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Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet Vacuum Review

Tested using Methodology v1.3
Reviewed Nov 11, 2020 at 09:12 am
Latest change: Writing modified Oct 02, 2024 at 09:09 am
Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet Picture
7.2
Bare Floor
7.7
Low-Pile Carpet
7.7
High-Pile Carpet
7.4
Pets
9.0
Stairs
8.5
Cars
5.6
Workshop
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Handheld For Pet Hair

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is a cordless handheld vacuum designed with pet owners in mind. It comes with two power settings to help you tackle different kinds of messes, and includes a turbo tool for tackling fabric-based furniture. It also offers outstanding performance on bare floors, although it struggles a bit more with carpet. Unfortunately, it can be hard to detach the built-in combination crevice and extension wand tool. Still, this handheld can be an asset as it can tackle the occasional mess or pet fluff around the home.

Our Verdict

7.2 Bare Floor

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is great for bare floors. It can pick up most pet hair as well as cereal and rice. While it has an overall decent but plasticky build quality, it requires regular maintenance. A couple of parts also need to be replaced over time.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Clears small and large debris well.
  • Highly portable and lightweight.
Cons
  • Plasticky build quality.
7.7 Low-Pile Carpet

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is decent for low-pile carpet. It can pick up most pet hair and a lot of large debris. However, it struggles a bit more with finer debris. Its plasticky build feels a bit flimsy in some places and it requires some regular maintenance to keep it at optimal performance. It also has recurring costs, as its pre-filter and main filter need to be replaced over time.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Highly portable and lightweight.
Cons
  • Struggles to pick up small debris.
  • Plasticky build quality.
7.7 High-Pile Carpet

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is decent for high-pile carpet. This vacuum can pick up most pet hair and a good amount of large debris. However, it struggles more with finer debris. It also has a plasticky build quality and requires regular maintenance. A couple of its parts need replacing over time. Pulling out its built-in crevice and extension wand can also be a little tricky.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Highly portable and lightweight.
Cons
  • Struggles to pick up small debris.
  • Plasticky build quality.
7.4 Pets

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is decent for pets. It can pick up most pet hair from bare floors and carpet. However, it has a plasticky build quality, requires some regular maintenance, and has a few parts that need replacing over time. On the upside, it has a turbo brush to help dislodge dirt from furniture.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Highly portable and lightweight.
Cons
  • Plasticky build quality.
9.0 Stairs

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is outstanding for stairs. This lightweight vacuum is easy to use on stairs since it has a virtually unlimited range so long as it has battery life left as well as room in its dirt compartment. Unfortunately, it has a plasticky build and some parts could crack if dropped. It can be somewhat tricky to pull out its built-in crevice and extension wand.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Highly portable and lightweight.
Cons
  • Plasticky build quality.
8.5 Cars

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is excellent for cars. It's lightweight, portable, and has quite a long range. It comes with a built-in crevice and extension wand so that you can get into hard-to-reach places. It offers decent overall performance on low-pile carpet. However, it has a plasticky build quality and it requires some regular maintenance.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Highly portable and lightweight.
Cons
  • Plasticky build quality.
5.6 Workshop

This vacuum is a poor fit for workshop cleaning. It can't handle liquid spills and isn't robust or powerful enough to easily handle debris like wood or metal shavings.

Pros
  • Picks up most pet hair on all surface types.
  • Highly portable and lightweight.
Cons
  • Plasticky build quality.
  • 7.2 Bare Floor
  • 7.7 Low-Pile Carpet
  • 7.7 High-Pile Carpet
  • 7.4 Pets
  • 9.0 Stairs
  • 8.5 Cars
  • 5.6 Workshop

