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Business Insider
28-07-2025
- Business Insider
The 5 best robot vacuum and mop combos in 2025 for every home and budget
A robot vacuum and mop combo, is the perfect one-two punch for hands-free cleaning. Keeping dirty messes from getting caked on with daily mopping can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your floors while simultaneously vacuuming rids floors of dust, hair, and other small debris. Robot mopping has improved greatly over the last several years, from its navigation prowess to overall cleaning effectiveness, so it's a feature worth seriously considering if you have hard flooring. Having the water capabilities usually doesn't increase the price much either, but if you're really against it, then we also tested the best robot vacuums. To get a sense of the best vacuum and mop combos, I tested and compared eight recently released models. I've also tested dozens of units over the last several years, from the high-end Roborock Saros Z70 with a robotic arm to the uniquely shaped Matic. All of this helps inform my understanding of the cleaning industry, which is ripe with innovation and continues to evolve rapidly. With the specific eight models considered in this testing round, vacuum and mopping performance were the main considerations, but everything from physical size, self-cleaning abilities, and smart features to app design was considered to recommend the best picks across a range of budgets and needs. As the dust settled, it became clear that the top pick should be the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo because it combines effective wet and dry cleaning with an easy-to-use experience. Its mid-range price point, combined with some high-end features, makes it a terrific value for a wide range of people. If you're looking to truly upgrade, and want all the latest technological features, we recommend the Roborock Saros 10R because of its sophisticated navigation and the detailed settings available in its mobile app. Our picks of the best robot vacuum and mops Best overall: Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro - See at Amazon Best overall Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro Robot Vacuum The Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro packs a cleaning punch, vacuuming and mopping with a ferocity few robots can muster. And it does so at a reasonable price. Check price at Amazon Check price at Best Buy Check price at Shark What we like Excellent scrubbing and thorough vacuuming Detaches mop pad automatically when not needed Raises mop pad raises higher than most other robots around carpets What we don't like Noisy Oversimplified app Water reservoirs are smaller than competitors The Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro is a cleaning powerhouse masked as a generic-looking robot. It has solid vacuuming and mopping performance, along with nearly unmatched spot cleaning thoroughness. When I had it cleaning specific messes in my kitchen on hardwood floors, it picked up nearly 100% of the coffee grounds, flour, and crushed cereal pieces. It refused to be outdone by crumbs. The robot wasn't the quickest to finish spot cleans compared to other robots, but that's because it covered every inch of space, spinning around 360 degrees throughout, to make sure it wasn't leaving any spot untouched. Beyond its ability to tackle specific messes, I really liked that this value-priced cleaning assistant would leave its mopping pad behind at its docking station when it was only tasked with vacuuming duty. That's a feature previously reserved for higher-priced premium units. When it was tackling wet and dry tasks at the same time, it automatically lifted and angled its damp pad much higher than other devices when crossing over carpet. It cleaned corners well, getting nearly all of the test debris I put in a taped-off corner off the hardwood floors. It was better in this area than nearly all the other units I've used, minus the pricey Roborock Z70. While I can't vouch for its handling of pet hair, it avoided getting human hair tangled in its brushes. The PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro's base station is fully stacked with features, too. It accommodates liquid cleaning solution in the water tank (sold with one bottle) and has room for an odor-neutralizing pod (one included), but the station remains relatively compact. It's NeverTouch moniker isn't just for show. The station will wash and dry the mop pad. While this is an excellent cleaner with a lot of nice touches, it isn't flawless. I found it to be a little noisy, both when it's actually working and after it's returned to its dock. It didn't register the loudest decibel level compared to other units, but its plastic is a little creaky with noise coming from the wheels and moving parts, beyond the sound of suction. The Shark mobile app is another area where it could use a few tweaks. I like that the app tries to simplify the experience. Still, I wish it offered more control over settings like choosing the suction level and amount of water used for mopping, before a user-initiated job, like most other units do. Those are minor complaints, however, and I was more than satisfied to let it handle the wet and dry cleaning as it saw fit. For a retail price of $999, and often on sale for cheaper, the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro is a terrific value and worth adding to most homes. Best budget iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo Robot The Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo ditches the base station in favor of a dustbin made to pack dirt in tightly. This approach isn't perfect, but this robot can help schedule routine cleaning work. Check price at iRobot What we like Strong vacuuming performance No bulky base station and can handle weeks of dust collection onboard What we don't like Mopping attachment takes effort to attach and refill Dustbin can be tricky to empty New Roomba app is a step back from old version Thicker profile keeps it from going under low profiles Specifics Suction:Not listed; four levels Dustbin:Up to 60 days Mop type:Single pad Self-cleaning:No Battery:120 minutes Navigation:LiDar App:iOS, Android Warranty:1 year The new iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo is a new leaf turning over for the company as it tries to be more economical in building cleaning robots. This model is a good example as it ditches a base station to keep the product smaller and cheaper. Instead, it uses a dust bin compression system that allows it to house up to 60 days' worth of dirt inside the robot. The ultimate benefit is that it doesn't have multiple components taking up extra space. That means it can then be tucked into more areas around your home. In practice, I found this allowed it to be placed in my kitchen, where no other models with their stations were able to fit previously. In terms of cleaning performance, the Roomba 205 Combo busted my initial hesitations and ran through vacuuming and mopping tests with a high skill level. The mopping was its weakest point since it essentially drags a pad behind it. And yet, even in its basic form, it could still remove messes from dirty floors. In the wet and dry test with flour, coffee grounds, and crushed cereal, it removed almost 100% of the items. Of course, without a base station, there is more manual work associated with mopping. I found the exercise of hooking the microfiber mop pad and its water tank into the bottom of the unit annoying, and cleaning it mildly infuriating. For one thing, you'll need to be careful getting the pad to the sink, not dropping the dirt stuck to it. While the dust compression system is notable, and did work to stuff more dirt into its bin than normal, I had some initial hiccups with it. The most common was my inability to understand its orientation and correctly open it. There were a few times I separated the container from the wrong side, and the contents spilled out. That might