Dyson Launches New Handheld Vacuum — What to Know

An industry behemoth for a reason, Dyson always sets the tone for appliance innovation, and its most recent vacuum is its latest example. The Dyson Car+Boat Handheld Vacuum, which launches today, has one of the longest runtimes and strongest motors compared to most other handheld models on the market today. Designed for cleaning car interiors, pet hair, bedding and, yes, even your boat cabin, the $279.99 vacuum is also on of the most affordable appliance in Dyson’s vacuum lineup to date.

Below, I breakdown the details on Dyson’s brand new handheld vacuum, including where to purchase it, when it’ll be available on third-party retailers like Amazon and how it compares to older models, like the Dyson Humdinger ($299.99).

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The Car+Boat resembles the Dyson Humdinger, the brand’s only other handheld model, though it edges out the Humdinger in almost all areas.

Long runtime: This is the most notable feature of the Car+Boat. Cordless handheld vacuums don’t historically have very long runtimes, particularly anything over 15-20 minutes. The Car+Boat has a 50-minute max runtime (on low mode), which is typically a runtime you’d get with a cordless stick vacuum. Conversely, the Humdinger has a max runtime of only 25 minutes.

High-speed motor: The speed of a vacuum motor is what gives it the power to lift dirt, hair and other debris, particularly from surfaces like carpet and upholstery, which cling to debris more than hardwood or tile. It’s typically measured by “revolutions per minute” or RPM. The Car+Boat’s motor has 110,000 RPM, while the Humdinger has 105,000 RPM. For context, the RPM of Dyson’s V11 Cordless Vacuum is 125,000.

Thorough filtration: Like with most vacuums, whether handheld, cordless or upright, the Car+Boat has a filter to pick up small debris, including allergens, pet dander and dust mites. This model catches 99.99% of particles and can filter tiny, hard-to-see debris, according to Dyson.

Included attachments: The Car+Boat comes with a small motorized brush bar, a slender crevice tool and a combination brush tool to pivot between different surfaces. These will help you clean hard-to-reach areas.

It will be available on Dyson’s website and third-party retailers, including Amazon, starting Tuesday Feb. 4, 2025.

I’m a commerce editor for NBC Select, where I regularly report on cleaning appliances as well as vacuum sales throughout the year, including major events like Prime Day and Black Friday. I’ve written several stories on vacuums and floor care appliances including carpet cleaners, how to clean hardwood floors, vacuum sales for Cyber Monday, handheld vacuums and steam cleaners.