Last month, Dyson unveiled the PencilVac, a new addition to the brand’s floor-cleaning range and the world’s slimmest vacuum cleaner. Yesterday, I had a chance to test it out, and I found that this odd-looking vacuum cleaner has plenty of suction power.
The PencilVac looks nothing like your average cordless vacuum cleaner. The motor, filter, and dust cup are all hidden inside the broom-like handle, which is just 1.5 inches/3.8 cm in diameter. The floor head is just as impressive, with four tapered, soft rollers.
What’s less obvious from the press photos is that this vacuum is incredibly maneuverable. The head can be rotated in place, allowing it to clean from both the front and back.
Like all the best Dyson vacuums, it can be laid flat on the ground, and thanks to the symmetrical handle, you can also hold it from either side. If you can find the right angle, you can even draw a figure eight on the floor.
Its maneuverability is impressive, but there are a lot of cool features beyond that. The machine comes with a new ‘quad cone’ floor head, which is designed so that if you encounter long hair, the head moves to the narrow end of the cone and then pops out of the side into a bundle for easy vacuuming.
The soft material is perfect for delicate hard floors, and the cone extends out of the housing, making it easy for you to clean corners and even dust skirting in the process.
Dyson has added a unique green laser to the head (first seen on the Dyson V15 Detect). This helps cast a shadow over the debris on the floor so you don’t miss even the tiniest bit of dirt. It’s located in the center of each side of the head and is as practical as ever.
Although Dyson claims that the PencilVac can be used on carpets, it is actually specifically designed for hard floors. The fluffy roller is perfect for hard floors, and the laser really works on hard surfaces.
While it may seem like a strong contender for TechRadar’s best vacuum for hardwood floors, its soft roller doesn’t agitate the fibers enough to deep clean carpets. Suction power is also much lower than the flagship range – partly due to the motor, partly due to the more open floor head design.
For many people, it’ll feel more like a giveaway than your main vacuum. But if you want a vacuum that can quickly clean hard floors, the PencilVac looks like the perfect choice. I’ll publish a full review once I’ve had a chance to fully experience its performance.
At the time of writing, I don’t have any pricing information for the PencilVac, but I know it’s scheduled to be available in Australia in August 2025, before arriving in the US and UK sometime in 2026.
If you can’t wait that long, you could check out the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, a – and, as far as we’re concerned, underrated – compact vacuum for smaller homes.
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