Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner Review
A premium cordless vacuum with wet cleaning capability, but does the extra versatility justify the high price?
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner is Dyson's attempt to combine high-end cordless vacuuming with hard floor washing in a single machine. Positioned firmly at the premium end of the market, it targets households that want powerful suction, pet hair performance and the convenience of wet floor cleaning without maintaining separate devices.
At first glance, it looks like a natural evolution of the cordless vacuum category. Many homes now use cordless vacuums as their primary cleaner, but wet spills, sticky kitchen floors and muddy paw prints still often require a mop afterwards. The Submarine attachment is designed to bridge that gap by adding genuine wet cleaning functionality. The question is whether this all-in-one approach genuinely replaces multiple tools or simply adds complexity and cost.
Key Features
- Powerful cordless vacuum with Dyson suction technology
- Submarine wet roller head for hard floor washing
- Designed for homes with pets and heavy daily use
- Laser illumination head highlights hidden dust
- LCD screen with battery and performance information
- Multiple cleaning attachments for carpets, upholstery and corners
- Cordless operation with rechargeable battery
Performance and Real-World Use
In normal vacuuming mode, the V16 performs much like you would expect from a premium Dyson cordless cleaner. Suction is strong, especially on carpets and rugs, and it handles pet hair very effectively. The motorised cleaner heads pull up dust that cheaper cordless vacuums often leave behind, particularly around edges and deeper carpet fibres.
The laser dust illumination is one of those features that initially sounds unnecessary until you actually use it. On hard floors, especially in lower lighting, it highlights fine dust and debris that would otherwise be invisible. It genuinely changes the way you clean because you quickly realise how much dirt is normally missed.
The main talking point, however, is the Submarine wet roller attachment. On sealed hard floors such as laminate, tile and vinyl, it performs well for everyday maintenance cleaning. It is especially useful in kitchens, hallways and homes with pets or children where floors regularly need more than dry vacuuming. It removes light dirt, dried splashes and footprints more effectively than simply vacuuming alone.
It is important to understand its limitations though. This is not a heavy-duty carpet cleaner or industrial mop replacement. Very stubborn dried-on messes may still need manual attention, and larger wet spills should ideally be dealt with before vacuuming. However, for quick daily maintenance, it is genuinely convenient.
Design and Build
Build quality is excellent overall, with the familiar Dyson combination of sturdy plastics, modular attachments and modern styling. Despite its power, the machine remains relatively manoeuvrable, and the cordless design makes it easy to move around stairs and awkward spaces.
The wet cleaning attachment is bulkier than the standard floor heads, but still manageable for regular use. Emptying the dust bin and cleaning the wet roller system is fairly straightforward, although there is more maintenance involved compared to a normal cordless vacuum.
Battery life is good in standard modes, though heavy use on maximum power or extended wet cleaning sessions will reduce runtime significantly.
Pros and Cons
- Excellent suction and cleaning performance
- Useful wet floor cleaning functionality
- Very effective for pet hair
- Laser illumination genuinely improves visibility of dust
- Premium build quality and accessories
- Very expensive compared to standard cordless vacuums
- Wet cleaning system adds maintenance
- Battery drains faster on high power settings
- Not a replacement for deep carpet washing
Who It Is For
This vacuum is ideal for busy households, pet owners and users who want the convenience of both vacuuming and hard floor washing in a single cordless system. It particularly suits modern homes with a mix of carpets and sealed hard flooring.
It is less suitable for buyers on tighter budgets or those who only occasionally need wet floor cleaning. Smaller homes may also find its premium features unnecessary.
Conclusion
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner is one of the most capable cordless cleaning systems currently available. While expensive, it successfully combines strong vacuum performance with genuinely useful hard floor washing functionality. It will not completely replace every cleaning tool in your house, but it comes closer than most all-in-one cleaners. For households willing to invest in convenience and performance, it is an impressive upgrade.