Head to head

Dyson V12 Detect Slim vs Dyson V15s Detect Submarine

Dyson V12 Detect Slim leads 3 to 2 on the 5 rankable specs and costs $300 less, which makes it the straightforward pick.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

Suction: Dyson V12 Detect Slim lists 150 AW (other published figure, not on maker sheet); Dyson V15s Detect Submarine lists 240 AW (other published figure, not on maker sheet).
Max runtime: Dyson V12 Detect Slim lists 60 minutes (Eco mode on hard floors) (Dyson sheet, 2026-09-02); Dyson V15s Detect Submarine lists 60 minutes (dry Eco mode) / ~30 minutes auto (Dyson sheet, 2026-09-02).
Weight: Dyson V12 Detect Slim lists 5.2 lb (2.4 kg) (Dyson sheet, 2026-09-02); Dyson V15s Detect Submarine lists 6.8 lb (3.1 kg) dry / 9.1 lb (4.1 kg) with filled Submarine wet head (Dyson sheet, 2026-09-02).
Auto suction adjust: Dyson V12 Detect Slim lists Yes (auto mode adapts to dust levels) (Dyson sheet, 2026-09-02); Dyson V15s Detect Submarine lists Yes (Auto mode reacts to dust levels on dry heads) (Dyson sheet, 2026-09-02).
Floor illumination: Dyson V12 Detect Slim lists Fluffy Optic laser on soft roller head (Dyson sheet, 2026-09-02); Dyson V15s Detect Submarine lists Fluffy Optic green laser on hard floor cleaner head (Dyson sheet, 2026-09-02).

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim

$6493 spec wins

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Dyson V15s Detect Submarine

$9492 spec wins

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Generational Upgrade Analysis

Generational Comparison

Dyson sibling models compared across generations.

Our recommendation: Compare the spec differences below to see if the price premium justifies the newer model's additions.

Buying for

Every rankable spec counts once. Pick a lens to score only what matters for your cordless vacuum.

Straight answer

Overall: 3 to 2

Buy the Dyson V12 Detect Slim.

Leads 3 of 5 rankable overall specs; Dyson V15s Detect Submarine takes 2.
Weight: 5.2 lb vs 6.8 lb
Charge time: ~4.0 hours vs 4.5 hours
It is also $300 cheaper.

3 Dyson V12 Detect Slim5 rankable of 19 specsDyson V15s Detect Submarine 2

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

No self-emptying dockrow
You empty the bin by hand after every clean.
Trips:Dyson V12 Detect Slim · Wall dock with accessory storage and ch…Trips:Dyson V15s Detect Submarine · Wall dock + drip tray for Submarine head
Warranty under 3 yearsrow
Battery packs often fade around year three.
Trips:Dyson V12 Detect Slim · 2 yearsTrips:Dyson V15s Detect Submarine · 2 years parts and labor limited warranty

At a glance

The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.

3 of 3 differ

Suction

V12 Detect Slim

150 AW

V15s Detect Submarine

240 AW

Max runtime≠

V12 Detect Slim

60 minutes (Eco mode on hard floors)

V15s Detect Submarine

60 minutes (dry Eco mode) / ~30 minutes auto

Weight

V12 Detect Slim

5.2 lb (2.4 kg)

V15s Detect Submarine

6.8 lb (3.1 kg) dry / 9.1 lb (4.1 kg) with filled Submarine wet head

True 3-Year Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Upfront price + 3 years of consumables, fees & essential add-ons

Dyson V12 Detect Slim

Upfront list price$649

3-Yr HEPA filter replacement (Every 24 months (~$18/yr avg))+$54

3-Year Estimated Total$703

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine

Upfront list price$949

3-Yr Submarine roller replacement + HEPA (Roller & filter annual upkeep (~$35/yr))+$105

3-Year Estimated Total$1,054

Under-Furniture & Maneuverability Check

Clearing low sofas, stair ergonomics, and dust cloud disposal.

Ergonomic & Spatial Check

Under-Furniture Clearance

Measures the lowest gap under beds, coffee tables, and sofas the vacuum can reach.

V12 Detect Slim

Low 3.9 in clearance (slimmest motor & Fluffy head)

V15s Detect Submarine

Standard cleaner head clearance

Dust Bin Emptying Style

Auto-empty clean stations eliminate dust clouds for allergy sufferers.

V12 Detect Slim

One-touch hygienic bin ejector (0.10 gal capacity)

V15s Detect Submarine

Manual bin latch

In-Hand Carry Weight

Lighter units drastically reduce wrist strain when cleaning stairs and high vents.

V12 Detect Slim

5.20 lb (lightest Dyson, effortless on stairs)

V15s Detect Submarine

Standard stick vacuum weight

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.

Post-Purchase Truths

V12 Detect Slim: What to watch for

Hardware Quirk
Tiny 0.10-gallon dustbin requires emptying 2–3 times per cleaning.
The compact canister fills up rapidly in homes with multiple shedding pets, interrupting cleaning flow.

V15s Detect Submarine: What to watch for

Maintenance
Washable filters must air-dry for a full 24 hours before reassembly.
Running the vacuum with a damp filter can damage the suction motor and cause musty odors, requiring an overnight wait or spare filter.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim$6493 wins

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine$9492 wins

Cleaning performance Runtime & charging Usability Filtration Kit Ownership

19 of 19 attributes differ. Identical rows are dimmed.

Cleaning performance

leads 1-0

Cleaning performance specifications. Middle column is Dyson V12 Detect Slim, right column is Dyson V15s Detect Submarine.
SuctionNot on the official sheet	150 AW	240 AW (wins this row: higher)
Auto suction adjust	Yes (auto mode adapts to dust levels)	Yes (Auto mode reacts to dust levels on dry heads)
Floor illumination	Fluffy Optic laser on soft roller head	Fluffy Optic green laser on hard floor cleaner head
Anti-tangle	Hair screw tool and Motorbar de-tangling vanes	Digital Motorbar with de-tangling hair removal vanes
Floor types	Hard floors, tiles, low/medium pile carpets	Hard floors (wet & dry), tile, laminate, area rugs, carpets
Dust / particle sensing	Piezo acoustic sensor with LCD scientific dust breakdown	Piezo sensor counts and measures dust particles

Runtime & charging

leads 1-0

Runtime & charging specifications. Middle column is Dyson V12 Detect Slim, right column is Dyson V15s Detect Submarine.
Max runtime	60 minutes (Eco mode on hard floors)	60 minutes (dry Eco mode) / ~30 minutes auto
Typical mixed-use runtimeNot on the official sheet	~25–35 minutes on auto mode	~25–35 minutes mixed cleaning
Charge time	~4.0 hours (wins this row: lower)	4.5 hours

Usability

leads 2-1

Usability specifications. Middle column is Dyson V12 Detect Slim, right column is Dyson V15s Detect Submarine.
Weight	5.2 lb (2.4 kg) (wins this row: lower)	6.8 lb (3.1 kg) dry / 9.1 lb (4.1 kg) with filled Submarine wet head
Bin capacity	0.35 L	0.77 L dry bin / 300 mL clean water tank + 360 mL dirty water tray (wins this row: higher)
NoiseNot on the official sheet	~74 dB (high) (wins this row: lower)	~76–80 dB
Display	LCD screen shows run time countdown, power mode, particle counts	LCD screen: real-time particle graph, runtime countdown, maintenance alerts

Filtration

2 differences

Filtration specifications. Middle column is Dyson V12 Detect Slim, right column is Dyson V15s Detect Submarine.
Filtration	Whole-machine filtration capturing 99.99% of microscopic particles	Advanced whole-machine filtration (captures 99.99% of particles down to 0.3 microns)
Sealed system	Yes (fully-sealed filtration)	Yes (fully sealed system)

