Robot vacuum cleaners have significantly evolved since their early days, fundamentally transforming the cleaning habits of individuals. Designed to streamline household chores both indoors and outdoors, these machines aim to enhance quality of life by alleviating stress associated with cleaning tasks. Available in various price ranges and functionalities, robotic vacuums typically facilitate vacuuming and mopping with minimal user effort, fostering a more peaceful living environment.
Dreame Technologies, a Chinese home appliance company launched in 2017 and part of Xiaomi’s brand portfolio, offers innovative smart home devices. Among its latest offerings is the Dreame X40 Ultra, an advanced hands-free robot vacuum that autonomously empties dustbins, refills mop tanks, and even cleans and dries mop pads, minimizing the need for user intervention.
After using the Dreame X40 Ultra for two weeks, we evaluated its strengths and weaknesses as a comprehensive floor-cleaning solution. This robot vacuum boasts self-emptying and self-cleaning capabilities, along with MopExtend technology in its mop heads. Although it resembles other combo vacuum and mop robots, it features an extending brush and mop attachment.
With an initial price of Rs. 1,29,999, the Dreame X40 Ultra ranks as the most expensive robot vacuum we have tested. Currently, it is available for a reduced price of Rs. 99,999 on Amazon. Purchases made through Amazon come with a one-year warranty, although Dreame does not operate any physical service centers. Instead, they have provisions for pickup and delivery for any necessary repairs.
Dreame X40 Ultra: What’s in the Box, Design
The package for the Dreame X40 Ultra includes a tall docking station, cleaning solution, a side brush, two debris removal tools, two mop pads, a power cord, and the robot itself, along with necessary documentation. Housed within the base station are separate containers for clean and dirty mop water. The robot is circular in shape with a prominent area on top housing a laser navigation system, equipped with features such as an LED auxiliary light, camera indicator, AI-based IR camera, AI HD camera, laser distance sensor, and 3D dual-line sensors. An accessible lid on the top allows easy access to the dustbin. Control buttons for Spot Cleaning, Power (or Clean), and Dock sit atop the device, enabling manual operation without the app, though many features require the app to function fully.
The design of Dreame X40 Ultra exudes a premium feel, though it does not stand out significantly from competing products.
Initial setup is user-friendly with the Dreamehome app, available for both iOS and Android. Users need to scan a QR code on the robot to connect it to Wi-Fi, and the app guides them through the installation process. The app provides a range of functions similar to those found in the previous Dreame L10s Ultra model.
Once connected, the base station can be plugged in to charge. Upon activation, the Dreame X40 Ultra quickly maps the home layout, adjusting the map as it encounters furniture and obstacles. It can produce both 2D and 3D maps, and a new feature in the app facilitates cleaning beneath curtains without getting caught. Users can modify the maps for room divisions and establish zones, ensuring navigational accuracy was commendable, even in low-light conditions.
The Dreame X40 Ultra’s base station simplifies maintenance with its self-emptying, self-cleaning, self-drying, self-refilling, and self-dispensing functions occurring without user assistance. Notably, the station automatically dispenses cleaning solution and is equipped with a large dustbin, allowing for weeks of hands-free cleaning once the clean water tank is filled and the included cleaning solution is added.
While the app performs well for initial setup, it exhibits some areas that require improvement. The interface appears dated, often burying frequently used settings several layers deep. Additionally, the camera output can lag, and a better organization of cleaning modes would enhance user experience.
Dreame X40 Ultra: Cleaning and Performance
Dreame claims impressive suction power of 12,000Pa for the X40 Ultra, positioning it among the high-performing robot vacuums. This versatile machine offers multiple settings and configurations to cater to various cleaning needs, capable of vacuuming and mopping simultaneously for a more efficient clean. It has options for quiet, standard, turbo, and maximum suction. During testing, I primarily utilized the standard and turbo settings, with the added CleanGenius mode allowing the robot to select optimal cleaning parameters.
The cleaning modes available include separate options for vacuuming, mopping, combined vacuuming and mopping, and customized room cleaning. Users can adjust suction and mopping preferences for different areas. The feature to vacuum before mopping mimics traditional cleaning methods, which I found particularly appealing. Compatibility with voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Siri is also a plus, with adjustable wetness levels for mopping available.