Changelog

  1. Updated Oct 02, 2024: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 1.3.
  2. Updated Jul 23, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. We've overhauled our floor performance tests and added new 'Hard Floor Pick-Up,' 'High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' 'Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' and 'Pet-Hair Pick-Up' tests. You can see the full changelog here.
  3. Updated Dec 14, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
  4. Updated Nov 03, 2022: This vacuum's suction force has been retested with a more accurate manometer. The test results for the 'Maximum Suction' and 'Normal Suction' fields have been updated. All relevant scores and text have been updated.
  5. Updated Aug 03, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  6. Updated May 27, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
  7. Updated Nov 11, 2020: Review published.
  8. Updated Nov 05, 2020: Early access published.
  9. Updated Oct 20, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  10. Updated Oct 14, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  11. Updated Oct 04, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet comes in one variant: gray. You can see its label here. This vacuum also comes in a non-pet variant called the Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+, which comes in black and doesn't include a turbo brush.

If you come across a Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet that's differently equipped than our test model, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Vacuums

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is a cordless handheld vacuum that's designed for picking up pet hair. It comes with a turbo brush to help clean fabric-covered furniture and it has a built-in combination crevice tool and extension wand. However, it doesn't pick up as much pet hair as the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+, another pet-oriented handheld vacuum. Check out our recommendations for the best handheld vacuums for pet hair, the best cordless vacuums for pet hair, and the best vacuums for pet hair.

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ [CH951, CH964AMZ]

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is a better handheld vacuum for cleaning pet hair than the Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet. The Shark is better built, easier to maintain, and has fewer recurring costs. It comes with an upholstery tool as well as a hard bristle brush, and it has a better overall performance on all surface types. However, the Black+Decker has a better battery performance and a larger dirt compartment.

Shark WANDVAC

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet and the Shark WANDVAC are handheld vacuums with different strengths. The Black+Decker has a better battery performance and a larger dirt compartment. It also comes with a turbo brush and offers better overall performance on bare floors and high-pile carpet. However, the Shark is better on low-pile carpet. It feels better built, does a better job of capturing fine allergens, and has virtually no recurring costs.

Black+Decker 16V MAX dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is a better handheld vacuum for most uses than the Black+Decker 16V MAX dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum. The AdvancedClean+ Pet comes with a turbo brush and has a better battery performance. It also performs better on carpet. However, the Hand Vacuum is better built, with fewer recurring costs. It also performs better on bare floors.

RYOBI 18V One+ 3 Gal. Project Wet/Dry

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet and RYOBI 18V One+ 3 Gal. Project Wet/Dry are for different usage scenarios. The Black+Decker is a much smaller, considerably lighter handheld vacuum designed for household spot-cleaning tasks. It also comes with a turbo brush for dealing with pet hair on upholstered surfaces and has a longer maximum battery life of roughly half an hour. Meanwhile, the RYOBI is a dedicated shop vacuum with a remarkably strong suction force, enabling it to easily clear debris on most surfaces. It's wet-compatible, allowing you to clear liquid messes, and has a dustbin capacity that's almost twenty times that of the Black+Decker.

HoLife HM036E

The HoLife HM036E is a slightly better handheld vacuum than the Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet. The HoLife is better-built. It comes with a liquid nozzle for cleaning spills, and it has a better performance on bare floors. It also has a better battery performance and is easier to maneuver. However, the Black+Decker comes with a turbo brush that can tackle debris on fabric-based furniture. 

Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Hand Vacuum

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet and Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Hand Vacuum are evenly-matched vacuums. The Black+Decker is lighter, has a slightly larger dirt compartment, and comes with a built-in crevice cleaner and turbo brush to deal with messes in tight corners or on upholstery. It also cleans better on high-pile carpet. That said, the Hoover has lower recurring costs, a longer battery life, substantially faster battery recharging times, and superior cleaning performance on bare floors and low-pile carpet.

iRobot H1

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet and iRobot H1 each have their advantages, and one may suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Black+Decker incurs slightly lower recurring costs, is a little less demanding in terms of maintenance, has a larger dirt compartment, and delivers better performance on bare floors. Meanwhile, the iRobot clears more debris on low and high-pile carpet, feels better-built, is easier to maneuver, and takes less time to charge despite offering similar battery life, though that can vary with real-world usage.

