The promises made by the Dyson Gen5 Detect are as numerous as they are ambitious, effectively vacuuming up everything from dust to viruses, analyzing what you vacuum up and even detecting hidden dust. We will now see if these claims are verified in use and if it is brilliant enough to deserve its stratospheric price.
Dyson is the manufacturer that no one expected and which has completely changed the vacuum cleaner market. He transformed these devices into cool technological toys with futuristic designs and made cleaning a technology conversation topic. Its latest model, the Gen5 Detect Absolute, is very ambitious. It promises not only effective elimination of dust and viruses thanks to cutting-edge technologies, but also ergonomics designed to adapt to all situations, and even to better understand what we aspire to.
While it is priced at almost 1,000 euros, is it really a good investment?
Design and on-board technologies: a technical sheet worthy of an aircraft engine
The Dyson Gen5 Detect features a futuristic design faithful to the brand’s DNA, combining clean lines and contrasting colors: purple, sky blue, red and gray. This product is attractive by its look, as well as by the quality of its manufacturing. The assembly is very high-end and also benefits from the use of very robust plastics.
It consists of a motor block measuring 25 cm in length and 27.6 cm in width, for a total height (tip and main brush in place) of 127.6 cm. On top of the motor block is an LCD screen displaying information such as charge level or power modes.
This model stands out for its integration of particle detection technology. It allows the Gen5 to detect and analyze dust particles, telling you about the nature of what you’re vacuuming up, including the size of allergens and viruses.
The heart of the vacuum houses Dyson’s Hyperdymium digital motor, capable of reaching 125,000 revolutions per minute. Combined with cyclonic technology, it creates a force of over 79,000 G to separate dust from air, generating a suction power of 230 AW (Air Watts). This allows it to vacuum up very fine particles, including pathogens (bacteria and viruses) with a size of 0.1 microns, or 700 times smaller than the diameter of a hair.
Accessories provided: nothing is missing
Dyson presents itself as a cleaning expert and a good craftsman must have an adequate toolbox. To help us get the best cleaning, this Dyson Gen5 Detect has several brushes and tips that we will detail here.
- The main tube: Here, Dyson provides real added value by integrating a long nozzle directly into the tube. Press the dedicated button when removing the tube, and the long nozzle appears as if by magic.
- Digital Motorbar brush: This is the main, motorized brush, which has a width of 25 cm. Its dynamic load sensing technology automatically adjusts power based on soil type.
- Optic Fluffy Brush: This soft brush, designed for hard but fragile floors, such as certain parquet floors, measures approximately 25 cm wide. It could become your nightmare, because it is equipped with a green laser that illuminates dust particles, even the finest and least visible to the naked eye. Not recommended for maniacs who may use it just to check that they haven’t missed anything.
- The mini motorized self-detangling brush: with a width of 16 cm, it is ideal for treating fabric surfaces such as sofas, curtains and car seats.
- The 6 cm long dust brush and the wall-mounted charging station complete the list.
These accessories attach easily to the vacuum cleaner. The action zones are marked in red to avoid any confusion, without forgetting the keying to prevent any handling errors.
Ergonomics: a balanced and functional vacuum cleaner down to one detail
The Dyson Gen5 Detect Absolute is a well-thought-out product benefiting from very intuitive ergonomics. The English manufacturer has replaced the trigger with a simple red button above the screen, thus avoiding having to constantly keep it engaged, which rests the hand.
This is a good thing, because the device is quite heavy, weighing 2.30 kg for the motor unit alone, and reaching 3.55 kg with the tube and main brush.
This product is heavier than the majority of its competitors, but in use, its weight is barely felt. The motorization of the brushes and their excellent glide on all surfaces allow floors to be completely cleaned without putting too much strain on the wrists.
This applies to standard use on the ground by an average adult, because at height, to clean curtains or vacuum up a cobweb for example, its weight is felt more. This limits the treatment of surfaces at height over long periods.
The joints of the brushes are very flexible, and it is possible to add an additional brush dedicated to low furniture, thus avoiding having to bend down too much to reach these surfaces.
