Made official at CES and already being tested on our site, the Dreame X50 Complete is an ultra-high-end robot vacuum cleaner that plays the innovation card again. We tested it for you and we tell you everything.
Test carried out by Emmanuel Armanet
Dreame is the manufacturer that gives Roborock the most trouble with a very ambitious policy and, when two brands with undeniable know-how engage in such a mano a mano, you have to expect anything. One thing is certain, Dreame and Roborock have not finished surprising us. The X50 Complete crowns the range at the start of this year and therefore succeeds the X40.
Price and availability of the Dreame X50 Complete
The Dreame X50 Complete is a premium vacuuming and washing solution that relies on a robot vacuum cleaner and a docking station equipped with sophisticated and innovative features. Its price is €1499, a high price of course, but know that the version named Complete means that you will find in the enormous box many consumables in addition to the standard equipment, enough to be sure, depending on the intensity of your use, for at least six months. It's definitely financially advantageous, so much so that Dreame is only selling this version, at the time of writing anyway.
So what's in this big box? Be careful, the inventory may be long. Indeed, the Complete version includes in total:
- 5 dust bags
- 7 pairs of mops
- 3 side brushes
- 2 main brushes
- 4 filters for the dust bin
- 1 one-liter bottle of detergent.
It is of course possible to find these consumables for purchase on the brand's website or at a certain number of retailers. Compatible products are offered on sites with sometimes more random quality, however.
Design
Like its predecessors, the DreameX50 Complete adopts the classic circular format, the format chosen by the vast majority of products in the category. Its diameter is 350mm compared to 340mm for its predecessor. Dreame has a little surprise in store for us. Above the robot, we find the traditional turret that houses the LIDAR system working on 360° for reliable navigation. On the other hand, this one, called Versalift, has the particularity of being retractable: it fits into the body of the device so that it can pass under certain furniture.
The height of the Dreame X50 then drops from 111 mm to 89 mm. Remember that the X40 has a height of 96 mm. The difference is therefore actually only 7 mm between the two generations, so it is not certain that in use this makes a major difference. We also find two buttons to turn on the device and start cleaning for the first and to return it to its base for the second. Behind the hood, which is easily removed, is the 395 ml capacity dust bin and its filter. We note that Dreame has slightly increased its volume since the previous vintage does not exceed 300 ml.
On the sides, the robot vacuum cleaner brings together a number of sensors, but above all a camera surrounded by lighting LEDs which is used in particular by the obstacle recognition technology and for some additional features which we will come back to. Our black test copy displays beautiful finishes with quality plastics. It should be noted that only the white version is currently available on the brand's website, but the black version is available at some retailers. The assembly is rigorous and in keeping with the high-end status claimed by the X50.
New underneath
Let's now turn the device over to appreciate its lower part, which shows some new features. On the back, there are two rotating mop pads similar to those of previous generations of the brand's robot vacuum cleaners. These are microfibers, and the pads can easily be changed or removed for thorough cleaning in the washing machine.
In the center, the DreameX50 Complete introduces a new device based on the use of a duo of brushes that have been designed to prevent tangling of your dog's hair or your wife's hair while optimizing suction efficiency. The brand indicates that hairs 30cm long are no problem. The clumps of hair would be automatically pushed towards the central vacuum nozzle. This is a brush combining nylon bristles and rubber "squeegees" perfect for hard floors and a TPU brush (a type of soft rubber) capable of cleaning rugs and carpets.
It goes (really) everywhere...
The right mop sits on an arm that can extend 40mm to clean close to a baseboard or around the legs of a piece of furniture. Dreame calls this function MopExtend RoboSwing. A strategy repeated by the side brush whose role is to fold the debris under the robot so that it can be vacuumed. This time it is the SideReach function. The robot vacuum cleaner can raise its central brush by 10mm and its side brush by 5mm to allow the mops to lower for greater efficiency, especially when dealing with tougher stains. The brushes will also avoid getting dirty. When it comes to vacuuming carpets, it will be the turn of the two mops to raise by 10.5mm. They can also be left in the docking station to calmly tackle long-pile carpets or when the robot is used only in vacuum mode.
