As a self-proclaimed vacuum cleaner fanatic, it's safe to say that I'm becoming less and less impressed with each model I try out. Now, don't get me wrong, this isn’t a reflection on their quality. In fact, the vacuum cleaner industry has seen some remarkable innovations recently, and it’s exciting to witness the evolution of various features. However, when the best vacuum cleaners are on your mind all day long, it's easy to become unenamoured.
With this in mind, it also speaks volumes when a vacuum cleaner suctions its way into my review pile and truly stands out. That's what happened when I reviewed the Ultenic U12 Vesla last year, leading to its inclusion in the T3 Awards 2024 back in June. It's safe to say I was more than impressed, and have continued to use it ever since.
You can therefore imagine my delight when Ultenic announced the launch of its new cordless vacuum cleaner a few months later. Will the new U16 Flex live up to the game-changing U12 Vesla? Let's find out.
Ultenic U16 Flex review: price and availability
The Ultenic U16 Flex has an RRP of £199.99/$159.99 and can be purchased from Ultenic or Amazon.
If you decide the U16 Flex is for you, I would recommend buying it from Amazon as there are often discounts on Ultenic products throughout the year. There's currently £30 off, so click on the link below to find out more.
Ultenic U16 Flex review: unboxing and set up
Unboxing the Ultenic U16 Flex was a pleasant experience, and it's great to see Ultenic maintain its packaging. I came across the main body first, followed by the battery pack, power adapter, storage mount, extra filter, cleaning brush and instruction manual. This was all pretty similar to the U12 Vesla, so there weren't any surprises.
I was also relieved that the main body was lightweight, especially as a number of recently released models have been on the heavier side.
Attachment wise, the Ultenic U16 Flex comes with a long crevice tool and floor brush, and of course, a telescopic tube. I have mixed feelings about this selection, but we'll get onto that later.
It was easy to assemble the U16 Flex, and the battery, telescopic tube and floor brush all clicked in place seamlessly.
Ultenic U16 Flex review: design and features
A lot of the Ultenic U16 Flex's design elements and features are upgraded from its predecessor, but there are a few brand new ones as well. Design wise, there's a new dashboard-inspired digital display that shows the U16 Flex's battery status, brush or air duct blockage issues and the selected cleaning mode. When the battery reaches below 20%, the charging indicator also flashes green to catch its user's attention.
The U16 Flex has a 550W high power motor, and there are three different speed modes. The U12 Vesla has five modes, but I never find myself using all of them, so having the choice between Eco, Normal and Turbo on the U16 Flex makes a lot more sense. The U12 Vesla is limited to a 450W motor, so having those 100 extra watts is great.
The main design difference between the U12 Vesla and the U16 Flex is its impressive flex technology. We're starting to see this more and more in vacuum cleaner launches, so it's clearly a feature that consumers are finding useful. It basically allows you to bend the vacuum at its middle point, making it easier to clean under furniture or round corners.
The U16 Flex is also powered by eight high-density lithium batteries, promising up to 60 minutes of uninterrupted cleaning. This obviously depends on what mode you're in, but it's not bad at all for its price point.
Another feature I'm glad to see return is the green LED on the front of the floor brush. I absolutely loved this on the U12 Vesla, and it's even more powerful on this model. It makes it so easy to discover dust and other debris that may not be visible to the naked eye, especially under furniture or in cupboards.
Surprisingly, the U16 Flex also has a 1-litre dust bucket. I was surprised at this because the U12 Vesla's bucket was also 1-litre, and the U16 Flex's looks a lot bigger. Either way, it's a good capacity, and bagless dust buckets will always be a favourite of mine.
Ultenic U16 Flex review: performance
Much to my relief, vacuuming with the Ultenic U16 Flex was just as satisfying as my experience with the U12 Vesla. I certainly noticed an increased suction power, and it was able to vacuum well on a number of different surfaces, including a variety of carpets and rugs.
There's also been a clear battery upgrade between the two models, and I was able to get about 25 minutes on Turbo mode and just under an hour on Eco mode. There's obviously nothing revolutionary about these times, but for what you pay, it's more than impressive.
The flex technology worked well without any issues, as did the green LED. A part of me was hoping that the U16 Flex would be self-standing, especially as that was the only gripe I had with the U12 Vesla. It was disappointing to see that it still wasn't, but I did appreciate how the U16 Flex also came with a wall mount to keep it secure when stored away.
The main issue I had with the U16 Flex unfortunately boils down to its attachments. At first, I was a little disheartened to see that the U16 Flex comes with one less attachment than the U12 Vesla. I then realised that the main body has a built-in mini brush that eliminates the need for a separate piece, but after trying it out, it didn't perform that well. It's also fixed it place so it can't be attached to the end of the telescopic tube for reaching higher areas during cleaning.
At the end of the day, the new model's flex technology expands the amount of places you can clean, so I think its variation of attachments should reflect that. It's good to see it come with a long crevice tool as well as the floor brush, but I couldn't help myself wishing that the additional mini motorised tool was included in the price.
Ultenic U16 Flex review: verdict
I've had an overall positive experience testing the Ultenic U16 Flex, especially after its predecessor was such a success. I was happy to see certain features remain in place, including the 1-litre dust bucket capacity and the floor brush's green LED, but it was great to see a number of new functions introduced as well. I was a little disappointed by the limited attachment selection, especially since the flex technology is designed to expand the U16 Flex’s capabilities. Despite this, it still remains an excellent vacuum cleaner for its price point.
Ultenic U16 Flex review: alternatives to consider
If you like the sound of the U16 Flex but you're on a limited budget, I would recommend the Ultenic U12 Vesla. It has a similar suction power and clever LED display to the U16 Flex, but has a cheaper price point due to being slightly older.
Another alternative to consider would be the Tefal X-FORCE Flex 14.60. Now, I wasn't a huge fan of its heavy weight and loud suction noise, but it boasts a similar flex feature to the Ultenic U16 Flex that proved to be really handy. It also features surface adjustment detection, which is a step above the Ultenic.
