REASONS TO BUY
Great suction on all surfaces
Long-lasting battery
Doubles as a mop
REASONS TO AVOID
Very pricey
Difficult to use at max power
Must hold down trigger for operation
Dyson V15s Submarine Review
This high-priced model has exemplary cleaning performance with the benefit of an additional mopping head
This model will set you back a few bucks, but it's more than capable.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
By Rachael Lamore ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ July 17, 2025
Contributions From: Chris Maxcer
Our Verdict
The Dyson V15s Submarine stood near the top throughout our testing thanks to its impressive suction power, which we measured to be more than double the average of all the cordless vacuums we tested. Having the power to lift dirt from deep within carpets gives this vacuum an edge over most of the competition. But you may be wondering how this model is different from the Dyson V15 Detect? The key feature difference is the addition of a motorized wet mop cleaner head, which is part of a plethora of useful attachments included in the package deal. It doesn't work wonders on your floors, and you need additional passes to pick up most messes, but if you love Dyson and have the extra money to spend, this is a convenient add-on.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Dyson V15s Submarine has an aquatic-themed name for its innovative mop head attachment. It's pretty neat since everything is packed into the base, giving you the quick option to plug in and mop right away. The mop is even motorized, so it helps to pick up dried mud more easily with the help of the turning roller, creating some disturbance. We were excited to break out this additional feature, but weren't particularly impressed with the results. Read more in our Hardwood Performance section to learn why.
Check out how the Submarine performs during our series of comprehensive tests. Notice the different head attachments for different surface types.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Carpet Performance
This model encountered very few issues on the carpet. Like other Dyson cordless vacuums that use the same Digital Motorbar head, this version crushed our test trials on low pile carpet.
Before Testing After Testing
To help reveal differences, we use three debris types in our carpet tests to push the capabilities of these vacuums to their limits. Here are the results of the Bissell (left), Dyson Gen5detect (center), and Dyson Submarine (right).
It sucked up 95% of the material, just 1% less than the winner, Dyson Gen5detect. While this vacuum requires some muscle to push, as the suction can be quite intense, the cleanliness of your carpet will probably be worth it if you can muster the muscle.
This Vacuum Likes to Work Fast
Interestingly, during testing, we noticed that when we slowed the head of the vacuum to a stop or a near standstill, it tended to reduce the brush roller speed or stop spinning entirely. We suspect this might be a way for Dyson to conserve battery power, but slowing down appeared to reduce its collection capabilities in one of our test trials. So, feel free to work your way quickly around the house; it's made for it!
Interestingly, during testing, we noticed that when we slowed the head of the vacuum to a stop or a near standstill, it tended to reduce the brush roller speed or stop spinning entirely. We suspect this might be a way for Dyson to conserve battery power, but slowing down appeared to reduce its collection capabilities in one of our test trials. So, feel free to work your way quickly around the house; it's made for it!
If you have a lot of conventional or low pile carpet in your home, the V15s is an outstanding option. We would be very pleased to have this as our daily driver.
The high-pile carpet score wasn't as high as the low-pile, partially because some of the lighter material — we're looking at you, Cheerios — gets pushed around rather than sucked up. This result is typical of most Dyson vacuums we've tested, which have strong suction capabilities that latch onto the carpet, so larger debris tends to float on top of the carpet, making it difficult for the material to get sucked up.
Lightweight material like Cheerios tends to require multiple passes and angles to coax underneath the vacuum head.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Although it didn't particularly shine with thicker carpet, when we made slower passes, it seemed to boost in performance. What does this mean for those who have a shaggy rug in their home? This is a different tactic than with spills on conventional carpets or hard surfaces, where dirt and debris have nowhere to hide, and you can clean up quickly.
By going a little slower on thicker carpets, we're confident most people can keep their high-pile rugs clean if they're vacuuming typical household debris. More importantly, for those with a lot of pesky sand or fine dirt getting tracked into their home, this machine excels at reaching deep into carpet fibers and pulling them out.
Hardwood Performance
Because this model has floor-specific cleaner heads, we replaced the Digital Motorbar head with the Fluffy Optic head.
This hard surface-specific head features a motorized, super soft brush roll with a tall gate opening at the front. When kids drop cereal off the table or potted plant dirt gets knocked onto the floor by a crazy cat, the soft brush will flow over it and make it disappear in a single pass.
The Dyson Submarine's Fluffy Optic cleaner head with laser light can reveal dust better than any other typical LED headlight we tested. This vacuum run in the dark shows off how it works, and we were delighted by the clean tracks it revealed.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Unique Laser Head Design
While the Fluffy Optic cleaner head does the real work, we're fans of the unique, low-angle green laser-style light that illuminates tiny bits of sand, hair, or dust on the floor. It works far better than typical LED headlights on other competitive vacuums.
While the Fluffy Optic cleaner head does the real work, we're fans of the unique, low-angle green laser-style light that illuminates tiny bits of sand, hair, or dust on the floor. It works far better than typical LED headlights on other competitive vacuums.
At a glance, with the naked eye, our test floors often looked clean. The green laser light, however, illuminated tiny, annoying specs of dust. In situations like this, it's like a hunt. I scour the floors of my house, almost like a game, uncovering pesky dirt enemies to suck up. There's nothing more rewarding than viewing the freshly polished floors after a pass with this vacuum.
