The massive cope with Dyson’s new vacuum is how small it’s. Whereas “pencil” is definitely an bold noun to check a flooring vacuum to, the slender physique of the PencilVac Fluffycones ($600) brings to thoughts mops and brooms reasonably than hulking cyclone-suction tech and linked cleansing. As we described it final yr, it’s the corporate’s most stick-like stick vacuum but. Dyson has been repurposing its engine tech into smaller kind components for years, equivalent to its hair dryers. Nonetheless, that is the primary time it’s been utilized for flooring cleansing.
Dyson not too long ago launched the PencilVac Fluffy, with a extra conventional dual-roller system, however I’m specializing in the Fluffycones iteration and can name it merely the PencilVac for brevity. It combines a number of pleasant design options, and whereas surprisingly potent, it’s — predictably — not fairly in a position to match the ability of its greater brothers. Your complete vacuum weighs beneath 4 kilos, which provides to its ease of use. That mentioned, it’s heavier than it seems, because the rod form holds every thing inside.
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The PencilVac is gentle, cellular and straightforward to make use of, making it nice for smaller dwelling areas and fast clean-ups. Nonetheless, it struggles with thicker carpet and rugs.
- Simple and enjoyable to make use of
- Slick emptying system
- May very well be extra highly effective
- Struggles with carpet and rugs
With a 40mm-diameter (virtually 1.6-inch) deal with, it’s usable even with a single hand, if you wish to be further informal in your cleansing habits. It’s additionally a delight to make use of. As with a number of earlier Dysons, just like the OmniGlide, the dual-roller system appears to assist the PencilVac glide throughout onerous flooring. It may be pulled and coaxed round furnishings, desk legs, beneath low-profile credenzas and extra.
When at relaxation, the PencilVac sits on 4 central wheels, however when you begin cleansing, the suction creates a kind of floating impact. These 4 Fluffycone heads are designed to withstand hair tangles, with any captured hair bundled like yarn on the suggestions of every cone for simpler cleansing on the heart of the PencilVac. The guidelines of every cone imply the vacuum can attain the sides of my flooring, too. The Fluffycones aren’t actually in a position to dig into the pile, which means that whereas they will definitely pull and carry a layer of dust and dirt, something deeper will keep there.
Picture by Mat Smith for Engadget
That mentioned, the PencilVac is a devoted onerous flooring cleaner. If your private home is totally hardwood or has a lot of tile, then it’s not a problem. However in case you have carpeted rooms (or massive rugs), you would possibly need to think about different fashions. Additionally, at larger suction ranges, the PencilVac’s rollers would often reduce out whereas vacuuming carpets and rugs.
The PencilVac can be outfitted with back and front Dyson Detect lasers, making it simpler to see the place you’ve missed (and the way horrible your flooring cleansing habits are). In comparison with greater, extra highly effective fashions just like the V15 Detect, the PencilVac had a better tendency to spit out dust when overwhelmed by bigger quantities of particles. This solely occurred for me after I pushed the boundaries of what the PencilVac may deal with: a handful of backyard soil on my hardwood flooring.
As a result of it’s 2026, after all, it’s a linked vacuum, too. Once I put collectively and charged the PencilVac, the very first thing it does is undertaking a QR code for pairing. A fast firmware replace later and it was prepared to be used. The one characteristic within the MyDyson app that you just would possibly discover helpful is upkeep reminders (i.e., when to wash the filter). All the things else, together with a battery readout, is constructed into the deal with.
Picture by Mat Smith for Engadget
All the things else is constructed into the deal with. In comparison with Dyson’s different stick vacs, there is no such thing as a detachable mud canister or battery block. The gathering bin is cleverly built-in, drawing in dust and utilizing the identical suction to compact it with drive. When that you must empty the compartment — which holds a shocking quantity (0.8 liters, in line with Dyson) — you take away the cleansing head, level the physique at your rubbish can and ‘slide’ the mud (compacting it additional within the course of) into your trash can. The gathering space can be see-through, so you may see every thing you’re pulling into the PencilVac construct up like a kind of gauge. When emptying the stick vac, I additionally seen it doesn’t produce the mud cloud you typically get with vacuums, which is one other good enchancment.
In contrast to its different stick vacuums, Dyson’s PencilVac comes with a free-standing charging dock, as an alternative of a wall mount. This makes storage just a little extra versatile. When you’re a renter, there’s no want for any drilling. I feel this additionally speaks to the way it’s meant for use: briefly, in bursts.
To that time, battery life appeared to be round 20 minutes, relying on the ability degree used and the way soiled the surfaces have been. Working totally on increase, I bought beneath 10 minutes of use. This weak point is exacerbated by a sluggish charging time of over three hours. For smaller areas and not-too-messy lives, that’s greater than sufficient clear time, although.
Picture by Mat Smith for Engadget
The PencilVac additionally comes with that Dyson premium, too, priced at $600. That’s nonetheless lower than the corporate’s different current stick vacuums. For instance, that’s $50 lower than the aforementioned V15 Detect. If your private home has lots of carpeting or rugs to wash, the larger, extra highly effective fashions could be a more sensible choice. The newer PencilVac Fluffy has a extra conventional dual-roller system and it is also $150 cheaper.
With its minimalist kind issue, the PencilVac remains to be an engineering marvel. Its excessive diploma of mobility makes it simple to wash in tight corners and between furnishings. I simply want it have been barely extra highly effective.