be on me, but it's hard to remember how to use it when it happens so infrequently. The Roomba 205 Combo uses a brand new mobile app that's a step back from the previous one. It can now track real-time location of the robot in your home, but the app's layout could use a design overhaul. The functionality is there, but I found the new app's terminology and placement of items to be confusing. The 205 Combo will be best for people with more carpeted area than hard flooring, but who still want the ability to run a damp mop pad around occasionally. This device has regularly been on sale for $300. We think that's a reasonable price for some of its shortcomings but wouldn't recommend paying more for it. Instead, waiting for one of the other picks to go on sale will probably be a better value. Best mid-range The Roborock Qrevo Series, specifically the QV 35A, blends strong suction with a reliable mopping system and advanced navigation. It's ideal for households with mixed surfaces. The Roborock's overall performance and mid-range $599 price make it a killer combo without breaking the bank. The QV 35A often tackled testing challenges with the skills of more costly units. While vacuuming and mopping hardwood kitchen floors, the QV 35A cleaned coffee grounds, flour, and crushed cereal thoroughly. It managed to clear more than 90% in each of the staged food tests. Its mopping pads don't extend out, but they had enough force to clear normal kid spills. The downside is that it doesn't lift the pads very high when traversing carpet. Medium and high piles will probably touch the damp pads. You can get around that by having it vacuum before mopping. Its vacuum-only tests across a carpet had nearly identical results. It wasn't perfect with cleaning corners, grabbing around 70% of the test flour, but it did better than average. Its lack of extending brushes or pads might be a reason to consider pricier Roborock units with those. The base station can automatically wash the mop pads and air-dry them. Using cold air takes longer than hot air, so expect six to 10 hours, compared with two or three for hot air. When it comes time to perform some inevitable manual maintenance, there's a removable plate that can be cleaned in the kitchen sink. The biggest downside is that its base station is among the tallest and might present logistical challenges when placed in some homes. I was pleased with the QV 35A's navigation and object avoidance. It doesn't have the latest vision system that's present on the Roborock Saros 10R (more on that below), but while maneuvering around, it managed to avoid things like couch legs and shoes just fine. People buying their first robot vacuum and mop should be ecstatic about this cleaner's capabilities. It uses Roborock's polished app and is largely self-sufficient. However, it stops short of offering the latest technologies, a small tradeoff for its competitive pricing. Best splurge Roborock Saros 10R The Roborock Saros 10R is a work horse that offers a true hands-off, automated cleaning experience. It's Roborock's thinnest design yet to easily slide under furniture and has excellent obstacle avoidance tech. Check price at Amazon Check price at Roborock What we like Low-profile design with a sleek docking station Excellent cleaning performance on hardwood floors No-tangle brushes actually work Specifics Self-emptying:Yes Mopping:Yes Suction Power:Up to 20,000 Pa Dust bin capacity:270 mL on robot, 2L on dock Water tank:3L clean, 3L dirty Battery:180 minutes run time (6400mAh) Warranty:1 year The Saros 10R is one of the most refined robot vacuum and mop combos on the market. It has a sleek profile that's able to fit through dining room chair legs and under most toe kick areas. It moves nimbly and avoids objects with ease. In my testing, I found the robot's vision technology (StarSight Autonomous System 2.0) to be excellent at avoiding thin metal end table legs, wires, and other common household items. It has more sensors that can better understand 3D space, so it's also able to get close to furniture and baseboards without being harsh or damaging. It cleans well across hardwood and carpet and can even traverse high-pile rugs thanks to its lifting mechanics. The Saros 10R features a lot of the current technologies of the even more sophisticated Saros Z70, which has a first-of-its-kind mechanical arm to pick up small objects. Still, it isn't burdened with the extra cost of that part or the growing pains of this first-generation feature. The Saros 10R has a fully loaded docking station as well. It can wash and dry the mopping pads with hot water and hot air to keep them fresher than those using cool air and water. When it isn't mopping, the unit can detach the pads and leave them in the station. It even has an auto detergent dispenser to keep things from getting smelly. On the vacuuming front, I found the 10R's split brush design to be brilliant at keeping hair from getting tangled. Long human hair has a way of getting caught in most vacuum brushes, but after several months, I could barely find a trace of it lingering on the brushes. Best for small spaces eufy Omni C20 The eufy Omni C20 is more compact, both the robot and its base station, but it doesn't sacrifice auto-emptying dirt or auto-washing its mop pads. It's a solid alternative to the growing size of some combo units, at an approachable price point. Check price at Amazon What we like Compact unit and base station Solid navigation and path planning Strong scrubbing What we don't like Doesn't lift mop high enough to avoid touching thicker rugs Obstacle avoidance isn't quite as good as some others (as evident by one accident with a plant) Felt a little flimsy Hair wrapped around brush roll The eufy Robot Vacuum Omni C20 is a compact, affordable robot vacuum and mop combo that's ideal for apartments or tight spaces. It includes all the benefits of a dedicated base station that's able to collect dust and handle clean and dirty mopping water, but sheds a lot of the bulkiness found in similar products. It's important to note that there are smaller options — the Roomba 205 is one — but those units without self-emptying stations typically require more regular maintenance. Also worth noting, the vacuum and mop bot itself is trim at 3.3 inches, almost an inch less in width and half-inch shorter than the Ecovacs T50, so it can fit through narrower spaces. The Omni C20 sucked dirt and mopped well in general, but it performed better overall across hard surfaces than on carpet. Its mopping performance was better than I expected from its basic dual mopping pads with average rotations and force. It cleaned an average of 95% of the various food items spread in the testing space. Don't expect it to be a scrubbing demon, but it handled fresh spills and debris just fine. It also did well in the corner test despite not having brushes that extended, though it had a little trouble pulling test material from a rug, likely because its body is more lightweight and petite. I also noticed visible strands of hair wrap around the brush roll, and more would probably add over measuring the vacuum's volume on its max setting, it was quite loud compared to other units. It hit a peak level of 71 decibels near the top of all the vacuums tested. However, when using the Omni C20 on its lower, default settings, I didn't find it bothersome. What else we tested Ecovacs Deebot T50 Max Pro: This is a viable contender for large homes with bumpy terrain of rugs, and modest thresholds. It ran smoothly and generally mopped and vacuumed well on hardwoods, but it has a larger size with a bulky base station, didn't handle carpets as well as expected, and minor trouble with cleaning corners, which didn't put it ahead of some of the other choices. Narwal Freo x Ultra: If you can find it on sale, this is another one worth considering. It's an older model from early 2024 that Narwal has deprioritized in favor of the Flow and Freo Z10. Yet it's still highly capable (with AI dirt detecting features where it will keep cleaning until