The Dyson V16 Piston Animal is Dyson’s long-awaited flagship successor to the V15, one of the cordless vacuums that has spent a long time near the top of our Vacuum Wars rankings.
For this Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine review, we bought both the standard Dyson V16 Piston Animal and the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine with our own money and put them through our independent studio evaluations. We wanted to see how they compared with previous Dyson cordless vacuums, current competitors, and our broader cordless vacuum average.
The Quick Verdict: Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal is Dyson’s most polished cordless flagship yet, with exceptional carpet deep-cleaning, strong suction and airflow, excellent sealed HEPA filtration, and one of the best battery displays in the category. The Submarine version adds surprisingly capable hard-floor mopping, but it works best as a second cleaning step after vacuuming rather than as a true one-pass vacuum-and-mop system.
Best For
- Homes with a mix of carpets and hard floors
- Pet owners who want strong pickup and sealed filtration
- Dyson V15 or Gen5 Detect owners ready for a flagship upgrade
Pros
- Perfect 100% carpet deep-cleaning score in our studio evaluation
- Excellent crevice pickup, suction, airflow, and HEPA filtration
- Strong battery life with a useful real-time runtime display
Not Ideal For
- Budget-focused shoppers
- Users who want a lightweight handheld feel
- Anyone expecting the Submarine head to replace a dedicated vacuum-mop combo
Cons
- Premium price
- Heavier handle weight than the cordless vacuum average
- Submarine head requires vacuuming first and manual cleanup after mopping
👉 Check current price on Amazon or see how it compares to our Top 10 Cordless Vacuums
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine combines Dyson’s flagship cordless vacuum with the Submarine 2.0 wet-cleaning head, adding dedicated hard floor mopping without sacrificing the vacuum’s excellent cleaning performance. In testing, it matched the standard V16 in vacuuming ability while delivering above-average results in dried-on stain removal, outperforming both the Dyson WashG1 and Dyson’s newer hygiene-focused floor cleaner. The Submarine head automatically recognizes when attached, offers two water flow settings, and keeps the entire wet-cleaning system inside the head, preventing dirty water from traveling through the wand for a more hygienic design. Floors were left looking clean during real-world use, making it an excellent option for homes without a dedicated hard floor cleaner. However, it is not designed to vacuum and mop simultaneously. During testing, it pushed larger debris such as catnip instead of collecting it, so vacuuming first is recommended. The internal dirty water compartment can spill if the head is tilted excessively, and because there is no self-cleaning cycle, the mop components must be rinsed after every use to prevent odors and residue. Despite these limitations, it earned Vacuum Wars’ top cordless vacuum ranking. See additional info
Price as of July 7, 2026
Automations: Auto Suction Adjustment
Cleaning Heads & Attachments: Soft Roller | Active Hair Removal | Floor Washing Attachment | Motorized Handheld Brush
Battery & Charging Features: Detachable Battery
Lighting & Display: Laser Light | LCD Screen | Digital Battery Life Display | Particle Collection Display | MyDyson App Connectivity
Design & Build: Lightweight
Air Filtration: HEPA Filtration
| Scores | Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine | Average Cordless Vacuum Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum Wars Overall | 4.45 | 2.53 |
| Performance | 4.06 | 2.98 |
| Hard Floor | 3.80 | 1.91 |
| Carpet | 4.44 | 3.7 |
| Features | 4.27 | 1.85 |
| Battery | 4.36 | 2.4 |
| Attachments | 1.80 | 1.16 |
| Official Battery Life: 70 Minutes |
| Handle Weight: 2158 gr |
| Noise Level: 74 dB |
| Dust Bin Capacity: 1325 ml |
Dyson V16 Piston Animal vs Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine: What’s the Difference?
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal and Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine are essentially the same cordless vacuum. The main difference is the wet-cleaning head. The Submarine version includes Dyson’s Submarine 2.0 cleaner head, which turns the V16 into a hard floor mopping system. In our evaluations, the two models were otherwise virtually identical in performance, features, and core specifications.
