Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.
Black+Decker Dustbuster Max Flex comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.7 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about daily drivers wanting one vacuum for cars + small home messes — read the strengths below before deciding.
The Dustbuster Max Flex is the best-overall pick — Black+Decker's flagship handheld with extendable hose.
The Cyclone Pet Plus is the pet-hair pick — Shark's handheld with pet-specific attachment.
Best for cars. Extendable hose. Largest canister.
Best for pet hair. Strong cyclonic. Smaller than Max Flex.
| Spec | Black+Decker Dustbuster Max Flex | Shark Cyclone Pet Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Hose | Extendable | — |
| Canister | Large | — |
| Attachments | 3 | — |
| Brand | Black+Decker | Shark |
| Suction | — | Cyclonic |
| Pet Tool | — | Included |
| Speeds | — | 2 |