These are Dyson's three most powerful stick vacuums, and they share a lot: a dust sensor, an LCD screen and two years of warranty cover at The Good Guys. The V16 Piston Animal has the most suction, 315 air watts, and a bin that compacts the dust. The Gen5detect sits between them at 262 air watts, with whole-machine HEPA filtration. The V15 Detect, at 240 air watts, is the lightest of the three at 3.1kg.
Price does not follow the order of the model numbers. At The Good Guys, the Gen5detect currently costs less than the V15 Detect.
The three side by side
| V15 Detect Absolute | Gen5detect Absolute | V16 Piston Animal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suction | 240 AW | 262 AW | 315 AW |
| Run time | Up to 60 min | Up to 70 min | Up to 70 min |
| Bin | 0.77L | 0.77L | 1.35L, compacting |
| Weight | 3.1kg | 3.5kg | 3.5kg |
| Filtration | 99.99% to 0.3 microns | HEPA, 99.99% to 0.1 microns | 99.99% to 0.1 microns |
| Hard floor head | Fluffy Optic with light | Fluffy Optic with light | All Floor Cones Sense |
| Price | $1,100–1,200 | $900–1,000 | $1,000–1,100 |
Specifications are Dyson's. Prices were read at The Good Guys and Amazon on 27 September 2026.
Dyson V15 Detect Absolute
The V15 Detect has the Fluffy Optic head, which shines a light across hard floors to show dust, and a sensor that counts the particles it picks up and reports them on the screen. Its motor spins at up to 125,000rpm for 240 air watts, with a 0.77 litre bin and a 60-minute battery, according to Dyson's listing.
At 3.1kg it is 400g lighter than the other two. Its filtration is rated to 0.3 microns rather than 0.1, and it currently costs more than the Gen5detect.
What We Like:
- 3.1kg, the lightest of the three
- Particle counter on screen
- Owners rate its cleaning highly
What We Don't Like:
- Dearer than the Gen5detect
- Shortest run time here
Dyson Gen5detect Absolute
The Gen5detect uses Dyson's fifth-generation motor, spinning at up to 135,000rpm for 262 air watts. Dyson rates its sealed, whole-machine HEPA system at 99.99 per cent of particles at 0.1 microns, and its battery at 70 minutes, according to Dyson's launch announcement. It keeps the V15's light, sensor and screen and its 0.77 litre bin.
Owner reviews split on its weight and its value, and one reports the battery lasting about 40 minutes in use.
What We Like:
- 262 AW against the V15's 240
- HEPA to 0.1 microns
- Cheaper than the V15 right now
What We Don't Like:
- 400g heavier than the V15
- Weight complaints from owners
Dyson V16 Piston Animal
The V16 is the newest of the three. Its 900W motor produces 315 air watts, and its 1.35 litre bin presses the dust down so that, Dyson says, it holds 30 days' worth between emptyings. Instead of the Fluffy Optic head, it has the All Floor Cones Sense head, whose twin conical brush bars untangle long hair and which changes suction and brush speed to suit the floor, Dyson says.
It weighs the same 3.5kg as the Gen5detect and costs a little more. One owner at The Good Guys says it is worth buying on sale rather than at full price.
What We Like:
- 315 AW
- Bin holds about 30 days of dust
- De-tangling conical brushes
What We Don't Like:
- 3.5kg
- The dearest at full price
What actually differs
Suction. 240, 262 and 315 air watts for the V15, Gen5 and V16. Dyson measures these in Boost mode with a full bin.
Bin. The V15 and Gen5 hold 0.77 litres. The V16 holds 1.35 litres and compacts the dust, which is the biggest practical change for a large or pet-filled house.
Heads. The V15 and Gen5 come with the Fluffy Optic head for hard floors, which shines a light to show dust. The V16's conical head works across floor types and is built to stop long hair wrapping around the brush.
Filtration. The Gen5 and V16 capture particles down to 0.1 microns; the V15 is rated to 0.3.
Weight. The V15 is 3.1kg; the Gen5 and V16 are both 3.5kg.
Which suits which home
The V15 Detect suits owners who value the lowest weight of the three, and don't mind paying more than for the Gen5.
The Gen5detect suits most buyers of a top-end Dyson right now, since it beats the V15 on suction, battery and filtration for less money.
The V16 Piston Animal suits big homes, pets and long hair, where the larger compacting bin and anti-tangle head matter more than the extra weight.
FAQs
What is the difference between the Dyson V15 and V16?
The V16 has 315 air watts against 240, a 1.35 litre compacting bin against 0.77 litres, 10 more minutes of battery and filtration rated to 0.1 rather than 0.3 microns. It is 400g heavier and uses a conical anti-tangle head instead of the V15's lit Fluffy Optic head.
Which of the three is the newest?
The V16 Piston Animal, which Dyson's store marks as new. Dyson launched the Gen5detect in Australia in October 2022.
Do all three have a dust sensor?
Yes. Each counts the particles it picks up and shows the result on an LCD screen.
