Dyson Gen5outsize Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Dyson Gen5outsize | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best of the Best |  Best Premium Cleaner | Best for Most People |  Best on a Budget | |
| Price | $1,150 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $1,000 List Check Price at Amazon | $750 List Check Price at Amazon | $550 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $210 List Check Amazon (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This unit didn't boast the suction power we would have liked from the largest of the Dyson stick models | The stick vacuum showcases supperior performance, but at a high cost | For those who want all the bells and whistles and superior cleaning power, this stick vacuum can do it all | Offering the convenience and cleanliness of an empty station and powerful cleaning performance, this vacuum sets a high bar for the competition | This vacuum delivers an impressive clean for a budget-friendly model, holding its own against competitors that cost two or even three times more |
| Rating Categories | Dyson Gen5outsize | Dyson Gen5detect | Dyson V15 Detect | Shark PowerDetect | Smoture VAC01 |
| Carpet Performance (30%) | |||||
| Hardwood Performance (25%) | |||||
| Pet Hair (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (10%) | |||||
| Filtration (10%) | |||||
| Battery (5%) | |||||
| Specifications | Dyson Gen5outsize | Dyson Gen5detect | Dyson V15 Detect | Shark PowerDetect | Smoture VAC01 |
| Max Mode Runtime | 15 min | 7 min | 9 min | 12 min | 14 min |
| Low Mode Runtime | 130 min | 67 min | 64 min | 47 min | 43 min |
| Storage | Wall mount | Wall mount | Wall mount | Docking station | Standalone |
| Handheld Weight | 5.6 lbs | 5.0 lbs | 4.5 lbs | 3.9 lbs | 3.5 lbs |
| Suction | 1667 Pa | 2388 Pa | 2239 Pa | 373 Pa | 249 Pa |
| Low Pile Cleaned | 90% | 96% | 94% | 94% | 87% |
| High Pile Cleaned | 42% | 50% | 49% | 54% | 42% |
| Hardwood Cleaned | 99% | 99% | 99% | 97% | 85% |
| Pet Hair Cleaned | 72% | 76% | 74% | 79% | 54% |
| Charge Time | 4.8 hrs | 3.5 hrs | 3.8 hrs | 4.7 hrs | 4.1 hrs |
| Dustbin Capacity | 1.9 L | 0.8 L | 0.8 L | 0.7 L | 1.5 L |
| Noise Level | 83 dBA | 77 dBA | 79 dBA | 79 dBA | 80 dBA |
| Trigger | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Variable Suction Control | Yes, automatic | Yes, automatic | Yes, automatic | Yes, automatic | No |
| Model Number | Gen5outsize | Gen5detect | V15 Detect | IP3251 | VAC01 |
Our Analysis and Test Results
With its assortment of tools, huge dustbin, and two included batteries, the Dyson Gen5outsize is a beast of a cordless vacuum. Impressive battery life and excellent hardwood performance combine to create a stick vacuum that could easily clean a four-bedroom house in one go, but middling carpet performance and an ultra-high price tag kept this powerhouse from the awards circle.
Carpet Performance
Cleaning carpet isn't what the Gen5outsize does best, unfortunately. On low pile, we were able to clean up 90% of the mess. The strong suction was noticeable, though it made it tough to push on the carpet. Meanwhile, we found the extra-wide brush head to displace much of the suction power on high pile carpet, leading to subpar results. We were only able to pick up 42% of the mess on high pile.
In addition, the Gen5outsize is a beast of a machine, and its sheer weight left our tester's arms fatigued, even after short bursts of vacuuming up messes. Overall, this model felt a bit unwieldy and was hard to control, especially on higher-pile carpet, resulting in poorer cleaning performance on carpet than many similar, smaller (and more affordable) Dyson stick vacuums.
Hardwood Performance
We loved this vacuum for its powerful, accurate performance across a variety of hardwood floors. The Dyson Gen5outsize was easily able to pick up all of the Cheerios, rice, and sand grains in a minuscule amount of time in a controlled environment. In fact, we measured its cleanup to be an impessive 99%!
One of the coolest things that the Gen5outsize is the Fluffy Optic brush head (specifically for hard floors), which has a bright green light to illuminate fine dust, dirt, and particles in dark spaces and odd corners. We found it easy to do a second vacuum pass until the mess has been thoroughly eliminated.
Along baseboards, the Gen5outsize has outstanding results. It cleaned all the crumbs, no matter what direction we approached the wall from. With the Fluffy Optic head, we were able to see any small amount left behind and swiftly pick them up.
Pet Hair
The Dyson Gen5outsize scored well above average in our pet hair tests. We appreciated its large dustbin for collecting fluffy hair without needing to make a trip to the trash can. It collected 80% of the hair from low pile, and 63% from high pile. Some of the longer hair got wrapped around the roller, but from what we are used to seeing, we were happy with these results.
Ease of Use
Weighing in at a staggering 5.6 pounds for the canister, the Gen5outsize was the heaviest cordless stick vacuum we tested, by a decent margin. Our testers found that this led to near-instant hand cramping when trying to maneuver the unit around simple household obstacles, like chair legs or stairs. Due to its large brush roller, this huge stick vacuum was trickier than most to get into tight spaces around the house.
We weren't a big fan of taking this vacuum up and down the stairs either, considering its weight. Its size felt awkward to maneuver up and down in the tight staircase. However, the vacuum quickly transforms into a handheld, which was much easier to use on the stairs.
We were happy to see the variety of attachments included with the premium Gen5outsize. The crevice tool is built into the handheld vacuum, meaning it is always just a quick click away. It also includes the hair screw and combination tool. We particularly liked the hair screw tool and found it useful for cleaning upholstery.
Filtration
We were thoroughly impressed that the powerful Dyson Gen5outsize did not produce any significant spike in air quality, even when sucking up flour. The unit is equipped with a HEPA filter, designed to trap tiny matter. In our tests, we found that is sealed in particles, with a peak particle count of just 56 (0-75 is considered excellent).
| Dyson Gen5outsize | |
|---|---|
| Small Particle Count | 56 |
| HEPA Filter | |
| Dylos Air Quality Designation | Excellent |
The Dyson Gen5outsize utilizes a HEPA filter for its excellent filtration. We found this filter easy to access and replace when needed.
Battery
Most cordless stick vacuums only come equipped with one battery pack, meaning that you might have to re-charge the unit in between max-suction cleaning sessions or if you have a larger house. However, the Dyson Gen5outsize comes with two battery packs, making large-scale vacuuming projects a cinch. Our testers found that, when using both batteries, this model can run for an impressive 130 minutes on its lowest setting, or 15 minutes on its highest setting.
Should You Buy the Dyson Gen5outsize?
For those who have an extremely large area that they're looking to clean or who will mostly be using their stick vacuum on hardwood floors, the Dyson Gen5outsize might be worth the price tag, particularly because it's the only unit we tried out that comes with two rechargeable battery packs. It also boasts an onboard HEPA filter, making it great for those with allergies. However, the size is worth considering, as the extra room in the dustbin means it's heavier.
What Other Cordless Stick Vacuum Should You Consider?
If you're looking to splurge on a high-quality Dyson unit, but don't want to fork over the high cost of the Gen5outsize, we'd recommend the Dyson V15 Detect, which scored nearly as well, but costs a fraction of the price. If you're on a super-strict budget, save big and get the Smoture VAC01, which is great on hardwood and solid enough on carpet.
—Emily Pennington and Rachael Lamore
