Dreame H12: a washing upright vacuum cleaner with an improved cleaning module

The new Dreame H12 vertical washing vacuum cleaner differs from its predecessors H11 and H11 Max First and foremost, it boasts an improved cleaning module. On one side, the roller is extended almost to the edge, solving the problem with most similar devices: not cleaning a narrow strip along baseboards and other objects. Below, I'll take a detailed look at and test the Dreame H12, after which I'll express my opinion on whether this cordless wet/dry vacuum cleaner is worth buying. The price at the time of writing is around $400, or $250 at the current exchange rate, making it slightly more expensive than its predecessor, the H11 Max. So, let's get started!

Equipment

The package includes:

1. Main block.
2. Charging and self-cleaning station with two accessory stands.
3. Pen.
4. Power adapter.
5. Branded cleaning product.
6. Operating instructions translated into Russian.
7. Spare roller.
8. Vacuum cleaner cleaning tool.
9. Spare HEPA filter.

The package is complete. It includes all the necessary accessories and consumables for operating the vacuum cleaner, which is a plus.

Appearance

Now let's take a look at how the Dreame H12 is designed. Let's start with the cleaning module. As I mentioned earlier, the roller has been moved to one edge, to the right, which partially solves the problem of cleaning dirt right up to the baseboard. Why partially? Because the roller doesn't extend directly to the edge of the unit; the roller lock is positioned even closer to the edge.

The roller itself is easily removed by pressing a button on the top. The protective cover can also be removed for easy cleaning and maintenance of the cleaning module. Behind the roller is a suction hole and a toothed surface for removing debris from the roller during cleaning and self-cleaning.

Above the cleaning module is the dirty water tank. It holds 500 ml. It contains a HEPA filter with a mesh screen and a sensor system to monitor the water level. When the tank is full of dirty water, the Dreame H12 will alert you to empty it.

The clean water tank is located even higher. On top of it is an opening with a sealed valve for filling with water. A coarse filter is installed inside.

Above the clean water tank is a large, informative LED display that displays the battery percentage, the selected operating mode, and service messages. Surrounding the display is a bright LED indicator that indicates the suction power level. It's important to note that the Dreame H12 can automatically increase suction power when it detects dirt. Unfortunately, manual power adjustment is not available.

The handle contains three mechanical control buttons: power on and off, switching between two operating modes (automatic and liquid collection), and starting the self-cleaning function when the vacuum cleaner is placed on the charging station.

It's important to note that there's another mechanical button on the back, which switches the voice package language. The Dreame H12 supports voice notifications in several languages, including Russian.

I would also like to note that this vacuum cleaner supports vertical parking outside the station, which is very convenient.

Here's how the vacuum cleaner charges and cleans itself at the station:

Overall, the design of the new Dreame H12 is virtually identical to its predecessor, the H11 Max. The only difference is the cleaning module, and more specifically, the roller position.

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of Dreame H12, as declared by the manufacturer:

• Battery: Li-Ion, 4000 mAh.
• Power consumption: 200 W.
• Working time: up to 35 min.
• Clean water tank: 900 ml.
• Dirty water tank: 500 ml.
• Noise level: 72-72.5 dB.
• Weight: 4.75 kg.

The specifications are virtually identical to the H11 Max. The runtime is one minute shorter and the weight is 150 grams heavier, compared to the manufacturer's specifications. However, this isn't a deal-breaker. The key feature is the high-capacity battery. Suction power isn't specified by the manufacturer, but will be partially verified in tests. The noise level was personally tested and is between 72-73 dB. The unit is fairly quiet for a cordless wet/dry vacuum cleaner.

Testing

A detailed video review of the Dreame H12, including all tests, has already been prepared and published on the channel:

Suction power

Now, let's move on to the tests. First, let's check the Dreame H12's suction power. I didn't add water to test how well it sucked up dirt dry. It managed to thoroughly suck up dirt from crevices up to 10 mm deep, which is on par with standard upright vacuums. The H11 Max achieved the same result. I can say it's a truly powerful vacuum for cleaning floors.

Collecting debris on laminate flooring

When it comes to picking up various types of debris on laminate floors, the Dreame H12 handles the task with ease. It's capable of picking up not only small household debris but also pet hair. It's also worth noting that the roller barely picks up any pet hair. Test passed!

