The V15S Submarine is Dyson’s first web/dry product with a specialized tool for picking wet messes. Specifically, it’s a V15 Detect with a wet/dry nozzle.
I’ve spent the past few days testing this product to see how well it performs this task and if it’s worth the close to four-figure price tag.
How Good is Dyson's First Wet-Dry Cordless Vacuum?
- Ergonomics - 95%95%
- Surface Cleaning - 99.81%100%
- Deep Cleaning - 100%100%
- Mopping - 60%60%
- Quality - 94%94%
- Design - 92%92%
- Value - 90%90%
Summary
Unfortunately, the Dyson V15S Submarine fails to deliver with its wet-dry tool. Unlike what you see in the advertorials, it’s not efficient at picking up liquid, and the dirty liquid tray isn’t big enough to clean anything larger than a few square feet. Yes, the vacuum function is excellent since this model is basically a V15 Detect with a wet-dry nozzle, but the “Submarine” nozzle isn’t good at picking up wet messes and leaves a lot of residue.
Pros
- Excellent vacuuming performance
- It lasted over 82 minutes in the lowest power setting with the laser slim roller
- One of the best cordless vacuums I’ve tested at cleaning long hair on floors or upholstery
- Fully sealed system
Cons
- Subpar mopping performance
- Expensive
- Noisy
Introduction of the Dyson V15S Submarine
Dyson takes their stick vacuum line to the next level by adding a wet/dry attachment.
Unlike other wet/dry cordless vacuums that are bulky and have limited versatility, the V15S Submarine provides the same flexibility as its older Dyson models but with an added tool for handling wet messes they call the Submarine.
New Wet/Dry Tool
This tool is basically a roller with a water tank for storing clean and dirty liquid to mop floors.
Of course, there are trade-offs with the added versatility, particularly having a smaller capacity, so you’ll need to refill the water tank more frequently.
Hard Floor and Carpet Specific Nozzles
Like the V15 Detect, the V15S Submarine has nozzles designed for hard floors and carpets.
Dyson calls it the “laser slim nozzle” and “digital motorbar nozzle.”
For those unfamiliar with vacuum history, Dyson was the first to introduce the soft roller, and it takes it a step further by adding a green laser to help track dust.
It’s the first I’ve seen with a bright green LED for tracking dust, and copycats have emerged.
The slim frame of the roller enables it to fit under low clearance areas.
You could see how the bright green light accentuates dust that would be almost invisible with normal lighting.
Interactive LCD Screen
The V15S Submarine has a similar interactive LCD screen as the standard V15 Detect that shows the Piezo sensor readout, but this model has an additional function.
It shows the run time status with the “Submarine” nozzle attached.
Other Tools
The V15S Submarine comes with these two tools for cleaning above floors – the (3) combination and (1) crevice tools.
It also comes with a wall mount that you need to bolt on the wall, so it requires drilling.
If you don’t want to drill holes in walls, then you can opt for a third-party stand tool.
Like the V15 Detect, the Submarine model comes with the (2) hair screw tool that’s excellent at cleaning long hair on upholstery with its tapered-shaped brush.
How Much Power Does the Dyson V15S Submarine Have?
6I used a couple of tools to measure power. First, a Y-gauge measured suction at the highest power setting, and then an anemometer checked airflow.
There’s little variance between the V15S Submarine and V15 Detect with suction. The newer Submarine variant got a higher result with the unsealed test at 24 inches of water lift, but got the same 65 inches of water lift with the sealed test.
Airflow Results [Wand]
- Eco: 36.32 CFM
- Auto: 45.46 CFM
- Boost: 73.64 CFM
Airflow Results [Nozzle]
- Eco: 28.52 CFM
- Auto: 32.67 CFM
- Boost: 56.73 CFM
Based on experiments, the V15S Submarine has slightly more airflow, at least with the two lower settings.
However, at least with the wand, the results are nearly identical in the highest power setting. The V15 Detect got better results at the nozzle (69 CFM vs. 56 CFM).
