Vacuum cleaners have become essential in modern homes, but the competition between stick vacuums and robot vacuums is heating up. The Dreame G12S Pro is a cordless stick vacuum with a twist-it not only sucks up dust but also mops your floors, blending powerful cleaning with convenience. This review digs into whether this hybrid vacuum and mop lives up to the hype-and how it stacks up against other cordless stick models from global brands.
Stick vacuums have surged in popularity because they’re lightweight, cordless, and easy to store-often wall-mountable like the G12S Pro. Robots bring automation and can clean on their own using smartphone apps, some even adding mopping functions with washable cloths. Dreame, a Chinese brand rising in international markets, aims to bridge the gap with this hybrid, designed to mop and vacuum simultaneously, doubling as your floor-care assistant.
Design and unboxing of the Dreame G12S Pro cordless vacuum
The G12S Pro arrives well-packaged: a sturdy box with molded cardboard inserts keeping the vacuum and its charging and cleaning station safe during shipping. Inside, you’ll find the main vacuum unit, detachable handle, charging station, a cleaning brush, and a user manual.
The vacuum sports a glossy black finish with a sleek aesthetic that suits modern interiors-though fingerprint smudges and dust show up clearly on the shiny surfaces. The handle snaps into the main body firmly, much like a SIM card slot, so removal requires care and a thin tool, detailed in the manual. Unlike some competitors, the G12S Pro comes without interchangeable cleaning heads, focusing instead on integrated mopping and vacuuming.
One standout feature is the bright LCD display on the vacuum, which shows cleaning modes, battery status, and water tank levels. The G12S Pro also includes a Russian-language voice assistant who announces status updates like when to refill the water tank. Controls for voice interaction, volume, and language switch sit on the back, accessible during cleaning. A dedicated button on the handle triggers automatic brush cleaning.
At about five kilograms fully assembled, the vacuum isn’t featherweight but remains manageable for most adults. Kids or seniors might find it bulky, though the G12S Pro’s self-propelling movement means you mostly guide rather than carry it, cutting down fatigue. The vacuum is designed mainly for standing cleaning but comes with an omnidirectional rear caster ball to aid horizontal use for tight spots under furniture.
Its two water tanks hold one liter of clean water and a smaller container for dirty water and debris. The dust bin splits into three parts for easy removal and cleaning: the container, a coarse filter, and a finer second filter. These plastic filters wash easily and dry quickly but require occasional replacement.
The roller brush is microfiber-based and removable with little effort. Thanks to the TangleCut 2.0 dual scraper technology, hair and pet fur rarely tangle on the brush, making upkeep easy. The brush avoids streaks during mopping and cleans thoroughly. Replacement brushes are available but not frequently needed.
The charging and cleaning base is fairly substantial in size, requiring a designated spot in your home. This station not only charges the G12S Pro but also automatically rinses and dries the roller brush, improving hygiene and durability. A smart nook on the station neatly stores the included cleaning brush, solving a common problem of where to stash accessories.
Cleaning modes and performance of the Dreame G12S Pro vacuum mop
Getting started is straightforward: charge the vacuum on its base, remove all protective films and stickers, fill the clean water tank with filtered or preferably distilled water (chemicals only with manufacturer approval), and release the vacuum from its dock. Unlock the handle by pulling it back until it clicks, and you’re ready to roll.
The LCD offers four cleaning modes:
- Automatic: adjusts suction and water flow according to floor dirt;
- Silent: medium power with low noise, great for late-night cleaning;
- Turbo: max power and water volume for tough stains;
- Suction only: quickly sucks up excess water spills.
The vacuum’s self-propelling action means you mostly guide it instead of pushing hard. Runtime varies by mode:
- Silent mode lasts about 60 minutes-enough for general cleaning;
- Turbo mode provides 30-40 minutes-sufficient to mop and vacuum a two- or three-room apartment one or two times.
Despite its size, the G12S Pro maneuvers well around furniture legs and obstacles. It effectively cleans debris along baseboards without needing a narrow attachment. However, there are limitations in narrow spaces where the vacuum’s width prevents access-tight gaps between furniture remain a challenge, especially without interchangeable nozzles.
To put the vacuum through its paces, I tested it on ketchup, raw egg, and dry grains-messy spills that most cordless vacuums shy away from.
The results? Impressive. The vacuum powered through these spills without issue. Still, regular cleaning of raw egg spills is not recommended as it requires thorough post-cleaning to avoid residue in the brush or leftover shell fragments. Running the automatic cleaning cycle immediately afterward is essential to maintain hygiene.
Overall, the G12S Pro doesn’t drench floors nor leave streaks. It’s audible but not obnoxiously loud during cleaning or self-wash. Its ability to clean under furniture horizontally adds extra convenience, as long as your floor-to-furniture clearance is at least 10 cm.
For carpets, the water tank can be removed or left empty to avoid dampening fibers-an important tip if you want to use it across mixed surfaces.
Maintenance and charging of the Dreame G12S Pro cordless vacuum
While the G12S Pro handles tough spills well, you must invest time in cleaning the vacuum afterward. Dock it and initiate the self-cleaning cycle, which takes around five to seven minutes, followed by up to 30 minutes of brush drying. Both processes generate noticeable but non-intrusive noise.
Afterwards, empty the wastewater tank into the toilet-since small debris and liquid mix-and clean all three parts of the dust and water container with the supplied brush. Leave them to dry for several hours before reassembling, though you can reinstall them immediately if needed. Manual brush cleaning post-mopping is advised, especially after food spills, to clear hair, small debris, and sticky residues from the scraper blades.
Charging from zero to full takes about four hours, which is longer than some competing models. However, unless you clean daily, this longer charging time isn’t a dealbreaker.
Dreame G12S Pro pricing and availability
The Dreame G12S Pro is available globally through various online and retail channels. Pricing may vary but typically ranges around $350 to $400 depending on the region and retailer. This positions it competitively against hybrid vacuum-mop models from brands like Dyson and Tineco.
Overall assessment of the Dreame G12S Pro hybrid vacuum mop
The Dreame G12S Pro is a compelling option for households seeking a hybrid vacuum-mop that can tackle everyday dust, hair, and crumbs plus occasional stubborn messes. Its runtime and smart self-cleaning station support sustained, hands-off floor care. This is especially useful for busy people, pet owners, and families with young kids.
Its ability to clean carpets, provided you remove or empty the water tank, adds versatility. Downsides include the lack of specialized cleaning heads for narrow spaces and the extra maintenance involved in handling wastewater and brush cleaning.
Considering its features and price, the G12S Pro outperforms many standard cordless stick vacuums that skip mopping entirely. However, pairing it with a handheld model or narrow nozzle vacuum might be necessary for very tight corners or cluttered rooms. Dreame’s next steps will likely focus on addressing those gaps while refining automated floor care to compete with established brands like Dyson and Tineco, which also offer hybrid and robot mop vacuum combos.