Dyson worked out how to make a teeny tiny motor, and now it just can’t stop miniaturizing its appliances

Dyson’s Latest Innovation: The PencilWash and the Shrinking Trend That’s Changing the Game

In a bold move that continues to redefine the boundaries of home appliances, Dyson has unveiled its latest creation: the PencilWash, a motorized wet floor cleaner that’s roughly the same size as a regular manual mop. This isn’t just another cleaning gadget—it’s the latest chapter in Dyson’s mission to shrink down traditionally bulky appliances without compromising on performance. Think of it as the sibling to the Dyson PencilVac FluffyCones, an almost impossibly compact cordless vacuum that’s already turning heads.

The downsizing trend began in an unexpected place: Dyson’s haircare department. The brand had already revolutionized the market with its original Supersonic hair dryer, but it took things to the next level with the professional-only Supersonic r. By redesigning its inner workings to be more streamlined and “power-dense,” Dyson managed to fit all the mechanics into a tubular design that’s as odd-looking as it is functional. The result? A hair dryer that’s perfect for extended, meticulous styling. Recognizing its potential, Dyson made the Supersonic r available to consumers in March last year.

But Dyson didn’t stop there. If it could make a hair dryer with a diameter of just 1.5 inches (3.8cm), why not a vacuum? Enter the PencilVac, which packs all the inner workings of a vacuum into a handle that’s the same width as the Supersonic r. To achieve this, Dyson engineered a Hyperdymium 140k motor that’s a minuscule 1.1 inches (2.8cm) wide. The same tech powers the PencilWash, and who knows where it’ll come next? Dyson is clearly on a shrinking spree, and it’s only getting started.

Small Size, Big Win

The benefits of downsizing a floorcare appliance are obvious. It makes it more maneuverable, more comfortable to use for longer periods, and able to get into tighter spaces. However, some may quibble with the “improved performance” claim, because there are knock-on effects that can’t entirely be glossed over.

For one, battery life takes a hit. The PencilVac can only manage 30 minutes of cleaning per charge, whereas the best Dyson vacuums of the flagship line can run for over an hour before needing to juice up. Another is outright power. Even the decade-old V8 has twice the suction power of the PencilVac (115AW versus 55AW). Finally, there’s the unavoidable lack of space. The PencilVac has to have a tiny dust cup that needs emptying regularly, and the PencilWash has to have small clean and dirty water tanks.

But here’s the thing: to focus on these limitations is to miss the point. The PencilVac and PencilWash aren’t meant to be the perfect choice for everyone, but they will be the perfect choice for some people. Plus, they offer something that you currently can’t really find anywhere else.

For example, the cordless vacuum market is awash with vacuums that offer massive amounts of power and ever-longer runtimes, but which are heavy and bulky as a result. If you have mostly hard flooring, a small home, and awkward corners to get into, super-suction and a never-ending battery isn’t going to be of any benefit to you. What you need is a small, nimble, compact vacuum with just enough power to whip the dust off your floor. The PencilVac provides just that.

Similarly, the PencilWash won’t guzzle up massive spillages like a suction-based wet-and-dry vacuum, but there are many homeowners that rarely have to deal with that kind of mess, and just want something that will get their hard floors mopped in an efficient and hygienic way.

What Dyson is doing is broadening out the market to cater to a wider range of customers—and I’m excited to see what will get the shrinking treatment next.

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