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Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Design, Illumination
Cons mentioned:
Capacity, Carpet cleaning performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A niche vacuum that excels on hardwood
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
PROS:
Ease of use (weight and size)
Excellent build quality
Green LED illumination
Fluffycones (they look brand new even after heavy use with dog hair)
Excellent engineering
SO-SO:
Runtime before charging (30 mins on ECO mode)
Price
CONS:
Small debris capacity
Doesn't do well with heavy carpet or thicker rugs
The charging base is too light, and it's too easy to move around
I’ll admit it; I'm a big fan of Dyson. Over the years, they’ve made remarkable strides in the wireless vacuuming arena, nudging other brands to follow their lead in the quest to innovate home and personal electronics. We use a lot of Dyson products, including upright, stick, and robot vacuums, as well as headphones, air purifiers, and hair dryers. Currently, we’re still using a V11 that we purchased over seven years ago, and it’s in fantastic shape, even with a shedding Duck Toller pup in our home.
One of the standout features of Dyson vacuums is their user-friendliness. They’re light and can be picked up at a moment’s notice, which is truly how Dyson changed the game when they first launched their wireless "stick vacuum." Enter the new Dyson Pencilvac, which is incredibly lightweight yet powerful enough to tackle hardwood floors with ease.
In our home, the upstairs is completely carpeted, where we use our Dyson Vis Nav, while the downstairs features hardwood flooring. Initially, we didn’t think we needed a dedicated vacuum for the hardwood, but that all changed once we got the Pencilvac.
Like most Dyson products, the design and craftsmanship set it apart from the competition; every component feels expertly engineered and crafted from high-quality materials. We already had the MyDyson app installed on our devices, which made it a breeze to connect to the Pencilvac. While the app is quite useful for our headphones and air purifier, providing settings, firmware updates, and usage stats, I’m not entirely convinced it's necessary for the Pencilvac. That said, it did have an update ready to go when I first started using it. Connecting it to the app automatically registers the vacuum and activates its generous two-year warranty.
The Pencilvac consists of three distinct parts: the top section houses the battery, the middle section includes the collection chamber and controls, and the main brush head completes the assembly. Additionally, it comes with a handy crevice and brush combo tool for those specific cleaning tasks.
Battery life is sufficient for our needs, offering about 10 minutes of use on the most powerful mode—plenty of time to clean our entire downstairs area in our 2500 sq ft home. For larger spaces, it’s recommended to use balanced mode, while eco mode is ideal for everyday maintenance. On eco mode, the battery lasts around 30 minutes, about 20 minutes on balanced mode, and a solid 10 minutes on the most powerful setting. Fortunately, it charges quickly, so you can easily top it off if 10 minutes isn’t enough. If the battery runs completely out, though that’s hard to imagine, it takes a few hours to fully recharge.
The Pencilvac truly shines when it comes to quiet cleaning; it glides effortlessly over hardwood and tile floors and reaches tricky spots with ease thanks to its cone brush. In fact, my kindergartener loves using it to help out with cleaning.
One of my favorite features is the bright green LED lights that illuminate both the front and back of the vacuum. These lights make it simple to spot dirt and dust, even in well-lit rooms. They ensure that you can pick up all the hair and give you a good sense of how much vacuuming is needed. Without those LED lights, you might miss a lot of dust and hair.
Some potential buyers may wonder whether this vacuum can clean carpets effectively. In our experience, it does navigate a few thin area rugs, but when it comes to standard carpeting, it tends to struggle. Another version of Dyson's products (such as the V series) vacuum would definitely outperform it in those situations.
However, there is one aspect I’m not particularly fond of: the lightweight plastic charging stand. I wish it were made of metal or at least sturdier because it tends to wiggle around when you pull the vacuum off. The trick is to step on the front of the stand while pulling the vacuum off, but it still feels a bit awkward. Our older V11 has a third-party metal stand that doesn't present this issue, despite the V11 being much heavier than the Pencilvac.
Currently priced at $600, the Pencilvac is certainly on the higher end compared to many other options, but it offers exceptional quality in return. While Dyson products tend to come at a premium, you might want to explore other Dyson models in this price range, especially if you need something that excels on heavy carpets or features mopping.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Illumination, Maneuverability
Cons mentioned:
Capacity
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Innovative & Extremely Versatile
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
TLDR: The Dyson FluffyCones PencilVac is an excellent piece of kit worthy of the Dyson name.
PROS
Extremely versatile
Excellent illumination
Minimal Footprint
Decent Runtime on Eco Mode
CONS
Small Design Limits Debris Capacity
Medium & Boost Modes Limit Runtime Substantially
Not Suited for Rugs or Carpets
USE
The Dyson Fluffycones may very well be my favorite quick clean-up vacuum to date. I've had a Dyson V8 cordless vacuum as my go-to handheld for quite some time, as well as some of Dyson's competitors' products. While all have been excellent, they have all followed the same recipe. A large motorhead and battery pack attached to a stick. Not to mention, they are built like vacuums from decades ago. Made to go back-and-forth in a straight line. Not only that, the large motorhead and battery pack hanging off the top of all these vacuums seriously limits their versatility and maneuverability, especially when working under furniture.
