Roborock S8 Pro Ultra vs. Dreame L10S Ultra

In this comparison, we’ll look at two of the most versatile robot vacuums with do-it-all base stations from different brands – the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L10S Ultra.

Each option has self-emptying and pad-washing features but with varying designs.

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is distinctive because it uses a scrubbing element for cleaning the pads, while Dreame uses a (more standard) ribbed component where the two discs spin against.

An overview of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L10S Ultra

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Introduction to the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and DreameTech L10S Ultra

Robot vacuum products have improved immensely over the past few years, and these products are proof.

While older models need constant babysitting, these machines are smart enough to be autonomous for long stretches (I’m talking weeks) with proper home prep.

Their navigational algorithms are smart enough to clean a large expanse without getting lost.

With the automated pad-washing and auto-empty features, there’s no need to do anything other than empty the bag or dirty water tank.

Best-In-Class Self-Emptying and Pad-Washing: Roborock S8 Pro Ultra

Pros

• Highly proficient navigation
• Twin-vibrating elements are efficient at removing stains
• Wide auto-empty is excellent at emptying the dustbin
• Above-average obstacle avoidance system
• In-robot water tank extends range at mopping floors
• The twin brush roll system improves its agitation

Cons

• Crazy expensive for a robot vacuum
• Lower airflow hurts deep cleaning performance
• Can’t pick up liquid

The S8 Pro Ultra is the next step in Roborock’s evolution from a start-up to one of the more popular brands in this niche.

It’s an upgraded version of the S7 MaxV Ultra, improving its mopping functionality and adding a second vibrating element to improve proficiency.

Roborock also tweaked its front sensors, replacing the twin-lens camera with an all-laser system to address privacy concerns (for some folks).

This model retains the same do-it-all base station with the pad-washing and self-emptying features of the S7 MaxV Ultra but with some tweaks.

One is the tank handle placement relocated to the back of the container and the smaller opening.

Despite these tweaks, there isn’t much difference between the functionalities of the S8 Pro Ultra and S7 MaxV Ultra base stations.

This robot is the first (outside Roomba) to have the twin brush roll design, improving its surface debris agitation.

Despite the downgraded airflow, the twin roller system enables it to be above average (for robot vacuums) at deep cleaning carpets (85.15%).

Nonetheless, it remains a more efficient robot vacuum option for vacuuming and mopping tasks.

Its high cost may be a roadblock for some in purchasing it.

Still, consumers will enjoy an efficient navigating robot vacuum with above-average surface debris cleaning performance and high-end mopping.

Cheaper Alternative: Dreame L10S Ultra

Pros

• Cheaper alternative to the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra
• Efficient at mopping stains thanks to the two spinning discs
• Larger bag capacity (3 liters)
• Above-average surface debris pick up
• Proficient navigation
• Quieter option
• Decent obstacle avoidance

Cons

• Pad washing isn’t as good as Roborock
• Still expensive

If the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is too costly, then the Dreame L10S Ultra is an excellent, less expensive alternative with some compromises.

It has the same versatile, do-it-all base station but uses a different pad-cleaning mechanism that relies on a ribbed contraption to dislodge dirt from the pads.

This design is shared across different brands like Narwal and Ecovacs and lacks the efficiency of Roborock’s bristled element.

One downside is it won’t be as efficient at removing gunk and debris from the pads.

Despite having more airflow than the S8 Pro, it wasn’t as good at deep cleaning experiments (85.15% vs. 77.95%).

This robot also has obstacle avoidance with the front camera and laser sensors.

It was decent (above average) at evading stuff like footwear (or a weighing scale) – large enough to be detected by the front sensors.

But it struggles with high-risk objects like pet feces and stretched wires.

The Dreame L10S Ultra vacuuming and mopping performance isn’t far off the S8 Pro Ultra.

Add the price variance – it’s worth considering for folks looking for something cheaper.

Similarities between the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L10S Ultra

Next, we’ll analyze the similarities between these versatile robot vacuum/mop hybrids.

1. Do-It-All Base Stations

The most obvious similarity is the do-it-all base stations with pad-washing and self-emptying features.

As I’ve said earlier, Roborock’s design is unique, with the bristled pad-washing element and the wider auto-empty port connecting to the robot’s brush roll.

Dreame’s design is more common since other brands like the Narwal T10 and Ecovacs Omni X1 are used.

It has the same on-top twin water tank design, easily accessible after opening the top door, which is a similar placement as the older Dreamed W10S model.