Both versions include Dyson’s new All Floor Cones cleaner head, a dedicated soft roller cleaner head for hard floors, a motorized upholstery tool, a crevice tool, a wall-mounted charging dock, and the charging adapter.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cleaner Heads and Attachments
The new All Floor Cones cleaner head is one of the biggest design changes on the V16. It uses dual cone-style brush rolls designed to resist hair tangles and improve hair pickup. It is also Dyson’s first combo cleaner head to include the company’s green laser illumination system, which shines across the floor to reveal dust and fine particles that are easy to miss under normal lighting.
The laser is more than a visual gimmick. On hard floors, it makes fine debris much easier to see, especially near edges, under furniture, and in areas that may look clean at first glance.
The dedicated soft roller cleaner head also includes Dyson’s green laser system. This head has been one of Dyson’s strongest hard floor tools for several generations, and it remains one of the most effective attachments in the V16 package.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Carpet Deep Cleaning Performance
The Dyson V16 performed exceptionally well in our carpet deep clean evaluation. In this test, we embed sand into medium-pile carpet, run the vacuum for a set number of passes on max power, and measure how much debris is recovered. The Dyson V16 Piston Animal and V16 Piston Animal Submarine scored a perfect 100%, compared with a cordless vacuum average of 93%.
That result tied the Dyson V15 Piston and Shark PowerDetect (see our review), both of which also scored 100% in this evaluation.
This is one of the strongest carpet results we have seen from a cordless vacuum. It shows that even though the V16 did not post the highest sealed suction number we have measured from Dyson, the real-world cleaning system is still extremely effective.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Crevice Pickup Test
The Dyson V16 also earned a perfect score in our crevice pickup evaluation. This test helps show how well a vacuum can pull debris from narrow gaps, seams, and cracks. The V16 scored 4 out of 4, matching the Dyson V15 Piston and outperforming the Shark PowerDetect, which scored 3 out of 4.
The cordless vacuum average in this test is 2.5 out of 4. This matters because crevice pickup is a useful real-world indicator. Strong results here suggest the vacuum has enough usable suction and airflow to clean beyond easy surface debris.
See also: How Vacuum Wars Tests Cordless Vacuums
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Hard Floor Pickup Results
Soft Roller Head
On hard floors, the Dyson V16 was strongest with the dedicated soft roller head. It handled fine dust, hair, and larger debris with very little trouble, and it felt smooth and controlled during regular use.
The green laser system remains one of Dyson’s most useful hard-floor features. It makes fine debris much easier to see, especially near edges, under furniture, and in areas that may look clean under normal lighting. For homes with mostly hard flooring, the soft roller is still the best head in the V16 package.
All Floor Cones Cleaner Head
The All Floor Cones cleaner head was also very good on hard floors, but its main advantage is convenience. Because it works well on both hard floors and carpets, it became our preferred head for general cleaning, especially when moving frequently between floor types.
It does not fully replace the dedicated soft roller for hard-floor cleaning, but it narrows the gap enough that many users may leave it attached most of the time. That makes the V16 feel more flexible in everyday use, even though Dyson still has not moved to a true all-in-one dual-brush cleaner head.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Carpet Pickup Results
The V16 also performed well in our carpet pickup evaluation. It scored 4 out of 5, compared with the cordless vacuum average of 3.9. That placed it slightly ahead of the Dyson V15 Piston at 3.5, but behind the Shark PowerDetect, which scored 5 out of 5.
The All Floor Cones head uses an adjustable front gate that can be opened for larger debris or restricted to create a tighter seal. In practice, the more restrictive setting increased drag on thicker carpets, so we preferred the middle or more open configuration for most carpet cleaning.
That setting gave the best balance of pickup and maneuverability. The V16 had no trouble delivering strong carpet performance, but the adjustable gate is worth paying attention to because the most aggressive setting is not always the easiest one to use.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Suction and Airflow Numbers
The Dyson V16 delivered excellent power numbers overall. In sealed suction, the V16 measured 85 inches, compared with a cordless average of 73 inches. That was lower than both the Dyson V15 Piston and Shark PowerDetect, which each measured 112 inches.
