A1 / A1 Pro
Dreame's first laser-guided mower, for lawns up to 2,000m², with no wire and no satellite aerial. It mows in tidy straight lanes, but it misses small objects on the grass and leaves a wide strip at the edges.
We re-check daily. Try the manufacturer’s site meanwhile.
The short version
The A1 was Dreame's first robot mower. Instead of a boundary wire or a satellite aerial, it finds its way with a spinning laser scanner on top, so it keeps working under trees and beside buildings. It drives its rear wheels, cuts a 22cm strip and is rated for lawns up to 2,000m². The A1 Pro that followed keeps the same design with grippier wheel treads and a more durable matt finish, and it's the version most shops sell now. Above them sit the A2, which adds a camera, and the four-wheel-drive A3 AWD models.
The trade-off is what the laser can't see. Testers found it ran over low objects such as hoses and toys, and it stays roughly 11 to 12cm back from the edges.
This page covers both the A1 and the A1 Pro.
Our take: Worth a look if your lawn is under trees or tight to buildings, fairly flat, and you're happy to pick up toys and hoses before it runs. Testers liked the neat lanes and the quiet running. If small obstacles or hedgehogs are a worry, look for a mower with a camera, such as Dreame's own A2. If you have slopes, a four-wheel-drive mower grips far better.
Where it sits in Dreame’s range
- A1 / A1 ProThis model
- A2 Robotic MowerAdds a camera and a sliding deck; up to 3,000m²
- Dreame A3 AWDFour-wheel drive, laser and cameras, 1,000–2,000m²
- A3 AWD ProFour-wheel-drive flagship with a 40cm twin-disc cut
What reviewers found
Five tests across the two versions. Notebookcheck and Android Police tested the original A1 in 2024; Notebookcheck, Basic Tutorials and commaik tested the A1 Pro in 2025. All praise the straight, even cut and the quiet running, and nobody needed a wire or aerial. They agree it's weak with small objects on the lawn and leaves a strip at the edges. The Pro's new wheels grip better, but it still isn't built for steep or loose ground.
Notebookcheck, hands-on, Jul 2024 · Notebookcheck, hands-on, Jul 2025 · Android Police, hands-on, May 2024 · Basic Tutorials, hands-on, Jul 2025 · commaik, hands-on, Several weeks, May 2025
Neat lanes and an even finish
Android Police got perfectly parallel lanes, and Notebookcheck found navigation across three test lawns largely systematic and in straight lines, though it skipped some patches at first and went back for them later. Basic Tutorials described the A1 Pro's cut as even and almost streak-free, even on uneven ground. If you want a lawn that looks mown in rows rather than randomly, this delivers.
Misses low objects on the grass
This is the big weakness. Notebookcheck found the A1 reliably failed to spot small objects such as hedgehog figures and sports gear. The A1 Pro did better for Notebookcheck, spotting footballs and a toy hedgehog about half the time, but still missed tennis balls and hoses. commaik watched it run over a garden hose, a sponge and a toy hedgehog. Clear the lawn before every mow, and avoid dusk runs if hedgehogs visit.
Expect a wide strip at the edges
The body is wider than the cutting disc, so the blades can't reach the border. Notebookcheck found the A1 stays about 11cm back from the edge, leaving grass where the lawn meets a level path, and Notebookcheck saw a 12cm gap with the Pro. Android Police found it takes a curved path at right-angled corners, leaving some grass unmown there. Switching off obstacle detection for edge runs helped Notebookcheck, but plan to strim.
Grip improved, but not a climber
Dreame rates it for 45% slopes. Notebookcheck found the original A1's wheels lost grip on slippery surfaces, and the A1 Pro's new treads were the main improvement Notebookcheck noticed. commaik had no trouble on firm, wet lawn at about 20% but saw the Pro slip and take a while to free itself on gravel and loose ground. For real slopes, look at a four-wheel-drive mower.
Manual mapping, quiet running
You map by steering it round the edge with the app. Android Police found that can take over an hour on a big lawn, and Basic Tutorials sat through a long, compulsory firmware update first. Notebookcheck measured 58dB at a metre for the A1 and Notebookcheck 50 to 55dB for the Pro. commaik found the app sometimes slow and too keen on notifications.
Notebookcheck (2024) and Android Police tested the original A1; Notebookcheck (2025), Basic Tutorials and commaik tested the A1 Pro. Both are rated for 2,000m² and use the same laser navigation.
Prices
Where to buy the A1 / A1 Pro in United Kingdom
No verified United Kingdom price in the last 7 days. We re-check daily.
We’re still looking for more United Kingdom retailers for this model. Prices shown are read from each seller’s own page.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a boundary wire or an aerial?
No. It maps the garden with a spinning laser scanner, so there's no wire and no satellite station, per the specifications. You still drive it round the edge once in the app, which Android Police found can take over an hour on a large lawn.
Is it safe around hedgehogs, pets and toys?
Not reliably. Notebookcheck called the original A1 a danger to hedgehogs and children's toys, and the A1 Pro only spotted a toy hedgehog about half the time for Notebookcheck. commaik saw it run over a hose. Clear the lawn and mow in daylight.
Will it cope with my slope?
Gentle ones. Dreame rates it for 45% (24°), per the specifications, and it only drives the rear wheels. commaik had no trouble at about 20% on firm grass, even when wet, but the Pro slipped on gravel and loose ground. The original A1 had less grip still, per Notebookcheck.
How close does it cut to the edge?
Not very. Notebookcheck found the A1 stays about 11cm back from the edge, and Notebookcheck saw a 12cm gap with the Pro. Android Police also found it cuts corners short on square edges. Budget for regular strimming.
How noisy is it for neighbours?
Quiet. Notebookcheck measured 50 to 55dB at a metre and commaik 56dB, while Dreame quotes 64dB, per the specifications. Android Police found it quiet enough to go unnoticed whether it mowed by day or night.
Compare with
YUKA mini 2 1000
Also laser-guided, so it copes under trees and through narrow gaps, for lawns up to 1,000m².
It struggles on steep slopes and may leave a strip along raised edges.
GOAT O1200 LiDAR PRO
Laser-guided with a built-in string trimmer that cuts far more of the border than most robots.
The trimmer is loud, and one tester's trimmer failed after two months.
GOAT A3000 LiDAR PRO
A bigger laser-guided mower with a wider 33cm cut and a side trimmer for the edges.
Testers with bumpy ground or long tufts found it getting stuck in holes.
Full specifications
Figures come from the manufacturer’s product page unless a source is named. A blank means nobody we trust has confirmed it.
Owner reviews
Own a A1 / A1 Pro?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner reviews are shown separately from expert tests and never mixed into the score.
Sources
Everything cited on this page. Expert scores are shown as the reviewer gave them.
- Notebookcheck: Dreame A1 reviewHands-on
- Notebookcheck: Dreame A1 Pro reviewHands-on
- Android Police: Dreametech Robotic Mower A1 review · 8.5 / 10Hands-on
- Basic Tutorials: Dreame A1 Pro review · 89 / 100Hands-on
- commaik: Dreame A1 Pro in testHands-on, Several weeks
- Dreame: A1 Pro product page (Germany)Manufacturer
- Dreame: A1 Pro product page (UK)Manufacturer
- Dreame: Roboticmower A1 product page (global)Manufacturer