- Cheaper: price TechAdvisor says the Submarine costs more than the V15 Detect because of the wet roller head.
- Cheaper: price Business Insider notes the Submarine costs more than the V15 Detect.
Dyson V15s Detect Submarine Wet Dry Vacuum Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine if you want top-tier cordless vacuuming plus light mopping in one compact tool. Skip it if you need a true wet-dry vac for large spills, deep grime, sealed tanks, or low maintenance.
Best for
Best for mixed-floor homes or small spaces where one compact cordless tool can handle excellent dry vacuuming plus light, regular mopping. It also fits users who value dust illumination, smart suction adjustment, and a broad tool kit.
Not for
Not for buyers who need a true wet-dry vacuum that handles large wet-solid spills, deep grime, or mostly hard-floor messes with minimal cleanup. It is also a poor fit for tight budgets or users bothered by trigger operation.
Verdict
Reviewers largely agree that the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is an excellent cordless vacuum first and a useful but imperfect mop second. The dry-vac side earns the strongest praise for suction, carpet and hard-floor pickup, debris illumination, filtration, attachments, and runtime. The tradeoff is the Submarine wet roller: it helps with light mopping, small spills, paw prints, and many stains, but it cannot vacuum and mop at the same time, struggles with larger wet-solid messes, and can leave streaks or dirty-water spills. Its compact, multi-tool design makes sense for mixed-floor homes, yet the high price, small tanks, trigger operation, and manual mop cleanup keep it from feeling like a fully polished wet-dry replacement.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Worse: suction power The reviewer found the Submarine's vacuum suction far stronger than the Dyson V8.
- Better: liquid-solid spills TechRadar says the WashG1 is better suited than the Submarine for liquid-solid spills.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
71 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 31% 22 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 42% 30 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 17% 12 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 8% 6 features
- Very negative below 1.5 1% 1 feature
Pros
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Headlight performance was praised as better than typical LED headlights in one lab comparison.
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Low-profile capability was excellent in lab testing because the vacuum could fully lay flat.
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One reviewer specifically praised Dyson customer service as excellent and efficient for support and faulty-part replacement.
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Debris illumination was one of the most consistently loved features, repeatedly helping reviewers see hidden dust and make vacuuming more thorough.
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Low-pile carpet pickup was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers describing carpets as nearly new, excellent, or crushed in tests.
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Hard-floor fine-dust pickup was excellent, especially with the Fluffy Optic head and laser revealing fine dust, sugar, hair, and corner debris.
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Hard-floor hair pickup was praised across tests, especially with the Fluffy Optic head and strong suction.
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Filtration and dust containment drew strong praise, with reviewers describing the filtration as excellent and the system as keeping fine flour or microscopic dust well contained.
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Floor drying time was praised in two reviews, with quick drying and floors not left saturated after mopping.
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Reviewers consistently praised the vacuuming side as powerful, with strong suction and airflow across general cleaning, carpets, hard floors, and hard-to-reach areas.
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Small-space suitability was strong because reviewers saw the compact, multi-function design as a way to avoid owning multiple floor-cleaning devices.
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The accessory set was widely praised as versatile and complete, with multiple cleaning heads and specialty tools for floors, crevices, hair, stairs, and upholstery.
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Comparative performance was favorable against Dyson's V15 lineage, with the Submarine treated as comparable to or based on a top cordless platform.
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Pet-related feedback was positive: dog owners liked the mop option for paw prints and reviewers found pet hair pickup strong, though hair wrap still required attention in some tests.
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Above-floor and upholstery pickup was praised, especially for sofa, dog-bed, mattress, shelf, and couch-corner use.
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Medium or conventional carpet pickup was praised in one hands-on review for pulling dust, bunnies, and grime from carpeting.
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The handheld conversion was praised for sofa, mattress, and tight-spot cleaning.
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Packaging was praised for secure, recyclable cardboard protection.
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The self-propelled mopping feel was praised as lightweight and easy to propel along.
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Surface safety feedback was positive from a reviewer who felt the head protected tile from scratches.
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Under-furniture pickup was praised in one review for the thin wand and flexible head joint.
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One reviewer successfully cleaned a delicate wool woven rug despite initial hesitation.