The Dyson Fluffycones changes all that. The form factor is excellent. The Pencilvac is literally 2" in diameter from top to bottom. No bulky motorheads, no bulky battery packs. Dyson designed a new motor capable of spinning up to 140k RPM and a swappable 4-cell battery. The design is impressively slim and quite powerful for its size. Impressive what they were able to fit within the size constraints of the Pencilvac.
The tapered Fluffycones head reminds me of my kid's Krazy Kart. No longer made for back-and-forth strides, the Fluffycones head can literally switch and change to any direction at any time. Side-to-side, diagonal, back-and-forth, around in circles, etc. It effortlessly changes directions without being obstinate or sound like its scraping your floors to pieces.
I thought the Dyson green LED lights would be a gimmick. How could they really be any better than true, white LED's at illuminating the area ahead? I was wrong. The "headlight" and "taillight" of the Pencilvac do an EXCELLENT job of illuminating the path in front of and behind the vacuum. I was surprised at just how well they work at spotting dust and debris on your floors. Honestly, somewhat embarrassed too.
BATTERY LIFE
Dyson claims up to 30 minutes of runtime in Eco mode. I estimate approximately 2500 - 3000 square feet can be cleaned on a single charge, using Eco mode. I estimate a total runtime of about 26 minutes, with Medium and Boost modes eating HEAVILY into those times. Dyson has swappable 4-cell battery packs should you need or want additional runtime.
MANEUVERABILITY
This is the ONE section that the Pencilvac puts overs to shame. The Fluffycones is oh so versatile. Not only is it absolutely the most maneuverable vacuum I've used, but it is also the most convenient. Combining unparalleled maneuverability with the Fluffycones head with a design that is less than 4" tall when rotated for cleaning, users can easily fit it under furniture for the most effortless cleaning I've ever had. End tables, beds, nightstands, armoires, I was able to get the Fluffycones head under all my furniture. Not only that, those superbright, green LED's lit up under all the furniture finding stuff I should have gotten for some time. Oops. Moving heavy furniture to clean under it is a thing of the past. It really is that easy.
CONS
The cons are limited.
The Fluffycones Pencilvac is intended for hard surfaces. Hardwoods, LVP, tile, engineered hardwoods, etc. It is not made for carpets or rugs. It had zero issues cleaning the distressed hardwoods and tile floors in my house and the engineered hardwoods in my mom's. I find that the consistent finish on LVP or engineered hardwoods make it easier for the Pencilvac to operate in Eco mode, while the distressed hardwoods in my house like to see Medium speed for best results. While Eco mode is doable on my distressed hardwoods, some of the deeper grooves like the added suction power of the higher settings.
The thin, narrow design of the Pencilvac severely limits its overall dust and dirt holding capacity. But, I will admit that I was able to clean all my hardwoods and tile floors, along with my mom's entire house before needing to empty the hopper. But, I could see owners of large pets needing to empty the hopper much more frequently.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Would I buy a Fluffycones Pencilvac? Yes, absolutely. It is a perfect companion for those of us that have non-carpeted flooring. Of all the vacuums I've received for testing, this is one that really breaks the mold and is truly innovative. Unrivaled versatility and maneuverability make this a great product for those of us whose house and/or apartments have primarily hard floor surfaces.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Design, Illumination
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The Best Lightweight Cordless Vacuum I've Used
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I’ve owned quite a few cordless vacuums over the years, including several models from Dyson, and I can honestly say the new Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones Cordless Vacuum is easily my favorite one I’ve used so far. Dyson has always been known for powerful, well engineered vacuums, and this slim model feels like a major leap forward in terms of maneuverability, weight, and thoughtful design. From the moment I picked it up, the first thing I noticed was how incredibly lightweight it is at less than 4lbs and very slim compared to previous Dyson models I’ve owned. The PencilVac design makes it comfortable to hold and easy to guide around furniture, under cabinets, and along baseboards without feeling like you’re wrestling with the vacuum.
Out of the box you get the PencilVac body of the vacuum, the battery handle, the Fluffy Cone head, the Rotating Combi-CreviceTool head, the magnetic charging stand and the charging cable. Installation is very straightforward, just insert the battery into the body and then attach the vacuum head at the end and you're good to go. The Magnetic Charging base has a port in the back for the charger and the Vacuum slots right in to charge. A welcome addition from Dyson I will say. Once everything is together and turned on you will be notified to install the Dyson app Via a QR code on the LCD screen to register your product for warranty purposes, along with battery status and instructional videos on how to properly use the PencilVac.
Easily the standout feature for me with this vacuum is the Fluffycones cleaner head, which is unlike anything I’ve used before. Instead of just a single brush bar, it uses four conical brush bars that rotate and work together to lift dirt, dust and debris while simultaneously preventing hair from wrapping around the brush. If you have pets or long hair in your household, you know how annoying it can be to constantly stop and pull hair off a brush roll. With this system, the hair is lifted, stripped, and guided toward the suction channel, so it gets pulled into the vacuum without tangling. I’ve tested it on long strands of hair and pet fur, and it genuinely works. I haven’t had to clean hair out of the brush at all so far, which is a huge convenience. Another thing that impressed me is the dual green illumination lights on the cleaner head. Dyson’s illumination technology has always been useful, but this system uses two green lights that shine forwards and backwards at the same time, making it even easier to see dust and fine debris on hard floors. It's honestly surprising just how much dust this reveals, especially along edges and in corners.
