If there is one upright vacuums manufacturer that we all know the name of, it’s Dyson. One of the biggest brands in the world, they are also one of the most popular.
Full-on new and innovative ideas are often the first when it comes to new technology and types of vacuum cleaners. One step ahead of the rest, there is a lot to admire.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is a fantastic and updated version of the bestselling Big Ball vacuum cleaner.
While the original was one of the best cylinder vacuums around, there were a few areas that needed improvement, and the Big Ball Animal 2 has swooped in and dominated the market when it comes to pet vacuum cleaners.Â
Ever a fan of the Dyson range, and someone who owns a dog that really knows how to shed, this is one model that I could not wait to get my hands on. In short, it’s a great upright vacuum cleaner, but there is so much more to it than that.
Below, you will find my detailed review, highlighting the best features that the Dyson Ball Animal 2 has to offer, as well as some of the aspects that are less desirable. For a really thorough look at this piece of cleaning kit, you are going to want to stay awhile.
Review Summary
Rating:
Product Name:
Dyson Ball Animal 2
Product Type:
Cylinder vacuum
Price:
Around £299.99
Summary
The original Big Ball Animal was a massive success, but it has areas that needed improvement.
Enter the Big Ball Animal 2, an upright vacuum cleaner that offers better power, suction, and an even more efficient way to clean your home. Made to be more durable and easy to handle than its predecessor, getting your home back in shape will be a breeze with this by your side.Â
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easy handlingÂ
- Quieter running
- Great for all floor typesÂ
- New handle and wand design
- Compact design
- Powerful suction
- Large dust capacityÂ
- Brilliant attachment rangeÂ
- Long cord lengthÂ
- Uses new attachment clip systemÂ
- Internal cord storageÂ
Cons
- The hose is a little short, especially for stairsÂ
- Can be awkward and heavy to carry
Features
- Powerful suction for effective cleaning.
- Long cord for convenience.
- 25% quieter than previous models.
- Versatile cleaning wand.
- Quick and hygienic bin cleaning.
- Compact design for easy storage.
- Works seamlessly across all floor types.
- Picks itself up when knocked over.
Specifications
- Sound Power Level: 80dB
- Capacity: 1.7 L
- Run time: N/A
- Charge Time: N/A
- Weight (Machine + Kit): 7.5 kg
- Dimensions: 308x397x347mm
- Motor Power: 600 W
- Power: 21.6v
Presenting the Dyson Ball Animal 2
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is a brilliant upright vacuum cleaner, and one that boasts superb power as well as an impressive level of suction. One of the last corded models to be released by Dyson, it really does end the legacy on a high note – with features that you are sure to love, as well as some great new attachments to make life easier.
If you are not a fan of cyclonic vacuum cleaners, this might not be the one for you, but there is no need to worry. The Dyson Ball Animal 2 offers the same reliability and additions, but it comes in a compact upright form, making cleaning a little easier for those who aren’t a fan of dragging the vacuum behind them.
Features and Benefits
Power and Design
The Dyson Ball Animal 2, like all recent vacuum cleaners, must comply with EU standards, and so it has a 600w motor.
While this may seem quite small, it is actually incredibly powerful, offering the same level of suction as its predecessor while also saving energy (and a little bit off your electricity bill).
There are three different power settings to choose from when cleaning your floors, and you can select low, medium or high depending on the type of floor that you are hoovering, as well as the amount of grime that has been rubbed into it.
Generally speaking, the medium (and default) setting offers more than enough power for most situations, but this is something we will look at in more detail a little later. It also comes with a newly designed pneumatic head, and this has a lot to offer.
It is able to automatically adjust itself according to the floor type it is being used on, with an excellent and effective squeegee for hard floors. It has a slim design that pivots and swivels with ease, and can also reach under low furniture effortlessly.
Additionally, there are multiple wheels on the base of the head for extra manoeuvrability. The powerhead is also incredibly effective, with a nylon and soft carbon fibre brush. It’s great for a clean that is both thorough and gentle, although it is a little narrower than the previous model.Â
Expert Tip
The Big Ball Animal 2 has been designed to be more manageable when it comes to handling and versatility. The attachments are all new and updated, and the wand is incredibly flexible, moving in exactly the way you need at all times. This makes it one of the easiest models of Dyson vacuum to use.Â
This means that large areas of flooring may take a little longer. Excitingly, this model is also able to pick itself back up once it has been knocked over, so you don’t need to go back and do it yourself. The hose connects to the main body of the machine with great ease, so you can get cleaned quickly.
It has also been designed better, with an enhanced air path so that suction is consistent and improved, but also to help prevent blockages from occurring – something that could happen easily in homes with multiple pets with the previous model.
The flexible wand is one of the most exciting features offered by this model, and the new design is there to make vacuuming your home a much easier task. The wand is able to move up and down effortlessly when you hold the handle, allowing you to reach high and low areas of the home with ease.
It is comfortable to hold and even includes a suction relief valve for simple adjustment. One of the features I really like is the stair tool holder. It doesn’t carry all of the attachments, but there is plenty of room for two of them to slot on and be carried around with you while you are cleaning.
Additionally, there is a parking bracket on the back for the pneumatic head to slide into, so everything stands upright when you need to stop (or put it away) instead of falling over.
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is also 25% quieter than previous models, with 80db of sound in order to comply with EU standards. It is a low sound as well, so there is no high-pitched squealing once you power it on. It makes for a more tolerable upright vacuum cleaner.
Safety Tip
When it comes to using this model with stairs, it is best to invest in an extension hose or an inexpensive handheld vacuum cleaner. This one does not have the reach for a full staircase, and balancing it on the stairs could cause injury if it were to fall.