Wyze Handheld Vacuum

The Wyze Handheld Vacuum and Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet perform better under different use cases, so one may be a better fit than the other, depending on your needs. The Wyze is smaller, lighter, delivers slightly better performance on low and high-pile carpets, and has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter. Despite taking much less time to recharge, it also has a similar battery life to the Black+Decker, though this can vary in the real world. However, the Black+Decker clears debris more effectively on bare floors, comes with a turbo brush, and has a bigger dirt compartment that doesn't need emptying as often.

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
7.0
Design
Build Quality
Vacuum Type
Handheld

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet has a decent build quality. It's completely made out of plastic, but parts like the dustbin door's hinge feel especially flimsy and could break if dropped. You can also accidentally push the power button while you're removing its filters.

7.0
Design
User Maintenance

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is decently easy to maintain.

  • Dust bowl: This part can be emptied by pressing its debris release button. However, it isn't removable. It can be wiped clean with a dry cloth when necessary.
  • Plastic pre-filter: You can easily remove this part by pulling on its tabs. It can be washed in warm soapy water. The manufacturer recommends cleaning this part regularly.
  • Filter: This part clicks apart from the pre-filter. You can also wash this part in soapy water. It's recommended to clean this part regularly to keep an optimal suction force.

All parts that can be cleaned with water should be left to dry completely before putting them back in.

8.0
Design
Recurring Cost
Bag Part Number No bag
Filter Part Number N593505
HEPA Filter Part Number No HEPA Filter

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet has a couple of recurring costs. The plastic pre-filter, as well as the filter, should be replaced every six to nine months. You can purchase replacement filters through the manufacturer's website.

7.1
Design
Storing
Height
15.35" (39.0 cm)
Width
6.30" (16.0 cm)
Depth
7.28" (18.5 cm)
Cord Storing
Not Needed
On-Board Tool Storage
No
Vacuum Rack/Station
No

This vacuum is decently easy to store. It doesn't come with on-board storage for its motorized brush but the combination extension wand and crevice tool is built-in. If you want a handheld vacuum that comes with a mountable rack station for easier storing, check out the Dyson Humdinger.

7.1
Design
Dirt Compartment
Bagless
Yes
Volume
0.18 gal (0.70 L)
Full Indicator
No
Bag Included
No Bag Needed

This vacuum has an alright dirt compartment. It's somewhat large and the compartment is see-through so you know when it needs to be emptied. However, due to its size, you may need to empty it more frequently.

Design
In The Box

  • Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet handheld vacuum
  • Filter
  • Pre-filter
  • Motorized brush
  • Jack plug charger
  • Vacuum user guide

10
Design
Range
Cordless
Yes
Cord Length
N/A
Hose Length
N/A
Minimum Wand Length
0.89 ft (0.27 m)
Maximum Wand Length
0.95 ft (0.29 m)
Total Range
N/A

This vacuum has a cordless design, so its range is only limited by its battery life and the room left in its dirt compartment.

8.9
Design
Portability
Total Weight
2.78 lbs (1.26 kg)
Weight In Hand
2.29 lbs (1.04 kg)
Carrying handle
Yes

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet is exceptionally portable. It's lightweight and has a carrying handle so you can bring it with you to different rooms.

6.3
Design
Battery
Minimum Battery Life
13 min
Maximum Battery Life
29 min
Recharge Time
231 min
Recharge Dock
No
Battery Life Indicator
Yes
Removable Batteries
No

The Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet has an alright battery performance. There are two power settings. The default power mode is the 'On' setting, which provides just under half an hour of continuous runtime. Its more powerful 'Boost Mode' lasts around 13 minutes. Three white LED lights let you know the status of the battery, and it flashes when you have only one minute of runtime left.