The maneuverability of the PencilVac is probably my favorite aspect of the entire vacuum. The dual spinning brush design combined with the lightweight body makes it extremely easy to steer into tight spaces and corners. It glides smoothly across hard floors and transitions around chair legs and table bases with almost no effort. Because the vacuum is so slim and balanced, it feels much more precise than bulkier cordless vacuums I’ve used in the past and not having to hold a trigger the whole time was a treat not having to do. Because of its thin design you can almost lay it completely flat on the ground to get into those hard to reach places like under furniture. It does something really cool when pushing it forward while having the vacuum perpendicular to the floor while cleaning under the couch. The brush wheels will almost throw it in reverse to make it easier to pull the vacuum back towards you. It honestly confused me at first because I wasn't pulling it back, it just knew to throw it in reverse, making cleaning under furniture so much easier.
The only downside of the Fluffycone is it really only meant to be used on hardwood floors and not rugs. While it still can technically work on carpet and rugs, you just won't be getting the most out of it. The second vacuum head attachment is the Combi-CreviceTool head, which at first glance it looks like just a normal narrow vacuum head for like cleaning your car seats and those hard to get corners, but in reality I found this head to be a gamer changer because it comes with an adjustable pivot brush head. I found this attachment to be perfect for cleaning my baseboards around my place. I never truly realized just how much dust was on the baseboards, till I used the Combi-CreviceTool head. Because of the brush head being able to pivot when you move it against the baseboard it contours to it and traps the dust in the brush allowing you to clean baseboards without scratching it in the process. This attachment is also great for cleaning high ceilings to get those cobwebs.
Battery life is solid for everyday cleaning as well. In Eco mode, the vacuum provides up to 30 minutes of runtime, Medium gives you 20 minutes, and Boost gives you around 10 minutes. This is more than enough for quick daily cleanups or running through a few rooms at a time. For my typical routine kitchen, living room, and hallway it finishes the job without needing a recharge or having to empty the debris into the trash can. Since it’s cordless, it’s also incredibly convenient to just grab and clean without dragging out a full-size vacuum. Emptying the vacuum is also super easy, just remove the vacuum head and press the down the Red button latch on the stick and then slide the tube down towards the ground into the trash can and that motion will push out all the trash and dust into the garbage and slide it back up and put the vacuum head back on and you’re done.
That being said, if you have a big house with a lot of carpet and rugs this might not be the best vacuum for you, especially if you also have big pets that shed a lot. I'd say the PencilVac is perfect for those who have apartments, town homes and little pets.
Pros:
Extremely lightweight and slim design
Fluffycones cleaner head helps prevent hair tangling
Dual green illumination lights reveal hidden dust on hard floors
Excellent maneuverability and easy corner cleaning
Cordless convenience with quick grab and go
Very easy to steer around furniture and tight spaces
Cons:
Might not be big enough for very large homes to clean in one session
Smaller capacity especially for those with big pets that shed
Primarily optimized for hard floors rather than deep carpet cleaning
Overall, the Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones Cordless Vacuum feels like a huge upgrade from Dyson with this addition to their cordless lineup. It’s lighter, slimmer, easier to maneuver, and smarter about handling hair and dust than previous models I’ve owned. The innovative Fluffycones cleaner head, the dual dust revealing lights, and tangle-free design genuinely make everyday cleaning easier. After years of using different Dyson vacuums, this one easily stands out as the most practical and enjoyable one I have used to date. And I highly recommend it if you have predominantly hardwoods and not a lot of rugs.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Design, Maneuverability
Cons mentioned:
Carpet cleaning performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Small, light, easy to use, and effective
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Verdict: The Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones is a marvel of design and technology. It’s hard to believe that everything happens in just the one single tube… from battery power, to suction, to dust/debris bin, and attachment integration. It’s decently quiet, about the same as our other small vacuum. And… we LOVE the dual green lights for better visibility of dust and debris in both directions – that feature is a winner!
Pro tips:
- To pull the vacuum off the stand, don’t lift, twist, or push… Just lean the handle forward until the vacuum slides off the hook
- To dump the residue / trash after vacuum, push the handle all the way to the bottom. Sliding halfway does not fully push hairs and other small debris out. When sliding all the way down, there is final bump out that pushes any remaining debris out of the handle
Initial impressions. The vacuum arrives in a very compact box. Basic instructions are printed on the inside of the top part of the box. Assembly is incredibly easy and takes less than 3 minutes, with zero tools required. I downloaded the app for the full experience, and I appreciated that it showed videos of how to use different parts of the vacuum. The design of the PencilVac is quite impressive: it’s small, seamless, with a small screen, buttons in all the right places, it’s intuitive to use and to take apart, and it just glides on the hard wood, allowing for one-hand operation.
Battery. This vacuum only come with the one battery and it advertises 30 minutes of run time. That’s probably adequate to take care of hard surfaces in most homes. I do wish the base had a slot to dual charge another battery (could be an optional purchase).
