Is the Dyson V15 Detect worth it?

Dyson is known for its powerful, high-tech vacuums, with each new model upping its game. The Dyson V15 Detect is no exception, boasting not only superior suction power but also a dirt-detecting laser and technology that allows it to adjust automatically to its flooring surface. 

But does it really perform as well as Dyson claims? 

To fully evaluate the V15 Detect’s suction power, versatility and ease of use, we put it to work in various situations in the BestReviews Testing Lab. We also tested how effective the V15 Detect’s Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head was at showing hidden dirt and debris, how long its battery lasted in each of its three cleaning modes and how well its Auto mode worked to adjust based on the flooring surface and dirt levels. 

Finally, we considered how easy the V15 Detect was to use, paying attention to its weight and design to see how these factors impacted the overall cleaning experience.

Why we like it

• Powerful suction: Our testing found that the Dyson V15 Detect performed equally well on hard flooring and carpeted surfaces, providing suction power to rival many corded vacuums. We only needed one pass to remove nearly all types of debris on both flooring types, so cleaning was quick and efficient. The vacuum easily pulled pet hair from medium-pile carpeting, collecting even more hair in its dustbin than was readily visible.
• Dirt-finding laser: We confess that we thought the V15 Detect’s laser feature would be more gimmicky than useful before our testing, but we were certainly proven wrong. The special Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head emitted a clearly visible green light that highlighted tons of dust and hair that wasn’t visible to the naked eye. If you want to do a truly deep clean of your hard flooring, this feature can help you complete the job in one go.  
• Efficient Auto mode: The V15 Detect’s Auto mode can sense what type of flooring it’s on and automatically adjust its suction based on the size of the debris particles present. This helps preserve battery life while efficiently cleaning up messes. Outside of specific testing scenarios, we mainly used this setting and loved how thoroughly it cleaned all surfaces in our testing area. It also provided solid cleaning time, vacuuming for more than 40 minutes in Auto mode. 
• Versatility: In addition to multiple cleaning heads, the V15 Detect comes with several tools for specific cleaning chores, including a crevice tool for narrow, hard-to-clean areas and a combination tool for delicate areas like between blind slats and air-conditioning vents. We appreciated how quickly it converted to a hand vac and found it extremely helpful for spot-cleaning. 
• Highly effective for pet hair: We mentioned how the V15 Detect’s excellent suction allowed it to easily pull pet hair from carpeting, but it also comes with a hair screw tool that can quickly pick up pet hair and long hair. The tool’s conical brush spins the hair off without getting tangled.

What we don’t like

• Price: The Dyson V15 Detect’s $700-plus price tag is steep, especially for a cordless vacuum, so it won’t fit all budgets. However, Dyson is a premium vacuum brand, and the V15 Detect goes above and beyond other cordless models. That may make it worth the splurge if you want a lightweight, suction-heavy vacuum you can easily move around. 
• Heavier than other cordless models: While the V15 Detect weighs just under 7 pounds, it felt heavier than other cordless vacuums we tested, including the Dyson V12 Detect Slim. 
• Has a trigger rather than a power button: Our biggest complaint with the V15 Detect during testing was its trigger button. Instead of a power button you only press once to turn on, we had to hold the V15 Detect trigger button continuously during cleaning. So, when we vacuumed for more than a few minutes, our fingers became fatigued. 

The 60-second scoop

The V15 Detect delivers suction comparable to many corded models, making it ideal for anyone who wants a lightweight model for all types of floors and messes

Product Specifications: Dustbin Capacity: 0.2 gal | Dimensions: 10.5” L x 9.8” W x 49.6” H | Battery Life: Up to 69 min | Cleaning Path Width: 10.1” | Weight: 6.83 lb

The Dyson V15 Detect is a cordless vacuum that weighs less than 7 pounds, making it suitable for moving between floors and cleaning large homes without changing outlets. Unlike other cordless vacuums, though, it boasts impressive suction power that rivals some corded models. During testing, it easily removed kosher salt, ground coffee and cereal from both hard flooring and carpeting, typically needing just a single pass to remove the debris. 

It handled pet hair effectively, too, and we were especially impressed with how much hair it removed from medium-pile carpeting. We noticed that the V15 was slightly heavier than the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, but its suction was also more powerful, so the extra weight seemed a fair tradeoff for the increased power. 

In addition to its suction, the other standout feature of the V15 Detect was its Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, which emits a green light to emphasize hidden dirt and hair on hard floors. We were stunned by the amount of debris the laser revealed in our testing area and appreciated how much dust and pet hair we could remove for truly clean floors. The vacuum’s ability to automatically adjust its suction based on the flooring surface and dirt level allowed us to vacuum more efficiently — and in Auto mode, we still got more than 40 minutes of cleaning time. 

