Robot vacuums are no longer stupid as we saw a few years ago. Since last year, I’ve seen more robots equipped with LIDAR sensors but most are placed on top only. The Dreametech L10 Pro comes with more sensors and advanced features while the launch price is very affordable at $359.
Unboxing Video
Specification
| Dimensions | 13.89 x 13.78 x 3.81 inches (353 x 350 x 96.8mm) |
| Weight | 8.15 lbs (3.7kg) |
| Connection Type | Wi-Fi 2.4GHz |
| Voltage | 100-240V~50/60Hz 0.5A |
| Rated Power | 46W |
| Suction Power | 4,000Pa |
| Battery Capacity | 5,200mAh |
| Dust Tank Size | 570ml (0.15gal) |
| Water Tank Size | 270ml (0.07gal) |
Features & Performance
If you haven’t heard of this Dreame brand before, it is another Xiaomi’s subsidiary. Therefore, Dreame products work under Xiaomi Home’s ecosystem. When you set up the Dreame Bot L10 Pro, you will need to install the Xiaomi Home app and add the new vacuum. This is a simple process since you just need to connect the robot to your home’s Wi-Fi network.
Although the L10 Pro can work immediately out of the box, I highly recommend you to set up the app first. You can use the app to control the robot as well as enable advanced features like high-precision 3D obstacle avoidance or carpet boost. You can also set up virtual walls and no-mop zones. The device is compatible with Amazon Alexa, unfortunately, it doesn’t work with Google Home or Apple Homekit.
This is a 2-in-1 vacuum/mop, so it includes a water tank with an attached mop. However, the mopping function still has a lot of shortcomings as compared to recent robot vacuums I tested. Therefore, I only use the mop occasionally. The mop works well in cleaning my hard floor but the problem is that I have some rugs and carpets as well. The L10 Pro can’t detect carpets well enough so it still brings the wet mop onto my rugs. To avoid the carpets, you have to set up no-mop zones for your carpets but it’s difficult to create those zones accurately. Another issue is that the wet mop lays on the floor after each cleaning session; This might damage your wood floor if you forget to remove the mop. The recent Roborock S7 can lift the mop and feature sonic vibration; That’s the best mopping performance on a robot vacuum.
The most anticipated feature of the L10 Pro is, of course, LIDAR navigation and 3D obstacle avoidance. The robot is equipped with double LIDAR sensors on top and another laser system on the front. Instead of using front cameras, the L10 Pro uses laser lights pointing to different angles to detect obstacles accurately. According to a Dreame’s engineer, the robot can detect objects which are larger than 3mm and after length and width analysis, it would avoid them selectively. In my test, the navigation system works pretty well in locating the robot’s position and mapping out the floor plan. It also manages to avoid toys, slippers, power cords, and other small obstacles most of the time. However, sometimes it still hits my sandals and drag my power cords around. Obviously, the laser system can’t recognize objects as well as cameras.
The cleaning time of the L10 Pro is just a little longer than some high-end robot vacuums I’ve tested. It takes around 30 minutes to clean a 320 sq. ft. floor. Its movement is confusing sometimes but in general, the robot follows the walls first, then clean in a zigzag pattern on the inside.
The vacuum boasts the maximum suction power of 4,000Pa which is way above most robot vacuums on the market. I am using it in the normal mode with boosted suction on carpets only. I don’t see any difference in the performance as the amount of dust collected at the end of each cleaning session is pretty much the same.
Conclusion
Pros
- Effective LIDAR and obstacle avoidance
- Affordable price
- Good suction power and battery life
Cons
- Not compatible with Google Home and Apple Homekit
- Mopping function has some limitations
Overall, the Dreametech L10 Pro is a great choice if its price remains at $359. I really hope they make this price permanent because at the full price of $549, it can’t compete with other high-end robot vacuums.
