Summer is slowly but surely coming to an end, but it’s never too late for a suitable robotic lawnmower. After all, after the gardening season is also before the next season. In the Dreame A2 test, we took a closer look at a promising representative of the favor. With its latest garden helper, the expert in smart household electronics once again aims to score points with a full range of features and innovative technical highlights such as special mowing technology for border areas.
Technical data
| Model | Dreame A2 |
| Recommended mowing area | 3.000 m² |
| Obstacle detection | OmniSense 2.0 with 3D obstacle avoidance |
| Navigation | LiDAR |
| Climbing ability | 50% |
| Mowing disk | 3-blade system with EdgeMaster system for edge-free mowing |
| Mowing efficiency | – Standard mode: 1,000 m²/day – Efficiency mode: 2,000 m²/day |
| Cutting height | 3 – 7 cm |
| Cutting width | 22 cm |
| Water resistance | IPX6 |
| Operating volume | 54 dB |
| Dimensions | 438.5 mm x 665 mm x 270 mm |
| weight | 16.4 kg |
| price | € 2,299.00 * |
Scope of delivery
- Dreame A2 robotic lawnmower
- LiDAR protective cover
- Base
- Charging station
- Charging cable (10 m)
- Power supply unit
- Screws and hexagon wrench
- Cleaning brush + cleaning cloth
- Spare blades
- Operating instructions + quick-start guide
Dreame A2 test: design and workmanship
Unsurprisingly, the Dreame A2 is reminiscent of the company’s own Dreame A1 Pro (Review | € 1,289.00 *) and the MOVA 600 (Review | € 899.00 *) from the subsidiary MOVA. What you get here is a garden helper that scores points above all with its sleek, almost sporty design.
Dreame has a shiny silver-colored housing and works with chic carbon accents as well as stylish LED lighting, which is located on the top in front of the black protective cover. The large red emergency stop button, which can be used to stop the garden helper immediately, is hard to miss.
The control unit under the protective cover opens by pressing the stop button and is sensibly structured. Here you will find four buttons (Home, Start/Pause, On/Off and Back) as well as a practical rotary control. You can make settings on the robot itself via the display above it, which I have never been able to admire in this image quality on any other robotic lawnmower.
But more about the setup later. While the buttons impress with a great pressure point, the rotary control offers good feedback. The display is also easy to read. The hemispherical LiDAR sensor, which is used to navigate through your garden, is located at the front of the top.
At the front is the OmniSense 2.0 camera system, which is designed to provide reliable obstacle detection. At the back, the Dreame A2 has a practical carrying handle, allowing the 16.4 kg robot to be carried from A to B. If you turn the garden helper upside down, you can see more than just the two large and well profiled rear wheels.
There are also two much smaller wheels at the front, which are used for steering. In the middle is the mowing disc, which can also be extended for a clean edge cut. This has a total of three blades, which you have to change regularly. As is typical for Dreame, the build quality is of a high standard. It doesn’t crack or creak anywhere.
Dreame A2 test: Setup and commissioning
The setup of modern robotic lawnmowers can hardly be compared with the setup of older or low-budget devices. As the Dreame A2 does not use boundary wires and instead relies on LiDAR navigation, you don’t have to worry about laying cables. Instead, all you have to do is find a suitable place for the robot, provide a power supply and then pull out your smartphone.
The practical quick-start guide tells you what to look out for when choosing a location and other aspects of the setup. For example, when positioning the station, you should ensure that there is at least one meter of space to the left and right of the base. However, it is not a problem if the Robo is positioned under a canopy or other upwardly limiting obstacle. As LiDAR is on board, this does not interfere with navigation.
Once the robot is in place, open the Dreame app and add it as a new device. Once it is in your network, you can start mapping. To do this, you steer the Dreame A2 like a remote-controlled car through your garden and drive around the perimeter. A total of up to four different mowing zones are possible, which you can link together. A minimum passage width of one meter is required.
It is of course much easier to create maps for straight gardens than for winding green spaces. It is important that you do not neglect this step, but carry it out carefully. After all, mistakes can come back to haunt you later in the form of poor mowing results. At the end, you will have a map of your garden, which Dreame will then use for orientation.
A big advantage: Compared to other models such as an Ecovacs Goat G1 (Review | € 699.00 *) or a Mammotion Yuka Mini 600 (Review | € 969.74 *), you don’t need to place a separate RTK transmitter in the garden. To ensure that the Robo also has an internet connection far away from your WiFi network, there is a 4G module on board ex works. You can use this free of charge for the first three years. We do not yet know what costs will be incurred after this trial period.
Dreame A2 test: Dreame app
Not much has changed in the Dreame app with the Dreame A2. This is by no means meant to sound negative, as the Chinese manufacturer undoubtedly has one of the clearest apps on the market. Although you can theoretically also control the robot via the control panel under the glass hood, you should definitely use the app. After all, this is nothing less than the control center for your robotic lawnmower.
