Skip to main content

This is the best robot vacuum for high-pile carpets in 2024

The Dreame L40 Ultra mopping a room.
Dreame

Robot vacuums have come a long way over the past few years, but most of them still struggle with high-pile carpets. This is especially true if you’re using a robot that both vacuums and mops, as there aren’t many elegant solutions for preventing the mops from streaking across your soft carpets. However, the Dreame L40 Ultra has largely solved the problem — and it’s the best robot vacuum for high-pile carpets in 2024.

The Dreame L40 Ultra automatically removes its mopping pads

The Dreame L40 Ultra dock next to a plant.
Jon Bitner / Digital Trends

There’s one key feature that makes the Dreame L40 Ultra so compelling, and that’s automatic mop removal. The device can be programmed to automatically leave its two mopping pads behind in the docking station when heading out to vacuum, ensuring your floors stay nice and dry.

Recommended Videos

It’s a more elegant solution than most robot vacuums that can only retract their mopping pads a few millimeters. And while the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ has an innovative solution (lifting its mopping plate to the top of the robot with a swinging arm), the L40 Ultra is an overall more compelling device.

Top-of-the-line specs

The swinging arm on the Dreame L40 Ultra.
Dreame

Detachable mopping pads are just the tip of the iceberg with the Dreame L40 Ultra. Other great vacuuming features include a swinging side brush that effectively sweeps near baseboards and around furniture, up to 11,000Pa of suction, and an Anti-Tangle Tricut Brush, which boasts a fancy design that works wonders to eliminate pet fur and hair from getting clogged inside the device.

You can always dive into the Dreame app to customize your cleaning route, though you can also let the robot determine the best parameters based on the amount of dirt it detects with its sensors. This is great for high-pile carpets, as the robot can automatically ramp up its suction levels to clean deep between the fibers.

Maintenance is minimal too, as the docking station holds up to 75 days of debris and both rinses and dries mops once the cleaning cycle is complete. There’s even a duo-scraper system that scrubs the bottom of the dock to prevent gunk from building up.

In short, it’s an all-around powerhouse of a robot vacuum, and our Dreame L40 Ultra review found it to be great for all households. But if your home is loaded with high-pile carpet, all these features make it an even more compelling purchase.

Also consider the Dreame X40 Ultra

If you don’t mind spending a few extra bucks, you should also check out the Dreame X40 Ultra. It’s more expensive (and older) than the Dreame L40 Ultra, but it’s also capable of removing its mops before vacuuming. You’ll also get a bit more suction (12,000Pa), so if you have a messier home than most, the added power could be useful. But for everyone else, the Dreame L40 Ultra is the robot to get.

Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
This new robot vacuum competes with rivals nearly twice its price
The Yeedi C12 Pro Plus in its dock.

Ecovacs is a popular name in the world of robot vacuums, but its lineup is often remarkably expensive. The X2 Combo, for example, costs $1,600. However, the company has a sub-brand named Yeedi that offers more affordable products, and its new Yeedi C12 Pro Plus looks like a great alternative for frugal shoppers.

The Yeedi C12 Pro Plus is currently available for just $350 ahead of its June 1 launch, though its regular $600 price tag is leagues better than the $1,600 X2 Combo or $1,900 Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra. But despite the lower price tag, Yeedi packed the C12 Pro Plus with impressive features. The robot produces up to 8,000Pa of suction, uses dual comb teeth and an updated roller brush to limit tangles, and runs for up to 300 minutes before needing to recharge at its docking station. Once vacuuming is done, it'll automatically empty its dustbin.

Read more
The Narwal Freo X Plus is an entry-level robot vacuum loaded with premium features
The Freo X Plus vacuuming pet hair.

Narwal launched the Freo X Ultra earlier this year, and we found it to be an exceptional robot vacuum and mop combo -- though its $1,400 price tag made it a luxury item for most shoppers. Thankfully, many of the Freo X Ultra's best features can be found on the newly launched Narwal Freo X Plus, which offers an affordable alternative to the flagship vacuum and mop combo.

The Freo X Plus should be much more appealing to frugal shoppers, as it clocks in at just $400. That's a full $1,000 cheaper than the Ultra, yet it still holds up to seven weeks of dust, can lift its mopping plate when traveling on carpet, and produces up to 7,800 Pa of suction to pull out dirt and debris from your carpets. It can even apply 6 Newton units of downward pressure while mopping, allowing it to tackle tough stains with ease.

Read more
iRobot launches affordable robot vacuum and mop combo that costs just $275
The iRobot Roomba Combo Essential mopping a floor.

iRobot is one of the most popular manufacturers of robot vacuums, but much of its lineup is locked behind hefty price tags. One of our favorite robot vacuums, the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, for example, clocks in at $1,400 -- making it a pricey proposition for most households. That's changing today, however, as the brand has officially launched the Roomba Combo Essential, which costs just $250 and offers many of the same features found in its expensive siblings.

The Roomba Combo Essential Robot is a robot vacuum and mop that's billed as an upgrade to the old Roomba 600 Series. It uses a V-shaped roller brush to minimize tangles while vacuuming, offers three different suction levels for customized performance, and uses an edge sweeping brush to better clean baseboards and crevices. It's a similar story for mopping, as you can choose between three different water levels for cleaning hard floors.

Read more