Ball Animal 3 Upright Vacuum, Corded, 290AW, De-tangling Motorbar Cleaner Head for All Floors, 3 Suction Modes

Let me just start by saying I poured over a ton of reviews of different Dyson models before buying, and on finally deciding on this one (Animal 3), was *hoping* the negative reviews weren’t huge red flags. I’ll get specific with my skepticism in this review as it would’ve helped me when shopping. The listing I purchased from was for Animal 2, Animal 3, and Animal 3 Extra models, and comparing basically ALL reviews for the 3 models, I chose Animal 3 and I’m glad I did. First: the bad reviews stating this vacuum won’t go on thick carpet ALMOST had me convinced not to buy it. Even Dysons site has multiple bad reviews stating the same, more bad than good on their own website! I’m happy to report I have zero issue with this with my shaggy, thick, plush carpets. If it’s on either of the carpet settings it moves just fine. Adjust your vacuum and go. I’d had a ball Dyson in the past, and I didn’t love it. This was another hesitation. The swivel/ball mechanism on my previous one was loose and flowy, but this meant the thing would curve around just when I was trying to push it straight. This Animal 3 does not do that. It’s a bit tighter, it stays straight but is easy to curve when you want. My previous Dyson also toppled over anytime I was tugging at the hose and this one, probably because it’s a little heavier, stays up even when the hose is really extended and being jostled around. PROS: excellent suction, it moves well. I really like how it gets all the way to the edge when you run the side of the vacuum head along the baseboard, not leaving a 1/2 inch gap like my last vacuum. So far I’m really stoked about how the rotating brush clears hair in this Animal 3-we only have one shorthair cat, but I have long hair and so does my daughter, and between the two of us shedding, I’ve done my fair share of cutting the tons of hair that was wrapped around the vacuum beater bar with a utility knife and yanking it out with previous vacuums! So far I have vacuumed my entire house a few times with this Dyson and not a single hair wrapped around the bar in the vacuum head. To my extreme surprise, I LOVE the little stair tool!! Vacuuming carpeted stairs has been the bane of my existence for years (that’s only a slight exaggeration) and this little tool that looks like it should be meant for hard floors does a killer job picking up all the dirt and bits, while fluffing the carpet nicely, including the carpeted edge and the little vertical part under each step where it fits in just right (the wand even swivels at the end of the hose so you can change your angle with ease while vacuuming your steps). Finally, I’m not lifting a heavy upright vacuum in a ridiculous way and hurting my back to make the stairs look nice!! So far I’m very pleased with this vacuum especially considering my hesitation about buying another Dyson after not really liking my old one. If things change, I will definitely update this review. Not many cons to this vacuum…but… CONS: it’s kinda heavy, but not much different than my last vacuum (a Hoover windtunnel) or my previous Dyson. The weight is not a huge issue for me. The plastic parts that seem very breakable are disappointing in such a pricy vacuum. The hooks to wrap the cord look like they could snap, and worse, the thin plastic mechanism that extends down the tank and opens the lower flap to empty it seems very delicate and if that breaks, it could be a real PITA. For several hundred dollars I would hope things would be more durable, but I was aware of this complaint going in—and this is why I give it just below 5 stars. When I have the hose wand out and am putting it back in, it’s a little sticky at the very last part of sliding it back into place at the top of the vacuum. Sometimes it really does NOT want to slide into place, and I have to use a little force. A couple of times it went right in easily. I’m unsure if this is just an issue with my unit or an issue with other Animal 3’s. I don’t like how there’s not a release to tilt the vacuum, and that you must just *crack* the sucker down to tilt it and start vacuuming. However this on Animal 3, that is easier to do and not nearly as harsh of a crack as the Dyson I had before. All in all, I was extremely skeptical buying this vacuum and I’m quite thrilled at how much I like using it and how well it works. Especially vacuuming my stairs, it is really a game changer!

This is, without question, one of the best vacuums I’ve used and that clear canister, incredibly satisfying to watch fill. The suction is incredibly strong—in a way that actually makes a difference. The first time I used it, it pulled up dirt, dog hair and debris from carpets that looked clean. If you have pets or just a lot of hair in the house, this handles it easily. It picks everything up without getting tangled, and it leaves carpets looking noticeably refreshed. What I really like: The suction is powerful but consistent It handles both carpets and hard floors well The attachments are actually useful (not just extras you never touch), think of cleaning between the cushions. It does have some weight to it, so it’s not the lightest option—but that’s also part of why it performs so well. This feels like a household tool that you can rely on time and time again. If you want something that actually cleans—not just picks things up on the surface—this is a really solid choice.

