several tools that you can use to help you reach most crevices, and it does an okay job of vacuuming debris on low-pile carpet.
There are multiple variants of the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball, though they only differ in terms of included attachments. We tested the 'Animal' variant.
Model Name | Tools Included | Color |
Cinetic Big Ball Animal | Turbine head, Quick-release combination tool, Quick-release tangle-free turbine tool, Stair tool, Stubborn dirt brush, Quick-release adapter | Nickel |
Cinetic Big Ball Animal Pro |
Turbine head, Hard floor head, Quick-release combination tool, Carbon fiber soft dusting brush, Quick-release tangle-free turbine tool, Quick-release reach under tool, Quick-release groom tool, Stair tool, Stubborn dirt brush, Quick-release adapter |
Purple/Iron |
Cinetic Big Ball Multi Floor |
Turbine head, Combination tool, Stair tool |
Yellow/Iron |
Cinetic Big Ball Origin | Turbine head, Combination tool, Stair tool | Red/Iron |
Cinetic Big Ball Absolute | Turbine head, Hard floor head, Quick-release combination tool, Carbon fiber soft dusting brush, Quick-release tangle-free turbine tool, Quick-release reach under tool, Stair tool, Stubborn dirt brush, Quick-release adapter | Nickel |
Cinetic Big Ball Turbinehead | Turbine head, Hard floor head, Quick-release combination tool, Stair tool, Stubborn dirt brush, Quick-release adapter | Yellow/Iron |
Cinetic Big Ball Allergy+ | Turbine head, Hard floor head, Quick-release combination tool, Carbon fiber soft dusting brush, Quick-release tangle-free turbine tool, Mattress tool, Stair tool, Quick-release adapter | Blue/Iron |
If you encounter another variant of this vacuum, let us know in the discussions, so we can update our review.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball is a corded canister vacuum. Like other Dyson vacuums, there's little recurring costs, it doesn't use a dirtbag as its dirt compartment can be directly emptied into your garbage, and it comes with a HEPA filter. It's also easy to maintain and its corded design ensures you never run out of power. However, even though it's overall vacuuming performance is alright, it still falls short compared to the rest of Dyson's lineup.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal and the Dyson V15 Detect are differently designed vacuums with differing uses. The Cinetic is a corded canister vacuum with a virtually indefinite runtime. It also has far fewer parts requiring regular maintenance, as well as a larger dirt compartment, and it doesn't get stuck on some rugs. Conversely, the V15 is a cordless stick vacuum that you can use far away from any electrical outlets. It delivers superior performance on all surface types, is considerably easier to store, and feels slightly better built.
The Miele Complete C3 Alize is a better overall canister vacuum than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal. The Miele feels better built, is easier to maintain, and has a significantly more powerful motor. The Miele can also be used in a handheld configuration, and its handle has an LED light to help you navigate more shadowy areas. However, the Dyson has virtually no recurring costs and comes with more tools and brushes.
The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra/Complete and Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal are different types of vacuums, with the former being an upright and the latter being a canister, but they each have their own advantages. The Ball Animal 3 is the best choice if you need something for cleaning thick carpeting, as it's equipped with a more powerful suction motor and has a height-adjustable powerhead. It also has a longer power cord than its canister counterpart. That being said, the Big Ball is a much smaller, more maneuverable option that could be a better fit if you live in a smaller home and don't require the upright's sheer power.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean/Origin is a better vacuum for all surface types than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal. The Ball Animal 2 has a better performance with pet hair and both small and large debris. As it's a bulky upright vacuum, it isn't suited for cleaning cars, and you may have a harder time cleaning stairs, especially when compared to the range and maneuverability of the Cinetic Big Ball.
The Miele Classic C1 is a bit better of a canister vacuum than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal. The Miele has a better build quality, is slightly easier to maintain, and has a larger dirt compartment. It's also lighter, and you can configure it so it's easier to clean surfaces like upholstery or tables. It has better overall performance on all surface types as well. However, the Dyson comes with more tools and brushes, has no recurring costs, and has slightly better maneuverability.
