As the global home appliance market moves from rapid growth to tighter competition, innovation in cleaning appliances has slowed. Large household appliances are also under pressure to justify higher prices, forcing companies to rely on substantive technical advances rather than minor feature updates.

That shift set the backdrop for Dreame’s media and investor open day on December 17 and 18. Executives overseeing the company’s full product range, from vacuum cleaners to refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, small kitchen appliances, and water purifiers, outlined how Dreame is moving beyond single-purpose cleaning products toward a broader smart home lineup.

In the vacuum cleaner segment, previous growth cycles were largely driven by generational improvements in design and core performance. That model is losing momentum. Many brands, executives said, remain locked in marginal and largely homogeneous upgrades that fail to address deeper user pain points.

Since early this year, Dreame has introduced several new components across its vacuum range. One focus is the motor, which plays a direct role in suction and endurance. Dreame said it has developed a digital motor that can reach 200,000 revolutions per minute, which it claims is currently the fastest available. According to the company, the motor improves dust removal from gaps and carpets while allowing longer cleaning sessions without losing power.

To address hair tangling, a persistent industry challenge, Dreame’s floor cleaners use dual blades that the company describes as aviation-grade and titanium-coated. The system reportedly performs up to 2,000 cuts per minute. For wet cleaning, the company has also developed a compact air and water separation module that enables gas and liquid separation within limited space, reducing the traditional tradeoff between suction power and simultaneous wet-dry performance.

Dreame said the upgrades have translated into market gains. Yuan Guangyun, head of R&D at Dreame’s vacuum division, said domestic vacuum cleaner revenue rose 40% year-on-year between January and November this year, while overseas sales increased 59% over the same period.

Beyond cleaning products, two broader shifts are shaping the appliance industry. Consumers are showing greater interest in higher-end products, paying more attention to design, ease of use, and software-driven features. At the same time, appliances are increasingly expected to work together rather than operate as isolated devices.

Drawing on its work in motion control, sensors, and fluid systems, Dreame is applying technologies developed for cleaning products to larger home appliances:

  • In air conditioning, the company said it addressed uneven airflow by launching the X-Wind model, which uses two bionic robotic arms to direct air. The system allows users to control airflow to different parts of a room rather than cooling the entire space evenly.
  • Refrigerators are another area of focus. Dreame showcased preservation features it said can extend the freshness of meat by up to ten days, as well as light-based temperature control intended to help fruits and vegetables retain moisture. Executives said future models are expected to analyze food conditions and offer dietary suggestions, although those features are still under development.
  • In small kitchen appliances, Dreame is targeting more flexible cooking. It introduced the DS50 air fryer and the AF60 steam and air fryer, which the company said are designed to cook food more evenly and handle thicker cuts. Along with its kitchen machine and automatic coffee maker, the products broaden Dreame’s presence in the kitchen.
  • Washing machines and water dispensers are positioned around health and convenience. Dreame said its washing machines can detect fabric types and adjust settings automatically, including low-temperature sterilization. Its water systems combine heating, filtration, and ice-making functions in a single unit.

Dreame said its system-level approach is intended to make whole-home intelligence more responsive to comfort and health requirements.

As of June 30, R&D staff made up about 60% of Dreame’s workforce, and R&D spending accounted for at least 7% of the company’s revenue.

Dreame is also expanding production. Construction has begun on its Nanjing manufacturing base, a RMB 4 billion (USD 560 million) project covering about 128,700 square meters. The site will include six production lines for refrigerators and washing machines and is expected to produce close to five million units a year.

KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This article was written by Huang Nan for 36Kr.