Dyson v11
- Better: pet hair tool performance For pet-hair tool performance, the reviewer named the Dyson v11 as the clear winner.
- Better: carpet sand pickup The Dyson v11 achieved the highest carpet sand pickup result in the comparison.
Kenmore Bagless Upright Vacuum Lift Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for strong suction, HEPA filtration, multi-surface pickup, and lift-up versatility at a good price. Skip it if you need quiet, lightweight, low-profile cleaning or worry about hair tangles and reliability.
Best for
Best for buyers who want corded suction, HEPA dust containment, multi-surface pickup, and lift-up versatility without moving into higher price tiers. It also suits pet homes that can tolerate some hair-wrap maintenance.
Not for
Not for users who prioritize quiet operation, cordless convenience, very low under-bed reach, or low-maintenance hair tangle resistance. Buyers especially worried about longevity should weigh the owner complaint and shorter warranty evidence.
Verdict
Across the supplied reviews, the Kenmore earns its strongest marks for suction, pickup, HEPA dust containment, value, and lift-up versatility. Multiple test-style reviews measured strong pickup on carpet and hard floors, and several reviewers liked the wand reach, easy emptying, pet tool, and maneuverability. The tradeoff is that this is still a corded upright: it can feel heavy or cumbersome, it is noisy, and the main head is not low-profile enough for beds in several reviews. Pet performance is also two-sided, with good hair pickup but weak tangle resistance in one comparison. One owner-style review raises a serious durability warning, so the overall evidence is positive but not carefree.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Eureka AirSpeed
- Compared: entry-level value and versatility The Kenmore is discussed against the cheaper Eureka AirSpeed, with later comments favoring Kenmore for versatility and hardwood cleaning.
shark Apex
- Better: carpet sand pickup The Kenmore picked up less sand on carpet than the shark Apex in that test.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
49 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 45% 22 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 24% 12 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 18% 9 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 8% 4 features
- Very negative below 1.5 4% 2 features
Pros
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Medium-carpet pickup scored strongly in lab-style tests, including 98 percent overall pickup and a 100 percent carpet deep-clean result.
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Setup was praised in one hands-on review as very easy.
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High-pile carpet evidence was limited to one hands-on review but positive for removing cat hair and ingrained dirt.
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Hard-floor fine pickup was strong across reviews, with hardwood performance, 98 percent overall pickup, and fine-debris praise.
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Low-pile carpet pickup was generally strong, including effective brush-roll comments, 98 percent pickup, and hands-on praise.
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Large-debris intake scored strongly because reviewers praised hardwood pickup and large front gates for debris other vacuums may miss.
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Reviewers repeatedly measured or described strong suction and airflow, including 22 kPa results and above-average head airflow, with one owner also praising how much it pulled from carpet.
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Filtration received strong marks across reviews, with smoke tests passing well and HEPA or sealed-air-path comments tied to dust containment.
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Ease of use was a strong positive, with reviewers praising easier controls, responsive features, and straightforward handling.
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Emptying and mess control were repeatedly praised for easy canister removal, one-button emptying, and simple opening.
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The detachable canister/lift-up format was treated as a useful convertible cleaning design in the DU5092 review.
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Comparative evidence was favorable overall, including better hardwood value versus a cheaper model and advantages over a Shark comparison, though not every comparison was a win.
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Lift-up or Lift Away-style functionality was repeatedly praised for changing the vacuum into a more flexible room, stair, and above-floor tool.
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Controls were praised for making surface changes easier and for better button placement than the comparison Shark.
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Tool and release actions were praised when reviewers noted one-button canister emptying and an easy switch between crevice and brush tool modes.
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Reach was praised through the 10-foot wand and a comparison noting the wand was longer than a Shark model.
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Versatility was one of the strongest themes, supported by lift-up use, tools, reach, upholstery cleaning, and multi-surface performance.
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Maneuverability was generally praised, with swivel steering and easy direction changes highlighted across multiple reviews.
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Stair use was rated positively where Lift Away technology made stair cleaning easier.
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Storage received a positive mention from one reviewer who said putting it away was simple.
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Above-floor and upholstery cleaning scored well through praise for ceiling reach, pet-hair cleaning on furniture and stairs, and sofa cleaning.
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Attachments were viewed positively when reviewers saw the pet tool pick up hair, called the attachment set useful, or described the HandiMate as good for upholstery and tight areas.
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Debris illumination was positive in the DU5092 review, where LED lights were said to help reveal debris that might otherwise be missed.
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Carpet hair pickup was generally positive, with fur and cat-hair removal praised, despite separate tangle concerns.
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The bin was described as large enough and easy to open, supporting solid scores for everyday debris handling.
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Heavy-duty suitability was supported by a reviewer saying homes with lots of carpet, kids, or pets may need a heavier corded option like this.
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Pet-oriented evidence was mostly positive: reviewers liked the pet tool, brush roll, and pet-hair cleaning ability, though separate tangle evidence showed limits.
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Innovation evidence was limited but positive where sealed filtration was described as rare in the price range.
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Overall opinion was mostly favorable, with several strong recommendations or 'impressive' conclusions, offset by one strongly negative owner review.