Effectiveness When Cleaning Stairs
The suction is more than ample for cleaning the stairs, and it comes with some fantastic attachments that will help you to get them beautifully clean. You can read more about the provided tools a little later in this review.
Despite the excellent suction and accessories, there is one thing that the Dyson Ball Animal 2 is lacking. The hose is a little short, measuring at 1.5m, and this can make cleaning the stairs a lot trickier than usual.
It will not reach the top of the stairs, and so you may find yourself needing to balance the vacuum on the steps, which can be dangerous. While you may be able to get the first half of your staircase, it might be worth investing in a handheld model to help you with the rest.
Weight and Handling
Overall, the weight is medium on a scale of low to high. Weighing in at 7.5kg, it is easy to pull along when you are vacuuming, and the little wheels on the main machine make handling a lot easier – as does the pivoting head and versatile handle that we mentioned earlier.
Plus, the big ball makes it really easy to manoeuvre around your home, dodging furniture and gliding around effortlessly so that you can clean quickly and efficiently.
The only downside is that the overall weight and build can make it a little clunky and difficult to carry, although you shouldn’t need to do this often.
Dust Capacity
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 has a 1.7L capacity, ensuring that you do not need to stop regularly to empty the canister in order to get your home clean. This is an improvement on previous models, and it also benefits from the new emptying system, which comes in two stages.
After removing the bin, you press down on the red bar – cleaning the shroud and removing excess dust that might be clinging to it. Once this is done, press the bar again, and the dirt will be released into the bin.
To lock it again, you just need to close the lid and push it back up, an action that can be done using the floor if you don’t want to touch excess dust. It also comes with a HEPA filter installed, and this is washable so that you do not need to worry about replacing it every few months.Â
It is able to capture 99.7% of allergens and dust particles, pushing clean air out and leaving you with a more breathable atmosphere. This makes it perfect for those with asthma and allergies.
Did You Know
This is one of the last corded Dyson models to be released. Recently, Dyson announced that they would stop developing new corded vacuum cleaners in order to make way for their new and powerful range of cordless vacuums, each of which you can read more about on our site.
Cleaning Different Floor Types
The Dyson Ball Animal 2 works fantastically across all floor types, so you are sure to have an excellent experience. When using it on the carpet, the pickup is superb on each of the settings, although when using it on the medium mode you should be able to pick everything up just fine.
It even lifts the carpet a little when it is run over it, providing a deep clean. Plus, pet hair and dirt are teased out of the carpet expertly, no matter how embedded it is. As someone who has a dog that sheds a lot, this was a feature that I really appreciated.
This vacuum cleaner is also great for hard floors, picking up large and small debris alike with ease. The only thing you will have to watch out for is the fact that it can snowplough large debris, pushing it away from the head.
However, the carbon fibre head has a smaller snowplough effect than the pneumatic one, so keep this in mind. Otherwise, it works excellently on each power setting.
Attachments
This model comes with some great attachments, and the Dyson Ball Animal 2 uses the new quick-release system that clips the tools in quickly without the risk of them falling off or loosening over time. While this does make old tools incompatible with this model, it also means that the fitting process is made much easier.
It comes with all of the standard tools, including an upholstery tool that can be used to clean furniture, but also to get your stairs looking good again.
There is also a long crevice tool with an attached dusting brush that you can slide on and off the end, snapping it into place when it needs to be used, and unclipping it when you want to go back to the crevice tool.
The turbine stair tool is one of the best additions to this model, and the main feature that makes it so great is the two rotating brushes that don’t end up tangled with pet hair or clogged up due to their innovative design.
It is really easy to push, even on maximum power, and it is the best tool for picking up pet hair – even above the ones that came with previous Dyson models.
While attaching it to the vacuum does increase the noise level, it is still quieter than its predecessors, and the stair tool is only two inches shorter than the main floorhead. This means you can clear larger areas that are filled with pet hair faster.
How Does It Compare?
Here are some other, similar, models of vacuum cleaners for you to consider, just in case you want to look at other options before you commit to the Dyson Ball Animal 2.
This is an upright animal vacuum that is offered by Dyson. It has a compact design that ensures putting it away after use is a simple task, and it also saves space so that it won’t take up too much room in your cupboards.Â
It shares many of the new features the Dyson Ball Animal 2 has, including the flexible wand and attachment clipping system to make things more secure. As a result, it is easier to handle, and the ball mechanism makes steering a whole lot better.
With powerful suction that works effectively across all floor types, this vacuum will leave your home a whole lot cleaner as well as free from pet hair. Plus, the HEPA filter will keep your air nice and breathable.
To Conclude
We hope that this Dyson Ball Animal 2 review guide has given you some insight into the way this vacuum works, but also how it can benefit you when trying to keep your home clean, tidy, and free from animal fluff.
It’s a robust and powerful vacuum cleaner that is packed full of exciting features, like being able to make itself upright, as well as a new and innovative range of attachments that clip onto the end of the nozzle securely, so they won’t become loose or fall off.
The only real downside is the fact that the hose is a little too short for the stairs, which can make cleaning them with this vacuum a little awkward, and possibly even unsafe. This can be a bit of a setback, but the amount of power and the additional features really makes up for it.
Similarly, while it can be a little heavy to carry around, you shouldn’t need to lift it too often, and pulling it along behind you is not very strenuous. Overall, it is one of the best corded Dyson vacuums out there.
What did you think of our Dyson Ball Animal 2 review? Do you agree with our thoughts on the models listed, or are there others that you think are better suited to the task? We love hearing from you, so make sure you leave us a message in the comments below.
Last Updated on February 6, 2022 by Gemma Tyler
