The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is the company’s latest vacuum cleaner and the first one with a mopping function. The vacuum is loaded with accessories designed to make it an all-in-one choice for cleaning. The previous model, the Dyson V15 Detect, was pretty perfect—the only feature it lacked was a mopping function. The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine has a wet roller head and a drip tray to place the wet roller head.
While the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine doesn’t have the best mop I’ve tested, it gets points for having the cleanest mop. For example, some wet/dry vacuum cleaners only have one mopping head, which is used for wet and dry messes on hard floors. The problem with this wet/dry vacuum cleaner is that it can only be used for this function.
So, when you finish vacuuming or mopping hard floors, the entire vacuum must be placed on the tray to be cleaned. However, the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is not a “whole system” wet/dry vacuum cleaner. Instead, it uses a self-contained, swappable wet roller head that can be removed. Then, you can continue cleaning with the illuminated cleaner head, digital motorbar cleaner head, combination tool, or crevice tool. This level of functionality makes it easy to give Dyson some grace with the less-than-perfect wet roller head. Admittedly, it’s not the only wet/dry vacuum that streaks and sometimes leaks. Most of the units that I’ve tested have this problem.
Keep reading to see how the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine compares to the best vacuum cleaners, best cordless vacuums, and even the best floor cleaners.
Terri is a freelance writer living in Birmingham, AL. She has tested hundreds of products, including kitchen appliances, vacuums, bedding, furniture, luggage, and tech gear. Terri has bylines at Architectural Digest, Forbes, Popular Science, CNN Underscored, NBC News, The Daily Beast, USA Today, US News & World Report, Tech Radar, Homes & Garden, and Tom's Guide. Follow her adventures @Territoryone.
Terri has tested dozens of vacuums from Dyson, LG, Tineco, Bissell, Miele, Sharp, Roborock, and Eufy. She tested the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine for several weeks, evaluating design, user-friendliness, performance, and cleaning. Terri was allowed to keep the vacuum cleaner for ongoing use.
Dyson V15 Detect Submarine: Key specs
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Row 0 - Cell 1 |
| Cleaner heads | 3 |
| Suction power | 240 AW |
| Run time | Up to 60 minutes |
| Noise level | 75 dB |
| Dimensions | H49 x W10 x L10.6 inches |
| Weight | 9 lbs |
Dyson V15 Detect Submarine: Price & availability
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is priced at $947.00 on Amazon and $949.99 on the Dyson website.
Dyson V15 Detect Submarine: First impressions
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine arrived well-packed. I like that Dyson uses custom-shaped boxes inside the main box, as this helps keep everything safely in place. In addition, some of the components are also covered with paper to avoid scratches. Although I’ve tested several Dyson vacuums, I’m always amazed that the main body of the vacuum cleaner looks so large and bulky. Still, when it connects to one of the various cleaner heads, it miraculously becomes a lightweight vacuum weighing between 7 and 9 pounds.
The box includes a plethora of various components, including the vacuum cleaner, illuminated cleaner head, wand, digital motorbar cleaner head, submarine wet roller head, charger, wall dock, combination tool, hair screw tool, and crevice tool. There’s also a wand clip, drip tray, and wall dock.
Dyson V15 Detect Submarine: Design
I’m a big fan of Dyson’s cordless vacuum cleaners due in no small part to the design, which is rather consistent across models. Swapping the parts out is easy, and using one vacuum to clean so many surfaces is a significant benefit. The main body includes the battery, trigger handle, and dust bin. There are three cleaner heads: the illuminated cleaner head has a soft, fluffy brush bar. This cleaner is soft enough to use on hard floors without scratching them. Also, the illuminated head makes it easy to see debris that may be invisible to the naked eye.
The second cleaner head is the digital motorbar cleaner head, which can also be used on hard floors. However, it can also be used on carpets and rugs, which separates it from the first cleaner head.
The submarine wet roller head separates the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine from the regular V15 Detect. This roller head has a clean and dirty water tank and is used to mop hard floors and clean wet spills.
The vacuum cleaner can also be used as a handheld version. It has a hair screw tool with a detangling vane to keep hair from getting wrapped around the brush bar and clogging it. This attachment works well for cleaning hair on upholstered surfaces like sofas and chairs.
The combination tool includes a wide nozzle and brush and can be used to clean and dust all types of areas, like tabletops and desks. The long crevice tool is designed to fit into tight spaces, like in-between seat cushions (including in your car) and under and between appliances.
The wand clip is useful for storing the combination and crevice tools on the vacuum wand.
