Review: Dreame L50 Ultra

Of course, a robot vacuum cleaner cannot be a fully automated cleaning solution because cleaning is so much more than just cleaning floors. Now with that settled, the testing can begin!

A robot vacuum cleaner with a base station that not only charges the vacuum cleaner, but also empties it of dirt and contains containers for clean and dirty washing water is not a small thing that can be hidden away under a sofa or other piece of furniture.

If you’re picky about what you bring into your home, robotic vacuum cleaners can be an aesthetic challenge. However, the Dreame L50 Ultra is a really stylish product in this context that I think can charm most people. It looks similar to its relative, the previously tested Mova V50 Ultra Complete, but unlike Mova, whose base station is high-gloss, Dreame is matte white, which I personally think contributes to a slightly more sophisticated look.

Getting started with Dreame L50 Ultra

Unpacking and installation is hassle-free. I download the Dreamehome app and send the vacuum cleaner off to survey the home.

A robot vacuum cleaner very rarely does an exact room division, and we have mirrored doors in some rooms, which can cause some problems. So once the mapping is complete, it can be useful to sit down and quietly and methodically correct the map to match reality. With Dreame L50 Ultra, this is neither difficult nor complicated. The app is user-friendly and informative.

Dreame L50 Ultra as a cleaning solution

Hoping that everyone now understands that the vacuum cleaner doesn’t dust, clean windows or fluff cushions, it does a great job of vacuuming and mopping the floors!

I should also add that the vast majority of today’s robot vacuums are great at avoiding obstacles like wires, socks in the room and other things that early models couldn’t handle. The Dreame L50 Ultra navigates neatly between cat toys, charging cables and shoes in the hallway. The cats’ food bowls are also left alone. Good job! Of course, I get the best cleaning results when I tidy and prepare the home before I start, but it’s nice to know that the vacuum cleaner hasn’t stopped in the middle of cleaning because it ate one of the cats’ toy mice, but has simply avoided the obstacle and continued its cleaning mission.

Thanks to the flexible side brush and mop, the vacuum cleaner gets into every nook and cranny with impressive results.

In ‘vacuum and mop mode’, the vacuum cleaner lifts the mops 1.5 cm to prevent the carpet from getting wet. At the same time, it lowers the side and main brushes for extra effective cleaning. The manufacturer calls this TripleUp technology.

One of the things I appreciate about the robot vacuums I’ve tested lately is that they all get under our low hallway furniture (11cm) and even under the bed, even though we have a bedspread hanging down, with no problem. That goes for the Dreame L50 Ultra too! If you still insist on cleaning with a traditional vacuum cleaner and vacuuming under the bed and sofa twice a week, raise your hand! No, that’s what I thought…

Navigating doorsteps used to be a challenge for robotic cleaners, but not anymore. Dreame calls its solution ProLeap, which is a small leg that helps the L50 Ultra clear obstacles up to 6 cm high. It also means you have to put a virtual wall on the map in the app at, for example, a patio door that is normally open. Otherwise, your vacuum cleaner could escape in its quest to make the world a cleaner place.

Back at the base station, the mop pads are cleaned with 75 degrees hot water sprayed out of 20 nozzles. Something I can’t directly control, but it does look good on paper and I can feel the heat. As with many other vacuum cleaners, the mops are dried with hot air, which prevents the formation of mould and unpleasant odours.

Conclusion

The Dreame L50 Ultra is fast, efficient and easy to use. It’s related to the previously tested Mova V50 Ultra, and if you read my review of the latter but choked when you saw the price, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The Dreame L50 Ultra is actually at least as good, and even though it’s still a lot of money, I’d still say it’s a good investment.