AS SOMETHING of a vacuum connoisseur, I’ve had the luxury of testing nearly every type of vacuum under The Sun (pun intended) over the years, including corded, cordless, handheld and even robot.
I already own the Dyson Supersonic Hairdryer and the Dyson V15 Detect Vacuum, so it’s safe to say I’m familiar with Dyson’s work.
In this Dyson V12 review, I’ve tested whether or not the lightweight, £500 vacuum lives up to my expectations.
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V12 Detect Slim Absolute, £499.99 £379.99 from Dyson
Pros
- Lightweight at just 2.4kg
- Laser Detection Technology
- Versatile attachments
- LCD Display
- HEPA filtration system — good for allergies
Cons
- Small dust bin at 0.35L
- Disappointing battery life
- High price point considering its size and features (although it’s currently on sale)
Rating: 8/10
How I tested the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute
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V12 Detect Slim Absolute, £499.99 £379.99 from Dyson
I tested the Dyson V12 for a month and a half, using it at least once every single day.
My house has four bedrooms with a mix of flooring types, including luxury vinyl tile (LVT), tiles, engineered wood and 100% wool carpet, which I thought would make for the perfect testing ground.
I used the vacuum on hard floors, rugs, pet hair, upholstery, and even mattresses to see how it handled different surfaces and cleaning scenarios.
Dyson V12 Detect review: Quickfire Q&A
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V12 Detect Slim Absolute, £499.99 £379.99 from Dyson
What is the Dyson V12? It’s a lightweight cordless vacuum that combines powerful suction with clever features like laser dust detection and a real-time LCD display. It’s also super stylish.
How much is it? Anywhere from £380 to £550, depending on where you buy it. It’s currently on sale for £379.99 on Dyson’s site, with a complimentary Floor Dok worth £100.
Who’s it best for? Those living in a smaller flat or house, allergy sufferers or anyone needing a lightweight vacuum for daily use. You may need a corded or larger vacuum for deeper cleans and larger spaces.
What I loved: The lightweight design, laser technology and LCD display. The HEPA filter was brilliant for tackling allergens, and the versatile attachments were great for pet hair. And the on/off power button was a welcome change from the normal trigger power function.
What I didn’t: The small dust bin capacity was a pain in a larger house, and the battery life didn’t last long enough in Boost mode. The price is also quite steep, and additional attachments like the furniture cleaning kit (which is sold separately, but feels necessary) aren’t cheap either.
Dyson V12 Detect at a glance – key specs
| Feature | Dyson V12 Detect Slim | Dyson V15 Detect Absolute |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 2.4kg | 2.96kg |
| Dust Bin Capacity | 0.35L | 0.77L |
| Runtime (Eco Mode) | Up to 60 minutes | Up to 60 minutes |
| Laser Detection | Yes | Yes |
| Max suction power | 150W | 240W |
| Price (on Dyson’s website, at time of publication) |
Compared to the Dyson V15 Detect, the V12 has a lower price tag while offering many of the same features.
It’s significantly lighter, at 2.4kg, but this comes at the expense of the V15’s much larger dust bin and powerful battery (the V12 has the same run time, but much less suction).
It feels like a good value for smaller homes, where the reduced dust bin capacity isn’t as much of an issue.
For those looking for Dyson-quality performance at a slightly lower cost, this model is a great option.
Dyson V12 Detect review: The Nitty Gritty
First Impressions
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V12 Detect Slim Absolute, £499.99 £379.99 from Dyson
When I first unboxed the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, I was struck by how stylish and compact it looked.
Its lightweight design immediately stands out, and the range of attachments makes it clear that it’s armed for any cleaning task.
These include a motorised cleaner head, crevice tool, and hair screw tool, which I found particularly useful for tackling pet hair and upholstery.
However, I did yearn for an attachment with a wider nozzle for less concentrated suction, for use on bedding and less taut upholstery.
I ended up buying the Dyson furniture cleaning kit separately for £50 because the suction was too strong on certain surfaces, like my mattress and velvet headboard.
