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Dyson V15 vs. V10

Derek Hales

Written By: Derek Hales

Updated on:

The Dyson V15 & V10 are powerful stick vacuums from Dyson’s V Series lineup. They are cordless, lightweight, and have long run times.

Check out our full head-to-head of Dyson V15 vs. V10 for the full run-down here.

Dyson V15 Detect
Dyson V15 Detect
  • Suction: 230 AW
  • Run Time: ~60 mins.
  • Dustbin: 0.77 L
  • Weight: 6.8 lbs.
  • Cleaning: 99%
Dyson V10
Dyson V10
  • Suction: 140 AW
  • Run Time: ~60 mins.
  • Dustbin: 0.77 L
  • Weight: 5.9 lbs.
  • Cleaning: 99%

Table of Contents

🧪 Performance

For starters, lets hit on one of the most important aspect of any vacuum cleaner—how well does it perform?

Dyson V10 (top) vs. V15 (bottom)
Dyson V10 (top) vs. V15 (bottom)

To fully assess performance we look at a number of different factors and separate performance into three distinct tests.

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

Cleaning Performance

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

ModelOverallHardwoodsLow CarpetHigh Carpet
Dyson V1599%100%99%99%
Dyson V1099%99%99%100%

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)
Cleaning test debris types
Testing Debris – From left to right: Rice (3 oz.), Kitty Litter (3 oz), Cereal (1 oz), Sugar (3 oz)

Overall Cleaning Scores

V15

99%

V10

99%

Dyson V15 Cleaning Performance

The Dyson V15 did great on all three floor types, collecting between 99-100% of the debris we tested. Overall, these results were fantastic and a great show of the power of the V15.

Hardwoods

100%

Low Pile Carpet

99%

High Pile Carpet

99%

For all tests, we used a mix of the soft Fluffy roller cleaning head and the High Torque cleaning head.

Dyson V15 hardwood floor tests
Dyson V15 hardwood floor tests

One observation we noticed when cleaning carpet is that the suction power of the V15 was too much in some cases. Too much suction makes it difficult for the V15 to get on top of certain debris, mainly dry cereal and some of the rice.

Dyson V15 Low Pile Carpet Tests
Dyson V15 Low Pile Carpet Tests

By switching between Eco Mode and Boost Mode, we were able to vary the suction enough to achieve that optimal clean.

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

Dyson V10 Cleaning Performance

The Dyson V10 was also a strong performer on all floor types, ranging between 99-100% for all debris types.

Hardwoods

99%

Low Pile Carpet

99%

High Pile Carpet

100%

For our hardwood floor tests we used the soft roller head. And for the carpet tests we used the Torque Drive cleaning head.

Dyson V10 hardwood floor cleaning tests
Dyson V10 cleaning performance tests

And as a special note, we did not notice the same suction power issue that we noted on the V15. Max suction power is notably less (140 AW max compared to 230 AW max), but was still more than sufficient to clean the area we tested

Dyson V10 low carpet cleaning test
Dyson V10 low carpet cleaning tests

MORE: Click here to see full cleaning tests of the Dyson V10.

Motor Performance

Both the V15 and the V10 have strong motors, which spin at up to 125,000 RPM. This is more than the V8’s 110,000 RPM.

While the RPMs are the same, the suction is different. The V15 is capable of generating 230 air watts of suction power. While the V10 caps out at 140 AW.

Dyson V15

230 AW

Dyson V10

140 AW

Run Time Performance

The manufacturer puts run times for the V15 and V10 to be around 60 minutes. Each of these models comes with a single battery.

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

In addition to the battery, there is another big factor that comes into play here and that’s the cleaning mode.

Dyson V10 (left) vs. V15 (right)
Dyson V10 (left) vs. V15 (right)

Both the V15 and V10 have 3 different modes they can operate in:

  1. Eco
  2. Auto
  3. Boost

How are they different?

  • 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

To further test the run time, we ran each vacuum until the battery was fully drained on each cleaning mode. Here is how long each vacuum lasted on all three modes:

Dyson V15

  • Eco: 68:30 mins
  • Auto: 45:30 mins
  • Boost: 8:55 mins

Dyson V10

  • Eco: 49:40 mins
  • Auto: 26:50 mins
  • Boost: 5:30 mins

These run time tests were completed using all available suction levels and using the primary multi-surface cleaning head.

When the battery is depleted, both models will take about 4.5 hours to fully charge.

🧬 Design

The Dyson V15 and V10 have a number of similarities concerning design, but also some pretty big differences as well. For starters, let’s talk about the similarities.

Similarities include:

  • 2-in-1 stick vac or handheld
  • Quick-release attachment system
  • Trigger on/off system
  • 3 Modes: Eco, Auto, and Boost
  • Assortment of tools and attachments
  • Washable filter
  • 60-minute run time
  • Dust bin capacity

Differences include:

  • Digital display
  • Piezo sensor
  • Cleaning heads
  • Suction power
  • Click-in battery

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

#1. Digital Display

The Dyson V15 comes with an advanced digital display on the back of the in-hand unit, but the V10 does not have any digital display at all.

There are a few LED lights on the side of the V10 that can display simple alerts like blockages, filter replacement status, and three lights to indicate battery charge.

Flashing lights on the Dyson V10 stick vacuum

The display on the V15 communicates the following:

  • Cleaning mode
  • Estimated remaining run time
  • Maintenance alerts
  • Particulate data
Dyson V15 display screen
Dyson V15 display screen

What is particulate data?

The information about particulate size and count is included on the back of the display. It uses an onboard sensor to determine what size of particles are on the floor and need cleaning.

Particles are organized into four different color columns.

Dyson V15 display
Dyson V15 display

The Dyson V15 Detect is the only Dyson model currently on the market that offers this feature.

#2. Piezo Sensor

The display is able to show this particuate date thanks to an onboard Piezo sensor. This sensor looks for data on particle size as it cleans.

Dyson V15 particle sensor
Dyson V15 particle sensor

As larger or smaller particles are detected, the V15 can send signals to the cleaning head, which automatically adjusts the suction power to accommodate variable debris types.

The V10 does not have this onboard Piezo sensor feature.

#3. Cleaning Heads

Dyson V15

Includes:

  • High Torque 2.0
  • Laser Slim Fluffy

Dyson V10

Includes:

  • Torque Drive
  • Fluffy

When it comes to cleaning heads, the V15 is the clear winner.

Dyson V10 (left) vs. V15 (right) cleaning heads
Dyson V10 (left) vs. V15 (right) cleaning heads

While both models come with two cleaning heads, the V15 has improvements on both cleaning heads.

How do they compare?

High Torque 2.0 vs. Torque Drive

Dyson V15 High Torque head
Dyson V15 High Torque cleaning head
Motorized brushroll attached to the wand on the Dyson V10
Dyson V10 Torque Drive cleaning head

The High Torque cleaning head uses a dual-rubberized and bristle spiral brushroll with anti-tangle polycarbonate teeth on the front of the brushroll.

This is only on the V15 Detect model.

The Torque Drive cleaning head is a less advanced version of the High Torque head. It lacks the polycarbonate teeth for resisting tangles, but does use the combination of soft bristles and rubberized roller.

This is only on the V10 Animal and V10 Absolute model.

Lastly, the Direct Drive cleaning head is an even more basic multi-floor cleaning head than the Torque Drive. This is only included on the V10 Motorhead model.

Laser Slim Fluffy vs. Fluffy (standard)

Dyson V15 laser
Dyson V15 Laser Slim Fluffy cleaning head
Dyson soft roller brush cleaning head
Dyson V19 Fluffy cleaning head

The Laser Slim Fluffy cleaning head is a more low-profile head designed for sweeping hard surface flooring, like hardwoods, tile, or vinyl flooring.

It includes a laser, which reflects a green light onto the floor, making it easier to see small debris and particulate.

This is included with the V15 Detect model.

Dyson V15 laser under lit conditions
Dyson V15 laser under lit conditions
Dyson V15 laser in the dark
Dyson V15 laser in the dark

The Fluffy cleaning head on the V10 is more basic, but still great for cleaning hard surface flooring. It lacks the laser light and isn’t quite as low profile as the head on the V15 Detect.

This is included with the V10 Absolute only (not on the Animal or Motorhead).

#4. Suction Power

The motors on the V15 and V10 are capable of generating a maximum suction power of 230 AW and 140 AW, respectively.

Dyson V15

230 AW

Dyson V10

140 AW

Even though the V15 offers more suction, it wasn’t better in terms of cleaning performance. The V10 still had plenty of suction to clean up all of the debris we tested and end up with virtually identical testing scores as the V15.

Size & Dimensions

Dyson V15

  • Length: 49.6″
  • Width: 9.8″
  • Height: 10.3″
  • Weight: 6.8 lbs.

Dyson V10

  • Length: 49.2″
  • Width: 9.8″
  • Depth: 10.3″
  • Weight: 5.9 lbs.

Size-wise, the V10 is slightly smaller and lighter than the V15, but the differences are honestly negligible.

