- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The Dyson V15 Detect is a highly versatile cordless stick/handheld vacuum. It delivers an exceptional cleaning performance on both bare floors and high-pile carpet and does an amazing job of clearing debris from low-pile carpet. It's also lightweight, maneuverable, and comes with a wide selection of tools and accessories to suit different uses, including its laser vacuum head that illuminates particles on bare floors. Its bagless design and washable, reusable HEPA filter mean that you shouldn't need to worry about recurring costs either. Unfortunately, there are quite a few parts that need to be maintained regularly, and the vacuum's primarily plastic construction feels a little cheap.
Our Verdict
The Dyson V15 is excellent for bare floors. It clears pet hair and small and bulky debris, like rice and cereal, without difficulty on this surface type. Better still, its suction performance remains consistent as its dirt compartment fills up. It's also quite maneuverable and incurs virtually no recurring costs as long as it's properly maintained. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel especially sturdy and has quite a few parts that need periodic cleaning.
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Exceptional overall cleaning performance.
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Lightweight, maneuverable construction.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Doesn't feel especially sturdy.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
The Dyson V15 is great for cleaning low-pile carpet. It does a superb job of sucking up pet hair and small, fine debris like baking soda and clears an impressive amount of larger debris, like sand, from this surface type. Its bagless design and washable allergen-trapping HEPA filter also result in a near-total absence of recurring costs. However, while its primarily plastic construction makes the vacuum lightweight and easy to maneuver, it doesn't feel especially sturdy. There are also quite a few parts that require regular maintenance.
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Exceptional overall cleaning performance.
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Lightweight, maneuverable construction.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Automatic power adjustment feature.
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Doesn't feel especially sturdy.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
The Dyson V15 delivers impressive performance on high-pile carpet. Thanks to its bagless design and washable filter, it incurs almost no recurring costs. It clears pet hair, fine debris like baking soda, and larger material like sand from this surface type without much difficulty. Unfortunately, its high suction power makes it difficult to maneuver on high-pile carpet and can even drag some smaller rugs around if you don't stand on them to keep them in place.
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Exceptional overall cleaning performance.
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Lightweight, maneuverable construction.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Automatic power adjustment feature.
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Doesn't feel especially sturdy.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
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Hard to maneuver on high-pile carpet.
The Dyson V15 is superb for cleaning up pet hair. It does an outstanding job of sucking up pet hair on bare floors and low and high-pile carpet. It also has a reusable HEPA filter that traps allergens as you clean, which is great if you have a heavily shedding pet. You can also remove the brushrolls for most of its tools, which makes it easier to remove hair wraps, though there are quite a few parts that need regular servicing.
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Does a superb job of clearing pet hair on a variety of surfaces.
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Allergen-trapping HEPA filter.
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Virtually no recurring costs.
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Doesn't feel especially sturdy.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
The Dyson V15 is a fantastic option for cleaning your stairs. Its lightweight construction and easily reconfigurable design make it easy to use as a handheld vacuum, and since it's cordless, you can clean larger staircases without worrying about swapping outlets or tripping over a power cord. It delivers exceptional overall performance on bare floors and low and high-pile carpet, so you should be able to easily clear debris regardless of your stairs' surface type.
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Exceptional overall cleaning performance.
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Lightweight, maneuverable construction.
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Wide range of tools and brushes.
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Doesn't feel especially sturdy.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
The Dyson V15 is an excellent choice for cleaning the inside of your car. It can easily reconfigure into a lightweight, fairly compact handheld vacuum, and you don't have to worry about staying close to an outlet due to its cordless design. It also comes with a wide range of tools and accessories, including a crevice tool to tackle messes in tight corners and a conical turbo brush to clear messes on automotive upholstery.
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Exceptional overall cleaning performance.
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Lightweight, maneuverable construction.
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Wide range of tools and brushes.
