Ultenic has been active on the market as a manufacturer of vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaner robots since 2021 and has recently added another wet-dry vacuum cleaner with the Ultenic AC1 Elite. With the U12 Vesla, the manufacturer was largely convincing in our test, which is why we are now putting the AC1 Elite to the test for you. In addition to a self-cleaning function and a 650 milliliter water tank, the edge cleaning feature also sounds promising, which is supposed to clean wall and corner debris much better in particular. In contrast to the predecessor model, the Ultenic AC1, the app connection is omitted, among other things.
How the above-mentioned features play out in practice and whether the Ultenic AC1 Elite is suitable for home use, we find out together in the test.
Technical data
| Model | AC1 Elite |
| Color | black |
| Power | 230 W |
| Runtime | Up to 50 minutes |
| Suitable use case |
|
| Capacity – Total | 1.15 L |
| Capacity – Fresh water | 0.65 L |
| Capacity – dirty water | 0.5 L |
| Loudness | 78 dB |
| Battery capacity | 2,500 mAh |
| Operating voltage | 28.8 V |
| Weight | 4.3 kg |
| Price | € 52.70 * |
Scope of delivery
- All parts are individually packaged
- Cleaning solution and other components are provided for better cleaning
The scope of delivery of the Ultenic AC1 Elite includes not only the product itself, but also other materials that significantly simplify future cleaning. The manufacturer relies here on its own cleaning solution as well as a cleaning brush and a second HEPA filter Furthermore, the power supply unit is included in the scope of delivery and the operating instructions with a warranty card are also included in the box. All contents are individually packed and the several boxes in the carton help to protect the scope of delivery from transport damage.
Assembly
- Easy assembly and therefore ready to use within minutes
- three parts are simply snapped into each other
- Disassembly of the device requires additional tools
The assembly of the Ultenic AC1 Elite is quite simple and done in a jiffy, as the wet-dry vacuum consists mainly of only three components. In the first step, we take the loose handle and insert it into the counterpart from above, so that a short click sounds. Now both components of the Ultenic AC1 Elite are connected and we move on to inserting the water tank. To do this, the water tank is inserted at an angle on the back of the main unit and snapped into place with the help of a release button. After that, the squeegee is immediately considered ready for use.
If, on the other hand, you want to disassemble the handle, you will need a tool such as a screwdriver at this point. This detour is necessary because the integrated spring is continuously under tension after assembly. For this purpose, the spring is pressed in with the help of the tool, so that the unlocked handle can be pulled out upwards.
Optics & Workmanship
- Convincing look with black and white color combination
- Processing on a high level
- Display presents data pleasantly bright
Visually, the black and white look of the Ultenic AC1 Elite offers a successful overall picture. Even with the black charging station, the suction mop ties in well with light or even dark homes. If you look at the occupied space of the device with the station, it turns out to be quite small in the set-up mode. The old-fashioned locking away in the broom cupboard can therefore be omitted from a purely optical and space-technical point of view. If you don’t like the color selection of the device, you’ll be left out in the cold, since Ultenic currently only markets this combination.
Compared to the U12 Vesla from their own company, the manufacturer takes the AC1 Elite up a notch in terms of workmanship and relies on higher-quality materials. We did not notice any noticeable gaps in the test and the Ultenic AC1 Elite does not rattle or clatter unpleasantly when using the device. Only the charging station could have been designed a bit higher-quality and more appealing, since the plastic used makes a less robust impression. The LCD display on the main unit presents all information in the form of flashing icons sufficiently brightly and looks rather futuristic due to the circular shape. We particularly like the innovative waste tank, which separates the collected waste from liquid and solid form in advance. In our personal opinion, the power supply unit turns out to be sufficiently dimensioned with a cable length of 1.45 meters, so that the charging station will not only find its home exclusively in direct socket proximity.
Scope of functions
- Suitable for smooth floors, though not for carpets
- Three different cleaning modes
- Device has a voice prompt
The Ultenic AC1 Elite is mainly aimed at smooth floors. For carpets, the wet-dry vacuum cleaner is not suitable. Depending on the intended use, we have three different cleaning modes available. The manufacturer differentiates the Ultenic AC1 Elite as follows. SMART stands for the automatic mode and determines the optimal suction power and amount of water depending on the dirt or floor covering. For pet hair or heavy dirt on the floor, the MAX mode is recommended, but the battery power is also significantly lower. Furthermore, the Ultenic AC1 Elite has a suction mode, which is abbreviated as VAC on the LCD display. In this mode, the AC1 Elite only sucks up water and does not spread anything else on the floor.
