Dyson Ball Animal 3 Review - 14 Objective Cleaning Tests

We test the Dyson Ball Animal 3 vs. a battery of 14 objective cleaning tests including human hair, pet hair, super small, large, and lightweight debris. Can the Animal 3 handle it all? Find out now!
Buy Dyson Ball Animal 3 (Amazon) - geni.us/Cr2nP (Amazon)
Buy Dyson Ball Animal 3 (Dyson) - moderncastle.com/go/dyson-bal...
Table of Contents
0:00 Intro
0:07 Overview
0:42 Performance Tests
0:51 Cleaning Tests
2:56 Long Hair Test
3:42 Pet Hair Test
4:09 Noise Test
5:57 Accessories
6:15 Animal vs. Extra vs. Complete
7:04 Summary
#Dyson #Pets #Dogs #Cleaning
The Dyson Ball Animal 3 is a step up from its predecessor, the Ball Animal 2. In our tests, the Animal 3 removed 99.4% of all debris, largely thanks to the adjustable cleaning head. In addition, few long hairs tangled and it removed pet hair easily. It’s not cheap, but the cleaning performance is best in class.
PROS
99.4% removal rate in our cleaning tests
Cleaning head can be adjusted for different floor and debris types
Variable suction through adjustable cleaning head (allows it to more easily clean varied carpet and rug types)
Handles pet hair easily
CONS
Slightly smaller dustbin (compared to previous model)
Not available at many retailers
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[@ModernCastle]

Buy Dyson Ball Animal 3 (Bed Bath & Beyond) - shop-links.co/chqy0e3L5kL Buy Dyson Ball Animal 3 (Dyson) - moderncastle.com/go/dyson-ball-animal-3-direct Buy Dyson Ball Animal 3 (Amazon) - geni.us/Cr2nP (Amazon) Questions? Ask away! I do my best to answer all questions within 24 hours.

[@amizan8653]

I brought this, and as someone with pretty bad allergies, it's 100% worth it getting this vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter and high suction power.

[@ModernCastle]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@adam551982]

Thanks dude. I just did the same for the same reasons.

[@Mr.Feanor]

Then...you should consider to get one kirby avalir 2, trust me😁👍 2x better suction,and that's the only "negative" thing, because the suction is crazy.

[@skinnybuddha8988]

​@Mr.Feanor that and it's what 7 or 8 times more expensive than the Dyson?

[@Mr.Feanor]

@@skinnybuddha8988 I answer to the other guy who deleted his comment. He said dyson is not good...like ok ,then go and buy better one, more expensive one😁

[@MsCkelle]

This review made me feel more confident about my purchase. Just got my Dyson animal 3 complete today which came with a nice bag to hold all the tools.

[@ModernCastle]

Glad I could help!

[@SlammedZero]

Just bought this a few days ago. It was between this and the Shark Stratos. We really liked our last Shark, so we leaned that direction, but the Shark was out of stock. We ended up with this Dyson. So far, it's really good. It definitely has some vacuum power. The vacuum does seem kind of odd to turn, but I am sure I will get use to it. I am happy to see that it has a 5 year warranty. Thanks for the video.

[@ModernCastle]

Glad to hear it's working out and that the video was able to help. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

[@lylaschneibel]

HI! I’m wondering if the plastic on the bottom that says “hair removal vains” is meant to come off?

[@holycroc20]

I really really wanted a Dyson cordless for my 1st Dyson. Our current vacuum is bulky and I really wanted something lighter, especially for just a 11x10 or something close to that, carpet, rest is hardwood. BUT so many reviews I've seen for the Dyson cordless are very negative on the battery life. The cordless seem more expensive too for poor battery life? So here I go looking at this Dyson Animal 3+ for my first ever Dyson Vac.

[@Ecksterphono]

My DC43 of 12 years old still does this. I have the double brushroll and it really gets that hair out of the carpet. It's got the same litre dustbin. Its still amazing. Same brushroll buttons. Only difference it has the active base plate at the bottom and same filters.

[@Ecksterphono]

However they are still rebuildable and not have glued components like many others ( including Kirby Vacuums)

[@MsBumps]

I am very lucky. Someone left a Dyson Ball Animal+ vacuum cleaner curbside for salvage. I cleaned it and it works beautifully. The force of the suction on carpets is fabulous. I didn't realize Dyson vacs sell for around $500, so I feel even luckier. Keep salvaging!

[@Supreme91007]

I need it back

[@barrynolan5435]

I appreciate your side view of the attachment holder. It's not noted in the manual.

[@ModernCastle]

My pleasure. Glad it was helpful.

[@RJ-dd4lj]

How was the suction? Does the dust particles leak out in the air? Not sure if you covered that in the video

[@ModernCastle]

It has the most suction of any vacuum on the market. And the system is fully sealed (as demo'd with the sealed system test), so dust particles cannot escape.

