Dyson V12 Review: A Dyson Expert’s Opinion
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is one of the oddest cordless models Dyson has put out. You don’t see many of them, and when you do, you’re left wondering who exactly it was aimed at.
This isn’t a spec sheet comparison written from behind a desk. This is a real-world look at the Dyson V12 from the largest independent Dyson specialist repair centre in the North. We see just about every model come through our Dyson workshop, including V12s. We are experienced repairers and Dyson engineers. We know what works, what doesn’t, and what’s just Dyson doing Dysony things.
Dyson V12 Detect Slim: What Is It Supposed to Be?
The Dyson V12 is roughly the same size and weight as a V7 or V8. Put it on the scales next to a V7, and the difference is barely 30 grams. So if you were expecting some revolutionary lightweight machine, you’ll be disappointed. It’s not lighter. It’s not more compact. It’s not even more powerful.
It uses the same charger as the V10, and the battery capacity is in the same range as a V7 or V8. So you’re not getting anything new in terms of runtime or suction either.
So what’s the point? Where is it designed to sit in the range, and who is it meant to appeal to?
Smaller Bin, Same Bulk
One of the first things you’ll notice is that the Dyson V12 has a smaller bin. About 35% smaller than the V7 or V8. So you’ve got a machine that weighs the same but holds less dirt. That’s not progress. That’s just annoying.
There’s no practical reason for this bin to be smaller. It doesn’t reduce the weight. It doesn’t improve performance. It just means you’ll be emptying it more often. Unless you’ve got a particular desire to vacuum in tiny doses, there’s no benefit here.
Power Button Instead of Trigger
The Dyson V12 was the first cordless Dyson to get rid of the trigger and replace it with a red on/off button. You press once to start, once to stop.
For some people, especially those with arthritis or limited grip strength, that’s a welcome change. Holding down a trigger the whole time can be uncomfortable. And to be fair, this change was carried forward to newer machines like the Gen5.
It’s one of the few sensible design choices on this vacuum. But even then, it’s not something that justifies buying the whole machine unless that specific feature is a deal-breaker for you.
That Fancy Screen
Dyson loves putting screens on things now. The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is no exception. It has a digital screen on the back that shows battery level and a breakdown of the dust particle sizes being picked up.
This is part of Dyson’s marketing push about “scientific proof of a deep clean”. In reality, it’s mostly for show. Most people don’t need a visual chart to tell them the floor’s getting cleaned. It doesn’t change how you vacuum; it just adds to the price.
Dyson V12 Tool Compatibility – or Lack of It
Now we come to one of the biggest issues — tool compatibility. If you’ve owned other Dysons, you’ll know exactly what’s coming.
Dyson has a long history of changing fittings just slightly from one model to the next. Enough to stop older tools from working with newer machines. It’s not an accident. It’s done to sell more tools.
With the Dyson V12, this continues. Standard, non-powered tools from your V7, V8, V10, V11 and similar will fit just fine. But powered heads are where it falls apart.
The electrical socket on the V12 is different to the ones on earlier models. It looks almost the same, but it’s not. The plugs don’t line up quite right, and even if you try to modify one, the physical profiles still don’t match properly. You can’t use your V8 motorhead on a V12, full stop.
There’s no engineering justification for this. It’s not about safety or performance. It’s about control. It’s about making sure you buy new accessories, whether you want to or not.
We’ve dealt with this nonsense for years. In fact, it was we who designed the original adaptor that lets you use classic 32 mm Dyson tools — from DC01 through to DC14 — on newer machines like the DC16 up to the DC75. That adapter has been in use for years and still solves a real problem. We’ve made other adaptors too, just to let people reuse what they already own without being locked into Dyson’s endless accessory treadmill.
With the V12, Dyson moved the goalposts again. It’s the same old trick, just in a new wrapper.
So, Where Does the Dyson V12 Fit In?
That’s the question nobody seems to be able to answer. It weighs the same as a V7 or V8. The battery is similar. The bin is smaller. The powered tools don’t fit. It’s not noticeably more powerful. And it’s not particularly cheap either.
Yes, it has a power button instead of a trigger. And yes, it has a digital screen. But neither of those is exclusive to the V12 anymore. You can get them on other models that do a better job.
We hardly ever see V12s in for repair or service. Maybe one every couple of months. That tells you something. It’s not a popular machine. Not because it’s some undiscovered gem, but because it just didn’t sell in large numbers. And that’s likely because most people looked at it and thought the same thing we did: what’s the point?
Still Being Sold at John Lewis – For Now
Despite being discontinued in most places for some time, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim is being sold again at John Lewis. Why? No one seems to know. Maybe Dyson offloaded a load of them. Maybe John Lewis bought a warehouse full on the cheap. Maybe John Lewis’ demographic might appreciate that big red on/off button. Who knows.
But at the time of writing, you can still buy one new, even though it’s already a model Dyson themselves have quietly moved on from.
Would we recommend buying one? Not especially. Not when the very reliable Dyson V8 exists, which is cheaper and has a bigger bin. The V8 has been out for many years, all the wrinkles have been ironed out, and they have full tool compatibility within their generation (V7-V15, excepting the V12). The V12 just sits in no-man’s land.
Watch the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Video Review
If you want to see the machine in action, hear the suction, and see the tool compatibility issues for yourself, have a look at our hands-on video review. Everything we’ve talked about here is shown and explained, and comparisons are made with other models.
Final Thoughts on the Dyson V12 Detect Slim
The Dyson V12 is one of those machines that looks the part but doesn’t bring anything extra to the table. It’s not lighter. It’s not more powerful. It doesn’t run longer. It holds less dirt. And you can’t use your old heads with it.
If all you care about is having a vacuum that doesn’t need a trigger, maybe it’s worth a look — if you can find one cheap. But if you’re just after a reliable cordless Dyson, there are better choices at almost every price point. That said, there isn’t actually anything wrong with them in terms of the machine itself. So if you have already bought one, it doesn’t mean you have been sold a pup.
It’s rare, yes. But not rare like a vintage DC01 is rare. Rare because hardly anyone bought one. Will anyone be reconditioning these Dysons in a decade? Who knows.
If you’ve got one and think there’s something we’ve missed, or if you disagree with any of this, feel free to leave a comment below. But for us, this one goes firmly in the “why did they bother?” category.