Dyson V15 Detect Review

We appreciated that Dyson didn't skimp on floor head options and attachments, providing a great quiver of tools to choose from when we went to clean around the house. I liked how the Hair screw tool sucked hair out of furniture and pet beds without getting badly clumped. During my tests, the funky-looking internal motorized cone seemed to shuttle the hair into the suction tube surprisingly well.

Carpet Performance

For those who encounter a plethora of messes in their homes, especially those with pets or kids, the V15 Detect will clean up small, medium, and large debris. To test each vacuum's effectiveness, we measure, weigh, and then spread 1.5 total cups of mixed debris over a new, larger 9' x 3' test area. We upgraded the size of our test area because it better reflects typical patterns people use to clean.

In addition, we limit each test to just 24 seconds to ensure a fair but difficult stress test for each and every trial. We repeat each test multiple times over both low pile and high pile carpet to help reveal how this model might work in your own home. For instance, we've observed that head designs with taller front gates allow larger materials like Cheerios to slip underneath, but they sometimes result in reduced suction power for smaller debris like sand. Likewise, lower gates tend to perform better with sand but less so with cereal.

Low Pile

Over multiple trials, this machine picked up a 94% average of our test material, which is impressive. For reference, the top performer in this test — the slightly more powerful Dyson Gen5detect, which also uses the same Digital Motorbar cleaner head — collected just 2% more material.

I had a hard time getting all the Cheerios with this vacuum only because it tended to push them around. Still, with additional angles or a backpass, I was able to get most of them up within our time limit.

The Digital Motorbar's relatively low headgate design tends to plow large, lightweight debris. However, the sand and rice were easily caught and contained, likely due to its strong suction power.

Closed Setting Open Setting

While the aforementioned Gen5 model slightly outperformed this V15 version, they use the same core cleaner heads and produced similar results in our tests. The main difference lies in the motor and its residual effects. The Gen5 is heavier, and due to its higher suction, it was more difficult for me to push around the house, together making it feel like a workout when doing my chores. However, this slight power bump will give you the absolute best cleaning standards. Check out our main stick vacuum review to compare the cleaning performance numbers if this interests you.

High Pile

On the fluffier, high pile carpet, the suction power pulled its Digital Motorbar cleaner head down into the deeper carpet, which meant the lighter Cheerios often hit the head and plowed even more than they did on low pile carpet.

While its 49% pick-up was still above our 43% average in this test, some vacuums with less suction power did better on this deep, wavy carpet. The vacuums that sucked up more tended to have taller head gate openings that allowed high-floating Cheerios to slip under.

I found the Digital Motorbar head hard to push on high pile carpet, but I liked how its powerful suction could get small, deeply embedded particles better than most other cordless vacuums.

For households with kids or pets that track in lightweight debris like leaves while also having cushy carpets, the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight led our high pile tests with 57% collected, due in no small part to its dual-brush head design that rides right over big material with ease.

Overall Carpet Cleaning Performance

While the V15 topped most competitors in our low pile carpet tests, it wasn't as good with larger, lighter materials like Cheerios, particularly on high pile carpet. Vacuums with taller head profiles could handle this debris better, leading to slightly better scores.

Despite missing a few Cheerios in the timed tests, I often used the V15 to thoroughly clean carpets between test runs because its strong suction could pull out deeply embedded small particles like sand. If you battle sand in your home or have kids or pets that track in dirt, you might find the deep suction power worth the steep price.

Hardwood Performance

All of the Dyson cordless vacuums we've tested that use the Fluffy Optic cleaner head have performed well during our hardwood stress tests. We run our tests on hardwood floors similarly to our carpet tests. We start with a 9' x 3' test section then spread 1/2 cup each of sand, rice, and Cheerios, measuring the results captured in just 24 seconds of vacuuming. To get our average, we run two trials, adding a third if there is a large difference in the results between the first two runs.

The Fluffy Optic cleaner has another feature we love to use: a cool green laser light. Its extremely low-angle design illuminates dust and makes debris shadows that reveal dust you can't see with your naked eye while standing.

I have to say, for people who are obsessed with getting a floor clean, clean, the Dyson Fluffy Optic head makes it so easy to see where the messes are — and to confirm you got every speck.