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Doesn't feel especially sturdy.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
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Doesn't feel especially sturdy.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
- 8.3 Bare Floor
- 8.2 Low-Pile Carpet
- 8.3 High-Pile Carpet
- 7.8 Pets
- 8.9 Stairs
- 8.4 Cars
- 7.3 Workshop
- Updated Mar 18, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Apr 26, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Apr 22, 2021: Early access published.
Test Results
The Dyson V15 is fairly well-built. It's similar in appearance to many other Dyson vacuums, particularly the Dyson V11 Animal, with a sleek design that looks distinctive. The top part of the vacuum also has a rubber strip that lets you lean the vacuum against the wall without it falling over. Unfortunately, its primarily plastic construction doesn't feel especially sturdy, though its main wand is metal. Its clear plastic dustbin lets you check its current capacity, but also feels very fragile.
Out-of-the-box assembly and attaching different accessories is very easy thanks to the Dyson V15 Detect's easy-clip mechanisms.
The Dyson V15 Detect's maintenance requirements are passable. There quite a few parts that require regular maintenance, though they're very easy to access. Still, you may want to consider the Shark Anti-Allergen Pet Power if you're looking for a vacuum with fewer maintenance requirements.
- Dirt compartment: The dirt compartment is connected to the main body of the vacuum. You can empty it by pressing the release button, but you need to 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, which should be wiped periodically with a damp cloth to clear any stuck on-debris.
- Fluffy brushroll: You can rotate the indentation on the left side of the Laser Slim Fluffyâ„¢ vacuum head to release the fluffy brush roll from its housing. It should be regularly cleaned under cold water when needed, but you should remove the bearings inside first. You can wipe down the laser sensor lens with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth periodically, too.
- Motorized head brushroll: You can access the brushroll by using a coin to remove the side cover on the side of the motorized vacuum head and then sliding the part out. You can then clear any stuck-on debris by hand and remove hair wraps with a pair of scissors.
- Turbo brushroll: You can access this part by pulling a release latch on the back of the turbo brush and clearing it of stuck-on debris when needed.
- HEPA 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. It should be washed under cold water at least once a month or whenever the maintenance light indicates that it needs cleaning. Be aware that the vacuum doesn't turn on if the HEPA filter isn't mounted in place.
Any parts that you wash under cold water should be left to dry for at least 24 hours before being re-inserted into the Dyson V15 Detect.
The Dyson V15 has virtually no recurring costs. As long as you regularly clean its HEPA filter, it shouldn't need to be replaced. That said, you can purchase replacement components from Dyson's website if needed.
The Dyson V15 has impressive storage capabilities. Unlike the Shark Vertex Pro, it comes with a wand clip that allows you to carry around two accessories, while its docking station has place to put two other tools.
The Dyson V15's dirt compartment is alright. It's similar in size to that of the Dyson V11 Animal. It's a little on the small side and is likely to need emptying somewhat frequently, but since it's made of clear plastic, you can check roughly how full it is at all times.
- Dyson V15 Detect vacuum
- Dyson V15 vacuum body/dirt compartment
- HEPA filter
- Laser Slim Fluffyâ„¢ vacuum head
- Wand
- 1x Battery
- User Guide
- Various tools and brushes
- High Torque motorized vacuum head
- High Torque Brush vacuum brushroll
- Soft bristle brush
- Stiff bristle brush
- Upholstery brush/Hard bristle brush combination tool
- Conical turbo brush
- Crevice tool
- Wand clip
- Docking station
- Docking station
- Installation manual with mounting screws
- Charging cable
The Dyson V15's range is limited only by remaining battery life and room left in its dirt compartment.
The Dyson V15 is impressively portable. It's noticeably lighter than the Dyson Outsize Absolute+ and has a carrying handle that makes it easier to lift and move around.
The Dyson V15's battery performance is alright. It supplies more than 70 minutes of runtime if you use it in its 'Eco' power mode with no attachments, though this drops to under 10 minutes if you run it continuously in its high-power 'Boost' mode with the motorized head, so you need to work quickly when dealing with stubborn messes. That said, it's worth noting that battery life can vary drastically with the current suction power settings, chosen attachments, and overall usage habits. The LED display on top of the vacuum gives you a rough estimate of the remaining battery life. Unfortunately, this vacuum takes quite a long time to charge, at just under four hours.
The Dyson V15 has a couple of quality of life features. Its Laser Slim Fluffyâ„¢ vacuum head can help you see small particles on the ground. You can also choose between three different power modes: the energy-efficient 'Eco' mode, the high-suction 'Boost' mode, and 'Auto' mode, which automatically adjusts the suction power depending on the surface that you're cleaning, but you still need to rotate the gate on its motorized head to fully accommodate for different surface types. Most of its controls are within easy reach, though the switch for activating or disabling the laser light is on the vacuum head itself.
The Dyson V15 Detect comes with a broad selection of tools and accessories. It has a couple of unique tools, like its Laser Slim Fluffyâ„¢ head, which helps you see small particles from bare floors. There's also its conical turbo brush, which can clean pet hair from fabric-lined surfaces, as well as a combination tool that features an upholstery tool and a sliding hard bristle brush. The separate stiff bristle brush can dislodge stuck-on dirt and debris from different surfaces. Another soft bristle brush is well-suited to dusting off delicate surfaces. You can also use its crevice tool to tackle messes in tight spots. While it doesn't have a dedicated extension wand, all of the included accessories can fit the main wand to help you clean hard-to-reach places.
The Dyson V15 can be reconfigured into a handheld vacuum by removing its wand.
The Dyson V15 delivers exceptional performance on bare floors. It clears pet hair as well as small and bulky debris, like rice or cereal, without any difficulty. Suction performance remains very consistent even as its dirt compartment fills up, which is good when dealing with bigger messes.
The Dyson V15 offers excellent performance on low-pile carpet. It sucks up pet hair without any issue and does an amazing job of clearing fine debris, like baking soda. It also clears an impressive amount of larger material, like sand, with consistent suction power even as its dirt compartment fills up.
The Dyson V15 clears an outstanding amount of debris from high-pile carpet. It sucks up pet hair and small, fine debris like baking soda without an issue and delivers great performance when dealing with larger material, like sand.
Note: This vacuum's suction force is very strong, to the point where it's difficult to use or even move around on this surface type, even with the vacuum head vents partially open. It occasionally picked up and dragged high-pile rugs in testing.
The Dyson V15 has good maneuverability. It can easily navigate cluttered spaces thanks to its rotating head. You can also maneuver over or around obstructions, like electrical cords, due to its lightweight construction. Removing and attaching different tools and accessories is a simple process, and cleaning on top of furniture in its handheld configuration is rather easy. You need to crouch fairly low to the ground to clean under couches, tables, and other low-lying furniture thanks to its bottom-mounted handle and slightly protruding filter. Unfortunately, it could be difficult to clean high-pile rugs due to its high suction power, which makes it hard to push around and can drag smaller carpets around if you don't stand on them to keep them in place.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Dyson V15 Detect only comes in one variant: 'Nickel', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
Let us know if you come across a different variant, so we can update our review.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The Dyson V15 is a cordless stick/handheld with a unique dust-sensitive power adjustment feature. It delivers exceptional overall performance on several surface types, outperforming alternatives like the Dyson V11 Animal, and feels lightweight and easy to carry. However, its high suction force can make it a hassle to maneuver on high-pile carpet, and its mostly plastic construction isn't especially robust, especially given its price.
If you're looking for alternatives, consider our recommendations for the best cordless vacuums, the best cordless stick vacuums, and the best hardwood vacuums.
The Dyson V15 Detect is a better vacuum than the Dyson V11 Animal. They're similar in build quality, battery performance, and maneuverability, but the V15 is a little lighter and delivers superior cleaning performance on all surface types. Conversely, the V11 is less demanding in terms of maintenance requirements.
