Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
We've recently moved robot vacuums to their own product category! Read our Changelog to learn more.

Dyson Digital Slim Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.3
Reviewed Jan 17, 2025 at 11:26 am
Dyson Digital Slim Picture
6.8
Bare Floor
7.5
Low-Pile Carpet
6.8
High-Pile Carpet
6.5
Pets
7.9
Stairs
7.2
Cars
4.2
Workshop

The Dyson Digital Slim is a mid-range cordless stick vacuum. Originally released in 2020 in Asian markets and designed for small living spaces, it began distribution in the United States in late 2024. It sits below the Dyson V8 Absolute in the manufacturer's line-up and features a similar 100 AW suction motor as the Dyson V7. Its design is also shorter than other Dyson stick vacuums, and it comes with fewer accessories than most, including a Motorbar floorhead, Combination tool, and Crevice tool.

Our Verdict

6.8 Bare Floor

The Dyson Digital Slim isn't the best choice for bare floors. Its pickup performance is generally bad on bare floors, as its floorhead sits too low to the floor, pushing a lot of debris around rather than clearing it. That said, its lightweight design makes it relatively easy to maneuver, and it won't get caught on electrical cords or cables. Its user maintenance is straightforward, although you'll have to empty its dirt compartment frequently if you vacuum often or have a lot of debris to clear. Recurring costs are also a nonissue. Unfortunately, the vacuum feels fragile in places.

Pros
  • Low maintenance requirements.

  • Lightweight design results in great portability.

  • Virtually no recurring costs.

Cons
  • Tiny dirt compartment.

  • Floorhead pushes debris around.

  • Some parts like the dirt compartment feel fragile.

7.5 Low-Pile Carpet

The Dyson Digital Slim is a good choice for dealing with low-pile carpets. It offers solid pet hair pick-up on this surface type and does a decent job clearing away debris of all sizes. That said, its floorhead sits too close to the ground, causing it to push around a bit of debris rather than picking it up, which is a minor annoyance. Its user maintenance is simple, although its tiny dirt compartment means you'll have to empty it often if you vacuum frequently or have a lot of debris around. The vacuum's recurring costs are not an issue; however, the vacuum feels flimsy in places.

Pros
  • Low maintenance requirements.

  • Lightweight design results in great portability.

  • Virtually no recurring costs.

  • Good at clearing pet hair.

Cons
  • Tiny dirt compartment.

  • Some parts like the dirt compartment feel fragile.

6.8 High-Pile Carpet

The Dyson Digital Slim is a fair option for homes with lots of high-pile carpets. It can easily clear most medium debris, like rice, but it struggles with fine and large debris, like sand or cereal, on this surface. By contrast, pet hair pick-up is no problem. Besides frequently emptying the dirt compartment due to its small size, there are infrequent maintenance requirements. Recurring costs are also virtually nonexistent, thanks to the use of reusable filters. Unfortunately, the build quality is hit or miss, as some parts feel flimsy and fragile.

Pros
  • Low maintenance requirements.

  • Lightweight design results in great portability.

  • Virtually no recurring costs.

Cons
  • Tiny dirt compartment.

  • Poor suction performance.

  • Some parts like the dirt compartment feel fragile.

6.5 Pets

The Dyson Digital Slim is okay for pet owners. It performs well at clearing pet hair from low-pile carpeting and from fabric furniture when using the Combination tool. Just know that the tools' narrow opening and the vacuum's small size can make using its handheld configuration tedious for larger tasks like cleaning a fabric couch. Without mopping capabilities, it can't deal with stains or liquid spills. Otherwise, maintenance tasks are straightforward and infrequent, and this vacuum incurs virtually no recurring costs due to the use of reusable filters.

Pros
  • Low maintenance requirements.

  • Lightweight design results in great portability.

  • Virtually no recurring costs.

  • Good at clearing pet hair.

Cons
  • Tiny dirt compartment.

  • Poor suction performance.

  • Some parts like the dirt compartment feel fragile.

7.9 Stairs

The Dyson Digital Slim is a great choice for homes with stairs. Its lightweight and cordless design makes it easy to carry around and use on stairs. Just know that pick-up performance can vary quite a bit depending on the surface type. It's also highly maneuverable, and you can use it as a handheld for tough-to-reach spots like between banister posts.

Pros
  • Low maintenance requirements.

  • Lightweight design results in great portability.

  • Virtually no recurring costs.

  • Cordless design is ideal for stairs.

Cons
  • Tiny dirt compartment.

  • Poor suction performance.

  • Floorhead pushes debris around.

  • Some parts like the dirt compartment feel fragile.

7.2 Cars

As the Dyson Digital Slim is configurable as a handheld vacuum, it's a decent option for car cleaning. Its lightweight design makes it easy and comfortable to use with one hand, and its Crevice and Combination tools can handle most surface types. That said, without a turbo brush attachment, it won't be as efficient.

Pros
  • Low maintenance requirements.

  • Lightweight design results in great portability.

  • Virtually no recurring costs.

Cons
  • Tiny dirt compartment.

  • Poor suction performance.

  • Some parts like the dirt compartment feel fragile.

4.2 Workshop

The Dyson Digital Slim is poor at handling a workshop environment, but this isn't what its design is for. It has poor suction, can't mop up liquids, and performs poorly on bare surfaces. You shouldn't use it to clear debris like metal, wood shavings, or drywall dust, as this can damage its cyclone.

Pros
  • Low maintenance requirements.

  • Lightweight design results in great portability.

  • Virtually no recurring costs.

Cons
  • Tiny dirt compartment.

  • Poor suction performance.

  • Some parts like the dirt compartment feel fragile.

  • Not suited for liquid spills.

  • 6.8 Bare Floor
  • 7.5 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 6.8 High-Pile Carpet
  • 6.5 Pets
  • 7.9 Stairs
  • 7.2 Cars
  • 4.2 Workshop
  1. Updated Jan 17, 2025: Review published.
  2. Updated Jan 14, 2025: Early access published.
  3. Updated Jan 09, 2025: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated Dec 16, 2024: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  5. Updated Nov 28, 2024: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the Dyson Digital Slim. There's one regional variant in certain parts of Asia, the Dyson Digital Slim Fluffy, but it's been discontinued in certain regions and availability seems sparse overall; you can read more about it on Dyson Singapore's website. It trades the Motorbar brushroll for a Slim Fluffy Cleaner Head ideal for dealing with bare floors and also includes a Mini motorized tool for use on fabric and upholstery.

See our unit's label. Let us know if you come across a different variant of this vacuum in the comments, and we'll add it to the review.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The Dyson Digital Slim is a mid-range stick vacuum sitting towards the bottom of Dyson's line-up. This vacuum sits below the Dyson V8 Absolute in Dyson's product stack, but its lackluster performance sees it fall behind the Dyson V7 in debris pick-up performance across almost all surface types. Its dirt compartment is tiny, much closer to a handheld vacuum than a cordless stick vacuum. Its short stature will also be divisive, as it can be uncomfortable to use depending on your height. That said, its lightweight design makes it highly portable, and it uses reusable parts with low maintenance requirements and virtually no recurring costs. Overall, this won't be Dyson's most compelling offering for most people.

For other options, check out our recommendations for the best Dyson vacuums, the best cordless vacuums, and the best stick vacuums.

Dyson V8

The Dyson Digital Slim and the Dyson V8 are both mid-range cordless stick vacuums, but the V8 is better overall. Most variants of the V8 come with more accessories, making it more adaptable to different surface types and cleaning scenarios. It also has a more powerful motor that provides better suction and features a longer, more comfortable extension wand for most people. While battery life is comparable between the two models, the Digital Slim recharges faster. Another place where the Digital Slim has the edge is in terms of quality-of-life features, as it sports an easy-to-read LCD display and allows for more granular power adjustment with three different configurations (the V8 only offers two).

Dyson V7

The Dyson Digital Slim and the Dyson V7 are similarly positioned cordless stick vacuums. The V7 is the better choice for most people. Most variants come with more accessories than the Digital Slim, which makes it more adaptable, and despite sharing the same 100 AW strength motor, the V7 performs better across most surface types. However, the V7 has much worse battery life, takes longer to charge, and lacks the Digital Slim's LCD display. The Digital Slim may also be appealing for people with particularly small living spaces as it features a shorter extension wand.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim

Although the Dyson Digital Slim and the Dyson V12 Detect Slim both occupy the mid-range of Dyson's cordless stick vacuums, the V12 is much better. It performs better on every surface type, has more accessories, and offers vastly superior battery life. It also has features like an automatic power adjustment system and an onboard piezo sensor to give you a real-time estimate of particle counts in your home. The one place the Digital Slim has the edge is in pet hair pick-up performance, as it can better agitate carpet fibers and remove hair from deep in the carpet. 

Shark Stratos Cordless

The Shark Stratos Cordless is better than the Dyson Digital Slim in almost every way. It offers better performance on every surface type and is more feature-rich, with automatic suction adjustment and an odor-neutralizing cartridge that plugs into its floorhead. It also has better battery life and build quality. That said, the Dyson offers a more appealing interface with an LCD display that shows remaining battery life, alerts, and more. 

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
7.0
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Stick/Handheld

The Dyson Digital Slim cordless vacuum feels decently well-built. Design-wise, the vacuum finish resembles recent models like the Dyson V12 Detect Slim. Other features include a built-in LCD display and the return of a trigger for powering the vacuum on/off versus the button press of other recent vacuums. While this means you'll have to continuously hold down the trigger to operate the vacuum or fiddle with the trigger lock, the trigger can help save battery and reduce noise by only turning on the vacuum when necessary. Like other Dyson vacuums, it's mostly made of plastic, though the extension wand is a lightweight metal, and the brushroll uses synthetic bristles. Overall, this mix of materials feels reasonably sturdy, though some components, like the dust bin, feel cheap. Unfortunately, our unit's Motorhead brushroll has a cosmetic manufacturing defect, and like the Dyson Gen5detect/Gen5detect Absolute, the rubber gasket around its cyclone is fragile and peels after minimal use. On the bright side, attaching or detaching accessories is a breeze, and aside from the brushroll, this is a toolless process resulting in straightforward maintenance.

7.5
Design
User Maintenance

This vacuum is quite easy to maintain, as the few parts that require regular servicing are readily accessible. The dustbin is easy to empty, but since it empties via a door on the bottom, it tends to create a dust cloud; this can be annoying for people with allergies or dust sensitivities. Also, its low capacity means you'll need to empty it frequently if you vacuum often or tend to have large quantities of debris in your home. The filter and lint screen are also easy to remove. You can tap the filter in a garbage can to release dust, but this also tends to create a cloud. You'll need to wash the filter under water periodically.

The brushroll is the only part that requires a tool for removal. You can use a flathead screwdriver or even the side of a coin if you're in a pinch. Hair tends to get tangled, and while you can remove most of it with your hands, it's a bit tedious. More intense tangles may require scissors for removal.

For more information about maintenance tasks and the manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule, see the User Manual or Guides on Dyson's website.

10
Design
Recurring Cost
Bag Part Number No bag
Filter Part Number 970612-01
HEPA Filter Part Number 970612-01

This vacuum incurs virtually no recurring costs as it includes reusable parts, like its HEPA filter, that only require periodic cleaning to function properly. If you need to replace your filter due to damage, Dyson's US website doesn't offer replacements at the time of writing. While it's available from Dyson's Singaporean website, as this model has been available in Asian markets since 2020, shipping is limited to certain regions. 

6.8
Design
Storing
Height
40.75" (103.5 cm)
Width
9.84" (25.0 cm)
Depth
11.77" (29.9 cm)
Cord Storing
Not Needed
On-Board Tool Storage
No
Vacuum Rack/Station
Yes

This tall, narrow vacuum fits nicely in a space like a utility closet. It also comes with a wall-mounted charging rack with two accessory clips for its tools, so you don't need to worry about finding spots for the accessories.

6.0
Design
Dirt Compartment
Bagless
Yes
Volume
0.04 gal (0.16 L)
Full Indicator
Yes
Bag Included
No Bag Needed

This vacuum's dirt compartment is small and more comparable to handheld vacuums. Its overall capacity is roughly a third of most conventional stick vacuums, like the Samsung Jet 70.

Design
In The Box

Dyson Digital Slim Vacuum

  • Power unit/dirt compartment
  • Suction wand
  • HEPA filter
  • Click-in battery
  • User guide, dock installation guide, and manual

Tools and brushes

  • Motorbar brushroll
  • Combination tool
  • Crevice tool

Charging station

  • Dock
  • Charger
  • Wall screws and anchors

10
Design
Range
Cordless
Yes
Cord Length
N/A
Hose Length
N/A
Minimum Wand Length
0.66 ft (0.20 m)
Maximum Wand Length
2.66 ft (0.81 m)
Total Range
N/A

As a cordless vacuum, the Dyson Digital Slim's remaining battery life and dust bin capacity determines its range.

8.4
Design
Portability
Total Weight
4.52 lbs (2.05 kg)
Weight In Hand
2.93 lbs (1.33 kg)
Carrying handle
Yes

The Dyson Digital Slim is quite a light vacuum, even beating out other lightweight Dyson models like the Dyson V7 or the Dyson V12 Detect Slim. This makes it easier to transport between rooms or up and down stairs.

6.8
Design
Battery
Minimum Battery Life
8 min
Maximum Battery Life
49 min
Recharge Time
180 min
Recharge Dock
Yes
Battery Life Indicator
Yes
Removable Batteries
Yes

The "Minimum Battery Life" results were obtained using the Boost power suction mode with the Motorbar floorhead attached, while the "Maximum Battery Life" results used the Eco mode and Combination tool.

Design
Quality Of Life Features
Rotating Head
Yes
Power Adjustment
Yes
Self-Propelled
No
Headlights
No
Easy On/Off
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
None

You can use the silver "Selection" button embedded in the LCD display to cycle through the vacuum's three power settings: Eco, Med, and Boost. The LCD display also shows the selected power level, the estimated remaining battery life while using that power level, and other alerts, such as when the airway is blocked or the filter requires cleaning. You can change the display language by pressing and holding the Selection button.

Design
Tools And Brushes
Brushroll
Yes
Brushroll On/Off
No
Removable Brushroll
Yes
Turbo Brush
No
Crevice Tool
Yes
Upholstery Tool
Yes
Soft Bristle Brush
Yes
Hard Bristle Brush
No
Extension Wand
Yes
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No

The Dyson Digital Slim comes with a Crevice tool and a Combination upholstery and brush tool.

Design
Alternative Configuration
Blower Mode
No

You can use the Dyson Digital Slim as a cordless handheld vacuum by substituting its extension wand and Motorbar floorhead with its Crevice or Combination tool.

Performance
5.0
Performance
Hard Floor Pick-Up

The Dyson Digital Slim delivers disappointing performance on bare floors. Though it can effectively clear debris of all sizes, the floorhead sits close to the ground, causing it to push debris around and leave a mess along walls and corners. The floorhead also tends to trap debris at the back, leaving a mess behind when you lift it.

6.5
Performance
High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up

This vacuum offers reasonable performance on high-pile carpets. Medium debris like rice is no problem, but even with the Boost power setting, the floorhead cannot provide adequate agitation or suction to effectively handle fine and large debris, like sand or cereal, on this surface.

7.0
Performance
Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up

This vacuum delivers satisfactory performance on low-pile carpets. Though it can clear most debris of any size in a single pass, the floorhead tends to shoot a bit of debris around and also push some debris into walls or corners, leaving a mess behind.

7.5
Performance
Pet-Hair Pick-Up

This vacuum offers good pet hair pick-up performance on low-pile carpets. Its Motorbar floorhead effectively agitates the carpet fibers to lift away pet hair, though it does tend to drag and spread looser hair around the carpet a little bit. As a result, you'll need to perform additional passes to fully clear pet hair.

2.0
Performance
Suction
Maximum Hose Suction
60.5 inH₂O (15.08 kPa)
Maximum Head Suction
0.9 inH₂O (0.22 kPa)
Normal Head Suction
0.4 inH₂O (0.10 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal "MED", with Motorbar Cleaner Head
Hose Diameter
1.3" (3.2 cm)

This vacuum delivers awful suction force. Though our unit's floorhead has a manufacturing defect where the top plastic panel is separating from the bottom one, this didn't impact the test results; we also tested with the intact Motorbar floorhead from our Dyson V12 Detect Slim unit, and the results were the same. Despite Dyson advertising the same 100 AW max suction power as the Dyson V7, it performs worse. In practice, this means it may have some trouble dealing with heavier debris and pulling debris embedded deeply within shag carpeting.

6.5
Performance
Airflow
Maximum Hose Airflow
46.9 CFM (1.3 m³/min)

This vacuum's airflow is adequate, though it lags behind every other Dyson model we've tested, except for the handheld Dyson Humdinger. As a result, it doesn't clear debris as effectively as other Dyson models.

8.3
Performance
Noise
Bare Floor
70.9 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
78.4 dBA

This vacuum isn't too loud. Using its Motorbar floorhead on hard surfaces with Medium power settings will be noticeable but not overly disturbing. That said, it gets much louder on carpets with the Boost power setting, possibly masking conversation for anyone nearby. We also measured its noise output at different suction power levels on bare floors and carpets.

Bare floors:

  • Eco: 69.9 dBA
  • Boost: 75.9 dBA

Carpet:

  • Eco: 68.9 dBA
  • Medium: 71.2 dBA

7.0
Performance
Maneuverability

The ergonomics of the Dyson Digital Slim may not appeal to everyone and can impact its general maneuverability depending on your height. The extension wand is shorter than on other Dyson models, so most people will likely have to slouch and overextend their arms, straining their back and shoulders. You can replace the wand with a longer one from the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, but this is an added expense.

On the bright side, the slim and short design helps keep the weight down. The lower weight is particularly helpful when using the vacuum under low furniture like a couch or coffee table. Similarly, its light weight makes it easy to hold and maneuver on fabric furniture, and swapping out accessories for particular jobs is a breeze. Just know the Combination tool has a narrow opening, so if you have a lot of fabric furniture, cleaning them all may take a while. While the Motorbar floorhead tends to get stuck on carpet and rugs with tassels, it's fairly easy to get free. Finally, obstacles like power cords are no problem, as the floor head can easily push them out of the way on hard surfaces without getting caught.

7.0
Performance
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test

This vacuum does a decent job clearing away pet hair from fabric furniture. Owing to the unit's light weight, it's quite easy to hold and maneuver with one hand; on the flip side, the small size makes it a bit awkward to use with two hands for stability. As for its performance, the Combination tool is a bit of a bottleneck, as it has a narrower opening that can't pick up as much debris as the Hair Screw tool Dyson usually includes with its stick vacuums. The brushroll also requires periodic cleaning during longer cleaning sessions to remove stuck-on pet hair, further slowing things down. Overall, it gets the job done, but you can expect it to take a while.

Performance
Air Quality
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes

This vacuum effectively seals fine particles and offers solid air filtration performance thanks to its HEPA filter.

6.0
Performance
Cracks
Wood Cracks Post Test

Using the Motorbar floorhead on Med suction settings, the Dyson Digital Slim does a decent job clearing debris from cracks and crevices. However, it falls behind its older sibling, the Dyson V7. Performance improves significantly using the Boost mode; just know this comes at the cost of battery life.

1.0
Performance
Stains
Stain Pickup Post Test

This vacuum lacks mopping capabilities and isn't effective for clearing away stains.

0
Performance
Water
Wet Compatible
No
Water Pickup Post Test

This vacuum isn't designed to deal with water.