When it comes to vacuuming and cleaning the home, Dyson is one of the brands we seldom hesitate to recommend.
It may not be the most affordable option, but based on our previous reviews, it never disappoints in terms of the quality it delivers.
Over the past few days we had the opportunity to witness the evolution of this brand’s cleaning solutions firsthand, getting to try the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine.
Here is our review and verdict on this cordless vacuum, which now also includes the option of wet floor cleaning with the new Submarine™ 2.0 wet roller brush.

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine Review — A 3-in-1 cleaning solution for dry and wet cleaning in your home
Domestic cleaning has evolved considerably in recent years, but vacuuming and mopping the floor remained two separate tasks requiring two different pieces of equipment for a long time.
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine changes that with a 3-in-1 proposition that vacuums, mops, and converts into a handheld vacuum — all cordless and with the highest suction power Dyson has ever put into a cordless vacuum.
The 900W Hyperdymium motor delivers 315 Air Watts of suction power without weakening throughout the battery life of up to 70 minutes.

The All Floor Cones Sense brush with two rotating conical brush bars detangles and picks up hair up to 65 cm long directly from the floor into the bin, automatically adjusting power and speed according to the floor type — whether carpet or hard floor.
For wet cleaning, the Submarine 2.0 brush with wet roller removes stains and liquids using clean water, including a Max mode for tougher marks.
The CleanCompaktor bin with a 1.35-litre capacity compresses debris to hold up to 30 days’ worth of dust and dirt, with hygienic emptying.
The five-stage filtration system captures 99.99% of particles down to 0.1 microns, including allergens, bacteria, and viruses.
The Submarine version also includes a crevice tool, a multi-function tool, a wall-mounted dock, and is compatible with the MyDyson app for software updates and maintenance.
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is available for €999 on the official Dyson website.
Design and build quality
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine follows the distinctive design Dyson has accustomed us to — futuristic in appearance, with bold colours.

At the top there is a display showing remaining battery life, the power level in use, and a chart with information on the particles being filtered.
Below the display is a button to navigate between the various power levels — eco, auto, and boost — and between the different moisture levels when the Submarine roller is in use.
Above that sits the button to turn the suction on and off, replacing the trigger that typically serves this purpose. Operation is greatly simplified — one click on, one click off.

Where the trigger used to be, two triggers remain — but for different functions. One opens the bin for emptying and the other compacts the debris.

Whenever debris builds up in the bin, pressing the trigger pushes it all down to the bottom, freeing up more space and making the most of the 1.35-litre capacity.

Just past the bin there is a button to release the attachment for swapping to a different one.
At the base, forming part of the handle, sits the battery, which is removable and includes the charging connector.
The extension wand — which connects to allow use of the floor cleaning attachments — now features a quick-release tab at the top so there is no need to bend down to change the attachment in use.

Included with this vacuum are the All Floors Cones Sense brush for all floor types, a multi-function tool, a crevice tool, and a motorised conical hair brush bar for cleaning sofas, beds, and areas with heavy pet hair accumulation.
In terms of dimensions, it stands 1,250 mm tall and weighs 3.4 kg, which may feel slightly heavy during longer cleaning sessions.

Assembly, setup, and the MyDyson app
Assembly is very simple and quick. Take all the accessories out of the box, pick up the main vacuum unit, and choose the attachment you want to start cleaning with.

To help with storage, a wall-mounted dock is included that allows the vacuum to be stored and charging at the same time.
The MyDyson app is also available, connecting to the vacuum via Bluetooth. It allows you to check battery status, view the last vacuuming session, activate battery maintenance mode, and verify whether the battery is genuine.

You can also request support, buy spare parts or accessories, and access cleaning tutorials and tips.



The ability to connect via Bluetooth to an app is a welcome addition, though it remains quite limited. Beyond the main — and almost sole — benefit of checking remaining battery, some features feel underdeveloped, such as the last session data. Rather than offering access to a full cleaning history, it only shows the duration and time of the last clean.

Multiple cleaning options
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine comes with a range of accessories to adapt to different cleaning needs.

First, there is the All Floor Cones Sense brush with two rotating conical brush bars, designed to brush in a spiral motion and detangle hair up to 65 cm long. This brush adapts to different floor types and can be used throughout the home.