Ultenic provides us with the included charging station to charge the AC1 Elite via convenient docking. A charging process from 0 to 100% takes about 4 hours. The battery cannot be removed from the device, as it is permanently installed.
On the handle, there are two buttons in the middle for turning the device on/off and for switching the three different suction modes. At the very top of the handle, there is also a dedicated button for self-cleaning the tube and suction wiper, provided the Ultenic AC1 Elite is in the charging station. If you want it to be a bit more comfortable, you can activate the voice announcements on the AC1 Elite. For this, the self-cleaning button has to be pressed for about three seconds. By pressing the suction mode button for a long time, it is possible to navigate between the user languages in order to switch from the factory setting of English to German.
Practical test
- Very good suction performance
- SMART mode offers optimal compromise between performance and battery life
- Not usable for deep furniture due to a maximum tilt angle of 140 degrees
Preparation
Before using the device for the first time, it should be fully charged. We therefore docked the Ultenic AC1 Elite vertically on the charging station and let a few hours pass until the mopping session could begin. In the meantime, we filled the water tank with 0.65 liters of water.
Use at home
Following that, we got to work and literally polished the home to a shine with the Ultenic AC1 Elite. Here, we were mainly positively taken with the SMART mode, which also offers the best compromise between performance and battery life. However, we did not reach the promised 50 minutes runtime according to the manufacturer’s specifications with our almost 42 minutes in the test. In contrast, the AC1 Elite convinced us with the cleaned floor, as it mopped up all impurities. In addition, a narrow water film was cleanly applied on the entire test surface. Any pet hair was also largely picked up by the Ultenic AC1 Elite, although it occasionally got tangled in the floor brush and had to be removed manually afterwards.
Interim conclusion
The suction performance is therefore right on the full line. The use of water in the various modes also worked flawlessly. Furthermore, during the suction mode test in the bathroom, excess water was collected without leaving any residue. On the other hand, you are somewhat limited in the freedom of use, since the AC1 Elite only supports a tilt angle of up to 140 degrees. Therefore, for deep sofas or cabinets, one should switch to other cleaners.
Cleaning
- Self-cleaning function simplifies handling
- Tanks can be easily removed from main unit and rinsed
- Second HEPA filter and cleaning brush included
As mentioned at the beginning, Ultenic makes it quite easy for us in this chapter, as the AC1 Elite has a self-cleaning function. Once the wet-dry vacuum is upright in the charging station with enough fresh water, the self-cleaning function can be activated via the top button on the handle. A voice output subsequently informs us about the completion of the process. Nevertheless, manual cleaning should be performed afterwards, since otherwise the accumulated waste or dirty water could lead to unpleasant odors over time.
To clean the dirty water tank, we pull it out from the front of the main unit and rinse the inside of the tank completely with water. In case of more serious contamination in the tank, we can resort to the cleaning brush, which is included in the package.
After some time, it is recommended to clean the filter, the upper brush roll cover as well as the brush roll. All components can be easily rinsed with water, which greatly simplifies handling. Ultenic has included a second HEPA filter in the scope of delivery. This saves further purchase costs for the time being and is of course welcome! However, if we look over to the original Ultenic AC1 model, it feels like a step backwards that the Elite version has had the spare brush roll removed from the scope of delivery.
Ultenic AC1 Elite review: conclusion
The Ultenic AC1 Elite is without a doubt a first-class wet-dry vacuum cleaner, which can achieve impressive results not only on the data sheet. In the practical test, the suction power of the AC1 Elite is convincing and does not have to hide from more expensive products at all. The uncomplicated cleaning through the suction station and the quick change of the water tank underline the positive impression in the test. It should also be emphasized that the wet-dry vacuum runs straight on its own and hardly any pressure has to be applied for this.
From our point of view, it is somewhat misleading that the model is marketed as an Elite version. After all, with an Elite version you assume that you get the best possible variant to date. Therefore, it is a bit of a shame that the water tanks are noticeably smaller in this model compared to the Ultenic AC1, a sterilization mode is missing, and app support has been removed. The replacement brush roll in the scope of delivery, which has been rationalized away, also falls in line with this point.
All in all, the Ultenic AC1 Elite is a recommendable option for anyone looking for a vacuum cleaner with mopping capabilities. In this area, the AC1 Elite definitely knows how to convince and furthermore performs flawlessly.
Ultenic AC1 Elite
Workmanship
Usability
Performance
Value for money
91/100
Convincing wet-dry vacuum cleaner with very good performance! However, the Elite version feels functionally trimmed compared to the original Ultenic AC1.
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