Ultimate Dreame Robot Vacuum Buyer’s Guide 2025

This guide explains the practical differences between Dreame robot vacuums, organized by price and generation—from older, budget-friendly models to the latest premium devices. We focus on the features that Dreame builds into every model and then look at how each series adds more advanced functions. Our aim is to help you decide which series and which model best fits your cleaning needs.

Table of Contents

• Dreame Series Overview
  • Focus on Smart Technology
  • Evolution of the Mopping Design
  • Core Technologies
  • Naming Conventions
• Dreame D Series: Entry Level Models
  • D Series Overview
  • D Series Features
  • D Series Models
• Dreame L Series: Mid‑Range Models and Advances in Mopping and Automation
  • L Series Overview
  • L Series Features
  • L Series Models
• Dreame X Series: Premium Models and Breakthrough Innovations
  • X Series Overview
  • X Series Features
  • X Series Models
• Summary

Dreame Series Overview

Dreame has three active series: the D series, the L series, and the X series. The models are numbered by generation within that series with the higher number being the more recent model (for example, the L20 will be older than the L40).

The D series is the entry level series and only has two remaining models for sale on the Dreame website. Jump to D Series

The L series is the mid-range series and is made up of the L10s family, the L20 Ultra model, and the L40 Ultra model. Jump to L Series

The X series is the premium series for Dreame robot vacuums and includes their most prized features and innovations – carrying a price tag that reflects these enhancements. Jump to X Series

Focus on Smart Technology

Until recent big changes with the X50 Ultra, Dreame prioritized improvements in the robot’s internal technology rather than making large changes to external design. They seem to have had an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to brushes, mops, and other mechanical parts of their robots, instead choosing to optimize navigation, obstacle avoidance, and automated docking features. 

This seems to have paid off, as Dreame models are frequently found in our top 20 best robot vacuums and best robot vacuums with obstacle avoidance lists. 

Dreame robot vacuums are built with advanced AI navigation, obstacle avoidance, and hands-off automation in mind. In practice, you get a robot that efficiently maps your home, plans cleaning routes, and manages dust and water with minimal input from you.

Evolution of the Mopping Design

For a long while, Dreame maintained a consistent cleaning strategy. The first major change came with the L series, which introduced dual rotary mopheads in place of the older plate mop, which has to be manually removed and cleaned between uses. This switch to spinning mopheads opened the door to extending mop heads, automatically detaching mop heads, and mop maintenance in the dock, dramatically increasing hands-free cleaning.

Core Technologies

• Vormax™ Suction System: All Dreame models use this trademarked suction technology. The suction power climbs with the robot lineup as each new generation improves performance.
• Mopping/Vacuum Combo: All current robots in the Dreame brand have a mopping ability, but the entry level D series lacks certain automations.
• All‑Rubber Brush System: Every model (except for the DuoBrush on the new X50 Ultra) comes with a single rising rubber main brush with an option to upgrade to the TriCut anti‑tangle brush which is sold separately. 
• Pathfinder Smart Navigation: Dreame robots use LiDAR-based mapping and multi‑floor route planning to cover your home efficiently.
• App Control & Voice Integration: Each model supports control via the DreameHome app and is compatible with third‑party voice assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant.

Naming Conventions

Naming conventions in the Dreame brand are most important for understanding the L series, with Dreame’s six-member L10s family as the most confusing part of the lineup.

• “Max” is only used in the D9 Max Gen 2. It likely refers to an improved D9 over an original model which is no longer available, and it appears that the “Max” designation is retired after the D9 Max. The “Max” does not include a dock.
• “Pro” refers to an enhanced version of a robot model. If a robot is named a “Pro” only, then it doesn’t include a dock.
• “Plus” includes a dock with an auto-empty dustbin.
• “Ultra” includes a dock with an auto-empty dustbin and mop-washing.
• “Pro Ultra” means an enhanced version of a robot with a dustbin-emptying and mop-washing “ultra” dock.
• “Master” indicates that the dock is integrated into the plumbing of your house without its own water tanks.

