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Cheaper alternatives · Cordless vacuums

Cheaper alternatives to the Dyson V15 Detect

Our verdict

For most homes, the Shark Stratos is the alternative to get: reviewers rate its cleaning close to the V15's, and at the prices we checked it cost about half as much. If your floors are mostly hard and you want the longest battery, the lighter Dreame R20 costs about the same.

Updated 3 November 2026Based on 4 independent reviewers and maker specsNot tested by us: how we chose

The short list

  1. 1Best alternative overallShark Stratos Cordless (IZ400UKT)Mid-range
  2. 2Best for hard floorsDreame R20Mid-range
Still want the original? Who should buy the V15 Detect
The original
Dyson V15 Detect Absolute cordless vacuum with its tools

Dyson

Why people want the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute

  • Very strong suction that reviewers found picks up fine dust and crumbs in one slow pass, even on its lowest setting.
  • A green laser that lights up dust on hard floors, and a sensor that counts what you pick up.
  • A click-in battery, so a spare doubles your cleaning time.
  • Dyson's build quality and a brush bar designed to resist hair tangles.
Price levelUpper mid-range

£400–£500typical price at major shops

Upper mid-range, 3/4

Side by side

Specs from each maker. Price levels come from shop prices we checked recently; tap through for today's price.

Side by side
ModelOriginalDyson V15 Detect AbsoluteBest alternative overallShark Stratos Cordless (IZ400UKT)Best for hard floorsDreame R20
Price levelUpper mid-rangeMid-rangeMid-range
Battery (claimed max)Up to 60 min (Eco, hard floor)Up to 60 min (Eco, non-motorised tool)Up to 90 min
Bin0.76 L0.7 L0.6 L
Weight as a stickAbout 3 kg4.1 kg2.7 kg
Battery swapClick-in, swappableRemovable, single batterySwappable pack
Suction (maker's figure)240 AWNot published190 AW
Dirt detectionGreen laser + particle counterClean Sense IQ (auto suction)LED dust lights + auto suction
Hair tanglesAnti-tangle brush barAnti Hair Wrap PlusAnti-tangle brush
ShopToday's price on Amazon ↗Today's price on Amazon ↗Today's price on Amazon ↗

The best cheaper alternatives

01 Best alternative overall
Shark Stratos cordless vacuum

Shark

Shark Stratos Cordless (IZ400UKT)

Best for: Homes with carpets, rugs or pets that want near-Dyson cleaning for less

  • Reviewers found its cleaning close to the best Dysons on both carpet and hard floors
  • Hair-wrap comb kept the brush roll clear in testing
  • Bendy wand reaches under sofas and beds without kneeling
  • Limitation: Heavy at 4.1 kg, and the head can lift off the floor when you pull it back.

The Stratos does the main job of a V15, cleaning deep into carpet and picking up hair without tangling, and it adjusts suction on its own as it finds dirt. It's the heaviest stick here and gets only about 11 minutes on full power, so it suits people who vacuum room by room rather than the whole house on boost.

You gain

  • A comb that clears hair off the brush roll as you clean
  • A bendable wand for under furniture
  • A scent cartridge in the head (optional)

You give up

  • The laser and the dust counter
  • About 1 kg more weight in your hand
  • A shorter run on full power
Battery (claimed max)
Up to 60 min (Eco, non-motorised tool)
Bin
0.7 L
Weight as a stick
4.1 kg
Battery swap
Removable, single battery
Price levelMid-range

£200–£250typical price at major shops

Mid-range, 2/4
Today's price on Amazon
02 Best for hard floors
Dreame R20 cordless vacuum

Dreame

Dreame R20

Best for: Flats and homes with mostly hard floors, on a budget

  • Longest battery here: one review measured 84 minutes in standard mode
  • Light at 2.7 kg and easy to steer
  • LED lights on the head show dust, and suction rises on its own when needed
  • Limitation: Reviewers disagree on carpet; one found it left a lot of pet hair in thicker carpet and rugs.

On hard floors the R20 is the closest thing to a V15 for the money: light, easy to steer and long-running. On carpet the reviews split. One rated its pickup highly, another found it struggled with embedded pet hair and big messes. Its 0.6 L bin is the smallest here, and both reviewers noticed a whiny motor.

You gain

  • Up to 90 minutes claimed battery, 50% more than the V15
  • Lighter than the V15

You give up

  • Deep-carpet cleaning, especially with pets
  • A smaller bin (0.6 L vs 0.76 L)
  • A short Boost run (around 7 minutes in testing)
Battery (claimed max)
Up to 90 min
Bin
0.6 L
Weight as a stick
2.7 kg
Battery swap
Swappable pack
Price levelMid-range

£200–£250typical price at major shops

Mid-range, 2/4
Today's price on Amazon

Who should still buy the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute

  • You have lots of carpet and a big home and want the strongest pickup a cordless can give.
  • You'd really use the laser and the dust counter to see when a floor is clean.
  • You can get it at a sale price close to the alternatives (it has sold for well under its £649.99 list price).
Today's price on Amazon

Final recommendation

Final recommendation

Don't pay Dyson money for a laser you might stop noticing. Get the Shark Stratos if you have carpets or pets, and the Dreame R20 if your floors are mostly hard and you want the lightest, longest-running stick. Buy the V15 only if you have a big carpeted home, or you find it on sale close to these prices.

Questions people ask

Is the Shark Stratos as good as a Dyson V15?

Close, not identical. Reviewers found the Stratos cleans carpets and hard floors very well, and one compared it with Dyson's even pricier Gen5detect, saying the Dyson is more powerful but costs nearly twice as much. You lose the laser and the dust counter, and the Stratos is heavier.

Which is lighter, the Dreame R20 or the Dyson V15?

They're close. Reviewers weighed the R20 at about 2.7 kg and the V15 at about 3 kg as sticks. The Shark Stratos is the heavy one at 4.1 kg.

Does the Dyson V15 battery really last 60 minutes?

Only on its lowest setting. One review measured about 60 minutes in Eco, about 40 in Auto and about 18 on Boost. Another found it could run out in about 20 minutes on carpet in Auto with the motorised head.

Why don't you show exact prices?

Prices change daily, especially in sales, so a number on our page would soon be wrong. Each card shows a price level based on what we saw at major UK shops recently. The button takes you to today's price.

How we reached this

We compared the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute with the alternatives most often recommended by independent reviewers, then checked each against the makers' own specs and current prices.

We haven't tested these products ourselves. Our picks weigh independent expert reviews against each maker's published specs and the prices we checked. Opinions are ours; facts link to where they come from. How we choose.

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