Dreame Z30 AquaCycle: A POWERFUL upright vacuum cleaner with a mop head and smart modes

The Dreame Z30 AquaCycle upright vacuum cleaner is an updated version of the top-of-the-line Z30, featuring a new floor cleaning head with a roller and water storage compartments, similar to full-featured wet/dry vacuum cleaners. The display interface has also been updated, and the floor stand for storing accessories has been redesigned. The price hasn't increased significantly, however. At the time of writing, it's priced between $60 and $670, while a standard Z30 costs $670. Z30 You can order it for $52-$570. So, below, I'll test the new product in detail, highlight the pros and cons based on the test results, and then express my own opinion on the vacuum cleaner. So, let's get started!

Equipment

The package includes:

1. Main block.
2. Floor holder.
3. Extension tube.
4. Carpet cleaning attachment.
5. Hard floor nozzle.
6. New floor cleaning nozzle.
7. Nozzle with turbo brush for cleaning furniture and mattresses.
8. Attachment for combing animals.
9. Flexible extension hose.
10. Crevice nozzle.
11. Soft bristle attachment.
12. Nozzle with rotating soft brush.
13. Bendable adapter.
14. Charger.
15. Operating instructions translated into Russian.

The package, as always, is excellent. It includes a full set of attachments for a comprehensive cleaning solution for your home!

Appearance

Now let's take a look at the Dreame Z30 AquaCycle's design. Let's start with the main unit. Like the standard Z30 model, it's gray. Inside, it houses the same powerful 855-watt motor, generating a market-leading suction power of 310 Aerowatts.

The battery is removable, which is a plus! However, I should note that there's no charging port on the battery itself, which is inconvenient. The vacuum cleaner only charges when fully assembled, and I'll explain how below.

An information display and two mechanical control buttons are located on the end of the unit. These buttons turn the power on/off and switch operating modes. The display has become noticeably brighter and displays the battery percentage, the selected mode, and the size and amount of debris collected. There are three modes: Eco, Turbo, and Automatic.

In automatic mode, the vacuum cleaner automatically adjusts suction power depending on how dirty the floor is. Suction power remains unchanged on carpets.

Here's how smart particle size calculation works:

This feature will be useful for the most daring fighters against dust and debris!

The 600 ml dust container is removed with the press of a button on the side. The housing itself houses a H14 HEPA filter. The dust container also includes an additional fabric filter and a multi-cyclone filter with a mesh screen. The manufacturer allows the entire filtration system to be rinsed with water. Make sure to dry the filters thoroughly afterwards.

The dust container is emptied by pressing a release button that opens the bottom. This is convenient because it prevents your hands from coming into contact with the debris.

Let's take a look at the included attachments. The floor nozzle features a fluffy roller for hard floors and a backlight. The roller can be removed by pressing a release button, no tools required. The design is already familiar to the Dreame line of upright vacuum cleaners.

The carpet roller attachment also features a familiar design. LED lights are mounted on the front to illuminate the cleaning area, as well as a switch to raise the curtain to pick up larger debris from the floor. The roller can be removed from the side without tools. It is equipped with short bristles for thorough cleaning of carpets. Behind the roller is a comb for detangling tangled hair and a fairly large suction port.

The updated AquaCycle floor cleaning attachment deserves special attention. It comes with a drip tray that prevents the wet roller from getting dirty and preventing it from coming into contact with the flooring.

At the front, there is a fluffy roller, typical for washing vacuum cleaners, which extends to the edge of the body on both sides.

The roller is removed from the side and attached to a cross-shaped holder. There's no comb for detangling hair and fur, but there is a scraper to collect residual liquid from the floor.

The water tank compartment is released by pressing a release button. The 400 ml clean water tank is equipped with a leak-proof valve. The dirty water compartment, however, has a lid with coarse filters.

This means that clean water is supplied to the roller as it rotates, while dirty water and debris are discharged into a second compartment. This solution is significantly more effective than previous wet cleaning attachments in the Dreame line, which included both standard straight pads attached to the water tank and floor polishing attachments with two rotating round pads. I'll demonstrate the effectiveness of this attachment in my tests.

Speaking of additional attachments, their kit and design are no different from those that come with the regular Z30.

The upholstery and mattress cleaning tool features a silicone turbo brush that can be removed with a flat-head screwdriver or coin. The rotating soft brush attachment can be used to pick up dust on textured surfaces. The soft bristle attachment is ideal for picking up debris and dust on interior items. The crevice tool features retractable bristles. And the pet hair removal attachment is a very convenient solution for pet owners. I'll also demonstrate its effectiveness in my tests. The flexible hose and bendable adapter make cleaning hard-to-reach areas and other areas where maneuverability is required easier.

