Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones review: I thought this slim vacuum would struggle, but it proved me wrong

Dyson treated us to a whole host of vacuum cleaners last year, ranging from the impressive Dyson V16 Piston Animal to the new Dyson 360 Vis Nav Spot + Scrub AI. However, amongst those launches was something unlike anything we’d really seen before, coming in the form of a very compact cordless vacuum cleaner.

The Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones is the brand’s slimmest vacuum cleaner yet. Featuring a new motor and a much smaller overall design, it’s hugely different from anything Dyson has done before, which meant we couldn’t wait to get it in to try.

Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones review: price and availability

The Dyson PencilVac is priced at £429.99, or $599.99 in the US. This is obviously a lot cheaper than many of the best Dyson cordless vacuum cleaners, including the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, so it’s going to gain a lot of attention from people wanting to know whether it’s a good alternative to some of the pricier models.

Personally, I think it’s a good price for the PencilVac. At the end of the day, it does come with slightly lower specs in order to achieve its incredibly lightweight design, so it’s good to see Dyson reflecting that in the price.

Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones review: unboxing and set up

The PencilVac is very easy to set up, and arguably a lot simpler than many other vacuum cleaners I’ve tried before. It comes in a very compact cardboard box which holds the charging base, the Fluffycones floorhead, the crevice tool, the top handle (which houses the battery) and the extension tube which also contains the collection bin.

From there, I simply slotted the handle into the extension tube and placed it onto the Fluffycones floorhead.

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You’ll also find the power cable in the box, alongside two extra parts that need to be attached to the charging base. This results in a base that powers the vacuum whilst it’s docked, and also helps it stay upright.

The crevice tool also has a place to sit when it’s not in use, which keeps everything very tidy.

Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones review: design and features

There are many things that make the PencilVac unique, but I have to start with the collection bin, as it’s probably the feature many people have clicked on this review to see. It looks absolutely tiny, but it actually holds 0.8 litres, which is only 0.2 litres smaller than the average dust bin.

It works by using suction to compact dust at the top of the compartment, allowing it to keep working efficiently without becoming blocked as it fills. It’s a really clever piece of engineering from Dyson, making the bin part of the vacuum’s design whilst also contributing to how lightweight it feels.

To empty the vacuum, you remove the floorhead and point the base of the wand into your bin. You then release a catch on the back and draw the collection bin’s outer tube downwards, which pushes the compacted dust straight out.

There’s also a small interface on the front of the vacuum that displays the current power mode – Eco, Medium or Boost – along with the remaining battery time.

Speaking of the design, the PencilVac has a 38mm handle that fits neatly into your hand. Despite there being no traditional handle to grip, it's still surprisingly easy to control.

The Fluffycones floorhead itself features dust detection lights that help you spot dusty sections of floor, located on both the front and the back, so it doesn’t matter which direction you’re pushing the vacuum. It also features four conical brush bars, designed to lift and strip hair so it can be sucked up easily without tangling.

Alongside the floorhead, you also get a 2-in-1 crevice tool, which is great for corners and clearing cobwebs. As mentioned earlier, it sits neatly on the charging base when not in use, which is really handy and avoids having to hunt for attachments when you need them.

In terms of features, the PencilVac has a maximum suction power of 21kPa, powered by Dyson’s Hyperdymium 140k motor. The advanced four-cell lithium-ion battery system gives you around 30 minutes of battery life, which isn’t huge, but is one of the compromises made to achieve the compact design. That said, the batteries are swappable click-in units, so you could easily buy additional batteries and keep them charged to extend the runtime.

There’s also a fully sealed filtration system, which captures and seals in 99.99% of microscopic particles and allergens as small as 0.3 microns. The collection bin also features Dyson’s syringe-style emptying system, which reduces dust clouds by pushing the compacted debris deep into your bin.

Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones review: performance

To start with, the things I was initially concerned about with this vacuum have actually turned out to be two of its strongest points – the power and the compact compression bin.

The PencilVac is really powerful, and whilst it's a shame it doesn't operate well on carpets, it's a perfect choice for those with hard floors. The dust bin is also very impressive, and holds a lot more debris than you’d expect. To keep it performing at its best, I’d still recommend emptying it after each session, but it’s impressive how much it can collect.

I’ve seen mixed opinions on the Fluffycones floorhead, but personally I’ve been really impressed with it. The shape worked particularly well in my home, allowing me to manoeuvre easily into corners and tight spaces without constantly having to reposition the vacuum.

The spotlights are also one of my favourite features of the entire vacuum. Not only do they help you spot dust that you’d otherwise miss, but I love that they’re positioned on both the front and the back of the floorhead.

The one thing that took a little getting used to was emptying the vacuum. It’s not difficult by any means, but the concept is so different from most other vacuums that it feels a bit unfamiliar the first few times you do it. However, once you understand the sliding mechanism and how the compacted dust is pushed out, it quickly becomes second nature.

One limitation worth mentioning is that you can’t really use the PencilVac as a handheld vacuum, even with the crevice tool attached, as there’s no way to shorten the extension tube. This means the attachment is great for jobs like cleaning along skirting boards or reaching cobwebs in ceiling corners, but it’s less practical for typical handheld tasks like cleaning sofas, stairs or car interiors.

Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones review: verdict

Overall, the Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones is a very interesting and welcomed addition to Dyson’s cordless vacuum lineup. It won’t replace a full-power vacuum for homes with lots of carpets, but that’s not really what it’s trying to do. The clever compression bin, excellent dust-detecting lights and thoughtful charging dock design make it feel like a typically innovative Dyson product, even if a few compromises have been made to achieve such a slim design. If your home is mostly hard flooring and you want something effortless for regular cleans, the PencilVac is a fantastic option.

Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones review: alternatives to consider

If you like the sound of this review but think you’ll definitely need something more powerful, I’d strongly recommend the Dyson V16 Piston Animal. It’s much closer to your typical cordless vacuum, with a larger dust bin, stronger suction and longer battery life. Of course, it also comes with a higher price tag, but it’s a great option.

Another alternative to consider if you want to stick with something lightweight is the Gtech AirFOX Platinum. It weighs just 2.9kg, making it incredibly easy to move around the house, and it comes with a surprisingly generous set of accessories.