Dyson V10 (left) vs. V15 (right)
Dyson V10 (left) vs. V15 (right)

Accessories & Parts

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

There is currently only one version of the Dyson V15:

The Dyson V10 is offered in three different models:

  • Dyson V10 Absolute – comes with the most accessories
  • Dyson V10 Animal – comes with accessories designed for pet owners
  • Dyson V10 Motorhead – comes with a basic set of accessories

Dyson V15

Dyson V15 tools, accessories, & attachments

Includes:

  • Wand (with wand clip)
  • 2.0 High Torque cleaning head
  • Laser Slim Fluffy cleaning head (advanced)
  • Hair screw tool
  • Combination tool
  • Crevice tool
  • Soft dusting brush
  • Stubborn dirt brush
  • Wall Mount
  • Click-in Battery
  • Charger

Dyson V10

Accessories included with the Dyson V10

Includes:

  • Wand (with wand clip)
  • Torque Drive cleaning head or Direct Drive cleaning head
  • Fluffy cleaning head (standard)
  • Mini motorized tool (not included with V10 Motorhead)
  • Combination tool
  • Crevice tool
  • Soft dusting brush (not included with V10 Motorhead)
  • Wall Mount
  • Charger

Tools & Attachments Explained

Here’s a rundown of common parts and accessories:

Wand

Dyson wand for stick vacuums

The wand of each vacuum is generally a different color from other models or sub-model variants. Dyson uses variations in color to distinguish different types of vacuums.

*Included on all V15 and V10 models

High Torque 2.0

Dyson V15 High Torque head

The second version of the High Torque cleaning head is similar to the 1.0 version (as seen on the V11), but now also includes polycarbonate teeth to help prevent hair tangles.

*Included on the V15 only

Torque Drive

Dyson Torque Drive Cleaning Head for V10 vacuum

This is a more basic version of the High Torque cleaning head. It is a little simpler and does not include the polycarbonate teeth, but is still a solid option for multi-floor cleaning.

*Included on the V10 Absolute or Animal only

Direct Drive

Dyson Direct Drive Cleaning head for V6, V7, and V8 vacuums

This is the most basic multi-floor cleaning head currently on the market. It is found on the V6, V7, V8, and V10 Motorhead.

*Included on the V10 Motorhead only

Laser Slim Fluffy

Dyson V15 Fluffy soft cleaning head

The newer Fluffy cleaning head has a more low-profile brushroll, which is also washable. It incorporates a laser that shines on the floor to help reveal particles that need to be cleaned.

*Included on the V15 only

Hair Screw Tool

Dyson V15 Hair Screw tool

As a replacement to the mini-motorized brush, the V15 includes a Hair Screw tool. This tool has the same basic function, but uses a tapered screw design to better pull hair into the system and prevent tangles.

*Included on the V15 only

Mini Motorized Brush

Dyson V11 Mini Motorized tool

The mini motorized brush is a smaller version of a spiral bristle cleaning head and uses a small motor to spin an internal brushroll and capture debris.

*Included on the V10 Absolute or Animal only

Combination Tool

Dyson V11 combination brush

Both the V15 and V10 models all include the combination tool. This add-in has a wide-mouth crevice tool as well as a soft dusting brush combined into a single tool.

*Included on all V15 and V10 models

Crevice Tool

Dyson V15 crevice tool

The traditional crevice tool is a bit narrower and with a longer neck for getting into more hard-to-reach spaces.

*Included on all V15 and V10 models

Dusting Brush

Dyson V15 dusting brush

Both the V10 and V15 come with a soft dusting brush as well. This brush is larger than the dusting surface on the combination tool and has longer bristles as well.

*Included on V10 Absolute, V10 Animal, and V15 only

Dirt Brush

Dyson V15 Stubborn dirt brush

The stubborn dirt brush has much stiffer bristles than the dusting brush and is useful to break apart stubborn dirt from dense carpet fibers or ground-in debris.

*Included on the V15 only

Wall Mount

Dyson wall mount
Dyson wall mount

There are slight variations on the design of each wall mount, but each one is designed to screw into a wall for hanging your vacuum (since the V Series vacs cannot stand on their own). In addition, each mount can hold up to two tools on the bottom.

*Included on all V15 and V10 models

Click-In Battery

Click-in battery for the Dyson V11

The V15 comes with a click-in battery which makes it a little easier to charge the vacuum. The battery on the V10 is not removable.

*Included on the V15 only

Charger

Dyson V15 charger

The charger is designed to plug into the click-in battery directly or into the body of the unit.

*Included on all V15 or V10 models

👍 Usability

The usability of the V15 and V10 is pretty similar between both models. Setup out of the box is quick and painless, taking only about 5 minutes to complete.

  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 can attach cleaning tools directly to the in-hand portion of the vacuum or use the extension wand for cleaning areas from a distance.

For stick vacuum use, attach the extension wand and then select a cleaning head. Cleaning hard surface flooring is best with the Laser Slim Fluffy on the V15 or the Soft Fluffy (standard) on the V10 Absolute.