Ease of use. I think the most impressive aspect of this vacuum is how it all comes together (light weight, slim size, handle rotation) to deliver an amazing user experience. On hardwood, the vacuum seems to be gliding and can even slide sideways with little-effort. You can easily vacuum and maneuver with precision with one hand.
Performance. This small vacuum delivers decent suction, with several modes to deliver more power when needed. Edge vacuum also work well (use the left side where it says “Edge Cleaning”) and can maneuver easily into corners. The dual green lights ads a lot to the experience for us… it’s a feature all vacuums should have. Swapping out accessories is fast and easy. The pivoting brush attachment is cool, but I wish the brush rotation required less pressure. Emptying the vacuum is convenient and clean. Overall, this vacuum delivers a fantastic cleaning performance
App. First and foremost, the app should not ask for permissions for detailed location, there is no reason for it. Besides the really useful short videos, the app is largely useless for vacuum operations… It shows battery power, how long your vacuumed during the last session and that’s it. I suppose it will be helpful for maintenance reminders and orders of supplies, and also perhaps getting support in case of issues. However, if I had to do this again, I would not bother downloading the app.
Things I like:
- Amazing design and technology… Dyson is still leading the pack!
- 2-years of warranty!
- Pretty good suction for its size, with different modes available
- Lightweight and super easy to maneuver; the cones spin so fast, it’s like the vacuum is gliding on hardwood
- We LOVE the dual green lights to see debris and dust
- It actually fits in narrow places
- It’s has an “edge cleaning” features and the handle allows for effective control and movement to get into corners
- We really like the base mount; no drilling into the wall required; the base also has pads that seem to stick on the hardwood so it’s more stable
- It comes with a 2-in-1 brush / crevice tool
Things I don’t love:
- It’s not really for carpet, which is fine for us since we hardly have any, but consider this for your household
- The rotating brush is very cool, but getting the angle to shift requires pushing a bit more than expected, and making cleaning in dusty areas less user friendly
- I wish the handle was grippier. Be careful, it can slip out of your hand!
- Why do you need my exact location in the app?! You don’t! Stop trying to get my personal information! It’s a vacuum. Asking for the state of residence or time zone is enough for anything you may ever need to know about a vacuum. There is no excuse or explanation for this detailed information
Aside from the invasion of privacy from the app, this is the ideal vacuum for hardwood, tiles, or other hard floors. Ease of use is exquisite, from initial assembly to daily driving. It’s small enough to fit in any storage area, in case you have limited space The dual green lights add additional satisfaction to using this vacuum. We love this vacuum.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Illumination, Maneuverability, Weight
Cons mentioned:
Carpet cleaning performance
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Good Vacuum for Niche Use Cases
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I live in a split-level home where my main floor is mostly tile and hardwood. For these surfaces, the PencilVac is great. It’s easy to maneuver and get into tight spaces, it doesn’t take up much space, and the built-in green LED does a fantastic job of showing you all the corners and crevices that need cleaning. But it’s really only for hard surfaces and it does not do carpets. The dustbin is also quite small and the battery life is much shorter compared to other Dyson vacuums. This is all in service making the vacuum as compact and lightweight as it can be, but for the price you are still giving up quite a lot compared to what you could get from other brands or even other Dyson’s when they’re on sale. I would still recommend it if it fits your needs, but it’s for everyone.
With the vacuum, you get the Fluffycones cleaner head and a crevice/duster tool for handheld vacuuming. You also get a charging base that doubles as storage for the vacuum and the crevice tool. The whole setup is remarkably compact and I was able to easily slot this into a space in my living room where it’s easy to get to and doesn’t stand out. The magnetic charging contacts hold the vacuum in place and it’s easy to put in and take out of its base. It’s not the most comprehensive set of cleaning tools, but then again this is not a comprehensive cleaner.
The vacuum is extremely compact. There are no protrusions at all from the stick and it’s very light, though not quite as light as I expected it to be. You don’t get a handle, so it’s not the most ergonomic thing to use, but for the quick bursts that I use it in it’s fine. The battery and the dustbin are both integrated directly into the stick. The downside of this is neither are extremely capacious. The battery is good for up to 30 minutes of run time and the dustbin capacity is around 10% of what you’d get from a normal cordless vacuum. For a vacuum that is primarily focusing on hard surfaces, these aren’t as big of cons as they would normally be, but it’s something to be aware of.
Using this vacuum is both more and less than I expected it to be. It’s very easy to maneuver and get to almost any place you need it to. The built-in green LED shines brightly on the floor and will show you anything that might be hiding from your eyes - it does such a good job that it makes me feel a little disgusted at everything it finds. I’m not quite Mr. Monk yet, but fair warning it might push you in that direction. The suction is okay - definitely not as good as the Dyson Gen5 I normally use but it does the job on hard surfaces. I did briefly try to run this on a couple of my carpeted surfaces and even on our low-pile carpets it really doesn’t have the suction or the power to do much. I knew it wasn’t going to do as good of a job, but it is to the point where I wouldn’t even consider it. This creates a situation where, if you have both carpet and hard surfaces, you’d need to have 2 vacuums to cover everything, which makes this a tough sell. But for what it’s intended for it does its job well. My main floor is probably around 800 or so square feet of hardwood and tile surfaces and the battery made it through the entire thing. There’s a small LCD display on the handle that shows the charge and you can cycle between different power levels when needed, but I mostly just let it run on its default mode and it did just fine. I did end up having to empty the dustbin about two thirds of the way through though. Since the dustbin is so small though it’s something that I can easily just empty into my kitchen garbage can. The dustbin empties by removing the cleaner head, popping a latch, pushing the tube down, and then shaking it out into the trashcan.
