Is Dyson’s New, Nearly $1,000 Stick Vacuum Worth It? Probably Not.

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.

It’s heavy—and big. Stick vacs are supposed to be nimble and dynamic. But at almost 8 pounds, the Gen5detect feels heavy—particularly when compared with the V12 Detect Slim, which weighs just over 5 pounds. The Gen5detect’s heft is mostly thanks to its significantly larger and heavier battery and motor. Since almost all of its weight sits right below your hand and wrist, the Gen5detect is noticeably less comfortable and convenient to maneuver than its smaller cousin. At the end of a 20-minute cleaning session (forget 70 minutes!), my shoulder was sore.

The Gen5detect’s bigger size makes it less convenient to store. I keep my V12 wedged between the kitchen counter and windowsill, where I used to keep a broom. The Gen5detect wouldn’t fit in this narrow space. Also, similarly to the V12, the Gen5detect isn’t able to stand on its own.

It’s not a good choice for delicate carpets or rugs. If you have heirloom carpets or delicate rugs, you should probably skip a Dyson cordless stick vac entirely. Both the Gen5detect and the V12 pulled out a significant amount of carpet fiber from my Persian rug.

Benjamin Mini, head of the rugs and carpets department at the auction house Bonhams Skinner, advises against vacuuming vintage or antique rugs with a motorized brush roll. He pointed out that Dyson vacuums, which don’t let you turn off the brush roll, are especially problematic. “That’s like a razor, if you’ve ever seen it. It really tears into carpet,” said Mini, who recommends suction-only nozzles for delicate rugs. For carpets and rugs, we recommend a high-quality corded vacuum that allows you to turn off the brush roll.

It still comes with all the trade-offs of a stick vacuum. No cordless vacuum offers the cleaning power, versatility, and run time of a high-quality plug-in model. Cordless vacs require a decent amount of maintenance to operate well, still typically have shorter lifespans than plug-ins, and rely on toxic lithium-ion batteries. On the plus side, the Gen5detect and the V12 are covered by a two-year warranty, and Dyson offers to recycle used batteries and machines received via its six Demo Stores and its 45 service centers.

If you live in a small home with a few rugs and want nothing to do with cords, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim is still the best choice for most people. Like a peacock flaunting his beautiful feathers, the Dyson Gen5detect is impressive, but not a true high-flier. Its upgrades detract from the convenience, ease, and comfort of a leaner, meaner stick vac like the V12. The Gen5detect feels more like a full-size vac that still needs to be charged and can’t stand up on its own. But at least it’s not as noisy as a peacock.

This article was edited by Ingrid Skjong and Courtney Schley.