Design
Quality Of Life Features
Rotating Head
No
Power Adjustment
Yes
Self-Propelled
No
Headlights
No
Easy On/Off
Yes
Head Surface Type Adjustment
None

This vacuum has an easy-to-reach on/off button that also doubles as a power adjustment button. When you turn the vacuum on, you activate its least powerful 'On' mode. However, double-pressing the same button activates 'Boost Mode', which is its most powerful mode best-suited for tackling stubborn messes.

Design
Tools And Brushes
Brushroll
No
Brushroll On/Off
No
Removable Brushroll
No
Turbo Brush
Yes
Crevice Tool
Yes
Upholstery Tool
No
Soft Bristle Brush
No
Hard Bristle Brush
No
Extension Wand
Yes
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No

This vacuum comes with a couple of tools and brushes. There's a motorized turbo brush that can help you clean fabric-based furniture. There's also a combination extension wand and crevice tool that's built into it and can't be removed.

Design
Alternative Configuration
Blower Mode
No

This vacuum can also be used with its turbo brush to clean furniture.

Performance
8.5
Performance
Hard Floor Pickup

This vacuum does an excellent job of dealing with debris on hard floors, clearing away a wide variety of debris within a single back-and-forth pass. That said, you need to keep the vacuum at a fairly shallow angle for optimum performance.

7.5
Performance
High-Pile Carpet Pickup

This vacuum delivers good performance on high-pile carpet. Since it's a fairly low-powered vacuum that can't provide much in the way of surface agitation on carpets, it struggles with finer debris like sand that's been pushed thoroughly into carpet fibers. However, it's good at dealing with medium and large debris like rice or cereal.

7.5
Performance
Low-Pile Carpet Pickup

This vacuum's performance on low-pile carpet is good. As with its performance on high-pile carpet, it provides insufficient surface agitation to deal with fine, deeply embedded debris but has little trouble dealing with larger material.

9.5
Performance
Pet Hair Pickup

With its turbo brush attachment, this vacuum does a fantastic job of dealing with pet hair on low-pile carpeting. It can clear even deeply embedded hair within a single back-and-forth sweep.

8.2
Performance
Suction
Maximum Hose Suction
13.5 inH₂O (3.36 kPa)
Maximum Head Suction
14.5 inH₂O (3.60 kPa)
Normal Head Suction
7.1 inH₂O (1.78 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal "On", no attachments
Hose Diameter
N/A
2.9
Performance
Airflow
Maximum Hose Airflow
14.3 CFM (0.4 m³/min)
8.1
Performance
Noise
Bare Floor
73.3 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
80.3 dBA
6.5
Performance
Maneuverability

This vacuum has okay maneuverability. It's not designed to clean large amounts of flooring, but it can spot clean and tackle small messes with relative ease. It's lightweight and can get into hard-to-reach places with its crevice extension tool. It also doesn't have a problem cleaning around power cables. However, the extension wand can be hard to pull out of the vacuum and you have to turn off the vacuum to attach the turbo brush. While the turbo brush does an okay job cleaning furniture, there's no bristle tool so you could damage wood surfaces when cleaning.

6.5
Performance
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
Sofa Pickup Post Test
Performance
Air Quality
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
No
6.5
Performance
Cracks
Wood Cracks Post Test
1.0
Performance
Stains
Stain Pickup Post Test
0
Performance
Water
Wet Compatible
No
Water Pickup Post Test

Comments

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Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet: Main Discussion

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  1. 2
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    Wow, what a great and thorough review! Can you share how the Bose QC Ultra compare to the Bower & Wilkins PX8? I am unable to decide between the two! Thanks and hope youv'e had a good new year!