Cleaning Performance

Everything comes together perfectly on hardwood for this model. The tall and soft Fluffy Optic brush roll is purpose-built to gently envelop any dropped crumb with ease. Even airy dust bunnies can't hide under the kitchen table because all I had to do was get the cleaner head close, and the strong suction would suck them right in. So cool.

Dust is too lightweight to show up in our lab tests, so we also take vacuums home to test in our own households. When we ran the V15 over our hard floors, everyone appreciated the laser light. It's a serious game-changer that simply out-illuminates typical white-light LED headlamps. It lets us see tiny bits of dust and hair that we would otherwise miss on hardwood, for instance, showing us that we need to reach a little farther under a table or move deeper into a low-traffic corner.

Crevice

For our crevice test, we sprinkled sand in between the slats of a bamboo mat, then made four passes over the slats to learn how much sand each vacuum was able to suck up. This test is difficult because the brushrolls can't reach most of the sand and help whisk it up. Basically, this tests how well the suction pulls from the cleaner head, lifting the grains.

In general, the vacuums with the greatest suction power tend to excel in this test, so I wasn't surprised by the stellar performance. For those who have a lot of tile with grout lines, or all sorts of transitions between flooring types, this vacuum will be able to suck debris when the brush roll can't touch it.

Edges

We also wanted to see how well this model could clean tougher areas like the edge of the wall, so we sprinkled coffee grounds along the edge and vacuumed both parallel and straight on to see how each vacuum could clean it all up. When vacuuming head-on, it successfully removed 100% of the coffee grounds. It collected 95% of the coffee debris when running parallel, which is still excellent.

Before Testing After Testing

With this vacuum, I didn't have to worry about these annoying areas or switch to other tools midway through cleaning. It effortlessly handles these tough-to-reach spots.

Overall Hardwood Cleaning Performance

In my tests, the large and soft brush roller rolled over the top of large cereal and debris, whisking it underneath to the suction tube. Better yet, the very powerful suction lifted heavy sand from crevices and grabbed coffee grounds from edges, resulting in scores that topped our charts, easily outpacing our average scores from other vacuums.

If your primary need is a great vacuum for hardwood floors, you'll have a hard time finding a better option than a Dyson with the Fuffy Optic cleaner head.

Pet Hair

Even though we're big fans of our four-legged companions, we're not thrilled about the constant shedding — so we love any vacuum that makes cleaning up pet hair less of a chore. To test how well a vacuum can suck up pet hair, we used 4 grams of pet hair. First, we teased the fur deep into the carpet. Then we added 1 gram of long hair extensions and pressed it all down with a heavy weighted roller to simulate foot traffic in a home.

For households with lots of pet hair to vacuum up, this vacuum was a pet-hair-eating beast!

I loved running this vacuum as it easily sucked up 88% on low-pile carpets and 60% on high-pile carpets. For at-home cleanup, we're confident you'll be able to get even better results with a few extra passes. One drawback was its long-hair performance. Despite having a “detangling” roller design that Dyson says can “automatically clear wrapped hair from the brush bar as you clean,” long hair is still wrapped in our tests. To be fair, I haven't seen a stick vacuum yet that could suck up long hair extensions without tangling. Don't believe the marketing hype.

Filtration & Suction

Very dense filters that can filter out tiny particles can also reduce airflow speed, which can, in turn, reduce suction power. Better filtration generally helps with health concerns over fine particulates floating in your air, while better suction results in deeper cleaning characteristics.

Filtration

According to the EPA, indoor dust can be kicked up by vacuuming, possibly releasing harmful fine particulates that you can breathe into your lungs. We start with a closed, clean room and monitor it with two Dylos air quality logging devices. We then spread 1/3 cup of typical household flour on the floor and then vacuum it up, recording any spikes in fine particulates in the air. If any tiny flour particles escape the vacuum, our monitors will note it.

This Dyson successfully sucked up the flour without excessively spiking room particulate measurements, making it a great choice for anyone who is sensitive to pet dander or allergens. Dylos ranks an increase in particulate measurements between 0-75 as excellent. Interestingly, this Dyson achieves outstanding filtration without using a HEPA filter, which shows that vacuum manufacturers don't necessarily need to license HEPA filtration technology to produce highly effective filtration systems.

Suction

The suction power of this model is incredibly strong, which can make prolonged vacuuming sessions a bit challenging due to its intense force.

