There are two different types of upright vacuums. Standard and Lift-Away.
Standard is as essential as you get, but they are still fantastic. They possess all the features you would want, and the suction power is no different. However, it can be difficult with these to clean the stairs and places like that.
Lift-aways provide you with great freedom to clean every corner of your home. They have the same looks as a standard version, but you can separate the handle/hose away from the main body, giving it more functionality.
They are perfect if you have a lot of stairs, furniture or even wish to use it for your car.