Andis 79170 Pulse Zr II 5-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper

Why it's worth it

This is the professional-style option: a rotary motor with five speeds from 2,500 to 4,500 strokes per minute, a removable battery rated for three hours, and a ceramic #10 blade in the box. It takes any Andis UltraEdge, CeramicEdge or ShowEdge blade, so you buy the exact length you need.

Detachable A5 blades are the real upgrade here. Instead of clipping plastic combs onto a fixed blade, you swap in the blade that matches the cut — a #10 for a sanitary trim, something longer for a body clip. That's how groomers work, and it's why a shaggy coat comes out looking even rather than striped. The trade-off is that each blade is its own purchase.

Ceramic helps with the problem everyone has. Andis says its ceramic edge runs cooler than steel and stays sharp longer, and the blade included is a ceramic #10. You'll still check the temperature, but a cooler blade buys you longer stretches before you have to stop. For a dog who loses patience the moment you pause, that's worth something.

From our review of 7 cordless dog grooming clippers, by James Bennett, Associate Editor

What we like

• +Detachable A5 blades are the real upgrade here
• +Ceramic helps with the problem everyone has
• +The five speeds matter less than the marketing suggests and more than nothing
• +This is also the clipper we'd steer a casual owner away from

What to know

• –Reliability feedback is more divided than for either Wahl
• –It ships with one blade, so plan on two or three more plus oil and coolant spray before it does everything you bought it for