Dyson V7 Trigger review: Affordable on-the-spot cleaning

The Dyson V7 Trigger is the star portable vacuum currently available from the British manufacturer. It’s not what you think though; a predecessor to the V8. Instead, Dyson has launched the V7 as a mid-level option after the V8 range, combining features from both the V6 and the V8 at a lower price point.

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Dyson V7 Trigger review: What you need to know

The V7 models are less powerful and have less battery life than the V8 range but they fill a useful niche. They’re a step up from V6’s handheld options while proving more compact than the V8 and the top-of-the-range Cyclone V10.

Where the V6 Trigger had 20 minutes of runtime, the V7 version prides itself on providing 30 minutes of suction, although the charge time remains at 3.5 hours. The V6’s two accessories – a combination and a crevice tool – are here complemented by a mini motorhead.

Borrowing from the V8 range, the V7 Trigger has a hygienic bin emptying system, pushing out dust with an internal collar. It’s less powerful than the V8 machines, with suction power of up to 100AW (air Watts) where the V8 is rated at 115AW.

Dyson V7 Trigger review: Price and competition

It’s worth bearing in mind that, once you remove the stick, all of Dyson’s cordless stick vacuums can be used similarly to the V7 Trigger so if you want a touch more versatility, it might be worth paying £50 more for the V7 Motorhead. It’s the same cleaner but comes with the addition of a stick.

If you can afford it, going for a model with a higher number – V8 or V10 – will enable you to make use of more powerful suction and longer running times, although in V8’s case that comes at the expense of a five-hour charge time. If you’re after a vacuum that can fulfil both full-sized and handheld requirements it’s worth spending the extra.

Dyson V7 Trigger review: Design and features

Before you even clap eyes on the logo, the V7 Trigger is unmistakably a Dyson. The trigger design echoes the other models in the line-up with the same silver plastic body and see-through dust compartment. At 1.38kg it’s slightly heavier than the 1.29kg V6 Trigger but just as comfortable to use and the accessories provided make it a versatile little cleaner.

The mini motorised head has more than 3,900 stiff bristles to maximise the amount of dirt that’s lifted from the carpet, making it ideal for cleaning furniture, upholstery and stair carpets. The two-in-one combination tool is helpful when vacuuming multiple surfaces, and the crevice tool aids extracting dirt from corners and tighter gaps. The attachments clip in easily, too, provided you keep the couplings clean.

The V7 motor spins at up to 110,000rpm to create powerful suction – a maximum of 100AW according to Dyson. This is only MAX mode, though, which you can use for only up to six minutes. It standard mode you get 30 minutes of cleaning at 21AW.

Dyson V7 Trigger review: Performance and usability

Cleaning your entire house with a small handheld vacuum such as V7 Trigger will be a challenge. However, small tasks are where the V7 really comes into its own, whether it’s removing dust from your skirting boards, cleaning out crumbs from your car, or keeping the stair carpets clean.

I tested the V7 Trigger in various environments and it was more than efficient in dealing with most challenges. It sucked up a combination of toast crumbs, coffee grounds and garden dirt from a tiled floor in seconds, including dirt wedged in the grouting. Using the regular power mode was more than enough for this task.

^ Before cleaning

^ After cleaning

The next job on the list was removing fine pet hair and hay from the living room rug. Again, the V7 Trigger rose to the challenge at the regular setting, clearing the area in little more than ten seconds. The MAX mode proved helpful for deeply entwined clusters of hair at the edges, leaving the rug looking brighter than I remembered.

The final test was a bit trickier: cleaning inside the sofa, something I’ve been putting off doing for ages. What made this job particularly tough was the fleecy material covering the sofa frame.

The V7 Trigger wasn’t alone in this challenge. As a point of comparison, I also tested the area with a Dyson V8. Both vacuums had a tough time but the V8 on MAX power cleaned the area while the V7 at the same setting struggled.

^ Before cleaning

^ After cleaning

Having said that, for most upholstery, the V7 Trigger is powerful enough to do the job in regular mode with little effort.  And the 30-minute battery life is more than sufficient, too, principally because it only cleans when you squeeze the trigger. When you release your finger from the trigger, the vacuum switches off so you’re not draining the battery when you move from one place to another.

In addition to completing the various challenges I set it, the V7 Trigger lasted long enough to clean several tricky corners using the crevice tool and remove dust from the skirting boards around my flat with the combination tool with power to spare at the end.

Dyson V7 Trigger review: Verdict

Be in no doubt: this pint-sized vacuum isn’t quite powerful enough to take on full-sized devices. If you want one device to do it all and your heart is set on Dyson, then the Dyson Ball Multi Floor, the Light Ball Multi Floor provide vastly better cleaning performance for similar money. And if you’re feeling a bit flush, the Dyson Cyclone V10 is a pretty good all-rounder, too.

However, if you’re looking for a backup vacuum you can just whip out for smaller jobs, the Dyson V7 Trigger is a great option. If you have a full-sized model in the cupboard already, it’ll prove the perfect companion.