After the presentation some time ago, the time has come for our test of the new Dyson PencilVac. Name that comes from the union of the words “Pencil” (pencil in English) and “vacuum” (vacuum cleaner). It is the thinnest model in the world, with shapes that resemble those of a traditional broom. A truly innovative product, with an original design and high ease of handling.
Let us therefore analyze in detail all the features and performances of the new Dyson PencilVac vacuum cleaner.
Design and packaging
The PencilVac strikes at first glance with its truly original shapes. Dyson has managed to insert the components of a traditional vacuum cleaner into a tubular element in matte black plastic, with a diameter of only 3.8 cm, slightly larger than a normal broom handle. Going into detail, the vacuum cleaner has been designed in a new ultra-compact linear format, with the handle, battery, motor, dust container and filters aligned and inserted into a single cylindrical element.
Goodbye, therefore, to the uncomfortable pistol grip and the bulky cyclonic suction system. Elements replaced by a light and easy to handle handle also designed to allow the device to lie parallel to the floor. Design that also allows you to easily switch the PencilVac from one hand to another.
The Fluffycones brush is also innovative: compact suction head with four two-tone conical rollers. Let’s not forget the dimensions: height of 1,160 mm, length of 226 mm and width of 38 mm. We also remember the low weight of 1.8 kg.
Let’s move on to the package which includes a multifunctional accessory equipped with a lance and brush which unfortunately must be attached to the end of the long handle, replacing the Fluffycones head. The result? A long rod that can only be used to reach surfaces far away from the user, such as high-up areas.
We continue with the useful charging base, self-supporting and with magnetic hooks, which also allows you to accommodate the multifunctional accessory.
The paper manual is absent, replaced by the digital version available in the app which we will analyze later. In the Italian version of the Pencilvac, the mini motorized brush for cleaning fabrics is also missing.
Technical features and apps
The PencilVac is made up of three parts that must be assembled by the user: battery, suction system and Fluffycones brush. Let’s start our analysis from the handle which houses the removable 2,430 mAh lithium ion battery, with integrated charging LED. Let’s move on to the central part where we find two buttons dedicated respectively to power and selection of suction power: Eco, Media and Boost. Too bad for the absence of automatic management of the suction power based on the dirt on the floor.
Below the controls we find the color LCD display, with very small dimensions, and the air expulsion grills of the Hyperdymium 140k engine: a miniaturized unit with 28 mm in diameter, capable of reaching up to 140,000 rpm. This is the smallest and fastest motor that Dyson has ever put in a vacuum cleaner, with a declared power of 55 AirWatts.
The PencilVac uses air to compress powder and maximize the container’s capacity from just 0.08 litres. Tank that retains the traditional Dyson emptying system: the transparent cylindrical casing slides downwards, with a seal that pushes dirt out and cleans the pre-filtration grid. Unlike the company’s other vacuum cleaners, the user will have to remove the Fluffycones brush, the container being inserted inside the rod.
Hygienic “syringe” emptying system: it does not create clouds of dust and dirt never comes into contact with the user; the dust tends, in fact, to compact towards the top of the container, coming out in a single block, without dispersing into the air.
Dyson has also introduced a new dust separation system, ditching cyclonic technology for a fully sealed two-stage linear system, which captures 99.99% of microscopic particles and allergens down to 0.3 microns. Inside the dust container we find three removable elements: a stainless steel pre-filtration grid which captures approximately 70% of the dirt, a plastic one and a pleated microfibre filter to maximize the surface of the material.
Another innovative element is the new Fluffycones brush: suction head with two pairs of rollers at the front and rear, also designed for narrow spaces. Conical rollers, washable and with a soft nylon surface, capable of rotating in opposite directions to intercept dirt and convey it towards the center of the suction nozzle.
The Fluffycones, thanks to the four cones, also removes and expels hair and long hair, preventing them from getting tangled around the brush roller. Going into detail, when the hair is collected, it moves towards the end of the conical rollers. The hair is wound into a spiral forming a skein, which is then collected by the brush.
Furthermore, the position at the ends of the brush allows the rollers to easily clean the edges of the room or furniture. Brush capable of moving in all directions and around chairs and table legs, with a simple movement of the wrist, thanks to the integrated joint and the omnidirectional wheels installed in the lower area.
The Fluffycones incorporates a double lighting system with two green LEDs, on the front and rear, capable of making even microscopic dust visible, impossible to notice with the naked eye.
Finally, there is Bluetooth for connection with the MyDyson app. Application that allows you to monitor the battery status, consult the digital manual in English, receive maintenance suggestions also through various videos included and update the firmware.
User experience, battery life and price
We end the review of the Dyson PencilVac with our experience of use. A product with good construction quality and innovative design.
The maneuverability is decidedly high, allowing for easy and thorough cleaning around table legs, under furniture with a height of only 95 mm, the edges of walls or narrow corners. Similar evaluation on ergonomics: a light and well-balanced vacuum cleaner, with easily accessible controls, and equipped with a large and practical handle.
Excellent performance of the Fluffycones head, also effective on the edges, equipped with a very useful lighting system for detecting dirt and a practical system for eliminating tangles of hair and hair.
Furthermore, the power is good despite the technical specifications, with the vacuum cleaner capable of collecting any type of dirt, from larger debris to fine dust, on any type of floor. We continue with the dirt tank with a decent capacity, to be emptied every 3-4 days.
Let’s move on to the battery with not very high autonomy: less than 10 minutes at maximum power and up to around 25 minutes in Eco mode. Among the other aspects that did not convince us were the long battery charging times (up to 3 and a half hours), the very small and difficult to read display, the plastic charging base with not very high stability and the absence of a second battery supplied. Furthermore, the product is not suitable for carpets, due to the brush used and the low suction power, as also stated by Dyson.
Maintenance operations are simple: all the various parts can, in fact, be removed and cleaned easily. Let’s not forget the noise of the electric motor, contained and never annoying.
Finally the price of Dyson PencilVac can be purchased for 499 euros.
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