Dreame D9: An affordable robot vacuum cleaner with lidar and increased suction power

Dreame D9 photoDreame D9 photo

In this article, I'll be reviewing a rather interesting robot vacuum cleaner with lidar—the Dreame D9. It costs between $200 and $260. I've included a purchase link and a promo code for a good discount at the end of the review. For this price, the Dreame D9 not only features advanced navigation but also a powerful motor, generating suction power of up to 3000 Pa according to the manufacturer, as well as a wet cleaning function with electronic water flow control. This robot vacuum will be thoroughly reviewed and tested, after which I'll express my opinion on whether it's worth buying. So, let's get started!

Equipment

The robot comes with a charging base, a power adapter, a wet cleaning attachment with a microfiber cloth attached, a quick start guide, and an operating manual in Russian.

EquipmentEquipment

Equipment

The kit is sparse, with no spare parts or accessories, likely due to the robot's budget price. I recommend purchasing a set of consumables for the initial use of the robot when ordering.

Appearance

Now let's take a look at the robot vacuum cleaner itself. The Dreame D9 is white and made of high-quality plastic. Its round body features a soft-touch mechanical bumper at the front, which houses a wall sensor on the side and an obstacle detection sensor at the front, allowing the robot to more gently touch surrounding objects.

Side viewSide view

Side view

Top viewTop view

Top view

The lidar is equipped with a mechanical button that prevents the robot from getting stuck under furniture. The control panel has three mechanical buttons: local cleaning mode, start/pause, and forced return to the charging base.

Lidar and control panelLidar and control panel

Lidar and control panel

The dust container is located under the top cover. There's also a Wi-Fi connection indicator and a Wi-Fi reset button. A cleaning tool for the central brush and dust container is conveniently stored next to the container.

Dust collector locationDust collector location

Dust collector location

The dust container itself holds up to 570 ml of dry waste. It features a dual filtration system with a mesh filter and a HEPA filter.

Filtration systemFiltration system

Filtration system

Let's take a look at the robot's design from below. We see six fall protection sensors. The side brush is three-pronged and quick-release. A central turbo brush with bristles and petals can be removed from both sides to remove tangled hair and pet hair. This is a plus.

Bottom view (without napkin)Bottom view (without napkin)

Bottom view (without napkin)

Turbo brushTurbo brush

Turbo brush

The wet cleaning nozzle is attached to the bottom of the body with two mechanical fasteners. Inside, you'll find a pump for electronically controlling the water flow. The cleaning cloth is attached with Velcro and a groove, as with most other Xiaomi robot vacuums. The cleaning cloth itself is fluffy across the entire nozzle.

Wet cleaning attachmentWet cleaning attachment

Wet cleaning attachment

Bottom view with napkinBottom view with napkin

Bottom view with napkin

Overall, the Dreame D9's build quality is clearly above average for the price. There are no significant complaints about the robot's design.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of the Dreame D9, as declared by the manufacturer:

  • Li-Ion battery 5200 mAh.
  • Suction power 3000 Pa.
  • Cleaning area up to 250 sq.m.
  • Battery life up to 150 min.
  • Dust collector 570 ml.
  • Water tank 270 ml.
  • Obstacle clearance 2 cm.
  • Dimensions 350*97 mm.

Of the characteristics, it is important to highlight the increased suction power, which we will definitely check during testing.

Functional capabilities

All of the Dreame D9's core functionality is available in the Mi Home mobile app. Connecting the robot to the app is straightforward. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, which are in Russian.

In the robot's basic settings, you can adjust the volume of voice notifications and select the language. This robot vacuum cleaner speaks Russian.

You can also enable notifications to your smartphone about the robot's status, activate an automatic power boost when entering carpets, and resume cleaning from where the robot left off after recharging at the base. There's also a "Do Not Disturb" mode for a selected time, and you can also enable reminders for wet cleaning mode so the robot notifies you after a certain amount of time to rinse the cleaning cloth.

Settings and functionsSettings and functions

Settings and functions

You can also adjust the suction power, the water level on the cleaning cloth, and set up a cleaning schedule by selecting the rooms you want to clean, the time and day of the week, and the cleaning mode. A cleaning log is available, allowing you to view the robot's completed cleanings. You can track the status of consumables, enable the robot to be detected by an audible signal, change the robot's name, delegate control to other users, consult the help section, and update the firmware if necessary.

