Dyson Gen5 Detect

Oct 01, 2023

Dyson's cordless vacuums are coveted among clean freaks because they easily transition from the floor to the couch to the car, making quick work of an otherwise tedious chore. The $949.99 Dyson Gen5 Detect ditches the oft-criticized power trigger from earlier generations in favor of an on/off button to eliminate finger strain. It's heavier than its predecessor, the V15 Detect, so be prepared for an arm workout during long cleaning sessions, but the Gen5 Detect has longer battery life (up to 70 minutes on a charge), more suction power (up to 262 air watts), and a revamped LCD interface that now shows when your floor is clean. It also delivers some accessory updates, including a brighter green light on the Fluffy Optic cleaner head that reveals more invisible dust on hard flooring, and a redesigned crevice tool that's now stored inside the wand and features a slide-away brush. If you can afford it, the Dyson Gen5 Detect is the best cordless vacuum we've tested, and our Editors' Choice winner.

Launched in June 2023, the Gen5 series is the latest and most expensive of Dyson's cordless vacuums. Priced at $949.99, the Gen5 Detect featured in this review carries a $200 premium over its closest sibling, the V15 Detect, which hit the market in 2021.

For $100 more than the base model, the Gen5 Outsize, meant for larger homes, features a bigger bin, a wider Digital Motorbar cleaner head, and longer battery life, but also weighs more. Gen5 series models with Absolute in the name, available exclusively on Dyson's website, cost and function the same as the standard versions but feature the brand's signature prussian blue and copper colorway (like the Zone I tested) instead of iron and purple.

Dyson products are known for their premium pricing and the Gen5 series is no exception. In the premium cordless stick vacuum market, one of its main rivals is the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI ($999.99), which we have not yet tested but on paper outpaces Dyson's latest with more suction power (up to 280AW), longer manufacturer-stated battery life (up to 100 minutes), and a classier look.

If you're on a budget, there are countless lower-priced cordless vacuums to consider, including the Tineco Pure One S15 Pro ($599.99), the Shark Stratos ($499.99), and the Wyze Cordless Vacuum S (119.99). In my testing, the Wyze Cordless Vacuum (which offers a bit more power than the S model) didn't feel as sturdy or as durable as a Dyson, but still reliably sucked up debris, serving as a top budget-friendly option.

Like Dyson's other cordless vacuums and many cheap clones from other brands, the Gen5 series quickly transforms from a handheld to a stick vacuum, and vice versa. In the box, you get a number of different cleaning attachments, including a Digital Motorbar cleaner head (for all flooring types), a Fluffy Optic cleaner head (with a green light that reveals invisible dust on hard floors), a hair screw tool (for couches, car seats, stairs, and pet beds), a combination tool (with a wide nozzle and brush you can switch between), and a wand (measuring about two feet long) with a built-in dusting and crevice tool. The accessories securely attach to the vacuum and to the wand with a satisfying click, and can be easily removed with the press of a button.

It also comes with a charger that plugs into a standard two-prong outlet and a wall-mounting dock with storage for the vacuum and two cleaning attachments. The Outsize model comes with an extra battery for extended cleaning time, plus all the other accessories of the Detect version.

Dyson cordless vacuums include a two-year warranty on the battery, parts, and labor. Just be sure to read the included safety instructions and don't do anything foolish, like vacuum water or scrambled eggs on the floor (actual examples of warranty-voiding misuse Dyson cordless vacuum owners have personally told me about).

Powered by Dyson's latest-generation Hyperdymium motor that spins at up to 135,000 rpm, the vacuum offers three suction levels (Eco, Medium/Auto, and Boost), topping out at 262 air watts (AW) for the Gen5 Detect, or 250AW for the Outsize model. It's the most powerful Dyson cordless vacuum, exceeding the V15 Detect (230AW), the V11 (185AW), the V10 (151AW), and the V8 (115AW), as well as the best of the bunch for tackling stubborn pet hair. The affordable Wyze Cordless Vacuum, in comparison, tops out at 150AW of suction (while the S model offers up to 100AW).

The vacuum runs on battery power, and you must remove it from the charger to turn on the motor. In terms of battery life, Dyson says the Gen5 Detect offers up to 70 minutes of power on a charge, a full 10 minutes longer than the V15 Detect depending on the power mode, dust level, floor type, and attachments used. With its extra battery pack, the Outsize model offers up to 140 minutes of power on a charge.

