Black + Decker PowerSeries Pro Vacuum
- Details
Avg. consumer rating = 83/100
There are a number of different PowerSeries Pro cordless vacuum models from Black + Decker but the vacuums are all quite similar. They are lightweight, use a lithium-ION battery, and have the portable canister feature. Consumer ratings for the vacuums are reasonable and the price point is not too high (base model is about $150). These machines should be a consideration if you want cordless convenience and you have a smaller home with lots of bare floors.
Quick Specs | |
Type | Upright |
Bagged/Bagless | Bagless |
Best for... | Bare Floors & Carpet |
Pet Hair Features | Some models |
Approx. Weight | 8.25 lbs |
HEPA Filter | Some models |
Power Cord Length | Cordless |
Motor Driven Brushbar | Yes |
Warranty | 2 Years |
We found over 250 owner ratings for the PowerSeries Pro vacuums – see table below. When these ratings were averaged they generated an overall score of 83/100. This is an average score considering the ratings for other vacuums on the site.
Source | Consumer Rating | # Ratings |
Amazon | 4.1 stars out of 5 | 217 |
Kohl's | 4.6 stars out of 5 | 30 |
Walmart | 4.0 stars out of 5 | 12 |
According to the Black + Decker website there are 5 different PowerSeries Pro vacuums: HCUA525J, HCUA525JP, HCUA525JPC, HCUA525JA, HCUA525BA. ALL of the vacuums have the following characteristics and features in common:
- Lithium ION battery
- 1 liter dust canister
- Portable canister
- Weighs 8.25 lbs (vacuum models are all the same size)
- 50 Air watts suction – at the maximum setting
- 3-in-1 accessory tool
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- jack plug charger
- washable filter kit
- jack plug charger
- washable filter kit
- rubber anti tangle bristles (pet brushroll)
- scented tablet
- 9 inch pet crevice tool
- 5 inch pet brush
- jack plug charger
- washable filter kit
- 9 inch pet crevice tool
- 5 inch pet brush
- jack plug charger
- anti allergen filter
- Long brush
- Nozzle/brush
- Base Charger
- anti allergen filter
- Long brush
- Nozzle/brush
A thorough review of owner comments and reviews has provided the following PowerSeries Pro likes and dislikes:
- Lightweight
- Easy to assemble
- Good on hard floors
- Run time on hard floors is good
- Maneuvers well
- Portable canister works well
- Easy brushroll access
- Good edge cleaning
- Run time on carpet seems short
- Smallish dust canister
- Vacuum topples easily
- Battery not designed to be removed
- Some reported longevity issues
Most owners report that the Black + Decker PowerSeries Pro vacuums are lightweight and that they maneuver well. The movement is partly due to the effective swivel steering. Also, when you get your PowerSeries Pro some assembly is required but it is

See our Vacuum Cleaner Finder to see ALL the vacuums rated from best to worst.
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In this review we are going to focus solely on the HCUA525J as it is the base model of the PowerSeries Pro machines.
The advertising materials state “Up to 60 Minutes of Run Time”. Strictly speaking this is true BUT only if you are using the portable canister and at the lowest suction power setting. When using the upright and with suction settings above the lowest your run time will decrease. This marketing approach isn’t new and pretty much all the manufacturer’s put their best figures forward – but it can be a little confusing for the customer, and more than a few owners are upset when they find the vacuum does not provide a full 60 minutes of run time when they are vacuuming their carpet (for example).
The vacuum is sometimes referred to as a 2-in-1 machine (upright/handheld). Well, it is an upright but the handheld component is not like a typical handheld vacuum. The handheld component is really a detachable portable canister which you hold in one hand while using the hose and tools in the other hand. It’s not a bad system by any means but using the word handheld sometimes conjures up an image of something like a Dustbuster – it isn’t one of those. However it is easy to use and quite effective. To remove the portable canister from the upright you simply press the canister release button, and it just snaps back into place when you are finished.

The dust canister is on the small side with a volume of only 1 liter, so it fills fairly quickly and you will have to empty it frequently if you are doing a lot of cleaning. This is a smallish dust canister if you consider this an “upright vacuum” but if you consider this more of a “stick vacuum” then the dust canister really isn’t that small (consider that the Dyson V10 Absolute has a dust canister of 0.76 liters). This vacuum is really something between an upright and a stick vac.
The vacuum comes with a special floor type sensor that detects the flooring while you are vacuuming and sets the suction automatically. This is handy as you therefore don’t have to manually reset the suction yourself if you are vacuuming different kinds of flooring. In addition, there is an override button on the main control panel which allows you to turn this sensor off.

The vacuum has something akin to a control panel as you can see in the image below. The panel has touchscreen controls and buttons which allow you to turn the vacuum on/off, adjust suction levels, enable/disable the floor type sensor, and turn the brushroll on/off. There are also three horizontal bars that are battery charge indicators (tell you how much charge is left on the battery) – they show 75–100% charged, 51–74% charged, or < 50% charged. In addition, a filter indicator will tell you if the filter needs cleaning.

The filter assembly is inside the dust canister and it can be removed. The filter then comes out of the filter assembly. The filter can be rinsed in water and when completely dry it can be placed back in the vacuum. Interestingly Black + Decker also state that the filters need to be replaced about every 6-9 months (despite them being rinsable and reusable).
The head of the vacuum turns easily and this is due to the swivel steering. As mentioned previously owners find this vacuum movement quite good. The cleaner head also houses the brushroll which can be removed should you need to clean it – you may have to remove tangled hair. A release button on the side of the cleaner head allows you to pull away the brushroll unit and from this unit you can remove the brushroll. A lot of machines do not have this easy brushroll access. Also, the brushroll is belt driven.
The HCUA525J only comes with one tool - the 3-in-1 accessory tool (acts as a nozzle, a crevice tool, and an upholstery brush). The tool can go on the end of the 4 foot hose. The hose is rather short when using it with the vacuum, but its length is reasonable when using it with the portable canister.
The Black + Decker PowerSeries Pro vacuums carry a 2-year limited warranty. You can read more about the warranty here.
The manual highlights all the different PowerSeries Pro models and tells you what is provided with each unit. It also covers such things as assembly, parts descriptions, charging the battery, controls & control panel, portable canister, features, 3-in-1 tool, dust canister, filters, removing the brushroll, etc. You can see a copy of the manual here: Black + Decker PowerSeries Pro Cordless Vacuum Manual