There’s also a docking station for mounting the vacuum cleaner on the wall.
Dyson V15 Detect Submarine: Performance
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is easy to operate. It has three modes (eco, boost, and auto). I tend to use the auto mode and let it decide which mode should be used at any given time, depending on the level of dust and debris detected. The battery also lasts longer in auto mode. The vacuum has a maximum runtime of 60 minutes. The colorful LED screen lets me know the remaining battery life and which power mode is used.
The display also provides a color-coded graph of the size and quantity of dust particles detected.
After charging the vacuum fully, I started my first test using the digital motorbar cleaner head. The vacuum feels light in my hand and easy to maneuver. At the top of the stairs, it can clean right up against the baseboard. And because of the swivel design, it also does a good job of cleaning around my bar stools when I’m too lazy to move them out of the way.
The digital motorbar cleaner head also does an excellent job transitioning from carpet to throw rugs. One advantage of the Dyson cordless vacs (including the V15s Detect Submarine) is the ability to lie flat and under low furniture. I have a low-profile sofa, and it reaches far enough to touch the wall. The LED display shows me what time and how much dust the vacuum detects and also displays the remaining battery life.
I used the illuminated cleaner head in the bathroom in the next test. I took photos both with the lights on and with them off. To my naked eye, the floor looks quite clean, but you can see how the green light illuminates dust in both photos. The vacuum does a good job of detecting and removing hidden debris.
Standing on a step ladder and using the combination tool, I also cleaned my HVAC vents and was able to easily and effectively remove dust from those areas.
Using the crevice tool, I could clean under and on the sides of my refrigerator and around my washer and dryer.
The final test was cleaning my hard floors using the wet roller head. I removed the water reservoir cap, filled it to the max line, and put the cap back on the reservoir. Then, I attached the main roller head to the wand and cleaned the floors. (Note: I already know from my experience testing a variety of wet/dry vacuums that vacuuming and mopping should be two separate functions for best results, so I vacuumed the floor first.) The vacuum did a good job of wetting the floors and cleaning them. However, it was streaky in some places, and there was a little water leakage. In my experience, this is typical of most wet/dry vacuums.
I like using plain water in the tank instead of some wet/dry vacuums that use proprietary cleaning solutions.
Dyson V15 Detect Submarine: Maintenance
While cleaning the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine was not tedious, it should be noted that it is not self-cleaning like some competitors. The wet roller can be put on the drip tray to ensure dirty water doesn’t spill on the floor. Still, it must be disassembled on the tray and washed with water (Dyson also recommends using a diluted antibacterial solution). Then, the roller should be air-dried in a well-ventilated area.
Dyson does not recommend putting other parts in a dishwasher or using detergents. The company advises wiping the combination and crevice tools with a damp cloth. The brush bar and filters should be washed under running water and gently rubbed to remove debris.
The dustbin should be cleaned after every use. Press the red button and slide the lever to eject debris into the trash. A damp cloth can be used to clean any remaining dust.
Dyson V15 Detect Submarine: User reviews
Reviews on Amazon for the Dyson V15 Detect Submarine are mixed. Some people find the Submarine to be a great tool that is easy to use, lightweight and does an incredible job of cleaning hardwood and tile floors. They also appreciate the vacuum's LED light, which helps to detect dirt and debris. However, other users had negative experiences with the product, including delayed shipping, short battery life, and the requirement to hold down the button while using it.
Should you buy the Dyson V15 Detect Submarine?
Buy it if
Don't buy it if
How does the Dyson V15 Detect Submarine compare?
The Eufy Mach V1 Ultra is the most impressive wet/dry cordless stick vacuum I’ve tested. It also has a steam function that reaches 230 degrees F. In addition, the Mach 1 has an auto-cleaning and auto-drying system. It’s less expensive at $774.99, but still rather costly. And it doesn’t have different cleaner heads and accessories.
The Tineco Floor One S7 Steam is another alternative that also includes steam. The cordless wet/dry vacuum has a significantly shorter battery life than the Dyson Submarine (40 minutes), but it does have an LED headlight on the brush head, and the vacuum cleaner is self-standing. It doesn’t have accessories, but Tineco makes a Floor One S7 Combo that does. The Tineco Floor One S7 Steam is $649.99, and the Floor One S7 Combo is $899.99
How I tested the Dyson V15 Detect Submarine
I tested The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine in my home for several weeks. Using it on a regular basis gave me the opportunity to assess the quality of the build, ease of use, performance, and ease of cleaning.
I routinely tried the three cleaner heads and various accessories to see how they performed in day-to-day scenarios.
Read more about how we test.