At first glance, that might sound like a step backward for Dyson. But sealed suction is only one part of the story.
The V16 still delivered outstanding usable power. Its wand airflow measured 57 CFM, compared with a cordless average of 42 CFM. The Dyson V15 Piston measured 68 CFM, while the Shark PowerDetect measured 50 CFM.
In unsealed suction, the V16 measured 1.85 kPa, compared with the cordless average of 0.58 kPa. The Dyson V15 Piston measured 2.52 kPa, while the Shark PowerDetect measured 0.29 kPa.
Dyson V16 Suction and Airflow Compared
| Test | Dyson V16 Piston Animal / Submarine | Dyson V15 Piston | Shark PowerDetect | Cordless Average |
| Sealed Suction | 85 inches | 112 inches | 112 inches | 73 inches |
| Wand Airflow | 57 CFM | 68 CFM | 50 CFM | 42 CFM |
| Unsealed Suction | 1.85 kPa | 2.52 kPa | 0.29 kPa | 0.58 kPa |
| Head Airflow | 48 CFM | 58 CFM | 42 CFM | 37 CFM |
Why Lower Sealed Suction May Not Be a Problem
The V16’s lower sealed suction number compared with some previous Dyson models is interesting, but we do not see it as a major negative. Past a certain point, more sealed suction does not always translate into better cleaning. It can also make a vacuum harder to push on carpet and louder in use.
The V16 appears to strike a better balance. It still produced a perfect carpet deep clean score, while feeling easier to use than some earlier high-powered Dyson cordless vacuums.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Battery Life
Battery life is another major strength of the Dyson V16.
Dyson rates the V16 for up to 70 minutes on its lowest power setting. That is well above the cordless vacuum average of about 45 minutes.
In our recorded numbers, the V16 measured 15.3 minutes on max power. For comparison, the Dyson V15 Piston measured 68 minutes on low and 9 minutes on max, while the Shark PowerDetect measured 68 minutes on low and 13 minutes on max.
The cordless vacuum average is 45 minutes on low and 13.5 minutes on max.
The removable battery is also a practical advantage. Owners can buy additional batteries from Dyson if they want extended runtime for larger homes.
Dyson V16 battery life compared
| Battery Test | Dyson V16 Piston Animal / Submarine | Dyson V15 Piston | Shark PowerDetect | Cordless Average |
| Low Power Runtime | 70 minutes | 68 minutes | 68 minutes | 45 minutes |
| Max Power Runtime | 15.3 minutes | 9 minutes | 13 minutes | 13.5 minutes |
Dyson V16 Automatic Suction Adjustment and Particle Display
The Dyson V16 includes automatic suction adjustment, which changes power and brush roll behavior based on the debris it detects. When the vacuum senses more dirt, it increases power. When debris levels drop, it backs off to conserve battery life.
The real-time screen is one of the best in the category. It shows remaining runtime based on the attachment and power mode being used, which is much more useful than a basic battery icon. The display also shows live particle data as you clean. On dirtier carpets, the particle counts visibly increase as the vacuum removes embedded debris, then fall as the area gets cleaner.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Filtration Test
The Dyson V16 uses a fully sealed HEPA filtration system. That means the machine combines a true HEPA filter with sealed internal pathways designed to keep dirty air from leaking back into the room.
The V16 passed our fog evaluation with no visible leaks. In practical terms, that is exactly what we want to see from a premium cordless vacuum, especially for homes where dust containment matters.
Dyson V16 Dustbin and Emptying System
The redesigned dustbin is one of the most useful changes on the V16. It has a generous 1,325 ml capacity, which is larger than the V15 Detect’s dustbin and above average for the category. It still uses Dyson’s familiar trombone-style ejection system, but it now adds a secondary lever that helps compact debris deeper into the bin. This lets the vacuum hold more material before emptying. The same mechanism also helps scrape debris from the inside walls of the bin during emptying.
