L40 Ultra
2 independent reviewsRead the findings →A former near-flagship from Dreame, with an extending brush and mop and a hot-wash dock. It's worth a look on a good deal for hands-off upkeep. Its cleaning is inconsistent, especially on carpet and pet hair.
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What reviewers found
Two full tests, two very different verdicts. TechRadar used it for two weeks at home and in a village hall, called it one of the best robot vacuums it had tested and put it top of its pet-hair guide. RTINGS found mediocre pickup on hard floors, poor pet-hair results on carpet and odd, inconsistent routes. Both agree it avoids obstacles well and that the dock takes care of most upkeep. The brush in the box may explain part of the gap.
TechRadar, hands-on, 2 weeks at home, Nov 2024 · RTINGS, lab test, Jan 2025
Hard floors
Mixed resultsThe two tests disagree. TechRadar had no complaints on hardwood or a 110-square-metre hall, while RTINGS found it handled larger debris but missed fine material on hard floors.
Carpet and rugs
Mixed resultsA hairy dog rug came up fine for TechRadar, but RTINGS found the roller didn't agitate enough to lift fine dust from carpet. The brush supplied may explain part of the gap, so check what's in the box.
Pet hair
Mixed resultsTechRadar rated it among the best for pet hair, using the TriCut brush that came with its unit. RTINGS found poor hair pickup on carpet, with strands dragged around rather than lifted.
Mopping
Mixed resultsTechRadar cleared a dried soy sauce stain in three short passes and liked the swing-out mop along skirting boards. RTINGS rated the mopping only acceptable, with a side-to-side pattern that gives stains fewer passes.
Navigation and obstacles
Mixed resultsAvoidance is good: RTINGS saw it avoid almost every object and TechRadar saw it dodge laces and a cable, though it rode over a glove. Routes split them, with TechRadar seeing neat parallel lines and RTINGS erratic paths that left patches unvisited.
Dock and upkeep
Reviewers rate it highlyRTINGS and TechRadar found the dock cuts daily work by emptying the bin, washing and drying the pads, refilling water and adding detergent. You'll still need to look after the tanks and tray, and TechRadar found it bulky, with dust showing on the white finish.
App and software
Not enough evidenceOnly TechRadar judged the app, finding it well thought out and easy to navigate, though zone cleans can't be saved for later.
Noise
Reviewers rate it highlyRTINGS rated the robot quiet in use, and TechRadar found even the bin-emptying cycle not too loud.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use ran it long term or judged Dreame's support.
Value
Not enough evidenceOnly TechRadar judged value, finding it strong value for money even at its higher list price.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
Two tests, two different results
TechRadar was pleased with pickup on hardwood, a rug covered in dog hair and a 110m² hall. RTINGS collected larger hard-floor debris but found fine dirt and hair in carpet harder to shift. If fine dust or hair in carpet is your main job, that split between the two tests is too wide to bet on.
Check which roller comes in the box
TechRadar tested a bundle that came with a TriCut brush and recommended fitting it for long hair. RTINGS criticised the agitation of the roller it tested. Nobody's clear whether they had the same brush, so we can't say which result to trust. Before you buy, check exactly which brush comes in the seller's bundle.
Avoids clutter, wanders a bit
RTINGS found it avoided almost every object, getting close without running anything over, though it sometimes reacted to things that weren't there. In three runs, TechRadar saw it dodge a trainer with loose laces, a neck buff and a phone cable, but it pushed a soft toy along and rode over a glove, and the reviewer wouldn't trust it with dog mess. Its routes were erratic in RTINGS' test, leaving small patches unvisited. Check the cleaning map after a run, not just the floor.
Mopping is good where it reaches
TechRadar cleared a dried soy sauce stain in three short passes and liked how the swing-out mop reached along skirting boards and round chair legs. RTINGS rated the mopping acceptable, held back by a side-to-side pattern that gives stains fewer passes. On vacuum-only runs it leaves its mops in the dock, which worked as described for TechRadar, so rugs stay dry.
A capable but bulky dock
RTINGS and TechRadar both credit the dock with most of the daily upkeep: emptying the bin, washing and drying the mops and refilling water with detergent. TechRadar's main complaint was its look and size, at 59cm tall and clad in white plastic that shows dust and pet hair. RTINGS found the robot quiet in use. Measure the spot before you buy.
This covers the original L40 Ultra only, not the L40 Ultra Gen 2, AE or L40s models. Bundled brushes vary between offers.
