Dyson V12 vs V15 vs Gen5 Detect

Watch this video to get an overview of what to expect from these products. It’s a long 12-minute video, but it covers most of the major aspects to consider when choosing between these three.

The Dyson V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect are three of the latest Dyson releases, and I’ll compare these three in this article.

This comparison will provide an overview of these three products. If you want something more detailed, check the individual reviews.

The Gen5 Outsize is a larger version aimed at consumers looking for more volume, but it has the same features as the Gen5 Detect.

An Overview of the Dyson V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect

Similarities Between the Dyson V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect

1. Dustbin Alignment

The V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect utilize the same horizontal dustbin configuration Dyson first introduced in the V10. This shift enables engineers to put a larger dustbin and improve efficiency since air flows straight instead of curving, which was the case for the V7 and V8.

However, since these use a larger motor, there will be ergonomic ramifications with the increased volume – particularly the Gen5 Detect and V15.

Hence, a significant reason why Dyson released the V12 Detect – is for consumers looking for a lightweight alternative.

2. Hygienic System

A demonstration of Dyson’s hygienic system.

The hygienic system has been a staple for Dyson products since the V8 release. It’s (basically) a lever underneath the dustbin that helps push debris out, so you don’t need to stick your fingers inside to remove dirt.

One issue with long hair will stick on the inner walls, which isn’t a Dyson problem but also an issue with other brands.

Hair sticking inside the Dyson V15 Detect dustbin – a common problem with Dyson cordless vacuums.

3. Detachable Battery

These cordless vacuums have detachable batteries, enabling consumers to remove them without using tools.

This feature also makes it easy to extend run time since it’s a plug-and-play system – buy another battery and use one while the other is charging.

Differences Between the Dyson V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect

Next, we’ll look at the differences between these Dyson products.

1. Power Switch

The Dyson V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect use different power switches – the V15 uses a trigger, the V12 has a big red button on top of the motor, and the Gen5 Detect has a red button above the screen.

This feature is a welcome addition, especially to the Gen5 series, since it eases the strain on your wrist and arm during handheld use.

Nonetheless, this isn’t an issue (at least for me) when cleaning floors. Another option is buying a third-party trigger lock available on Amazon.

2. Screen Display

Varying screen designs of the Dyson V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect.

There isn’t any variance with the Dyson V12 and V15 screens (aside from the button) since these have the same sized screen and design.

However, there’s a tweak with the Gen5 Detect display. It uses horizontal bars instead of the vertical ones on the older models.

3. Slim Roller

The Dyson V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect have laser slim rollers with different name designations, but with similar functionality.

The Dyson V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect utilize Dyson’s slim roller nozzle, which I like since it’s not chunky.

Therefore, it’ll fit under lower clearance areas, especially cramped spaces, than the older, chunky soft roller.

One difference is that the Gen5 Detect’s fluffy optic nozzle is twice as bright as the V12 and V15 laser slim nozzle.

Another is that the V12 and V15 slim roller nozzles have an on/off switch, while the Gen5 Detect does not.

4. Standard Nozzle

Standard brush nozzles of the Dyson Gen5 Detect, V15, and V12 Detect.

There are differences between the V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect standard brush roll design. 

While the V15 and Gen5 nozzles look similar, I noticed the Gen5 Detect nozzle vibrating (a bit) more.

And with the increased suction, it also has a better seal. One proof is the brush stalled when the gates were closed.

The V12 uses a V8-style nozzle with a squeegee-like seal behind the brush roll.

5. Filter

Dyson V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect filters take off and displayed side by side

Another difference is the filter. The V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect use different-sized filters, which aren’t interchangeable.

Only the Gen5 Detect has the HEPA-rated filter, while the V12 and V15 use standard filters.

All passed the fog test and didn’t leak.

6. Battery

These Dyson cordless vacuums use different battery sizes. The V12 and Gen5 Detect use similar 2500 mAh lithium-ion batteries, while the V15 has a higher-rated 3600 mAh battery.

Since these use different-sized batteries, they aren’t interchangeable.

However, the Gen5 has the highest claimed run time at 70 minutes. In comparison, the V12 and V15 have a lower 60-minute claim.

But the V15 runs the longest, at least in the eco setting when I tested it at over 84 minutes. The V12 Detect runs the shortest at 63 minutes.

Tools You’ll Get

Disclaimer: the tools you’ll get from these products will depend on where you purchase them.

I’ll share what I got from my purchases since it may change, so always check with the merchant before buying.

The Dyson V12 Detect offers the best value (in my opinion) with the tools you’ll get and the price point.

What you’ll get out of the box from the Dyson V12 Detect Slim (may vary depending on merchant).

1. Dyson V12 unit
2. Motorbar cleaner head
3. Laser slim fluffy
4. Hair screw tool
5. Light pipe crevice tool
6. Mini soft dusting brush
7. Stiff bristled brush
8. Combination tool
9. Under bed attachment
10. Extra battery
11. Extension wand
12. Two battery chargers

Notable in the list are the two charges, which may not be available in North American sellers, but if you can find something with this many tools, it’s a bargain.