And here's what the floor holder looks like:

It still only holds three extra attachments, but the upright vacuum now has wireless charging terminals. These terminals are located underneath the extension tube. Now, when you place the vacuum on the stand, charging starts automatically. Just remember to connect the charger to the stand itself.

As you can see, the updates are few, but all are significant and improve the vacuum cleaner's ease of use and efficiency. The pros and cons of the design will be discussed in the final review.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of the Dreame Z30 AquaCycle, as stated by the manufacturer:

• The power consumption of the vacuum cleaner is 855 W.
• Suction power up to 310 aW.
• Li-Ion battery 3200 mAh.
• Dust collector 600 ml.
• Operating time up to 90 min.
• The noise level of the vacuum cleaner is 76-81 / 67-68 dB.
• Weight when fully assembled: 3.11 kg.

Here, as mentioned earlier, the suction power is record-breaking on the market.

I personally measured the vacuum cleaner's noise level. With the dry cleaning attachment installed, it ranges from 76 to 81 dB, depending on the operating mode, and with the floor cleaning attachment installed, it ranges from 67 to 68 dB. This upright vacuum's noise level is slightly elevated, but its high power should also be taken into account. These parameters are interrelated.

Regarding weight, the main unit is slightly heavier than similar models—2,191 grams, the extension tube 249 grams, and the main nozzle 673 grams. The total weight of the vacuum cleaner, fully assembled, is 3,113 grams. I can say that it's actually heavier than similar models. It's not a huge deal, but it's a fact. For example, the Dreame R20 weighs 2,734 grams when fully assembled, while the Z10 Station weighs 2,757 grams. This is due to the updated main unit design and more powerful motor.

Testing

A detailed video review with all tests has already been prepared and published on the channel:

Opening hours

Let's move on to the tests. First, let's check the Dreame Z30 AquaCycle's battery life in Turbo mode with the main attachment attached. It managed to run for 12 minutes and 37 seconds. This is a fairly standard result.

Suction power

In terms of suction power, the Dreame Z30 AquaCycle easily removed debris from crevices up to 20 mm deep on its minimum setting. In Turbo mode, it easily cleared the 35 mm mark. So, it's certainly a very powerful cordless vacuum.

Collecting debris on laminate flooring

Now let's test how well this model picks up floor debris. I scattered various types of debris on the laminate flooring: hair, fur, grains, and other small household debris. This machine did a fantastic job.

It's important to note that he has no problem collecting debris along the baseboards and in corners, both inside and outside. He collects everything thoroughly.

The fluffy roller doesn't get tangled in fur or hair. That's a plus!

Carpet cleaning

The same debris was scattered on a low-pile carpet, and the Dreame Z30 AquaCycle literally sucked the life out of it. But there's a catch. In Auto and Turbo modes, the nozzle's suction is so strong on the thin carpet that it malfunctions, even with the front curtain open. I had to use the vacuum cleaner in Eco mode to prevent it from malfunctioning. However, this problem didn't occur on a high-pile carpet, and it cleaned it just as well.

Again, the carpet roller is clean and there is nothing wrapped around it.

Wet cleaning

I also tested the floor cleaning attachment's effectiveness. First, I conducted a series of complex tests. The attachment does a fantastic job of picking up dirt from the floor without leaving streaks or marks.

The blind spot at the baseboard is about 6 mm, while for most conventional washing vacuum cleaners it is 20-25 mm.

I tried scrubbing away some tough, dried-on coffee and sauce stains. It took about 5 minutes, which is a good result for a vertical mop, but there's a catch. Since the floor was in very poor condition, and the roller doesn't scrape dirt off properly, it started leaving a few streaks when it got very wet.

A test of picking up liquids and various mixtures from the floor is also revealing. The vacuum cleaner doesn't even pick up spilled milk on the first try. And it couldn't even pick up a raw egg, smearing it all over the floor.

The engineers could do well to refine the design here, similar to the H-series wet/dry vacuum cleaners. The lack of a self-cleaning nozzle is also disappointing. You'll have to remove the roller yourself, rinse, dry, and replace it. It would also be nice to be able to adjust the roller's wetting level, but this feature isn't available.

However, in a domestic environment, the consequences won't be the same as after a dirty test. If the floor isn't particularly dirty and you just want to clean it, there won't be any dirt residue or streaks. However, just look at how dirty the water is after washing a seemingly clean floor in an apartment with a robotic vacuum cleaner with a station. This means that this attachment is definitely much better than previously released solutions, and many will love it!

