I tried out the V16 Piston Animal - Dyson's latest, most high-tech vacuum

Price on writing: £750 | Buy now from Argos

Our verdict

• Performance: 12/15

• Quality and durability: 14/15

• Ease of use: 12/15

• Value for money: 8/15

• Suction power: 8/10

• Battery life: 9/10

• Versatility: 8/10

• Ease of emptying: 9/10

• Overall score: 80/100

Mumsnetters love a Dyson, and the V15 Detect model has long held the crown in our best vacuum cleaner guide. So when Dyson unveiled the shiny new V16 Piston Animal, I couldn’t wait to see how it compared to its much-loved predecessor.

True to form, Dyson has packed in plenty of upgrades. The V16 cordless vacuum comes with a bigger dustbin, an easier emptying system, clever anti-hair-tangle tech, and a longer-lasting battery. Best of all? You no longer have to keep the trigger pressed down while you clean - a small but very welcome change.

However, there are still some areas where the V15 Detect wins. The V16 is heavier and pricier, and the older model is easier to manoeuvre around the house. And while the V16 boasts an impressive 900w motor and 315 Air Watts of suction (compared with the V15’s 240 Air Watts), it didn’t actually perform as well as the V15s in our cereal spill test. That's not to say the V16 isn't powerful, though - the suction is still top-tier and highly impressive.

Bottom line: if you want the easier, more user-friendly option for everyday cleaning, the V15 still edges it. But if you want cutting-edge tech, extra capacity, and a vacuum that tackles hair like no other, the V16 is an excellent - albeit premium - choice.

At a glance comparison: V16 vs V15

What's in the box?

Inside the Dyson V16 Piston Animal box, you'll find:

• Dyson V16 Piston Animal main unit

• All Floors Cones™ sense cleaner head

• Hair Screw Tool 2.0

• Combi Tool

• Crevice Tool

• Wall Dock

• Charger
  

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How easy is the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Vacuum to set up?

Unboxing the V16, I was struck by how sleek it looked - no vacuum cleaner has any right to look that luxurious! It was also very simple to start using. After a full charge, it was ready to go.

Dyson recommends downloading the app and connecting via Bluetooth - it's the brand's first stick model to have this capability. I tried it out, and while the maintenance alerts and session data could be handy, it does feel a little gimmicky for a stick vacuum. For a robot vacuum, sure. For this? Nice-to-have, but definitely not essential.

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How easy is the Dyson V16 Vacuum Cleaner to use day-to-day?

The LCD screen gives you real-time feedback so you can see how much you're picking up

I was pleased to spot some thoughtful updates compared to the older Dyson V15 Detect and V15s Submarine models (which are essentially identical, save for a mop head that comes with the latter). The most notable change - and one I really appreciated - is that you no longer have to keep your finger clamped down on a trigger to power the vacuum. Instead, the V16 has a standard on/off button, which makes longer cleaning sessions more comfortable.

Another improvement is the bin. With a 1.3-litre capacity, it’s almost double the size of the V15’s (0.77L) and one of the largest I’ve seen on a cordless stick vacuum. Better still, there’s a clever lever inside the bin (pictured below) that compresses dust and debris to create extra space. Dyson claims it can hold up to 30 days of dust before needing an empty, but in all honestly, I think that's a bit of a stretch. Still, it definitely meant fewer trips to the bin than the V15, and how quickly it collects dust is a testament to its powerful suction.

The Dyson V16's dust compression lever (left) and green laser light (right) in action

The payoff for those extra features, however, is weight. The V16 is noticeably heavier and more top-heavy than the V15 Detect (3.4kg vs 2.96kg). At 5ft 2, I did find the V16 slightly awkward to manoeuvre between cleans at full height, and the handle rubbed on my wrist during longer cleaning sessions (I had this problem with the V15s Submarine too). Once I was actually cleaning, though, I didn’t notice it as much, and it slid easily under low-lying furniture like sofas and bookcases.

As for attachments, you get a useful selection of tools in the box, and I put all of them to the test. At first, I struggled to detach them (a user error on my part - I was pressing the wrong release lever), but once I figured it out, swapping heads was simple and quick, though the main pole was a little stiff to remove. For extra versatility, it also easily transforms into a handheld vacuum, though it does feel a bit heavy compared to some standalone hand vacs.

And, of course, the signature green laser light is back, projecting across the floor to reveal every last speck of dust. I’ll admit it’s slightly horrifying to see just how much invisible fluff is lurking in the corners, but also weirdly satisfying to watch it vanish and properly witness the Dyson in action.

How well does the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Vacuum perform on hard floors?

Really well. During testing, it had no problem picking up dust, dander, dirt, coffee grounds, and bits of food I'd accidentally dropped (how do frozen peas get everywhere?).

