Dreame X40 Ultra

The Dreame X40 Ultra represents what happens when a robot vacuum company throws everything at a single product. Launched in April 2024, it packs 12,000 Pa of suction, AI-powered obstacle avoidance, hot water mop washing, and an all-in-one base station into a package that actually works remarkably well. Whether that justifies its premium price tag depends entirely on your situation.

The Bottom Line

This robot excels at hands-off cleaning for busy households, especially those with pets. It handles fur, avoids accidents, and mops up paw prints without much intervention. The combination of powerful vacuuming and intelligent mopping makes it genuinely useful for homes with mixed flooring. Expect to pay for that convenience through both the upfront cost and ongoing consumables.

Pricing and Availability

The X40 Ultra hit the market at $1,899 USD, though that number has dropped considerably. The official store regularly runs promotions bringing it down to around $1,199, and late 2025 sales have pushed street prices as low as $500. International pricing varies: £1,299 in the UK and AU$2,799 in Australia.

You can buy it directly from Dreame or through Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. A “Complete” variant includes extra accessories like the TriCut anti-tangle brush and spare consumables, but the core robot is identical across all versions.

Size and Design

The robot measures 350 x 350 x 97 mm (roughly 13.8” x 13.8” x 3.8”), making it compact enough to slip under most furniture with 4” clearance. It weighs about 4 kg (8.8 lbs) and comes in black or white finishes. The LiDAR turret on top is the tallest point, so if your couch sits at exactly 4 inches, it’ll be a tight squeeze.

The base station is considerably larger at 340 x 457 x 590 mm. Plan for about 13.4” wide by 18” deep of floor space, plus room for the robot to dock. You’ll want at least 1.5 feet of clearance on each side and 4 feet in front.

Cleaning Performance

Vacuuming

The 12,000 Pa maximum suction puts this among the strongest robot vacuums available. Independent testing measured around 20 CFM of airflow, well above typical robots, and the X40 consistently exceeded expectations in deep carpet debris removal.

A single floating rubber brushroll handles the main cleaning. Dreame’s TriCut brush (included in some packages or promotions) has built-in cutting blades that slice through hair to prevent tangles. Long human and pet hair gets cut into small pieces that end up in the dustbin rather than wound around the roller. Users with long-haired household members consistently report far less hair wrapping than with previous vacuums.

One extendable side brush sits on the right side. It can reach outward for corners and walls, then lift up when crossing carpet to avoid tangling in fibers. This “SideReach” mechanism is unique to Dreame and works well in practice.

The internal dustbin holds 300 mL, smaller than the previous X30’s 350 mL, but the base station auto-empties it after each run anyway. Speaking of which, the base’s 3.2 L dust bag stores roughly 75 days of debris before needing replacement.

Test Results

In controlled testing, the X40 picked up 97.2% of all debris on average. Fine dust on hardwood and tile hit nearly 100% removal rates. Sand-in-carpet cleaning scored 80/100, above average for a challenging test. Pet hair removal reached 97% on carpeted surfaces.

The one weakness? Larger debris like cereal sometimes gets pushed around before being sucked up on a second pass. Enabling Turbo mode helps by increasing suction before the brushes can push debris away.

Edge and corner cleaning scored around 93%, impressive for a round robot. The extendable brush and mop pad actually reach into corners rather than just cleaning close to them.

Mopping

Two spinning microfiber pads scrub floors with automatic pressure adjustment. They rotate at high speed and can oscillate for stubborn stains. Testing showed 92% removal of tough dried stains like coffee and juice.

The robot carries a small 80 mL water reservoir that gets refilled automatically from the base station’s 4.5 L clean water tank. Dirty water collects in a separate 4.0 L tank. Most users refill clean water weekly and empty dirty water after each major cleaning session.

One mop pad can swing beyond the robot’s body to reach edges and corners, a feature Dreame calls “MopExtend.” It actually works: the X40 cleans along baseboards more completely than most competitors.

When crossing carpet, the mop pads lift about 10 mm off the floor. That’s enough for short carpet fibers but might graze thicker rugs. For homes with carpet throughout, the robot can completely remove the mops at the station, vacuum the carpets dry, then return and attach mops for hard floors. This vacuum-then-mop approach ensures carpets stay totally dry.

The base station washes mop pads with water heated to 70 degrees C (158 degrees F), then dries them with hot air for about 2 hours. Users report no mildew smell even after several days between uses.

Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance

How It Moves

A dToF LiDAR scanner creates precise maps and tracks room positions even in complete darkness. Navigation quality is among the best tested: methodical zig-zag patterns, efficient room-to-room coverage, and rarely missed spots. One test of a 5-room, 1000 sq ft area took 34 minutes.