it senses the floors are clean) and one of the quietest cleaning robots we've seen. Instead of the base station serving as a place to offload debris, all debris stays within the robot using a dust compression system that contributes to its unobtrusive operation. Read our full Narwal Freo x Ultra review. Eureka J15 Pro Ultra: This is a well-rounded machine that didn't perform quite as well in wet or dry tests as some of the other units. Specifically, it was worse than competitors at picking up coffee grounds and cereal on carpet and cereal on hardwood. Dreame X50 Ultra: Dreame's flagship is a smooth-driving, top-of-the-line unit. Its extending side brush is fantastic, and its moving lidar sensor helps lower its overall height to get under low profiles. Weirdly, it had trouble driving over my kitchen rug without folding it up as it drove over, despite its ability to lift itself over massive thresholds. The X50 was also one of the louder ones on its max setting. Dreame X40: The predecessor to the X50, this highly capable machine can now be frequently found for half off. It's packed full of the expected features, plus home surveillance and top-tier obstacle detection and avoidance. In our tests, it was among the best at vacuuming and mopping, but it also operated loudly and struggled in corner cleaning. Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1: Shark's mopping technology has truly evolved from the swappable pulsing mop pad of the Shark Matrix. For its price, the Shark Matrix Plus is an impressive, versatile machine that vacuums and mops. It features a bagless self-empty base, and the mop head scrubs for a deep clean while vacuuming at the same time. Our reviewer liked it overall as an affordable self-emptying vacuum/mop combo. However, she found the app was buggy and didn't like how the dustbin doesn't empty into the base when in mop mode. Read our full Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review. Bissell SpinWave Pet: The Bissell SpinWave has been around for years at this point, and was one of the early designs to include a spinning mop attachment. It's a budget buy, with none of the self-cleaning bases of today's best models or even home mapping, though it does have the necessary ability to differentiate between flooring and carpets. It vacuumed especially well in corners and on hardwood, and it operates quietly. However, it gets stuck easily, and you can't set no-go zones. What to consider when buying a robot vacuum and mop combo Floor type: Mopping can be an important part of cleaning hard flooring types, such as wood, tile, and vinyl. If the floor plan where you'll be using the cleaner is more than 50% hard material, then having a vacuum and mop combo is probably worth the investment. However, if your space is primarily carpet, then dealing with the clean and dirty water might not be worth the minor inconveniences. Mop type: Not all mop pads are created equally. If you constantly have spilled juice or sticky food bits on your kitchen floor, you'll want to consider mopping options with the strongest down-force pressure. We found the dual spinning mop pads to be plenty effective in various tests. Typically, more rotations and stronger down pressure force will result in better scrubbing performance. More advanced devices can also return to their stations after cleaning a particular room or square footage to keep the pads fresh before cleaning again. The most basic designs are microfiber pads, which are reusable, that drag behind the robot, and likely use either downward pressure or vibrations to agitate any stuck-on mess. The newer roller mops that clean and re-wet the brush during the cleaning process — like what you see in the best wet-dry vacuums — without needing to revisit the dock, show a lot of promise for even better performance. Mop lifting: A lot of mid-range to premium-priced robots advertise being able to lift damp mopping pads during the cleaning process. We've found that most of those still drag or touch on medium pile carpet and rugs. The Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro is one example that did a great job of angling its mop pad to avoid touching. The best solution here for delicate rugs is to look for a unit that can automatically detach its mopping pads in its station or vacuum before mopping. Navigation tech: Smarter mapping leads to more efficient cleaning and better coverage. Most companies have coalesced around LiDAR technology, which bounces light off objects to map rooms, but none are exactly the same. We've found Roborock to be one of the best at mapping and object avoidance, as its newest devices each year have more insights into the environment around them. Maintenance: Especially with a mopping combo unit, the first step to reducing manual maintenance is to get a unit with a self-emptying base station with water reservoirs. Adding air drying and other automated features can further push off the time that regular maintenance happens. Units without self-cleaning or warm air drying will need to be addressed directly after each mopping cycle to prevent any mold growth or bacteria from forming. Dust bin and water tank size: A larger tank can clean more space without refilling. Although this aspect is worth considering, nearly all of the models we've tested provided at least a week of modest mopping without needing to return. The self-cleaning robots have separate clean and dirty water tanks; the clean tanks are for mopping water and flushing the mop pads, while the dirty water tanks collect all the dirty water from the cleaning process. Special features: The coolest features will cost extra, but they can add new dimensions to your robot experience. The Saros 10R can patrol your house, without cleaning and use its camera for surveillance. This could be used for checking in on an animal, instead of buying a dedicated pet cam. Using voice assistants to initiate cleaning tasks is a popular bonus feature, although I've rarely had success remembering the exact commands or when to use them. The latest trend is to inject AI into robot cleaning. The most common is determining what rooms need to be cleaned, how often, and with which settings, or dirt detection features, like the ability to determine if a floor is clean based on water color. In fact, it's getting harder to avoid having the devices take over the cleaning order. How we tested I've been testing and writing about tech products since 2013. Since the rise of smart home appliances, I've covered dozens of robot vacuums. In addition to testing them and putting them through their paces, I've had the chance to talk with company representatives about these machines and ask probing questions. I've talked with consumers about these products to better understand their experiences and what's important to them. Either I or members of the Business Insider Reviews team have personally used all of these models we evaluated. Carpet cleaning: We poured a tablespoon each of flour, coffee grounds, and kitty litter (or crushed cereal) on 18-inch-square sections of carpeting. We also collected hair to place on the carpeting. We ran the vacuums on their most powerful mode for two cleaning cycles and compared before-and-after photos to estimate the percentage of each material picked up. Hardwood floor cleaning: This is the same as the carpet cleaning test on hardwood flooring. Corner cleaning: We poured a teaspoon of flour in a 4-inch radius in a hardwood corner. We photographed the messes before and after running the robot vacuums for two cleaning cycles to compare how much flour was left and how close to the corner each unit got. Mopping: When testing robots with mopping capabilities, we poured two ounces of sugary soda on linoleum and allowed it to dry overnight. Then, we compared photos before and after running the vacuums through two mopping cycles to determine how much soda they picked up. We also noted if the floor was sticky afterward. Obstacle avoidance: A stuck robot vacuum is annoying because you need to intervene to get it