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe is a somewhat better vacuum for low- and high-pile carpets than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal. The Shark feels better built, and its dirt compartment is slightly larger. It also outperforms the Dyson on all surface types. However, the Dyson has better maneuverability, comes with more tools and brushes, and is easier to maintain, incurring virtually no recurring costs.
The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is a better canister vacuum overall than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal. The Eureka performs significantly better on all surface types, has a better build quality, and is more portable. However, the Dyson is more maneuverable, comes with several tools and brushes, and is easier to maintain.
The NaceCare HVR 200 Henry is a better canister vacuum for tackling debris on bare floors than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal. The NaceCare has a better build quality and is slightly easier to maintain, and its dirt compartment can hold much more debris. It also has a larger range, and its performance on bare floors is excellent. However, the Dyson comes with more tools and brushes, which makes it slightly more versatile for home use.
The Eureka Mighty Mite is a better canister vacuum for bare floors than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal. The Eureka has a larger dirt compartment and is lighter, and since its wand is made of two separate parts, you can shorten the wand for more maneuverability. It also has significantly better performance on all surface types. However, the Dyson has no recurring costs. It's also easier to store, is more maneuverable, and comes with more tools and brushes.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal is better for pet owners than the BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister. The Dyson has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, is easier to maintain, incurs practically no recurring costs, has a longer power cord, and comes with a much wider assortment of tools and brushes. However, the budget-friendly BISSELL weighs almost half as much, feels slightly better built, and clears coarse debris on high-pile carpets far more effectively.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal and the Dyson Omni-glide have different strengths, and which you may prefer depends on your needs. The Big Ball delivers decent performance on low- and high-pile carpets. It's much easier to maintain, and its dirt compartment can hold more debris. However, the Omni-glide delivers somewhat better performance on bare floors since it struggles a bit less to clear bulky debris like cereal. It's also much lighter and more portable.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal and Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit are designed for different use cases. The Dyson is a bagless canister for home vacuuming. Its corded design results in a virtually infinite runtime, though it doesn't have the cordless Milwaukee's go-anywhere range. The Dyson is even easier to maintain, has a surface-type adjustment feature, comes with a wider array of attachments, and is a bit easier to maneuver. However, the Milwaukee feels better built, has a much larger dustbin, and clears more debris on bare floors and high-pile carpets.
The Dyson Cinetic's build quality is just passable. It has a lightweight metal wand and carbon fiber brushroll that feel quite premium, but the plastic used in the rest of its build feels quite fragile. The dirt canister feels like a particularly weak point, like it could crack if dropped or if it hits the corner of a table. Consider the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3-in-1 Backpack Vacuum Kit if you're looking for a more solidly-built bagless vacuum. Thankfully, the ball design of the vacuum itself has a low center of gravity which helps keep it upright - if it gets knocked over, it orients itself back upright, which helps protect the canister.
However, it isn't possible to clean or change the filter on this vacuum, which could affect its longevity. On the upside, like other Dyson vacuums, it's pretty easy to assemble. The design is intuitive and the parts clip together and come apart without any trouble.
This vacuum is exceptionally easy to maintain. Since the filters aren't removable, you don't have to worry about washing them. You can remove the brushroll from the vacuum head for easy cleaning by using a coin to unlock the mechanism holding it in place. However, if hair gets wrapped around the brushroll, you must manually remove it. Since the brushroll is made of carbon fiber, washing your hands after handling it is good practice. The rest of the vacuum can be easily cleaned with a dry cloth. You can also detach the dirt compartment from the cyclone to wash it with cold water if necessary. Not getting water on the cyclone is important since this could damage it. Simply wiping down the dirt compartment with a dry cloth occasionally will be enough for most uses.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball has no recurring costs. It's bagless, and there are no replaceable filters. It isn't even possible to remove the filters from this vacuum at all, so the filter part number is unknown.
If you have any information on the filters this vacuum uses, let us know in the discussions below.
This vacuum's storing capabilities are quite good. Thanks to the removable hose, you can place this canister vacuum in several different ways to help save space. The automatic cord management is also very convenient - there's a button you can press that retracts the cable back into the body of vacuum without having to hold it down.