[@TiberiusMaximus]

using the attachments is a chore the hose near the vacuum is getting pinched every time I use it, if I wanna clean the top of a desk I have to hold the hose awkwardly high

[@ModernCastle]

You'd probably be better off with a 2-in-1 cordless vacuum that converts to a handheld if you find yourself doing lots of desktop cleaning.

[@girl8488]

Pull the handle out of the hose, you can attach a head directly into the hose.

[@skinnybuddha8988]

I just got one recently after being mad I had 3 vaccums that didn't work. The immediate amount it started sucking up was insane! I go back over those areas and barely get anything now, i find that one little spot i missed and instantly see it full of hair from my wife and the cat

[@ModernCastle]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Glad to hear it's working so well for you.

[@RJ-dd4lj]

Is this vacuum better than the v11? I bought the V11 and the battery runs out too fast. I returned it. Thinking of buying this one

[@ModernCastle]

Better is subjective in this context. Both vacuums clean well, so it's really a matter of usability. With the V11 it's cordless, but as you noted, you are limited by battery life. The Animal 3 has a 35 foot cord, so you have to deal with that. But in terms of suction power, it's got more than the V11 with a larger dust bin. Sounds like for you the Animal 3 makes more sense.

[@braydencordrey8544]

Looking great

[@ModernCastle]

Thanks!

[@nattamused9074]

The reviews for this one on the website say the hose is pretty difficult to work with, the vacuum is hard to push, and the plastic seems to be of a poorer quality than older models. What do you think about these complaints?

[@ModernCastle]

I do agree that Dyson's hose design is a bit difficult. The idea behind the design is to make it taut enough to always flex back into its original holster, which is great when it's stored (looks clean, stays out of the way). But in terms of actually using it, if you get more than a few feet away that tautness will pull the machine towards you in many cases. So you sort of have to place it against something that isn't going to move. As far as the vacuum being harder to push, these complaints are based on user error. The user simply needs to adjust the gates on the front of the vacuum so the seal isn't as tight to the floor, then it's easier to push. The reason it's hard to push is because it's creating a tight seal with the ground, creating the high suction and great cleaning performance. People that complain about this are the same people complaining that a high performance vacuum is "too loud". As far as worse plastic, I don't agree with that. The plastic feels just as good as any Dyson I've tested over the years.

[@nattamused9074]

@@ModernCastle Thank you very much for taking the time for this helpful response. I’m nervous because I just ordered the Dyson 3 Animal Complete yesterday, and it is by far the most expensive vacuum cleaner I’ve ever purchased. I had seen KZbin review videos comparing it to previous Dyson models and Sharks, and decided to go with the Dyson 3 Animal Complete, partly because of the good KZbin reviews, and partly because they have a sale price going on, and were including 11 attachments. But AFTER I placed the order, I started reading the reviews on the Dyson website, which were pretty disappointing. It only averages 3.7 stars on their website. It seems like most of the negative reviews had to do with those 3 points. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. I’m really wanting to LOVE this machine and have it last for years to come!

[@ModernCastle]

@@nattamused9074 My pleasure. Glad I could help. Overall, I've been really impressed with the Dyson 3. I think it's one of the best uprights on the market. The new brushroll is also a notably improvement over the Animal 2 / Multi Floor 2. I don't think you'll be disappointed with it.

[@vtkahns]

