Ryobi's New Tiny Fan Claims 17 Hours of Runtime for $29.97

Ryobi has a new tiny fan on the way, and this is the part that stands out: the company says the new USB Lithium Handheld Fan Kit can run for up to 17 hours on low using the included 2Ah battery.

That is not quite 18 hours, but it is close enough that the real point still lands. This looks like the kind of small fan you could toss into a bag for a long sports day, amusement park trip, airport delay, hotel room, or overheated desk setup without assuming it will die halfway through.

The other detail that makes it more interesting than a lot of cheap mini fans is the design. Ryobi says it works as either a handheld fan or a tabletop fan thanks to the fold-out body. That matters because the best small fans are usually the ones you do not have to keep holding the entire time.

According to Ryobi's product page, the fan is built around the company's USB Lithium system, which is the same small-battery platform behind its other compact everyday tools. That should make this a better fit for people who already like the idea of small rechargeable gear that is easier to keep topped off than disposable-battery accessories.

Ryobi is also pitching it for sports games, the office, travel, and other on-the-go use, which feels about right. Pocket-size is the right direction here. A fan like this only makes sense if it is small enough that you will actually bring it.

At $29.97, the pitch looks pretty good. The mix of nearly all-day runtime, a fold-out tabletop shape, and a compact rechargeable battery system makes this look more useful than the average impulse-buy handheld fan.