Dreame T20 cordless vacuum cleaner for $288.99 (Amazon)/239,70€ (EU warehouse)

.Xiaomis subsidiary Dreame manufactures very good, powerful and high-quality battery vacuum cleaners for comparatively little money. This premise has continued with every new model. Even for the Dreame T20, which is currently in crowdfunding, the household manufacturer does not charge enormous sums. An upgrade model of its predecessor V11 that leaves hardly any wishes unfulfilled. Does it?

• Dreame T20 cordless vacuum cleaner
  • US Warehouse: Amazon for $288.99 – activate $60 coupon
  • EU Warehouse: AliExpress for 239,70€ | Geekbuying for 240,98€ | Geekmaxi for 239,99€ 

Since our test model is a “preliminary model”, a few points will be different after crowdfunding. The most important differences:

• Dreame-Logo will be on top of the main element
• Wall bracket will be included in delivery
• the grey becomes much more distinctive/matter (comparable to the color of the Dreame V11)
• Carpet roller is included depending on the financing package
• no wipe function for the European version – very sad! 🙁

Technical data: Comparison to Dreame V11

Anyone who asks now how the T20 differs from its direct predecessor, the V11, is not wrong to ask. In fact, the T20 is an optimized version of the V11.

Differences to the predecessor model V11

The T20 was based on the V11. The following points have been optimized in the new model:

• now with exchangeable battery (can also be delivered with two batteries)
• floor roller specially designed for carpets
• automatic adjustment of the suction stages
• HEPA filters can be taken apart and cleaned under the sink
• Dust chamber enlarged by 0.1 l
• Working time reduced from 90 min. to 70 min., but second battery

The first point is also the most welcome one: a replaceable battery not only gives the device a longer life, but also allows its owner to charge another battery on the wall mount while using the device. Or both at the same time.

Since the dimensions of both models differ slightly, the nozzles etc. are not compatible with each other.

Scope of delivery of the Dreame T20

In our scope of delivery (as already mentioned, a preliminary model) you will find

• Main element with 0.6 l dust chamber and OLED display
• Floor nozzle with attached soft roller
• Suction pipe
• magnetic water tank with attached wiper attachment (microfiber cloth)
• Brush attachment (typical hand-held vacuum cleaner attachment)
• Joint attachment (intended for grooves and narrow narrow spaces)
• Mite attachment (against house dust mites)
• EU charging cable (as promised in crowdfunding, suitable for the respective country)

Unfortunately, the floor nozzle with attached carpet roller was missing in our delivery. This features the automatic carpet recognition and is functionally comparable to the Torque Drive of the Dyson V11 Absolute. This was still in the development process when we received the vacuum cleaner. We hope to receive it later, so that we can provide you with more information.

But in return, we have perhaps added something even more exciting: A magnetic water tank with attached wiper attachment. With this the Dreame owner can vacuum and wipe at the same time – in one go two annoying household chores. We know the principle from the first and second generation Roidmi NEX.

It is not yet clear whether the water tank will also be available for us in this country, but we are very much hoping for it.

Design and processing

As much as you always have to praise the workmanship and high quality of the materials used in the Dreame-models (as well as the T20), I find the coloring this time not quite as sparkling as in the otherwise so fine looking “typical xiaomi-white” vacuums of the manufacturer. But yes, whining on a high level.

What would I like to have available for each cordless vacuum cleaner? Unlocking and locking the trigger. This allows the user to decide for himself whether he wants to keep the power button pressed to keep the vacuuming process active, or whether the T20 should vacuum continuously with one click. I am absolutely team “one-time-pressing”, but everyone has to know for themselves.

With the dimensions 126,5 x 25,5 cm the teat is also usable for people up to 1,95 m (6ft 4″) without any problems (here again my hugely grown, younger 2-m-brother (6ft 6″) can be used) Also the weight of 2,7 kg completely removed (incl. suction pipe and floor nozzle) does not spoil the comfortable handling.

The entire filter system can be easily washed out under the sink. Depending on the intensity of use, this makes sense every two to three months. Also the emptying of the 0.6 l dust chamber is well thought out by the manufacturer. All the user has to do is press a button (trash can symbol) and the contents of the chamber tumble out. It is therefore essential to perform the process above the trash can.

The potential filling quantity of the chamber is also exemplary, so that more intensive cleaning can be carried out without having to stop at the trash can. Whereby this would not be too bad either. The CE mark, which is mandatory for European sales, is also included.