How Long Does The Dyson V15S Run?
Next, we’ll examine the run time of the Dyson V15S Submarine, which I tested using the laser slim roller and standard brush.
Check the results below.
Run Time [Hard Floors]
- Eco: 82:25 mins
- Auto: 26:30 mins
- Boost: 15:03 mins
Run Time [Carpets]
- Eco: 53:22 mins
- Auto: 22:00 mins
- Boost: 12:11 mins
The low and boost settings of the V15S and V15 Detect differ little—only by one or two minutes.
However, I noticed that the V15S only lasted 26:30 minutes, which is nearly 20 minutes less than the V15 Detect’s 40-plus-minute duration.
Cleaning Performance
With all the cordless vacuums I test, I put them through a series of experiments on different debris types, specifically quaker oats, quinoa, coffee grounds, pet litter, sand, and hair, to see how much it picks up.
- Overall: 99.86%
- Hard Floors: 99.75%
- Sand on Hard Floor: 99.7%
- Carpet: 100%
- Deep Cleaning: 100%
Hard Floor Results
- Quaker oats: 99%
- Coffee grounds: 100%
- Quinoa: 100%
- Pet litter: 100%
The V15S Submarine was excellent at picking up debris on this surface, getting a nearly perfect score—100% in three of the four tests—which shows the slim roller’s proficiency at this task.
Edge Cleaning
The Dyson V15S Submarine laser slim nozzle efficiently picked up debris on the edge, getting everything after a few passes.
Sand on Hard Floor
I tested the Dyson V15S Submarine on sand, and it achieved an average of 99.7% in two tests, which is an excellent result for a cordless vacuum.
Hair Wrap on Hard Floors
- 5-inch hair: 99%
- 7-inch hair: 100%
- 9-inch hair: 81%
- 11-inch hair: 89%
- 12-inch hair: 100%
One thing to note about the Dyson slim roller is that it doesn’t have an active anti-tangle system, which is basically combs sitting above the brush that untangle hair.
Nonetheless, this cordless vacuum got excellent results despite the lack of these combos.
But there’s a risk of hair tangling on the axles. So, despite the high scores, this tool isn’t 100% maintenance-free. You will need to check the axles and clean them.
Carpet Results
On carpet, I put the Dyson V15S Submarine through the experiments as I did on hard floors.
Low Pile Carpet
- Quaker oats: 100%
- Coffee grounds: 100%
- Quinoa: 100%
- Pet litter: 100%
The results on low-pile carpets were excellent, with an average picking up of 100% in the four experiments.
However, one issue with the V15S carpet nozzle is it doesn’t pick up everything after the first forward pass because it doesn’t have a good seal behind the brush roll.
Unlike the Dyson V8, which has a squeegee-like rubber behind the brush that forces debris into the suction chamber, the V15S doesn’t have it.
The photo above shows the nozzles of the Dyson V8 and V12.
Mid Pile Results
- Quaker oats: 100%
- Coffee grounds: 100%
- Quinoa: 100%
- Pet litter: 100%
The V15S Submarine also scored excellent on mid-pile carpet, with a 100% average on four tests.
While the standard nozzle didn’t get everything during the initial pass, it picked up debris in the subsequent passes.
Hair Wrap [on Carpet]
- 5-inch hair: 99%
- 7-inch hair: 100%
- 9-inch hair: 100%
- 11-inch hair: 100%
- 12-inch hair: 97%
The V15S Submarine was excellent, picking up 100% in four of the five experiments and still getting 97% with 12-inch hair.
You could see strands of hair wrapped on the brush, but the score is above average, considering the length.
Mopping Tests
One of the biggest aspects that will make or break the V15S is how its “Submarine” wet-dry nozzle performs.
I’ve seen the advertorials showing how this tool is supposed to be efficient at picking wet messes.
But after testing it extensively, there’s one fundamental issue with it – the lack of a sealed dirty water container that other wet-dry cordless vacuums have.
This omission is significant because it limits storage for the debris and liquid it collects.
