The Dyson PencilVac has claimed the title of the world’s slimmest cordless vacuum, measuring a mere 38mm in diameter—about the width of a marker. Weighing just 1.8kg, it’s lighter than most laptops, yet Dyson promises it packs enough punch to tackle everyday messes. With a release slated for 2026 in the US and UK, the PencilVac is already being hailed for its minimalist design.
At 1.16 meters long, the PencilVac resembles a modern broom, with every component—motor, battery, dustbin, and filter—crammed into its slender, cylindrical handle. This isn’t just a slimmed-down version of Dyson’s earlier models; it’s a complete rethink. The vacuum’s Hyperdymium 140k motor, only 28mm wide, spins at a blistering 140,000 RPM, delivering 55AW of suction. That’s less than Dyson’s flagship V15 Detect (280AW), but for a device this compact, it’s impressive. The motor’s efficiency, 34% better than its predecessor, ensures you’re not sacrificing performance for portability. A small LCD screen on the handle displays power mode and battery life, while a magnetic charging dock keeps things tidy.
- Motorbar cleaner head deep cleans all floor types. De-tangles wrapped long hair and pet hair as you clean.
- 3 attachments to clean up high, down low, and everywhere in between. Plus wall dock and charger.
- Up to 40 minutes of fade-free suction power (up to 5 minutes in Max mode).¹
“Engineering our smallest and fastest vacuum motor is no simple feat,” says John Churchill, Dyson’s Chief Technology Officer. “It is a precise integration of motor design, electronics, software, and hardware, all working together seamlessly.” This precision shines in the PencilVac’s ability to maneuver. Its Fluffycones cleaner head, a first for Dyson, features four conical brush bars—two at the front, two at the rear—rotating in opposite directions. This setup not only prevents hair from tangling but also allows the vacuum to “float” across floors. Green LED lights on both sides illuminate dust, ensuring you don’t miss a speck.
Dust collection is where the PencilVac gets clever. Its 0.08-liter dustbin is tiny—smaller than a soda can—but Dyson’s air-compressing system packs debris tightly, claiming to hold five times its physical capacity. Emptying is a breeze with a no-touch, syringe-style ejection mechanism that slides out dirt without you getting your hands messy. The vacuum’s two-stage linear filtration system captures 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. For pet owners or those with long hair, the Fluffycones design is a standout, ejecting strands to the floor for easy pickup rather than letting them wrap around the brushes.
“We have taken cleaner heads in a new direction with our four conical brush bars counter-rotating, so that the head simply floats on the floor, giving excellent cleaning in any direction,” says James Dyson, founder of Dyson. This focus on directional flexibility makes the PencilVac ideal for hard floors, though it’s not built for deep carpet cleaning. Its slim profile, just 95mm high when lying flat, lets it slide under furniture with ease, reaching spots bulkier vacuums can’t. The vacuum also comes with two accessories—a rotating combi-crevice tool for tight spaces and a conical hair screw tool for upholstery—both storable on the charging dock.
Connectivity sets the PencilVac apart as Dyson’s first cordless vacuum to sync with the MyDyson app. Through it, you can monitor battery levels, adjust settings, and get maintenance alerts, like when to clean the filter. Battery life is another highlight: a swappable pack offers up to 60 minutes in Eco mode, though higher settings reduce this to about 30 minutes. For small apartments or quick cleanups, this is plenty, but larger homes might need that extra battery.
Unlike Dyson’s chunkier models, it doesn’t convert to a handheld unit, but its attachments handle tasks like cleaning shelves or car interiors. Currently available in Japan for ¥84,920 (about $590), it’s poised to hit markets like Australia and Europe soon, with the US and UK waiting until 2026. Pricing remains unconfirmed for most regions, but expect a premium tag given Dyson’s track record.
I have long wanted to make a vacuum of only 38mm diameter (the same as my latest hair dryer, the Supersonic r). But first we needed to develop our most powerful Hyperdymium motor at only 28mm diameter to achieve such a slender machine. Then a new dust separation and compaction system was developed. We have taken cleaner heads in a new direction with our four conical brush bars counter rotating, so that the head simply floats on the floor, giving excellent cleaning in any direction,” said James Dyson, Founder of Dyson.
