Dyson Ditches Trigger in New V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum
The lightweight stick vacuum brings a laser -- and a power button.
Dyson is refreshing its lineup of cordless vacuum cleaners in the US with a new lightweight model that packs in the latest tech, while also giving older models a new detangling brush bar that promises to lessen the annoyance of hair getting wrapped around it.
The V12 Detect Slim has the smarts of last year's top-of-the-line V15 Detect. A green laser light shines on hard floors to help you better see particles you may otherwise miss. An LCD screen keeps track of how much crud is getting picked up in real time, so you can see proof of your cleaning and how much battery life is left. But this model also shrinks the size of the dust canister and uses an on/off power button instead of having users hold down a trigger to keep it powered.
Cutting down on the size (it weighs 4.85 pounds), it's a better fit for smaller homes that want all the smarts and power of Dyson's latest models -- not to mention that a button is better for anyone who may have trouble holding down a trigger during cleaning. The V12 Detect Slim starts at $650, whereas the larger V15 model is priced at $750. The big fella of the laser family is the Dyson Outsize Plus, starting at $950.
Read more: Best Cordless Vacuums for 2022
If you want an improved cleaning experience but don't care to get the latest features, several older Dyson stick vacuums now include the improved detangling brush bar. The snap-on attachment includes what looks like an angled comb to help migrate hair off the bar, which may mean less time getting out the scissors to cut out tangles. This new cleaner head is coming to the Dyson Outsize, V15, V12, V11, V10 and V8 vacuums.
A few new accessories are coming later this year that will work on all models -- and one in particular that may be helpful for owners of shedding dogs. The Pet Grooming Kit combines a pet-hair brush with a long hose. Brush away hair and dander from your pet's coat, then suck it up into the vacuum as you go. It starts at $70.
Dyson is also rolling out a new scratch-free dusting brush for delicate surfaces, at $50, along with an "awkward gap tool" that twists 22 degrees to clean hard-to-reach crevices without losing suction, also at $50. In the fall, both tools will be packaged together as a kit for $75.
For more, check out our picks for the best robot vacuums, and how to get stains out of carpet.