Are Dyson products worth buying? Vacuum cleaners, fans and more compared

Over the years, Dyson has created some famously innovative designs for a host of everyday technology, including vacuum cleaners, hair dryers and fans.

At Which?, we go hands-on with the brand's latest releases to see if they're worth splashing out on. Our expert vacuum cleaner tests, for example, look at how effectively models suck up fine dust, as well as larger crumbs, lentils and pet hair.

Below, our experts take a closer look at Dyson's home appliances and explore how they compare to rivals for features and price.

Jump to Dyson products:
Air purifiers | Fans | Hair dryers | Headphones | Robot vacuum cleaners | Vacuum cleaners

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What is the best Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner?

In 2018, Dyson announced it would stop developing new corded vacuums in favour of cordless models.

Most cordless Dyson vacs now feature a lightweight, handstick design along with turbo and soft-roller floorheads. You can swap them out depending on the surface you're vacuuming. We've also seen Dyson bring in dirt ejectors, allowing you to empty the dust container without getting your hands grubby.

Our expert's view

Manca Virant, cordless vacuum cleaner expert at Which?, says:

'If you’re after a top-of-the-range cordless vacuum and are prepared to pay a premium price for it, Dyson is likely one of the first names you’ll be drawn to.

'With its newer models, you’ll mainly be paying for features such as intelligent suction adaptation and unique cleaner heads, as well as other patented technology and advanced features for the detection, removal, sizing, and counting of microscopic dust particles.

'Not sure whether these high-tech features add up to an unrivalled cleaning experience? Our expert lab tests uncover not only how well cordless vacuums clean on a variety of surfaces but also how well they retain allergens, how versatile they are, how easy to empty, manoeuvre around and more, so our reviews can tell you whether it's worth shelling out on the latest Dyson.'

We've tested a vast selection of cordless Dyson vacs, including the following:

• Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute SQUIRREL_TEXT_50009817 – A lightweight bagless vacuum cleaner with three power modes: auto, eco and boost. When you're ready to tackle a dirty floor, you can choose from a motorised cleaner head with de-tangling technology and an illuminated cleaner head with a built-in laser.
• Dyson V15 Detect Absolute SQUIRREL_TEXT_50012362 – Designed to tackle pet hair, this vacuum cleaner has an LCD display to show how much battery you have left. According to Dyson, it can detect and remove hidden dust in your home for 'scientific proof of a deep clean' – we've tested its effectiveness as part of our full review.
• Dyson Outsize Absolute SQUIRREL_TEXT_12878334 – This bagless model has a host of futuristic features, including sensors that record how much dust you suck up. It’s much bigger than most cordless rivals.
• Dyson Gen5detect SQUIRREL_TEXT_12922219 – Dyson bills this as its 'most-powerful vacuum cleaner yet', claiming it has the brand’s longest runtime in a cordless vacuum. It has single-button power control and comes with a fluffy optic floor head, which uses a green laser diode to illuminate hidden dust.

To find the right model for you, see our advice on how to choose the best Dyson. Alternatively, log in or join Which? to browse all of our expert cordless vacuum cleaner reviews.

What is the best Dyson robot vacuum cleaner?

Dyson launched its first robot vacuum cleaner, the Dyson 360 Eye, in 2016. A couple of years later, the brand rolled out the Dyson 360 Heurist.

The latest robot vacuum cleaner from Dyson is the Dyson 360 Vis Nav, which is described as its 'most-powerful robot vacuum' yet. The robo-cleaner features a triple-action brush bar to deep clean across all floor types. Our testers are currently putting this vacuum through its paces to find out what it’s capable of.

The Dyson 360 Vis Nav is available from the following stores:

Generally speaking, our tests have shown that, while convenient, robot vacs can't yet match their full-size competitors for cleaning power – so you'll still have to whizz round with a regular or handheld vacuum if you want to keep your home spotless.

Consult our in-depth robot vacuum cleaner reviews before parting with your money.

Which Dyson air purifier is best?

The best air purifiers effortlessly capture dust, pollen and smoke in your home. If you suffer from dry skin or sinus congestion when the air is dry, a humidifier could help.

Interestingly, Dyson models are built to heat or cool your room while they clean. However, you'll pay a premium – the cheapest on-test model at the time of writing costs around £450. Our testing has uncovered Which? Best Buys from rival brands that are far cheaper.

Our expert's view

Patrick Gallagher, air purifier expert at Which? says:

‘Dyson air purifiers cost at least £150 more than the average model we’ve tested.

'The hefty price gets you smart features, night mode, a timer, as many as 10 fan speeds, and an air quality sensor for automatic air purification.

'They’re typically multipurpose appliances, too, with some doubling up as a heater in winter and/or a fan in summer. So you’re getting two or three appliances in one if you opt for a Dyson air purifier.

‘One claim Dyson makes for several of its models is that they destroy formaldehyde, which is a gas given off by some household furnishings, furniture and cleaning products. We’ve recently made our expert lab tests even more exacting, and now test to see if Dyson’s claims hold up.