I previously owned a Dyson Yellow Multi-Floor 2 vacuum that finally had an issue with the head after 5 years of heavy use. I decided to switch to this vacuum since having 3 dogs in the house means sucking up a TON of hair, and didn't want to run into the same issues with the head. I read a lot of reviews about how to suction makes it hard to maneuver easily - Yes and No. Compared to the Multi-Floor 2, it definitely doesn't glide as well, BUT! There are 3 levels of suction that you can set it to. I have tile in the Kitchen and Dining Room, so I use the hard-surface (strongest suction) setting here. I don't have any issues. I have glue-down flooring in the main living space, and I do have to step down the suction to low-pile carpet in there. For some reason, with the super strong suction, it makes it a little harder to vacuum that floor type with the hard-surface setting. For low-pile carpets, I set it to high-pile (lowest setting). Overall, you just have to get used to the settings and what works for your flooring type. I appreciate that the suction is so good. I mean, it captures EVERYTHING. And the fact that it comes with so many attachments is great. I use the stair cleaner for a lot of different uses (under the sofa, under the cabinet toe-kicks, under beds, etc.) I also like the longer cord on this one. I can get almost all the way around my 1,200Ssf house if I plug it in the living room. If I had to give it some cons vs. the Multi-Floor 2, I would say: -The head is a little taller on this one. I can't quite fit it under my Kitchen cabinet toe-kicks. I do need an attachment to get crumbs under there. -I take the head off a lot to travel with (I also clean an Air BnB on the weekends) and the little clip underneath that secures it in place doesn't always attach, sometimes you have to fiddle with it by hand Overall, would highly recommend if you have lots of pets, or lots of pet hair!

This is a great vacuum! Our Dyson DC50’s motor went out after 10+ years, which forced us to buy a new one. We decided on the Dyson Ball Animal 3, and wow — the suction is incredibly powerful. I honestly had no idea vacuums could work this well. It turned out to be a blessing that our old Dyson finally gave out. We have a Lab/Golden Retriever mix who sheds a lot, and this vacuum is phenomenal at picking up his hair and dirt. The hose suction is super strong too. With my old vacuum, I usually had to bring out the shop vac to clean the couch, but with this upgraded suction, I don’t need to anymore. I didn’t give it 5 stars only because it’s heavier than our previous Dyson and doesn’t maneuver around corners quite as easily. I also wish the hose was a little lighter and more flexible when using it on the couch. That said, it almost feels like a workout — and the cleaning power makes it worth it. Overall, it’s been a great purchase for us, and I highly recommend it!

I was really looking forward to this vacuum being the last one we would buy, and it would be powerful and easy to use. Sadly, it only met one of our requirements - it did have very strong suction, almost as good as my small shop vac. The rest of the experience was anything from just sad, to outright painful. The initial assembly was much more difficult than it should have been. The parts have a very tight fit, making them difficult to mate, and when they do mate it is with a definite snap, as things suddenly go together. When this happened on the top of the handle I was not expecting such a sudden fitting and got pinched pretty good. Lesson here is wear gloves or be sure to keep hands and fingers out the the joint area. Second issue came when the pictograms showed the vacuum in the wrong orientation to install the motor head and brush assembly. Finally got that figured out and together, interestingly not as good a fit as the other pieces. The big disappointment came when I gave it a test run. We have hardwood floors (for the most part) and two dogs, so there is plenty of dog hair to test with. First run across the floor and I discovered that while the vacuum sucks well, it also has an air discharge on the right side, so anything not EXACTLY in front will be blown off to the side, which meant a bunch of our hairballs ended up blown under the sofa! Also learned that this vacuum moves with great difficulty and does not steer well at all. I thought perhaps this had something to do with the hardwood floors, so tried it out on an area rug. Nope, still will not steer and it is VERY difficult to move around. Tried all 3 floor settings on the front and it got a little better, but it was still very hard for me to move around, and there was no way the wife would ever be able to use it. And it still would not easily steer, you had to force it around. So I went from being somewhat disappointed in the assembly process to actually hating this thing in something like 2 minutes. Needless to say it was returned today. Summary is it is very expensive, very had to move and use, and it really can suck up the dirt if you can manage it.

