Dyson continues to improve its technology, and the V12 Detect is the latest model, which I’ll compare with the V15 Detect.
Before testing the Dyson V12, I thought the only upgrade was the push-button switch. I was wrong.
It’s a lighter version of the V15 Detect, featuring a smaller form factor, which makes it lighter and offers better ergonomics than the full-sized V10, V11, Outsize, and V15 options.
These upgrades address two issues that plagued Dyson’s full-sized alternatives.
It’s better than the Micro 1.5KG, Dyson’s lightest and most ergonomic option, offering more than twice the runtime and significantly improved deep-cleaning performance.
So, without further ado, let’s first look at the spec comparison.
Similarities between the Dyson V12 Detect Slim and V15 Detect
Next, we’ll look at the similarities between these stick vacuums, and there is a handful.
1. A horizontally aligned dustbin
The Dyson V12 retains the same horizontally assigned dustbin as the larger V15 with the same trombone-style lever.
However, the V12’s dustbin is much smaller (more than) half-less than the V15 (0.35 vs. 0.77 liters).
2. Detachable batteries
These models have detachable batteries, making it easier to extend run time by purchasing an extra.
Some sub-variants come with two batteries plus two extra chargers, which I’d encourage consumers to look at before purchasing.
The additional charger doubles the run time, and you get an extra charger to recharge simultaneously.
3. Versatile two-in-one functionality
The Dyson V12 and V15 offer two-in-one versatility with their interchangeable tools. You could use these products as a stick or handheld vacuum.
One advantage of the V12 is the lighter frame plus the push-button switch making it more pleasant to use above floors.
4. Sealed system
Consumers will benefit from the sealed system (dustbin and filter), as both didn’t leak during the fog test.
The sealed system prevents allergens from seeping through the filter and exiting the exhaust.
I don’t advise buying cheap cordless stick vacuums because of the lack of filtration.
Most options I’ve tested leaked badly during the fog test.
5. Slim roller attachment
One reason to purchase the V12 is the slim laser roller with the green laser light that accentuates dust better than any LED-equipped nozzle, and I’ve tried a bunch.
Dyson has slowly rolled out this feature to other models like the Outsize, making vacuuming dust more efficient because the green light reveals everything.
6. Torque screw tool
Another innovation introduced by Dyson in the V15 is the torque screw tool, changing how you clean hair using a cordless.
The tapered brush forces hair towards a holding area above it, then gets sucked towards the inlet and into the dustbin.
Even this much hair wasn’t a problem for this tool.
After picking up all the hair, nothing was wrapped in the brush.
If you have pets, this tool is one of the best at cleaning hair on any fabric upholstery.
7. Piezo sensor and interactive display
Both have the piezo sensor that measures debris size in microns, reflected in the display behind the motor. The V15 was the first with this technology, and the V12 has this feature, too.
It shows four debris sizes: 10, 60, 180, and 500 microns.
- 10 microns: e.g., allergens (like pollen)
- 60 microns: e.g., microscopic dust (like allergens)
- 150 microns: e.g. dust mites
- 500 microns: e.g., sugar
Differences between the Dyson V12 and V15 Detect
Now, let’s look at the differences, starting with the dimensions.
1. Size and weight variance
You can see in the side-by-side photo above the size discrepancy between the V12 and V15. The V15’s body is noticeably larger than the V12’s slimmed-down frame.
And the V12 is more than 20% lighter (4 pounds and 9.6 ounces) versus the V15 (a little over 6 pounds), improving its
2. Power switch
The next difference is the power switch, where the V15 retains the trigger switch you’ll need to squeeze continually for power versus the V12’s push-button switch.
I like the push-button version because it’s less tiring and offers better usability, especially in its handheld configuration.
3. Dustbin size
With its downsizing, the biggest drawback is the halved dustbin capacity (0.35 vs. 0.77 liters).
There’s no way around it. Using a smaller frame will entail some compromises, and this is one of them.
4. Battery capacity
Another downgrade of the downsizing is the battery capacity. The V15 uses Dyson’s latest and largest battery technology – a 3600 mAh seven-cell battery, which runs for over 80 minutes.
The V12’s battery is smaller (2500 mAh), so it won’t run as long (up to 63 minutes with the laser slim roller).
5. Non-interchangeable tools
Unfortunately, the Dyson V12 and V15 tools aren’t interchangeable, so you cannot attach the high-torque attachment of the V15 to the V12 since the latter has a smaller connecting port.
The V12 is another category on its own, and I’ll be interested in what improvements Dyson provides in future releases.
Ergonomic Comparison
While the V12 and V15 use the same design principles with the motor and dustbin on top, the weight disparity favors the V12, making it ergonomically more appealing.