unstuck. Meanwhile, it makes error sounds and sends you notifications. Not to mention, running over a charging cable or sock can ruin both the robot and your items. Our test areas feature several obstacles, including stairs and a table with chairs. Noise: We used a sound meter to measure the decibel output of the vacuums from 12 inches away as they ran on the lowest and highest settings. Battery life: We ran each fully charged unit on its highest setting during long cleaning runs. Then, based on the time consumed and percentage remaining, we calculated the actual runtime to ensure it matched the manufacturer's estimates. Special features: Scheduling and automatically returning to the charging dock are must-have features. All of the tested bots include these features. We also looked for common higher-end options, including no-go zone programming, zoned cleaning, multi-floor mapping, self-emptying docks, self-cleaning, and home surveillance. Robot vacuum and mop FAQs What is a robot vacuum and mop combo? A vacuum and mop combo is a device that can perform both cleaning functions. Generally, these combo units can vacuum and mop simultaneously, or do them in various orders. Are robot vacuum and mop combos safe for hardwood floors? These devices can be used with pretty much every kind of flooring. The higher-end models can detect the type of flooring they're working on and adjust their mopping pressure and water usage. Other models can be manually adjusted in the app. I've used all of these models on real hardwood floors and never had one scratch or damage them. Can a robot mop replace manual mopping? While robot mops possess incredible cleaning performance, they likely aren't a replacement for the best mops. On the other hand, these machines are able to keep up consistent pressure, water flow, and rotating pads, so they may be better than doing a whole area by hand, but you should still hold on to a mop for cleaning tight areas like bathrooms or for heavy-duty targeted cleaning. Do robot mop vacuums clean carpets? The combo units will clean hard flooring, carpet, and rugs. The robots try to avoid wetting carpet and rugs by lifting their damp pads, vacuuming carpet first, before wetting the mop pads, or leaving damp mop pads behind at their base stations. How often should I clean the mop pad? For a unit like the Roomba 205, which doesn't have a base station, you'll want to manually clean the mop pad after each use by removing it and washing it in the sink. The higher-end units will clean the mopping pads with either cold, warm, or hot water, and then dry them with cool or hot air to avoid mold and bacteria. For those models, you shouldn't have to ever manually clean the mopping pads, but you will need to empty the dirty water tanks and regularly wipe the base station of any accumulated dirt. Tyler Hayes Freelance Writer Tyler has been writing professionally since 2013. In the early years, he covered the intersection of technology and music as it relates to streaming services and audio gear. Since then, he has become an expert on all kinds of consumer products, from wearables to smart home gadgets. He started writing professionally after spending a decade as a computer technician repairing computers. Since 2013, he has contributed to dozens of publications, including The New York Times, WIRED, PCMag, Vice, and of Tyler's writing revolves around service journalism and helping people understand the latest pieces of technology. But he has done featured articles about Pandora radio, NBA Top Shot, and what goes into building the perfect playlist. He has also written for the Library of Congress and submitted his own emoji proposal to Unicode. Beyond writing about technology, he has worked for Microsoft and a few startups over the years. Outside of work, he reluctantly became a daily runner during the 2020 lockdown and has been unable to quit since. Read more You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@
Mint
30-06-2025
- Mint
Most advanced home robot vacuums in 2025 that you can't miss
Just last year, most home robots were limited to basic cleaning. Many robot vacuums struggled with obstacles, often getting stuck on thresholds or tangled in cords. But in 2025, new models are introducing features like object recognition, spill detection, and even robotic arms to pick up clutter. It's a clear step forward in how these machines handle everyday chores. Did you know that several brands have launched robots that don't just clean floors? Some can cook food, too. One can fold your laundry. And robot vacuum cleaners have learned new tricks. While none of these devices are perfect, they show how fast home automation is moving toward being genuinely useful instead of just interesting. The Roborock Saros Z70 is probably the clearest sign that robot vacuum cleaners are evolving. Watching it move around a living room is almost funny at first. It pauses, reaches out a tiny retractable arm, and picks up stray toys or cables before it starts cleaning. It still feels like something out of a sci-fi film, but it solves a very real problem. In the past, most vacuums would get stuck or leave areas untouched if you forgot to tidy up first. Released in early 2025 after its debut at CES, the Saros Z70 makes it possible to skip that prep step. Another on the list is the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete, which came to market in February 2025 after its CES debut. If you've ever seen a robot vacuum freeze at the edge of a rug or a doorway threshold, you know how quickly the novelty wears off. This model uses extendable legs to climb over raised edges so it can keep moving room to room. I watched it transition from a tile kitchen to a thick carpet without stopping. For families who don't want to babysit a vacuum, this feels like progress. The Eureka J15 Max Ultra does not look very different from earlier models, but it stands out in one important way. Unlike most robot vacuums that only detect obvious spills or ignore clear liquids altogether, this robot vacuum cleaner uses advanced infrared sensors that can spot even transparent water on the floor. When it senses a spill, it automatically adjusts its path instead of driving straight through. That small change makes it much better at avoiding the messy streaks many other vacuums still leave behind. It might sound like a minor feature, but if you've ever had to clean your floor after a robot dragged a spill across it, you know how helpful this can be. For example, if your pet dog knocks over the water bowl or your toddler spills juice on the floor, this robot can detect the liquid and avoid driving through it which in turn makes things easier and mess free. While cleaning robots get most of the attention, the Posha Kitchen Robot shows that automation is moving into the kitchen too. This home robot came out in early 2025 and looks like a big mixer, but it does much more. You load the ingredients, pick a recipe, and it chops, stirs, and cooks by itself. It's a new technology you can bring into your home to make everyday meals easier, not just something created to show off. It can weigh ingredients, adjust cooking time and temperature with sensors, suggest recipes to match your taste, keep food warm, clean parts of itself, and connect to an app so you can control it from your phone. While Tesla's Optimus isn't something you can buy today, its public demos show how quickly robotics is advancing beyond single-purpose machines. Watching a humanoid robot fold laundry and carry boxes makes it clear that more general-purpose helpers could move from prototypes to real homes sooner than many people expect. Even if Optimus remains out of reach for a few more years, it offers a glimpse of what the next wave of home robots might look like. These home robots are not perfect yet, but 2025 shows they can really help with everyday chores. From cleaning floors to cooking meals, home robots are becoming useful parts of our homes. It's a sign that in the future, robots could make life a lot easier for everyone.