The main control panel features three main cleaning modes. These include selecting the desired rooms and the number of robot passes (one to two), automatically cleaning the entire available area, and selecting cleaning zones on the map and, again, the number of robot passes.

The Dreame D9 can store multiple cleaning maps. When working with a map, you can combine multiple rooms into one, or divide a room into separate zones, and even name each room.

Working with the mapWorking with the map

Working with the map

And of course, you can set virtual walls and no-go zones on the map. You can even set separate no-go zones for wet cleaning that won't be active during dry cleaning, which is a plus.

Overall, the Dreame D9 has all the necessary features, and this robot vacuum cleaner can even be controlled via Yandex.Alice. However, I didn't find any manual control in the app, which is a minor gripe, but still a minor one.

Testing

A detailed video review and test of the robot vacuum cleaner has already been prepared. We recommend watching our video:

Navigation

Let's move on to the tests. First, we'll test the Dreame D9's navigation in a room with obstacles. First, the robot vacuum cleaner traverses the entire accessible area in a zigzag pattern. It had some difficulty navigating around the legs of the dryer, but it didn't get stuck and continued its cleaning cycle. After traversing the perimeter, the robot began cleaning the entire accessible area in a zigzag pattern. It cleaned around all the chair legs and around the box, which is a positive. After this, the Dreame D9 traversed the perimeter again and began cleaning in a zigzag pattern perpendicular to its initial passage. This double pass improves cleaning quality. After completing the second pass, the robot returned to its base. The test was successful, and there are no complaints about navigation in challenging conditions.

Navigating within a roomNavigating within a room

Navigating within a room

Regarding cleaning the entire house, after a familiarization drive and mapping, the robot automatically zoned the space into rooms. On subsequent runs, it cleans the entire available area room by room, first following the walls and then in a serpentine pattern. It took just 23 minutes to clean the 31 square meters available to it, its best result to date.

Navigation within the homeNavigation within the home

Navigation within the home

Dreame D9 cleans faster than analogues Without compromising cleaning quality, which will earn it extra points in the final score. Overall, this model's navigation is quite impressive.

Suction power

The Dreame D9's suction power was also impressive. The robot vacuum was able to suck up debris from crevices up to 4 mm deep. So, its 3000 Pa suction power is truly superior to most similar devices.

Suction powerSuction power

Suction power

By the way, we already had it on review Dreame Bot L10 Pro, which showed even better results on the test bench. In fact, it's claimed to have 4000 Pa.

Dry cleaning of laminate flooring

Let's test how the Dreame D9 performs dry cleaning on hard floors. In addition to hair, pet hair, and dust, at the request of our subscribers, we also sprinkled cat food and litter on the floor.

Dry cleaning of laminate flooringDry cleaning of laminate flooring

Dry cleaning of laminate flooring

And as you can see, the robot vacuum did a good job, leaving only a little debris in the corners, but this is a weak point for all round robot vacuums. So, I pass the test.

Cleaning the carpet

The same debris was scattered on the carpet, and the Dreame D9 cleaned it without any problems. Cleaning performance on carpets is also very high.

Cleaning the carpetCleaning the carpet

Cleaning the carpet

Wet cleaning

Wet cleaning also proved to be flawless. The robot vacuum was able to remove slightly dried dirt from the laminate flooring, leaving only a small streak along the baseboard, which is a problem area for other models we tested as well.

Wet cleaningWet cleaning

Wet cleaning

But overall, at the maximum water flow level, the robot doesn't wet the floor too much, leaving no puddles. At the same time, it leaves an even trail and does a good job of picking up dust from the floor.

Cleaning laminate floorsCleaning laminate floors

Cleaning laminate floors

By the way, it's also important to note that thanks to the bottom-mounted nozzle, the robot can vacuum and mop simultaneously. That's a plus!

Obstacle clearance

The Dreame D9 has good cross-country ability; it can easily cross a two-centimeter threshold.

Obstacle clearanceObstacle clearance

Obstacle clearance

Driving on dark surfaces

However, the robot vacuum cleaner is sensitive to black surfaces, just like all other Xiaomi robots. This is important to keep in mind.

