‘Genius’: Dreame X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum & Mop Review 2024
We tested the luxe Dreame X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop and found it overdelivers with a ‘really thorough and customised clean’.
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Like many Aussies, there’s no chore that is more of a thorn in my side than constantly cleaning the floors at home.
Given the popularity of robo vacs and the wide range of models now available – including hybrid versions with both vacuuming and mopping capabilities – it’s clear I’m not the only one who wants floor cleaning to be as easy and efficient as possible.
At $2799 a pop, the Dreame X40 Ultra robot vacuum is one of the newest luxe hybrid picks to launch recently into the Australian market.
So, I got my hands on one to test whether you really get bang for your buck with this luxe robo vac.
Dreame X40 Ultra, $2799 at Dreame
HOW WE TESTED THE DREAME X40 ULTRA
To put the Dreame X40 Ultra through its paces, I challenged the robo vac with cleaning various floor textures and different types of debris in order to provide honest feedback.
For its first run, I set the robo vac up in my lounge room (with carpet) and adjacent living room (carpet with rug). Both rooms were medium-to-large sized and regularly cleaned. I also tested the Dreame X40 Ultra in a smaller granny flat which had a tiled floor, a lesser-used space, with the floor in a much dirtier state.
A range of debris was provided to test the X40 Ultra’s suction power, including dirt and general grime, crushed up chips, human hair and textured spills such as sugar.
HOW WE EVALUATED THE DREAME X40 ULTRA
- Features
- Set up
- How does it clean and mop?
- Noise
- Run time
- Navigation
- Is it easy to maintain?
- How much is the Dreame X40 Ultra?
- Verdict: Is the Dreame X40 Ultra worth buying?
DREAM X40 ULTRA FEATURES
For the cost of Dreame X40 Ultra, you’d expect a swathe of features. It delivers.
Via the app, there are many options for a truly customised clean. Haven’t cleaned in a while? Turn “deep cleaning” on. Wish there was a way to clean later? Use the scheduling option. Want to mop and vac at the same time? Vac then mop? Just vacuum? You can pick any of these you desire and dictate the level of power used.
People with domesticated animals can opt for “pet mode” while those wanting to target specific areas can utilise the “spot cleaning” button.
The handy map-editing feature also allows you to personalise the navigation by marking “no-go zones” or pinpointing where obstacles like curtains, furniture or ramps are.
SET UP
Given how high-tech the Dreame x40 Ultra is, the set-up is surprisingly easy and user-friendly, including the app.
Everything you need, including the accessories such as extra mop pads and dust bag (the originals are pre-installed), are delivered inside one box. Setting up the device was sorted in mere minutes. All I had to do was plug in the base station, fill up the clean water tank with fresh water, pour the provided cleaning solution into the correct compartment and attach the mop pads to the robot then charge it on the base station.
From there, I scanned the QR code on the robot and followed the step-by-step guide on the app. It took only six minutes for the robot to map two rooms - and I was ready to roll.
HOW DOES IT CLEAN AND MOP?
For the two lounge rooms, I selected the vacuum-only mode. As well as the robo vac giving a solid maintenance clean on the carpet and rug, I was particularly impressed with how easily it sucked up the piles of sugar and clumps of hair placed on the carpet for testing purposes.
Where it slightly struggled was the handful of crunchy chips littering the floor. The robo vac managed to inhale about 80% of them, pushing some of the larger pieces across the carpet.
However, I loved the app’s feature which could return the Dreame X40 Ultra to the dirtier areas for another clean. Helpfully, the map-generated app even shows the “degree of dirtiness” using a colour code. I opted in and sent the robo vac to suck up the remaining chips. This time, not a crumb was left. Genius!
Here, I also tested the TriCut brush, which promises to cut through and detangle hair. As someone with hair that always seems to shed everywhere in my home, this nifty accessory piqued my interest. It was simple to install and to my delight, it did obliterate hair with little difficulty. While I have no furry friends myself, I can see how this brush would be a big selling point for pet owners.
Meanwhile, the granny flat’s tiles were where I gave the mop function a whirl and chose to “vac then mop”. Though the floors were admittedly quite dirty, one gripe I had was that the robo vac announced that the vacuuming portion was complete and tried to commence the mopping portion - but it had not yet sucked up all the grime I wanted it to. I manually paused this then made it vacuum again. While not an issue for day-to-day, keep an eye on it if your space is filthy as it might need a second vacuum.
When it finally reached mopping mode, the X40 Ultra did a decent job with floors, successfully wiping down the tiles without missing a spot.
NOISE
You’ll notice noise from the robo vac when running in standard mode but switching to “quiet” mode makes a considerable difference. I actually found that the greatest noise levels came from when the robo vac was at its base station and the auto-cleaning functions were in use, such as when the mop pads were being cleaned. Due to this, I wouldn’t switch it on overnight, especially if the charging station was close to the bedroom. The less-than-lullaby-like sound of whirring mop pads isn’t exactly conducive to quality shut eye.
RUN TIME
Run time for the Dreame X40 Ultra is fast enough to be efficient yet long enough to provide a thorough clean. It took 46 minutes to vacuum two medium-to-large lounge rooms (plus nine minutes to return to the dirty spots and reclean). Meanwhile, the smaller sized granny flat with tiled floors took 20 minutes to vacuum and mop the area.
NAVIGATION
The Dreame X40 Ultra’s navigation is clever with the ability to negotiate each room well and without bumping into furniture. The only minor hiccup was a failed attempt to mount a rug after vacuuming the carpet beside it. Smoothing out any kinks in rugs prior to vacuuming may help.
Among the app’s features are options for “collision-avoidance mode” (dodge that couch!) and a “pet care” section. While I don’t have pets and didn’t turn on the latter, this section offers AI-enabled “pet avoidance” and “strategic cleaning” around the pet’s spaces such as sheds and litter boxes.
One frustration I’ve often had with some robo vacs is sometimes there’s a very specific section that you want the robot to aim for without a full clean. The “spot cleaning” feature resolves this - it targets a small area and is done in less than two minutes, which is handy for spills.
IS THE DREAME X40 ULTRA EASY TO MAINTAIN?
The auto-cleaning capabilities of the Dreame X40 Ultra are heaven for someone like me, who hates any type of boring maintenance. The fact that the mop pads are self-cleaned by the base station and the dust collection is auto-emptying is a huge tick.
You still need to manually remove the dust box and filter in the robot itself but it’s fast and simple to do, as is the removal of the dust bag from the base station and emptying the dirty water tank. A cleaning brush comes included which is handy for scrubbing the water tank and the robot’s washboard in order to maintain.
The high-tech app shows you the remaining service life for the accessories, eliminating any guesswork as to when each needs replacing.
HOW MUCH IS THE DREAME X40 ROBOT VACUUM?
The Dreame X40 Ultra robot vacuum is on the pricier end of the spectrum, clocking in at $2799 while the Dreame TriCut brush accessory can be bought separately for $199.95.
For those not wanting to splurge, there are other models available for varying price points from the same brand.
These range from the lowest priced model, the Dreame D9 at $699, all the way up to the Dreame L20 Ultra which costs $2799. There are six mid-range options which are all around the $1000-$2000 mark.
VERDICT: IS THE DREAME X40 ULTRA WORTH BUYING?
Whether the Dreame X40 Ultra is worth the hefty price tag really comes down to what exactly you’re looking for in a robo vac. If you want all the latest and best bells and whistles and an incredibly high-tech cleaning device (and can afford the steep price tag!), then go for it. It has all of this in spades and will give your home a really thorough, customised clean.
If there are specific features that you have your eye on, it’s worth looking at the various Dreame models to see if one of the more inexpensive models also fit the bill – while leaving a few dollars in your pocket.
More Coverage
With more than 15 years’ media experience under her belt, freelance journalist Erin Doyle has worked for many of the country’s most well-known titles including ELLE, Marie Claire, Daily Mail Australia, Better Homes & Gardens, Australian Women’s Weekly and WHO covering e-comm, lifestyle, travel and entertainment. When she’s not working, Erin can be found attempting (and failing) to not be tempted by the juicy sales she spots - especially if it’s a bargain flight deal or yet another home tech device.
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