The Dyson PencilVac — launched globally in late 2025 and widely available in the United States since January 2026 — is Dyson’s boldest attempt yet to solve one of the biggest pain points in cordless vacuum ownership: storage. At just 15.4 inches (39 cm) tall when collapsed, with a body no thicker than a large water bottle and weighing only 3.97 lbs (1.8 kg) in stick configuration, the PencilVac is the slimmest, most compact full-power cordless stick vacuum Dyson has ever produced.
After seven weeks of daily use in a 1,200 sq ft urban apartment in the United States (two adults, one medium-sized dog, mix of hardwood floors, low-pile rugs, and area carpets), here is the complete, unbiased, hands-on review of whether the PencilVac is a legitimate breakthrough or merely a clever design gimmick.
Design & Build – The Skinniest Dyson in History
The moment you unbox the PencilVac, the first reaction is disbelief: this cannot possibly be a real Dyson. The main body is a single continuous matte-black or “Prussian Blue” anodized aluminum tube with zero visible seams, buttons, or protruding dust-bin. It looks more like a premium designer walking cane than a vacuum cleaner.
Key physical measurements (US units):
- Deployed height: 44.1 in (112 cm)
- Collapsed height: 15.4 in (39 cm)
- Tube diameter: 1.5 in (38 mm)
- Weight (stick configuration, no accessories): 3.97 lbs (1.8 kg)
- Weight (handheld mode): 2.98 lbs (1.35 kg)
- Dust-bin capacity: 0.4 L (13.5 oz)
The collapsing mechanism is single-button magic. Press the release near the grip and the lower tube slides smoothly inside the upper tube in under two seconds — no twisting, no fragile hinges, no multi-step folding. The action is buttery, precise, and feels built to last decades.
Dyson achieved this radical slimness by relocating the motor, cyclones, and battery into the handle area (branded “HyperSlim Power Core”). The dust bin is a tall, narrow cylinder that sits directly under the grip and empties via a bottom hatch with one push. Because it fills vertically instead of horizontally, the 0.4 L capacity feels more usable than the number suggests — most daily clean-ups in a 1,200 sq ft space required emptying only once.
Battery Life & Charging – Solid Real-World Performance
The PencilVac uses a single 21.6 V, 3,000 mAh lithium-ion pack (same cell chemistry as the V15 Detect but far smaller overall). Dyson’s official runtime claims:
- Eco mode: up to 42 minutes
- Medium mode: 28 minutes
- Boost mode: 8 minutes
In US testing (hardwood + low-pile rugs + area carpets, medium shedding dog, typical household dust + occasional cereal/rice spills):
- Eco: 37–41 minutes (very close to rated)
- Medium: 23–26 minutes
- Boost (spot-cleaning stuck debris): 7–8 minutes
Full charge takes 3.5 hours via the compact wall-mount dock that also holds the three included tools. The battery is non-removable, but Dyson provides a standard 2-year warranty and states the cell should retain at least 80% capacity after 1,000 full cycles.
Power delivery stays impressively consistent; unlike some ultra-light competitors that fade dramatically below 20%, the PencilVac maintains usable suction until the final 8–10% of battery life.
Suction Power & Cleaning Performance
Dyson rates the PencilVac at 115 Air Watts on Boost — a far cry from the 240–262 AW of the V15 Detect or Gen5detect. Yet in everyday cleaning the PencilVac punches well above its spec sheet thanks to:
- The ultra-narrow “Micro Fluffy Optic” roller head (same soft-roller design as the V15 Detect but 30% slimmer)
- Only 6 mm ground clearance between roller and floor
- Highly optimized cyclone airflow inside the pencil-thin tube
Real-world pickup results (same 4×6 ft test area, mixed debris: 50% fine dust/sand, 50% pet hair + small cereal pieces):
- Hardwood floors (Eco): 96–98% removal in one pass
- Low-pile rugs / area carpets (Medium): 89–93% removal
- Stuck-on debris (Boost): 78–85% removal (usually requires 2–3 passes)
Pet hair performance is outstanding. The Micro Fluffy Optic roller features anti-tangle bristles and an integrated self-cleaning hair comb that actively sheds hair into the bin during use. In seven weeks with a medium-haired Australian Shepherd, I never once needed to stop and manually de-hair the brush bar.
Edge and corner cleaning is average — the round, narrow head design means tight 90° corners usually require a second pass or the included crevice tool. It’s not class-leading, but far better than most ultra-slim competitors.
Filtration & Allergen Performance
The PencilVac uses a fully sealed five-stage HEPA filtration system that captures 99.99% of particles down to 0.1 microns — the same standard as the Gen5detect and most Dyson premium models. Exhaust air is noticeably cleaner than almost every sub-$600 cordless stick vacuum sold in the US.
Emptying produces almost zero dust cloud thanks to the bottom-drop hatch that directs debris straight down into the trash. The HEPA filter is fully washable and needs rinsing every 3–6 months depending on usage frequency.
Included Accessories & Storage Solution
Standard US kit includes:
- PencilVac main body
- Micro Fluffy Optic cleaner head
- Motorized mini soft-roller head (excellent for upholstery, stairs, car interiors)
- Crevice tool
- Combination dusting/upholstery brush
- Compact wall-mount charging dock with accessory clips
The dock mounts vertically and protrudes only 4.7 inches (12 cm) from the wall when the PencilVac is collapsed and hung. All accessories except the mini roller head clip directly to the dock or magnetically to the main tube. In a small apartment this is a revelation — the entire cleaning system lives behind a door instead of hogging closet space.
Noise Levels
The PencilVac is one of the quietest Dysons ever tested:
- Eco: 62–64 dB
- Medium: 68–71 dB
- Boost: 76–78 dB
For reference, normal conversation is ~60 dB. You can comfortably vacuum in Eco mode during a Zoom call or while someone is napping in the next room.
US Pricing & Value Proposition (February 2026)
Official MSRP: $569 Launch promotions & current street price (Feb 2026): $499–$529 at major retailers (Amazon, Best Buy, Dyson.com, Target, Walmart).
Compared to current US-market alternatives:
- Dyson V12 Detect Slim: $639–$709
- Dyson V15 Detect: $749–$799
- Dyson Gen5detect: $995–$1,135
- Shark PowerDetect: $449–$499
- Samsung Bespoke Jet AI: $899–$999
- Tineco Pure One S15: $399–$449
The PencilVac sits in a rare sweet spot: significantly less expensive than Dyson’s full-size premium models, yet offering noticeably stronger suction, better filtration, and far superior build quality than most sub-$500 cordless sticks.
Who Should Buy the Dyson PencilVac?
Strong buy if you:
- Live in a small-to-medium apartment or condo (especially urban US apartments)
- Hate dragging a bulky cordless out of a cramped closet
- Want true Dyson suction + HEPA filtration without the Dyson price or weight
- Have mostly hard floors + low-pile rugs / area carpets
- Prefer quick daily touch-ups over once-a-week deep cleans
- Value near-zero storage footprint above everything else
Consider alternatives if you:
- Have medium-to-thick carpets (look at full-size Dysons or Shark uprights)
- Need longer runtime on medium power (>40 min)
- Want laser dust detection (exclusive to V15/Gen5 lines)
- Have very heavy pet shedding and need a larger dust bin (0.7–0.8 L)
Final Verdict – 2026 Score: 9.1 / 10
The Dyson PencilVac is not designed to replace the V15 Detect or Gen5detect. It solves an entirely different problem: how to deliver real suction, real HEPA filtration, and real usability in the smallest possible package.
After seven weeks as the primary daily vacuum, the PencilVac has fundamentally changed how often and how willingly we clean. The collapsed size means it lives behind the front door instead of in a closet — so we grab it every day instead of postponing until “the weekend.”
Flaws exist: the 0.4 L bin is small (though usable), edge cleaning is average, and the price is still premium. But for millions of urban US households who want powerful, filtered cleaning without sacrificing half their storage space, the Dyson PencilVac is currently the best “daily driver” cordless stick vacuum available in 2026.
If the street price stays in the $499–$529 range, it earns a strong recommendation.
