As much as we like handheld vacuums and robotic vacuums, we know they’re not going to give us as much power when cleaning carpets, upholstery, or bare floors as good old fashioned uprights and canisters. However, there are times when having as much power as possible matters, and there are times when it doesn’t. Sometimes convenience is more important, whether through portability, low weight, or a compact and easy to maneuver body. Dyson gets this, which is why they’ve got full sized uprights like the Ball Animal 2, ultralight sticks, and go-everywhere handhelds like the V7 Car+Boat. Having reviewed the V7 Car+Boat and compared it to the V6 Car+Boat, today we’re going to review another one of their newest releases, the Dyson V7 Trigger Handheld Vacuum, and compare it to its fully-featured V7 twin, the V7 Car+Boat. Our ten second summary is to buy the Car+Boat if you want all the accessories the V7 can come with and to stick with the Trigger if you only need a few. Our full review is below, and you can buy it here.

Pros, Cons, and Key Features of the Dyson V7 Trigger Handheld Vacuum

The Dyson V7 Trigger is one of about a dozen handheld vacuums Dyson is currently making; we have no idea why there are so many especially when they mostly share the same features. In the V7 generation, there’s the Car+Boat and the Trigger, but the V6 generation also features the Car+Boat, Baby+Child, Top Dog, and Mattress. There are undoubtedly several we’ve forgotten to list, but we’re sure Dyson will come along and remind us soon.

At any rate, the V7 Trigger’s key features include a 30 minute runtime, higher suction levels than the V6 (Dyson calls it their “most powerful” handheld vacuum), three accessories (the combination tool, crevice tool, and mini motorized tool) with quick release connectors, a hygienic dirt ejector, and Dyson’s 2 year worry-free warranty. The V7 Trigger weighs 3.8 pounds on our scale and can generate up to 100 airwatts of suction. It has a dust bin with a .15 gallon capacity and its fade-free Lithium-ion battery recharges in 3.5 hours.

Inside the colorful Dyson box, you’ll find the V7 and a handful of tools–the aforementioned combination, crevice, and mini motorized tools–all of which feature new quick release connectors for easy attachment and removal. You’ll also get an AC charger.

What’s the difference between the Dyson V7 Trigger and the V7 Car+Boat?

The V7 Trigger is essentially a de-accesorized version of the V7 Car+Boat. While the two machines themselves function in exactly the same way, what you get with them will differ. The differences do impact their usability in some rather significant ways that might make the upgrade to the Car+Boat worth it (or not, depending on your usage).

For example, while the battery life in both is exactly the same at 30 minutes, the Car+Boat comes with a car charger which allows you to clean for as long as you can bear to in your car, boat, SUV, RV, or whatever you’ve got parked in your garage or in front of your house. With the Trigger, once the battery’s dead, it’s game over until you find an outlet; the Car+Boat’s car charger means you can plug it in on-site, clean by hand for a while, and get back to using it for a few minutes again. It’s not as good as if you could use the Car+Boat while charging, but it’s better than nothing.

Beyond the additional charger, you also get several more cleaning tools with the Car+Boat than you do with the Trigger. While the Trigger comes with the mini motorized tool, crevice tool, and combination tool, the Car+Boat adds a mini soft dusting brush, a stubborn dirt brush, and an extension hose. The extension hose is worth more than nearly all of the tools put together; it allows you to reach into nooks and crannies you just can’t get to with the V7 and any of the other tools by themselves. If you’re on the fence about the utility of the additional tools, get the Car+Boat just for the extension hose; it’s worth it.

It’s important to note that both vacuums are equally powerful and have the same dimensions; again, the only differences are in what else you get in the box besides the V7s themselves.

How well will the Dyson V7 Trigger clean my car and odds and ends around the house?

When buying a handheld vacuum, you need realistic expectations to be happy. You’re not going to get Ball Animal 2 cleaning power (i.e., the strength of a full-sized upright) in a battery-powered handheld vacuum. However, you should be able to get a lightweight, portable, and decently powerful machine that can have its way with dirt, crumbs, pet hair, and all kinds of confusing bits of garbage that somehow finds its way into car seats, behind appliances, on couches and seat cushions, in carpets, and in a range of small spaces throughout your home and vehicles. We found the V7 Trigger up to the task.

Like a well-designed handheld vacuum, it proved itself in many more situations than we’d originally expected, and we found a use for each of the attachments. The crevice tool took care of baseboards and nooks and crannies behind fridges and furniture. The mini motorized tool gave us the oomph we were looking for when attacking stains on sofas and other upholstery. The combination tool worked in random places, such as on counter tops and staircases. However, we dearly missed the extension hose, and knew we were limited in our cleaning scope without it.

We did like the 30 minute battery life, although we weren’t happy with the 3.5 hours necessary for a full charge. It’s worth noting several cheap but good robotic vacuums like the Shark Robot 750 or Roomba 690 are fully charged in 2-3 hours, and they’re well-behaved enough to scoot back to their bases to recharge when low on battery. There’s a lesson in here somewhere, Dyson.

Why buy the Dyson V7 Trigger?

To be honest, despite our gripes, the V7 Trigger is an excellent vacuum. It has one of the longest runtimes in the industry right now and is backed by a 2 year warranty from a trustworthy company. Our main complaints are the lack of the extension hose and car charger found in the V7 Car+Boat. If you don’t need or want the extra accessories and tools, save some money and stick with the Trigger; both vacuums offer good suction, great ergonomics, and impressive battery life.

You can buy the Dyson V7 Trigger vacuum here on Amazon. If you’d like more accessories, you can buy the Dyson V7 Car+Boat vacuum here instead.

Canadians can buy the Dyson V7 Trigger vacuum here on Amazon or upgrade to the Dyson V7 Car+Boat vacuum here instead for more accessories.

If you find our research on PMC helpful, you can follow our efforts to keep maniacally reviewing home cleaning tools by shopping through our links above. We promise to keep fighting the good fight against every horror children, animals, and grown, yet messy humans can inflict upon a clean home.