Small but mighty: Dyson V12 Detect Slim Review UK (2024)

Every cordless vacuum cleaner must pass our specially made cleaning challenge....

...And the V12 Slim won’t be spared from our standardised endurance test either.

Cleaning on hard floors

On hard floors, the V12 went through two rounds.

One with the Illuminated cleaner head with Laser Slim Fluffy brush bar, especially for hard floors...

...and one with the universal Motorbar cleaner head.

The result was excellent in both. The Dyson vacuum cleaner had no problems hoovering up dirt on hard floors.

One thing to note:

For reasons, we do not understand, the Motorbar cleaner head no longer has an adjustable opening at the front. As a result, (really) large piles first get pushed along in front of the battery-powered vacuum cleaner.

You will need a bit of patience or you can use the Fluffy brush instead, with which there were no problems at all.

Cleaning on short-pile carpet

We also carried out two runs on short-pile carpet.

One in medium mode and one in boost mode.

In medium mode, it became apparent that the V12 Slim could not suck up everything at once, but not too far off. 😬

97 % is a smashing result. 🚂

In Boost mode, on the other hand, it didn't miss a thing! 💯

However, the battery life is rather short in this mode, but more about that later.

Cleaning on long-pile carpet

Even on long-pile carpet, the V12 Slim manages an impressive 95% in medium mode.

While it’s true that 95% is not 100%, few competitors manage to achieve this score as easily as the V12.

On long-pile carpets, the cordless vacuum cleaner needs a lot of power to clean down to the deepest fibres.

That being said, the Dyson managed to score 100% when we repeated the test in Boost mode.

Cleaning corners

It’s safe to say that cleaning corners and other tight spaces is a star feature of this device.

The V12 easily manages to vacuum the dirt from corners and leaves nothing but an astonished owner behind. 😯

Conclusion of our Dyson V12 Practical Cleaning Review

The cleaning performance turned out to be very strong, especially when you consider that this is a lightweight battery vacuum cleaner.🏅

The V12 did not perform quite as well in the cleaning test as the Dyson V15 Detect or the Dyson V11 Absolute...

...but, then again, these are also absolute premium power machines. 🚂

Thanks to the 2-in-1 function, the cordless hoover can be converted into a cordless hand-held hoover in a flash.

Since the motor unit only weighs about 1.5 kg, you can easily work with one hand.

We like to work with the wand connected and the multi-tool for around corners.

This is also not an issue with one hand 💃

The V12 is ideal for cleaning your car because, thanks to its compact size, it is perfect for using in confined spaces!

As usual, Dyson is well-equipped when it comes to accessories. The individual attachments are all well-made and extremely convenient in all kinds of situations.

The simple click-in system allows you to remove and reattach each attachment in one easy step.

Normally, the attachments are "cross-generation" compatible, but this isn’t the case with the V12. Due to the smaller design, the connections are also smaller.

Either way... the V12 Slim has a lot to offer:

Next, we would like to briefly introduce you to the most important attachments because, at first glance, their possible uses are not always immediately obvious.

Motorbar cleaner head

The standard cleaner head is multifunctional, i.e. you can basically use it on any type of floor.

In our review, it excelled on carpeted floors and performed particularly well in corners.

The hard floor attachment: Illuminated Cleaner Head with dust detection

This attachment is suitable for cleaning hard floors and impressed us with its skill in this area.

By the way, if you want to know more about hard floor cleaning: 👉 Best cordless hoovers for hard floors in test.

Hair screw tool

A hair nozzle, reimagined.

In principle, it is there to remove dirt from your upholstery and mattresses.

This attachment is worth its weight in gold, especially when removing hair and pet dander. ⚜

We have also tested all kinds of other cordless hoovers in the fight against pet dander.

If you're interested, check out our article: 👉 Best cordless hoovers for pet hair.

Stubborn dirt brush

The stiff bristles of this brush allow you to scrape off dried dirt really easily.

One popular use for this attachment: Your car doormat.

Soft dusting brush

This brush is good for dusting furniture and other household items thanks to its soft bristles.

Combination tool

With a simple flick of the wrist, the soft bristles can be pulled back and then you can use the hard edge.

This attachment is always in use at our house.

You can quickly vacuum upholstery with the hard side and then you can go hell for leather on furniture and in corners with the soft bristles.

Crevice Tool

An absolute classic and always included in the accessories:

The crevice nozzle.

