- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister 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 its hand weight isn't so bad, you may feel it more when you carry it to other rooms or up and down stairs. It also has trouble vacuuming large debris on all surfaces, which is a little disappointing, especially when compared to other Dyson vacuums. Still, if you have pets, it does an excellent job of capturing pet hair around the house, and it comes with several tools and brushes, giving you more precise ways to clean around the house or car.
Our Verdict
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister is alright 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 just pushes it around, or it clogs the vacuum. Maintaining the vacuum is easy, though, and there aren't any recurring costs, which is nice.
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Outstanding performance cleaning small debris.
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Can easily capture pet hair on any surface-type.
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Exceptionally easy to maintain.
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No recurring costs.
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Has troubles cleaning up large debris.
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Mediocre bare floor performance with standard brush head.
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Corded design results in limited range.
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Inability to open up vacuum to wash or replace filters could affect longevity.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister is decent 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 as well as pet hair. It's very easy to maintain this vacuum but if hair gets caught in its brushroll, you need to manually take it out.
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Great performance cleaning small debris.
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Can easily capture pet hair on any surface-type.
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Exceptionally easy to maintain.
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No recurring costs.
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Has troubles cleaning up large debris.
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Corded design results in limited range.
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Inability to open up vacuum to wash or replace filters could affect longevity.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister is decent for cleaning high-pile carpet. While it struggles to pick up larger debris like sand, it does a much better job of handling finer debris such as baking soda. There are no recurring costs, and it also has excellent maneuverability.
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Great performance cleaning small debris.
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Can easily capture pet hair on any surface-type.
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Exceptionally easy to maintain.
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No recurring costs.
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Has troubles cleaning up large debris.
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Corded design results in limited range.
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Inability to open up vacuum to wash or replace filters could affect longevity.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister is excellent 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.
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Can easily capture pet hair on any surface-type.
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Exceptionally easy to maintain.
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No recurring costs.
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Inability to open up vacuum to wash or replace filters could affect longevity.
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No pet grooming brush.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister is good for cleaning stairs. Although it's a bit heavy, it has a handle to make it easier to carry up the stairs. There's also a Tangle Free Turbine Tool 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.
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Exceptionally easy to maintain.
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No recurring costs.
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Excellent maneuverability.
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Corded design results in limited range.
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Inability to open up vacuum to wash or replace filters could affect longevity.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister is good for cleaning cars. It's fairly portable, and it 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.
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Exceptionally easy to maintain.
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No recurring costs.
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Excellent maneuverability.
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Comes with crevice brush as well as turbo brush.
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Corded design results in limited range.
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Inability to open up vacuum to wash or replace filters could affect longevity.
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Exceptionally easy to maintain.
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No recurring costs.
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Inability to open up vacuum to wash or replace filters could affect longevity.
- 7.5 Bare Floor
- 7.6 Low-Pile Carpet
- 7.4 High-Pile Carpet
- 7.9 Pets
- 7.6 Stairs
- 7.5 Cars
- 5.9 Workshop
- Updated Jun 06, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jul 06, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jul 06, 2020: Early access published.
Check Price
Test Results
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, it still needs to be removed manually. Since the brushroll is made of carbon fiber, it's good practice to wash your hands after handling it. 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. It's important not to get water on the cyclone since this could damage it. Simply just wiping down the dirt compartment with a dry cloth from time to time should 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 volume isn't specified by the manufacturer, 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 such as the Miele Complete C3 Alize PowerLine, but it's still a decent size.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal has mediocre range. The cord length is decent, so you should be able to vacuum an entire room without needing to change 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 comes with a lot of different tools, brushes, and accessories. These vary depending on which variant of this vacuum you purchase, and in which country. The U.S. model of the Cinetic Big Ball 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.
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 such as within a car, check out the Miele Classic C1 or the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal'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 Animal 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.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The model we tested is the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister. However, there are a number of different Dyson vacuums with similar names. This Cinetic Big Ball lineup blends models from two different families of different Dyson vacuums:
- Cinetic = One of Dyson's cyclone technologies that eliminates the need for washable or replaceable filters.
- Big Ball = Dyson's self-righting vacuums that are designed to pick themselves up if they topple over while in use.