The Dyson V15 Detect is a better overall vacuum than the Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute. The V15 clears more debris on bare floors, low-pile carpet, and high-pile carpet. It's also easier to store thanks to its included wand clip, which allows you to hang two different tools on the vacuum. Meanwhile, the V10 is lighter and takes much less time to charge despite offering similar overall runtime.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better for more use cases than the Samsung Jet 90 Complete. The Dyson has fewer maintenance requirements, incurs virtually no recurring costs as long as its filter is regularly cleaned, and delivers superior performance on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. It also has a longer runtime in its least powerful suction mode, though it takes much longer to recharge than the Samsung. The Samsung also has a slightly larger dirt compartment.
The Dyson V15 Detect is slightly better overall than the Dyson V8 Animal. The V15 has a slightly bigger dirt compartment, a surface-type adjustment feature, lasts longer on a single charge, and clears debris more effectively on all surface types. Meanwhile, the V8 is easier to pick up and carry and has fewer parts that require regular maintenance.
The Miele Triflex HX1 and Dyson V15 Detect each have their advantages, so one may suit you better than the other depending on your needs. The Miele is better-built, easier to maintain, feels lighter, and is more maneuverable. It also has an automatic surface type adjustment feature that stops the brushroll from spinning if it detects that something has gotten tangled in it. Meanwhile, the Dyson delivers superior performance on low and high-pile carpet, comes with more tools and accessories, has a larger dirt compartment, and lasts longer on a charge when run in its most energy-efficient power setting.
The Dyson V15 Detect is a better vacuum than the LG CordZero A9 Ultimate. The Dyson has fewer parts that need to be regularly cleaned, incurs virtually no recurring costs, has a bigger dirt compartment, comes with more tools and accessories, and delivers significantly better performance on low and high-pile carpet. It also charges notably faster despite having a similar maximum battery life, though that can vary in the real world. Meanwhile, the LG is a little lighter.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Dyson Outsize Absolute+. The V15 is easier to store, easier to maneuver, and delivers superior cleaning performance on low and high-pile carpet. The Outsize has a larger dirt compartment that doesn't need emptying as often. It comes with an extra battery, which extends its total runtime and allows you to keep cleaning for longer.
The Dyson V15 Detect is slightly better than the LG CordZero A9 A916BM. The Dyson incurs virtually no recurring costs, has a larger dustbin, and features an automatic suction power adjustment feature. It also comes with a few more tools and performs notably better on low-pile carpet. Conversely, the LG comes with a second battery that gives it a longer overall runtime.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Shark Vertex Pro. The Dyson is lighter, has a longer maximum battery life, comes with more tools and accessories, and clears more debris on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. Conversely, the Shark feels more solidly built, has fewer parts that need regular cleaning, has a larger dustbin, and is easier to maneuver.
The Dyson V15 Detect is a better fit for most use cases than the Samsung Jet 70 Pet, though both vacuums perform quite similarly overall. The Dyson features a telescopic wand that allows you to adjust the vacuum height to your liking, comes with a secondary soft-roller floorhead that yields superior bare floor and crevice-cleaning performance, and has a considerably longer battery life. Unlike the Samsung vacuum, it also features a built-in particle sensor and can automatically adjust its suction power depending on the surface that it's on. However, the Samsung is lighter, quieter, easier to maneuver, and delivers better performance on high-pile carpet. It's also compatible with a specialized mopping floorhead for dealing with stains on hard floors, but this needs to be purchased separately.
