Dyson V15S Detect Submarine Review

The V15S Submarine is Dyson’s first web/dry product, featuring a specialized tool for picking up 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 whether it’s worth the nearly four-figure price tag.

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 offers the same flexibility as its older Dyson models, but with an added tool for handling wet messes, which they call the Submarine.

New Wet/Dry Tool

This tool is basically a roller with a water tank for storing clean and dirty liquids to mop floors.

Of course, there are trade-offs with the added versatility, particularly in terms of 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 features nozzles designed for use on hard floors and carpets.

Dyson calls it the “Laser Slim Nozzle” and the “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 allows 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 features a similar interactive LCD screen to the standard V15 Detect, displaying the Piezo sensor readout. However, this model has an additional function.

It displays the runtime 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 to 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 achieved a higher result in the unsealed test at 24 inches of water lift, but reached the exact 65 inches of water lift in 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 runtime of the Dyson V15S Submarine, which I tested using both the laser slim roller and the 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 they pick 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 excelled at picking up debris on this surface, achieving a nearly perfect score—100% in three of the four tests—which demonstrates the slim roller’s proficiency in 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 essentially a set of combs positioned above the brush to 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 features a squeegee-like rubber behind the brush that forces debris into the suction chamber, the V15S does not.

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 capture everything during the initial pass, it did pick 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 performed excellently, achieving 100% accuracy in four of the five experiments and maintaining 97% accuracy with 12-inch hair.

You could see strands of hair wrapped around the brush, but the score is above average, considering the length.

Mopping Tests

One of the most significant 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.

However, after extensive testing, a fundamental issue becomes apparent – the lack of a sealed, dirty water container, a feature found in other wet-dry cordless vacuums.

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 effectively, but the roller leaves the surface damp because it fails to thoroughly pick up residue.

How Noisy is the Dyson V15S Submarine?

I used a sound meter to measure the noise levels of the V15S 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, particularly in the lowest and highest power settings, as it vibrates more.

The laser slim nozzle only reaches a maximum of less than 80 decibels, which is relatively noisy. However, you don’t need to use the maximum setting for daily tasks, as the roller is efficient enough to pick up debris at 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.

Long Term Use

I haven’t owned the Dyson V15 Detect for long, but one problem has already surfaced — the Submarine nozzle. More specifically, the locking mechanism cracked, which means the roller no longer stays securely in place.

It’s a serious issue because once that part fails, the entire nozzle becomes unusable.

Update (Nov 12, 2025): I found this replacement latch on Amazon and replaced it in under 10 minutes. Watch this video to see how it’s done.

Must Read If You Own a Dyson

…or if you’re planning to purchase one.

• Before you buy a Dyson, Read This! Common Issues You May Not Know About
• 6 Dyson Cordless Vacuums That Run For Over an Hour

Product Specifications

Where Can You Purchase the Dyson V15S Submarine?

Consumers can purchase the Dyson V15S Submarine from retailers such as Amazon and Walmart. Please refer to the links below for the latest pricing information.

• Dyson V15S Submarine 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 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, which 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, given that it’s a V15 Detect equipped with a wet-dry attachment, I can’t recommend this product due to 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

1. Excellent vacuuming functionality: The V15S Submarine is essentially a V15 Detect with a wet-dry nozzle, providing the same efficient vacuuming performance.
2. 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.
3. Great at cleaning long hair: This model is excellent at picking up hair on hard floors and carpets, getting a high percentage (over 95%).
4. 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 as an alternative to a bulky, full-sized option, but Dyson falls short.

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, as it left a significant amount of residue.

You’re better off with the cheaper V15 Detect and a trusty $20 mop.