By way of cleansing energy, the D9 Max Gen 2 carried out nicely in suction exams, tackling tremendous particles or chunkier spillages with out concern. I used to be much less enamored with its mopping expertise, nonetheless. The design of the mop pad is not the very best and I am unsure it is definitely worth the effort, delivering solely the lightest wipe-down of my lino flooring. One other potential draw back is the unreliable object avoidance; for those who typically have litter in your flooring and do not wish to should tidy earlier than each vacuuming run, this is not the robovac for you.
The app is nicely designed and intuitive. Whilst you will not get the sort of granular management or automation supplied by pricier bots, it covers the primary bases. The one exception is that I could not see a method to arrange a cleansing schedule or time a cleansing run.
For the worth, then – which is solidly within the funds bracket – I believe the D9 Max Gen 2 is an effective purchase. Dreame makes a few of our favourite premium robotic vacuums (together with the wonderful Dreame L40 Ultra ), so I am not stunned to search out that its funds providing is of a top quality. I might suggest it to anybody on the lookout for a wallet-friendly, fuss-free robovac that navigates reliably nicely and helps you keep on high of your vacuuming. That is the quick model; learn on for my full Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 robotic vacuum assessment.
Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 assessment: worth & availability
Record worth: $299.99 / £219 / AU$699Launched: ConfirmingAccessible: US, UK, Australia
Within the US, at time of writing, the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 is on the market direct from Dreame US or through Amazon , and has a listing worth of $299.99 . Within the UK, it has a listing worth of £219 , and is in the stores direct from Dreame UK, in addition to a variety of third-party retailers equivalent to Amazon, B&Q and Currys. In Australia, the robovac prices AU$699 at full worth, however may be discovered discounted to AU$399 on the Dreame AU website on the time of writing. Notice that I noticed the vacuum being supplied at huge reductions in all territories whereas penning this assessment.
Even at checklist worth, this bot is firmly within the funds worth bracket – we rely any robotic vacuum below $500 / £400 as funds at TechRadar . For that worth, it feels very well-built, and the options are in keeping with what I might count on.
Worth for cash rating: 4 out of 5
Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 specs
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Max suction:
6000Pa
Robotic diameter:
13.8in / 35cm
Robotic top:
3.8in / 9.6cm
Dock dimensions (W x D x H):
5.3 x 5.4 x 3.7in / 13.4 x 13.8 x 9.4cm
Mud bin quantity (onboard):
0.6 L
Mud bin quantity (base):
None
Water tank quantity:
0.2 L
Base sort:
Cost solely
Navigation:
LiDAR
Cost time:
6 hours
Max runtime:
4 hrs 45 minutes
Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 assessment: design
Hybrid robovac and mop with compact, charge-only dock Single rubber curler and one facet brush Mounted, D-shaped mop pad with small built-in water tank
The Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 is a hybrid robotic vacuum and mop. It is sports activities the usual, spherical design with a raised navigation puck, and is on the market in black or white. Measurement-wise, it is on the bigger finish of the spectrum, measuring 13.8in / 35cm in diameter, and it options two bodily buttons: Energy and Residence. Nevertheless, for many controls you may wish to use the companion app.
(Picture credit score: Future)
This mannequin makes use of LiDAR for navigation, therefore the raised puck. That is the quickest and most correct robot vacuum navigation know-how, and broadly used – however not at all times a given in budget-friendly fashions (some use the extra fundamental vSLAM; see how the 2 evaluate in our LiDAR vs vSLAM explainer). There’s additionally a digicam on the entrance of the bot.
This bot has a single rubber curler and one facet brush (Picture credit score: Future)
Flip it over and you will find a single rotating facet brush, a rubbery curler, two chunky wheels, and a smaller, third mini-wheel for steadiness. Basically, I want rubbery rollers such because the one right here over bristled brushrolls, for the reason that latter are inclined to turn into tangled with hair. Some bots could have twin rollers (the primary examples being Roborock and iRobot Roomba fashions); however normally, this seems to be like a reasonably customary setup.
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A large, flat water tank is hooked up on the underside of the mop pad (Picture credit score: Future)
… and the entire thing snaps onto the underside of the bot (Picture credit score: Future)
Barely extra uncommon is the strategy to the mop pad. Dreame has built-in a large, very shallow water tank onto the underside of the D-shaped mop pad. Different robovacs could have a separate tank contained in the bot itself, however that makes use of up worthwhile dust-storing area. Right here, you are getting a barely increased onboard mud cup capability, however the bot will not maintain a lot water.
The mop pad/water tank comes on and off utilizing a mix of clips and magnets (not as sophisticated because it sounds!), so it would not must be hooked up if you’re simply vacuuming.
This type of fastened, D-shaped mop pad tends to not be as efficient at scrubbing in comparison with the spinning, twin discs discovered on extra superior fashions. Nevertheless, it is as I might count on for a robotic vacuum on this worth bracket.
The mop pad can also’t raise and decrease to permit the bot to traverse over carpet with out leaving damp patches, which is a function additionally seen on pricier robotic vacuums. In truth, extra superior Dreame bots can dock themselves and drop off their mop pads after they’re not required – however once more, you’d have to pay a good bit extra for that sort of performance.
