Jul 29, 2026 3:08 PMWhich of Dyson’s 2026 Stick Vacuums Is Worth the Upgrade?Curious if you should get Dyson’s new 2026 stick vacuums or stick to the older ones? I tested five models, old and new, to find out for you.Courtesy of DysonDyson's vacuum lineup has a whole new look these days, but that doesn't necessarily make it easier to decide if you're looking to buy one.The Dyson V16 Piston Animal ($980), V10 Konical ($500), and V8 Cyclone ($400) arrived to change up Dyson's cordless vacuum options. The older V15 Detect ($650) and Gen5Detect ($800) are also still available and great vacuums, which raises the question: Should you upgrade? Which Dyson model is worth the cash with so many options (and widely ranging price points) to choose from?I tested all five of these vacuums against each other in a series of tests to see which ones stood out among the pack. The two overall winners? The Gen5Detect was the number one winner, with the V16 Piston Animal right behind it, and the V10 Konical coming up third even though it's a much cheaper option. Read on to find out which model did best in each test, what the stats look like for each Dyson vacuum, and how I scored the final results.Love WIRED? Add us as a preferred source on Google to see more of us.Top 3 PerformersThe Best Overall Dyson VacuumDyson Gen5DetectJump to reviewThe Runner-Up (and Best for Dyson’s Add-Ons)Dyson V16 Piston AnimalJump to reviewBest Affordable Dyson VacuumDyson V10 KonicalJump to reviewA Quick Dyson Vacuum RundownDyson's naming convention is fun, and the numbers usually represent which models are more powerful or offer better accessories, but not always. Most of its vacuums have the V name, which, to my best guess, simply stands for “vacuum.” The numbers aren't always in order of release and usually reflect a vacuum's power level and capabilities. The V10 and V8 have the same power level but different heads, for example, while the V16 is more powerful than the V15. But not all vacuums are named the same; the Gen5Detect has a different name entirely, and falls in between the V15 and V16 when it comes to suction power and price tag.Here's a quick chart to understand the power levels and compatible accessories that differentiate each vacuum from the other. You might also spot things like “Plus” or “Total” when you're shopping for a Dyson vacuum, and that usually reflects the attachments included with the vacuum.ModelSuction PowerVacuum HeadsIncluded AccessoriesFilterAdd-OnsDyson V8 Cyclone ($400)150 air wattsDigital MotorbarCrevice toolWhole-machine filtrationNone at this timeDyson V10 Konical ($500)150 air wattsAll Floor ConesCrevice tool, mini motorized toolHEPAAuto-emptying DokDyson V15 Detect ($650)240 air wattsDigital Motorbar, Fluffy OpticCrevice tool, mini motorized toolWhole-machine filtrationSubmarine headDyson Gen5Detect ($800)262 air wattsDigital Motorbar, Fluffy OpticHair screw tool, Combination tool, and Dusting and crevice tool (built-in)HEPANone at this timeDyson V16 Piston Animal ($980)315 air wattsAll Floor Cones Sense, Fluffy OpticHair screw tool 2.0, crevice tool, built-in crevice toolsHEPASubmarine head, docking station plannedThis gives you a pretty easy look at what you're getting for each model. As the models increase in number (both in the name and in the price tag), the vacuum usually gains more accessories or cleaner heads, more air watts of suction power, and sometimes the option to add the Submarine wet cleaner head on for an additional price, or future compatibility with Dyson's Auto-empty Dok station that's coming out soon.The Digital Motorbar and All Floor Cones cleaner heads are both compatible with soft and hard floors, which is why sometimes it's the only head included. More expensive Dyson models will also include the Fluffy Optic cleaner head, which is designed specifically for hard floors and has an illuminated light to help you spot dust and debris. The All Floor Cones cleaner head includes a light too, so you're able to get that feature on both the V16 and V10 without switching heads.Here are the tests I ran for each vacuum, and which ones did best—and worst.Sand TestThe V10 Konical's results after one versus two passes on the sand. It performed the best out of the Dyson vacuums on this rug.