Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2
Vacuum Wars Stars 3.11
The Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2 is a robot vacuum and mop with LiDAR navigation, dual spinning mop pads, and an extending mop for edge cleaning. Its dock automatically empties debris, washes mop pads with room-temperature water, and dries them with hot air. In Vacuum Wars testing, it delivered above-average stain removal and removed 90% of embedded sand from carpet. However, pet hair pickup was weak, and 69% of long hair wrapped around its brush. It avoided only 2 of 24 obstacles. A small dustbin and separately sold detergent dispenser add limitations despite efficient navigation and detailed app cleaning controls. See additional info
The Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2 delivers excellent mopping, strong carpet deep-cleaning results, and a capable self-maintaining dock. But in our studio testing, it also showed two significant weaknesses: poor hair management and exceptionally poor obstacle avoidance. Despite the Gen 2 name and its higher advertised suction rating, it is not the L40 model we would recommend for most buyers.
We purchased the L40 Ultra Gen 2 and evaluated it alongside results for the closely related L40s Ultra and our robot-vacuum test averages. The findings make this an unusually mixed review: the robot cleans some surfaces very well, but its shortcomings are important in homes with pets, cords, and other objects on the floor.
Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2: Overview and L40 lineup
The L40 Ultra Gen 2 is a robot vacuum and mop combo in Dreame’s midrange L-series. The earlier L40 Ultra was followed by multiple related models, including the L40s Ultra, L40s Ultra AE, and L40s Ultra CE. Our L40s series review provides more background on those variants. The Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2 carries a slightly lower list price than the L40s Ultra, though sales can change their relative value.
Dreame also introduced the L50 and L60 families, so the similar model names are worth checking carefully before buying.
Mopping: One of the L40 Ultra Gen 2’s strongest areas
The L40 Ultra Gen 2 uses two spinning mop pads, including an extending pad designed to reach closer to edges. Dreame specifies a 10 mm mop-pad lift for carpet transitions, and the app also allows users to avoid carpets during mopping.
Our dried-on stain test gave the Gen 2 a score of 144, above the supplied average of 108 and just ahead of the L40s Ultra at 139. In the coffee-only stain test it scored 163, compared with an average of 94.
We also assess the water left on the floor because excessive residual moisture can lead to streaks. The Gen 2 received a water penalty of 1.1 g, close to the 1.07 g average. Its combined mop score was 38.2, versus an average of 28.5 and 38.5 for the L40s Ultra. These results make mopping a clear strength.
Mopping Scores Comparison
| Test | L40 Ultra Gen 2 | L40s Ultra | Average |
| Dried-on stain score | 144 | 139 | 108 |
| Coffee-only stain score | 163 | — | 94 |
| Water penalty (lower is better) | 1.1 g | 1.4g | 1.07 g |
| Combined mop score | 38.2 | 38.5 | 28.5 |
Vacuuming and carpet deep cleaning
Dreame advertises 25,000 Pa of suction for the Gen 2, the highest official figure of the lineup. In our bench tests, the Gen 2 measured 0.79 kPa of suction, compared with 0.54 kPa for the L40s Ultra and a 0.99 kPa average. Airflow was 16 CFM, matching the L40s Ultra and slightly below the 17 CFM average.
The robot picked up different debris sizes on hard floors and carpet with minimal scattering. It also performed well in our crevice evaluation. Most notably, it removed 90% of embedded sand in our carpet deep-cleaning test, compared with 92% for the L40s Ultra and an 82.2% average.
Self-emptying dock and app controls
The multifunction dock automatically empties the robot’s dustbin into a disposable bag, washes mop pads using room-temperature water, and dries them with hot air. The system also supports fast charging and scheduling charging for off-peak periods. An automatic detergent dispenser is an optional, separately sold accessory, not a standard included feature.
The Dreame app offers map editing, no-go and no-mop zones, cleaning schedules, carpet avoidance, and water-flow settings. It also supports mopping along the direction of the floor pattern. The supplied script identifies Matter compatibility and support for third-party voice assistants such as Alexa.
Navigation and battery life
The Gen 2 navigates with a top-mounted LiDAR system. In our route-efficiency test, it covered 0.84 square meters per minute, above the 0.72 average, although below the L40s Ultra at 0.94.
Its 5,200 mAh battery produced a measured efficiency of 1.44 minutes per one percentage point of battery, below the supplied average of 1.56. Combining navigation and battery performance, our estimated coverage was 1,290 square feet per charge, compared with 1,170 on average and 1,537 for the L40s Ultra. This is a test-derived estimate, not a guaranteed coverage figure for every home.
Hair management is a major drawback
In our flattened 2.5-inch pet-hair pickup test, the Gen 2 collected 69%, compared with 91% for the L40s Ultra and an 82% average. That is a particularly relevant weakness for homes with pets and carpets.
