Portable fans aren't exactly new, but Dyson's HushJet Mini Cool promises something a little different. It's a compact personal fan designed for commuting, travelling, working at a desk or simply staying cool while out and about.
After spending time with it around the house, carrying it on walks, using it while working, and even testing it on my dog Shiro after a bath, I came away impressed by the design and accessories. I also came away wondering how a product called HushJet ended up being one of the loudest personal fans I've used.
The result is a fan that's easy to admire, but much harder to recommend.
Essentials
- Portable bladeless fan with airflow up to 25m/s in Boost mode
- 65,000rpm motor with an anti-vibration mount for quieter running
- Battery-powered with up to 6 hours of runtime
- Charges via USB-C in around 3 hours
- Includes a lanyard, desk stand and travel pouch
- Five speed settings plus Boost mode
- Two-year warranty
What's It Actually Like To Live With?
The first thing that stands out is how premium the HushJet Mini Cool feels.
The build quality is excellent, the materials feel durable, and the size is just right. It's small enough to throw in a bag but large enough to feel comfortable in your hand.
The included accessories also deserve credit. Unlike many portable fans that arrive with little more than a charging cable, Dyson includes a lanyard, desk stand and travel pouch in the box.
I expected the lanyard to be a gimmick, but it ended up being actually useful. The fan can hang comfortably around your neck and the nozzle rotates upwards, allowing airflow to be directed straight at your face while moving around.
It's the sort of thoughtful design detail Dyson is known for.
It would have been a useful product to have during my recent trip to London, where the Underground was a complete sweatbox on more than one occasion.
I also found myself wondering whether it would become the next thing for opportunistic thieves to snatch. Dyson has included a safety breakaway mechanism in the lanyard, meaning it separates if pulled forcefully.
The desk stand is less essential but still useful, adding stability when using the fan at a desk or bedside table. There's a gap in the design that allows the fan to charge while sitting in the stand.
Does The Hush In HushJet Hold Up?
This is where things start to unravel.
The HushJet Mini Cool pushes a decent amount of air. Even at moderate settings, it does a good job cooling your face and upper body. Boost mode increases airflow even further, delivering a noticeable blast of air when you need it.
The problem is the noise.
At speed settings one and two, however, the fan is generally pleasant to use. The sound is noticeable but not distracting.
Once you move into speeds three, four and five, however, the character of the noise changes dramatically.
Rather than producing a soft airflow sound, the HushJet develops a turbine-like whine that becomes difficult to ignore. It’s the kind of noise that quickly becomes a distraction, especially when trying to work, listen to a podcast or take a phone call.
In a quiet office, library or shared workspace, it quickly draws attention to itself.
That's what makes the name feel so strange.
The HushJet Mini Cool absolutely delivers on the Jet part of its name.
Unfortunately, it struggles to deliver on the Hush.
For a product designed around commuting, travel and public use, noise matters just as much as airflow. In many situations, I'd rather accept being slightly warmer than sit beside a fan producing that level of noise.
Is The Lanyard Dock Actually Useful?
The wearable design initially felt like something I would try once and never use again.
Instead, it became one of the more practical ways to use the fan.
Being able to wear it around your neck while keeping your hands-free makes sense when walking, commuting or moving around the house. The adjustable airflow direction also means you can point air exactly where you want it.
The upcoming Grip Clip and Universal Mount accessories could make the system even more versatile for people who want hands-free cooling. The Grip Clip will allow the fan to attach to clothing or bags, while the Universal Mount is designed for prams, bikes and treadmills.
Build Quality And Durability
As expected from Dyson, build quality is excellent.
Nothing rattles, creaks or feels flimsy. The controls are simple, the LED battery indicators are easy to understand, and the overall design feels thoughtfully engineered.
When switched on, the front LEDs indicate the remaining battery level, while the rear LED flashes red when the battery falls below five percent.
The bladeless design also makes cleaning simple and removes the safety concerns associated with exposed fan blades.
I even tried using the HushJet Mini Cool to help blow loose fur from Shiro's double coat after a bath.
While it couldn’t match the focused airflow of Dyson’s Supersonic hairdryer, it highlighted the fan’s intended purpose. This is very much a personal cooling device rather than a miniature version of Dyson’s haircare products.
Small Details Worth Knowing
Stone/Blush is the official name of the colourway. Most people would probably just call it "pink".
The fan itself remains fairly subtle, but the lanyard especially leans into the blush side of the colour scheme.
If that's not your style, two additional colours are expected later this year:
- Ink/Cobalt
- Carnelian/Sky
These options may appeal more to buyers wanting something a little less colourful.
Another small quirk is the battery life.
Dyson quotes up to six hours of runtime, but that's achieved at the lowest fan setting. Higher speeds reduce runtime significantly, particularly if you're regularly using Boost mode.
The good news is that the fan can continue operating at speed one while charging via USB-C.
Price And Availability
The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool costs $169 AUD.
At the time of writing, the HushJet Mini Cool is exclusive to Dyson Australia and has been sold out for more than a week. Stone/Blush is the only colourway released so far, with Ink/Cobalt and Carnelian/Sky expected to arrive in mid-June.
If you purchase directly from Dyson, the company also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to decide whether the HushJet Mini Cool is right for you.
It's a significant amount of money for a personal fan.
For comparison, I've been using the Lumena Fan Pro Duo Neckband Fan, which costs around $55 AUD and has performed surprisingly well. I'd also be looking closely at alternatives from Muji, particularly given how impressed I've been with the company's quiet and effective home fans.
The Dyson undoubtedly feels more premium than many competitors.
Whether it feels three times more premium is another question entirely.
Tech That Fits Take
The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool is frustrating because it's so close to being easy to recommend.
The design is excellent. The accessories are genuinely useful. The cooling performance is strong, and the wearable lanyard system works far better than I expected.
But the noise overshadows everything else.
For a product designed to be used on trains, in offices, at cafes and while travelling, the turbine-like whine at higher speeds becomes difficult to ignore. That's especially disappointing when quieter alternatives exist at a fraction of the price.
If Dyson could reduce the noise without sacrificing airflow, the HushJet Mini Cool would be one of the most compelling portable fans on the market.
As it stands, I'd save the $169 and look elsewhere.
