Dyson’s latest cordless vacuum, the V16 Piston Animal, introduces a redesigned floor head that combines carpet and hard floor cleaning into a single tool. However, at £749.99, it faces stiff competition from discounted older models, including the V15 and Gen5detect, which offer proven performance at lower prices.
The new “All Floors Cones Sense” floor head uses two conical brush bars with stiff and soft bristles to handle both carpet and hard floors, automatically adjusting rotation speed. It also features a green light to illuminate dust. While innovative, this replaces the previous dual-head system that Dyson users have relied on for a decade.
In testing, the V16 showed strong suction and battery life, but the new floor head did not outperform the separate fluffy and brush roller heads of earlier models. The vacuum also comes with a larger 1.3-litre bin, a dust compactor, and new attachments, but these are incompatible with older Dyson accessories due to changed connectors.
Given that the V15 and Gen5detect are now available for up to £200 less, the V16’s premium is hard to justify unless the single-floor-head convenience is a priority. The older models remain excellent choices for most households.