For cleaning carpet or area rugs, I like the High Torque cleaning head on the V15, the Torque Drive on the V10 Absolute or V10 Animal, or the Direct Drive if you go with the V10 Motorhead.

Aside from the similarities during setup, there are some differences to note about each model’s overall usability.

Which model is more user-friendly?

Dyson V15

Winner

Dyson V10

Runner-up

Usability Perks of the V15:

  • Click-in battery: battery snaps into the base of the vacuum for easier charging
  • Piezo sensor: on-board sensor, which detects particulate data like amount and size of particles
  • Digital display: shows cleaning mode, estimated remaining run time, maintenance alerts, particulate data, etc.

Usability Perks of the V10:

  • Point & shoot dust bin: easy to empty; just slide the lever, release the latch, and empty debris into the trash
  • Washable Fluffy brushroll: soft roller is washable with cool water, let dry for 24 hours before using again
  • Washable filters: wash once a month in cold water and allows to air dry to extend the life of the filter

While this is a nice list of perks for the V10, I do have to add that the V15 has all of these same features as well (in addition to the separate items listed on the V10 perks list).

🔧 Maintenance

Maintenance for the V15 and the V10 is similar between both models.

Basic tasks would include:

  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

#1. Empty the dust bin

slide trigger and release debris

Emptying the V15 dust bin

#2. Wash the filter

wash about once a month

Washable HEPA filter

#3. Charge the battery

takes about 4.5 hours

Click-in battery on the Dyson V15

#4. Clear the brushroll

of any hair or tangled debris

Dyson V15 High Torque cleaner head hair removal tests

#5. Wash the brushroll

on soft roller heads only

Dyson soft roller brush cleaning head

#6. Replace battery

as needed

Dyson V Cylone Motor

📰 Specifications

SpecsDyson V15Dyson V10
TypeStickStick
ManufacturerDysonDyson
ModelV15V10
Length49.6"49.2"
Width9.8"9.8"
Depth10.3"10.3"
Weight6.8 lbs.5.9 lbs.
Floor TypeAll (indoor)All (indoor)
Dustbin Capacity0.77 L0.77 L
Click In BatteryYesNo
Run TimeUp to 60 minsUp to 60 mins
CordlessYesYes
BaglessYesYes
ReturnsVaries by retailerVaries by retailer
Warranty2 Year limited2 Year limited
PriceCheck PriceCheck Price
ReviewRead ReviewRead Review

🥇 Which Dyson is Best?

So here we are. At the end of the day, which Dyson is right for you? Should you buy the Dyson V15 Detect or go for the Dyson V10?

Dyson V15 Detect

Dyson V Detect Tn

Read Review

Dyson V10

Dyson Cyclone V Animal

Read Review

Should you buy the Dyson V15 Detect?

I would recommend the Dyson V15 Detect to people who:

  • Want particulate data: If you’re really interested in what exactly you’re cleaning, the Piezo sensor enables amazing detail in particulate data. You can see exactly what size particles you’re cleaning and how much.
  • Advanced digital display: The V15 organizes the particulate data and other details like cleaning mode, remaining run time, and maintenance alerts into the back of the vacuum itself.
  • Laser brushroll: The Laser Slim Fluffy brushroll includes the green laser light that shines on the floor and makes it easier to see small debris. For more visibility, this is a pretty unique feature to have included with a brushroll.

Click here to check the Dyson V15 price.

Should you buy the Dyson V10?

I would recommend the Dyson V10 to people who:

  • Want a good value: The price of the Dyson V10 is quite a bit lower than the price of the V15. While it does skip out on a handful of bells and whistles the V10 is still a fantastic vacuum.
  • Excellent cleaning performance: Even though the V10 has less overall suction power, the cleaning performance was still great. I was pleased to see the solid performance across all floor types and think it’s a good option for varied use.
  • Want multiple cleaning heads: Despite the lower sticker price, the V10 still comes with two cleaning heads (unless you opt for the V10 Motorhead or V10 Animal). Including multiple heads helps to bridge the gap in features between the V15 and V10.

Click here to check out the Dyson V10 price.

🔰 Dyson Comparisons

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

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

The Last Word

That’s all folks!

If you’re looking for a solid Dyson cordless stick vac, both the V15 or V10 are solid choices. Still have questions or comments? Just need some help deciding which to go for?

Please drop us a comment down below and we’d be happy to help you out.

ChangeLog

April 28, 2021 – Initial comparison published.

About Derek Hales

Derek HalesDerek Hales is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ModernCastle.com. He has been featured in Fast Company, Reader's Digest, Business Insider, Realtor.com, She Knows, and other major publications. Derek has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University. Hales has been testing and reviewing products for the home since 2014.