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Maneuverability was mostly praised for swivel, lay-flat ability, easy gliding, and small head size, though some reviewers felt effort or fatigue on certain surfaces.
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Smart features were praised for auto suction adjustment, battery efficiency, particle detection, and display feedback, though there was no app-centered praise.
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Carpet hair pickup was strong, lifting ingrained long hair and fur well in hands-on testing.
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Battery and charging feedback was strong overall, with long runtime, useful countdowns, fade-free behavior, and removable-battery benefits.
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Large hard-floor debris performance was mixed: dry vacuum heads often performed very well, but the mop head struggled with cereal, rice, and large pieces.
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Versatility was a major strength because the machine combines high-end dry vacuuming with a mop head and broad attachment set.
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Runtime was a strength, with many reviewers reporting enough battery for homes, long mop runtime, or useful auto-mode endurance.
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Area rug handling was generally positive across rugs and mixed floor homes, including thick-pile and delicate rug examples.
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Overall impressions were positive but qualified: reviewers loved the vacuum and versatility, while the mop, maintenance, tanks, and price created tradeoffs.
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Edge and baseboard cleaning was mostly positive, but one lab review found the exposed roller could miss debris at wall contact.
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High-pile and thicker carpet pickup was generally workable but less dominant, needing slower passes or more effort with larger lightweight debris.
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Floorhead design was strong for dry heads and surface matching, but the separated vac-mop layout reduced the all-in-one feel.
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Stair-cleaning feedback was favorable where the hair screw and smaller tools were used for stairs, furniture, and pet-related jobs.
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The cable-free design was praised for portability around domestic cleaning tasks.
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Cyclone performance received one positive assessment that the core dust-separation technology seemed to do the job.
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One review highlighted the product's versatility as the factor that sets it apart from other wet-dry mops.
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Kid-friendliness was noted positively when the dust-revealing head made a child's room vacuuming more fun.
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One lab review saw promising long-term durability in the Submarine attachment's lightweight, sturdy plastic construction.
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Ease of use was mostly positive for maneuvering and day-to-day cleaning, but push resistance, many parts, and trigger fatigue created caveats.
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Hair-wrap resistance was mixed: Dyson's anti-tangle tools worked well in some tests, but longer hair still wrapped or needed cutting free in others.
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Weight feedback was mixed: some found it light and easy, while others reported hand, thumb, or forearm fatigue.
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Tool changes were usually quick and easy, but several reviewers disliked the extra reconfiguring needed because vacuuming and mopping require separate heads.
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Setup ranged from very easy to confusing: several reviewers assembled it quickly, while others needed manuals, videos, or clearer instructions for the Submarine head.
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Dried-on stain performance ranged from excellent one- or two-pass results to needing many extra passes or struggling with overnight sticky stains.
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Design comments leaned positive on the colorful, quirky Dyson styling, though one reviewer felt the plastic mop head looked more toy-like than premium.
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The dry bin was viewed as adequate and generally usable, but some reviewers still had to reach in for stuck hair or debris.
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Mopping performance was useful for light cleaning, small spills, and general maintenance, but reviews agreed it is not a full true wet-dry or deep-clean replacement.
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Fresh liquid pickup was useful for small spills and standalone liquids, but multiple reviews warned against large wet spills or wet-solid mixtures.
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Maintenance was mixed: dry-vac maintenance could be straightforward, but the mop head requires washing, drying, and manual cleanup after use.
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Build quality was generally strong for the main vacuum, but some reviewers criticized plastic feel or dock/head design elements.
Cons
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Noise feedback was mixed: one lab result found mopping slightly quieter than average, while another reviewer found Boost mode very loud.
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Value was one of the most divided areas: reviewers liked the added mop at Dyson-tier performance, but repeatedly flagged the high price or weak mop premium.
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The LCD and smart display were often praised, but the trigger operation and some particle-readout usefulness drew repeated complaints.
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Storage feedback was split: the compact attachment system helped in small spaces, but the vacuum is not freestanding and several reviews complained about attachment or dock storage.
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Liquid delivery feedback was mixed: some liked the controlled water output, while others disliked the single wet mode and lack of water-flow adjustment.
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Crevice and groove pickup was mixed, with one review praising nooks-and-crannies cleaning but lab testing showing weak deep-crevice pickup from the mop head.