The robot stores up to 4 floor maps for multi-level homes. Quick mapping takes about 10 minutes for an 80 square meter area without actually cleaning, just scanning. Map quality is high with accurate room divisions that are easy to edit in the app.

Object Recognition

An RGB camera combined with 3D structured light sensors identifies over 120 object types: shoes, cords, toys, pet waste, and more. This represents a significant jump from the previous X30’s 70 object classes. In real-world use, the obstacle avoidance works impressively well. The robot steers around common floor clutter instead of bumping into it, and reliably avoids pet feces.

Very thin or transparent obstacles like extremely fine cables or clear glass can occasionally slip through detection, which is typical for camera-based systems.

Getting Around

The X40 handles door thresholds up to 22 mm (about 0.87 inches), slightly better than the 20 mm standard. Standard door trim and rugs pose no problems. Some users report it clearing slightly higher transitions, though Dreame officially specs 22 mm.

Cliff sensors prevent falls off stairs. Very dark or black carpets can sometimes trigger false readings, causing the robot to avoid them. The carpet sensor detects rug transitions and automatically triggers suction boost while lifting or avoiding the area when mopping.

Battery and Runtime

A 6,400 mAh battery provides up to 180-198 minutes on quiet mode. Real-world mixed use typically yields 120-150 minutes, enough for most large homes. If the battery runs low mid-job, the robot returns to dock, charges up, then continues where it left off.

Charging takes about 4.5 hours from empty. The app offers off-peak charging scheduling for those who want to recharge during cheaper electricity hours.

Coverage reaches roughly 280-300 square meters (3000+ sq ft) in ideal conditions. For virtually any home, the X40 can clean an entire level, recharging mid-way if necessary.

The Base Station

The all-in-one dock handles charging, dust emptying, mop washing, mop drying, water refilling, and even automatic cleaning solution dispensing. It’s a large piece of equipment but genuinely hands-free.

Dust Collection

After each run, the base vacuums debris from the robot’s bin into a sealed 3.2 L bag. Most everyday debris transfers fine, though some reviewers noted the suction occasionally leaves heavier clumps in the robot’s bin. The app lets you adjust emptying frequency and suction: Daily, Intelligent, or Comfort modes.

Replacement bags are widely available. Official 3-packs cost around $18, while third-party options run about $20 for 10-12 bags.

Mop Maintenance

The base washes mop pads against a grooved washboard while spraying heated water (up to 158 degrees F). Pads come out significantly cleaner than cold-water systems. The base even cleans its own washboard automatically.

After the final wash, hot air dries the pads for about two hours. The drying fan isn’t loud and leaves pads just slightly humid, finishing air-drying on their own.

A built-in detergent dispenser mixes cleaning solution with water automatically. Just keep the reservoir filled and the system handles the ratio. The dirty water tank has a turbidity sensor that can prompt extra washing cycles if the water is extremely dirty.

Software and App

The Dreamehome App

Available on iOS and Android, with notably different reception: iOS sits at 4.9 stars while Android hovers around 3.0. Early Android versions had connectivity bugs and feature gaps that have been gradually fixed. The iOS experience is smoother overall.

The app provides deep control: editable maps where you can split or merge rooms, name areas, and assign icons. You can set no-go zones, no-mop zones, and invisible walls by drawing on the map. Room-specific cleaning preferences let you customize passes, suction levels, and water usage for each space.

Cleaning modes include automatic full-home cleaning, room or zone targeting, spot cleaning, and an AI-driven “CleanGenius” mode where the robot decides what each area needs. Some users find CleanGenius overzealous, but it’s optional.

Smart Home Integration

The X40 works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri Shortcuts for basic commands like starting, stopping, and returning to dock. There’s no HomeKit or Matter support. Advanced smart home scenarios require workarounds through Alexa routines or third-party integrations like Home Assistant, which has community-developed Dreame plugins.

Remote Features

The app enables remote camera viewing where you can manually drive the robot and see live video, even talk through its speaker. Video quality is modest with slight lag, but it works for checking on pets or home status. The robot can send “pet detected” alerts and operates as a basic pet monitor.

Pet Considerations

The X40 excels for pet owners. Short and long pet hair gets vacuumed effectively, with the TriCut brush preventing the jams that plague other robots. Testing showed 97% pet fur removal from carpeted surfaces. The sealed dust bag keeps dander enclosed, and the mop handles paw prints and saliva marks well.