    I dont have the Px8, but from what I have researched, the Px8 seem to have the best sound quality for anc wireless headphones, those and Focal Bathys, the QC Ultra Sound good, but not as good as Px8.

    besides that, ANC, Transparency mode and mic quality is superior on Bose QC Ultra, the same thing here, Px8 ANC isnt bad, but is not on Bose level, build quality is superior on Px8, they feel and see more luxurious.

    Depending on your preferences one will fit more to you than the other

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    I love all my 3 headphones and also like the XM4, though they all have their strenghts and weaknesses, and every headphone its unic in their own way, I would say I like my Sennheiser most, due their sound, battery, looks and build and case, followed by the XM5 and followed by QC Ultra, I cant tell about the XM4 because they arent mine, but I like them pretty much too! Sennheiser Momentum 4 : Sound Quality (Better Overall), Battery Life, Design, Case, Build Quality Bose QC Ultra : Sound Quality (Cleaner and less bassy), Transparency, Mic Quality, ANC, Case, Build Quality Sony XM5 : Sound Quality (Bassy but with good clarity), Design, Transparency, Mic Quality, ANC, Features Sony XM4 : Sound Quality (Bassier with decent clarity), Case, ANC, Features Thats it boys! hope I could help with this review! If you have any of these 4 you already have a Top ANC quality headphone, maybe with their strenghts and weaknesses, just like every other pair! Cya and happy holidays yall ! :)

    Wow, what a great and thorough review! Can you share how the Bose QC Ultra compare to the Bower & Wilkins PX8? I am unable to decide between the two! Thanks and hope youv'e had a good new year!

  3. 6
    5
    4
    5
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    Hi there, I have owned my XM5 since Saturday and already got the chance to try them deeply in every of their aspects, I do also own the Bose QC Ultra and Sennheiser Momentum 4, plus my dad have the XM4 so he let me do some comparisons too, and this is what I got when comparing them!

    -Build Quality The XM5 are fully made of plastic, and seem to be more fragile than the other 3, while the XM4 are mostly plastic they do have their details on the headband adjustment, while the QC Ultra have aluminum in their low headband part that attaches to the earcups, while the Momentum 4 have a fabric headband and a metal logo, for me the Sennheiser takes the win here, tho none of the 4 headphones are build quality focused like Airpods Max or B&W Px8

    Winner : Sennheiser Momentum 4

    -Comfort Both the Sony and Bose headphones weight about 250g, while the Sennheiser weights about 290g, so they are heavier indeed, but their earpads feel SOOO COMFY, they have by far the comfiest earpads for me atleast, while also having a good spacious earcups, I feel the XM4 and XM5 quite the same, with more narrow space and comfy earpads, but the Bose do have the more spacious earcups + a good comfy earpads, so I feel better with the QC Ultra in long periods, while in the XM5 after some time get a little uncomfortable due their narrow headband and the Sennheiser feeling a little bit heavy.

    Winner : Bose QC Ultra (Subjective)

    -Microphone The XM4 have by far the worst mic of this list, they are decent in silent places, tho they are not as good as you would expect for this type of headphones, but in loud and crowded places they just flop, they are just bad, the Momentum 4 are a little better both in quiet places and crowded places, and while the QC Ultra and XM5 perform pretty good, the QC Ultra are better in quiet conditions, but the XM5 arent bad at all, and the XM5 are better on crowded places and noisy conditions, while the QC Ultra are still good, but not that good.

    Winner : Sony WH-1000XM5

    -App and features I would say that Bose have the worst app here, while not being bad at all, they do fall behind comparing them to these 3, with a 3 band eq and their basic features like head sensor, immersive audio and personalized modes, the Sennheiser app do have a 5 band eq + bass boost and podcast mode, with more features, like “sound zones” where you cand adjust anc and the eq depnding on where you are, auto off when returning them to the case and auto on when getting them out of the case and “comfort call” with a more natural feeling when making a call, but Sony clears here, 5 band eq + clear bass, “speak to chat”, the charts of how much time you have used their headphones, auto play, adaptative sound control, adjusting the anc and transparency depending if you are walking, sitting or in a vehicle, they just win by far here.