Unfortunately, you always have to lean the T20 somewhere or put it in the wall mount if you want to put something away quickly. But well, also whining on a high level.

The display

2020 is – in terms of battery vacuum cleaners – the year of displays. Although it is still debatable whether these are really needed on a battery vacuum cleaner, they are still being used more and more often. So the T20 was also equipped with a display that wants to provide its owner with information.

The display shows a wealth of information:

• Charge level in percent
• four suction levels (Eco, Med, Auto, Turbo)
• Trigger locked or unlocked (continuous vacuuming or pressing)
• Note that the HEPA filter must be cleaned
• Language selection (English and German available)
• Various error messages (low battery power, roller must be cleaned, filter not inserted correctly, etc.)

To be able to track the remaining battery life I find it absolutely useful, also the display of error messages can be very practical, so you know directly what to do. Tracking the active suction stage is not absolutely necessary, you can see that even during use – but hey, if the display is already there anyway – why not.

In general, there is nothing negative to be gained from the display, but also only because the total price for the vacuum is manageable. If the price for the vacuum would be much higher, one could argue that the display would have raised the price unnecessarily, but one cannot complain.

Performance in the household

After a charging time of 4 h the T20 is ready for use for a working time of 70 (Eco), approx. 30 (medium suction stage) or 10 min (Turbo). This is 20 min. less on the lowest suction stage than on the predecessor V11, but still a very good value compared to many other models (Dyson V11 Absolute for example provides 60 min. Otherwise you can also use the second battery.

Inside the T20, the motor operates at 125,000 rotations per minute, which corresponds to the motor value of the Dyson V11 Absolute. But what I find particularly positive after dozens of laps is a different motor – namely that of the bottom nozzle. You only have to give the T20 the direction, the engine does the rest by itself. So you have less the feeling of doing annoying housework and more the feeling that vacuuming can also be fun. It really does with a good cordless vacuum cleaner like the T20.

It would have been nice to compare the floor nozzle with attached carpet roller with the Torque Drive of the V11 Absolute, but unfortunately it was still in development for the test phase. With the soft roller in combination with the 25.000 pa suction power (just below the previous best value) you are equipped with sufficient feeding power for carpets, but not with the right roller. The special carpet roller should be much more suitable for this purpose than the soft roller. With our advance delivery scope we are not optimally equipped for use on carpets.

With the different attachments the owner can cover different applications by removing the floor nozzle and putting one of the attachments on the suction tube.

Wipe function with water tank

Even if it is not certain whether the simultaneous vacuuming and wiping will be included in the standard scope of delivery in this country, I can also recommend the wiping function. This is, as I mentioned before, comparable to the wiping function of the Roidmi NEX, with a little practice and biceps strength you can achieve quite a lot in one suction-wiping operation on hard floors. Without streaks, with enough water on the floor and in addition with a few drops of floor cleaner you can enjoy the result. And I love the magnets on the floor nozzle:

Although you can still apply a little more pressure on the floor with a standard mop, the T20 is absolutely suitable for standard wiping once a week. If there are some very stubborn, deep-seated stains on the floor, you can still get the mop from the storage room.

https://youtu.be/FhL1TFh1kGg

At least I wouldn’t put the T20 in the chamber, because it is simply too attractive for that and with the wall mount it can be placed in the room in a practical and visually striking way. Not least because sockets in the storage room are rather rare (a short survey in the office with 5 participants showed that only one respondent had a socket in the storage room).

Conclusion: The new flagship model

When we discovered the Dreame T20 in crowdfunding a few weeks ago, we just thought: Surely this is simply a Chinese, US or other market version of the very strong Dreame V11. Not far away, but still missing: Everything that was missing in the V11 and was criticized on a high level, Dreame has now implemented and optimized in the T20. The step towards the replaceable battery is welcome from the consumer’s point of view, as Dyson also recognized a few months ago and many other manufacturers will still notice.

Even though it is not yet possible to say exactly how much the T20 will cost after the crowdfunding phase in the stores (I reckon with a launch price of around $350), the T20 can be recommended unconditionally. Another strong battery-powered vacuum cleaner from the Dreame-Universe and therefore also Xiaomi-Ecosystem. So it may go on like this. From my point of view, Dreame just has to be careful now to continue this strong run (is it already hype?) properly and not to launch too many models on the market, which could lead to confusion among customers. Unfortunately, Chinese companies tend to do this, and Dreame’s production cycles seem to be getting shorter already. Let us hope for the best!

What does Dreame itself say about the T20?

Surprise. 😉 And what do you think of the new model?