Dyson V12 vs. V15

Table of Contents

• 🧪 Performance
• 🧬 Design
• 👍 Usability
• 🔧 Maintenance
• 📰 Specifications
• 🥇 Which Dyson is Best?

🧪 Performance

So right out of the gate, let’s talk about the performance. The performance of a Dyson (or really any cordless stick vacuum) is rarely one factor alone.

Instead, we look at multiple factors that work together to create a final performance score.

The three different factors we test for include:

• Cleaning Performance — how well it cleaned 4 different types of debris on three different floor types
• Motor Performance — how strong is the suction
• Run Time Performance — how long the battery lasts

Let’s run through the results and see how these two vacuums compare.

Cleaning Performance

WINNER: Dyson V15

For cleaning performance tests, we perform a total of 12 tests using four different debris types and three different flooring types.

Model	Overall	Hardwoods	Low Carpet	High Carpet
Dyson V12	98.6%	99.5%	98.5%	97.8%
Dyson V15	99%	100%	99%	99%

We test on engineered hardwoods, low pile carpet, and high pile carpet and against a mix of the following debris types:

1. Cereal (dry)
2. Rice
3. Kitty litter
4. Sugar (granulated)

Overall Cleaning Scores

Dyson V12 Cleaning Performance

The Dyson V12 has fantastic cleaning performance on all floor types. It has sufficient power and suction to clean up most messes we tested, regardless of the floor type.

The one area where the V12 struggled a little was cleaning small debris out of high pile carpet.

The max suction of the V12 is 80aW less than the max suction of the V15, giving the V15 over 50% more power than the V15.

That being said, for any of the other debris tested or floor types, the difference was negligible.

MORE: Click here to see full cleaning tests of the Dyson V12.

Dyson V15 Cleaning Performance

Testing on all three floor types, the Dyson V15 did fantastic—nearly a flawless performance. The scores were between 99-100% of all of the debris we tested.

The V15 has a number of benefits working in its favor, including increased suction, a larger dust bin, and an in-line configuration.

For these cleaning tests, we used both the soft Fluffy roller cleaning head and the High Torque cleaning head.

One quick note to mention about cleaning carpet. On our first test, we used the High Torque cleaning head on Boost Mode and it was actually a bit too much suction.

Having too much suction can create an excessive amount of pull on the carpet fibers and make it difficult for the cleaning head to get on top of large debris like cereal and rice.

The solution?

Running the V15 in Eco Mode solved this problem entirely, without sacrificing any performance.

MORE: Click here to see full cleaning tests of the Dyson V15 Detect.

Motor Performance

WINNER: Tie

Both the V12 and the V15 use rotational motors that spin quickly to generate suction power.

Both the V12 and V15 have motors that can spin at up to 125,000 RPM. This is faster than the power of older models Dysons (V8 or V6) which maxed out at a speed of 110,000 RPM.

Model	Max RPMs	Max Suction (AW)
Dyson V12	125,000 RPM	150 AW
Dyson V15	125,000 RPM	230 AW

Run Time Performance

WINNER: Tie

Both the Dyson V12 and the V15 have approximately a 60-minute run time.

According to Dyson, both the V12 and V15 have a 60-minute run time.

Both vacuums use a click-in battery and additional batteries can be purchased if you want to always have one charged and ready to go.

MORE: If you want an extra battery and twice the run time, splurge for the Dyson Outsize.

What about other cleaning modes?

The V12 and V15 both offer three different cleaning modes. Modes with stronger suction will drain the battery faster, while modes with less suction will have extended run times.

Cleaning Modes

• Eco Mode: uses the least amount of suction and generates the longest run time
• Auto Mode: varies the suction as needed, depending on floor type
• Boost mode: uses the most suction and generates the shortest run time

We put each of these modes to the test by running each vacuum in each mode with a full battery. The test is completed when the battery has no charge left.

Here are the results of our tests:

From this test, we can see that even though they both have a 60-minute run time from Dyson, the run time performance is not identical.

Even though the V15 has more suction (and needs more power to run), the battery was still about to generate a longer run time by over 17 minutes compared to the V12.

🧬 Design

The Dyson V12 and V15 have a lot of similarities that overlap between the two models, but some notable differences as well. Despite the numerical sequence, the V15 actually preceded the V12 by over a year.

• V15 launch date: March 2021
• V12 launch date: June 2022

The V15 hit the market as the most powerful lightweight cordless vacuum from Dyson to date and the V12 came on its heels as a lighter alternative and particularly aimed at pet owners.

