Launched in France at a price of €2,799, the Dreame A2 autonomous lawn mower promises to free you from the constraints of perimeter wire thanks to a range of sensors and onboard artificial intelligence. A true concentrate of technologies, the Dreame A2 aims to take on the big names in the sector (Husqvarna, Worx, Segway, etc.) by offering effortless, precise, and safe mowing.
Technical specifications
The Dreame A2 immediately impresses with its technical specifications. It features the OmniSense 2.0 sensor system, a set of intelligent algorithms boosted by AI for environmental recognition.
In concrete terms, the mower combines a high-precision 3D LiDAR rangefinder and a front camera to map the garden in real time. This LiDAR scans continuously over 360° and can "see" up to 70 meters around the device. Coupled with the wide-angle camera and AI-assisted vision, this allows the Dreame A2 to precisely locate itself and move without a guide wire on areas up to 3000 m², instantly generating a 3D map to plan mowing.
This dual-fusion mapping approach (LiDAR + camera) is similar to that adopted by high-end robot vacuum cleaners, transposed here to the garden. It places the Dreame A2 among the few perimeter cordless mowers on the market, alongside, for example, the Ecovacs Goat or the Segway Navimow, and sets it apart from traditional models with random navigation and buried wire.
Under its hood, the Dreame A2 opts for muscular choices. It is powered by two hub motor drive wheels (motor integrated into the wheels) which give it robust traction. It can climb slopes of up to 50% (26.5°) without weakening – a performance on par with the best robots on the market – while remaining relatively quiet with a noise level announced under 55 dB in standard mode!
The cutting width is 22 cm, ensured by a rotating blade disc. An interesting feature is the EdgeMaster system which allows the blades to deploy laterally to mow as close as possible to the edges. Dreame announces that the unmown distance close to walls or fences is reduced to less than 5 cm, thus limiting manual finishing with the trimmer.
Another strong point, the cutting height is electrically adjustable between 30 and 70 mm directly from the mobile application, where many robots require manual adjustment.
The Dreame A2 is also distinguished by the presence of a color screen located on the top of the device (behind a hatch that opens using the large “STOP” button) and which is controlled using a dial located just below. This small screen of approximately 2.4 inches offers a simplified user interface that allows direct access to the main functions of the mower, without needing a smartphone or the Dreamehome application. You can start or stop mowing, check the battery level, change the operating mode, or even launch a quick mowing of a specific area. The interface is fluid, readable even in broad daylight. This is a real plus in everyday life, especially when you want to launch a one-off mowing without taking out your phone. This seemingly small detail, very rare in the world of autonomous mowers, accentuates the feeling of a premium product and clearly improves ergonomics. In the field, this also allows you to recover a stuck or stopped robot without going through the application, which can be practical for less tech-savvy users, or if Wi-Fi is temporarily unavailable.
In terms of endurance, the Dreame A2 relies on a 5 Ah lithium battery. The manufacturer does not provide a typical battery life in hours, but indicates areas covered per 24-hour period: approximately 1000 m² per day in standard mode, and up to 2000 m² per day in "efficiency" (fast) mode. In practice, this means that for a 2000 m² lawn, the mower will take approximately one full day (mowing cycles and recharges) to complete. If the battery drops below 15% charge, the A2 automatically returns to its base station to fully recharge before resuming mowing where it left off. The base station serves as a charging garage and starting point.
Note that the device is IPX6 certified for its water resistance: it will easily tolerate watering or downpours. Dreame has taken care of maintenance with a detachable blade system that makes cleaning and replacement quick and easy.
Start-up and use
One of the key promises of the Dreame A2 is its ease of installation: no need to bury a boundary wire to demarcate the mowing area. When first used, the robot performs an initial mapping of your garden using its sensors. In the best case, simply launch a discovery cycle and the A2 will automatically detect the lawn boundaries (borders, paths, walls) as well as fixed obstacles. However, Dreame specifies that this automatic boundary configuration only works reliably if the lawn contours are clear. And we can confirm that this is the case, the automation does not yet work everywhere and for the boundaries of your land, you will still have to wait!
As a result, you will need to help the robot especially if you have a complex or low-contrast terrain (for example, a lawn at the same level as flower beds without a clear separation). A remote control via the app therefore allows you to manually guide the mower along the edges during the first mapping. This small initial calibration, which essentially replaces the installation of a wire, allows the device to precisely memorize the area to be covered. Once the map is generated, the Dreamehome app automatically suggests an optimized mowing program, which you can then customize according to your preferences.
Pairing and software configuration are done through the Dreamehome mobile app, available on iOS and Android smartphones. The app guides you step by step to connect the mower to Wi-Fi and add it to your "connected home" (the app also manages robot vacuums, for example). It features the now classic interface of domestic robots: 2D/3D land map display, manual activation or schedule programming, and advanced settings.
