Dreame D9 in test: The price-performance winner?

Robot vacuum cleaners are undoubtedly among the most popular devices in the field of smart household helpers. This is hardly surprising in view of the great added value and the often uncomplicated operation. While the smart little helpers still scared off many groups of buyers with truly exorbitant prices in the four-digit euro range when they were first launched, almost everyone can now afford a vacuum robot. Cheap does not mean that the robot is of inferior quality. The devices from the Far East in particular often offer a price-performance ratio that makes the competition from Western countries green with envy.

One of the best-known manufacturers of vacuum robots is probably Xiaomi. The Chinese company has now established two big names in the world of smart vacuum cleaners with its subsidiaries Dreame and Roborock. The Roborocks tend to cover the premium segment, while the Dreame devices are suitable for somewhat smaller budgets. With the Dreame D9, the Chinese now want to launch another bargain. Whether this robot also has a lot of cleaning performance to offer at a low price is something we want to take a closer look at in our detailed test.

Flagship features at a bargain price

In the meantime, not all robotic vacuum cleaners are the same. The devices can sometimes come up with features that were unthinkable a few years ago. Especially in the field of navigation, a lot has really happened over time. While initially only the high-priced flagships had a special orientation mechanism using laser technology, comparatively inexpensive devices now also offer this navigation option. The Dreame D9 is no exception. But what are the advantages of the special laser navigation? To put it simply, it improves the robot’s wayfinding tremendously.

For example, the robots no longer drive dumbly and disoriented through your own four walls, but stick to a strict plan and recognize obstacles. What’s more, integration into the smart home is now much more sophisticated than it was just a few years ago. For example, practical manufacturer apps can be used to define areas to be cleaned and to create real cleaning schedules. While there are already other Dreame devices that offer app support, the D9 is the first model to feature laser navigation. This means that despite a small price tag, it can already keep up with many of the big boys, at least on the spec sheet.

Technical details

Scope of delivery

Open the Dreame D9’s packaging and you won’t find too much. Xiaomi’s manufacturer for inexpensive vacuum cleaners offers the matching charging station including cable as well as the usual paperwork besides the vacuum cleaner itself. On top of that, there is the side brush as well as a wiping attachment. Of course, that is enough, but it cannot compete with the scope of delivery of a Roborock, which also comes from the ecosystem of Xiaomi itself. However, you have to be careful with such comparisons. After all, we are in completely different price regions here.

Design

Although the vast majority of users hide their robot vacuum cleaner under the sideboard or other pieces of furniture, a pretty look still doesn’t hurt. The Dreame D9 does not reinvent the wheel here. Anyone who has already seen a robot vacuum cleaner will be able to identify this device as such at first glance. The design is very reminiscent of the noble Roborock models from Xiaomi. For example, the laser technology on the upper side is slightly offset to the back of the device. Other manufacturers prefer a central placement here.

With the help of the side-mounted brush, the D9 can also wiggle dirt from corners towards it and suck it up. In this regard, the device shares another common feature with the Roborock. While other manufacturers rely on two side brushes, both the D9 and the Roborock use only one brush each. It is these similarities that highlight Dreame’s origins.

The main material of the D9 is plastic. This comes in a classy white, which has the decisive advantage that dust can hardly be seen on the device. On top of that, its unobtrusive color scheme allows it to fit into pretty much any setup without being distracting. The workmanship is on a high level throughout. Thus, at least as a layman, you can hardly notice a difference to flagships in the robot vacuum segment. A big advantage of the Dreame D9 are its compact dimensions. Since it measures just under 10 cm in height, it is easy for it to even drive under furniture with low floor clearance. One thing that stands out and is anything but typical in its price range is probably the water tank, which reveals the Dreame D9’s handy wiping function.

The navigation capability

In order for a vacuum robot to clean reliably and all-embracingly, not only the pure suction power plays a major role. After all, if the robot drives through the apartment according to the chaos principle, it is rather a matter of luck whether it has really caught every corner. This may sound strange, but it was common practice with earlier inexpensive vacuum robots. Thanks to the Dreame D9’s laser navigation, you don’t have to worry about the same thing with this inexpensive vacuum.

