I tried world's thinnest vacuum at Dyson's labs – skinny ‘PencilVac' is the SAS of cleaning gear with three killer perks
AM I really looking forward to cleaning?
Dyson has achieved two impossible feats: making me thrilled about the idea of tidying the floor, and inventing the world's slimmest vacuum. I'm not sure which is more impressive.
10
I tried out the impossibly thin PencilVac at Dyson's Malmesbury labs
Credit: Sean Keach
10
Dyson mocked up a miniature assault course for PencilVac testing
Credit: Sean Keach
10
The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach was decked out in proper testing gear for the occasion
Credit: Sean Keach
It's called the
Before I even grabbed the thing, I was blown away. Surely this is just a broom in disguise? Is Sir James Dyson having me on?
It measures a frankly ludicrous 38mm across. That's about three Dairy Milk bars stacked on top of each other.
BIN-CREDIBLE!
All of the usual Dyson tech – the batteries, bin, and motor – has been crammed into the handle.
Read more on Dyson
So you've got battery cells at the top, followed by the computer system, then a shrunken motor that's Dyson's fastest yet.
Next
comes the bin, which uses a new compression system to fit five times more dust than its apparent 0.08-litre capacity.
After all, Dyson tells me that most of a 'full' bin is usually air – so there's plenty of room for squashing.
Then there's a dust separation mechanism, brush bars, and a Fluffycones cleaner head with a cone design that shifts long
hair
off to the side – so it can be sucked back up instead of requiring you to cut it out with scissors.
Most read in Phones & Gadgets
You don't see most of this, of course. PencilVac just looks like a Dyson that's been hitting the treadmill.
I'LL BE...VAC
Naturally it all sounds like a vacuum cleaning dream, so I grab the handle and away I go.
Watch Sir James Dyson unveil secret PencilVac, world's slimmest vacuum cleaner
10
You'd think the PencilVac was a broom if you squinted
Credit: Dyson
10
The bin for dust and debris is built right into the handle's lower half
Credit: Dyson
It's feathery light and easy to manoeuvre.
Dyson has built a kind of vacuum cleaning assault course for me that I whizz along effortlessly. I suspect my success is down to the gadget's hi-tech design and not my own cleaning skill – but they don't crush my dreams.
This course has straights and hairpin bends – the Nürburgring of vacuuming.
And at the end is a low shelf that I drop straight under. This thing lays almost flat – which is no surprise, given that is pretty much
is
flat.
DYSON PENCILVAC – THE TECH SPECS
Here's what you need to know...
Size: 38mm x 226mm x 1,160mm (W x L x H)
Weight: 1.8 kilos
Motor: Dyson Hyperdymium 140k motor
Motor RPM: 140,000
Filtration: Up to 99.99% (dow to 0.3 microns)
Runtime: Up to 30 minutes
Charge time: Four hours
Cleaner Head: Fluffycones cleaner head (for detangling long hair and to-edge cleaning)
Accessories: Rotating combi-crevice tool / conical hair screw for mattresses and stairs / magnetic floor-charging dock
Picture Credit: Dyson
10
There's even room for a computer system with a built-in display
Credit: Sean Keach
10
The PencilVac is built for manoeuvrability – and it really works
Credit: Sean Keach
It feels like a tactical weapon: the sort of thing that SAS squaddies would use if dust mites were the baddies.
Helping this image is a built-in laser that exposes dirt and debris. It's the vacuuming equivalent of night vision goggles and a red-dot sight.
I dart between objects with stunning agility. I was born to do this.
The room fades away. I daydream about running off with it, and living out my days as a kind of vacuuming sensei, cleaning the most complicated floor-spaces I can find.
But I can't become Dyson's Mr Miyagi just yet, because the PencilVac isn't out until 2026, and still doesn't have a UK price.
SIR JAMES DYSON SPEAKS TO THE SUN
Here's what famed British inventor Sir James Dyson told The Sun's
Does PencilVac mark the beginning of a whole new era for vacuum cleaner design?