This vacuum has a good dirt compartment. While the manufacturer doesn't specify the volume, we found the canister holds 0.26 gallons (1L) of uncooked rice up to the max fill line. This is a bit on the smaller side when compared to other canister vacuums like the Miele Complete C3 Alize, but it's still a decent size.
The following attachment is exclusive to the Animal Pro, Absolute, Turbinehead, and Allergy+ variants:
The following attachment is exclusive to the Animal Pro, Absolute, and Allergy+ variants:
The following attachment is exclusive to the Animal Pro and Absolute variants:
The following attachment is exclusive to the Animal Pro variant:
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball has a mediocre range. The cord length is decent, so you can vacuum an entire room without changing plugs. However, the hose is on the shorter side, so there's a bit less maneuverability in harder-to-reach spots.
This vacuum is fairly portable. While the vacuum itself is pretty heavy, the actual weight you feel in your hand isn't much at all. There's also a carrying handle on the vacuum so that you can take it from room to room more easily. If you're looking for a canister vacuum that's lighter and easier to carry, consider the BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball is a corded vacuum that doesn't use a battery.
This vacuum has a suction release clip which lowers both the suction power and the brushroll speed for use on bare floors or delicate fabrics like curtains. The power button is also very easy to access with your foot.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Vacuum has many tools, brushes, and accessories. These vary depending on which variant of this vacuum you purchase and in which country. The Animal comes with a crevice/brush combination tool, a turbo brush that Dyson calls the 'Tangle Free Turbine Tool', a stair/upholstery tool, and a stiff bristle brush. There's also a quick-release clip to attach some of these accessories to the vacuum wand.
The Animal Pro, Absolute, Turbinehead, and Allergy+ models have an additional hard-surface floorhead for cleaning bare floors.
The Animal Pro, Absolute, and Allergy+ models come with a slim soft bristle dusting brush that you can use to clean fine dust from delicate surfaces like TV screens.
The Animal Pro and Absolute variants come with a reach-under tool that you can use to clean tight spots, like the underside of couches or beds.
The Animal Pro variant also comes with a pet grooming tool that you can use to clear away any loose fur on long-haired pets.
There are no alternative configurations for this canister vacuum. If you're looking for a canister vacuum with an alternative configuration for cleaning tight spaces like within a car, check out the Miele Classic C1 or the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball's bare floor performance with the included brush head is mediocre overall. While it does an excellent job picking up both pet hair and small debris like rice, it's terrible at handling larger debris like cereal. The cereal just gets pushed around by the vacuum, and even if you lift the brush head to try and capture the pieces underneath, they tend to get stuck near the opening of the head and clog the vacuum. If you prefer a canister vacuum with much better performance on bare floors, check out the NaceCare HVR 200 Henry.
Note that there's an optional hard floor tool that you can purchase separately, and even comes included with some variants. Although we didn't test it, we'd expect it to improve this vacuum's bare floor performance.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball does an okay job on low-pile carpet. It picks up an excellent amount of pet hair and does a great job handling finer debris like baking soda, too. However, sand poses a significant challenge. It tends to get stuck on the brush head's wheels, and as they spin, the sand generates a lot of static, which makes even more sand just end up sticking on top of the brush head, instead of inside the vacuum. If you want a vacuum that cleans better on low-pile carpet, then check out the Airsign HEPA Vacuum.
This vacuum performs alright on high-pile carpet. It still does an excellent job handling pet hair, and even handles finer debris like baking soda remarkably well. However, it struggles a lot to effectively pick up sand, especially as the dirt compartment fills up more. If you're looking for a canister vacuum with an even better performance on high-pile carpet, check out the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister.
This vacuum has excellent maneuverability. The ball-shaped wheel design enables it to move around the room with ease as you're vacuuming. Using the wand, it's possible to reach quite far underneath furniture like couches and tables, but you still need to crouch down a bit. It's very easy to clean on top of furniture by detaching the hose from the wand, and the hose is long enough to properly clean around a deep-seated couch without lifting the canister. Unfortunately, it has a hard time around light rugs. Even with the suction release activated, the tassels tend to get sucked up into the brush head. On the upside, it doesn't have the same issue around electric cords laying around.