Most importantly: it actually avoids pet accidents. The AI recognizes pet feces and steers around it rather than creating the infamous smear disasters. It can also detect puddles and avoid them, reducing the risk of spreading wet messes.

The robot moves methodically and runs quietly enough in standard mode that most pets ignore it after initial curiosity. If you have skittish animals, scheduling runs when they’re elsewhere is always an option.

Maintenance

What You’ll Actually Do

Daily/weekly tasks include refilling clean water, emptying dirty water, and occasionally topping up cleaning solution. Monthly tasks involve checking the filter and brush for buildup. The dust bag needs changing every 2-3 months for most homes.

Modern Castle gave the X40 a perfect 100 in maintenance scoring, indicating very low hands-on time compared to regular robot vacuums. Most owners report actively intervening maybe once a week for tank management and monthly for filter or brush cleaning.

Replacement Parts and Costs

Ongoing consumables add up:

• Dust bags: ~$20/year using 6 bags (third-party options cheaper)
• HEPA filters: ~$20-30/year for 4 filters
• Main brush: ~$50 for TriCut, lasting 6-12 months
• Side brush: ~$10-20/year
• Mop pads: ~$20/year (they’re washable and last 6-12 months)
• Cleaning solution: ~$10/year if used

Total annual maintenance runs $80-120 with official parts, dropping to around $50 with third-party alternatives. TechRadar flagged “high ongoing costs” as a legitimate con. Savvy users mitigate this with bundles and generics.

All parts are readily available from Dreame’s website and Amazon. The X40 shares many consumables with other Dreame models, making replacements easy to find.

Build Quality and Durability

The exterior feels solid and premium. Modern Castle rated build quality as “Exceptional.” Wheels, brush assemblies, and components are well-engineered with no reports of easily breakable pieces.

A few isolated cases of side brush motors failing after several months have appeared in forums, possibly from hair tangling in the mechanism. Otherwise, no widespread defects have emerged. Electronics and sensors have proven reliable.

The standard warranty covers 1 year, with extended options available (1 extra year for $69, 2 extra for $139). Some regions automatically include longer coverage.

Who Should Buy This

Ideal for:

• Pet owners dealing with fur, accidents, and paw prints
• Busy households wanting minimal cleaning intervention
• Homes with mixed hard floors and carpet
• Large spaces that benefit from self-emptying and long runtime
• Tech enthusiasts who enjoy deep customization

Not ideal for:

• Budget shoppers who can’t justify premium pricing and consumables
• Small apartments where the large dock is overkill
• Homes with only high-pile carpet (mopping features wasted)
• Privacy-conscious users uncomfortable with onboard cameras
• Multi-story homes without space for multiple base stations

Compared to Alternatives

Against competitors like Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni, and iRobot Roomba Combo j7+, the X40 stands out in several areas:

Advantages:

• Superior obstacle avoidance with more recognized objects (120 vs competitors’ 40-70)
• Extendable side brush and mop reaching edges better
• Hot water mop washing (most competitors use cold)
• Complete mop detachment for carpet cleaning
• Higher suction power than most alternatives
• Hair-cutting brush reducing manual maintenance

Disadvantages:

• High MSRP (though sales narrow the gap)
• Base station auto-empty occasionally leaves debris behind
• App less polished than Roborock’s
• Tall base station needs more vertical clearance

At sale prices around $1,000, the X40 offers more features than similarly-priced competitors while matching or exceeding their cleaning performance.

Known Limitations

The X40 can’t vacuum with mops attached on thick carpet, though it handles this automatically by removing pads. It won’t deep clean or shampoo carpets. The 22 mm threshold limit means very high transitions or actual stairs are impossible.

The base station requires floor space and regular water management. While much is automated, you still need to empty dirty water, refill clean water, and replace bags. Prospective buyers sometimes assume total automation, but human involvement is reduced rather than eliminated.

No HomeKit or Matter support limits smart home integration options. If that matters to you, alternatives exist.

The Verdict

The Dreame X40 Ultra earned its reputation as one of the best robot vacuums of 2024. Strong suction, intelligent mopping, and genuinely useful obstacle avoidance combine into a robot that actually cleans well while staying out of trouble. The hot water mop washing, automatic pad removal, and sealed dust disposal address real pain points from earlier robot vacuums.

The value proposition depends heavily on sale pricing. At full MSRP, competitors offer similar performance for less. At $1,000 or below, the X40 becomes hard to beat for homes that can actually use its features. Pet owners, busy families with mixed flooring, and anyone tired of robot vacuum babysitting should give it serious consideration.