Yes, it's a reinvention of the format of the vacuum cleaner – our third reinvention in fact!
We started off by removing the bag to ensure vacuums didn't lose suction.
Then we pioneered the simplicity and ease of cleaning with really powerful battery-powered cordless vacuums, which were lighter and much easier to use.
Now, with the Dyson PencilVac, we're taking it a stage further, pioneering a new way to clean.
All the technology is contained in a very slim handle that is just 38mm in diameter. The new Fluffycones cleaner head floats across floors making it very manoeuvrable as you clean; all while it detangles long hair, so you don't have to worry about that.
A vacuum cleaner this thin must have seemed impossible for years – when did you first realise it was possible to actually manufacture a working device like this?
When something seems impossible, it makes us as engineers want to solve it all the more! Especially if people say, 'It can't be done.'
I've wanted to make a vacuum like the Dyson PencilVac for many years. But it required us to miniaturise everything about the product – which is a huge task.
The diameter of our hair tools was the inspiration. Through lots of research, we realised that 38mm is the optimal size for most people to hold, and so this was the diameter chosen for our hair tools like the Supersonic hair dryer and Airwrap multi-styler and dryer.
In order to fit it in the handle of the machine, we had to reengineer every component of the motor – down to the micron – while increasing its speed to 140,000RPM and maximising its power density for high-performance.
It was clear that we couldn't use cyclones for the dust separation, because they were too big for the 38mm diameter, so we had to develop something entirely new. The new slim, in-line format meant we could use dust compression technology in a small diameter, but over a long area to maximise the bin capacity, all while ensuring effective filtration performance and no loss of suction.
What was the biggest challenge to overcome in building the PencilVac?
Developing the new Fluffycones cleaner head was perhaps the greatest challenge we faced – but also the most rewarding! We wanted to develop a cleaner head that would detangle hair, clean right up to skirting boards, and pick up dust and debris in all directions – a cleaner head that would solve many frustrations with existing cleaner heads.
The new Fluffycones cleaner head features four conical brush bars. The challenge was engineering the drive system to ensure that all four cones, which are powered by two motors and four epicyclic gear boxes, spin at the same, consistent speed while maintaining its 7.5-degree angle for optimal pick-up performance. I'm delighted not only that we managed this, but in doing so made a vacuum cleaner which is a joy to use.
Who do you see PencilVac being the perfect vacuum cleaner for?
Once you've used it, and felt it float effortlessly across the floor, you'll realise it's unlike anything that has come before. It may be the only vacuum cleaner you need!
Picture Credit: Dyson
10
The new Fluffycones head has a conical shape that pushes long hairs off to the side so they can be sucked back up immediately – so you don't have to cut them out manually with scissors
CLEAN-UP TIME
It's a thrilling bit of kit, which might be the first time that's ever been said about a vacuum cleaner.
This thing is easy to use, takes up very little space, and gets into difficult nooks and crannies. It feels purpose-built for British homes.
It'll make cleaning under and around the dining table an absolute breeze. A treat, even.
It really is the SAS of cleaning gear: it's light and agile for tactical cleaning operations, it dispatches long hairs with ruthless efficiency, and it has whole-house endurance with a 30-minute runtime.
I can already see myself arguing with my wife over who gets to use the PencilVac – but no matter who does, everyone's a winner. Maybe that's the real Dyson magic.
10
I was one of the first Brits to test out the Dyson PencilVac
Credit: Sean Keach
10
Dual lasers allow you to easily see dirt and debris on your floor
Credit: Sean Keach
Read iconic British inventor Sir James Dyson's exclusive comment piece for The Sun here.
