The V15 Detect was only the beginning of Dyson arming its cordless vacuums with dust-revealing lasers.
A year after launching the V15 Detect and the Outsize Absolute, Dyson is releasing a smaller and more affordable laser-equipped cordless vacuum, the V12 Detect Slim (starting at $649), as well as the Outsize+, which is basically the same as the Outsize Absolute without the Dyson shop exclusivity and some of its cleaning heads.
Dyson's also got a new upright vacuum, the Ball Animal 3 and Ball Animal 3 Extra, but neither comes with a laser, and they need to be plugged in, which is not nearly as exciting as the cordless vacuums. Additionally, Dyson's got several new attachment heads including one called the "Awkward Gap Tool" (that's really the name) for getting into really hard-to-reach places.
Easier on the wrist —
If you've ever used Dyon's cordless vacuums, you know that they can be heavy. The canister, the motor, and the battery — they're all extra weight on your wrist and arm. For people with smaller homes or apartments or anyone who doesn't need the capacity of the V15 Detect, the V12 Detect Slim might be a better fit.
In addition to the smaller canister, the V12 Detect Slim is Dyson's first cordless vacuum cleaner to swap the trigger for a power button on top of the motor. With a button, you don't need to constantly pause and resume pulling the trigger, which should mean less hand fatigue. Battery life for the V12 Detect Slim is identical to the V15 Detect, according to Dyson: 60 minutes.
Mostly same features as the V15 Detect —
While the green laser serves the same purpose on the V12 Detect Slim as it does on the V15 — to reveal microscopic dust and dirt particles as you vacuum — the V12 Detect isn't quite as a powerful. Dyson's comparisons are kinda not the most useful, comparing the suction power for its laser-equipped cordless vacuums to the V8 (released in 2016).
Per Dyson's specs, the V12 Detect Slim has 30 percent more suction than the V8. The suction on the V15 is 100 percent more than on the V8. And the suction on the Outsize+ is 90 percent more than the V8.
Other than the bin size, suction power, and auto floor-detection suction, the V12 Detect also has the V15's auto suction for dust level, LCD screen, and it comes with two de-tangling heads.
The big boy —
The Outsize+ is if you want the largest canister on a laser-equipped Dyson vacuum. While the battery life is double the V12 Detect Slim and V15, the Outsize+ does come with two concessions: There's no LCD screen and it doesn't adapt suction based on dust level. For the extra bin space and longer battery life, you also pay extra: $949.
Laser family price —
Here's how Dyson's entire family of laser vacuums stack up on pricing:
- Dyson V12 Detect Slim: $649
- Dyson V15 Detect: $749
- Dyson Outsize+: $949
The wired ball vacuum —
Dyson's cordless vacuums are the future, but there's still demand for its upright, wired vacuums. So Dyson's got a new one, the Animal 3 ($399) and Animal 3 Extra ($499) for those dinos.
The design and suction power are basically unchanged from the Animal 2, but the cleaner head now comes with the same de-tangling in the above cordless vacuums. It's a small change, but the conical design will make it easier to suck up pet hair and fur without them getting clogged up before hitting the bin.
The Animal 3 is the basic version and the Animal 3 Extra comes with the Pet Grooming Kit ($69.99 if purchased separately) specially designed for grooming large furry animals.
"Awkward Gap Tool" —
This attachment ($49.99) works exactly like it sounds: It's for reaching into awkward places. The bendable tool bends at 22 degrees to reach into spaces between furniture; the 0.49-inch wide and 10-inch long tool is supposed to maintain suction power, according to Dyson.
Lastly, there's a new "Scratch-free Dusting Brush" ($49.99) that the company says has "8,100 ultrafine and densely packed Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) polymer filaments, a material inspired by fine paint and makeup brushes." Dyson shared an image of this brush being used on a laptop keyboard as an example.
Both tools come in a "Detail Cleaning Kit" for $74.99. You save $25 buying them together instead of separately.
