The Dyson V15 Detect is a premium cordless stick/handheld vacuum. The V15 features a powerful motor that generates up to 230AW of suction, an onboard particle sensor, and a surface detection system, allowing it to adjust its suction power according to the surface being cleaned. It comes with a Laser Slim Fluffy vacuum head with a laser light to highlight small particles on bare floors, a bristled floorhead for carpets, and a conical Hair Screw turbo brush for furniture or cars.
Our Verdict
The Dyson V15 is a decent option for cleaning a house. It offers very good performance on both bare floors and carpet, and is particularly effective at removing pet hair. It's sturdy enough for various household cleaning tasks, although its lightweight construction makes it feel a bit flimsy. Its filter is outstanding at holding in fine dust, so it won't affect air quality or deposit dust all over your house. While its runtime is sufficient for smaller houses, it struggles to clean larger homes on a single charge, particularly when using its high power mode. The major downside is that emptying this vacuum will create a cloud of dust that'll be hard to contain, even in a bag, so it's best to do this outdoors or in the garage.
Very good cleaning performance overall.
Does a superb job of clearing pet hair.
Nearly perfect HEPA filter performance keeps dust out of the air.
Thin-walled plastic construction feels flimsy.
High power mode quickly drains battery.
Emptying creates a cloud of dust.
The Dyson V15 is an excellent choice for cleaning a small apartment. Pickup performance is very good on both bare and carpeted floors, and for pet owners, this vacuum does an outstanding job cleaning up pet hair. You can easily store this compact vacuum in a closet or other small space. Another major strength of this vacuum is its negligible impact on air quality while cleaning. The HEPA filter operates nearly perfectly, keeping dust out of the air and preventing it from settling throughout the room. However, like most bagless vacuums, emptying it releases a cloud of dust that'll linger in the air and settle over your apartment, so it's best to empty it on a balcony or away from any living area.
Very good cleaning performance overall.
Does a superb job of clearing pet hair.
Nearly perfect HEPA filter performance keeps dust out of the air.
Emptying creates a cloud of dust.
The Dyson V15 is an excellent option for cleaning your stairs. Since it's cordless, you can clean larger staircases without worrying about swapping outlets or tripping over a power cord. Its lightweight construction makes it easy to carry up and down stairs, where it performs very well in cleaning both bare and carpeted stair treads, especially when it comes to removing pet hair. This vacuum's HEPA filter is so effective that you don't have to worry about blowing dust into the air and onto surfaces; dust stays trapped in the filter.
Very good cleaning performance overall.
Does a superb job of clearing pet hair.
Nearly perfect HEPA filter performance keeps dust out of the air.
Lightweight construction.
The Dyson V15 offers impressive performance in cleaning the inside of your car. You don't have to worry about staying close to an outlet due to its cordless design. Since it's light, it's easy to bring out to the driveway or garage and move around in your car, though the thin-walled plastic construction makes it feel a bit flimsy. It 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. These tools deliver high suction for effective cleaning on automotive fabric and are especially effective for removing pet hair. When you're done, its maintenance needs are fairly minimal, and it's extremely easy to store.
Very good cleaning performance overall.
Lightweight construction.
- Wide range of tools and brushes.
Thin-walled plastic construction feels flimsy.
The Dyson V15 is great for bare floors. It clears small and bulky debris without difficulty on this surface type, though some fine material can get caught at the back of the floorhead. It's impressive at cleaning cracks and crevices too, since its soft roller floorhead forms a tight seal with the floor, allowing it to suck up fine material from cracks.
Easily cleans most debris from bare floors.
Powerful suction helps clean cracks and crevices.
Fine material can get caught at the back of the floorhead.
The Dyson V15 delivers very good carpet pickup performance. It clears away fine, medium, and large debris from both low-pile and high-pile carpets without much issue, though you might need an extra pass to remove every trace of material in corners.
Impressive performance on high-pile carpet.
Good performance on low-pile carpet.
Corners require additional passes.
The Dyson V15 offers remarkable pet hair pickup performance. On carpets, the floorhead bristles easily lift nearly every strand of hair, even those that are deeply embedded. On upholstered furniture, the Hair Screw tool does a great job of removing pet hair, rolling it into dense balls which are easy to vacuum up.
Floorhead bristles are extremely effective at removing pet hair from carpets.
Hair Screw tool works well at removing pet hair from upholstered furniture.