Source: Yazid Amer – Frandroid
Source: Yazid Amer – Frandroid
Source: Yazid Amer – Frandroid
The LCD screen shows basic information such as battery life and power mode, as well as detailed reports on the types and quantities of dust vacuumed up. The display is clear and above all very readable, even in direct sunlight, when vacuuming a terrace.
The Dyson Gen5 Detect Absolute wall storage base requires a drill for installation. It offers practical storage for the vacuum cleaner and its accessories, while taking up minimal space.
Maintenance: simple and effective
This vacuum cleaner requires minimal maintenance, but it absolutely must be regular to maintain optimal performance. The main operation is to empty the dust container. The operation is very simple: just press the red trigger and shoot at the same time.
Be sure to place the end of the bin as close as possible to the trash can, or even inside it, to avoid a cloud of dust when the residue is expelled. With a capacity of 0.77 liters, this operation will be done once a week if you live alone, and once every two to three days if you have a larger household, especially if you have animals.
Source: Yazid Amer – Frandroid
Source: Yazid Amer – Frandroid
The Gen5 Detect Absolute is equipped with HEPA filters that capture 99.99% of particles, including allergens and viruses. These filters require regular cleaning to maintain the efficiency of the device. The process is simple: just remove them and wash them with clean water, then dry them before putting them back in place. The manufacturer recommends carrying out this operation once a month, but if you have animals or a dusty outdoor environment, it is better to do it once every two to three weeks.
Even though brushes have self-detangling mechanisms, hair and fibers can build up over time. To ensure optimal performance of mechanical brushes, remove them approximately once a month, or even less frequently, and remove the fibers. If you have pets or live with several people with long hair, cleaning every two weeks will be safer.
Source: Yazid Amer – Frandroid
Source: Yazid Amer – Frandroid
Source: Yazid Amer – Frandroid
Source: Yazid Amer – Frandroid
To help with maintenance, the Gen5 Detect Absolute alerts you via the LCD screen when there is a blockage or when the filter needs cleaning. The maintenance process is not too restrictive and we admire the effectiveness of anti-detangling brushes.
Suction performance: a monster of power
Dyson is very proud of the powerful technologies embedded in its Gen V Detect Absolute. We have subjected this product to several suction tests. As you can see below, we have lined up from right to left: cornstarch, breadcrumbs, dust and cat litter, each 0.5 cm thick and 0.8 cm thick for litter.
In a single pass, all traces of dust are eliminated. The litter is also removed in one round trip, which is remarkable compared to what the competition offers, which would require at least three passes to remove everything.
Breadcrumbs are vacuumed in one go, while cornstarch requires two passes. On hard floors, its effectiveness is formidable, and the cleaning of baseboards is exemplary.
On rugs and carpets, we recovered more than 95% of the residue and dust that we dispersed. It also treats high pile carpets with the same effectiveness, which is always important to emphasize.
The mini-brush works miracles to remove, for example, cat hair, even when it is strongly attached to a blanket. The tester’s household, made up of people very sensitive to allergies, noted a noticeable improvement. But at almost 1000 euros, it seems normal.
The consistent suction power is miraculous in almost every situation. One caveat, however: if you can vacuum up slightly damp materials, such as earth, avoid vacuuming up water. This could damage the mechanism.
Autonomy: sufficient, but a little tight
According to Dyson, the autonomy of its new vacuum cleaner is 60 minutes continuously using the main brush, a result that we confirm, but only in Eco mode. Auto mode allows for 40 to 44 minutes of battery life, while Boost mode depletes the battery in 12 to 15 minutes, or even less on some very thick carpets or rugs.
Once your task is finished, simply place the vacuum cleaner on its wall base which will recharge the device in just under four hours. It’s a shame Dyson didn’t include a quick charge feature to allow us to quickly complete a task if we run out of battery. In 15 minutes of charging, we reach 10%, and 25% in 45 minutes, 45% in 1h30, 60% in 2h, 70% in 2h30 and we reach 100% in around 3 hours.