Similarities include:

• 2-in-1 stick vac or handheld
• Quick-release attachment system
• Variable modes
• Assortment of tools and attachments
• Washable filter

Differences include:

#	Feature	Dyson V12	Dyson V15
1	Digital display	Yes	Yes
2	Piezo sensor	Yes	Yes
3	Cleaning heads	Laser Slim Fluffy+ High Torque	Laser Slim Fluffy + High Torque
4	Max Suction	150 AW	230 AW
5	Click-in battery	Yes	Yes
6	Run Time	Up to 60 mins	Up to 60 mins
7	Configuration	In-Line	In-Line
8	Dust Bin Capacity	0.38 L	0.77 L
9	On/Off Control	Button (one press ON)	Trigger (continuous hold)

Let’s dive a little deeper into the differences between these two Dyson models.

#1. Digital Display

Both the Dyson V12 and V15 come with an advanced digital display on the back of the body, and the screens are nearly identical.

Both screens allow you to access or modify:

• Cleaning mode
• Estimated remaining run time
• Maintenance alerts
• Particulate data

V12 Digital Display

V15 Digital Display

What is particulate data?

Sensors that can detect particle size and quantity are designed into the body of the V12 and the V15. The results of those readings are shown on the digital display on the back of the unit.

#2. Piezo Sensor

The ability to detect and count particulate in your debris is all thanks to a little Piezo sensor in the vacuum. Again, both the V12 and V15 have the capability to detect and remove debris at a particulate level. These two models are currently the only two Dyson vacuums that can do this.

#3. Cleaning Heads

In regards to cleaning heads, both the V12 and V15 come with two that are designed to basically do the same thing, but with different names.

High Torque 2.0 vs. Motorhead

Both of these cleaning heads use the hybrid design of a spiral bristle brushroll with rubberized components.

Laser Slim Fluffy

The Laser Slim Fluffy cleaning head comes with the V12 and the V15 Detect vacuums as well. This cleaning head is improved over the standard fluffy roller we saw with the older Dyson models.

The Laser Fluffy head has a removable brushroll that you can wash with warm water. Allow it to air dry for 24 hours and then reinstall.

#4. Suction Power

The motors on the V12 and V15 are capable of generating a maximum suction power of 230 AW and 115 AW.

While these numbers are pretty far apart, I wouldn’t say that there was a huge performance gap due to suction (at least not on our 12 cleaning tests).

Where the V15 is really going to pull ahead is pulling ultra-fine debris out of carpets. The added suction power and improved brushroll both work together to make that possible.

#5. Click-In Battery

The V12 and the V15 both use a click-in battery, which is easy to charge up and swap out (if you purchase an extra battery).

#6. Run Time

*Above run time is on Eco-mode.

According to Dyson, the V15 and the V12 have an identical 60-minute max run time, but when we ran our own tests, we found that the V15 consistently had longer performance times, on all 3 available cleaning modes.

There are a number of different factors that can affect battery life. Some of these include:

1. Flooring type
2. Suction level
3. Cleaning mode
4. Debris type
5. Attachments

#7. Configuration

Another similarity between these two models is the in-line configuration. Prior to the release of the V10, Dyson V-series vacuums had a more traditional configuration (see vacuum at the top of the image below).

Both the V12 and the V15 have an in-line configuration where the cleaning head, extension wand, and dust bin are all in a straight line. This change allows for stronger suction, a new way to empty the dust bin, and a large digital display on the back of the unit.

#8. Dust Bin Capacity

The dustbin on the V15 is larger and can hold about 1.75 cups of additional debris compared to the smaller dustbin of the V12.

#9. On / Off Control

Control is a fairly big difference between the V12 and V15. On the V12, the control is powered by an on / off button on the top of the vacuum. But on the V15, the vacuum is powered by a red trigger.

Holding the trigger down powers the vacuum and anytime you let it go, the vacuum turns off.

The benefit of the trigger is that you only use exactly how much battery you need. But the benefit of the button is that you can turn it on and not have to worry about it again. It will continue to run until you turn it off.

Size & Dimensions

The V12 and V15 are pretty comparable in size, with the V12 being slightly more low-profile and over 1.5 lbs. lighter.

Accessories & Parts

The exact list of parts and accessories can vary depending on exactly which sub-model you go with.

There are two versions of the Dyson V12:

• Dyson V12 Detect Slim
• Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute

The only difference is the included accessories. The Absolute comes with everything that the Detect Slim has, but also has three additional tools—the fabric and mattress too, up-top adapter, and a mini soft dusting brush.

