Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum, 280AW, 3 Power Modes, Up to 70 Minutes,² Illumination Reveals dust, HEPA Filtration, All Floor Types

Why it's worth it

The Gen5detect is Dyson's strongest cordless vacuum, rated at 262 Air Watts with up to 70 minutes of run time. Its piezo sensor counts dust particles down to sub-micron sizes, and angled illumination pulls invisible grit on hard floors into plain view.

This is the most cleaning power Dyson puts in a cordless machine. At 262 Air Watts by Dyson's specs, it's the strongest cordless the company has released. That matters most if you have thick carpet, a shedding dog, or both. Owners who moved up from a V8 or a V15 consistently describe the jump in pickup as obvious on the first pass, and the run time stretches to about 70 minutes in the lowest mode.

Dyson swapped the acoustic sensor from the V15 Detect for a piezo sensor here. CNET describes it as far more sensitive, detecting particles down to sub-micron levels. In practice that means the on-screen bars react faster and more precisely to what you're picking up, so you know when a spot is actually clean instead of guessing. It's a small thing that changes how you vacuum a room.

From our review of 8 dyson vacuums

What we like

• +This is the most cleaning power Dyson puts in a cordless machine
• +Dyson swapped the acoustic sensor from the V15 Detect for a piezo sensor here
• +The trigger is gone, replaced by a power button you press once
• +Filtration is the reason allergy sufferers should look here first

What to know

• –It's heavy. At 7.6 pounds, this is a lot of vacuum to hold at chest height, and the complaint shows up over and over in owner…
• –It's also the most expensive Dyson cordless here, and the running costs stack up