On the front, it has a selector that opens or closes two small flaps to make it easier to pick up larger debris.

However, unlike the brushes on smaller models, this one has a slightly larger and lightly arched frame that makes cleaning along skirting boards and edges less straightforward, requiring another attachment to finish those areas.
Aside from that small detail, it is highly effective at cleaning both hard floors and carpets. On the front it also integrates a green laser that highlights dust and dirt to make cleaning easier to see.

The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine also continuously analyses the particles it collects and the floor type to automatically adapt suction power.
Moving on to the crevice tool, this allows cleaning of skirting boards, corners, and edges — areas the main brush cannot reach.

The motorised conical hair brush bar is extremely useful on sofas, delivering very targeted and powerful suction with a stiffer strip at the tip that helps scrape away embedded dirt. This attachment is especially useful for pet owners.


The multi-function tool has a small row of bristles at the tip that brushes as it suctions. It is similar to the crevice tool but with bristles at the end.
Finally, the Submarine attachment includes a water tank and a roller brush that is dampened to mop the floor and tackle stubborn stains. It is an excellent replacement for a traditional mop.
The Submarine also includes a cap for storing the attachment without wetting the floor after use.

Vacuuming performance
Following the experience we have had with other Dyson products, the V16 Piston Animal Submarine does not disappoint when it comes to vacuuming floors.
The 315 AW suction power delivers strong pick-up capability on hard floors such as ceramic or wood, as well as on carpets.

While eco or boost mode can be selected manually, the ideal approach is to use auto mode so the vacuum automatically varies suction power according to the floor type and the debris being picked up.
This helps match power to the task at hand and, at the same time, saves battery life by dropping into eco mode whenever maximum power is not needed.

The All Floor Cones Sense brush adapts well to all floor types and is the only attachment to include the green laser for highlighting debris.

However, as mentioned earlier, the more arched front and the frame around the brush mean it is less straightforward to get into corners, requiring another attachment to finish those areas.

Beyond floor vacuuming, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is also useful for cleaning sofas — both surface hair and debris, and the gaps between cushions — as well as skirting boards and even the car.

The vacuuming attachments are designed to avoid hair and threads getting tangled, with the anti-tangle technology working as intended to keep the brush bars clear at all times.

Although vacuuming performance is strong, the weight remains a little high for longer sessions, especially for those with less arm strength. At maximum power the noise level is a little high, but that is to be expected when suction is pushed to its limit.
Wet cleaning performance
In addition to floor vacuuming, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine includes the Submarine attachment that extends cleaning capability to wet tasks, making it a genuine alternative to a traditional mop.
This attachment has a water tank and a roller brush that is dampened to scrub the floor. In addition to washing the floor, the force of the roller combined with water helps shift stubborn stains.


To adjust the cleaning intensity, two water output levels can be selected on the display. As soon as the attachment is fitted, the vacuum recognises the wet cleaning option and presents these settings automatically.


In terms of wet cleaning performance, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine makes mopping simple and efficient. Navigation is easy, with the roller motion making the attachment glide very lightly.
The result is a well-washed floor with even water distribution, and the whole home can be done without it taking a great deal of time.

Bin and maintenance
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine has a 1.35-litre bin capable of holding all the debris from a full home clean without needing to be emptied mid-session.

This new version also adds a debris compactor — whenever you notice the bin filling up, the debris can be compressed to make room for more, maximising the amount of dirt that can be stored before emptying is needed.

There are also some maintenance considerations with this vacuum, particularly regarding the Submarine attachment. The brushes and rollers should be cleaned regularly and, in some cases, replaced as soon as wear becomes apparent.
Battery life
In terms of battery life, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine also delivers results above the competition.
Dyson promises up to 70 minutes of battery life, although this varies significantly depending on the type of vacuuming and how often maximum power is needed.