That is a meaningful improvement for regular cordless vacuum users. Dustbins can get cloudy and coated over time, and this system helps keep the interior cleaner with less manual effort.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Weight and Handling
The Dyson V16 is still heavier at the handle than the cordless vacuum average, but it feels better in use than the numbers alone suggest. Its handle weight measured 2,158 grams, compared with a cordless vacuum average of 1,512 grams. The Dyson V15 Piston measured 2,069 grams, while the Shark PowerDetect measured 1,804 grams.
So on paper, the V16 is not lightweight. In real-world handling, though, the V16 feels more balanced than earlier Dyson models. The improved weight distribution and center of gravity make it feel more nimble, especially when cleaning furniture, stairs, and above-floor areas.
Dyson V16 Attachments and Above-Floor Cleaning
Dyson continues to do excellent work with attachments. The motorized upholstery tool is one of the stronger tools in the package. It is useful for furniture, stairs, pet hair, and other above-floor cleaning tasks, and its cone-shaped anti-tangle design helps limit hair wrap.
We do wish Dyson had included a dedicated brush tool in the standard package.
Dyson did add a small practical improvement. Both the handheld unit and the end of the wand now include a small protruding edge that can be used for quick cleanup jobs without swapping attachments. That helps with ledges, baseboards, corners, and oversized debris that may not be ideal for the main cleaner head.
Dyson V16 Submarine Review: How the Mopping Head Works
The headline feature of the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is the Submarine 2.0 cleaner head. This attachment turns the V16 into a hard floor mopping machine. You fill the integrated clean water tank, attach the Submarine head, and the vacuum automatically recognizes it. The user can then choose between a standard and higher water flow setting.
Dyson’s design is different from many vacuum-mop combos. The wet-cleaning system is contained inside the Submarine head itself, so dirty water does not travel up through the wand or into the main vacuum body.
Dyson’s argument is that this design is more sanitary because the dirty water path is shorter and more accessible for cleaning.
Dyson V16 Submarine Mopping Test Results
The Submarine head performed surprisingly well in our dried-on stain evaluation. In this test, stains are allowed to dry before being cleaned and scored based on how quickly they are removed. The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine scored 131.
For comparison, the Dyson Clean+Wash Hygiene scored 107, while the category average was 139.
That is a strong result because the Submarine was being compared against dedicated hard floor cleaning machines. Evaluated as a hard floor cleaner, it placed ahead of many dedicated hard floor cleaning products we have tested.
In real-world use, it also left floors looking clean and handled routine mopping well. It works best, however, when the floor has already been vacuumed.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Hair Tangle Test
Hair management is one area where the Dyson V16 was good, but not quite as dominant as we expected.
In our 14-inch hair tangle evaluation, the V16 scored 7, compared with a category average of 7.4, and lower than many recent Dyson cordless vacuums. The V16 is still much better than a vacuum head without anti-tangle technology. But compared with some previous Dyson heads, the new All Floor Cones design looks like a slight step back in this specific evaluation.
This does not make it bad with hair. It simply means the redesign may not be a clear upgrade over Dyson’s previous anti-tangle cleaner heads.
What We Didn’t Like About the Dyson V16 Piston Animal
The first drawback is that Dyson still does not offer a true all-in-one cleaner head that combines a soft roller and traditional brush roll in one attachment.
If your home has mostly hard floors with a few area rugs, you may still need to swap heads for the best performance on each surface. In everyday use, we often left the All Floor Cones head attached rather than stopping to change tools.
The All Floor Cones head is good for mixed flooring, but not perfect. It works well across surfaces, but the dedicated soft roller remains better for hard floors, while the combo head is more convenient when moving between carpet and hard flooring.
Dyson V16 Submarine Limitations
Most of the remaining drawbacks involve the Submarine head. The self-contained design is smart from a hygiene standpoint, but it comes with tradeoffs. The biggest limitation is that the Submarine is not really designed to vacuum and mop at the same time. It can collect very small particles while mopping, but it is not meant to handle normal loose debris.
In our testing, larger loose debris was pushed forward instead of collected. When we scattered catnip on the floor, the Submarine head moved it along the surface rather than picking it up.
