Lead: Dyson’s new PencilVac has arrived in the U.S., carrying a $600 price tag and a claim to be the “world’s slimmest vacuum cleaner.” The cordless stick debuts as a very narrow cylinder that houses the bin, filter and a compact motor inside the shaft, allowing for an even diameter along its nearly four-pound body. It ships with a swappable battery promising about an hour of run time, a magnetic charging dock and several cleaner heads aimed at removing long hair without tangling. Early hands-on reports found the motor surprisingly powerful for the device’s reduced profile.
Key Takeaways
- Price and availability: The Dyson PencilVac is on sale in the U.S. for $600 as of this release.
- Claimed size: Dyson markets it as the “world’s slimmest vacuum cleaner,” a claim the company has made publicly.
- Weight and form factor: The unit weighs nearly four pounds and maintains a consistent diameter along the shaft for easier grip and overhead use.
- Powertrain and internals: Bin, filter and a compact motor are embedded in the long cylinder rather than a bulky head or body bulge.
- Attachments and anti-tangle tech: The Fluffycones head has four cones across two counter‑rotating brush bars designed to strip and eject long hair to reduce tangling.
- Battery and charging: A swappable battery offers roughly one hour of runtime and charges via a magnetic dock.
- Smart features: The PencilVac works with the MyDyson app for battery and setting information; an LCD on the handle also reports key status data.
- Hands-on verdict: Early trials reported good suction and nimble handling despite the compact form.
Background
Dyson has long positioned itself at the front of cordless, bagless vacuum innovation, repeatedly reworking motor placement and airflow to balance suction with usability. Over the past decade, the market has trended toward lighter, more maneuverable stick vacuums as consumers prioritize quick cleanups and easy storage in smaller living spaces. Competing manufacturers have responded with varied designs—some concentrating power in larger heads, others integrating motors into the wand—creating a design space focused on trade-offs among weight, runtime and cleaning breadth.
Hair tangling in brush bars remains a persistent pain point for many users, especially pet owners and households with long hair, giving rise to headline features like counter-rotating brush elements and purpose-built roller geometries. Battery technology and modular power packs have also become differentiators: swappable cells allow continuous cleaning in professional or large‑home workflows, while magnetic docks and app integration aim to make daily maintenance more convenient. Dyson’s PencilVac enters this context as an attempt to combine a near-uniform shaft diameter with full cleaning components packed into that slim profile.
Main Event
Dyson launched the PencilVac in the U.S. with a $600 retail price and a suite of accessories that expand its practical use cases. The core design is a long, narrow cylinder in which the bin, filter and a compact motor sit within the shaft rather than in a pronounced body or head. That internal arrangement produces a visually striking, stick-like vacuum that can be gripped at multiple points along its length, which Dyson says aids overhead and versatile cleaning positions.
The included attachments alter the silhouette: a conical brush bar cleaner head makes the unit resemble a more traditional stick vac when attached, while the Fluffycones cleaner head features four cones across two opposing brush bars to help strip and eject long hair. Dyson also fitted lights at both ends of the head to reveal dust in low light. The company supplies a swappable battery pack that it rates at around one hour per charge and a magnetic dock designed for tidy wall storage and charging.
On the software side, the PencilVac connects to the MyDyson app so owners can monitor battery life and tweak settings remotely; a small LCD on the handle surfaces some of that data without reaching for a phone. Early hands-on impressions—based on test sessions prior to general availability—found the motor delivered substantial suction for the unit’s compact dimensions and that the vacuum was straightforward to maneuver in tight spaces. Dyson’s public materials emphasize the unit’s thin profile and anti-tangle cleaning heads as primary selling points.
Analysis & Implications
At $600, the PencilVac sits at the premium end of the stick vacuum market, positioning it against flagship cordless models rather than budget or midrange alternatives. That price reflects both Dyson’s brand positioning and the engineering involved in shrinking the motor and packaging the filter and bin into a slender shaft. For buyers prioritizing aesthetics, storage footprint and an easy-to-hold wand for overhead tasks, the PencilVac offers a distinct value proposition compared with bulkier designs.
Battery life near one hour is competitive for high-performance cordless vacuums, but real-world runtime will vary with power mode and attachments used; heavy-duty tasks or motorized heads typically reduce uptime. The swappable battery partly mitigates this by enabling extended sessions with a spare cell, a feature that appeals to multi-room households or light professional use. However, the cost of replacement batteries and long-term filter maintenance will factor into total ownership cost.
Functionally, the Fluffycones’ anti-tangle approach tackles a common user complaint; if it performs as described in repeated testing, it could tilt purchase decisions for pet owners and households with long hair. Yet the claimed “world’s slimmest” distinction is primarily marketing—how much that design benefit translates into cleaner floors or easier maintenance compared with other premium sticks will determine consumer uptake. Competitors may respond with similarly compact architectures or different trade-offs emphasizing battery life or accessory ecosystems.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Dyson PencilVac | Typical Premium Stick (market est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $600 | $300–$700 |
| Weight | ~4 lb | 3.5–7 lb |
| Battery life | ~1 hour (swappable) | 30–90 minutes (varies) |
| Anti-tangle tech | Fluffycones, counter-rotating bars | Varies—combs, rubber blades, removable hubs |
The table above uses the PencilVac’s stated figures and broad market estimates for premium cordless stick vacuums; ranges are approximate and intended to provide context rather than definitive benchmarks. Differences in measured suction, battery degradation, accessory compatibility and long-term reliability will determine how the PencilVac stacks up in independent tests.
Reactions & Quotes
“World’s slimmest vacuum cleaner.”
Dyson (company claim)
Dyson’s marketing emphasizes the unit’s narrow profile; the company has placed key components within the shaft to avoid a pronounced bulge common to some stick designs.
“The motor is plenty powerful, despite the diminished size.”
Engadget (hands-on)
Early hands-on coverage noted the device’s surprising suction and maneuverability given its slim silhouette, while also flagging that attachments change the handling and effective clearance of the head.
Unconfirmed
- Dyson’s claim that the PencilVac is the “world’s slimmest” vacuum is a company assertion; no independent measurement verifying the global ranking is available here.
- The exact motor model or lineage inside the shaft was described as “inspired by” Dyson’s motor designs in early materials; the formal model number and full technical spec sheet were not provided in the cited coverage.
Bottom Line
Dyson’s PencilVac represents a deliberate push toward an ultra-slim cordless stick that keeps bin, filter and motor within a single long cylinder. For shoppers who value a slim aesthetic, multiple comfortable grip points and an anti-tangle cleaning head, the PencilVac delivers a coherent feature set—albeit at a premium $600 price. Its roughly one-hour swappable battery and app connectivity align it with other flagship cordless offerings.
Whether the PencilVac will redefine mainstream expectations depends on real-world durability, how convincingly the Fluffycones prevent tangles in daily use and whether consumers accept the price relative to alternatives that prioritize longer battery life or lower cost. Independent tests and extended user reports will be the best measures of whether Dyson’s slim approach offers practical advantages beyond design novelty.