‘We also measure how many small, medium and large particles – representing common allergens such as pollen, dust and smoke – each machine removes from the air. Only the top performers earn our Best Buy recommendation.'

We've tested the following Dyson air purifiers:

• Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 SQUIRREL_TEXT_12877152  – A wi-fi enabled air purifier with a distinctive oval tower shape, aimed at larger rooms of up to 81m². This model has large filters designed to capture smoke, allergens, pollen and other pollutants– they fit together to form a cylinder.
• Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 SQUIRREL_TEXT_12877130 – This air purifier has a HEPA filter aiming to trap particles, plus a catalytic oxidisation filter to eliminate formaldehyde, which is a gas given off by some household furnishings, furniture and cleaning products.
• DysonPurifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09  SQUIRREL_TEXT_50014229 – This air purifier may be pricey, but it is multipurpose, doubling as a fan. For air purification, it has a HEPA filter to trap particles, a carbon filter to remove gases, and a catalytic oxidisation filter to eliminate formaldehyde.

For a closer look at the brand's range, see our guide: Should you buy a Dyson air purifier? We also recommend exploring all of our air purifier reviews.

Which Dyson fan is the best?

Dyson’s tower fans are famously bladeless and, like many other products in the brand's line-up, they don’t come cheap. A Dyson electric fan could potentially be a highly stylish addition to your home – but it's only worth picking up if it scores well in our review.

For each electric fan in our lab, we test the full range of air speeds using an anemometer. Our experts look at how well the fan ventilates a room with cool air from outside (if you place it near an open window), plus we measure power use at each fan's lowest and highest speeds.

If you're keen to stick with Dyson, expect to spend around £300 on the Dyson AM07 – but note some of our Best Buys are a fraction of that price.

Our expert's view

Chris Brookes, electric fan expert at Which? says:

'Dyson fans feature a bladeless design and many people are drawn to them on looks alone. However, several features are similar to other fans including oscillation mode, a programmable timer and remote control.

'Our tests include a wind speed assessment with an anemometer, as well as a noise level check to ensure we recommend quiet fans that won't drive you crazy with incessant whirring. We also run a blindfolded panel assessment to determine how pleasant and consistent the breeze feels.

'There's no doubt Dyson fans look super-stylish, but only our rigorous tests reveal whether their performance matches up.'

At the time of writing, we've published full reviews for the following Dyson fans:

• Dyson AM07 SQUIRREL_TEXT_12879496 – This tower fan is just over one metre tall but only 23cm wide, so it won’t take up too much valuable floor space. The brand's Air Multiplier technology creates a breeze and changes speeds without the need for spinning blades.
• Dyson AM09 Hot & Cool Fan Heater SQUIRREL_TEXT_50000320 – This bladeless fan from Dyson has 10 settings and can also be used as a heater.

Discover which fans have soared through our tests with our guide to the best electric fans.

Should you buy the Dyson Supersonic or Airwrap hair dryer?

The Dyson Supersonic and Airwrap are two high-end hair tools with different purposes. When we test hair dryers, we look for brilliant drying and styling results.

Dyson Supersonic

Let's start with the Supersonic, which is branded as a professional hair dryer and claims to offer fast drying with low heat. It partners with a range of attachments for different styling needs and usually costs around £300. You can learn more with our Dyson Supersonic review.

The Dyson Supersonic is available from the following stores:

Dyson Airwrap

Meanwhile, the Dyson Airwrap is branded as an all-round hairstyling tool. It claims to work as a dryer, curler, straightener and waver, all without relying on excessive heat. Think of it as an all-in-one hairstyling toolkit, more for those seeking the whole package.

According to search data, the Airwrap is one of the most popular styling tools around, but it comes at a high price and usually costs more than £450. The Dyson Airwrap is available from the following stores:

Note Dyson also has some cordless straighteners in its range, too – we've reviewed the Dyson Corrale.

Find out which models will blow you away with our guide to the best hair dryers.

Is it worth buying Dyson’s headphones?

The Dyson Zone Absolute+ headphones are one of the brand’s more unusual releases. These wireless, over-ear headphones come with an intriguing feature: an air purifying visor that attaches to the headphones magnetically. Each earcup also contains a motor, air-purifying filter and compressor fan.

Dyson's attention-grabbing headphones currently cost more than £500, which is a significant investment. Our rigorous tests have uncovered plenty of more affordable Best Buy options.

We first set eyes (and ears) on the Dyson Zone Absolute+ headphones last year in our first look review. Since then, the headphones have passed through our lab as part of our full Dyson Zone Absolute+ review so give it a read to find out if these are an expensive gimmick or a worthy investment.

Our expert's view

Callum Pears, headphones expert at Which? says:

'Although they inspire intrigue, the novelty of these hybrid headphones quickly wears off.

'You'll find the motor and fans of the air purification system make them heavy (especially noticeable after prolonged use) and overwhelm the otherwise quite good noise-cancelling and sound quality.'

The Dyson Zone Absolute+ headphones are available from the following stores:

To find out which headphones will do your favourite tracks justice, browse all of our headphone reviews