Add the push-button switch; it’s easier to use above floors.
It feels noticeably lighter, and not squeezing a trigger makes it less tiring (to use) than the V15.
Again, the one-plus-point disparity is huge for top-heavy stick vacuums, where every ounce counts.
I’m guessing it’s why Dyson released the V12 to address these issues.
Interface Comparison
There isn’t much difference between the V12 and V15 interfaces. Both use similar interactive screens behind the motor, displaying information such as the remaining battery runtime and the piezo sensor output.
One difference is the button, but both serve the same function: toggling between power settings.
Another function of this screen is to show the error codes when they pop up.
It will show the error and inform consumers how to fix it through a graphic illustration.
Run Time Comparison
Again, the Dyson V15 uses the full-sized 3600 mAh lithium battery, offering a max run time of over 83 minutes with the slim roller attachment, while the V12 uses a smaller 2500 mAh battery, cutting the run time to 63 minutes.
One plus with the V12 is it runs much longer than the Micro 1.5KG. It’s a better alternative than the Micro 1.5KG for cleaning larger homes with carpet.
The V12 did run longer in the auto (or middle) setting, but the V15 picked up better (100% average), offsetting any runtime advantage.
Airflow Comparison
Next, we’ll look at the airflow comparison between the Dyson V12 and V15, easily won by the latter by over 20% in the max setting.
I used an anemometer for these experiments to check airflow at the wand and cleaning nozzle.
The Dyson V15 had the best results from the lowest to the highest setting across the board.
However, the airflow advantage only translates to better deep cleaning performance since the V12 had excellent surface debris pick up despite the lower airflow.
Cleaning Comparison
While the Dyson V15 Detect has the higher overall score, the results were very close outside the deep cleaning experiments.
One factor dragging down the V12 scores is the deep cleaning test results, which only picked up (slightly) over 94%, while the V15 was perfect at 100%.
Outside the deep cleaning experiment, the rest of the scores were close with paper-thin margins (under 1%).
These results reveal that the V12 Detect, outside cleaning embedded debris, is as good s the V15 in other aspects.
Though the lack of the gated brush roll may hamper it when cleaning large dirt piles on carpet, but it’s not something this vacuum was built to clean up.
Which option is better on hard floors?
It’s really close. One barometer I use is the sand on hard floor test, and both picked up nearly perfect scores.
- Dyson V12 Detect: 99.9%
- Dyson V15 Detect: 99.8%
Here’s a before and after shot for the Dyson V15.
And the V12 Detect.
There isn’t much difference with these with sand pick-up on hard floors, so it’s a wash.
Consumers can’t go wrong with either option, but they must consider other aspects like run time, ergonomics, and dustbin capacity before making the final choice.
Edge Cleaning Comparison
Again, it’s even as both picked up debris in this area with excellent efficiency in only a few passes.
Here’s a before and after shot of the Dyson V15.
And the Dyson V12.
The slim roller attachment has enough agitation and airflow for picking up dirt to the edges, especially on hard floors.
Hair wrap (on hard floors)
The Dyson V12 was better overall, even with long 13-inch strands with nothing wrapping visibly on the roller.
- 5-inch strands: 100%
- 7-inch strands: 100%
- 9-inch strands: 100%
- 11-inch strands: 100%
- 12-inch strands: 80.6%
However, you’ll notice the results weren’t even across the board because hair tends to wrap on this axle, which is the biggest Achilles heel of this tool.
The Dyson V15 Detect was also decent, but there was visible hair wrapping on the roller in the twelve-inch experiment.
- 5-inch strands: 100%
- 7-inch strands: 100%
- 9-inch strands: 100%
- 11-inch strands: 100%
- 12-inch strands: 80.6%
Unlike the V12, where hair wrapped on the axle even on shorter hair, the V15 didn’t have this issue until I tested it on twelve-inch hair.
Nonetheless, it’s one trouble spot that consumers need to check, especially folks who have pets or need to clean long hair.
Which option is better on carpet?
It’s a two-pronged answer on this surface.
Both did well at cleaning surface debris (100% vs. 99.45%), but the V15 is (much) better at picking up embedded dirt on carpets because of its higher airflow and better brush roll design.
It picked up a tidy 100% in the deep cleaning test versus the V12’s 94.1%.
Even in the auto (or middle) setting, it (still) picked up 100%, which is its most significant advantage over the lighter V12 Detect.
If there’s one sticking point when choosing between these products, it’s deep cleaning.
Folks who need to deep clean carpet, should lean towards the Dyson V15 Detect.
Hair wrap (on carpet)
Another advantage of the V15 Detect is its better resisting tangles on carpet with the combs and chunkier brush roll.
- 5-inch strands: 100%
- 7-inch strands: 100%
- 9-inch strands: 100%
- 11-inch strands: 99%
- 12-inch strands: 98%
You can see in the photos (above) that hardly anything is wrapped on the brush.
The high airflow, chunky brush, and combs helped keep hair off the brush.
In comparison, the V12 didn’t do as well, and the cap is eleven inches.
- 5-inch strands: 96%
- 7-inch strands: 100%
- 9-inch strands: 92.5%
- 11-inch strands: 30%
Almost nothing wrapped from the five to nine-inch experiments, but it only picked up 30% at eleven inches.
Please note that the V12 uses a similar design brush roll to the Dyson V8 Absolute without any combs – it won’t do well with excessively long strands.
Noise Comparison
All Dyson products will be noisy due to their high airflow, but it’s bearable in the low setting.
Again, I used a sound meter beside the vacuum, which is the most practical setup because you’ll use it this way.
The results are very close, ranging between 70 and 80 decibels.
Maintenance Comparison
These vacuums require some TLC to function efficiently in the long term.
Any additional friction will cause unnecessary wear and performance degradation, which you don’t want when spending on an expensive stick vacuum.
Fortunately, cleaning Dyson stick vacuums isn’t rocket science – it’s simple.
- Brush roll: Hair accumulates on the axles, especially the slim roller attachment. Check this area once a week and remove any buildup.
- Dustbin: Empty it after every cleaning cycle to prevent dust mites from breeding and to maintain performance.
- Filter: Dyson states that these filters are washable, but the HEPA portion uses a paper element, so consumers will need to replace it eventually. Do a visual check once a month and clean it under running water. I’d recommend purchasing an extra filter to prevent any downtime.
- Batteries: Dyson’s lithium-ion batteries are excellent at keeping their charge even when unplugged. So charge them as needed (only takes 2 to 4 hrs), and unplug when full. Avoid using the max setting for extended periods because it overheats the battery quickly and shortens its life span.
- Torque screw tool: There’s not much maintenance needed for this redesigned tool since hair doesn’t tangle on the brush. Consumers can check it once a month and wipe off any dust buildup.
- Other attachments: Use a clean microfiber towel to clean the tools from dust and debris accumulation.
Product Specifications
Where can I purchase the Dyson V12 Detect and V15 Detect?
The Dyson V12 and V15 are available in online stores like Amazon. Check the links below for the latest pricing information.
Disclaimer: I will earn a commission if you purchase through the links above. But at no additional cost to you, it’s a win-win for us!
Which Option Offers Better Value?
The Dyson V12 is cheaper and offers 95% of the V15’s performance without the premium cost, so it offers better value.
It’s lighter with a more compact frame and thus has better ergonomics.
However, the V15 Detect is the better option for folks who want something cordless for cleaning carpets or large area rugs.
5 Reasons to Choose the Dyson V12 Detect
- Cheaper option: As I’ve said earlier, the V12 Detect is cheaper but offers most of the benefits of the V15 in a more compact package.
- Premium surface debris pick-up: There isn’t much variance between the V12 and V15 with cleaning surface debris.
- Better ergonomics: The lighter frame makes the Dyson V12 better with handheld ergonomics.
- Above-average run time: Despite the downsized battery, it still ran past 60 minutes with the slim roller attachment.
- Lots of tools: Consumers will get a bevy of tools from the V12 Detect.
4 Reasons to Choose the Dyson V15 Detect
- Deep cleans carpet: The V15 Detect is the undisputed king (at least for cordless vacuums) with deep cleaning carpet, picking up 100% even in the auto setting.
- Superb run time: It ran past the 80-minute mark with the slim roller attachment from one battery.
- Larger dustbin: The V15 (more than) doubles the V12 dustbin capacity (0.77 vs. 0.35 liters)
- Better standard brush roll: The V15’s high-torque attachment (or its standard brush roll) is better overall on carpets, especially in resisting tangles from long hair strands. Also, the two adjustable gates enable it to clean large dirt piles better than the V12 standard brush.
The Verdict: The Dyson V12 is a Compelling, Cheaper Option Versus the V15 Detect
I’m sold on the Dyson V12, especially the upgrades Dyson has, notably the push-button switch, which is a welcome sight for consumers.
The lightweight frame and new power switch make it more ergonomic and easier to use for lengthier stretches than the heavier V15 Detect.
If you don’t need to clean carpets, I’d suggest getting the V12 Detect over the V15 because of these improvements and cost savings.
The Dyson V15 Detect is excellent for specific applications like deep cleaning carpets or long hair strands.
Go for the V12 Detect if you want to save money but don’t mind the compromises (downgraded deep cleaning and shorter run time).
