Best Dyson Vacuums (2026): V15 Detect, Gen5Detect, PencilVac

Nena Farrell GearJul 31, 2026 8:01 AMThe Best Dyson VacuumsFeeling the pull of a new clean machine? We’ll help you make sense of Dyson’s whirlwind vacuum lineup.CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFeatured in this articleThe Best Dyson VacuumDyson Gen5DetectRead more$1,050 $800 (24% off) AmazonThe Best Affordable DysonDyson V10 KonicalRead more$500 $400 (20% off) DysonMost Powerful (and Most Accessories)Dyson V16 Piston AnimalRead more$980 $850 (13% off) AmazonAn Older, Still-Great VacDyson V15 DetectRead more$850 Best BuyShopping for the best Dyson vacuum can feel like you’ve been sucked into one. Between Dyson's massive new lineup and the dizzying array of models you can find on sale, it feels exhausting to keep up with which model is worth the price tag. But as someone who tests vacuums for a living, I can tell you getting a Dyson is well worth the splurge for several homes and use cases.I've tested all the latest Dyson models side by side to find out which ones are worth investing in. After all the new models arrived earlier this year, the best vacuum turns out to be the Dyson Gen5Detect ($949) followed by the Dyson V16 Piston Animal ($850). If you're looking for the best bang for your buck, the Dyson V10 Konical ($500) has less power but scored above other models with similar or more power in my tests.Read on to find out how each Dyson vacuum did in tests against sand on my rug, piles of litter on my hard floors, and overall results of vacuuming the three stories of my home. Don't miss my other vacuum guides if you don't find the best one for you here: I also cover cordless vacuums, robot vacuums, car vacuums, and the best vacuums ever.Updated July 2026: I've updated this guide with a new top pick, the Dyson Gen5Detect, and the V10 Konical and V16 Piston Animal as additional picks. There are also new notes on the V8 Cyclone and the V15 Detect after the latest round of testing.Jump to SectionAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronComparing Our Favorite Dyson VacuumsMeet Dyson's 2026 LineupMore Good Dyson VacsWhat Does Dyson’s Terminology Mean?What Are the Dyson Accessory Bundles?What About Replacement Parts?How Do You Clean a Dyson Vacuum?How Do You Set Up a Dyson Mount?The Best Dyson VacuumPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellCourtesy of Best BuyChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistDysonGen5Detect$1,050 $800 (24% off) Amazon$1,050 WayfairDyson's most powerful stick vacuum is the Dyson Gen5Detect. It's been our top pick for pet hair since it does a fantastic job deep cleaning and has a HEPA filter that Dyson says traps 99.99 percent of particles down to 0.1 microns. After side-by-side testing against Dyson's new vacuums and our longtime favorite, the V15 Detect, the Gen5Detect came out with the best score.The Gen5Detect scored the highest out of all five Dyson vacuums I tested it with (the V16 Piston Animal, V15 Detect, V10 Konical, and V8 Cyclone) in vacuuming up Cheerios on carpet, cat litter on hard floors, and general vacuuming in both vacuum mode and handheld mode. It didn't do as well vacuuming sand on a thin rug, but when I moved to a thicker rug, it got all of the sand in a single sweep. You can really feel the suction in action on this vacuum—it packs 262 air watts (AW) and has a motor that reaches 35,000 revolutions per minute (rpm).It comes with the Digital Motorbar cleaner head for carpets, and you can use it on hard floors too, but Gen5Detect also comes with the Fluffy Optic cleaner head that has fluffy roller bars made to pick up dust and debris off wood and similar flooring. The Fluffy Optic head has a bright laser, too, making it easy to spot debris you need to vacuum over. Gen5's laser is twice as bright, so it's easier to spot dust and debris. Overall, it's a fantastic, powerful vacuum and worth investing in if you've got pets or want to get the overall best experience when shopping for a new Dyson vacuum.The only thing it doesn't have that Dyso