Driving on dark surfacesDriving on dark surfaces

Driving on dark surfaces

Noise level

Finally, we measured the Dreame D9's noise level in different modes. At minimum suction power, the noise level was no higher than 58 dB. At medium power, the noise level reached 63 dB. And at maximum power, it didn't exceed 68 dB.

Noise levelNoise level

Noise level

Overall, the noise level is standard for robot vacuum cleaners. Considering its suction power, it's actually a plus that it's not too noisy.

Let's sum it up

The Dreame D9 has been thoroughly reviewed and tested. our evaluation system he was able to dial 71 out of 100 points And for the price, the results are simply excellent. In fact, my impression of the robot after trying it out is very positive. Overall rating of robots tested on robovac.washerhouse.com: https://robovac.washerhouse.com/en/rejtingi/robovac-obshhij-rejting-robotov-pylesosov-robo.html.

What I would like to highlight from the advantages of the model:

  1. Good navigation.
  2. High cleaning speed.
  3. Automatic zoning of premises into rooms.
  4. Adjustment of suction power and water supply level.
  5. All advanced functionality in the application.
  6. High quality dry and wet cleaning.
  7. Suction power is above average.
  8. Good obstacle clearance.
  9. Yandex.Alice support.

The following are some comments about this robot vacuum cleaner:

  1. No manual control.
  2. Afraid of dark floor coverings.
  3. Poor equipment.

For me personally, these downsides are not at all significant, and for $200-260, the Dreame D9 is definitely one of the best options to buy, if not the best.

I'd like to end this review on that note. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments. Happy shopping, everyone!

57 comments

  • Alina

    If I understand correctly, if there is no Wi-Fi at home, the vacuum cleaner will not work.

    • Admin

      It will, but only in automatic mode it will clean the entire available area and return to the base, but all functionality will be lost (power adjustment, water supply, selection of cleaning zones on the map, setting up cleaning according to a schedule, etc.).

      • Natalia

        Please help. We don't have Wi-Fi either, but I can share the internet from my smartphone. Still won't that help? Wi-Fi is what's needed. And if we still don't have Wi-Fi, maybe we should look at a simpler vacuum cleaner, one without all those fancy features?

        • Andrii

          The robot doesn't care whether it gets its Wi-Fi from a router or a phone. But I think it needs to be connected for the entire cleaning process, meaning that once you're done, you can turn off the phone connection until the next cleaning.

  • Andrey

    I'm trying to get a "good discount" using your promo code, but Ali stubbornly writes that the amount is less than the minimum specified in the coupon.

  • Kirill

    Good afternoon! These reviews are great and honest! That's important!

    But I'm concerned about dark carpets. What if my laminate flooring is dark? Almost black? Will the robot go crazy? Or does this only apply to carpets? Or what?

    Thank you in advance! I'm sure this site will soon be as popular as dxomark!

    • Admin

      Hello! Thank you! The only way to determine this is through experimentation. For example, the robot moved normally on a carpet with dark brown stripes. If there are no elevation changes, you can simply tape over the sensors underneath if it suddenly goes crazy. :)

      • Kirill

        Thanks for the info. Maybe we should add a similar experiment to our reviews? I couldn't find any information about it online. It would be exclusive :) I'm sure I'm not the only one with this question.

        Thank you in advance!

    • Julia

      I was also looking for an answer to this question and couldn't find one (not just for this model). It might no longer be relevant to you, but maybe my answer will be useful to someone. The Dreame D9 navigates my black glossy and matte laminate floors perfectly, and it navigates onto white kitchen tiles and back onto the black laminate flooring without a problem. The sensors weren't covered. I expected more from the wet cleaning function, but otherwise, it's excellent, just like in the review.

  • Natalie

    Good afternoon. I couldn't find any comparisons between the Dreame D9 and the Roborock S5 Max. I initially wanted to get the Dreame D9, but I read reviews that said it had a worse build quality and constantly had Wi-Fi issues. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thank you in advance.

    • Admin

      Hello! I haven't compared them yet. Dream is more powerful and its app is fine. The build quality may be a bit worse, but I'd still go with Dream given the price difference.