Another piece of bravery of this new generation, the ProLeap technology makes its appearance. It rests on feet ending in small notched wheels that come out from under the robot to lift its front part and thus allow it to cross thresholds. The height that can be crossed in a single step is 42mm, but the X50 can also cross a double threshold for a total height of 60mm. It therefore does better than the Roborock Qrevo Curve (respectively 30 and 40mm with its AdaptLift chassis). Compared to other robot vacuum cleaners, the operation is done smoothly and not forcefully with risks of choice with the added bonus of less noise.
What you can't see
Of course, the mechanics of the DreameX50 have been improved. It starts with the arrival of a new suction motor that reaches a power of 20,000Pa compared to 12,000Pa for the previous generation or 18,500Pa for the Roborock Qrevo Curve recently tested by us. No doubt, we are facing the best available today in this area. The battery retains the same capacity as the previous vintage with 6400mAh. Regarding washing, the robot vacuum cleaner has an 80ml water tank like the X40. Dreame does not disclose the rotation speed of the two mops.
Navigation is handled by the DToF system, which, thanks to a 360° scan, can map the robot's entire environment. And when the turret lowers to clean under a sofa, for example, the front camera takes over. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the X50 is said to be capable of recognizing 200 types of objects, according to Dreame, which is significantly more than the competition. All these technologies result in the creation of a 3D map in which small obstacles like cables appear.
An ultra-complete, but massive station
The docking station is rather imposing: 590mm high, 340mm wide and 457mm deep, for a weight of approximately 9kg. Lift the top cover to reveal the 4.5L clean water tank and the 4L dirty water tank. Nothing new compared to the previous generation, but it's a little larger than most competitors, such as Roborock's Qrevo Curve with 4 and 3 liters respectively. Optionally, it's possible to purchase a kit that connects the base directly to a water inlet and a drain, such as a washing machine or dishwasher. Going down, a drawer hides the 3.2L dust bag. Dreame uses the same consumables as older models. A good point, of course, for easy finding. The first bag is factory-installed. To its left is a small reservoir for Dreame-branded detergent. The base dispenses the right amount of detergent to avoid waste and overuse of chemicals.
Let's move on to the washing part of the two mop pads. This is where Dreame really shines. Washing is done using 20 high-pressure nozzles that spray water heated to 80°, a temperature never before seen. This complements a mechanical action obtained by the rapid rotation of the mops on a plate with reliefs that loosen stubborn stains. The new architecture of the area allows the dirty water used to clean the mops to be sucked up very quickly to prevent the accumulation of dirt and the development of unpleasant odors. And Dreame has another surprise in store for us at this level, since the station has UV lamps that will eliminate more than 99.98% of bacteria. There are other UV lamps at the dust bag inlet. The two microfiber pads are then dried by hot air.
A trouble-free installation
Once the station position has been determined, it is always advisable to leave the area around it free to facilitate the robot's movements; you simply need to plug it into a power outlet. We then fill the tank with clean water and the one dedicated to the supplied detergent, before positioning the X50 Complete on its base to charge it. It must then be configured using a smartphone on which the Dreamehome application is installed. Once an account is created, you need to tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the interface and select "+ Add one." The rest is just as classic with a scan of the QR Code placed under the top cover of the robot vacuum cleaner. It is also possible to directly select the device from a list.
The next step is to connect the X50 to the home Wi-Fi and that's it. Note that the robot automatically aligns itself with the language of the smartphone and therefore of the application. A good point. On the other hand, this is not the case for the home voice assistant which has remained in English. By going to its settings, it is possible to switch to the language of Molière with one click. This assistant, which uses the same operating principle as Roborock's Rocky, relies on precise commands rather than the use of real natural language. Dreame invites you to discover them by clicking on "Show all voice commands." They are organized into 5 categories: Activate tasks, interrupt task, docking station functions, change mode, and finally robot status. The commands that must be spoken after waking up the robot with the usual greetings (OK Dreame) are quite easy to remember. We finally update the device's firmware and that's it, it's time to launch the DreameX50 after exploring the application's possibilities.
