Best Dyson Upright Vacuums (2026)

The Total Clean is the complete package: eight accessories, including a tangle-free turbine tool for upholstery, plus the Radial Root Cyclone that the maker says increases suction by cleaning dirt from the airflow. A self-adjusting head with an active base plate raises and lowers to seal against the floor, so the same machine runs on carpet and bare boards without a setting change.

Compared with the Ball Animal 3 it adds six accessories, which is the point of the model: stairs, upholstery and cars are covered without buying tools. If you only vacuum floors, the extra tools are not worth the premium.

The cost of ownership is the bin and the filters. Empty the bin at the line into a bag held tight to the opening, wash the filters on schedule and let them dry for a day, and check the brush bar for hair every few weeks. Store the tools in the holder so none goes missing, and keep the ball joint clear of lint, since a stiff pivot undoes the steering that is the reason to buy this design. The tool kit is only useful if the tools live where you can reach them, so clip the wand and the crevice tool to the body and keep the turbine tool on the holder, and wash the turbine tool's brush head under a tap when it picks up pet fur, letting it dry fully before it goes back on the machine so that no damp lint builds up inside the small motor housing.

The de-tangling brush bar is the feature that makes this the pet pick: it automatically clears wrapped hair from the bar as you clean, which avoids the chore that most uprights leave you. The kit adds a groom tool for medium and long-haired pets and a tangle-free turbine tool, so the pet hair on sofas is handled too.

The maker calls it the best cleaning of any upright de-tangling vacuum, a comparison with other de-tangling uprights and not a general ranking. Compared with the Ball Animal 3, it adds three accessories and the pet-specific tools.

Expect the usual upkeep: wash the filters monthly, empty the bin at the line and clear any hair that escapes to the bearing end of the bar. The groom tool is for pets that tolerate the noise, so introduce it slowly, and clean the turbine tool after each sofa pass because fur collects at the brush. A de-tangling bar still needs a glance, since a few strands of very long hair can pass the clearing mechanism and wind at the ends, and a bar that no longer turns freely loads the belt and the motor. Keep the machine in a cool, dry place, away from the radiator, because the plastic cyclone chamber warps in heat and a warped chamber stops sealing against the bin.

At 290 air watts the Ball Animal 3 is rated well above the earlier models, and three suction modes let you tune the power to the floor. A de-tangling Motorbar cleaner head works on carpet and hard floors, and Radial Root Cyclone technology increases suction.

The kit is lean: a stair tool and a combination tool. That is the difference from the Extra and Total Clean, and it is the reason to choose this one if you only want the floor machine.

Keep the filters clean and empty the bin at the line. If you later want pet tools, check that the accessories for this model are sold separately, since the kit does not include them. With three suction modes, run the lowest on bare floors and thin rugs and keep the top mode for a heavy carpet or a stubborn patch, because the highest setting is noticeably louder and pulls the head down hard onto a rug, which makes it harder to push and can leave a stripe in a delicate pile that is slow to recover. The power cord is long enough for most rooms, so plan a route that works outward from one outlet and unplugs less often.

The Ball Animal 2 Plus is the middle generation, with the Ball steering and the self-adjusting head that raises and lowers an active base plate to keep the suction sealed against the floor. It is built for homes with pets and uses the same cyclone approach as the later models.

Compared with the Ball Animal 3, it lacks the newer motor and the three suction modes, but it is a proven design with a lower claimed power. It is a reasonable choice for a household that wants the Ball steering and a pet focus.

Wash the filters, empty the bin and check the brush bar. An older generation raises the question of parts, so confirm that the filters and brush bar for the Animal 2 are sold before you buy. Look for a seller warranty, because a mid-generation machine is old enough that a failing clutch or a cracked bin latch is a realistic risk, and the cost of a replacement part can quickly change the arithmetic against buying a newer machine outright.

The Origin sits at the entry point of the Animal family and the listing gives little detail, so treat it as the plain model of the range: Ball steering, a cyclone chamber and a pet-oriented head. Because the listing is sparse, check the tool list and the head design before you buy.

It is the sensible comparison for the Animal 3, since it shows what you give up at the bottom of the lineup: the newer motor, the extra suction modes and the larger accessory kits.

Treat the upkeep as the same as the others. Empty the bin at the line, wash the filters monthly and keep the brush bar clear of hair. If a seller cannot tell you which accessories come with it, assume the basics. Because the listing is thin, ask whether the box includes the wand and the stair tool, and whether the filters are washable, and if the answer is vague, choose a model with a clear specification instead, since an unclear listing is more often a sign of a repackaged unit than of a bargain, and a missing hose or wand is a real expense to replace.

This is the original Ball Animal, and it shows the design the whole family grew from: a radial root cyclone that captures more dirt and microscopic dust, a self-adjusting head that seals suction across carpet and hard floors, and a ball that steers into difficult places.

It is older than the Animal 2 and 3, so it lacks the newer motors and accessory kits. That makes it a budget route into the Ball design, as long as parts are still available.

Wash the filters, empty the bin and confirm that the filters and the brush bar are still sold for the exact model before you buy, since stock for original generation parts can thin over time. A design this old has been through many owners, so ask whether the seller is offering a new or a renewed machine, because a renewed unit may have a worn hose, a cracked bin latch or a clutch that no longer lifts the brush bar cleanly. Test the ball pivot by tilting the machine back and forth, and look for a smooth, even resistance rather than a stiff or gritty motion. Check that the cord is not frayed where it exits the body, since the cord is the part of an older corded machine that takes the most abuse.