WIRED Review: Dyson V16 Piston Animal Offers Power But Poor Value Against Cheaper Rivals
Despite 315 air-watts of suction and new mopping capabilities, the V16 Submarine’s $1,100 price point makes it a hard sell for value-conscious consumers.
WIRED has published a comprehensive review of the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, identifying it as the company’s most powerful stick vacuum to date. Unseating the Gen5Detect, which held the title since 2023, the new model delivers 315 air-watts of suction, a significant increase from the previous 262 air-watts. The review evaluates both the standard Piston Animal and the Submarine variant, which includes a wet cleaning head for mopping, noting that while the device is technically impressive, it fails to offer sufficient performance gains to justify its steep cost.
The V16 introduces the All Floor Cones Sense cleaner head, designed to adapt to different flooring types within approximately one second. The system indicates surface changes via a green dust light on hard floors and an audible increase in suction on soft floors. During testing, the vacuum handled various debris types effectively, and the Auto mode adjusted settings based on sensed debris. The device also features two built-in crevice tools and a dust-compactor tool within the bin, although the reviewer noted that manually removing fluffy debris from the bin remained difficult despite these additions.
Performance testing revealed that the V16 did not significantly outperform the older, cheaper Gen5Detect, which retails for $840. In side-by-side comparisons, the Gen5Detect often matched the V16’s cleaning capabilities. The V16 struggled with specific challenges, such as sand and cat litter, where it pushed debris into piles rather than capturing it on the first pass. The reviewer highlighted that a more affordable competitor, the Shark PowerDetect Speed priced at $280, handled these tasks with greater efficiency, suggesting that the V16’s superior suction power does not necessarily translate to better real-world cleaning results.
The Submarine variant, priced at $1,100, includes a wet cleaning attachment with Basic and Max modes. The head pulls itself forward to ease movement and requires 10 to 20 seconds of pre-rolling to hydrate the roller before mopping. While the reviewer found the mopping performance satisfactory for dirty stains on vinyl plank flooring, they noted that the debris tray is small and fully plastic to prevent mould, a common issue with previous Dyson wet cleaners. The review concluded that while the Submarine is a capable all-in-one tool, the high price point makes it difficult to recommend over dedicated robot vacuums or cheaper alternatives.
Ultimately, the review positions the V16 as a niche product for consumers specifically seeking Dyson’s latest add-on ecosystem, including a future self-emptying docking station expected later this year. However, for general users, the analysis suggests that the older Gen5Detect or even non-Dyson options offer better value. The strong HEPA filtration and versatile attachments are praised, but the overall verdict is that the V16 is expensive and does not provide a compelling upgrade for those not already invested in the brand’s premium accessories.
