Dreame L10s Ultra review: A robot that cleans, and mops like magic

I have been using the Dreame L10s Ultra for the last two weeks. This robot vacuum takes automated cleaning to a whole new level with its assortment of cutting-edge technologies, all working in perfect synchronisation. In this article, I will share my experience with the new robot vacuum.

First impression of Dreame L10s Ultra

The package arrived one late evening, of course considering the tech and its packing, it required two people to carry it to my room. Out of the box, the L10s Ultra felt like a sturdy and substantial device. This felt like a machine that meant business. It has a modern, sleek design and the self-cleaning station is compact compared to a few other models I Googled. I was apprehensive at first as I thought setting it up would be quite a task since the delivery executive casually quipped, ‘You’ll figure it out’. To my surprise, setting up the Dreame L10s Ultra was straightforward — just click the dustbin and water tank into place, connect to the app, and you’re pretty much good to go. 

The Dreame L10s Ultra makes cleaning and mopping hassle-free. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)

Once the robot vacuum was set up, the first thing that blew me away was its efficient navigation skills. I have never seen something like this up close and under my control. Honestly, it brought back the memories of playing with one of my first remote-controlled toy cars. When it comes to navigation, the Dreame L10s Ultra uses 3D structured light sensors along with an RGB camera and AI to instantly map out the room, and plan and execute cleaning strategies. Within the first few seconds, the robot vacuum accurately created a 3D map of my living room, bedroom, etc. 

Once it maps the rooms, you can customise the cleaning settings for different rooms and floors. You can even set up virtual barriers, and no-go zones, especially spaces that you wouldn’t want the robot to go — areas with a lot of wires, or corner lamps and plants. You can even schedule the cleanings, adjust suction power, tweak water flow for mopping, and more with the app, which I found to be minimalistic and intuitive. The AI and mapping work well — it simply handles everything like a breeze after some quick setup. If you ask me, for a fully autonomous cleaning experience, it doesn’t get much better.

How’s the cleaning?

I found the cleaning performance of the L10s Ultra to be top-notch. It comes with a 5,300 Pa of suction power, which makes it work on any dirt, dust, or debris found on floors and carpets as well. The bristle-less rubber brush is unique as it prevents hair from getting tangled while effectively combing carpet fibres. Though I do not have pets, I feel pet owners would appreciate the vacuum cleaners’ efficiency in picking stray hairs. When it comes to mopping, the L10s Ultra is quite impressive. There are rotating mop pads that apply just about the right amount of pressure and spin at 180 RPM offering a powerful scrubbing capability, especially on hardwood and tile floors. Those who do not want their carpets to be mopped can even set it to avoid carpets or have it automatically lift the pads when needed. 

The Dreame L10s Ultra’s base station has a minimalistic look. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)

The robot vacuum cleaner comes with a 2.5-litre water tank that allows for up to 200 square metres of cleaning area on a single tank. To test the L10s Ultra, I set my bedroom as the area of preference. The bedroom spans 14 square metres, it took the robot 15 mins to clean the entire room with vacuuming and mopping.

Layout of my room as mapped by the Dreame L10s Ultra. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)

My favourite feature is the full self-cleaning base station. After each run, the L10s Ultra returned to the dock where the dustbin was automatically unloaded into a large 3L disposable dust bag. Also, the dirty mop pads get scrubbed clean against the grooved base plate and later dried with hot air circulation to prevent any sort of odours or mildew. Emptying the dirty water tank or the dust bag is quick and simple. I feel this mechanism makes the whole cleaning process so low-maintenance.

What’s different?

Since this is a premium robot vacuum, it is accompanied by some premium features and the L10s Ultra delivers what it claims. Users will have a lot of fun with the voice control feature via Amazon Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant, making it easy to initiate cleaning sessions hands-free. The built-in RGB camera requires you to set a four-digit activation code, which according to the company, only the user has access to. 

The camera opens an interface that allows the user to manoeuvre the robot vacuum to their desired spots, besides they can also click pictures, and record video/audio. All photos and videos are saved in the dedicated gallery, much like a smartphone. You can also remotely view the robot’s built-in camera feed if you need to check on things while away from home.

What are the downsides?

Perhaps, the only downside I felt is that the self-cleaning base station can be a bit noisy when drying the mop pads and unloading the dustbin. I also feel that they could have given a charming persona to the robot, as the voice output or notification sounds robotic. After all, robots need not be all that stiff at all times. However, considering how automated and effective it is at handling cleaning, I can do with some noise and monotone speech.

The verdict

Overall, the Dreame L10s Ultra is easily an advanced and low-maintenance robot vacuum. The AI-powered navigation, powerful cleaning, and easy maintenance make this robot true to its set-it-and-forget-it status. If you are looking at automated home cleaning with utmost efficiency and precision, the L10s Ultra is the way to go. I feel it will completely change your perspective on just how easy vacuuming and mopping can be.