In our experience with auto mode selected, we consistently achieved between 40 and 60 minutes of vacuuming and mopping, which is more than enough for a thorough clean of the whole home before recharging.
As is typical with this type of equipment, the full charging time is a little long, at around four and a half hours.
Battery life can be monitored on the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine’s display, which always shows an estimated remaining runtime in minutes for each mode in use.
Who is the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine for?
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is for anyone who wants a complete domestic cleaning solution in a single cordless device, without sacrificing quality or power. It is the natural choice for pet owners, given that the anti-tangle technology and motorised conical hair brush bar handle pet hair on sofas, carpets, and floors effectively.
For those who want to eliminate the mop from the equation, the Submarine 2.0 brush turns the vacuum into a genuinely effective wet cleaning solution, with results that justify replacing a dedicated appliance. The combination of vacuuming and mopping in a single pass through the home is a real advantage for anyone looking to reduce cleaning time.

It is also well suited to larger homes, with 40 to 60 minutes of runtime in auto mode and the compactable 1.35-litre bin allowing complete cleans without interruption. The five-stage filtration system capturing 99.99% of particles down to 0.1 microns is a meaningful argument for those with allergies or young children at home.
At €999, it is not a purchase for those looking for the most affordable option on the market. It makes sense for those who value quality, versatility, and durability in a device they will use daily, and who prefer a single product capable of replacing several.

Verdict on the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine confirms what we expected from a top-of-the-range Dyson: impressive suction power, above-average build quality, and a user experience that genuinely simplifies home cleaning. The addition of the Submarine 2.0 brush is the newest and most relevant argument of this generation, transforming what was already an excellent vacuum into a complete cleaning solution.
The All Floor Cones Sense brush adapts well to all floor types and the anti-tangle technology works as promised, keeping the brush bars clear of hair and threads. Auto mode does a good job of balancing power and battery life, and the 40 to 60 minutes of real-world use is sufficient for full cleans in medium-sized homes.

Wet cleaning with the Submarine 2.0 brush is simple, effective, and makes a separate mop unnecessary for everyday use. The result on the floor is even and Max mode deals with tougher stains without fuss.
There are two less positive points to note. The arched frame on the main brush makes vacuuming along skirting boards and corners less straightforward, requiring another attachment to complete those areas. And the MyDyson app, while useful for checking battery status, falls short of the potential it could have with a full session history and more comprehensive management features.

The roughly four-and-a-half-hour charging time is long, but offset by the generous battery life and the fact that most users will charge between sessions rather than during them.
At €999, the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is a significant investment, but a justified one for anyone who wants the best Dyson has to offer in a cordless device with both dry and wet cleaning capability.
Techbit thanks Dyson for providing the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine for review.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine FAQ
What is the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine?
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is a 3-in-1 cordless vacuum that vacuums, mops, and converts into a handheld vacuum. It is Dyson’s most powerful cordless vacuum with 315 Air Watts of suction, a 900W Hyperdymium motor, and includes the Submarine 2.0 brush for wet cleaning.
What is the real-world battery life of the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine?
Dyson claims up to 70 minutes of battery life, but in practice in auto mode between 40 and 60 minutes of vacuuming or mopping can be achieved, which is sufficient for a complete home clean. A full charge takes around four and a half hours.
Does the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine mop the floor?
Yes. The Submarine 2.0 wet roller brush included in this version allows hard floors to be washed with clean water, removing stains and stubborn marks. It has two water intensity levels and a Max mode for more persistent dirt.
Is the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine suitable for pet owners?
Yes. The All Floor Cones Sense brush with rotating conical bars detangles hair up to 65 cm long and the motorised conical hair brush bar is especially effective on sofas and surfaces with accumulated pet hair.
Is the bin on the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine large?
The bin has a capacity of 1.35 litres and includes a compaction system that compresses debris to maximise available space, with Dyson claiming it can hold up to 30 days’ worth of dust and dirt.
Is the MyDyson app useful?
The MyDyson app allows you to check battery status, view the last vacuuming session, activate battery maintenance mode, and access tutorials and spare parts. It is useful but limited, without a full session history or more advanced management features.
Does the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine vacuum carpets well?
Yes. The All Floor Cones Sense brush adapts automatically between hard floors and carpets, adjusting brush power and speed according to the floor type. Auto mode manages this adaptation without any input from the user.
How much does the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine weigh?
The vacuum weighs 3.4 kg with the main brush attached, which may feel slightly heavy during very prolonged cleaning sessions.
What is the price of the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine?
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is available for €999 on the official Dyson website.