  • Olga

    Good afternoon
    We're trying to buy a robot after our first unsuccessful attempt (we bought a Mamibot EXVAC660 from DNS). The robot had trouble finding its base and simply refused to charge. It could stay there overnight, but in the morning, when we left the base, it would show zero charge and start crawling around again, searching for its base.
    After scouring the internet and reading reviews, my husband is convinced this is a problem with almost all robot vacuum cleaners, which happens sooner or later. And any other model will end up doing the same.
    I would like to know your opinion..

    • Admin

      Good afternoon! No, these were problems specifically with your robot. It should find the base and charge correctly if you positioned the base according to the instructions.

  • Maria

    I placed an order with express delivery using your promo code, and the seller immediately responded by saying that all the vacuum cleaners in the Russian warehouse had just died a hero's death, so I should cancel the order. Even though they're still selling these vacuum cleaners. Your seller is a scammer.

    • Admin

      They really sell out very quickly at the warehouse in Russia, so promo codes often stop working and I change them from time to time.

  • Yura

    Hello!
    Can I use detergent in it? If so, what kind? Is it only suitable for robot vacuum cleaners?
    Can I use some regular floor cleaning disinfectant?
    Thanks in advance!

  • Anna

    Hello, we're deciding between the D9 and L10. Which one would you recommend? I don't have carpets, but I have a child. As far as I understand, both have good suction. The only difference is that the L10 has better obstacle detection.

    • Admin

      Hello! Yes, the difference is in obstacle detection. This can be a useful feature with a child, for example, to prevent the robot from chewing on something in the nursery. If you don't think you need this feature, then get the Dreame D9. They'll be equally effective in terms of cleaning performance.

  • Admin

    Hello!
    I'm shopping for a robot vacuum cleaner, and I'm already looking at the F9, D9, and Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P. I was also considering the iLife A10s and was considering the possibility of paying more for the L10 (if I found a good deal). My apartment is 80 square meters, mostly hard floors (except for small rugs), and I have a cat who sheds a lot.
    I was initially considering the F9, but my budget allows for both the D9 and the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P—is it worth paying extra for them (improved navigation is a primary concern, I understand). Should I upgrade to the L10? How much more powerful and user-friendly (or otherwise) is it compared to its smaller siblings?
    Is the iLife A10s completely inferior to the robots listed above?

    How does Dreame handle repairs in Russia? They don't seem to have any service centers, and Xiaomi doesn't service them, even though they're a sub-brand?

    • Admin

      Hello. Yes, you have to choose between the D9 and the L10 Pro. I'd still recommend the L10, in case the Z10's self-cleaning base unit will fit later. It's also more powerful and has better navigation. Local stores handle repairs, and they have their own service centers, so if you order from a reputable online store, everything will be fine. There are plenty of spare parts available in Russia and on AliExpress.

  • Olga

    Hello! Great website, thank you! Thanks to you, I've decided on a model and purchased the Dreame D9. I've already created a map, saved room names and virtual walls. Now I want to move the vacuum to my mom's other apartment and clean there. If I move the vacuum, plug it into the base, and run it in new map mode, won't it delete my map? I read online that the old map used to disappear. But since summer 2021, the firmware seems to allow saving up to three maps. Will this work?

    • Admin

      Hello! First, save your map by clicking "Save" in the map editor, and then click "Create a new map" on your mom's map. That should fix it.

  • Angelica

    Good afternoon. Thank you for your review; it was crucial in choosing the model. Everything was to the point, without unnecessary information, and exactly what the buyer needed.

    If you can give me some advice, I would be grateful.
    Problem: I have a Dreame D9 and thresholds higher than 2 cm in my apartment. I want to find a solution so the vacuum can accurately map the entire apartment. Since I have to move it, it repositions and resets the map. This is important for us because we have zones and virtual walls (that's the only reason we bought this model), and I have to remap the zones from the wall every time I clean.

    I even made a ramp with a threshold from room to room (thanks for the video with the idea), he moved, but did not connect and did not save the new room, although the virtual wall was saved, on his map it was like somewhere in the air.

    What's the correct way to carry it over the threshold without it updating the map: pause it or not? Wait until it gets stuck on the ramp and says the wheel is stuck and then carry it? Catch it at the threshold and carry it while it's still running?

