Dreame Bot L10S Ultra Review

This review will look at Dreame Bot’s latest product – the L10S Ultra – combining elements from the W10 and Z10 Pro.

Not only will this robot mop floors, but it also has a self-emptying aspect absent in the W10, making it more autonomous.

But there will be compromises since Dreame has to cram all this functionality into a limited space.

Also, there are additional features Dreame introduced absent in the W10, like the obstacle avoidance sensors.

I’ve put all these through a grueling series of tests to determine if purchasing this high-end robot vacuum hybrid is worth the premium cost.

Introduction to the Dreame Bot L10S Ultra

One feature lacking in the Dreame Bot W10 is the self-emptying feature, so while it was excellent at vacuuming debris, it wasn’t fully autonomous.

The L10S Ultra aims to solve this issue with the redesigned base station, housing the clean and dirty water tanks, plus a bag for the auto-empty feature.

To put it bluntly, it is larger than the already enormous Narwal T10.

While the Dreame L10S Ultra base station is (slightly) thinner, it’s noticeably taller, which could be a factor in some homes.

Twin Water Tank System

Like the Dreame W10, the L10S Ultra has two water tanks for the clean and filthy liquid after the pad washing cycle.

But with the added self-emptying functionality, the capacity is shrunk to nearly half of the W10 (2.5 vs. 4.01 liters).

It’s not a big deal since these tanks have enough capacity to last a few days, depending on how much it needs to mop.

An added feature of the L10S Ultra is the plant-based cleaning solution that slides between the clean and dirty containers.

It’s a nice twist since this design is hands-free, whereas other brands require consumers to add liquid into the clean water tank.

Since the base station regulates the amount of cleaning fluid that flows through, it provides better consistency because a computer calculates it.

Pad Washing

The pad washing area is at the base of the dock, where two pads spin against a ribbed contraption.

It’s the same design as other robot mops with a twin-pad system. Dreamed learned from Narwal not to use a white cloth but a gray one so stains aren’t as noticeable.

Even after several mopping experiments, the pads still looked clean.

Auto-Empty

As I’ve said earlier, this variant has the added self-emptying feature on top of the pad-washing feature.

Despite having two water tanks occupying the upper portions, it has an above-average bag capacity of 3 liters, which is adequate for a month (or so) of usage, depending on how often you use the vacuuming function.

Obstacle Avoidance

An added feature Dreame put in the L10S Ultra is its obstacle avoidance system, consisting of a front-facing camera and two laser sensors.

These sensors help it avoid obstacles, but after testing it extensively, it wasn’t perfect.

It can avoid obstacles, but the algorithm isn’t smart enough, so the robot gets close and touches debris.

Don’t expect it to avoid high-risk obstacles like wires or pet feces because it’ll not evade them completely.

It’s not as good as the Roomba J7+ at avoiding pet feces since it gets too close, increasing the risk of the robot or side brush touching it.

Dreame has to improve the algorithm, specifically with how close the robot gets before touching the obstacle.

The sensors are good enough to recognize an object, but allowing it to get too close defeats the purpose of this feature.

All Rubber Brush Roll

Dreame joined the bandwagon of robot vacuums with the bristle-less brush roll, including Roborock and Roomba.

However, based on my experience testing the robot with this feature, it doesn’t upgrade agitation much.

But it offers better hair tangle resistance since there are no bristles, making cleaning easier.

Top View

Unlike the W10, which has a squarish frame, Dreame reverted to the round frame with the L10S Ultra.

The dustbin access is at the exact location behind the LIDAR cover.

Two Spinning Pads

The Dreame L10S Ultra uses the same twin-pad system as the W10, that’s excellent at agitating stains.

Since this variant doesn’t have a water tank inside the robot, it relies on the base station to saturate the pads before the mopping run.

One quirk with the L10S Ultra is that the base station will only pre-soak the pads if you select the mopping-only function.

The pads will stay dry if you use the hybrid option, so it’s an FYI.

App Features

For this robot, consumers will have two app options: the Dreame or the MI Home app.

QR codes for these apps are labeled near the dustbin, so if you haven’t installed them, use a QR scanner to scan and download them.

However, don’t even bother with the Dreamehome app since it lacks functionality and doesn’t have critical features like the live map.

Next, I’ll enumerate the different features of the Dreame L10S Ultra below.

1. Live Map

One constant with all Dreame robot vacuums is the live map. Since it uses the MI Home app, it’s pretty responsive, and there’s minimal lag.

The app shows the map, where the robot is in real-time, and its progress through the grid lines.

2. 3D map

The Dreame L10S Ultra is the second robot vacuum with a 3D mopping feature, but it doesn’t have the same functionality as the Roborock Q5 or S7 MaxV Ultra options.

While adding this feature is a nice touch, it feels forced, (sort of) a showcase look-we-have-a-3D-map, but not well thought out.

It’s not integrated into the home interface as Roborock did, and it doesn’t have any grid lines to show the cleaning status.

3. Vacuum and Mop Settings

The MI Home app provides consumers with several power and mopping setting options, whether to enable the vacuum motor, turn it off, etc.

If the mopping pad is detached, the robot detects this, and the mopping settings portion is disabled.

Another quirk is you’ll need to switch to the mopping-only setting, so the pads are pre-soaked before the mopping cycle.

4. Containment

Containment features are available with the Dreame L10S, namely the visual wall, no-go zone, and no-mop zone.

The “virtual wall” feature is similar to the “invisible wall” feature in other brands like Roborock, where folks can draw lines to block the robot from off-limit areas.

I like that you can draw diagonal lines, adding to the areas it can block.

No-go and no-mop zones are the same: they block the robot from a square or rectangular area.

The no-mop zone is redundant since it has the same purpose, and this robot doesn’t have a mop lift feature.

5. Map Saving

Like all previous Dreame Bot robot vacuum options, the L10S has a map-saving feature, where consumers can save up to four map levels.

Each map is customizable, meaning you can add partitions, containment, schedule clean-ups, and more.

However, with the immense weight of the base station, I doubt you’ll want to move this around.

6. Mapping Run

The mapping run is one of the most helpful MI Home app features for the L10S Ultra.

It significantly cuts down map creation time since it utilizes LIDAR’s 360-scanning ability to scan its surroundings without going through every nook and cranny, unlike a VSLAM robot.

7. Selective Room Cleaning

Once the map creation is complete and rooms identified, folks can identify specific areas to clear through the selective room cleaning option by tapping on the “room” tab.

The crisscross pattern is unlocked through this feature and the zoned cleaning tab.

8. Zoned Cleaning

Another option is the zoned cleaning feature, where consumers can draw a rectangle or box where they want the robot to vacuum.

One plus with this feature is that you can draw multiple boxes in case of a need.

Other Settings

Since this robot has pad-washing and self-emptying features, the app allows some customization with these functions.

For instance, the clean mop pad tan provides alternatives for washing the pads – by zone or area.

How does the Dreame Bot L10S Ultra navigate?

This robot utilizes LIDAR (or Laser Distance Sensor) to move in straight back-and-forth grid lines.

Using a laser sensor helps with efficiency because of its precision and the speed at which it fires.

The L10S Ultra excelled at traversing around tight areas and didn’t wedge between office chair legs – a struggle with random navigating robots.

However, since it utilizes a crisscross pattern, it didn’t finish the run as fast as other brands like Yeedi that move in one direction.

Coverage Test

I put this robot through my usual coverage test to check how fast it can clean quaker oats scattered around a small room.

Despite the low airflow, it got most of the debris after the three-pass run, and it completed it in under thirty minutes, which is above average.

How much power does the Dreame L10S Ultra have?

Unfortunately, there’s a downgrade with the airflow figures with this robot, maybe because Dreamed used the new bristle-less roller, but it’s still a downgrade.

• Quiet: 7.27 CFM
• Standard: 14 CFM
• Strong: 14.87 CFM
• Turbo: 14.98 CFM

After the quiet setting, there’s not much variance between the standard and turbo settings, which bodes well for its range.

It’s around 3 CFM less than the W10 Pro. Hence it lags with cleaning heavier debris like sand.

Cleaning Performance

• Overall: 92.83%
• Hard Floors: 98.6%
• Sand on Hard Floors: 98.3%
• Carpets: 96.5%
• Deep Cleaning: 77.95%

A consequence of the below-average airflow is the effect on the cleaning performance. I’m not saying this robot is terrible, it isn’t, but compared to other options in the premium space, it could be better.

The averages are decent, but if you’re spending this much, expectations must be met, and the L10S Ultra falls short (only a little).

One potential trouble spot is heavy debris, and you’ll see the evidence with the sand on hard floor test where it got “only” 98.3% (more later).

Hard Floor Results

• Quaker Oats: 97%
• Coffee Grounds: 98.8%
• Quinoa: 98.6%
• Pet Litter: 100%

Strangely, the lowest score is the quaker oats experiment, which isn’t related to the lack of airflow, but because of the small dustbin container that regurgitated a good chunk.

I didn’t record the quaker oats overflowing on the inlet; the photo above with the coffee grounds represents this issue.

Not a big deal for cleaning stuff like sand, but it’s potentially an issue to have a small dustbin when cleaning a large home.

Related: Best Robot Vacuums on Hardwood Floors

Sand on Hard Floor

Another potential issue with the low airflow is its sand on hard floor performance. It’s one advantage high airflow robots possess (with a few exceptions).

Even with the low airflow, it picked up in the high 90s (98.3%) – which is a good score but compared to other premium brands like the Roomba S9+ or the Roborock S7+, it’s a notch below.

Hair Wrap Results

I also tested this robot and how much hair it picks up, specifically from five and nine-inch strands: here are the results.

• 5-inch hair: 98%
• 7-inch hair: 35%

The eyes test proves the high percentage of five-inch hair since most hair is wrapped on the axle.

Here’s how much hair is inside the dustbin.

Unfortunately, it struggled with longer seven-inch hair, only picking up 35%, but the good news is dislodging hair from the roller is easier.

Edge Cleaning

The before and after shots above show decent results but not great.

Yes, it got most of the debris scattered, but bits and pieces scattered, and the robot didn’t get stuff wedged in the crevice.

Again, this is proof of the low airflow and what to expect from the L10S Ultra.

Carpet Results

Next, we’ll look at how the Dreame L10S fared at cleaning low and mid-pile carpet with the same debris types.

Low Pile

• Quaker Oats: 95.8%
• Coffee Grounds: 97.2%
• Quinoa: 99.4%
• Pet Litter: 96.8%

Likewise, the Dreame L10S Ultra scored lower than expected with quaker oats in low pile carpet.

Again, it’s not a pick-up issue but a capacity issue where debris regurgitated from the container, skewing the percentage.

Otherwise, the results are decent for a below-average airflow robot but don’t expect it to clean like a Roborock or Roomba.

Mid Pile

• Quaker Oats: 88%
• Coffee Grounds: 96.4%
• Quinoa: 99.4%
• Pet Litter: 99.2%

Again, the results on this surface mirror the low pile setting but with worse quaker oats scores.

Surprisingly, it was excellent at cleaning pet litter, despite the low airflow.

These results show that the L10S Ultra is usable on mid-pile carpets for daily cleaning tasks, even with the occasional heavy debris.

Deep Cleaning

One negative with the low airflow is the below-average deep cleaning performance.

I tested this robot on fine-grade sand on a mid-pile carpet, and it only got an average of 77.95%. Not a bad score, but it’s a notch below other high-airflow robots like the Roomba 980 and Roborock S5 Max – both got above 80%.

Mopping Results

Next, we’ll look at how well the Dreame L10S Ultra mops different stains, specifically red wine, and juice.

One of my gripes with traditional robot mops is the lack of an agitation element, so it struggles with juice stains, which wasn’t an issue with this robot.

The same can be said about red wine stains.

Likewise, there weren’t any problems with the L10S Ultra mopping red wine stains. It was efficient and got most of it out after the first pass.

One quirk with this robot (I’ve already mentioned this earlier) is that you’ll need to use the mop-only setting for the pad pre-soak cycle to engage.