Users can program the frequency at which the mop is washed based on area, time, or by room. The robot effectively returns to wash the mop pad after covering a designated cleaning area or adhering to a timed schedule. Furthermore, the option to set zones allows the vacuum to return for cleaning after tackling individual rooms. Users can select from various routes during vacuuming and mopping tasks, including quick and deep cleaning options.
A standout aspect of the Dreame X40 Ultra is its extendable side brush, which adeptly moves up or down to access corners and tight spaces. This side brush performed well during evaluations, while unique magnetic pads left behind at the base allow for vacuuming carpets, preventing dampness from mopping actions. After completing its tasks, the robot returns to the dock to switch to mop mode. Its sensors ensure that mops are cleaned when necessary.
The Dreame X40 Ultra features a side brush that can be extended and lifted.
Additionally, the innovative MopExtend RoboSwing cleaning technology allows the mop head to elevate up to 10.55mm, protecting carpets from moisture. This function enables the mop head to clean corners and edges effectively, ensuring no area is missed.
The device utilizes AI for object recognition, enabling users to monitor their pets through the camera feed. It demonstrated effective cleaning capabilities, especially with short human hair and lint. However, longer strands occasionally tangled in the brush, requiring minimal weekly maintenance to remove. Dreame also offers a separate TriCut brush designed to minimize hair tangles. Despite its premium pricing, the X40 Ultra features a single roller rubber brush.
Equipped with a 300ml dust bag, the base station claims to last up to 75 days, which seemed accurate during my two weeks of testing, although performance might vary depending on home size. After each cleaning session, the base station efficiently empties the dustbin.
The base station of Dreame X40 Ultra contains a 300ml dust bag.
The onboard water tank holds 80ml, complemented by sizable dirt and clean water containers. Their capacity means that I only need to refill the clean water tank every couple of days. I opted to clear the dirty water tank after two to three uses to avoid unpleasant odors, but even after multiple runs, it rarely exceeded half-full. The robot efficiently detects dirt and wet spills, prioritizing them for cleaning.
The Dreame X40 Ultra operates quietly on its lowest suction setting but can become quite noisy at higher suction levels. After each cleaning session, the device washes the mop in hot water and dries it with hot air to eliminate odors. I found this process somewhat loud, potentially disturbing napping toddlers. The vacuuming noise is manageable and can be performed during quieter times. Moreover, the robot is programmed to avoid auto-emptying operations during designated quiet hours and intelligently clean its brushes between sessions.
Dreame X40 Ultra: Battery Life
The Dreame X40 Ultra features a robust 6,400mAh battery, enabling impressive longevity. While operating in normal mode, it effectively vacuumed and mopped an approximate 1,200 square feet of space in about 50 minutes, still retaining 90 percent of its battery after the process. Overall cleaning coverage per charge may vary based on the size of the home and selected cleaning modes. In turbo mode, the vacuum had around 78 percent battery remaining after a full run.
Verdict
The Dreame X40 Ultra presents a compelling option for homes featuring a mix of carpeted and hard floors. Its ability to elevate the mop head while cleaning carpets alleviates concerns of dirty mop pads dragging on soft surfaces. However, this technology comes at a premium price point. For households consisting solely of carpets, more affordable vacuum-only alternatives are available.
With exemplary performance, advanced cleaning technology, and features such as hot water mop washing and an extendable mop pad, the Dreame X40 Ultra showcases several strengths. Nevertheless, areas for improvement exist, including the app functionality, recurring operational expenses, and overall cost.
For those with adequate space for the base station and a suitable budget, this model performs at a high level, making it ideal for families with young children or pets and for anyone prone to anxiety in cluttered environments. Currently, few comparable options from other brands exist. For cost-conscious consumers, brands like Xiaomi and Ecovacs offer appealing alternatives.
Rating: 8/10
Pros:
- Powerful suction and effective cleaning performance
- Self-emptying and self-cleaning base station
- Extending and lifting side brush, adjustable mop pads
- Hot water mop washing for better hygiene
Cons:
- Requires considerable space for the base station
- App interface could be more user-friendly
- Recurring costs for maintenance
- High price point
