Dyson V12 Detect Slim  Vacuum Review

This vacuum does a great job of dealing with messes on hard floors with its Laser Slim Fluffy head. It does a good job of collecting a wide mix of debris, from fine material like sand to bulkier debris like cereal, in a single pass. Unfortunately, a small amount of debris can get caught at the back of the floorhead and be swept back, which you'll need to pick up afterward.

This vacuum's performance on high-pile carpets is unremarkable when used with its Motorbar head. It can clear away the majority of larger solid debris within a single pass or maybe two, but it struggles with finer material like sand.

This vacuum provides satisfactory performance on low-pile carpets. It can clear away the majority of medium-sized debris like rice and large debris like cereal within a single pass. However, it has difficulty with finer material like sand that has been thoroughly embedded within carpet fibers.

This vacuum does a satisfactory job of dealing with pet hair on low-pile carpets. It can deal with longer strands of hair within a single back-and-forth pass, but you'll need to go over the same area again if you want to deal with strands that are pressed into carpet fibers a little more deeply. The Shark PowerDetect Cordless is a good alternative if you want something that can deal with pet hair a little more efficiently on this surface type.

This vacuum does an excellent job of dealing with pet hair on upholstered surfaces when used with the Hair Screw tool. The tool resists tangles very well and collects pet hair, even shorter strands, without too much trouble. Its considerably smaller size and lighter weight than the Dyson V15 Detect vacuum make it much easier to maneuver on furniture.

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim does a great job cleaning cracks and crevices. While it uses a less powerful motor than the Dyson V15 Detect, it's similarly effective in lifting debris from shallow and medium-depth cracks and crevices when used with its Laser Slim floorhead, which can generate a reasonably tight seal against the contact surface. Another point in its favor compared to the V15 is its dirt detection capability. It allows it to ramp up its suction power in its 'Auto' setting if there's a higher concentration of debris on the ground, so you don't have to manually adjust its power mode when running over cracks. Still, if you want to clear away every last trace of debris in deeper crevices, bump it to its high-output 'Boost' mode and attach its crevice tool.

This vacuum feels reasonably robust. Its body is made mainly from polycarbonate plastic, similar to most other Dyson vacuums, though its wand is made of a thinner gauge of metal, meaning you can dent it during normal use. Small, gritty debris can also get wedged in its floorhead's wheels, causing them to lock up over time. Check out the Miele Triflex HX2 if you want a sturdier-feeling cordless vacuum.

Thankfully, this vacuum is remarkably easy to take apart and reassemble, thanks to the prevalence of easy-clip mechanisms.

• Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute vacuum
  • Dyson V12 Slim vacuum body/dirt compartment
  • Dirt compartment cover
  • Post-motor filter
  • Laser Slim Fluffy™ vacuum head
  • Laser Slim Fluffy™ vacuum head brushroll
  • Wand
  • 1x Battery
  • User Guide+Warranty Card
• Various tools and brushes
  • Motorbar Cleaner Head™
  • Motorbar Cleaner Head™ brushroll
  • Soft bristle brush
  • Stiff bristle brush
  • Upholstery brush/Hard bristle brush combination tool
  • Hair Screw Tool™
  • Hair Screw Tool™ brushroll
  • Crevice tool
  • Wand clip
• Docking station
  • Wall mount
  • Nails
  • Power adapter

This vacuum is pretty easy to store. Despite its lighter design and smaller dustbin, it still takes up roughly the same amount of space as the Dyson V15 Detect, and it comes with a wall-mounted charging rack with room for two tools.

The Dyson V12 Slim has a somewhat small dirt compartment. It's larger than that of the Dyson Micro 1.5kg, but not by much, and its overall capacity is roughly only a third of most conventional stick vacuums, like the Samsung Jet 70.

Battery performance is decent. It can run for more than an hour in its most energy-efficient mode, which is plenty of time to spot-clean lightweight debris and is in line with the advertised maximum runtime of an hour. In its most powerful 'Boost' mode, this drops to a little under 10 minutes, which doesn't give you much time to deal with stubborn messes, but this is in line with most other vacuums of this type. Its runtime in its default 'Auto' mode can vary drastically, as the vacuum will automatically increase its power level when running on carpets or when it encounters high concentrations of debris.

This vacuum is pretty easy to maintain.