That means the best process is to vacuum first with one of the standard cleaner heads, then switch to the Submarine head for mopping.
Dyson V16 Submarine Dirty Water and Maintenance
The Submarine head also requires careful handling after use. Because the dirty water compartment is built into the cleaner head, it is not sealed like a traditional dirty water tank. If the head is tilted too far or turned upside down, dirty water can spill out.
The best practice is to keep the head level after mopping. Remove it carefully, carry it directly to a sink, empty it, and rinse the components before storage.
This is not a dock-and-forget mopping system. There is no self-cleaning cycle, so manual cleanup is part of ownership. For odor control and long-term performance, we would treat post-use rinsing as non-negotiable.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal vs Dyson V15: Is It an Upgrade?
The Dyson V16 is a meaningful step up from the V15 in several areas. It improves usability, attachment design, bin management, battery behavior, and overall polish. The V15 remains an excellent cordless vacuum, but the V16 feels like a more refined flagship.
The biggest difference is not just raw power. It is the balance of strong cleaning performance, improved handling, better debris management, premium filtration, useful screen data, and the optional Submarine mopping system.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Review Verdict
After our independent studio evaluations, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine earned the number one position on our Best Cordless Vacuum rankings, moving ahead of the Dyson V15, which had held the top spot for a long time.
The standard Dyson V16 Piston Animal also ranked extremely high and continues Dyson’s strong presence near the top of the cordless vacuum category.
Overall, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is, in our opinion, the best cordless vacuum currently available. It combines exceptional carpet cleaning, strong hard floor performance, sealed HEPA filtration, excellent battery life, useful onboard technology, and one of the most versatile attachment packages we have tested.
The main tradeoff is price. Like many Dyson flagships, the V16 is a premium product, so we recommend checking the latest Vacuum Wars cordless vacuum rankings before buying to compare current scores, features, and pricing.
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Explore Vacuum Wars’ always up-to-date rankings of the best cordless vacuums, based on independent, hands-on testing. We purchase every unit ourselves and have evaluated more than 110 models, giving us a strong benchmark for suction, carpet and hard floor performance, battery life, maneuverability, and features like anti-tangle brush rolls, smart sensors, and advanced filtration.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal FAQ
Is the Dyson V16 Piston Animal better than the Dyson V15?
In our evaluations, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal is a meaningful upgrade over the Dyson V15 in usability, bin design, attachment refinements, battery management, and overall polish. The V15 is still excellent, but the V16 feels like a more complete flagship cordless vacuum.
What is the difference between the Dyson V16 Piston Animal and V16 Piston Animal Submarine?
The main difference is that the V16 Piston Animal Submarine includes Dyson’s Submarine 2.0 wet-cleaning head for hard floor mopping. Otherwise, the two models are essentially the same cordless vacuum in terms of core performance and features.
Can the Dyson V16 Submarine vacuum and mop at the same time?
Not in the same way as a dedicated vacuum-mop combo. The Submarine head can handle very fine particles while mopping, but it is best used after vacuuming, not as a one-step solution for debris pickup and mopping.
Does the Dyson V16 Piston Animal have HEPA filtration?
Yes. The Dyson V16 uses a fully sealed HEPA filtration system, and it passed our fog evaluation with no visible leaks.
How long does the Dyson V16 battery last?
Dyson rates the V16 for up to 70 minutes on its lowest power setting. In our numbers, it measured 70 minutes on low power and 15.3 minutes on max power.
Is the Dyson V16 Piston Animal good for carpet?
Yes. The Dyson V16 scored 100% in our carpet deep clean evaluation, which is one of the best results we have measured from a cordless vacuum.
Is the Dyson V16 Piston Animal good for hard floors?
Yes. The dedicated soft roller head with green laser illumination was excellent on hard floors, handling fine dust, hair, and larger debris well in our evaluations and real-world use.
Is the Dyson V16 Submarine hard to clean?
It requires more manual cleanup than a dock-based hard floor cleaner. The Submarine head should be emptied and rinsed after each mopping session to avoid odors and maintain performance.
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Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine
