Dyson Gen5 Detect Review

The Dyson Gen5 Detect has arrived, and I’ve finished testing, so here’s the detailed review.

This model is Dyson’s latest cordless stick vacuum, pushing cordless vacuum technology boundaries further with its latest digital motor, battery, brighter green laser, and much more.

The technology is impressive, but how does this translate to real-world use? Let’s find out.

Introduction to the Dyson Gen5 Detect

One year after the unveiling of the V15 Detect, James Dyson further pushed the cordless vacuum envelope with the Gen5 Detect.

Watch this video for my comprehensive review. What’s good and bad about this product, and should you consider it?

This model is Dyson’s current flagship and part of a new wave of Dyson cordless vacuums, including the Gen5 Outsize and V15s Submarine.

I’ll enumerate the new features and what they mean for real-world use.

1. New Motor

The Dyson advertorial says that the Gen5 Detect has a new Hyperdimium motor that’s lighter, more efficient, and capable of handling 20% more power.

Here’s a video explaining this technology – from the engineers themselves.

The technology is impressive, and the claims are accurate since the Gen5 Detect has more suction than the V15 – 24% more in the unsealed test and a 14% increase in the sealed test.

The increased suction and improved seal make this cordless vacuum one of the best alternatives for deep cleaning carpets.

Even in the auto setting, it got a 100% average in deep cleaning experiments in two of the tests.

2. HEPA Filter

Older Dyson cordless stick vacuums use a standard non-HEPA filter with a 0.3-micron filtration rating, but this also gets an upgrade.

The new filter (right) can “trap particles and viruses” up to 0.1 micros.

It’s bigger than the V15 Detect filter (left) and has more surface area.

The Gen5 Detect passed the fog test, and there were no visible leaks.

3. Fluffy Optic Nozzle

Another improvement is the new “Fluffy Optic” cleaner head that is twice as bright as the V15 Detect “laser slim roller” attachment.

You be the judge.

The increased brightness improves visibility by revealing more dust and particles on hard floors.

One change Dyson made in this new nozzle is it does away with the switch, so it stays on.

4. Digital Motorbar Nozzle

The Gen5 Detect standard nozzle, a.k.a. the “Digital Motorbar,” may look similar to the V15 “High Torque” cleaning head, but the newer version has more vibration and a better seal.

Its higher vibration may be there to compensate for the lower airflow, helping it pick up more debris.

5. New Screen Graphics

The Gen5 Detect rear display also gets refreshed, showing the horizontal bars instead of the vertical ones in the V15 Detect.

This readout comes from the Piezo sensor inside the suction chamber, where debris flows and counts four particle sizes.

6. Torque Screw Tool

The “Torque Screw” tool may be one of the best innovations in the last five years.

Unlike a standard brush roll that uses a standard brush, this one uses a tapered-shaped design.

The idea is funneling debris toward the narrow end so nothing wraps on the brush.

The beauty of this design is it turns hair stands into furr balls, so it doesn’t wrap around the roller.

So, nothing wraps on the brush, even with impossibly long hair strands.

How Much Power Does The Dyson Gen5 Detect Have?

I measured power using different tools, namely an anemometer to measure airflow and a Y-gauge + water lift gauge to check suction.

I’ll share the airflow results first at the wand.

• Low: 34.29 CFM
• Auto: 43.45 CFM
• Boost: 76.49 CFM

And cleaning nozzle.

• Low: 28.76 CFM
• Auto: 34.55 CFM
• Boost: 62.82 CFM

Another experiment I did was the suction test using a Y-gauge and water lift gauge.

There are two parts to this. First is the unsealed test, representing normal usage, and a sealed test, mimicking using the vacuum on the carpet with closed gates.

The Gen5 Detect has more suction than the V15 Detect in the sealed (28″ vs. 22″) and unsealed tests (75″ vs. 65″).

Cleaning Performance

I tested the Gen5 Detect on various debris types, from light ones like Quaker oats to heavier items like pet litter, and it got excellent scores.

• Overall: 99.84%
• Hard floor: 99.9%
• Sand on hard floor: 99.56%
• Carpet: 99.9%
• Deep Cleaning: 100%

Though it wasn’t perfect, these numbers show the Gen5 Detect’s efficiency on various types of dirt.

It has two nozzles (Fluffy Optic and Digital Motorbar) that are purpose-built for vacuuming hard floors and carpets.

Hard Floor Results

• Quaker Oats: 100%
• Coffee Grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet Litter: 99.6%

The Gen5 Detect got nearly perfect scores on hard floors, except for pet litter, since the “Fluffy Optic” nozzle scattered some of it during the test.

Nonetheless, these numbers show the efficiency of the slim roller tool on this surface.

Sand on Hard Floor

The results in this experiment were (again) excellent – getting a robust 99.56% score.

Sure, a perfect result would be ideal, but the less-than-perfect score highlights inherent issues with the soft roller tool, not just with Dyson but with other brands.

You’ll notice it scattered sand – a reason it didn’t pick up a perfect score.

However, this shouldn’t be an issue for regular use since it’ll eventually pick up everything in the succeeding passes.

I tried using the standard nozzle for cleaning sand to see how it goes, and it got a decent average of 99.2% – good, but I needed to use the boost (or max) setting to achieve these results.

There were visible trails of sand after the forward pass when I used the auto setting.

The V15 Detect was better during this experiment and shows the airflow drop in the Gen5 Detect in this configuration.

Edge Cleaning

Unsurprisingly, the Dyson Gen5 Detect efficiently cleaned this area, even with this many coffee grounds scattered.

Again, this shows the soft roller tool’s proficiency in vacuuming debris on hard floors.

Hair Wrap [on Hard Floors]

I tested this cordless vacuum on hair between five and twelve inches, and here are the results.

• 5-inch hair: 100%
• 7-inch hair: 100%
• 9-inch hair: 100%
• 11-inch hair: 97%
• 12-inch hair: 86%

These results are excellent, considering the Gen5 Detect’s fluffy tool doesn’t have combs to remove tangles.

Nothing wrapped on the roller, even with longer eleven and twelve-inch strands.

However, one issue with this nozzle is hair wrapping on the axles, which was also a problem with the V15 Detect.

This photo was taken after the twelve-inch experiment – hair wrapping on the inner axle beside the motor.

Carpet Results

Next, we’ll check the results on carpets, where I tested the Gen5 Detect on low and mile pile surfaces.

Low Pile

• Quaker Oats: 99.2%
• Coffee Grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet Litter: 100%

It was nearly perfect on this surface, getting 100% in three out of four experiments.

One issue with this nozzle is it doesn’t have a squeegee behind the brush roll.

Thus, it won’t get everything in the first forward pass.

Mid Pile

• Quaker Oats: 100%
• Coffee Grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet Litter: 100%

The results on mid-pile carpet were excellent – a 100% score in all the experiments.

These results show the “Digital Motorbar’s” proficiency at picking up debris on this surface.

The same issue exists with the nozzle not picking up everything after the forward pass, but it eventually gets everything.

Hair Wrap [on Carpet]

The Gen5 Detect’s high airflow, improved agitation, and combs help it pick up 100% in all the tests between five and twelve-inch strands.

• 5-inch hair: 100%
• 7-inch hair: 100%
• 9-inch hair: 100%
• 11-inch hair: 100%
• 12-inch hair: 100%

You could see some hair sticking on the brush roll, but these are minimal remnants from the amount of hair I scattered (over 1 gram).

However, you’ll need to use the boost setting to remove everything wrapping on the brush, but these are extreme tests that show the capability of this vacuum.

Deep Cleaning

The Gen5 Detect’s improved seal is evident during the deep cleaning experiments, where it got 100% even in the auto setting in two of the three tests.

You could argue it has improved too much since the brush roll locked up when I closed the gates and used the boost setting.

Nonetheless, the best setting would be the auto setting with the gates half open or fully closed to maximize run time.

I’d discourage using the max setting because it stresses the battery too much and may reduce its service life.

Tools Out Of The Box

1. Fluffy Optic cleaner head
2. Digital Motorbar cleaner head
3. Combination tool
4. Torque screw tool
5. Extension tube
6. Two-in-one crevice/brush tool (stored in extension tube)
7. Charger
8. Dyson Gen5 Detect unit

Surprisingly, the Gen5 Detect has fewer tools than the V15 Detect. It only has three above-floors tools (torque screw, combination tool, and two-in-one crevice/brush tool).

It doesn’t have the stiff-bristled or soft-bristled one available in the V15 Detect, so it’s somewhat disappointing, given its premium cost.

Nonetheless, these tools are highly efficient at picking up different debris types, especially hair on various surfaces.

How Long Does the Gen5 Detect Run?

Dyson claims that the Gen5 Detect will run for (up to) 70 minutes.

However, based on my experience testing its products, these will (usually) exceed these figures.

So, being the vacuum nerd I am, I tested it with the soft roller and standard nozzles.

Here are the results with the soft roller.

• Low: 80:13 mins
• Auto: 46:35 mins
• Max: 14:44 mins

And the results with the standard nozzle (tested on carpet).

• Low:  47:33 mins
• Auto: 22:12 mins
• Max:  11:53 mins

Eighty minutes is impressive for a cordless vacuum, but it’s a few minutes less than the V15 Detect (84 mins).

I thought this would run into the 90-minute range, but that wasn’t the case.

How Noisy is the Dyson Gen5 Detect

One downside of the increased suction is the higher noise levels.

I used a sound meter to check the noise levels in the three power settings using the “Fluffy Optic” and “Digital Motorbar” nozzles.

Results for the “Fluffy Optic” tool.

• Low: 69.8 dB
• Auto: 73.8 dB
• Boost: 84.5 dB

And the “Digital Motorbar” nozzle.

• Low: 71.4 dB
• Auto: 82.9 dB
• Boost: 87 dB

It exceeded 80 decibels using both tools during these tests, so this vacuum is noisy.

Fortunately, there’s no need to use the max setting with either configuration since the auto setting would suffice for most tasks.

Only sprinkle in the boost setting in select areas that need deep cleaning.

Product Specifications

Where Can You Purchase The Dyson Gen5 Detect?

You can purchase the Gen5 Detect in online stores like Amazon. Check the link below for the latest pricing information.

• Dyson Gen5 Detect on Amazon

Disclaimer: I will earn a commission if you click on any of the links above, but at no extra cost, so it’s a win-win for us!

Does the Dyson Gen5 Detect Offer Good Value?

With all the hype surrounding the Gen5 Detect, does it live up to it?

While Dyson used a more efficient and powerful motor, its airflow didn’t improve over the V15 Detect.

It’s the opposite – having a lower airflow output despite having more suction.

Therefore, the cleaning performance difference isn’t dramatic. The Dyson Gen5 Detect and V15 Detect are nearly identical in their cleaning performance and shouldn’t be a deciding factor.

However, you should look at the other feature enhancements if these are enough to fork out a few hundred dollars more.

5 Reasons to Consider the Dyson Gen5 Detect

1. No more trigger: The Gen5 Detect has a power switch above the screen, so there’s no need to pull the trigger.
2. Brighter green laser: It’s twice as bright as the V15 Detect, revealing more dust.
3. Longer run time: The Gen5 Detect will run further in the middle and max settings but not the eco setting.
4. HEPA filter: The HEPA filter captures particles, even viruses, up to 0.1 microns.
5. Excellent on hair: The “Digital Motorbar’ and “Torque Screw” attachments are excellent at cleaning long hair strands.

The Verdict: Improved Usability, But A Tad Too Expensive

Despite the feature improvements, the Dyson Gen5 Detect’s price tag is (a bit) too much for me since the V15 Detect cleans nearly as well.

I like that Dyson switched to a push-button switch since it improves ergonomics.

It’s less tiring to use for long stretches.

The redesigned fluffy optic nozzle is twice as bright, making tracking dust easier.

And it runs longer in the auto and max settings.

The question is, are you willing to spend for these upgrades?