The Dyson V15 is great for air quality, particularly during operation. Its HEPA filter does an outstanding job of retaining fine particles during operation, so it won't blow dust out into the air and all over your living space. Allergy sufferers will benefit from its remarkable performance. Unfortunately, emptying this bagless vacuum results in a dust cloud that is difficult to contain, even when emptied into a bag. This dust lingers in the air and settles around the room. You should empty this vacuum outdoors if possible, or at least away from any living spaces.
Nearly perfect HEPA filter performance keeps dust out of the air.
Emptying creates a cloud of dust.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Jan 28, 2026:
We mentioned that the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine's floorhead doesn't perform as well on high-pile carpet.
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Updated Jan 16, 2026:
We added text to this review to reflect the new tests introduced in Test Bench 1.4, as well as the new verdicts.
- Updated Jan 16, 2026: We've updated this review to the latest test bench, adding Runtime, Mobility, Air Quality, and Mopping Capabilities sections, as well as a Swappable Battery test. See the Vacuum Test Bench 1.4 changelog.
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Updated Jun 26, 2025:
We added the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra as an example of a cordless stick vacuum with an emptying station to prevent dust release when emptying the dustbin.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Dyson V15 Detect is available in several variants, differing only in the included attachments. We bought and tested the basic V15 Detect model, and you can see its label here.
| Model Name | Tools Included | Color | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V15 Detect | Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, Digital Motorbar floorhead, Hair screw tool, Crevice tool, Combination tool, Mini soft dusting brush, Stubborn dirt brush | Nickel | |
| V15 Plus | Fluffy Optic cleaner head, Digital Motorbar floorhead, Hair screw tool, Crevice tool, Mini soft dusting brush | Yellow/Nickel | |
| V15 Detect Extra | Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, Digital Motorbar floorhead, Hair screw tool, Light-up Crevice tool, Combination tool, Reach-under tool | Yellow/Nickel | |
| V15 Detect Absolute | Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, Digital Motorbar floorhead, Hair screw tool, Built-In Crevice tool, Combination tool, Mini soft dusting brush | Nickel | Only available from Dyson's site |
| V15 Detect Animal | Digital Motorbar floorhead, Hair screw tool, Crevice tool, Combination tool, Mini soft dusting brush | Blue/Nickel | |
| V15 Detect Total Clean | Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, Digital Motorbar floorhead, Hair screw tool, Crevice tool, Combination tool, Mini soft dusting brush, Stubborn dirt brush, worktop tool | Nickel | |
| V15 Detect Total Clean Extra | Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, Digital Motorbar floorhead, Hair screw tool, Crevice tool, Combination tool, Mini soft dusting brush, Stubborn dirt brush, worktop tool, up-top adapter, flexible crevice tool | Nickel | |
| V15 Detect Complete+ | Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, Digital Motorbar floorhead, Hair screw tool, Crevice tool, Combination tool, Mini soft dusting brush, Stubborn dirt brush, floor dock | Blue/Nickel | |
| V15s Detect Submarine | Dyson Submarine wet roller head, Fluffy Optic cleaner head, Hair screw tool, Crevice tool, Combination tool, Mini soft dusting brush, Drip tray | Gold/Teal |
Let us know if you have a different variant, and we'll update our review.
Popular Vacuum Comparisons
The Dyson V15 is a cordless stick/handheld with a dust-sensitive power adjustment feature. It delivers strong overall performance on all surface types. It's a former flagship, and Dyson's more recent flagships haven't truly surpassed its performance: the Dyson Gen5detect doesn't offer any clear advantages, and the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is a downgrade in performance. Like many Dyson vacuums, the build quality could be better, as it utilizes thin-walled plastic construction to reduce weight, making it feel flimsy and less sturdy than the Miele Duoflex HX1. As with nearly all bagless vacuums, emptying this one scatters dust into the air and back onto your floors. To avoid this problem, you would need a vacuum with a self-emptying dock and a HEPA bag filter, such as the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra.
If you're looking for alternatives, consider our recommendations for the best cordless vacuums, the best stick vacuums, and the best hardwood vacuums.
The Dyson V15 Detect is a better vacuum than the Dyson V11. They're similar in build quality, battery performance, and maneuverability, but the V15 is a little lighter, delivers superior cleaning performance on all surface types, and has a built-in particle sensor. 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. The V15 clears more debris on bare floors and low- and high-pile carpets. 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 Shark Stratos Cordless IZ862H and the Dyson V15 Detect each have advantages. The Dyson has a tool storage rack, lasts slightly longer on a full charge, weighs significantly less in its stick configuration, and comes with a wider array of attachments, most notably a turbo brush tool that makes it a better option for cleaning pet hair on furniture. Conversely, the Shark feels sturdier, has a flexible wand that makes it easier to clean under furniture, and comes with an odor-neutralizing cartridge.
The Dyson V15 Detect and the Dyson V12 Detect Slim each have advantages. The V15 is a better option for heavier-duty cleaning sessions, thanks to a more powerful motor that helps clear debris on carpeted floors more effectively. It also has a larger dustbin that won't need emptying as often. The V12 is notably lighter, making it easier to pick up and carry from room to room. While it isn't as effective as the V15 on carpeting, its lower output motor makes it less likely to get caught on dense carpeting. Like the V15, it can also automatically increase its suction when it encounters high concentrations of debris.
Test Results
This vacuum delivers great performance on hard floors with its Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head. The soft roller collects a wide range of debris on flat surfaces without issue. However, it's worth noting that finer materials, such as sand, can become caught at the back of the head and dragged around when pulling the head backward. It's also worth noting that trying to clean a large amount of large material, like cereal, can sometimes clog the suction inlet.
The Dyson V15 Detect delivers impressive performance on high-pile carpet when used with its multi-surface Digital Motorbar floorhead. While a small amount of finer debris, as well as pulverized bits of larger material like rice or cereal, can be left behind, especially in corners, it still clears away the majority of debris within a single pass.
The dual conical roller floorhead on the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine doesn't perform as well on high-pile carpet as the V15's floorhead.
This vacuum does a good job of cleaning low-pile carpet when used with its multi-surface Digital Motorbar floorhead. It doesn't have too much trouble dealing with large materials like cereal and clears away the majority of fine materials like sand worked into carpet fibers. However, you'll probably need to make an extra pass to clear away everything else.
The Dyson V15 Detect's pet hair pickup performance on low-pile carpet is exceptional when fitted with its Digital Motorbar floorhead. This attachment's brushroll has stiff enough bristles to thoroughly agitate carpet fibers and lift away both long and short strands of hair.
This vacuum does a great job of removing pet hair from upholstered furniture when used with its Hair Screw Tool. It tends to collect hair and turn it into densely packed ball-shaped tangles, making it easier to pick up. Consider the Samsung Bespoke Jet if you're looking for a vacuum with an even more effective turbo brush attachment.
This vacuum does a great job of clearing away debris in crevices. Its relatively powerful suction motor, combined with the fact that its soft roller floorhead generates a tight seal with hard floors, enables it to clear away debris in both shallow and deep cracks.
This vacuum is fairly well-built. It's similar in appearance to many other Dyson vacuums, particularly the Dyson V11, with an eye-catching design that looks upmarket. Not all of the vacuum's stylistic touches are purely aesthetic; the top part also features a rubber strip that allows you to lean the vacuum against the wall without it falling over. Unfortunately, its primarily plastic construction doesn't feel especially sturdy, with flimsy floorhead wheels and a fragile-feeling clear plastic dustbin.
Thankfully, out-of-the-box assembly is very easy, thanks to the prevalence of easy-clip mechanisms.
- Dyson V15 Detect vacuum
- 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 is easy to store. Unlike the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight, it comes with a wand clip that allows you to carry two accessories, while its docking station has a place to store two additional tools.
This vacuum's dirt compartment is alright. It's a little small for a cordless stick vacuum, with a smaller capacity than alternatives like the Samsung Jet 90 Complete. It'll likely need emptying somewhat frequently, though its horizontal orientation makes it easier to empty than the smaller vertically oriented dustbin found on the older Dyson V8. Thankfully, since it's made of clear plastic, you can check roughly how full it is at all times. If you'd prefer a bigger dirt compartment, check out the Dyson Gen5outsize.
Emptying this bagless vacuum might produce a cloud of dust if you're not careful. The Samsung Bespoke AI Jet offers an emptying station to handle this task, allowing you to empty the dustbin into a sealed dustbag.
Overall, this vacuum's runtime is passable. Its minimum runtime in Boost mode with the motorized head is very short; you won't be able to clean large rugs with these settings unless you work very quickly. You'll experience significantly improved runtime with the vacuum in Eco mode, with no attachments connected. The Auto mode will have a runtime somewhere between these two extremes, and this time will vary drastically depending on the surfaces you're cleaning.
