Dyson’s handheld fan is more powerful and louder than I expected
Source: The Verge
Two years ago I attended a picturesque outdoor wedding in August where the hot and humid weather had guests occasionally ducking into their cars to enjoy a blast of AC. Dyson’s new $99.99 handheld fan would have provided some much‑needed relief then, although I’m not sure I would have been comfortable powering it up during the service or reception. The HushJet Mini Cool is as slim and sleek as Dyson’s recent thin vacuum and hair dryer, but it’s not quiet enough to earn the name “Hush.”
Design and Build
The HushJet Mini Cool is a cylindrical device 38 mm in diameter, with all components—including the motor, a 5,000 mAh rechargeable battery, and spinning blades—safely contained inside. This design makes it easy to slip into a pocket, unlike many handheld fans that expose flexible or folding blades. At 208 g (about the weight of an iPhone 17 Pro) it’s light enough to carry around without feeling like a burden.
The fan is bottom‑heavy, allowing it to stand on its own. Dyson includes an accessory that widens the base for added stability, though the accessory is small enough to be easily misplaced.
Usage and Controls
A simple toggle switch turns the fan on and off. A rocker button steps through five fan speeds, indicated by a strip of five small white LEDs. Holding the “plus” side of the rocker activates a stronger Boost Mode (available only while the button is held).
The only learning curve is remembering to grip the fan above the vent that wraps around its base, so you don’t block airflow. Additional texture on the exterior to guide hand placement would be a welcome improvement.
Battery Life
Dyson claims up to six hours of runtime on the lowest setting. In practice, the fan lasted 62 minutes at its highest non‑Boost speed before the battery depleted. Battery level is shown by the five white LEDs, but only when the fan is turned off; there’s no real‑time indicator while the fan is running.
When connected to a power source via USB‑C, the fan can run indefinitely, but only at the lowest speed setting, and you need to stay within about five feet to feel any airflow.
Performance and Noise
The HushJet Mini Cool is not whisper‑quiet despite Dyson’s marketing emphasis on “HushJet” acoustics. It is quieter than Dyson’s cordless vacuums and hair dryers, yet it still produces a high‑pitched whine at all speeds.
In a side‑by‑side test with the Nitecore izzCool 10 Pro, both fans were similarly loud at their lowest settings (measured with the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app). At full power, Dyson’s fan was over 10 dB louder than the Nitecore, but it also delivered a noticeably stronger airflow. The higher‑frequency noise made the Dyson fan more noticeable in quiet environments.
Comparison with Other Fans
- Nitecore izzCool 10 Pro – Bulkier, less powerful, similar low‑speed noise level.
- Compact electric air dusters (e.g., Wolfbox MF100) – Stronger and cheaper, but significantly louder because they’re designed for different use cases.
Overall, the HushJet Mini Cool balances size, performance, and battery life better than many competitors. Used nonstop, it can last half a day at an amusement park. Quieter alternatives exist, but few match its power in such a compact form factor.
Where to Buy
Conclusion
The HushJet Mini Cool shines in situations where strong airflow and portability matter more than absolute silence. It’s well‑suited for noisy outdoor events—music festivals, carnivals, state fairs—where you can crank it up to the third or fourth speed without drawing too many annoyed looks. In quieter settings, such as a sweltering outdoor wedding, you might hesitate to use it at full blast.
Photography by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge