Dreame L10 Pro
Specialized in vacuum cleaners, Dreame recently launched the Bot L10 Pro. Equipped with a laser rangefinder, several cleaning modes and a more than honest suction power, the robot vacuum cleaner has nothing to be ashamed of compared to its rivals.
Presentation
Marketed at 390$, the Bot L10 Pro does not compromise on technology. Equipped with a LiDAR sensor, it is able to scan its environment thanks to not one, but two integrated lasers. 3D sensors also cover its front face, allowing it to avoid obstacles in its path. The robot vacuum cleaner has a suction power of 4000 Pa, several suction modes and a mop that can be added as desired. Finally, the device is connected to the wifi, which allows to control it remotely, to create virtual beacons or to program cleaning routines.
Use
The Dreame Bot L10 Pro is not very innovative in appearance. It looks very similar to the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo T8 Aivi or the Roborock S5 Max. It has a circular shape and a small tower protruding from its black casing, which is the laser rangefinder.
Still on the top of the device, we see the control panel. A first button sends the robot back to its charging station. The central command turns the device on and off (if held for 3 seconds) and starts the cleaning. The last command orders the robot to clean briefly around it a surface of 1.5 x 1.5 m.
We continue the inspection and notice three 3D sensors on the front of the Bot L10 Pro. A large grill occupies half of the device's edge, which takes care of letting the hot air evacuated by the robot pass through, but also hides the speaker.
Once the magnetic lid is opened, the Bot L10 Pro reveals its 570 ml capacity collector, which places it in the middle of our comparison.
A wifi indicator and a reset button are also hidden under the hood. Finally, Dreame provides small cleaning tools: a brush and a nozzle to cut the hair tangled in the main brush.
To access this brush, you have to turn the robot over. We then see the drop sensors, the place to hang the side brush, two large notched wheels and a smaller one on the front of the device. The mop also fits under the robot. Indeed, if the user wishes, it is possible to add a mop to the Bot L10 Pro.
Supplied with the device, it attaches to the 270 ml water tank provided for this purpose. You just have to fill the tank (without detergent), moisten the mop beforehand and clip it to the robot. Remember that the L10 Pro is not a floor cleaning robot in itself. Its mop is certainly not capable of removing stubborn stains, especially because it does not brush the floor. However, it will be useful to maintain the house between two more intensive washings.
To charge its battery, the Dreame robot comes with a very discreet docking station, barely 9 cm high.
Connectivity and application
The L10 Pro does not have its own app, but that of Xiaomi, the incubator of Dreame. A good point, because it avoids installing yet another application on his smartphone. To pair the robot, the procedure is classic. You have to search for the device in the app and connect it to the wifi.
Once the robot is registered, the user has access to several information, including the percentage of battery, the cleaning time or the area cleaned in square meters. In the settings, it is possible to schedule cleanings at fixed times during the week or to find the history of previous sessions. A remote control is also provided to direct the robot remotely. Finally, some options are available. For example, we find the "3D obstacle avoidance" feature, thanks to which the robot intelligently avoids objects in its path. The "Boost carpet" option detects carpets and allows the robot to intensify the suction on them. The Dreame also has a Do Not Disturb option: once activated, it prohibits any cleaning during a defined period of time.
Once the L10 Pro is properly configured, the user can start the first cleaning. The robot maps the room and saves the map. It is also possible to save several maps, which is a significant advantage in a multi-storey house, for example.
The L10 Pro can vacuum the mapped area, a specific room or a user-defined area. On the other hand, it can avoid vacuuming or washing certain areas. It is also possible to make it vacuum the area once or twice. Four suction modes are offered (silent, standard, strong and turbo) against three to adjust the flow of water distributed by the mop.
Finally, the robot vacuum cleaner is compatible with the voice assistant Alexa - no, still not with Google Assistant. It is then possible to control it via the Amazon Alexa app or any other compatible connected object, a speaker for example.
Maintenance
The maintenance of the robot is quite comparable to that of the Roborock S5 Max. While the Dreame's collector has an extra 100 ml of capacity, this is still small and requires regular emptying. Fortunately, the collector can be easily removed from the vacuum cleaner's housing; however, be careful not to scatter waste on the floor, as it is not airtight. The HEPA filter sits on top of the collector and can also be removed when either needs cleaning. If you clean them with water, it is advisable to dry them for 24 hours.
We wanted to test the filtration efficiency of the robot by having it suck up 20 g of cocoa powder. In the end, only 0.3 g ended up in the filter, which is insignificant. However, some cocoa got lodged between the collector and the HEPA filter, which is a shame.
The application also features a Remaining Time tab that allows you to check the health of the filter, both brushes or the sensors.
The main brush of the L10 Pro is classic. It combines rubber blades and nylon bristles, just like the Realme TechLife. In case it catches hair, a small cleaning tool (included) allows you to clean the roller. Thanks to its cutting tip, it helps the robot get rid of all its detritus. However, if that's not enough, you can always dislodge the entire brush to clean it more thoroughly.
Navigation system
With its two lasers, the robot is able to scan its environment and detect obstacles. To reinforce its vigilance, 3D sensors allow it to recognize objects, to go around them without putting it in difficulty.
So we put it in situation in our laboratory. After having spread sawdust in different places, we launched a cleaning operation. The robot starts by going along the walls, then cleans the room by zigzagging. It covers the space well and proceeds methodically. However, it lacks precision. It left sawdust in places that seemed easy to access and did not go under the curtains, which it probably mistook for walls. We did not notice this pitfall on the Dreame F9.
On the other hand, the robot manages perfectly the presence of obstacles and its course is fluid. It went over chair bars, over carpets and around furniture. Only thin cables or curtain strings can hinder the course of the L10 Pro.
Suction
With its 4000 Pa (pascals) suction power, we expected a lot from the L10 Pro. And we were right to expect the best. On hard floors and fine carpets, the Dreame achieves almost perfect results, recovering more than 98% of spills. The Roborock S7+ does a little better, picking up all of the spilled material.
Now it's time for the dreaded thick carpet test for vacuum cleaners. On average, the robot vacuums in our comparison pick up about 62% of residue in standard mode and 67% in boost mode. The L10 Pro is much better and recovers 82% of detritus, regardless of the mode activated.
Autonomy
In standard mode, the Dreame is indefatigable and can clean for 3 hours 8 minutes! Only the Rowenta Serie Xplorer-95 is 7 minutes longer. Launched at full power, the L10 Pro is still enduring, but loses a little of its superbness by running out of breath after 1 h 18 min.
On the other hand, you have to be patient to reach a full charge of the device. The Dreame needs 4 h 10 min on its base to get back in shape... An eternity.
Noise
The Dreame L10 Pro is proof positive that you can vacuum effectively and quietly. We found 53 dB (A) in standard mode and 62 dB (A) in turbo mode. The L10 Pro is therefore "dangerously" close to the Roborock S6 MaxV, the quietest robot in our comparison at the moment.
Conclusion
The Dreame Bot L10 Pro has no real big flaws. While its navigation could be more precise and its charging faster, it's not enough to tarnish the reputation of this robot vacuum cleaner. Its perfect suction performance, endurance and comprehensive application make the L10 Pro an outstanding reference in our comparison and an excellent value for money.
