Review: Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2

Dreame has launched a new version of their L10s Ultra robot vacuum cleaner, now called ‘Gen 2’. The naming may not be the most innovative, but it makes it easy to recognise the difference when looking for it in stores or online. And it’s worth doing, because this model is an excellent upgrade. Although similar to its predecessor, the suction power is significantly improved, making it even more effective at keeping your home free of dust and dirt in your busy life.

The robot vacuum cleaner, affectionately named Bob during the test, sits in the centre of Dreame’s range and is one of the more affordable fully automatic models. With its large base station that handles both vacuuming and water filling, it offers high functionality – but it also takes up a lot of space. If the floor cleaning function is not needed, a smaller model may be worth considering.

The package includes the robot itself, a base station, two water tanks of 4.5 litres each, two mop heads, a brush and a bottle of floor soap – everything you need to get started.

Bob the robot

The Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2 is superficially similar to its predecessor and the slightly more expensive Dreame L40 Ultra, which we also tested recently. Both models, including their base stations, are made of shiny white plastic. The base station has a flap at the top that is easy to close and hides the two water containers for clean and dirty water. On the front is a silver-coloured door that covers the vacuum bag where the dirt goes and a removable container for soap.

The robot is equipped with a LIDAR sensor at the top, which, together with an RGB camera on the front, scans and maps the surroundings. Next to the sensor are three buttons, including one to call the robot back to the base station. Under a lid on top of the robot is the internal dust container, which automatically empties into the base station after cleaning.

The manufacturer promises that the device can handle ‘up to 75 days of cleaning without manual intervention’. The base station takes care of everything from vacuuming to water filling and adjusts the mixture of water and detergent itself. The mop heads are washed and dried with hot air in just two hours, leaving them almost completely dry – and with a noise level below 42 dB(A).

The biggest upgrade in the Gen 2 model is the suction power, which has doubled from 5,300 Pa to an impressive 10,000 Pa. At the same time, navigation has become more precise and the mop function has been improved. The base station has also been updated to both empty and wash the mops automatically – making it even easier to maintain.

A city apartment

Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2 was installed in a 130 m² apartment with no significant doorsteps, except for the back stairs and bathrooms. The apartment houses two children aged 3 and 9, so there was plenty of dirt and challenges for the robot – which it handled with flying colours. Setup was easy and seamless, and the app proved intuitive, although there is room for improvement. After a quick scan of the apartment, the rooms needed to be named and divided to ensure correct mapping. The children’s rooms were initially locked out due to clutter, but during a later cleaning, a room was automatically added when the door was open – a handy feature. If you have multiple floors, extra maps can be added even if the robot has to be manually moved between them.

Daily vacuuming at 10.00am

Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2 was programmed for daily vacuuming at 10.00am and consistently delivered impressive results. The app made it easy to prioritise the order of rooms, giving extra attention to the busiest areas.

In the test apartment, daily cleaning took approximately 115 minutes. Dreame claims the robot can run for 200 minutes on the default setting. Because we turned the power up to max, the battery was drained somewhat faster. If it runs out of power, it automatically returns to the base station to recharge. Once recharged, the work continues and the robot returns to the base station, where the automatic emptying of the dirt container starts.

Both dirt emptying and the maximum suction function are a bit noisy. The former is over quickly, while the latter of course goes on for longer. The most powerful suction setting also tends to whip up the dust a bit when it’s running around. Fortunately, it doesn’t matter too much as the robot thoroughly captures it later on its route.

The father in particular was sceptical about the robot vacuum cleaner, but was quickly converted. Today, he is fully convinced that the robot does a fantastic job. With its 10,000 Pa suction power, the Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2 effectively collects daily dust and dirt. Even if the rotating brush doesn’t reach into the sharpest corners, it leaves your home almost sparkling clean. For example, under the dining table, where the many legs of the chairs require precision. Here, the robot impresses with its ability to manoeuvre elegantly while picking up even the smallest crumbs.

The test apartment had no doorsteps, which made the robot extra efficient. One day, however, the door to the back stairs was accidentally left ajar, prompting Bob to explore new territories. No doormats, doorsteps or stair treads posed a problem. The robot scanned the area, picked up some dirt and then returned safely to the base station.

He can also wash floors

As mentioned, the Dreame L10S Ultra Gen 2’s base station includes two water tanks and a soap dispenser, which is a handy feature as many competitors require customers to buy their own soap. This can be problematic depending on the floor type. Personally, I have plank floors washed with white soap, while the test apartment has oiled herringbone parquet. Therefore, in this test we did not use the supplied soap, but instead filled the base station with the soap normally used for apartment floors. As long as the soap doesn’t foam, it’s not a problem and shouldn’t damage the internal parts – although some manufacturers may claim the opposite.

The result of the floor cleaning is just as impressive as the vacuuming. The two mop heads effectively loosen dried-on food residue, especially from younger children, and leave the floors sparkling clean. However, it’s worth noting that the robot is best at taking care of everyday dirt. If your floors haven’t been washed or vacuumed for months, you should give them a thorough cleaning first so you start from a clean base. The mop heads are automatically wiped off in the base station, but this process takes two to three hours and causes a buzzing sound. Therefore, it’s a good idea to place the base station in a room you’re not in all the time.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an efficient robot vacuum cleaner that can keep crumbs and dried dirt at bay, the Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2 is worth a closer look. It’s not their most expensive and advanced model, but its powerful suction is particularly suitable for busy families with children where dust and dirt quickly accumulate under the dining table. The included base station is a bit bulky, but containers for water and dirt collection will be an acceptable compromise for most people. Another compromise is the noise, which takes some getting used to. At full suction, the robot is a little noisy, as is emptying its own container for the base station and drying the mop heads. Despite this, the negatives are really minor and we have no problem giving Dreame L10s Ultra Gen 2 a warm recommendation.