Dreame X50 Ultra review: A clever and capable robot vacuum, but with caveats
We’ve tested our fair share of robot vacuums over the years, and it’s hard not to reflect on how far they’ve come – both in terms of features and size. Cast your mind back to the vacuum-only iRobot Roomba 880 we reviewed in 2014, and compare that to Dreame’s X30 Ultra, which we named the “best robot vacuum cleaner with mopping features” in our Tech Awards 2024 edition.
These days, even entry-level models come with mopping features and need minimal intervention beyond the occasional firmware update or bin empty. So when I unboxed Dreame’s latest flagship, the X50 Ultra, I found myself wondering where it fits in an already crowded market. As it turns out, this one clearly plays in the premium tier – both in what it aims to do and how much it’s asking for.
And it doesn’t take long to see why. This isn’t a robot vacuum designed with space-starved flats or barebones functionality in mind. With its oversized docking station and feature-packed robot, the X50 Ultra clearly has more in common with high-end espresso machines than the discreet little pucks most people are used to. And just like it’s X30 and X40 Ultra predecessors, you’ll need to clear out a proper corner of your home just to accommodate it – and once it’s in place, you probably won’t want to move it again.
The real appeal of the X50 Ultra isn’t in its flashy tricks but in how it handles the day-to-day without needing constant supervision. Like previous Dreame flagships, this one takes the ‘do-it-all’ approach pretty seriously. It washes and dries its own mops, dispenses detergent automatically, and manages multiple cleaning sessions on a single tank of water. The system even heats the water to 80 degrees Celsius to sanitise the mop pads, which sounds excessive until you realise how much it helps prevent that unpleasant musty smell over time. If nothing else, I find it reassuring to know the robot isn’t just pushing yesterday’s grime around with lukewarm water.
In terms of vacuuming, the 20,000Pa suction sounds impressive on paper. In reality, I don’t have the tools or expertise to measure this claim’s accuracy, but in practice, it holds up well. Suction figures often feel more like marketing ammunition than meaningful performance indicators anyway, but the X50 Ultra clearly has enough muscle. It handled carpet edges and room corners easily, and the combination of bristle and rubber brushes underneath picked up dust and hair without fuss. The new DuoBrush system is also designed to deal better with tangles, which will be welcome news for anyone sharing their home with pets (or long-haired humans).
Mopping sees subtle but useful improvements too. The mop pads now extend slightly beyond the robot’s base, allowing them to cover a bit more ground as they rotate. More importantly, the self-drying function kicks in after every wash cycle, so the mops don’t sit around damp and breeding bacteria.
Specs-wise, the X50 Ultra doesn’t hold back. A 6,400mAh battery powers up the robot and lasts for about 200 minutes of cleaning, more than enough to cover the entirety of my 110m2 5-room flat for one and a half rounds (I’ve set the robot to mop only after it has finished vacuuming). The robot’s clean and dirty water bins hold enough for a few days’ worth of cleaning in an average-sized home too, although I do recommend emptying the dirty water tank after every wash for the sake of cleanliness.
Dreame’s app experience continues to be one of the better ones I’ve used – certainly more intuitive than Dyson’s. It offers detailed multi-floor mapping, cleaning schedules, custom zones, and the ability to adjust suction power and mop intensity. You can easily draw no-go areas or set the robot to double-clean high-traffic zones. Obstacle detection is handled by a combination of RGB cameras and structured light sensors, and it generally does a good job of avoiding clutter, cables, and even my pet dog. The VersaLift Navigation system is another great feature, which allows top sensor to retract so the robot can clean under lower furniture without getting stuck. See it in action here:-
Then there’s the ProLeap System that equips the robot with retractable legs to “climb” over small steps or uneven surfaces – up to 6cm high. In my case, it meant the robot could finally cross the small lip between my dining room and kitchen without any drama.
But as with most high-end robot vacuums these days, it’s not without caveats. Let’s start with the price. With an official SRP of S$2,299, the X50 Ultra is pricey. That said, I’ve also noticed Dreame has been selling the X50 Ultra at a promotional price for S$1,699 for the longest time – which makes the list price feel more like a formality than a firm reality. Then there’s the upkeep. As hands-off as the X50 Ultra is, it’s still not entirely maintenance-free. The water tanks will need refilling and emptying, the mop pads will also need to be washed separately occasionally. It’s far less work than a traditional vacuum and mop setup, but it’s not quite the ‘set and forget’ experience that some might expect. At least not yet.
That said, it’s easy to appreciate what Dreame is trying to do here. The X50 Ultra feels less like a simple upgrade and more like a glimpse into what robot vacuums are becoming – more autonomous and more self-sufficient. There’s also something entertaining, for a geek like me, about watching it lift itself over a ledge or shimmy under a cabinet. Robot vacuums have certainly come a long way.
You could argue the X50 Ultra is solving problems that many people don’t actually have. And to some extent, that’s true. But it also delivers a level of consistency and cleanliness that’s hard to argue with once you’ve lived with it for a while. It’s not perfect, it’s definitely not cheap, and it still doesn’t quite replace a proper vacuum and mop when it comes to deep cleaning. But it’s the kind of product that, after a few weeks, quietly earns its place in your home by giving you one less thing to think about.
And for me, that sort of convenience has a value of its own.
The X50 Ultra robot vacuum is available at Dreame’s e-store for $2,299 $1,699. Click here to buy. It’s also available on their LazMall store here.