The Dyson V15 Detect has a decent battery system with a swappable, user-serviceable battery. 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.
This vacuum isn't too hard to maintain. Several parts require regular maintenance, although they're very easy to access. Still, you may want to consider the Shark Cordless Pro 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 must remove its wand before doing so. You can also detach the dustbin by pressing the red release button on the spine of the main body. It allows you to clean the lint screen, which should be wiped periodically with a damp cloth to remove 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 brushroll from its housing. You should clean it regularly under cold water when needed, but first remove the bearings inside. Regardless, it's very easy to clear away any stuck-on dirt or tangled hair. You can also wipe down the laser sensor lens with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth periodically.
- 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. While it isn't quite as easy to clean as the fluffy brushroll, you can clear any stuck-on debris by hand and remove hair wraps with 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. 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 doesn't turn on if the HEPA filter isn't mounted in place.
Any parts washed under cold water should be left to dry for at least 24 hours before reinstallation.
The Dyson V15 Detect incurs virtually no recurring costs. As long as you regularly clean its HEPA filter, it won't need to be replaced. You can purchase replacement components from Dyson's website if needed.
The Dyson V15 has a couple of quality-of-life features. Its Laser Slim Fluffy vacuum head has an integrated laser light to help you see small particles on bare floors. 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 being cleaned. It's worth noting that the latter mode is only available when the brush head is fitted in place; otherwise, it reverts to the intermediate Med mode.
There's also a suction gate on its motorized head to help you further tweak its suction force on different surfaces. The vacuum also features a piezo sensor to monitor the quantity of differently sized particles in your home. That said, unlike the Dyson Gen5detect/Gen5detect Absolute, it has a trigger instead of an on/off button that you can press once to keep the vacuum running, which is more comfortable for longer cleaning sessions.
This vacuum is impressively portable. It's noticeably lighter than the Dyson Outsize and has a carrying handle that makes lifting and moving it around easier. That said, if you'd like something even lighter, you could consider the Shark Detect Pro.
The Dyson V15 has good maneuverability. It can easily navigate cluttered spaces thanks to its rotating head. Due to its lightweight construction, you can maneuver over or around obstructions, such as electrical cords. Removing and attaching different tools and accessories is simple, 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 can be challenging to clean high-pile rugs due to the high suction power, which makes it difficult to push the vacuum around and can cause smaller carpets to be dragged if you don't stand on them to keep them in place. Consider the Dyson V12 Detect Slim if you want something that has less trouble cleaning shaggier carpets and rugs.
Since this is a cordless vacuum, its range is limited only by the remaining battery life and room left in its dirt compartment.
This vacuum features a superb filtration system that retains nearly all dust during operation. As a result, you don't need to worry about this vacuum negatively impacting your home's air quality by stirring up or releasing fine particles during cleaning.
As this is a bagless vacuum, it negatively impacts air quality during emptying. If you're more cautious than what's shown in Dyson's recommendation and empty it deep in a garbage bag, you'll still release a cloud of dust. Therefore, we recommend you empty this outdoors or at least well away from your living space.
The Dyson V15 Detect delivers very good suction force. The manufacturer advertises the motor to provide 230 AW of suction power, which is remarkably potent for a cordless vacuum. It can exert a strong level of suction force at its floorhead and hose since both parts generate a pretty tight seal against most surface types.
The Dyson V15 Detect delivers very good airflow performance. It's one of the most powerful cordless stick vacuums on the market, and its airflow performance compares favorably to some mid-range corded models, thanks to a powerful suction motor and efficient filtration system. It'll have no trouble lifting away all kinds of debris. If raw airflow performance is all you're after, consider a high-end corded model with an even more powerful motor, such as the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra/Complete.
This vacuum isn't too loud. When used with its soft roller floorhead on bare floors, it causes minimal disturbance. However, it is slightly louder when used with its multi-surface brushroll, especially on carpets, where it automatically increases its suction power to the highest level in 'Auto' mode.
This variant of the Dyson V15 Detect does a terrible job of scrubbing away stains on bare floors when used with its Laser Slim floorhead, which isn't surprising given that this isn't its intended use. Consider the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine model if you want a V15 variant with a dedicated mopping floorhead.
