It’s rare in the tech review space that a personal favorite brand intersects with sample opportunities. It happens, but it’s few and far between, as the cliché goes. That’s all to say that when Ryobi reached out to feature the new Ryobi USB Lithium powered desktop vacuum, I couldn’t say yes fast enough.
Design
I like when you can immediately see the heritage of a brand in a product. The Ryobi desktop vac will evoke shades of a palm sander as soon as you remove it from the packaging. The overall size and feel in your hand is very similar.
At the back, you have a screw off housing cover for the battery pack. Turning this a half counter-clockwise movement reveals the cavity to insert your charged USB Lithium power bank. Just below this, you have an extended exhaust that can be removed to use as a crevice tool on the other end of the plastic tube.
The top and edges where you grip the Ryobi desktop vacuum is covered in soft-touch rubber. On the front, where your middle finger natural sits, is the power button. The bottom consists of the clear dust trap and bristles to get work done.
Performance
Listen, this isn’t the size of a normal vacuum and should be judged accordingly. For the environment it’s designed, the Ryobi punches well above its weight class. The suction is sufficient for any dust, particles, or crumbs you have around your office space.
With the addition of the removable crevice tool, you can clean up even more hard to reach spaces. This is great for your keyboard, of course. I’ve also found myself using this attachment around the fan of my home desktop and those gaps around the screen of my dual monitors.
Battery
The removable battery bank is charged via USB-C. Yes, I said USB-C. I wrongfully expected this to be the older microUSB standard. I’m glad Ryobi included this modern global standard over the previous generation. It’s a cost saver of a few pennies, we see way too many companies take the lesser tech.
Ryobi rates the USB Lithium desktop vacuum to last around two hours of use. I’ve found that to be fairly accurate in mixed usage over a few days. Recharging the pack takes about one hour using the included cable and a 5V charging brick.
Conclusion
The Ryobi USB Lithium Desktop Vacuum is a great stocking stuffer for the tools guy working in a cubicle. The USB power battery pack and versatile suction make this a good addition to any desk or even a workbench.
The Ryobi Vacuum available from both Ryobi directly or Home Depot online. The full retail price is $50, but my guess is you’ll be able to snag this at a discount over the holidays.
Purchase the Ryobi USB Lithium Desktop Vacuum from Ryobi
Purchase the Ryobi USB Lithium Desktop Vacuum from Home Depot