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A hinged lid opens to disclose the onboard mud bin and filter (Picture credit score: Future)
Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 robotic vacuum with high lid open to point out the place the dustbin matches inside (Picture credit score: Future)
A hinged lid on high of the bot may be opened to disclose the onboard mud cup with built-in filter. That is very barely fiddly to take away from the within of the bot. There’s additionally a brush and hair-cutter software, for simpler upkeep.
(Picture credit score: Future)
The dock is of the fundamental, charge-only sort, slightly than the type that homes a bigger dustbin into which the bot’s smaller bin will robotically empty. That has the good thing about being way more compact – excellent news, when you have a small dwelling. Nevertheless, it additionally means you may have to maintain emptying the bin manually, which shall be annoying for those who’re recurrently coping with massive volumes of mud or pet hair, as an example.
You may additionally have to manually refill the bot’s water tank, in addition to clear and dry the mop pads. For a dock that may do that for you, you would be trying in a considerably increased worth bracket.
Design rating: 3.5 out of 5
Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 assessment: efficiency
Good navigation, however unreliable object avoidance Vacuuming usually good, can battle with bigger particles Mopping okay, however only for very mild cleans
The app walked me by way of the preliminary setup, which included linking the bot to my dwelling Wi-Fi and connecting it to the app – all good and simple.
On setup, it prompted me to do a quick mapping run, the place the bot simply creates a map of your area however would not clear. This took below 5 minutes, and concerned the bot meandering into every room and vaguely trying round. After that was full, it created a really tough map of the area, with out making an attempt to separate rooms.
The bot acquired a bit caught making its method round my fire (Picture credit score: Future)
I then set it off on its first cleansing run. I used to be fairly impressed. The bot lined every thing with minimal fuss, solely getting barely muddled when making an attempt to traverse the slanting edges of some rooms. It additionally turned caught when it was making its method across the border of my low fireside – though did handle to flee by itself ultimately.
With the primary cleansing run full, the app break up the map into what it thought have been rooms (principally right), and I tweaked and named every room. It’s doable to create a number of maps, however I did not do that as I reside on a single ground.
Navigation & impediment avoidance
Basically, the Dreame Max Gen 2 navigates very nicely. I might see it adjusting its path when it was about to succeed in an obstruction, though at occasions it did additionally appear to search out its method by bumping into issues.
Nevertheless, it is not as dependable in the case of impediment avoidance. I ran TechRadar ‘s customary exams utilizing a shoe, sock and cable on my ground, and the Dreame failed to identify any of them, consuming the cable, doing its finest to eat the sock, and pushing the shoe round till I picked it up and took it away to security. This bot most likely is not your best option when you have loads of litter in your flooring.
The D9 Max Gen 2 sadly did not keep away from any of those obstacles (Picture credit score: Future)
The Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 has 4 suction modes: Quiet, Customary, Sturdy and Turbo; and may be set to hoover, mop, or each.
To evaluate cleansing energy, I ran TechRadar ‘s customary exams. I began by sprinkling tea and oats on separate patches of carpet. I bumped up the suction setting to Sturdy (it is Customary by default) and set the bot to hoover that space.
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Tea on carpet earlier than take a look at (Picture credit score: Future)
Remaining tea on carpet after a single go (Picture credit score: Future)
Remaining tea on carpet after a second go (Picture credit score: Future)
It cleared a lot of the tea in a single go, and virtually all of it in two. I then boosted suction as much as Max, and remote-controlled the bot over the realm to clear the ultimate remnants.
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Oats on carpet earlier than take a look at (Picture credit score: Future)
Remaining oats on carpet after a single go (Picture credit score: Future)
I used to be impressed with the way it dealt with the oat spillage, too. It cleared virtually all of it first time and the remaining on second go, and it did not ping them round, both.
Nevertheless, in my common use of the vacuum on carpet, I had a number of minor complaints. Often, the bot would deposit bigger particles – a tiny little bit of leaf, for instance – in one other space of the room after initially seeming to have picked it up.
I additionally discovered it wasn’t wonderful at coping with hair. I’ve lengthy hair, and the bot would sometimes to roll it into clumps and go away it on the carpet slightly than choose it up. Nevertheless, there was hair within the bin once I got here to empty it, and none wrapped across the brushroll, so it is not a complete fail on that entrance. (When you’re on the lookout for the best vacuum for pet hair , we’ve a separate information that is price consulting.)
I repeated my tea suction take a look at on arduous ground. On the primary go, the D9 Max Gen 2 appeared to only push the tea leaves round in all places. On the second and third passes, although, it had gathered just about every thing.
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Oats on lino earlier than the suction take a look at… (Picture credit score: Future)
… throughout the take a look at… (Picture credit score: Future)
… and those that acquired away (Picture credit score: Future)
The oats have been pinged round much more enthusiastically, nonetheless; however, once more, virtually all have been sucked up ultimately. Only some escaped and that was as a result of they’d bounced their method out of my set cleansing zone.