Mercifully, the L series naming system streamlines as we move out of the L10s family into the L20 Ultra and L40 Ultra, and this simpler naming pattern continues into the X series, where the only distinctions are between the Master (integrated plumbing) and the Ultra (stand-alone water tanks).

Dreame D Series: Entry Level Models

Dreame D Series Overview

The D series represents Dreame’s older and more basic models. There are currently only two models left in the series, a D9 Max Gen 2 that comes without a dock, and a D10 Plus Gen 2, which has an auto-empty dustbin in its dock. 

This is your ‘no-frills, just clean the floor’ option, best for homes without many transitions between carpet and hard floors and not too much floor-clutter.

Dreame D Series Features

D Series Navigation

Navigation is handled with LiDAR sensors (trademarked as “Pathfinder Navigation”) and basic obstacle detection. They use an impact plate sensor (which means it may gently bump into stuff before it senses anything, then moves along or around the obstacle until it senses the floor is open again).

D Series Mopping

The D series models use a plate mop system rather than the newer dual rotary mop heads. This mop pad is pulled behind the robot, while the water tank replenishes the water in the pad at 3 adjustable rates of flow. A plate mop has to be removed and cleaned between uses, and it will not lift over carpets, so you will need to do separate runs for mopping and vacuuming.

D Series Brushes

They have a fixed side brush and, like most Dreame models, they have a “Floating” all-rubber main brush. This brush lifts over carpet and other obstacles to prevent battering the brush or getting stuck. The single rubber brush can be swapped out for the TriCut Anti-Tangle brush which is sold separately. The TriCut slices long hair before it can tangle around the brush and is a good option for users who are likely to need this. 

D series Docks

This series does not have much in the way of docking features. The D9 Max Gen 2 has no dock at all, and the D10 Plus Gen 2 has an auto emptying dustbin. Docking features become more robust in the L series.

Dreame D Series Models

There are only two models in this series, and there is very little difference between the robots themselves. The differences come from the docking capabilities. 

The D9 Max Gen 2 model comes without a dock: it has a charger only and a larger dustbin to accommodate the greater accumulation of dust. It also has a larger-capacity water tank on board the robot. The robot’s dustbin must be emptied manually. 

The D10 Plus Gen 2 model has a smaller water tank than the D9 Max Gen 2 and a smaller dustbin on board the robot. The dustbin is emptied automatically into its accompanying dock, which they claim only needs to be emptied up to 90 days. 

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Dreame L Series: Mid‑Range Models and Advances in Mopping and Automation

Dreame L Series Overview

The L series moves away from plate mops and introduces dual rotary mop heads, which provide a scrubbing action that the plate mops lack. These models also feature better navigation, enhanced obstacle avoidance, and more advanced docking stations that can empty dustbins and take care of mop maintenance. These models lift their mops over carpet, so you don’t have to do separate mop and vacuum runs, greatly enhancing automation.

The Dreame L series has three generations, the L10s, the L20, and the L40. The L10s has six members, and this generation is the trickiest to understand. We will try to simplify it for you here. The naming conventions listed above are important to understanding the L10s series.

All models in the L series except for the L10s Pro Gen 2 have an auto empty dustbin (the L10s Pro Gen 2 has no dock, only a charger), and the L10s Plus is the only robot with a dock that does not have automated mop washing. All L models with mop maintenance (an ‘Ultra’ dock) include Auto Detergent Dispensing.

Dreame L Series Features

L series Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance

All L series models use Pathfinder LiDAR navigation with some improvements over the D series. LiDAR combines with 3D structured light for more effective obstacle avoidance, and higher-level models incorporate additional sensors, AI, and a RGB camera for obstacle recognition. The L40 Ultra has all of the bells and whistles for obstacle avoidance, utilizing a combination of lasers, AI, RGB camera, and LED lighting for obstacle avoidance that has performed very well in our tests.