The Dyson V15 Detect and Dyson Ball Animal 2 are designed to suit different use cases, and one may suit you better than the other depending on your needs. The Ball Animal 2 is a corded upright with a theoretically indefinite runtime. It has a bigger dirt compartment, fewer parts that need to be regularly cleaned, and a dedicated pet grooming tool. Meanwhile, the V15 Detect is a cordless stick/handheld vacuum that's far more compact, easier to maneuver, and comes with a wider assortment of tools overall, which include a fluffy brushroll head with a laser light to help you see small debris. Both vacuums can be difficult to maneuver on some carpets or rugs due to their strong suction force.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Tineco PURE ONE X Tango. The Dyson has less demanding maintenance requirements, incurs virtually no recurring costs, has a bigger dustbin, uses a removable battery, is easier to maneuver, and performs better on carpeted surfaces. Meanwhile, the Tineco is lighter.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better for more use cases than the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away. The Dyson is a lighter, more portable cordless stick vacuum that features a built-in dirt sensor and a surface-detection system that enables it to change its power mode depending on the floor type that you're on. It also has a marginally longer battery life, delivers better performance on low-pile carpet, and is more effective when it comes to dealing with debris stuck in cracks and crevices. Meanwhile, the Shark is a cordless upright with a larger dirt compartment and a faster recharging time. Unlike the Dyson, the Shark doesn't come with a miniature turbo brush, but it does have an upholstery tool that helps it do a fantastic job of clearing away pet hair on furniture.
The Dyson V15 Detect is a better vacuum than the Dyson V7 Animal. The V15 features an onboard tool storage rack, has a slightly larger dirt compartment that doesn't need emptying as often, has a longer battery life, and delivers superior performance on bare floors and low and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the V7 is a little lighter and isn't quite as demanding in regular maintenance.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Canister and Dyson V15 Detect are differently-designed vacuums with differing use cases. The Cinetic is a corded canister vacuum with a virtually indefinite runtime. It also has far fewer parts requiring regular maintenance as well as a larger dirt compartment and doesn't get stuck on some rugs. Conversely, the V15 is a cordless stick vacuum that can be used far away from any electrical outlets. It deliver superior performance on all surface types, is considerably easier to store, and feels slightly better-built.
The Dyson V15 Detect is slightly better than the Shark Rocket Pet Pro with MultiFlex IZ163H. Both deliver similarly exceptional performance on bare floors, though the Dyson is slightly superior on low-pile carpet and clears noticeably more debris on high-pile carpets. It also comes with a broader selection of tools and accessories and has longer battery life. However, the Shark takes much less time to charge, feels more solidly built, is less demanding in terms of maintenance, and can maneuver more easily.
The Miele Complete C3 Alize PowerLine and Dyson V15 Detect are differently-designed vacuums with their own advantages. The Miele is a bagged canister vacuum with a virtually indefinite runtime thanks to its corded design. It feels better-built, is easier to maintain, and is easier to maneuver under couches and tables. Meanwhile, the Dyson is a cordless stick vacuum that's smaller, lighter, and much better-suited to cleaning areas far from an electrical outlet. Its bagless design and washable filters keep recurring costs to a minimum, it performs better on carpeted floors, and it comes with more tools and accessories.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Roborock H7. The Dyson feels sturdier, has fewer maintenance requirements, has a larger dustbin, comes with more attachments, and delivers better performance on all surface types. Its stronger suction force at its floorhead also means it's more effective in sucking up debris from crevices. However, the Roborock is lighter, charges faster, and lasts longer in its most energy-efficient mode. Unlike the Dyson, it also comes with an adapter that allows you to use it as a bagged vacuum.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless. The Dyson has a longer maximum runtime, comes with more tools and accessories, is a little lighter, and performs better on all surface types. Meanwhile, the Shark charges faster, feels sturdier, is less demanding in terms of maintenance, and is easier to maneuver under tables and couches thanks to its flexible wand.
The Miele Classic C1 and Dyson V15 Detect are differently designed vacuums with different strengths and weaknesses. The Miele is a canister vacuum with a corded design, making it much better-suited for long cleaning sessions. Its dirtbag does need replacing once it's filled, resulting in higher recurring costs, but you shouldn't need to worry about a plume of dust and allergens being released when emptying it. The Miele also feels better-built, has fewer parts that need regular cleaning, and is easier to maneuver on carpeted surfaces. Conversely, the Dyson is a cordless stick vacuum, so you don't need to worry about staying close to an electrical outlet while vacuuming. Its bagless design incurs virtually no recurring costs, and it comes with a lot more tools and accessories. Its more effective in clearing debris on carpeted surfaces, though its strong suction force can cause it to drag around some lighter rugs.
