Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Excellent vacuuming and mopping performance
- Empties its dustbin and sanitizes its mops
- Accurately detects and avoids obstacles
Cons
- Mop heads tend to get stuck on carpet edges
- Expensive
Our Verdict
The Dreame X40 Ultra is a high-performance robot vacuum and mop that justifies its asking price with fantastic cleaning results and hands-off operation.
Price When Reviewed
$1,899.99
Best Prices Today: Dreame X40 Ultra
$1,899.99
Dreametech released the luxe Dreame X30 Ultra robot vacuum and mop earlier this year, which set a new standard for hands-free maintenance with a self-detangling roller brush and auto-extending mop heads, among other advanced features.
Now the company has introduced a new flagship robot cleaner that bests the X30 in several ways. The Dreame X40 Ultra maintains the sleek, minimalist design of its predecessor but has been enhanced under the hood.
The Dreame X40 Ultra’s enhanced suction power, fantastic mopping system, and advanced dirt detection capabilities will ensure thorough and efficient cleaning.
New and improved features
There’s a leap in max suction power from 8,300 Pa to a formidable 12,000 Pa to make it more effective on thick carpets. A new extendable side brush swings out during vacuuming when the robot detects wall corners, the bottom of cabinets, and other right-angled and low overhanging areas.
This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot vacuums.
The mop cleaning system now uses hotter water at 158 degrees Fahrenheit—up from 140 degrees F on the X30 Ultra—to ensure cleaner pads and reduced odors.
Additionally, the dust box capacity has been increased from 300ml to 350ml and the dirt detection technology has been improved.
Key features of the X30 Ultra have been transferred over as well. These include an anti-tangle brush that integrates cutting heads next to the roller brush, a flex arm that extends the robot’s mop heads when it identifies corners and edges to ensure complete cleaning, and a rising mop that lifts up to 22mm when it detects carpet to prevent dampening.
Setup and performance
The X40 Ultra comes almost fully assembled. You just need to attach a ramp to the base station and the two mop heads to the bottom of the robot. Then place the base station near a power outlet, plug it in, and put the X40 Ultra on the dock to charge.
The X40 Ultra introduces several enhancements including a new extendable side brush that swings out the robot detects wall corners and other right-angled areas.
The X40 Ultra introduces several enhancements including a new extendable side brush that swings out the robot detects wall corners and other right-angled areas.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
The X40 Ultra introduces several enhancements including a new extendable side brush that swings out the robot detects wall corners and other right-angled areas.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
To connect to robot to your Wi-Fi, download the DreameHome app and follow the instructions to add a new device. The app will prompt you to scan the device’s QR code and guide you through the connection process.
The X40 Ultra uses AI with an RGB camera, and 3D structured light scanning to navigate and avoid obstacles. The first time you dispatch the robot it will conduct a mapping run of all the accessible space in your home. The map it created of mine was an accurate floorplan that correctly identified floor surfaces and the type of obstacles it encountered (shoes, power cords, and so on). It mislabeled a bathroom and a hallway as “kitchen,” but this was easy to correct using the editing tool, which also allows you to add no-go zones, furniture icons, and other elements to the map.
You need to add water and some of the supplied cleaning fluid to the base station’s clean-water tank before you run your first cleaning job. The app offers three cleaning types—All, Room, and Zone—and two modes, CleanGenius and Custom. The first uses AI to recommend cleaning parameters based on your environment and the second allows you to tailor cleaning settings manually.
I ran several jobs around my home, which includes laminate flooring and a few area rugs. For the first run, I had it vacuum and mop simultaneously to gauge how it handled typical household “dirt,” such as dust, food, crumbs, and pet hair. The robot first vacuumed, then mopped the hard floors, before moving on to the carpet. It dutifully avoided the many obstacles it detected during its mapping run without bumping into any of them, but in an exact repeat of what happened when I tested the X30 Ultra, it got hung up when one of its mop heads caught the lip of an area rug and detached, pausing the cleaning.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
Cleaning resumed once I reattached the head, and the cleaning results were excellent. The dustbin was neatly packed with household detritus, and there were no hair tangles on the main brush thanks to the integrated cutting heads next to the roller. The rotating mop pads easily lifted a couple of sticky stains from the floor and restored its shine.
For the next run, I scattered 1/3 cup of rice on the carpet and hard floors to see just how powerful the improved suction was. It sucked up every grain from the carpet in a single pass. On hard floors, the test was less successful. The vacuum initially picked up most of the rice but dumped a good portion of it back on the floor as it was entering the dock to empty its dustbin. In the end, only about three-quarters of the amount I scattered made it into the base station dust bag. Most of these were picked up on a subsequent run.
Finally, I spread a teaspoon of jelly on the hard floor to get a closer look at the mopping performance. The X40 Ultra scrubbed it clean, leaving no trace of residue.
Noise level
The X40 Ultra is far quieter than a conventional corded vacuum. Other than the low hum of its spinning mop heads and bursts of suction when it detects carpet or an area of concentrated debris, the sound of its operation is barely noticeable.
The self-maintenance processes are a bit louder, particularly when the contents of the robot’s dustbin are removed. This rises almost to the level of a corded vacuum, but it only lasts a few seconds.
Mobile app
The DreameHome app has a streamlined and intuitive interface that should be user-friendly for both new and experienced users.
Easy-to-navigate menus and clear icons allow you to quickly access essential functions such as starting or scheduling cleanings, adjusting suction power, and managing mopping settings. Maps can be displayed in 2D or 3D, with a variety of tools for customizing cleaning areas.
In addition to the app, Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant can be used to control the X40 Ultra.
Specifications
- Maximum suction: 12,000 Pa
- Dust box capacity: 300ml
- Water tank capacity: 80ml
- Clean/used water tank capacity: 4.5l/4.0l
- Obstacle clearing height: 22mm
- Obstacle avoidance and navigation: AI-enabled RGB camera, 3D structured light
Should you buy the Dreame X40 Ultra?
The Dreame X40 Ultra should be a compelling choice for anyone looking for a high-performance robotic vacuum. Its enhanced suction power, fantastic mopping system, and advanced dirt detection capabilities will ensure thorough and efficient cleaning across various floor types.
At $1899.99, it’s a significant investment, but a worthwhile one to keep your home spotless with minimal effort.
