UK's finest: The Ultimate Comparison of The Dyson V15 Detect vs V11 Absolute

Both cordless vacuum cleaners performed very well in our cleaning test (detailed reviews: Dyson V15 Detect and Dyson V11 Absolute.)

But what’s their performance like in a direct comparison?

We always proceed in the same way in our cleaning tests. First, we spread different kinds of dirt on various floor types, and then we check how the vacuum copes with it.

We used the Auto mode with both Dyson devices during the test.

The overall result was more than convincing for both:

Cleaning On Hard Floors

We cleaned hard floors twice with the V15 and the V11 because both devices have a standard floor nozzle and an extra soft one for hard floors.

The result was very good with the new V15 and also with the "old" V11. Neither of the two devices left a single grain of sand behind in our test.

Dyson V15: Cleaning On Hard Floors

You can see that the V15 feels at home on hard floors. The revised soft roller named "Slim Fluffy Laser" is particularly efficient here. It illuminates the hard floor with a laser that’s in front of the cordless vacuum. With this, you can see even the tiniest remains of dust.

Dyson V11: Cleaning On Hard Floors

The V11 didn’t have any troubles cleaning hard floors, either. However, it was a little faster with the Fluffy attachment (soft roller).

Cleaning On Low Carpets

Both devices quickly handled the low carpet. Dirt can’t stand a chance against the powerful suction combined with the High Torque cleaner head.

Dyson V15 Detect: Cleaning On Low Carpets

The answer’s pretty clear with the V15 here. The result is top, and vacuuming is a breeze with it on low carpets.

Dyson V11 Absolute: Cleaning On Low Carpets

The Dyson V11 is on par with the V15 here and came out with flying colours, too.

Cleaning On High-Pile Carpets

Most vacuums reach their limits when it comes to cleaning long-pile carpets. But it’s a different story with the Dyson devices.

It seems as if they were made for that.

The powerful suction ensures that the carpet gets real deep cleanse – A fantastic result.

Dyson V15 Detect Absolute: Cleaning A High Carpet

On a long carpet, the V15- shows what it’s got.

Our carpet looked like new after cleaning!

Dyson V11 Absolute Extra: Cleaning A High Carpet

The V11 is in no way inferior to its younger brother on high carpets and achieves outstanding results, too.

Cleaning In Everyday Life

Both devices take a considerable burden off your shoulders when it comes to everyday cleaning.

They’re always ready to go, so we could quickly vacuum after the children came in or remove pet hair from the upholstery. But the vacuums are also perfect for thorough cleaning of our entire flat (4-person household + pet).

Cleaning In Corners And On Ledges

The two vacuums came out with flying colours here.

We’ve never seen something like this before. Thanks to the powerful suction and the sophisticated floor nozzles, you can get the dirt out of every corner.

It’s not just about the suction power when it comes to the cleaning result. It’s about the interaction of motor, accessories and design.

Let’s see what plays into Dyson’s hands here.

The Suction Power: Which One’s Stronger?

The Dyson V11 was the most powerful cordless vacuum on the market for a long time, with 185 air watts (AW).

In 2020, the Dyson V11 Outsize (220 AW) pushed the V11 off its throne. Now the Dyson V15 tops off even the V11 Outsize with a whopping 230 air watts.

That makes the Dyson V15 Detect the most powerful cordless vacuum on the market.

However, it’s not just the suction power that determines how well a cordless vacuum cleans:

The overall design and the quality of the accessories also play an essential role.

Now we’ll talk about the crucial cleaning features and which the Dyson vacuums have to offer.

The Floor Nozzles In Comparison

The floor nozzles are extremely important for the cleaning performance. We’re used to high quality and well-functioning attachments with Dyson.

The V15 and the V11 have two different floor nozzles:

• The Torque Drive

• The Fluffy attachment

The Torque Drive Floor Nozzle

This attachment is almost identical on the V11 and the V15.

There’s just one exception:

The new Torque Drive has a kind of anti-tangle comb inside. This comb is supposed to remove hair from the brush automatically.

It’s a great idea, but there’s still some room for improvement in the realisation, as the comb only picks up very coarse tangles.

The Torque-Drive is the standard nozzle that you can use for any floor type.

Our cleaning tests proved that...

...No matter whether it’s a carpet, tiles or laminate – The Torque Drive can easily handle all dirty challenges we’re throwing at it.

The brush has a rotating roller inside that picks up the dirt with its "fins" and flings it into the suction tube.

Then the powerful suction transports the dirt directly into the dirt container.

Dyson V15*

Dyson V11*

What Makes The Torque Drive So Strong?

Dyson calls it DLS technology. And this is how it works:

The brush measures the resistance it encounters 360 times a second.

This way, the device recognises when the floor type changes and adjusts the suction power accordingly.

There are two advantages from this: Longer battery runtime and even cleaner floors.

Adjustable Opening Slots

There are two slots at the front of the brush.

You can adjust the size of the slots with a small lever. That’s very helpful if you want to vacuum different floor and dirt types.

Tip: We usually use the medium setting.

The Fluffy Attachment

Dyson has developed this attachment for hard floors such as laminate, vinyl and especially for sensitive parquet.

It moves much more quietly and smoothly over the hard floor, thanks to the soft rollers and felt glides.

In addition, it picks up dirt even better on hard floors. The dirt presses into the roller so that the brush can catapult it into the suction tube.

The Laser Slim Fluffy Attachment Of The Dyson V15 Detect Absolute

The Fluffy attachment of the Dyson V15 has a new design now.

It doesn’t just have new colours…

The new design is a bit narrower and more compact than the old one. But that gives it better manoeuvrability and makes it smooth-running.

But the real innovation is the green laser, which illuminates the area in front of the Fluffy attachment. You can also switch on and off with a small button on the brush.