I measured the vacuum's suction at 2,239 pascals, which is significantly stronger than most other brands, and just under our leader, the Gen5detect, which measured in at a whopping 2,388 pascals. While it's tempting to say that more suction is always better, that's not always true. While the Fluffy Optic cleaner head zooms over hardwood like a graceful figure skater on ice, the Digital Motorbar on the carpet is hard to push. Oh, clean is excellent, sucking up deeply embedded sand and dirt, but I had to work my arms and shoulders to get it out. Typical adults will be fine, but kids or anyone with less strength or aching backs might prefer an easier-to-push vacuum with less suction, like the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight.

Ease of Use

This model scores poorly in our key maneuverability metric primarily because its intense suction makes it harder to turn and push on the carpet. However, those who can handle its power won't have to continuously vacuum over the same spots to get results.

In contrast to its on-carpet performance, the Fluffy Optic head for hardwood glides smoothly and navigates obstacles easily, making it super effective for cleaning hardwood floors. At a handheld weight of 4 pounds and 8 ounces, it didn't feel overly heavy during testing, but compared to other models we've tested, it's definitely on the heavier side.

Maneuverability

All this power can make maneuverability difficult for those who like to clean their whole house in one go. Even with the head gates open and the vacuum on the auto suction mode, I found it challenging to get the head to swivel around our test cones on the carpet. In Turbo Mode, which creates more suction, this vacuum was down right frustrating.

Maneuverability is excellent on hardwood with the Fluffy Optic cleaner head, but this might require you to change the brush roller for the appropriate surface. This can become somewhat tiresome for those who want to get on with the vacuuming and complete the chore.

Maintenance

This model features a removable filter that should be replaced every 6-12 months, depending on usage. Cleaning the vacuum is a breeze: simply twist off the top filter, tap it to remove dust and debris, then rinse it with water and let it dry.

I really liked that I could easily remove and rinse everything — and then look at a built-in pictogram so I could see how they all fit back together without needing to remember or consult a manual.

While the dustbin's sliding track isn't the easiest, it's manageable. Dyson recommends wiping out the dustbin rather than rinsing it, which is annoying, especially for a luxury machine.

Dyson also offers abundant media resources for product usage, simplifying information retrieval without needing a manual. There's a convenient pull tab to release the fluffy roller for easy cleaning, and you can use a coin to release the brush roller on the other head for removal and cleaning, which is pretty straightforward, although I would've preferred a button. While a button release would be even better, the accessibility for cleaning is excellent. No one wants a fussy device for their already arduous daily/weekly cleaning routine, and I am happy to say that this model is very simple to maintain.

Uphostery & Attachments

The vacuum comes with three additional tools: crevice, hair screw, and combination, along with a wand clip for convenient tool storage. It also includes the two cleaner heads we've already talked about. Changing attachments is very easy. I loved it when they clicked correctly into place. Attachments can also be used at the base of the rod and directly at the handheld for added versatility.

This vacuum can be used as a handheld with the included attachments, which works great for cleaning upholstery. The best attachment is the awesome hair screw tool, which is like a mini motorized cleaner head.

I tested the small motorized tool with coffee grounds on a pillow and ironing board, then made a single pass with the attachment. It successfully removed 100% of the coffee grounds from the pillow and approximately 95% from the ironing board. However, upon turning off the vacuum, some coffee grounds fell out. Despite this minor issue, the results were nearly flawless. For those looking for the right device to tidy couch cushions or any other upholstery, this model's attachments will do it without fuss.

Before Testing After Testing

Battery

Battery life is very good on low, running for 68 minutes in our test, and below average on high, running for just 9 minutes.

Because this vacuum's suction power is so strong, you'll likely be able to do most of your household cleaning on low, giving you a bit more time than some lesser-powered vacuums that might require more full-power usage.

Should You Buy the Dyson V15 Detect?

If it fits your budget, we wholeheartedly recommend it. The cleaning power of this model is outstanding. While it's not the priciest option in the Dyson lineup, it's still a significant investment. However, considering the advanced technology, efficiency, and overall performance, it's worth the price tag—despite minor drawbacks like the on/off trigger and the difficulty of pushing it around on carpet.

What Other Stick Vacuums Should You Consider?