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Ownership-cost feedback was limited and mixed, mentioning optional spare batteries and likely mop-roller replacement costs.
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One reviewer noted hair could get trapped in crevices and need manual attention.
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Mess control was polarized: dry-bin emptying could be easy, but the dirty-water compartment, mop debris, and cleanup were messy in several reviews.
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Water tank feedback was mixed to negative: reviewers liked the reach of the small tank in some rooms, but repeatedly called the reservoirs small or spill-prone.
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Streaking and residue were recurring mop-head concerns, especially after pauses, large spills, dirty rollers, or uneven initial water flow.
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Heavy-duty suitability was limited; reviews repeatedly framed the mop as better for light, regular cleaning than deep grime or full mop-and-bucket replacement.
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Debris handling through the mop head was a recurring weakness, especially with dry debris, liquid mixed with solids, cereal, small debris, or wand blockages.
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Airflow blowback was a negative edge case, with one reviewer getting a blast of vent air when cleaning under low furniture.
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Onboard tool storage was weak because one review found more accessories than mounting solutions.
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The lack of an auto self-cleaning cycle was a repeated weakness, making mop-head cleanup more manual than competing wet-dry vacuums.
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Sanitizing feedback was negative because the Submarine cannot steam-sterilize floors.
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The product does not provide steam cleaning, and one review treated that as a limitation versus hot, sterilizing mop methods.
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Dirty-water sensing was a clear weakness in TechRadar's review because the display only showed clean-water level, not dirty-water buildup.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Stick Vacuums & Electric Brooms, this product is above average in Support and Reliability, below average in Steam Cleaning, Dirty water sensor, Self-cleaning cycle.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 13% 1 feature
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 88% 7 features
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Cleaning | 1.5 | 4.1 | -2.6 |
| Dirty water sensor | 1.0 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
| Self-cleaning cycle | 1.8 | 4.2 | -2.3 |
| Sanitizing performance | 1.5 | 3.5 | -2.0 |
| Streaking / Residue | 2.6 | 4.0 | -1.5 |
| Onboard tool storage | 2.0 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
| Support and Reliability | 5.0 | 3.5 | +1.5 |
| Fresh Liquid Pickup Speed | 3.6 | 4.7 | -1.1 |
FAQ
Does the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine vacuum and mop at the same time?
No. Reviews repeatedly describe it as a Dyson stick vacuum with a separate wet roller head, so you vacuum first, switch attachments, and then mop.
How strong is it as a regular cordless vacuum?
Very strong. Reviewers consistently praised suction, carpet pickup, hard-floor pickup, filtration, and the Fluffy Optic dust-revealing head.
Is the Submarine mop head good for stains and spills?
It is useful for light mopping, paw prints, small liquid spills, and many stains. It is much less convincing with large wet spills, wet-solid messes, deep grime, or full-house heavy mopping.
Are the water tanks a problem?
Several reviewers said the clean and dirty water tanks are small. The bigger complaint was the unsealed dirty-water area, which could spill or leave dirty streaks.
How much maintenance does it need?
Dry-vac maintenance is generally straightforward, but the wet head needs to be rinsed, emptied, dried, and reassembled after use. Reviewers repeatedly missed an auto self-cleaning cycle.
Is it good for pet owners?
Mostly yes. Reviewers praised pet hair pickup, dog-bed and paw-print cleaning, and anti-tangle tools, though long hair could still wrap or require manual clearing.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.3/5
Article Reviews
techradar.com
- Review score
- 3.4/5
Consider This Instead
If you want better Steam Cleaning
Choose Tineco Floor ONE Switch S7 Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner. It scores 5.0 vs 1.5 for Steam Cleaning, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Self-cleaning cycle
Choose Samsung Bespoke Jet Ultra AI Cordless Stick Vacuum. It scores 5.0 vs 1.8 for Self-cleaning cycle, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Sanitizing performance
Choose Bissell CrossWave Vacuum Cleaner. It scores 4.6 vs 1.5 for Sanitizing performance, with a 3.7 overall score.
If you want better Clogging and debris prevention
Choose DREAME R10 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner. It scores 5.0 vs 2.3 for Clogging and debris prevention, with a 4.4 overall score.
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