• Dirt compartment/Lint screen: The dirt compartment is connected to the vacuum's main body. You can empty it by pressing the release button, but you must remove its wand before doing so. You can also unlatch it from the main body by pressing the red release button on the spine of the main body to clean the lint screen. Wipe it periodically with a damp cloth to clear any stuck-on debris.
• Laser Slim Fluffy Head: You can rotate the indentation on the left side of the floorhead to release the fluffy brushroll from its housing. You should regularly clean it under cold water when needed, but you need to remove the bearings inside first. You can also wipe down the laser sensor lens with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth periodically.
• Motorbar Cleaner Head: You can access the brushroll by using a coin to remove the cover on the side of the motorized vacuum head, then slide the part out. From there, you can clear any stuck-on debris by hand and remove hair wraps with scissors. Its brushroll is designed differently from the one in the Dyson V15 Detect's motorized brush head; it has larger, more closely spaced detangling vanes, reducing hair buildup and making cleaning easier.
• Post-motor filter: The filter is placed near the top of the vacuum and can be removed by twisting it counterclockwise to release it from its housing. You should wash it under cold water at least once a month or whenever the maintenance light indicates it needs cleaning. Be aware that the vacuum won't turn on if the filter isn't mounted in place.

Any parts that you wash under water should be left to dry for at least 24 hours before being used again.

Recurring costs are practically nonexistent. As long as you regularly clean the vacuum's post-motor filter, it won't need to be replaced. If you're looking for a HEPA-rated exhaust filter, you can find one on Dyson's website.

Note: While they aren't a traditional consumable product for most vacuums, the V12's floorhead wheels aren't the most durable and can start to wear out with prolonged exposure to grit and dirt, which is further exacerbated when using the vacuum on more abrasive surfaces. Thankfully, you can buy replacement wheels here.

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim has a couple of quality-of-life features. It has a small, circular LCD at the back of the body that shows you a real-time estimate of the amount of debris being sucked into the vacuum, separated into bar graphs by size. You can toggle between the three selectable power modes using the small silver button just underneath the screen: the energy-efficient 'Eco' mode, the high-suction 'Boost' mode, and 'Auto' mode, which automatically increases suction power when you're cleaning carpet or when the vacuum passes over areas with high concentrations of dirt and debris. Unlike many conventional stick vacuums, it has a large power button to turn the vacuum on and off instead of a handle-mounted trigger switch, reducing finger strain during longer cleaning sessions. If you want a cheaper Dyson model with a nicer LCD, consider the Dyson Digital Slim.

This vacuum is impressively portable. It's lighter than most cordless stick vacuums, including older models like the Dyson V8. If you're looking for something even lighter, consider the Xiaomi Mi Vacuum Cleaner Light.

The overall maneuverability is impressive. The Dyson's lightweight construction makes it easy to pick up and carry over obstacles like power cords or to navigate cluttered environments. Since you don't need to hold down a trigger to keep the motor running, you won't strain your finger during longer cleaning sessions. Its lower suction force than the Dyson V15 Detect makes it easier to maneuver on thick carpeting, as you can push it forward without dragging rugs around. Still, pulling the vacuum toward you while cleaning is likely to cause it to get stuck on shag-pile rugs.

This is a cordless vacuum, so its range is limited only by the remaining battery life and room left in its dirt compartment.

The Dyson V12 has good suction power. The manufacturer advertises its suction motor as producing 150 AW of power, similar to the mid-range Samsung Jet 70's claimed power figure. However, it falls some way short of the Dyson V15 Detect, which produces a maximum of 230 AW of power. Even when using similarly-designed, but not identical, Laser Slim floorheads, the V15 exerts roughly twice as much suction force at its floorhead, resulting in superior deep-cleaning capability.

This vacuum has satisfactory airflow performance. Despite having a less potent suction motor than the Dyson V11, it delivers similar airflow, indicating a more efficient filtration and motor system. It won't have much trouble dealing with most kinds of solid debris.

This vacuum is pretty quiet. It makes a high-pitched noise when running that's sufficient to mask the sound of nearby conversation, but using it in an enclosed room does help block out most of the noise. While switching to its soft-roller Laser Slim floorhead does little to decrease noise levels, using it in its energy-efficient 'Eco' mode drops noise levels by a considerable degree.

This vacuum has virtually no impact on dried stains.

You can't use this vacuum to clear away liquids.