It’s a powerful cleaner (but so is the V12 Detect Slim). To assess the Gen5detect’s cleaning prowess, I let dust, debris, and pet fur accumulate on a vintage Persian rug. I divided the rug into two equal sections, vacuumed one side with the Gen5detect and the other with the V12 for 30 seconds each, and then weighed the contents of each vac’s dustbin.
To my surprise, the V12’s bin contained slightly more debris than that of the Gen5detect. It’s possible that one side of the rug was inexplicably dirtier, and we’ll continue evaluating the Gen5detect in controlled testing. But it’s clear that despite its souped-up specs, the Gen5detect doesn’t immediately eclipse the V12 in real-world cleaning.
It has an extra-large bin and battery. The Gen5detect’s biggest improvement might be the size of its dustbin: Its 0.2-gallon capacity is double the V12’s, which saved me the hassle of frequent trips to the trash can. The larger battery means the Gen5detect can run for about 20 minutes longer than the V12. (Both features make the Gen5detect much heavier, as we discuss below.)
It has upgraded cleaner heads and tools. The Gen5detect’s Motorbar cleaner head has some cool upgrades from that of the V12. For example, it has sensors that automatically optimize run time and suction power based on floor type. It also features an adjustable bleeder, which allows you to modify the suction manually. (I found this helpful when vacuuming a light kilim rug that tends to easily lift off the floor.)
Like the V12, the Gen5detect comes with Dyson’s Fluffy Optic cleaner head that’s made of soft microfiber fabric, which worked great on bare floors.
The Gen5detect also has an onboard combination tool that’s concealed within the wand and slides out effortlessly when the wand is detached, transforming the stick vac into a convenient handheld unit.
It has other cool (but familiar) features. The Gen5detect’s LCD screen shows even more alerts than that of the V12. It warns you when the machine is too hot or too cold and if you insert a non-Dyson battery. The features that I liked the most on the Gen5detect—battery countdown, an on/off button, and a green laser light that eerily detects dust (and guilts me into vacuuming under the couch more frequently)—are already present on the V12.
Its filtration is excellent (with a caveat). The Gen5detect (and its even larger sibling, the Gen5outsize) offers HEPA filtration that Dyson says can capture particles as small as 0.1 microns. Dyson says the V12 Detect Slim’s HEPA filter is said to capture particles down to 0.3 microns.
In an email exchange, James McCrea, a lead mechanical engineer at Dyson, described the filtration of the Gen5detect and the V12 as “roughly the same,” with the difference being that the Gen5detect was tested specifically on influenza A (H1N1) and MS2 bacteriophage. The V12 Detect Slim hasn’t been tested on viruses, McCrea said.
But how valuable is better filtration if you inadvertently inhale what you’re trying to avoid when you open and empty the dustbin? Scientists have found that even just walking on carpet can pump pathogenic microorganisms back into the air, and so does the increased airflow velocity created by any vacuum cleaner. If pathogens are on your mind, buy a bagged machine.