Stuff.tv
26-06-2025
- Stuff.tv
I reviewed the Roborock robot vac with an arm – it would be brilliant, if only it cleaned better
Stuff Verdict The Roborock Saros Z70 is a wildly ambitious robot vacuum that adds a robotic arm into the mix. While its cleaning, navigation and app experience are mostly top-notch, the mechanical arm tech isn't qu Pros Robotic arm tech is a first and genuinely innovative Excellent vacuuming and mopping for the most part Dock easily takes care of most maintenance Remote control via app is surprisingly useful Cons Automated arm functionality is unreliable Rattling noise while cleaning which seems concerning Struggles with cleaning hard floors Very expensive Introduction Roborock has always pushed boundaries in the world of robot vacuums, but the Saros Z70 might be its most ambitious effort yet. It promises to do something no other robot vacuum can: pick up stray objects from your floor before cleaning. This is thanks to a five-axis mechanical arm, which can grab things like socks, slippers, and tissues, and move them out of the way before resuming cleaning. In theory it's the closest we've come to an actual robotic assistant, and I feel the arm makes this vacuum cooler than it usually would be (don't look at me like that). But as excited as I was, in practice the Roborock Saros Z70 is still somewhat of a work in progress. It excelled at cleaning carpets, but performance on hard floors is inconsistent – and there are clear limitations around the arm's autonomous capabilities. There is serious promise here, but early adopters will need patience. How we test kitchen and cleaning tech Every vacuum cleaner, coffee machine and kitchen/cleaning gadget reviewed on Stuff is put through a battery of tests before we give our final verdict and star rating. We use our own years of experience to judge general performance, battery life, ease of use and value for money. Manufacturers have no visibility on reviews before they appear online, and we never accept payment to feature products. Find out more about how we test and rate products. Read more: Best cordless vacuum cleaners in 2025 for tackling every mess Design & build: Svelte and subtle At first glance, the Saros Z70 doesn't look drastically different to other premium robot vacuums. There's no obvious arm sticking out, no dramatic redesign. That's because the OmniGrip arm folds away entirely under a tinted panel, keeping the top of the unit completely flush. Combined with the puck-free navigation system, it means this robot is under 8cm tall and can easily get under most furniture. The dock is a large, modular unit that handles everything from emptying the dustbin to hot water mop washing and drying. I'll commend Roborock on the fact this isn't quite as tall as other docking stations I've stuck in my living room, but I'd say that it's just as wide. This thing is as sleek as a docking station can be, if slightly industrial-looking, and thankfully easy to maintain. Water tanks are accessible from the top, and the dust bag pulls out from behind a panel at the bottom. There's even a detergent tank for automatically refilling the bot. I'm a bit miffed Roborock didn't include this detergent like every other robot vacuum I've ever tested, but here we are. I'll also note that this water tank seemed to drain fairly quickly for the amount I used it. Flip the Z70 over and you'll find a rubber roller brush, a lifting mop pad system with dual spinning heads (one of which kicks out for edge cleaning), and Roborock's usual anti-tangle setup. The OmniGrip arm itself uses a pincer-style grabber and comes with a secondary camera on the arm to assist with positioning. Overall, it's an incredibly thoughtful and clever design, even if the arm's real-world performance is limited. Features: Everything but the kitchen sink So what can the arm actually do? It's strong enough to lift light objects (up to 300g) like socks, slippers, and sandals, then move them to designated areas. Or, it can just pick them up to clean underneath and put them back again. The app lets you choose what objects to pick up and where to put them. The problem is, it only works well under very specific conditions. After experiencing a few problems, Roborock told me that the object (and robot vac) must be on a hard floor, properly oriented, well lit, and not near a wall. That's a big asterisk for a headlining feature. You can manually control the arm through the app, but it has the same limitations. I will say that the arm performs brilliantly, when it works. There were times I caught it lifting up slippers to clean underneath them, so everywhere was free from dust. But that was when it worked. There were plenty of times when it didn't. Sometimes it would misidentify objects. Other times, it would struggle with grabbing or placing items correctly. On one occasion, it picked up an object only to drop it on itself and trigger an error. Controlled remotely, it worked reliably and was genuinely satisfying to use – when you met its stringent rules for operation. Still, the potential is obvious. If Roborock can improve the AI to recognise more object types, allow the arm to operate more freely, and make autonomous pickup more reliable, it could change how we think about robot vacuums entirely. But we're not quite there just yet. Play Beyond the arm, the Saros Z70 is loaded with features. 22,000Pa of suction makes it one of the most powerful cleaners available. But I'm not sure that the raw numbers translate into real-life success here. Dual mop pads apply consistent downward pressure and lift when needed to avoid wetting carpets. I actually found that by using Roborock's smart navigation, it detached the mop pads, cleaned carpeted rooms first, then came back to pick up the mop pads and fill up with water. Genius! The mop system can detect when pads are dirty and wash them at the dock using 80°C water, before drying them with warm air. Navigation works without a LiDAR tower, which contributes to the vacuum's low profile. It proved very reliable in my home, even in tricky layouts. The chassis is able to navigate thresholds up to 4cm. There's definitely something satisfying about watching this robot vac give itself a little leg up. Performance: Mixed results As a cleaning device, the Z70 excels more the most part. Suction on carpets is excellent, edge mopping is surprisingly thorough, and general navigation is precise. I particularly enjoyed the 3D mapping in the Roborock app where the navigation system can identify obstacles and items of furniture. In day-to-day use, it picked up almost everything with Turbo mode switched on for all rooms, but a noticeable amount less in Max mode. Where this robot vac struggled was on hard floors – particularly in the kitchen. It just could not seem to reliably pick up crumbs of varying size. At first, I thought this was because it was mopping and sucking at the same time, but switching the mop off had no effect. This is a little concerning in Turbo mode, as the lower modes wouldn't have had a chance. Speaking of mopping, the dual mops cover large areas quickly and leave no streaks, and the auto-lift feature reliably prevents wet carpets. However my unit made a persistent rattling noise while cleaning, which I suspect came from the arm or its housing. It didn't affect performance, but was irritating over long sessions. Yes, I could hear the noise even when the vacuum was in its Turbo mode. The dock is a workhorse, handling emptying, mopping, cleaning and drying with minimal fuss. It's a bit noisy during operation, but not excessively so. I'd actually say that its quieter than other robot vacs I've reviewed, including the Eufy Omni S1 Pro. Charging is fast, and battery life is strong – easily enough to clean a medium-sized home in one go on the lower modes. But on Turbo mode, it'd have to come home and recharge about 70% of the way through a clean. In fairness, the app does warn you of this when you set it to Turbo mode. Interface: One of the best apps Roborock's companion app is one of the best in the game. It's intuitive, packed with features, and makes the Z70 easy to control. The arm functions are well integrated into the app, with simple toggles to enable or disable object pickup, custom zones, and sorting bins. There's a handy remote view mode with camera switching, and you can manually control the arm's pitch and angle if needed. You can use this remote viewing mode without the arm too, in case you want a mobile security bot while you're on holiday. Elsewhere, the SmartPlan mode I mentioned analyses your home and cleaning habits to adjust settings automatically. Or you can get hands-on and tweak suction, water flow, cleaning patterns and more. You can even talk to the vacuum by saying 'Hello Rocky,' though I found this more of a