Robovac Excels at Sucking and Mopping, But Fails Here

Transform Your Cleaning Routine with the Stylish and Efficient Dreame X50 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop

Discover the X50 Ultra at Amazon

The Dreame X50 Ultra robot vacuum is not just a cleaning device; it’s a stylish statement piece for your home. Though it may not have the widespread recognition of brands like Roomba or Roborock, Dreame has emerged as a strong contender in the market, offering some of the best and most aesthetically pleasing robot vacuum/mop combinations available today. The flagship model, the X50 Ultra, is packed with all the advanced features one would expect from a premium device and comes at a price that reflects its high-end capabilities. During my extensive testing, it performed exceptionally well in some challenging scenarios, although it encountered a few issues along the way.

Explore the X50 Ultra at Amazon

At first glance, the X50 Ultra may appear similar to many other high-end robot vacuums currently available. It closely resembles the Roborock Saros 10, leading me to suspect that they might share the same manufacturing lineage. However, the vacuum’s docking station stands out with its sleek, modern design, easily my favorite among those I’ve tested. With dimensions of 13.4 x 18 x 23 inches, it’s certainly noticeable in any room. The docking station boasts a self-cleaning feature that uses water heated to 176 degrees Fahrenheit, effectively eliminating bacteria. Additionally, it features two large water reservoirs—one for clean water and one for dirty—allowing for extended use without interruption. Throughout my three-week testing period, I never needed to refill these reservoirs. Plus, the unit comes with a pre-installed disposable vacuum bag and a small container of floor cleaning solution.

Underneath the X50 Ultra, you’ll find a sophisticated dual roller brush system that mirrors the design of many Roborock models. With a powerful suction capability of 20,000 Pa, it competes head-to-head with some of the most robust robot vacuums on the market. The X50 Ultra is equipped with dual, rotating mop pads—one of which extends outward to clean closer to walls—allowing it to adapt to different cleaning needs. The mop pads are designed to detach, which is helpful for those occasions when you want to run a vacuum-only cycle. Additionally, a sweeper arm with three extendable brushes helps direct debris into the vacuum’s path, ensuring a thorough clean. The robot features a retractable LIDAR turret for advanced navigation, retracting when it passes under low furniture.

Setting up the X50 Ultra is a breeze; you simply fill the clean water reservoir, install the detergent, and plug it in. Control of the device is managed via a companion app. The initial setup involves scanning a QR code located under the robot’s hood, installing firmware updates, and mapping your home. The first scan of my apartment was impressively quick. Though it didn’t cover every inch, it managed to map out the space effectively, accounting for all areas. After the initial mapping, you will need to spend a few minutes naming the rooms and adjusting the dividing lines, but this is standard with most robot vacuums.

For my initial cleaning session, I opted for the CleanGenius mode, the vacuum’s default and most advanced setting. It recommended starting with a deep clean, which I appreciated; however, my first impression was less than stellar. The X50 Ultra selected a rather inefficient cleaning route, beginning in the kitchen and then traversing all the way across to the bedroom, skipping several areas in between. It then moved to the living room and continued in a haphazard manner, leading to a chaotic cleaning pattern on my carpet. The entire vacuuming process took 80 minutes, which was notably longer than any other vacuum I’ve tested, even those on their highest cleaning settings. By the conclusion of the cleaning, the battery was down to about 30%, indicating that larger homes may require additional recharging before the cleaning is complete. Alternatively, you could opt for lower suction settings to conserve battery life.

During the initial run, the X50 Ultra failed to pick up a significant amount of dirt, which was disappointing. Despite its powerful capabilities, I noticed several bits of debris still scattered throughout the kitchen and hallway. After the floor had dried, I instructed the robot to return to those areas, this time using the Max+ vacuum power setting. While this mode is noticeably louder, it effectively removed most debris from the center of the rooms. Unfortunately, it still struggled with edge cleaning, leaving many items along the walls uncollected. Even with its extending sweeper arm, it couldn’t adequately reach debris that was positioned close to the walls.

