Dreame L40 Extremely robotic vacuum assessment
Dreame L40 Extremely: two-minute assessment
With its mix of spectacular suction energy, rotating mop pads, skilled navigation and impediment avoidance, self-cleaning skill and smorgasbord of AI and software program options, the Dreame L40 Extremely is a strong hybrid vac-and-mop system for these trying to simplify their dwelling cleansing regime. Actually, it is probably the greatest robotic vacuums I’ve examined.
Outfitted with superior LiDAR navigation, the L40 Extremely effectively and really shortly maps your rooms, cleans in exact patterns and is healthier than common on the subject of dodging obstacles. With its ample suction energy (as much as 11,000Pa – up there with the best you will discover wherever), the L40 Extremely handles mud, pet hair and small particles very effectively, whether or not it is on hardwood, tile or low- to medium-pile carpet. Actually, it tops our information to the very best robotic vacuums for pet hair. It mops exceptionally nicely, too.
Personally, I might all the time advocate choosing a robotic mannequin with a self-emptying cleansing system, particularly if in case you have pets. Nicely the L40 Extremely’s dock not solely mechanically empties the robotic’s tiny onboard bin but it surely washes its mops, too, after which dries them utilizing heat air. No, it is not the prettiest trying cleansing station on the town however it’s geared up with outsized water containers and a a lot bigger mud bag than a lot of the competitors. And which means you will spend much less time doing upkeep.
You’ll be able to learn extra concerning the Dreame L40 Extremely beneath however, in the event you’re in a rush, take it from me that this mannequin is nicely well worth the funding in the event you’re on the lookout for a reliable, dependable and principally fuss-free hybrid bot to carry out the mundane duties of protecting your flooring areas in tip-top situation each day.
Dreame L40 Extremely assessment: worth & availability
- Checklist worth: $1,499.99 / £999
- Launched: October 2024
Out there in white solely, the Dreame L40 Extremely comes with a listing worth of $1,499.99 / £999 (though when it first launched it was cheaper, at $1,249.99 / £899). Regardless that that places it in TechRadar’s premium worth bracket, I believe it nonetheless represents sturdy worth for cash.
The L40 Extremely sits slightly below the corporate’s flagship X40 Extremely, which prices round $350 (£250) extra, principally as a result of it comes with an additional laser for improved impediment avoidance.
When it comes to different manufacturers’ choices, it’s extremely comparable feature-wise to the Qrevo Grasp ($1,200 / £949) from Roborock (one other Xiaomi-linked firm), which sports activities roughly the identical stage of suction energy and really comparable onboard tech, together with an extendable facet brush arm and rear mop for exact edging.
You should purchase direct from Dreame, or head to a 3rd occasion retailer like Amazon. Seasonal purchasing occasions all the time embrace sturdy robotic vacuum offers, and the Black Friday gross sales generally is a significantly good time to buy.
- Worth for cash rating: 4.5 out of 5
Dreame L40 Extremely specs
| Max suction: | 11,000Pa |
| Robotic diameter: | 13.8″ / 35cm |
| Robotic top: | 4.1″ / 10.4cm |
| Dock dimensions (W x D x H): | 18 x 13.4 x 23.3″ / 45.7 x 34 x 59.1cm |
| Mud bin quantity (onboard): | Not acknowledged |
| Mud bin quantity (base): | 3.2L |
| Water tank quantity (dock): | 4.5L clear, 4L soiled |
| Base sort: | Cost, self-empty mud, drain and refill water, detergent meting out, mop washing and drying |
| Max noise: | 71dB in Max+ mode |
Dreame L40 Extremely assessment: design
- Very good vacuuming and mopping options
- Full self-cleaning dock
- Massive, jarring clear base
Backed by Chinese language behemoth Xiaomi, Dreame is quick changing into a significant participant within the ever-expanding enviornment of robotic vacuum cleaners and robotic mops, and this high-end hybrid mannequin comprising a 2-in-1 vacuum and mopping system is a sterling instance of simply how a lot consideration to technical element the corporate applies to its merchandise, particularly on the subject of options, navigation and onboard smarts. Actually, there are a lot of similarities between the L40 Extremely and class-leader Roborock’s premium Qrevo Curv and S8 MaxV Extremely fashions, solely this one’s for inexpensive to purchase.
