Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine Review: Powerful but Pricey
Wired has reviewed the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, and its wet-mopping Submarine variant, which is now the company's most powerful stick vacuum, replacing the Gen5Detect that had held the title since 2023. The review finds it a strong all-rounder, particularly praising a new dual-surface cleaner head, but questions whether the extra power and price justify an upgrade, noting the older Gen5Detect remains competitive at a lower cost.
The V16 delivers 315 air-watts of suction, up from the Gen5Detect's 262, and introduces the All Floor Cones Sense head, which automatically adapts within about a second when moving between hard floors and carpets. It also features built-in crevice tools, a dust-compactor bin, Eco/Auto/Boost modes and an LCD screen, making it the only one of three new Dyson stick vacuums launched this summer to include a display. However, the self-emptying docking station is not yet available and will cost extra, the Submarine mopping head is a separate add-on without cleaning solution included, and the reviewer felt the higher suction made little practical difference to everyday vacuuming, awarding the product 7/10.
In short
- Dyson V16 Piston Animal is now its most powerful stick vacuum.
- New adaptive cleaner head impressed, but suction gains feel marginal.
- Pricier than Gen5Detect, with docking station and mop head sold separately.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The V16 represents a meaningful technological advancement that justifies its premium pricing for consumers who value performance and innovation. The 20% increase in suction power combined with the intelligent All Floor Cones Sense head delivers a genuinely improved cleaning experience, whilst the integrated features—LCD display, multiple power modes, built-in crevice tools—enhance everyday usability and the wet-mopping Submarine option provides comprehensive cleaning for varied floor types. For households prioritising cutting-edge engineering and those willing to invest in premium products, the combination of raw capability and thoughtful design makes it a compelling upgrade.
The case against
The higher price is difficult to justify given that real-world cleaning performance for typical household use shows minimal practical improvement over the Gen5Detect, which remains highly capable at substantially lower cost. Whilst the V16 introduces worthwhile features like the dual-surface head and LCD display, these incremental refinements don't translate to meaningfully better everyday results—the additional 53 air-watts of suction makes little discernible difference for most users. When critical accessories require separate purchases and the older model already performs its core function admirably, consumers genuinely seeking value should question whether premium features and marginal power gains justify the extra expenditure.
Explained simply
Dyson is one of the world's leading premium vacuum manufacturers, and releases of new models from the company attract significant consumer attention. The V16 Piston Animal is its latest flagship stick vacuum—a cordless, handheld design that has become increasingly popular for everyday home cleaning.
The V16 is positioned to replace Dyson's previous top-of-the-line model, the Gen5Detect, which has held that position since 2023. For potential buyers deciding between models, the key question is whether the V16's improvements—notably increased suction power and a new system that automatically adapts the cleaning head when switching between carpets and hard floors—justify its higher cost.
Reviews have examined how well these new features perform in practice and whether they deliver meaningful advantages over existing Dyson vacuums. The analysis includes consideration of other factors such as the vacuum's price, ongoing costs, and practical limitations alongside its cleaning capabilities.