Dyson is renowned for its air technology in its products, including vacuums, tower fans and hair dryers. There's one frontier Dyson hasn't explored until now: handheld fans.
On Wednesday, the company announced its first portable fan, the HushJet Mini Cool, and it just arrived at my home for testing.
"We were inspired by a simple but universal problem: staying cool when you're on the move," Dyson design engineer Emily Blance told CNET. "From hotter commutes and crowded events to travel, menopause, pregnancy and everyday comfort, people are increasingly looking for fast, effective cooling that fits seamlessly into modern life."
The HushJet portable fan can be used three ways: in your hand, worn around your neck or placed on a surface.
Using its new HushJet air projection system, the 7.5-oz fan has five speeds and a boost mode for airflow up to 55 mph. Its three-in-one format lets you hold it in your hand, wear it hands-free around your neck or place it on a table or desk.
With its 5,000-mAh battery that charges in three hours, the HushJet Mini Cool can run for six hours.
The 1.5-inch diameter, about the size of a watch face, makes it sleek and portable. The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer and the Dyson PencilVac cordless vacuum also have the same diameter as the HushJet Mini Cool.
The HushJet Mini Cool is lightweight and easy to hold in your hand.
Despite its top speed of 55 mph, the HushJet was designed with sound and shared spaces in mind. Its nozzle, which tilts in two directions at 45 and 90 degrees, and its honeycomb mesh liner dampen the whirring of the fan's 65,000 rpm motor. The fan operates at 52 dBA (A-weighted decibels) to 68 dBA, and goes up to 72.5 dBA when in boost mode.
For reference, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states that normal conversation ranges from 60 to 70 dBA. Sounds at or below 70 dBA are generally considered safe.
The sound of the 65,000-rpm motor is lessened by the HushJet Mini Cool's nozzle and honeycomb mesh liner, so it won't disturb your work calls.
Blance said that instead of misting the body with water or using cooling that relies on skin contact, the HushJet Mini Cool uses evaporative cooling, which accelerates airflow near the skin (rather than directly on it) to help moisture evaporate more quickly.
Along with hygiene, safety was a key concern, which is why the device has a bladeless design.
The HushJet Mini Cool comes in three colors: stone/blush (white and blush pink), available now; carnelian/sky (red and sky blue), available in May; and ink/cobalt (ink and cobalt blue), available in June. You also get a lanyard, charging stand, USB‐C cable and travel pouch.
Everything that comes with the HushJet Mini Cool.
This summer, on a not-yet-announced date, a universal mount that you can fasten to strollers and more and a grip clip for attaching to jackets or bag straps will be launched as optional add-ons.
You can now purchase the HushJet Mini Cool fan for $99 at Dyson stores or on its website.
"Ultimately, this product reflects our excitement to take Dyson's trusted engineering and airflow technology beyond the home," says Blance.