Which Dyson vacuum model 2026 is the best?

It’s one of the most expensive models for a reason, and comes with more accessories than any other model. I find myself regularly grabbing the Fluffy Optic head to clean my hardwood floors, which cover many square feet in my home. If you are really looking to spend on the best vacuum cleaner, this is still the place to get it.

The only downside is compatibility with larger Dyson accessories, namely the mop head or docking station. It doesn’t have a Submarine option like the V16 or V15, and Dyson’s Auto-empty Dok won’t work with this model. But if you’re not worried about extra functionality, this is the vacuum to buy. It has had better sales since the launch of the new models as well.

Runner-up

The V16 Piston Animal’s powerful 315-watt air intake performed well in almost every test. My only issue with this vacuum compared to the Gen5Detect is that it was more likely to push small debris (in my tests, both sand and trash) into a pile in front of itself if you were vacuuming a large spot. The Gen5Detect performed better everywhere, but the V16 Piston Animal kept close to those hiccups.

It’s a powerful all-around vacuum with some great design upgrades to make it easier to use. This newer model has a release tool under the vacuum motor to release the vacuum head without having to bend down, and built-in crevice tools for both the handheld motor and the long wand that makes up the middle of the device. There’s also a compressor to help get dust out of the bin, and it will be compatible with Dyson’s upcoming self-emptying docking station. There’s also a Submarine version ($1,100) so you can use this vacuum as a mop too.

It has some great quality of life upgrades, but it’s really expensive. I recommend it if you know you also want to invest in a mop head and docking station; Otherwise, just get Gen5Detect.

One of the overall best performers is almost half the price of the winners. The Dyson V10 Konical never scored last place, and was particularly comfortable to use on carpets and rugs with its new cleaning head design. It performed much better than the more expensive and powerful Gen5Detect and V15 Detect when vacuuming sand, and I found it more comfortable to push than the Digital Motorbar head on the V15 and V8 when it came to vacuuming low-pile carpet.