In my real-world testing, the Gen5 Detect continuously ran for 36.5 minutes on a charge in Medium/Auto mode, or 2.5 minutes longer than the V15 Detect, offering a modest battery life improvement from the last generation.

With its wand and Digital Motorbar cleaner head attached, the Gen5 Detect measures 50.2 by 10.9 by 9.8 inches (HLW). If you're looking for a lightweight cordless vacuum, the Gen5 Detect isn't your best option. Weighing 7.72 pounds, the Gen5 Detect is around a full pound heavier than both the V15 Detect (6.83 pounds) and the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI (6.3 pounds). The Outsize model is even heftier at 8.59 pounds. Lighter-weight alternatives include the Dyson V12 Detect Slim (5.2 pounds), the Dyson V8 (5.58 pounds), and the Wyze Cordless Vacuum S (2.8 pounds).

If you use a robot vacuum for daily maintenance and only really need a cordless vacuum for the couch, car, corners, stairs, and quick touch-ups, the Gen5 Detect's weight may not be an issue. Vacuuming a large space with a Gen5 will give you a workout, and may result in some arm and/or wrist soreness.

Like the V15 Detect, the Gen5 Detect features an integrated 0.2-gallon dustbin, up from the V8's 0.14-gallon capacity. The Gen5 Outsize can hold more than double the amount of dust as the Detect model thanks to its 0.5-gallon bin. As you clean, you can see the clear dustbin fill up.

Allergy sufferers can rest assured that the Gen5 series is fully sealed to the HEPA standard, which requires the removal of at least 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size. Air expelled from the outlet on the rear end of the machine first passes through a 360-degree filter, which captures 99.99% of particles down to 0.1 microns, exceeding the HEPA standard. In addition to microscopic dust particles, Dyson says the filter removes 99.9% of live viruses, so you don't have to worry about the vacuum spreading germs as you clean.

The Gen5 Detect features a small round color LCD, located on the rear end of the machine that displays the cleaning mode, remaining battery life, and a graph of real-time particle levels as you clean. Above the LCD is a red power button that turns the suction on and off. Below the LCD is a silver mode button that lets you cycle through the three suction power levels.

With the exception of a few models—including the V12 Detect Slim, the Omni-Glide, and now the Gen5 series—most of Dyson's cordless vacuums feature a trigger you need to hold down the entire time you're cleaning instead of a power button. This is fine for cordless vacuums with very limited battery life meant for quick touch-up jobs, but not for models designed for whole-home cleaning. When I reviewed the V15 Detect, its lack of a traditional power button was my biggest complaint. Needless to say, the Gen5's power button is a huge improvement—even if it means you'll waste some battery, it makes the vacuum a lot more comfortable to use.

As you vacuum, the Gen5 Detect's LCD shows your estimated remaining battery life, as well as a graph of real-time particle levels. The graph features four bars, indicating the number of particles being removed, categorized by size: Microscopic, Fine, Medium, and Coarse.

Like the V15 Detect, the Gen5 series uses a piezo sensor to count and categorize collected particles by size, but Dyson has revamped the user interface on this generation to make the graph a lot more useful.

On the Gen5 series, the bars on the graph now rise and fall in real time according to particle concentrations being picked up. When you first hit a dirty spot, for instance, the bars on the graph quickly shoot up. When the area is sufficiently clean, the bars on the graph go back down. Keeping an eye on the graph can help you determine when you should continue vacuuming a certain spot, and when it's OK to move on. This is particularly helpful when vacuuming carpet and upholstery, which can hide a lot of dirt and particles.

In comparison, the bars on the V15 Detect's graph continuously increase as you clean, showing totals for the session with no indication as to whether a surface is actually clean. The Gen5 Detect instead shows total particle counts at the end of each cleaning session, before powering off the display.

When it comes to cleaning, the Gen5 Detect has few faults. The vacuum reliably and thoroughly removes dust, pet hair, and other debris from hard floors, carpet, and upholstery, and makes it easy (and dare I say fun) to dust tight and hard-to-reach spots like wall corners, door frames, ceiling fans, and more.