The PencilVac has the ability to connect to the MyDyson app, which I have used for their air purifiers. Besides the general charge level though and an overview of past cleaning sessions there isn’t much there, though there was a firmware update for the vacuum when I first connected it.
Overall, I think the PencilVac is a good product for what it does, but it’s not really a do-all vacuum cleaner. If you do have mostly hard surfaces it could be a good choice, but you probably still want to have something a little more heavy duty tucked away in a closet somewhere.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Maneuverability
Cons mentioned:
Capacity
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Fast Cleanups Without the Bulk
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have always liked Dyson for big household cleaning but before I tried this model I didn't think it was possible for cordless stick vacuums to work. After using the Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones for a good amount of time I understand what i like and what it falls short on.
When opening it, it is very slim and has a very light vacuum profile. It is sleek looking and is easy to lift much easier than a heavy upright, and is lighter than weighty older stick models. The black finish is good looking in most of the homes, so it doesn't stand out like a bulky tech in a corner.
My favourite is the Fluffycones cleaner head. Instead of a normal brush, respectively a brush roll, it has four soft conical brush bars, which spin and sweep in all directions, if you push it. This is the design that picks up fine dust, crumbs, pet hair, and, in general, the grime of the hard floors well, it does not get tangled. The little LED lights are used to detect the dust you may not notice, especially if it is wood or tile.
The suction is very good for its size. It uses Dyson's Hyperdymium motor the same engine that they say is the fastest so it deals very well with daily dust and debris. You can walk around the kitchen/hallway/living room in a few minutes and it does pick up more than you ever imagine on the first pass. The run time is about 30 minute and that is enough for normal touch ups without worrying that it will run out.
It is shining in maneuverability, ease to use. Its long slender shape means reaching spaces under the sofa and around the lower part of tables with no major twisting. It doesnt feel heavy in your hand it feels very light. Emptying of the dust bin is very simple, by just pressing a button, the compressed dust falls straight into the trash without too much fuss.
The honest truth is that for those that have a lot of carpet or heavy dirt this is not a vacuum for deep whole home cleaning if you are looking for trending to floors or floors. The PencilVac is intended to be used on hard floors and quickly picking up those bits of trash, it is definitely not for getting well into the dirty carpets and picking up all the big stuff. If you have mostly hardwood, tile or lino in your home, you will love how nimble it is. But if you need a big power stick for cleaning all over type carpet you will want a stronger machine. I can say that the suction is not as powerful as the larger Dyson models and it's not excellent on carpets.
Another small issue is that the bin is small so if your floors are very dusty or bigger messes happen, you will empty the bin more often than you want. Also, there are some aspects of accessory placement as well as the charging dock which could use a bit of clarity, but they aren't deal breakers once you get used to the routine.
In short, this vacuum is now my go to quick cleaner. It's quick to grab, easy to use, and you have fun enough that you're less inclined to hate everyday sweeping. It won't substitute for a deep cleaning of particularly heavy duty carpets but for day to day work and hard floors it's a true joy. If you find yourself looking for a cleaning solution that is efficient without putting a lot of effort into the cleaning process for everyday messes it's something to look into.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Maneuverability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Next gen vacuuming!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
My first Dyson product was the V8 battery vacuum and since then I was sold on their innovation and watched other manufacturers follow their path. This new PencilVac is the same thing, when I saw it I was skeptical but after using it I became sold. This is the type of vacuum that’s perfect for people that have RVs, for elderly people with limited strength, people who have all hardwoods or tile or someone that needs a small powerful portable vacuum. This is my first Dyson vacuum that I’ve used with the laser and once you use it you won’t want to use a vacuum without it.
Unboxing the vacuum you get a nice stand that charges the vacuum and holds the crevice tool attachment. My V8 and V11 vacuums didn’t have the quick replaceable batteries like the new models do like this. The battery is the top part of the vacuum and with just a quick click can be swapped with another one. On its lowest setting Dyson says you get up to 30 minutes of run time and honestly even though you have three power settings, the lowest is all you need 98% of the time. Though the bin seems like it would be small you will be surprised how much it will hold. Emptying the bin is just a quick slide and push and cleaning the whole vacuum is extremely easy. The vacuum also connects to the Dyson app which allows you to update it and monitor the battery and other functions.