    Winner : Sony WH-1000XM5 / Sony WH-1000XM4

    -Battery life Sennheiser claims to have a 60h battery when anc on, Sony claims that both have 30h battery with anc on and 38h-40h when anc off and Bose claims to have 18h when immersive audio on and 24h when immersive audio off, with my testings, at high volume, ANC at max (85% at the Momentum 4) and AAC on all of them except on the XM5 (LDAC) and heres what I got… XM5 (LDAC) : 16h-20h XM5 (AAC) : 20h-24h QC Ultra (AAC) : 18h-22h XM4 (AAC) : 20h-24h XM4 (LDAC) : 14h-18h Momentum 4 (AAC) : 30h-35h The Sennheiser were far better, while the rest of them at my type of settings got all really close.

    Winner : Sennheiser Momentum 4

    -Sound Quality All of them are bass heavy headphones (at their own way) so you will find a public focused sound and not an audiophile and full balanced focused sound tuning, for me, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 take the lead here, whithout touching eq they have something like xm5 bass, a little less maybe, less than xm4 and more than qc ultra, but right away you can say they are clearer than Sony headphones and with a better and more spacious and clean soundstage, now, with the bass boost on the app their bass hits even harder than the xm4 without loosing that much the mids and highs presence, they just sound top class, the XM4 and XM5 are pretty similar, with both heavy bass tuning (the XM4 have a little more bass) they have a decent soundstage and spaciousness, tho if you take their bass up you might find them to get muddy, the XM5 have a little better clarity due their little less bass, and the QC Ultra have a more flat sound among these 4, though not flat at all, their bass is more tight and not that present, their mids and highs are top, tho I bring their mids a little down in the eq, but their soundstage and separation is too good, above Sony I would say, overall I enjoy Sennheiser when listening most of the music, but while hearing spanish rock I like it more in the QC Ultra, but in hip-hop I take the XM4 and M4, and with 80s pop I take XM5 and M4, so it depends on your preferences and what you like to hear.

    Winner : Sennheiser Momentum 4 (Subjective)

    -ANC I didnt test the Sennheiser that much A/B because they do fall behind, but they arent bad at ANC, they are decent, just nowhere near Sony and Bose level, now, with the xm4, xm5 and qc ultra I made some tests in real life and while reproducing different scenarios in my TV and this is what I got…

    -Test 1 (Airplane cabin simulation) When reproducing this sound on my TV, on the QC Ultra after waiting some seconds and getting that adaptive NC magic I couldnt hear the plane engine at all, while in the XM5 and XM4 I could still hear it, but like a 10%-15%, tho I didnt feel a difference between both of them, so thats a tie for Sony and a clear win for Bose

    -Test 2 (Coffee shop simulation) Things got closer here, tho the QC Ultra still outperforms Sony, it does by a very slight difference, here I could tell the XM5 were better than the XM4, cancelling more of those high frecuency noises, so the Bose was better, slightly above of the XM5, and finally the XM4 by a small difference.

    -Test 3 (Mall simulation) Here, the QC Ultra and XM5 was almost the same, the QC Ultra being a little better, the XM5 was almost the same, while the XM4 was also there, it was half of a step behind the Bose and XM5, QC Ultra and XM5 were pretty much the same level

    -Test 4 (Office simulation) Bose QC Ultra were quietter than both of the Sony headphones, while the XM5 was by a small difference worst they are pretty awesome, followed by the XM4 by also a small difference, Bose wins here again.

    -Test 5 (Mall in real life) Here is where Bose shines, I only could understand my dad voice that was in front of me, while all the background noise was cancelled by a 95% and that kids screaming and dogs barking cancelled by a 85%, it was trully impressive, followed by the XM5 making a incredible performance too! just probably worst than Bose by a 5%-10% difference, I cant tell about the XM4 due I havent tried them irl situations, Bose wins.