Kit

2 differences

Kit specifications. Middle column is Dyson V12 Detect Slim, right column is Dyson V15s Detect Submarine.
Attachments	Fluffy Optic cleaner head, Motorbar head, Hair screw tool, Combination tool, Crevice tool	Submarine wet roller head, Fluffy Optic head, Digital Motorbar, Hair screw tool, Combination tool, Crevice tool
Dock	Wall dock with accessory storage and charger	Wall dock + drip tray for Submarine head

Ownership

2 differences

Ownership specifications. Middle column is Dyson V12 Detect Slim, right column is Dyson V15s Detect Submarine.
Warranty	2 years	2 years parts and labor limited warranty
Bagless	Yes	Yes (point-and-shoot hygienic bin emptying)

Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim source Dyson V15s Detect Submarine source

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

Dyson V12 Detect Slim

Lightweight 5.2 lb cordless stick vacuum with push-button power, Fluffy Optic laser head, and piezo dust sensor.

Lightweight 5.2 lb chassis with comfortable push-button power (no trigger to hold)
Fluffy Optic green illumination highlights microscopic dust on bare floors
Acoustic piezo sensor automatically increases suction in heavy dirt

What you give up

Smaller 0.35 L dustbin capacity requires more frequent emptying
Max boost runtime limited to ~7 minutes

Full Dyson V12 Detect Slim specs →

Pick this one if

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine

All-in-one wet and dry cordless vacuum featuring Submarine wet roller cleaner head for hard floor washing, Fluffy Optic illumination, and 240AW suction.

Submarine wet roller head washes tile, hardwood, and laminate with clean water extraction
Includes full dry vacuum arsenal: 240AW suction, piezo dust counter, and Fluffy Optic head
Automatically switches modes when wet roller head is attached

What you give up

Submarine wet head requires manual rinse and maintenance after washing
Heavy when water tank is full (9.1 lb wet / 6.8 lb dry)

Full Dyson V15s Detect Submarine specs →

Best for each use

Pets & carpet

Pet hair and carpet: suction, a tangle-free brush, sealed filtration

Too close to call on pets & carpet from the spec sheets. Only suction is rankable here.

Anti-tangle: Hair screw tool and Motorbar de-tangling vanes vs Digital Motorbar with de-tangling hair…
Floor types: Hard floors, tiles, low/medium pile carpets vs Hard floors

Big homes

A large home in one session: runtime, bin size, a dock that empties itself

Tied on big homes. Dyson V12 Detect Slim is cheaper.

The 2 rankable big homes specs split 1 to 1.
Saves $300 at list price.

Stairs & apartments

Stairs and apartments: light in the hand, quiet, easy to park

For stairs & apartments, buy the Dyson V12 Detect Slim.

Leads 2 of 2 rankable stairs & apartments specs.
Weight: 5.2 lb vs 6.8 lb
Noise: ~74 dB vs ~76–80 dB
It is also $300 cheaper.

Every answer above is scored from published figures. A lens uses only the rows that matter for that use, including marked rows that are not on the official sheet. Switch lenses interactively in the panel above.

Done deciding?

Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim spec sheet Dyson V15s Detect Submarine spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: Dyson V12 Detect Slim ↗ · Dyson V15s Detect Submarine ↗

Common questions

Which is cheaper, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim or the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine?

Dyson V12 Detect Slim costs $300 less at list price.

What is the biggest catch with the Dyson V12 Detect Slim or Dyson V15s Detect Submarine?

Both has this deal-breaker: no self-emptying dock. You empty the bin by hand after every clean.

Which is better for pets & carpet, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim or the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine?

Too close to call on pets & carpet from the spec sheets. Only suction is rankable here. Anti-tangle: Hair screw tool and Motorbar de-tangling vanes vs Digital Motorbar with de-tangling hair… Floor types: Hard floors, tiles, low/medium pile carpets vs Hard floors

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 19 specs tracked here, 14 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.

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Dreame Z10 Station vs Dyson V12 Detect Slim

Dreame Z10 Station vs Dyson V15 Detect Absolute