As much as I love my V8 and V11, there’s times I just need something that’s quick and easy to grab for cleaning. And that’s exactly what the PencilVac Fluffycones does, be it in the kitchen or cleaning up cat litter. About the only thing I’d like to see Dyson add is maybe a little texture or rubber grip to the handle. I think this would help people with limited hand strength when using it in certain situations. Besides that, this is truly a next gen type of vacuum, something that is all a lot of people need.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Fluffy But Fierce Companion
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The V6 Fluffy was my entry into the Dyson stick vac world back in 2016. It was revolutionary to me because it was a light and nimble, and most importantly, designed to not scratch or scuff hardwood floors. But while the fluffy roller still lives, the V line has evolved into a powerful, but heavier and less agile, “cleaning day” vacuum. Don’t get me wrong, I love my V15 for but for quick sweeps it’s no V6.
Enter the Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones. Like the V6, it’s light, ultra-maneuverable and a pleasure to use for a fast sweep. Yet, it’s unlike any V series and truly different, functionally and visually from that series. I think to best understand and appreciate it, think of it as a power broom rather than a full featured vacuum. It’s called a “PencilVac” because it’s so slim, but by analogy, pencils and pens are both writing tools. But some tasks require a pencil and others a pen. That’s the same situation here.
As such, to me, the PencilVac Fluffycones has two central use cases. If you live in an average sized condo or apartment with all hard flooring it’s a good option as an “only” vacuum.
For everyone else it’s a terrific supplement to your main vacuum. I live in an 1800 sq. ft. townhome with 90% hard floors, 80% which is wood, including 4 flights of stairs. The PencilVac Fluffycones is going to improve efforts to keep tidy, but I also won’t be giving up my V15.
I’ll also make a carve out for older people. I gave my 80-year-old mom a V6 years ago and see adores it. But it’s near the end of its usefulness now and I think the PencilVac Fluffycones is an ideal replacement with the current V line models too heavy for her.
That’s the quick take. For details here's my expanded PencilVac Fluffycones experience.
SETUP AND STAND UP
The PencilVac Fluffycones consists of three parts – the Fluffycones attachment, the central tube which doubles as the dust bin and info display, and the top tube which is also the battery. These click together 1-2.3. A combo crevice too and brush attachment is also included.
Mirroring a broom, the PencilVac Fluffycones is held and controlled by its tube rather than a handle and trigger. The tube diameter is similar to my V15. It’s small and offers a comfortable, natural grip. If you like the instant on and off of the V series trigger, don’t worry, the PencilVac Fluffycones’ power button is responsive and within fingers reach.
Also at comfortable distance is the power mode button which toggles suction power between “Eco,” “Medium,” and “Boost.” Eco, provides the longest use time, around 25 min for me, and is effective for light dust and even a dash of cereal, whole or crushed. On the other end is “Boost,” max suction. It will clear a small disaster, but its stamina is under 10 min.
A small LCD panel on the tube displays power mode, battery percentage and time remaining. There’s also a tiny LED that blinks when charging and disappears when complete. Even though the display doesn’t face the user it’s visible with a quick glance.
Unlike the V series, the PencilVac Fluffycones lives and charges in a floor stand rather than a wall dock. Preferences will vary here, but I’m a wall dock fan. It doesn’t take up floor space or act as a fall-over hazard with a rambunctious dog or kid around. The floor stand is hollow plastic and not bottom weighted.
I also don’t care for the floor stand because, unlike the wall dock, it’s the only way to charge the PencilVac Fluffycones. Where the V series vacs have A/C barrel style connectors, the PencilVac Fluffycones charges via two metal contacts embedded in the stand. Ironically, this limits the travelability of a portable device. For example, if you wanted to take it to another house you couldn’t just take the power adapter. The entire stand must ride along too.
Finally, while removing the PencilVac Fluffycones from the stand isn’t tedious, I find it clunky. It pulls outward and since it’s not bottom weighted I must put my foot on the stand so it doesn’t tip. It’s a quibble, but I do expect better from both Dyson and for any premium product. My impression is, so much innovation and thought went into the PencilVac Fluffycones itself but the stand was a rushed afterthought.
The PencilVac Fluffycones is ready to go after its initial full charge. It can connect to the My Dyson app (iOS/Android), but it’s not required for operation. The app is mostly a quick support reference rather than a control center, which I appreciate. It’s essentially a collection of “how to” and support videos and conduit to update firmware and order supplies. A firmware update was available to me when I paired the app.
The most useful app feature is viewing battery level when it’s on the dock. It also displays the day, time and length of the last time used, but I’m unsure how I’d use this information.
If you are especially privacy focused, the app requires “precise location” to pair the PencilVac Fluffycones to the app and download firmware updates. It can be disabled during other uses. I don’t know the technical reason why “precise location” is needed rather than approximate.
WHY PENCILVAC FLUFFYCONES IS DIFFERENT
Visually, the PencilVac Fluffycones exhibits its uniqueness from any other floor sweeper on the market. Geeks like me marvel at its shrunken motor, battery, and dustbin integrated into the handle. It’s really cool.
That’s all great, but what makes it practical is its Fluffycones attachment. This is what makes this vacuum efficient, effective, and fun to use. Unlike the V series’ Fluffy roller, Fluffycones is plural, employing four tapered motorized rollers, two in the front, two in the back. It seems gimmicky but I disabused myself of that thought after experiencing it.