Our take
Should you buy the L40 Ultra?
Best for: Homes with mainly hard floors and larger furniture obstacles, with cables and pet waste cleared before cleaning. Skip it if: Pet hair embedded in carpet is your main cleaning problem.
The L40 Ultra is worth comparing if you find a good offer and need automatic emptying and mop washing. Its cleaning results are inconsistent, especially on carpet and pet hair. For higher doorway thresholds, compare the L50’s measured climbing results, but do not assume it also solves the L40’s cleaning weaknesses.
The L40 Ultra sat just below Dreame's X40 Ultra flagship when it came out. A side brush and one of its two spinning mops swing out into corners, a camera and light help it spot clutter, and it can leave its mops in the dock when it only needs to vacuum. The dock empties the bin, washes the mops in hot water, dries them and adds detergent. There are no climbing legs, so doorway thresholds much over 2cm are a problem.
Its two tests point in opposite directions. TechRadar had no complaints on hardwood, a hairy dog rug or a big village hall, and rated its pet-hair pickup among the best. RTINGS found it missed fine material on hard floors and that the roller didn't agitate carpet enough, dragging hair around instead of lifting it. The brush may explain some of that: TechRadar's unit came with a TriCut brush, which Dreame's own package list doesn't mention, so ask what's in the box. Both found avoidance good, with RTINGS seeing it dodge almost every object, though RTINGS also found its routes erratic and TechRadar wouldn't trust it with dog mess. Both credit the dock with most of the upkeep, and TechRadar's only gripe was its size.
Where to buy
Where to buy the L40 Ultra in United Kingdom
No United Kingdom price checked in the last 21 days. We re-check daily.
We’re still looking for more United Kingdom retailers for this model.
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Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Will it avoid cables and pet mess?
Cables and shoes, mostly. TechRadar saw it avoid a phone cable and a laced trainer in three runs, and RTINGS found it avoided almost everything. TechRadar still wouldn't trust it with dog mess or anything under about 5cm tall, so pick those up first.
Can it leave the mops in the dock for carpet?
Yes. On vacuum-only runs it leaves the mops in the dock, TechRadar found. During a combined clean it lifts them 10.5mm when it crosses carpet, per the specifications.
Can it cross rugs and raised thresholds between rooms?
Thin rugs are fine: TechRadar saw it cross them without catching the tassels or rucking them up. RTINGS measured it crossing a 1.9cm threshold, against Dreame’s 2.2cm claim. Higher or awkwardly shaped thresholds may need a ramp, so measure yours before choosing.
Does it fit under low furniture?
Only under fairly tall gaps. Dreame lists the robot at 103.8mm high, per the specifications, and RTINGS found the lowest gap it could clear was 10.5cm. Measure under your sofa and bed before you buy.
How big is the dock, and is it loud?
It's big: 340 × 456.7 × 590.5mm, per the specifications. TechRadar found the bin-emptying cycle not too loud and RTINGS rated the robot quiet, but the dock's size and white plastic were TechRadar's main gripe.
Alternatives
Other robot vacuums to compare.
L50 Ultra
Why consider it: It climbs far higher thresholds and consistently avoided pet waste in RTINGS' tests.
The compromise: RTINGS found weak pickup, and heavy dog hair clogged its emptying in a three-month home test.
L40s Ultra
Why consider it: Vacuum Wars found it cleans carpet strongly.
The compromise: It was surprisingly poor at avoiding small objects in the one direct comparison.
L10s Ultra Gen 2
Why consider it: Home tests found useful everyday cleaning and a convenient dock.
The compromise: Missed edges, scattered debris and odd routes mean you should watch its first few runs.
L40 Ultra head to head
Head to head
Dreame L50 Ultra vs L40 Ultra
Our verdict: Get the L50 if thresholds matter: RTINGS measured it crossing 3.8cm, against 1.9cm here. Otherwise the two are closer than the names suggest. RTINGS rated both below par on pickup and good at avoiding clutter, and home testers liked both.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the L40 Ultra?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- TechRadar: Dreame L40 Ultra review ↗4.5 / 5Hands-on, 2 weeks at home
- RTINGS: Dreame L40 Ultra laboratory test ↗6.3 / 10Lab test
Sources
- Dreame: L40 Ultra product page and specifications ↗Manufacturer
- Dreame: L40 Ultra product overview ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Search YouTube for Dreame L40 Ultra ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.