To see how it compares to other products in its space, check out our reviews for the best Dyson vacuums.

Price and where to buy

The Dyson V15 Detect typically retails for $749.99. You can find it at Amazon and Best Buy.

Setup

Testers assemble the Dyson V15 Detect to evaluate its overall performance on carpeted and hard flooring.

The V15 Detect arrived in a branded box that was much easier to open than other Dyson vacuums we tested, like the V11, because it had convenient side tabs along the top edge. All components were securely packaged, held in place with cardboard and wrapped in foam sheets to protect them during shipping. The vacuum was fully disassembled, so the main body, the wand and the cleaning heads were all separated in the box. 
 

Once we took the components out of the box and removed the wrapping, we assembled the vacuum without looking at the manual because the process was so intuitive. The body, wand and heads click into one another, and the connection points are easy to find. The V15 Detect’s battery was approximately 40% charged when it arrived, so we connected the charger to the vacuum and plugged it into the wall. It took about two hours to fully charge, and then we were ready to vacuum. 

Dyson has an app, which we downloaded during setup. It isn’t necessary, though, and we didn’t find that it offered any functionality beyond providing care and maintenance tips, troubleshooting help and access to the owner’s manual. 

Design and brushrolls

Dyson recommends washing the V15 Detect filter at least once a month to maintain effective suction power.

The V15 Detect resembles Dyson’s other cordless vacuums with a somewhat bulky main body that sits on top and a slim wand that connects to the cleaning head. Overall, we found the V15 Detect’s design to be fairly user-friendly. It was heavier than some other cordless vacuums we tested, including the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, which led to arm fatigue when we vacuumed for 10 minutes or more. 

The V15 Detect came with two cleaning heads: the digital motorbar cleaner head and the Fluffy Optic cleaner head. The digital motorbar cleaner head worked well on hard floors and carpeting and could automatically adjust its suction based on flooring type. It worked especially well at pulling pet hair from carpeting, and we saw no noticeable hair tangles on the roll afterward. 

The Fluffy Optic head is designed for hard floors and features a dirt-revealing laser to help highlight unseen dust and hair. It worked well on hardwood, laminate and tile floors, and we didn’t notice any hair wrapped around its brushroll, either. 

Battery life and recharge time

The Testing Team evaluates the Dyson V15 Detect's battery life and charging time.

The Dyson V15 Detect offers three cleaning modes: Eco, Auto and Boost. 

Eco mode is designed to render the longest battery life, making it appropriate for longer cleaning jobs. Auto automatically adjusts suction based on the dirt level to provide a medium battery life. Aside from specific tests, we used Auto mode for most of our cleaning tasks because we found it balanced suction and battery life effectively. Boost mode provides the most powerful suction; it is designed for cleaning targeted messes and drains the battery quickly.

Dyson advertises a battery life of up to 60 minutes for the V15 Detect. During our testing, it cleaned for 69 minutes in Eco mode, 43 minutes in Auto mode and 12 minutes in Boost mode. The 43-minute battery life in Auto was more than enough time to thoroughly clean an entire floor in our testing area, which comprised approximately 1,000 square feet. 

After the V15 Detect’s battery was fully drained, it took four hours and 49 minutes to recharge. We appreciated that the vacuum’s LCD screen kept a running tally of the remaining battery life in each mode, so we never ran out of power unexpectedly. 

Dyson V15 Detect suction power

During testing, the V15 Detect’s suction power was truly impressive, similar to some corded vacuums on the market. We tested the V15 Detect on laminate, tile, low-pile carpet and medium-pile carpet, cleaning several types of debris from each surface. 

The V15 Detect removed 3 grams of coarse kosher salt, 6 grams of ground coffee and 10 grams of cereal from laminate in a single pass. On tile, it picked up 3 grams of coarse kosher salt, 7 grams of ground coffee and 10 grams of cereal in a single pass.

When we used the V15 Detect on low-pile carpeting, it removed 2 grams of coarse kosher salt, 4 grams of ground coffee and 8 grams of cereal in a single pass. It cleaned 2 grams of kosher salt and 9 grams of cereal in a single pass on medium-pile carpeting. It took two passes to pick up 5 grams of coffee grounds, though. 

Overall, we found the V15 Detect’s suction excellent on both hard and carpeted surfaces, particularly because it’s a cordless machine. We mainly used its Auto mode, which adjusted its suction based on floor type and dirt level to maximize battery life, and we found it to be highly efficient, cleaning as well as some corded vacuums. 

