Dreame has quickly made a name for itself in home cleaning technology, and the Dreame L40 Ultra proves why it’s a brand to watch. This high-performance robot vacuum and mop is packed with features designed to take the hassle out of floor cleaning, from powerful suction to an intelligent self-cleaning system.
With 11,000 Pa of Vormax™ suction, the L40 Ultra lifts dirt, dust, and debris from carpets and hard floors alike. Its extendable side brush and heated mop washing system ensure a thorough clean, and odourless operation while AI-powered navigation scans and maps your home in 2D or 3D for efficient coverage.
The L40 Ultra promises to vacuum and mop for up to 75 days without emptying or refilling. You can also easily control it from your phone, adjusting settings, scheduling cleans, and setting no-go zones.
We put the L40 Ultra to the test in a busy family home with pets to see how it performs on everyday messes. If you're looking for a top-tier cleaning companion, this could be your robot vacuum. But if it’s not quite what you're looking for, check out our guide to the best robot vacuums for pet hair or best wet/dry vacuums for more great options.
Overall rating: 98%
Joanne is a freelance writer focusing on health and lifestyle topics, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based content. She regularly contributes to Live Science, Top Ten Reviews, Medical News Today, and Fit&Well. Joanne also serves as a Customer Advisor for Top Ten Reviews, specializing in vacuums, air purifiers, and cleaning devices.
Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop review: Key specs
| Suction | 11,000Pa |
| Water Tank Capacity | 4.5L clean, 4L dirty |
| Noise level (min to max) | 70 dB in Max mode |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 18 x 13.4 x 23.3" |
| Dustbin volume base | 3.2L |
| Warranty | 1-year |
| Battery Life | 194 minutes |
| Special Features | Self-cleaning, self-emptying, security camera, petclean features |
Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop: Setup
Setting up the Dreame L40 Ultra robot vacuum and mop was simple and seamless. The vacuum arrived in a well-protected box with custom packaging that kept everything organized.
I found all the necessary components inside, including the robot, base station, side brush, mop attachments, cleaning tool and detergent sample. You also get two dust bags and an extra roller brush, which cuts loose hair and prevents it from getting bunged up in the main suction tube. This is ideal if you have pets like I do.
The self-cleaning and auto-empty features are easy to set up, and attaching the side brush and mops was super quick—they just clicked straight in.
The clean and dirty water tanks fit smoothly into the base station. The entire setup, from unboxing to the first clean, took about 20 minutes.
First, connect the robot to Wi-Fi and download the app using the QR code provided. Then, fill the clean water tank and add the detergent to the separate reservoir.
A full user manual and a quick start guide are provided, so you can be up and running in around 20 minutes to half an hour.
Once you've downloaded the app, it's worth taking time to figure out all the options available. The countless customizable features will take some getting used to. However, you can also start off with the CleanGenius mode, which, according to Dreame, uses 'intelligently recommended cleaning parameters' that identify areas with more debris and dirt.
During tests with sticky sauces and flour and oat debris, it did tend to hone in on those areas and tackle them first.
I tend to start the vacuum and then play with the app while it is cleaning, testing the different cleaning modes and other options. You'll need to set some customizable options, such as the wetness levels of the mops, before a clean.
It's important to allocate enough clear space around the base station so the L40 can find its way home. I'd say it needs a little more than most robot vacuums.
My usual setup in my narrow galley kitchen caused a lot of confusion for the L40, which roamed around instead of docking.
Things were much improved when I relocated the base station to my living room, which offered more space around the base station - around a yard or so.
- Score: 10/10
Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop: Design & Features
The Dreame L40 Ultra blends seamlessly into a modern home with a sleek, minimalist design that looks and feels like a premium robot vacuum.
Available in a clean, crisp white finish, it won’t look out of place in a stylish living space. Its smooth, rounded shape, matte finish and glossy grey panelling at the front give it a polished feel, and the unusually slim base station (13.5 inches) has a compact, modern look.
However, you may need to measure the space available before buying, as it's generally taller than other robot vacuum base stations - at just under 23.5 inches high. While not everyone will like the size and design of the base station I found it elegant.
The L40 Ultra is solidly constructed from durable hard plastic, and the white matte finish of the base station helps to disguise fingerprints, although you may need to wipe it down more often if it's in a busy kitchen, like my sample product. The robot itself is lightweight enough to move if needed but sturdy enough to handle bumps and obstacles without issue.
The underside of the Dreame L40 Ultra features a central brush roll to lift dirt from hard floors and carpets.
An extendable side brush positioned near the edge helps sweep debris from corners and along baseboards into the main suction path.
The large wheels provide good clearance, allowing the vacuum to transition smoothly between different floor types. The two mop pads are positioned toward the back.
The advanced sensors are pretty impressive to watch in action as the L40 Ultra carefully navigates around furniture, obstacles and pets, avoiding collisions and getting into tricky spots without getting stuck. It also has cliff sensors to prevent it from taking an unfortunate tumble down the stairs, so it's a good choice if you have different levels in your home.
The low profile allows it to glide under furniture easily, even with the camera on top and while it’s mostly hands-free, it’s light enough to pick up and move if needed.
Navigating the controls is a breeze, whether you prefer to use the buttons on the device or control everything from your phone. The Dreamehome app is well-designed and fairly easy to use, allowing you to set up cleaning schedules, choose different modes, and mark off areas you want the vacuum to avoid. In fact, there's a setting for almost anything you can think of, including taking pictures of your pets when the robot comes across them, a special curtain-lifting arm and more.
- Score: 10/10
Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop: Performance
Over a few weeks, I tested the Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop in my busy family home. With long-haired cats, a Golden Retriever and an almost-teenage boy obsessed with soccer in a muddy season, it had plenty to contend with on an everyday basis. However, I also assessed its performance by testing how well it coped with sticky, dried-on messes, sauces and large amounts of debris, such as oats and flour.
On its first run around my home, the L40 was impressive at positioning itself and mapping out the area quickly and accurately. Once underway, the excellent edge cleaning kicks into gear with an extending side brush that pops out when the robot hugs the room's edges. This increases the cleaning area and means you don't have to sweep the baseboards after it's finished (unlike many other robot vacs).
If you set the L40 only to vacuum, the robot handily unclips the mops and leaves them in the base. If you want it to vacuum and mop, it will prettily lift its skirts and raise the mops clear of the carpet, so you won't have wet rugs or carpet fibers to contend with (although I found a little dampness on deep-pile carpets).
The vacuum suction is impressive, and you have multiple modes to choose from, including Quiet, Standard, Turbo, Max, and Max+ Mode. I tended to run things on Turbo or Max because of my long-haired fur babies, which did a great job at removing pet hair and litter from carpets and hard floors. I did find that the robot sometimes scattered dry debris around, which it didn't always pick up, such as a pile of dry oats. But for everyday cleaning, I can't fault it.
Mopping is a dream. The L40 Ultra utilizes two large water tanks (4.5 liters and 4 liters for clean and dirty water respectively) and a specialized cleaning solution to sanitize the mop and washboard with 149°F hot water. The mops performed brilliantly at removing stains and sticky liquids, such as honey and dried-on sauces, as well as mopping up puddles of milk and water.
Once the mopping is done, the L40 uses hot air drying on the cleaned mop heads to reduce odors, too. The massive water tanks mean there's no need for the unpleasant job of emptying the dirty water tank after every clean.
The app offers a wide range of cleaning modes, wetness levels, and routes you want the robot to take. For example, you can choose from one of 32 moisture levels for the mops or one of four routes from the quickest to a deep clean route.
You can set it to vacuum, mop, vacuum and mop simultaneously or after vacuuming. You can also create a completely customized cleaning for different parts of your home.
I found dividing rooms impossible, though - it continually told me I hadn't positioned the dividing line correctly, which was a source of much frustration! I imagine I'll get to grips with this option with a little more time, though many of us don't need this level of granularity when cleaning our homes.
However, I can't fault the navigation and mapping. When you lift the robot and place it in a new area, such as a different level, it rapidly maps out the area and adds it to the app for you.
I also loved that I could turn on the camera anytime and see my home from ground level with pets nervously watching on in the background. This is a fantastic additional security measure if you're away from home and just want to check-in.
You can also add a setting in the app where your robot takes pictures of your pet - so pet lovers will have a lot of fun with this feature.
Mapping also identifies up to 100 objects, from pets to smaller obstacles such as shoes and electrical cables, popping little icons here and there where these items have been located.
I found the battery life to be excellent compared to other robot vacuums. The L40 successfully mopped and cleaned the entire 226 square feet lower level of my home twice (which took around an hour) without returning to the base station for a recharge. The robot will return to charge when the battery level drops below 15%, but I haven't yet reached that level without turning the vacuum's charging off.
If you have a larger family home or use the more powerful suction and deep clean options, you may expect more interruptions during a clean for recharging. Still, with up to 194 minutes of cleaning time in Quiet Mode, you may never experience a recharge mid-clean with the L40 Ultra.
Self-cleaning and drying is a hands-free experience. While the robot gives a great big whoosh when it sucks the debris from the onboard dustbin and into the base station, this lasts for mere seconds. The mop cleaning and drying is replaced by a lower volume mop cleaning.