Quite the contrary. The navigation capabilities of the D9 made a positive impression throughout the test. There is really hardly anything to complain about here. Only a closer look reveals circumstances that could be improved here and there. For example, when small obstacles get in the way of the vacuum. Sometimes, the Dreame D9 acts almost too cautiously by stopping a few centimeters in front of objects. This ensures that it drives around some chair or table legs with a slightly too large distance.

In the end, there is potentially always a little dirt left over that is not cleaned. But honestly, I prefer this behavior to the robot vacuum touching every piece of furniture and risking scratches or other unwelcome damage. If the little vacuum does end up on a collision course, the bumper attached to the front ensures that nothing happens. Once triggered, the D9 reliably takes a different direction.

Smart app support

What’s really cool is that you can use the Dreame D9 with Xiaomi’s in-house app. The so-called Mi-Home app allows you to use practical features. For example, you can define cleaning areas in which the small robot vacuum cleaner should operate.

In addition, you can specify in which places the vacuum robot should use its wiping function and where not. However, we would have liked to see some additional functions. For example, only one map can be set for the robot. This means that homeowners or residents of a duplex apartment cannot map several floors. Too bad!

The practical test

If you take a look at the technical details of the Dreame D9, you will by no means think that it is a cheap vacuum robot. This already starts with the pure suction power. The manufacturer specifies 3,000 Pascal, which is a comparatively high power. If you then let the smart vacuum cleaner drive through your own four walls, you can also read the suction power from the final result.

As the owner of two cats, my apartment presents quite a few challenges that need to be overcome. Besides the hair itself, the two furry tigers also spread their cat litter and dry food all over the apartment. I therefore no longer want to do without a vacuum robot. After the Dreame D9 had completed its cleaning process, I was completely satisfied.

But it wasn’t just the thorough cleaning that surprised me positively. On top of that, the device does not work too loudly with its approximately 50 decibels in normal cleaning mode. Alternatively, you can also disturb to the quiet mode, which brings less suction power, but saves a few decibels. If there’s ever anything more to do, there’s also a special turbo mode to choose from. This mode is quite loud at just under 62 decibels, but the cleaning performance is also noticeably better. The cleaning of the small household helper is also pleasantly uncomplicated.

To do this, you first have to open the lid on the top. Then you can take out the container with the sucked up garbage. All you have to do is dump it out over the trash can and then put it back in. That’s it. The advertised wiping function of the Dreame D9 is more of a gimmick than a real added value. This is because the manufacturer only relies on a wiping surface here, which does not move. Strictly speaking, the small robot only wipes the dirt in front of it. However, all models that do not rely on rotating, but immobile wiping surfaces have this deficit.

The battery power

In the Dreame D9, a 5,200 mAh battery provides decent staying power. The manufacturer itself promises that the device should be able to last up to 150 minutes. However, after a practical test, it can be assumed that this is only possible in the lowest suction power mode. After all, it lasted just under 100 minutes in normal mode without intermediate charging in the charging station. However, it could easily vacuum my 82 m² apartment twice in a row.

Consequently, the battery power will easily suffice for conventional apartment sizes. However, if you ever want to vacuum a gym or a huge loft, the Dreame D9 will do the job on its own. If the battery is empty, the vacuum reliably returns to its charging station and then continues the cleaning process with a freshly filled battery. To fill the battery from 0 to 100, the Dreame D9 needs about 5 hours of charging in its station.

Conclusion

With the Dreame D9, you have to take a closer look to realize that this is a mid-range vacuum robot. Laser navigation, app support and wipe function are features that are usually only reserved for the upper class. However, the smart vacuum robot from the Far East does not only score on the spec sheet. It also left a very good impression during its cleaning tours and hardly left any dust and dirt behind. Only the somewhat too cautious working method and the not really effective wiping work give a small reason for complaint. Otherwise, you get a real price-performance hit in the robot vacuum segment. Great job Dreame!