Most of Dyson's vacuums look pretty much the same, so figuring out what the differences are – and crucially, if those differences will translate to cleaner floors and a less demanding housework session for you – can be tricky. To help you out, I ran side-by-side tests with some of Dyson's newest vacuums, comparing everything from suction to battery life to design, features and price, to make it clear how the different options compare.
In this test, I used four vacuums from across the range. I started with the brand's two most recent flagship models: the Dyson V16 Piston Animal (released in September 2025 and the best Dyson vacuum based on specs) and the Dyson Gen5detect (released 2022). Those are both ultra-premium options, so for a bit of balance I also included the Dyson V11, which is one of the oldest models in the current range (released 2019). Finally, I tested the Dyson V8 Cyclone, a refreshed-for-2025 version of the classic V8, one of the cheapest and most basic Dyson vacs (not yet available in the US).