L series Mopping

As noted before, the Dreame L series makes a big shift from plate mop to dual rotary mopheads, which are two mop pads that spin in opposite directions for a scrubbing action, where the previous D series only used a plate mophead. This greatly increased the automation possible for mopping. These mops lift over carpet, at first only 7mm in the L10s Pro Gen 2, the L10s Plus, and the L10s Ultra, then 10.5mm from the L10s Ultra Gen 2 and onward.

Dual spinning mopheads also allowed for the possibility of automatic mophead detaching, which is first seen on the L20 Ultra and continues through the lineup. We also see:

• MopExtend Technology: Automatically extends the mop pad laterally to clean edges and corners more thoroughly.
• RoboSwing Technology: Provides an active swinging motion to help clean under low furniture and in tight spaces. (Note that some L models, such as the L10s Ultra Gen 2, may only offer MopExtend without the RoboSwing function.)

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L models with MopExtend	L models with RoboSwing	L models with detaching mops
L10s Ultra Gen 2 L10s Pro Ultra L10s Pro Ultra Heat L20 Ultra L40 Ultra	L10s Ultra Gen 2 L40 Ultra	L20 Ultra L40 Ultra

L series Brushes

As in the D series, L series models have a fixed side brush until you get to the L40 Ultra model, which has an extending, lifting side brush to reach deeper into corners.

Like most Dreame models, L series robots have a “Floating” all-rubber main brush. This brush lifts over carpet and other obstacles to prevent battering the brush or getting stuck. The single rubber brush can be swapped out for the TriCut Anti-Tangle brush which is sold separately. The TriCut slices long hair before it can tangle around the brush and is a good addition for users with pets or household members with long hair.

L series Docks

Except for the L10s Pro Gen 2 (no dock) and the L10s Plus (with only dustbin emptying), all other L models now come with docks that empty the dustbin AND wash and dry the mop pads with a range of days estimated for hands-off maintenance. Two models use hot water for faster and more sanitary mop-washing.

CleanGenius™ dirt detection first appears in the L10s Pro Ultra and becomes standard on Dreame robot vacuums from then on. This technology senses dirt in the dock. If the mop pads are especially dirty, the robot will trigger a rewash of the area where the excess dirt was detected.

Fast Charging is introduced on the L10s Ultra Gen 2 and becomes a standard feature.

Washboard Cleaning, where the part of the dock that cleans the mop pads also cleans itself, first appears on the L40 and becomes a standard dock feature in the X series.

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L models with only Auto-empty Dustbin	L Models with Auto-empty dustbins and mop washing/drying	L models with hot water mop washing	L models with Dirt detection	L models with Fast Charging	L Models with Washboard Cleaning
L10s Plus	L10s Ultra, L10s Ultra Gen 2, L10s Pro Ultra, L10s Pro Ultra Heat, L20 Ultra, L40 Ultra,	L10s Pro Ultra Heat, L40 Ultra,	L10s Pro Ultra, L10s Pro Ultra Heat, L20 Ultra, L40 Ultra,	L10s Ultra Gen 2, L10s Pro Ultra, L10s Pro Ultra Heat, L20 Ultra, L40 Ultra,	L40 Ultra

L series Suction

Suction in the L series is usually around 7,000Pa, with some variants going higher. The L10s Ultra is lower at 5,300Pa, but the Gen 2 of that models jumps to 10,000Pa.

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Model	Suction in Pascals
L10s Pro Gen 2	7,000Pa
L10s Plus	7,000Pa
L10s Ultra	5,300Pa
L10s Ultra Gen 2	10,000Pa
L10s Pro Ultra	7,000Pa
L10s Pro Ultra Heat	7,000Pa
L20 Ultra	7,000Pa
L40 Ultra	11,000Pa

Dreame L series Models

See the L series arranged in order of feature upgrades:

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Dreame X Series: Premium Models and Breakthrough Innovations

Dreame X Series Overview

The X series represents Dreame’s highest-end models. They offer the most advanced automation and are designed for users who want a very hands‑off experience. It is in the X lineup where several docking features that were rolled out a little at a time in the L series become standard. In the X series, all “Ultra” docks have:

• Automatic Detergent Dispensing
• Hot water mop cleaning
• Detachable mopheads
• Auto tank refill
• Washboard cleaning
• Fast Charging
• Smart Dirt Detection

Other common features across the X series:

• Dual Rotary Mopheads
• Advanced AI Navigation: These models integrate AI with RGB cameras, 3D structured light, LED lights, and LiDAR for precise mapping and obstacle avoidance.
• 6400mAh Batteries: increased battery life and more powerful suction than previous series.

Dreame X Series Features

X series Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance

Dreame performs well in our obstacle avoidance tests thanks to a multi-technology approach.

• Sensor Fusion: Combines retracting LiDAR, AI‑driven RGB cameras, and LED illumination to detect even small obstacles in low light.
• Remote Video Monitoring: All X models include live video monitoring, which can be useful for pet owners and security purposes.

X series Mopping

Dreame’s X models all include the MopExtend feature, where one of the mopheads stretches to the side to reach along edges, and RoboSwing, which adds an active swinging motion to the extending mop to effectively scrub under low clearances. All mop heads in the X series detach into the dock for vacuum-only runs.

X series brushes

The X30 Ultra uses a fixed side brush as in the D series and most of the L series, but in the X40 Ultra, X40 Master, and X50 Ultra, the extendable, lifting side brush becomes a regular fixture. This extending side brush can reach into corners and lift over obstacles to prevent collisions and tangles.

The X30 Ultra, the X40 Ultra, and the X40 Master use the all rubber floating brush that can be replaced with a TriCut antitangle brush, which must be purchased separately.

With the X50 Ultra, we see the first big change in main brush design in the Dreame lineup with the usage of a DuoBrush, where two brushes spin opposite each other for increased suction, which the X50 Ultra boasts at 20,000Pa.

X series Docks

Dreame’s X series robots with “Ultra” in the name all share basically the same docking features (listed above).

The “Master” X40 model, however, does not have water tanks in the dock, instead using your home’s plumbing system to manage clean and used water from the robot’s mop. We have been interested in this new trend of plumbing integrated robot vacuums, and we expect to see a lot more of these in the future. If you do not want plumbing integration, you must purchase the X40 Ultra instead of the X40 Master.

X Series Suction

With a greater battery capacity, the X series makes some major increases in suction power, maxing out (for now) with 20,000Pa on the new X50 Ultra.

Model	Suction
X30 Ultra	8,300Pa
X40 Ultra	12,000Pa
X40 Master	12,000Pa
X50 Ultra	20,000Pa

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X50 Ultra – New Innovations

The latest X50 Ultra flagship model introduces a major, industry-first innovation—threshold climbing up to 60mm, which is a significant upgrade over the typical 20 mm. This allows the Dreame X50 Ultra to climb a tiered threshold (think a sliding door track) that would otherwise block the path of a robot vacuum.

The X50 Ultra also sports a retracting LiDAR, which brings the profile of the robot down to 89mm for low clearances, Dreame’s slimmest design to date.

Dreame X Series Models

Here are the members of the X series arranged by generation:

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Dreame Lineup Evolution Summary

• D Series: Entry‑level models using a plate mop system. Affordable, basic robot vacuum/mop.
• L Series: Mid‑range models that introduce dual rotary mopheads, advanced docking, and more sophisticated navigation.
• X Series: Premium models with innovations such as retracting LiDAR, advanced side brushes, and the anticipated breakthrough threshold climbing in the X50 series.

Final Takeaway

Dreame’s core focus has been on AI navigation and obstacle avoidance—to deliver a largely hands‑off cleaning experience. While the basic mechanical design remains consistent, changes such as the dual rotary mopheads in the L series and the high‑end innovations in the X series mark significant steps forward. With groundbreaking threshold crossing technology in hand, Dreame has positioned themselves as a heavy-weight competitor in the robot vacuum industry.