The bag is placed underneath the water tanks in the base station’s middle.

One advantage for Dreame is it has a larger bag capacity of 3 liters or 500ml more than the S8 Pro’s volume of 2.5 liters.

2. Ramp-Style Dock

These do-it-all robot vacuums utilize a ramp-style dock where the robot sits, providing a stable base during the self-emptying cycle.

I like this design over a vertical port since there will be no alignment issues during the auto-empty cycle.

3. Dustbin Placement

The S8 Pro and L10S Ultra have a top-mounted dustbin for easy access with the same 350-volume, which is below average for a robot vacuum.

Since these options have the self-emptying feature, the low dustbin volume shouldn’t be a deciding factor.

3. Efficient Mopping

The next similarity is the mopping efficiency of these products, thanks to the agitating elements.

However, the design for the S8 Pro Ultra and L10S Ultra vary.

Roborock uses a twin vibrating system where these rapidly move from side to side.

Dreame uses twin discs that rotate to dislodge and remove stains.

Both have a pad-lift feature where the mopping element lifts when it detects carpets.

It’s not a huge lift (only around 5 mm), but consumers can use the no-mop zone feature in the app to block the robots from going on rugs or carpets.

3. LIDAR

Another similarity is the LIDAR system, which uses a laser sensor to create maps and traverse.

Both will start the run, cleaning the edges before moving toward the middle portions.

These robots are (relatively) proficient at navigation, even around tight spaces where most VSLAM robots tend to struggle.

4. Auto-Empty

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L10S Ultra have self-emptying features, which have become a staple with the latest robot vacuums.

Both utilize a bagged system where a bag stores dust and debris that consumers must dispose of once full.

I like the Roborock design better since it has a broader port connecting to the brush roll, so it’s more efficient at emptying the dustbin contents.

Dreame has a vertical port located behind the pad-washing area. Since the port is smaller, it won’t be as good at emptying debris.

5. Obstacle Avoidance

The last similarity is the obstacle avoidance system. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L10S Ultra have front sensors for detecting and evading obstacles.

Dreame uses a front-facing camera with laser sensors flanking it.

Roborock changed the design from the S7 MaxV Ultra’s twin-lens camera system to an all-laser version.

I’m not sure why Roborock switched, but it could be privacy concerns expressed by consumers with the old camera sensor since captured images are stored in the cloud.

Both were good at avoiding objects like shoes, slippers and a weighing scale – items big enough to be seen by the sensors.

However, these robots struggle with stretched wires, an issue with other brands. 

The S8 Pro was better, though, with coiled wires and pet feces, evading them with better consistency.

Based on experiments, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra was much better at obstacle avoidance, evading most obstacles better than the Dreame L10S Ultra.

Differences between the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L10S Ultra

Next, we’ll look at the variances between these versatile robot vacuums.

1. Brush Roll Design

One of the most obvious is the brush roll design. Roborock introduces the twin roller system in the S8 Pro Ultra, improving its deep cleaning performance to near-premium levels (over 85%).

It’s the second brand I’ve seen (after the iRobot Roomba) with a twin brush roll system sold in North America.

Another plus for Roborock’s design is it has a floating brush roll system, where the whole brush cage assembly pivots in all directions, helping it maintain contact with the surface.

The Dreame L10S Ultra uses a one-brush system with a fixed assembly that doesn’t pivot.

Like Roborock, it has a bristle-less system with a V-shaped blade pattern.

2. Mop Agitating Element

One similarity I discussed earlier is the agitating element for both products.

However, the designs for them are different. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra uses two agitating elements, while Dreame uses twin discs.

These designs efficiently remove stains, but neither can pick up liquid, limiting their functionality.

I don’t recommend either for cleaning food-based stains since both will leave a sticky residue.

3. Docked Orientation

One underrated variation is the orientation of these robots when docked.

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is docked with the camera facing the base station, while Dreame L10S Ultra’s camera faces opposite the base.

Why is it critical?

Not really a big deal, but it could pose some usability concerns since consumers will need to pull the robot out to access the dustbin, which isn’t the case for the S8 Pro.

4. Bag Placement

The Roborock S8 Pro bag location is the same as the S7 MaxV Ultra – besides the water tank, whereas the Dreame bag is at the middle portion underneath the water tanks.

Nonetheless, the location variance shouldn’t be a deciding factor since consumers can access it easily.

App Features

These products are compatible with smartphone apps, and I’d recommend consumers download them to maximize functionality.

