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Moving into a new apartment on my own for the first time, I only brought with me a robot vacuum. I had other vacuums when I lived with housemates, which they owned, but I thought a robot vacuum for just me would suffice.
It didn’t. As much of a fan of robot vacuums as I am, I do have to admit that they do have their limitations. As they’re disk-shaped, they can’t get into corners and you can’t put the suction exactly on whatever you want to suck up. As great as my robot vacuum was, I knew I needed a stick vacuum, too, to really clean my apartment.
Enter Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute Extra ($1,349), a cordless vacuum coming with two cleaner heads, five tools, and, incredibly, lasers that show microscopic dust. Seeing as the Dyson cordless range starts at $499 for the Dyson V7 Motorhead Origin and goes up to $1,449 for the Dyson V15 Detect Complete, this V12 does sit on the higher end.
Setting It Up
The vacuum came in a big cardboard box full of parts. I followed its instructions and easily put it together. It did have a dock that I could install into the wall that the vacuum could rest against when not in use or charger, but, because I live in a rental, I decided not to set that up and instead kept the vacuum in a cupboard.
I scanned a QR code from my phone, which brought me to a video that showed me exactly how to put the vacuum together and get it started. I also realised, while I was using it and got an error message I didn’t understand, Dyson has countless support and troubleshooting videos on YouTube on all of its products. As a self-proclaimed non-techy, I found that resource reassuring.
How Well Did It Clean?
As I mentioned, I definitely had a need for vacuuming areas my robot vacuum couldn’t clean. The first place I used the vacuum was on my jute carpet, which I was almost ready to give away — it was that dirty. The vacuum sucked up all the dirt on it, though, and it became usable (I’m still using it).
In saying that, though, I’m sure any stick vacuum would’ve sucked up its dirt. What makes the Dyson V12 Detect Slim different — well, one of the many things — is its laser beams. Yes, they look cool and futuristic, and, yes, you can vacuum in the dark using it (which I did one day just to test out), but more importantly, you can see all the dust particles you’re about to suck up. I had no idea how dusty my floors were until I used this.
I also really liked how light the vacuum felt carrying around (it’s 2.2kg) and how moveable its stick was. I could get it all the way under tables and even my dusty bedside table. The no-touch bin emptying was great, too, as I took the lid off my bin and emptied the vacuum’s contents (So. Much. Hair) straight into the bin.
Is It Worth the Price?
Like many of Dyson products, the V12 Detect Slim Absolute Extra is on the pricier end. But like other products from the brand, too, it’s an investment. You get what you pay for, which is cutting-edge tech that’s easy-to-use, made to last for years and, importantly, lots of help if something goes wrong.
If you can’t figure out the issue in watching one of the many troubleshooting videos on YouTube, you can bring it into a Dyson Demo Store (there are three in Sydney) or a Dyson Service Centre (there are branches in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney) and ask them for help.
So, is the V12 Detect Slim Absolute Extra worth it? If you’re going to spend on a Dyson vacuum, it’s a good bet. It looks slick and is loaded with heaps of helpful tech and accessories that make cleaning that much easier and more fun but still isn’t the most expensive among the brand’s vacuums.
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