Cleaning options
The Dreame app, in our opinion, has a slightly more cluttered interface than Roborock's, with a slightly less accomplished translation and, above all, pop-up ads. These will be all the more irritating because they invite you to buy the same robot vacuum cleaner as the one you're using. The home screen displays the device, which we note is also the correct color, and gives you access to basic functions: starting a cleaning cycle, returning it to the base station, and seeing what the robot sees with its camera. It is also possible to add a personalized shortcut from a list, such as launching a complete cycle in the areas where your pets live most often.
To access all the options, you must select the "Show device" command and you will then find yourself facing the classic screen of this type of device. As is often the case today, the X50 Complete can decide a maximum of things on its own, thanks in particular to its numerous sensors that will define its environment, the presence or absence of carpets and even the level of dirt on the floor. It is the ClearGenius mode that will therefore limit user intervention as much as possible. This one can simply activate a deep cleaning or opt for mopping after vacuuming, whereas by default the two operations are carried out simultaneously. For those who like to fine-tune the slightest setting of their robot vacuum cleaner, there is of course a personalized mode. You will first have to determine the operating mode of the X50: vacuum, mop, vacuum and mop, mop after vacuum, or customize it according to the rooms. Four suction powers are at your disposal: silent, standard, turbo and max. Similarly, for washing, you can choose three levels of humidity of the mop. By default, the robot returns to clean the two mops every 20 minutes, but this time period is adjustable. The DreameX50 also offers two route modes, one quick and one standard for more thorough cleaning.
To go even further
By going to the device's settings, you will find yourself faced with a very dense menu. It's quite simple, almost everything is customizable. It is possible to program the DreameX50 Complete's action by choosing the start time, the repetition of the action (every day, weekends, etc.), the cleaning mode (ClearGenius or personalized), as well as the rooms to be treated or not. Several strategies for dealing with carpets are offered. The robot can vacuum them, avoid them, or even ignore them, and in this case, it will proceed with a wash. This is an interesting option for rubber or low-pile carpets. The user can choose to simply raise the mops when a carpet is encountered, but also, if your carpet has long pile, place both mops at the station to then vacuum said carpets. The robot can start its journey by cleaning carpets or automatically increase its suction power when it encounters them. In the "Cleaning Settings" menu, the operating mode of the LDS radar lowering is configurable.
The obstacle avoidance mode can be more or less cautious. There are also some beta functions in this section, such as stain recognition or the "Large Particle" mode which allows the device to increase its suction power when large particles such as dog or cat food are detected. Another section is dedicated to the operating modes of the mop extension and the side brush. For example, it is possible to use the latter to improve cleaning around furniture legs. For obstacle crossing technology, two methods are offered depending on your environment: a hedge crossing with a sequential elevation of the lifting feet that the brand recommends for sliding door rails or a synchronized crossing for thresholds, because then both feet are raised simultaneously. An entire page is dedicated to obstacle avoidance and taking into account the presence of an animal. The real-time camera can be activated.
Lots of settings for the station too
On the DreameX50 Complete base, the app also offers numerous adjustment options. The use of detergent for washing the two mop pads can be disabled. The water temperature is adjustable (cold, warm, hot, and very hot), as is the washing intensity. There is also a smart mode that makes all these adjustments automatically "based on the environment," but we don't have precise information on the data taken into account. The user can choose to disable automatic drying of the mop after washing or adjust the duration (2, 3, or 4 hours). UV lamp sterilization is enabled by default, but it can be disabled. Hair compression is introduced: the robot automatically compresses the hairs in the dust compartment to facilitate their subsequent removal. Finally, automatic cleaning of the base of the washing board prevents the accumulation of dirt on the robot vacuum cleaner's docking area. Charging is programmable to match your electricity supplier's off-peak hours.
Also read – Roborock Qrevo Curv Test: Maximum power for this uniquely designed robot vacuum cleaner
Suction
For our test, the DreameX50 Complete will be facing a 28m2 room with a natural stone floor, but also two entrance mats, some furniture, and most importantly, a long-haired dog. This room opens onto the outside and is therefore naturally exposed to shoes and the sometimes earthy paws of our large canine. After a very quick creation of the map, we launch the robot in fully automatic mode with the default settings. The suction proves to be particularly effective, the 20,000Pa are there. Dried mud, grains of rice, and hair fluff are swallowed without difficulty. The kitchen cabinet baseboards are lined, while the side brush allows the DreameX50 Complete to reach for dust in corners. Navigation is precise and even allows cleaning under chairs and the dining room table. Obstacle detection is very accurate. While, typically, shoes and the dog's ball were avoided without issue, the charging cable was too, and that's much rarer. Our short rugs are well detected, and the robot then increases its power for a perfect cleaning. And the Lidar's automatic lowering system? At first glance, nothing happens, and for good reason. You have to indicate in the map the furniture where this function should be activated. It may seem unfortunate that it isn't automatic. Another technology expected at the turn is ProLeaf, which allows the device to cross significant thresholds. As with the retractable Lidar, it's up to you to indicate in the map saved in the application the presence of a threshold that you consider retractable. For our test, we simulated the presence of a single 40mm brush with two boards and it is clear that it works very well. It is even a fascinating sight to see the two feet deploy to overcome the obstacle. Once again, it is a bit of a shame that the threshold detection is not automatic, especially since the recognition by the camera + AI object duo works rather well. Out of curiosity, we lifted the Dreame after a week of daily use. The new double central brush does not have the clumps of hairs wrapped around its axes.
As for noise, it is logically very variable in CleanGenius mode with dynamically adjusted suction power. Under these conditions, the noise seemed very reasonable to us and low enough not to be unpleasant.
Washing
The two microfiber pads rotate at a high speed, which was not revealed to us, however. They are kept wet and their action is supplemented by automatically dosed detergent. The washing is quite good, although you shouldn't expect miracles when it comes to old or particularly stubborn stains. Vibrating mops often seem a little more effective. In any case, small everyday problems will be removed without too much difficulty. Very greasy stains even disappear eventually, but this requires a second pass. The pad placed on an articulated arm allows you to really clean along the walls, but it is unable to cover certain corners due to its circular shape.
Battery Life
To clean our test room, the DreameX50 took between 20 and 21 minutes for a vacuumed area of 20m2 with ClearGenius mode. This is a little longer than the Roborock QRevo Curve, which completed the operation in 18 minutes, but very slightly faster than the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro (22 minutes). Suffice to say, these three models are very close together. By switching the DreameX50 to a personalized operating mode with settings aimed at a slightly more intensive cleaning, its action is extended a little, since it takes 24 minutes. The large 6400mAh battery is heavily used by the powerful suction motor and the sum of onboard technologies. The robot can operate, based on the energy consumption recorded during our tests, for around 120 minutes. A typical operating time, but we have seen better today. However, it can easily clean on a single charge and taking into account the energy reserve reserved in all cases to return to the station plus 100m2. This should therefore be sufficient in the majority of cases.
A new generation station
The first "job" of the station besides recharging the robot's battery is to empty the dust bin. The operation is very fast and does not generate a lot of noise. It relies on the use of a disposable bag, a less ecological and more expensive solution than the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro's bagless system. Next comes the mop cleaning. By mixing hot water and detergent, the station effectively cleans the two microfiber circles. This does not prevent regular machine washing. We are unable to verify the action of the UV lamps against the development of bacteria, but it is always a good thing. Water, hair, and dust mean sometimes odorous accumulation on the ramp and the mop cleaning area. Dreame is aware of this and has worked hard on the issue. The system used is particularly efficient, and the time when you have to get your hands dirty to rinse the area in question is delayed compared to the competition. A real plus, just like the drying with very hot air, 80° as a reminder, which helps eliminate the appearance of bad odors at the level of the mops. Again, nothing to say, it works perfectly and rather quietly as a bonus. On the other hand, you will still have to empty the dirty water tank very regularly. "Sludge" inevitably accumulates, but we have nevertheless noted that unpleasant odors take longer to arrive, probably thanks to the use of detergent which inevitably ends up in the dirty water.
So don't think that this station, as sophisticated and efficient as it is, spares you all the cleaning tasks. Depending on your usage, the different filters will become clogged more or less quickly. A weekly check with cleaning is essential, with a change every 4 to 6 months, for example, because remember that a saturated filter loses considerably in efficiency.
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