The S8 Pro is compatible with the Roborock app, while the L10S Ultra uses the Xiaomi app.

A beta version Dreame app is available, but it doesn’t have all the functionality of the Xiaomi app, so download the latter.

1. Live Map

The Xiaomi and Roborock apps have a live map feature showing the robot’s real-time location.

It’s a feature pioneered by Roborock (when it was still under the Xiaomi wing), but it has since improved.

One of these enhancements is the 3D Map, showing consumers the map from a different perspective.

The L10S version of the Xiaomi app has a 3D map feature, but it isn’t integrated into the main interface, so it isn’t as coherent with the other features as the Roborock version.

It’s there for show but nothing else.

2. Mapping Run

Another helpful feature for the Dreame L10S Ultra and Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is the mapping run, where the robot enters an exploratory mode for map creation.

Unlike VSLAM robots that must go through every nook and cranny, LIDAR does not.

It takes advantage of LIDAR’s 360-degree scanning to determine the walls and other obstacles, cutting map creation time significantly.

3. Map Saving

After the mapping run, consumers can save the map – up to four levels for both apps.

These apps do an excellent job at pre-partitioning the areas with doors.

But consumers can manually set partitions if the need arises. Once the partitions are set, folks can name individual rooms, add containment, and more.

3. Containment

Both apps have similar containment features – invisible walls and no-go zones.

An invisible wall acts like a “virtual” wall where it blocks the robot from going past it, while no-go zones block an area specified on the app.

4. Selective Room Cleaning

Another positive benefit of the map-saving feature and room partitioning is that it enables selective room cleaning, allowing consumers to specify which rooms to clean.

This feature is available in both robots, and it’s possible to select more than one room.

5. Zoned Cleaning

Another variance of the selective room cleaning is zoned cleaning, where folks can draw the area they want the robot to clean on the map.

This feature is similar to Roomba’s clean zones, but the Roborock and Xiaomi versions aren’t savable, limiting their usability.

6. Vacuum and Mop Settings

These apps provide consumers specific control over deployment with their vacuuming and mopping tasks.

One significant enhancement Roborock introduced in the S8 Pro Ultra is using the vacuum and mopping tasks independently. 

This is possible because the S8 Pro’s mopping and vacuuming modules are lifted when unused.

Another customizable item for Roborock is the scrub intensity and route pattern.

The scrub intensity lets consumers choose between three options or how fast the mopping element vibrates. 

The route enables consumers to select navigation patterns, specifically how much overlap to use for mopping tasks.

Dreame’s options are slightly varied compared to a Roborock.

It enables consumers to select vacuuming, hybrid, and mopping-only tasks, but one variance is that the L10S’ brush roll is stationary, even with the motor shut off.

So there will be gunk around the brush roll guard after the mopping cycle.

Other options include the pad humidity, which dictates its saturation level after the presoak cycle since it doesn’t have a water tank.

7. Pad Wash Settings

Another customization option for the Dreame L10S Ultra and Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is the pad wash settings.

With their pad cleaning variances, the options also differ.

Here’s a screenshot of the Roborock options.

And the Dreame L10S Ultra.

One similarity is that both apps enable consumers to select a by-area or zone pad washing trigger.

Another is the auto-drying feature to dry the pads.

8. Obstacle Recognition

Since both options have obstacle avoidance sensors, an obstacle recognition system is built into the algorithm with a database of objects pre-saved.

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L10S Ultra don’t save snapshots but only show a graphic of the obstacle detected (like the shoe graphic above).

Navigation Comparison

Next, we’ll look at how these robot vacuums navigate, and there isn’t much variance since both use a LIDAR sensor.

Even the navigational route is similar – edge cleaning first before a back-and-forth cleaning pattern (and an optional crisscross pattern for selective room cleaning and zoned cleaning).

Both have an optional three-pass run, available through the selective room and zone cleaning, so it’s another similarity.

Efficiency

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L10S Ultra were above-average during the efficiency test.

For those unfamiliar with this experiment, I scatter quaker oats around a small room to check how much of it the robot picks and how long it takes.

Despite the lower airflow, the S8 Pro Ultra was excellent, picking up nearly everything after the first pass.

One reason is the high-end agitation from the twin bristle-less roller.

The Dreame L10S Ultra was decent but not as good with debris pick-up.

Here’s a before photo.

And here’s the result after a three-pass run.

However, with duration, the S8 Pro Ultra is slightly quicker than the L10S Ultra, finishing the two-pass run in 18 minutes, around 2 minutes faster than the L10S.