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The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I tried world's thinnest vacuum at Dyson's labs – skinny ‘PencilVac' is the SAS of cleaning gear with three killer perks
AM I really looking forward to cleaning? Dyson has achieved two impossible feats: making me thrilled about the idea of tidying the floor, and inventing the world's slimmest vacuum. I'm not sure which is more impressive. 10 I tried out the impossibly thin PencilVac at Dyson's Malmesbury labs Credit: Sean Keach 10 Dyson mocked up a miniature assault course for PencilVac testing Credit: Sean Keach 10 The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach was decked out in proper testing gear for the occasion Credit: Sean Keach It's called the Before I even grabbed the thing, I was blown away. Surely this is just a broom in disguise? Is Sir James Dyson having me on? It measures a frankly ludicrous 38mm across. That's about three Dairy Milk bars stacked on top of each other. BIN-CREDIBLE! All of the usual Dyson tech – the batteries, bin, and motor – has been crammed into the handle. Read more on Dyson So you've got battery cells at the top, followed by the computer system, then a shrunken motor that's Dyson's fastest yet. Next comes the bin, which uses a new compression system to fit five times more dust than its apparent 0.08-litre capacity. After all, Dyson tells me that most of a 'full' bin is usually air – so there's plenty of room for squashing. Then there's a dust separation mechanism, brush bars, and a Fluffycones cleaner head with a cone design that shifts long hair off to the side – so it can be sucked back up instead of requiring you to cut it out with scissors. Most read in Phones & Gadgets You don't see most of this, of course. PencilVac just looks like a Dyson that's been hitting the treadmill. I'LL Naturally it all sounds like a vacuum cleaning dream, so I grab the handle and away I go. Watch Sir James Dyson unveil secret PencilVac, world's slimmest vacuum cleaner 10 You'd think the PencilVac was a broom if you squinted Credit: Dyson 10 The bin for dust and debris is built right into the handle's lower half Credit: Dyson It's feathery light and easy to manoeuvre. Dyson has built a kind of vacuum cleaning assault course for me that I whizz along effortlessly. I suspect my success is down to the gadget's hi-tech design and not my own cleaning skill – but they don't crush my dreams. This course has straights and hairpin bends – the Nürburgring of vacuuming. And at the end is a low shelf that I drop straight under. This thing lays almost flat – which is no surprise, given that is pretty much is flat. DYSON PENCILVAC – THE TECH SPECS Here's what you need to know... Size: 38mm x 226mm x 1,160mm (W x L x H) Weight: 1.8 kilos Motor: Dyson Hyperdymium 140k motor Motor RPM: 140,000 Filtration: Up to 99.99% (dow to 0.3 microns) Runtime: Up to 30 minutes Charge time: Four hours Cleaner Head: Fluffycones cleaner head (for detangling long hair and to-edge cleaning) Accessories: Rotating combi-crevice tool / conical hair screw for mattresses and stairs / magnetic floor-charging dock Picture Credit: Dyson 10 There's even room for a computer system with a built-in display Credit: Sean Keach 10 The PencilVac is built for manoeuvrability – and it really works Credit: Sean Keach It feels like a tactical weapon: the sort of thing that SAS squaddies would use if dust mites were the baddies. Helping this image is a built-in laser that exposes dirt and debris. It's the vacuuming equivalent of night vision goggles and a red-dot sight. I dart between objects with stunning agility. I was born to do this. The room fades away. I daydream about running off with it, and living out my days as a kind of vacuuming sensei, cleaning the most complicated floor-spaces I can find. But I can't become Dyson's Mr Miyagi just yet, because the PencilVac isn't out until 2026, and still doesn't have a UK price. SIR JAMES DYSON SPEAKS TO THE SUN Here's what famed British inventor Sir James Dyson told The Sun's Does PencilVac mark the beginning of a whole new era for vacuum cleaner design? Yes, it's a reinvention of the format of the vacuum cleaner – our third reinvention in fact! We started off by removing the bag to ensure vacuums didn't lose suction. Then we pioneered the simplicity and ease of cleaning with really powerful battery-powered cordless vacuums, which were lighter and much easier to use. Now, with the Dyson PencilVac, we're taking it a stage further, pioneering a new way to clean. All the technology is contained in a very slim handle that is just 38mm in diameter. The new Fluffycones cleaner head floats across floors making it very manoeuvrable as you clean; all while it detangles long hair, so you don't have to worry about that. A vacuum cleaner this thin must have seemed impossible for years – when did you first realise it was possible to actually manufacture a working device like this? When something seems impossible, it makes us as engineers want to solve it all the more! Especially if people say, 'It can't be done.' I've wanted to make a vacuum like the Dyson PencilVac for many years. But it required us to miniaturise everything about the product – which is a huge task. The diameter of our hair tools was the inspiration. Through lots of research, we realised that 38mm is the optimal size for most people to hold, and so this was the diameter chosen for our hair tools like the Supersonic hair dryer and Airwrap multi-styler and dryer. In order to fit it in the handle of the machine, we had to reengineer every component of the motor – down to the micron – while increasing its speed to 140,000RPM and maximising its power density for high-performance. It was clear that we couldn't use cyclones for the dust separation, because they were too big for the 38mm diameter, so we had to develop something entirely new. The new slim, in-line format meant we could use dust compression technology in a small diameter, but over a long area to maximise the bin capacity, all while ensuring effective filtration performance and no loss of suction. What was the biggest challenge to overcome in building the PencilVac? Developing the new Fluffycones cleaner head was perhaps the greatest challenge we faced – but also the most rewarding! We wanted to develop a cleaner head that would detangle hair, clean right up to skirting boards, and pick up dust and debris in all directions – a cleaner head that would solve many frustrations with existing cleaner heads. The new Fluffycones cleaner head features four conical brush bars. The challenge was engineering the drive system to ensure that all four cones, which are powered by two motors and four epicyclic gear boxes, spin at the same, consistent speed while maintaining its 7.5-degree angle for optimal pick-up performance. I'm delighted not only that we managed this, but in doing so made a vacuum cleaner which is a joy to use. Who do you see PencilVac being the perfect vacuum cleaner for? Once you've used it, and felt it float effortlessly across the floor, you'll realise it's unlike anything that has come before. It may be the only vacuum cleaner you need! Picture Credit: Dyson 10 The new Fluffycones head has a conical shape that pushes long hairs off to the side so they can be sucked back up immediately – so you don't have to cut them out manually with scissors CLEAN-UP TIME It's a thrilling bit of kit, which might be the first time that's ever been said about a vacuum cleaner. This thing is easy to use, takes up very little space, and gets into difficult nooks and crannies. It feels purpose-built for British homes. It'll make cleaning under and around the dining table an absolute breeze. A treat, even. It really is the SAS of cleaning gear: it's light and agile for tactical cleaning operations, it dispatches long hairs with ruthless efficiency, and it has whole-house endurance with a 30-minute runtime. I can already see myself arguing with my wife over who gets to use the PencilVac – but no matter who does, everyone's a winner. Maybe that's the real Dyson magic. 10 I was one of the first Brits to test out the Dyson PencilVac Credit: Sean Keach 10 Dual lasers allow you to easily see dirt and debris on your floor Credit: Sean Keach Read iconic British inventor Sir James Dyson's exclusive comment piece for The Sun here.