Discover the X50 Ultra at Amazon

The Dreame X50 Ultra performs admirably when it comes to mopping tasks. It effectively tackled three ketchup stains in varying stages of drying and managed to clean some congealed grease off my floor. However, it once again fell short at the edges. An unfortunate spill of juice near my sink, a common accident spot, went untouched, even though it was within reach of the extendable mop pad. On a positive note, the mopping action operates exceptionally quietly, making it the most silent mopping robot vacuum I’ve tested, especially compared to some of the louder models from Roborock.

The object recognition capabilities of the X50 Ultra are commendable, as it successfully avoided obstacles such as an orange USB cord on hardwood floors and a white cord on a white rug. However, its detection isn’t flawless; on one occasion, it mistakenly picked up a black cord on the white rug, necessitating a quick rescue from the vacuum brush—a simple task that required no tools. Fortunately, it excelled in avoiding items like socks and slippers, correctly labeling them on the map when detected. Dreame asserts that the X50 Ultra can recognize over 200 different objects and even has an option to photograph them automatically if desired.

For a rigorous test, I deployed my notorious Snack Gauntlet, consisting of goldfish crackers, pumpkin seeds, pistachio shells, scattered oats, and bits of oregano placed around the edges of walls, both on hardwood and medium-pile carpet. The results were largely positive. The X50 Ultra outperformed any other robot vacuum I’ve tested in terms of its ability to reach these scattered snacks. Many vacuums struggle with pistachio shells, often clogging or choking, but this model handled them effortlessly and quietly. It also managed to pick up goldfish and seeds without crushing them, which is a common problem with other models. Impressively, the X50 Ultra even found oats hidden beneath my TV cabinet—a feat that eluded every other vacuum I’ve tested.

Despite its impressive performance, the X50 Ultra struggled with cleaning edges. It often left debris along walls (I used dried oregano for visibility) and was inconsistent in corner cleaning, usually overlooking some debris. If a piece of food was within an inch of furniture or a wall, it tended to miss it entirely. I strategically placed some shells under cabinet overhangs, where it could easily access, but the robot failed to pick those up as well. This is frustrating, especially since the X50 Ultra excelled in open areas.

There are several noteworthy features to highlight. The X50 Ultra can effortlessly climb over thresholds of up to 1.65 inches, the highest clearance for any robot vacuum on the market, thanks to its ingenious extending legs that allow it to vault over obstacles. It’s fascinating to observe, and it performs flawlessly. Additionally, voice commands are integrated into the X50 Ultra, allowing for direct commands without needing to connect to platforms like Google Home, Apple Home, or Alexa. You can issue specific commands such as “vacuum the bedroom” or “mop the kitchen,” and the robot will respond accordingly.

Another feature I appreciate is how the X50 Ultra keeps its mop pads on the dock when not in use, which prevents your rugs from becoming damp unnecessarily. Even while performing simultaneous vacuuming and mopping, the robot can lift the mop pads up to 10.5mm (0.4 inches) to ensure they remain clear of most standard carpets. It can also lower its LIDAR turret, allowing the bot to reach a height of approximately 3.5 inches, making it easier to navigate under furniture. Overall, Dreame’s companion app is robust and while it may not have the same level of polish as Roborock’s, it provides all the functionalities one would expect, such as remote control with POV video, pet surveillance with photos, and detailed adjustments for features like water usage for mopping and the aggressiveness of the sweeping arm.

Ultimately, the X50 Ultra is a competent robot vacuum and mop, offering solid performance overall. While its slower cleaning speed is a drawback, the more significant issue is its inconsistency in edge cleaning, corners, and around furniture. This limitation appears to be more related to software than hardware, which leaves room for potential improvements through future firmware updates. Considering its price range of $1,400 to $1,700, I expect a higher level of performance, particularly in edge cleaning, without needing to rely on manual touch-ups post-cleaning.

See the X50 Ultra at Amazon