In my cereal test, where I scattered cornflakes on my tiles and laminate floors, it picked the bulk up straight away. Occasionally, a few small bits of cereal were pushed forward by the floor head, but it sucked most up in a single pass.

It's not perfect though; the floor head has a domed design, with only the central point able to get right up to edges. This meant it struggled to get into the gaps under very low kitchen cupboards, but the crevice tool stepped in nicely for those spots.

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How well does the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Vacuum Cleaner perform on carpets?

Dyson V15s Submarine (left) and Dyson V16 (right) results in my cereal spill test

Performance on carpets was also good, though I preferred the V15s in this area. In my cereal test on hard floors, there wasn't much difference between the V15s and V16 - however, when I did it on a rug, the V15 picked everything up in a single sweep, whereas the V16 left a few flakes behind.

The V16 is still a powerful vacuum and performs really well, of course, but I was expecting it to excel in this area over the V15s. In truth, I think the V15's suction power is just that good - it’s probably spoilt me a bit!

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How does the Dyson V16 Piston Animal perform on hair?

The brush bar after two weeks of testing (left) and the 'hairball' anti-tangle feature (right)

This is one of the V16’s standout areas. Unlike most vacuums where long strands get tangled around the brush bar, the Dyson essentially rolls them into a neat ‘hairball’ that gets sucked straight into the bin. It’s strangely satisfying to see the clump appear, and it worked with lots of my long hair, which I scattered from my hairbrush during testing. Only one rouge strand remained stuck on the roller after two weeks of testing, and this was barely noticeable.

I didn't try the V16 in a house with pets, but I imagine this would be a game changer if you have long-haired pooches - especially if you're fed up of having to manually cut hair from the brush bar.

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How is the Dyson V16 Piston Animal's battery life?

The battery life is great for a cordless vacuum, and it's a noticeable improvement on the V15. There's three modes to choose between: eco, auto and boost. The latter is the most powerful of the three, but use it sparingly as it's the biggest battery drainer.

It can run for up to 70 minutes on eco (vs. 60 minutes from the V15). Realistically though, you're looking at more like 40 minutes of run time on auto mode, which cleverly switches between eco and boost depending on dirty your floors are. This was more than sufficient to get around my spacious two-bedroom flat, including a spruce up of my sofa and mattress, and still have some battery remaining. For comparison, I got about 30 minutes runtime out of the V15s Submarine on this mode.

The charge time is decent too, taking around three and a half hours (an hour less than the V15).

How easy is it to empty the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Vacuum Cleaner?

Very easy. In fact, it’s the simplest emptying process I’ve tried on a bagless vacuum. The one-touch mechanism really does live up to its name - debris shoots straight into the bin, and thanks to the compression lever you can wiggle out any stubborn clumps without reaching inside. You do need to give the bin a wipe every so often though to get rid of lingering dust and residue like flour.

Maintenance is refreshingly easy too. The redesigned brush bar and anti-tangle tech meant I didn’t have to cut hair out of the roller during testing.

Does the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Vacuum Cleaner offer good value for money?

The Dyson V15s Submarine (left) next to the Dyson V16 (right)

At £750, the V16 Piston Animal is undeniably expensive - £250 more than the original V15 - but you do get some worthwhile upgrades. The larger capacity, proper on/off button, and impressive hair pickup all make it feel like a more refined machine. That said, the V15 is still Mumsnet's top vacuum pick thanks to its ease of use and excellent suction power.

The V16 is best suited to those who love high-tech appliances, have pets or long hair clogging up their current vacuum, or want the biggest dustbin capacity possible in a cordless. If that sounds like you (and budget isn’t an issue), it’s a great choice, but the V15 is still worth a look too.

How we tested

I tested the Dyson V16 Piston Animal in my home in Hertfordshire. I tested it over a period of two weeks, using it most days - and sometimes multiple times a day! I cross-compared it to other cordless vacuums I've tried, including the V15s Detect Submarine, and also the original V15 Detect model, which my colleague Poppy O'Neill tested out.

The V16 was then scored against MNHQ’s core home review criteria (each marked out of 15):

• Performance

• Quality and durability

• Ease of use

• Value for money

I also rated it out of 10 for these product-specific measures:

• Suction power

• Battery life

• Versatility

• Ease of emptying

These results were then combined to give an overall score out of 100.

About the author

Natasha Gregson is Mumsnet’s go-to expert on all things home related, overseeing all content related to vacuum cleaners, steam mops, and floor care. As Senior Content Editor, she leads the site’s coverage on the best cleaning appliances for family homes, from cordless vacuums to smart floor-cleaning tech.

With years of editorial experience and a sharp eye for testing performance, ease of use and value, Natasha ensures every recommendation is backed by real-life insight and rigorous research. Her work has also appeared in national outlets such as The i Paper and Stylist Magazine.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after extensive research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

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