The Irish Sun
17 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I'm beating the heat with phone-controlled Dyson fan – sleep mode is great but best perk has nothing to do with cooling
I JUST visited Dyson's website and it told me 1,600 people were also looking at the same fan I've been trying out. I'm not surprised: it's 10 The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach has been beating the heat with a Dyson fan Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun 10 The hi-tech fan doesn't just cool you down – it'll warm your room up in the winter too Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun 10 The fan even has a night mode to cool you as you sleep Credit: Dyson The name is a mouthful admittedly, but don't let that put you off. This posh fan is an elite bit of cooling gear, and would probably be better suited on a spaceship than my desk. It cools you down, obviously. You'd expect that for £699.99. But it does so much more. Somehow, I'm convinced it's absolutely worth the money – but first, let's talk about how it looks. DYSON HP09 DESIGN – THE LOOKS This is one of Dyson's quintessential bladeless fans. Read more on Dyson It's the classic design of legendary inventor Sir James Dyson, who recently spoke to The Sun about ambition and the future of Britain. They're To an observer, there are no moving parts. No whirring blades that risk slicing a fingertip off (and it doesn't make that whoosh-whoosh-whoosh noise either). There is a blade-like impeller in the base that draws air in and accelerates it, pushing it out to create a cooling airflow. But you don't see any of that. You just feel wondrously cold. The one I've been trying has a white and gold trim that should suit most rooms. It's not gaudy – but it looks fancy enough to justify the price tag. Most read in Phones & Gadgets The squat design means that it's fine to live on the floor, but can also sit on a desk if you prefer. Dyson Purifier for £699.99 – Watch Sir James Dyson unveil secret PencilVac, world's slimmest vacuum cleaner And it can oscillate up to a whopping 350 degrees, so you can send a breeze to everyone in the room. Or just can have it locked to cool you and you alone. The choice is yours. All in all, it's especially pretty and, as a bonus, your pals will be impressed by (and envious of) your luxe gadget. Especially in the heat. DYSON HP09 PERFORMANCE – HOT OR COLD? This fan heats and cools. The clue is in the name: Hot+Cool. It does both very well, though I think its real benefit is heating. Cooling is fine, and works best when the fan is pointed directly at you. 10 The fan uses Dyson's classic bladeless design Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun 10 It has a built-in display – and can even show air quality live in real-time Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun But the heating function can really warm up an entire room very quickly, even if you're not in the line of fire. Some Dyson fans only cool, so having one that does both massively increases the value for money. After all, you can use it all year round. The cooling really does work, even when it's not at max power . And its reach is impressive – I can sit across the room and feel the breeze. It's not particularly loud unless you put it on power level 10, and even then it's not awful. You can easily have a conversation over it. 10 The Dyson fan comes with a remote that magnetically snaps to the top of the machine Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun I can sleep through it at max power too. But for light sleepers, there's a night mode that dims the built-in display and lets it run especially quietly. That's probably the best way to use it, especially if you're sharing a bed and value your relationship. DYSON HP09 FEATURES – THE BRAINS The Dyson comes with a remote control, which is a handy way to control fan speed, cooling power, and rotation. But I prefer using the app, which is free to download and has all of the same buttons. It's better because I always have my phone, but I'm not always with the remote. And if I've forgotten to turn it off before I go out, I can easily check on the app and shut it down. DYSON HP09 PURIFICATION – THE REAL PERK What I've completely avoided talking about up to this point is the purification. 10 You attach filters during setup – it only takes a few seconds Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun Why? Because I'm saving the best until last. The real perk of the fan isn't the heating or cooling – but its ability to preserve your life by scrubbing the air of pollutants. This fan comes with a series of filters (you snap them in during the 60-second setup) that snag all kind of nasties that would otherwise be entering your lungs. I don't know about you, but I quite like my respiratory system. 