I’ve purchased many Dysons over the last 2 decades. This particular one has a different roller bar in that it’s not like the bristled bar on the other Dyson uprights. It’s difficult to push as the “grabbers” don’t really “grab”. I wanted to speak with the seller and have no way to contact. 🤷‍♀️ whaat?? As per return policy, I can send it back but I won’t get a full refund because I’ve used it. Well, how else would I know if the thing worked well, or not? My biggest mistake was that I just didn’t purchase from Costco again. I’m a loyal Dyson customer, and rave to everyone about the Dyson upright, I’ve even purchased two as gifts, but I absolutely hate this vacuum, from the first and only use. Save your money… don’t buy THIS vacuum. Further more, steer clear of this roller bar design. It’s awful. In fact, Dyson needs to hear how awful this design is. This particular vacuum will give Dyson bad reviews and lose potential customers who don’t know which of their products are awesome. So yeah, I want a full refund because I want the Dyson Animal 2 Origin with the bristled roller bar, because THAT vacuum sucks! In a good way. Hope this helps anyone looking for a great vacuum that’s worth the little bit extra. As an owner of a professional cleaning service, I’ve used many different vacuums, and the upright, Dyson Ball Animal 2 Origin is the way to go.. UPDATE- I’ve been using this vacuum for a few months now and it seems to work as a Dyson should. I still don’t like ot as well as the Dyson Animal 2 Origin. I gave such a negative review earlier and wanted to say, I’m using this current Dyson in the house cleaning business. It seems to function better on bare floors than the Costco Dyson. It also doesn’t bog down on certain carpets and stop the roller bar. I’m happy with the performance of this current Dyson, the only negative thing I will say is that it weighs more than the Animal 2 Origin. One other difference I’ve noticed is the vacuum head is narrower on this current Dyson, which has its pros and cons. But it’s not a big enough different to rate. This current Dyson is still better than any other upright on the market, and I have used about every upright brand available, so I think I can give an accurate review. If you’re thinking of a Shark upright for whatever reason, consider this- the Shark is top heavy with a light weight vacuum head. Its awkward to operate, and tips over easily and the power cord is too short. The hose for handheld attachments is rigid and makes operation of those accessories more of a task to operate than to clean. Just get the Dyson upright, in the long run you’ll be a much happier camper.

I had this vacuum before it lasted 20 years and worked great, it finally died about 6 months ago. I purchased this one to replace the other one. I am just as pleased with it, it’s working the same as my old one did. I have two Yorkies now before I had two Maltese and 3 cats this vacuum sucks the hair up great. It turns so easy works great on carpet or floor, the attachments are great for curtains, mini blinds and fireplace gate. Highly recommend this vacuum if you have pets and are looking for a vacuum to suck the hair up good this is the vacuum you are looking for. I don’t think you will find it cheaper anywhere else, I looked this was the best price.

The vacuum does have a strong suck to get debris on carpets. It is effective, but in being so effective it hurts my shoulders every time I vacuum. You cannot maneuver this on carpet with any ease. The backs od my shoulders and neck kill me after cleaning with this vacuum. There is also no easy way to detach the hose for cleaning with added pieces. Its extension is within the flexible hose so you dont have an easy way to manipulate it in close spaces. The attachments and thus hose are not perfectly round so when I went to use it on the vacuum seal bags it doesnt seal. It works great but for all the pain in my literal neck and its non functional extras, I would have preferred a shark for this price. Whoever designed this vacuum is not cleaning often woth one.

Es muy pesada

Great suction - fairly light and gets all the pet hair! Also, easy to pit together.

Great suction, easy to use. Does an amazing job.

It does what it is supposed to: vacuum. The Pluses: The suction is robust and works for both carpet and non-carpeted floors. It has two filters you can hand wash, allowing it to last longer rather than replacing them once they are beyond their usage. If your vacuuming is frequent, I suggest you get an extra pair for both so that when you wash them, you have the extra one to use and do not have to wait for your current ones to dry up for at least 24 hours. A bagless vacuum, which this one is, will save you money in the long run, which is peace of mind to me. Emptying the dustbin is convenient and easy. Its reasonably long cord will cover most of your vacuuming before you need to plug and unplug it. It works well if you have pets. The Minuses: It's heavy, in my opinion, especially if you also have stairs to vacuum on. The hose meant to plug in the extra brushes is sturdy but perhaps too sturdy for my liking. By that, I mean it's not freely flexible, so to speak. The cord does not automatically retract, as you'll find with another popular find with other vacuums. In conclusion, it's generally a good, reliable vacuum that does the job it's supposed to do. It's an upright vacuum that is easy to put away and doesn't take up much space.

It was so easy to put together. It works beautifully.