Fanttik V8 Mate vs Slim V8 APEX: Vacuum Compared

Short answer: buy the Slim V8 APEX if you want the stronger peak suction and a tool that also blows, inflates and pumps. Buy the V8 Mate if you only need a straightforward car vacuum with a pet brush and a flexible hose, and want to spend $20 less.

Quick Answer: V8 Mate vs Slim V8 APEX at a glance

Both carry "V8" in the name, but they are not two versions of the same machine. "Mate" is the single-purpose vacuum; "APEX" is the multi-function model. The spec rows below are taken directly from each product's published spec sheet, so the rows that match are genuinely identical; the price and colorway rows come from the live listings.

Spec	Fanttik V8 Mate	Fanttik Slim V8 APEX
Main feature	Flexible Hose + Pet Brush	Vacuum / Blower / Inflator / Pump
Suction power	13kPa / 9kPa	19kPa / 8kPa
Runtime	17–30 minutes	13–40 minutes
Charging time	2.5–3 hours	2.5 hours
Dustbin capacity	120 ml	120 ml
LED light	No	No
Item weight	1.2 lbs	1.1 lbs
Charging port	Type-C	Type-C
Accessories	Crevice + Brush ×3 + Long Hose	Crevice + Brush ×3 + Blower ×3 + Long Hose
Colorways listed	Black, Blue (one listing, two variants)	Base listing, Gray, Red (three separate listings)
Price (as of writing)	$79.99 USD	$99.99 USD

The differences that actually matter

1. "Mate" is a vacuum. "APEX" is a 4-in-1.

This is the single biggest reason people end up with the wrong one. The Slim V8 APEX lists its main feature as Vacuum / Blower / Inflator / Pump, and its accessory set includes three blower nozzles on top of the crevice tool, three brushes and the long hose. The V8 Mate lists its main feature as Flexible Hose + Pet Brush — it vacuums, and that is the job it is built for.

So the question is not really "which is better". It is: do you want one device that can also blow dust off a dashboard, top up a tire and inflate something, or do you want a dedicated vacuum? If you already own a separate tire inflator, the APEX's extra modes are less compelling and the Mate starts to look like the sensible buy.

2. Peak suction goes to the APEX — but the low gear goes to the Mate

The APEX is rated 19kPa at full power against the Mate's 13kPa, a meaningful gap when you are lifting embedded grit out of floor mats or seat seams. Fanttik's own listing copy for the Slim V8 APEX quotes the same figure as 19000Pa.

Flip to the lower gear and it reverses: the Mate is rated 9kPa on its low setting versus 8kPa on the APEX. That gear is what you actually use for long, gentle passes over upholstery and headliners, so the Mate is not simply "the weaker one" — it is weaker at the top and marginally stronger at the bottom.

3. Runtime: same ballpark, different shape

The Mate is rated 17–30 minutes, the APEX 13–40 minutes. Read those as ranges across the two suction gears: the APEX runs shorter at full blast but stretches further on its economy setting, while the Mate has a tighter, more predictable window. If your routine is "one long, low-power sweep of the whole cabin," the APEX's 40-minute ceiling helps. If your routine is short, high-power bursts, the Mate's 17-minute floor is the more relevant number.

Both recharge over USB Type-C. The APEX is rated 2.5 hours; the Mate is rated 2.5–3 hours.

4. Weight, capacity and everything that is identical

Both hold a 120 ml dustbin, both charge over Type-C, and neither has an LED light — worth knowing if you were assuming the pricier model includes one. It does not. Weight is close enough to be a non-factor for most buyers: 1.1 lbs for the APEX against 1.2 lbs for the Mate. Fanttik's product copy describes the V8 Mate as 540 g, "a bottle of water," and notes it is compact enough to stow in a glove box with the included storage bag.

On maintenance, Fanttik's copy for the V8 Mate describes a one-click dustbin release so you empty without touching debris, plus stainless steel and HEPA filters that come out for deeper cleaning. The Slim V8 APEX listing also runs a HEPA filter, and both models sit in the Slim series, so our HEPA filter replacement guide covers them with the same filter.

5. Colors and listings

The V8 Mate is one listing with two variants, Black and Blue. The Slim V8 APEX is split across separate listings — the standard RobustClean® listing plus dedicated Gray and Red pages. If you are price-comparing, make sure you are looking at the colorway you actually want, because they are not variants of a single product page.

Which One Should You Buy?

You want one tool that does more than vacuum → Slim V8 APEX. Vacuum, blower, inflator and pump in a 1.1 lb body, plus three blower nozzles in the box.
You mostly fight pet hair and cabin dust → V8 Mate. The pet brush and flexible hose are the headline accessories, and the 9kPa low gear is the one you will live in.
You need maximum lifting power for ground-in grit → Slim V8 APEX, at 19kPa versus 13kPa.
You want the lowest price → V8 Mate at $79.99 versus $99.99 as of writing, a $20 gap.
You do long, low-power cleaning sessions → Slim V8 APEX, for the 40-minute upper runtime figure.
You want a specific color from a single listing → V8 Mate, which offers Black and Blue as variants on one page.

If neither fits, the step up is the Slim V10 APEX — we compare it against the Slim V8 APEX in Fanttik Slim V8 APEX vs Slim V10 APEX.

FAQ

What is the difference between the Fanttik V8 Mate and the Slim V8 APEX?

Function and power. The Slim V8 APEX is a 4-in-1 — vacuum, blower, inflator and pump — rated 19kPa/8kPa, and ships with three blower nozzles. The V8 Mate is a dedicated vacuum rated 13kPa/9kPa whose headline accessories are a flexible hose and a pet brush. They share the same 120 ml dustbin and Type-C charging, and neither has an LED light.

Is the Fanttik V8 Mate the same as the Slim V8 APEX?

No. Despite both being "V8," they are separate products with different accessory sets, different suction ratings and a $20 price difference. Check for "Mate" or "Slim … APEX" in the product title before ordering.

Is the Fanttik V8 Mate powerful enough for pet hair?

It is the model Fanttik pairs with a pet brush, and its lower gear is rated 9kPa — slightly above the Slim V8 APEX's 8kPa low setting. For deeply embedded hair on carpet, the APEX's 19kPa peak gives you more headroom. Our pet hair and suction guide covers technique, which matters as much as the rating.

Which one has longer battery life?

Depends on the gear. The Slim V8 APEX is rated 13–40 minutes and the V8 Mate 17–30 minutes, so the APEX lasts longer on its economy setting while the Mate holds up better at full power. Charging is 2.5 hours for the APEX and 2.5–3 hours for the Mate, both over Type-C.

Fanttik V8 Mate vs Slim V8 APEX: Which Car Vacuum Should You Buy?