    The main thing is to create a complete map of the apartment now and arrange the walls and zones, and then it will be easier: I will mark a specific room and it will go, stand at the threshold and I will move it or lay a springboard.

  • Love

    Good afternoon, so if we have a black and white carpet in our apartment (like a cow), then robotic vacuum cleaners won't work at all, because they won't work on black carpet?

  • Evgeny

    Good afternoon

    Thanks for the detailed review. It really helped me choose a robot. I chose the D9. Today is my first day driving it around my apartment. I'm absolutely delighted!

    I wanted to point out the manual controls. They're in the app (maybe they added them with an update, I don't know). They're certainly very mediocre, but maybe I'm just not used to them yet.

  • Lyudmila

    Good afternoon! I'm looking for a robot vacuum. Based on my budget, I've settled on the Dreame D9. They have the following models: Dreame D9, Dreame D9 max, and Dreame D9 robot vacuum. Can you tell me what the differences are? And what's the difference with the Dreame F9? The flooring is parquet, tiled. The cat is also a part of the mirrored cabinet.

    • Admin

      Hello! The Dreame Bot D9 Max is better than the D9; it's more powerful, newer, and better built. The price should be roughly the same, so it's better. The differences with the Dreame F9 are navigation and suction power; the D9/D9 Max are definitely better.

  • Maria

    Good afternoon. I was testing an Iclebo with a top chamber (YCR-005-10). I discovered the following problem: it kept running up against all the door stops and getting stuck there—all of them! It's a real bummer. Could you please tell me if this problem occurs with all vacuum cleaners with a top chamber?

  • Arthur

    Please tell me what's wrong with this vacuum cleaner. All three lights are flashing and it doesn't respond to anything. The only way to turn it off is to press the power button for 18 seconds and then turn it on again. It still flashes.

  • Natalia

    Hello, can you tell me anything about the 360s9? Is the Dreamed9 better?

    • Admin

      I haven't tested the 360 ​​S9 yet, so I can't compare it to the Dreame. (But the 360 ​​S5 and C50 left a good impression. The entire Dreame lineup, too.)

  • Vlad56

    Who said there's no manual control? There's a "Remote Control" option in "Settings," which allows you to manually control the vacuum using the remote control.

  • Novel

    I'm choosing between d9 and mijia 2c.
    3-room apartment. 40 sq m of cleaning space. A couple of small rugs. No children or pets.

    Of course, I liked d9 at first, but I don’t know if it’s worth overpaying?

  • Novel

    How do I know if the Dreame D9 robot vacuum is fully charged? I bought it, but I didn't see any information in the instructions.

  • Natalia

    Good afternoon. Could you please tell me, my new Dreame D9 vacuum cleaner doesn't spray any water to the mop when wet cleaning. Have you adjusted the settings correctly?

  • Emilia

    The first cleaning went great! After the second cleaning, he absolutely refused to enter the second room. I've already reset the map, rebuilt it, and everything is fine. After the second cleaning, it's the same thing. I don't understand what's going on?

  • Natalia

    Hello! I can't log in and set up the app, the vacuum cleaner doesn't recognize it, what should I do? Everything else is fine.

  • Olga

    Good afternoon, please tell me what is better to take.
    Dreame D9 or XIAOMI MIJIA LDS VACUUM CLEANER

  • Olga

    Does the Dreame D9 have a Y-shaped movement system during the towel function?

  • Irina

    Good afternoon. Thanks for the review. Great! I found answers to almost all my questions. I just can't find anything about how the D9 and L10 (I'm deciding between them) perform on carpets in wet cleaning mode. Does it "wash" the carpets as well, or does it turn off the pump on the carpet? Please help.

  • Andrey

    Does the robot have a sound when removing and inserting the waste container?

  • Vladimir

    Good afternoon. What is the height of this model, including the lidar? All the information I've seen ranges from 9.7 to 12 mm.

  • Larisa

    Personally, my D9 rides like a charm on black EVA carpet.

  • Anna

    Hello! My vacuum cleaner turns off when in sleep mode, and my phone doesn't detect it. I have to go over to it, press the button to turn it on, and then send it to clean. How do I control it remotely? Could this be a defect? ​​Or is there a way to fix this?

  • Anton

    Thanks for helping me choose a personal assistant! Lots of useful information, presented in a user-friendly format.

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