novelty than a useful feature. It also wasn't particularly accurate, which is becoming a bit of a trend with this vacuum. As expected, Alexa and Google Assistant integration is also included. Roborock still says that Matter support is coming later via an update, but I managed to add my Saros Z70 to the Apple Home app – so it appears to have arrived at least in part. Roborock Saros Z70 verdict The Roborock Saros Z70 is one of the most ambitious robot vacuums I've ever tested. The built-in mechanical arm takes it beyond simple home-cleaning and firmly into the realm of home assistance. And while the arm isn't perfect just yet, the fact it exists at all is still a technical marvel. There's something genuinely exciting about watching a robot vacuum pick up a slipper, clean underneath it, put it back, and then carry on like nothing happened. The app is superb, and manually controlling the robotic arm feels more like playing a futuristic game than household chores. That said, the arm's autonomous smarts aren't quite ready for prime time. The list of objects it can recognise is limited, the conditions have to be perfect, and in testing it failed more often than it succeeded when left to its own devices. While the Z70 is also one of the most powerful vacuums Roborock has made, performance is a mixed bag. It vacuums brilliantly for the most part, mops effectively, and gets under low furniture that rivals can't reach. But it seemed to struggle on hard floors. There's clear promise here – and Roborock says updates are coming – but for now, it's a feature you'll mainly use manually or as a party trick. Add in a very high price, and it becomes a little harder to recommend to anyone other than early adopters. Stuff Says… Score: 3/5 The Roborock Saros Z70 is a wildly ambitious robot vacuum that adds a robotic arm into the mix. While its cleaning, navigation and app experience are mostly top-notch, the mechanical arm tech isn't quite ready for prime time. Pros Robotic arm tech is a first and genuinely innovative Excellent vacuuming and mopping for the most part Dock easily takes care of most maintenance Remote control via app is surprisingly useful Cons Automated arm functionality is unreliable Rattling noise while cleaning which seems concerning Struggles with cleaning hard floors Very expensive Roborock Saros Z70 technical specifications Functions Vacuum, mop, robotic arm pick-up Controls App, Alexa, Google Assistant, built-in voice, Matter Run time 180 minutes Dimensions 350x353x79mm, 12.4kg (robot) 381x475x488mm, 4.9kg (dock)
Android Authority
04-06-2025
- Business
- Android Authority
Roborock's $2,600 robot vacuum with a mechanical arm is an incredible flex with a weird price tag
Roborock Saros Z70 The Roborock Saros Z70 is the company's best robot vacuum to date, but only in a vacuum (pun intended). It cleans as well as anything we've seen, navigates very well, and its object detection is second to none. But it also costs $1,000 more than the Saros 10R, which already does all of that to the same standard, and the innovative-yet-deeply-flawed OmniGrip robot arm doesn't offer anywhere near enough value to cover the huge price hike. Now that I finally have the Roborock Saros Z70 in-house for testing, I can finally say, with authority, that the first commercially available robot vacuum cleaner with a robot arm is super cool… but I don't think cool is enough. It's been several months since I first got to see the Saros Z70 on display as one of the obvious highlights of CES 2025, and it's lost none of that initial wow factor. At first, it looks like any other high-end Roborock robot vacuum, but then the top panel retracts, the robotic arm pops out, and it gets to work picking up your mess. But is that the only trick up its sleeve, and is it really worth the eye-melting $2,600 asking price? Editor's note: Roborock kindly sent over two test units, one to me, and one to my colleague Oliver Cragg. We've both been using the units in our respective homes over the past few weeks to really give this expensive bot the gruelling testing it deserves. This review contains our combined thoughts on the Saros Z70 and its innovative new tech. It's a robot vacuum… Jonathan Feist / Android Authority As much as I want to talk about it, let's get the regular functionality out of the way first. Here's the bottom line: the Roborock Saros Z70 is the best robot vacuum that Roborock has released to date* (I'll get back to that asterisk, Thunderbolts* style). As a robot vacuum and mop machine, the Saros Z70 is reliable, efficient, and does a great job cleaning hard floors, carpets, and rugs. At just 3.14-inches tall, the Saros Z70 is one of the slimmer bots around, making it ideal for cleaning under low furniture. Jonathan Feist / Android Authority That flexibility is improved by the lack of a LiDAR navigation turret that typically sticks out the top of robot vacs, as instead the Saros Z70 relies on its front and rear StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 navigation cameras for mapping, navigation, and obstacle avoidance. This system is built from RGB, 3D ToF, and infrared sensors and is backed by AI-driven object detection. This, combined with the side-mounted VertiBeam Lateral Obstacle Avoidance detection (translation: it looks up and down to avoid impacts under furniture), makes for extremely safe and reliable navigation, whether it's a rogue child's toy, a stray charging cable, or something much larger. Speaking of height, not only can the Saros Z70 lift and lower its brushes, mops, and rollers, but it can lift the entire chassis as well, allowing it to mount high thresholds easily (up to 1.57-inch), and more effectively clean specific surfaces such as thick carpets or rugs. Jonathan Feist / Android Authority For mopping, the Z70 is also equipped with dual circular mop pads, as opposed to the VibraRise single mop of the Saros 10. I prefer the dual pad models from Roborock, as they get fewer tangles and leave a nicer sheen. The FlexiArm system also means the right mop pad will kick out to the side when skirting the edges of a room, so you get a nice clean right up to the edge. This same tech powers the front brush, which flicks dirt into the path of the main vacuum rollers. The bot can also detach the mop heads and leave them in the base station when it knows it's going on a vacuum-only mission. During those excursions, it benefits from up to 22,000Pa of suction pressure; more than enough to collect nearly any dry debris from your deepest carpets. Jonathan Feist / Android Authority And before we get to the main event, a shoutout to the Multifunctional Dock 4.0. You know, the base station. Equipped with large water canisters, an automatically dispensing detergent canister (cleaning solution not supplied, but I recommend getting it as it eliminates streaky floors), and a large vacuum bag, the base station houses, cleans, and charges the Saros Z70. It includes heated mop washing up to an impressive 80 degrees Celsius, heated air drying, and it holds the mop heads when they have been removed for vacuum-only runs. As I said, this is the best robot vacuum cleaner Roborock has ever made, which means it's already a strong contender for the best robot vacuum cleaner you can buy. But here's the catch: it's identical to the Roborock Saros 10R. This is the best robot vacuum cleaner Roborock has ever made, but that claim comes with a huge caveat. Everything I've said and praised about this bot, and everything I said in my top marks Saros 10R review, applies here (the Z70 reportedly has slightly smaller onboard dirt and water storage, but I didn't notice much difference). But that robot vac is $1,599.99, at the time of writing, subject to tariff issues. Meanwhile, the Saros Z70 is a whole $1,000 more expensive, and for that spare change, you could buy a very good second robot vacuum cleaner, a new flagship phone, or a base model MacBook Air M4. So, let's talk about the one thing that is different… …with a robotic arm! Jonathan Feist / Android Authority While we've started to see concept bots with mechanical appendages appear in its wake, Roborock's Saros Z70 is the first robot vacuum to hit the US market that packs a robotic arm. Let's go over how it works first. For the unfamiliar, the fancily named OmniGrip is a 5-axis mechanical arm that can grasp a selected number of small items. There are two tilting joints on the arm, similar to a tractor arm. This allows the arm to extend and bend to nearly any angle and position. The entire arm can spin, but generally operates facing straight ahead. Next, the head of the arm has two symmetrical pincers, this is the clamp for items. Finally, the head can rotate, allowing you to clamp things from multiple angles to get the best grasp. Roborock's Saros Z70 is the first robot