Dyson makes many other different Big Ball vacuums that aren't Cinetic - instead, they use washable filters. They also have a few Cinetic vacuums that don't use the Big Ball. In addition, they also make both canister and upright versions of the different Cinetic, Big Ball, and Cinetic Big Ball vacuums. This review only applies to the Cinetic Big Ball Canister vacuums, as there are likely significant differences in performance with the upright models, as well as the Cinetic or Big Ball models.
There's a variant of the Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister called the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Canister Multi Floor. Besides differences in color and accessories, it seems otherwise identical to the one we tested.
In Europe, the equivalent of the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal seems to be the Cinetic Big Ball Absolute 2, while in the UK, it appears to be called the Cinetic Big Ball Animal 2. However, there may be some differences between these models and the U.S. version tested in this review. If you have an international model and notice any differences, let us know in the Discussions below.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister 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 Ball Animal 2 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, as well as 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 Animal.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister and Dyson V15 Detect are differently-designed vacuums with differing use cases. 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 doesn't get stuck on some rugs. Conversely, the V15 is a cordless stick vacuum that can be used far away from any electrical outlets. It deliver superior performance on all surface types, is considerably easier to store, and feels slightly better-built.
The Dyson V11 Animal is a better overall vacuum than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister. The V11 Animal does a much better job of vacuuming up large debris on all surface types, it has a cordless design so you can go anywhere with it, and you can even configure it into handheld mode. However, its battery performance is alright, and unlike the corded Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister, you'll need to make sure it's charged before you use it. That being said, the Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister is also easier to maintain.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister and the Dyson V8 Animal are different types of vacuums, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The Cinetic is a corded canister vacuum with a larger dirt compartment and easier maintenance requirements and more maneuverability. Meanwhile, the V8 Animal is a cordless stick vacuum that's more portable and can be reconfigured into a handheld for more versatility. It also performs better on most surface types, but its battery life is somewhat limited.
The Miele Complete C3 Alize PowerLine is a better overall canister vacuum than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister. The Miele feels better built, it's easier to maintain, and it has a significantly better performance on all surface types. 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 it comes with more tools and brushes.
The Miele Classic C1 is a bit better of a canister vacuum than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister. The Miele has a better build quality, it's slightly easier to maintain, and its dirt compartment is larger. It's also lighter and you can configure it so it's easier to clean surfaces like upholstery or tables. It has a better overall performance on all surface types as well. However, the Dyson comes with more tools and brushes, it has no recurring costs, and it has slightly better maneuverability.
The Dyson V7 Animal is a better vacuum for tackling low and high-pile carpets than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister. While the V7 has a similar performance to the Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister on bare floors, its cordless design is more portable, and you can also use it as a handheld vacuum. It also does a better job of handling large debris on low and high-pile carpet. However, the Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister does a slightly better job of cleaning up small debris on these surfaces.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister and Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute are differently-designed vacuums that serve different purposes. The Cinetic is a corded canister vacuum that has a practically unlimited runtime. It's a little easier to maneuver than the V10 and has a larger dirt compartment too. Conversely, the V10 is a cordless stick vacuum with a virtually unlimited range. It's a lot lighter, comes with more tools and accessories, and delivers superior performance on all surface types.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister and the Dyson Omni-glide have different strengths, and which you may prefer depends on your needs. The Big Ball Animal Canister delivers a 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 Canister 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 carpet far more effectively.
The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 is a somewhat better vacuum for low and high-pile carpet than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister. 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, it comes with more tools and brushes, and it's easier to maintain.
The Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister is a better canister vacuum overall than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister. The Eureka performs significantly better on all surface types, it has a better build quality, and it's more portable. However, the Dyson is more maneuverable, it comes with several tools and brushes, and it's easier to maintain.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister 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 carpet.
The Eureka Mighty Mite is a better canister vacuum for bare floors than the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister. The Eureka has a larger dirt compartment, it's 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, more maneuverable, and it comes with more tools and brushes.
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, it's 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 has a better performance on high-pile carpet, and it comes with more tools and brushes, which makes it slightly more versatile for home-use.