Are Dyson's laser vacuums worth it? The full low-down on Dyson's Detect range

Dyson comes up a lot in the conversation of the best vacuums. For good reason too: their vacuum cleaners have been at the forefront of the industry for some time now, showcasing the best tech available in the consumer world.

Their latest range, with green lasers and particle detection, takes things up another level. They're able to count how many particles are collected and detect the dust volume on your floor. It's the kind of tech that makes cleaning as easy as it's ever been.

But, naturally, this luxury comes at a cost. These are some of the best Dyson vacuum cleaners ever made, but are they worth the $600-1,000 price tag?

As Homes & Gardens' home tech editor, I've spent plenty of time testing and reviewing these vacuums, as well as comparing them against all types of other models from other brands. I use many of them in my own home on a near-daily basis, so I'm familiar with what makes a vacuum cleaner great. Here's my take on whether the Dyson laser vacuums are worth it.

What are the Dyson 'Detect' laser vacuums?

Dyson's laser vacuums all fall under the same range: the 'Detect' cordless vacuums, including the Gen5detect, the V15 Detect and the V12 Detect Slim.

All three are cordless stick vacuums, and they're (at the time of writing) priced at $950, $750 and $650 respectively, at full price. There's also a larger version of the Gen5detect, the Gen5outsize, which retails for $1,050 – making it one of the most expensive consumer vacuum cleaners in the world.

They're aptly named the detect vacuums for a few reasons. They detect your floor type and dust volume to continually adjust to the optimal suction power; they detect the number of particles vacuumed up (down to the individual particle sizes); and, they feature a floor head with a green laser that reveals hidden dust that the naked eye can't see.

The green laser is a unique feature of Dyson. For a long time many vacuum brands, notably Shark, have been building vacuum cleaners with LED headlights to better illuminate the floor, but Dyson is the only manufacturer with the precise laser that actually reveals invisible dust.

Aside from these special features, they work just like any cordless vacuum cleaner. They have a battery life of up to 60 minutes, they're detachable to allow for handheld vacuuming, and they come with an array of attachments and tools for different purposes. One of these tools is a motorized anti-tangle floor head that's ideal for carpets, furniture, and anywhere that might be hair-heavy (like a dog bed).

Are the Dyson Detect laser vacuums worth it?

We've reviewed a lot of vacuum cleaners at Homes & Gardens. And as a home tech editor, when I'm not testing or reviewing them, I'm most likely writing about them in some capacity.

With all of this experience around vacuums, I can confidently say that the Dyson Detect vacuums are the best we've ever tested. Dyson has long been the market leader in the world of vacuuming, but the Detect range takes it to the next level with unique and impressive features that other vacuums don't share.

The laser genuinely does reveal invisible dust, so much so that it's almost alarming how much lives on your floor without you knowing. The particle counter isn't the most necessary feature, but it is insightful to see how much is being picked up and to learn which parts of your home are the dirtiest.

But they wouldn't be the best on fancy features alone. These vacuums have the strongest suction power of any we've tested. We've thrown all sorts at them – dust, flour, sugar, pet hair, human hair, cereal, lentils – and they're almost always able to pick it all up in one pass.

The suction power is responsive, so it'll increase when the floors are particularly dirty or if you're on different floor types. When I visited the Dyson labs earlier this year, an engineer mentioned that it makes this detect-and-response in under a second, and when you try it out for yourself you realize just how fast it is. This feature saves you from doing repeated passes to make sure everything's been collected whilst saving battery life for when it's needed.

If you have pets, all three of the Dyson Detect vacuums excel with pet hair. We tested the V15 Detect on a dog bed and, not only did it clear away the accumulated hair and dirt, it actually restored the bed to its original color and revived the faux sherpa material.

Which Dyson Detect vacuum is best?

Deciding which is the best for you comes down to how important the price factor is. They all have the same core features, but if you go for the more expensive models, you'll get improvements like larger dustbins and longer battery life, but the cleaning performance is mostly the same.

Personally, I recommend the V12 Detect Slim. It's the most affordable at $650 and is on offer for around $400-500 pretty often. There's a slight sacrifice in dustbin capacity and battery life compared to the more expensive models but, in my opinion, it's not noticeable enough to warrant $100s more in cost. I use the V12 Detect Slim in my own home and it works flawlessly for everything I'd use a vacuum for.

For more tried-and-tested vacuum guidance, check out our expert guides on the best vacuums for pet hair and the best vacuums for hardwood floors.