The Dreame A2 stands out for its wealth of multi-zone mapping options. You can actually divide the garden into several virtual zones and define specific parameters for each: cutting height, mowing frequency, direction of passage, etc. For example, you can mow an ornamental lawn area more frequently and more closely, and a less used area less often.
The application also allows you to define no-go zones on the map – for example the location of a swimming pool, a vegetable garden or a fragile flowerbed – which the robot will obviously avoid. The Dreamehome interface is intuitive and comprehensive to use, in line with what the brand offers on its robot vacuum cleaners.
After the mapping phase, the Dreame A2 follows the configured schedule and leaves its base at the scheduled times to mow. It adopts an optimized route pattern in “U”-shaped round trips instead of random paths. This methodical pattern allows it to cover almost the entire surface and achieve a fairly uniform mowing.
You can follow the progress live on the app, which indicates the areas already mowed on the map. If necessary, you can pause or start mowing at any time via your smartphone. The Wi-Fi connection also offers the possibility of controlling the robot remotely (including away from home, via the cloud), or this can also be done via Bluetooth when you are nearby.
Note that the Dreame A2 also offers a “Garden Guardian” mode: outside of mowing hours, the robot can occasionally patrol the area and use its camera to monitor the premises. It is possible to view the video feed in real time in the app, and receive alerts if human presence is detected. This surveillance mode, although a gimmick for some, adds a welcome security feature – your mower transforms at night into a silent guard capable of deterring intruders by its mere presence. Of course, this connected operation involves regularly recharging the device and can consume a little battery, but in practice the Dreame A2 intelligently manages its trips back and forth to the base to remain operational.
Cutting quality and mowing efficiency
On our small, well-maintained lawn (around 500 m²), the Dreame A2 delivered a very good cutting quality. Thanks to its parallel strip path, it leaves virtually no uncut areas or isolated regrowth – a notable difference compared to random navigation robots that rely on repeated passes to cover the ground. Here, from the first complete pass, the result is consistent.
The motorized cutting height is very practical: with a simple tap in the app, we were able to go from 60 mm to 40 mm to scalp a play area a little more, without having to manually intervene on the robot. The 22 cm cutting disc does an efficient job, even in medium-high grass (10 cm): the mower does not choke and the cut is clean. For very high grass, however (not mowed for months), it will probably be necessary to plan several cycles or a pre-mowing, as with any robot. The A2 is rather designed for regular maintenance.
So, does the EdgeMaster keep its promises?
On straight edges (along a path or a wall), the robot manages to cut the grass only a few centimeters from the obstacle, where most competitors leave a strip of 10-15 cm to finish by hand. During our observations, there were indeed very few blades of grass left along the rigid edges, a sign that the extendable disc is doing its job. Dreame claims less than 5 cm unmown, and in reality it comes close to this figure, which reduces the work of manual finishing. On more complex contours (tree bases, curved flowerbeds), the circular shape of the mower does not allow you to reach everything, but the A2 stops as close as possible without hitting obstacles, thus avoiding damaging flowers or bark.
In terms of mowing speed, you should know that the Dreame A2 prioritizes precision over raw speed. On our test lawn (~500 m²), it took about 1 hour to cover everything in standard mode, where a random robot could sometimes do less on the same area. On larger plots, the fact that it covers a maximum of 2000 m² per 24 hours gives an idea of the time required. Clearly, for 1500 m², allow about half a day; for 3000 m² (its announced limit), it will probably have to work a good part of the day and night to finish everything.
This measured pace is not really a problem in itself, because the robot works autonomously and silently. But you have to be aware: mowing is done continuously over long periods of time. Fortunately, the very low noise level (<55 dB) allows it to work even in the evening or early morning without disturbing the neighborhood. At night, however, you should be careful to deactivate mowing if you want to protect hedgehogs and other nocturnal animals - even if the A2 is capable of detecting them, it is better to avoid any unexpected interaction. During the day, the mower can easily go unnoticed as it emits little noise, a significant advantage!
Navigation and behavior in the face of obstacles
The Dreame A2's omnidirectional detection system detects most obstacles well in advance and adapts its trajectory accordingly. During our tests, we deliberately left various objects lying around on the lawn: a garden hose, a child's toy, garden chairs, etc. In each case, the robot slowed down as they approached and then went around them cleanly, without contact.
Dreame advertises improved object recognition that can avoid garden furniture, tools, forgotten toys, and wild animals like hedgehogs. These claims have been fairly well verified: the AI identifies obstacles of all sizes and carefully avoids them while mowing. This preserves both the garden environment (not crushing a toy or damaging a flowerbed) and the equipment itself, which is therefore less likely to get stuck or deteriorate. On this point, the Dreame A2 is clearly a benchmark, where more basic models are content to gently bump against objects and then change direction. Here, almost no contact is to be deplored, which is a testament to the effectiveness of the sensors!
