Dyson tends to make quite a fuss when it releases a new vacuum (and rightfully so). But in late 2024, we discovered what looked like a brand new cordless vacuum that had been stealth-launched, without fanfare: the Dyson Digital Slim.
It’s not a flagship model and at the time of writing was only available direct from Dyson in the US, although there are Amazon listings in both the US and AU. It appears to be a pared-back, slimmed-down, more budget-friendly alternative to the brand’s flagship models. (Not to be confused with the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, another non-flagship model that launched alongside the Dyson V15 Detect in 2021.)
We haven’t had a chance to test this one out for ourselves yet, so ahead of our official review, here’s everything we know about the Dyson Digital Slim and how it compares to the rest of the best Dyson vacuums…
Dyson Digital Slim: Design & Features
As you might have guessed from the name, a USP here is that this is a more streamlined stick vacuum option. The digital slim is lighter than any of the flagship dyson stick vacuums with a shorter overall height. It also has the smallest dust cup – one that’s small enough to be annoying if you have a larger home or deal with lots of dirt or pet hair. Although one saving grace is that the bin exception mechanism is the current, simplified design found on the latest models.
Dyson is widely regarded as one of the best cordless vacuum brands, and you get all the standard benefits of other stick models. Namely, it’s easy to maneuver with a super-pivotable floor head, it comes with an optional wall dock for charging, there’s no cord to stand up for, and it can be easily converted to a handheld by removing the wand and adding a detailed tool.
It is operated via a trigger which must be continuously depressed. Only the latest Gen5Detect replaces this with a more finger-friendly one-touch button. You can choose between three suction modes – low, medium and high.
Information is transmitted via a small LCD screen on the main body of the vacuum. This tells you how much battery you have left (in hours and minutes) and what mode you are using, as well as alerting you to any maintenance tasks that need to be done – for example if the filter needs cleaning. This monitor is a relatively modern addition to the Dyson Vacuum Range, first introduced in 2019 with the Dyson V11.
The digital Slim has an inline design, where the rod, bin, cyclones and motor are all stacked one after the other. This was introduced with the Dyson V11 and is designed to maximize suction efficiency.
Under the hood is a hyperdymium motor that rotates at 120,000 rpm. It’s actually a better motor than you’ll find on the Dyson V8, the oldest flagship model in the current lineup, although Dyson says it generates slightly less suction than that model overall. Filtration is in line with older flagships – designed to capture 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.
At a maximum of 40 minutes, the battery life matches the V8. That increases to 60 minutes on the V11 and V15 and to 70 minutes on the Gen5Detect, but it’s important to note that the extra power comes with the payoff of extra weight. 40 minutes of cleaning (or less if you need to step up to the medium suction model) should still be plenty for most smaller homes.
In terms of Dyson tools and floor heads, there is a minimal selection included in the digital Slim. The floor head is a motor beam with hair termination features and suitable for use on both hard floor and carpet (there is no extra fluffy floor head, specialized for hard floor use). You also get a combo tool that includes a smaller nozzle and brush for general detailed cleaning, and a longer crevice tool for getting into tight spaces. Other tools may be compatible and extras may vary by retailer, so it’s worth double-checking what’s included before you buy.
As you might expect, you don’t get the more advanced features that come with the latest Dyson Stick Vacs. There’s no automatic suction adjustment based on floor type or dirt levels, no real-time reports on what’s being picked up, and no laser-equipped fluffy floor head to illuminate dust on your hard floors. For many, however, these kinds of features are not important.
Dyson Digital Slim: Price and Availability
The Dyson Digital Slim began appearing online in Fall/Winter 2024. At the time of writing, it was only available to buy direct from Dyson in the US, at a list price of $499.99 but marked down to $249.99 (also at the time of writing). It is also on sale through Amazon Us with the same discount. In Australia, it’s not available to buy directly from Dyson, but has an Amazon Au listing with a price of AU$813.26. It is currently not available in the UK.
At list price, that puts the digital slim between the V8 (at $469.99) and the V11 (at $569.99). But if we take the discounted price, it’s the cheapest Dyson cordless stick vacuum option by some margin.
At Techradar, our mid-range price bracket for vacuums is $250-$500. Anything above that is premium, and below that is budget – so at the discounted price, the digital slim would be considered a budget model. It is more advanced than most of today’s best cheap vacuums with features such as the LCD screen for information.
Dyson Digital Slim: Specifications
Below, we’ve compared the digital SLIM with the least advanced Dyson Stick vacuum in the current lineup (Dyson V8), the latest and most advanced (Dyson Gen5Detect), and a mid-range model (Dyson V11).
| Header cell – column 0 | Dyson Digital Slim | Dyson V8 | Dyson v11 | Dyson Gen5Detect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight: | 4.4 lbs | 5.6 lbs | 6.6 lbs | 7.7 lbs |
| Bin capacity: | 0.45L | 0.64L | 0.9L | 0.9L |
| Max Suction: | 100W | 115W | 185 w | 280W |
| Size (HXLXW): | 43.3 x 9.8 x 9.8″ | 49.5 x 8.7 x 9.8″ | 49.7 x 10.5 x 9.8″ | 50.2 x 10.9 x 9.8″ |
| Max. Runtime: | 40 minutes | 40 minutes | 60 minutes | 70 minutes |
| Charging time: | 3 hours 30 | 5 hours | 4 hours 30 | 4 hours 30 |
| Filter: | 99.99% of particles 0.3 microns or larger | 99.99% of particles 0.3 microns or larger | 99.99% of particles 0.3 microns or larger | HEPA filter, captures 99.99% of particles 0.1 micron or larger |
| Cyclones: | 11 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
| Motor: | Hyperdymium motor, spins at 120,000 rpm | Digital motor, spins at 110,000 rpm | Hyperdymium motor, spins at 125,000 rpm | Gen5 Hyperdymium Motor, spins at 135,000 rpm. Minute |
| List price: | $499.99 (regular half price) | $469.99 | $569.99 | $949.99 |
| Launched: | 2024 | 2016 | 2019 | 2023 |