Before Testing After Testing
The Submarine was nearly perfect in our edge test, nabbing all of the coffee grounds head-on and leaving only a couple of tiny pieces on the parallel pass.
Those who have a lot of nooks and crannies to clean in their home, such as long hallways with hardwood floors, will likely get excellent results with this vacuum, providing a cleaning tool that can clean the whole house.
Of course, this model's real claim to fame is its unique wet mop head attachment.
Different roller heads for different applications are provided with this model.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
To experiment with the mop head, we conducted simple tests applicable to everyday dry and wet spills. We found it easily cleaned up freshly spilled coffee, but once it dried up, we found multiple extra passes required to clean it.
The Submarine picks up spills, adding to its number of beneficial tools and attachments for cleaning all kinds of messes around the house.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
We don't think this head is by any means a mop superstar, but it can help with general maintenance cleans where the spills aren't too stubborn.
The Dyson V15s Submarine's included mop attachment head was handy for cleaning up paw prints. Our testers with dogs loved the mop feature, but they noted it doesn't have enough capacity to handle large mop jobs.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
If you're more curious about the performing capabilities of mops, check out our selection of products in the steam mop review, which covers a wide range of messes, from mud to ketchup and more.
Pet Hair
The stiff bristles do a good job of grabbing fur, and the strong suction takes care of the rest, pulling it into the canister. From a distance, we couldn't see any leftover strands, so the carpet looked great.
That said, it seemed like some of the hair that didn't make it into the bin ended up stuck on the roller. Longer strands, especially, tend to wrap around it pretty easily. You'll want to keep an eye on the roller and clean it regularly—if performance starts to drop, that's likely why.
The longer hairs managed to hold onto the roller, which was difficult to remove.
Credit: Rachael Lamore
Filtration
Although this Dyson doesn't have a HEPA filter, it still had one of the lowest amounts of particles left floating in the air during our test. It kept almost all the flour contained inside the system.
Filtration Particle Count
| Dyson V15s Submarine | |
|---|---|
| Small Particle Count | 31 |
| HEPA Filter | ✖ |
| Dylos Air Quality Designation | Excellent |
According to Dylos, particle counts between 0 and 75 are considered excellent. If you're sensitive to air quality, this Dyson's performance makes it a great option for tackling allergens or pet dander.
In our filtration test, we suck up flour while we monitor small particulates with air quality meters in a clean room environment.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Ease of Use
The powerful suction is like a double-edged sword. It's great for cleaning, but it makes it very difficult to push around.
To make it easier on yourself, it has a red slider control that opens or closes two head gates. With the head gates open, the suction seal is broken, slightly reducing the effort it takes to push and pull the vacuum around the house. However, it's still relatively hard to push compared to many other multi-purpose cleaner heads with less suction.
At 4.5 pounds, the head is a bit heavy, but we think the power and performance is worth the weight.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
When we switched to hard surfaces and used the different head design, it was a lot easier to move around. But the handheld's above-average weight of 4 pounds quickly became an issue as well. We started feeling fatigued pretty fast, even without the added resistance of the carpet.
Everything else about using this vacuum was much easier. Maintenance was straightforward with a simple, intuitive design to access the roller and filter to clean.
Since you can use the vacuum base with the attachments included, cleaning all types of surfaces was a breeze. This vacuum comes with three additional tools: a crevice tool, a hair screw tool, and a combination tool, along with a wand clip for convenient attachment storage.
Before Testing After Testing
The Submarine made quick work of our upholstery tests.
The mini motorized attachments are a great tool for small areas like high shelves and couch corners. “I especially appreciated it for cleaning my dog beds,” noted another tester.
Battery
In terms of battery life, it can run anywhere from 68 minutes down to just 9 minutes if it's constantly on boost.
The auto mode gets you closer to that 68-minute mark, since it only ramps up power when it detects larger piles of debris—a smart feature that helps use the battery more efficiently.
For quick mop jobs, the included Dyson Submarine wet roller cleaner head gives you a mop option without needing much additional storage space.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Dyson V15s Submarine?
If you've read this far, you're likely not afraid of the total cost associated with Dyson products, and we feel that's the main obstacle when considering the Dyson V15s Submarine. In all other respects, this model cleans very well and showcases what high-tech devices can do — and it performs very similarly to other high-end Dysons. If you want the mop feature, you'll need to buy this particular Dyson because the mop head isn't available to buy separately and is not compatible with other seemingly similar Dyson vacs like the V15 Detect.
What Other Stick Vacuums Should You Consider?
If you don't need the included mop and would prefer to save some money, the Dyson V15 Detect is the way to go. It includes much of the same technology as the Dyson V15s Submarine, so you won't have to worry about the overall performance. If you want a HEPA filter option, the Dyson Gen5detect is one of the few Dyson products that come with a HEPA filter. If you require something smaller and more streamlined but don't want to give up too much performance, the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight is a great option; plus, it doesn't require a wall mount to be stored, which is a win in our book. On top of that, it also excels on carpet and hardwood.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Dyson V15s Submarine versus top competing products:
—Rachael Lamore and Chris Maxcer
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