I picked up an Animal 3+ at costco, last one I guess , for $225 a couple of weeks ago. We have an 8 yr old Shark rotator that has been fine but we felt it was not sealing as well as it could. So we figured for $225 how can we go wrong? We did vacuum an area rug after using the Shark and for sure significant debris was in the Dyson bucket. First thing we noticed, like this post, is that it is harder by a significant amount on any setting to push on carpet (at least a low pile carpet ). The shark pulled itself forward. Not this bad boy. This caused me to peek around and see that they have an easier to push head ( 972421-01 ) for it and some had luck getting them to send one for free. So I used their on line chat and after a little frustration, they agreed to send one for free. On one of the 3 positions ( to the - side vs + side ) it is in fact easier to push on carpet, I assume at the expense of some suction. I figured it was worth a shot asking. As to the hose design, it is frustrating for sure. The Shark had a short hose that did not really extend so it was what it was and you could put some attachments (we used old ones from our old vacuum that shoved in the end well enough ) and have been doing floors with that for years.. The curve at the end of the hose and the way it integrates into the handle , along with a stiffer hose, keeps it from kinking. The LED on the handle when using the hose is also a plus that I see not all sharks have anymore. We never felt pushing the vacuum around and either having the beater on was good for the floor, and with the beater off - felt like it wasn't doing much. So we just deal with it. Probably having a cordless stick would be easier on the hard floors and reserve the Dyson Ball for the carpets, most of which are upstairs. Only a few small area rugs are downstairs with the rest, vinyl plank. I was not sure if using the beater on that floor was safe or if it would scratch so we have resisted. Having a soft roller like some of the dyson cordless models is what I wish I had. I have found that if you stretch out the hose first and while doing that, twist it as you pull, it opens up and somewhat stays stretched . I find myself trying to stay a good distance from the machine so it does not try to suck back in too much.. I don't know what solution they could have other than a long fixed hose you plug in vs stretching one that has to accordion back into shape to store on the machine, like a canister vacuum. I tried to chat with someone at dyson about that yesterday and gave up due to a clear language barrier and useless questions that kept coming at me. They said someone would call me. Not sure what they can possibly offer (i know.. a free cordless ) . I also bought a cheap adapter on a m a z o n that was not obvious it would be right but took the chance (it did not mention UP30 as a model it was for) but it is right and it has an adapter to plug into the Animal 3's hose or wand (added some layers of tape to make it a tighter fit but now maybe some leaks would make it less suction ) and it has a tapered end on it to attach to "old fashioned" accessories. it came with 2 round boar hair brushes along with an articulating floor attachment .. For $20 i figured I'd give it a try. This helps supplement the lack of these items in the costco animal 3 + that just has the dual purpose crevice tool, upholstery brush, and the dual cam rotating thing. I need to find the under appliance attachment next if we are going to keep this. I don't want to invest more if it's going to get the thumbs down by my other half. Again, For $225, and so many reviews lauding this vacuum as such a good product, makes me want to keep it even if just for carpet.

[@pilotdog68]

For someone with 100% carpets and pet hair, is the Vertex or Animal 3 better?

[@ModernCastle]

I would opt for the Animal 3 in your situation

[@ColdSoda1]

Considering the Dyson ball animal 3 or the shark stratos that also just came out. Worried about deep cleaning medium carpet, have other vacumms for hard flooring. If price was the same what would you pick? Worth getting an even more expensive boutique or commercial unit? Thanks for such detailed review content on KZbin and your website!

[@ModernCastle]

I haven't tested the Stratos, so I really cannot say for sure how they compare. However, in almost every case of Shark vs. Dyson I almost always end up on the side of Dyson. In general, Dyson just makes higher performance machines compared to Shark. Shark's APEX and Vertex absolutely give Dyson a run for its money though. Looks like the Stratos is at that same level. I will see if I can buy a Stratos soon for testing. Looks pretty impressive.

[@willydilly9020]

The price is almost the same but the biggest problem with SHARK vacuums is their warranty process. You can find online thousands of horror stories with their warranty. Also their warranty doesn't cover any moving parts or the motor. Dyson is better in that regard but not perfect, Dyson like all vacuum manufactures I know of will not cover the brush head when it wears out. So if your going to spend close to $400 for a vacuum, just go with the Dyson. I just bought the Dyson Ball 3 a few days ago and already I love it, my first ever Dyson product.

[@ColdSoda1]

@@ModernCastle thank you for the reply! I bought the Dyson animal 3 and vacuumed a room right after using my Shark zero M duo (a couple years old but very regularly cleaned) and the Dyson did pick up additional dust and stuff from the carpet. As a carpet focused solution I can't see anything out performing the DBA3, but I must admit I prefer the shark if I could only have one machine for the whole house and all floor types.

[@ModernCastle]

@@ColdSoda1 You're welcome! Thanks for sharing your experience. Glad to hear the DBA3 is working out well.

[@nattamused9074]

@@willydilly9020 I am in a similar boat. I just ordered the Dyson Animal 3 Complete yesterday, and I’m pretty nervous about spending so much on a vacuum. I’ve used Sharks in the past, my most expensive one was $250. I really loved the Shark. It’s suction was great. It really got the carpets clean. I loved that it was lightweight, very ergonomic, and self propelled. Also, I had good experiences twice, with the company sending me out replacement pieces when we broke something. The only reason I don’t still have it today, is that a certain 3 year old literally jumped on the base and snapped it in half which was beyond something they could reasonably consider their fault. Anyway, I’ve gone a couple years on thrift store and Walmart Bissels, waiting to buy my next real vacuum. This time, I bought the best Shark Costco had, for right around $300. I took it home, assembled it, ran it around the living room, and packed it right back up for a return. It just doesn’t seem worth that price tag. I figured, with Dyson offering their Animal 3 Complete, with 11 attachments, a 5 year warranty, and free shipping, for $399, I might as well try that. So here we go! We’ll see!

[@Maanyonelife]

Why no carbon filament for bare floor😢

[@adaferrer3160]

How does it compare to multifloor Irvin trying to decide

[@ModernCastle]

Better in every way We'll be doing a big Dyson upright comparison soon.

