The new Dyson PencilVac, sold in the U.S. starting at about $449.99 for the Fluffy/Fluffycones configuration on Dyson.com, is the company’s slimmest stick vacuum to date.”
Shaped like a pencil (about 1.5 in / 38 mm wide), the PencilVac’s weight varies by configuration — roughly 2.9–4.0 lb — and it houses Dyson’s compact Hyperdymium motor that spins up to 140,000 rpm.
The promise is clear: a lightweight, highly maneuverable vacuum that can clean hard floors and elevated surfaces with minimal effort.
But after spending several days testing the PencilVac, it’s apparent that this ultra-slim design comes with trade-offs that may not make it the right choice for every household.
Read on to see how it performs in real-world tests and whether it’s truly worth the price.
A radical slim build
Unboxing the PencilVac immediately reveals its toy-like, almost futuristic silhouette. The vacuum consists of three main components: the handle, which houses the battery; the midsection with controls and a tubular dustbin; and the new Fluffycones cleaner head.
The pieces snap together seamlessly, creating a continuous, pencil-like body. Despite its small frame, the vacuum feels surprisingly solid, though the lack of a textured grip on the handle makes it slightly slippery in use.
All of the mechanical elements, including Dyson’s Hyperdymium motor, filtration system, and dustbin, are packed into this slim profile. The Hyperdymium motor spins up to 140,000 rpm and Dyson lists the PencilVac’s maximum suction at 55 air watts (AW) in its specifications (powerful mode).
A dust compression system allows the 0.08-liter bin to hold more debris than its size suggests, though users will still need to empty it frequently during extended cleaning sessions.
The compact design also allows the PencilVac to clean elevated areas like ceiling fans, shelves, and curtains. It includes attachments, such as a combi-crevice and conical hair screw tool, making it easy to reach tight spaces that would otherwise require a more traditional stick vacuum or handheld model.
Fluffycones: Dyson’s answer to hair wrapping
The standout feature of the PencilVac is its new cleaner head, dubbed the Fluffycones. Instead of a traditional roller brush, it uses four soft conical brush bars, arranged in two pairs that counter-rotate.
This design lifts dust, detangles hair, and deposits debris into the central intake. During testing, the cones effectively reduced hair wrap, although some clumps occasionally needed manual adjustment to ensure they ended up in the dustbin.
Dyson also incorporated green laser lights on both sides of the cleaner head to illuminate dust and debris, a feature borrowed from the V15 Detect.
The effect is striking: even fine particles that the naked eye might miss become clearly visible, making precise cleaning far easier. The vacuum can also clean forwards and backwards, further enhancing its maneuverability and effectiveness on hard floors.
Using the PencilVac
Despite its lightweight design, the PencilVac delivers impressive suction for a vacuum of its size. It offers three power modes: eco, medium, and boost.
Dyson claims a runtime of up to 30 minutes on eco mode, but real-world testing showed closer to 23 minutes, dropping to roughly six minutes on boost. Noise levels were moderate, ranging between 69 and 75 decibels.
Performance on hard floors was strong. The PencilVac effortlessly picked up fine dust, salt, and even rice, although some microscopic particles required a second pass.
Larger debris, like cereal, proved challenging; the vacuum occasionally pushed particles around or clogged, necessitating another cleaning tool.
On rugs and carpets, suction and debris pickup dropped significantly. Low-pile rugs fared better than mid-pile, but it’s clear that the PencilVac is optimized for hard floors rather than full-home cleaning.
Swivel and maneuverability are highlights. The vacuum pivots easily with minimal effort, gliding across floors with a near-weightless feel. Edge cleaning works well from the side, though less so head-on, and elevated cleaning is effortless thanks to the vacuum’s lightweight construction.
App integration and smart features
For the first time, Dyson has included Wi-Fi connectivity in a stick vacuum. The PencilVac pairs with the MyDyson app, where users can monitor battery life, track filter maintenance, and access setup and maintenance videos.
While pairing was seamless, the app’s functionality feels limited and arguably unnecessary for a vacuum primarily intended for quick clean-ups. The requirement to share location data for updates may also concern privacy-conscious users.
Emptying the Dustbin
The dustbin employs a unique plunger-style ejection system, letting you release debris directly into the trash without shaking or tapping.
However, due to the low placement of the bin, emptying requires bending down and a two-handed operation, which may not be ideal for users with mobility challenges.
The compact bin also fills up quickly, particularly during longer sessions or when cleaning larger spaces, reinforcing the notion that this vacuum works best as a supplemental tool rather than a primary household cleaner.
Accessories and charging
The PencilVac comes with a magnetic charging dock that doubles as storage for its single included accessory.
The vacuum charges via magnetized ports, simplifying placement, though removing the vacuum requires a bit of effort due to the dock’s lightweight plastic base.
Additional tools like a crevice dusting brush and a conical hair screw tool enhance its versatility for spot cleaning and reaching awkward spaces.
How the PencilVac compares
Retail pricing for the PencilVac starts from Dyson’s site listings (about $449.99 for certain models), which places it below many Dyson flagship machines (the V15 Detect and Gen5 Outsize have historically carried list prices near $849–$1,149, although current sale prices fluctuate) and above value cordless sticks such as the Eureka ReactiSense (around $180 at retail). Always note prices vary by retailer and date.
Compared with the V15, the PencilVac is far lighter and more compact, though it sacrifices suction power, battery life, and carpet performance. For households with area rugs, pets, or children, the PencilVac is unlikely to replace a traditional stick or upright vacuum.
Other alternatives worth considering include Dyson’s V8 for a more affordable, versatile option, or wet-dry vacuums like the Tineco Floor One S7 Stretch Ultra for users seeking self-cleaning brush rolls and mopping functionality.
The verdict
The Dyson PencilVac excels as a niche device: a stylish, ultra-thin, lightweight cordless vacuum optimized for hard floors and elevated surfaces. Its strong points include:
- Unmatched maneuverability and lightweight design.
- Green laser lights to reveal hidden dust.
- Fluffycones brush bars that resist hair tangles.
- Compact, convenient charging dock.
- Decent suction and runtime for light cleaning.
However, the vacuum has notable limitations:
- Struggles with large debris and carpets.
- Low dustbin placement can be cumbersome for some users.
- Wi-Fi connectivity offers a limited practical benefit.
- High price relative to other corded and cordless vacuums.
For design-conscious users seeking a secondary vacuum for quick pickups, the PencilVac may justify its $449.99 price tag.
It’s ideal for apartments, hard-floor homes, or as a “grab-and-go” solution for high surfaces and tight spaces. But as a full-service household vacuum, it cannot match the versatility and power of Dyson’s larger models or other high-performance alternatives.
Ultimately, the Dyson PencilVac is an engineering marvel in miniature form, demonstrating what’s possible when a brand pushes the boundaries of size, weight, and motor efficiency.
Whether it’s worth $449.99 depends entirely on your home, cleaning needs, and appetite for a premium, design-focused tool rather than a traditional vacuum powerhouse.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive content right here on MSN.
Lucky you! This thread is empty,
which means you've got dibs on the first comment.
Go for it!