The V15 Detect offers more attachments than the Gen5 Detect, with six tools aside from the floor nozzles.

Dyson V15 Detect attachments.

1. High torque cleaning head
2. Slim roller attachment
3. Wall mountable dock
4. Extension tube
5. Crevice tool
6. Hair screw tool
7. Wand clip
8. Flexible extension hose
9. Soft dusting brush
10. Combination tool
11. Charger

Consumers will enjoy using the flexible hose attachment since you can attach any non-powered tool, making it easier to clean hard-to-reach spots.

Now, only if the V15 had a trigger lock.

The Gen5 Detect has the least number of tools – only three above-floor tools. One is a new two-in-one crevice tool tucked inside the extension tube.

The Dyson Gen5 Detect has the fewest tools.

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

All three options have the torque screw tool – the best handheld mini turbo brush for cleaning long hair strands.

Ergonomic Comparison

The V12 Detect wins this category since it has the lightest handheld unit, weighing 3 pounds and 4.0 ounces.

It’s the lightest Dyson “full-sized” stick vacuum and offers the best handheld usability.

The Gen5 Detect is the heaviest, weighing 4 pounds and 15.7 ounces, while the V15 Detect is slightly lighter at 4 pounds and 8.4 ounces.

So, the V15 feels a bit lighter, but the Gen5 Detect’s trigger-less design makes up for the added weight.

Power Comparison

Next, we’ll examine the power levels of these Dyson products, specifically airflow and suction.

I used an anemometer to measure airflow, a Y-gauge, and a water lift gauge to measure suction.

Here are the results of the suction tests.

The unsealed test represents using the vacuum in its normal state, while the sealed test represents using it on carpet with closed gates.

I didn’t do the direct water lift gauge test since it fires a blockage error, and I couldn’t get consistent results to warrant consideration.

The clear winner is the Gen5 Detect, with up to 28″ of water lift in the unsealed test and 75″ in the sealed test.

Unfortunately, these numbers didn’t translate to better airflow, as the V15 Detect got better results in most tests.

The Gen5 Detect got a better result in one of the tests – at the wand in the highest setting, but the V15 was better in the other experiments.

Not surprisingly, the V12 Detect was the worst since it uses the weakest motor.

These results are reflected in the cleaning tests, where the V15 got the best overall averages.

Cleaning Comparison

The averages are incredibly close, but the V15 Detect got the highest score, thanks to its results on carpets (100% on surface and deep cleaning experiments).

Surprisingly, the V12 was (still) excellent despite the power disadvantage, getting above-average scores on all these tests.

Which Option is Best on Hard Floors?

It’s (really) close since the V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect got averages in the high 99s.

The tie-breaker for me would be the sand on hard floor test, where the Gen5 Detect got the highest average at 99.9%.

Nonetheless, these averages are close, and you can’t go wrong with any of these options if you need to clean hard floors.

I’d argue that the V12 Detect has enough power to vacuum dirt on this surface.

Edge Cleaning

Another similarity with the V12, V15, and Gen5 Detect is their efficiency at vacuuming edges.

Here’s a before and after shot for the V12.

The V15 results.

Lastly, the Gen5 results.

Three different Dyson models, same results. All are excellent at cleaning dirt in this area.

Hair Wrap [on Hard Floors]

Next, we’ll compare how well these vacuums resisted hair tangles.

First, the Dyson V12 Detect.

• 5-inch strands: 100%
• 7-inch strands: 100%
• 9-inch strands: 100%
• 11-inch strands: 100%
• 12-inch strands: 80.6%

It was excellent at cleaning five-, seven-, nine-, and eleven-inch strands, but it wasn’t perfect in the twelve-inch experiment, only getting 80.6%.

Next, we’ll examine the results of the V15 Detect.

• 5-inch strands:  100%
• 7-inch strands: 100%
• 9-inch strands: 100%
• 11-inch strands: 100%
• 12-inch strands: 80.6%

These are the same results as the V12. You could see strands wrapping on the roller.

Lastly, here’s the Gen5 Detect results.

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

The Gen5 Detect is the best at picking up 12-inch hair, getting an 86% average but less than 100% at 11-inch strands.

Despite the less-than-perfect score, I’d give it the edge over the V12 and V15 since it got a higher percentage with 12-inch hair.

One issue with these soft roller nozzles is hair wrapping on the axles, a common theme for all three.

It’s something to note, especially if you own pets, since hair can wrap tightly on the axle.

Which Option is Better on Carpets?

This is where the V15 and Gen5 separate from the V12, at least with embedded dirt.

While the V12 Detect was excellent at vacuuming surface dirt with its squeegee-like seal, it didn’t have enough suction or agitation to clean embedded sand (only 94.1%), while the Gen5 and V15 Detect got 100%.

Hair Wrap [on Carpets]

Again, the higher airflow and chunkier brush design make the Gen5 and V15 better equipped for vacuuming hair on this surface, even long strands.

Look at how much hair the V12 picked up during the experiments.