[@marymiller5824]

Does this still have the 5 year warranty? If anything goes wrong, their customer service is great and they will send the part right out to you! They were very helpful with my last dyson 2 animal.

[@ModernCastle]

Yes, still a 5 year warranty

[@nattamused9074]

Thank you for sharing! I’m nervous about spending so much on a vacuum, and I really hope to have the same great experience so many other Dyson users have.

[@jakec5618]

Is this considered a completely sealed vacuum ? Thanks.

[@ModernCastle]

Yes

[@jenniferdl23]

Got this today- not sure if the brush should always be spinning or not ? Confused by that feature

[@ModernCastle]

Usually you don't want it to spin on hard surface flooring, but do want it to spin on carpets.

[@jenniferdl23]

@@ModernCastle thanks you!!!!

[@ModernCastle]

@@jenniferdl23 You're welcome

[@BelLavoroAutoSpa]

excellent choice in socks sir

[@ModernCastle]

Thanks!

[@arosad]

Sold!

[@ModernCastle]

Glad our video helped!

[@nissen4700]

Did dyson not stop producing vacuums with a Cord and only make cordless models? Pretty sure I read that a couple of years ago.

[@ModernCastle]

That's what I thought as well. James Dyson definitely said as much. He was quoted saying that the Dyson V10 is the "It is the reason why I've stopped developing full-size vacuums". Honestly, I was shocked when the Dyson Ball Animal 3 released. I thought the Animal 2 would likely be their last upright vacuum.

[@Dysonballs]

Sir James Dyson means they are not developing and investing money in R&D to produce brand new corded machines! Just continue to manufacture them for now! Looks like they’ll just update existing corded models using some of the new cordless technology like the anti tango brush bars! I’d of thought at some point once battery technology improves like their new solid state batteries they are developing they’ll probably drop the last remaining corded machines!

[@ModernCastle]

@@Dysonballs I mean...that's a reasonable guess as to what he meant, but that's not what he said. In any case, they invested at least some R&D dollars into creating the Animal 3. While it does share many similarities with the Animal 2, it's got some notable upgrades (most significantly the new Motorbar).

[@lahonymanor2927]

Dyson did not ever announce they were stopping making them. It was to stop investing R&D into developing new ones. They only adapted the uprights with this new Anti Hair Brush due to Shark doing very well in upright market share.

[@lahonymanor2927]

@@ModernCastle They haven't really developed anything new here. Just added a new type of brush roll housing. They will not develop a completely new design, that money goes to R&D for cordless ones.

[@RobertBeedle]

If you already own a Dyson you can get 20 percent off the basic dyson animal ball 3 with only 2 attachments. Bought mine for $320.

[@jakec5618]

how ?

[@rickj6048]

@@jakec5618 Don't know if you bought one yet but I went on the Dyson website and clicked on "DEALS" where I saw the Animal 3 for $399. I called in to get details on that one and the old version which was offered for $199. Because I am a former customer in the system they offered 20% off only on the Animal 3 which was $320 + tax = $342. I asked if they could do $300 and when she said no I said, then match the $189 price that Walmart has on the old version and I will order that. Then she offered the Animal 3 for $289 with tax included. I ordered it being assured that it is brand new and not refurbished. Due to be delivered tommorow.

[@jakec5618]

@@rickj6048 Ahh I see. Yea that worked out pretty nice actually. I'll look into that. Thanks.

[@rickj6048]

@@jakec5618 Dyson also included the $59.99 Dust Kit for free. I didn't ask for it, they just offered it so be sure to look into that if you order. The girl was real nice. I think her name was Lena.

[@jakec5618]

@@rickj6048 Appreciate it. Good to know and that's a nice deal for all that.

[@therepublicofhera5818]

If you use the slide feature on the front for hardwood floors do you still turn off the roller?

[@ModernCastle]

You cannot turn the roller off.

[@RobertBeedle]

I believe the warranty is 5 years, not the 2 years you put in the video

[@ModernCastle]

Yep...you're correct. Sorry about that! I'll put a note in video card.

[@svan71]

I never vacuumed Cheerios in my life. That's what dust pans are for.

[@PierreLeroy76620]

At this price they could have added a mechanical system for the cord

[@anitayalch4875]

Very hard to push

[@ModernCastle]

Use the slider on the cleaning head to adjust the suction seal gates. That will increase / decrease suction and make it easier / more difficult to push.

[@JJ305JJ]

@4:25-4:30 similar to a conversation or dishwasher? Sure… 🧢

[@jlruiz7634]

Animal 3+ $280 at Costco after $70 off right now. 👀

[@ModernCastle]

Great deal!

[@Strikeshotz]

Cost so much, but the color are ugly 😏

[@goodgremlinmedia2757]

Malaysian Manufacturing quality 🙄