- Score: 9/10
Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop: Care & maintenance
Keeping the Dreame L40 Ultra in good shape doesn’t take much effort, but a little regular maintenance can go a long way in keeping it running smoothly. While the vacuum’s auto-empty feature handles most of the dust disposal, it’s still worth checking the dust bin from time to time, especially if you have pets or a lot of fine debris in your home. Giving it a quick clean helps prevent buildup and ensures the system empties efficiently.
The filter is another important part of the vacuum’s performance. Over time, dust and dirt can clog it, which can reduce suction. Cleaning it every couple of weeks helps maintain strong airflow, and if it starts looking worse for wear, replacing it every three to six months keeps everything working at its best. Letting a washed filter dry completely before putting it back in is crucial—otherwise, you risk damaging the vacuum.
Like any battery-powered device, the L40 Ultra benefits from a little battery care. Keeping it on the charging dock when not in use is the easiest way to ensure it’s always ready to clean, but if you’re storing it for a longer period, it’s best to fully charge it first and top it up every few months to avoid battery degradation. Keeping the charging contacts clean also helps prevent any issues with the vacuum not docking properly.
If you do run into problems, most of them have simple fixes, and the manual has a good troubleshooting section to refer back to. If the vacuum won’t charge, checking that the dock is plugged in and cleaning the charging contacts usually does the trick. Connection issues can often be solved by restarting your router or updating the app, while navigation problems may mean the sensors need a wipe or the mapping data needs a reset.
For long-term storage, keeping the vacuum in a cool, dry place and covering it to prevent dust buildup will help maintain its condition.
- Score: 10/10
Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop: Price & Value
The Dreame L40 Ultra robot vacuum is priced at $1,499.99, though it's currently available at a discounted rate of $1,199.99. You can purchase it directly from Dreame's official website, dreametech.com, and other retailers like Amazon.
The upfront cost positions the L40 Ultra in the higher end of the robot vacuum market, and Dreame offers a standard one-year warranty on the L40 Ultra, with options to extend the warranty by one or two years for an additional $69 or $139.
You'll get a small sample of the detergent with the L40, but be mindful that you'll need to replace this - a 1L bottle on Dreame's site is $17.99. If you've had robot vacuum mops before, you'll know they usually have a bespoke cleaning detergent, which is often pricier. Whether you use a cheaper cleaning detergent is up to you, but it could affect your warranty if you do.
While the L40 Ultra is priced above models like the Eufy X10 Pro Omni ($799.99) or similarly priced to other premium brands such as the Samsung Jet Bot AI ($1,299.99), the multiple settings, high-quality camera capabilities, and mopping functions justify the extra investment in my opinion. Plus, there are often seasonal discounts and shopping events, such as Black Friday, where you can get a better deal.
- Score: 10/10
Would I buy the Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop?
If you have a large home or pets or need a reliable, near-hands-free cleaning solution, the Dreame L40 Ultra is an excellent choice. Its superior suction, smart navigation, and advanced mopping make it ideal for busy households that want the convenience of automated cleaning without lots of emptying and maintenance. However, if you're on a tighter budget or have limited space for the base station, you might find better value in other models.
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | easy and simple | 10/10 |
| Design | excellent | 10/10 |
| Performance | very good | 9/10 |
| Maintenance | straightforward | 10/10 |
| Value | expensive, but worth it | 10/10 |
How does the Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop compare?
The Dreame L40 Ultra is a high-performing robot vacuum that delivers strong suction, efficient cleaning, and a sleek design. However, it may be a bit pricey for budget-conscious shoppers.
The Eufy X10 Pro Omni is cheaper than the L40 Ultra and combines effortless vacuuming capability with mop cleaning. The 8,000Pa suction power may not be as strong as the L40s, but I found it to be just as effective in sucking up pet hair and mopping floors, plus it self-empties and self-cleans just like the L40.
If you're after an even slimmer base station and similar premium obstacle avoidance and don't mind losing the mopping function, the Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum offers the latest automated technology to clean your home. It empties itself at a sleek charging station that doubles up as a dustbin. All of this can be automated or manually controlled from your phone, either via the app or voice assistants such as Google or Alexa.
The Eureka J15 Pro Ultra offers exceptional suction power, precise mapping, and smart functionality. Its self-cleaning base, hot water mop washing, and anti-tangle technology stand out for busy homes with pets or kids. It's similarly priced to the L40 Ultra but comes in black if that's a color option you'd prefer.
How I tested the Dreame L40 Ultra Robot Vacuum Cleaner and Mop
I tested the L40 Ultra for three weeks in my busy family home, complete with a Golden Retriever, two long-haired cats and multiple litter trays. I used it every day to vacuum and mop hard floors and vacuum carpets in the living room, kitchen and hallway.
I also assessed its performance on liquids and debris types on hard floors, including thick sauces, sticky honey, milk, spilt cereal, oats, and flour, to see how well it coped with everyday spills and sticky messes.
Discover more about how we test.
