Dreame L40s Ultra CE vs iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Oct 31, 2026
As of Oct 31, 2026, the Dreame L40s Ultra CE costs $470 and the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo costs $470. The iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo has a published review score and ranks #37 in our robot vacuums ranking; the Dreame L40s Ultra CE is not scored yet. Pick the Dreame L40s Ultra CE for first time buyers who want a full dock cheaply. Pick the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo for small spaces with no room for a dock.
- Suction
- 13,000 Pa on the Dreame
- Navigation
- LDS LiDAR
- Mopping
- Dual spinning mops
- Runtime
- Up to 260 min in quiet
A cheap way into a self emptying, mop washing dock with long runtime. Vacuum Wars found good carpet cleaning and no hair tangles, but weak pet hair pickup, poor obstacle avoidance and wet mopping. Spend more on the L40s Ultra or AE if you have pets or clutter.
Full Dreame L40s Ultra CE review →- Suction
- iRobot claims 70x
- Navigation
- ClearView LiDAR
- Mopping
- Reusable microfiber pad
A space saving Roomba with no tall dock, good LiDAR navigation and a large compacting bin. TechRadar needed to empty it after 8 days rather than 60 and measured 78 dB. Mopping and obstacle handling are weak, so it suits small tidy homes.
Full iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo review →Side by side
| Dreame L40s Ultra CE | iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $470 | $470 |
| 3 year cost | $510 | $470 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | 5.8/10 |
| Rank in Floors | #53 | #37 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | 3 years (Dreame US store) | n/a |
| Suction | 13,000 Pa on the Dreame product page and comparison blog | iRobot claims 70x the suction of Roomba 600 series, 4 levels; no Pa figure published |
| Navigation | LDS LiDAR with Smart Pathfinder (Dreame); Vacuum Wars measured 0.73 m2 per minute | ClearView LiDAR, up to 3 maps (iRobot) |
| Obstacle avoidance | Single laser 3DAdapt structured light, no camera (Dreame); Vacuum Wars saw it avoid 8 of 24 objects | Basic; TechRadar saw it push toys and drag a cable, Tech Advisor saw it suck up a glove and get stuck |
| Mopping | Dual spinning mops with RoboSwing, 10.5 mm lift, no extension or auto removal (Dreame); Vacuum Wars measured 2.20 g water left, the most of the L40s range | Reusable microfiber pad with Carpet Detect to avoid rugs (iRobot); Tech Advisor found it mostly spread mess |
| Self empty | Yes, 3.2 L dust bag, up to 100 days (Dreame) | No dock emptying; compacts debris onboard, claimed up to 60 days (iRobot); TechRadar needed to empty it after 8 days |
| Dock features | Auto empty, cool water mop wash, warm air drying, auto water refill, 4.5 L clean and 4 L used tanks; auto detergent dosing is a $39.99 add on (Dreame) | Small charging base only (Tech Advisor) |
| Runtime | Up to 260 min in quiet vacuum mode from 5,200 mAh (Dreame); Vacuum Wars estimated about 1,922 sq ft per charge | Not published; iRobot says it covers up to 1,000 sq ft |
| Dustbin | 300 ml or more plus 3.2 L dock bag (Dreame) | About 1.5 L compacting bin (TechRadar, Tech Advisor) |
| Height | 104 mm (about 4.1 in) (Dreame) | 3.98 in (robot 14.1 x 14.09 x 3.98 in, iRobot) |
| Pet hair | TriCut Brush 3.0 (Dreame); Vacuum Wars measured 68% pet hair pickup, 89% carpet sand removal and 0% hair wrap | No measured pet hair result published in the reviews we read |
| App | Dreamehome app with Alexa, Siri and Google Home through third party devices, no built in voice (Dreame) | Roomba Home app; works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant (iRobot) |
| Threshold | 20 mm (Dreame product page); Dreame's comparison blog lists 22 mm in one section and 20 mm in another | Not published |
| Noise | n/a | TechRadar measured an average of 78 dB from five feet |
| Best for | first time buyers who want a full dock cheaply | small spaces with no room for a dock |
| Skip if | you have pets, clutter or want hot water mop washing | you want real mopping or good obstacle avoidance |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
What reviewers found
Dreame L40s Ultra CE
- Vacuum Wars (3.10 Vacuum Wars stars): 89% carpet sand removal, 68% pet hair pickup, 0% hair wrap, 8 of 24 obstacles avoided, about 1,922 sq ft per charge and 2.20 g of water left behind, the most of the three L40s models. Not in its Top 20. Source
- The Smart Home Hookup: Ranked it with the Mova P50 Ultra at the top for vacuuming among robots from the last three years and tied for first in mopping with the Narwal Flow. Noted the detergent dispenser is sold separately; listed $469.99 MSRP. Source
iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo
- TechRadar (Performance 2.5/5): Measured an average of 78 dB from five feet. The roughly 1.5 L bin needed emptying after eight days. It pushed aside toys and dragged a phone cable. Called a crushing disappointment. Source
- Tech Advisor: Good carpet cleaning and LiDAR navigation, but mopping mostly spread mess and it got stuck on furniture bases and thin table legs. Source
Pros and cons
Dreame L40s Ultra CE
Pros
- Low price for a full dock
- 89% carpet sand removal
- No hair wrap with TriCut brush
- Long claimed runtime
- LiDAR mapping
Cons
- Avoided only 8 of 24 obstacles
- 68% pet hair pickup
- Leaves the most water of the L40s range
- Cool water mop wash only
- Detergent dosing costs extra
iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo
Pros
- Compact charging base with no dock bin
- About 1.5 L compacting bin
- Reliable LiDAR navigation per Tech Advisor
- Good carpet cleaning per Tech Advisor
- Works with Alexa, Siri and Google
Cons
- Emptied after 8 days in TechRadar testing, not 60
- 78 dB average noise in TechRadar testing
- Weak mopping
- Gets stuck and pushes obstacles
- Out of stock at iRobot on 2026-10-26
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Dreame L40s Ultra CE or the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo?
The iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo has a published review score and ranks #37 in our robot vacuums ranking; the Dreame L40s Ultra CE is not scored yet. Pick the Dreame L40s Ultra CE for first time buyers who want a full dock cheaply. Pick the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo for small spaces with no room for a dock.
What is the difference between the L40s Ultra CE and the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo?
Suction: 13,000 Pa on the Dreame product page and comparison blog on the L40s Ultra CE, iRobot claims 70x the suction of Roomba 600 series, 4 levels; no Pa figure published on the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo. Navigation: LDS LiDAR with Smart Pathfinder (Dreame); Vacuum Wars measured 0.73 m2 per minute on the L40s Ultra CE, ClearView LiDAR, up to 3 maps (iRobot) on the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo. Obstacle avoidance: Single laser 3DAdapt structured light, no camera (Dreame); Vacuum Wars saw it avoid 8 of… on the L40s Ultra CE, Basic; TechRadar saw it push toys and drag a cable, Tech Advisor saw it suck up a glove… on the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo.
Also consider
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