This design improves on the Fluffy roller in multiple ways. The separated, tapered rollers mate directly with straight edges like doors and baseboards. Unlike conventional rollers I’ve used there’s no gap between vacuum and these areas. The uncovered roller ends also offer closer sweeping coverage at these points. I’ve attached a photo of the attachment pressed against my front door for a visual. It catches dust in corners more easily too.
Next, the opposing rollers work together to trap debris and force it into the suction path. So, while the top “Boost,” suction mode is drastically lower than my V15’s, this quad design compensates and still devours all but the scariest dust build ups or heaviest debris.
Equally as important, the roller has 4 wheels, rather than two, to provide maximum maneuverability much like 4-wheeled luggage. My V15 is no competition here. If I could hold the PencilVac Fluffycones with a single finger that’s all the effort it would need to push it around. It moves like Maverick in Top Gun the way it effortlessly navigates under and around chairs and other obstacles.
Aside from a quick go over in the kitchen or living room, the PencilVac Fluffycones seems “made for” wood stairs. The combination of roller’s superior contact in tight angles plus its adept movability in snug areas has transformed my cleaning workflow. While my V15 is a workhorse it’s also unwieldly on my stairs with either the clumsy fluffy roller or smaller tools with limited coverage.
Finally, hair. No one likes unspooling tangled hair out of attachments. Dyson’s tapered anti-tangle hair attachments are nothing new, but applying the concept to a hardwood safe attachment is, I think. I don’t have a shedding dog so I can’t comment exactly on its effectiveness in that situation, but it does a great a job with human hair. I’ve yet to find a strand on the rollers.
If there is a pain point, it’s removing the collected debris from the dust bin. In the V series, with the bin on top, it’s a quick button push to remove from the main tube. Access to the PencilVac Fluffycones’ bin requires removing the Fluffycones attachment, accomplished by either bending down or flipping the vacuum over like a baton. It’s obvious why it had to be designed this way so I can’t be too critical here, but it is something to get used to if you are a V series user.
Apart from that, the bin collector and ejection system work as expected. Debris pushes out into my trash can and the long tube ensures I can deposit it deep enough so that it doesn’t sneak back out into the room.
WHY IT’S A COMPANION DEVICE
I’ve only had the PencilVac Fluffycones a short time, but I already regard it as an essential tool. But it’s a companion helper to my V15, not a replacement. A Robin to Batman.
It’s light, ultra-maneuverable design makes it a “go to” for small jobs or quick cleans, but it’s compact dustbin and short battery life make it impractical to clean my entire 1,800+ sq. ft. townhouse. The dustbin is a marvel and collects more debris than imaginable, but after a 10-15 minute sweep around the house it’s full and the battery is nearly exhausted.
Then there is its suction ability and the limitations of the Fluffycones attachment. Fluffycones is amazing on hardwood and tile even at its lowest “eco” mode. It even does a respectable surface cleaning job on low pile rugs. Still, with no bristles it’s not designed for rugs and carpets since it can’t dislodge deep seated debris. Even though 80% of my floors are hardwood, 20% of it is covered by area rugs, and then there is the two rooms in my house that are carpeted.
When I’m doing a whole house clean or need to vacuum a carpeted, I still need the V15. It’s not as fun, but it has the longevity, heightened suction power, and accessories needed for these jobs.
BOTTOM LINE
The PencilVac Fluffycones is clutch when I need to do a quick kitchen sweep after a meal or other disasters. It eats Cheerios and other fallen bits hassle free. Similarly, it’s great in the bathroom, full of fallen hair, and getting dust under hard-to-get-to places like under beds and tables. These are areas where my V15 is OK, but the PencilVac Fluffycones excels.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
Like it but don't love it, here's why
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I already own the Dyson V15 and V8,both of which I genuinely love, but I picked up the Pencil Vac because I have a heavy-shedding dog and wanted something quick and convenient for everyday cleanups.
There are definitely things I like. The swivel is great-it moves easily around furniture, and the laser light on both ends is actually useful. It does a nice job getting right up against edges and baseboards without banging everything up, which is a big plus.
That said… the suction just isn’t on the same level as my V15 or even the V8. It’s noticeably weaker. For light debris and pet hair on hard floors, it’s fine.
The maintenance is also a bit more annoying than I expected. You have to empty the tank pretty often, and I didn’t realize at first there’s a second filter tucked inside that needs cleaning too. Getting to that one is kind of a hassle.
Bottom line,I want to love it, but I’m still on the fence about whether it was worth the money. I like it enough to keep it because it works for quick pickups (I don’t have carpet), but between the lower suction and the slightly fussy filter/tank situation and price, it’s not a 5-star product for me. If you have plenty of disposable income I would say go for it, otherwise I'm not sure.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
Doesn't suck
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
After only a short time using this product I have discovered that this vac does not operate at the level of its price. I purchased this product and then went out of town for a couple weeks and now have passed BestBuy's return period. If I had the BestBuy credit card I would magically be able to return my items further out than a couple weeks.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Maneuverability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent Addition to my Dyson Family
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Posted .
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
In the box is the pencilvac with a magnetic charging floor dock, charging cable, rotating combi-crevice tool and fluffycones cleaner head. There is also a product guide for additional items made by Dyson, a QR code sheet and a regulatory compliance and safety information booklet.