Carpet cleaning

Considering this is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, it's not practical for cleaning carpets. However, it's still possible if you don't add water to the tank or use the wet mode, which simply vacuums up debris without applying water. The roller, despite its fluffy texture, is capable of picking up pet hair, hair, and other debris. However, debris can clog the suction hole and block the brush, which is what happened during testing, as the vacuum system doesn't work properly without water. Overall, I recommend cleaning carpets with a regular upright vacuum cleaner, or entrusting the job to a robotic vacuum cleaner of a suitable design and power.

So, it's not advisable to clean carpets with this vacuum cleaner, but that's not what it's designed for. There's a separate, larger line for that. Dreame vacuum cleaners, including robots.

Considering this is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, it's not practical for cleaning carpets. However, it's still possible if you don't add water to the tank or use the wet mode, which simply vacuums up debris without applying water. The roller, despite its fluffy texture, is capable of picking up pet hair, fur, and other debris. However, it can clog the suction port, as the vacuum system doesn't work properly without water. Overall, I recommend cleaning carpets with a regular upright vacuum, or entrusting the job to a robotic vacuum cleaner of a suitable design and power.

Washing the floor

But this vacuum cleaner does a fantastic job of washing floors, and I'll demonstrate that now.

The Dreame H12 is suitable not only for picking up liquids but also various mixtures, such as the traditional dough with broken eggs and scattered flour. It crushed the eggshells and picked up all the mush from the floor. Excellent results!

It also does a good job of cleaning dirt from the floor:

Speaking of cleaning dirt right up to the baseboard, as expected, because the roller isn't positioned right up to the edge, a very narrow, non-washable strip remains:

It's not critical, but since the upgrade was built specifically to solve this problem, unfortunately, Dreame engineers did not solve the problem completely, as, for example, they managed to solve in Roborock DyadHowever, it's worth emphasizing that the Dreame H12 cleans dirt along baseboards much better than almost all its competitors, with the exception of the Roborock.

The Dreame H12 is capable of removing tough stains, such as dried coffee and sauce on the floor. True, it took it 10 minutes to remove these stains, like most other vacuums. But remarkably, the Dreame H11 Max completed the task in 4 minutes. Either the roller on its predecessor presses more firmly against the floor, or the stains were more deeply embedded this time. It's unclear why it took longer. Both tests used the Dreame H11 Max's proprietary cleaning solution.

I can say that during testing, the Dreame H12 truly demonstrated high-quality floor cleaning and powerful suction. However, all tests were conducted on a single battery charge, and the battery was only half full. So, it's not only powerful, but also a cordless floor cleaner.

All that remained was to check the self-cleaning performance after all the tests, and here, again, the Dreame H12 impressed. It cleans dirt and debris effectively. A small amount of debris remained above the roller, but this isn't a big deal considering how much dirt and debris it collected during the tests. The main thing is that the roller is clean after the self-cleaning cycle. Test passed!

It's important to note that the self-cleaning cycle has been extended compared to the H11 Max. The new model self-cleans in 2 minutes and 20 seconds, while its predecessor took approximately 1 minute and 15 seconds. In theory, the longer time improves self-cleaning efficiency.

Let's sum it up

The Dreame H12 was thoroughly reviewed and tested. Here are some of its key advantages:

1. High quality floor washing and dirt removal.
2. It removes dirt along the baseboard better than many similar products.
3. High suction power.
4. Automatic power increase when contamination is detected.
5. Stylish design.
6. Ergonomic design.
7. Informative LED display on the body.
8. Self-cleaning function that effectively performs its task.
9. The noise level is below average.
10. Voice notifications in Russian.
11. Good complete set, including branded cleaning product.
12. High quality assembly.

Speaking of disadvantages, I didn’t like the following points:

1. There is no manual adjustment of suction power.
2. There is no way to regulate the water supply level.
3. Not suitable for cleaning carpets.
4. It doesn't wash a narrow strip along the baseboard, although it must be admitted that this strip is very narrow.

Overall, these criticisms are forgivable given all its advantages. Most importantly, the Dreame H12 does an excellent job of cleaning floors and scrubbing away tough stains, making it a definite recommendation. Some minor improvements have been made, which is encouraging. It's just a shame that the solution isn't complete and doesn't address all the issues found in the H11 Max. Nevertheless, if the price difference between these two vacuum cleaners is small, the newer model is the better choice.

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