Earlier than I get right down to the nuts and bolts, I ought to handle the elephant within the room – specifically the dimensions and design of the L40 Extremely’s charging dock-cum-cleaning station. This white-only mannequin’s dock is 59cm in top, 41cm in depth and 34cm in width, and it is clad virtually totally in plastic that draws pet hair and dirt like a cowpat attracts flies. To interrupt up the monotony of a lot white, the L40 Extremely additionally comes with a blingy, rose gold-tinted dustbin cowl that some customers may very well like. I do not.
Shifting on to the robovac itself. Let’s begin with the little facet rotating brush that every one robotic vacs are geared up with to fling any particles that sits exterior of their chassis into the trail of the principle brush curler. Within the overwhelming majority of fashions the comb is fastened in place and its bristles can solely stretch an inch or so past the machine’s bodywork, which makes cleansing right-angled corners close to not possible.
Nicely, like a few of the high finish Roborock fashions, this one is provided with an articulating facet brush mount that pops out on an arm by a number of inches so the spinning bristles can attain deep into corners. This can be a game-changer as a result of it means you may not want to achieve for a hand vac to complete the job. Additionally, not like another mannequin I’ve examined, this one’s facet brush would not interact when on carpet and which means its bristles will last more and can be much less prone to snag on a rug tassel or wrap itself in a wayward shoelace.
The identical factor applies to the L40 Extremely’s mopping system, which makes use of two magnetically connected round spinning mops on the rear that do a powerful job of protecting onerous flooring dust- and stain-free. Like Roborock’s flagship fashions, the L40 Extremely’s right-hand mop mechanically protrudes past the chassis by a number of inches when the gadget is cleansing round chair legs and alongside skirting boards. However greater than that, this mannequin’s mops are mechanically ejected and left behind within the base station every time the bot is out on a vacuum-only run.
Sure, the L40 Extremely’s mops will retract when on carpet by 10.5mm, however the considering behind this specific system is that it is higher for any carpet that the bot could have to cross en-route to a vacuum-only session to not have any mops fitted in any respect. And so it leaves them behind within the dock, simply in case. In spite of everything, you ideally don’t need any soiled moist mops presumably touching the fibers of your favourite deep-pile rug lest they go away some ugly marks.
Like most fashionable hybrid models, the L40 Extremely’s dock not solely expenses the robotic’s ample 5,200mAh battery between cleansing classes, it additionally sucks particles from the robotic’s tiny 300ml bin right into a a lot bigger 2.3-liter mud bag. This could fortunately final a month or two earlier than needing to be disposed of, until, like me, you will have a menagerie of furry pets.
As a result of this mannequin additionally mops, it has two large water tanks – 4.5 liters for the clear water and an equally voluminous 4 liters for the soiled stuff. I also needs to add that this mannequin ships with a small 200ml bottle of Dreame-branded flooring cleansing answer, which you pour right into a separate reservoir subsequent to the mud bag part. This answer is then added to the water that is pumped into the robotic’s small water tank earlier than it heads out on a mopping run. Like all equally styled premium hybrid robotic vacuums, the L40 Extremely’s mops are mechanically cleaned within the station on its return after which dried utilizing wafts of heat air.
The robotic itself makes use of LiDAR, an RGB digital camera, sensors and AI to assist it map and navigate across the dwelling, and it is one of many best techniques this author has to date come throughout. Its preliminary mapping run was not solely quick however exceptionally correct, too. Actually, it was the primary bot to precisely divide my downstairs open-plan flooring into 4 separate rooms the place others have both joined two rooms collectively or made your complete floor flooring one giant room. By the way, the identical LiDAR, sensor and digital camera arrange can also be used to detect obstacles, and superb it’s, too. You’ll be able to learn extra about my impediment testing within the Efficiency chapter beneath.
One of many largest points I’ve with robotic vacs is the propensity of unfastened rugs I’ve in each room, and rugs are the robotic vac’s arch nemesis, particularly if they are not fastened down with a few of that sticky stuff IKEA sells to maintain rugs from slipping on onerous flooring. Nicely I am happy to report that at no time has the L40 Extremely snagged itself on any rug tassels or ruffled up any rugs whereas traversing them. I put this right down to some further top on the entrance of the unit that permits it to trip over virtually any rug, irrespective of how skinny and slippery it’s. High marks on this regard.