Not a significant variance, but it’s slightly more efficient.

Airflow Comparison

Looking at the Pa (or Pascals) figure, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has the higher rated suction at 6000 Pa or 700 more than the L10S Ultra (5300 Pa).

However, the airflow experiments reveal that the Dreame L10S Ultra has more airflow – one of the most significant surprises in this comparison.

The S8 Pro Ultra has less airflow than the S7 MaxV Ultra (11.33 CFM vs. 13.39 CFM), and the variance is higher than the L10S Ultra (11.33 CFM vs. 14.98 CFM).

Fortunately for Roborock, the airflow variance didn’t affect its cleaning performance much, as it still got higher scores with the extra agitation from the dual roller system.

Cleaning Performance

Based on cleaning tests, the Dreame L10S Ultra was better at picking up surface debris, especially on hard floors, where it was better than the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra.

However, Roborock’s twin roller system is better on carpets, where the S8 Pro was significantly better than the L10S Ultra in deep cleaning experiments (85.15% vs. 77.95%).

Which option is better on hard floors?

Thanks to its higher airflow, the Dreame L10S Ulta got higher percentages on hard floor experiments (98.6% vs. 96.9%).

Roborock was better in the sand on hard floor experiments, but only slightly (98.6% vs. 98.3%).

But airflow is a significant factor on this surface, and why the L10S Ultra is the better option.

Edge Cleaning Comparison

Again, the L10S’ higher airflow makes it the better option for cleaning edges. It was excellent, picking up most of the coffee grounds scattered on the edges.

The Roborock S8 Pro was also excellent, leaving more remnants at the edges.

Hair Wrap [on Hard Floors]

I tested the Dreame L10S Ultra and Roborock S8 Pro Ultra on five and seven-inch hair, and here are the results.

Again, these figures prove how critical airflow is in cleaning hair. The L10S Ultra was much better at cleaning five and seven-inch hair, getting over 90% and 30%, respectively.

You could see how much hair was wrapped on the S8 Pro brush roll.

The Dreame L10S Ultra was better, picking up more with five-inch hair.

Unfortunately, the L10S wasn’t much better than the S8 Pro at cleaning seven-inch hair.

Which option is better on carpets?

The S8 Pro’s dual brush roll design reigns supreme on this surface. It got higher scores on surface and embedded debris by a good margin.

It’s nearly a three percent variance with surface debris (99.15% vs. 96.5%) and close to 10% with embedded sand (85.15% vs. 77.95%).

Roborock is the better option on this surface because of these findings.

Mopping Comparison

Next, we’ll examine how the Dreame L10S Ultra and Roborock S8 Pro compare with their mopping performance.

Here’s a before and after shot for the Roborock S8 Pro.

And the Dreame L10S Ultra.

Please note these are hard-to-mop juice stains that robot vacuums without an agitating element struggle with at cleaning.

Both were excellent at removing these juice stains without stalling.

So mopping performance shouldn’t be a deciding factor since these robots are nearly identical to these results.

But other factors like the brush roll lift feature absent in Dreame could be since the brush roll will splash residue on the brush guard.

The S8 Pro doesn’t have this issue since the brush raises during the mopping-only cycle.

Another deciding factor is the pad-washing feature, where the S8 Pro has a distinct advantage with its bristled component.

The pad didn’t seem too mucky, even with the multiple mopping experiments, whereas the L10S Ultra pads weren’t as clean.

The ribbed contraption wasn’t as good as Roborock’s bristled component at keeping the pads clean.

But there’s more wear to the bristled contraption than Dreame’s ribbed component; you won’t need to replace it.

It’s a toss-up between the pad-washing efficiency and not having to replace anything.

Run Time Comparison

Since both use the same 5200 mAh lithium-ion battery capacity, there isn’t much variance in run time.

Dreame says the L10S Ultra will run for up to 210 minutes in the lowest setting, 30 minutes more than the Roborock’s claim of 180 minutes.

But with the efficiency of these products, that variance shouldn’t be a factor unless you’re using it inside a huge mansion.

Noise Comparison

Despite the higher airflow, the Dreame L10S Ultra is the less noisy option, only maxing at 63 decibels compared to the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, which went over 70 decibels.

It’s the better option if you’ll need something quieter.

Maintenance

Like all robot vacuums, the S8 Pro Ultra and L10S Ultra need some TLC to function at their best for years.

I’ll enumerate the list of components needing cleaning or replacing and the suggested intervals.