There are three versions of the Dyson V15:

• Dyson V15 Detect
• Dyson V15 Detect+
• Dyson Detect Absolute

The model we reviewed in this comparison is the V15 Detect. The Detect+ has a few different accessories and a HEPA filter. The Detect Absolute has the most amount of accessories.

NOTE: The Absolute versions of the V12 and the V15 will include added bonuses and other tool attachments not found in the regular versions.

Tools & Attachments Explained

Here’s a rundown of common parts and accessories:

👍 Usability

The usability of the V12 and the V15 is basically identical between both models. Out of the box, it only takes about 5 minutes before you’re ready to start cleaning.

Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:

1. Unbox the vacuum and all parts.
2. Charge the battery prior to first use.
3. Assemble the vacuum into the desired configuration.

For handheld use, you attach cleaning tools directly to the body of the vacuum. You can also use the extension wand if you want to clean hard-to-reach spaces.

For stick vacuum use, attach the extension wand and then select a cleaning head.

Which cleaning head do I need?

• For hardwood cleaning, opt for the laser slim fluffy cleaning head.
• For carpet or area rugs, use the High Torque cleaning head (V15) or the Motorbar cleaning head (V12).

Which model is more user-friendly?

Concerning usability, both the V12 and the V15 are basically identical. They both have particle detection, 2 cleaning heads, a handful of tool attachments, and a digital display.

If you really want to slice the grain, the V15 could probably edge out the V12 by a small margin. The V15 has a hair longer run time as well as having a larger dustbin so you don’t have to empty it as often.

I will also mention again here that the V12 has an on/off button and the V15 has a continuous-hold trigger. Depending on personal preferences, you may find one or the other to be more user-friendly.

🔧 Maintenance

Maintenance for the V12 and the V15 is basically the same. This short list of tasks includes:

1. Empty the dust bin
2. Wash the filter (about once per month)
3. Charge the battery
4. Clear the brushroll of any clogs or tangles
5. Wash the Fluffy cleaning head
6. Replace the battery as needed

📰 Specifications

🥇 Which Dyson is Best?

Both the V12 and the V15 have very similar features. Think of it almost like a big brother (V15) and little brother (V12) kind of Dyson relationship.

Should you buy the Dyson V12?

I would recommend the Dyson V12 to people who:

• Want a lightweight model: If you want a lightweight Dyson, but don’t want to sacrifice the high-tech features (like particulate detection or the advanced digital display), then the V12 is a good pick.
• Excellent cleaning performance: Despite its lower suction levels, the cleaning performance of the V12 is still fantastic. The only area where it kind of struggled was cleaning small debris from high pile carpet (kind of to be expected, honestly).

Click here to check out the Dyson V12 price.

Should you buy the Dyson V15 Detect?

I would recommend the Dyson V15 Detect to people who:

• Want a larger dust bin: The dust bin of the V15 Detect is twice the size of the dustbin on the V12. To hold more debris and empty the bin less frequently, the V15 could be the better choice.
• Want longer battery life: The difference isn’t huge, but technically the V15 does offer a slightly longer battery life compared to the V12 Detect.

Click here to check the Dyson V15 price.

🔰 Dyson Comparisons

Looking for more in-depth side-by-side Dyson comparisons? See our complete list below:

• Dyson V6 vs. V7 vs. V8 vs. V10 vs. V11
• Dyson V15 vs. Outsize vs. V11 vs. V10 vs. V8
• Dyson V11 Torque Drive vs. Outsize vs. Animal vs. Outsize Origin
• Dyson V15 vs. Outsize
• Dyson V15 vs. V11
• Dyson V15 vs. V10
• Dyson V15 vs. V8
• Dyson V15 vs. V7
• Dyson V10 vs. V11
• Dyson V8 vs. V11
• Dyson V7 vs. V11
• Dyson V6 vs. V10
• Dyson V7 vs. V10
• Dyson V8 vs. V10
• Dyson V6 vs. V7
• Dyson V6 vs. V8
• Dyson V7 vs. V8
• Dyson V6 vs. V8
• Dyson Animal 2 vs. Multi Floor 2

Also see our Best Dyson vacuums guide for a broader overview of Dyson vacuums and popular models.

The Last Word

Well, that’s all we’ve got for today. Both the V12 and the V15 offer an advanced stick vacuum with advanced particle detection and an onboard digital display.

The V12 is basically a slightly smaller version of the V15 with a smaller dustbin, a lighter body, and an on / off button instead of the classic Dyson trigger.

Depending on what exactly you’re looking for, either of these models would be high-end vacuums with excellent performance.