Next to coffee makers, cordless stick vacuums are perhaps my favorite household items. While I’ve always understood and embraced the importance of a clean home, lugging around a heavy upright vacuum and tripping over the cord made vacuuming such a tedious chore. Years ago, when I first started testing cordless stick vacuums, I was in heaven. By now, I’ve tested several dozen different models, and very rarely turn down the opportunity to test a new one.
I’m usually called upon to test mid-and high-end vacuum cleaners. However, I’ve learned that budget-priced options can also provide decent performance and offer many desirable features. These are my thoughts on the Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum. Keep reading to see how it compares to the best vacuum cleaners, and how it stacks up against other vacuums under $200.
Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum review: price & availability
The list price of the Ultenic U16 Flex is $159 which is available to buy direct from the Ultenic website. It can also be bought from resellers such as Amazon for the same price of $159.
Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum review: first impressions
The Ultenic U16 Flex arrived in a Ultenic-branded cardboard box. The contents were neatly and securely packaged with Styrofoam, with a layer of Styrofoam on top as well. Each part was individually-wrapped in plastic as well. I appreciate the attention to detail to ensure that nothing was exposed and subject to scratches during the shipping process.
The contents included the main body, battery pack, telescopic wand, long crevice tool, floor brush, power adapter, storage rack and screws for mounting on the wall, extra filter, cleaning brush, warranty card, and instruction manual.
It was easy to assemble the Ultenic U16 Flex – the battery, telescopic tube, and floor brush snap into place. I charged the battery for four hours. One feature that I like about the vacuum cleaner is the there are two charging options. I chose to put the battery in the main unit and then put the charging adapter plug in the wall outlet (to keep everything together). However, there’s an option to remove the battery pack from the main unit and then charge the battery separately. This is a convenient option if you decide to buy an extra battery, as you can swap them out and let one battery charge while you’re using the other one in the vacuum.
Score: 8.5/10
Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum review: design
The bold color scheme immediately reminded me of the Dyson Outsize, as both have a red telescopic wand and the top of the main body is red on both. In fact, the shape of the Ultenic U16’s main body, and the positioning of the battery is also similar – although this is not the only cordless stick vacuum to place their battery in this position. And, since red is my favorite color, I’m certainly not complaining that the company chose this color for the U16.
It's a lightweight, attractive cordless stick vacuum that’s easy to maneuver. My favorite feature is the green LED on the front of the brushroll. This makes it easy to discover dust and other debris that may not be visible to the naked eye. My second favorite feature is the flexible telescopic wand, which bends, making it easy to vacuum under furniture.
Also, sometimes, my finger tends to get tired when I have to hold the trigger button for a vacuum cleaner to stay on. However, once I press the trigger on the Ultenic U16, the vacuum stays on until I depress the trigger to turn it off.
There are three mode settings: Eco, Normal, and Turbo. The battery life is 60 minutes on Eco mode, but keep in mind that using the Normal or Turbo modes will decrease battery life. Since my floors aren’t usually that dirty, when working quickly, I can always vacuum all of the rooms – and the stairs – on Normal before the battery runs out. The only reason it takes almost 40 minutes is that sometimes I’m a lazy vacuum-er and I’m making real-time decisions like should I move those barstools or just vacuum around them. Same for air purifiers and other items in the way. If I decide to move them, I just lie the vacuum cleaner on the floor – but it’s still running (remember the trigger stays on, and I never think I’m wasting enough time to affect the battery life, so I don’t even try to turn it off).
Score: 8.5/10
Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum review: key specifications
Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum review: performance
The Ultenic U16 Flex performs quite well for a cordless stick vacuum under $200. I tested it on hard floors, carpet, and even area rugs. In the past, I’ve had problems when testing an economical vacuum on the shag area rugs, and if felt like they were pulling strands out of the rug, so I would bypass this test. However, the Ultenic U16 Flex was able to smoothly vacuum them without pulling strands.
In another test, I poured ground coffee, seasoning, and coffee beans on the kitchen floor, and the vacuum made light work of removing all three.
