Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Vacuum Review - Not Convincing!

The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is a new vacuum combining the Dyson V15 with a unique mopping attachment. It positions itself as a premium cleaning tool at the price tag of nearly $1,000. While there are many potentials, the vacuum also has certain limitations that make it less attractive to buyers.

Design & Features

The V15s features a sleek all-plastic design consistent with Dyson’s aesthetic. Its lightweight, cordless chassis makes it highly maneuverable, while the LCD display provides real-time information on battery life, power mode, and particle size detected. Inside the box, the V15s comes well-equipped with a Digital Motorbar cleaner head, Fluffy Optic cleaner head, and the signature Submarine Wet Roller Head for mopping. Accessories include a crevice tool, combination dusting brush, hair screw tool, a wand clip for on-the-go storage, a wall mount with a charging station, a drip tray for the mopping attachment, and the standard power cord.

As compared to the Gen5detect, the V15s is slightly smaller, lighter and less powerful (240AW vs 262AW), however, it is hard to tell the difference in suction power. I still prefer the Gen5detect because it has only one power button, so I don’t have to hold down the trigger during vacuuming. I can’t believe Dyson still keeps the trigger for their newest product.

At its core, the V15s Detect Submarine carries over much of what made the Dyson V15 Detect one of the best cordless vacuums available. It boasts a powerful 240AW suction motor, which ensures excellent debris pickup across multiple surfaces. The onboard particle sensor is still there, so it can automatically adjust its suction power based on the level of debris detected. This improves performance and extends battery life at the same time.

Performance & Usability

The V15s includes Fluffy Optic cleaner head, which uses a green laser to highlight fine dust on hard floors. This head is specialized for hard surfaces and it works very well for picking up pet hair, fine debris, and larger particles. However, I don’t use that head much because I have many rugs throughout the house, so using the Digital Motorbar cleaner head for both hard floors and carpets saves a lot of time.

The most unique feature of the V15s Submarine is its Submarine Wet Roller Head, a mopping attachment designed for tackling dried-on stains and routine floor cleaning. With separate reservoirs for clean and dirty water, it offers a hygienic approach to mopping. The wet roller is particularly effective on tough stains, often removing them in just a few passes. However, the lack of suction in the mopping head means all debris and dirty water are sucked into the dirty water tank inside the roller head. Unfortunately, the tank is fairly small, so it struggles with large wet spills and can leave streaks behind easily. Besides, the poor sealing of the tank can lead to spills when emptying and cleaning.

The vacuum’s battery life is solid, offering up to 70 minutes in Eco mode without attachments. However, this drops to under 10 minutes in Boost mode with the Digital Motorbar head. The battery is removable, allowing for easy swapping during longer cleaning tasks, but the 4-hour charging time is a noticeable drawback.

Compared to its sibling, the Gen5detect, the V15s Submarine trades off slightly lower suction power and shorter battery life for the inclusion of the Submarine mopping attachment. In my experience, the Gen5detect is still the best option for users who just need dry vacuuming.

Conclusion

The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is an impressive cordless vacuum that adds mopping functionality to an already outstanding platform. The mopping attachment offers good stain removal capabilities but falls short as a comprehensive mopping solution due to its small reservoir and inability to handle large spills effectively. Obviously, I can’t justify its premium price tag, so I wouldn’t recommend the V15s, especially if you have already owned the V15 or Gen5detect. If you really need the mopping function, there are a lot of decent wet dry vacuums out there that cost way less.