1. Brush roll: Cleaning it at least once weekly to remove hair and dust accumulation on the roller and axles.
2. Side brush: Remove and clean it weekly to remove any accumulated hair on the base.
3. Dustbin: There’s no need to empty the dustbin if you purchase any of these options with the clean base station, but don’t neglect the filter, which can get clogged with dust over time.
4. Drop sensor: Wipe using a clean microfiber towel to remove any grime or dust buildup and prevent an error code from disabling the robot.
5. Bag: Dispose of the bag once it reaches full capacity. None of these robots have an in-bag sensor, so consumers must do a visual check bi-monthly or monthly.
6. Auto-empty port: Ensure that the auto-empty port is free from any blockages to maintain its self-emptying efficiency.

Product Specifications

Model	Roborock S8 Pro Ultra	Dreame L10S Ultra
Width	13.89"	13"
Height	3.79"	3"
Filter	Washable E11 Rated Air Filter	Washable E11 Rated Air Filter
Navigation	Smart Navigation	Smart Navigation
Run time	180 mins.	210 mins.
Recharge and Resume	Yes	Yes
Map Saving	Yes	Yes
Number of Maps	4	4
Dustbin capacity	350 ml	350 ml
Water tank	200 ml	N/A
Auto empty capacity	2.4-liters	3-liters
Airflow	11.33 CFM	14.98 CFM
Warranty	1-year limited	1-year limited
Price	Check Price	Check Price

Related Roborock Comparisons

• Roborock Q7 Max+ vs. S7 MaxV Ultra
• Roborock Q5+ vs. Q7 Max+
• Roborock Q5+ vs. S7 MaxV Ultra
• Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra vs. S7+
• Dreame L10S Ultra vs. Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra
• Roborock S8 Pro Ultra vs. S7 MaxV Ultra
• Roborock Q5+ vs. S8 Pro Ultra

Where can I purchase these robot vacuums?

The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L10S Ultra are available in online stores like Amazon. Check the links below for the latest pricing information.

• Dreame L10S Ultra on Amazon
• Roborock S8 Pro Ultra on Amazon

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

Which is Better, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and Dreame L10S Ultra?

Given the price and performance variance, the Dreame L10S Ultra provides better (overall) value than the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra.

It was better than Roborock at vacuuming hard floors and nearly as efficient at mopping hard-to-clean juice stains.

One reason to consider Roborock is its superior carpet cleaning performance which is a notch higher than Dreame thanks to the twin brush roll system.

The gap in obstacle avoidance isn’t much. The S8 Pro is better at evading high-risk objects like pet feces and coiled wires, but both were inconsistent with stretched wires.

Thanks to the more advanced algorithm, it’s also significantly better than the L10S Ultra at evading obstacles.

But aside from these advantages, the S8 Pro Ultra and L10S Ultra are nearly identical in performance.

There are other potential reasons, which I’ll enumerate below.

4 Reasons to Choose the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra

1. More efficient pad-washing: The bristled pad-washing element of the S8 Pro is more efficient at keeping the pad clean.
2. Better obstacle avoidance: Roborock’s algorithm was better at detecting and keeping the robot away from potential roadblocks, especially high-risk stuff like wires and pet feces.
3. Better carpet cleaning: The S8 Pro’s twin brush roll design is better at picking up debris on carpets (surface and embedded).
4. Excellent at mopping stains: The twin vibrating elements make the S8 Pro Ultra highly proficient at removing stains.

4 Reasons to Choose the Dreame L10S Ultra

1. Cheaper alternative: The price difference between these robots is significant to be a deciding factor.
2. Proficient navigation: There’s not much variance between the L10S and S8 Pro Ultra navigation efficiency – around two minutes, which is tiny.
3. Better on hard floors: With the higher airflow, the L10S Ultra was better at picking up debris on hard floors.
4. Efficient mopping: This robot is as proficient as the S8 Pro Ultra at mopping juice stains.

The Verdict: The Dreame L10S Ultra Provides Better Value

Despite the technological advantages of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, the Dreame L10S Ultra offers better value, given the price variance.

It cleans hard floors better and mops stains nearly at the same efficiency as Roborock’s premium option, but at a more consumer-friendly cost.

The Roborock S8 Pro has two distinct advantages – better at vacuuming carpets and obstacle avoidance, but that’s it.

If these are deal-breakers for you, go with Roboorck. Otherwise, save your self a few hundred bucks and go with the L10S Ultra.