You can see the dust on hard floors much better with this laser.

You may think that this only works in the dark…

… but that’s not true. The only time the laser doesn’t make a big difference is in direct light. Otherwise, it’s super helpful.

Our test proved: It’s not a must to change the brushes, but it’s worth it for the increased comfort when vacuuming.

The Automatic Suction Level Adjustment

Both devices can adjust the suction level automatically, and this feature always worked very well.

It's simply more relaxing when your cordless vacuum chooses the suction power for you. The device also saves energy here.

With the Dyson V11, the brush automatically adjusts the suction level.

The V15, on the other hand, also takes the data from the piezo sensor into account.

Number Of Power Settings

Both vacuums have three power settings: Eco mode, Medium and Boost.

There’s also a fourth setting: Auto mode. You can only use the Auto mode with the Torque Drive.

Each mode has its justification.

The Eco mode is a little weak and therefore only suitable for light soiling.

The medium mode is perfect for most everyday dirt.

You only use the boost mode for dirty challenges. ?

You can use the V15 and the V11 as cordless floor vacuums and also as handheld vacuums for cleaning objects and furniture.

That’s a considerable advantage of 2-in-1 devices!

The Conversion to a Cordless Hand Vacuum

You can convert both models in the same way with a few simple steps.

Thanks to the tried-and-tested plug-in system, you can remove the suction tube in no time at all and attach another accessory.

What The Hand Vacuum Is Suitable For

The 2-in-1 function makes the Dyson vacuums even more versatile in use. Here are some inspirations for the most popular applications:

The V11 And V15 For Cleaning Furniture, The Ceiling etc.

You name it – The devices will do it.

OK, you still have to hold the device. But we tried everything during our test and are delighted with the results. You can quickly vacuum the couch or the kitchen table whenever needed. Simply convert it to a handheld vacuum, and off you go!

The Dyson Cordless Vacuums Against Pet Hair

Are you a passionate pet owner and have a lot of fun with your furry friends at home?

Then you know the struggle with the dirt that pets leave behind.

Whether cat or dog hair – Both the V11 and the V15 are excellent for removing pet hair (Read more about that in this review: Best cordless vacuums against pet hair).

The V15 vs V11 In The Car

Both devices also work great in the car.

The powerful suction comes in very handy in the footwell (Check out our review on the best battery vacuums for the car).

A considerable advantage: You can simply take the cordless device with you to the car and won’t have to look out for a power socket.

How Heavy Are The Two Devices In Handheld Mode?

The Dyson V11 and the Dyson V10 both weigh about 2 kg (4.4 lbs).

The weight plays a decisive role here. Even though the weight didn’t disturb us...

...The vacuum cleaner won’t rest on the floor in hand vacuum mode. You have to hold it the whole time.

Your arm can get tired if it has to hold 2 kg (4.4 lbs) for a while. Then you may have to use both hands or take a short break.

Well, you have to break an egg to make an omelette.

It’s the same with the Dyson vacuums. They’re not exactly quiet.

We measured 76 dB in boost mode with the V11 and 72 dB with the V15... But you won’t hear a difference.

Our volume scale shows that this is about as loud as a washing machine.

That’s about the only area where the two Dyson devices are average.

Volume: Dyson V15 and V11 in comparison

The maintenance tasks for the two vacuums are straightforward. It’s just these four:

• Emptying the dirt container

• Cleaning the dirt container

• Maintaining the HEPA filter

• Cleaning the floor nozzles

Emptying the Dirt Container

Another thing the vacuums have in common: The dirt containers have a capacity of 0.76 l.

Thus, you rarely have to empty the dust container.

The size is well-chosen:

It’s not too small – then you’d have to empty it very often – and also not too big – then it might be a little bulky.

And that's how you clean it:

First, you have to remove the suction tube. Then hold the dirt container over the dustbin and push the red lever down.

Whoosh! The dirt lands with pinpoint accuracy in the dustbin.

The lever system ensures that dirt rarely gets caught.

Usually, you don't have to help with your hand, as you’d have to with many devices from other manufacturers.

Your advantage: Therefore, these devices are also suitable for allergy sufferers.

Cleaning the Dirt Container

Same with cleaning the containers.

There’s a small lever you have to push down to remove the containers... easy-peasy. ?

Simply use a cloth or hold the container under running water for cleaning. Done!

Cleaning the HEPA Filter

Dyson’s HEPA (particulate air) filters remove even the smallest particles from the air.

The filtration not only leads to an even cleaner floor, but also to clean air with fewer allergens.

You can unscrew the filters at the back for cleaning.

You can also rinse the filter under running water or simply tap it out. Afterwards, it has to dry before assembly.

How Long Does The HEPA filter Have To Dry?

The filter must dry for 24 hours. Then you can put it back in and continue vacuuming.

Cleaning the Floor Nozzles

Of course, you also have to clean the floor nozzles.

You should take a look at them now and then.

If there’s a lot of hair or other dirt, you can remove the rollers by pulling the lever.

Then use a small, sharp knife to remove the dirt.

You can also clean the soft roller under running water.

At the end of our extensive "Dyson V15 Detect vs V11 Absolute comparison," only one question remains: Which one fits best to YOUR needs?!

We meticulously revealed all their similarities and differences in our test...

The most important innovations of the V15 are:

• The laser for detecting microscopic dirt particles on hard floors.

• The dirt analysis and

• The anti-tangle functions of the brushes

So if you’re big on these technical and valuable gadgets, you should go for the latest Dyson device: The V15 Detect.

If you don't need all the bells and whistles but still want a great vacuum, you’ll be more than satisfied with the cheaper Dyson V11.

You're spoilt for choice here! Both are premium devices. ?

The good news is that no matter which device you choose, you can't go wrong. ?