If you want better Headlight and LED lights
Choose Shark Rotator Lift-Away Vacuum. It scores 4.5 vs 2.0 for Headlight and LED lights, with a 4.1 overall score.
Dyson Ball Animal 2 Upright Vacuum Cleaner Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Dyson Ball Animal 2 for very strong suction, pet hair, and tool reach. Skip it if you need a light, low-profile, budget-friendly vacuum for rugs, shag, or tight spaces.
Best for
Best for pet owners and larger homes that prioritize raw suction, carpet pickup, long reach, and easy-to-empty bagless cleaning over lightweight handling.
Not for
Not ideal for shoppers with tight storage, lots of shag or area rugs, frequent stair carrying, or a strict budget.
Verdict
The review evidence paints the Dyson Ball Animal 2 as a suction-first upright with standout pet-hair pickup, strong carpet cleaning, useful attachments, and straightforward bagless maintenance. Its best results come in homes that value deep cleaning power and long above-floor reach more than compact storage or featherweight handling. The main tradeoff is that the same force and bulky ball design that help cleaning can make high-pile carpets, area rugs, stairs, and under-furniture work harder than expected. Value also depends heavily on price: some reviewers call it worth the investment, while others say cheaper competitors perform better.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
55 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.025 (45%)
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Positive 3.5-4.418 (33%)
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Neutral 2.5-3.47 (13%)
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Negative 1.5-2.45 (9%)
Pros highlights
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Suction was the strongest consensus attribute, repeatedly praised as exceptional, powerful, or among the strongest tested.
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Overall opinion was mixed-to-positive: many reviewers loved the cleaning power, but some rejected it over price, weight, or handling.
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Maneuverability was polarizing: the ball design helped turning, but weight and suction made some users work harder.
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Low-pile and general carpet pickup drew strong praise, with several reviewers reporting excellent or near-record cleaning results.
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Emptying and mess control were consistently praised, with several reviewers saying the bin empties easily and keeps hands away from debris.
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Reviewers consistently liked the included tools and attachments, especially when they made hair, upholstery, and detailed cleaning easier.
Cons highlights
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Weight was one of the most repeated drawbacks, with reviewers calling it heavy or difficult to lug, despite some tool-based workarounds.
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Hard-floor large-debris intake was mixed, ranging from strong cereal pickup to complaints that the head pushed larger debris.
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Under-furniture pickup was mixed-to-negative; wand/tools helped some users, but the bulky ball limited precision and low-clearance reach.
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High-pile carpet was the clearest cleaning limitation, especially with cereal, rugs, shag, or strong suction pulling the head down.
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Low-profile cleaning was a repeated weakness because the ball and bulk limited reach under furniture and tight areas.
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Upright-stand stability and storage were weak spots, with multiple reviewers describing bulk or difficulty getting the vacuum to stay upright.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Upright Vacuums, this product is above average in Surface safety with attachments, Edge and Baseboard Cleaning (Hard Floors), Overall durability/longevity, near average in Price and Value, Noise level, below average in Convertible handheld design, Headlight and LED lights, Suitability for small spaces.
Comparison summary
55 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher22 (40%)
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Same as average within 0.3 pts23 (42%)
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Below average 0.4+ pts lower10 (18%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Convertible handheld design | 2.0 | 4.3 | -2.3 |
| Headlight and LED lights | 2.0 | 4.1 | -2.1 |
| Suitability for small spaces | 2.1 | 3.8 | -1.7 |
| Surface safety with attachments | 4.6 | 3.1 | +1.5 |
| Edge and Baseboard Cleaning (Hard Floors) | 4.9 | 3.7 | +1.2 |
| Overall durability/longevity | 4.5 | 3.3 | +1.1 |
| Tool-change simplicity | 4.7 | 3.7 | +1.1 |
| Support and Reliability | 4.8 | 3.6 | +1.1 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Convertible handheld design
Choose Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum. It scores 4.3 vs 2.0 for Convertible handheld design, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Suitability for small spaces
Choose Shark NV151 Navigator Swivel Pro Complete Upright Vacuum. It scores 4.2 vs 2.1 for Suitability for small spaces, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Low-profile design
Choose Simplicity Vacuums Allergy Upright Vacuum, S20EZM. It scores 4.5 vs 2.3 for Low-profile design, with a 4.3 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Dyson Ball Animal 3
- Better: overall functional value The review says the newer Animal 3 improves on Animal 2 in most functional areas while costing less.
Dyson V11
- Worse: suction power Animal 2 is described as having more suction than Dyson V11 on max mode.
Dyson’s Multi Floor 2
- Worse: suction power Animal 2 is presented as the stronger-suction model versus Multi Floor 2.
FAQ
Is the Dyson Ball Animal 2 good for pet hair?
Yes. Multiple reviews praised pet-hair pickup, with one lab reporting 98.2% hair collection and owners liking the hair tools for couches and upholstery.
Does it work well on carpet?
It is very strong on low-pile and general carpet, but high-pile carpet and cereal-sized debris were recurring trouble spots in several tests.
Is it easy to maneuver?
The ball design helps it turn tightly, but reviewers split on handling because the vacuum is heavy and strong suction can make it harder to push or pull.
How is it on hard floors?
Reviews praised fine dust and some large-debris pickup on hard floors, but a few tests found debris could remain in cracks or get pushed by the head.
Is it worth the price?
Value is mixed. Some reviewers called the suction worth the investment, while others said similarly priced or cheaper vacuums performed better overall.
Is it good for stairs and upholstery?
Mostly yes. Reviewers liked the long reach, hose, wand, and attachments for stairs, upholstery, and above-floor cleaning, though carrying the heavy unit can be cumbersome.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.6
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.5
Article Reviews
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