A relatively new but very noticeable player in the world of robot vacuum cleaners, Dreame unveiled its latest model, the X50 Ultra Complete, at CES 2025… Quite a program. Behind this name, which does not fall into modesty, hides the latest generation of the brand's companions and a major new feature: the ability to pass obstacles, such as small steps, up to 6 cm high. Is this really an argument to take into account when purchasing it?
Like most recent robot vacuum cleaners, the X50 Ultra Complete is very easy to install. The longest operation is probably removing all the protective plastic that comes with it when it comes out of the box. Because for the rest, a simple synchronization to the home Wi-Fi after downloading the application is enough to get it started. From then on, the application becomes your main control interface and you will only need to return to the robot and its base during maintenance phases.
Feet on a robot vacuum cleaner, really?
This is obviously not a first, but let's say that in this area Dreame has been a notch higher than the competition. Indeed, the technology that allows robot vacuum cleaners to climb stairs already exists in competitors such as Roborock, among others, but the X50's "ProLeap" system seems to be the most effective on the market. How does it work? Two mechanical arms rest on the ground to lift the front part of the robot vacuum cleaner, allowing it to climb over the obstacle. The rest of the body only has to follow the movement, which allows the complete X50 Ultra to overcome the difficulty and continue its task. Dreame's feat? Succeeding in climbing heights of up to 6 cm when the best of its competitors stumble on 3 cm. Is it useful for all that?
Indeed, what obstacles are we talking about? Because, when you look closely, small steps of 6 cm are not commonplace. Apart from these specific cases, it is also necessary to integrate certain very thick door thresholds which were until now a limit. Another case we encountered: that of a coffee table whose metal base prevents a traditional robot vacuum cleaner from passing over it. This is our case and, until the arrival of the X50 Ultra Complete, we had gotten into the habit of moving the coffee table before each pass or simply ignoring the interest of our robot vacuum cleaner in this specific space.
We therefore discovered with astonishment, but not without a certain pleasure, that this function which seemed to us to be somewhat of a gadget could have a real use. Of course, the "ProLeap" function will not concern everyone, but in certain specific cases, it will prove to be devilishly effective.
Movement and cleaning
Dreame explains that its X50 Ultra Complete is smarter than before in its movements and the way it cleans. What do we mean by that?
Mainly that it is able to exploit a retractable LiDAR in the best possible way. It starts with effective mapping and indeed, the X50 was particularly quick to find its way around the space and define the different areas to be cleaned. It should be noted in passing that the robot can automatically name the different rooms. In our case, it did indeed recognize the kitchen and the dining room, but it transformed our living room into a bedroom. In this case, nothing too complicated, you just have to rename the room correctly.
As for the retractable LiDAR, it allows the thickness of the whole to be reduced by 1 cm and thus to be able to infiltrate under certain pieces of furniture that were inaccessible until now. To help it do this, however, you will need to specify these areas precisely in the application.
In fact, even if its movements can sometimes seem erratic, the X50 Ultra Complete manages to slip everywhere without a hitch without neglecting any cleaning areas in particular. On the other hand, its crossing ability can sometimes lead to some comical situations in which the robot manages to slip under a piece of furniture or a sofa, but struggles to find the best exit. This case remains relatively rare and ultimately has very few consequences, apart from a few minutes of autonomy left on the road.
For the rest, Dreame's latest product can rely on suction and cleaning capacities well above average. Indeed, the X50 Ultra can rely on a record power of 20,000 Pa and some technical innovations in its brush to be efficient. Its double anti-tangle brush thus prevents the accumulation of hair, a real pain for the maintenance of traditional robot vacuum cleaners. As for its side brush, it extends enough to reach into corners and at the base of skirting boards.
It's a bit less effective for washing, but still quite convincing. The X50 Ultra Complete relies on rotating pads, one of which can move slightly for added precision. Of course, as soon as it arrives on a carpet, the robot is able to lift its damp pads and continue its task. Where it convinced us the least is its ability to remove the most stubborn stains. Indeed, on fairly fresh stains, it proves to be extremely effective. On the other hand, for stains that are several hours old and have had time to dry, it will sometimes take several passes for a satisfactory result. Fortunately, the Dreame application allows the robot to specify the most critical areas (such as the kitchen or under the dining table); it can then plan several passes or more intense humidification of its pads.
A complete but intrusive application
As with most of its competitors, Dreame relies mainly on its application to control its robot vacuum cleaner. This one has a few physical buttons to start cleaning, order a return to the station or for pairing, but in the vast majority of cases, it is the Dreame application on smartphone or tablet that will be used.
This turns out to be one of the strong points of the Chinese manufacturer's offering as it is so complete. Indeed, if, in general, we recommend that you use the "Genius" mode which automatically determines the suction power and the level of humidification of the pads required, it should be kept in mind that it is possible to customize almost everything in the application. From the order to the number of passages in each room, from the intensity to the classic planning, the tools are numerous and precise to adjust the use of your robot vacuum cleaner as precisely as possible. Dreame even offers some routines, such as the systematic planning of a session after meal times.
It's a shame, however, that the application suffers from some ergonomic issues or somewhat haphazard translations. Finally, we regret Dreame's insistence on integrating advertising into its application and in particular notifications inviting you to subscribe to a particularly irritating brand newsletter. Once this slight frustration has passed, the notification is deactivated for good, the use becomes more pleasant.
Maintenance: it does almost everything for you
For most of its maintenance, the X50 Ultra Complete relies on its docking station, which greatly benefits the owner, who then has almost nothing to do. Indeed, from washing the mops with hot water at 80°C to gentle drying and using UV lamps to eliminate the last bacteria, the station takes care of everything.
The robot user then only has to manage the two water tanks, the one for clean water and the other reserved for waste water, and finally to empty the 3.2 L dust bag.
But where the Dreame robot vacuum cleaner probably does better than the competition is on the station's ability to self-clean. Explanation: on most home bases, once automatic maintenance is complete, some debris and other dust may remain, which therefore means that the station must be cleaned regularly at the reception. The X50 Ultra Complete has a particularly effective base cleaning cycle which, while it does not remove all traces of its action, considerably reduces our intervention.
Autonomy: average
It is not on autonomy that the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete stands out from the competition, since it offers about the same battery level as its main competitors. You can count on a capacity of about two hours of cleaning, which is sufficient in most cases. However, if the vacuum cleaner were to find itself suffering from a battery problem, know that it is capable of returning to its docking station on its own, recovering what it lacks energy and resuming its exercise where it left off.
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