What I particularly like? Dreame is thinking of beginners and professionals alike. Thanks to the clear design, even beginners will quickly find their way around the robotic lawnmower. Conversely, there are numerous setting and customization options, which should appeal to those of you who are passionate about lawn care. Not only can schedules and specific mowing zones be defined.
You can also define exclusion zones and set how short the Dreame A2 should cut your blades of grass. A special treat for fans of attractive lawns: You can set specific lawn patterns here. Depending on the pattern you choose, the robot adjusts its path. What I also liked is the lightning-fast and uncomplicated switching between the different mowing modes. This makes efficient lawn care child’s play, even from the couch.
Dreame A2 test: obstacle detection
In many circles, robotic lawn mowers are still regarded as veritable “killing machines” for hedgehogs and other small animals that may roam around the garden. The fact that poorly equipped and older devices pose a risk cannot be denied.
But a lot has happened here in recent years. The Dreame A2 also proves this. Thanks to its OmniSense 2.0 camera unit at the front, the Robo offers reliable obstacle detection. In the test, I scattered tennis balls, cuddly toys and other garden toys across the lawn. The Dreame A2 reliably detected all my obstacles and avoided them.
You can easily set how sensitive the obstacle detection is in the app. Naturally, the three razor blades on the underside are sharp. That’s why Dreame does pretty much everything it can to protect users and third parties from harm.
This includes a sensor system that detects, among other things, when you lift the robotic lawnmower. If this is the case, the mower stops immediately. You can also stop the Dreame by pressing the red emergency stop button.
Dreame A2 test: Practical test
The Dreame A2 has a 90 Wh battery and, according to the manufacturer, is suitable for lawns of up to 3,000 m². With a battery life of just over one and a half hours and a charging time of 83 minutes for a full charge, this is certainly possible.
Of course, I wasn’t able to use this maximum in view of my much smaller garden. What I can attest to without hesitation, however, is the Dreame A2’s really strong mowing performance. It mowed my 90 m² lawn in just under 45 minutes. In view of the 22 cm wide mower deck, the Dreame works pleasingly efficiently.
The extendable design of the mower deck is particularly exciting. This allows the Dreame A2 to shine, especially around lawn edges or walls. Where many competitors leave an unmown edge, the Dreame offers an almost borderless mowing pattern. But there is also a problem that I noticed with the Dreame.
The obstacle detection was sometimes a little too sensitive for me. In the area of my small wall stones, small branches of herbs hanging down were interpreted as branches of flowers. If this bothers you, you need to reduce the sensitivity of the obstacle detection.
Dreame A2 test: outdoor surveillance camera
The Dreame A2 primarily uses its OmniSense 2.0 technology to avoid obstacles. However, the camera also allows you to use the smart robotic lawnmower as a mobile surveillance camera. To ensure that you not only receive video but also audio transmissions from your property, Dreame has also installed a microphone in the garden robot.
If you discover an uninvited guest on your lawn, you can start the integrated alarm siren via the app. You will also receive a corresponding push message if the Robo registers any unusual activity.
And that’s just one example of the smart features on board. You also get other practical features such as a rain sensor, which stops the Dreame from mowing when the lawn has residual moisture. Thanks to the many customization options in the app, you can also deactivate the whole thing if you don’t see any added value in it.
Conclusion
With the A2, Dreame is launching a robotic lawn mower that leaves little to be desired. In particular, the combination of modern LiDAR navigation, OmniSense 2.0 obstacle detection and an integrated 4G module sets it apart from many of its competitors. The absence of a boundary wire and RTK mast makes it pleasantly easy to set up, and the Dreame app impresses with its clarity and numerous setting options – from mowing plans and lawn patterns to exclusion zones. In practice, the A2 delivers a strong and efficient mowing performance, especially thanks to its extendable mower deck, which enables almost edge-to-edge cutting.
Dreame also sets clear accents in terms of safety: stop sensors, emergency button and immediate blade stop ensure a high level of protection. Obstacle detection works reliably, although it is occasionally a little too sensitive. An additional highlight is the dual role as a surveillance camera, which enables image and sound transmission including an alarm siren. Minor weaknesses such as the fine adjustment of the obstacle detection are of little consequence in view of the overall high-quality workmanship, innovative features and flexible controls.
VORTEILE
- Easy to set up
- Very good mowing performance
- Rimless cut
- Clear and feature-rich app
- Reliable obstacle detection
- Integrated 4G module
- High level of safety
- Replaceable battery
NACHTEILE
- Obstacle detection ex works partly too sensitive
- Relatively heavy weight (16.4 kg)
- Priced in the premium segment
Fazit
Powerful robot mower with LiDAR, rimless cut and smart app. Easy to set up, versatile - only the obstacle detection is sometimes too sensitive.
