Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine Review: Powerful but Pricey

Nena Farrell GearJul 28, 2026 5:31 AMReview: Dyson V16 Piston Animal SubmarineThe Dyson V16 Piston Animal comes with a new style of vacuum cleaner head, but the return of the Submarine option is what makes me really like this vacuum.Courtesy of DysonTriangleUpBuy NowMultiple Buying Options Available$980 $850 at Amazon$1,100 at Amazon (Submarine)$980 $850 at Dyson$1,100 at Dyson (Submarine)CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyRating:7/10Open rating explainerInformationWIREDComes with two cleaner heads, or three if you upgrade to the Submarine variant. Has crevice tools built into the wand and handheld motor. Packs 315 AW of suction.TIREDHigher suction doesn't make a crazy impact on regular vacuuming. Submarine head is also an add-on accessory, and it doesn't come with Dyson's cleaning solution.Dyson's newest headliner is here: the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, along with a Submarine version that includes a wet cleaner head. The V16 is now Dyson’s most powerful stick vacuum, unseating the Gen5Detect ($840), which held that title since 2023. This new model reports 315 air-watts (AW) of power, which is a big step up from the Gen5's 262 AW. The latest update also includes a new style of cleaner head designed for vacuuming both soft and hard floors—the All Floor Cones Sense cleaner head—which expertly tackled all floor types and debris during my testing. But is newer and more powerful always better? While the Dyson V16 is an all-around great vacuum, I’m not sold on that being the case.With the new cleaner head, the Submarine variant for mopping, plus the Fluffy Optic head for hard floors, the V16 has better cleaning options than any other vacuum from the brand. But the older Gen5Detect still holds up against the V16—and will cost you much less. Ultimately, the V16 Piston Animal is the vacuum to get if you really want all of the add-ons and power. But if you just want a great Dyson vacuum, there are plenty of cheaper options.New Vac on the BlockPhotograph: Nena FarrellThe Dyson V16 Piston Animal (and its Submarine variant, the model I'm testing) arrives five years after the previous model in its line, the V15 Detect. The V16’s “Animal” designation—a term long associated with Dyson—refers to the Piston’s specialized hair-screw attachment for cleaning pet hair. Its biggest change, though, is its new All Floor Cones Sense cleaner head that adapts to different types of flooring, responding in about a second when you switch from hard floors to carpet or a rug.Dyson V16 Piston AnimalRating: 7/10$980 $850 at Amazon$1,100 at Amazon (Submarine)$980 $850 at Dyson$1,100 at Dyson (Submarine)You’ll know it recognizes the surface correctly because on hard floors a green dust light turns on, and on soft floors, you’ll hear the suction power increase. This function worked well for me as I moved around between rugs and hard floors in my home. I also tested how well the vacuum could handle various debris I put in its path, but the All Floor Cones Sense head didn't always outperform the older Motorbar head.Photograph: Nena FarrellThe Piston has Eco, Auto, and Boost modes. During testing, Auto mode adjusted based on the debris it sensed for either hard or soft flooring. You can control these modes using the silver button on the built-in LCD screen. Notably, Dyson released three new stick vacuum models this summer (the V10 Konical and the V8 Cyclone also dropped in June), and the Piston is the only one with a screen.Among its other highlights, the V16 also has two built-in crevice tools: one at the end of the handheld motor and another at the end of the detachable wand. These tools are shorter and wider than the crevice attachment head that you’ll also get with this vacuum, but the built-in capability is handy for addressing a specific spot quickly, without needing to hunt down all of your accessories.There's a dust-compactor tool built into the dust bin, which aims to help you get out the debris. But I still had to grab