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  • About the Dyson Gen5detect

  • What we like

  • What we don’t like

  • Warranty

  • Should you buy the Dyson Gen5detect?

  • Related content

Pros

  • Powerful suction

  • Good battery

  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Cumbersome storage

  • Expensive

About the Dyson Gen5detect

The Dyson Gen5detect LCD screen displaying battery life.
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The Gen5detect’s LCD screen shows how much battery life you have left.

  • Dimensions: 50.2” x 9.8” x 10.87” (H x L x W)
  • Weight: 7.7 pounds
  • Battery life 15 minutes on Boost (70 minutes on Eco)
  • Cleaning modes: Eco Mode, Medium Mode, Auto Mode, Boost mode
  • Filter: HEPA filter
  • Manual

The Dyson Gen5detect is a lightweight cordless vacuum that has powerful suction. It includes a removable battery, giving you up to 70 minutes of run time.

In auto mode, the Gen5detect automatically adjusts the suction power depending on the floor type.

This Dyson vacuum includes a built-in crevice tool, hair screw tool, combination tool, and HEPA filter that can handle particles as small as .1 microns—making it three times more efficient than previous Dyson vacuums.

This model features an LCD screen on the back that shows you real-time feedback on the kinds of dirt being picked up and how much battery life you have remaining.

What we like

This Dyson vacuum can handle any surface

The attachments for the Dyson Gen5detect laid on out the floor including the Fluffy Optic, Digital Motarbar, Hair Screw, and Combination tool.
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The Dyson Gen5detect comes with four attachment types.

The Dyson Gen5detect comes with two main cleaner heads. The Fluffy Optic specializes in hard floors. As the name suggests, it has a super soft and fluffy brush, so it won’t scratch delicate floors while also being able to lap up fine dust.

For carpets and more general surfaces, you can switch to the Digital Motorbar cleaner head. We liked this one because it has grooves engineered to prevent hair from tangling and clumping in the brush head.

We tested both brush heads in our vacuum labs. Both picked up around 80% to 90% of the testing dirt we laid out. To put that in perspective, this Dyson vacuum proved to be about 25% more powerful than the average cordless vacuum we’ve tested.

It’s the fastest switch to handheld mode in the West

Have you ever been cleaning your floors and come across a table or shelf that needed a spot of dusting, too? Usually, this might require you to come back with the handheld attachment.

But the Gen5detect has the perfect answer to this. It has a built-in dusting tool. While vacuuming, you can pop the wand off and extend the built-in dusting tool. This feature is ultra convenient for getting all of your cleaning done in one fell swoop.

This Dyson vacuum has good battery life

Dyson cordless vacuums use removable batteries. Batteries are a very common point of failure for cordless units, so being able to replace them is a big deal.

The battery that comes with the Gen5detect put up some impressive test results. It lasted 15 minutes on Boost mode—that’s over 60% more power than its older sibling, the Dyson V11.

On Eco Mode, you can expect to get a little over an hour of run time. That’s about the same as the Dyson Gen5outsize, however, that model comes with a spare battery.

That’s plenty of time for anyone who cleans and charges frequently.

What we don’t like

Storage is an issue

One issue that we have with Dyson cordless vacuums is storage. Yes, we like all the attachments the Dyson Gen5detect came with, but keeping them organized is a challenge. This Dyson comes with a charging dock, but it has to be drilled into the wall to work properly, and that’s a pain.

LG solves this problem with its Cordzero All-in-One series. It has a freestanding charging dock with onboard storage for all its attachments.

It may not be worth the upgrade if you already own a working Dyson

An upclose shot of the Dyson Gen5detect and the included HEPA filter.
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The Gen5detect filter has a better filter than the Dyson V8, but the overall cost ay not be worth the upgrade for some.

Dyson has stiff competition these days, particularly from itself. At the time of review, the Gen5detect costs over $900. It has a better filter than previous Dyson models and a better battery, but if you already own a Dyson cordless like a V8 or V15 that’s in working condition, the Gen5detect is likely not worth the upgrade.

Warranty

The Dyson Gen5detect comes with a two-year warranty that covers both parts and labor. That’s comparable to competitors at this price point. For example, the Samsung Bepsoke Jet AI also has a two-year warranty.

Should you buy the Dyson Gen5detect?

Yes, this Dyson vacuum has great suction and a long battery life

If you’re tired of vacuums with weak suction or short battery life, the Dyson Gen5detect is worth checking out. The Gen5detect aced our carpet and hardwood floor cleaning tests. We also liked the fact that you can spot clean without skipping a beat.

It also has a battery that lasts up to 15 minutes on the highest setting, with the ability to purchase more batteries for a longer run time. If you already own a Dyson, like the V8 or V15, you probably don't need to spend up on the Gen5detect.

But, if you’re looking to keep a moderately sized apartment or small house tidy, you will like how versatile the Gen5detect is.

Related content

Meet the tester

Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

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