The Dyson V15 Detect is far more versatile than the Dyson Omni-glide. The V15 has a larger dustbin, a longer battery life, more tools and accessories, and better performance on bare floors. Unlike the Omni-glide, the V15 can also be used to clean carpets, where it delivers superb performance. Meanwhile, the Omni-glide is much easier to maneuver, has fewer parts that require maintenance, and charges faster.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Wyze Cordless Vacuum. The Dyson has a longer maximum battery life, has more tools and brushes, and performs better on bare floors and low-pile carpet. The Wyze, meanwhile, has fewer parts that require regular maintenance and weighs slightly less.
The BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro and Dyson V15 Detect each have distinct uses. The BISSELL is a corded upright vacuum/mop hybrid that does a better job dealing with stains thanks to its detergent-spraying feature and can be used to clear liquid spills. The Dyson is a cordless stick/handheld vacuum that does a better job cleaning debris on various surface types and in cracks, has a much stronger suction force, produces less noise, and is easier to maneuver. It also has a HEPA filter, resulting in superior air filtration performance.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Shark Anti-Allergen Pet Power. The Dyson features a rack station and onboard storage for its tools, weighs a little less, has a longer maximum battery life, comes with more tools, and delivers superior performance on all surface types. Conversely, the Shark is better built and has fewer parts that require regular maintenance.
The Shark Vertex UltraLight Corded and Dyson V15 Detect are differently-designed vacuums with differing uses. The Shark is a corded stick vacuum that's better-suited to longer cleaning jobs due to its virtually unlimited runtime. It also feels better built and has fewer parts t that need regular cleaning. Meanwhile, the Dyson's cordless design makes it much easier to clean areas far from any electrical outlets, and it also delivers better overall performance across most surface types. It also has a surface detection system that allows it to automatically change its suction power depending on the floor type that it's on. There's also an onboard HEPA filter and a greater variety of attachments, most notably its secondary floorhead designed for bare floors, which has a laser light to help you see fine debris.
The Dyson V15 Detect is more versatile than the Dyson Humdinger, though they're meant for different uses. The V15 is a stick vacuum that can be reconfigured into a handheld vacuum, so it's better suited to cleaning larger spaces. Meanwhile, the Humdinger is a remarkably lightweight handheld vacuum that's more suited to quick spot cleaning. The V15 has more parts to maintain but has a notably larger dirt compartment. It also performs better overall on all surface types than the Humdinger.
The Dyson V15 Detect is better than the Dyson Micro 1.5kg, mostly because the Micro isn't suitable for carpets. The Micro is more portable and a tad easier to maneuve. The V15 is more versatile, comes with more tools and brushes, and has a significantly larger dirt compartment and longer max battery life. Unless you need something exceptionally small and lightweight, the V15 is the better option for most uses.
The SEBO Airbelt D4 and Dyson V15 Detect are differently-designed vacuums with different intended uses. The SEBO is a corded canister vacuum, making it a better option for long cleaning sessions. It feels much better-built, is significantly easier to maintain, and does a better job cleaning debris in cracks. Meanwhile, the Dyson is a cordless stick vacuum that's a better fit for quick cleaning sessions. It weighs much less, incurs virtually no recurring costs, comes with far more tools and accessories, and performs better on carpeted floors.
The Dyson V15 Detect and iRobot H1 that suit different purposes. The Dyson has a stick/handheld design that's much better suited to cleaning larger spaces, but it can be used in a handheld configuration for spot-cleaning some areas. It has a much longer battery life, a wider range of tools and accessories, incurs fewer recurring costs, and offers significantly better performance on all surface types. Meanwhile, the handheld-only iRobot feels better built, isn't as demanding to maintain, and is easier to store.