Until recently, Dyson’s cordless vacuum cleaner launches followed a pretty straightforward pattern, with updated models introduced most years. But more recently, the brand expanded its offering to include a number of specialist cleaners such as the Omni-glide, the V11 Outsize and the Micro, as well as bringing in new technology to its V-series of cleaners, including the green laser and piezo sensor.

That’s not even mentioning Dyson’s robot vacuum cleaner, the Dyson 360 Heurist.

Below, we round up the best Dyson cordless cleaners we’ve tested and describe their strengths and weaknesses, so you can choose the best Dyson for you.

Where to buy a Dyson

The most obvious places to check are the Dyson UK and Dyson US sites. However, that’s not necessarily where the best deals are. In the US? Check out Target and Walmart. If you’re in the UK, have a look at Currys, John Lewis, Argos, AO.com and Very.

If you’ve got your eye on a specific model, shop around to make sure you’re getting the best price. And don’t forget to check out our round-up of the best deals on Dyson products.

The best Dyson cordless vacuums

				Outstanding cleaning					   					Swappable battery					   					Laser lights up dust					 

				Short battery life for carpets					   					Full charge takes 4.

5 hours

The suction has improved from the V11: the V15 is a powerful vacuum that’s good on both carpet and hard flooring. But bear in mind that vacuuming on carpet will eat up its battery life – you’ll only get 20 minutes with the high-torque brush in Auto mode. Still, the battery is swappable and if you invest in a second one, you can double the potential cleaning time to two hours.

The V15 Detect comes with some redesigned accessories, including the clever Hair Screw tool which winds hair away and into the bin, saving you from having to remove it by hand.

Buy it if: You want the latest Dyson tech.

				Manoeuvrable					   					Easy to use					   					Light					   					Slim					 

				Short battery life					   					Small bin					   					No grip on the handle

It has a maximum battery life of 20 minutes and charges in 3.5 hours. But there’s no way to tell when the battery is running low (until it goes dead), so you’ll want to keep it charged.

We gave the Omni-glide our Appliance of the Year award in 2021 for its brilliant design. But that doesn’t mean it’s flawless. It’s no good on carpets,  it has a tiny bin and its handheld mode is the opposite of compact. 

Buy it if: You live in an apartment with hard flooring and clean regularly. It’ll make vacuuming a breeze.

				Green laser and piezo sensor					   					Cheaper and lighter than V15 Detect					   					No need to depress a trigger to vacuum 					 

				Less powerful than the V15					   					Smaller bin that can easily clog

Best of all are its flagship features: the green laser diode that’ll make dirt, dust and hair impossible to miss, and the piezo sensor that works with an LCD screen to show you the number and size of dust particles it’s vacuuming up. Even more usefully, the screen will show you how many minutes of vacuuming time you have left. It comes with the handy Hair Screw tool as well.

But there are compromises to be made: it’s only as powerful as the 2018 Dyson V10, and the bin is small (0.35 litres/ 0.1 gallons) and clogs easily.

Buy it if: You want the latest Dyson tech in a lighter, easy-to-use model.

				Powerful					   					Good balance of power, weight and battery life					 

				You'll be missing out on the newest tech

We say well-priced – but this is still a Dyson and it’s not cheap. Still, you should be able to buy the Animal model for around £350 in the UK, and we reckon this is the best value edition. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as budget-friendly in the US, where it’ll still cost $499-$550, depending on the model.

The V10 is great on carpet and hard flooring, weighs a reasonable 2.68kg/5.9lbs, comes with a good array of accessories (but what you get depends on the model you choose and where you buy). 

Buy it if: It’s long been superseded in power and features but if you want a good multi-purpose Dyson, this is your best value option – in the UK at least.  

				LCD display					   					Auto mode					 

				Price					   					4.

5 hour charge time

The V11 has a maximum of 60 minutes’ battery life, which the screen should help you maximise. The battery takes 4.5 hours to charge but newer V11 models have the option of a swappable battery, which will allow you to double your cleaning time.

Opt for the Absolute over the Animal and you’ll also get the Torque head, which automatically detects the surface it’s cleaning and adjusts the suction accordingly.

In fact, the only issue with the V11 is its price, which has remained remarkably steady since its launch. It still costs around £600/$600 which is not significantly less than the much newer, tech-crammed V15 Detect. 

Buy it if: You want an all-round great cordless cleaner and you’ve spotted an excellent deal on it.

				Powerful suction					   					Swappable battery					   					Plenty of accessories					   					LCD screen					 

				It's heavy					   					The trigger adds work					   					It doesn't come with a second battery

Dyson’s Outsize is a supersized version of  the V11, made especially for people with supersized abodes. If you have lots of vacuuming to do but prefer the convenience of a cordless, it’s made for you. Its extra-large dustbin (1.7 litres) is one of its handiest features as you won’t have to keep pausing to empty it.

Don’t buy it for your granny, though. This is a heavy vacuum cleaner that makes vacuuming hard work as much as it makes the job faster.

Buy it if: The Dyson V11 Outsize is the one to go for if you have a large home with acres of carpet. 

				Light					   					Great handheld mode					   					Easy to use					 

				No use on carpets					   					Very short battery life					   					Clogs easily

But although it is designed like a mini version of the V series of cordless cleaners, it has its limits. It’s no good on carpets or rugs and, thanks to its bin, which is tiny (0.2 litre) and in-line, it can quickly become clogged with hair and fluff that you’ll be pulling out by hand.

There’s also the matter of battery life. It has a maximum runtime of 20 minutes, but unlike many other Dyson models, you will need to use the MAX power mode sometimes, which will limit you to 5 minutes of cleaning. Then it’ll need to charge for 3.5 hours.

Buy it if: You already have a main vacuum cleaner, but you’re looking for a handheld for light dusting.

Emma is Home Tech Editor at Tech Advisor. She covers everything from kitchen appliances to smart home devices, from floor care to personal care to air care technology. She’s particularly interested in environmentally conscious brands and products that save people time and money.