However, its efficiency still won't rival the cleaning module of full-fledged wet/dry vacuum cleaners. The solution is, so to speak, transitional.

Using additional attachments

It's also worth noting that thanks to the complete kit, you can clean a sofa, clean places where the main nozzle can't reach, clean the inside of a car, thanks to the flexible connector, vacuum or even wash the floor under low furniture, and even brush your beloved pet.

Here's how the animal grooming attachment performed in action:

You can see the hair collecting on the comb. Then, press the button on the back, and all the hair is removed, immediately falling into the suction hole. A great solution and very convenient for pet owners!

Emptying the dust container

Finally, I'll show you how to clean the dust container. The engineers designed it so that you press a button and all the debris falls out through the bottom. However, if the container is clogged with fur and hair, they'll go on strike, and then the only solution is to remove the dust container, remove the filtration system, and empty the contents. Overall, it's not difficult, and the process is similar to other brands' solutions.

Personal opinion

The Dreame Z30 AquaCycle upright vacuum cleaner was thoroughly reviewed and tested. First, I'll highlight the pros and cons I discovered during my initial testing, then I'll share my personal opinion of this model. I liked the following:

1. It still boasts the highest suction power on the cordless upright vacuum market. It's truly powerful, which is ideal for cleaning carpets and upholstered furniture.
2. Wireless charging is provided on a convenient floor holder, which also allows for the storage of several additional attachments and, just as importantly, convenient storage of the vacuum cleaner itself, without the need to drill into the wall to install a traditional wall holder.
3. High-quality waste collection on various surfaces.
4. Well-equipped with all the necessary cleaning attachments, including two different rollers for different floor types and a damp mop attachment.
5. I'd like to highlight this floor cleaning attachment as a special advantage. This solution allows for effective cleaning of large floors, thanks to the roller's self-cleaning action, with clean water and debris being discharged into a separate compartment, similar to a wet/dry vacuum cleaner.
6. Also worth mentioning is the animal grooming attachment, which, while not unique, is nonetheless effective and not available from every brand.
7. High quality filtration system.
8. Illumination of the cleaning area in floor nozzles.
9. System for counting the amount and size of waste.
10. Automatic suction power increase mode.
11. Removable battery.
12. Removable dust collector.
13. Informative display on the body.
14. High-quality assembly and high brand reliability.
15. Ergonomic design and stylish design. The vacuum cleaner is easy to use with one hand and has a modern look.
16. Availability of warranty and service.

As for comments, I didn't like the following:

1. High price. This upright vacuum cleaner is already in the premium segment, which is not suitable for everyone.
2. The vacuum cleaner is slightly heavier than its competitors. This is especially noticeable when using it as a handheld vacuum, meaning the nozzle doesn't slide across the floor.
3. Increased noise level during operation. This is more of a nuance than a complaint, and is actually caused by the high suction power.
4. There's no vertical parking position outside the holder. This means if you need to take a break while using the vacuum, you'll have to bend over and place it on the floor or prop it up.

5. The floor holder doesn't have space for all the included attachments. It only holds three extra attachments. It's unclear where to put the rest. It's also unclear why they couldn't have made an extended holder rod with additional attachment holders.
6. In my opinion, the new floor cleaning attachment could use some improvement. I'd like to see scrapers that would squeeze excess moisture out of the roller more effectively, and a comb for detangling hair and pet hair would be nice. I also personally miss a water level adjustment feature, as well as a self-cleaning and drying function for the roller on a separate stand. That would be absolutely perfect.

As a result, those who reviewed the Z30 noticed that the shortcomings were the same, and some had even been corrected. And by and large, many of them are forgivable, considering its capabilities. Expensive? But it's fully equipped and high-quality, from a time-tested brand. Similar models are no cheaper, and even more so. Heavy and loud? That's because it's powerful. It's a matter of personal preference. The vertical parking issue is typical for most cordless vacuum cleaners. However, I'd certainly like to see the floor holder and floor cleaning attachment updated and further refined, although a considerable amount of work has already been done on them.

Ultimately, I really liked the Dreame Z30 AquaCycle and am sure it will be of interest to many as a versatile solution for floor cleaning and dry vacuuming. And the development of the Dreame upright vacuum line is encouraging in itself.

For example, if you need to focus on washing the floor, but would also like to vacuum with the same device, the manufacturer offers a wet vacuum cleaner with attachments for dry cleaning, such as Dreame H14 DualIf you're focusing on dry cleaning but also want a fully functional floor cleaning attachment, the more powerful and fully equipped Dreame Z30 AquaCycle is a winner.

Let us know in the comments what you think of this new product! That's the end of this review. Happy shopping, everyone. Bye!