Dyson Ball Animal Upright Vacuum

On some carpets, yes. The Ball Animal's suction pulls a lot of dirt out of carpet, but on certain rugs and thick carpet it grips so hard that the head becomes a struggle to push. Switching the brush bar off frees it up when that happens.

Usually. In homes with shedding dogs and cats the Ball Animal often picks up hair other uprights missed, even along the walls. It isn't a sure win over every rival, and occasionally it does worse than the vacuum it replaced. The tangle-free turbine tool covers hair on upholstery and stairs.

Mostly, yes. Upright on hardwood the Ball Animal cleans well and pulls dirt out of the gaps between boards. Light, loose debris can be another story, and occasionally leaves get scattered ahead of the head instead of going up the intake, so sweep those first.

There's a short learning curve. The ball steering feels odd for the first few cleans, then the Ball Animal moves around furniture easily. At 17 lb it's heavier than some expect, which you notice on stairs, and getting it to stand back upright can take a knack.

It's the weak spot. The stair and upholstery tools that come with the Ball Animal work well, but the hose feels short or stiff to some once it's stretched out, which makes a long staircase awkward. If you clean a lot of stairs, that's the part to weigh up.