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Floorhead design was mostly positive because reviewers linked it to strong debris pickup and deep cleaning, while acknowledging a trade-off in seal.
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Most reviews framed it as a strong value for the price, but one owner review sharply disagreed after failures and filter costs.
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LED lighting was consistently useful in reviews, helping illuminate dark spots or missed debris.
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Cord length was mostly positive at 30 feet, but one review noted some users would prefer longer cords for larger spaces.
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Edge cleaning received a moderate score because the head was said to work okay rather than exceptionally along edges.
Cons
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Under-furniture performance was mixed: Lift Away helped in one comparison, but multiple reviews said the main head was too big for beds.
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Hair-wrap resistance was split: one review said the Kenmore did poorly with hair tangles, while another DU5092 review praised the hair Eliminator nozzle.
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Build impressions were split between well-built praise in test reviews and severe owner complaints about cracking and broken parts.
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Weight evidence was mixed: several reviews found it heavy or cumbersome versus cordless models, while one review called 14 pounds below average and another called it lightweight.
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Maintenance requirements were a moderate drawback because one review said the filter needs monthly cleaning to keep performance.
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Cord management was a mild drawback because one reviewer noted the cord must be wrapped manually.
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Crevice pickup was a noted weakness in the DU5092 review, scoring below average alongside unsealed suction.
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The floorhead seal was a weakness in the DU5092 review because large front gates let in more air and reduced the seal.
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Noise was a consistent caveat: reviewers measured or described it as noisy, louder than a Shark comparison model, or noisy on higher suction settings.
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Cordless convenience scored low because one reviewer explicitly found it less convenient than a cordless vacuum.
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Low-profile design scored poorly because multiple reviews said the main head was too large to fit under a bed.
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Reliability evidence was mixed: professional-style reviews disliked the shorter warranty, while one owner reported the vacuum would not power on.
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Hair-removal channel issues were clearly negative in one pet-hair comparison where hair stuck on the rollers.
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Ongoing ownership cost evidence was negative in one review because replacement filters were described as expensive.
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One negative owner review reported early motor failure, making longevity a serious concern in that review.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Upright Vacuums, this product is above average in Storage footprint and upright-stand stability, Hose length, Hard Floor — Large Debris Intake, below average in Ongoing ownership costs (bags, filters, batteries), Overall durability/longevity, Support and Reliability.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 63% 5 features
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 38% 3 features
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing ownership costs (bags, filters, batteries) | 1.2 | 4.0 | -2.8 |
| Overall durability/longevity | 1.0 | 3.5 | -2.5 |
| Support and Reliability | 2.1 | 3.7 | -1.6 |
| Storage footprint and upright-stand stability | 4.5 | 3.1 | +1.4 |
| Hose length | 4.5 | 3.3 | +1.2 |
| Hard Floor — Large Debris Intake | 4.7 | 3.5 | +1.2 |
| Carpet — High-Pile Pickup | 4.7 | 3.6 | +1.1 |
| Hard Floor — Fine Dust Pickup | 4.7 | 3.7 | +1.0 |
FAQ
How strong is the suction?
The review evidence is strongly positive. Several tests praised suction and airflow, including 22 kPa measurements and above-average airflow comments.
Is it good for carpets and hard floors?
Yes, most pickup evidence is positive across carpets and hard floors, with multiple reviews citing 98 percent overall pickup or strong debris pickup. One DU5092 review did note weaker crevice pickup because of the floorhead trade-off.
Is it good for pet hair?
It has pet-focused tools and reviewers praised hair pickup on carpets, furniture, and stairs. The main caveat is tangle resistance, because one comparison said the Kenmore got a lot of pet hair stuck on the rollers.
Does the lift-up design help?
Yes. Reviewers repeatedly described the lift-up or Lift Away-style design as useful for stairs, above-floor cleaning, and general versatility.
What are the main drawbacks?
The most repeated drawbacks are noise, weight, weak under-bed clearance with the main head, manual cord wrapping, and hair tangles. One owner-style review also reported serious early reliability problems.
Is the filtration good?
Filtration evidence is strong. Several reviews described HEPA filtration or sealed dust containment, and smoke-test comments were consistently positive.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.6/5
Review Kenmore DU2012 Bagless Upright Vacuum 2-Motor Power Suction Lightweight Carpet Cleaner with 1
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 1.1/5
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.8/5
Consider This Instead
If you want better Overall durability/longevity
Choose Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum. It scores 5.0 vs 1.0 for Overall durability/longevity, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better Ongoing ownership costs (bags, filters, batteries)
Choose Dyson Ball Animal 3 Upright Vacuum. It scores 5.0 vs 1.2 for Ongoing ownership costs (bags, filters, batteries), with a 3.8 overall score.
If you want better Support and Reliability
Choose Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Upright Carpet Cleaner. It scores 5.0 vs 2.1 for Support and Reliability, with a 3.9 overall score.
If you want better Low-profile design
Choose Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum. It scores 5.0 vs 2.2 for Low-profile design, with a 4.3 overall score.
Overall Top Upright Vacuums Alternatives
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