In the ever-evolving cordless vacuum market, the Dyson Gen5 Detect emerged as the clear standout of 2025. After extensive lab and real-world testing, it earned two top honors in this year’s Vacuum Wars Awards: Best Performance Cordless Vacuum of 2025 and Best Cordless Vacuum Battery Life – 2025. These awards reflect not only Dyson’s engineering expertise but also the Gen5 Detect’s unmatched blend of power, intelligence, and efficiency.
About Our Independent Reviews: Every cordless vacuum we review is purchased independently, with no sponsorships or brand input—so you can trust that our results are unbiased and based purely on performance.
Crowned Vacuum Wars’ 2025 Best Performance and Best Battery Cordless Vacuum, the Dyson Gen5detect couples the brand’s fifth‑generation Hyperdymium motor—our airflow champ—with a jumbo, high‑efficiency power pack that delivered class‑leading runtimes across every power level in testing. An onboard particle sensor and green‑laser Fluffy Optic head reveal and react to hidden dust in real time, automatically boosting suction while the LCD screen tracks battery, mode, and particle counts. Two premium floorheads (Fluffy Optic for hard floors and Motorbar for all surfaces), the motorized Hair Screw tool, and a fully sealed HEPA system make quick work of fine dust, pet hair, and embedded grit, earning perfect marks in deep‑clean and filtration tests. A new push‑button power switch replaces Dyson’s old trigger for easier room‑to‑room use, and while the 5‑lb handle is heavier than most, the payoff is unmatched battery endurance and raw cleaning muscle—proof that Dyson’s flagship still sets the cordless benchmark. See additional info
Price as of July 18, 2025
Automations: Auto Suction Adjustment
Cleaning Heads & Attachments: Soft Roller | Active Hair Removal | Motorized Handheld Brush
Battery & Charging Features: Detachable Battery
Lighting & Display: LED Lights | Laser Light | LCD Screen | Digital Battery Life Display | Particle Collection Display
| Scores | Dyson Gen5 Detect | Average Cordless Vacuum Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum Wars Overall | 4.42 | 3.3 |
| Performance | 4.74 | 3.15 |
| Hard Floor | 3.70 | 2.3 |
| Carpet | 4.56 | 3.73 |
| Features | 3.87 | 2.19 |
| Battery | 4.67 | 3.39 |
| Attachments | 1.66 | 1.68 |
| Official Battery Life: 70 Minutes |
| Handle Weight: 2258gr |
| Noise Level: 84db |
| Dust Bin Capacity: 750ml |
Best Performance Cordless Vacuum of 2025
The Best Performance award is based on the results of our core lab testing: sealed and unsealed suction, airflow, debris pickup, crevice performance, filtration, and battery efficiency. In nearly every category, the Gen5 Detect either led the field or came in a close second, delivering performance levels well above average.
One of the most impressive stats came from our airflow test, where the Gen5 Detect achieved 69 CFM at the wand—our highest-ever recorded result for a cordless vacuum. That’s far beyond the category average of 42 CFM.
It also delivered 17.36 kPa of unsealed suction, just shy of the record-holding Dyson V15 Detect at 17.64 kPa, and dramatically higher than the average of 0.58 kPa.
The Gen5 Detect earned a perfect 40 out of 40 in our carpet deep clean test, where we embed fine sand into medium-pile carpet. It also aced our crevice pickup test with another perfect score, excelling in its ability to lift debris from tight spaces. That kind of performance doesn’t just look good in a lab—it translates into more effective real-world cleaning across all floor types.
Filtration was another standout area. The Gen5 Detect scored 15 out of 15 in our filtration test, nearly doubling the average of 8.51. That means it doesn’t just pick up fine particles—it traps them. Households concerned with dust, allergens, or air quality can trust that what gets sucked up stays inside the vacuum.
Best Cordless Vacuum Battery Life – 2025
For 2025, we introduced a new testing category: the Battery Efficiency Score. Rather than measuring runtime alone, we evaluated each vacuum’s airflow on its maximum power setting and calculated how efficiently it converted battery power into usable suction—a metric we refer to as a CFM-per-minute score.
Using this new approach, Dyson dominated. In fact, all five of the top-performing models came from Dyson, with the Gen5 Detect landing firmly in the number one spot.
Top 5 Battery Efficiency Scores:
- Dyson Gen5 Detect – 27.3
- Dyson Outsize – 26.0
- Dyson V15 Detect – 25.6
- Dyson V15 Submarine – 24.6
- Dyson V11 (New Version) – 24.6
Cordless Average: 18.8
The Gen5 Detect also has really amazing battery life numbers on all three of its power settings. We checked this on each attachment: the Fluffy Optic cleaner head, Digital Motorbar cleaner head, Hair screw tool, and Crevice and dusting tool.
Dyson’s Core Strength: Vertical Integration
These results speak to one of Dyson’s core strengths: vertical integration. Because Dyson designs its own motors, batteries, and electronics, the Gen5 Detect benefits from a highly optimized system that uses energy more efficiently than any other cordless vacuum we tested.
Smart Technology for Managing Power
The Gen5 Detect’s smart technology also plays a big role in extending battery life. Its onboard particle sensor can detect how dirty the floor is and automatically adjust suction power based on the debris level. This ensures battery power is only used when it’s actually needed. An LCD screen provides real-time feedback on battery status, particle count, and overall performance, giving users an intelligent, responsive cleaning experience from start to finish.
Features That Support Its Success
The Gen5 Detect comes equipped with a highly versatile and premium set of attachments that allow it to maximize performance on a wide range of surfaces. Its Fluffy Optic cleaner head uses a precision green laser to reveal dust particles that are otherwise invisible to the eye, especially on hard floors.
The Digital Motorbar cleaner head is built for both carpets and hard floors and includes an automatic hair detangling system that minimizes maintenance and boosts cleaning efficiency.
Also included are Dyson’s built-in dusting and crevice tool, conveniently stowed inside the wand for quick access, and the Hair Screw Tool, which is designed for upholstery and pet hair removal.
A Trade-Off in Weight and Price
Of course, all this performance and innovation come at a cost. At the time of this award, the Dyson Gen5 Detect is one of the most expensive cordless vacuums available, priced far above the average cordless vacuum cleaner.
It’s also heavier than many competing stick vacuums, with a handle weight of 5 pounds compared to the average of 3.5 pounds.
However, for users who want cutting-edge power, intelligent features, and class-leading efficiency, that added cost and weight may be a worthwhile trade-off.
An Exceptional Cordless Vacuum
The Dyson Gen5 Detect’s performance in our 2025 testing was exceptional across the board. From best-in-class suction and filtration to the smartest and most efficient use of battery power we’ve ever measured, it represents the pinnacle of cordless vacuum technology right now. That’s why it didn’t just win one award—it won two in our 2025 Cordless Vacuum Awards: Best Battery and Best Performance!
For households that want the best performance and the longest effective runtime, the Dyson Gen5 Detect is our top recommendation for 2025.
The Results Are In!
See the full lineup of standout performers in the Vacuum Wars Best Cordless Vacuum Awards for 2025!
