Attached to the PencilVac are four conical brush bars called Fluffycones. With two brush bars on each side, the front cone rotates in one direction while the rear brush goes the opposite way. The four bars jut out at the sides too; that way, it cleans in all directions with every pass on the floor.
It also shoots out green lasers from both the front and back of the cleaner head to illuminate dust, making it easier to spot particles that aren’t as visible to the naked eye. But unlike Dyson’s Detect line, which also includes lasers, it doesn’t have a piezo sensor, which is what allows that specific lineup of vacuums to automatically increase suction power based on what it’s picking up.
In addition to dust and debris, this vacuum is ideal for picking up hair. The nylon bristles are angled to ensure that strands migrate to the side of the cleaner head rather than getting wrapped around or tangled in the brush bar. So, you don’t have to pull the hair out or resort to cutting it off with scissors.
As mentioned earlier, you can also connect it to the MyDyson app. This provides step-by-step guidance on how to care for the vacuum while also giving you access to additional settings and maintenance alerts in real time.
Lightweight and Nimble
I had a chance to see and test out the PencilVac during an in-person media briefing at Dyson’s SoHo store location in New York City and was surprised at just how much the redesigned build makes a difference. Without a dustbin on top, it feels less top-heavy and unwieldy, which will certainly make a difference for longer cleaning sessions. There’s no trigger either, which makes it that much more comfortable to use. Instead, Dyson integrated an LCD screen on the handle that displays cleaning modes and run time.
I used it to clean up a small mess of Cheerios, cookie crumbs, and hair in only a few seconds, as all four brush bars worked simultaneously to pick everything up quickly. I’m a huge fan of the LEDs on both sides, because it means I can spend less time flipping the vacuum around to beam light on certain spots the way I do with my V12 Detect (8/10, WIRED Recommends).
As with all of Dyson’s cordless vacuums, it converts into a hand vac. Each PencilVac comes with a rotating combination crevice tool for cleaning in between areas and conical hair screw tool for cleaning couches and mattresses. The slimmer, longer build makes it better for reaching higher and lower spots, but it’s also easier to use one-handed.
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
I was excited to see that it comes with a floor dock instead of a mount. The vacuum and accessories conveniently attach to the dock magnetically, so it’s easy to grab and put back. The entire setup looks super neat, too. And it’s a far better alternative to having to whip out the power tools to drill the mount on the wall.
My only gripe is battery life, which makes sense for such a small vacuum. Dyson claims up to 30 minutes in Eco mode, which minimizes suction to optimize run time. This means that in Medium or Boost mode, it’s even less. You can, however, purchase an extra battery pack and swap it out so that it’s technically always charged.
Based on the dustbin capacity and run time, this is definitely a vacuum designed for smaller homes and spaces that consist mainly of hardwood floors. For options that better fit your cleaning needs, I suggest checking out our guide to the Best Dyson Vacuums. Regardless, I hope this marks the start of a new era of dainty vacuums for Dyson—free of chonky dustbins, cyclones, and motors.
