I didn’t expect to love Dyson’s PencilVac Fluffycones – but I did

Source: The Verge

Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

Design and Build

The Pencil Vac Fluffy Cones looks like a miniature version of Dyson’s larger cordless vacuums. Its body is a sleek, matte‑black cylinder that tapers toward the handle, giving it a balanced feel in the hand. The unit weighs just under 2 lb (≈ 0.9 kg), making it easy to maneuver around furniture and up stairs. The included accessories are stored in a small, detachable pocket on the side of the vacuum:

• Fluffy Cone Head – a soft‑bristled, round brush designed for hard floors, low‑pile carpets, and delicate surfaces like upholstery.
• Mini‑Motorhead – a stiff‑bristled brush for tougher debris and higher‑pile carpets.
• Crevice Tool – a narrow nozzle for tight spaces.
• Dusting Brush – a flat brush for quick surface dusting.

All attachments snap onto the wand with a simple click, and the wand itself folds into the body for compact storage. The vacuum’s dust bin is a clear, top‑loading container that holds about 0.2 L of debris, and it empties with a single press of a button.

Performance

Suction Power

Dyson claims the Pencil Vac Fluffy Cones delivers “up to 150 AW of suction,” which is impressive for a device of its size. In practice, the vacuum feels powerful on hardwood floors and low‑pile carpet. The Fluffy Cone head glides smoothly, picking up dust, hair, and small crumbs without needing to press down hard. On higher‑pile carpet, the Mini‑Motorhead provides a noticeable boost, though the suction isn’t quite on par with Dyson’s larger V‑series models.

Battery Life

The vacuum runs on a 2‑cell lithium‑ion battery that offers about 30 minutes of continuous cleaning on a single charge (up to 45 minutes in Eco mode). A full charge takes roughly 3.5 hours. The battery indicator is a small LED ring near the handle that changes color as the charge depletes.

Noise

At full power, the Pencil Vac Fluffy Cones is moderately loud—comparable to a typical handheld vacuum. Switching to Eco mode reduces the noise level significantly, making it suitable for quick spot‑cleaning without disturbing others.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Extremely lightweight and portable.
• Strong suction for its size, especially on hard floors.
• Soft‑bristled Fluffy Cone head is gentle on delicate surfaces.
• Easy‑to‑empty dust bin with a single‑press release.
• Good battery life for short cleaning sessions.

Cons

• Small dust bin fills quickly on larger jobs.
• Suction drops noticeably on high‑pile carpet compared to larger Dyson models.
• No HEPA filtration; dust is expelled back into the room.
• The price point is higher than many other stick vacuums in the same size class.

Verdict

The Dyson Pencil Vac Fluffy Cones is a well‑designed, high‑performance stick vacuum that excels at quick clean‑ups and delicate surfaces. Its lightweight form factor and strong suction on hard floors make it a handy tool for apartments, dorm rooms, or anyone who needs a portable vacuum for spot cleaning. However, if you have a larger home with lots of high‑pile carpet or you need a vacuum that can hold more debris, you might be better off with a larger cordless model or a traditional upright. For its niche—lightweight, powerful, and gentle cleaning—the Pencil Vac Fluffy Cones delivers on Dyson’s promise.