Is Dyson’s New, Nearly $1,000 Stick Vacuum Worth It? Probably Not.
What we like concerning the Dyson Gen5detect
It’s a strong cleaner (however so is the V12 Detect Slim). To assess the Gen5detect’s cleansing prowess, I let mud, particles, and pet fur accumulate on a classic Persian rug. I divided the rug into two equal sections, vacuumed one facet with the Gen5detect and the opposite with the V12 for 30 seconds every, after which weighed the contents of every vac’s dustbin.
To my shock, the V12’s bin contained barely extra particles than that of the Gen5detect. It’s potential that one facet of the rug was inexplicably dirtier, and we’ll proceed evaluating the Gen5detect in managed testing. But it’s clear that regardless of its souped-up specs, the Gen5detect doesn’t instantly eclipse the V12 in real-world cleansing.
It has an extra-large bin and battery. The Gen5detect’s greatest enchancment may be the scale of its dustbin: Its 0.2-gallon capability is double the V12’s, which saved me the trouble of frequent journeys to the trash can. The bigger battery means the Gen5detect can run for about 20 minutes longer than the V12. (Both options make the Gen5detect a lot heavier, as we focus on beneath.)
It has upgraded cleaner heads and instruments. The Gen5detect’s Motorbar cleaner head has some cool upgrades from that of the V12. For instance, it has sensors that routinely optimize run time and suction energy based mostly on ground sort. It additionally options an adjustable bleeder, which lets you modify the suction manually. (I discovered this useful when vacuuming a lightweight kilim rug that tends to simply raise off the ground.)
Like the V12, the Gen5detect comes with Dyson’s Fluffy Optic cleaner head that’s made of sentimental microfiber cloth, which labored nice on naked flooring.
The Gen5detect additionally has an onboard mixture software that’s hid inside the wand and slides out effortlessly when the wand is indifferent, reworking the stick vac right into a handy handheld unit.
It has different cool (however acquainted) options. The Gen5detect’s LCD display screen reveals much more alerts than that of the V12. It warns you when the machine is just too scorching or too chilly and when you insert a non-Dyson battery. The options that I appreciated probably the most on the Gen5detect—battery countdown, an on/off button, and a inexperienced laser mild that eerily detects mud (and guilts me into vacuuming underneath the sofa extra often)—are already current on the V12.
Its filtration is great (with a caveat). The Gen5detect (and its even bigger sibling, the Gen5outsize) presents HEPA filtration that Dyson says can seize particles as small as 0.1 microns. Dyson says the V12 Detect Slim’s HEPA filter is claimed to seize particles right down to 0.3 microns.
In an e mail alternate, James McCrea, a lead mechanical engineer at Dyson, described the filtration of the Gen5detect and the V12 as “roughly the identical,” with the distinction being that the Gen5detect was examined particularly on influenza A (H1N1) and MS2 bacteriophage. The V12 Detect Slim hasn’t been examined on viruses, McCrea mentioned.
But how useful is healthier filtration when you inadvertently inhale what you’re attempting to keep away from once you open and empty the dustbin? Scientists have discovered that even simply strolling on carpet can pump pathogenic microorganisms again into the air, and so does the elevated airflow velocity created by any vacuum cleaner. If pathogens are in your thoughts, purchase a bagged machine.
What we don’t like concerning the Dyson Gen5detect

It’s heavy—and large. Stick vacs are presupposed to be nimble and dynamic. But at virtually 8 kilos, the Gen5detect feels heavy—notably when put next with the V12 Detect Slim, which weighs simply over 5 kilos. The Gen5detect’s heft is generally because of its considerably bigger and heavier battery and motor. Since virtually all of its weight sits proper beneath your hand and wrist, the Gen5detect is noticeably much less comfy and handy to maneuver than its smaller cousin. At the tip of a 20-minute cleansing session (overlook 70 minutes!), my shoulder was sore.
The Gen5detect’s greater measurement makes it much less handy to retailer. I maintain my V12 wedged between the kitchen counter and windowsill, the place I used to maintain a brush. The Gen5detect wouldn’t match on this slim area. Also, equally to the V12, the Gen5detect isn’t in a position to stand by itself.
It’s not a good selection for delicate carpets or rugs. If you’ve heirloom carpets or delicate rugs, you must in all probability skip a Dyson cordless stick vac fully. Both the Gen5detect and the V12 pulled out a major quantity of carpet fiber from my Persian rug.
Benjamin Mini, head of the rugs and carpets division on the public sale home Bonhams Skinner, advises in opposition to vacuuming classic or vintage rugs with a motorized brush roll. He identified that Dyson vacuums, which don’t allow you to flip off the comb roll, are particularly problematic. “That’s like a razor, when you’ve ever seen it. It actually tears into carpet,” mentioned Mini, who recommends suction-only nozzles for delicate rugs. For carpets and rugs, we suggest a high-quality corded vacuum that permits you to flip off the comb roll.
It nonetheless comes with all of the trade-offs of a stick vacuum. No cordless vacuum presents the cleansing energy, versatility, and run time of a high-quality plug-in mannequin. Cordless vacs require an honest quantity of upkeep to function properly, nonetheless sometimes have shorter lifespans than plug-ins, and depend on poisonous lithium-ion batteries. On the plus facet, the Gen5detect and the V12 are coated by a two-year guarantee, and Dyson presents to recycle used batteries and machines acquired by way of its six Demo Stores and its 45 service facilities.
Should you get it?
If you reside in a small house with a number of rugs and wish nothing to do with cords, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim remains to be the only option for most individuals. Like a peacock flaunting his stunning feathers, the Dyson Gen5detect is spectacular, however not a real high-flier. Its upgrades detract from the comfort, ease, and luxury of a leaner, meaner stick vac just like the V12. The Gen5detect feels extra like a full-size vac that also must be charged and might’t get up by itself. But at the least it’s not as noisy as a peacock.
Our choose
Dyson V12 Detect Slim
Light, nimble, and highly effective
This nimble, high-tech mannequin is mild, highly effective, and simple to maneuver. But the dustbin is small.
Buying Options
This article was edited by Ingrid Skjong and Courtney Schley.