While it helped, I feel like it should have been included rather than being an expensive extra.
There was a lot of cardboard packaging, and it felt like one of those impossible situations where you would never be able to fit everything back in the box.
Performance
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V12 Detect Slim Absolute, £499.99 £379.99 from Dyson
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim impressed me with its performance, especially its lightweight design.
It’s probably the V12’s biggest selling point — it’s just 2.2kg, making it easy to manoeuvre during long cleaning sessions.
It’s perfect for anyone who has reduced upper body strength or mobility issues, as it feels practically weightless and doesn’t strain the arms.
However, its lightness comes at the expense of a big dust bin and long battery life (especially in Boost mode), meaning it’s better suited for smaller homes rather than larger spaces like mine.
The laser detection technology worked beautifully on hard floors, and the attachments were versatile enough to tackle pet hair and upholstery.
My black lab sheds constantly, but the Dyson V12 handled it brilliantly, even on fabric surfaces.
The HEPA filtration system was also incredibly effective, especially during allergy season.
It captures 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, which made a noticeable difference in reducing dust and allergens in my home.
As someone who suffers from hay fever and a dust allergy, this feature was a lifesaver.
Suction power and deep cleaning ability
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V12 Detect Slim Absolute, £499.99 £379.99 from Dyson
Despite having less oomph than the Dyson V15, the V12’s suction power was excellent across all modes, handling hard floors, rugs and pet hair with ease.
The laser detection technology was one of the standout features for me. It illuminates hard floors and even low-pile rugs with a green laser, highlighting microscopic dust particles that would otherwise go unnoticed.
This feature made cleaning much more efficient; however, no matter how much I vacuumed, it felt impossible to get everything that the green light showed me.
Be prepared to be humbled, because the dust detection will show dirt in the most pristine of homes.
However, I did find the suction to be a bit too strong for delicate surfaces like my upholstered furniture, which led to error messages when vents were blocked.
Battery life and charging
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V12 Detect Slim Absolute, £499.99 £379.99 from Dyson
The battery lasted up to 60 minutes in Eco mode, which was fine for smaller cleaning jobs, but it drained quickly in Boost mode, giving me only six to eight minutes of runtime.
Average run time on the standard mode is about 40 minutes — again, great for whizzing around, but not ideal for a full deep clean.
I think an extra click-in battery would be helpful for larger homes, as it would allow me to swap batteries and carry on cleaning without interruption.
Ease of use
The lightweight design makes the V12 incredibly easy to use and manoeuvre, even during longer cleaning sessions.
Switching between attachments was simple, and the LCD display was a great addition for tracking battery life and cleaning progress.
Overall, it felt intuitive and user-friendly.
Maintenance and longevity
Emptying the dust bin was straightforward, but I had to do it multiple times during a full-house clean, which was a bit annoying.
Maintenance was otherwise simple, though I did experience error messages when the suction was too powerful for certain tasks like vacuuming my bed’s headboard. However, this was easily remedied by switching to another attachment.
The build quality feels robust, so I’m confident it will last, but you may need to invest in additional attachments for specific cleaning needs.
How much is the Dyson V12 Detect?
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The Dyson V12 Detect Slim’s RRP is £499.99, which I think is quite expensive for a vacuum with a smaller dust bin than others on the market.
You do get all the bells and whistles, though, and you can currently get it on sale at the Dyson website for £379.99, with a free Floor Dok worth £100.
Where to Buy the Dyson V12 Detect
You can find the Dyson V12 Detect Slim at several retailers, including:
Dyson V12 Detect review: The Verdict
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is a fantastic vacuum for smaller homes or flats.
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is a fantastic vacuum for smaller homes or flats. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and packed with clever features like laser dust detection and an LCD display.
It’s also great for allergy sufferers, thanks to its HEPA filtration system.
However, the small dust bin capacity and reduced battery life in Boost mode make it less ideal for larger houses like mine.
While it’s still pricey, it delivers excellent cleaning performance for its size.
It’s a genuine pleasure to use and really does elevate the whole cleaning experience.