It is price stating that robotic vacuums are nice for on a regular basis upkeep cleans, however even the priciest fashions fall in need of the outcomes achieved with a good guide vacuum. After I went to empty the Dreame’s bin after use, it was packed stuffed with mud and hair, so it actually picked up lots from my condominium; however following up with my Dyson Gen5detect noticed much more mud assortment.
To mop, it is advisable to clip on the total water tank with pre-dampened mop pad hooked up. I discovered filling the tank a bit fiddly since it is so skinny and the opening is small, and getting the moist mop pad again on proved a bit difficult, too. To Dreame’s credit score, the unit did not leak in any respect whereas I used to be attaching it again onto the bot, as I had feared it would. There isn’t any possibility to make use of this bot with a ground cleaner.
There are three water ranges to select from, and I chosen the center one for my mop exams. You can too select from a few depth settings: Each day mopping and Deep mopping (the place the robotic strikes in “a dense Z-shaped sample”). I opted for the latter, as a result of the app warned there was a “danger of skidding” on this mode, which sounded thrilling.
In truth, there was no skidding and I could not actually see a distinction in the way it was shifting in comparison with the way it had beforehand navigated the remainder of my condominium. Nevertheless, it did an okay job of mopping, leaving a light-weight, even sheen of water throughout the ground and clearing a moist spillage I might launched.
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Ketchup smear on ground earlier than mopping (Picture credit score: Future)
… and what was left after a few passes (Picture credit score: Future)
To see the way it fared with trickier spillages, I smeared a tiny little bit of ketchup on the ground. Sadly, it barely touched this in any respect, even after traversing the realm 3 times. It appears that evidently the vacuum is not exerting sufficient strain with its mop pad to clear something apart from floor dust. That is not too shocking for a bot at this worth level, however it’s price allowing for if mopping is a precedence.
There’s additionally some upkeep to pay attention to. You may have to take away and rinse the pad shortly after a mopping session (the app prompts you, which is useful), in addition to operating it by way of the wash pretty recurrently so it would not find yourself smelling. After my mopping session, there have been bits of tea and oats on the pad together with the ketchup, regardless that I might run the vacuuming exams individually, first. Subsequent I drained the tank, though the location of the inlet meant I could not empty it utterly.
Because the D9 Max Gen 2 cannot raise its mop pads, you may ideally wish to keep away from conditions the place the moist mop is being dragged over a carpeted space. As such, this bot is not very best for flats equivalent to mine, the place there is a huge carpeted room assembly three rooms with lino.
Briefly, I am not wholly satisfied this machine is best off for having mopping capabilities, or that I might find yourself utilizing them typically. When you really need hands-free mopping, I might suggest investing extra in a machine with spinning round mop pads which can be capable of raise over carpet, and a dock that may clear them.
Efficiency rating: 4 out of 5
Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 assessment: app
Properly designed and straightforward to make use of Principal capabilities lined, besides you’ll be able to’t set a cleansing schedule Pricier choices supply extra granular management
The Dreame app is well-designed and intuitive. It would not supply tons of settings in comparison with extra premium choices, however a lot of the key ones are lined.
The map is obvious, and you’ll observe the bot in real-time because it makes its method across the dwelling. You may break up and merge rooms, add “zones”, and create no-go zones if there’s one thing you realize goes to trigger issues.
(Picture credit score: Dreame / Future)
There’s additionally an space the place you’ll be able to modify your suction and water settings. When you change on “custom-made cleansing”, you’ll be able to set personalised suction energy and water for every space. It is also doable to regulate the order during which the bot cleans you rooms. Whilst you can launch the bot remotely, you’ll be able to’t set a daily cleansing schedule for it to observe.
Must you purchase the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2?
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Attribute
Notes
Ranking
Worth
Price range worth bracket, and feels nicely constructed for the worth, providing a good function set and specs.
4 / 5
Design
A normal hybrid robovac with detachable D-shaped mop pad and charge-only dock. Pretty fundamental in design, however good for the worth.
3.5 / 5
Efficiency
Good mapping and navigation, however unreliable object avoidance. Vacuuming is nice, however mopping performance is underwhelming.
4 / 5
App
Simple to make use of and properly designed. Not as many choices as you may discover on pricier robovacs, however the necessary controls choices are all there.
4 / 5
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
How I examined the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 I used the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2 as my principal vacuum for a few weeks to get a really feel for its common usability and efficiency. I additionally ran a sequence of suction exams to evaluate its cleansing energy, asking it to choose up tremendous (tea) and chunky (oats) particles on arduous ground in addition to carpet. To check impediment avoidance, I scattered frequent objects you’d discover round any dwelling over my front room ground to see if it might stumble upon them or navigate round them. I additionally famous how efficient it was at mopping, and whether or not it might address moist (water) and sticky (smeared ketchup) spillages.
Throughout my assessment interval, I assessed how straightforward it was to arrange the D9 Max Gen 2, the accuracy of its navigation, and if it usually carried out as I might need it to. I in contrast my expertise with different robotic vacuums I’ve examined, each funds and premium fashions.
Learn extra about how we test robot vacuum cleaners .
First reviewed March 2025