vacuum to hit the US market that packs a robotic arm. Object recognition and pickup can be handled autonomously by the bot itself via its front-facing camera and a small camera underneath the arm's pincers, but you can also manually drive the bot and control the arm with touchscreen controls in the Roborock app. You can even view the robot's surroundings remotely through these cameras as a kind of roaming, articulating smart home security camera, if you so desire. Regardless of how you use it, the arm rests inside the Saros Z70's main body when not in use and is covered by a retracting flap. Roborock has also thought through safety measures, as there's an emergency stop button on the top of the robot, a child lock function, and you can fully disable the entire arm in the app. Jonathan Feist / Android Authority Picking up items would be useless on its own; where they are placed back down is what matters. As part of the robot arm strategy, the app now reports detected objects in your space and will highlight them on the in-app map. The app also lets you specify two zones: one for footwear storage and a container for other loose objects. Using AI and its cameras, the bot can detect items such as socks, cloths, paper balls, and some footwear, and categorize them as either clothing or trash. Roborock includes a trash bin accessory that uses a QR code identification, and can be the drop spot for discarded items, or you can set your own. So in theory, with this setup all arranged, the robot can perform a number of functions in combination with the arm: Follow-up cleaning — The robot will move items it recognizes autonomously and lift them to clean underneath. Automatic sorting — The robot will autonomously move footwear to the storage zone and deposit trash/other lighter items into the container. Manual sorting — The Roborock app will show the location of recognized objects, at which point you can manually tell the robot to go pick them up as above. Remote control — You can manually control the arm to pick up items. The inclusion of the robotic arm is undeniably cool, and it'll absolutely wow anyone you show it to. As the robot vacuum industry produced better and better obstacle avoidance, less and less of our floors were being cleaned, so a method of moving those objects was the next logical step. But that's the real question: does the OmniGrip arm help the Saros Z70 actually do what it's supposed to do — clean your floors — to the tune of a $1,000 price hike? The short answer is no, and there are a few big reasons why, some of which are fundamental, likely unsolvable issues, and others that are entirely the fault of this being a first-generation product. Jonathan Feist / Android Authority One big limitation is the weight of objects that the Saros Z70 can lift, as it caps at a maximum of 300g. This is absolutely fine for light items like socks and paper, but shoes — one of the main obstacles of any household — are extremely hit-and-miss. In fairness to Roborock, it only emphasizes sandals, which typically do weigh under the limit, but that puts a low bar on what the bot can pick up. In my testing, the robot arm was actually able to lift a shoe that weighed more than 300g. Because of the weight, however, the bot chose to drive very slowly, would not navigate a threshold, and eventually put the shoe back on the floor, unable to do much else with it. However, despite being officially supported, sandals are the same story, so this isn't a weight issue. I've only ever seen the bot pick up the same sandal, do a circle, and put it back down — not once has it taken a sandal or any other footwear to the designated drop-off location. It's the same story for non-footwear. I've seen the arm move objects temporarily to clean the floor, but I've never actually seen the bot move a piece of crumpled paper or a sock into the companion container on its own. I've seen it get very close a few times, but it'll always end up putting the item beside the box, not in it. Cleaning the floor is my top priority, so at least I'm getting a better clean, but tidying is a complete non-starter. Jonathan Feist / Android Authority Another minor issue is that the bot stores objects' location for future cleaning, rather than doing it on its usual cleaning run. I want the bot to immediately identify objects and move them out of the way immediately, not on a future run. I've successfully forced the Saros Z70 to clear a number of objects, but a lot of these instances were because I put obstacles in the way for testing purposes, rather than it genuinely helping to tidy my space on its own. I have limited space; I can't afford to leave junk on the floor while I wait for it to do its job properly. Roborock has promised that further updates are due to improve performance for the OminGrip, and that further objects will be added to the recognition system. Hopefully, the lack of polish that inevitably comes with any first-gen tech will be resolved in time, but that's nowhere near guaranteed, and you shouldn't buy a product now based on a promise that it'll be better in the future, especially not at this price. Roborock Saros Z70 review verdict: Is it worth $2,700? Jonathan Feist / Android Authority So about that asterisk. The Saros Z70 is a fantastic robot vacuum and Roborock's best to date *however, the only difference between it and the $1,000 cheaper Saros 10R is the robotic arm that, well… doesn't really work right now. Since I first set the Saros Z70 loose in my home, it has undergone many firmware updates, and has already vastly improved its capabilities, but it still can't do most of the tasks Roborock says it can do. I know it can do a lot more, and I'm hopeful it will with future software updates, but as it operates today, it is too rich for my wallet, and I imagine that'll be the case for the vast majority of buyers. The Roborock Saros Z70 has the best party trick of any robot vacuum, but its innovative robot arm isn't worth the price of admission until it improves. The Roborock Saros Z70 is fun, has been a literal party trick I've enjoyed showing guests, and I'll give praise to Roborock for both being first and attempting something innovative in public rather than behind closed R&D doors. But that doesn't mean you should buy it unless you've got money to burn and don't mind being a guinea pig for early adopter tech. Roborock Saros Z70 Robotic arm! • Next-gen navigation • AI-powered object detection • Big battery MSRP: $2,599.00 It'll tidy your space before cleaning it Equipped with a robotic arm, the Roborock Saros Z70 is a next-gen robot vacuum with AI-powered navigation and obstacle avoidance, much larger battery, and the ability to put toys in the toy box, socks in the hamper, and trash in the bin. See price at Amazon Positives Impressive navigation Impressive navigation Robust object detection Robust object detection Cleans really well Cleans really well Innovative robotic arm Cons Huge limitations on robot arm functionality Huge limitations on robot arm functionality Massive price tag
Business Insider
28-05-2025
- Business Insider
The Roborock vacuum robot with a mechanical arm is super cool. I'm certain it's the future, just not yet
The Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum and mop expands the cleaning prowess of the best robot vacuums with the addition of a robotic arm alongside its arsenal of sensors and brushes. The idea is that it'll pick up objects in its way and go the extra mile to fully tidy up by actually moving items around. Once you see it in action, the articulating arm is instantly intriguing. It's a potential huge leap forward for robot assistants. After an editor got an early press preview of the Roborock Z70, I spent several weeks with the Z70, putting it through dedicated tests, as well as just letting it perform daily scheduled cleanings. I'm hopeful that its functionality will increase over time, but at the moment, it's strictly a novelty. The exciting potential remains, but the reality is much duller. The robot has a very limited list of items it's allowed to lift and move, including pieces of paper and light slippers. Even within that scope, it didn't always accomplish its tasks. The Z70 is a top-notch vacuum and mop, but its arm is just an added expense that probably won't be helpful to many people just yet. A machine loaded with features and specs The Saros Z70 is wholly feature-complete. Between the adaptive AI cleaning schedules and the video calls you can use the robot for as it does a patrol of the house, it's hard not to be overwhelmed by it. Of course, the elephant in the room is its OmniGrip mechanical arm, which even has an embedded camera and is capable of lifting up to 300 grams. That's 0.66 pounds, or the equivalent of an iPad mini (with cellular). The arm will