I have a pair of officemates that love to clean. And while I certainly appreciate their tendency to keep our shared workspace tidy, I’ve always felt it a little odd. I mean, I clean the house with the same stoic approach that I use to floss my teeth; I’ll do it because it needs to be done, but by no stretch of the imagination do I enjoy it.
Recently, however, a new household gadget has helped take at least some of the chore out of… um… chores. The Ultenic U16 Flex Cordless Vacuum hasn’t made me fall in love with vacuuming, but it’s made the entire process quicker and a bit less of a hassle. For me, that’s about the best I could ask for.
The Ultenic U16 is a cordless stick vac—a segment of the home appliance market that, until recently, was starkly stratified between pricy high-end models and weak, no-name throwaways. Ultenic, a relatively new company that got its start in the early 2020s in the then-burgeoning robot vacuum market, has now brought its dedication to clever design and ease of use to this underserved area.
The U16 Flex arrives disassembled, but putting it together is a snap. Literally. The various pieces like the floor brush, telescoping tube, and crevice nozzle connect to the main body using red, two-position rocker buttons. Press down, insert, and release to attach, press again and pull to remove. It’s a simple but intuitive process that even extends to the vacuum’s storage rack, which boasts a large bay to hold the assembled U16 and two small receivers into which you can click the crevice nozzle or other accessories when not in use.
The 550W battery slides in and out easily, which is good because, to the Ultenic U16’s detriment, there’s no option for wireless charging. You’ll need to plug in an old-style battery charging cable, which is a little disappointing but surely helps keep the price of the device down.
Overall, the U16 boasts both 45KPa of suction and a 60-minute runtime, but note that these are mutually exclusive. With three speed modes available using the rear-mounted touchscreen and the trigger-style power button—Eco, Normal, and Turbo—the Ultenic U16 Flex is a picture of versatility. Eco mode, which plays into the impressive one-hour runtime, trades power for longevity, while Turbo mode makes quick work of big messes but you can actually watch the power percentage tick down by the second. Normal mode, is, usurpingly, where most users will spend their time, and this is where the vacuum shines. I can easily get two 20-minute or a marathon 45-minute session in between charges, with the floor brush’s integrated green light making it easy to spot grime even in low-light situations.
Speaking of low-light situations, the vacuum’s telescoping tube has a central hinge—thus the “flex” part of the name—that, when engaged, can be used to clean under furniture and in other tight spaces with a 180-degree range of motion. Coupled with the tangle-free floor brush, this thing really does a number on the pet hair and dust that collects in low-lying areas.
Add to this a simple, uncluttered digital dashboard that can provide clog and blockage warnings as well as the real-time battery level monitor and a 1.2-liter dust cup with six-layer filtration, and it’s no wonder I haven’t touched my old canister vac since this thing arrived on my doorstep. Moreover, during the extended post-Helene disturbance in my home internet service, when my robot vacuum was all but useless, the U16 Flex proved itself an all-in-one solution for my carpets, area rugs, tile, and laminate floors.
Currently available for $139.99 via the Ultenic site and Amazon (thanks to a clickable $20 off coupon), the U16 Flex is more than a match for most small to medium-sized dwellings, and its ease of portability means it can pull double-duty around cars and patios to boot. While a proper wireless charging cradle—instead of a standard plastic storage rack and separate power adapter—or even a second battery would’ve pushed this device into must-own territory, it’s hard to argue about the value found at this price point.
Sure, I still don’t love vacuuming, but Ultenic has made day-to-day cleanup a little bit easier.
Review materials provided by Ultenic. This post contains affiliate links. Long live the stick vac!