Removing the nozzle often causes dripping, creating a large mess.
Another issue is the roller isn’t efficient at picking up liquid, often pushing it forward instead of absorbing it.
The “Submarine” nozzle removes stains well, but the roller leaves the surface damp because it fails to pick up residue thoroughly.
How Noisy is the Dyson V15S Submarine?
I used a sound meter to check the V15S noise levels on both floor nozzles.
Laser Slim Roller Results
- Eco: 70.6 dB
- Auto: 76.0 dB
- Boost: 78.7 dB
Digital Motorbar Results
- Eco: 71.7 dB
- Auto: 72.5 dB
- Boost: 83.8 dB
Not surprisingly, the Digital Motorbar nozzle is noisier, at least in the lowest and highest power settings, since it vibrates more.
The laser slim nozzle only maxes out at less than 80 decibels, which is noisy, but you don’t need to use the max setting in daily tasks since the roller is efficient enough to pick up debris in the lowest setting.
Availability of Parts
Since Dyson is one of the more popular brands in the stick vacuum category, there are many options for parts. You can purchase filters, batteries, and even tools from third-party manufacturers, so you don’t need to worry about parts if that’s a concern.
Product Specifications
Model | Dyson V15S Detect Submarine |
---|---|
Brush roll on/off | No |
Battery | 25.2-volt 3600 mAh Li-ion battery |
Charging time | 4.5 hrs. |
Battery life | up to 82:25 mins. |
Weight | 6.8 lbs. |
Width | 9.8" |
Overall length | 45.75" |
Battery indicator | Yes |
Filter type | Washable pre-motor and HEPA filter |
Dust capacity | 0.77 li |
Airflow | Up to 73 CFM |
Cordless | Yes |
Bagless | Yes |
Warranty | 2 yrs. |
Price | Check Price |
Where Can You Purchase the Dyson V15S Submarine?
Consumers can purchase the Dyson V15S Submarine from stores like Amazon and Walmart. Check the links below for the latest pricing information.
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 V15S Submarine Offer Good Value?
I had high hopes for the Dyson V15S Submarine before testing it, thinking that it would be a better alternative than bulky wet-dry cordless vacuums.
However, after extensively testing the “Submarine” wet-dry nozzle, it has a glaring flow that hampers its function.
The lack of a dirty water container means the wet-dry nozzle can’t hold enough dirty residue in this small tray that tends to spill contents even with the slightest tilt.
Also, the wet-dry roller doesn’t pick up liquid messes cleanly, leaving a damp surface, much like a traditional mop.
While the vacuum function is excellent since it’s a V15 Detect equipped with a wet-dry attachment, I can’t recommend this product given its subpar mopping performance.
Using a regular mop would be easier, since you don’t have to spend time cleaning the nozzle.
4 Reasons to Purchase The Dyson V15S Submarine
- Excellent vacuuming functionality: The V15S Submarine is basically a V15 Detect with a wet-dry nozzle, so you get the same efficient vacuuming performance.
- Long run time: It lasted over 82 minutes using the laser slim roller – more than enough time for vacuuming a small to medium sized house without recharging.
- Great at cleaning long hair: This model is excellent at picking up hair on hard floors and carpetrs, getting a high percentage (over 95%).
- Lighter than a typical wet-dry cordless vacuum: The V15S Submarine is lighter and offers better maneuverability than its bulky wet-dry counterpart.
The Verdict: Submarine Wet-Dry Tool Fails To Deliver
Despite its hype and advertorials, the Dyson V15S Submarine fails to deliver. I like the idea of a compact wet-dry cordless vacuum alternative to a bulky full-sized option, but Dyson fails to deliver.
The nozzle has one fundamental flaw: it doesn’t have a sealed container for storing dirty liquid and residue.
So it’s prone to leaks and the roller doesn’t pick up cleanly. I had to mop the floor using a traditional mop after using it since it left so much residue.
You’re better off with the cheaper V15 Detect and a trusty $20 mop.