In practice, the mower creates a 3D point cloud of its environment and distinguishes even small obstacles like a pine cone or a small branch. If the object is deemed insignificant or low enough to pass under the chassis, it may be able to pass over it safely. However, if it is a large obstacle or one that is potentially dangerous for the blades (large branch, hard toy), it will go around it.
Its ability to recognize pets is also reassuring: the house cat had no complaints about the robot, which stopped or changed direction well before any collision. For small animals like hedgehogs, which are difficult to spot for older generations of automatic mowers, the A2 marks real progress in terms of wildlife safety. Dreame specifies that the device continues to improve its detection algorithms via OTA updates, in order to further expand the range of recognized objects. This suggests room for improvement and development over time.
On rough or uneven terrain, the Dreame A2 performs respectably. Its studded drive wheels provide good grip, and we never saw it slip except on muddy or very wet ground. Slopes around 30° (or ~58%) remained theoretically out of reach – the limit is 26.5° – but up to around 25° it climbs without apparent difficulty. Having the weight of the motor directly in the wheels (hub motor) improves traction. If the slope is too steep or slippery, the robot detects it (via its accelerometer/tilt sensor) and refuses to climb further to avoid skidding.
There is no locking system other than a blade stop in the event of significant lifting, as on most robot mowers (a classic safety measure). Overall, the U-shaped trajectory remains well maintained and the mowing strips remain covered correctly.
Ecosystem and integration
As a connected home device, the Dreame A2 is part of a larger ecosystem. The mobile application, the heart of the control, is available on Android and iOS. During our test, we were able to integrate it easily into our existing home automation system. The mower connects to your home's Wi-Fi network (note: 2.4 GHz only) to provide cloud connectivity and remote control. This requires good Wi-Fi coverage right into the garden, or at least to the charging base (ideally located close to the house). There are no major incompatibilities with common routers. Once connected, the Dreame A2 can receive voice commands indirectly: compatibility with voice assistants isn't officially highlighted, but via the app you can create automations or use platforms like Alexa or Google Assistant to start/stop mowing by linking your Dreame account. For example, by setting up an Alexa routine, you can say "Alexa, start the mower" to have it leave its base and start mowing.
For the more tech-savvy, integration with DIY home automation systems like Home Assistant is an important topic. The community has already looked into the Dreame A1 (predecessor of the A2) to interface it via third-party APIs, and there is no doubt that the A2 will eventually be supported unofficially. Officially, however, there is no open API or connectivity other than via the Dreamehome app. It is not possible, for example, to connect it directly to an Apple HomeKit or Jeedom system without using DIY solutions. Compatibility is therefore limited to the mobile app and possibly to voice assistants via the cloud. This is the case for most current connected robot lawnmowers, except for Husqvarna with its Automower API integrated into certain home automation hubs. We hope that Dreame will open up its ecosystem a little in the future, but for the average user, the proprietary app is more than sufficient and already offers all the expected features.
A notable point: the app sends real-time notifications for various events – for example, if the robot is stuck, if someone has lifted it, or if the mowing is finished. It can also, if you activate the guardian mode, notify you of human movement detection in the garden. This allows you to integrate the mower into a home security scenario, even if it remains a secondary use. In terms of ecosystem, Dreame also sells an optional shelter (garage) suitable for the A1/A2 models, to protect them from the elements. The shelter in question fits well aesthetically, but is not essential given the device's IPX6 certification.
Lots of positives and a few negatives
The Dreame A2's wireless perimeter navigation system is a huge time saver and provides flexibility: no need to install or repair cables, the mower intelligently maps the garden in 3D. Its array of sensors (LiDAR, camera, AI) gives it precise terrain awareness. It offers a quality, uniform, and neat cut, including along edges thanks to EdgeMaster. Its agility on slopes (50%) and its ability to avoid small obstacles and animals make it a reliable ally for all types of gardens.
We also appreciate the care taken with the mobile application and connected features: multi-zones, remote height adjustment, programming, not to mention the monitoring mode. All this in a relatively quiet and discreet operation, which allows you to mow at almost any time of day without too much disturbance.
However, a few negative points or at least limits deserve to be noted. The first obstacle is, unsurprisingly, the high price: at nearly €2,800, the Dreame A2 is aimed at customers ready to invest! At this budget level, we are entitled to demand excellence, and while the device is generally efficient, it remains a first-generation product in certain aspects. For example, automatic boundary configuration requires manual intervention, so installation isn't always as plug-and-play as hoped.
Similarly, the moderate mowing speed may surprise those new to methodical navigation robots: the A2 takes time to cover large areas (it can operate for a good part of the day on 2000 m²) and its cautious strategy sometimes results in multiple returns to certain difficult areas, lengthening the cycle. This isn't a problem if you let it do its work in the background, but you have to accept that the mowing won't be completed in an hour.
Finally, the Dreame A2 may require a little more regular maintenance: you'll need to keep the LiDAR sensor and camera lens clean for optimal performance, whereas a simpler robot is happy with an occasional hose-down.
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