Dyson V15 Detect Vacuum Review

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 Fluffy™ 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 Fluffy™ 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 Fluffy™ 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 Fluffy™ 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.