This machine showcased its power while removing pet hair from medium-pile carpeting in our testing area. After vacuuming a room in the testing area where two medium-to-large dogs spend plenty of time, we were stunned by the amount of hair in the V15 Detect’s dustbin, alerting us that it had picked up a lot of hair we hadn’t seen on the carpeting. 

Power trigger

Instead of a traditional on/off button, the V15 Detect has a power trigger that must be held down during vacuuming. Dyson claims this feature helps maximize battery life by only using power when needed. 

Unfortunately, our testing found the power trigger to be the one weak point of an otherwise outstanding vacuum. Having to hold the trigger down the entire time we vacuumed led to fatigue pretty quickly. This would likely be an issue when cleaning for more than 10 minutes at a time or for anyone who has pain or weakness in their hands. We also found that our finger sometimes slipped off the trigger, causing the power to cut out during vacuuming.

Noise

Testers assess the Dyson V15 Detect's noise levels in Eco mode, Auto mode and Boost mode.

With its powerful suction, it’s unsurprising that the V15 Detect is louder than other cordless vacuums, such as the Dyson V12 Detect and the Shark Cordless Detect Pro. 

In Eco mode, the lowest suction level, it registered 71.1 decibels. In Auto mode (medium mode), it registered 74.4 decibels. In Boost mode, the most powerful suction level, it hit 86.2 decibels. Except in the highest setting, we found the noise level slightly quieter than our traditional corded model. Thus, we didn’t find it to be particularly loud.

Surface performance and docking

The BestReviews Testing Team evaluates the Dyson V15 Detect's performance as it transitions from one type of flooring to another.

The V15 Detect easily transitioned between different flooring surfaces in our testing area. We didn’t notice any resistance when moving from hard surfaces like laminate to carpeted areas, so we didn’t need to push it with much effort when making these transitions. 

The V15 Detect’s docking station was easy to mount to the wall with the included screws. We connected its charger to the docking station so it would charge automatically any time we docked it. It was easy to dock the V15 Detect, too — we only had to drop the vacuum into the docking station, which held it securely in place. 

Features and accessories

The V15 Detect’s LCD screen provides alerts like “Filter needs cleaning” and “Airways blocked” to inform you of any problems.

While the V15 Detect’s superior suction power is its main selling point, it has several other impressive features and accessories that make it an effective choice for deep-cleaning your floors.

Digital motorbar cleaner head

The V15 Detect’s digital motorbar cleaner head is designed to work on hard floors and carpeting, automatically adapting its power based on flooring type. During testing, we noticed this feature in action: The vacuum’s motor would get louder when we moved it over carpeting, signaling that it was increasing its power for areas that needed more suction. 

This cleaning head features detangling vanes that automatically clear long hair from the brushroll. Our testing area had a heavy amount of pet hair, and the digital motorbar cleaner head never got tangled with hair. Instead, all the air wound up in the vacuum’s dustbin. We think this model is a truly excellent option for homes with pets. 

Fluffy optic cleaner head

We mentioned that we expected the Fluffy Optic cleaner head to be more of a gimmick than a useful cleaning tool. Boy, were we wrong! The head emits a green light that reveals tiny dust particles and fine hair on hard floors that aren’t visible to the naked eye. 

We first tested the head in a completely dark room and were stunned by the amount of dirt and hair it revealed on a floor that appeared clean. Even when we used the head in a space with the overhead light on, the laser feature worked like a charm, showing us an astonishing amount of debris we hadn’t seen. 

The Fluffy Optic cleaner head was so effective at revealing hidden dirt that we were actually a bit shocked — we couldn’t believe there was so much dirt we’d missed when vacuuming with our usual corded model. Using the optic head allowed us to thoroughly clean our testing floors, and we felt confident that they were as clean as possible afterward. 

Hair screw tool

The V15 Detect’s hair screw tool is a small cleaning head with a detangling conical brush that spirals long hair and pet hair off its bar and into the vacuum’s dustbin. It can connect to the end of the wand or directly to the main body for use as a hand vac. 

We used the hair screw tool to clean pet hair from the sofas and armchairs in our testing area. It removed all visible hair and never got tangled in the process. 

Other features and attachments

The V15 Detect comes with a crevice tool that sports a long, slim design and an angled end. It’s great for cleaning narrow spaces and edges. We used it to clean between the cushions of a sofa and found that it easily removed all crumbs and debris. 

The vacuum includes a combination tool with a wide nozzle on one end and a brush on the other, allowing the user to quickly switch between cleaning tasks. It works especially well for dusting, and we were pleased with how much dust it removed from the blinds and HVAC vents in our testing area. 

