Is Dawn dishwashing detergent really superior to other dishwashing detergents?

It’s not “better” it’s consistent. When you buy it you know what you are getting and what it works for. There are plenty of alternatives that are the same, possibly better but there is a trial and error element to using something else. I’d bet the ingredients are not that different than shampoo, just more concentrated.

I thought that Dawn had less water and was stronger because of increased concentration.

Actually yes. I noticed this yesterday. I had a stain on a white cotton shirt from a Wedding I attended a couple weeks ago.
I used Spry and Wash and washed it in hot water. The stain was still there.
I then used Dawn on the spot and rewashed. Stain gone!

It includes solvents and detergents. The solvents are where the grease and oil removal comes from like cleaning waterfowl after an oil spill.

I use Dawn. I once tried a lower priced detergent and ended up using at least twice as much, so I switched back to Dawn.

The Scientific Difference

Unless you spend your days as a chemist (cool!), the actual science behind Dawn dish detergent gets a little complex for the layman DIYer. But, put simply, there is a secret ingredient. While the complete “recipe” is inaccessible for the masses, a Dawn spokeswoman has pointed the magic to uniquely powerful surfuctants—or, the chemical compounds that reduce the surface tension of a liquid when it’s dissolved, aka the stuff that cuts the grease. One of those super special surfuctants? A small amount of petroleum. Beyond this truth, there is unfortunately little research out there to satiate our curiosities about the heroic nature of Dawn dish soap.
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/what-gives-dawn-dish-detergent-its-super-powers/

I’ve read this more than once. I don’t buy Dawn, myself. My dishes do not require extraordinary measures.

I use Dawn for a million different things, but do NOT use it on your hair!!! You will end up with straw. I rinse my hair with vinegar & flush the vinegar with water about once ever few months to clarify it of all the products that I’ve used. Dawn is excellent for getting grease or stains out of clothes & you don’t need to use it immediately. Dawn breaks up grease that other dish detergents don’t do as well. I prefer doing my dishes in Dawn because of the grease release. It’s great for cleaning the bath tub as well…just don’t use it for a bubble bath or your skin will dry out terribly. Dawn makes an excellent ice melting agent during the winter where others don’t. When in doubt, I try both ways to see which works best…Dawn usually wins!!!

I bet it is not as good as a potassium hydroxide solution at 70°C.

We used Dawn to degrease a kitten once. That’s what they use on wild life who encounter an oil spill.

Yes.

I have found that Dawn is also good for getting skunk oil out of dog fur. I like Open Nature brand from Safeway better for doing our dishes, though.