In a separate test, I crunched some Pringles Potato Crisps on the floor to see how well the Ultenic U16 Flex would pick them up. Again, it easily removed the chips from the floor.
Since it’s a lightweight vacuum, I also tested the vacuum on my carpeted stairs, and it easily and thoroughly removed debris, and I didn’t have any problems getting into corners.
The flexible telescopic wand (which works by bending the wand 180 degrees to create an L-shape) made it easy to vacuum underneath all of my furniture. However, for some reason, there’s not the same level of control when the wand is in flex mode. It’s almost like the vacuum cleaner has a mind of its own, and it takes a little effort to control the vacuum’s direction.
This was not a particular problem for me because aside from testing, I kept the telescopic pole in its original position, since this allows it to reach further underneath. I don’t have a problem bending over, but if you’re considering the Ultenic U16 specifically for the flex feature, keep in mind that it requires a little effort to keep it moving in the right direction.
I never cease to be amazed when testing a vacuum cleaner with an LED on the front of the brushroll, and the Ultenic U16 was no exception. It picks up dust on hard floors that I can’t normally see – and serves as a gentle reminder why I always wear house shoes instead of walking around in my bare feet.
The vacuum cleaner also has an anti-tangle brush roll that resists hair, so I never had to spend any time trying to pull strands out of the brush roll.
The onboard display was easy to read and understand. It shows which mode is selected (Eco, Normal, Turbo), as well as the remaining battery life. And in case I was not paying attention, when the battery got below 20%, the charging indicator light would flash green. Also, although I never experienced this, if the floor brush gets blocked or the duct gets clogged, these icons will flash red.
When attaching the crevice tool to the telescopic wand, I was able to clean up high (for example, ceiling corners), and I could also take the telescopic wand off and use the crevice tool and brush to clean other items like my air purifier filters and HVAC vents. This level of variety adds to the functionality of the Ultenic U16 Flex.
The noise level is around 87.6, which could be as loud as the sound of a lawn mower, according to Soundproof Expert.
Score: 8.5/10
Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum review: maintenance
Maintenance is a breeze. For starters, the Ultenic U16 has a 6-layer filtration system that is designed to capture 99.9% of dust, which keeps both the air and the vacuum much cleaner. I emptied the dustbin after each use, and occasionally removed the HEPA filter and lightly tapped it to remove dust. Ultenic recommends washing the filter with clean water when necessary. The roller brush can also be washed with water.
Score: 9/10
Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum review: user reviews
On Amazon, the Ultenic U16 Flex has 156 ratings and an average score of 4.6. Buyers like the suction power, ease of use, and battery life. They also like the light on the front, and how easy it is to clean the vacuum. Negative comments included the diminished battery life when in Turbo mode. One person found the vacuum difficult to use.
The Ultenic website has 25 reviews – and 24 of them are 5 stars, while 1 is 4 stars. Buyers appreciated that the vacuum was lightweight, powerful, and the battery lasted for a long time. Someone said the suction did not rival Dyson (which is what they were replacing), but found it sufficient.
Should you buy the Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
How does the Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum compare?
If you have pets, the Bissell Icon Pet Turbo is $396, but it has a sturdier build, along with a more impressive tangle-free brush roll. The LED headlight and smartseal allergen system are comparable. The Bissell Icon Pet Turbo performs better on hard floors than carpet, but it’s performance on carpet is about the same as the Ultenic U16 Flex. Run time is 50 minutes on low, and the parking brake means you don’t have to prop it up against furniture or lay it on the floor.
And if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly choice, the Kenmore CVS Go ($129) also has a bendable telescopic wand – and it’s easier to maneuver when in this mode. It’s less expensive, but only has 2 speed settings, and the run time is only 40 minutes. Performance is similar to the Ultenic U16 Flex.
How I tested the Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum
I tested the Ultenic U16 in my home for over a month, using it on hard floors, carpet, and area rugs. I used it in Eco mode, Normal, and Turbo modes and also used it as a handheld model. Using it on a regular basis gave me the opportunity to assess quality of build, ease of use, consistency, performance, and ease of cleaning.
Read more about how we test.