For some purpose, most robotic producers nonetheless insist on producing round bots as an alternative D- or square-shaped fashions. Consequently, the principle suction space on this mannequin is positioned between its two facet wheels with 9cm or non-suction area on both facet of its single rubber curler. That is regular for many bots and invariably why they’re geared up with a facet brush to fling wayward matter into the trail of the suction curler. And talking of suction, this mannequin produces 11,000Pa of energy, which is above common and greater than sufficient oomph for onerous flooring and all however the deepest of carpet pile.
In contrast to Roborock and some different producers that equip their bots with two rubber brush rollers that run in tandem, this mannequin has only one 17cm curler. Nonetheless, I have not seen any important discount in mud assortment because of having only one. As an added bonus, this mannequin additionally ships with what Dreame calls a TriCut Brush, particularly designed for slicing unfastened hair so it would not bundle collectively and block the principle suction tube within the cleansing base when it is drawing particles from the robotic’s bin. It is value becoming this substitute curler if in case you have cats or canine of the shedding selection.
You get ultrasonic automated carpet detection and 5 ranges of vacuuming energy with this mannequin – Quiet, Customary, Turbo, Max and Max+ – and a sliding scale of mop wetness relying on how soiled your onerous flooring is and whether or not it is tile, vinyl or delicate wooden. I all the time set vacuum energy to both Turbo, Max or Max+ for full effectivity and, as a result of I’ve engineered picket flooring, someplace in the midst of the moistness chart when mopping.
Robotic vacs of this nature are normally very easy to arrange and this one isn’t any totally different. Merely take away the dock and robotic from the field, place the dock someplace with good entry to all of your rooms and replenish the recent water tank (the mud bag is pre-fitted). Subsequent obtain the Dreame app (iOS and Google), faucet the plus signal, choose the L40 Extremely and observe the on-screen directions. A voice assistant will chip in with odd vocal bulletins throughout each setup and day-to-day use, and it goes with out saying that this mannequin will even reply to your individual voice instructions if that’s your wont.
- Design rating: 4.5 out of 5
Dreame L40 Extremely assessment: efficiency
- Wonderful vacuum abilities
- First rate mopping, too
- Spectacular self-cleaning dock
The mannequin Dreame L40 Extremely is a wonderful navigator and a stalwart performer when traversing unfastened rugs. However how nicely does the L40 Extremely truly clear? Nicely, if the contents of the dock’s mud bag are something to go by, I might say it is a winner, particularly at amassing the wayward canine and cat hair that my dwelling appears to be engulfed in.
Actually, I can typically hear that reassuring whoomph sound as one other cardigan’s value of hair is being sucked out of the bot’s bin and into the dock’s larger-than-average mud bag. What’s extra, this bin-emptying sequence is not too loud both. This, alongside the TriCut Brush function, means I might price the L40 Extremely amongst the very best robotic vacuums for pet hair.
I’ve no points to report relating to this mannequin’s effectivity at amassing mud and particles whether or not it is on my onerous wood floors, the particularly furry carpeted rug sitting in entrance of my canine’ mattress or your complete floorspace of our village corridor. It simply heads out, cleans the sides first earlier than embarking on systematic parallel traces for the remainder of the room after which returning to its dock like clockwork. You’ll be able to even alter the frequency with which it returns to its dock to empty the bin.
I have been particularly impressed with how nicely the L40 Extremely has tackled our giant village corridor. After mapping the 110 sq. meter space in about seven minutes, it then proceeded to begin cleansing the sides and underneath any tables and chairs earlier than sweeping the principle floorspace in good parallel traces and what’s extra, within the course by which the floorboards had been laid. Granted it appeared to skirt round three small areas for some weird purpose however I nonetheless name it an excellent success.
So far, the L40 Extremely has held sufficient juice to hoover the corridor’s complete floorspace in a single fell swoop, whereas in Turbo mode. That is a exceptional statistic. It took 95 minutes to finish what I think about an enormous job for any robotic vac with a tremendous 54% of battery energy nonetheless remaining.
The identical stage of effectivity applies to its mopping system, which is healthier than any static pad-based moppers on the market. No, it will not substitute a mop and bucket (or probably the greatest wet-dry vacuums) for speedy stain removing, principally as a result of it is an excessive amount of problem commanding a robotic to mop a selected space that is just a few inches sq..
By the point you’ve got opened the app, chosen a tough zonal space and waited for the bot to get there, you possibly can have reached down with a humid paper towel and cleaned it up in a thrice. Nonetheless, I did carry out such a take a look at on a dried soy sauce stain and was impressed by how nicely the L40 Extremely handled it in three brief passes. I put that right down to these spinning mops and the downward stress exerted on them.
