Accgo Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
The Dreame L40s Ultra CE enters an increasingly crowded robot vacuum market with a simple promise: flagship-level suction and hands-off maintenance without flagship pricing. With 13,000Pa of suction power, ultrasonic carpet detection, and a multifunction auto-maintenance dock, it aims to deliver a near-premium experience while undercutting the highest-end competition.
After extensive evaluation, the L40s Ultra CE proves itself to be a highly capable cleaner — though not entirely without compromise.
Positioned in the upper mid-range category, the L40s Ultra CE competes directly with models from Roborock’s Q series and certain iRobot Combo units. While pricing fluctuates, it typically lands below ultra-flagship systems that include fully integrated plumbing modules.
It offers strong value relative to its feature set, particularly given its automated dock functionality.
Design and build
The L40s Ultra CE follows Dreame’s modern minimalist aesthetic. The robot itself is low-profile, with a centrally mounted LiDAR dome for precision mapping. Build quality feels solid and appropriately premium for the price bracket.
The PowerDock station is substantial but well organized, housing the dust collection system and mop washing components in a clean vertical layout. It will require moderate floor space, so it’s better suited for larger homes than small apartments.
Cleaning performance
The headline feature here is the 13,000Pa suction system. In practice, it performs impressively across both hard floors and carpets. Fine debris, cereal fragments, and pet hair are removed efficiently in a single pass under standard suction.
On carpets, suction automatically increases when needed, while the ultrasonic sensor triggers mop lifting to avoid wetting fabric surfaces. This transition handling is smooth and reliable — an essential feature in mixed-floor homes.
Edge cleaning is consistent, though not class-leading. Very tight corners may require occasional manual touch-ups, which remains common across the category.
Hair tangling is minimal thanks to the TriCut brush design, making it particularly suitable for pet owners.
Mopping performance
The dual rotating mop pads provide even pressure across hard flooring. For light stains and daily grime, results are strong. It is not a substitute for deep manual scrubbing on heavily soiled surfaces, but for maintenance cleaning, it performs above average.
Automatic mop washing and hot-air drying in the dock reduce odor buildup and maintenance effort — a significant convenience advantage over simpler hybrid robots.
Navigation and smart features
Dreame’s Smart Pathfinder navigation system builds fast, accurate maps. Room segmentation is logical, and route planning minimizes redundancy.
Obstacle avoidance handles common clutter effectively, though it lacks advanced AI object identification found in higher-tier camera-driven systems. In day-to-day use, however, navigation is dependable and efficient.
The companion app allows granular control over suction levels, water flow, room-specific cleaning, scheduling, and no-go zones. Voice assistant integration is supported, though the app remains the primary control interface for most users.
Battery life
With a 5,200mAh battery, the L40s Ultra CE comfortably manages medium to large homes on a single charge in balanced mode. Under maximum suction with active mopping, runtime decreases, but the robot intelligently recharges and resumes cleaning where it left off.
Noise levels are moderate for the category — noticeable at maximum suction, but unobtrusive in standard operation.
Pros
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Extremely strong 13,000Pa suction
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Reliable ultrasonic carpet detection and mop lifting
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Automated dock with mop washing and drying
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Accurate mapping and logical navigation
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Minimal hair tangling
Cons
– Automatic water refill module sold separately
– Obstacle avoidance lacks advanced AI object recognition
– Dock requires considerable floor space
Verdict
The Dreame L40s Ultra CE strikes an impressive balance between power and automation. Its suction performance rivals more expensive competitors, and its automated dock significantly reduces day-to-day maintenance. While it doesn’t quite reach the AI sophistication or full plumbing integration of ultra-premium models, it delivers where it matters most: consistent, powerful cleaning with minimal user intervention.
For households seeking strong performance and genuine hands-off convenience without stepping into the highest pricing tier, the L40s Ultra CE is an easy recommendation.
Accgo Rating: 4.3/5 — A high-performance robot vacuum that gets the fundamentals right while offering meaningful automation upgrades.
By Jessica Borga. Accgo doesn’t review products. It explains whether living with them actually makes life easier—especially in Canada.
