ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Dreame X50 Ultra is available for $1,700, but on sale for $1,300.
- This is one of the best robot vacuums and mops available, with anti-tangle dual brushes, 20,000Pa of suction, and legs to cross up to 4.2cm thresholds.
- The Dreame X50 Ultra can get caught on obstacles and require intervention, and sometimes leaves streaks while mopping.
The Dreame X50 Ultra is 24% off right now, available for $1,399 — a $400 discount.
Dreame has quickly become a powerhouse robot vacuum brand. Within a few years, Dreame robot vacuums went from being an underdog to a brand you cannot go wrong with. But has the company hit the heights again with its latest flagship, the Dreame X50 Ultra?
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I first saw this robot vacuum three months ago during CES. When I saw a demo, I put some pink synthetic hair into its nozzle to see how well it performed. As someone who tests dozens of robot vacuums a year and has only had the Dreame X40 Ultra and one more running daily for about a year, I was surprised at how much Dreame changed with the X50 Ultra.
More advanced technology
The Dreame X40 Ultra was already an outstanding robot vacuum and mop; it was our pick for the best overall.
However, the X50 Ultra features much more advanced technology, including a retractable DToF sensor, dual tangle-free roller brushes, a built-in debris compacting system, and legs to cross tall thresholds up to 4.2cm. Putting all this new tech into what was already a top-performing robot made me wonder whether Dreame was trying to reinvent the wheel.
After testing it, I can say the tech checks out, though some features perform better than others.
Dreame X50 Ultra robot vacuum and mop.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
One of the best things about the Dreame X50 Ultra is its price. Its predecessor launched at a whopping $1,900, but the X50 Ultra is now available for $1,300, which is lower than its $1,700 list price.
Letting the Dreame X50 Ultra map your home is also easy, as this is one of the most intelligent robot vacuums ever. It only took my X50 Ultra a few minutes to navigate my home and create an editable map in the Dreame Home app.
Also: This robot vacuum performs as well as some flagship models – and it is cheaper than ever
The robot can recognize up to 200 objects to determine which ones to avoid, including socks, tissues, pet waste, and cords. Dreame uses artificial intelligence for visual recognition, which enables the robot to determine whether there are curtains it should avoid or dirty floors it should scrub harder.
The X50 Ultra robot vacuum also has a 360-degree scanning sensor that knows what things are near without the robot spinning around.
Dreame gave the X50 Ultra a voice assistant that responds to “Okay, Dreame,” and I have to say this is one of the best upgrades from the past flagship. Although you can always touch the power control on the robot or use the Dreame app to start cleaning, having the voice assistant has been perfect for running the vacuum quickly when I am cleaning something else. I can say, “Okay, Dreame, start cleaning,” when I walk by, even if I am busy elsewhere, and the robot starts.
The Dreame X50 Ultra expertly avoids cords.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
The new anti-tangle system performs exactly as advertised, even in my home with a hairy dog and four girls with long hair. I have yet to have the roller brushes get stuck on a hair tangle, and even when I have checked the robot for a different reason, there are never hair strands tangled on either of the brushes.
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The two brush rollers are attached on only one side and direct the hair and debris off to the side while they spin, where the nozzle is. Once the hair and debris are inside the dustbin, the robot vacuum compacts them to the side to make room for more debris. This tactic means the robot does not have to stop and empty its dustbin as often during a cleaning session.
Two drawbacks
The only two drawbacks I have found with the Dreame X50 Ultra are that it sometimes needs intervention and that the mopping feature can leave streaks behind.
I sometimes have to rescue the Dreame X50 Ultra when its roller brushes get jammed on small obstacles. This issue typically happens with flat obstacles, such as papers and thin books my kids leave behind. The robot is pretty good at avoiding small toys.
Also: 10 ways to maximize your robot vacuum’s cleaning efficiency and battery life
Like the Dreame X40 Ultra, the X50 Ultra has dual rotating mop pads that it can leave behind to vacuum exclusively and then return to pick them up to mop, all without intervention. The X50 Ultra also has RoboSwing technology, which extends the mop pad along the edges of the wall to get as close as possible.
When mopping, however, I often see that the X50 Ultra leaves behind dry streaks, which did not happen with the X40 Ultra.
Unfortunately, the Dreame X50 Ultra can leave streaks when mopping.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
I may have to play around with the settings, as, thankfully, you can adjust the moisture level for mopping and how often the robot returns to the dock to wash its mops.
ZDNET’s buying advice
The Dreame X50 Ultra is the perfect flagship for buyers looking for a top-performing robot vacuum and mop. This device keeps my floors pet-hair-free and without tangles and navigates my home without constantly getting stuck on small obstacles or desk chairs. Aside from occasional streaks while mopping, the robot vacuum and mop can remove my dog’s muddy pawprints and make my floors shine.
Also: The best robot vacuums for pet hair: Expert tested and reviewed
Even with all the upgrades, though, if you have a Dreame X40 Ultra, I cannot justify the cost of swapping devices for the new X50 Ultra. The X40 Ultra is a workhorse that will remain relevant for years, so swapping it for the X50 Ultra is unnecessary.
If you want a high-end robot vacuum and mop and do not have one, you cannot go wrong with the Dreame X50 Ultra, especially if you have pets.
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