Atvel F16 Ultimate: Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with Self-Cleaning and Roller Drying

The Atvel F16 Ultimate cordless vacuum cleaner is a new and improved version of the previously released Atvel F16So, the new product has received two very important improvements: the roller has been moved to the edge of the body, allowing for better cleaning along baseboards and furniture, and automatic roller drying at the station. Furthermore, the Atvel F16 Ultimate boasts a reinforced battery and increased suction power to 6000 Pa. In short, a number of updates have increased the performance of the wet/dry vacuum cleaner and simplified its maintenance. At the same time, the price hasn't increased significantly – from $240 to $270, which is in line with similar products from other brands, and even slightly cheaper than some. I've shown how the Atvel F16 Ultimate performs in its primary role and expressed my opinion on whether it's worth the money.

Equipment

The vacuum cleaner arrived in a branded box like this:

The package includes:

1. Removable handle.
2. Removable water tank.
3. Removable battery.
4. Charging and self-cleaning station for vacuum cleaner.
5. Power adapter.
6. Tools for servicing vacuum cleaners.
7. Operating instructions.
8. It's a brand-name detergent. It's available for purchase separately; I was given a sample to test and demonstrate. Just keep in mind that you can purchase additional detergent on the manufacturer's website.

The package includes standard accessories. Spare accessories are not included with the vacuum cleaner.

Appearance

Let's take a look at the Atvel F16 Ultimate's design. It's finished in a metallic gray and red color scheme, typical of this type of device.

As mentioned earlier, the roller has been moved closer to the edge of the body on one side for more thorough cleaning along the baseboard. The top cover is removable, which is convenient and can be washed manually if needed. Water is supplied to the roller through eight holes evenly distributed along its length. The roller itself is soft and held in place by a locking mechanism. Behind it, you'll find a metal comb that prevents hair and fur from tangling, as well as a scraper.

There's an ultraviolet lamp located underneath the roller for surface disinfection. I can't evaluate its effectiveness, but it's worth noting.

Above the cleaning module is a 680 ml dirty water tank. It contains a HEPA filter with a mesh screen and electronic sensors that detect the water level in the tank. There is no coarse filter.

The 450 ml clean water tank is located on top and can be removed by pulling it upward. A mesh filter is installed in the lid.

The Atvel F16 Ultimate has a removable battery, which is a plus.

A conveniently located LCD display on the top of the unit shows the battery charge, the selected operating mode, and service messages. Next to the display is a button for activating the self-cleaning function.

The vacuum cleaner's handle features three mechanical buttons: an on/off switch, a selection of two operating modes, and a trigger-style water supply to the roller. This button allows you to control the roller's wetting level and, if needed, even perform dry cleaning, such as when cleaning carpets.

Now, let's take a look at the station. It charges the vacuum, self-cleans, and dries the roller. Regarding the latter, the drying cycle is 2 hours. Air is directed to the roller from the front through 5 vents. The air is not heated. Drying efficiency will be tested.

The last thing I want to highlight is that the Atvel F16 Ultimate supports vertical parking outside the station.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of the Atvel F16 Ultimate, as declared by the manufacturer:

• Battery: Li-Ion, 4000 mAh.
• Power: 175 W.
• Vacuum: up to 6000 Pa.
• Operating time: up to 46 min.
• Charging time up to 4 hours.
• Noise level: up to 70 dB.
• Clean water tank: 0.68 l.
• Dirty water tank: 0.45 l.
• Weight: 4.7 kg.

It's worth noting that the runtime has increased significantly compared to its predecessor, the Atvel F16. Suction power has also been slightly increased. The noise level was personally tested and is in the range of 75.5-78 dB, which is quite standard for this type of device.

Testing

A detailed video review of the Atvel F16 Ultimate, including all tests, has already been prepared and published on the channel:

And finally, let's move on to the tests. The Atvel F16 Ultimate performs well in everyday floor cleaning, both on wood and tile surfaces. It doesn't leave streaks and, when used correctly, won't damage delicate flooring.

This cordless vacuum cleaner can be used not only for cleaning floors but also for vacuuming up liquids. And, as in my case, it even passed the now-traditional test of picking up a mixture of raw egg and flour. It took a while to suck up the eggshell, but it finally managed to suck it into the dirty water tank.

The Atvel F16 Ultimate can also be used to clean slightly dried-on dirt from floors. As you can see, there are no marks or streaks left. The floor is perfectly clean.

Because the roller is secured with a retainer, it doesn't extend directly to the edge of the housing. A narrow strip of 3-4 mm remains. There's still room for improvement in the cleaning module's efficiency, but even this result is better than most similar products.

This vacuum cleaner was able to remove even the toughest dried-on coffee and sauce stains. As with similar vacuums, it took some time to remove the sauce stains.

The Atvel F16 Ultimate can also be used for dry cleaning. It easily picks up various types of debris from the floor. There's minimal blind spot in corners where the roller can't reach. However, it effectively captures all debris along baseboards thanks to the roller positioned toward the edge.

Even with the soft roller, the Atvel F16 Ultimate can clean carpet. In this case, I don't recommend using forced water to avoid damaging or staining the carpet. Brand representatives said they plan to launch a special carpet roller, but that will be a bit later.

And finally, the final test—we're checking the self-cleaning performance after all the tests. The roller is clean, with some debris remaining on the platform after self-cleaning, and there's no debris in the suction channel behind the roller. There are no complaints about the self-cleaning performance.

As for drying, I checked the roller two hours after drying it on the station. It wasn't wet, but it wasn't dry either. It was slightly damp. Because there's no air heating during drying, the roller doesn't dry perfectly. Brand representatives argue that partial drying isn't really that important. The main goal is to remove excess moisture to prevent odors and bacteria buildup. Residual moisture evaporates overnight, even at room temperature. I agree with this, and indeed, after a day of using the vacuum, the roller didn't smell in the room. Of course, there's room for improvement, but even this drying process accomplishes its primary purpose. And again, according to the manufacturer, heating with hot air significantly increases the cost of the vacuum and increases energy consumption. So it's a double-edged sword.

The drying system starts automatically after you place the vacuum cleaner on the docking station. If necessary, you can turn it off using the button located next to the indicator lights.

Personal opinion

The Atvel F16 Ultimate upright vacuum cleaner was thoroughly reviewed and tested. I'll share my personal opinion. I liked the following:

1. Capable of removing dirt without leaving streaks or marks.
2. Suitable not only for washing floors, but also for dry cleaning and collecting liquids.
3. The roller comes out closer to the edge of the body (although it does not completely press against the baseboard, the non-washable zone has become narrower).
4. Good self-cleaning quality.
5. Automatic drying of the roller is provided at the station.
6. Removable battery.
7. Long working time.
8. Vertical parking is provided.
9. Availability of warranty and service.

Speaking of shortcomings, there are more comments and points of contention. Firstly, there's still a narrow, non-washable zone along the baseboard. But only one or two models on the market have managed to fully resolve this issue. All other brands have managed to move the roller to the edge, but due to the locking mechanism, the blind spot remains. Again, it's better than before, but there's room for improvement. The second issue is the drying system. It seems to do its job, but for some reason, you want the roller to be completely dry, and that requires a hot air supply. It's a bit of a perfectionist's quest, really.

In any case, the upgrade is a success, and the Atvel F16 Ultimate can definitely be considered one of the best cordless floor vacuums of 2023. It has its strengths and is priced lower than flagship models from other brands, all while enjoying comprehensive manufacturer support. I couldn't find any compelling reasons not to recommend it, so I believe it's worth considering. On that note, I'd like to conclude this review. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments. Happy shopping. Bye!