In fact, the thought with robotic mops is that, if scheduled, they’ll be sure that any onerous flooring are saved clear and tidy frequently – and on this case proper to the very edge – with none want for reaching for a moist mop, tea towel or paper toweling.
For many of my assessment interval, I usually let the L40 Extremely use its CleanGenius technique which purportedly makes use of AI to establish significantly grubby areas for prolonged cleansing. I primarily set totally different vacuum-only and mop-only schedules, though the bot will fortunately carry out each strategies of cleansing throughout the identical time-frame. And as I’ve talked about above, if performing a twin vac-and-mop operate, the L40 Extremely’s mops are raised by a few centimeters every time it is crossing a patch of carpet and, if vacuuming solely, it should go away the mops within the charging dock.
Impediment avoidance is a key ingredient on the subject of robotic vacs as a result of the very last thing you need is a jammed up robotic sitting there doing nothing whilst you’re out and about. I give this mannequin virtually full marks for impediment avoidance, although I would not belief it with avoiding canine mess or some objects beneath about two-inches in top.
I observed this once I laid out an impediment course comprising a coach with wayward laces, a neck buff, a woolen glove, a small canine toy and a cellphone cable. Amazingly, the L40 averted the coach and its two prolonged laces, the neck buff and the cellphone wire in three totally different exams. Nonetheless, it pushed a small comfortable canine toy ahead on two events and rode over the glove, fortunately with out it jamming up the suction curler.
Therefore, like most robotic vacs, this mannequin shouldn’t be infallible on the subject of objects lower than about two-inches in top. And which means I would not need to belief it with canine mess of any selection. Aside from that widespread anomaly, I give this bot full marks for efficiency.
- Efficiency rating: 5 out of 5
Dreame L40 Extremely assessment: app
- Simple to navigate
- Good customization choices
- Might be improved right here and there
Whilst you can carry out two quite simple instructions – clear and return to dwelling – by tapping two buttons on the robotic itself or by shouting ‘Hey Dreame, clear the kitchen’ and the like, the overwhelming majority of organising and customization have to be finished by way of the Dreame app, which you’ll obtain to your cellphone totally free from Google Play or the Apple App Retailer.
The Dream app could be very harking back to that from Roborock and it’s extremely nicely thought out and simple to navigate. Nonetheless, there are some components I might prefer to see improved, particularly zone cleansing – which does not save the command for later use – and the flexibility to set routines together with each day schedules. That is what I like concerning the Roborock app. It permits me to create a bunch of manually programmed routines and particular zone cleansing regimes and it saves all of them for immediate recall from the house web page of the app.
On the plus facet, the Dreame app allows you to see your complete map of your flooring plan in both 2D or 3D, and make changes like room merging, division and renaming, plus helpful stuff like having the ability to add digital partitions and no-go zones. You’ll be able to even choose the course of your picket flooring so the bot strikes within the course of the seams for simpler mud assortment.
The app additionally permits you to drive the bot across the dwelling remotely whereas viewing the scene from the entrance digital camera – a helpful function for checking on pets if you’re away from dwelling. Within the pantheon of robotic vacuum apps I might say it is one of many higher ones however nonetheless a bit method off the wholesale customization prospects supplied by the likes of Roborock.
Do you have to purchase the Dreame L40 Extremely?
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Worth | Premium, however not the priciest in the marketplace. For efficiency and the quantity of tech smarts you are getting, it is good worth. | 4.5/5 |
| Design | A well-designed combo vacuum and mop with options for tackling edges, and droppable mop pads. Dock does all of it, however is giant and ugly. | 4.5/5 |
| Efficiency | A wonderful performer whether or not it is vacuuming or mopping. | 5/5 |
| App | Simple to make use of and really complete, although a tweak or two would elevate it additional. | 4.5/5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
How I examined the Dreame L40 Extremely
As per regular, I spent two weeks residing with the Dream L40 Extremely and famous the place doable any anomalies in its cleansing patterns. Fortunately there are none to report. I additionally carried out numerous spot checks by programming it to wash a selected canine rug and a bit of onerous flooring with an ingrained stain. I additionally took into consideration its general efficiency and whether or not or not it fitted comfortably inside a house surroundings.
Learn extra about how we take a look at robotic vacuum cleaners.
- First reviewed November 2024
