Dyson V15 Detect Review

When Dyson announced they were done with R&D on uprights (after releasing the V10), I thought they were nuts. But subsequent models prove they mean business. The V15 Detect is Dyson’s latest, and they’ve managed to give it more power and performance but is it worth the high cost? We’ll find out in this review.

Introduction to the Dyson V15 Detect

After Dyson unveiled the V11 Torque Drive and Outsize, I’m unsure what upgrades they would integrate aside from adding more power. But they’ve improved these two models significantly with the V15 Detect.

I think Dyson introduced several new enhancements with the V15 – some of which can be game-changing. Let’s go through them one by one.

Green Laser Light

The most worthwhile upgrade (in my opinion) would be this green laser on the slim roller attachment. One of my pet peeves with older Dyson cord-free products is the lack of an LED light, which many competing brands have.

A small lens is built-in on the right side roller attachment, seven millimeters of the ground at a 1.5-degree angle.

This green light accentuates dust particles better than an LED headlight. Dust particles pop and are easier to track with this tool.

Look at how dust particles are magnified with the green light.

When I pull back – it’s gone.

I like the slim profile of the roller attachment, and it’s smaller in stature versus the V8 soft roller.

Between the two, my preference would be the slim roller since it’s lighter and fits in tight spaces better.

Piezo Sensor

Dyson added a piezo sensor before the cyclones that counts and measures dust particles passing through. Once it detects a rise in quantity, it increases suction to compensate. This feature is similar to Tineco’s iLoop sensor but has another function measuring debris size (in microns).

Information collected by the Piezo sensor is relayed on the LCD screen behind the motor.

The display is color-coded base on size.

1. Yellow: Allergens
2. Orange: Microscopic dust
3. Pink: Dust mites
4. Purple: Sugar and Fleas

Whether or not this feature is practical will depend on the user. It is helpful for folks who need to track down dust mites on upholstery.

Combs on High Torque Brush

Dyson added combs above the primary brush roll, which was absent in the V11 models. While I like how the V11 resists tangles, hair above 11 inches will wrap on the brush.

Adding the combs and the bump in power help the V15 untangle long hair strands better than the Shark Vertex cordless I tested previously.

Hair Screw Tool

Another upgrade worth noting is the newly designed mini turbo brush. Dyson calls this a “hair screw tool” because of the torque-screw-like shape of the brush.

It has no combs, but its cone-shaped design forces hair toward a holding area and into the dustbin.

I didn’t bother testing it on shorter strands but directly on 12-inch hair, and it picked up everything.

Even if hair tangles, Dyson makes it possible to clean this tool by pulling a red lever behind it.

After pulling it, the brush comes out.

I tried the same test with a more traditional Dyson mini-turbo brush, and this happened.

Nearly everything was wrapped on it and very tedious to untangle.

Slim Roller and High Torque floor tools

Dyson brings back the soft roller in the V15 after ditching it with the V11 Torque Drive and Outsize (at least in North America).

And it now uses the slim version, which is smaller than the standard fluffy attachment found in the Dyson V8 and V10.

Here’s a close-up of the slim roller attachment.

I like the slimmer profile. It looks tiny attached to the vacuum, but it’s easier to steer and fits tight areas better.

The high torque nozzle retains the same size as the V11 version with the same adjustable gate.

Here’s a view underneath. You can clearly see the combos above the brush on this angle.

It still lacks a seal beneath the brush, so it doesn’t always make clean initial passes. But the suction is strong enough to pick up debris.

Another tweak worth noting is the blue protrusions that spiral along with the bristles. These have a blunt, pointed edge that I believe helps with agitation.

Dynamic Load Sensor

The high torque (formerly torque drive) attachment retains the dynamic load sensor that increases suction automatically if it detects an increase in resistance (i.e., carpet) and then reverts on hard surfaces.

This is the best setting on carpet as it balances run time and power. Another benefit is not stressing the battery using the max for extended periods, which should bode well for its longevity.

Tools out of the box

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

One of my pet peeves with Dyson cordless vacuums is its tools (or lack thereof). Dyson rectifies this somewhat with the V15 as it has more tools than any Dyson cord-free product.

Along with the standard attachments such as the combination, crevice, and soft dusting brush, the V15 comes with a flexible hose.

You can attach any non-powered tool to it and enjoy the added reach.

Usability and Interface

The V15 Detect roughly has the exact dimensions as the V11 Torque Drive – ergonomics will be similar.

Behind the motor is an LCD screen that displays various information such as the dust particle size, run time left, error codes, and more.

A single button below the screen toggles between the three power settings – eco, auto, and max.

Dustbin capacity

The dirt volume for the V15 remains the same as the V11 Torque Drive at 0.77 liters. It has the same trombone-type lever and point-and-shoot emptying approach.

This capacity isn’t upright-level but decent, given its ergonomic advantages over the oversized Outsize.