If you use the hybrid setting, the pads aren’t pre-soaked, and it’ll be more of a dry mop cycle, complementing the vacuuming function.

Another issue with the L10S Ultra and other similar brands is that it leaves a surface residue.

Since this robot does not pick up liquid, it relies on the two pads to pick up stains, and unfortunately, the consequence of this is residue build-up.

The only robot products I’ve tested that don’t leave any surface residue are the ILIFE W400 and W450.

How noisy is the Dreame Bot L10S Ultra?

One advantage of the low airflow is this robot isn’t noisy. I used a sound meter to check noise levels, and here are the results.

• Quiet: 55.2 dB
• Standard: 57.3 dB
• Strong: 60.7 dB
• Turbo: 63.6 dB

It maxed out at only 63.6 decibels in the highest setting, which is one of the least noisy options.

Maintenance

With a robot as complex as this one, maintenance is critical for it to function efficiently for years.

I’ll enumerate the components you need to check, clean, or replace.

1. Brush roll: One of the most abused parts since it’s responsive for debris pick-up. Clean it weekly to remove any dust and hair accumulation on the roller or axles.
2. Dustbin: Since this robot has a self-emptying feature, there’s no need to empty it manually. But the auto-empty system won’t pick up everything inside. So consumers will need to check (at least monthly) to clean.
3. Filter: Dreame recommends replacing the filter at least once every three or four months. One way of extending the service life is vacuuming the folds or tapping the filter on a solid surface to dislodge debris.
4. Bag: There’s no exact number of how long the bag will last, but a good rule of thumb is to check monthly. It doesn’t have a sensor, so consumers must do this manually.
5. Dirty Water Tank: Don’t wait too long before emptying the dirty water tank to prevent odor. Empty it weekly regardless if it’s full or not.
6. Base Station: The auto-empty port and the pad washing component are two areas to check. Wipe the pad washing component with a damp microfiber down once it gets filthy, do this bi-weekly if you use the mopping feature often.

Product Specifications

Where can I purchase the Dreame Bot L10S Ultra?

This all-in-one robot vacuum hybrid is available in online stores like Amazon. Check the links below for the latest pricing information.

• Dreame Bot L10S Ultra on Amazon

Disclaimer: I will earn a commission if you purchase through the link above, but at no extra cost, so it’s a win-win for us!

Does the Dreame Bot L10S offer Excellent Value?

The answer will depend on your expectations, needs, and spending appetite. This robot is priced in the premium segment, slightly cheaper than the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra and Ecovacs X1 Omni, so those products are the benchmark.

I’d say this robot vacuums and mops nearly as well as the Roborock but lags with obstacle avoidance and specific app features.

I haven’t tested the X1 Omni, so I can’t comment on how these compare, but their designs are similar: bag placement and the twin disc system.

So if you look at it from that perspective, this robot offers excellent value for the price.

I’ve enumerated some reasons why you should choose this option below.

5 Reasons to purchase the Dreame Bot L10S Ultra

1. All-in-one functionality: This robot has the auto-empty and pad-washing features absent in the W10, making it more autonomous than the older W10 variant.
2. Attractive pricing: Compared to the Roborock and Ecovac options, the L10S is cheaper without compromising too much on its features.
3. Efficient mopping: The twin-disc system is highly efficient at mopping even hard-to-clean juice stains.
4. Decent vacuuming performance: Despite the low airflow, it got decent percentages, especially with surface debris experiments.
5. Three-pass run: This option is one of the few I’ve reviewed with a three-pass run option – a rarity for robot vacuums.

The Verdict: Good Value Alternative to More Expensive Brands

Don’t let the airflow limitations or massive base station discourage you from purchasing the Dreame Bot L10S Ultra. It checked most boxes with must-have features for a do-it-all robot vacuum and mop.

It won’t clean as well as high airflow options like the Roomba S9+, but its efficient navigation and mopping make up for the lack of power.

I’d put this a notch below the ultra-premium Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra because it also didn’t avoid obstacles (as well). Still, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it because of its above-average mopping, vacuuming, and navigation performance. Plus, it’s cheaper.