• 5-inch strands: 96%
• 7-inch strands: 100%
• 9-inch strands: 92.5%
• 11-inch strands: 30%

It was above-average at vacuuming five, seven, and nine-inch hair but struggled with eleven-inch strands, only getting 30%.

You could see how much hair was wrapped in it. This is an issue with the V8 nozzle since it lacked combs and power to prevent hair from wrapping.

The V15 Detect was much better, with hardly anything wrapping on the brush.

Please note that I used more than one gram of hair in the nine to twelve-inch tests, making these results even more impressive.

• 5-inch strands: 100%
• 7-inch strands: 100%
• 9-inch strands: 92.5%
• 11-inch strands: 100%
• 12-inch strands: 100%

One word for these results – outstanding. If you need something for cleaning long hair, the V15 should be on your shortlist.

Lastly, the results for the Gen5 Detect. Again, these are excellent results, given how much hair it has to pick up during these tests.

• 5-inch strands: 100%
• 7-inch strands: 100%
• 9-inch strands: 92.5%
• 11-inch strands: 100%
• 12-inch strands: 100%

Run Time Comparison

I was excited about the Gen5 Detect since Dyson claimed it had a 70-minute run time since most Dyson cordless vacuums I’ve tested exceeded these claims by over 20 minutes.

It was the case for the V15 and Outsize, so I thought it would be the same for the Gen5 Detect.

However, that wasn’t the case, and it “only” lasted a little over 80 minutes – 4 minutes short of the V15 Detect.

However, the Gen5’s most significant advantage is its run time in the middle setting, exceeding 46 minutes on hard floors and 22 minutes on carpet.

While the V12 was better than the Gen5 in the auto setting at 27 minutes, I factored in the Gen5’s superior deep cleaning performance in this power setting.

One advantage for the V12, at least with the variant I have, is it has two batteries, doubling its run time to over 120 minutes and over 55 minutes in the auto setting.

If you can find a V12 with two batteries at a mid-range price, it’s a good deal.

Noise Comparison

One unfortunate downside of the Gen5 Detect’s higher suction power is the higher noise level.

It’s the only Dyson cordless vacuum that exceeds 80 decibels in the middle setting and is close to 90 in boost mode.

Please note that these results are with the digital motorbar nozzle, the Gen5 Outsize’s standard nozzle.

The V12 and V15 results are close.

Product Specifications

Which Option is the Best?

So the question is, which of these Dyson products is the best?

Considering the price, features, and cleaning performance, it’s hard to beat the V15 Detect’s value since it got better averages than the Gen5 Detect in the cleaning experiments.

The Gen5 Detect is tempting, given that it has the latest Dyson tech, but its price is too steep. I won’t stop you if you don’t mind spending on the brighter green laser and trigger-less design.

5 Reasons to Consider the Dyson V12 Detect

1. Cheapest alternative: The V12 Detect is the least expensive of the three without sacrificing too much in cleaning performance.
2. Lightweight: Weighing at a little over three pounds, the V12 Detect is the lightest, giving it the best ergonomics.
3. Excellent cleaning performance: Despite the downgrade in power, the V12 efficiently cleans surface debris.
4. Lots of tools: You’ll get more tools with the V12 than the more expensive Gen5 Detect.
5. Excellent for small homes: Its lightweight and compact frame will work best inside tiny homes.

4 Reasons to Consider the Dyson V15 Detect

1. Best cleaning performance: It got the highest averages in the cleaning experiments.
2. Longest run time: The V15 lasted the longest in the eco setting at over 84 minutes on hard floors
3. Cheaper than the Gen5 Detect: If the Gen5 Detect is too pricey, the V15 Detect is the next best alternative.
4. Excellent at vacuuming carpet: The V15’s high airflow enabled it to pick up the highest averages on carpet (surface and embedded dirt).

4 Reasons to Consider the Dyson Gen5 Detect

1. No trigger: The Gen5 Outsize is the first Dyson full-sized stick vacuum with a push-button switch.
2. Brighter green laser: Dyson’s claim is valid. The Gen5 Detect fluffy optic cleaner head is twice as bright as the older laser slim roller.
3. New crevice tool: I like the new two-in-one crevice tool because it’s tucked inside the extension tube, providing easy access.
4. Long run time in the auto setting: The Gen5 Detect is the best option in the auto setting, factoring in its cleaning performance on carpets.

The Verdict: V15 Offers Best Value

With the price drop, the V15 Detect offers the best value, factoring in cleaning performance, run time, and what you’ll get out of the box.

Even if the Gen5 Detect has the more powerful motor, the V15 Detect got higher averages in the cleaning experiments.

Also, it didn’t have any significant run time improvements over the V15, even with the 70-claim.

Yes, it exceeded this claim since it lasted over 80 minutes, but I was expecting at least 10 minutes more since the V15 and Outsize lasted over 80 minutes.

However, that wasn’t the case.

The V12 Detect is excellent for consumers looking for a lightweight stick vacuum inside tiny homes.

Despite its power downgrade, it’s still efficient at vacuuming surface dirt.