    -Test 6 (Inside a car in real life) I couldnt say if the XM5 were better than the QC Ultra or all the way aroung, they both cancelled the music that the car was reproducing so good (maybe QC Ultra slightly better) and both cancelled the engine noise too good (maybe the XM5 a little better), but its a tie I would say here

    Take in mind that Bose have a very slight white noise while ANC on, so that could make you feel they cancell better than the XM5, because the XM5 are dead silent without any white noise, but irl feeling talking, I felt the Bose were better than Sony tbh. (The XM4 also have a small white noise)

    Winner : Bose QC Ultra

    Transparency / Aware Mode The XM4 are the worst here, just like their Mic quality, they do lack and fall behind in this aspect, followed by M4 / XM5, both are pretty good tbh, I maybe would take XM5, and finally the QC Ultra, their aware mode is pretty damn good, I wouldnt say at APM level, but it isnt pretty far.

    Winner : Bose QC Ultra

    -Case The best case are for the XM4, being the second smallest, having a small place inside for charging cables, airplane adapter and that 3.5mm cable with a hard surface that protects your headphones 100% and a pocket outside the case to put some papers (something that Bose dont have), followed by the QC Ultra with almost the smallest size case, a pocket for their cables, and a hard case too, followed by the Sennheiser Momentum 4, that are quite bigger (not that much), because they dont fold, but I like how they have a small pocket, and a specific place for their charging cable, airplane adapter and 3.5mm cable, if it wasnt for the size, they would be top 1, finally the XM5, similar size of Sennheiser (a little bigger), a magnetic part for that charging cable and the 3.5m cable, and a hard case that compacts when the headphones are out of their case, so it reduces depth mostly.

    Winner : Sony WH-1000XM4

    I love all my 3 headphones and also like the XM4, though they all have their strenghts and weaknesses, and every headphone its unic in their own way, I would say I like my Sennheiser most, due their sound, battery, looks and build and case, followed by the XM5 and followed by QC Ultra, I cant tell about the XM4 because they arent mine, but I like them pretty much too! Sennheiser Momentum 4 : Sound Quality (Better Overall), Battery Life, Design, Case, Build Quality Bose QC Ultra : Sound Quality (Cleaner and less bassy), Transparency, Mic Quality, ANC, Case, Build Quality Sony XM5 : Sound Quality (Bassy but with good clarity), Design, Transparency, Mic Quality, ANC, Features Sony XM4 : Sound Quality (Bassier with decent clarity), Case, ANC, Features

    Thats it boys! hope I could help with this review! If you have any of these 4 you already have a Top ANC quality headphone, maybe with their strenghts and weaknesses, just like every other pair!

    Cya and happy holidays yall ! :)

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    I immensely enjoyed the review of the Bose QC Ultras and did try them on for awhile in my military exchange. Your review didn’t mention this, so I don’t know if true, but some are saying as great as the ANC is on these headphones, you cannot completely turn ANC off like other headphones. If so, that could be bothersome for those of us who have issues with constant ANC in our ears, and the pressure some experience. Could you confirm if it can be shut off, or just lowered? Thanks so much.

    Hi BobFoss

    The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless do not have the option to turn off their Noise Isolation. In order to test their passive Isolation, we had to turn off the headphones.

    We will update and make it clearer in our review. Thank you for reaching for pointing this out.

    Cheers, Dagobiet.

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    I immensely enjoyed the review of the Bose QC Ultras and did try them on for awhile in my military exchange. Your review didn’t mention this, so I don’t know if true, but some are saying as great as the ANC is on these headphones, you cannot completely turn ANC off like other headphones. If so, that could be bothersome for those of us who have issues with constant ANC in our ears, and the pressure some experience. Could you confirm if it can be shut off, or just lowered? Thanks so much.

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