The V15 Detect has an LCD screen on top of its main body that displays information about the selected cleaning mode, remaining battery life, filter maintenance and any blockages. It also shows a graph with the amount of dust particles it collects, breaking it down into different sizes so you know how effectively it removes dirt and debris. 

While we loved how the LCD screen allowed us to keep track of the battery life during vacuuming, we found the particle graph pretty useless. It was impossible to know if the count was accurate or not — and even if it was, we didn’t find that the information helped improve our cleaning. 

How we tested

The Testing Team put the Dyson V15 Detect through numerous assessments to determine overall performance and functionality.

To fully assess the Dyson V15 Detect, we conducted a series of tests that evaluated its key features. We paid particular attention to its suction power, battery life and laser-detection feature. 

Handling fine particles like coffee grounds

To see how well the V15 Detect could handle fine particles, we placed coffee grounds on several flooring surfaces and noted how many passes it took to fully remove the debris. We put 6 grams of coffee grounds on laminate, 4 grams on tile, 5 grams on low-pile carpet and 5 grams on medium-pile carpeting. 

Handling mid-size particles like kosher salt

We evaluated how well the V15 Detect could pick up mid-size particles by placing coarse kosher salt on several flooring surfaces, noting how many passes the vacuum needed to fully remove the debris. We placed 3 grams on laminate, 2 grams on tile, 2 grams on low-pile carpet and 2 grams on medium-pile carpet. 

Handling small debris like Cheerios

To determine how well the V15 Detect handled small debris, we placed the cereal Cheerios on several types of flooring and noted how many passes it took to remove the debris fully. We put 10 grams on laminate, 8 grams on tile, 9 grams on low-pile carpeting and 9 grams on medium-pile carpet. 

Evaluating the laser detection system

We tested the V15 Detect’s Fluffy Optic cleaning head and its dirt-detecting laser by using it on laminate flooring in a heavily trafficked area. First, we used the head in a completely dark room. Then, we cleaned a space with an overhead light to see how it performed under both circumstances. 

Assessing battery life

To assess the V15 Detect’s battery life, we ran the vacuum in each mode — Eco, Auto and Boost — to see how long it took to run out of power. When the battery was drained, we connected it to the charger and noted how long it took to fully charge. 

Assessing noise level

We evaluated the V15 Detect’s noise level during operation with a handheld decibel meter. We ran it in each of its cleaning modes and recorded the decibel level for Eco, Auto and Boost, respectively. 

How does it compare to other vacuums we’ve tested?

• Suction power: We were impressed with the suction power of the Dyson V12 Detect Slim and the Shark Cordless Detect Pro, but the Dyson V15 Detect edged out both, needing just one pass to remove most types of debris. 
• Battery life: The V15 Detect surpassed both the Dyson V12 Detect Slim and Shark Cordless Detect Pro in battery life. It ran for up to 69 minutes, while the V12 Detect Slim topped out at 54 minutes, and the Shark only cleaned for up to 42 minutes.
• Weight: The V15 Detect weighs just 1.6 pounds more than the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, but the latter felt much lighter during testing. As a result, it’s not as likely to cause arm fatigue as the V15 Detect. 
• Trigger design: The V15 Detect has a trigger that had to be held down the entire time we vacuumed, which led to our hands getting tired. The Dyson V12 Detect Slim and Shark Cordless Detect Pro both have a regular on/off button that we didn’t have to hold down, making for a more comfortable vacuuming experience. 
• Special features: The V15 Detect and Dyson V12 Detect Slim have the same special features and accessories, so they both feature the Fluffy Optic cleaner head that reveals hidden dirt. The Shark Cordless Detect Pro doesn’t have a similar feature, though it does have a traditional LED headlight to help you see where you’re cleaning. It also comes with an auto-emptying charging dock, so we didn’t have to empty its dustbin each time we used it.

The final verdict

The V15 Detect’s Boost mode offers 240 air watts of suction power, making it an optimal machine for ground-in dirt removal and intensive spot cleaning.

The Dyson V15 Detect is a truly impressive cordless vacuum with enough power and special features to be a game-changer for cleaning floors. It is an excellent choice for anyone who wants the convenience of a cordless model and the power of a corded vacuum. And, if you’re determined to have the cleanest floors possible, the unique laser detection feature ensures you won’t miss a single speck of dust. 

We also love this vacuum for pet owners because it has enough suction power to pull hair from carpeting, and its cleaning heads are designed to prevent tangling. 

Of course, the V15 Detect is a very pricey cordless vacuum. But if it fits your budget or you can find it on sale, it can make cleaning your floors a breeze.