Quick verdict
Different jobs. The EGO moves half again the air and clears wet leaves; the Makita is a light patio blower on an LXT pack. For October, the EGO. For a quick clean after mowing on packs already in the shed, the Makita.
EGO Power+ LB7654 765 CFM Blower
The LB7654 is the EGO Power+ 765 CFM blower, rated at 765 CFM and 200 MPH, with a brushless motor, variable speed, turbo and a 5 Ah 56V pack in the kit. It is the strongest handheld EGO sells.
EGO LB7654 765 CFM blower versus Makita XBU03Z 18V LXT blower: airflow, air speed, weight, batteries, noise and platform compared from published specifications.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGO Power+ LB7654 765 CFM Blower | Best Handheld for Fall Cleanup | 9.2 | Check price |
| Makita XBU03Z 18V LXT Brushless Blower | Best Light Blower for an LXT Shed | 8.4 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
EGO Power+ LB7654 765 CFM Blower
The LB7654 is the EGO Power+ 765 CFM blower, rated at 765 CFM and 200 MPH, with a brushless motor, variable speed, turbo and a 5 Ah 56V pack in the kit. It is the strongest handheld EGO sells.
Reasons to buy
- 765 CFM and 200 MPH
- Moves wet leaves
- Kit includes a 5 Ah pack
- EGO 56V yard range
Reasons to avoid
- Heavy
- Loud at full power
- Separate battery system for a tool owner
Makita XBU03Z 18V LXT Brushless Blower
The XBU03Z is the Makita 18V LXT brushless handheld blower rated at 473 CFM and 116 MPH, with variable speed and a cruise control lever, sold bare. It is light, quiet and runs on one LXT pack.
Reasons to buy
- Light
- Quiet
- Runs on one LXT pack
- Cruise control lever
Reasons to avoid
- 473 CFM is light-duty
- Struggles with wet leaves
- Bare tool
Where these two differ
The EGO LB7654 is a 765 CFM fall-cleanup blower with a 5 Ah pack in the kit. The Makita XBU03Z is a light 473 CFM LXT handheld for patios and quick cleanups, sold bare. The EGO does far more; the Makita is lighter, quieter and runs on packs an LXT household already owns.
This comparison is based on the published specifications and manuals for both blowers and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run either blower ourselves.
| Specification | LB7654 | XBU03Z |
|---|---|---|
| Airflow | 765 CFM | 473 CFM |
| Air speed | 200 MPH | 116 MPH |
| Battery | 56V, 5 Ah in kit | One LXT, bare |
| Weight | Heavy | Light |
| Noise | Loud at full power | Quiet |
| Platform | EGO 56V | Makita LXT |
Moving leaves
Dry debris on a patio moves for both. Wet matted leaves, gravel beds and the fence-line pile need the EGO; the Makita pushes them around.
Weight and noise
The Makita is light enough for an hour and quiet enough for an evening. The EGO is heavy with a 5 Ah pack and loud on turbo.
Batteries and runtime
The EGO 5 Ah pack lasts a normal yard on medium and under twenty minutes on turbo. A 5 Ah LXT pack lasts a long session on the Makita at low speed. The EGO kit arrives ready; the Makita assumes LXT packs.
Platform
EGO 56V runs the broadest battery yard range. LXT runs everything Makita makes including the X2 mower and chainsaw. For an LXT household the Makita adds no battery system.
Yard jobs this decides
October leaves and a wet lawn: the EGO. A patio, a deck and a quick clean after mowing on LXT packs: the Makita.
Warranty and support
On the EGO Power+, EGO covers tools with a five-year limited warranty and packs with three years. On the Makita XBU03Z, Makita covers LXT tools and batteries with a three-year limited warranty. Both makers run service networks in the US and both honor the warranty only with proof of purchase, so keep the receipt with the manual. Registration takes a few minutes online and is worth doing the day the tool arrives.
Care and storage
Both are brushless battery tools and both last longest with the same habits: hose or brush debris off after each use, store packs indoors at partial charge through the winter rather than empty or full, and keep the machine out of direct sun in a shed. Neither needs oil changes, spark plugs or fuel stabilizer. A pack left at zero through a cold winter is the most common cause of a dead tool in spring on either platform.
Accessories worth adding
A second pack is the accessory that changes ownership of either machine, because it turns a runtime limit into a swap. A spare blade or impeller cover, a mulch plug if one is not in the box and a rapid charger are the next three. Both makers sell these through the same outlets as the machine, and third-party packs are a false economy on either platform.
Common owner complaints
EGO owners mention weight and turbo runtime. Makita owners mention light airflow. Both are reliable.
Which one should you buy
Buy the LB7654 for fall cleanup. Buy the XBU03Z for light cleanup on LXT packs.
Our verdict
The EGO LB7654 takes this comparison for leaf cleanup. The Makita XBU03Z is the better light blower for an LXT household.
How we research
This comparison is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of both products and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run either product ourselves; where the makers do not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Airflow
The EGO moves wet leaves; the Makita moves dry debris.
Weight
The Makita is much lighter.
Platform
LXT packs in the shed favor the Makita.
Kit
The EGO includes a pack.
Our verdict
Different jobs. The EGO moves half again the air and clears wet leaves; the Makita is a light patio blower on an LXT pack. For October, the EGO. For a quick clean after mowing on packs already in the shed, the Makita.
FAQs
About sixty percent more airflow and far more air speed; it clears wet leaves the Makita cannot.
The Makita by a wide margin.
The Makita.
Yes, the X2 36V models on two LXT packs.
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