When you power the vacuum on, it defaults to the last suction level used, and you can change the mode at any time as needed. I typically keep it set to Medium/Auto mode at all times, which offers enough battery life and suction power to thoroughly vacuum my 1,300-square-foot floor plan and dust other surfaces, with battery life to spare.

Eco mode is sufficient for vacuuming hard flooring and dusting, and serves as a good battery-saving option for very large homes. Turbo mode is great for car detailing and other hard-to-remove debris, such as dog hair embedded in carpeting and throw pillows.

In Auto mode—which is only available with the Digital Motorbar, Fluffy Optic, or hair screw attachments—the vacuum intelligently adapts its suction power to different surfaces. In testing, the vacuum automatically increased its suction power for carpeting and lowered it for hard flooring in Auto mode.

Though it doesn't allow for rapid-fire one-handed operation like a trigger, the on/off button is well positioned and very responsive, so you won't waste much battery when powering it down to switch attachments or change locations.

The main Digital Motorbar and Fluffy Optic cleaner heads are both highly maneuverable; with a twist of your wrist, they can rotate 90 degrees, making it easy to vacuum under tables and around furniture legs.

Dyson says it has reengineered the Fluffy Optic cleaner head, switching from a laser diode to an LED that gets brighter, revealing twice the amount of microscopic dust compared with the Laser Slim Fluffy that originally shipped with the V15 Detect. I had nothing but praise for this cleaning head last generation, and the new Fluffy Optic functions just as well, revealing dust and debris that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. I should note that you can no longer switch the green light off, a feature of the earlier version. That's not a problem for me; I find the green light very helpful for illuminating my brown dog's fur on similarly colored laminate flooring, as well as the hard-to-see debris under my dining room table, allowing for a more thorough cleaning.

In handheld mode, my favorite and most commonly used attachment is the hair screw tool, which makes it very quick and easy to remove dog fur from couch cushions and throw pillows. I frequently use the combination tool with its brush for dusting TV stands, end tables, HVAC filter grilles, ceiling fan blades, and more.

I have mixed feelings about the new crevice tool. At first, it was a bit hard to figure out how to use, since it's now stored within the wand. But with some practice, I can now easily detach and attach it as needed. On the positive side, this new double-duty design means there's one less loose attachment to keep track of, and I like that the crevice tool now features a slide-away brush (similar to the combination tool) for dusting.

On the other hand, I don't like that you must have the crevice tool stored within the wand in order to be able to attach the wand to the vacuum. In other words, you can only use the crevice tool with the vacuum in handheld mode. If you click the crevice tool to the end of the wand (to, for instance, reach dust in ceiling corners), the wand will not snap onto the vacuum. This isn't a deal breaker, though, since you can still use the similarly nimble combination tool at the end of the wand.

The Gen5 series has the same easy-to-operate bin-emptying mechanism as its predecessor. To empty the bin, you must remove any accessories attached to the vacuum, then hold it over a trash can while pointing the nozzle down and firmly push the red bin release lever down. The bin will then slide down, its lid will open, and the contents will fall into the trash. When you're done, pull the lever back up to reposition the bin and manually shut the lid.

If you have allergies, I recommend covering the bin with a plastic bag, and emptying it into that, as doing so will significantly reduce your exposure to dust.

Most Dyson cordless vacuums are held back by one big design quirk: the trigger you must hold down the entire time you're vacuuming. Starting at $949.99, the triggerless Dyson Gen5 Detect cordless vacuum is a bit heavy at almost 8 pounds, but it eliminates finger cramps while surprisingly offering even better battery life than its trigger-powered predecessor, the V15 Detect. We also appreciate its revamped LCD interface, which now shows when a surface is free of dust particles in real time. Though we're iffy about the redesigned crevice tool, which only works in handheld mode, it comes with many other fantastic accessories, including the standout Fluffy Optic cleaner head that reveals invisible dust on hard flooring, a hair screw tool that quickly eliminates pet hair from upholstery and stairs, and a combination tool for dusting. With its new power button, plus strong suction power, long battery life, deft maneuverability, and a variety of included accessories, the Gen5 Detect is an excellent option for both quick touch-ups and whole-home cleaning jobs, earning our Editors' Choice award for premium cordless vacuums.