It also struggled with long hair. The editor’s test notes report 67% hair tangle in the 7-inch hair test, versus 0% for the L40s Ultra and a 26% average. This is a measure of hair wrapping around the brush, so lower is better.
The Gen 2 has a smaller onboard dustbin than the L40s Ultra, which further limits its appeal for high-hair households. Dreame offers a separately sold TriCut brush, but we did not verify whether that add-on resolves the Gen 2’s results. The L40s Ultra uses a different HyperStream DuoBrush design that performed better in the cited hair evaluations.
Obstacle avoidance: The biggest reason to hesitate
The most serious weakness was obstacle avoidance. In our 24-object course, the Gen 2 avoided only 2 of 24 obstacles. For context, the original L40 Ultra avoided 21 of 24, the L40s Ultra avoided 7 of 24, and the supplied test average was 16 of 24. The L40s Ultra AE recorded 19 of 24.
The original L40 Ultra used a camera-assisted system with structured light, whereas the Gen 2 relies on 3D structured light and LDS-based sensing. The hardware difference is relevant, although our results alone do not isolate the precise cause of the lower score. The Gen 2 tied the Dreame L60 Ultra FE at 2/24 in the supplied results.
This is not a model to rely on for avoiding socks, cords, and shoes left on the floor. A quick tidy before scheduled cleaning would be especially important.
How the L40 Ultra Gen 2 Compares with the L40s Ultra
| Test | L40 Ultra Gen 2 | L40s Ultra | Test average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dried-on stain score | 144 | 139 | 108 |
| Combined mop score | 38.2 | 38.5 | 28.5 |
| Bench suction | 0.79 kPa | 0.54 kPa | 0.99 kPa |
| Airflow | 16 CFM | 16 CFM | 17 CFM |
| Carpet deep clean | 90% | 92% | 82.2% |
| Flattened pet-hair pickup | 69% | 91% | 82% |
| 7-inch hair tangle (lower is better) | 67% | 0% | 26% |
| Obstacle avoidance | 2/24 | 7/24 | 16/24 |
| Navigation efficiency | 0.84 m²/min | 0.94 m²/min | 0.72 m²/min |
| Estimated coverage per charge | 1,290 sq ft | 1,537 sq ft | 1,170 sq ft |
Verdict: Is the Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2 worth buying?
The Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2 has real strengths. Its mopping results were above average, its carpet deep cleaning was impressive, and its dock and app provide useful automation. But those advantages are undermined by weak pet-hair handling and an obstacle-avoidance result of just 2/24.
Our recommendation is to choose the L40s Ultra instead (See our full review) if deciding between these closely priced models, especially in a home with pets. Its obstacle avoidance is also below average, so buyers who prioritize avoiding objects should compare the L40s Ultra AE, which performed far better in our supplied obstacle-course results. For other options, see our best robot vacuums rankings.
Dreame L40s Ultra
Vacuum Wars Stars 3.51
The Dreame L40s Ultra combines strong cleaning performance with an extending side brush and mop pad, automatic mop removal, and a dock that empties debris, washes mop pads with hot water, and dries them with heated air. In our studio tests, it removed 92% of embedded debris in our carpet deep-clean evaluation, picked up pet hair well, and finished our 7-inch hair-tangle test with no tangles using its HyperStream DuoBrush. Its extending side brush also improved corner pickup, while navigation and battery efficiency were strong. The main drawback was obstacle avoidance: it avoided just 7 of 24 objects in our evaluation. Dreame specifies threshold crossing of up to 22 mm for a single step or 40 mm for a two-tier threshold. See additional info
Dreame L40s Ultra AE
Vacuum Wars Stars 3.52
The Dreame L40s Ultra AE is a robot vacuum-mop combo equipped with 19,000 Pa Vormax™ suction, a TriCut 3.0 anti-tangle brush, and intelligent obstacle avoidance via RGB AI + 3D structured light. It has a 5,200 mAh battery, a 395 ml dust box, and clean/dirty water tanks of approximately 4.5 L / 4.0 L. The all-in-one PowerDock auto-empties for up to 100 days, washes pads with 75 °C hot water, hot-air dries, auto-cleans the washboard, and auto-adds solution. App control and Alexa voice control are supported. For homes with pets, it recognizes pet-area objects (bowls, litter boxes) so you can clean around or avoid them, and it includes live video monitoring with two-way audio for pet check-ins. See additional info
Compare Dreame L40 Robot Vacuums
Dreame Robot Vacuum Buyers Guide – 2026
We outline the key distinctions among Dreame robot vacuums so you can determine which features are worth the extra cost and which ones you can pass on. Whether you’re interested in a budget-friendly option or a premium model with state-of-the-art features, we’ll walk you through the essential details to help you select a Dreame robot vacuum that suits both your home and your budget. See the Guide
Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2