Hard-to-reach places are no problem for the crevice tool.

Low Reach Adapter

Placed between the motor unit and the wand, this jointed attachment bends to allow you to vacuum comfortably under furniture.

Two attachments fit on this clip. The advantage is that you always have them with you when vacuuming and can change them quickly if necessary.

Dyson cordless vacuums have proven to be very easy to use and super user-friendly in all our reviews so far.

The Dyson V12 Slim is no exception! 💃

First things first: Assembly

It’s already clear how user-friendly the product is during assembly.

When you open the package, you may feel overwhelmed at first:

Sooo many parts!

But don't worry!

First, unpack everything calmly and lay the parts next to each other. The rest is self-explanatory because the system is very simple.

Simply click the attachments you want to start with onto the wand or motor unit and off you go.

The vacuum cleaner is already pre-charged! 💪

Environmental bonus: Dyson does not use any plastic in its packaging! 🙌

The V12 power button

For a long time, Dyson resisted, insisting it wasn’t necessary. But customers wanted to know:

Why don't Dysons have a lockable power button?

The call for it grew louder and louder and finally the time has come:

The first Dyson V series to have a lockable power button. 🚨

Just press the button once for continuous cleaning, without the need to keep a trigger held. The vacuum cleaner will stop vacuuming once you press the button again. 🚂

Mobility and agility

Two things ensure the V12's mobility and agility:

Rollers and glide pads

Firstly, there are the small rollers and glide pads on the undersides of the brush heads.

The Fluffy brush bar literally glides over the hard floor. 💃

But the Motorbar head is also easy to manoeuvre over the carpet.

The joint between wand and brush

Additionally, there is a joint that is located between the brush and the wand.

This makes it possible to manoeuvre the vacuum cleaner around very tight corners. In addition, you can bend the joint to get under furniture better.

Performance beneath furniture - floor brush height

Thanks to the above-mentioned joint and the 2-in-1 design, vacuuming deep under beds and other furniture is a breeze.

Of course, this will depend on the height of the bed.

Our test bed in the picture is approx. 10 cm high:

At this point, it’s worth mentioning a gadget that comes in very handy: the Low Reach Adapter.

Connected between the motor unit and the wand, it allows the wand to bend. This lets you vacuum under the bed comfortably.

With the Motorbar, you can get further under the bed as you can turn the handle another 90 degrees. 🚀

The battery life of the Dyson depends on the surface being vacuumed and the attachment used.

In our test, the runtime of the V12 Slim was very good, despite the lockable power button.

Since the device is mainly used in medium/auto mode, the runtime is most important at this level:

Around 35 minutes is a very good score. Ultimately, you have to decide whether this running time is enough for you to get through your entire home.

Is it possible to change the battery of the V12?

If the running time is not sufficient for you, don’t count it as a dealbreaker yet:

The battery can be changed easily with Dyson’s time-proven click-in system.

Depending on the model, a replacement battery may be included. Otherwise it can be purchased in the online shop.

Charging time

According to the manufacturer, the V12 charging time is 4 hours. In our case, it took a little less.

Charging dock

The docking station is one option for charging your cordless Dyson vacuum cleaner. You can also use the charging dock to store the device upright and thus save space.

You can order the charging dock from Dyson online.

Dyson Dock*

Alternatively, you can use the wall bracket supplied. You would then have to attach this to your wall... but that's no big deal either.

Another option for charging:

You can charge the device without any mount. Yes, you can even remove the battery and charge it on the nightstand and store the device in your broom closet... No problem! 😃

Quality has its price, but you get what you pay for.

With Dyson, this means, among other things, that every part of the cordless vacuum cleaner is replaceable.

This means that in case of damage, everything can be reordered online so there is no need to throw away the whole device.

👉 Good for your wallet and the environment!🌍

Yes, Dyson has done it again:

Our review of the new V12 Slim showed that it is a high-quality device that is absolutely suitable for everyday use.

The cleaning performance is excellent, but the details are not to be sneezed at either:

The laser dirt detection makes dirt visible where, before, you couldn’t see anything. 🏆

And there is also a little something for fans of lockable power buttons! 😄

If you have a small to medium-sized home and are looking for a high quality cordless vacuum cleaner, then we would recommend this product.

You can order it here at the best price:

If you want more power and only the best, then take a look at our review of the best cordless hoovers from Dyson. We have analysed all possible alternatives for you.