It has a sealed system plus a HEPA filter post-motor to block allergens from leaking.

I did a fog test, and the V15 didn’t leak.

Detachable battery

Like the Outsize and some versions of the V11 Torque Drive, the V15 comes with a detachable 3600 mAh Li-ion battery.

Dyson will adopt this feature into future products as their other cordless products – the Omni Glide also has a detachable battery.

Currently, Dyson doesn’t sell replacement V15 batteries, but the V11 Outsize batteries are compatible with the V15.

How much power does the Dyson V15 Detect have?

Before the V15 came out, the V11 Outsize was the most powerful cordless vacuum I’ve tested concerning airflow. But the V15 changes all that. I used an anemometer to measure two critical areas – the wand and cleaning head.

Here are the results of the cleaning head.

• Eco: 29.98 CFM
• Auto: 36.32 CFM
• Max: 69.19 CFM

And at the extension tube (or wand).

• Eco: 34.55 CFM
• Auto: 42.38 CFM
• Max: 73 CFM

The difference between the eco and auto (or middle) settings isn’t too significant, but it really jumps up at the max setting.

This product has 4.42% more airflow than the Outsize at the nozzle and 9% more at the wand – which is crazy since the Outsize already has a high output.

Suction tests confirm this bump in airflow as the V15 has the highest number of all Dyson cord-free products with 100″ of water lift (in the highest setting), six more than the DreameTech T30, and ten more than the V11 Outsize.

One benefit of the V15 is the smaller frame. It’s the same size as the V11 Torque Drive, but with more power than the Outsize, so you’ll benefit from both the Torque Drive and  Outsize in one product.

Cleaning performance

The bump in power is evident in the cleaning tests, where the V15 picked up a high percentage across the board – one of the highest ever (of all the vacuums I’ve tested).

• Overall: 99.91%
• Hard floor: 99.85%
• Sand on hard floor: 99.8%
• Carpet: 100%
• Deep cleaning: 100%

It aced the whole carpet test, scoring 100% on all surface and embedded tests.

Hard floor results

• Quaker oats: 100%
• Coffee: 99.4%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

Aside from coffee grounds, the V15 picked up 100% of other debris. One issue with the soft roller is that it spins rapidly and will scatter some debris forward, which is why it didn’t pick up 100% with coffee grounds.

However, the scattering issue shouldn’t be an issue for tiny dust particles – the very thing this tool is designed to clean.

One potential weak point of the soft roller is extra-large debris like Fruit loops. It didn’t do well, and most bounced off the fast-spinning roller.

Sand on hard floor

Another strength of the slim roller attachment is its efficiency at picking up sand, with a 99.8% score. Not perfect, but it’s darn close.

I tried the high torque nozzle on sand, and it did well, picking up 99.8%.

But it left this much on the forward pass.

I’m not a big fan of using bristled tools for cleaning such on hard surfaces as it isn’t as efficient as a soft roller.

Edge cleaning

Want proof of the high airflow? Look no further than this test. It took just three passes to clean most of the debris in this area.

Hair wrap on hard floors

• 5-inch: 100% inside bin; 0% on the brush
• 7-inch: 100% inside bin; 0% on the brush
• 9-inch: 100% inside bin; 0% on the brush
• 11-inch: 100% inside bin; 0% on the brush
• 12-inch: 80.6% inside bin; 19.4% on the brush

I tested the slim roller extensively and how good it is at resisting tangles.

It did well between five and eleven inches, but its limit was twelve. Some hair wrapped on the roller, but most tangled on the axle.

Hair on the axle can be tedious to remove.

But please note I tested it on over two grams of twelve-inch hair, so the test is extreme. I don’t expect this to be a regular daily cleaning task.

You can see most of the hair inside the dustbin. One issue with cleaning long strands of hair would be the stands of it wrapping around the metal filter.

The hygienic system won’t be enough to dislodge it – you’ll need to pull it out by hand or remove the outer frame.

Carpet performance

Next, we’ll look at how well the V15 did on the carpet, and whether it was better. The increase in suction and airflow was evident on this surface as it picked up a perfect 100% on all the tests.

Low pile results

• Quaker oats: 100%
• Coffee grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

It picked up 100% in all the tests. One issue with the high torque attachment is the lack of a seal behind the brush.

I’m not sure why Dyson doesn’t put a strip of rubber as it did on the V8 attachment, but the initial pass wasn’t always clean.

You can see it left a trail, but eventually, it picked up everything in the succeeding passes, so this is a nitpick.

Mid pile results

• Quaker oats: 100%
• Coffee grounds: 100%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

Thicker pile carpet, same results – the V15 picked up a perfect score on this surface. And realize that I used the auto setting on these tests, which makes it more impressive.

Not having to use the max or boost setting is a big deal since it puts less strain on the battery and extends service life.

Deep cleaning results

For this experiment, I rubbed 100 grams of sand on mid-pile carpet to see how much the V15 would pick up, and it did an excellent job.

