Dyson HushJet Mini Cool: the $100 portable fan

Dyson has unveiled the HushJet Mini Cool, its first-ever portable fan. It weighs 212 grams, uses a 65,000 rpm motor, offers up to 6 hours of battery life and charges via USB-C. Priced at $100 in the United States, its European price has yet to be confirmed.

Having made vacuum cleaners, hair dryers and headphones, Dyson is entering a market where it was not necessarily expected: the portable mini-fan. During heatwaves, you will almost certainly have seen these gadgets, typically bought for around €10 on Amazon or AliExpress.

Naturally, Dyson is doing things differently, with its first mini-fan selling for $100. But why is it so expensive? More importantly, what is it actually for?

A fan lighter than an iPhone

The HushJet Mini Cool weighs 212 grams, only slightly more than a smartphone. That is Dyson's first promise. It is light enough to be held in the hand, placed on a desk or worn around the neck - Dyson supplies a lanyard, because apparently progress never stops. It therefore offers three ways to use it, whereas most competing products often provide just one.

Dyson also sets itself apart through its technology. Its brushless motor spins at 65,000 rpm, sending a focused 25 m/s airflow - equivalent to a 90 km/h wind - from a device small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. It uses the HushJet technology already found in the brand's air purifiers, which limits turbulence for quieter operation. There are five speed settings, plus a Boost mode for heatwave days.

The price is enough to cool your enthusiasm

There are no surprises when it comes to charging: the HushJet Mini Cool charges over USB-C and comes with a charging stand, cable, lanyard and travel pouch. Its claimed battery life is 6 hours, which should cover a day at the office or time spent outdoors. It will be available in three colours: Stone/Blush at launch, Carnelian/Sky in May, and Ink/Cobalt in June.

The HushJet Mini Cool's main drawback is its price. It has been announced at $100 in the United States. No official European price has yet been revealed, although Dyson's usual currency conversions suggest a price between €100 and €130. In a market where portable fans cost between €10 and €30 on online marketplaces, that is an ambitious position, to say the least.

Dyson is not alone in this category. Shark has just launched the ChillPill, a very similar product that also includes a misting function. Are mini-fans set to become this summer's next stars? Probably.

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What we think

Dyson has always been adept at turning ordinary objects into desirable ones. On paper, this mini-fan follows that approach, with a result that appears far removed from what is currently available on the market.

The difficult question of price remains. At $100, the HushJet Mini Cool costs between 5 and 10 times more than a conventional portable fan. Does the performance difference justify such a gap? Probably for technology enthusiasts and brand fans. Then again, perhaps not. For the wider public, “the answer is obvious”.