emerge on its own while vacuuming or mopping, but it can also be activated manually while in its remote control mode if you want to play around with it. The Roborock Z70 retails for $2,599 and is at the tip top of the price spectrum for this category of products. Even without the OmniGrip arm, however, it would still be a high-end product because of all the other tech loaded up inside. It features up to a tremendous 22,000 Pa of suction, a multi-function dock with hot water mop cleaning, an extending brush and pad, and class-leading mapping and navigation sensors. It packs a lot into its compact, 3.14-inch tall frame. So, in addition to knowing where it should and shouldn't go, it can actually fit under more couches and between more chair legs. The unit has a rated 180-minute run time on its quiet mode. In my testing, I got more than 115 minutes with the higher power balanced mode. Observing the battery in real-world use, the battery estimate seems highly accurate. Extrapolating my usage out, the Z70 was averaging about 170 minutes in the higher setting. For times of extended demand, the dock will fast-charge the robot in an advertised 2.5 hours. Mapping and navigation are stellar, helping it avoid bumping into most household items Despite a functional robot arm tucked away into its top, the unit remains compact and nimble. Part of the Z70's ability to scoot through tight spaces like between furniture is its StarSight Autonomous System 2.0. It has forward-facing detection, along with VertiBeam for lateral object avoidance to the side and above. These sensors and cameras help it see 3D depth information and identify more objects, so it knows how to move around household items delicately. On its first mapping, the Z70 instantly created an accurate map of my downstairs rooms. Like other Roborock models, it correctly identified room dividers and even noted things like a table and living room seating. Over the last several years, I've been highly impressed with the cleaning paths Roborock robots take and their general ground coverage. The Z70 is no different in this regard. But from my constant oversight, this year's tech does seem to be at the top of its game. It's highly thorough while remaining efficient. The Roborock app has even added Routines to try to allow you more flexibility in how you clean. One of the recommended options is to clean after a meal. This Routine cleans the kitchen and dining room after the time you set for dinner. Here's what you want to know about a vacuum that has an arm Far and away, the most interesting thing about the Roborock Saros Z70 is its OmniGrip mechanical arm. It can move certain objects out of the way or move them to designated areas. That's the promise, but the reality is much more limited than it initially appears. First, you have to explicitly activate the OmniGrip in the app to turn it on. It won't work by default until you take the step to acknowledge its presence. Secondly, at launch, it's only authorized to pick up tissues, sandals/slippers, and socks — but only certain types of each. So what's the point? Roborock is optimistic that this will help tidy up socks that get left close to closets or tissues that don't quite make it to a trash can. I'm more skeptical. Even if the mechanical arm does gain the ability to pick up new objects in the future via a software up, it ultimately has a physical weight capacity that it can't exceed. It can't go around lifting anything it wants to, including heavy footwear like boots. Plus, there will likely always be some objects like scissors that remain off-limits for safety reasons. Additionally, in regards to safety, there is an emergency shutoff button on the vacuum to stop the arm, and the grip does have a pinch sensor. In terms of the OmniGrip's actual performance, it hasn't been great in my testing. Maybe unsurprisingly, I've needed to manufacture a lot of the testing scenarios because the items it will handle are so limited. I wouldn't have seen it work much, if at all, if I didn't artificially start dropping balls of tissues on the floor. Even when ideal-sized and shaped balls of paper towels were left on the floor in central locations, the results were mixed. Sometimes the robot would pick up one of the tissues and put it in its designated bin, while ignoring the others. I used paper towels, brown packing paper, and bathroom tissue to see if it would identify each of them. Usually, it would take care of one but not the others, with seemingly no logic to which one it handled. The paper towels I left lying flat didn't get any acknowledgment. I also resorted to placing Crocs in the middle of the room, while the Z70 ran its nightly schedule. Doing that usually resulted in one of the clogs being moved to the designated shoe spot while the other one remained untouched. Sometimes the robot would move the sandals out of its way to finish cleaning the area it was assigned to, but then just leave them in a different, inconvenient spot. It's hard not to be disappointed by the results of the OmniGrip mechanical arm. When it works like you assume it will, it's magical. It's easy to see how this functionality will be improved and could spread to be prominent in two to three years. But it's not there yet. It's too limited in nearly every way to be anything but a fun distraction. The Saros Z70 cleaning performance didn't disappoint If you're willing to pay the OmniGrip arm tax, you'll still get a good vacuum and mop. Its side brush and extending mop pad help it pick up crumbs and dirt around chair legs and scrub right up against baseboards. I tested the Z70 on hardwood floors using coffee grounds, flour, and crushed up cereal to see how it vacuumed and mopped up the messes. Using the vacuum and mop on its highest suction level with two passes, it got around 90% of the flour, 90% of the coffee grounds, and 98% of the cereal in a spot, zone cleaning. These results are in line with other high-end robot cleaners. Using the vacuum on carpet with the same simulated spilled food items, the Z70 got an estimated 87% of the flour, 89% of the coffee grounds, and 100% of the crushed up cereal. Again, its results in this area are in line with other premium robots. To see how well the Z70 could get into tough-to-reach areas, I taped off a corner of my room with hardwood floors and sprinkled some flour in the square. The vacuum picked up nearly all of the visible mess. Its corner results were quite remarkable, especially compared to other robots. All of these tests confirmed my general observations of the daily scheduled cleanings I had it doing. It's really good, though not perfect. There were still the occasional crumbs left under the cabinet toe-kicks in the kitchen, but all around the kitchen table, around chair legs, and up against baseboards were free from debris after it finished. The anti-tangle system, a combination of the side and roller brushes, worked well enough that I only saw a few strands of hair from time to time. There was never a collection of hair wrapped up that needed to be cut off. Nearly all of the hair found its way into the dustbin. I don't have a high threshold in my home that I need robot vacuums to cross. However, I do have a mid-to-high pile rug that a lot of vacuums have had a hard time traversing. Thanks to the AdaptiveLift chassis, the Z70 can roll over a threshold as tall as 1.57 inches, which, in my case, made it much easier for the bot to climb onto the carpeted rug and vacuum it without getting stuck. Although the unit can raise itself high off the ground, the Z70 can also detach its mopping pads and leave them behind in the charging dock when doing vacuum-only jobs. This means it won't drag wet pads across the carpet. This isn't a unique feature to Roborock, but one of my favorites that I've come to look for from any premium cleaner. The Z70 isn't the only new vacuum and mop that Roborock released in 2025. It also released the Saros 10R and 10. Putting the 10R through its paces revealed it has a similar performance. It also employs a sleek exterior with a low profile for nimble navigation, along with a FlexiArm side brush and an extending mop pad. Its suction is powerful, and its scrubbing is thorough. The 10 and 10R, varying in minor ways, aren't as flashy as the Z70, but nearly as capable. The bottom line The Roborock Saros Z70 is a great vacuum and mop but not because it has a robotic arm. It performs well at cleaning floors despite its headline feature. The functionality of its arm is just too limited to make it a useful part of the cleaning experience. If the cost doesn't deter you, it's a fine choice with a wow factor that will intrigue anyone who comes across it. But most people in search of a high-powered, premium robot vacuum and mop will find a better value with the Saros 10R.