It got 100% in each of the eco, auto, and boost settings – better than the V11 Torque Drive and Outsize in the eco setting.

Hair wrap test on carpet

Cleaning hair on carpet is another strength, thanks to the redesigned brush with these blue protrusions and combs above it.

I tried it on hair between five and twelve inches, and it did quite well.

• 5-inch: 100% inside bin; 0% on the brush
• 7-inch: 100% inside bin; 0% on the brush
• 9-inch: 100% inside bin; 0% on the brush
• 11-inch: 99% inside bin; 1% on the brush
• 12-inch: 98% inside bin; 2% on the brush

The V15 is the best so far of all cordless vacuums at picking up hair regardless of surface. These results prove the combs and subtle improvements done on the brush works.

Pair this tool with the newly designed mini turbo brush, provide users a potent combo for cleaning pet hair on carpet and upholstery.

How long will the Dyson V15 run?

The V15 has the same 3600 mAh, 25.2-volt lithium-ion battery as the V11 Outsize, so both run times are similar.

I tested it with the soft roller and high torque attachments initially, and it was impressive with up to 84 minutes with the roller and 56 minutes with the high torque at the eco setting.

Here are the results.

These numbers will translate to real-world use as the V15 will pick up debris well, even in this setting.

I’ve mentioned earlier the 100% score in deep cleaning tests at  Eco mode, which means this vacuum can clean a broader carpet zone.

How noisy is the Dyson V15 Detect?

Using the roller and high torque attachment, I measured noise levels with a sound meter.

Here are the results of the soft roller.

• Eco: 67 dB
• Auto: 70.8 dB
• Boost: 78.5 dB

And with the high torque head.

• Eco: 70.3 dB
• Auto: 72.3 dB
• Boost: 80.8 dB

Regardless of the tools, this vacuum is loud. I wouldn’t suggest using it early in the morning or risk your neighbor’s ire (for those living in condos or apartments).

Availability of Parts

Being a Dyson product, parts availability won’t be an issue. Historically, consumers can still purchase replacement parts for models as old as the V6. Even earlier variants, such as the DC-series, have good parts availability.

One reason is the popularity of Dyson, which has grown exponentially over the years.

Manufacturers will have an incentive to mass-produce parts because there is high demand.

I believe the V15 will have many replacement parts available from Dyson and third-party manufacturers.

So this vacuum should be viable for the long term if you view it as an investment for home cleaning.

Product Specifications

Where can you buy the Dyson V15 Detect?

The V15 Detect is available in several online stores like eBay. Check the links below for the latest pricing information.

• Dyson V15 Detect on Amazon and Walmart

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 V15 Detect offer good value?

The V15’s high cost may dissuade you from considering it, but it does offer some practical features that help make home cleaning more efficient.

In my view, the green laser light is the single most helpful feature, especially inside homes with hard floors. It beats an LED light at accentuating almost invisible dust particles and gives users a visual cue on what areas to clean – increasing efficiency.

It’s also very good at cleaning hair – on upholstery, hard surfaces, and carpet.

Pet owners will love the new hair screw tool attachment as it forces hair out of the brush, into a holding area, and inside the dustbin. It is a very efficient and time-saving feature since cleaning hair is unnecessary.

5 Reasons to Buy the Dyson V15 Detect

1. High airflow and suction: This model has the highest suction and airflow of all Dyson cord-free vacuums.
2. Excellent at cleaning hair: The two main nozzles and redesigned mini-turbo brush works great at resisting tangles. It’s one of a few vacuums I’d recommend cleaning hair on floors and upholstery.
3. Tracks dust like no other vacuum: The green laser is possibly a game-changer in how vacuum cleaners track dust. I’ve tried a lot of vacuums with LED headlights, each with varying success at such. But none of them can accentuate it as well as the V15 Detect.
4. Best cord-free deep cleaning option: While the V11 Outsize and Torque Drive can deep clean carpet, the V15 beats both, picking up 100% at the Eco setting.
5. Long run time: The 84-minute run time with the soft roller is one of the longest from a single battery I’ve tested.

The Verdict: On a Higher Level That A V11

Dyson ups the ante with the V15 Detect. All the upgrades with it help make home cleaning more efficient. For me, the most practical would be the green laser, where dust particles are exposed in a manner impossible with an LED headlight.

It’s also an ideal option on hard floors and carpets with its uptick in power. And excellent at cleaning hair because of Dyson’s upgrades in the mini-turbo brush and standard brush roll.

I’m still on the fence about whether the piezo sensor is a helpful feature. But it can be for the right consumer it can be.

Yes, it is costly for a cordless vacuum, but it cleans like no other cord-free product I’ve tested. It gobbles dust, hair, and sand efficiently, and with the upgrades, it won’t require as much upkeep, particularly untangling hair.

But the question is, are these upgrades worth the premium cost?