10 The app has all of the features you'd find on the remote – and plenty more Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun All of this can be monitored inside the app I was talking about earlier. It shows exactly how polluted the room is (and by what – down to specifics, including dreaded formaldehyde) and you can watch the levels go down as the fan works its magic. You can also see air quality reports on the fan's built-in display, but the screen gives a much more detailed view. Heating and cooling is fine, but it's hard to put a price on your health . WHERE CAN FORMALDEHYDE COME FROM IN YOUR HOME? Formaldehyde is a polluting gas that you'll often find in homes Here's Dyson's list of sources for the gas... Paint Varnish Glue Air freshener Mattresses Household cleaners Carpets Particleboard Plywood Electronics Dryer sheets Nail polish remover Moth balls Toys Fireplaces Wood-burning stoves Picture Credit: Dyson Sure, you're paying a lot. You can get fans for significantly cheaper. If you're on a budget, don't buy this. But if you've got the cash to spare and want a super fan, you can't go wrong with this model. The filters will last about a year, and you'll get an alert when it's time to change them. And they promise to remove 99.95% of particles down to a shockingly tiny 0.1 microns. That means you're waving goodbye to mould spores, allergens, bacteria, viruses, and (as the name suggests) irritating formaldehyde, which can come from paint, furniture, carpets, tech, and more. 10 You can monitor the air quality of your home in the app from anywhere in the world Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun You might not "see" the benefits, but having the peace of mind that you're not breathing in rubbish will help you sleep easier. So will the fan, though. Dyson Purifier for £699.99 – Check out The Sun's best fans guide and read the Dyson Hot+Cool review by The Sun's Shopping team. 10 The fan can also pump out heat if you're feeling chilly Credit: Dyson
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Invisible' iPhone setting blocks spam & scam calls automatically – but it only appears if you make little-known change
BLOCK scam calls in an instant with a hidden iPhone setting that very few people know about. Spam phone calls aren't just annoying – they can also be a dangerous tactic by criminals 5 Don't let your iPhone experience be ruined by dodgy callers Credit: Apple 5 This setting will only appear if you've downloaded call ID apps Credit: The Sun / Apple 5 You can set your iPhone up to screen calls using a list of known scam and spam numbers Credit: The Sun / Apple Some unlucky phone owners will be plagued by dozens of these dodgy calls every single week. But there's a little-known It's called Call Blocking & Identification, but it's invisible on your phone – at least until you download the right app. Once you download a call ID app, the feature will then show up in your settings. Read more on iPhone There are loads of call ID apps out there. They maintain giant databases of phone numbers that are known to be linked to spam or scam operations. So once you've got the app and the feature switched on, your calls will be screened to see if there's a match with a dodgy database. That way, you can avoid having to put up with non-stop spam calls. Most read in Phones & Gadgets HOW TO TURN IT ON First, you'll need to go to the official Apple App Store and download some call ID apps. Some popular options are Truecaller and Whoscall, but there are loads out there. Apples's big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own And the more you have installed, the greater your chance of catching a dodgy number. Once you've downloaded them, you can go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. This setting will only appear if you have at least one call ID apps installed. Chose the option to Silence Junk Callers (which works based on your carrier) and then activate any Call Identification apps that you've installed. 5 Truecaller is just one of the many call ID apps that you can try Credit: The Sun / Apple TRY SILENCING UNKNOWN CALLERS Here's another trick that's worth trying... You can actually set your iPhone up to silence all phone calls from unknown callers. If you turn the setting on, unknown callers will be sent straight to voicemail. Just go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls > Silence Unknown Callers and toggle it on. Also, if you've got iOS 17 or later (go to Settings > General > Software Update to check) then you can read transcriptions of your voicemail so you don't have to listen to them. And they should show up in real-time as the voicemail is being left. Picture Credit: The Sun / Apple You'll need to toggle them to the green "on" position for them to become active. COMING SOON! There's another handy feature coming soon that will help you avoid even more phone scammers. It's called Call Screening, and it's a new trick due out in the upcoming That won't be out until September at the earliest, but it'll make a big difference. 5 A future iOS update will introduce a Call Screening feature that uses a robot to vet your calls for you Once it's out, go to Settings > General > Software Update to claim the new features . Then when that's installed, your phone will use a virtual AI robot to automatically screen your calls. It will ask the person's name and reason for calling – all using a robot voice – and then write out the answer for you in real-time on your screen. Once that appears, you can decide whether to answer, or instead send it to voicemail if you think it's a scam. IOS 26 SUPPORTED DEVICES – THE FULL LIST Here are the iPhone 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd gen) iPhone SE (2nd gen) Picture Credit: Apple It's also a handy way to stop scammers from hearing or recording your voice and then cloning it for future cons.