First Impression - the box makes the pencilvac feel a lot heavier than it really it. The pencilvac is sleek and can nearly fit in any corner or small area. It is light and picks up a lot of dust and debris but be careful for solid items (in my household it was Q-Tips) because it will make this loud noise that a solid item is entering the brush area.
Full disclosure: I sweep and mop my floors about once every two weeks because I have so much area to cover that it gets tiresome and it feels like I still see dirt or dust after cleaning.
The pencilvac works really well. My only con so far is the dirt bin is pretty small. It was very embarrassing to see how fast the bin filled up after doing certain areas in the house like the living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway and 3 bedrooms. I do have area rugs in some of the rugs and the pencilvac still worked but not as good as my other vacuum.
The box says pencilvac has a 30 minute run time and this is completely true. I can do a focus cleaning in one area or do a quick cleaning of the whole top floor and then charge.
There is a light that reveals invisible dust on hard floors and this is an excellent feature that works great under the dining table and under my chairs in my living room. I will say that if you have furniture that doesn’t sit high off of the floor then this may not work for you. I have low loveseats and the brush part of the pencilvac would not fit. I would have to move my loveseats and then vacuum (which is not really a big deal since this thing is awesome with pick up dust and dirt).
Make sure you register your pencilvac on the app because you can Bluetooth connect for additional settings and maintenance guide as well. I am already a multiple Dyson product owner, so the app was already downloaded to my phone.
Overall, I really love this pencilvac and I would definitely recommend to friends and family with hardwood/linoleum floors and I would definitely purchase this item again.
I would recommend this to a friend
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Works great for hard floors!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Dyson has always led the way with new innovations in home care products. I have owned several Dyson products over the years from vacuums, to heaters, to air purifiers, and even a hair dryer. This new vacuum definitely caught my eye and I just had to try it.
I am someone who suffers from recurring tennis elbow, it can make it very difficult for me to operate a normal vacuum that has the canister at the top where you grip it. All that extra weight on the top can make it nearly impossible for me to operate it when I am having a flare up.
We have a couple rooms with carpet and some rugs, but the majority of our house had laminate plank flooring.
Out of the box you can tell the design and craftsmanship of this vacuum is top notch. Everything about it feels premium. One small annoyance I had is that you have to connect it to the Dyson app before you can use it. I know that can be a bit bothersome to some people having to create an account and give up personal information and things like that. So, it is something to be aware of. But, with connecting to the app, it also gets your vacuum registered and activated the 2 year warranty.
Assembling it is very easy. There is the top part where the battery lives. The middle part where the collection chamber and controls are, and then the main brush head. There is also a crevice and brush combo tool included as well. Dyson claims you can get 30minutes of run time in Eco mode, 20 in the regular mode, and 10 minutes in high mode. I have found that to be mostly accurate. I think most people will be using this in the regular mode. While eco mode does work pretty well, it does have a hard time picking up larger pieces or getting things from in corners. For example, we have a dog who likes to leave small kibbles of his food around. In eco mode it had a hard time picking those up, but in the regular mode, it picked them up much easier. So, if you have a very large house, the 20-30 minute battery life might be an issue. Especially that it takes a little over 3 hours to fully charge. So, I think a lot of people would benefit from having a second battery, and for the cost of this unit, I would have almost expected a second battery to be included. At the time of writing this review, additional batteries are not available anywhere that I can find, so I am unsure of what the price of those will be. Also, they need to be on the vacuum to charge, so you wouldn’t be able to use the vacuum while charging a second battery.
As far as cleaning goes, this is extremely lightweight and glides along your floors effortlessly. I think people with arm issues or elderly people would have no problems easily operating this vacuum. It was able to go under some of our furniture, but it wasn’t quite low enough to the ground to get under some wood curio cabinets that we had. There is a bright LED light that shoots out from the front and the back to make it extremely easy to see where the dirt and dust is on your floors, even in a bright room. I love that feature. Sadly, the crevice tool doesn’t have this same light. You will be using it a lot to get things in the corners that the vacuum didn’t get, and it was very hard for me to see the corners with no light. I know Dyson has this feature on other crevice tools, so I’m not sure what that was skipped for this vacuum. It would be an extremely useful feature to have.
The vacuum also comes with a small stand that you put the vacuum in to charge. It kind of magnetically clicks in and holds it upright while it is charging and can be stored there when you are not using it. There is also a place on the back to store the crevice tool as well.
I have seen a lot of people ask if this will work on carpet as well. I will tell you that we have a few thin area rugs that it did go over, but any regular carpets it will just lock up on you. I would not recommend this for any kind of carpet at all. A regular vacuum will do a much better job.
Overall, if your home has a lot of hardwood floors and you are looking for a very easy way to vacuum them, this might just be the tool you are looking for. It comes with a hefty price tag, and I would have like to see Dyson include a second battery in that price, but unfortunately that is not the case. I do love the vacuum and it is a godsend for me when I am having a tennis elbow flare-up though. So to me, its definitely worth it!
I would recommend this to a friend
Customer reviews from Dyson
User rating, 5 out of 5 stars with 30 reviews on Dyson.