REASONS TO BUY
Most powerful suction
Outstanding hardwood and carpet cleaning
High-end features
Includes two cleaner heads
REASONS TO AVOID
Very pricey
Tough to push
Difficulty with long hair on carpet
Dyson Gen5detect Review
Undeniably high-end, with a price to match, this stick vacuum showcases great performance
Credit: Natalie Kafader
By Rachael Lamore ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ July 17, 2025
Contributions From: Chris Maxcer
Our Verdict
The Dyson Gen5detect is one of the most powerful vacuums we've ever tested, giving it a performance edge over our top-ranked cordless vacuums. In most of our cleaning tests, it crushed the competition, often placing first or just behind. While its motor produces even more suction than its predecessor, the Dyson V15 Detect, we found its new usability refinements even better. Instead of the old trigger that required holding down while cleaning, this model features a simple on-off button. The new onboard LED display is another upgrade, replacing the basic particle counter with a visual display that spikes as it picks up dirt and dips when the floor is clean. Be forewarned, though; this vacuum is heavy, and its strong suction makes it hard to push on any carpet, making you work for a deep clean. Packed with all these luxury designs, it's also one of the most expensive models in the lineup.
Our Analysis and Test Results
One feature unique to the Gen 5 is the crevice tool tucked inside the hose. Just pull off the hose, and the attachment is right there, ready to go. It makes switching from floors to furniture quick and easy.
We thoroughly test cordless vacs with timed multi-debris challenges on carpet, hardwood, and transitional surfaces to create data you can use to compare performance characteristics when it's time to buy one for your home.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Carpet Performance
For those who have low pile carpets and are obsessed with sucking out every bit of sand or embedded piece of dirt, the Gen5detect is the most effective vacuum for this purpose. The drawback is the cost, as it's one of the most expensive vacuums we have tested.
When we ran this vacuum on our low-pile carpet test, it picked up 96% of the debris and did it quickly, making it a great choice for anyone who values efficiency. The cleaning head has relatively low gates, so it sometimes pushes Cheerios to the sides instead of rolling over them. Still, because this vacuum is so powerful, we were able to move faster and had extra time to go back for any larger debris.
In this carpet test, the Gen5 head collected sand, rice, and Cheerios with ease.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
“The suction on this bad boy is crazy,” one tester said. We measured the suction for every vacuum, and at 2,388 pascals, it's about three times the average of the group. While suction isn't everything, it does show to be helpful for this cordless vacuum.
As long as bigger debris didn't push or plow, we marveled at how well this Dyson collected anything that slipped under the cleaner head — a one-way trip to the dustbin!
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Interestingly, this vacuum didn't take the lead in our high pile test like it did in our low pile test. Its strong suction is biased toward small debris penetrating deep into carpet fibers. It's not as effective with larger debris, likely because its suction pulls the head down deep into the carpet, not giving much clearance for bigger material.
Hardwood Performance
We were left with almost nothing but positive notes on this model's ability to clean all debris on hardwood surfaces. The fluffy roller consistently delivers a stellar performance on all debris. I was amazed at how easily it rolls over any mess on a hard floor.
We did notice that when pulling back, it tended to plow a bit, so you'll want to make your cleaning passes pushing forward.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
When the Gen5detect missed something, it only seemed to occur when I happened to push a stray Cheerio or grain of rice off to the side on a glancing reverse blow.
The very low-angle green LED light on the Fluffy Optic cleaner head makes it easy to see even small material on hard floors.
Because of its excellent performance cleaning along the walls, this vacuum is easily recommended for homes with many hard-floor rooms and hallways. It can also be helpful for stairs and tight areas that require a vacuum to pick up debris along edges.
Pet Hair
For households with dogs or cats that shed constantly, the Gen5detect is a game-changer for tackling the endless shedding season.
We were pleased to see this vacuum perform well on low-pile carpets. We were impressed by how well this Dyson grabbed dog hair and sent it to the dustbin. There were a few fuzzy clumps left behind, but we believe an extra pass would have grabbed the rest up completely.
For thicker rugs and carpet, you'll need to go slower to be as successful, but regardless, the Gen5 does a good job of grabbing the matted fur. A note that you'll also need to check the roller for long hair, as extensions tend to get caught around it. Luckily, there's an easy pull tab to dislodge the roller for easy maintenance cleaning.
If you want the best cordless vacuum for pet hair, our rigorous testing shows that the Gen5detect is ready for the hairiest jobs.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Filtration
With a low reading of just 37 small particles in the air, this vacuum is a great pick for anyone worried about poor filtration.
Filtration Particle Count
| Dyson Gen5detect | |
|---|---|
| Small Particle Count | 37 |
| HEPA Filter | |
| Dylos Air Quality Designation | Excellent |
Why does that matter? If someone in your home is sensitive to allergens or pet dander, a vacuum with strong filtration can make a big difference in keeping the air cleaner and healthier. Incidentally, while the Gen5detect has a true HEPA filter, other Dyson vacs without HEPA-certified filters were also excellent in our tests.
Gen5detect's includes a HEPA filter as part of their filtration system.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Ease of Use
The main issue with this Dyson shows up on the carpet when in use. Because it generates so much suction, even on lower power settings, there's a noticeable amount of resistance while pushing. We had to use more effort to move the head with each pass compared to vacuums that offer less suction.
At 5 pounds, it's also one of the heaviest in the group. One of our review analysts noted, “The Gen5detect would easily be my favorite vacuum if not for the weight.” Where every once can be felt on the forearm, we often get fatigued early on in our cleaning routine. Since it's tougher to push and didn't do well in our obstacle course test, it ended up with a below-average score. We don't recommend this product for older adults or kids who might have trouble handling the weight.
We recorded the Dyson Gen5detect's handheld weight at 5.0 lbs, which is nearly a full pound heavier than the next-closest non-Dyson vac we weighed.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
While it wasn't the easiest to push around the house, other aspects, such as maintaining the product and using the separate attachments, were definitely a positive contrast. We really like the built-in pictograms that show how to orient and connect the parts.
Removing and maintaining the dust bin is straightforward, making emptying every time a breeze.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Dyson includes a handy built-in dusting and crevice tool that stays inside the main wand. It's a subtle design enhancement that makes it so much more convenient to clean around the house.
Where's the crevice tool? The Gen5 has an easy handheld transition, making quick grabs on upholstery a streamlined process while vacuuming.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The mini motorized tool worked skillfully on furniture, easily picking up pet hair from stairs and pet beds. Altogether, this vacuum equips you with a generous set of tools to help reach every nook and cranny of the house, going well beyond the mediocre crevice or dusting tool that many vacuums come with.
We very much liked the modern digital control and info screen on the control head.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Battery
The downfall of cordless vacuums is battery life, but this cordless machine delivers a respectable 66 minutes on its lowest power setting.
Its relatively short 7 minutes of runtime on high might be a bit disappointing. However, this vacuum is so effective in its lower settings that few people will likely experience runtime issues for typical household cleaning sessions.
The Gen5 consistently stood out for its superior cleaning performance, and we couldn't be happier with the results.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Dyson Gen5detect?
The Dyson Gen5detect is part of a long line of Dyson vacuums marketed as capable of handling larger jobs due to its increased motor size and battery life. If you want a luxury vacuum that has the power to suck sand from deep within your carpet, this is a great choice. The product is the most powerful cordless vacuum we've tested, but its raw power and weight may not be suitable for everyone.
What Other Stick Vacuums Should You Consider?
The Dyson V15 Detect performs competitively with the Gen5detect, and it's less expensive; however, you'll have to hold down the trigger for use, which many of us find very annoying. If you want more versatility for the price, the Dyson V15s Submarine doubles as an adequate mop, which we thought was a great addition. The Shark Stratos Cordless is half the cost and performs just as well on hardwood surfaces; plus, it adds versatility with its ability to bend forward to reach tough areas in the home.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Dyson Gen5detect versus top competing products:
—Rachael Lamore and Chris Maxcer
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